CH 158

While the freezing season had yet to arrive, those who had heard about the announcement from the Shui Jing Gong had already begun packing their bags and hitting the road. This year, the Galactic Alliance hadn’t released any new simulators, which meant very little to them. Exiled to this place, they understood quite easily that in the eyes of the Galactic Alliance, Cang Zhan Star had lost its investment value, and they intended to let Cang Zhan Star fend for itself.

It sounded cruel, but it was also very realistic. This group of people who had been sentenced to life imprisonment seemed to accept death as a matter of course. After all, the Galactic Alliance had done this before.

Panic might exist, but on Cang Zhan Star, the word “panic” couldn’t survive for long, because those who panicked didn’t live long. They quickly got their emotions in check, even though their lives were insignificant, they would do everything possible to survive.

Early on, some had already taken action. The first group to act were mostly those whose simulator usage was about to expire. They approached the situation with a “let’s give it a try” attitude, hoping to resolve this matter before the freezing season arrived.

On the third day after the announcement was made, people from nearby areas had arrived outside the Cangyu Mountains. It was still early in the morning, and the Cangyu Mountains appeared somewhat chilly yet lively.

When those who had come for the first time saw the Cangyu Mountains, they were instinctively stunned, feeling that something was amiss. Soon, they realized that there was a region of the Cangyu Mountains that had no snow! It remained a vibrant shade of green, and what’s more, the treetops in the forest appeared to have just sprouted new leaves, making the green color particularly striking.

After the first snowfall, the temperature on Cang Zhan Star was dropping rapidly, and it was already below freezing at this point. Therefore, the area without snow looked particularly eerie.

After a brief moment of confusion, they remembered the purpose of their journey. They continued towards the Cangyu Mountains. However, as they walked for a long time with their heads down, when they looked up again, they were surprised to find that they seemed to be standing in the same spot, having made little progress. This finally made those who had come begin to feel a sense of unease. The Cangyu Mountains already seemed abnormal, and now they couldn’t even make any headway. Should they continue or not?

Just as they hesitated, a flash of gray suddenly passed by in front of them and then quickly stood in front of them.

The newcomer was startled, mainly because this gray figure was moving incredibly fast. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a mutated rat. The rat was tilting its head, looking at them with its big, watery eyes, and then it waved a small flag in its hand. Upon closer examination, the flag read, “Welcome, welcome, warm welcome.”

The mutated rat turned the flag around to reveal another message: “Do you need temporary accommodation? Gray Rat Household Services at your service.”

The newcomer was baffled. They began to wonder if they were hallucinating. Why would a seemingly ordinary rat be leading them and even skillfully promoting accommodations like an unscrupulous tour guide?

Just then, they heard movement ahead, and a person hurriedly emerged from the mountains. The newcomer was relieved to see at least one person.

The approaching person took a few steps forward, and the gray rat had already turned its head and happily bounded toward the person.

“Be careful!” The newcomer instinctively shouted, thinking that the mutated rat was about to attack. However, they quickly realized they were mistaken. The person extended their arms and scooped up the furry, plump gray rat. The two of them nuzzled each other affectionately. Only then did the person shift their attention to the newcomer.

“Ah Hui scared you, didn’t he? Don’t worry, Ah Hui is just very dedicated, but Gray Rat Household Services is trustworthy. You might not know it yet since you’re new, but you’ll understand after a while.” The person had a gentle demeanor but wasn’t overly enthusiastic. They exuded a sense of tranquility that didn’t quite fit the atmosphere of Cang Zhan Star.

This person was a member of the patrol team, and due to the announcement, their patrol duties had become more frequent in recent days. As for the gray rat, it was originally their roommate when they first arrived. They had even been bunkmates. After the introduction of the contract device, the two of them naturally formed a contract.

In the Shui Jing Gong, situations like this were quite common. Although according to Cheng Que’s research, mutated gray rats wouldn’t go berserk, the contract still made it easier for both parties to cultivate, and their strength improved rapidly. So, those who had the opportunity and were familiar with their rodent roommates didn’t mind forming a contract.

After all, compared to the mutated creatures in the Cangyu Mountains, they were more familiar with the mutated rats they had been with all along. The vast majority of Shui Jing Gong residents with rodent roommates chose to form contracts with mutated gray rats.

The newcomer looked at the harmonious relationship between the mutated rat and the human and was amazed. “You two get along really well.”

The patrol team member nodded with a smile. “Yes, let’s go. I’ll take you into the mountains.”

Upon hearing this, the newcomer hurriedly followed along. He wisely didn’t ask about why he had been going in circles earlier but instead chose a safer topic. “Is it true that your base can extend the lifespan of simulators? And it’s one top-grade energy stone per year?”

“No, the information was updated the day before yesterday. It’s one top-grade energy stone for a year and a half, one high-grade energy stone for a year, half a year for medium-grade energy stones, and anything below medium-grade won’t be accepted,” the patrol team member explained as they set down the gray rat. The gray rat obediently followed alongside, waving its little flag as they walked.

