Chapter 544: A Jiu

Now Cheng Shuili has resources, power, and connections in her hands.

These materials on the trading channel are a rare opportunity for ordinary players, but for her they're just a matter of spending a little Game Coin.

How did I ever trap myself in the mindset of not being able to gather the materials?

Cheng Shuili gave a self‑mocking laugh.

Probably because this blueprint arrived too early, it had been lying in her pack since she had nothing at all.

Back then, looking at the materials list, each item seemed out of reach.

The Eternal Power Core and the unattainable materials became equivalent in her mind, and over time this notion became deeply ingrained.

Even after she gained the ability, her subconscious still felt she couldn't gather them.

"001." She suddenly spoke, looking up at 001's line‑like expression and asked, "Do you mean I'm sometimes too stubborn?"

001's screen flickered, showing a standard smile: "Boss, this is path dependence—a human habit. But the fact that you've noticed this problem shows you've evolved.

Congratulations, Boss, for evolving from a stubborn fool into a fool who occasionally reflects.

Cheng Shuili: "……

She must be crazy to talk to an AI idiot like that.

Too lazy to waste more words on this walking, talking nitpick, Cheng Shuili took a deep breath and finally pressed the "Manufacture" button.

The workbench emitted a low hum.

All the materials levitated together in mid‑air; the energy crystals shattered at once into countless tiny specks of light, as if pulled by some invisible force, slowly gathering toward the center.

Mithril and Eternal Gold then began to melt, their silvery‑white and dark‑gold liquids flowing along the pre‑etched lines on the workbench, intertwining to form complex geometric patterns.

The precision components then automatically disassembled, and the runes finally lit up, layer upon layer of overlapping patterns appearing on their surface.

All the materials began to converge toward the center.

The light specks, molten metal, and fragments of the precision components were all drawn by the runes, spinning rapidly around them.

Above the workbench a fist‑sized ball of light formed, its glow shifting from blinding to soft, then from soft to deep.

Cheng Shuili unconsciously held her breath.

The light ball began to contract, as if something were forming inside; the light collapsed inward, revealing the core's true form.

It was a fist‑sized polyhedron, each facet smooth as a mirror.

Its main body was a piece of dark‑gold metal, but its surface flowed with faint blue light‑patterns.

At that moment the polyhedron hovered silently above the workbench, and Cheng Shuili could feel the immense energy contained within it.

Occasionally a tiny arc of electricity flashed across its surface and vanished instantly.

Cheng Shuili reached out her hand.

The polyhedron settled gently into her palm, unexpectedly light—almost weightless.

The Eternal Power Core—this is the Eternal Power Core.

Cheng Shuili stared at the polyhedron in her palm, and for a moment she felt dazed.

Was this little thing what she'd been longing for all this time?

Faint blue light‑patterns flowed along the dark‑gold facets, cycling endlessly, never stopping. It lay there quietly, neither hot nor cold, only a gentle pulse transmitted through the skin—once, again.

Cheng Shuili drew a deep breath; the instant she took hold of the Eternal Power Core, the last trace of drowsiness vanished.

Now, immediately, at once—she wanted to plug this core into her faction's construction!

The night was deep; most buildings in her territory had fallen silent, only a few streetlights still on, casting small pools of yellowish light on the ground.

Cheng Shuili didn't spare them a glance, heading straight for the training field.

Here is where the lowest‑grade energy cores are consumed the most—this core belongs here!

Cheng Shuili pushed open the door, and the lights inside came on automatically.

A few people still training heard the commotion, turned around, saw it was her, and immediately straightened up.

"Boss!"

"You're still training this late?"

Cheng Shuili glanced over; the scrawny A Jiu was there too, drenched in sweat as if fished out of water.

A Jiu scratched his head, "I just can't sleep…"

Cheng Shuili didn't say more, heading straight to replace the energy core in the training room.

From today on, Black Feather members no longer need to spend any contribution points to use the training room!

Cheng Shuili's lips curled slightly; as she met the curious gazes of the Black Feather members, she gave a light smile and announced the good news directly.

A Jiu's eyes widened: "Boss, will I… be able to keep training here from now on?"

Cheng Shuili glanced at her.

The scrawny girl was soaked in sweat, yet her eyes held something familiar—a stubborn determination to bite down on something and never let go.

"Train as long as you want." Cheng Shuili said, "From now on there are no limits."

A Jiu's mouth opened, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

She just gave a firm nod, her eye sockets a little red.

Cheng Shuili shifted her gaze to the brand‑new equipment deep in the training field.

Tomorrow, more Black Feather members will come here.

The day after tomorrow, perhaps even more.

Cheng Shuili turned around, about to leave, when A Jiu suddenly called out: "Boss."

Cheng Shuili stopped, turned back.

A Jiu stood where she was, sweat‑soaked, her slight frame looking especially frail in the training field's light.

But she stood ramrod straight, as if she were using all her strength to maintain that posture.

"What's wrong?"

A Jiu opened their mouth, then closed it again.

She lowered her head and stared at her own toes for two seconds, then suddenly lifted her head; her eye sockets were red, but something inside was shining.

"Lao Da, I've been an unwanted child since I was young."

"Before, I grew up in the welfare institute. After I went out on the highway, I lived alone—no one cared whether I lived or died, no one asked if I was hungry, and no one told me what to do tomorrow or what I should do."

She paused, took a deep breath, her eye sockets grew redder, but she didn't cry.

She just stood there, looking at Cheng Shuili with a stubborn gaze.

"I have no skills—I can't fight, I'm not smart, I can only do odd jobs. But Lao Da, do you know? This is the first time in my life that I've found a place that feels like home."

Tonight I can't sleep, not because of insomnia, but because I'm too scared.

I'm afraid of the ten-million bounty. I'm afraid someone will actually attack you. I'm afraid Black Feather will descend into chaos, and I'm afraid this hard-won home will be lost.

A Jiu's voice finally trembled a little.

"So I came to train. I want to become stronger. I want to be able to help if something really happens—even if it's just blocking a blow, even if it's just buying you a second, I want to do that."

Having said that, she bit her lip and stared at Cheng Shuili.

The training ground's light fell on her face, revealing a somewhat sallow complexion from long-term malnutrition, and revealing those red eyes that she was desperately trying not to cry.