Throw away that trash book.
Zhang Wei took out the map.
"This is where the snow mushroom is most abundant."
The Ice Plains Yak beneath him seemed to favor this spot, constantly nudging the snow about half a meter behind.
Beneath the snow pits lay a pile of giant, jet-black mushrooms.
"Black mushrooms?"
[Discovered collectible ingredient: Snow Mushroom]
[Capture Level: 2]
[Description: Huge in quantity, strong reproductive ability, completely black to absorb more sunlight. It is not poisonous itself, but due to its location on the extremely cold Ice Plains, harvesting is extremely difficult. Hence, it has a difficulty level of 2.]
Zhang Wei was not polite. He kicked away the grazing Ice Plains Yak and took out a small knife to dig meticulously.
The Ice Plains Yak let out a dissatisfied snort but dared not disobey Zhang Wei, moving to another pit to continue nudging.
After all, there were plenty of snow mushrooms in this area.
"Truly a magical mushroom, to be able to grow at this temperature. This fungus is too incredible!"
"Snow provides excellent insulation. This mushroom grows under half a meter of snow, blocking much of the cold air."
[Collected Snow Mushroom, replication time: 45 days]
[Collected Snow Mushroom, replication time: 43.5 days]
[Collected... time: 41.2 days]
...
In just three hours, Zhang Wei had collected over fifty stalks, reducing the replication time to a maximum of one day.
The Ice Plains Yak beside him looked aggrieved. It had nudged so many snow pits, but before it could even take a bite, they were all snatched away by this detestable human.
However, a wolf caught in the rain cannot choose its shelter.
Alas... keep nudging.
With repeated collections, the snow mushrooms in the Treasury became more and more perfect.
Not only were they gleaming black, but the entire mushroom had grown several times larger.
Ordinary snow mushrooms grew in clusters of about two hundred stalks, each only as thick as a finger, weighing about five kilograms in total.
But Zhang Wei's specimens had clusters of only over fifty stalks.
Yet, each was as thick as a child's arm, weighing twenty kilograms together!
Zhang Wei nodded in satisfaction. With this, the snow mushrooms in his possession should be the imperial grade of their species.
Ordinary wild varieties were simply incomparable.
"It seems that after collecting the same species over a hundred times, the replication time will be reduced to one day."
"The reduction is approximately between 2-8%, with the fastest reduction at the beginning, becoming more difficult as it progresses."
"Reducing it from two days to one requires at least 15 collections."
Opening his compendium, he saw that the plants on the Ice Plains were not limited to this one; there were many other worthwhile ones to collect.
"Huh? Where's Hanguo?"
Hanguo was Zhang Wei's nickname for his prized possession, the Ice Plains Yak.
Although this fellow looked majestic and seemed intelligent, he was actually a rather silly simpleton.
Far in the distance, Hanguo stood frozen, surrounded by four or five wild Ice Plains Yaks.
These wild yaks were less than half Hanguo's size, and their horns were small, looking more like underdeveloped ones.
"An ambush? Did Hanguo invade another herd's territory?"
But the outcome was completely beyond Zhang Wei's expectations. These wild yaks showed no hostility at all.
Although they formed a circle, they very politely extended their tongues, grooming Hanguo's already smooth fur.
"Are these... wild heifers?"
"Those delicate little horns should be a sign of a female yak. Male yaks have thick, robust horns, possessing a great sense of strength."
Zhang Wei was speechless.
The Treasury's integrated advantages had no other purpose than deliciousness!
And the size, health, and color of a creature equally affected its appetite, so Hanguo's appearance was superb!
Hanguo's appearance was indeed impeccable, a handsome yak rarely seen in a herd for a century.
These young heifers were immediately captivated by Hanguo, their eyes full of affection.
"Even cows are creatures of the eyes, aren't they?"
Zhang Wei chuckled conspiratorially. After all, a yak from the Treasury, it wasn't entirely abnormal for him to have some charm.
Clearly, a pure young bull like Hanguo couldn't handle this situation.
His hormones immediately surged, and he was about to sire calves with the heifers.
Just then, an angry bellow echoed from afar, and several enraged male yaks galloped over, carving a path through the snow.
"Are those... the bulls in the herd?"
These bulls had bloodshot eyes, their hooves restlessly pawing the ground.
Seeing Hanguo with the heifers was like catching someone in the act!
But these heifers were not intimidated at all, each looking at Hanguo with determination, as if offering encouragement.
Hanguo had never seen such a scene, and he looked sheepishly at Zhang Wei.
"What are you looking at me for? If you lose today, you're washing yourself up and getting into the pot!"
Hanguo seemed to understand Zhang Wei's words and could only brace himself and step forward. His flawless, massive horns gleamed in the sunlight.
Among yaks, the greatest proof of masculine charm was the colossal horns on their heads.
Hanguo's appearance immediately elicited excited bellows from the heifers, like adoring fan girls.
The bulls on the other side also lost their confidence, feeling like... a Ferrari and a Honda going to pick up a beautiful girl; there was no guessing who the girl would choose.
"Boooooo!!!!!"
The wild bulls roared, spitting saliva everywhere.
Then they charged forward with their heads lowered, heading straight for Hanguo!
Hanguo's legs went weak with fear, and he stood frozen, unable to move.
He could only close his eyes, lower his head, and act so timidly that Zhang Wei was almost angered to death.
BANG!!!!
A collision sound rang out. The wild yak shook its head, stuck out its tongue, and tumbled to the ground in a daze, as if it had drunk two pounds of strong liquor.
Hanguo, however, stood his ground, looking at the fallen enemy with a puzzled expression.
He seemed to be wondering what had happened.
"Hanguo's body... is so huge!"
Zhang Wei hadn't noticed from a distance earlier.
Hanguo's body was a full two sizes larger than ordinary wild yaks!
Ordinary wild yaks weighed at most four tons, while Hanguo weighed ten tons!
The difference between them was like that of a strong man and a middle schooler...
"It seems that after the replication time is reduced to one day, it not only increases the quantity but also slightly enhances the quality of the creature!"
"And among the Ice Plains Yaks I've slaughtered, there were both males and females. Judging by Hanguo's sex, male yaks of this species are more delicious!"
This was the integrated rule of the Treasury; the so-called advantages were all centered around deliciousness.
"I'll leave Hanguo here. With his excellent physique, he can improve the genes of the entire species."
"This can be considered my contribution to this species."
"But if the species I collected was pigs..."
"Wouldn't they all be castrated pigs?"
Pork can be gamey, but castrated boars don't have the problem of hormones.
Not only do they grow faster and are healthier, but their temperaments are also much milder.
"It seems that improving species populations through collection is not as simple as I thought."
"This Treasury has such a variety of ways to play."