Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life-Chapter 173: Information Warfare

The steward snorted coldly, clearly not believing him. "It better be!" After saying that, he found a stone stool and sat down, adopting a supervisor's posture.

Su Ming said nothing more. He turned around to face the team he had built from the ground up, his voice calm yet powerful.

"Begin work."

At his command, the small courtyard instantly transformed into a precise machine.

Twenty formation plates, shimmering with sharp golden light yet dim in spiritual radiance, were laid out one by one. Old Li, with Zhao Tiezhu, carefully removed the casings according to the *Sharp Metal Formation Plate Standard Dismantling Procedure*, sorting the internal components into categories. A faint, burnt smell of metal scorched by spiritual energy began to permeate the air.

Zhang Asheng, wearing a pair of specially-made deerskin gloves, used a soft cloth soaked in "Dust-Clearing Liquid" to polish every disassembled part until they shone, then used the Faint Light Technique to check for hidden damage.

Meanwhile, Old Wang sat behind a desk in the corner, his charcoal pen scratching softly against paper.

*[Third hour of the Shen period (approx. 3:45 PM), received twenty 'Sharp Metal Formation Plates' from the Vessel Hall.]*

*[Fourth hour of the Shen period (approx. 4:45 PM), dismantling commenced. Recorder: Wang Ming. First formation plate: three impact dents on casing, energy node of the core 'Armor-Piercing' rune burned out...]*

His records were exhaustive, detailing every scratch and the result of every spiritual energy probe.

Su Ming took command at the center, responsible for the most critical rune repairs. Before him lay only three rune brushes and a dish of spiritual ink. His movements were not fast, but each stroke he made was incredibly precise, the output of his spiritual energy as stable and unwavering as a straight line.

Initially, the Vessel Hall steward stood with his arms crossed, watching coldly, waiting to see how this "ragtag bunch" would make fools of themselves. But after an hour passed, the mockery on his face gradually morphed into astonishment.

There was no frantic scrambling, no arguments or discussions.

Only silent, highly efficient coordination and a process that seemed pre-programmed. Every person was like a perfectly meshed gear, operating with precision within the machine named the "Repair Hall."

Night fell as the last rays of sunset vanished from the sky.

Su Ming set down his rune brush.

Twenty "Sharp Metal Formation Plates" were neatly arranged on the stone table, each one emitting a full, sharp golden spiritual light.

"Steward, the mission is accomplished," Su Ming said, handing over a list. "All twenty have been repaired. Please inspect them."

The steward stepped forward, picked up one plate with suspicion, and channeled spiritual energy into it.

*Hum—*

A concentrated beam of golden light shot from the formation plate, cutting a fierce arc through the air. The very air seemed to be sliced apart, emitting a faint hiss. He tested five or six more in succession, each performing identically. The flow of spiritual energy was so smooth it was even better than some newly manufactured plates!

His face turned pale, then flushed, his inner shock beyond words.

"This... how is this possible?"

Su Ming did not answer his question.

The steward gave Su Ming a deep look, said nothing, turned, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

...

Deep within the Artifact Forging Hall of the Vessel Hall.

The crimson glow of the earth fire cast the stone walls in a dark red hue. The air was thick with the smells of sulfur and refined metal.

A red-faced elder with bristling beard and hair, burly in stature, stared intently with wide eyes at a furnace where a magical treasure was nearing completion. This was one of the three chief elders of the Vessel Hall, the Golden Light True Person, renowned for his fiery temper and obsession with artifact forging.

The steward stood respectfully to the side, not daring to breathe too loudly.

"Elder, the 'Sharp Metal Formation Plates' have been retrieved."

"Hmm." The Golden Light True Person grunted from his nose without turning his head.

...

The efficiency and "peculiarity" of the Repair Hall soon stirred up ripples, small but not insignificant, within the External Affairs Hall.

At first, it was curiosity.

"Did you hear? That urgent task from the Vessel Hall, that group finished it in one night!"

"More than that! I heard the Vessel Hall even added an extra reward of contribution points!"

When the Vessel Hall elder's praise spread through certain "unintentional" channels (like Qingfeng and Mingyue's loud chatter in the dining hall), curiosity quickly fermented into jealousy.

In a tea room somewhere in the External Affairs Hall, several managers had gathered.

"Hmph, a cripple with a ruined foundation, relying on some unorthodox tricks, and he actually manages to make a name for himself?" A sharp-faced, weaselly Manager Liu took a sip of tea, his tone sour. He was originally responsible for part of the material procurement. Since the Repair Hall's establishment, several lucrative operations had been transferred over, and he was already deeply dissatisfied.

"Exactly!" another person chimed in. "I heard they use only the best materials to fix things! That spiritual ink is almost up to the standard for inner sect disciples! What a waste! Pile good materials on anything, even a pig could fix a few items!"

"Elder Ma must be getting senile to trust a mere brat!"

Thus, rumors began to spread.

"The Repair Hall is wildly extravagant, wasting sect materials to chase empty fame."

Soon, Su Ming began to feel the pressure.

One day, when Old Wang went to the material warehouse to collect this month's allocated supplies, the warehouse steward delayed him for a full two hours on the pretext of "incomplete procedures." The spiritual ink he brought back was also noticeably inferior in quality.

"Senior Brother Su, they... they did it on purpose!" Old Wang fumed, his face flushed red.

Looking at the pieces of subpar spiritual ink, a flicker of coldness passed through Su Ming's eyes, but his expression remained calm.

He walked to the courtyard wall and said to Old Wang, "Uncle Wang, go get a large wooden board."

Half an hour later, a huge wooden board, painted black, appeared on the outer wall of Bing Character Seven Courtyard.

On the board, written in the most eye-catching white lime, were several lines of large characters.

**[Formation Lines Repair Hall Daily Bulletin]**

**[September 17th]**

**[Materials Received: Three ingots of third-grade spiritual ink, one bottle of Dust-Clearing Liquid, two taels of Red Copper sand...]**

**[Repairs Undertaken: Twelve Quiet Heart Formation Plates.]**

**[Completed: Twelve pieces.]**

**[Success Rate: One hundred percent.]**

**[Material Loss: Half an ingot of spiritual ink, one qian of Red Copper sand (Standard loss: one qian, three li)...]**

The data was simple, clear, and irrefutable.

Su Ming looked at this "data wall," the corner of his mouth lifting in a barely perceptible curve.

He turned his head just in time to see Qingfeng and Mingyue running over again with food boxes, their faces puffed up with anger.

"Su Ming! We heard people badmouthing you again!"

Su Ming's face immediately shifted to a perfectly measured expression of grievance and helpless bitterness.

"Ah, let them be. We merely wish to do our part for the sect. It's a pity that gossip is so fearsome..."

He sighed softly. His demeanor instantly ignited righteous indignation in the two youngsters.

Outside the courtyard, the sharp-faced Manager Liu happened to be passing by. Seeing the glaring data on the wall, the smile on his face froze instantly, turning extremely grim.