Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi's first reaction was confusion: "As far as I know, the Martian atmosphere is thin and doesn't have much water vapor, so it's hard to form lightning, right?"

"That's right."

The Old King said: "Unlike here, Martian Electro-Cats are active in dust storms."

"Local dust storms are very frequent, almost covering the entire surface of the planet, and can last for weeks to months. The dry environment and dust storms allow static electricity to accumulate continuously and in large quantities. The Electro-Cats live in these dust storms. In your words, that's their natural cat house."

"In terms of electrical characteristics, Martian Electro-Cats are high-voltage, low-current, belonging to the same branch as the working Electro-Cats you cultivate. They are different from the Electro-Cats on the Spark Plains, which are mostly high-current."

"In terms of group tendencies and behavior patterns, they are easier to approach. We have had a small amount of interaction with them on Mars. However, due to the lack of effective means and mediums, we are only in a state of non-aggression."

Zhou Yi understood: "So you want to pull me in to coordinate the local Electro-Cats?"

"Just a coincidence."

The Old King corrected: "I have been lobbying and inviting individuals and groups with this ability, but so far, I haven't found any collaborators."

Zhou Yi frowned: "Is it because transportation from Earth to extraterrestrial locations is difficult?"

"What you said is also one of the problems."

The other party said: "The Star-Hub Matrix currently has 7 satellites orbiting Mars. After more than 100 failures, the landing module finally landed successfully. It is very technically difficult to transport a large amount of material from Earth to Mars."

"Currently, there are two methods."

"The first is for the Data-Elected to transmit signals through satellites to reach the Martian landing module and activate the Iron Guard body there for local manufacturing. This is the simplest method."

"However, while this is the most technically stable and convenient, it is also the most difficult part. Because it not only requires abandoning existing life bodies, but also becoming a Data-Elected, which means the entire process is within the Star-Hub Matrix system."

The Old King was also frank: "So, this easiest method is also the most difficult intention to achieve external cooperation."

"The second is to reach Mars through specific space bubbles, but this also has risks."

"First, the minimum requirement is an A-level Sky Walker, and entering Mars is also a projection, which makes communication inconvenient."

"The best object is a Light-Core Entity, which can directly pass through to reach the destination. However, the number of known Light-Core Entities is too small, and this group is more inclined to leave the Earth ruled by the Celestials and enter the unclaimed world to build their own territory, unwilling to be controlled by others."

Zhou Yi thought to himself that made sense.

Those who want to participate are not of a high enough level, and those who have the ability start their own business.

Stuck there.

The Old King continued to elaborate: "The most core reason for the lack of external collaborators to date is that they believe it has no value and sufficient benefits."

"The life forms on Mars are special and highly dangerous. There are also Circulations there, which are different from the light mist flow patterns on Earth, more like a thick, solidified light film with extremely high energy density."

"Ordinary flesh and blood life cannot survive there, which makes most people uninterested."

Zhou Yi couldn't help but think: "Star-Hub focuses on Mars development, spending huge amounts of resources and time. You should have gained something, right? Can you reveal something?"

"Slightly gained."

The Old King said directly: "The most important reason for Mars development is that we have discovered the existence of Light-Seed mineral deposits on Mars through long-term observation with sky survey telescopes. This is a natural phenomenon that does not exist on Earth, and the cause is still unknown."

Zhou Yi immediately became interested: "What does a Light-Seed mine look like?"

The other party projected a dynamic image on the wall with his eyes.

The picture had a dark tone, but it was still possible to see that it was a pit dug out of a mountain, with a large number of luminous objects inside, moving and floating in the pit like fireflies.

"This is a Light-Seed mine."

The Old King said on the side: "They are distributed on the surface and underground of Mars, but the local extremely low temperatures and frequent dust storms also make development difficult."

"In terms of technology, because Light-Seed mines are fluid, rather than relatively deposited and fixed like metal or chemical energy, special devices are needed to absorb them."

"If a dust storm descends, it will absorb the Light-Seeds and turn them into food for the Martian Electro-Cats, causing us serious losses."

Zhou Yi frowned: "Can Light-Seed mines really be developed in this environment?"

"Yes. Because the entire surface of Mars is covered with this flowing mineral resource, and they are extremely large in quantity, it is only necessary to overcome the adverse environmental effects."

In the image projected by the Old King, several Iron Guards were holding a long pole that looked like a mine-sweeping device, absorbing the roaming Light-Seeds.

It seemed they still had to rely on manual collection.

Zhou Yi asked: "How many Light-Seeds can be collected each month?"

The Old King said: "In the current situation, calculated according to Earth time, the Mars base can collect about 40,000 Light-Seeds per month."

That's less than 500,000 Light-Seeds a year.

Considering the high upfront cost of building the base, and the losses in the face of extreme environments... this little income can't make up for the huge hole at all.

Zhou Yi said tactfully: "Thank you for the invitation. I deeply admire Star-Hub's development of Mars. Unfortunately, this project is not suitable for our company. Our company does small business, focusing on volume and affordability. Although the profits are meager, the emphasis is on continuous stability."

"Don't rush to refuse."

The Old King proposed: "If the Star-Hub Matrix develops alone, the collection of Light-Seed mines is indeed not worth the effort. However, if you are willing to join, it will produce a qualitative change."

"As long as your company's Light-Core Entity brings mature working Electro-Cats into the Mars base, they can quickly obtain a large number of Light-Seeds."

