Time Remaining: 48 Hours.
The Shattered Jaw Cave was no longer empty, and it was certainly no longer quiet. It sounded like a hive—hammers clanging, saws buzzing, and the murmur of five hundred confused, terrified people.
But the biggest problem wasn't the noise. It was the smell.
Jiang Chen stood on the upper gantry, looking down at the huddled masses in the makeshift "Residential Zone" (a cleared-out cavern floor). The air recycling scrubbers were running at 100%, but the System's red warning light was blinking furiously in his retina.
[Hazard Warning: Biological Contamination Imminent.][Pathogen Risk: Cholera, Dysentery.][Cause: Improper Waste Disposal. Lack of Potable Water.]
"They are shitting in the corner, Your Highness," Old Wu whispered, pinching his nose as he stood beside the Prince. "They are peasants. They don't know better."
"Cultivators don't shit," Jiang Chen muttered. "Or at least, they don't talk about it. But a civilization dies from diarrhea faster than from swords."
He waved his hand, dismissing the blueprint for a new Mortar Turret. That would have to wait.
"System. Priority Shift: Sanitation Infrastructure."
[Blueprint: Modular Waste Recycling Unit (The "Iron Stomach").][Blueprint: High-Flow Water Filtration Pump.][Blueprint: PVC Piping Network.]
"Execute."
Down on the floor, the refugees watched in awe as the "Demon Prince" pointed his metal wand. The air shimmered, and strange, smooth grey tubes (PVC pipes) began to materialize, snaking along the cave walls like vines.
"You there!" Jiang Chen pointed at a group of sturdy men. "Stop hauling rocks. Take these pipes. Connect them to the trench in Sector 4."
"And you women," he pointed to another group. "Stop weaving mats. These white ceramic bowls—install them in the booths being printed over there."
"Ceramic bowls?" A woman touched the pristine white toilet bowl that had just appeared. It was smoother than the finest china in the Emperor's palace. "My Lord... we are to... soil these?"
"Yes," Jiang Chen said. "And if anyone relieves themselves on the floor again, they lose a meal."
Within four hours, the Iron Stomach was online. It was a terrifyingly efficient machine that broke down biological waste into two things:
Purified Water (cycled back to the taps).
Compressed Fertilizer (for future hydroponics).
The refugees stared at the sinks with running water. Clear, warm water. In Beiluo, water was frozen or muddy. Here, it flowed like magic.
"This is the power of the Industries," Jiang Chen announced, his voice echoing. "Cleanliness is Order. Order is Survival."
The Sorting
Once the "Bio-Hazard" light turned green, Jiang Chen moved to the second phase: Role Assignment.
He stood at a choke point—a metal gate scanner he had erected. The refugees had to walk through it one by one to get their evening ration ticket.
"Next," Jiang Chen said.
A thin man stepped through.
[Scan Complete.][Name: Liu Er.][Health: Malnourished.][Skills: Carpentry (Basic).][Assignment: Construction Team B.]
"Go left," Jiang Chen ordered.
"Next."
An older woman.
[Scan Complete.][Skills: Herbalism.][Assignment: Medical/Agriculture.]
"Go right."
It was efficient. Ruthless. He was sorting human beings like resources in a database.
"Next."
A man with a hunched back and a dirty face stepped forward. He kept his eyes on the ground, shivering.
[Scan Complete.][Name: Unknown.][Physical Status: Healthy (Deceptive Posture).][Anomaly Detected: Metabolic rate elevated. Cortisol levels (Stress) at 400%.][Warning: Foreign Object Detected.]
The System highlighted a red outline on the man's chest. Underneath his rags, strapped to his ribs, was a Spirit-Concealment Talisman and a jagged, poisoned dagger.
[Analysis: Weak Qi Signature detected. Cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage 2.]
A cultivator. Hiding among mortals.
Jiang Chen didn't frown. He didn't pause. He smiled.
"You," Jiang Chen said softly. "You have... potential."
The man, "Hunchback," looked up, feigning fear. "M-me? My Lord, I am just a cripple."
"The Industries can fix cripples," Jiang Chen said. "Step closer. I have a special task for you."
The spy's eyes flickered. He saw an opening. The Prince was within arm's reach. The "Metal Guard" (Li) was ten feet away. Too far.
The spy straightened instantly. The hunchback vanished. He lunged, his hand blurring as he drew the poisoned dagger.
"DIE, HERETIC!"
The refugees screamed. The dagger was inches from Jiang Chen's throat. A Stage 2 Cultivator could move faster than a wolf.
But the G.E.F. Administrator had a reaction time of 0.01 seconds.
CLANG.
Jiang Chen didn't dodge. He simply raised his left arm.
The dagger struck his forearm. The poison tip dug into the fabric of the thermal suit—and stopped dead against the Sub-Dermal Plating (his genetically modified skin).
The spy froze. He felt like he had stabbed a mountain.
Jiang Chen grabbed the spy's wrist.
[Hydraulic Assist: Engaged.]
CRACK.
Jiang Chen crushed the wrist bones to powder.
"ARGHHH!" The spy screamed, dropping the dagger.
Jiang Chen didn't let go. He lifted the man off the ground by his broken arm, dangling him like a ragdoll.
"Who sent you?" Jiang Chen asked. His voice was bored.
"My... My Lord... The City Lord... He knows! He knows you are stealing his serfs!" the spy wailed, kicking his legs. "He sent a message to the White Cloud Sect! They are coming together!"
"The City Lord," Jiang Chen mused. "Another loose end."
He looked at the terrified crowd of refugees. They were watching, paralyzed. They saw their "Savior" hold a cultivator in the air with one hand.
"Citizens," Jiang Chen addressed them, still holding the spy. "This man tried to kill me. If he killed me, who would feed you? Who would warm you?"
"No one!" Old Wu shouted from the side. "We would freeze!"
"Exactly."
Jiang Chen looked at the spy.
"System. Is he recyclable?"
[Affirmative. Biomass is Biomass.]
"Recycle."
Jiang Chen threw the screaming spy toward the Matter Deconstructor intake chute. The man tumbled into the grey energy field. There was a brief, horrified shriek, and then silence.
[+70kg Biomass.][+1 Low-Grade Dagger.]
Jiang Chen dusted off his hands.
"Back to work," he commanded. "We have a City Lord to visit after the Sect is dealt with."