Chapter Seventy-Six: Printing

After carefully comparing Lang Sheng's Bronze Meditation Technique with Lin Zhongqing's Golden Meditation Technique, Fan Bei found the latter completely compatible with the former and promptly switched to practicing it. With Lin Zhongqing's full insights and experience at his disposal, he successfully completed the transition in just three days. By August 18, when the latest wave of evil energies subsided, he had already mastered the new method.

During those three days, he instructed Butler Huo not to disturb him unless it was urgent. Except for the occasional meal, he remained secluded in his bedroom, fully devoted to cultivation.

Early this morning, having accomplished his task, Fan Bei emerged from the master bedroom and entered the living room, ready to attend to miscellaneous affairs.

Hearing activity, Dabai trotted out of its own room, followed by an iron ball rolling in pursuit. Because their daily conversations often involved sensitive matters, Xiaobai now refused to be carried around by anyone. Controlling an iron ball had become trivial for it.

“Master, I completed 1,700 tasks over the past three days. Since you were cultivating in seclusion, I handed in my work to Butler Huo each evening,” Dabai reported with pride.

“Excellent, you've done very well. I'll have Butler Huo record your contributions and make sure you’re properly rewarded,” Fan Bei said warmly, stroking the dog's head.

“Thank you, Master! Also, I’ve reached level 13. Xiaobai has gone up three levels too, but it keeps grumbling about not being able to increase its intelligence. It insists there’s something wrong with my system big brother. I told it to be content—it’s better to be a satisfied dog.”

“Oh? Is that so? I’m not too clear on that myself, but there shouldn’t be any issues,” Fan Bei replied vaguely.

Dabai was still using the original version of the system, which displayed intelligence stats. Fan Bei hadn’t fully updated it yet. Lin Zhongqing’s attributes no longer had intelligence points but rather a spirit stat.

“There’s definitely something wrong,” Xiaobai muttered nearby. “It claims my intelligence is only three, and I can’t add any more points. That must be a display error. I believe my intelligence is capped at 100…”

“Well, why not try allocating points to strength or agility? Don’t get fixated on just one stat. Hoarding attribute points will only hold you back,” Fan Bei consoled.

“All right, I’ll try… Hey, it works!” Xiaobai fell silent in surprise.

Fan Bei nodded. “There you go! Brute force brings miracles. You aren’t limited by a physical body, so theoretically, your strength could reach Ultraman levels.”

“I’ve done it—one point to strength, one to agility,” Xiaobai said grudgingly. “I can’t believe my growth is actually the same as Dabai’s in the system’s eyes.”

“Naturally,” Dabai replied matter-of-factly. “We’re certified canine brothers by system big brother, after all.”

Just then, the phone on the coffee table rang. Fan Bei went over and picked it up.

“Hello, this is Fan Bei.”

“Mr. Fan, Mr. Lin and his team will officially begin construction on the Chamber of Commerce base at 9 a.m. Would you like to attend the groundbreaking ceremony?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it.” Fan Bei glanced at the clock—it was only seven. He agreed readily.

By 8:30, Butler Huo had arrived with the shelter’s transport vehicle to pick up Fan Bei. He and Dabai took the back seat, bringing the iron ball along.

...

At the intersection north of the main road in Phoenix Song Valley—the site of the Lin Zhongshi Chamber of Commerce base—Fan Bei arrived to find a sizable gathering. Besides Lin Zhongshi’s own team, Butler Huo had also assembled helpers, making up a lively crowd of forty or fifty people.

“The Valley Master and the Butler are here!” someone called out as they spotted the car from afar.

The workers affiliated with Phoenix Song Valley quickly lined up in two neat rows by the roadside to welcome Fan Bei. He nodded and smiled, slightly amused by the title “Valley Master,” which reminded him of the notorious Valley Master from Heartless Valley. Yet, aside from the theatrical title, the sense of authority was undeniable.

If even such a modest display of power could feel so gratifying, it was no wonder Lin Zhongqing, always yearning to be the center of attention, would eventually submit to the system. Without the system, she couldn’t even control her own brother or those left behind for years—how could she ever reclaim the spotlight?