The patrol team member reminded the newcomer, “Oh, I forgot to mention, you might want to consider the accommodation recommended by Ah Hui. The Shui Jing Gong offers lodging, and you only need to pay a certain fee to stay until next summer. Of course, you can choose other bases in the Cangyu Mountains, but I can assure you that our Shui Jing Gong is the best choice…”

The newcomer felt a bit dizzy as if they had returned to the feeling of touring an unfamiliar city. They were a bit anxious inside. Is this Shui Jing Gong really reliable? “I know about the energy stones required for the exchange, but what are planting points?”

“Planting points are points obtained from planting greenery, and the ratio varies depending on the type of crops planted. You can use them to exchange for many things, from farms and ranches to grasshoppers raised by Shui Shui.”

The newcomer raised an eyebrow, a bit puzzled. Did the order seem a bit strange? Why is a grasshopper ranked ahead of farms and ranches? And when did farms and ranches become exchangeable? There were so many questions forming in their mind, but before they could ask, their steps carried them into the protective array of the Cangyu Mountains.

In that instant, the newcomer felt like they had stepped into paradise, with comfortable temperature, humidity, and a gentle breeze. Overhead, the lush jungle grew thick, and various bird calls filled the air. Because it was early morning, dewdrops glistened on the leaves of the green grass at their feet, reflecting a rainbow of colors in the morning light, like glass beads.

“Welcome to the Cangyu Mountains!” The patrol team member stopped and wore a gentle smile on his face, devoid of any hostility.

The gray rat cooperatively waved its small flag, chirped a couple of times, and stood up, extending its front paws.

“I’m Wu Shifei.” The newcomer finally extended his hand, his expression relaxing. Whether it was real or not, at least this warmth was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

The patrol team member also reached out his hand. “I’m Mu Xingzhou.”

After the two shook hands, the gray rat chirped a couple more times, then stood upright and extended its front paws. Wu Shifei was momentarily puzzled but quickly extended his hand to shake the rat’s paw. “I know, your name is Ah Hui.”

Mu Xingzhou led the newcomer further into the mountains. “The Shui Jing Gong is still a bit far, so we have some more walking to do.”

Wu Shifei nodded and followed along. Along the way, his eyes kept wandering around, witnessing many incredible scenes and feeling the richness and abundance of the Cangyu Mountains. This place was far more peaceful than Cang Zhan Star.

Many people like Wu Shifei came from all directions, guided by patrol team members into the depths of the Cangyu Mountains. Of course, they also received an enthusiastic promotion from Gray Rats Company.

Considering the heavy reliance on simulators on Cang Zhan Star, the fees for extending their lifespan were quite low, with almost no profit margin aside from the ten planting points required. However, the Shui Jing Gong was not a charity, so accommodations, food, and merchandise sales became the primary avenues for generating revenue during this period.

Gray Rats Company, always sharp in identifying business opportunities, quickly recognized this influx of newcomers as a substantial consumer group.

The Shui Jing Gong had no intention of isolating itself; opening up to the outside world was an inevitable step, and this announcement marked the first opportunity.

When the first group of people arrived at the Shui Jing Gong, they were immediately drawn to its comfortable conditions. Among them were solitary wanderers who inquired about joining the base, but they were unsurprisingly informed that the requirements were high and the restrictions were strict.

On Cang Zhan Star, those who could survive independently without joining a base were undoubtedly powerful. Such individuals typically held simulators, had the capability to protect them, and possessed the strength to conquer simulator dungeons. These were precisely the kind of talents the Shui Jing Gong needed.

As winter approached, activities outside the protective array were about to cease, and the Shui Jing Gong’s construction had taken initial shape. Therefore, the next focus was on simulator dungeons, aiming to earn as many extrastellar resources as possible to enhance their strength.

With the passage of time, more and more people headed to the Shui Jing Gong. Among them were small teams from other bases who would leave once they achieved their goals. However, before leaving, they completed the greening and planting tasks, meeting the requirements for planting points.

As those who left spread the news further, even those who had hesitated and waited began to take action. If they didn’t act quickly, they wouldn’t be able to leave once the freezing season arrived.

In addition to base teams, there were also some wanderers. Some were accustomed to wandering and chose to leave, but the majority chose to stay and submitted applications to join the Shui Jing Gong, awaiting approval.

The announcement about extending simulator usage had not only brought new blood to the Shui Jing Gong but also increased its revenue. Furthermore, the greening of the Cangyu Mountain Range expanded once more, and the protective array’s area had increased twice.

As Gray Rats Company had initially stated, it rapidly gained popularity. From cleaning services to real estate agencies, food delivery, mountain guides, and even toilet paper deliveries, if you had a need, Gray Rats Company had you covered, living up to its name of fulfilling hearts’ desires wherever a rat could be found.

Of course, among the later arrivals, there was a rumor circulating that the most expensive thing in the Shui Jing Gong was a grasshopper kept by someone named Shu Shuishui. After all, the exchange costs for the farms and ranches were already quite high, but this grasshopper ranked even higher, indicating its rarity. It was said that these grasshoppers were not available every day; they would only be brought out by Shu Shuishui when he was in a good mood.

As for why a grasshopper was so popular, many newcomers expressed their confusion and didn’t quite understand it.