43: All matter is a resource.

The quiet deployment of the "Listening" network tore a microscopic rift in the base's perception range, extending into the cold and information-cluttered deep space. Although the first four probes were still in the early stages of orbital adjustment and data collection and had yet to return valuable intelligence, this proactive posture itself brought Han Zhe a long-lost, faint sense of "control" over his environment. The era of passive vulnerability and risky blind exploration was perhaps passing bit by bit.

However, a sense of control required a solid material foundation to support it. The manufacture of "Listening" consumed 3,600 resource points; the "Blaze" energy upgrade plan was like a bottomless pit, continuously devouring Pseudo-Tao Steel Alloy and high-purity energy crystals (synthetic experiments were still ongoing, with success rates remaining pathetic); the twenty lives of the beta batch within the "Hive" were rapidly consuming specialized nutrient solutions; the repair of Alpha-04's injuries and potential future bionic limb replacements were also a significant expense... not to mention the distant, daunting blueprint for the "ark's" mobilization modification.

Resource points were like sand slipping through fingers; no matter how many were accumulated, they seemed to hit rock bottom quickly in the face of the next plan. The automated collection stations worked diligently, and the SCVs were industrious, but the debris belt was not an inexhaustible gold mine. After the higher-grade metal enrichment zones were mined out, what remained was mostly low-value, complex-composition "trash" with low conversion efficiency.

"keystone, report current resource collection efficiency and provide an analysis of the resource inventory structure." Han Zhe looked at the resource monitoring interface, where the curve climbed slowly and then plummeted suddenly due to some expenditure, his brow furrowed.

"Current primary sources of resource collection:

1. Automated Mineral Collection Stations (anchored to M-3 Debris): Output of approximately 180-200 resource point equivalents per hour (efficiency shows a slow downward trend due to internal composition changes in the debris).

2. Alpha Squad routine exploration and collection: Average daily output of approximately 300-400 resource points (highly dependent on discovering high-value debris, high volatility).

3. Internal platform waste recycling (generated from daily maintenance): Negligible.

Comprehensive daily average collection efficiency: Approximately 5,000-6,000 resource points (fluctuating).

Current major resource consumption projects: ...Inventory structure analysis: Refined resource point reserves: 4,200 points. Unconverted high-value raw materials (rare alloys, energy crystals, etc.) reserve value approximately 2,000 points. Sufficient inventory of basic materials such as conventional metals and composite materials."

Five or six thousand points a day sounded like a lot, but in the face of single expenditures often totaling thousands or tens of thousands, along with the base's growing daily consumption (energy, maintenance, personnel), this income could barely maintain operations and conduct limited technological R&D. Any attempt to push the "Blaze" upgrade on a large scale or start any new major construction projects felt stretched thin.

New sources must be opened, and on a massive scale.

Han Zhe's gaze swept across the view outside the command center window. There lay the endless void and floating debris. The main body of the debris belt didn't consist only of those shiny metal chunks. More of it was shattered composite materials, plastic polymers, frozen ice dust, organic residue (possibly remnants of former cargo or living beings), and even various indescribable, bizarre mixtures modified by cosmic rays and low temperatures. Previously, the SCVs and collection stations primarily targeted high-metal-content targets, often ignoring or simply discarding this "trash."

Can any matter... be recycled?

An almost obsessive thought gradually became clear and took shape in his mind.

"System," Han Zhe's consciousness sank deep into his mind, speaking directly to that faint blue core, "our existing 'Resource Conversion' function is based on the principle of matter decomposition and energy-matter reorganization. Theoretically, as long as there is enough energy, any matter should be decomposable into basic particles and reorganized into 'resource units' recognizable by the system. But the current conversion protocol seems to have a preference for material composition, showing extremely low efficiency or even refusing to process high-complexity, low-energy-density 'trash'."

[The current resource conversion protocol (Standard) is established based on efficiency optimization principles. It prioritizes identifying and efficiently converting matter with high energy density, relatively simple structures, or richness in specific scarce elements (metals, crystals). For matter with low energy density, complex and disordered structures, or containing large amounts of 'impurities' (such as long-chain organic molecules, complex polymers), the energy consumption of the conversion process surges, resulting in minimal resource point output and low cost-effectiveness. Therefore, the protocol defaults to classifying them as 'non-recyclable' or 'low-priority' targets.]

"Modify the protocol." Han Zhe's voice was resolute, carrying a determination to burn his bridges, "Initiate top-level authority command. Lift all material composition restrictions. Establish a new 'Absolute Matter Recovery Protocol'. The goal: any matter entering the refining core input port, regardless of its composition, structure, or state, as long as it physically exists, shall be forcibly decomposed, purified, and converted into usable resource points or basic material units. Energy consumption can be high, and efficiency can be temporarily low, but we must achieve 'zero waste'! All matter is resource!"

