Chapter 152: Fear of Insufficient Firepower

Chapter 152 Firepower Anxiety

"Now I get it—how those greedy bastards noticed Tianlan Star!"

"From miles away, they could see the glow of wealth—so dazzling it nearly blinded them. Of course, those bastards would want to claim it for themselves."

"Capturing Tianlan Star wouldn’t just mean seizing a self-reproducing population of humans, who could be sold for endless profit. They’d also gain a rich cobalt-blue crystal mine, plus an added windfall—Aurisand Placer deposits covering a full 18% of the planet’s landmass."

"And that’s just the surface area. Who knows what other treasures lie buried deeper?"

"Everyone knows the tip of an iceberg is just a small fraction—the real bulk lies hidden beneath the water. This might be the same case."

"Even just what’s visible on the surface is a mind-boggling fortune."

"Besides the treasures already discovered, who’s to say Tianlan Star doesn’t hold other hidden riches?"

The more Sheng Qingquan thought about it, the more relieved he felt.

"Thank fuck Tianlan Star is truly remote, and aside from the Aurisand Placer, none of its other mineral treasures are out in the open."

"And not all sand is Aurisand Placer. Just like not all that glitters is gold, not all sand qualifies as Aurisand. Though they look identical—indistinguishable, even—Aurisand is actually extremely rare, unlike ordinary sand found everywhere."

"Otherwise, it wouldn’t fetch such sky-high prices."

"Because it’s so scarce, no one would ever think these vast deserts could be Aurisand Placer. They’d just assume it’s plain sand."

"If it looks like sand, feels like sand, and even tastes like sand—then it’s sand!"

Sheng Qingquan thought decisively.

The others soon realized how serious this was.

Imagine being a poor family in a backwater, only to suddenly discover you’re sitting on a gold mine. Who wouldn’t be overjoyed?

But their excitement was short-lived before worry set in. It might sound like showing off, but every single person present was genuinely troubled.

The question was: How could they possibly conceal such a massive, exposed deposit?

This wasn’t just a child holding gold in a crowded marketplace—it was more like a lone kid in a shack, except the shack’s foundation, walls, and even roof tiles were all made of solid gold, encrusted with gems.

It was basically asking for someone to swoop in and take everything—including the kid!

Leaving it exposed was too dangerous, but hiding it? Easier said than done.

So when they heard Sheng Qingquan’s thoughts, everyone firmly agreed: Yes, it’s just ordinary sand. Aurisand Placer? No idea what that is!

"A podunk planet like ours couldn’t possibly have such treasures."

Thankfully, Aurisand looked identical to sand. They could play it off as plain sand.

"As long as we don’t run into the Treasure-Seeing Spirit Clan or the Zhongcang Birds—who feed on Aurisand—the risk of exposure is low."

At this thought, Sheng Qingquan’s racing heart finally calmed down.

Even so, for everyone—including Sheng Qingquan—their already severe firepower anxiety went into overdrive, getting way worse.

After returning to Tianlan Star, the top brass, now also aware of the truth, laid down the law during the meeting:

"Focus on developing stronger weapons. We must have our own mechs as soon as possible! Bottom line—we need a full mech army."

"We can't let up on the spacecraft front either. These ship models are all different, giving us a huge edge in our independent research and development. We can't cut corners here."

"Not just offensive weapons—defense is equally crucial. We can't develop lopsidedly; we must push forward across the board!"

"Starting next month, the budget for the Weapons Department will increase by another 40%!"

Over the years, Tianlanxing's military and defense expenditures have been steadily rising. Against this backdrop, a sudden 40% hike is a mind-boggling number that'd make most people faint.

Yet, no one present raised any objections.

The only guy who disagreed felt the increase was too small.

"Other areas could be trimmed further—this one absolutely can't. I think we should raise it by at least 42%. Honestly, even with this increase, I might still be tossing and turning." If possible, he’d have preferred doubling it!

Unfortunately, funds are limited.

The suggestion was sound but impractical—for now, it couldn’t be implemented.

