Wasteland: I Awakened A Plant System-Chapter 61: Defence Upgrade

Trading Market

On the first day of the extreme cold, just as Vikram had expected, the trading market was flooded with Survivors desperately searching for cold-weather supplies such as thick clothing and quilts.

The second most demanded resource was food.

With prey becoming increasingly scarce, the price of meat had unexpectedly risen instead of falling compared to the early days of survival.

Meanwhile, construction materials had become the least valuable commodities. Most Survivors had already realized that ordinary iron houses were far from sufficient to withstand the coming weeks of severe cold.

Ironically, wood, which had plunged to rock-bottom prices just days ago, had begun to recover slightly in value. Even so, its worth was still limited, barely enough to exchange for a single loaf of bread.

Ignoring the clutter of low-priority trades, Vikram activated the search filter and quickly narrowed the list down to the items he actually needed.

Several suitable offers immediately appeared on his interface.

Trader: Anil Singh — Steel ×15, Required: Meat ×3 kg.

Trader: Sunil Kumar — Steel ×20, Required: Meat ×2 kg.

Trader: Sunil Kumar — Steel ×35, Required: Meat ×3.5 kg.

Trader: Sunil Kumar — Steel ×10, Required: Meat ×1 kg.

What surprised Vikram most was this Survivor named Sunil Kumar.

The man had posted more than a dozen steel-related trades at once, practically flooding the entire trading page.

After carefully comparing the offers, Vikram noticed that Sunil’s prices were not only reasonable but slightly cheaper than average, and the quantities he provided were unusually large.

Perhaps because most people were currently prioritizing rebar and iron for structural reinforcement, Sunil’s steel listings did not appear to be selling well.

Some of the trade posts even showed timestamps dating back to last week.

"How can someone possibly have so much steel?" Vikram frowned slightly.

"Since the beginning of survival, I’ve hunted dozens, maybe even over a hundred creatures, yet I’ve never accumulated this amount of steel." He was extremely confident in his own efficiency.

With the enhancements from genetic evolution and the assistance of biological detection, Vikram was certain that very few Survivors could match his hunting speed.

And yet now, someone had suddenly appeared who could casually throw out more steel than Vikram had ever owned at once.

Naturally, this aroused his curiosity.

Friend request successful.

Almost immediately after accepting the request, the other party began enthusiastically promoting his goods.

[Sunil Kumar: Hey brother, looking to buy steel? I can lower the price a bit. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied with both the quality and the rate.]

Trades that were already listed below the general market price still had room for further discounts from him, which only deepened Vikram’s suspicions.

[Vikram: How much steel do you currently have in stock? I might need quite a large quantity.]

Before understanding the other party’s background, Vikram chose to proceed cautiously. He first wanted to confirm the total amount of resources Sunil possessed before deciding on his next move.

[Sunil Kumar: Don’t worry, brother, I have enough. As long as you give me some time, I can supply however much you need.]

[Vikram: Are you sure? What if I need 1000 units of steel?]

Of course, Vikram did not actually intend to purchase such an enormous amount. He merely used the exaggerated figure to make Sunil take him seriously and to probe for more information.

[Sunil Kumar: This...]

Sunil Kumar hesitated for a moment, wondering if the other party was just trying to make fun of him. Instead of answering directly, he counter-questioned.

[Sunil Kumar: Brother, you must be joking. Even if I really had that much... could you afford enough food to trade for all that steel?]

[Vikram: Image]

Without any further explanation, Vikram casually sent a picture into the chat. Two massive chunks of raw meat lay on the ground, still glistening faintly.

[Vikram: Just tell me how much steel you can arrange in total. You don’t need to worry about the food.]

Seeing the image, Sunil Kumar was momentarily stunned. Although he could not identify the creature the meat had come from, the sheer quantity alone was enough to make his pupils shrink.

By a rough visual estimate, the two pieces together weighed at least fifty kilograms or more.

