Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 255: Contribution Treasury, Primordial Transcendent!

What a powerful infection source!Cheng Ye clicked his tongue in awe. As a parasitic Transcendent Creature, the Ghost Shadow Spider had reached the Inverse State, and its abilities far surpassed those of the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse, which was still in the normal state.

The Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse was still limited to scaling its own size, while the Ghost Shadow Spider had already touched the power of the rules themselves, actually able to travel freely through the puppet's shadow!

Didn't this mean that as long as Yu Yong still had a puppet left in the outside world, he could immediately escape this room and travel straight to that puppet?

If he had planted puppets across all the major sanctuary cities, could he shift between different bodies with just a single thought?

Of course, these were merely speculations based on the description.

Its actual abilities certainly couldn't be that game-breaking, or else Yu Yong would never have been captured and placed in the Containment Room.

To sever the connection between the Ghost Shadow Spider and Yu Yong, Cheng Ye immediately locked his gaze on two specific Traits: Shadow State and Virtual-Real Conversion.

As the foundation of all its abilities, the Shadow State had to be the core source of the Ghost Shadow Spider's control over shadows. As for the Virtual-Real Conversion, could that be its key method for evading external damage?

The sudden attack from the spider leg just now had indeed caught him off guard. If he could find a way to suppress its conversion ability and completely trap the Ghost Shadow Spider in its ethereal form, he might be able to bypass the infection source's interference. Then, he could directly interrogate the physical Yu Yong and dig out crucial information.

'The plan is set. I will collect the Traits first. My Recharge Value is completely insufficient anyway!' he thought.

Before closing the interface, Cheng Ye purposefully glanced at Yu Yong's Cooperation Level.

Unsurprisingly, it was a massive zero percent!

No wonder the Research Institute could not interrogate anything out of him. This guy still looked human on the surface, but in reality, his mind had likely been completely eroded by the infection source. He did not possess even the slightest intention of confessing.

How could that be allowed?

Cheng Ye righted the metal table behind him that had been knocked over, then strode toward Yu Yong once more.

At this moment, Yu Yong was sprawled on the floor like a dead dog. Obviously, the burning of the special light just now had not only injured the infection source within him but had also caused his Host body to endure significant agony.

"Have you submitted?" Cheng Ye asked, looking down at him from above.

"Heh." Yu Yong let out a cold, mocking sneer.

Sizzle! Without another word, Cheng Ye hoisted him up by the collar and pinned him against the light-covered wall.

The sizzling sounds of Burning and Melting echoed again. Yu Yong instantly erupted into a miserable shriek as wisps of black mist dissipated from his body.

This time, Cheng Ye was well prepared, keeping a close eye on Yu Yong's back.

When that black Spider Leg thrust out once more, he immediately assumed a defensive stance, but he was still sent flying seven or eight meters away by a tremendous force.

However, at the same time, he clearly saw that the moment the Spider Leg materialized, the black hairs on its surface were scorched off by the intense light.

The Vital Signs Values on the display screen dropped again, falling straight to ninety percent.

No matter how powerful an Inverse State Transcendent Mother Source was, once placed inside this specially constructed Containment Room, it lost all room for resistance.

Following this trend, as long as he continued to pin Yu Yong under the light to burn, killing him and annihilating this Mother Source would actually be incredibly simple.

'Hmm... It seems that whether dealing with a common infection source or a Transcendent Mother Source, the most efficient method of Containment is to first study its Traits and apply the right remedy.'

His previous conclusion had once again been verified through Yu Yong.

Looking at the perfectly still zero percent Cooperation Level on his interface, Cheng Ye decisively stepped forward to continue farming Traits.

This time, he did not even bother asking any more questions. He simply grabbed Yu Yong and repeatedly slammed him against the glowing wall.

The sizzling sounds of burning rang out continuously. At first, it was accompanied by Yu Yong's agonizing screams, but later, it morphed into the sharp, mournful hissing of the Ghost Shadow Spider.

It sounded much like a cricket's chirp, a demonic noise that pierced the ears. Fortunately, the pollution isolation layer of his Passage Padded Garment blocked it out, preventing it from having any effect.

"Keep screaming. Do you think screaming will save you from the wall?" Cheng Ye scoffed.

He was sent flying by the Spider Leg once again.

