Chapter 866: Useless Olfactory Evolution Ability

Zhao Ze thought it was expensive, but Zhou Zhaoping thought it was very reasonable:

"A 20g mid-grade Yi stone currently sells for 240,000, and Yi stones are life-saving supplies for extreme situations, not used to protect ordinary green-light crops. The fact that the Azure Dragon Squad can rent them to us at a low price to protect the valley's crops is entirely because of our Alliance Leader's face."

Tang Heng also nodded, "Actually, even at the price of 240,000, if not in urgent need of points, no one would sell Yi stones. Because Yi stones are equivalent to the gold of pre-apocalypse that preserved and increased in value. Points may depreciate at any time, but Yi stones won't, unless the two elements of Shang and Yi suddenly disappear."

Tang Heng's family kept thirteen Yi stones in their home safe. Only during Shang rain periods would his dad bring out the separated Yi stones, giving each family member a small piece to wear, just in case.

Used to protect farmland? Never even considered, because they didn't have such precious rare plants in their hands.

So when they joined the territory alliance and heard that the Azure Dragon Squad was actually willing to rent Yi stones to Xia Qing for her to use in protecting the two-mu valley, the Tang family members—except Tang Huai—all had the same first reaction:

Impossible! Iron Rooster Yang Jin would absolutely never make such a deal!

Tang Huai's view, however, was:

It's possible, because Tang Huai thought Yang Jin wanted to poach Hu Zifeng's corner and win Xia Qing's hand; otherwise that busy man wouldn't have nothing to do but run over to the territory. But Tang Huai's view was unconvincing and was ignored by his family.

Tang Zhengpo had an even bolder speculation: the Azure Dragon Squad had captured the Yi stones Tang Zhengsu carried when he fled, and had shared some with Xia Qing.

Why share with Xia Qing? Because among the mission squad that hunted Tang Zhengsu that night, there was an outstanding female sniper. Based on the information they had, Tang Zhengpo and Tang Ning analyzed together and unanimously believed that female sniper was Xia Qing.

Although he felt that sniper shouldn't be Xia Qing, Tang Heng also believed the Yi stones used in the hidden valley should belong to Xia Qing. Because apart from Xia Qing, who truly loved farming, no one would use precious Yi stones for such a purpose that just hearing about it makes one want to spit blood and go ballistic.

"Two stones can be used within the territory. If both are divided into 5g pieces," Kuang Qingwei quickly reported the calculation, "at most eight territories can rent Yi stones that protect an area of 8.5 square meters."

"8.5 square meters, three days, 3,000 points, and that's with a deposit of 30,000…" Shi Zhong shook his head, "Territory No. 10 won't rent anymore. When the third Shang rain comes, I'll move the chicken coop into the valley and ask the brothers from Territory No. 15 to help for three days. That'll only cost 9 points."

Everyone's opinion was similar to Shi Zhong's. Zhou Zhaoping proposed a better option, "If you want to achieve long-term expulsion of Shang elements in a specific room within the territory, you can consider using the standardized greenhouse principle."

Tan Qi raised her hand, "Uncle Zhou, you mean using an air filtration system to filter out the Shang elements in an enclosed space."

Zhou Zhaoping smiled and nodded gently, "Does Qiqi know the principle of the air filtration system?"

Tan Qi immediately answered, "Yes, the teacher at school talked about it. It's extracting effective components from Shang-element-sensitive plants to absorb Shang elements in the air. The first Shang-element filtration machine was designed by Professor Fu Tianfeng."

Everyone present straightened their backs upon hearing the great expert's name. Being able to become allies with the great expert made them proud!

While the others felt proud, Xia Qing was feeling sorry for her idol's hardships. Her idol had devoted himself entirely to researching Shang elements since the early days of the catastrophe because he was allergic to Shang elements. Xia Qing couldn't even imagine how her idol had survived before researching the air filtration system and filters, before the discovery of Yi stones.

"Qiqi is absolutely right, that's the principle." Zhou Zhaoping continued, "Air filtration systems on the market are very expensive, but we have a uniquely favorable condition: we can plant Shang-element-sensitive plants within the territory, then ask someone to help us extract the effective components and place them in an enclosed space to absorb the Shang elements in the space."

