Chapter 253: Purchase and Rental

Gao Jie Ming discovered a group of very familiar creatures!

Their bodies were segmented like spiders, with flexible abdomens and tails that suddenly elongated behind them like snakes.

Except that the two aggressive appendages at the front of their bodies were slightly smaller, and the pitch-black carapace covering them bore an additional layer of fine fuzz.

In overall appearance, these creatures were exact replicas of the "Spider-Snake Monster" capable of using spatial abilities that Gao Jie Ming had previously caught in the wild!

Most importantly, the number of Spider-Snakes captured by this wizard at this stall was extremely large!

Besides the few live specimens displayed in front of the stall, behind him, several huge cages made of metal held no fewer than several hundred of these creatures.

"What are these?" Gao Jie Ming forcibly suppressed the surprise in his heart, pointed at the creatures in the cages, and asked the stall owner.

He made no attempt to hide his interest in these creatures; after all, wizards were no fools, and a sudden inquiry must have a reason.

This wizard looked somewhat slovenly.

He glanced up at Gao Jie Ming, immediately put on an enthusiastic smile, and began introducing relevant information about these creatures:

"This wizard truly has an eye! These are little creatures I have temporarily named 'Sonic Spider-Snakes.' They are low-level creatures living at the bottom of the food chain beneath the clouds and mist. Their greatest characteristics are living in groups and being able to use 'sonic-type' skills."

"If an entire clan attacks together, the power of that mixed sonic wave is quite formidable, even capable of affecting the spirits of Grade Two Wizards. However, their physical strength is too weak, inferior even to Grade One Wizard Apprentices, making them very easy to catch."

"As for other specific details regarding these creatures, due to the short time since their capture, I have not yet had the chance to study them carefully..."

Listening to his introduction, Gao Jie Ming calmly picked up one of the "Spider-Snake Monsters" chained in front of the stall as a live specimen and manipulated it slightly.

After carefully examining it with the "All-Purpose Eye," Gao Jie Ming could basically confirm that this creature belonged to the same species as the powerful "Spider-Snake Monster" he had caught himself.

It was just that the Spider-Snake Monster he had caught was, in all probability, a one-in-ten-thousand "mutant."

"However, I truly never expected that a creature looking so weak, almost deserving of the title 'harmless to humans and livestock,' would possess such exaggerated strength after mutating, even becoming capable of threatening me!" Gao Jie Ming sighed in his heart.

Nevertheless, this also indirectly reflected the terror and power of the "space" ability.

Considering that he intended to conduct comprehensive research on that mutated Spider-Snake Monster later, possessing a large quantity of ordinary individuals of the same species as references became especially important.

Moreover, if raised properly, perhaps even more mutants could be cultivated.

Having made his decision, Gao Jie Ming asked about the price.

After a round of bargaining akin to a battle of words, Gao Jie Ming ultimately purchased all the "Spider-Snake Monsters" at this wizard's stall, along with his reserves, totaling over ten thousand creatures, for a price of five thousand military merits.

Upon completion of the transaction, the wizard's face was filled with joy.

After all, for low-level creatures like these, which possessed neither powerful combat capabilities nor produced special resources, wizards willing to purchase them in bulk were not numerous.

He even, to express his gratitude, gifted Gao Jie Ming several additional cages equipped with basic sealing capabilities.

Gao Jie Ming also felt that he had gained a bargain.

Thus, this transaction could be considered a win-win for both parties.

However, he soon encountered a new problem.

"Where should I put all these things..." Watching the endless stream of cages being transported over, Gao Jie Ming pinched the bridge of his nose with a headache.

In a moment of excitement, he had bought them all, but only after truly obtaining them did Gao Jie Ming realize that the quantity of over ten thousand Spider-Snakes was simply too vast.

Even when contained in cages, they occupied a tremendous volume.

His internal space simply could not hold such a massive amount of "cargo."

This wizard seemed to perceive Gao Jie Ming's predicament and kindly informed him:

"If you have any trouble with storage, you can go to the Camp's Affairs Center to rent a large warehouse specifically designed for raising creatures. However, the rental fees for such warehouses are not cheap."

"If rented for too long, that expense might exceed the value of the spoils themselves. In that case, it would be more cost-effective to sell these spoils directly to the Camp."

"I see, thank you for the information." Gao Jie Ming expressed his gratitude to him.

Immediately, Gao Jie Ming mobilized alchemy, lifting the hundreds of heavy iron cages on the ground and suspending them behind him.

Then, leading this procession of iron cages, he headed "majestically" toward the "Affairs Center."

Fortunately, in this Camp filled with powerhouses and monsters, there were many wizards with an even greater presence than his.

It was not uncommon to see someone like him returning with a large batch of spoils, so he did not attract much attention.

Gao Jie Ming quickly found the alchemical puppet at the front desk of the "Affairs Center."

"I am here to rent a warehouse."

"Very well, please select the type of warehouse you wish to rent."

After a brief selection, Gao Jie Ming directly rented a "High-Grade Warehouse" theoretically capable of raising up to a million small to medium-sized creatures.

Following this puppet through the Camp, he arrived at the inner region deep within the Camp.

After opening a door that looked ordinary and unremarkable, Gao Jie Ming clearly saw the appearance of the warehouse he had rented.

Behind the door was not the expected room, but an exposed, independent, and spacious breeding space filled with the breath of life!

Inside, every kind of environmental simulation facility was fully equipped.

Constant temperature systems, nutrient supply systems, energy circulation systems... capable of raising various creatures of different sizes and satisfying various special living requirements.

Looking at this huge space that could almost be called an "artificial ecosystem," Gao Jie Ming could not help but feel astonished:

"The Camp side has actually mastered the spatial rules of this nearby area in just a short month? This level of technical prowess is truly terrifying."

As for why Gao Jie Ming believed it was only the "nearby" spatial rules, it was naturally because of the inherent characteristics of this "Sky Domain Plane" itself.

Such a vast plane rich in wind elements, yet lacking a unified "gravity source" as a core, meant that the subtle spatial rules in different regions likely possessed various slight differences.

He placed all these chirping "Spider-Snake Monsters" here, then activated the formations inherent within the warehouse and those alchemical puppets specialized for breeding.

Gao Jie Ming then allocated a portion of his own military merits to replenish a large stockpile of high-concentration, high-energy nutrient feed.

Only then were these "Spider-Snake Monsters," crucial for his future research, properly settled.

After accomplishing all this, Gao Jie Ming couldn't help but glance at the amount of military merits on his terminal: "Renting this warehouse cost me one hundred thousand military merits for ten years. That is considerably more expensive than buying this pile of Spider-Snakes themselves!"

"However... considering that mutated Spider-Snake capable of using spatial power, these initial expenses are indeed worth it."

Gao Jie Ming wandered around the square a few more times, but unfortunately, he could not find the wizard artifact he needed.

Until the time approached the previously agreed meeting time with Jack, at which point Gao Jie Ming stopped lingering and headed toward the agreed meeting location.

(End of chapter)