CH 150

After Cheng Que formed a contract with mutated creatures, even before waiting for more experimental results, more than a dozen people actively volunteered to participate in the experiment.

Of course, the principle of voluntary participation also applies to mutated creatures. As time passed, the intelligence of mutated creatures continued to improve, and they gradually learned to distinguish the pros and cons. They also had a certain understanding of their own condition and could sense when they were about to lose control, providing a buffer period.

Although the lotus flower on Bai Ye’s antlers had the effect of contacting the state of madness, the growth rate and yield of the pam-sized lotus were destined not to solve the fundamental problem for mutated creatures.

So, when Cheng Que’s experimental results were announced, mutated creatures accepted them even faster than humans. Communication was facilitated through Gray Rats Company, and by distributing special colored and numbered flags as symbols, they sorted the mutated creatures who wanted to make a contract. Mutated creatures were ready, and humans were ready too. Both sides embarked on their first collective introduction. Shu Shuishui sighed on the side, feeling like he was at a large-scale matchmaking event. The Shui Jing Gong’s youngsters were finally not lonely anymore.

As Shu Shuishui sighed, Gu Langu’s gaze remained fixed on him. Shu Shuishui quickly noticed and looked into Gu Langu’s eyes, understanding Gu Langu’s thoughts in an instant. “Does Gu Gu want to form a contract with me?”

Gu Langu’s eyes instantly lit up, but he still said cautiously, “Actually, I’m not in a hurry. Whatever you like, Shui Shui…”

“I like it!”

Before Gu Langu could finish his sentence, Shu Shuishui decisively interrupted him. Gu Langu was momentarily at a loss for words and felt his heart rate rapidly increase. Why did this feel more solemn than a proposal?

“I’m willing!”

Seeing that Gu Langu didn’t react, Shu Shuishui added, “I’m willing to form a contract with Gu Gu.” He leaned slightly closer to Gu Langu, and whispered into his ear, “And it can be an exclusive, never-ending contract. Is Gu Gu willing?”

Gu Langu’s Adam’s apple rolled intensely, and after a long pause, he uttered two words from his throat, “I’m willing!” Of course, he was willing, and it was something he had longed for.

So, while everyone was eagerly watching the large-scale contract scene, no one noticed that Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu had disappeared.

In the dim night, in a world of black and white, the landscape resembled ink sketches. On a slightly flat piece of bluestone, Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu sat facing each other. In front of them lay a contract antibody and a seal script.

Gu Langu had awakened his memories from the past and naturally knew how to use the seal script. In fact, a contract requires many conditions and restrictions, and the higher the level of the contract, the more demanding the seal script. Without Cheng Que’s research, it would likely have been postponed.

They each cut their palm and, at the same time, extended a silver needle from their fingertips, gently piercing each other’s fingers. Their hands clasped together, merging their bloodlines.

In reality, with the Shui Lan Ring, their souls were already destined to be eternally together. However, neither of them refused the opportunity to add another layer of bonds in this lifetime. Two souls entwined, they would cherish every chance to get closer. After all, they had been separated for too long.

“Gu Gu.”

“Hmm?”

“We’ve privately committed to each other.”

“Hmm!”

“Gu Gu.”

“Hmm?”

“We’ll be together forever from now on.”

“Hmm!”

“Gu Gu?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re crying.”

…

In the quiet forest, the night’s chirping insects had fallen silent, leaving only the sound of moonlight flowing with the gentle breeze.

The next day, as the residents of the Shui Jing Gong Base woke up with bright spirits, ready to continue their greening efforts, they saw that Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu had already risen early and were walking together in the base. The atmosphere between the two seemed somewhat different, but upon closer inspection, it still felt sweet and affectionate, the kind that could make anyone feel overwhelmed with affection at any moment.

Yu Jin gave a nudge to Xie Feng, who was brushing his teeth next to him. “Have you noticed anything different about the boss?”

Xie Feng, with disheveled hair, looked for a moment. “Have I? Isn’t it the same as usual?”

Yu Jin appeared deep in thought. “That’s because you haven’t been with the boss for long. You know, the first time I saw the boss, I had one feeling, cold. Not the kind of cold in personality, but a kind…”

Xie Feng waited for a while. “You should just say it!”

Yu Jin scratched his head in frustration. “I can’t describe it. It’s like a certain metal. Even if it has warmth, you wouldn’t want to touch it to confirm because that warmth is fake. It’s naturally cold, sharp, and won’t soften for anyone.”

