Luo Pei chuckled, answering frankly, "In the past ten years, every accessible area in China has been thoroughly searched for uncontaminated water sources. After you used the spring water to save me, Yang Jin mobilized the Azure Dragon Team's most elite forces and most advanced detection methods, spending half a month sifting through Mountain Forty-Nine twice, but still couldn't find an uncontaminated spring."
After saying this, Luo Pei couldn't help but marvel at Xia Qing's luck, "Finding springs is a matter of luck. Just because we haven't found one doesn't mean there isn't one. I personally led a team to clear out Territory Three bit by bit last winter, and we didn't find a spring there either."
After understanding why the Azure Dragon Team bought the mountain, Xia Qing felt a little relieved. Since the internal structure of the mountain was damaged, the water quality of the springs in her territory might be compromised or completely dried up. Therefore, to protect the springs, the mountain had to be protected.
"I came with Brother Luo to clear the Evolution Forest. I happened to see a little squirrel dart out of a crack in the rocks and run away. I thought there was fruit in there, so I dug through several rocks before finding the spring. It was a very small spring, almost silent. If it weren't for that squirrel, I wouldn't have found it either," Xia Qing told Luo Pei about discovering the spring, then asked curiously, "Brother Luo, are there still places on Blue Star that humans can't reach?"
Luo Pei replied simply, "Not to mention other regions, there are several within China alone. Those places either have too high a concentration of harmful elements or too many dangerous evolved creatures. Actually, humans could force their way in with sufficient equipment, but it's unnecessary, and we're worried about the adverse chain reaction caused by the overuse of firearms."
After the great evolution of life on Blue Star, humans have become more cautious for survival.
Xia Qing continued to inquire, "When Captain Yang pretended to take Brother Luo away by helicopter, he went west. Was it because the western base has a large amount of unpolluted spring water?"
Luo Pei patiently replied, "The unpolluted springs discovered in several bases in Lan City to the west are indeed more numerous than those here. Another reason is that Lan City is separated from us by a large area of evolved forest, so there's relatively little contact. Flying westward would better confuse the enemy. By the way, what level of evolution are your hearing and vision?"
Xia Qing answered truthfully, "I haven't tested them, but my three abilities should all be at least level five."
Luo Pei opened his eyes in surprise and looked at Xia Qing, earnestly advising, "Although you're a lord now, and most people wouldn't dare do anything to you, you'd better not reveal that you're a three-evolved being, to avoid unnecessary trouble."
A twenty-five-year-old, fertile, high-level three-evolved woman would not only attract the interest of research institutes but also become a target for various major powers and families in China.
Xia Qing understood this perfectly well. "Everyone around me thinks I'm at level four power evolution. I haven't noticed anyone doubting my abilities yet. But I'm only twenty-five this year, and my abilities can still improve, so I want to gradually raise my power evolution to level six. That way, I won't be looked down upon, nor will I be particularly valued. Because even if I raise my power evolution to level six, it won't be of much use; it's still best to stay in the territory and honestly farm. Besides, I can't do anything else; farming is all I can do."
As someone with advanced three-elemental evolution, and the most likely to become a top expert in the Hui San Base and even the entire Hui City Base, she was actually sitting so sincerely in front of him, saying she could only farm…
Even Luo Pei, who had been tempered by ten years of natural disasters and was as composed as an old dog, couldn't help but twitch his lips, unsure how to respond to this extraordinary lord.
Luo Pei even began to doubt Yang Jin's judgment. Could this Xia Qing, who seemed to lack ambition and only wanted to farm, truly become a powerful figure no less than the Fire Phoenix, a force no one in the Hui City Base dared to underestimate?
After understanding the Azure Dragon Team's plan, Xia Qing began to consider the most practical issue, "Since the mountain is going to belong to me, then I should pay for it using the points. However, I don't have that many points right now, so consider the points for buying the mountain a loan from the Azure Dragon Team. Brother Luo, is that alright?"
Luo Pei, unable to suppress a laugh, clutched his aching surgical wound and waited a moment before answering, "Yes, that's Yang Jin's plan. We'll buy you the right to use this mountain for at least a hundred years, then you can rent it to us as a training base, and we'll send someone to look after it to offset the rent. You can repay the points for buying the mountain slowly with spring water and crops. We won't charge interest, and there's no time limit. I'll show you the contract after Xie Yu drafts it."
"...Wait, Brother Luo," Xia Qing said, a little dizzy, "Is it really necessary to buy a hundred-year usage right?"
This is a year of natural disasters after the great evolution of life on Blue Star. Life is uncertain; no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Under these circumstances, is it really necessary to buy a hundred-year usage right for a mountain?
Luo Pei nodded firmly, "Of course. The higher the evolution level, the better the physical functions and the longer the lifespan. You're a high-level evolved human; living to 140 years old is definitely no problem, so buying a hundred years isn't too much. If you buy a shorter term, the cost of extending your usage rights after the spring incident is exposed will be far higher than it is now. The Fire Phoenix at Huiyi Base bought two hundred years."
Xia Qing, feeling dizzy, carried the empty basket up the steps and out of the dilapidated house. He grabbed a basket of grass and carried it back to the village, his head still spinning.
When Boss Yang saw Xia Qing return, he ran over, sniffed the grass in the basket, gave a disgusted look, and turned to leave.
Xia Qing followed Boss Yang, carrying the basket, and dizzily recounted what had just happened, "Boss, you're sharp, help me analyze this. Did I make a profit or a loss on this big deal? I feel like I both did and lost."
Boss Yang, with his sharp mind, squinted, staring at the tin box in the kitchen.
"I don't want to think about it anymore! Come on, you go pedal the waterwheel to fetch water!" Xia Qing wasn't one to dwell on things; if she couldn't figure it out, she simply stopped thinking about it.
She opened the tin box in the kitchen, took out a piece of compressed rations and stuffed it into her pocket, then carried the modified waterwheel bicycle out of the tool shed. She had modified the bicycle; the seat was a large straw mat suitable for the eldest sheep, and the pedals were comfortable hoof pedals for sheep.
With the rations in hand and the bicycle on her shoulder, Xia Qing easily led the eldest sheep to the reservoir. After setting up the waterwheel bicycle, Xia Qing didn't let the novice sheep ride it right away; she demonstrated for the eldest sheep first.
The modified bicycle, designed for sheep's long legs, was quite uncomfortable for Xia Qing, whose legs were almost twice as long as the eldest sheep's. However, she still pretended to pedal leisurely for a while, watching the water she drew flow into the irrigation ditch through the three-way inlet and into the farmland, before stopping to wipe her sweat in an exaggerated manner. "Pedaling the waterwheel is so tiring! I need to eat some rations to replenish my energy before continuing."
Seeing Xia Qing take out her rations, the eldest sheep, standing to the side, rushed over, its large, bright eyes gazing at her expectantly.