CH 159

Grasshoppers in the Shui Jing Gong were considered a magical presence. Even though the people there were not lacking in food and meat, having a grasshopper ranch was a matter of pride. Every now and then, they would select one or two to enjoy as a special treat, as if that was the pinnacle of life.

For newcomers, this inexplicable behavior was both perplexing and intriguing. They couldn’t help but think that if they had the chance, they would also exchange for a micro-ranch and see what made the grasshoppers raised there so special.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, the accumulated snow outside the protective barrier had reached knee-high. Looking from afar, most of the Cangyu Mountains were covered in white snow, with occasional glimpses of evergreen trees, which now appeared somewhat dim.

In just one month, Cang Zhan Star had completely transformed from scorching heat to a world of pure white snow and biting cold winds.

Shu Shuishui often felt that this might be the result of seeing the earth too parched for so long as if it had been gifted with a moisturizing cream that was easy to emulsify, didn’t clump, and absorbed well.

With his mind wandering, Shu Shuishui happily applied a face mask that evening. Considering the size of the mask sheet, he would directly transform into his dormouse form, intending to do a full-body mask. He even prepared one for Gu Langu, using a mimicry spell to roll him up in the mask sheet, leaving him looking like a little bug with his legs sticking out.

Shu Shuishui continued to roll up Gu Langu in the face mask sheet while explaining, “I heard this mask is quite expensive. Shu Bao bought it. It might feel a bit cool, but don’t worry, Gu Gu, I’m prepared for that!”

After hearing this, Gu Langu’s mind filtered out everything except “very expensive.” He pondered how much his private stash would have to sell for to cover the cost of this mask.

Before he could dwell on it further, Shu Shuishui picked up Gu Langu, who was still wrapped in the face mask sheet, and carried him over, placing him inside a bamboo steamer! At that moment, Gu Langu thought he was about to be eaten, but instead, he found his head resting on a soft handkerchief pillow.

After placing Gu Langu comfortably, Shu Shuishui transformed into his dormouse form and joined him inside the steamer. Then he rolled up the face mask sheet for himself.

“This bamboo steamer is borrowed from the kitchen,” Shu Shuishui explained. “I’ve controlled the temperature below to be just right, like a sauna. Winter is the perfect time for steaming. Oh, and Gu Gu, I have flower petals in the bottom layer of the steamer, so it will be fragrant after we’re done.”

Gu Langu was trying to free his two hands, and he replied, “Mmm, steaming saunas are good for blood circulation and overall health.” He was just curious because he had never been steamed in a steamer before.

The comfortable warmth of the sauna was enjoyable, and despite the unusual setup, the two baked goods were fresh out of the oven when they were done, which was proof of how comfortable they had been.

Gu Langu really enjoyed the sauna entertainment and couldn’t help but show off to others. As a result, the next day, a group of people had gathered at their house, each with a mimicry spell in hand, ready to be steamed.

Surprisingly, when everyone was placed inside the steamer, Shu Shuishui felt a sense of accomplishment, as if he had created a masterpiece.

Wrapped in towels, holding mini fruit platters with neatly cut fruit salad on top, the group enjoyed the luxurious experience. They all wore contented expressions as they quietly savored this moment of relaxation.

With the arrival of the freezing season, the number of people coming to the Cangyu Mountains noticeably decreased. The Cangyu Mountains finally regained some of the tranquility they had in previous years.

Although their business was temporarily affected, the reputation of the Shui Jing Gong had rapidly spread due to the simulator modification. Many people who were too far away to reach the mountains before the freezing season began were already preparing for next year.

As the freezing season arrived, the sky outside once again became overcast, and the howling cold winds could sometimes break tree branches. But all of this had no effect on them inside the protective barrier. The numerous residents living in the Cangyu Mountains had experienced the warmest and most peaceful winter since they arrived in Cang Zhan Star. Many times, they wondered if they were dreaming, as they couldn’t feel the harsh cold or hunger.

However, the benefits of Cangyu Mountain were not limited to humans; numerous animals and plants also reaped the rewards, especially the sentient mutated creatures. Compared to the previous year’s heavy snowfall that sealed off the mountain, the difference was vast. Fortunately, these mutated creatures were not content with complacency; they instinctively pursued strength. With the help of the contract devices and Shu Shuishui’s guidance, the abilities of many mutated creatures underwent a qualitative leap during this winter.

When the first blizzard hit, everyone realized that they wouldn’t be able to leave the protective barrier for the next three months. They shifted their focus to internal development and strategies for the simulator.

Later on, most of the applicants to join the Shui Jing Gong were wanderers. Many of them already possessed simulator resources and had extensive experience with strategies. After discussions between Nan Ge and Liu Po, these individuals were organized into reasonable groups and formalized to start training simulator strategy teams.

