Chapter 173 - 155: Changfeng Cultivation Base
Chapter 173: Chapter 155: Changfeng Cultivation Base
They chatted on and off along the way, and about an hour later, Li Qian finally arrived at Gao Yaxin’s Cultivation Base in a car driven by Wen Wan.
The base was named "Changfeng Cultivation Base." Its main gate was rather simple, built from ordinary bricks and stone, and didn’t look particularly special.
However, the moment he saw the gate, Li Qian couldn’t help but turn his head for a longer look.
There was a simple reason for this. Directly above the gate, where a plaque would normally be, three five-pointed stars were prominently carved.
This was the mark of a Three-star Cultivation Base, an award from the Breeder Association that carried great prestige. It was impossible to earn without achieving significant research breakthroughs.
Li Qian’s Jiaoyang Cultivation Base, he had heard, had only been a Two-Star base even in its heyday.
Now, it had fallen to the point of being completely unrated.
However, since Li Qian had taken charge, the base had achieved a series of major breakthroughs. Now, with help from An Hou Nian, it had begun the application process to regain a star rating.
However, it was easy for a Cultivation Base to lose its rating, but much more difficult to climb back up the ranks.
A base had to be promoted one star at a time, and there was a waiting period for each upgrade—a minimum of one year.
In other words, even if the Jiaoyang Cultivation Base’s application was successful and it became a One-star Cultivation Base, Li Qian would have to wait at least a year before applying for the next promotion.
They couldn’t apply again during that period, even if they achieved even greater breakthroughs. In any case, Li Qian had never heard of an exception being made.
This strict standard was rather inflexible, but there was nothing to be done about it. Until the Breeder Association decided to change the rules, the Jiaoyang Cultivation Base had no choice but to comply.
So, seeing the three stars above the gate, Li Qian felt a surge of envy, but also a faint sense of anticipation.
This was his first time visiting a Three-star Cultivation Base. It was a chance to broaden his horizons and see what his own base was lacking.
"Welcome to Changfeng Cultivation Base." Wen Wan slowed the car slightly to let Li Qian get a good look. Once they passed through the gate, she spoke with a smile.
"I’m looking forward to it," Li Qian replied, and he meant it.
"By the way, why is this place called the Changfeng Cultivation Base?" Li Qian asked casually as they drove through the main gate, mostly just to make conversation.
"I don’t know, either. It was already called that when the three of us took over the base. It’s supposedly related to a Breeder from long ago, but the history is impossible to trace now."
"We actually planned on renaming it, but we reconsidered. The name sounds pleasant and has a nice meaning—’long-lasting’ and ’bountiful.’ Besides, it already had some name recognition, so we gave up the idea."
Wen Wan explained in a casual tone, but Li Qian was rather surprised by her words.
He could infer from her explanation that she was more than just the base’s general manager.
Driven by curiosity, Li Qian asked directly, "Wen Wan, from what you just said, does that mean you’re also one of the owners of this base?"
"Xiaoli and I just have a small stake; we only put in a little money. Yaxin provided the lion’s share, so she’s the real boss. We’re just her humble assistants!" Wen Wan said in a half-joking tone.
"That’s still incredible!" Li Qian gave Wen Wan a thumbs-up.
’Even as a minor shareholder, a stake in a Cultivation Base of this scale is beyond the reach of an ordinary person.’
’This meant that neither Wen Wan nor the other shareholder she mentioned, Xiaoli, were likely to be ordinary people.’
’Then again, it made sense. How could anyone who partnered with Gao Yaxin to take over such a massive Cultivation Base be ordinary?’
"Huh, the walls around here don’t look very high. Aren’t you worried about the Pet Beasts escaping?" Li Qian asked as the car drove deeper into the base. He scanned the surroundings, noticing some things that were different from his own facility.
"We raise a lot of plant-type Pet Beasts along this outer perimeter," Wen Wan continued, clarifying for Li Qian. "These Pet Beasts also serve as the base’s guards, and very few creatures can break through their containment. In addition, we’ve set up Guard Robots, Arrays, and surveillance equipment at all the major checkpoints. It’s basically foolproof."
"I see!" Li Qian nodded slightly at her explanation.
’No wonder the walls they built are so simple. It turns out they don’t rely on them for defense at all.’
’It made sense, though. After all, for a Pet Beast with Extraordinary Power, what difference was there between a tall, sturdy wall and one made of paper?’
The car continued at a steady pace while the two of them chatted occasionally. Li Qian learned a lot from their conversation.
While much of it was common knowledge, it was still quite useful for Li Qian at his current level.
Before long, the car came to a stop in a parking area.
"We’re here." With a smile, Wen Wan was the first to get out of the car, and Li Qian quickly followed.
"BAWK BAWK BAWK..." Just as he got out of the car, a large rooster covered from head to toe in red feathers swaggered out.
’A Red Feather Chicken.’ Li Qian identified it the instant the large rooster swaggered out from the bushes beside the parking lot.
’This creature, along with the Koi Carp, Flash Moth, and Tun Tun, was known as one of the four "trash" pets of the Pet Beast Realm. Because it only knew a single Skill—Flame—it had earned the nickname Fire Chicken.’
’Li Qian was quite familiar with the Red Feather Chicken; he had several of these useless Pet Beasts back at his own Cultivation Base.’
Wen Wan looked a bit exasperated to see the Red Feather Chicken swaggering toward them. She ducked back into the car, rummaged around, and pulled out a handful of Purple Valley from somewhere.
She tossed the Purple Valley behind her, and the Red Feather Chicken shot over to it with surprising speed.
"Ah, sorry about that," Wen Wan said, looking at Li Qian with some embarrassment.
Li Qian waved his hand dismissively. "It’s nothing. I have Red Feather Chickens at my base, too. In fact, I think they’re a Pet Beast with a lot of cultivation potential."
"You think so, too?" Li Qian had only said it to ease the awkwardness, but his words drew a surprised look from Wen Wan.
Li Qian caught the implication in her tone and immediately asked, "Don’t tell me you’re researching Red Feather Chickens?"
"It’s not just us..." Wen Wan said, her expression growing complex as she glanced at the Red Feather Chicken that was now busily Pecking at the Purple Valley.