Yet Cheng Ye did not mind in the slightest, nimbly scrambling back up from the floor.

However, before he could approach and grab Yu Yong again, the black Spider Leg suddenly shot out, attempting to force him back preemptively.

But this time, Cheng Ye did not take the hit head-on. Instead, he decisively took a step back, dodging the swift strike.

The Spider Leg hit nothing but air. Under the continuous Burning and Melting of the wall's light, it could not endure the intense pain and had no choice but to retreat resentfully.

"You... You...!" Yu Yong lay gasping heavily on the ground. Seeing Cheng Ye's agile and repetitive probing, a flash of panic crossed his eyes as he forcefully squeezed out a few words.

When the Spider Leg missed for the third time, Cheng Ye seized the fleeting opening. He lunged forward, grabbed Yu Yong by the collar, and viciously slammed him into the glowing wall.

Sizzle!

The ear-piercing sound of burning flared up once more, but the Spider Leg seemed to have given up its resistance, delaying its emergence.

"You are... Happiness City's loyal lapdog!" Yu Yong hollered miserably. His face, scorched by the light, looked as if it had been pressed into a boiling oil pan, continuously exuding layers of pitch-black Essence.

To outsiders, this essence appeared to vanish directly into the air, but in truth, every trace was precisely captured by his Civilization Collector.

"Good dog, what a good dog! Kill me if you have the guts!"

"You pathetic lapdog! My fate today will be your end tomorrow!"

"Tools! You and I are both their tools! Tools should unite to find a way to survive!"

"Ahhhh!!!"

He roared like a madman, yet the Spider Leg still refused to extend. It seemed to have finally reached its limit.

The Vital Signs Values on the display screen plummeted like a waterfall, dropping by two to three percent every second.

At the same time, the collection progress of the Traits in the Illustrated Handbook was steadily rising, going far smoother than anticipated.

This was the advantage of having the backing of a Super Sanctuary City.

These contained Transcendent Mother Sources were like unopened treasuries. All he had to do was earn the trust of the Research Institute, gain the proper authority, and obtain the key to unlock them.

When the vital signs hit fifty-two percent, the three Traits—Shadow State, Shadow Passage, and Puppet Spider Silk—were the first to reach maximum collection at one hundred percent.

It was not until the vital signs fell to forty-five percent and the Virtual-Real Conversion Trait was also fully collected that Cheng Ye finally let go, allowing Yu Yong's limp body to crash onto the floor.

Outside the Containment Room, Yu Erlan, who had observed the entire Interrogation Process, maintained a calm and undisturbed expression. However, the group of Researchers beside her had clear astonishment written all over their faces. They obviously had not expected the interrogation to be conducted in such a simple and brutal manner.

Nevertheless, no one questioned the rationality of his methods. After all, when dealing with a stubborn mule like Yu Yong, it was a desperate attempt to Treat a Dead Horse as if Alive.

In the Wasteland World, results were always the top priority. The process did not matter, even if it was simplified to the extreme.

"You... You'll never get anything... from... me!"

Yu Yong shivered uncontrollably, convulsing on the ground, but he still struggled to maintain a defiant tone.

"Is that so?" Cheng Ye slowly lowered his body, practically half-crouching on the floor so their eyes were level again. His tone was flat but carried an unquestionable Sense of Oppression.

"Rest assured, I will be visiting you many more times. As long as you aren't scared, I'll be quite happy."

After speaking, he stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, and gestured for the outer alloy doors to be opened.

He did not spare Yu Yong another glance the entire time, acting remarkably nonchalant.

Patiently waiting for Cheng Ye to remove his Passage Padded Garment and Obsidian Battle Armor, Yu Erlan finally asked, "Inspector Cheng, your method of interrogation has never been used by anyone in the Research Institute before. Did you make any special discoveries?"

Cheng Ye did not answer directly. Instead, he smiled and replied with a question of his own, "Director Yu, can his vital signs recover from this?"

"Yes, it will take about two to three days," she said.

"Good. Then I will return in three days to verify whether my theory actually works."

With that said, Cheng Ye pointed to the Light Device on the wall inside the Containment Room. "Also, I need the complete technical data for this special light that can suppress the Ghost Shadow Spider. It would be best if you could provide me with a Finished Device and its Controller. I'd like to try approaching it from this angle."

