The last embers of dusk faded into the gray wasteland sky. Lu Zhechuan stood motionless amid twisted heaps of rusted metal and broken circuit boards, the Primeval Origin Dao Core resting gently in his palm. The faint golden lines on its dark surface glowed subtly, echoing the mysterious patterns carved into the metal plate left by his parents. A low, steady hum resonated between the chip and his heartbeat, as if two ancient forces had finally reunited after years of separation.
He closed his eyes and directed his awareness inward.
The weak, flickering Black-Iron Dao Core beneath the skin of his left arm had been completely revitalized. The spiderweb cracks that had plagued it for years were gone, smoothed over by the pure, ancient energy of the Origin Core. Instead of a chaotic, unstable flow, his cultivation now moved in calm, precise waves—far denser, purer, and more controllable than that of any ordinary mid-stage Core Implantation cultivator. He could clearly sense that he stood just a step away from breaking into the late stage of Core Implantation, a realm that most scrap scavengers could only dream of reaching.
This was not a reckless, explosive surge of power. It was a natural elevation, a stable reconstruction of his entire cultivation foundation, all thanks to the silent transformation of the Origin Core.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was no longer that of a helpless scavenger. It carried the calm determination of someone who had finally found his path.
The threatening message from the Blackstone Gang leader still glowed faintly on his cracked, old communicator. Violence, extortion, and arbitrary bullying had long been the unspoken rules of the Chip Graveyard. In the past, Lu Zhechuan had no choice but to lower his head, endure humiliation, and cling to survival. But now, with the Origin Core awakened, he no longer needed to hide in the shadows or fear the strong.
He carefully tucked the black Origin Core into a small, sturdy cloth pouch at his waist, then tightened his grip around the repaired Silver-Rank Dao Core he had refined earlier. The Origin Core's energy had already seeped into it, elevating its power far beyond that of ordinary Silver-Rank cores. Even without fully activating the ancient chip, he could already fight far above his actual level.
Before heading to face the Blackstone Gang, he decided to return briefly to his tiny, shabby dwelling. It was a cramped shack built from rusted iron sheets and splintered wooden planks, tucked away in the quietest corner of the graveyard. Inside, the space was simple and tidy, filled with worn repair tools, stacked chip components, and half-fixed Dao Cores. On the only weathered wooden table lay his parents' metal plate, its golden patterns shimmering softly in the dim light filtering through the cracks.
Lu Zhechuan picked it up and gently traced the engravings with his fingertip.
For the first time in his life, he truly understood the weight behind his parents' last words.
The Origin Core was not a curse.
It was a legacy.
And the Heavenly Dao Corporation, the all-powerful conglomerate that ruled over the tech-cultivation world, was almost certainly the real enemy that had killed them.
He hid the metal plate in a secure, hidden compartment inside the wall, then slung his tool pouch over his shoulder and stepped back into the fading daylight. Dusk had fully surrendered to night. The sky above the wasteland turned deep indigo, and the wind grew colder, carrying the sharp smells of engine oil, burnt wiring, and rust. Distant, muffled shouts echoed through the scrap heaps, reminders of the lawlessness that ruled this land.
The Blackstone camp was not far, located deeper within the Chip Graveyard, surrounded by towering piles of discarded machinery and broken signal towers. From a distance, Lu Zhechuan could see flickering, warm lights and hear the rough, drunken voices of gang members. Dozens of figures moved between makeshift tents and stacked metal crates—more than a dozen cultivators in total. Most were early or mid-stage Core Implantation, but several stood at the late stage, forming the gang's real fighting power.
In the center stood the gang's leader, a burly, intimidating man with a thick scar slicing across his left cheek. His Bronze-Rank Dao Core blazed fiercely on his arm, radiating the oppressive aura of a late-stage Core Implantation expert. This was the man who had sent the brutal threat, vowing to break Lu Zhechuan's hands, seize all his chips, and drive him out of the graveyard forever.
When the gang members saw Lu Zhechuan walking toward them alone, the entire camp fell silent for a heartbeat, then erupted into loud, mocking laughter.
"Look at this pathetic scrap hunter! He actually dared to come by himself!"
"Did he hit his head? He thinks he can take on all of us?"
"Let's break his arms, take that weird black chip, and dump him in the crusher!"
The scarred leader stepped forward, his eyes cold and murderous.
"Kid, you have two choices. Hand over every chip you own, plus that strange black rock you used to injure my subordinate, and I might let you leave with your life. Or—"
He did not bother finishing his sentence.
With a savage roar, he unleashed his full late-stage Core Implantation energy. His right fist blazed with bright bronze light, carrying enough force to shatter solid metal, and he threw a devastating punch straight toward Lu Zhechuan's chest. This attack was vastly more powerful than the weak Energy Fist launched by the earlier gang member, fast, heavy, and designed to kill in one hit.
Lu Zhechuan did not flinch.
He lightly touched the Origin Core through his cloth pouch, and in an instant, a stream of clear, calm data flooded into his consciousness.
