There were plenty of places in the buffer zone to exchange contribution points for supplies.

For instance, right below the workers’ compound where Cheng Ye lived, next to the Big Meat Cafeteria, there was a supply exchange where many restricted items could be purchased.

But to acquire transcendent minerals for crafting melee weapons, there was only one place in the entire buffer zone.

“Happiness Great Wall Station!”

The announcer’s voice rang out, and Cheng Ye’s eyelids twitched as he disembarked with the crowd.

As the closest point to the Happiness Great Wall, this was undeniably the heart of the buffer zone’s center.

Looking up, the over thirty-meter-high wall loomed like an impassable chasm, cutting off countless prying gazes from the buffer zone.

Under the sunlight, the wall’s surface was pockmarked, some areas stained with dark brown patches—whether dried blood or corrosive marks left by infected assaults, it was hard to tell.

At the base of the wall, ten-meter-high metal watchtowers stood evenly spaced every fifty meters, encircling the perimeter.

At their center was the dream destination of hundreds of thousands of buffer zone residents: the Happiness Gate!

A massive alloy door, about fifteen meters tall and seven meters wide.

“No wonder the original host was scared enough to swallow pills and end it all within a day of passing through that gate.”

Standing in the middle of the street facing the gate, Cheng Ye’s gaze pierced through the smaller passage used for daily foot traffic, catching a glimpse of the inner city beyond.

It truly felt like two separate worlds.

The buffer zone was steeped in the ancient aura of the Old Era, while the inner city was a futuristic tech utopia straight out of human imagination.

From spotless alloy floors to skyscrapers flashing neon even in daylight, it sparked an irresistible urge to rush in and explore.

Unfortunately, the stringent contribution point rules barred 99.9% of buffer zone residents, including inspectors like Cheng Ye, from entry.

Unless he one day rose to Ding Yishan’s position as station chief, he might occasionally get a chance to return to the inner city.

Shifting his gaze from the wall, the street was lined with shops, from weapon modding stores to second-hand protective gear stalls, the air thick with the scents of motor oil, rust, and faint disinfectant.

As the safest place in the buffer zone, ninety percent of contribution point transactions happened here daily.

Cheng Ye scanned the area and quickly spotted his target: an unassuming two-story building tucked among the bustling shops.

Transcendent Minerals - Buffer Zone Branch.

This was the only place in the buffer zone to buy transcendent minerals and the sole provider of mineral-based weapon forging services.

Buyers placed orders, which were sent to the inner city for crafting by master smiths, then delivered back to the buffer zone via truck to complete the transaction.

“Sir, looking to forge a handy weapon?”

Seeing Cheng Ye head straight for the shop, the greeter at the door lit up and approached eagerly.

“Yes.”

“Do you have your own materials for us to forge, or are you buying our minerals?”

“Buying.”

Cheng Ye kept it brief, wary of revealing his intentions in the crowded street. He understood the principle of not flashing wealth.

The greeter, Xiao Cui, caught on immediately, ushering him inside and gently closing the door.

“Hm?”

“Don’t laugh, sir, but this shop runs on rare customers. We don’t open for three years, but when we do, it’s enough to eat for three more.”

He continued, “The minerals here are samples. Pick what you like, and we’ll place a remote order for inner city forging. If you’re in a rush, we also have ready-made weapons. Order now, and it’ll be in your hands by this afternoon!”

“Let’s see the transcendent minerals first.”

“Alright, please follow me to the second floor.”

Following Xiao Cui upstairs, Cheng Ye noticed the shop was nearly empty.

One person on the first floor, one on the second.

Including Xiao Cui, the entire shop had just three people, truly living up to its “rare customer” reputation.

“Master Liu, this guest wants to see transcendent minerals. I’ll leave him to you.”

After introducing Cheng Ye, Xiao Cui nodded and quickly descended the stairs, leaving ample privacy.

The so-called Master Liu was a burly seven-foot man with a bushy beard, looking rather unkempt.

“We currently have only three types of transcendent minerals. What kind of weapon are you forging?”

“A short knife. I only need a small amount mixed in.”

“Naturally. Using all transcendent minerals would cost tens of thousands of contribution points at least.”

Master Liu gave a hearty laugh. “And contrary to rumors, more isn’t always better. These minerals come from the infection sources created by transcendents’ sins. Too much can harm the user.”

“There’s such a thing?”

