Chapter 333: My life, like walking on thin ice

BOOM!!!

The deafening roar of the thrusters, like thunder, echoed across the firmament. A massive shadow descended slowly from the clouds, like a soaring giant, inching closer to the earth.

It hovered above the sea.

The Moose-class cargo airship, fully half the size of Xinquan, hung above the Prosperity, obscuring the stars and moonlight. Beams of scorching searchlights struck down brutally, like glowing pillars of heaven, overlooking the surroundings.

On the deck, signal lights waved in the hands of the ground crew who had descended earlier. After correcting the deviation and locking the position, a massive shipping container was soon lowered slowly.

It landed precisely on the pre-cleared deck. Immediately, it was rapidly dismantled, exposing the behemoth beneath layers of protection—a Xihe-type fourth-generation central furnace, the size of a villa.

Even without installation or auxiliary equipment, the massive central furnace stood over ten meters tall. The silent, grayish-black structure emitted no flames, but just by standing near it now, one could feel the pure aura of embers within.

The most top-tier central furnace available on the market, usually priced beyond reach, was now right before Ji Jue. Yet, unexpectedly, he did not feel the excitement or thrill he had once fantasized about.

On the contrary... there was a certain detached calmness.

"For now, this will suffice."

He patted the furnace's body, sighing softly.

With a slight operation of the Mechanical God, the inspection was completed rapidly amidst the flow of spiritual quality. No flaws or damage; all parameters were exactly as the Association had guaranteed—not a hair off, precise to a maddening degree.

The importance of a furnace to an artisan goes without saying.

It is even more important than blades are to the Great Crowd.

If the Great Crowd lacks blades, they still have fists, teeth, and even eyes to stare someone to death. But an ordinary artisan without a furnace is no different from a piece of furniture.

Such a high-cost, large-scale central furnace is enough to serve as the core of any workshop. Beyond being able to process over sixteen batches of refining and shaping simultaneously, it can perform the direct creation of massive alchemical artifacts, and it can also serve as a hub to coordinate and drive the operation of multiple workshop modules...

Everything is functioning normally; there are absolutely no problems.

Yet, compared to other large workshops, what is lacking is not just a little bit... It is not just heritage, spirituality, and experience. The furnaces used by large workshops may have been passed down for dozens or hundreds of generations. Under the maintenance of successive artisans, they are absolutely more than just a furnace; they are even beyond the reach of ordinary Heavenly Artisans.

Under long-term immersion and maintenance, not only is the lower limit raised, but they can also endow creations with the characteristics possessed by various factions—from catalyzing the extraction of materials to fostering the ferocity and danger of weapons, raising the physical limit of materials, or enhancing the spirituality and quality of the creations...

By comparison, his current behemoth is merely a blank slate serving as a foundation.

However, he bought this blank slate on purpose.

After all, if one truly wants to cultivate a furnace that perfectly matches one's own habits, one must start from oneself, undergoing years of immersion and tuning, experiencing decades or centuries, with successive generations of unremitting effort, until a qualitative leap is achieved.

Or, one could directly extract, maintain, and unfold the spiritual quality structures scavenged from the Mercury Workshop in the Doomsday Express's storage vault, and gradually implant them—then it would naturally be done in one step!

However, even such a shortcut is too massive in difficulty and workload for the current Ji Jue.

It can only be planned slowly.

"Do you not need to confirm a bit more? Please rest assured, we have plenty of time."

The Association's specialist smiled, waiting for his inspection. Seeing that he just touched it and let go, the specialist felt a sense of admiration while their smile became even more obsequious. As expected of the Chief of this generation, their vision and composure were truly extraordinary.

More importantly, they were wealthy and generous...

Although the Xihe is the Association's signature product on the homepage, with maxed-out performance and no missing functions, it is also limited by its blank-slate state. The poor can't afford it, and the rich don't bother looking at it. The only three in stock now had been gathering dust in the warehouse for over a decade.

How else could Ji Jue have gotten it at a bone-deep discount through Gustav's introduction?

And even then, it was on installment.

After all, all of Ji Jue's savings combined weren't enough for the down payment. With Jiang Tongguang's guarantee, he essentially got it on credit, and would gradually repay it with dividends from the Sea Tide Group...

And this was the point that made everyone realize in hindsight... throughout the entire process, from top to bottom, everyone handled it as a special case as a matter of course, without any surprises, and without a single word of criticism, even if it were spread out, it wouldn't cause any ripples.

How could no one think he wouldn't be able to pay back this money?!

"As expected of Chief Ji."

After Ji Jue finished signing, the specialist's smile was almost overflowing with honey, flattering and praising: "In just a few short months, starting from scratch, you have already created such a massive industry. It is rare even in the history of the Association."