Xie Feng retorted with an eye roll and gurgled as he spat out the water in his mouth. “You’re being so artsy here. Why don’t you plant a couple of trees instead?”

Yu Jin replied, “I’m serious!”

“Seriously, seriously! The man you’ve described, who exhausted his entire lifetime of artistic cells to describe, recommended a list of mutant creatures for contracts to me yesterday and even accepted two potatoes from me. Wake up, your boss is no longer the same as before.”

Yu Jin: “…” Boss, you really have changed a lot. But seriously, when did this change begin?

Feeling unable to argue further, Yu Jin still had the instinct to tease. “Hasn’t combed your hair in a few days? At this rate, Cui Cui might even go to the wrong nest at night.”

Xie Feng reached up to tousle his hair. “You don’t get it! This is the messy beauty, just like what Shui Shui does!”

Yu Jin scoffed at this explanation. “Shui Shui uses a special Cui Cui-branded comb, so that’s messy beauty. What you’ve got is just unwashed hair…”

The two of them began another day with their usual banter, and the topic of Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu gradually drifted away.

At six in the morning, the sky was already fully lit, and the Shui Jing Gong Base was bustling with activity. People gathered around to observe those who had formed contracts with mutant creatures last night, seemingly unwilling to miss even the slightest change in them.

Those who had completed contracts with the mutant creatures greeted each other on the first morning after the contract. They attempted to understand each other’s consciousness through the close connection they felt, seeking to learn more about each other.

With the first batch of contractees, soon came the second and third batches. In less than five days, the first batch of contract antibodies developed by Cheng Que had been exhausted. Those who wanted to form contracts afterward also needed to expend a certain amount of planting points and energy stones because the research was costly, and even though the Shui Jing Gong had ample resources, they were not infinite.

The payment terms for the contracts were well-received among the bases in the Cangyu Mountains because the costs were genuinely not high, and those who were diligent could easily accumulate enough planting points and energy stones.

Over the next half month, forming contracts became a hot topic in the Cangyu Mountains. The contractees gradually revealed different sides to themselves. The intelligence of the mutant creatures rapidly increased within a short time, and they no longer experienced mutations. With newfound intelligence and clear self-awareness, they found it much easier to cultivate, resulting in significantly improved progress.

This impact worked both ways; mutant creatures were naturally more suitable for cultivation than humans, and those who formed contracts soon discovered that any confusion they had in their cultivation was effortlessly resolved. In just half a month, the strength of both humans and mutant creatures had increased significantly.

Cheng Que’s laboratory had become the most popular place in the Cangyu Mountains, with people queuing every day to reserve contract antibodies. One day, when Cheng Que opened the door, he was greeted by a gray rat carrying a bag of sweet potatoes, accompanied by a giant owl.

The little gray rat squeaked upon seeing Cheng Que and immediately pushed the bag of sweet potatoes in front of him. Then it pointed at itself and then at the owl, making its intentions clear – it also wanted to form a contract with the owl!

Cheng Que: “…”

The people waiting behind the rat sighed. There was no way they could have arrived earlier than an owl. And why would a mutant rat want to form a contract with a mutant owl?

Cheng Que helplessly shrugged. “Currently, mutant creatures cannot form contracts with each other.”

The little gray rat squeaked in sadness, then lowered its head dejectedly and left. The owl tilted its head, picked up the bag of sweet potatoes, and followed the rat.

Watching the departing rat and owl, everyone felt the immense pressure of competition.

Qing Mengxing, standing not far away, showed some interest. He raised his hand, and in his palm was a palm-sized lotus, the reward he got from Bai ye for guiding him earlier. With his back to the morning light, Qing Mengxing lowered his head, his face obscured from view.

While all the bases in the Cangyu Mountains were energetically engaged in afforestation, Zones A and S were still continuously attempting to enter the Cangyu Mountains, trying to gather information about the mountains’ interior. Although they still couldn’t penetrate deep into the mountains, they managed to obtain some information through telescopes and detectors. However, instead of providing clarity, this information left them more puzzled than before.

“They are planting trees, aren’t they? Everyone is planting trees! Why are the mutant creatures also planting trees? Why have they been planting trees all this time?” Neither Zone A nor Zone S could provide an explanation for this. They could only proceed with their original plan.

“Are you sure this will work?”

“Of course, are you doubting the strength of our Zone S?”

“No, I’m doubting… never mind. Since we’ve come this far, I hope he’s as strong as the rumors say.”

