Chapter Summaries

Luo Liuzi sold Liu Mu a second-grade stone axe for ten yuan, while Liu Mu decided it was not worth the price. The chapter revealed Tian Man had coached Luo Liuzi to impress Song Xiaozhu and build ties with her, and Luo Liuzi then offered Qiu Shuyu ten yuan to try her first-grade axe.

• Liu Mu tested the stone axe and concluded it worked better than an iron axe but was not worth ten yuan.
• Luo Liuzi offered Qiu Shuyu ten yuan for ten swings with her first-grade axe, while Liu Mu called him an idiot.
• Tian Man's advice to Luo Liuzi was revealed: he had urged Luo Liuzi to cultivate a connection with Song Xiaozhu, a Craftsman who might become a powerful faction leader.
• Luo Liuzi had used Tian Man's sales advice to persuade Liu Mu to buy an axe that Song Xiaozhu had given him for free.
• Qiu Shuyu considered Luo Liuzi's offer acceptable, though she had been reluctant to use the valuable axe.

Qiu Shuyu tested Song Xiaozhu’s first-grade axe and impressed everyone with how quickly she felled a tree, but refused Luo Liuzi’s offer of 10 yuan for ten swings. Liu Mu then learned that Luo Liuzi had sold him an inferior-grade axe, and demanded his money back.

• Qiu Shuyu accepted Luo Liuzi’s offer to test the first-grade axe before deciding whether to let him use it.
• Tian Man had Luo Liuzi switch to a standard-grade axe so he could compare it with the better one.
• Qiu Shuyu swung the first-grade axe with such power that she felled a tree alone, then praised it.
• Qiu Shuyu refused Luo Liuzi’s 10 yuan because she felt ten swings were not worth that much and expected more first-grade axes to appear.
• Liu Mu learned that his axe was inferior-grade, exploded at Luo Liuzi, and demanded a refund.

Song Xiaozhu used the day’s raw materials to gain synthesis experience and reached the conditions to repair her Synthesizer. The repair would take 20 hours, but the system offered to cut the time by ten hours per Quantum Coin as she prepared for the threat of the Shang family.

• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi’s plan to sell stone axes left Liu Mu upset that everyone but him had one.
• Song Xiaozhu improved her synthesis success rate and gathered three stacks each of raw wood and raw stone material.
• At the logging grounds, Song Xiaozhu synthesized tools to gain experience, ending up with four skinning knives, two simple hoes, and one simple pickaxe.
• Song Xiaozhu reached 100 experience points and started repairing the level-one Synthesizer, which the system estimated would take 20 hours.
• The notification told Song Xiaozhu that one Quantum Coin could reduce the repair time by ten hours.

Song Xiaozhu upgraded the Synthesizer to level 2 and discovered new recipe categories, including medicine, weapons, armor, and customization. After exploring the recipes, she switched the pegboard back to its level 1 recipes, leaving the Workbench ready for her to use either set.

• Song Xiaozhu spent 2 Quantum Coins to repair the Workbench, which became a level 2 Synthesizer.
• Song Xiaozhu found new recipe categories for medicine, weapons, armor, and customization, along with a larger selection of tools.
• Song Xiaozhu discovered that the food recipes included clean water and a hearty simple meal.
• Song Xiaozhu asked to view level 1 recipes and swiped the recipe panel, restoring the row of ten level 1 recipes.

Song Xiaozhu explored the level-two Synthesizer and learned that upgrading an existing recipe cost two Quantum Coins, while unlocking a new one cost ten. The Synthesizer revealed fixed quests and exchange rates for earning Quantum Coins, and Song Xiaozhu decided to spend her three coins on upgrading an old recipe.

• Song Xiaozhu discovered that upgrading the Professional Axe recipe cost two Quantum Coins, but unlocking a new medicine recipe required ten.
• Song Xiaozhu reviewed the level-two Synthesizer panel and noticed that some level-one achievements remained unactivated.
• Song Xiaozhu opened the quest panel and found fixed quests for earning transaction value, leadership value, and slaughter value.
• Song Xiaozhu learned that one hundred transaction value could be exchanged for one Quantum Coin at the current rate.
• Song Xiaozhu considered the Synthesizer’s new features and resolved to upgrade an existing recipe with her three Quantum Coins.

Song Xiaozhu unlocked the raw iron material recipe and learned what she needed to make a professional axe, while a Transaction Value notification hinted that someone had sold an axe. She went to meet Qiu Shuyu and the others, where Luo Liuzi’s missing axes suggested he had sold them.