Shu Shuishui, upon realizing that he had gained 20 grams of weight, nodded in satisfaction, indicating that his fat storage was sufficient, and he could start hibernating. He placed two simulators in their room and lay down with Gu Langu.

Of course, before entering hibernation, Shu Shuishui took out fifty brand-new simulators from his spiritual storage and gave them to Nan Ge. He patted Nan Ge on the shoulder and said, “Xiao Ge Ge, use them without worries. If you need more, there are plenty.”

A strong aura of affluence emanated from him, and Nan Ge looked at the pile of simulators in front of him, feeling like he was holding a giant’s thigh in his arms. But he didn’t mind; he enjoyed seeing Shu Shuishui’s extravagant side.

So, it didn’t take long for the list of exchanges for planting points and energy minerals to include simulators. On the day when people opened the list, they instinctively rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren’t mistaken. Yes, simulators could indeed be exchanged!

This news quickly spread throughout the entire Shui Jing Gong. While the exchange required a staggering amount of energy stones and planting points, it didn’t dampen their excitement and enthusiasm.

Furthermore, the exchange of simulators was open to outsiders as well, but the external quotas were limited, and the exchange resources were higher. However, this still attracted many large bases because, despite their limited individual resources, bases had the advantage of consolidating resources. So, on the day the news was released, the three simulators available for external purchase were quickly sold out.

Those who couldn’t exchange for simulators were indeed disappointed but understood that such opportunities were rare. However, they didn’t leave empty-handed. They used energy stones to exchange for a large number of spirit wood saplings and seeds, planning to accumulate a significant number of planting points during this winter season.

They realized that while everyone had energy stones, accumulating planting points through greening was essential. As beneficiaries of greening themselves, they were delighted to actively engage in planting.

During the freezing season, the Shui Jing Gong made available cold-resistant seeds and saplings for external use, which could grow even in winter. After exchanging them from various large bases, they planted them and, when they reached a certain size, the Shui Jing Gong sent people to inspect them and calculate planting points based on the survival rate of spirit wood.

This method is also applied to bases outside the Cangyu Mountains. Once the major bases that came to extend the lifespan of the simulators realized the importance of planting points, they also exchanged a large number of spirit wood seeds and saplings. They planned to take them back and plant them near their own bases for experimentation. If they confirmed that spirit wood improved the environment, they would plant them on a large scale.

However, for bases outside the Cangyu Mountains, the Shui Jing Gong’s inspection team could only assess the survival rate of the spirit wood next year, giving each base a trial period. They all had one hope: if they could transform their bases like the Cangyu Mountains, could they also ask the people from the Shui Jing Gong to build a protective barrier, protecting them from the harsh winter?

This idea took root in the hearts of most bases, but due to the Shui Jing Gong’s recent arrival and unfamiliarity, they hesitated to inquire. After all, this protective barrier seemed anything but simple and should be a secret of the Shui Jing Gong.

Shu Shuishui was unaware of what these bases were thinking, but he was pleased to have promoted his saplings and seeds. Relying solely on Shui Jing Gong’s efforts to green the world was too slow, and the future crisis was uncertain, so global greening was the best course.

As for the protective barrier, if the spirit wood reached a certain size, it would form a natural ecosystem with some resistance to extreme conditions. If the concentration of spiritual energy allowed, Shu Shuishui would not hesitate to help build a protective barrier. Of course, it would come at a price. As a provider for his family, he had to be financially prudent.

In the second month of the freezing season, patrol members found a person near the protective barrier. When they saw the person’s appearance, they were shocked and quickly returned to the Shui Jing Gong to report, “Another Mang Ya! Frozen outside, and now I’ve tied him up at the edge of the protective barrier!”

The gaze of the crowd shifted in unison. Mang Ya? No, Mang Ya wouldn’t willingly walk into such a trap at this time. So, was this the real Qing Mengxing?

To be honest, the incident with Mang Ya had left a deep impact on them, to the point where they felt a subconscious panic even at the sight of someone who resembled Mang Ya. Their impression of Mang Ya was too profound, and such a crazy man still stood out on Cang Zhan Star.

Soon, the new “Mang Ya” was brought back to the Shui Jing Gong. He was still in a state of unconsciousness, completely frozen.

After an hour and a bowl of warm water, this “Mang Ya” finally regained consciousness. He displayed an unexpected expression upon seeing his surroundings, then calmly inquired about his situation and the names of the people around him.

However, when he introduced himself by name, the expressions of the crowd became quite subtle. Qing Mengxing! They had heard this name quite a bit recently.

Especially for those who knew the truth about cloning, they couldn’t determine whether this Qing Mengxing was the real one or an imposter. After all, through memory modification, he could easily pass a lie detector test. In other words, as long as Mang Ya wished it, he could have countless perfect impersonators.