Chapter 542: Chapter 542

Perhaps it was the prolonged gaze that made Jun Bao speak with a sense of ease. "Although it is currently only in the development phase and there is still a long way to go before it’s truly complete, if successful, the returns could be exceptionally generous. Or, it might perpetually remain in the research phase."

Jing Shu blinked. Does he really want me to invest?

"Of course... but only a 1% share, and you will be responsible for the required black and red liquids during the research phase," Jun Bao said earnestly. He didn’t know if the black liquid was useful, but the red liquid, one of the main ingredients, was in demand. Unfortunately, Zhen Nantian had only surrendered so little, which was hardly enough. They had to recycle a single drop thousands of times for each experiment. In fact, he had long thought about how to obtain more red liquid. If Jing Shu could provide it...

"Then, if the research is successful, would I no longer be responsible for providing large amounts of these liquids?" Jing Shu’s eyes lit up. As a reincarnator, she knew all too well that in a year and a half, this food source would become incredibly valuable and be massively introduced to the market. Unlike Jun Bao, who was still uncertain about when the research would yield success and was filled with apprehension, she was confident.

"Once it’s developed, we will certainly be able to analyze its composition, ascertain the source, and figure out the cultivation method. In most cases, we could also replicate its genetic chain, so naturally, you wouldn’t need to provide large quantities any longer."

Jing Shu’s eyes sparkled. If that’s the case, can I get my hands on more of these liquids when the time comes? Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥

"No problem! Let me give you a cup first. Is one cup enough? If not, there’s more..."

"We’ll sign the contract through the database system once we get back. As for how much... we’ll know once we’re back."

"Alright, you all go on up and wait. I’ll handle this myself. It’ll be a mess if Yang Yang wakes up and no one’s there," Jing Shu said, excitedly rubbing her hands together as she sent everyone away.

The puddle didn’t look like much, but it was actually a pit. Jing Shu first collected some into her space, and then she filled two large wooden barrels to the brim. Not willing to miss out on anything, Jing Shu even scooped the mud from the surface layer into the barrels.

She estimated this puddle contained at least two hundred kilograms, much less than the red liquid she had collected, but gathering that much red liquid had taken a month. Jing Shu figured that since the mountain range was so vast, there should be similar deposits elsewhere, and perhaps even in the mud pits along their return route.

Jing Shu jubilantly carried the barrels up, but her happiness lasted only a few minutes before her expression soured. She knew the black liquid could upgrade her space, and she had just transferred some into it. The space had greedily swallowed it and then gone completely silent.

Jing Shu poured half of the remaining black liquid from one barrel into her space. It was absorbed in no time, again with no reaction whatsoever.

It’s like a Bottomless Pit... The space once again conveyed a feeling of hunger, as if it still needed much more.

This is hopeless... Jing Shu’s heart sank.

I can’t take any more liquid from the barrels, or the amounts won’t match, and Jun Bao will get suspicious.

"Is everything ready?" Jun Bao asked, looking at Jing Shu’s crestfallen face, puzzled. She was ecstatic just moments ago, but now her spirits have dampened so quickly. A woman’s mood certainly changes faster than flipping through a book, he thought.

"Yes, it’s done. Let’s go," Jing Shu replied.

"How strange..." Jun Bao muttered.

Jing Shu, Wen Jun, and Xiao Wei agreed to take one Abdominal Foot Worm with them for now. They were on their way to find people. After locating them, they would return and continue their journey with the rest of the insects. This way, Xiao Wei would know the direction Jing Shu’s group was heading, and with an insect guiding them, Jing Shu’s party wouldn’t get lost on their way back.

Xiao Wei said, "Let this battle-type, Little Red, accompany you. It can help if you encounter anything on the road."

"Thank you so much! You’ve been a great help," Jing Shu said, hanging the two large wooden barrels on the enormous pincers of the three-meter-long Little Red. She then picked up Yang Yang with one hand and prepared to leave. As a final gesture, she waved to Little Red. "Thanks for the leg hair! I’ll bring you something tasty next time." With that, she casually stuck it in her hair. She had heard that this leg hair would make all Abdominal Foot Worms submit to her.

This was a hair Xiao Wei had just forcefully commanded one of its bodies to pluck from its leg; it was very tough. It was said that besides making Abdominal Foot Worms submit, it also had other mysterious functions. What else could a single leg hair do?

Little Red had an instinctive aversion to the black liquid and moved its thirty-six legs with evident distaste, scuttling across the ground like a millipede. Its huge abdomen didn’t seem cumbersome; in fact, it resembled a shield.

Guo Tou even brought two people to personally see Jing Shu off, his attitude extraordinarily good. On the way back, when passing the mud pit, Guo Tou personally took a small boat to ferry Jing Shu and her companions across. Then, he watched them with a smile and waved like a welcoming host, "See you next time! Have a safe trip, and don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything."

This left Hong Bin and Lv Liu on the opposite shore with their mouths gaping. "What’s going on here? Isn’t that the person who robbed us?"

When they saw the enormous Abdominal Foot Worm, they were also stunned for a moment. Didn’t they just go on a trip, hand over Compressed Biscuits, and come back with a giant insect?

Jun Bao quickly explained the situation. Jing Shu tossed Yang Yang into the minibus, carefully placed the wooden barrels, and then rode the Abdominal Foot Worm down into the mud pit.

The Abdominal Foot Worms were simply natural-born mud-dwellers. They mainly burrowed into the mud like dung beetles, ate the mud inside, and only needed to surface occasionally to breathe.

Soon, the Abdominal Foot Worm submerged its entire body, leaving only its head exposed. Jing Shu carefully stepped onto the worm’s head. Its large pincers stirred the mud in the center of the pit back and forth, then rapidly scooped mud and water into its mouthparts, dining like a hippopotamus. No wonder an Abdominal Foot Worm can grow so large; their appetite for dirt is enormous! Will these Abdominal Foot Worms even be able to survive once the mud water disappears after this year?

Jing Shu had no time to dwell on this problem, because the Abdominal Foot Worm still hadn’t reached the bottom! Just how deep is this mud pit?

The mud pit is freezing, and I don’t want to go in myself to search. Jing Shu poked around with a stick for over ten minutes but couldn’t find any black liquid. In the end, she had to give up on this spot. It’s so frustrating! We still have to hurry and find my Seeds. I can only mark this place and come back secretly later. With so many people around, I can’t even try to do anything.

Just then, Jun Bao’s group finished their discussion. "Let’s activate the seawater mode," Jun Bao announced. "We’ve already entered the deep mountains, so there shouldn’t be much road left. Besides, we don’t have much gasoline; we can’t possibly walk the rest of the way, right?"

"Fine then," Jing Shu agreed.

When Jing Shu, exhaling a white puff of breath in the cold, climbed back into the minibus, Hong Bin was already pedaling furiously, her face flushed red from the effort.

CREAK... CREAK... The minibus moved at a crawl.

Jing Shu sighed. "...How about I take a turn?"