Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Poverty Is the Original Sin! Grinder Mode, Activated

A peculiar smell hung in the morning air of Golden Ears Farm.

It was the earthy scent of damp soil, mixed with the sweet fragrance of Purple Crystal Wheat soaked by the morning dew.

The cafeteria was abuzz with voices.

Metal spoons clanked against large iron pots. Team members wolfed down their food while veterans laughed and joked boisterously.

Han Feng lifted the heavy, wind-proof door curtain, and a gust of cold morning air swept in with him.

The bustling hall fell silent in an instant.

But soon, the silence was shattered by an even greater wave of enthusiasm.

"Han Feng! My hero! Over here!"

Wang Meng, his mouth half-full of a steamed bun, waved his chopsticks, his words muffled. With a grand gesture, he pushed the steaming plate of braised pork in front of him to the empty seat at his side.

In the past, when Han Feng entered, he would at most receive a few polite nods.

Today, he was the center of everyone’s attention.

Even Gu Yun in the corner, who was usually unbearably arrogant, merely snorted softly.

He silently lowered his head, stirring the congee in his bowl and pretending to watch the grains of rice.

But his feet under the table still unconsciously pulled back, clearing a wide enough path for Han Feng.

Respect earned through strength was always this simple, this direct.

Han Feng didn’t stand on ceremony, carrying his tray and sitting right down next to Wang Meng.

He had just settled in when Zhou Ping’s jolly, round face leaned in.

The portly deputy director was carrying a small clay pot, his steps steady.

He carefully placed the clay pot in front of Han Feng and lifted the lid.

A rich, meaty aroma instantly erupted.

"Master Han, did you rest well last night? I had the kitchen staff prepare something extra for you today."

"This is all the soft meat picked from the crevices of the Black Iron Earth Dragon’s spine from last night. It’s the only pot like it on the entire farm. It’s not poisonous, and it’s incredibly nourishing!"

Zhou Ping smiled until his eyes were narrow slits, his tone deliberately and heavily respectful.

Team members at the surrounding tables watched, practically drooling.

A Black Iron Earth Dragon’s entire body is poisonous. The only exception is the meat in the crevices of its spine, which is the absolute best part. Normally, a delicacy like this could only be enjoyed by someone of Director Lei Zhen’s stature.

"Thanks, Director Zhou."

Han Feng didn’t refuse, simply picking up his spoon and taking a taste.

The meat melted in his mouth.

A pure stream of heat rolled down his esophagus and into his stomach.

Although it couldn’t compare to the two Tier Two Spirit Plants from last night, it was far superior to ordinary Demon Beast Flesh.

He asked casually as he ate.

"By the way, Captain, about the kind of Spirit Plant we had yesterday... if I wanted to purchase them in bulk, what’s the process for that?"

Zhang Hao, who was in the middle of peeling an egg, paused.

He looked up at Han Feng.

"What? Didn’t get your fill from those two stalks last night?"

Han Feng chuckled, making no effort to hide his desire. "Who could ever have too much of a good thing?"

Zhang Hao popped the whole peeled egg into his mouth.

He chewed a few times and swallowed before slowly speaking.

"If you want to buy them, Contribution Points alone won’t do you any good."

"Then what do I need?"

"Spirit Coins."

Zhang Hao held up one finger and wagged it in front of Han Feng.

"Spirit Plants of Tier Two and above are considered strategically controlled resources."

"Through official channels, you need B Level citizen clearance or higher, and you still have to get in line for a lottery. You might not get your turn even by the time your beard turns white."

"On the Black Market or in private trades, they only accept Spirit Coins."

’Spirit Coins again.’

Han Feng remembered the crystalline coin at Lei Zhen’s fingertips yesterday.

It was as if clouds and mist were flowing inside the coin.

"Then what if I want to exchange for some Spirit Coins?"

Zhang Hao put down his chopsticks, leaned forward, and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"The official exchange rate is one to one hundred, but that’s just for show. Plus, there’s a strict monthly limit for each person."

"On the Black Market, the going rate right now is one to one-thirty. When Demon Beast hordes are frequent and Spirit Plants are scarce, it can get pushed up to one-fifty, and you still have to grovel."

He stared at Han Feng and quoted a figure that nearly made his heart stop.

"A Red Blood Dragon Ginseng like the one you ate yesterday, if taken to an auction, would have a starting price of—three hundred Spirit Coins."

’Three hundred Spirit Coins!’

’At the Black Market exchange rate of one to one-thirty, that’s thirty-nine thousand Contribution Points!’