This was a command that fundamentally changed the logic of resource acquisition. It would abandon the elegance of "picking and choosing" to embrace the greed of "devouring everything." It might bring about massive energy waste, unexpected byproducts or pollution, and even risks from processing certain extreme substances (such as those with strong Warp contamination).

But Han Zhe could no longer care about that. For the base to survive, develop, and break free from its resource shackles, it had to squeeze every bit of potential out of its environment. This debris belt was not just a metal graveyard; it was a mineral deposit composed of countless substances waiting to be "digested"... even if most of it was "low-grade" or even "waste ore."

The blue light of the system core seemed to fluctuate violently because of this command, as if weighing this order that contradicted its initial efficiency design.

[Top-level authority command confirmed. Initiating rewrite of the 'Absolute Matter Recovery Protocol' underlying logic... Integrating all-matter spectrum decomposition models... Constructing extreme matter compatibility processing solutions... Warning: This protocol will greatly increase the refining core's operational load and energy consumption, and may lead to equipment damage or unstable output due to processing unknown hazardous substances. Force execution?]

"Force execution! Begin the protocol rewrite and refining core adaptive modification immediately! Simultaneously, design a supporting 'Global Matter Collection Network' plan. Requirements: Use SCV units, modify or build dedicated collection equipment (such as high-power vacuums, shredders, furnaces, etc.), and conduct carpet-style, indiscriminate matter collection of the debris belt around the platform. No longer distinguish between metals, non-metals, organics, inorganics... anything that can be physically moved, drag it all back and stuff it into the refining core!" An almost fanatical light flickered in Han Zhe's eyes. He was going to "eat" this debris belt entirely!

[Final command confirmed. Initiating 'Taotie' protocol.

· Phase 1: refining core 'Absolute Matter Recovery' function upgrade. Estimated time: 8 standard hours; during this period, the refining core will suspend other production functions. Energy consumption: 10 units.

· Phase 2: Design 'Global Matter Collection Network'. Solution generating... Requires modification of existing SCV collection tools, adding modules such as 'Wide-Area Matter Flow Adsorption Device' and 'High-Strength Shredding Compressor'. Construction requirements: 1,500 resource points, 6 units of energy.

· Phase 3: Formulate new matter classification, transportation, and pre-processing workflows.]

The entire base's resource focus shifted fundamentally in an instant. The refining core stopped its ongoing production of "Listening" components and other precision parts. From within came an unprecedentedly violent roar and energy surge, as if its very foundations were being reconstructed. The faint blue light became unstable, turning brilliant white at times and dark red at others, indicating the immense pressure of the ongoing modification.

Resource points were rapidly allocated to manufacture the new collection tool modules. The SCVs temporarily halted their exploration and precision collection to begin "armed modifications" of themselves according to the new blueprints—alongside their original magnetic claws and cutting arms, they were fitted with thick intakes equipped with powerful vortex generators, as well as large hydraulic compression mechanisms that could forcibly crush and compact large chunks of debris. They would transform from refined "miners" and "surgeons" into crude "scavengers" and "shredders."

Alpha Squad (the three of them) and the "Sentry" units were also mobilized to help clear corners of the platform where waste previously deemed useless had piled up. They gathered rusted pipe fragments, broken insulation materials, old packaging, and so on, preparing them as the first "trial meal" for the new protocol.

Eight hours later, the refining core's modification was complete. Its appearance hadn't changed much, but the halo around the input port had turned into a constantly shifting deep purple, as if it could suck in all light. A faint energy pulse, carrying a sense of hunger, emanated from within.

"'Taotie' protocol core module online. Current matter processing compatibility: Theoretical full coverage. Estimated energy consumption: 150%-500% of the standard protocol, depending on material composition. Estimated resource point conversion rate: Complex/low-value matter conversion rate may be as low as 10%-30% of standard metal." keystone reported the preliminary results.

"Begin testing. First round: process the waste gathered on the platform." Han Zhe ordered.

Piles of rusted iron, broken plastic, rotten cables, and unidentified gelatinous substances... were pushed by SCVs into the refining core's deep purple input port.

There was no earth-shattering change. Only a low, weird sound, like a giant beast chewing and swallowing, mixed with the sound of matter being torn apart and reorganized by extreme forces, came from inside the core. Energy readings fluctuated violently, and consumption increased significantly.