"No problem! When you leave the Research Institute later, I'll have Shi Xu hand those over to you."

Seeing Cheng Ye acting so mysteriously, Yu Erlan's interest was thoroughly piqued, and she readily agreed.

Although the other Researchers were also brimming with curiosity, now was obviously not the time to press for answers.

After the group carried the alloy armor away, Cheng Ye followed Yu Erlan's lead. He hadn't forgotten the other purpose of his trip, proceeding to the Building Core Control Room to view the Transcendent Mother Source that provided Energy to the entire Research Institute.

To his utter surprise, the core energy provider of the Research Institute was not a common animal-type infection source, but a Plant Infection Source.

A... lush, green Large Chive!

This was the first time Cheng Ye had ever seen a chive that grew nearly four meters tall.

It was deeply rooted in a special, dark red soil. The leaves at the very top were squirming as if they possessed a life of their own, continuing to grow taller segment by segment.

"This is called the Burning Chive. Strictly speaking, it doesn't actually count as an infection source, but rather an unpolluted Native Transcendent Plant."

Yu Erlan explained in detail, "The energy it releases can be absorbed by almost all infection sources. It's one of the best nutrients for cultivating them, making its value inestimable."

Pausing for a moment, she added, "Of course, we publicly declare it an infection source. After all, good things inevitably attract the covetous eyes of outsiders. It's enough that you know. Make sure you don't reveal its true origins to anyone else."

"Ah, this..." Cheng Ye stared dumbfounded as Yu Erlan pressed a control button. The Mechanical Cutter within the pipes immediately activated, precisely severing the upper half of the Burning Chive.

The moment it detached from the main body, the sliced chive instantly transformed into Green Light Spot Energy. It flowed down dedicated pipelines, merging into the Central Delivery System, and was routed to the various Energy Consumption Areas of the Research Institute as needed.

At the exact same time, from the freshly cut wound of the Burning Chive, a new segment visibly shot up before their eyes, its growth as vigorous as ever.

It truly embodied the saying... Year After Year, Chives After Chives; an inexhaustible and endlessly renewing resource!

"In truth, every Super Sanctuary City hides Primordial Transcendent Plants; the only difference lies in their quantity. These are the Foundations of a city's power. If you want to establish your own Research Institute, you must transplant a Burning Chive. With it, you can provide the energy needed to sustain the vitality of your contained infection sources, and even promote their growth. Otherwise, ordinary infection sources wouldn't survive past three days. Even a Ruin-level threat like the Demonic Eye Sponge wouldn't last a month."

Yu Erlan threw out another bargaining chip. "The Burning Chive you see now can be transplanted up to five times at most. The Inspection Station has already exchanged Contribution Points for one, leaving only four. According to the current market price of the alliance, a single stalk requires at least fifteen million Contribution Points just to be eligible for purchase. But since you're from Happiness City, you enjoy certain Privileges, so this cost can also be offset with contributions."

Fifteen million...

Cheng Ye felt slightly numb hearing that number, thoroughly realizing what it meant to be unable to move a single step without money.

Resources in the Wasteland World were already extremely scarce, and during the first wave of the Great Reclamation Era in the new age, they had been frantically Divided and Consumed by the major sanctuary cities.

Looking back now, his initial thought to leave Happiness City and Establish Own Faction was laughably naive.

Without resources, how could he possibly develop anything?

And if he did manage to occupy valuable resources, which Super Sanctuary City would just sit idly by and watch?

Perhaps, after successfully developing in Guang Province, he could have joined the Guanghong Alliance as a member.

But if he did that, he would still be subject to the Restraint of the Guanghong Alliance. It could hardly be called true freedom.

On the other hand, staying in Happiness City provided him with the backing of the Cheng Family name. Even if his family's past wasn't exactly glorious, it was an endorsement that put the Elders and higher-ups at ease.

As long as he did not show any signs of wanting to Flee, the accumulation of three generations ensured that he would always be seen as one of their own people.

Now that his authority was cemented, these Hidden Treasuries would open up to him, saving him ninety-nine percent of the trouble.

Cheng Ye paused, choosing not to ask whether the rewards from interrogating Yu Yong would be enough to offset the cost of the Burning Chive.

