As Far As the Eye Can See, Everything Is My Fishing Ground

Not long after, the Chengjiang set sail once again.

Nie Yun sat in the captain's chair in the main control room, his legs propped up on the control panel before him, watching his new employees bustle about with a sense of self-satisfaction.

A group of "Xiaohai" with adorable, dazed expressions and wearing pink dresses were busy at their various clerical posts—some held the helm, others operated the radar, and some checked various measuring instruments—all working in an orderly fashion.

Meanwhile, the "Xiaolang," dressed as fishermen, were busy hauling supplies, coiling ropes, or scrubbing the deck, working without a single complaint...

Men and women working together, the work doesn't feel tiring!

Xiaolang: "..." (I'm exhausted, alright!)

Nie Yun took the tea offered by a nearby "Xiaohai" and took a sip. "Now this feels like a captain's life!"

While he controlled the robot sailors to steer the Chengjiang, he also began experimenting with new skills, attempting to write more convenient automation programs for his robotic crew.

"Hmm, the output power is a bit low. It would be better if the strength were higher. Yes, let's try changing it like this!"

"Clatter, clatter!" The "Xiaohai" beside him who had just served him tea suddenly began to tremble as if having a seizure, her limbs flailing wildly.

Finally, with a "hiss," she emitted a few wisps of black smoke and slumped over, completely powered down...

"Uh..." Nie Yun looked at his secretary with some embarrassment.

"Sorry, sorry! A mistake, just a mistake!"

After a wave of silver light rippled across the surface of the short-circuited secretary "Xiaohai," her internal components were repaired. Once she recovered, she cast a speechless glance at the unscrupulous captain who was using her for experiments, then quietly returned to her "secretary (experimental) position."

"Hiss!" "Uh, why did it fail again! That doesn't work either!"

"Hiss!" "Hmm, this time I need to add a segment of XX code?"

"Hiss!" "I refuse to believe it! Let's try again..."

Time passed slowly as Nie Yun experimented with his new skills amidst the mournful state of that "Xiaohai," until the sky turned completely dark and Nie Yun finally brought the Chengjiang back to his secret base.

By now, the secret base had undergone a massive transformation. In addition to a channel over thirty meters wide being cleared, deepened, and widened, a simple pier had been constructed next to the Sea Wolf using cleared rocks and other materials.

Although it was simple, the processing capability of the Mechanical Insects was cosmic-grade; the pier was built to be incredibly smooth, and upon it sat raw materials collected by the Mechanical Insects from the seabed.

Furthermore, the base had been slightly camouflaged.

The sky above the Sea Wolf was now covered by dense trees, extending along the cliffs on both sides to the exit, shielding the area from the omnipresent satellite surveillance in the sky.

This was a camouflage net created by the Mechanical Insects using materials from the island's forest.

In the near future, this camouflage net would cover the only entrance and exit as well. By then, unless someone came to inspect it in person, it would be impossible to spot anything unusual even from just a few dozen meters away.

"A secret base must first and foremost be absolutely secret!" This was Nie Yun's original intention for building the base: hide himself, safety first!

After docking the Chengjiang next to the Sea Wolf, Nie Yun ordered all the Mechanical Insects currently reinforcing the Sea Wolf and constructing the base to drop their work and join the others in fully consuming the Chengjiang and the supplies aboard.

With the dozens of barrels of fuel Chu Xiaoxiao had helped him purchase, the energy problem was temporarily solved. Once those few power generation sets were replicated, it would be even less of an issue.

Under Nie Yun's command, all the Mechanical Insects pushed their power to the limit, beginning another wave of population explosion.

Viewed from afar, the entire Chengjiang looked as if it had been plated in silver, shimmering with an eerie light under the moonlight.

This ship had been intended as a cover for his activities, and since it also provided a large amount of raw materials, its fate to be consumed had been sealed the moment it was bought.

Nie Yun stood at the bow of the Sea Wolf, watching the scene of countless Mechanical Insects surging to consume the ship, and an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

Once upon a time, Nie Yun had piloted the old Sea Wolf past the underside of such large vessels, looking up with immense envy at those giant ships, feeling as if the entire world was occupied by them.

But now, the thousand-ton freighter that had once seemed so magnificent in his eyes was nothing more than prey for him to slaughter. Before long, ten-thousand-ton ships, and even 100,000-ton giants, would be nothing more than his food. And what about after that?

Nie Yun looked at his own hands, gaining an understanding of his own power for the first time.

Surging beneath that silver-white surface was a power that transcended nature! The power of technology!

And also—my power!

Ambition was like a spark, cast into the lake of his heart, igniting a raging fire.

He looked up at the boundless sea in the distance and the stars filling the sky.

What exactly would it take to be considered the greatest fisherman? Pondering this question, Nie Yun's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Then let this ocean be ruled by me!

Everything my eyes can see shall be my fishing ground!