A few minutes later, the output slot opened. No prefabricated parts or metal ingots appeared, only a small handful of gray powder of unknown composition shimmering with a dim Glimmer, along with a flickering prompt on the system interface:

[Processing complete. Basic resource points obtained: 85 points.]

A mountain-like pile of trash had only yielded 85 points. The efficiency was indeed pitifully low.

But Han Zhe's eyes lit up. Because under the old protocol, these things either couldn't be processed or the yield wouldn't even cover the startup energy consumption—they were an absolute net loss. But now, they had actually been "eaten" and converted into positive resource points! Though small, they would add up!

"Low efficiency is not a problem! The key is that it 'can eat'! keystone, record the conversion data for different types of matter and optimize the processing workflow. Now, Phase 2: 'Global Collection' initiate! Alpha Squad, target: all movable, non-base structure matter fragments within a five-kilometer radius of the platform! No matter what it is, suck it back, crush it, and send it into the refining core!"

"Command confirmed. 'Global Matter Collection' protocol initiated."

The three modified SCVs, like three steel bulls charging into a china shop, rushed toward the surrounding debris belt. They no longer carefully selected metals; instead, they opened their massive adsorption ports. Powerful gravity fields crudely sucked in all floating fragments of various sizes—metal, stone, ice crystals, plastic, broken instrument casings, frozen organic blocks, and even some suspiciously colored viscous substances—into temporary storage bays in their bellies. The shredders inside the storage bays immediately started up, grinding and compressing the intake into relatively regular "trash bricks."

The efficiency was staggering! Compared to the previous slow work of cutting and transporting high-value metal, the speed of this "whale-gulping" collection was more than ten times faster! Soon, the SCVs returned to the platform dragging fully loaded "trash bricks," tossing them into the refining core's seemingly insatiable maw.

The refining core operated at full power, its deep purple light glowing steadily as that tooth-grinding "chewing" sound continued from within. Energy consumption climbed sharply, taking up a large portion of the output from the Fusion Reactor, "Spark." But corresponding to this, the system's resource points began to tick upward steadily and continuously at an extremely fast frequency, even if each single gain wasn't high!

+32...+41...+28...+55...+19 (a pile of ice crystals)...+67... The point growth curve changed from its original slow crawl into a continuous, stepped ascent!

"'Taotie' protocol running stably. Current average hourly resource point acquisition: approximately 800-1,000 points. Primary sources are low-value composite materials, silicates, ice mixtures, etc. Energy consumption is three times that of the conventional collection mode." keystone reported the data.

Nearly a thousand points an hour! That was almost twenty-four thousand points a day! Although the energy consumption was massive, considering the Fusion Reactor upgrade was imminent, energy would be more abundant in the future, while resources were the eternal bottleneck! This deal was worth it!

Even better, this collection method greatly expanded the "mining" range. Scraps and trash heaps that were previously looked down upon had now become resource sources. The "reserves" of the debris belt were instantly magnified by an order of magnitude!

"Continue! Expand the collection range! Have the SCVs work in shifts to keep the refining core running at full load! Also, during the collection process, watch for any 'special' matter reactions, such as high-energy residues, abnormal radiation, or... signs of Warp contamination. If anomalies are found, isolate and report them immediately; do not send them directly into the refining core!" Despite his excitement, Han Zhe did not forget to warn of the risks. Being greedy was fine, but one couldn't eat recklessly, especially in such a dangerous environment.

"Supplementary command confirmed. Safety protocols loaded."

The base, like a metallic behemoth with its ultimate digestive system activated, began to frantically devour everything around it. The SCVs shuttled back and forth untiringly, and the "chewing" sound of the refining core became the platform's new background noise. Resource points accumulated at a rate visible to the naked eye, soon breaking into five digits and continuing to grow rapidly.

Watching those jumping numbers, Han Zhe felt a sense of almost savage pleasure. To hell with careful selection, to hell with efficiency first! In this dark forest where survival was the only law, the ability to convert all matter into survival capital was the most dominant and practical "talent"!

The gap for the energy upgrade? Fill it!

Equipment for a future army? Build it!

The astronomical figures for the "ark" plan? Save up bit by bit!

Even... the supplies and reserves needed to explore further areas? Now there was a way!

The activation of the "Taotie" protocol was not just a revolution in resource collection; it was a complete shift in survival philosophy. It announced that this tiny civilization, established by the transmigrator and his system, would no longer elegantly "gather," but would instead "devour" all reachable matter with the most greedy and thorough posture to nourish itself and march toward that cold and magnificent sea of stars.

In the deep space, the "Listenings" recorded quietly.

Inside the "Hive," new lives grew robustly.

On the platform, the steel beast was feasting.