"We need solutions now, not later. We can't rely solely on independent R&D. Some funds must also be allocated to purchasing weapons from outside. They're not handing over mechs or spacecraft, but for less advanced weaponry, we might still swing bulk deals."

"Even if bulk purchases aren’t possible, grabbing at least one of each would still be valuable."

"This portion of the budget cannot be skimped on."

If not for the fear of overcomplicating things—like a half-assed desert camouflage where none existed—they might have allocated funds to conceal the deserts. After all, why would anyone camouflage a desert unless hiding something?

That would only invite scrutiny—and spark a whole damn gold rush!

Otherwise, this too would require substantial funding. Covering 18% of Tianlanxing’s surface area with deserts is no small expense.

"Throw more troops into the Infinite Flow Instances. Don’t send all collected items to the labs—keep some that might prove useful as insurance."

"And we must double down in the low-level Immortal Cultivation realm—find ways to strengthen Li Yueguang further."

"Wasn’t there news about an Immortal Cultivation manual last time? Jump on this—chances like this don't come often. He must obtain it this time."

Everyone understood: if Li Yueguang obtained it, the system would too. Hell, it's our guy pulling the strings!

Effectively, Tianlanxing would gain it.

Secure the manual first. As for Tianlanxing’s lack of qi—that’s a problem to solve later, step by step.

"His realm has next to no qi. With a little guidance from the system, he’ll surely grow curious about its origins and seek to study it. If we can cook up some qi, even if Tianlanxing can’t enter a full cultivation era, having a few individuals embark on the path would suffice."

"Once they begin cultivating, we’ll have more heavy hitters. We can't keep relying solely on Sheng Qingquan—he can't even venture far, in case it's a setup."

"Everyone knows how hard it is to go it alone. The pressure shouldn’t always fall on one young man’s shoulders."

Once some begin cultivating, they can guide others. Eventually, Tianlanxing may achieve everyone cultivating.

We've gotta attack this from all angles.

While the authorities worked hard, Sheng Qingquan didn’t slack off either.

He was no scientist, but that Treasure Appraisal Spirit Eye of his was truly a game-changer.

---

(End of translation)

Piloting the mech across Tianlan Star for a quick sweep, without even digging deep, several surface treasures were discovered. Some plants and animals once thought to be ordinary were also found to have unique uses.

For instance, the fact that tea could treat mental breakdowns—if known now, Tianlan Star wouldn’t have had to wait for that damn marshal to arrive before figuring it out.

After that, Sheng Qingquan spent several more days in the lab, mainly assisting with experiments.

Some materials had the experts stumped, and normally, a series of tests would be required to determine their properties. But with Sheng Qingquan around, in a pinch, their performance and applications could be directly identified. Follow-up testing could be left to assistants to complete later.

Some researchers had developed new inventions but weren’t sure of their effects—Sheng Qingquan could take a quick look. While paperwork couldn’t be avoided, knowing the results in advance provided confidence. While testing was underway, materials could be prepared simultaneously, saving a significant amount of time.

Even if something flunked testing, and researchers couldn’t immediately pinpoint the reason—maybe taking ages to get a lead—Sheng Qingquan could spot the issue with just a glance.

Not only did this save researchers from countless detours, but it also gave them a clear direction for improvement…

Why bother with auction houses? With such an ability, a treasure-sniffing prodigy should be applying to labs! What lab wouldn’t want an assistant like this?!

In short, Sheng Qingquan helped complete numerous experiments during this period, including the antidote for the shrinking drug.

Though the antidote had been found on the spaceship, for victims of varying heights and degrees of shrinkage, figuring out the exact dose for each individual required experimentation.

This was to avoid insufficient or excessive doses during detoxification, which could cause adverse effects.

After identifying the appropriate ratios, the victims returned to their normal sizes. While they were overjoyed, Sheng Qingquan was over the moon.

After being cooped up in the lab helping out, Sheng Qingquan was suddenly booted out one night.

Baffled, he heard several Academicians shooing him off like farmyard poultry.

