Chapter 98: Research Team? Armed Team!
The next day…
Su Hao walked for more than ten kilometers along the mountain road and finally reached his destination — Deer Snow Town.
This was one of the entrances to the primordial area of the Changbai Mountains…
Compared to the primordial area of the Green Blue Forest, the primordial area of the Changbai Mountains was much larger, almost covering half of the Changbai Mountains.
Su Hao had checked the information.
This primordial area had been established more than 50 years ago.
It was one of the earliest primordial areas of Dragon Nation.
There was also a large variety of sprites inside.
Some of the sprites introduced from the New World had already completed their “nativeization”, and were no longer that repulsive against humans from Planet Aquamarine.
As a result, the primordial area of the Changbai Mountains was also the most popular sprite contracting area within the Dragon Nation.
There was no shortage of Sprite Trainers who possessed good luck and ability by contracting rare and high-quality sprites here. It was a bit of an exaggeration to say that they skyrocketed from here after the contracts, but it was a fact that the road ahead was much smoother for them.
Of course.
The primordial area of the Changbai Mountains was also an area frequented by Sprite Hunters.
But Su Hao wasn’t afraid at all.
Right now, he wasn’t alone. There were quite a lot of Sprite Trainer experts in the research team, and there were even “woodsmen” patrolling the primordial area at all times. Although the primordial area of the Changbai Mountains was very vast, under the patrolling of powerful sprites, any unusual movements would be captured easily.
“Hu~”
Su Hao let out a breath of white air.
The cold wind blew over. It was a little cold — he had prepared too little clothes.
Luckily,
Su Hao had Flaming Cloud Crow acting as a hand warmer in his hands.
Waves of warmth enveloped him.
There wasn’t much of a problem.
He hugged it a little tighter.
“Squawk…”
…
There were very few residents in Deer Snow Town, and many of them were forest guardians of the primordial area.
After he arrived, he was arranged to stay at an inn by the management of the primordial area.
In the afternoon.
He saw the leader of the research team, the high-level Sprite Cultivator invited by the primordial area.
Meng Hejing, a professor at Black Dragon University.
She was a middle-aged woman with short hair, dressed in professional clothing.
She brought along five research students, all of whom were mid-level Sprite Cultivators.
He had heard about this from Sprite Cultivators who arrived earlier.
Su Hao counted. Including Professor Meng and the others, there were only 15 Sprite Cultivators present.
There were even more Sprite Trainers present.
Next to them were ferocious sprites.
“Ah! Su Hao!”
He heard a slightly familiar voice.
He turned to look. Wasn’t she the girl he met on the train?
He was a little surprised, but on second thought, he didn’t find it surprising.
Based on her performance on the bus, she was probably a Sprite Cultivator.
In the hall.
Professor Meng walked over and looked around. She asked,
“Is everyone here?”
“We’re still waiting for a Sprite Cultivator named An He,” replied a student.
“Call and ask him. If he doesn’t arrive within half an hour, tell him not to come.”
“Yes, teacher.”
Professor Meng looked at them again and said, “I’ll briefly introduce the work a.s.signments now.”
“Our mission is to study the influence between sprites and the ecological environment. Your mission is very simple. In the areas a.s.signed to you, collect detailed data on sprites and their surroundings. Pay special attention to special treasures such as the elemental essences of elixirs and spiritual fruits.”
These words were meant for Sprite Cultivators.
Su Hao understood the reason.
The impacts of sprites and environments were mutual.
The simplest method was to give birth to Wood-element sprites in areas where plants were more exuberant and spiritual force was thicker.
In contrast.
Places where Wood-element sprites lived generally had better growth conditions than other areas.
Once a large number of sprites started living in a certain area, under the influence of those sprites, more spiritual fruits, elemental essences, and other treasures might be born.
These resources were usually only found in the New World.
The primordial area of the Changbai Mountains was the testing area of Dragon Nation, in hopes to cultivate more precious resources and naturally produce more rare sprites.
Their mission as external Sprite Cultivators was to collect data, research, and a.n.a.lyze. If not, there was no need for Sprite Cultivators.