• Song Xiaozhu chose to unlock the professional axe recipe, then discovered that unlocking basic raw material recipes cost only one Quantum Coin while other new recipes cost ten.
• Song Xiaozhu unlocked the raw iron material recipe and received a Transaction Value point after Luo Liuzi sold a third-grade axe to Liu Mu for twenty yuan.
• Song Xiaozhu inspected the professional axe recipe and learned it required a simple axe and one raw iron material, with a 60% success rate.
• Song Xiaozhu decided to seek out iron scrap at the community recycling station and headed to the logging site to meet Qiu Shuyu and the others.
• Song Xiaozhu noticed that Qiu Shuyu and Tian Man still carried their axes, while Luo Liuzi was missing two, suggesting he had sold them.

Song Xiaozhu considered Luo Liuzi’s sales tactics and agreed to work with him and Tian Man under stricter limits. After the two brought wild vegetable powder as a gift, she invited them to eat and told them they could come again without bringing anything.

• Luo Liuzi asked Song Xiaozhu to make wild vegetable porridge, and Tian Man persuaded him to bring her wild vegetable powder as a gift.
• Song Xiaozhu learned from Qiu Shuyu that Luo Liuzi had sold two items and reasoned that Transaction Value counted transactions involving synthesized products.
• Song Xiaozhu explained to Qiu Shuyu that Luo Liuzi’s aggressive sales tactics were unsustainable and could make enemies, then decided she was willing to work with him and Tian Man under stricter limits.
• Luo Liuzi and Tian Man arrived with wild vegetable powder, and Tian Man suggested they call Song Xiaozhu Master Song in private.
• Song Xiaozhu accepted the powder, told them not to bring more, and invited them to eat; Luo Liuzi eagerly ate the porridge.

Song Xiaozhu explained that Tian Man and Luo Liuzi’s high-priced axe sales carried hidden costs because Liu Mu could retaliate and damage their future sales and reputation. Tian Man took the money and left with Luo Liuzi to deal with Liu Mu, while Qiu Shuyu asked how they could mend the relationship.

• Luo Liuzi handed Song Xiaozhu the 27 yuan earned from selling the axes, but Song told him and Tian Man to keep it.
• Tian Man worried that Song Xiaozhu was dissatisfied, and Song explained that the axe sales had hidden costs beyond the purchase price and labor.
• Song Xiaozhu warned that Liu Mu could retaliate over the high prices, harming their reputation and future sales.
• Tian Man understood the risks, took the money from Luo Liuzi, and left with him to handle the matter with Liu Mu.
• Qiu Shuyu asked Song Xiaozhu how Tian Man planned to make amends with the petty Liu Mu.

Song Xiaozhu used Shang Bao’s old axe to synthesize iron raw material, then failed to turn it into a professional axe. The failure earned her a level 2 “Unlucky Player” achievement and 10 Quantum Coins, leaving her wondering how the achievement was triggered.

• Song Xiaozhu asked Qiu Shuyu for the axe that had killed Shang Bao, and Qiu Shuyu brought it over.
• Song Xiaozhu dismantled the iron axe and successfully synthesized its head into [Iron Raw Material].
• Song Xiaozhu used a second-grade simple axe with the iron material in another synthesis attempt, but the synthesis failed and consumed both materials.
• Song Xiaozhu unlocked the level 2 “Unlucky Player” achievement and received 10 Quantum Coins.
• Song Xiaozhu wondered whether the achievement depended on her synthesis failures or the Synthesizer’s level.

Song Xiaozhu unlocked the anti-inflammatory tablet recipe, synthesized ten tablets, and earned two Quantum Coins. Meanwhile, Bai Jing went to treat the many wounded in Liu Family Village, where his antibiotics had run out.

• Song Xiaozhu weighed whether to unlock the medicine recipe or upgrade her water recipe, then chose the medicine recipe.
• Song Xiaozhu synthesized ten anti-inflammatory tablets and unlocked the level 1 “Pharmacist” achievement, earning two Quantum Coins.
• Song Xiaozhu stored the foul-smelling tablets in her little box, worried they might keep her and Sister Shuyu awake.
• Bai Jing surveyed the wounded in Liu Family Village and worried that his supply of antibiotics had run dry.
• Bai Jing entered the Golden Temple, where the villagers prostrated themselves before him, and approached a badly festering patient.

