Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

Chapter 1026: Chapter 892: Reward

Qu Jianlei and his team landed on the star body, and managed to stockpile ten million Energy Blocks within six months.

The process...well, it goes without saying, was incredibly arduous.

It’s said that mining and extracting Energy Stone Ore is absolutely lucrative; as long as you have a permit, you can just sit back and count money.

But it depends on the circumstances. They only had seven people in total, and the mining equipment was extremely rudimentary; some preferred to use techniques.

The extractor was also very crude, with high energy consumption, and like the mining equipment, it was subject to severe wear and tear, necessitating frequent maintenance.

So during this process, no one really felt idle; each day was bustling, especially for Qu Jianlei.

However, despite being busy, everyone felt fulfilled.

Especially watching the number of Energy Blocks increase day by day—this was hope, something to look forward to.

When the Energy Blocks accumulated to ten million, Qu Jianlei gathered everyone to discuss whether to release a distress signal.

No one opposed the suggestion, even though this kind of cultivation felt quite fulfilling, it was truly desolate.

Only Xiao Moshan quietly whispered to Qu Jianlei afterward, "I want to attempt breaking through to A-level soon, is that okay?"

"Yes," Qu Jianlei replied without hesitation, "With so many people as Dharma Protectors, what are you worried about?"

"But...no one knows when rescue will come," Xiao Moshan replied, troubled.

"If I’m breaking through, could it not affect your actions?"

"You’re overthinking it, it won’t affect anything," Qu Jianlei answered decisively.

"At worst, we’ll leave someone to watch you, while the others go first and come back to pick you up later."

Xiao Moshan was taken aback upon hearing this, "Special interstellar travel... how much would that cost?"

He hadn’t considered this possibility; would a normal person think like this?

"But the breakthrough can’t be delayed," Qu Jianlei raised his hand to pat his shoulder, "You’re not young anymore."

These words...cut to the heart! Xiao Moshan was once a confident genius Awakened, didn’t find breaking through to A-level difficult.

But now, he had to face reality—the people around Jian Lei, what monsters are they!

Not even mentioning others, Mu Yu broke through to Supreme before he was eighty.

Even Flower Scorpion, who is younger and started cultivation later, is now A-level, with a high probability of advancing to Supreme.

Xiao Moshan considered himself to have encountered some difficulties, otherwise, he should now also be A-level, qualified to aspire to Supreme.

But such talk...would be ridiculed; others all travel smooth roads?

Just speaking of Jian Lei himself, he carried so many notices of prosecution, yet still stood among the top in the Supreme realm?

He slowly nodded, "Alright then, I’ll focus on accumulating, and when the feeling comes, I’ll go all out."

In fact, in the current circumstances, he and Flower Scorpion really couldn’t contribute much useful to the team.

Both would even have to wear space suits when going outside—Flower Scorpion slightly better, still needed a helmet, and couldn’t stay out for long.

So the two could only do some work they were able to do within their dwelling.

However, Xiao Moshan secretly made up his mind to keep diligently honing his skills.

Aiming to either not break through, or when he does, achieve it in as short a time as possible.

Yet his prediction about the future started gradually being fulfilled.

In a blink of an eye, a month passed, and the distress signal sent from the lifeboat received no response whatsoever.

Everyone continued cultivating step by step, and Granny Jia seemed to hold her composure.

In such vast space, waiting for a passing starship was not easy.

But Qu Jianlei didn’t think so; he discussed with her—bring out your lifeboat too.

This lifeboat underwent a simple modification, controlled by Qu Jianlei, carrying two lifeboats away from the star body.

Then he tossed the lifeboats three to four million kilometers away, also releasing a faint distress signal.

In his Storage Talisman, he had about ten lifeboats, but he couldn’t release them all at once, always having to keep some for emergencies.

After discarding two lifeboats, he piloted the lifeboat to return.

Upon returning, he replenished some Energy Blocks, then controlled the lifeboat to set off again, this time autonomously.

Thus the periphery had three distress signals, plus the one on the star body, expanding the influenced range.

But there’s no need to extend farther, as lifeboats have thin skins and short legs, needing careful attention to save endurance.

Besides this, everyone began constructing a second dwelling—the conditions for this dwelling could be somewhat rudimentary.

The Energy Block Extractor and other substantial equipment were relocated near the second dwelling.

The first primary dwelling then began a process of concealment and hiding, to avoid exposure should outsiders land here.

Yet Qu Jianlei didn’t use a Concealing Array, as this might remind people of Rhodiola rosea or Ran Bingluan.

Before they knew it, they had lived a full year on the star body.

Even the signal-sending lifeboat had a damaged one, but still hadn’t received any response.

The Energy Blocks had accumulated to thirteen million.

