Chapter 57

Chapter 057: I Want to Improve Too!

In the afternoon, Yu Jing's post continued to ferment.

As more and more people personally verified the tangible effectiveness of the Light Body Nine-Segment Guiding Technique, driven by surprise, it spread like wildfire through word-of-mouth, multiplying exponentially.

It was like dropping a spark onto a drought-stricken prairie, just as the wind picked up, turning into a blazing inferno.

Under the blessing of the Fate Net, the transmission of information became effortless.

Soon, the seven characters "Light Body Nine-Segment Guiding Technique" became the undisputed top trending term across the entire network. Its search volume and mention rate grew exponentially.

Not only was the forum's front page completely dominated by various experience and insight posts, but major regional chat channels, newly formed friend and team groups were all fervently discussing this cultivation method.

Initially, the conversation focused on direct questions like, "Have you tried it?" and "Does it really work?" But soon, the depth and emotion of the discussions began to heat up.

"It works! It really works! After one round, it feels like I've had the most premium full-body muscle massage."

"It's not an illusion! My old neck and lower back, which have been hunched over a computer drawing for over a decade, actually felt relief from that soreness and stiffness after two rounds!"

"I have a mild case of cold-leg syndrome, which gets uncomfortable when the weather changes. I just slowly practiced three rounds, and it felt like the cold air inside my knees dissipated a bit?"

"Heavens! It's simple and effective—this is the real deal!"

"I declare the Light Body Nine-Segment Guiding Technique the eternal god!"

Being able to so clearly and directly experience the feeling of one's body improving and becoming lighter...

For modern people, who are generally in a sub-healthy state, this was an unprecedented experience. Naturally, it felt novel and exhilarating.

It was like the cultivation they had once dreamed of while reading wuxia novels or fantasy stories as children, suddenly becoming a reality.

Although what they gained at the moment was only the most basic improvement in physical fitness... it was a real, repeatable, and clearly perceptible change.

Theoretically, everyone had a chance to obtain supernatural abilities or magical items from supply boxes, allowing them to soar to great heights. But the name "Supply Box" itself implied that its main output was basic supplies. The probability of anything else was too low.

Previously, most people could only watch with mixed feelings as the rare lucky few on the forum displayed astonishing abilities. It felt like a story from another world, completely out of reach.

But now, it was different!

Everyone had it!

A simple, safe, and effective cultivation method was laid out plainly before everyone.

This sense of personal participation and gain was something that reading others' posts could never compare to.

Excitement spread across the network. People eagerly shared their minor changes and exchanged tips and insights from their practice.

This spontaneous discussion further accelerated the spread of the technique, creating a sweeping trend of universal participation and popularization.

At the same time, Yu Jing and the [People's Union Association] were repeatedly mentioned.

The reputations of both shot up like rockets, spreading rapidly to every corner of the Huaxia Faction.

Yu Jing herself had held the second spot on the Personal Contribution Ranking ever since the list first appeared.

She already had a fair amount of popularity.

Unfortunately, in the face of the top-ranked individual—whose contributions were measured in the hundreds of millions, a mythic, tier-breaking lead—

And with that Chief also bearing the identity of the Master of the Fate Net...

Under such dazzling brilliance, the rankings below inevitably seemed dim and overshadowed.

Attention was limited.

Even though she had a following on the forum, that was all it was.

This time, thanks to the Light Body Nine-Segment Guiding Technique—a gift capable of transforming the physiques of hundreds of millions of compatriots—her popularity and prestige experienced an explosive leap.

Countless people came to know this "Second on the List."

And the [People's Union Association], the department unveiled alongside the cultivation method, instantly rose to become the official-affiliated organization with the highest public favorability within the current Huaxia Faction.

From gratitude to devotion, and then to support!

Simple emotions drove a flood of feedback toward the [People's Union Association].

Donations were the most direct expression.

The donation post, which only accepted tips, saw its total amount jump at a dizzying pace.

Many regarded learning the cultivation method as receiving instruction and spontaneously donated some Fate Points as a token of tuition.

Though most individual donations were small, before the vast population base, these trickles quickly converged into rivers.

The momentum of the total increase was astonishing.

Beyond donating Fate Points, many people were also moved by the [People's Union Association]'s declared mission and the initiative Yu Jing had demonstrated.

They actively expressed willingness to contribute their efforts and serve as volunteers.

In an extremely short time... this department, which had only just been formally announced, began to rapidly fill out.

It transformed from a conceptual framework into an entity organization with a preliminary structure.

...

A corner of the Trial Ground.

A large camp nestled against a mountain and beside a river, easy to defend and hard to attack.

The camp's wooden palisade was sturdy and orderly, with wooden cabins and public areas of various sizes neatly arranged inside.

Currently, over a thousand people had gathered here.

In the primitive era of early civilization, this would have been more than enough to be considered a sizable tribe.

At this point, the threat of ordinary wild beasts from the wilderness had long vanished.

Not to mention that the camp was filled with young and middle-aged adults standing upright, moving decisively, and wearing calm, steady gazes.