The conversation between Zone A and Zone S in the meeting room came to a halt.

Days passed with one side crazily planting trees and the other side speculating. On the sixty-first day of the dry season, the outside world, once parched and dying, saw the predicted event occur – the world’s longest river, the Cang River, ceased to flow!

The once rampant water had now become a lifesaving elixir. Even sporadic reports of bodies drained of blood had begun to appear. Patrol teams buried these bodies and returned to the Cangyu Mountains with somber expressions.

In a single day, the highest temperature had soared past fifty degrees, and this half-opened heat seemed like a form of torture, tormenting the surviving beings. Some people lay on the parched ground, waiting for death, but no tears could be shed from their eyes.

On the Cang Zhan Star, only a few major bases still occupied water sources and had water reserves. Small bases were rapidly disintegrating, but there were exceptions. The bases that had been visited by the Shui Jing Gong fleet and had spirit wood planted by them had gained a protective green shield. They tacitly refrained from any killing and secretly saved many migrating small fleets. While Zone A and Zone S were unaware, they diligently guarded this gift-like oasis.

The seventy-seventh day of the dry season arrived. Before their eyes stretched an endless expanse of earthy brown, and the cracked earth seemed like it would never heal.

From all directions, scattered individuals slowly made their way toward the Cangyu Mountains. The green oasis under the scorching sun was like a tempting cool spring, drawing the dying towards it.

As more and more bases disintegrated, and more wanderers chose to head for the Shui Jing Gong, even though there were interception teams from Zone A and Zone S in the vicinity, even though they would be killed and serve as a warning if discovered, nothing could stop them from stepping towards the lush greenery. Even if it meant death, they preferred to die near the coolness.

One group of about a dozen people was among those seeking refuge, knowing that as long as they didn’t participate in killings, the Cangyu Mountains would not refuse those seeking shelter.

“Bro, I can’t walk anymore. You guys go on.”

“Boss, I think I can smell fried meat. Do you think my feet are cooked?”

“Can we really make it to the Cangyu Mountains?”

“I’m so thirsty. Can I bite myself?”

Faced with these skeptical remarks, He Xuchou looked ahead, where the view remained endless, without the legendary lush greenery. He clenched his teeth and spoke hoarsely but resolutely, “Keep going!”

A simple word, no extra words.

The silent team set out again. By noon the next day, the team members were sprawled on the ground, unable to move. Three days ago, they had exhausted their last drop of water, and the destination seemed so far away, hope so distant.

They quietly awaited the arrival of death. The sky was so blue, so pure, not willing to spare even a thin cloud. Their vision gradually blurred, and the sun had a colorful halo. The hoarse and faint conversation seemed almost non-existent.

“Old Ling… are you… okay?”

The one who had been complaining about his feet being cooked yesterday responded with a groan, “I’m fine, quite tender, just want to roll over and even it out.”

The team members sighed.

“Boss…”

“Yeah.”

“I heard that inside the Cangyu Mountains… there’s a paradise for humans… called Shui Jing Cheng… could it be made of ice1Shui Jing means Crystal and Cheng means City?”

“Yes.” He Xuchou didn’t mind creating a beautiful illusion for everyone when they were on the brink of death.

Hearing this, the people lying on the ground couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s so wonderful… envious…” Envious of what? Envious of that Shui Jing Cheng, envious of the people living inside.

The already faint conversation gradually became inaudible. Even if they were unwilling, they gradually closed their eyes, waiting quietly. When consciousness becomes fuzzy, time and space can become distorted. It seemed like only a few seconds, yet it felt like several years. Suddenly, a drop of ice-cold substance fell onto their eyelids.

Almost devoid of reflexes, their eyes abruptly opened, and He Xuchou looked up at the gray sky above! Gray! Rainfall!

A second drop! A third drop! A fourth drop! A fifth drop! Tears of extreme joy flowed down after surviving a catastrophe.

The other members of the team were also gradually awakened! Cool rainwater! A life-saving spring! The sounds of their breaking hearts filled the air, but they were too hoarse to make a sound.

No one moved, lying on the ground like young plants, waiting comfortably for the nourishing rain.

This rain lasted for more than an hour, like an unreal dream. Near the Cangyu Mountains, a downpour that would never occur during the dry season had actually happened!

The heavenly paradise, Shui Jing Cheng in the Cangyu Mountains. With this miraculous rain, it rapidly poured into people’s hearts and became an unshakable belief.