Bai Jing used his Physician ability to end the suffering of a dying girl, while Song Xiaozhu upgraded her water recipe and successfully synthesized drinkable clean water. The chapter left Song Xiaozhu with a new source of safe water but no further information about the recipe.

• Bai Jing injected antibiotics into a patient, then went to treat Xiaohua, whose lower body had rotted beyond recovery.
• Bai Jing promised Xiaohua she would stop hurting and killed her with his needle-tipped finger; her mother accused him, and the guards dragged her away.
• Song Xiaozhu stopped synthesizing anti-inflammatory tablets because she lacked ingredients and feared the tablets might be dangerous.
• Song Xiaozhu upgraded the clean-water recipe and learned it required three units of lightly polluted water with a sixty percent success rate.
• Song Xiaozhu synthesized clean water from water kept in the shack, and the Synthesizer confirmed it was drinkable.

Song Xiaozhu synthesized unusually good clean water for herself and Qiu Shuyu, then reunited with Tian Man and Luo Liuzi after they returned Liu Mu’s money. She demonstrated her stone-axe crafting to Tian Man, whose ambition flared as he watched.

• Song Xiaozhu shared her newly synthesized clean water with Qiu Shuyu, and both enjoyed its refreshing taste.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi returned early and told Song Xiaozhu that Liu Mu’s money had been returned.
• Luo Liuzi complained that Tian Man had made him con Liu Mu and then come along to return the money.
• Song Xiaozhu decided they could discuss selling axes that night and begin grinding Transaction Value sooner.
• At Tian Man’s request, Song Xiaozhu summoned her Workbench and synthesized a second-grade stone axe in front of him and Luo Liuzi.
• Tian Man watched the crafting with fervent ambition, while Luo Liuzi stared in awe.

Song Xiaozhu made graded stone axes and planned to sell standard-grade ones while seeking a discreet source of iron for better tools. Tian Man and Luo Liuzi pointed her toward Old Chen’s workshop, and the chapter ended with the story of why Old Chen cherished his daughter.

• Tian Man became convinced Song Xiaozhu was an Awakened and imagined becoming her capable right-hand man, earning her a point of Leadership Value.
• Song Xiaozhu made a dozen or so axes, mostly standard-grade, and recommended selling those first to build a customer base.
• Song Xiaozhu explained that stone axes were only temporary and said she would make longer-lasting iron axes once she found a steady source of materials.
• Tian Man suggested scrap iron from recycling stations, but Song Xiaozhu said they should avoid drawing attention in the community.
• Luo Liuzi suggested Old Chen’s family workshop, whose business had suffered after Old Chen’s younger daughter married into Liu Family Village against the community covenant.
• Luo Liuzi recounted that Old Chen had once hoped for a son but cherished his daughter after his wife nearly died giving birth to her.

Song Xiaozhu learned how Old Chen's family had fallen into hardship and saw a chance to buy their scrap iron, but decided to build capital and establish stone axe sales first. She set a five-yuan price ceiling as she planned how to bring her axes to market.

• Luo Liuzi told Song Xiaozhu how Old Chen's younger daughter married a man from Liu Family Village and how Old Madam Hu punished the family by making the recycling station buy their scrap at half price.
• Tian Man explained that Old Madam Hu's watchers and the recycling station's records had stopped others from helping Old Chen's family sell scrap.
• Song Xiaozhu realized she could buy their scrap iron without using the recycling station, but decided to wait until her stone axes were selling and she had more capital.
• Song Xiaozhu told Tian Man and Luo Liuzi not to sell the stone axes for more than five yuan, and Tian Man asked whether they could set their own wholesale resale prices below that limit.

Song Xiaozhu arranged for Tian Man and Luo Liuzi to sell her axes at tiered wholesale prices, aiming to earn money and gather Transaction Value while preparing to buy timber. After learning that the Synthesizer would unlock Batch Synthesis at level three, she began fulfilling orders at the logging camp with Qiu Shuyu nearby.

• Song Xiaozhu set cumulative wholesale prices for axes, and Luo Liuzi and Tian Man agreed to take 10 and 50 axes respectively.
• Song Xiaozhu reassured Qiu Shuyu that she had a plan and revealed that she was selling the promise of future production rather than intending to make every axe by hand.
• Song Xiaozhu learned from the notification voice that the level-three Workbench would unlock Batch Synthesis.
• Over the next two days, Tian Man and Luo Liuzi carried axes into the forest to sell to loggers, while Qiu Shuyu stayed with Song Xiaozhu at the logging camp.

