Optical Computer and Virus

The night was deep, and all was silent.

After confirming that his family was asleep, Ning Chuan's consciousness sank into his mind once more, connecting to that vast and dangerous Junk Ocean.

"Enter Station. Spiritual Body Entry."

Light and shadows shifted, and the cold yet safe metal platform appeared before him once again.

Ning Chuan first brought up his status panel and inventory.

"Station Master: Ning Chuan"

"Soul Power Level: Level 25"

"Points: 109"

"Current Materials: Spirit-Conducting Metal Ingot x 2; High-Density Tungsten Steel Ingot x 2; Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil x 1; Biomass Essence x 1; Zerg Chitin Powder x 1; Basic Psionic Fiber x 2; Prepared Centennial Polygonatum Essence x 1; Prepared Centennial Poria Essence x 1; Prepared Centennial Fleeceflower Root Essence x 1; ..."

His points and material status were clearly displayed.

Making a pendant for his sister and preparing medicinal ingredients had cost quite a few points, but the gains had undoubtedly been enormous.

His gaze swept across the twenty-seven Top-grade Spirit Stones still lying silently in the storage area, and Ning Chuan's heartbeat quickened slightly.

Yesterday's experimental energy conversion had been dangerous, but the result proved that it was feasible. Moreover, the Willow Deity True Spirit had indeed shown a faint response.

"Station," Ning Chuan ordered in a deep voice, "execute the 'spirit source-Martial Soul-true spirit' energy conversion program again. Target: nourish the Willow Deity True Spirit. Energy source: Top-grade Spirit Stone x 1. Strictly control output power and ensure safety."

"Command confirmed. Plan feasibility: high. Risk assessment: medium."

"Beginning construction of the energy guidance channel..."

"Please release your Martial Soul and guide your soul skill."

With the experience from last time, Ning Chuan was much calmer this time.

He skillfully summoned his Martial Soul, activated his First Soul Skill, adjusted his mind to its optimal state, and prepared to withstand the impact of the energy torrent.

"The channel has been constructed. Beginning energy guidance..."

Above the platform, a Top-grade Spirit Stone was activated once more, drawing out a thread of pure and immense origin energy that transformed into a milky-white pillar of light and crashed into the Martial Soul!

Excruciating pain struck again. His Martial Soul trembled violently, as though it were about to burst apart!

But this time, Ning Chuan was mentally prepared. He gritted his teeth and held firmly onto his consciousness, fully cooperating with the Recycling Station's guidance as he pushed the conversion efficiency of his soul skill to its limit!

Emerald life radiance collided fiercely with the milky-white torrent of energy, blending and transforming...

The process remained painful and drawn out, but it was slightly smoother than the first time.

In the end, all the violent spiritual energy was converted into gentle, pure life essence and slowly poured into the depths of his Spiritual Sea.

That tiny emerald speck of Willow Deity True Spirit glowed faintly again, releasing a weak suction force that absorbed all of the energy.

The true spirit speck seemed to become a little more solid, and its radiance also stabilized somewhat.

"Energy transmission complete."

"Willow Deity True Spirit activity slightly increased."

"Martial Soul burden removed. Status: mildly fatigued, recoverable."

"Soul power consumed: none."

"Remaining Spirit Stone energy: 99.94% (single stone)."

"It worked!" Ning Chuan let out a long breath. His Spiritual Body felt drained, but his heart was filled with joy.

Although each improvement was minuscule, small gains would eventually add up. Dripping water could pierce stone!

This was undoubtedly a viable path toward a supreme existence!

After resting for a moment and recovering his mental strength, Ning Chuan turned his gaze beyond the platform.

He still had too few points! He had to keep accumulating them!

He hoisted the reinforced Four-Meter Long Rake and headed toward the edge of the platform again.

This time, he set his sights on a pile of wreckage farther away that looked like the ruins of some technological civilization.

Twisted metal components, shattered crystal panels, and charred circuits lay scattered there, as though they had endured a brutal explosion.

"Looks like fragments of an interstellar warship?" Ning Chuan guessed as he carefully swung the rake.

Crack! Clang!

The rake teeth hooked onto a metal armor plate half-buried beneath small fragments. It took considerable effort before he managed to drag it out.

The armor plate was incomparably heavy, its surface covered in traces of laser burns and kinetic weapon impacts.

Next came several broken energy conduits and completely burned-out processor units.

The process was tedious but safe. These wrecks had long since run out of energy and posed no danger aside from their unusual materials.

Soon, another small pile of new spoils had accumulated at the edge of the platform.

Ning Chuan skillfully sent them into the Decomposition Beam in batches.

White light flashed.

"Obtained: Titanium-Steel Armor Fragment x 4"

"Obtained: Damaged Energy Capacitor x 2"

"Obtained: Silicon-Based Chip Remains x 1 unit"

"Points awarded: 12"

The gains were still mediocre, and his points rose to 121.

Ning Chuan was not discouraged. He continued swinging the rake like a patient Scavenger.

This time, the rake teeth caught onto an object that was not large, yet exceptionally exquisite.

