The inhabitants of Building 2 and Building 3 moved in in large numbers, and the actual situation turned out much better than Zhou Yi had anticipated.

There was no sign of littering, random graffiti, or public defecation.

Cao Dayuan said, "Chairman, folks don't really have much to toss away. We start with so little, everyone would rather pick up extra stuff to bring home..."

"As for scribbling everywhere, that would be even less likely. Even if Scavengers have charcoal pencils, they're too valuable. They would use up a little less with every drawing. Most of them would sell it, because only a few can read and write, so keeping it would be a waste."

"As for the matter of urination and defecation, I should explain."

The newly appointed community manager said, "The people from Mao Valley Town who moved into Building 2 used to sneak outside to secretly defecate and then bury their stool to dry and recycle it. Feces are a rare commodity that can be produced personally, so they wouldn't waste it by flushing it away in Jade City. After a sandstorm, a few individuals actually fought over whose feces was whose..."

"Now Building 3 will likely face the same issue. I've already told them that they must go to a designated area outside Jade City to relieve themselves, so as to avoid impacting the environment here. Rest assured, they wouldn't dare do it inside their homes. Jade City's reputation precedes it; they know that this place is inside an Alien's body, and angering an Alien could mean trouble or even death."

"In the past, whether in Mao Valley Town or the wilderness, everyone would go far from their sleeping area to defecate. Scavengers have a wealth of wilderness experience and know what should not be done."

Zhou Yi nodded.

His demands weren't high.

A safe winter would mean success.

Jade City reported, "The high residency rate has significantly stimulated the evolution of the new organism. Buildings 2 and 3 are continually providing feedback to my main body. After a while, they'll be able to maintain independent operation."

Zhou Yi was puzzled, "Independent operation? You won't manage them?"

When it came to complex expressions, Jade City still stumbled a bit.

After much communication, Zhou Yi was certain, "You mean, they'll also activate local independent consciousness by mimicking and learning... but are they still part of you?"

"They can be a collective, we are all Jade City."

The architectural being said, "But also different entities. They're built on my foundation but have separate selves, the result of environmental influences. The key factors that prompted self-emergence include the inhabitants and Dead Light."

"We can transfer information internally without barriers, but there are also local variations."

Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment.

I usually just mention it casually for the sake of publicity.

But this new being... it's really a Second Generation Alien?

"Commissioner, I've just found out myself."

Jade City said, "I initially thought they were merely new organisms of mine, but later confirmed they will operate independently. Perhaps, this is what you referred to as 'continuity.'"

Maintaining a stable high residency rate and ample energy supply is foundational for the emergence of individual consciousness in new architectural life.

The exact timeline remains uncertain for Jade City; it only knows that the two new buildings are growing fast.

Even without developing an independent self-awareness, Buildings 2 and 3 are rapidly harvesting external Dead Light Energy and could serve as Jade City's backup energy reserves or bodies, if necessary.

Zhou Yi then thought, "What's the difference between the mid-rise on the 11th floor and the high-rises on the 33rd floor? Do they belong to different categories?"

"The former grow quickly, the latter much slower."

Jade City replied, "Mid-rises only inherit my basic functions, including energy absorption, repairing the main body and self-modification to a certain extent—that is, manufacturing body housing for replacement."

"High-rises of my model will inherit all my functions, capable of body expansion as well. It could leave this place to independently construct a new Jade City centered around itself."

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up.

Self-replication.

This equates to the reproductive capability of architectural life.

If the Jade City family could be steadily developed, they would be enough to form a large community, and even cover a whole city with residential housing!

In this era populated by Guangna Species and Dead Light, the defense-integrated Dead Sea Aliens are the most perfect living choice.

The future is filled with light, yet the present requires a step-by-step approach.

Construction of high-rise residences progressed slowly, so Zhou Yi decided to focus first on the smaller high-rises, aiming to increase the number of faster-growing individuals to a certain scale. Only after that would improving quality become the problem.

…

In the afternoon, Gong Zheng came to report on recent inventory levels.