"Because as long as the Electro-Cats enter the dust storm, they can absorb and capture a large number of Light-Seeds. There are huge amounts of Light-Seeds in the dust storm, but only Electro-Cats can withstand that environment. Iron Guards will be blown away and torn to pieces if they get close."

"Dust storms will suck up a large number of Light-Seeds from the ground. This is a natural and efficient collector. According to our observation and test data, a small dust storm can absorb at least 70 million Light-Seeds in a single month. As long as you can capture 1% of them, it is already a considerable income."

"There are tens of thousands of dust storms all over Mars, and they are moving at high speed across the surface of the planet."

"Your company's working Electro-Cats can obtain a large number of Light-Seeds by using dust storms."

The Old King's words made Zhou Yi's heart flutter.

This is a direct money mine... If it really works, it can greatly alleviate the frequent large-scale investments and the financial shortage caused by combat consumption.

Zhou Yi thought back and forth for a while and raised two questions.

"When Electro-Cats enter a dust storm, how do they send the collected Light-Seeds into a device like a Light-Nano Box? They are electrical life forms and cannot directly use tools themselves."

"If Light-Seeds can be collected, how can they be sent back to Earth?"

The Old King immediately gave the answers: "Electro-Cats can wrap Light-Seeds. They are natural containers—that's what Martian Electro-Cats do. They don't just grab Light-Seeds and eat them, but store them in their bodies, and when the dust storm is about to end, they use these Light-Seeds to provide huge energy to quickly jump into the next dust storm, avoiding death."

Zhou Yi was a little surprised to hear that.

He didn't expect that Electro-Cats could actually act as Light-Seed containers.

But thinking about it carefully, an Electro-Master is a structure formed by an Electro-Cat wrapping other life forms, so there are traces to follow.

"Sending them back to Earth is even simpler."

The Old King said: "Star-Hub has two Light-Core Entities. Although they have difficulty dealing with dust storms, Light-Seed transportation is not a problem. If you are willing to send a Light-Core Entity, you can settle directly on Mars."

"In addition, Light-Core Entities can also transport Electro-Cats to Mars. Electro-Cats are energy-based life forms, just like Light-Seeds, and can be stored in the Light-Core Entity's Light-Core memory."

Two Light-Core Entities.

This is the Old King's publicly disclosed top combat power of Star-Hub.

Zhou Yi was silent for a moment: "I need to discuss it internally."

"Okay, I'll wait for your reply."

After saying that, the Old King controlled Ding Ye's body and walked out all the way, overlooking Emerald City from the rooftop.

Zhou Yi summoned Curling, Red Falcon, Mud Grout, the Minister of Mud Tree Civilization, Qian Su, the Director of the Express Center, You Ai, the Minister of Electricity, Pikachu and Electric Treasure, the representatives of the Electro-Cats, for a meeting, and called [Dong Shi] as a consultant.

The Old King personally invited the company to jointly develop Mars, which also has Light-Seed mines and Electro-Cats, making everyone surprised and happy.

This represents the company's strength being recognized by the top force.

But whether to cooperate or not, there are differences within the company.

Qian Su was the first to clearly support going.

Her reason was simple: "Our company has powerful Light-Core Entities and Electro-Cat employees, and the conditions are uniquely favorable. We should try it no matter what."

"Especially since Star-Hub is the only one developing Mars right now, the sooner we join, the more benefits we can get."

"By establishing a cooperative relationship with Star-Hub, we can purchase and use their Star-Hub Light-Imprint and satellite technology."

You Ai, however, held an opposing view: "Chairman, Mars is a completely unfamiliar place, and the risks and benefits cannot be quantified."

"Working there is a huge challenge for the Electro-Cats of the Electricity Department. Facing a large number of high-level wild Electro-Cats, their lives may be in danger."

"Star-Hub has two Light-Core Entities, but they cannot directly obtain Light-Seeds from dust storms. I think there must be Light-Core levels in dust storms and Martian Electro-Cats. Therefore, we can only hope to rely on our Electro-Cats to enter them."

"This is very risky."

Mud Grout and Dong Shi didn't have any thoughts.

In their words.

"Cross-border is like this, dangers and opportunities coexist."

Zhou Yi finally looked at the two Electro-Cat representatives.

The key still depends on the wishes of the parties involved.

"What do you say?"

Pikachu squatted on the chair: "Mars is very dangerous, but I want to try it. I am already familiar with some of the habits and personalities of wild Electro-Cats on the Spark Plains, so I have some experience."

Zhou Yi was shocked.

Pikachu, who has always been in a lazy cat state, actually took the initiative to ask for such a tough assignment.

"I am the chief instructor of the company's working Electro-Cats. At this time, I have to be the first to go! Otherwise, how will I get along in the future!"

Pikachu said proudly.

As a working Electro-Cat of the Scavenger Team, Electric Treasure was more restrained and introverted: "Chairman, I also think we can try it. There are a lot of Light-Seeds there. In theory, Electro-Cats should grow faster, and maybe there will be an opportunity to enter the Light-Core Entity stage."

"We can publicly hire all working Electro-Cats to see how many are willing to participate."

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea."

He immediately asked Pikachu to notify all working Electro-Cats in the Sandport area.

Two seconds later, 52 working Electro-Cats signed up to participate.

Zhou Yi immediately decided.

"Then let's give it a try and go to Mars!"