Since Yu Erlan had put it that way, it meant he wouldn't actually have to fork over fifteen million Contribution Points to buy this chive.

Even if the returns from interrogating Yu Yong weren't enough, as long as he demonstrated sufficient Research Potential, this investment might still be entirely worth it to the Research Institute!

Leaving the Building Core Control Room and returning to the first floor, Cheng Ye stood once again before the portrait of Cheng Wu being pinned to the ground. He suddenly asked, "The Demonic Eye Sponge has been successfully contained, right?"

"Yes. It will serve as a Key Research Subject for the Research Institute for the foreseeable future. We'll do our best to analyze its various abilities and attempt to develop usable technologies from it," Yu Erlan nodded in response.

"Have the corresponding Contribution Points been issued to the Inspection Station, then?"

"Of course. The Demonic Eye Sponge holds considerable value. We paid the full sum of one hundred and fifty thousand Contribution Points to the Inspection Station without missing a single point."

Yu Erlan added, "In addition, the four million Contribution Points for containing the Immortal Object have also been transferred, along with quite a few extra rewards."

"One hundred and fifty thousand... Four million..." Cheng Ye's eyes glazed over slightly. Calculating it like this, the Inspection Station could basically build its own branch of the Research Institute with almost zero out-of-pocket costs?

And the one-time profit he alone brought to the station was comparable to what sixty High-Tier Inspectors could earn toiling outside for several years!

"Don't think this is a massive windfall. It was a massive gamble," Yu Erlan explained with a smile. "The Extinction-level Obsidian Battle Armors that Station Master Ding rented for you and Inspector Luo Kuke cost five hundred thousand each, totaling one million Contribution Points. Plus, your armor suffered severe damage, requiring an additional Repair Cost of two hundred thousand points."

"Setting up your Dedicated Logistics and Support Platform was something Station Master Ding strongly insisted upon, which cost one hundred and fifty thousand Contribution Points. Also, the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse inside you wasn't recovered by an Inspector. It was purchased beforehand from a sanctuary city within the Kindling Alliance, valued at five hundred thousand Contribution Points."

"As for the Hospitalization Expenses for the four of you Inspectors at Revival Medical: your bill was one hundred and thirty thousand, Luo Kuke's was ninety thousand, Garcia's was one hundred thousand, and Wang Kang's was twenty thousand. That totals three hundred and forty thousand points."

"Added together, that comes to exactly two million, one hundred and ninety thousand. Furthermore, Station Master Ding purchased a Treasure from me for fifty thousand. I imagine he'll be awarding it to you as a bonus for completing the Extinction-level containment mission..."

Seeing Cheng Ye's completely dumbfounded expression, a hint of amusement flashed in Yu Erlan's eyes.

She found it increasingly entertaining to stimulate this Trainee Inspector with explicit numbers.

Could it be... he was obsessed with money?

After all, whether it was Cheng Wu or Cheng Long, both men cared very little for worldly possessions. Cheng Ye had somewhat strayed from the fine traditions of the Cheng Family.

"Oh, right," Yu Erlan suddenly shifted the topic. "Elder Qian instructed me to fetch three Treasures for you. Follow me."

They returned to the elevator and descended to the Third Basement of the Research Institute.

The space down here had not yet been fully developed. There were only over a dozen Empty Buildings with unfinished interiors.

"Without enough basic infrastructure, building them out serves no purpose, so they just sit empty,"

Yu Erlan said with a shake of her head as the two of them walked into a building coated in Light Green Wall Paint.

After passing through a tedious series of identity verifications, they finally arrived in a small Cold Storage room radiating frigid air.

An entire wall, measuring fully eight meters long and six meters high, had been converted entirely into storage cabinets illuminated by nearby lights.

The cabinets were divided by three distinct strips of black tape. The top was labeled with three words: Transcendent, Tech, and Inspectors. This presumably corresponded to the three major factions within Happiness City.

However, at a glance, the lights next to the vast majority of the cabinets were red, with only a scattering of green ones.

The Transcendent Faction had the most green lights. Cheng Ye swept his gaze across them and counted about twenty-seven.

The Tech Faction had the least, with only eleven.

The Idealist Faction, represented by the Inspector characters, sat squarely in the middle with eighteen.

"Treasures are incredibly hard to come by. To this day, these represent the very last of Happiness City's reserves!"