As Zhou Yi's assistant, he had gradually adjusted to the same schedule, working during the day and resting at night, following Ajin's return to the traditions of Prehistoric Humans.

"...The yield of edible mushrooms in the Mushroom Forest is very high. This winter, with no Hunters causing destruction and with the cultivation of farmland, the insects driven away by Tie Ma and Tong Niu have partly fled into the Mushroom Forest, where they became nourishment for it."

Gong Zheng opened his notebook and read line by line, "This winter, the company has a very abundant mushroom reserve. The Chairman, Mr. Cao, and I were thinking that we could mobilize these new residents by employing them with mushrooms, to make tools out of wood, branches, hay, and other materials. Since these can all be done indoors, it wouldn't be dangerous."

"Items like drying racks, tables, chairs, woven baskets, and ropes are all daily necessities that we can't have too many of."

Zhou Yi nodded his head.

He suddenly remembered, "What about Yuan Tong? Is he still designing flyers?"

"Yuan Tong has been busy with another matter recently."

Gong Zheng hesitated, "Chairman, he wants to venture out to sea."

"Hmm?"

Zhou Yi frowned.

The risk of venturing out to sea in winter was extremely high.

But Yuan Tong was an old pirate; perhaps he had some hidden motives.

"Yuan Tong says that he observed the offshore area near Jade City to be very safe, because the bombing of Jade City has made the Guangna Species avoid coming close, so he has a bold idea."

Gong Zheng continued, "Yuan Tong wants to sail in the shallow waters near the shore to manually collect Light Soot, which could generate income for the company."

Light Soot?

Zhou Yi remembered that Yuan Tong had mentioned it as a material used in shipbuilding.

"Let's take a look."

The two took the elevator down together.

Outside Jade City near the Dead Sea Zone, Yuan Tong was speaking with two young men, gesturing continuously with his hands.

Those two men were familiar to Zhou Yi; they were previously Yuan Tong's subordinates.

With sharp eyes, Yuan Tong immediately approached and said, "Chairman, you've come."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Tell me about the Light Soot."

The former pirate leader adjusted his belt and explained, "As you know, one of the core materials needed for the Light Imprint Skill to create a Light Imprint is Light Soot. Light Soot floats in the air of the Dead Sea, especially over the sea's surface because they are very small, and are carried up to the top by rapids before slowly settling back down, like the aftermath of a volcanic eruption."

He pointed toward the murky expanse of the Dead Sea, "In the past, during slow seasons when we didn't have much work, we would find a hidden spot to anchor our ship within the Dead Sea Knight Fleet's covered area, and then we'd fish for Light Soot on the sea's surface."

"Back when I was at the shipyard, I learned from a worker who used to be a Guangtai worker. The Guangtai Port had been destroyed in the war, so he had ended up here. The simplest method is to make a net from double-layered burlap and scoop it through the fog on the surface of the Dead Sea. When a thick layer of impurities covers the burlap, you bring it up and soak it in cold water to scrape the Light Soot Sand out of the impurities."

"Light Soot Sand is in demand in every city, and its price is higher than that of copper."

"It's just that people get tired easily on the Dead Sea, and being close to the Dead Sea has this effect. If one is not an enhancer, both strength and stamina are much weaker than on land; you'd be out of breath after running just a couple of steps on the deck. So working on the ship is much more difficult than it looks."

"Although collecting by the most rudimentary manual method is slow, I was thinking, since it's difficult to do much else this winter, why not keep the ship stationed at sea to scoop up some Light Soot Sand?"

Yuan Tong adjusted the band covering his left eye and continued, "In the past, we made it through many crises with this little extra income. This winter, I've been thinking about it; since we have the protection of Jade City, could we give it a try?"

Zhou Yi listened with emotion.

This was the very definition of 'having more than one skill ensures self-reliance'.

He immediately said, "Go ahead with it! Whatever you need, just ask."

A smile immediately appeared on Yuan Tong's face, "Thank you, Chairman!"