Their discipline and coordination were immediately apparent.

It was safe to say that, given the current difficulty level of the Trial Ground, this camp no longer faced any external security issues.

The only ongoing challenge was meeting the daily needs and long-term development of over a thousand people.

But thanks to the "Trading House"—a platform capable of transcending space—the pressure to acquire various survival supplies was greatly alleviated.

The camp itself also gathered surrounding resources and engaged in preliminary production, exchanging goods through the Trading House, and even occasionally had a surplus.

To have successfully assembled such a large team in just a few days...

Its founder was undoubtedly someone of great significance.

Inside a relatively spacious log cabin reinforced with thick logs at the center of the camp, a middle-aged man around fifty with a resolute face sat at a simple wooden table. His posture was as straight as a pine, and even while seated, he naturally exuded a steady composure accumulated over years of experience.

This man was Zhuang Hongwen.

Contrary to the "wen" (literary) character in his name, he distinctly carried a hardened military demeanor from his years of service. At that moment, he was intently focused on the donation post of the [People's Union Association] through his Personal Interface. His gaze fixed on the total "Tips" amount of Fate Points, which was still skyrocketing wildly, already approaching the ten million mark.

Simultaneously, the front page of the Forum, nearly flooded with positive public sentiment from posts related to the [People's Union Association] and the "Light Body Nine-Segment Guiding Technique," was clearly presented before him through the Internal Briefing.

The cabin was silent as Zhuang Hongwen pondered.

Back then, he and his colleagues in the decision-making layer had approved Yu Jing's proposal and even provided some support. This was certainly partly out of consideration for appeasing key talent, and also carried the intention of testing new paths and observing the vitality of grassroots mutual aid and cooperation. But deep down, he hadn't truly believed that a charitable organization relying mainly on public donations could rapidly gain momentum and play a role in the current era of widespread resource scarcity. He saw it more as a useful supplement and symbol.

Yet the reality of its development exceeded the most optimistic projections.

"By leveraging a single Cultivation Method, she broke through the situation at once, winning both people's hearts and resources," Zhuang Hongwen analyzed calmly. "The timing, the execution of steps, and especially the commitment to transparency achieved with only the Fate Net as a Channel—all were remarkably precise."

"Comrade Yu Jing is indeed capable."

The turn of events had somewhat exceeded initial expectations. However, Zhuang Hongwen didn't see it as a bad thing. At least for now, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

From its establishment to its operation, the [People's Union Association] had always openly professed to operate under the guidance and support of relevant authorities. This undoubtedly helped reshape and strengthen the credibility and positive image of "official organizations" among the public. The people's endorsement and support essentially enhanced the centripetal force toward the Faction.

Moreover...

"Public enthusiasm has its own cycles and can't sustain a peak for long; the expansion rate of the People's Union Association will also gradually stabilize," he thought. "As long as operations remain transparent and donations are truly used for practical purposes, maintaining credibility... this organization can become a beneficial supplement and effective Channel for the authorities to connect with the people and pool grassroots strength."

His mind raced as he quickly made a preliminary judgment.

Zhuang Hongwen mused inwardly, "At this stage, it's still within a controllable and beneficial range." It could even serve as a "model" and "lever" worth supporting and learning from.

However, just as he was weighing guidance for the [People's Union Association]'s future development...

An Internal Briefing appeared before him:

[Noted on the Forum: Questions about whether donating Fate Points to the People's Union Association can earn Faction Contribution. Preliminary assessment by the expert and scholar team: Highly likely.]

Zhuang Hongwen's brow suddenly twitched.

...

Elsewhere, in the forest.

Yu Jing, unusually, had not gone out hunting but stayed in her own log cabin.

At this moment, she was fully engrossed in handling the overwhelming torrent of affairs related to the People's Union Association.

Compared to the precise control over her body and energy during combat, the Digital Heart's enhancement of information processing undoubtedly elevated her to a higher dimension.

This allowed her to clearly split her thoughts into thousands of independent threads simultaneously.

Her brain functioned like a supercomputer, capable of processing massive tasks in parallel.

Since the Fate Net's operation relied entirely on mental intent, it was the perfect platform for her to fully unleash this extraordinary ability.

At this moment, Yu Jing was like a "deity" seated at the center of an invisible torrent of information.

Calm, efficient, and precise, she handled everything:

She quickly reviewed urgent assistance requests that had been initially screened and verified by the internal working group.

Her thoughts were like lightning, scanning multiple assessment reports at once.

Using the data models established during the tests over the previous two nights, she could determine in an extremely short time whether to provide aid and how many Fate Points to allocate.

Then, with a slight mental command, she confirmed and transferred the funds.

The entire process flowed smoothly, with almost no delay.

Simultaneously, she uploaded the completed assistance information to the dedicated "Donation and Expenditure Public Post" for the People's Union Association.

At this moment, the post's length was increasing at an astonishing rate, with densely packed yet clearly organized information entries forming the most intuitive wall of evidence.

This was undoubtedly a breathtaking display of transparency and efficiency.