In the next instant, a surge of wild excitement filled his chest. "I’ve finally found a real big spender!"

Until now, he had been somewhat dismissive of Vikram. But the casually displayed mountain of meat forced him to completely change his attitude.

[Sunil Kumar: Mr. Vikram... do you really need that much steel?]

He had almost agreed immediately, yet the risks he faced every time he gathered steel made him suppress his excitement and ask cautiously.

[Vikram: If you can’t arrange it, then forget it. I’ll just ask someone else.]

[Sunil Kumar: No, no, Mr. Vikram, if even I can’t supply that amount, then no one else can. You’ve definitely come to the right person.]

He was not exaggerating. After all, nearly the entire steel trading page was already dominated by his listings.

[Sunil Kumar: You need 1000 units, right? I’ll need some time to prepare. How about I trade you a portion first, Mr. Vikram? I’ll deliver the rest gradually as soon as I secure it.]

[Vikram: Alright. Then tell me — how exactly do you plan to sell it?]

[Sunil Kumar: 200 units of stainless steel for only 18 kg of food, and I’ll also add 15 units of iron for free. How does that sound?]

Sunil Kumar had been a salesman back on Earth.

He clearly understood that squeezing profit from a single deal was short-sighted. Building long-term cooperation through small concessions was far more valuable — especially when dealing with someone like Vikram, who clearly possessed strong hunting capabilities and abundant supplies. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After witnessing Vikram’s strength, he didn’t even consider trying to take advantage. Instead, he directly offered his absolute bottom-line price.

Seeing Sunil Kumar voluntarily lower the price and even add bonus iron, Vikram naturally didn’t stand on ceremony.

He did not bargain further. Food prices were indeed high at the moment, and he was not the kind of person who would push someone relentlessly just for a few extra gains.

[Vikram: Sounds good, Mr. Sunil. With such sincerity, I’ll purchase everything from you next time as well. By the way, when do you think you can prepare the remaining stainless steel?]

Spending 18 kg of meat, he gladly accepted the transaction and calmly asked about future supply.

[Sunil Kumar: That’s hard to say exactly, but it definitely won’t exceed one month. I’ll notify you once I gather the remaining stainless steel. Thank you for your trust, Mr. Vikram.]

Sunil Kumar agreed readily, as if arranging 800 more units of stainless steel was merely a matter of time.

[Vikram: Then I’ll wait for your good news.]

[Sunil Kumar: Alright, Mr. Vikram. See you next time.]

After closing the chat interface, Vikram sat quietly on the sofa, resting his chin on his right hand.

His gaze gradually became distant as he sank into thought.

During the entire exchange, he deliberately avoided asking about the source of Sunil Kumar’s steel. It wasn’t forgetfulness — it was strategy.

Just like Sunil Kumar was cultivating long-term business relations, Vikram was also playing the long game. Without sufficient trust, probing someone’s survival secret would only create hostility.

"Fortunately... he seems quite principled in business. Buying supplies from him won’t be a loss."

"In future dealings, I’ll eventually uncover his secret."

He stood up, shook off the lingering thoughts, and summoned the Plant Life System.

"Enough distractions. Strengthening the territory gate comes first."

Without hesitation, Vikram placed all the required materials into the system interface and confirmed construction.

[Ding — Stainless Steel −140]

[Ding — Plant Essence −500]

The moment the command was given, all the materials he had just prepared—stainless steel, plant essence, bio-seeds, and structural components—were instantly absorbed by the system.

A dense white light surged outward from the entrance of his territory, swallowing the old iron wall and the previously constructed gate entirely.

For a brief moment, everything vanished.

As the system notification echoed, the gate reinforcement process officially began.

A flash of white light burst outward. Immediately afterward, that familiar x-ray-like construction vision appeared before Vikram’s eyes.

First, the open stretch of land at the unguarded half of the entrance began to tremble faintly.

