Super Gene Hunting Ground

David Base controls twenty mining stations, scattered widely across the region; the nearest are just tens of kilometers apart, while the farthest are hundreds of kilometers away.

The base has limited manpower and cannot station a large number of personnel at every station for defense.

The bandits, however, can concentrate their forces to attack select mining stations, leaving the base constantly on guard.

Previously, the bandits followed a pattern of attacking the mining stations at night, taking control of the workers, and then negotiating with David, demanding a certain amount of Purple Origin Crystal Stones in exchange for the release of the miners.

Now, the situation has changed.

How did some of the people who escaped from Ice Wolf Island manage to integrate into the bandit groups?

With the shrewdness of the people from Ice Wolf Island, they helped the bandits plan this robbery, stealing a large number of Purple Origin Crystal Stones mined that day.

However, the bandits also paid the price with several lives lost.

After returning to the base, in the evening, Luo Meng came over to play chess with Yang Xiao.

After a game, they sat down for tea and a chat, and Yang Xiao asked:

”Captain Luo, may I ask you a question?”

”Master Yang, you’re too polite. Feel free to ask any questions.”

”Why do the bandits rob the mining stations of Purple Origin Crystal Stones?”

”This?”

Luo Meng hesitated.

Seeing Luo Meng’s hesitant expression, Yang Xiao said with a smile:

”Heh, if Captain Luo finds it inconvenient to tell me, please don’t force yourself.”

Luo Meng replied with an embarrassed smile:

”Master Yang, you’re not an outsider anymore, I can tell you, but this information is prohibited from being shared with the miners, so please keep it a secret once you know. It’s enough that you alone are aware.”

”Uh-huh, that goes without saying. Station Chief Dai is processing a temporary ID card for me from Witch Star, and I’d like to integrate into your society as soon as possible. Naturally, I won’t make trouble for myself.

Earth is so far away, I doubt I could ever go back in this lifetime. Both Station Chief Dai and Captain Luo have been good to me. I’m now settled and have beautiful company, so I’ve decided to settle down on Witch Star. Rest assured, Captain Luo.”

Yang Xiao said this, glancing at Leia who was standing beside him.

Leia blushed slightly upon hearing Yang Xiao’s words.

Luo Meng nodded, understanding that Yang Xiao was now emerging from his tough miner’s life through his skill in chess, which was very fortunate; he was unlikely to stir up trouble.

Very few miners are able to climb out of the mines in merely two months like Yang Xiao. Most miners have a dire fate; they usually die in the mining stations,

killed either by bandit attacks, devoured by monsters, or worn out from exhaustion in the mines.

The long-term, high-intensity mining work severely damages the body, and not even the daily consumption of Small Blood Pills can fundamentally change this.

”Actually, it’s not that big a secret. All of us know, only the miners are kept in the dark; we keep it from them just to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Purple Origin Crystal Stones, as a source of Genetic Evolution Energy, cannot be directly absorbed. The Genetic Potions from the Genetic Store are synthesized using Purple Origin Crystal Stones, but it requires very high-tech synthesis, and currently, only we on Witch Star can synthesize Crystal Stones into Genetic Potions,”

Luo Meng paused, clearly proud, then continued:

”The Purple Origin Crystal Stones on our Witch Star have been mined for thousands of years and are almost depleted; the remaining mines have been sealed and saved for future generations,”

”This Purple Origin Star we discovered is currently the most abundant in Purple Origin Crystal Stones. Over a hundred years ago, after discovering this planet, we have always come here to reclaim, establish mines, and gather Purple Origin Crystal Stones,”

”Because of the underground abundance of Purple Origin Crystal Stones, the monsters on this planet exhibit a very high Evolution Level. The savages here have evolved directly from apes,”

”There are always exceptions; these savages somehow acquired the knowledge that after grinding Purple Origin Crystal Stones into fine powder and feeding animals with it, after some time, the flesh and blood of these animals will possess evolutionary energy far exceeding that of ordinary monsters. The savages then rely on consuming the flesh and blood of these animals to enhance their own Genetic Evolution Ability.”

Yang Xiao was startled and asked,

”Are you worried that the Miners might also directly consume Crystal Stone Powder?”

”It’s not just the Miners; it’s said that there were people who tried to consume it directly in the past, but it was useless — the human body can’t absorb Purple Origin Crystal Stones directly,

”Our Genetic Evolution Research Institute on Witch Star has specifically studied this issue. The final conclusion is that the monsters on this planet, through dozens of generations, have gradually adapted to the environment of Purple Origin Star and possess a certain ability to absorb Purple Origin Crystal Stones, an ability not present in animals from other planets.”

”What about the savages on this planet? Can’t they absorb it directly?”

”No, they can’t either. They also rely on this peculiar method, indirectly absorbing Evolution Energy by consuming the flesh and blood of monsters. Moreover, this method has a very low utilization rate of the Crystal Stones, only around 10%, which is a complete waste of resources.”

”But for the savages, it’s the best method, right?”

”Yes, the savages live with the monsters; they are able to control some monsters, by feeding them Purple Origin Crystal Stones. When the monsters grow to a certain extent, they kill and consume the flesh and blood. This path of evolution is the primary way savages undergo Genetic Evolution.”

...

After some casual conversation, Luo Meng bid farewell and left.

In the following days, Station Chief Dai personally led several dozen heavily-armored guards and a dozen cloaked men, boarding two Spaceships to search for savages in the nearby forest.

However, finding the hidden savages in the vast mountains is a very difficult task.

After searching for a week, they had to let it go without any results.

Yang Xiao made a trip to the mine where Du Tianxing and others were located, warning them that if savages came to steal, not to resist but to prioritize their lives.

The days thereafter gradually returned to calm, and Yang Xiao still spent every day playing chess with Station Chief Dai, whose skills had improved significantly, and Yang Xiao himself also saw a notable enhancement in his spiritual power.

Yang Xiao could now play Go with Station Chief Dai using the Heavenly Luo Jade, and though controlling the pieces with spiritual power was still slow, it was much smoother compared to the beginning.

Yang Xiao’s relationship with Leia was also becoming more harmonious, and Leia even fell in love with Yang Xiao truly, and their relationship was going very well.

Life was serene and beautiful.

Yang Xiao’s temporary identity had been applied for, and according to Station Chief Dai, it would take about two months to come through formally.

...

More than ten days after the savages last robbed a mine, they robbed another one. When Station Chief Dai led his team there, the savages had long since vanished without a trace.

Station Chief Dai was hopping mad with fury.

”I must slaughter these savages, I can’t stand it anymore, I’ve had enough.”

While Station Chief Dai was venting his ire on his subordinates, Yang Xiao happened to be on the scene.

Yang Xiao pondered for a moment, then said,

”Station Chief Dai, there must be a reason for the savages to launch attacks so frequently. They stole a large number of Crystal Stones from the mine last time — could they have really used them up so quickly?”

(Thanks to the book friend Ao Tian for tipping 100 Qidian Coins, many thanks for the support!)