"Go relax a little. Weren’t several streets sealed off earlier to catch those heartless traffickers, under the guise of prepping for an event?"

"Well, that event’s happening now, and it’s reportedly quite successful. You’re just a kid—go enjoy yourself!"

"Don’t stay cooped up all the time. Being indoors constantly isn’t good for your physical or mental health."

Only then did Sheng Qingquan realize what was going on.

"Now you’re kicking me out? Guess I’m yesterday’s news!"

"So much for being loved!"

Before the Academicians could glare at him, Sheng Qingquan, amused by his own cheekiness, bolted away.

He actually did attend the event.

It was said that several streets had been connected to recreate an ancient lantern festival.

The transformation was guided by experts—but unlike those with only theoretical knowledge, they now had real ancients to consult, so genuine ancients were brought in to advise.

For this event, not only were the buildings on both sides renovated, but the interior decorations also looked authentic, even the street vendors’ setups.

Sheng Qingquan was surprised to find that these stalls had shifted from modern tricycles and small trucks back to rickety wooden carts.

The vendors, dressed in simple ancient-style clothing, stood behind their stalls, calling out their wares.

Noticing Sheng Qingquan’s gaze, a spry vendor in a sleeveless tunic flashed a warm smile. Folding dumplings lightning-fast, he called out, "How ’bout some wontons, young man? We’re a legacy shop—this broth’s the real deal!"

"One steaming bowl, and you’ll be warmed up in no time!"

"Just twelve wen a bowl—want one? Free refills on broth—can’t beat that!"

Twelve wen—about twelve yuan nowadays.

Sheng Qingquan walked up, scanned to pay, and got himself a bowl. While waiting, he noticed the signboard propped beside the tricycle—turns out it was the real deal—a legit old-school spot.

This was a stall run by the town’s most famous wonton shop, a business passed down through three generations and now approaching its fourth. In a sea of shops that folded after a few years, this one truly stood as a real old-timer.

The vendor wasn’t exaggerating at all.

Upon closer inspection, Sheng Qingquan realized the stall owner was actually the fourth-generation heir of the old shop—probably sent here by his parents to work.

The wontons were killer—slippery-smooth skins, juicy filling, and umami-loaded broth. As he sipped, the steaming broth carried the bright bite of scallions, enhancing the taste to perfection.

Next-level good!

Sheng Qingquan had to stop himself from going for seconds. Mainly because he noticed this street was packed with all sorts of delicious food, and he didn’t want to fill up too soon.

While eating, an old man carrying a straw pole walked by, shaking a tube of sticks and calling out, "Tanghulu! Strawberry or hawthorn—sweet and crunchy!"

The old man’s gaze met Sheng Qingquan’s. He stopped and tentatively offered, "Two wen a try—everyone wins something! Get lucky, and two wen scores you my top-tier 'Rising Prosperity' tanghulu!"

"Rising Prosperity tanghulu—luck climbs high for you!"

"Care to try?"

"Sure." Sheng Qingquan reached out and drew a stick.

At the tip was written three small vermilion characters: "Rising Prosperity."

Even though the best prize had been claimed, the old man wasn’t upset. Instead, he raised his voice and announced loudly, "Congratulations to this guest—enjoying wontons, wearing a mask and blue clothes—for drawing the Rising Prosperity stick! This old man presents you with a 'Rising Prosperity' tanghulu, wishing you a life of happiness, rising income, and ever-growing prosperity!"

"This hype’s like a club’s champagne spray—over the top!"

"A shy person would’ve melted on the spot."

"Good thing I’m not one."

Sheng Qingquan accepted the "Rising Prosperity" tanghulu—a full meter-long strawberry skewer. It was indeed towering.

The old man’s lengthy blessing drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Soon, a crowd had gathered around him.

"Old but gold—this dude’s a sales genius!"

The old man beamed, eyes crinkling into slits from the crowd’s cheers. Though he’d overheard some murmurs, the street was packed with people coming and going. Rather than tracking down the source, he chose to focus on selling.