Cheng Ye’s heart stirred, not expecting transcendent materials to carry such nuances.

“For a short knife, you want precision for throat-cutting and close-quarters bloodletting. Too much sharp mineral dulls its agility. Luckily, we just got a perfect material for knives.”

Bending down, Master Liu rummaged under the counter and pulled out a transparent glass bottle.

A fiery red stone, the size of a mung bean, lay at the bottom, its surface shimmering with fine, visible patterns, faintly glowing with firelight.

This was a mineral imbued with a transcendent’s power?

Cheng Ye’s eyes widened. It was his first time seeing something entirely absent from the modern world since transmigrating.

Through the glass, the stone looked beautiful and mysterious, but he couldn’t discern much else.

“Fire-Iron. Just 3 grams grants basic properties: the first strike gets a speed and power boost, depending on the user’s technique, ranging from 5% to about 10%.”

“That incredible?”

Cheng Ye’s excitement surged, and he blurted, “How many contribution points?”

“1 gram is 50 points. For 3 grams, with suitable auxiliary materials and labor, 200 points.”

“How… how much?”

It was like a bucket of cold water. Cheng Ye froze.

50 points for 1 gram?

Good grief, with contribution points’ purchasing power in the buffer zone, ordinary people couldn’t even afford to look at it.

“Please understand, the cost of mining these minerals is immense, often paid in lives. And they’re essentially non-renewable—one used, one gone. No mass production.”

Master Liu’s words echoed what Liu Bi had mentioned before.

Many scavengers tirelessly scoured the wasteland, hoping to strike it rich with such minerals.

If they were cheap, who would risk death adventuring in the wastes?

“Alright, any chance for a discount or partial credit?”

Cheng Ye pulled out his ID badge, introducing himself. “I’m a new inspector at the checkpoint. Haven’t been on the job long, so I’m short on points. Could you make an exception?”

Master Liu instinctively wanted to refuse, but the word “inspector” gave him pause, and he hesitated.

After a moment, he stood. “Please wait. Let me check with the main branch and see what the manager says.”

“No trouble at all.”

Returning the bottle to the counter, Master Liu stepped into the second floor’s only private room, dialing his defense comm.

“Master Su, here’s the situation…”

After briefly explaining Cheng Ye’s case, Liu added, “This inspector looks young, but he’s no showboat. He’s got some real foundation.”

“Is that so?” A skeptical tone came from the other end, but no further questions followed.

“Alright, give him a discount. Waive the labor and base material fees, just charge for the mineral.”

“Got it.”

Hanging up, Master Liu returned with the quote.

Cheng Ye was stunned. Even with just the mineral cost, it was 150 points.

Gritting his teeth, he said, “Any chance for more leniency? I’ve got 143 points. Can I owe the remaining 7?”

“7 points, huh?”

Liu could decide that much and nodded. “No problem. Come pick the knife’s form.”

In the private room, blueprints were spread out, showcasing dozens of short knife designs.

From standard scout daggers and tactical straight knives to versatile bayonets and folding knives.

Cheng Ye browsed until his eyes locked on a unique silhouette, defying traditional weapon-crafting logic and leaning toward modern multi-tool designs.

“Cyclone Spike, a brutal weapon,” Master Liu introduced. “The tip is razor-sharp like a cone, with a false edge. When piercing, it twists the wound open with force. Hit a vital spot, and with the double-twist knob at the tip’s base, the lethality is nothing short of terrifying.”

“Plus, this Cyclone Spike has a threaded quick-connect, allowing it to attach to a steel pipe as a spear shaft, turning it into a mid-range triangular short spear.”

“That’s the one!”

Cheng Ye decided almost instantly.

With transcendent minerals so costly, he wouldn’t have enough points for a second weapon anytime soon.

Choosing a Cyclone Spike, versatile for close defense and convertible to a mid-range spear, was like saving 150 points outright.

“Wise choice.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Master Liu’s eyes, quickly hidden in his wrinkled smile.

After over a decade in the trade, he could gauge a person’s character from their weapon choice.

Someone picking a long-handled tactical knife and still feeling insecure was likely a coward.

A ruthless type choosing a three-inch assassination spike probably lived on the edge.

An inspector picking a Cyclone Spike, designed for lethal human kills rather than infected?

Interesting!

In the past, only those with their lives on the line dared use such a weapon.

“It’ll take three days to forge. Come back after 1 p.m. on July 1 to pick it up.”