Qu Jianlei even started pondering whether to consume a bit more energy and effort, to upgrade the conditions of the second dwelling.

After the upgrade, he could release eighty million computing units to calculate the Super Spirit Gathering Array and further refine the Teleportation Array.

However, he was still a bit hesitant; once this setup was initiated, Granny Jia would likely panic.

So why not simply manufacture two more Energy Block Extractors, and then... build other factories?

Such a span of time is destined to be lengthy, as the materials on the star body that can be recycled and reused are becoming increasingly scarce.

Qu Jianlei felt like he was building an industrial society from scratch...

However, there was no choice; there’s nothing else to do!

But always being idle isn’t good; inactivity really does breed trouble, and even without external conflicts, it inevitably affects one’s temperament over time.

At this moment, he kind of missed that heap of starship wreckage; if all else fails, returning to Garbage Star would be okay.

On the third day after he started constructing the Energy Block Extractor, a starship appeared in the distant starry sky.

Granny Jia, responsible for vigilance, discovered the starship; at this point, it was already less than 500,000 kilometers away from them.

There was no choice; given these conditions, Qu Jianlei had already carried a lot of supplies with him, but truly didn’t have long-range scanning equipment.

When the starship was discovered, it was swiftly approaching, and the lifeboat had also received a call request.

Upon connection, the other party rudely asked, "Did you send out a rescue signal, offering one million in reward?"

"Yes," Granny Jia replied coldly, "If it’s not enough, we can negotiate, but we need to return to pay the remaining amount."

Openly stating the reward is necessary; otherwise, in the vastness of space, who would be willing to detour to rescue someone?

As for the one million price tag, it’s slightly high.

Qu Jianlei rescued and escorted Rhine’s group, and combined with carrying that damaged starship, he only asked for five hundred thousand.

However, a price too low isn’t convincing enough; even the Paranoid suggested raising the reward to three million.

Anyway, given their strength, they’re not afraid of attracting kidnappers; as long as the starship is willing to come, everything can be negotiated.

But Granny Jia opposed this, worried that an excessively high reward would scare off passing starships.

One million is still acceptable; many can afford this amount, but three million just sounds too outrageous.

If the other party thinks it might be a trap, then it’s all wasted.

In this boundless space, opportunities and dangers coexist; anything can happen unexpectedly.

The approaching starship continued to ask, "State the type, hull number, destination, and remaining crew of your distressed starship..."

Such a request is not unreasonable; in space, rescuers have the right to ask for relevant information from those needing help.

Otherwise, encountering a Star Thief’s bait would be disastrous; one should not have malicious intent, but must be cautious.

Only someone as skilled and bold as Qu Jianlei would rescue without asking Rhine’s identity.

Of course, the type, hull number, destination... these can also be fabricated; as long as they roughly match up, it’s fine.

But this is ultimately a threshold, improving the cost of committing a crime.

However, everyone had discussed these matters long ago.

"Scientific Research Starship, Code Fifteen, belonging to the Sail Consortium, purpose is to investigate abnormal celestial phenomena, currently has five survivors!"

Such research ships have no fixed routes, launching and landing without regularity; some are even secret.

The other party basically cannot verify such information.

As for only five survivors... as long as the other party dares to land, how many survivors are there is up to us to decide.

"Five people..." someone on the other side murmured lightly, seemingly with a tone of disappointment.

Then a booming voice came through, "Sail... which Sail Consortium?"

Indeed, quite cautious! Granny Jia replied steadily, "The Sail Consortium headquartered in the Red Python Star Realm, we’re well-equipped."

"It’s really that Sail," the other side murmured lightly, then asked again, "You encountered..."

"Could it be, is this a star body with an Energy Stone Ore?"

Clearly, the other party’s starship detected the situation, momentarily feeling somewhat ecstatic.

"This truly is..." at this moment, the Paranoid’s voice sounded, but he didn’t continue.

Granny Jia turned off the transmitter, picked up the handset in the lifeboat, "It’s okay, this starship looks shabby, but it can still sail."

While speaking, the starship came closer, and Mu Yu could also see the ship’s appearance, "No way, did this just get beaten up?"

Instead, Qinghu nonchalantly remarked, "It’s more appealing than the boss’s 8384."

"Who did I offend?" Qu Jianlei sighed, "Alright, everyone take your positions, don’t hold back if shooting is necessary."

Apart from the first and second settlements, they also built two simple bunkers, fulfilling defensive needs.

Qu Jianlei brought a lot of weapons and ammunition, but the firepower isn’t very strong, and the lethality is limited.

Once firing starts, unless it hits critical points, it’s practically equivalent to shouting, "Don’t come any closer!"

Regarding the rescue scenario, everyone had imagined this many times, and they are familiar with various response strategies.

The opposite side asked again, "How long have you been here, do you have any Energy Blocks?"

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