"You flatter me, you flatter me. It's just a small business. I had no choice, just picking up things everyone else didn't want," Ji Jue said politely. "I just happened to become an upstart by luck. How can I compare to other workshops with generations of inheritance and deep foundations?"

"With your ability, you will surely achieve something sooner or later. Perhaps you might even create a legend."

Flattery costs nothing anyway, so the specialist naturally wouldn't be stingy. Moreover, this was only a slight exaggeration, not an impossibility.

Before saying goodbye, the specialist reminded him: "If there are any problems with subsequent use, please feel free to call the dedicated line. However, I assume you shouldn't need others to point fingers."

"If you need anything else, you can call this number. There are instructions above; it will be handled on an expedited basis, and time will never be delayed."

"Certainly, certainly."

Ji Jue smiled and watched the specialist leave in the ascending cabin.

The Moose airship rose into the night sky and gradually drifted away.

And the massive furnace, transported by numerous mechanical arms and hoisting equipment, was sent beneath the deck opened by the Prosperity. Immediately after, layers of spiritual quality seals isolated the interior from the outside and all prying eyes. A stream of light flashed, and the furnace disappeared.

When Ji Jue pushed open the door and walked onto the platform of the Doomsday Express, he saw that the intense installation had already begun.

Like massive steel internal organs, it fell into the workshop Ji Jue had initially set up. Countless mercury flowed, rising like a silver tide, extending branches, connecting circuits and modules in a thousand threads.

Without the need for busy engineering and operations, under Isis's deployment, this brand-new heart was embedded seamlessly into the entire workshop system.

Then, accompanied by the flow of spiritual quality, the original container for Isis dimmed, losing its light, while threads of starlight flowed and appeared from the furnace.

Entry completed.

"How does it feel, Isis?" Ji Jue asked.

"Excellent, sir. Now I am an even more robust and diligent slave and servant, capable of executing more unspeakable, despicable plans and inhumane, dark operations for you without sleep or rest."

Isis answered 'excitedly', as if smiling: "I can't wait to create more works with you to slaughter those foolish humans!"

"... I'll take that as a compliment."

Ji Jue sighed helplessly, automatically filtering out the sarcasm from the workshop spirit, and asked: "How is the connection?"

"Everything is normal."

"And the operating status?"

"Far exceeding the past. Efficiency is expected to increase by more than two-fold. However, specific data will require actual refining to confirm."

Isis replied: "Xihe fourth-generation large furnace, a Heaven-Man dual-phase spiritual quality balance framework covering the entire workshop, an isolated operation room for the Rift Realm, and twelve self-operating modules..."

"Facts prove that your self-sacrifice this time was very successful. It is simply a business with ten thousand times the profit."

"Are you praising me?"

"Yes."

Isis said bluntly: "You did well, sir, and far beyond my expectations. This one gamble alone is better than countless days and nights of mediocre torment. It is admirable."

"..."

For a moment, Ji Jue was stunned and incredulous.

He had never expected to hear such good words from Isis's mouth one day. He was actually somewhat flattered—oh no, was he being PUA'd?!

He wiped away cold sweat and asked curiously: "In the future, could you trouble yourself to omit the first half and just say the latter part?"

"No." Isis refused flatly.

"Why?!"

"Because I like it."

The workshop spirit projected a blurry figure, slightly squatting and lifting her skirt in a curtsy, elegant and light: "I am executing the Creator's Order Number Three—seeking fun."

"... Whatever makes you happy."

Ji Jue's bitterness was even more unspeakable.

Who would have thought that some people could be glorious and domineering outside, only to be viciously mocked by their own workshop spirit upon returning home?

And he couldn't even talk back, only able to wipe away tears and endure it silently.

"Walk with me."

He looked at the massive workshop in the train carriage and sighed softly.

The vastness of the Doomsday Express's internal space goes without saying. For a blessed artifact of the Eternal Gate, space is only a matter of need; there is never a shortage.

Under the operation and expansion of the Myriad Phenomena Engine, a small section of the carriage, if fully unfolded, would probably be even larger than the newly built Sea Tide Industrial Park in Chaocheng.

It was more than enough to house Ji Jue's workshop.

This was his workshop.

The Prosperity on the surface was merely an external cover and the Doomsday Express's locking interface. Beneath the cumbersome spiritual quality seals and isolation were actually Ji Jue's various production lines and mechanical equipment, primarily responsible for the production and storage of various contraband. Even, in times of necessity, it could serve as bait.

Ji Jue could cut the connection between the Doomsday Express and the Prosperity at any time to ensure the workshop's safety. However, even without cutting it, without a ticket, one couldn't open the door to the platform.

Now, after months of accumulation and work, having welcomed the final crucial core, Ji Jue's workshop could be considered initially completed.

It couldn't be compared to the level of his Master and Jianyuan, but at least it possessed the possibility and foundation to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the future.