The spoonful of meat Han Feng had just scooped up hung in mid-air; he’d nearly fed it directly into his nose.

’This wasn’t just eating some plant, was it?’

’This was clearly the same as chewing on solid gold bars!’

He glanced at the few hundred-odd Contribution Points left in his account. He couldn’t even afford a single root fiber.

CLANG!

Next to them, Gu Yun, who had been elegantly sipping his congee, let his silver spoon slip from his grasp. It fell into his bowl, splashing scalding liquid.

He snatched the spoon up and wiped it over and over with a snow-white napkin, muttering under his breath.

"Three hundred Spirit Coins... That’s enough to get my Alice a set of the out-of-print, collector’s edition ’Tears of the Stars’ cosmetic armor..."

Han Feng heaved a long sigh.

He completely gave up on the idea of using pay-to-win methods—buying Spirit Plants—to advance his Sword Bone progress.

’Being poor is the original sin.’

’The cost of living in this world is brutal for a Transmigrator.’

Since acquiring external resources was so difficult, his only option was to tap into his own potential.

After consuming the Spirit Plants last night, his Cultivation had skyrocketed.

He could clearly feel that his Sword Bone’s transformation progress had also taken a huge leap forward.

And besides burning cash on elixirs, there was another way to boost his progress.

A free one.

The system’s "Skill Implantation"!

Previously, every time his Skill Proficiency broke through to a new Level, the system would perform a knowledge Empowerment and an Energy modification.

The effects weren’t as dramatic as directly consuming Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, but it had the advantage of providing slow, steady progress.

Most importantly, it was free!

With a thought, Han Feng called up his personal status panel and quickly scanned it.

[Spiral Charge (Entry Level: 89/100)]

[Reversal of Heaven and Earth (Entry Level: 92/100)]

[Swordsmanship·Sword Qi Release (Proficient: 1610/2000)]

These Skills were all just a hair’s breadth away from a breakthrough.

As long as he grinded them all up today, he could use the Energy infusions from the breakthroughs. Even if each one only increased his progress by one or two points, it would be enough to make up the remaining six percent!

’Looks like today is a good day for a clean sweep.’

Han Feng finished off the dragon meat in the clay pot in a few gulps and wiped his mouth.

A certain gleam flickered in his eyes—the light of a hardcore grinder.

He couldn’t wait to find out what kind of terrifying Talent he would awaken when his Sword Bone progress reached thirty percent!

...

「Ten minutes later, Hangar 7.」

Han Feng was circling his "Gray Donkey," performing the final pre-flight checks.

Not far away, Gu Yun was holding a snow-white microfiber cloth, giving the cheek of the White-haired Witch emblem on his "Scarlet Witch’s" fuselage a pixel-perfect wipe-down.

His movements were gentle and his gaze was focused as he muttered to himself.

"Alice, don’t be afraid. This filthy Mortal dust will soon be gone. I’ll make you spotless again, as pristine as the day you were made."

Wang Meng approached with his Alloy Giant Axe slung over his shoulder, his footsteps heavy. He took one look at Gu Yun’s antics and rolled his eyes so hard they nearly popped out of the back of his head.

"I’m telling you, Old Gu, calling a piece of sheet metal ’wife’ is one thing, but now you’re talking to yourself? Did that earth dragon’s acid get to your brain last night?"

Gu Yun whipped his head around, reacting fiercely.

"What do you know! This is a spiritual communion between me and Alice! A brute like you who only understands brute force could never comprehend such an elegant bond, one that embodies both soul and art!"

His gaze swept over to Han Feng, who was smacking the tires of the "Gray Donkey," and his brow furrowed even tighter.

"Hey, you. Are you made of iron or something?"

"You flew all day yesterday, fought that damn overgrown worm last night, and you’re not sleeping in today?"

"Doesn’t that donkey of yours need a rest? Don’t let it fall apart mid-flight and make me waste my wife’s precious fuel to come save you."

"Don’t worry. She’s sturdy."

Han Feng didn’t even look up, forcefully slapping the "Gray Donkey’s" thick Armor plating and producing a dull THUD THUD.

This heavy support craft was clumsy in the air, but its strengths were just as prominent.

It was tough.

Also, its controls were heavy, and every maneuver was strenuous—perfect for grinding his Skill Proficiency.

"Hey, ground crew! Fill up the ammo box for me! Armor-piercing incendiary rounds!"

Han Feng yelled to the ground crew in the distance, then turned and deftly climbed into the cockpit.

"Put it on my tab!"