At the same time, Yu Jing also diverted a portion of her focus to conduct preliminary communications with people who had proactively contacted her through the Fate Net to apply as volunteers or offer professional support.

She quickly assessed their information, intentions, and availability, then gradually categorized and filed them.

She assigned them to different internal coordination teams or directly issued simple task instructions.

Many enthusiastic volunteers received clear and specific replies or task assignments just minutes after submitting their applications.

The efficiency was astounding.

And it didn't stop there!

Yu Jing even had enough spare capacity to monitor public sentiment on the Fate Net Forum.

This included, but was not limited to, feedback from the public on practicing the Light Body Nine-Segment Guiding Technique...

As well as changes in perception of the People's Union Association, along with related questions and suggestions.

At this moment, she keenly noticed a key issue that was beginning to spark small-scale discussions:

"Can donating Fate Points to the People's Union Association earn Faction Contribution?"

Seeing this question, Yu Jing had anticipated it.

Regarding this point, she had naturally deliberately refrained from mentioning it in her public statements.

Because she needed this "Information Gap" to create a brief yet critical Window Period.

The reason was simple: she wanted to prevent high-level decision-makers from realizing that the People's Union Association had the ability to "stably convert Faction Contribution"...

And thus recognizing its immense potential, they would immediately intervene, restrict, and divide power.

Or even directly incorporate it into the traditional management system.

"As for this question appearing on the forum, the higher-ups should have caught on by now... Will they try to Steal the Peach?"

Yu Jing felt no disturbance in her heart regarding this.

She had already weighed all possibilities: "The public sentiment has already fully fermented; any countermove now would be too late."

"After all, this Cultivation Method that benefits the entire populace was purchased by me privately, and I made the decision to release it for free on my own."

"With this monumental achievement, coupled with my current reputation and popular support, who would dare to take my place?"

"More crucially, the donation-accepting post was issued under my personal name, and all Fate Points were directly transferred into my personal Fate Net account."

"The purse strings are in my hands. With my current prestige and influence, even if I were to break away from the existing framework, I would have no trouble rallying a new People's Union Association recognized by the public in a short time."

"Still, it probably won't come to that..."

As Yu Jing handled various matters, her thoughts raced.

She saw it clearly: "In the current Trial Ground, teams big and small govern themselves, and people's minds are unsettled."

"The official position is already somewhat delicate."

"This isn't some trivial matter I can decide with a single word. Even if a few fools act up, others will naturally rein them in."

"So it's likely just undercurrents stirring, with nothing actually happening."

In reality, the official position was far more precarious than it appeared on the surface.

In the Trial Ground, the original social structures, resource distribution methods, and authority systems had been almost completely reset.

Now, people had spontaneously formed teams of various sizes, each striving for survival.

Naturally, this fostered a sense of detachment from this "top-down" command system.

Even those within the official system, given the current circumstances, couldn't help but harbor their own calculations and restless ambitions.

This wasn't necessarily disloyalty, but rather a desire for greater power.

They wanted to advance too!

"In terms of advancement, I suppose I've seized the lead, taking several steps ahead."

Yu Jing silently teased herself.

Of course, she was also aware that many within the current People's Union Association were personnel coordinated from the official side.

This was the fundamental reason she had to hold something back, guarding against being stripped of power or having her achievements stolen.

Essentially, it was borrowing a hen to lay eggs.

Even if the egg had hatched.

The next step was to make this "chick" truly recognize its master.

"By rapidly absorbing external talent and cultivating fresh blood, I can dilute the original proportion..."

Her gaze was resolute: "Give it some time, and I'm confident I can truly turn the People's Union Association into a one-man show under my control."

"And the fact that donating to the People's Union Association yields Faction Contribution will soon be verified on a large scale, quickly becoming a consensus among the populace."

At that point, the Fate Points donated to the People's Union Association would no longer come solely from gratitude or charity.

They would be compounded by a massive wave of investment-driven demand from those seeking to boost their Faction Contribution.

Riding this momentum, the scale, influence, and mobilizable resources of the People's Union Association would experience explosive growth.

It would rapidly transform from a charitable platform into a behemoth amassing a colossal amount of Fate Points with formidable execution efficiency.

"As long as I ensure no errors or omissions in the core links I control, guaranteeing fairness and precision in assistance... thereby maintaining the high conversion rate and credibility between Fate Points invested and Contribution output."

Yu Jing had absolute confidence in this.

The extraordinary information processing granted by the [Digital Heart] allowed her to keep the error rate at an extremely low level.

Moreover, after several hours of high-intensity information processing...

She could feel that her ability to capture, analyze, and reorganize information seemed to have become quicker and more effortless.

"Could it be that after processing all this complex information, the Digital Power within me has grown a little stronger?!"

Yu Jing had a sudden realization.

Outside the wooden cabin, dusk was gradually settling.

The evening breeze gently brushed through the forest.

Inside the room, the soft glow of the [Portable Solar Lamp] illuminated the calm, focused profile of the intellectual woman.

And those bright eyes, as if reflecting countless streams of information, shimmering with a faint blue light.