Chapter 495: Class One Secret of the Territory Alliance

With such a suitable breeding site in hand, Kuang Qingwei couldn't help envisioning the future. "For the next two years, we'll raise seedlings in the valley. Plant four crops of rice, earn enough points, and then we'll build a constant-temperature, constant-humidity breeding greenhouse."

"By that time, we can use the greenhouse and the valley together to raise seedlings. Each territory will plant several hundred mu of rice. Once the rice is harvested, we'll only eat green-light rice. Everyone in our territories under 35, as long as they're not especially weak, will definitely be able to awaken evolutionary abilities."

Zhao Ze grew excited too. "Right. As long as I follow Xia Qing and Third Brother properly, my child will definitely become an Evolver, maybe even a high-level Evolver, healthy and living happily to 150."

The safe zone broadcast had introduced that high-level Evolvers' physical fitness improved and their lifespan extended by at least fifty years, making it very possible to live to 150.

Kuang Qingwei quipped, "First of all, you need a wife."

Shi Zhong also said with a smile, "My little Du might just become a high-level Evolver."

After listening to everyone's lively discussion for a while, Xia Qing pulled the topic back. "If everyone agrees, after the mountain burn, we'll start clearing the valley, laying down planting soil, installing insect nets and supplemental lighting and other equipment, and raise rice seedlings in the valley next February."

After everyone had stated their position, Xia Qing asked, "As for the specific arrangement of this work, I'll take everyone to see the valley after the burn before deciding. But there's one thing I need to explain to everyone in advance:"

Xia Qing looked at the five allies before her, expression serious, voice stern. "The importance of Mountain 50's hot spring valley, everyone already understands. Once a valuable resource is made public, it will be contested by all forces. With our alliance's current strength, we simply can't compete with them. Therefore, Mountain 50's hot spring valley is designated as our alliance's first Class One secret."

"Currently, only the six of us, Third Brother, and Captain Yang know about this secret valley. You may choose to tell your family members whom you believe can keep a secret about this alliance Class One secret, but you must not reveal it to any hired personnel within the territory or to anyone outside the territory."

"No matter which territory, no matter the reason, if your territory leaks the secret, it will be immediately expelled from the territory alliance, placed on the alliance blacklist, and territory members will no longer be permitted to conduct any transactions with that territory. Third Brother has already agreed to this rule, and Captain Yang has also agreed to help us keep the secret. If anyone has objections to this rule, you can raise them now."

"No objections."

"Completely agree."

Everyone rushed to declare their stance, eager to be first. Being blacklisted by the lord alliance wasn't scary, but being blacklisted by Zhang San—that was truly terrifying.

Zhao Ze added, "Don't worry, sis. Anyone who survived from before the natural disasters can keep secrets and hold onto food. Those who couldn't are long dead."

Kuang Qingwei felt the punishment Xia Qing set was too light, lacking deterrent power. "I think a territory that leaks the secret, besides being expelled from the alliance and blacklisted, should also be made to compensate us double for our losses, and have all the benefits they previously enjoyed in the alliance recovered."

"Right, pay back points, pay back grain." Honest and simple Shi Zhong also agreed with Kuang Qingwei's view. "This is to keep everyone constantly on guard—even in your own territory, your own home, you have to be careful of being overheard by auditory Evolvers. When we discuss things in Territory 10, afraid of being heard by people from Territories 9, 13, and 14, we hide inside the house and scratch on the ground."

Territory 10's neighbors were very difficult to provoke.

Qi Fu assured everyone, "We don't have to worry about eavesdropping when we talk here, because Xia Qing brought anti-bugging equipment. There's not a single person within 200 meters around us. But to be safer, next time we meet we'll go to the basement."

Xia Qing turned her gaze to Yue Haiying. Before she could speak, Yue Haiying proactively said, "Territory 15's lord Tan Qi is only nine this year, still in school at the safe zone. I won't tell her about this. Captain Tan's side, I also won't tell for now. Not that I don't trust him, but because our positions are different."

Tan Junjie belonged to the base official investigation team; he had his duties and position. Telling him about this would only put him in a difficult position. This was the same reasoning as Zhang San having Xia Qing prepare the physical damage treatment potion and keeping it from Ji Li and the others.

After the meeting concluded successfully, on the way back to the territory with Zhao Ze driving the micro-tiller, Xia Qing reminded him in a low voice, "Brother Zhao, Territory 2's reconnaissance team is right inside the wild grass wall."

"Understood." Zhao Ze immediately pulled back all his excitement and eagerness, and tried hard to think of sad things.

Zhou Xun inside Territory 2's wild grass wall couldn't read anything from Xia Qing's always expressionless face, but from Zhao Ze's face—which had been all smiles when going with Xia Qing but now looked like his father had died—deduced the result of the lords' meeting: "They fell out."

That noon, Qi Fu reported to Xia Qing the number of people from the five territories who participated in the firebreak mission: Territory 4 had 7 people, Territory 5 had 9, Territory 6 had 12, Territory 10 had 2, Territory 15 had 20. In other words, they had gathered enough people for the mission's recruitment needs, and didn't need to publicly recruit from other territories.

This was very good. After all, Mountain 50 had been designated an experimental zone—the fewer outsiders entering the mountain, the better.

Xia Qing reported the numbers to Yang Jin and asked, "If you're not busy, I'd like to meet with you to discuss in detail the firebreak construction mission for Mountain 50 this time and the current work progress of the disaster-fighting second echelon."

Xia Qing's current identity was Mountain 50's manager. Yang Jin's voice carried a smile. "Not busy, see you in two hours."

Xia Qing put down her phone, went to the basement to get today's lunch ingredients, and picked three medium-sized ones from the bag of mountain walnuts, putting them in her pocket.

This was the "hardship fee" Yang Jin demanded last time when Xia Qing was conscripted to join the disaster-fighting third echelon to chase fugitives on Mountain 51, and Yang Jin helped her wrap in a hypothermia emergency blanket.

As for the 200 jin of high-level Evolver green-light python meat he wanted, heh, impossible!

After lunch, and pulling weeds in the greenhouse for a while, Xia Qing left the greenhouse right on time and hurried to the territory's north gate.

Five minutes before their agreed meeting time, Xia Qing opened the red squirrel locator APP and glanced at it, then raised her head through the iron mesh wall, looking at the tree hollow on Section 3 of Mountain 49 where the red squirrel was hiding.

In the two days since Qiangxue had passed, the red squirrel hadn't just not come to Xia Qing's house to drink the spring water—it hadn't even moved from its spot. Was this little guy hibernating, or already too weak to move?

Yang Jin stepped through Qiangxue's snow coming down from Mountain 49, and seeing Xia Qing standing quietly inside the gate waiting for him, immediately sped up.

When Xia Qing saw the large backpack Yang Jin was carrying, her eyes lit up. No need to ask, what was in Yang Jin's backpack must be the single-person flight device captured when she and Huo Zhun chased the fugitives.

Thanks to book friends October's Waxing Moon, 19900808, and snakeskin0 for their tips, and thanks to everyone for your subscriptions and votes.