What this uniquely favorable condition was went without saying; who to ask to help them extract the effective components from the plants was also obvious.

Qi Fu immediately followed up, "If the territory can have a space like this, and then put ice in it, our food storage period can be extended at least twofold! Just don't know how expensive the extraction is."

Kuang Qingwei smiled, "The price depends on the quality of the green-light food you can offer."

As long as there's delicious food, Third Brother is in a good mood, and when Third Brother is in a good mood, he's very easy to talk to.

Qi Fu said, "The green-light duckweed in my territory will be ready to eat next month. Third Brother should like it."

Zhao Ze was a bit troubled, "Third Brother doesn't like eating green-light alfalfa anymore, and the rabbits I raise are yellow-light. I reckon Third Brother won't fancy them either."

The rabbits Zhao Ze raised were the ones Xia Qing had traded to Territory No. 4. That big doe rabbit had another litter of baby rabbits before the Shang rain. Under the careful care of Zhao Ze and Zhao's mother, the baby rabbits all survived, but none of them burst out a cultivable optimized species—they were still all yellow-light.

Tang Huai was full of confidence, "Third Brother will definitely like the green-light locusts I raise. Ah Heng, use this to trade with Third Brother later."

Tragically, Tang Huai was blacklisted by Third Brother last spring and still hasn't been removed.

After everyone had a lively discussion for a while, Xia Qing returned to the main topic, "When Wen Nengjie finished clearing the Shang grass and was about to leave, he tentatively said he wanted to take our relationship a step further."

Tang Huai's eyes instantly widened, "He knows about our alliance?"

Xia Qing answered, "He guessed we've formed a small circle, but he doesn't know what our alliance is called."

Yue Haiying, who had been silent all this while, spoke up, "Although everyone's been very careful, the warmth between words and the frequent team-ups to go out can't be hidden from people."

Zhu Li asked, "Sister Qing, you want him to join our alliance?"

Under the gaze of her allies, Xia Qing shook her head, "Until the hidden valley is exposed, our alliance will not expand its membership."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Kuang Qingwei immediately nodded, "Sister's consideration is right. The fewer people who know the secret of our valley, the better. The longer we can keep it hidden, the better."

Yue Haiying reminded, "Everyone needs to be more careful and cautious in the future…"

After Yue Haiying reminded everyone of several key points, the others added some more. Before preparing to adjourn the meeting, Zhou Zhaoping asked, "Alliance Leader, when our alliance expands in the future, can we bring all of Territories 1 through 26 into the alliance?"

Hearing "all," everyone simultaneously thought of Territory No. 14 and, in unison, looked at Xia Qing.

Yan Meng is Xia Qing's enemy.

During the second Shang rain, Liao Chen, a hired hand at Territory No. 14, secretly released Shang snakes at Territory No. 9, causing a man-made disaster. He was caught by the investigation team and escorted to the safe zone, sentenced to 15 years of forced labor.

Yan Meng, the lord of Territory No. 14, due to poor supervision, had many preferential territory policies revoked. Many items that were free for other territories, such as the insect repellent and sterilizer that the Territory Management Department regularly distributed to lords for free, Territory No. 14 had to pay for.

Before Xia Qing could say anything, Zhu Li spoke up, "This morning I heard Feng Wen and Yan Meng arguing in the territory about clearing Shang grass. The reason is Feng Wen is already over a month pregnant, and Yan Meng still has her working."

Nani?!

Everyone's eyes widened. Feng Wen is actually pregnant!!!

Tang Huai, who also loved gossip, immediately followed up, "The child Feng Wen is carrying—is it Yan Meng's?"

Zhu Li answered, "From what she meant, yes."

"Feng Wen and Yan Meng are both olfactory evolvers. Their child is very likely to be an olfactory evolver." Tang Huai stroked his chin, "For farming, this ability is pretty useless."

For farming, strength evolution is best. Hearing evolution is also useful—you can dig worms.

Tang Heng always felt that Feng Wen's pregnancy this time wasn't that simple. "Feng Wen's brother was killed in the first Shang rain last year. Not long after that, she attached herself to Tang Rui, and grew rapidly while scheming against the several women around Tang Rui. On February 3rd this year, when Tang Rui fled Hui-3 Base, he took her with him. My dad said at the time that this woman is no simple matter."