Song Xiaozhu’s stone-axe business expanded while she worried about Bai Jing’s delayed return and the isolation zone. Bai Jing prepared to take Liu Family Village chief Xiao Tong back to the community to seek antibiotics, and Tian Man and Luo Liuzi sold three hundred axes over two days.

• Song Xiaozhu watched the Transaction Value rise as the axe business took shape and considered selling seven axes to complete Growth Quest 2.
• Song Xiaozhu worried that Bai Jing had not returned and wondered whether the isolation zone was still being reinforced, then checked her medicine booklet for an antidote.
• Bai Jing told Xiao Tong that he had no antibiotics left but that Xia Fengshou might have more through Old Madam Hu, and offered to take Xiao Tong to the community.
• Xiao Tong agreed to seek Old Madam Hu’s help for Liu Family Village’s sick, and Bai Jing arranged to leave with him the next morning.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi reported selling three hundred stone axes, while Tian Man explained that he had persuaded team leaders to buy trial axes and expected more orders after they tested them.

Song Xiaozhu and her companions sold stone axes at the logging camp, then limited sales to avoid drawing attention while she waited for Bai Jing and considered seeking Mu Qing’s protection. She planned to make a professional axe before approaching him and counted the group’s recent earnings.

• Song Xiaozhu took Qiu Shuyu separately to the logging camp while Tian Man and Luo Liuzi sold 270 stone axes for four yuan each.
• As buyers gathered, Song Xiaozhu stopped the supply and told Luo Liuzi she would prepare about 150 more axes for him to sell without her.
• Song Xiaozhu explained that they would wait a couple of days to avoid attracting Old Madam Hu’s attention, give Bai Jing time to return, and let her prepare a professional axe.
• Song Xiaozhu decided Mu Qing was a better potential backer than Old Madam Hu and planned to approach him after testing a professional axe.
• Tian Man agreed to keep taking rush orders, and Song Xiaozhu later counted 620 yuan in earnings from 300 axes with Qiu Shuyu.

Song Xiaozhu earned nearly 700 yuan but saw little chance of reaching Fortress, then unlocked and synthesized crude oil with her Synthesizer. She discovered she could attach another level 1 storage unit and immediately made a third small box.

• Song Xiaozhu and Qiu Shuyu counted nearly 700 yuan, but calculated that buying even the cheapest Fortress house would take years of risky work.
• Song Xiaozhu reassured Qiu Shuyu that they would go to Garbage Mountain together the next day, then checked her Synthesizer's recipes and currency.
• Song Xiaozhu spent 1 Quantum Coin to unlock the crude oil recipe and successfully synthesized crude oil from plastic bottles.
• Song Xiaozhu tested the springy crude oil, stored it in her full small box, and learned she could attach another level 1 storage unit.
• Song Xiaozhu used materials she had planned for axes to synthesize a third small box.

Song Xiaozhu prepared to seek Mu Qing’s support if Bai Jing did not return, while Bai Jing brought Xiao Tong to the scavenger community to ask District Chief Hu for antibiotics for Liu Family Village’s wounded. The guards said Hu was away, and Bai Jing and Xiao Tong stayed to wait.

• Song Xiaozhu decided that if Bai Jing had not returned by night, she would take the professional axe to see Mu Qing the next day.
• Bai Jing returned with Xiao Tong, who had defied Liu Family Village’s elders to seek antibiotics for the wounded hunters.
• Bai Jing accompanied Xiao Tong to District Chief Hu’s office, where the guards grew wary when Xiao Tong revealed his Hunter ability.
• A guard said District Chief Hu was away and suggested they return another day.
• Bai Jing said he and Xiao Tong would wait, then took on his aged appearance beside the young village chief.

Bai Jing waited outside Old Madam Hu’s office while she refused to meet him. Meanwhile, Song Xiaozhu and Qiu Shuyu scavenged in a secluded part of Garbage Mountain and uncovered a huge scrapped truck bed.

• Bai Jing brought Xiao Tong to Old Madam Hu’s office, and Old Madam Hu told her aides to claim she was away while she watched them wait.
• Song Xiaozhu left their earnings with Qiu Shuyu and took her to scavenge away from the salvage scramble and Shang Dayuan’s search for Shang Bao.
• Qiu Shuyu dug through foul sludge until her stone hoe cracked against something buried beneath it.
• Song Xiaozhu and Qiu Shuyu found a large rusty truck bed that was too big to handle easily.