Host: Lu Zhechuan
Current realm: Mid-stage Core Implantation (foundation optimized)
Enemy energy fluctuation: Late-stage Core Implantation
Attack trajectory: locked
Structural weakness: located
He did not need to panic or overthink. The Origin Core automatically analyzed, predicted, and guided his movements. His body twisted slightly, shifting just enough to evade the full brunt of the punch, while his reconstructed cultivation energy flowed smoothly into his right palm. He struck out with a seemingly casual palm strike, but it landed precisely on the weak point of the gang leader's energy flow.
A soft, crisp sound echoed through the air.
The scarred leader's expression froze in shock. The violent energy in his body suddenly spiraled into chaos. His Bronze Dao Core dimmed instantly, and he stumbled backward several steps, his face turning pale as paper.
"You… how could you possibly hit my energy core?"
Lu Zhechuan stepped forward slowly, his voice calm and icy.
"I am not here to beg for mercy. I am here to deliver a warning."
"No one will extort, rob, or bully the weak in this Chip Graveyard ever again."
Enraged by his arrogance, the remaining gang members charged at him all at once. More than a dozen cultivators unleashed Energy Fists, blade waves, and burst attacks, filling the air with chaotic flashes of dim light. To any ordinary scavenger, this would be a death sentence.
But to Lu Zhechuan, with the Origin Core supporting him, every move they made was completely transparent.
The first attacker, a mid-stage brute, swung a rusted energy blade in a wild arc. Lu Zhechuan sidestepped, his palm striking the blade's hilt at a precise angle. The blade spun out of the man's hand, embedding itself in a metal crate with a sharp clang. Before the brute could react, Lu Zhechuan's elbow slammed into his solar plexus, a compressed burst of Core energy forcing the air from his lungs. The man crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.
Next, two mid-stage cultivators attacked in unison, one throwing an Energy Fist, the other slashing a energy blade. The Origin Core's analysis was instantaneous. Lu Zhechuan jumped back, his foot sweeping low to trip the blade-wielder, while his palm struck the Fist-thrower's energy channel. The two attackers collided with a dull thud, their energies canceling each other out, and fell in a heap.
A late-stage cultivator, realizing the gap in skill, unleashed a Sonic Wave Attack, sending ripples of compressed energy toward Lu Zhechuan. The air trembled, and dust particles danced in the air. Lu Zhechuan closed his eyes, the Origin Core mapping the wave's frequency. He raised both hands, forming a delicate barrier of Core energy that absorbed and dispersed the wave without harm. When he opened his eyes again, the late-stage cultivator stared in disbelief, his attack neutralized.
The last remaining attackers, a pair of mid-stage twins, synchronized their moves, launching a dual Energy Fist attack from opposite sides. Lu Zhechuan did not dodge. Instead, he channeled a burst of Origin Core energy into his legs, jumping high into the air. As he descended, he spun, his leg striking both attackers' energy paths at once. The dual Fists exploded backward, hitting the twins square in the chest. They flew backward, landing in a crumpled heap, their Dao Cores temporarily paralyzed.
One by one, the gang members crumpled to the ground, their Dao Cores temporarily paralyzed, their cultivation energy scattered and useless. Not one of them could withstand even a single strike from him.
The battle ended quickly, with no suspense at all.
The scarred leader stared at Lu Zhechuan in pure terror, as if looking at some unknown monster.
"You're not just a lowly scrap hauler… who are you really?"
Lu Zhechuan looked down at him, his expression unchanging.
"I'm just someone who's tired of living in fear."
He did not kill any of them. Killing would only draw unwanted attention from larger forces. Instead, he temporarily disabled their ability to fight and issued a stern warning—never to return to this part of the Chip Graveyard to cause trouble again.
After the last terrified gang member fled into the darkness, the camp fell completely silent.
Lu Zhechuan stood alone in the messy, deserted camp, the night wind gently blowing his tattered clothes. The Origin Core in his pouch hummed softly, as if expressing satisfaction. He had taken his first real step on his path of cultivation. He had defended himself, protected his dignity, and claimed a small piece of respect in the cruel wasteland.
But he also understood deeply that this was only the beginning.
The existence of the Origin Core had already been exposed. Sooner or later, rumors of a strange, powerful chip in the hands of a scrap hunter would spread throughout the Mortal Domain. The Blackstone Gang was nothing but a small local force. Far above them, larger organizations, influential clans, and hidden powers were constantly watching the lower realms.
And high above, in the glittering, unattainable spires of the Celestial Domain, the all-seeing eyes of the Heavenly Dao Corporation had always been monitoring every corner of the Mortal Domain. Any abnormal fluctuation in cultivation power would not escape their notice.
Lu Zhechuan raised his head, gazing toward the distant, glowing skyline where the Celestial Domain loomed like a myth.
The enemy of his parents, the true origin of the Primeval Origin Dao Core, and the real secret behind this entire tech-cultivation era—
he would uncover every last truth, step by step, no matter how dangerous the road ahead.
Above the wasteland, the broken core no longer whispered.
It had begun to roar.