Professor Meng looked at the Sprite Trainers.
“Your mission is to protect the Sprite Cultivators and collect data. I know that many of you are here to contract sprites, but remember, after completing the mission, there will be plenty of time for you to search for sprite contracts. If anyone leaves the team without permission because of their own affairs…”
Then, she looked at Su Hao and the other external Sprite Cultivators. “All of you too. Don’t go around thinking that there are only entry-level wild sprites in the primordial forest.”
Half an hour later, after organizing their equipment, the research team left Deer Snow Town and headed towards the snowy mountains.
Gradually, they could no longer see the town behind them as spa.r.s.e bare trees appeared in front of their eyes. Occasionally, they could see the silhouettes of sprites flas.h.i.+ng through the snow forest.
“It’s a Snow-Treading Deer!”
The deer stepped on the snow, leaving no footprints behind as it disappeared instantly.
Su Hao stared at the interface and tapped open the icon of the Snow-Treading Deer that was gradually disappearing into the distance.
[Sprite: Snow-Treading Deer (ice-element)]
[Information: Growth stage, spiritual force: 63]
[Introduction: I’m Traceless on Snow]
“As expected of the primordial area of Changbai Mountains, I saw an ice-element sprite the moment I came.”
In the north, ice-element sprites weren’t particularly rare, but they were definitely rarer than wood-element and earth-element sprites.
One would cost at least four to five hundred thousand yuan.
It was all money.
No wonder the primordial forest was frequently robbed.
They were only allowed to contract one sprite, and they had to complete the contract in the primordial area. If they couldn’t do it, they could only…
Go back to where they came from.
In order to ensure that he could abduct… ahem, contract sprites, Su Hao prepared a lot of materials and jade powder in his backpack.
I’m a professional at seducing sprites.
After walking for more than ten minutes, Professor Meng stopped and looked at the Sprite Trainers around her. “Summon your sprites.”
Some larger sprites that were not suitable to be brought around were summoned.
The team became much larger at once. The sprites which were summoned and the sprites which had been following them since the start scattered the place and stood guard around.
The sprites included Tyrant Bear, Mountain Moving Ape, Ground Moving Wolf, Ten-Thousand Vine Turtle, Killer Mantis, Fairy Snail, Tide-Calling Spring Sprite, and so on. Su Hao gave them a glance. They were all elite-level sprites.
The management of the primordial district was pretty generous.
But indeed, a contract slot in the primordial area was very attractive to elite-level Sprite Trainers.
Contracting sprites here was much easier than in the New World, and there was basically no danger.
At this moment…
Bang!
The ground trembled, and snowflakes exploded.
In front of his eyes appeared a white sprite the size of a van, somewhat similar to a seal.
The most eye-catching part of it was its pair of sharp teeth reflecting the sunlight. Its mouth was slightly opened, spraying out a large amount of cold air.
— Ice Emperor Tooth!
The final evolution of the White Seal!
And… it was an extraordinary sprite!
Once Ice Emperor Tooth appeared, the other elite-level sprites around him retreated warily. It was only after they confirmed that they were teammates when they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Before Su Hao had time to observe the Ice Emperor Tooth, he heard…
“Roar!”
With a howl, a sprite appeared beside Professor Meng.
Its body, which was more than ten meters long, hung in mid-air. Black ink formed a python-like body. It had two horns on its head and four legs. It had extraordinary power!
It was Black Dragon University’s signature sprite.
The final form evolved from Mo Ling—Black Ink Dragon!
They were both extraordinary!
Su Hao wanted to take a breath, but halfway through, he felt that it was too cold, so cold that his teeth hurt, so he breathed the cold air out.
He wasn’t as shocked as Tang Xin and the other Sprite Cultivators.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen an extraordinary-level sprite. I’ve even seen monarch-level ones.
The problem was…
This was a research team, right? Why did they need two extraordinary-level sprites and a bunch of elite-level sprite guards…?
It was more than enough to fight a partial war.
Was the primordial area in Changbai Mountains that dangerous?