The soil compacted itself layer by layer, becoming dense and firm like compressed stone.

Then, thick stainless-steel frames rose from beneath the ground. These skeletal structures interlocked with one another, forming a ten-meter-wide reinforced defensive wall segment that seamlessly connected with the existing Thornvine barrier.

The surface of the newly formed gate wall gleamed with a subtle silver sheen. It was not overly reflective, instead maintaining a muted metallic tone that blended naturally with the surrounding terrain.

At the center of the wall, the system constructed a dual-layer sliding gate structure.

The outer layer consisted of heavy steel plates arranged in overlapping segments, capable of absorbing direct physical impact. The inner layer was composed of reinforced lattice bars, ensuring that even if the outer shell were damaged, the structural integrity would remain intact.

Massive hinge joints embedded deep within stone foundations allowed the gate to open inward with controlled resistance. Despite its formidable weight, the mechanism was perfectly balanced, Vikram could operate it alone without excessive effort.

Along the upper edges of the wall, sharp angled protrusions were formed, designed to prevent creatures from climbing over. At ground level, the base of the structure extended several feet underground, eliminating the risk of tunneling intrusion.

Most importantly, the Thornvine cluster nearby instinctively intertwined with the new structure.

Although they still appeared harmless and ornamental from the outside, their roots subtly wrapped around the metal framework, forming a living defensive layer over the mechanical one.

And finally, at the side of the massive eight-metre Territory Gate, the soil slowly cracked open.

From within the dark ground, a small living sprout emerged.

Within seconds, its slender stem thickened and stabilized, rising to knee height. Several translucent jade-green leaves unfolded one after another, thin like crystal membranes yet filled with vibrant life force.

At the very center of the plant, a softly glowing core node pulsed rhythmically.

This was the Verdant Gene Sentinel.

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Verdant Gene Sentinel (Blue)

Type: Bio-Recognition Defensive Plant

Status: Active (Bound to Territory Gate)

Growth State: Mature

Upgradeable: No

Daily Plant Essence Generation: +5

Description: A semi-sentient defensive plant created by the Plant Life System to guard key territorial entry points. It possesses instinctive life-signature recognition and can coordinate nearby plant defenses automatically.

Core Functions

Life Signature Recognition — The Sentinel continuously scans the surrounding area through an invisible biological sensing field.

It can clearly distinguish between.

• Vikram (Territory Owner) — automatically recognized as the primary authority.

• All territory-bound plants such as Thornvine, Spikevine, Bloodvine, Guardian Sprout, Warrior Sprout, Healer Sprout and other system-linked units.

• Authorized individuals personally brought or approved by Vikram — once they enter with him, their life signature becomes temporarily recorded as "friendly."

When any of these recognized signatures approach, the Sentinel’s core emits a calm green glow, and the gate’s living-steel structure relaxes, allowing smooth passage like a natural doorway.

Intruder Detection & Alarm Response — If an unknown human, creature, or suspicious biological signal enters the detection range.

• The Sentinel’s core shifts into a cold blue or crimson alert glow.

• It releases silent vibration pulses through underground root channels.

• The Territory Gate automatically enters defensive standby mode.

Simultaneously, it can issue instinctive combat commands to nearby plant defenses, Thornvine, Spikevine and Bloodvine.

If the intruder continues advancing with hostile intent, the Sentinel escalates the response level, coordinating multiple plants to immobilize or eliminate the threat before it reaches the inner territory.

Environmental Immunity — Unlike mechanical detectors, the Verdant Gene Sentinel does not rely on vision, sound, or heat.

Snowstorms, darkness, fog, terrain obstacles, or concealment techniques cannot deceive its biological perception. It senses life directly through heartbeat rhythm, cellular energy fluctuation, and vitality resonance.

Standing beside the softly glowing Sentinel, Vikram felt as if his territory had finally gained a living guardian instinct.