The object was half-buried amid a pile of shattered data storage devices. It was streamlined throughout, made of matte black alloy, roughly palm-sized, and shaped like a flattened shuttle. However, one side bore a clear crack, while its edges showed signs of scorching.

"What is this? A personal terminal? Or some kind of controller?" Ning Chuan curiously dragged it before him.

It was icy cold to the touch and had a moderate weight. Through the crack, he could see an extremely intricate internal circuit structure, though most of it had already been burned out.

"Station, scan this object."

"Scanning..."

"Target: Damaged Personal Auxiliary Optical Computer, model: Star Ring-7."

"Source: advanced technological plane, suspected derivative universe of Swallowed Star."

"Status: outer casing damaged; internal core chip set partially burned out; energy module completely disabled; information storage unit damage level: unknown."

"Value assessment: extremely high technological content, but severe damage and extremely low repair value. Some rare materials may be dismantled and recycled, such as Memory Metal, Superconducting Fiber, Quantum Chip Substrate, and so on."

"Risk: low."

"Swallowed Star? A personal auxiliary optical computer?" Ning Chuan's heart stirred.

This was good stuff! Even if it was broken, its technological level far surpassed the Soul Tools of Douluo Continent!

"Station, can you try reading its information storage unit? Even fragments of information would be fine!"

"Command accepted. Attempting to access the information port..."

"Port damaged... attempting wireless connection... no response..."

"Physical storage medium detected: Bio-Crystal Hard Drive present... attempting direct read..."

"Reading... severe interference detected... data fragmented..."

"Restoring information... the following fragments have been obtained:

Basic Universal Language Lexicon of the Universe, incomplete;

Basic Human Mechanics Model, incomplete;

Basic Energy Guidance Atlas, incomplete, suitable for non-soul power systems;

Partial star map coordinates, invalid, plane coordinates do not match;

One encrypted log fragment, decryption failed, content unknown;

Information value: extremely low."

Though they were merely incomplete pieces of basic information, and most did not apply to the rules of Douluo Continent, Ning Chuan still treasured them immensely!

Universal language of the universe! Human mechanics model! Energy guidance atlas! This knowledge itself was priceless! It could greatly broaden his horizons!

"Station, save these information fragments! Especially that encrypted log—keep trying to crack it!"

"Command confirmed. Information archived. Decryption task added to the background queue."

Ning Chuan carefully stored the Damaged Optical Computer in the storage area.

Even if it was only kept as a research sample, this thing held immense value.

He continued clearing the junk.

As he raked apart a pile of twisted pipes, the rake teeth suddenly struck something round.

He dragged it out with force and discovered that it was a sealed metal canister the size of a basketball.

The canister's surface was covered in rust and dents, but its overall structure remained intact. Its valve was tightly shut, and it bore a skull-and-crossbones warning symbol. Beneath it was a line of blurred text that had long become illegible with the passage of time.

"Station, scan this canister! Assess the risk!"

"Scanning..."

"Target: Sealed Biological Sample Storage Tank, high risk."

"Source: unknown biohazard plane."

"Status: outer casing lightly rusted; internal pressure normal; cryogenic hibernation system disabled. High-concentration, highly active, high-mutation-risk T-Virus Serum detected, inactive state."

"Warning! Extremely dangerous! If the canister is damaged or activated, it will cause a devastating biological leak! Immediate destruction is recommended!"

"Value assessment: negative."

T-Virus Serum?!

Ning Chuan sucked in a cold breath, his scalp going numb! He nearly threw the thing away on instinct!

This was a terrifying substance capable of destroying an entire world!

"Station! Immediately! Safely destroy this canister! Completely decompose it! Leave no trace behind!" Ning Chuan practically roared the command.

"Command confirmed. Initiating highest-priority hazardous material disposal procedure."

"Points consumed: 20."

"Executing complete decomposition annihilation!"

A dark-red beam carrying an aura of destruction shot forth and enveloped the biohazard canister.

There was no explosion and no sound. The canister, along with the terrifying virus inside, was completely broken down into its most basic particles beneath absolute power, vanishing without a trace.

"Hazardous material destroyed."

"Points consumed: 20. Current points: 101."

Ning Chuan let out a long breath, cold sweat soaking his back.

The Heavens Trash Station truly held treasures everywhere—and deadly dangers everywhere as well!

If he had been even slightly careless just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

This scare made him even more cautious.

During the subsequent cleanup, Ning Chuan became even more careful, scanning every object he raked up before touching it.

After clearing several more relatively safe piles of waste, he obtained some basic materials, and his points slowly rose to 118.

Feeling exhaustion seep into his mind once more, Ning Chuan decided to call it a day.

He exited the Station, and his consciousness returned.

Outside the window, the night remained deep.

Lying in bed, Ning Chuan reviewed the gains from this trip: the Willow Deity True Spirit had received further nourishment, he had obtained a damaged optical computer containing advanced knowledge, he had eliminated an extremely dangerous item, and his points had also increased.

"One step at a time." Ning Chuan closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.