Under these circumstances, her trust in the system peaking was hardly surprising—she had practically conquered herself.

As Fan Bei stepped out, Lin Zhongshi approached with Lin Xiaohong.

“Brother Lin, has your health improved?” Fan Bei greeted him with a smile.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Fan. Actually, I should call you Valley Master Fan now,” Lin Zhongshi teased.

“Please, let’s not turn this into a martial arts novel, Chairman Lin,” Fan Bei replied helplessly.

“All right, back to business. In a short while, we’ll begin building the Chamber of Commerce. I’m sure you’ll find it quite a spectacle.”

“Is that so? I see no cranes, no excavators, and not many workers either. I’m curious to see how you’ll manage construction,” Fan Bei remarked, surveying the area.

The selected site, at the southeast corner of the intersection, spanned fifty acres—a generous space, easily the size of a typical residential community in his previous life, more than enough for a chamber base.

The boundaries were marked with white lime, and saplings of a thorny species were planted sparsely along the perimeter—about one every hundred meters. Each side of the square plot had only six or seven trees.

At the very center stood a stone platform, a few square meters in size, evidently newly built, with an incense altar atop it.

Soon, Lin Zhongshi led Fan Bei to the platform, where three of his subordinates approached, each carrying a canvas bag. From inside came a familiar sensation.

Fan Bei had a hunch. His gaze shifted to the platform, where a thick stack of blueprints also lay.

The next moment, Lin Zhongshi personally poured the contents of the three bags onto the stone platform, forming a small mountain of Spirit Cores.

He then picked up three sticks of sandalwood incense, lit them, and inserted them into the altar.

So it was as he thought.

Fan Bei watched every move intently. He heard Lin Zhongshi recite something, and a pale green glow swept across the platform.

The mound of Spirit Cores vanished, as did the stack of blueprints.

“All done, Brother Fan. Let’s step back—a show is about to begin,” Lin Zhongshi said with confidence.

They left the plot and returned to the roadside.

About ten minutes later, Fan Bei witnessed an astonishing sight.

Above the stone platform, a colossal green hand emerged from the void and pressed downward. The entire plot sank evenly into a massive pit ten meters deep, with the stone platform reduced to dust.

In a single stroke, a vast amount of foundation work was completed—solid and precise.

Next, tiny fragments rained down from the green hand, layering rapidly—first the foundation, then the pillars, and finally the walls, taking shape step by step.

Fan Bei stared in awe, murmuring, “Is this… 3D printing?”

“Exactly—3D printing. It’s an apt description. The idea was proposed long ago, but when the evil tides struck, human technology stalled. This technology never had a chance to develop. Instead…” Lin Zhongshi sighed.

The others were just as stunned. Lin Zhongshi’s people were worldly and less shocked, but the Phoenix Song Valley workers—apart from Butler Huo—were all amazed.

“This is a miracle…” someone whispered.

“At this speed, it might be finished in a single day,” Fan Bei thought. In just a few years, technology once easily understood had become pure legend to some.

He understood the principle clearly—it was 3D printing in essence, using spiritual power to manipulate spiritual matter, which in turn shaped physical materials.

This process condensed the laborious construction that would take a year or more into a single day—or even just a few hours—making it almost mythic.

“In the past, this entity wasn’t so formidable. This 3D printing method only emerged in the last two years. Compared to before, construction speed has soared and costs have dropped. Major corporations now pray to this entity for rapid construction in the wilderness,” Lin Zhongshi explained, pointing at the green hand, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

“So, this entity isn’t dangerous?” Fan Bei probed.

“No, this one strictly maintains neutrality—uninterested in the struggles of the spiritual or physical worlds, concerned only with building. That’s why it has free passage in many regions,” Lin Zhongshi replied. “I may dislike relying on their power, but I have to admit, if you want to build up your strength quickly, sometimes you have to borrow a little.”

Indeed, human nature is nothing if not a loop of repetition and reluctant acceptance…

Fan Bei nodded in agreement.