The strawberries burst with sweetness, balanced by a tiny tang. The natural sweetness of the strawberries, paired with the malt sugar coating, created a rich yet not overwhelming flavor.

Juicy berries under a glassy sugar crackle—every bite ruled.

He’d barely walked off when a girl in festival-ready clothes walked up, a woven basket strapped to her back.

The girl was dressed nicely, but had no jewelry in her hair—just a fresh flower tucked in.

When she saw Sheng Qingquan, she gave a sweet smile and turned slightly, showing off a basket packed with flowers on her back. "Would you like to buy some flowers, sir?"

"All freshly picked today. They’ll stay fresh for days if you put them in a vase at home."

"If you’d rather not carry them, our flowers are marked. You can give them to the performers when you watch the show at the stage."

"Just place them in the flower baskets in front of the stage, and the performers get a cut."

As she spoke, the girl pointed in a direction, indicating where the stage was.

The flowers were lovely, so Sheng Qingquan bought one for five yuan.

Before he could reach the stage, however, a small roadside stall caught his eye.

"They really pay attention to details!"

Sheng Qingquan was stunned. Compared to the wonton vendor who could afford a handcart, this stall owner—who merely spread a straw mat on the ground—was dressed way shabbier.

His clothes were covered in patch over patch, and not even worn-out cloth shoes adorned his feet—he wore straw sandals!

Several people had gathered around the stall, bombarding him with questions: "Vendor, aren’t your feet freezing in straw sandals on such a cold day?"

"What are you selling? Can you weave straw sandals? How about weaving some right here? I’d definitely buy them!"

"Vendor, how does it feel wearing straw sandals? Do they chafe? I remember straw can be prickly."

...

The stall owner had initially intended to immerse himself in his business—they’d all been trained professionally before setting up shop.

But with the crowd pestering him, he finally broke character.

"I don’t sell straw sandals, I can’t weave them, they don’t chafe, and I’m not cold. I’m wearing super thick wool socks underneath. The straw is just tightly woven, so the gaps are small—you can’t see them."

This had everyone laughing. Still, after the amusement, they ended up buying stuff anyway.

Next to the straw sandal stall was a mask stall. Seeing the neighboring business booming, this vendor got antsy. His eyes landed on Sheng Qingquan, who stood at the edge of the crowd.

"Masks! Beautiful painted masks! Nuo dance masks! Lion dance masks, Monkey King masks, fox masks... Wear them for fun or display them at home—they’re one-of-a-kind!"

"Young man, that mask you’ve got is kinda boring. Why not buy one of mine? Look, I have so many styles—I bet you’ll love at least one."

"They’re all made from fine wood and quality paint, hand-carved by skilled artisans. And they’re not expensive—only thirty wen a pop, or fifty wen for two."

"Buying two is a better deal. Keep one for yourself and give the other to your partner—" Noticing Sheng Qingquan seemed to be alone, the vendor backpedaled, "Or wear both yourself. Like this, see?"

To demonstrate, he put on a mask, then pushed it up onto his head, letting it tilt slightly like a unique headpiece.

After securing the first mask, he picked up a fox mask and hung it at his waist as an ornament.

"Not bad, it’s actually pretty sharp. Paired with traditional attire, it really sets the mood."

Though the vendor had just disparaged his own mask, Sheng Qingquan happily coughed up the cash.

After buying the masks, Sheng Qingquan noticed a fancy carriage passing by, escorted by guards. The horses were led slowly, with the handler watching their every step.

Noticing the crowd’s attention, the carriage stopped.

Just as everyone expected a young lady to step out, the coachman jumped down from the carriage and announced loudly, "Xu's Carriage Rental Service is now officially open! For just fifty coins, folks can hire a carriage for travel."

"Our horses are limited in number and precious, so they cannot be overworked. Those who wish to rent a carriage should speak up now—first come, first served. If you're late, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to make a reservation."

They even had carriages!