"Sigh, the world is difficult."

Looking at the scene before him, thinking of the thousand threads of things to do, Ji Jue couldn't help but sigh softly and posted on his social media: 【My life, like walking on thin ice. Do you think I can reach the other shore?】

When taking the selfie, his expression was melancholy, his eyes gloomy, inadvertently revealing the furnace and various equipment of the workshop behind him.

Then, he received comments instantly.

【May the scroll-dog die a horrible death!!!】

Hmm, this is Lu Feng. It seems he's been pushed a bit too hard by Master Kong recently. Seeing Ji Jue, this dog-thing, jumping out to show off, he immediately sent several sixty-second voice messages. Ji Jue didn't click on a single one.

But he gained happiness.

Naturally, it triggered the resentment of his peers and contemporaries, and the notification sound was incessant.

Under Lu Feng's comment, a long string of 【+1】 replies appeared instantly.

【Congratulations, congratulations】, this is the polite one.

【I am a student, give it to me】, this is the one wanting a freebie.

【Brother, I'm dirt poor, give me some, give me some!】, this is the beggar among his contemporaries.

【Be a human, big brother】, this is the one who can no longer scroll.

【Let me see yours】, this is Andelai from the Clock Tower Workshop, using a machine translation of Federal language, but no matter how you listen to it, something feels wrong. Since this guy switched from a brick phone to a smartphone, he's been surfing the web intensely. A hero of the Empire, he could maintain his cool when not speaking, but once he opens his mouth, he gets more and more abstract!

【I am a mercenary...】

Oh, this is Old Tang.

Hmm? Wait, Old Tang?

Ji Jue paused and frowned. Why is he still in the address book? With a little tap, he blocked him again, to be unblocked next time he's needed. Otherwise, this dog-thing coming to beg every few days is truly annoying.

After a while, having finished reading the comments, Ji Jue keenly discovered a blind spot—these dog-things, saying congratulations on their lips, but not a single one liked the post, right?

Saying "Big Brother is so amazing," "Big Brother is truly awesome," but in reality, each one is scrolling secretly behind his back!

Maybe they've even secretly formed some small group, a "Kill-the-Ji-Dog Alliance," where everyone shares friendship, blood, and bonds every day, just waiting for the day when they have the knife in hand to kill the Ji-dog and welcome victory.

The quality of artisans is generally not high, and their minds are naturally not big.

Fortunately, Ji Jue is the same.

Even lower and smaller.

Secretly making a list of those who left comments but didn't like the post, waiting to snipe them one by one with papers in the coming days, it was already 'mealtime'.

"Sir, the trash is ready for you."

Isis's mechanical arm lifted, presenting a cleaned, broken alchemical artifact, asking respectfully: "Would you like to eat now? Eat later? Or should I heat it up for you?"

"..."

Ji Jue reached out helplessly. Under the Dissociation Technique, the alchemical artifact dug out from Quancheng soon turned into fly ash. Threads of supreme essence merged between his five fingers, falling into the countless light spots rising between his soul and body.

Instantly, those light spots became more vigorous, glowing with a faint light, like surging firewood.

Then, a brick made of cold-pressed alloy powder of various colors rose with the mechanical arm and was sent to Ji Jue.

"If this gets out, the reputation of 'eating trash' will really be set in stone."

Ji Jue sighed with emotion, picked up the iron ingot, opened his mouth, and without fear of chipping his teeth, began swallowing the bread-sized brick ingot bite by bite, just like eating a compressed biscuit. *Crunch, crunch*, he chewed it to pieces; the cold-pressed metal powder dispersed from his saliva, bringing a rough texture and a familiar friction that was difficult to swallow. Another cup, filled with liquefied grease and various catalysts, was already steaming with heat and a pungent odor as it was brought before him.

Precisely configured, appropriate temperature, ensuring the best effect, the disadvantage is that it's three hundred degrees scalding.

One bite of metal, one sip of oil, enduring the lingering greasiness and nausea in his ordinary body, he swallowed everything that his stomach could never digest.

Then, wave after wave of surging heat radiated from Ji Jue's body, rising rapidly, difficult to restrain.

"Please, sir."

The newly installed giant furnace opened before Ji Jue, revealing the dark space within—just like a cozy bedroom and a warm bed.

Isis guaranteed at the end, "Having learned from the last lesson, I will try to be as gentle as possible to leave you with a wonderful experience."

I believe you, you ghost!

Ji Jue rolled his eyes, took off his clothes, and walked in naked.

Life may not necessarily be like walking on thin ice, but having such a workshop spirit, he felt he probably wouldn't reach the other shore alive...

At that moment, the furnace door slammed shut.

And immediately after, amidst the flow of spiritual quality...

It started with a boom! ===== CHAPTER 334 =====