Though it was obvious that riding in a carriage wouldn’t be particularly comfortable, the coachman’s announcement still drew countless people eager to sign up.

Sheng Qingquan, however, had no interest in riding. He continued forward with the crowd, getting sidetracked by street vendors along the way. At one point, he even encountered two officers in uniform, holding wanted posters and showing them to tourists, asking if anyone had seen the criminal depicted.

"This is a ruthless murderer who wiped out the entire Cao family! If any of you see him, don’t you dare hide him. Report to the authorities immediately, or you may face deadly trouble!"

Someone nearby shot back, "If we reveal his whereabouts, we’d be the ones in deadly trouble."

"Ah, that’s not true! You can report privately, and the authorities will keep snitches safe."

After witnessing many interesting scenes along the way, Sheng Qingquan finally reached the stage.

At that moment, a group dance was being performed on stage.

The dancers were clearly crazy talented. No wires, no tricks—they leaped over two meters high, their movements light and graceful, landing effortlessly without a hint of clumsiness.

After landing, they spun right into the next move and kept dancing.

Who knew free shows could be this good?!

They danced even better than the so-called "legendary dancers" in TV dramas. Those highly paid actors should be ashamed.

The audience was thrilled, throwing flowers like they were free into the baskets placed in front of the stage.

"Ahhh! That water-sleeve dance—it danced straight into my heart! When the sleeves retracted, they took my soul with them!" Sheng Qingquan heard a girl beside him scream herself hoarse.

"Fit for a king! Hahaha, cancel court tomorrow. Enjoy the show without worry—even if you misbehave, I, your emperor, pardon you all!"

Someone else looked around and asked, "Where’d the flower kid go? I remember seeing a girl selling them too. Where’d they vanish to? I want to buy flowers!"

"Over here! There’s a fixed stall selling flowers. Those who want to buy, come this way!"

People stampeded for flowers, though some hesitated, unwilling to miss the performance. Jokingly, they barely blinked, afraid of missing a single moment. Leaving now would mean missing too much.

Besides, the crowd was packing in—if they left, they might not be able to squeeze back in.

Better to wait until the performance ended before buying flowers. The baskets wouldn’t be taken away immediately anyway.

At that moment, a young woman on stage suddenly spun forward to the edge. With a flick of her water sleeves, they unfurled like misty clouds toward the audience, setting off another round of screams.

"Young hero, you’ve got that heroic vibe, with an air of nobility. Have mercy on a starving beggar—I haven’t eaten in three days, young hero..."

Sheng Qingquan blinked.

"Even beggars are here!"

With his sharp eyes, Sheng Qingquan could see the thick flesh-colored thermal wear beneath the beggar’s rags, but he still gotta respect the hustle!

But he didn’t have any cash on him—no matter how much the beggar pleaded, he couldn’t produce any money.

As Sheng Qingquan hesitated, wondering if he should place the mask he’d just bought into the bowl, the beggar flipped it—boom, QR code.

Okay, scan to pay.

After Sheng Qingquan made the payment, the beggar immediately clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, good sir, for your generosity! Wishing you great success!"

With that, he slipped a piece of paper into Sheng Qingquan's hand and quickly scurried off to find his next target.

Sheng Qingquan glanced at the note—it was a gift exchange coupon.

After the event concluded, he could exchange the coupon for a gift of corresponding value at the event booth. At least the beggar wasn't just taking money for nothing.

"Huh, this is kinda fun."

"Feels like we actually time-traveled!" someone exclaimed.

Hearing this, Sheng Qingquan distinctly overheard a passerby mutter in response, "If we really time-traveled, it wouldn't be this nice."

"The past wasn’t this prosperous, clean, or beautiful—even the little beggars were chubby and well-fed. And after walking around for so long, no one’s even lost a wallet."

"Didn’t they say they hired professionals for guidance? Doesn’t seem like it. Totally fake."

Despite the complaints, the man who looked straight out of ancient times raised his head to gaze at the moon in the sky and smiled.

Though it wasn’t real, he was truly living in this bustling, clean, and beautiful world.