A ping sound suddenly rang out, and a line of golden characters appeared before his eyes.
Fang You was momentarily dazed, then slowly typed out an exclamation mark.
Should he accept? Of course, he should!
He only hesitated for two seconds before choosing "Yes." The ping sound rang out again, and golden prompt characters appeared before him. At this moment, the faint connection between himself and the Oasis gradually deepened.
"Ding!"
"Prompt: Accessing unnamed Oasis, connecting. Current progress: 3%...9%...26%...58%...87%...99%...99.9%...99.99%"
Fang You: "???"
Why is it stuck at 99%? Is this module connecting to some ultra-fast delivery platform?
He had patience, so he waited. Even if it took days and nights, he, Professor Fang, could afford to wait.
It wasn't days and nights, but just a short while before the prompt sound rang out again.
However,
"Ding!"
"Prompt: Discovered an unnamed Oasis is being connected. 'Base Module' requires an update. This update will cost 100,000 Destiny Points. Do you wish to proceed with the update?"
Professor Fang fell silent again.
"Proceed."
"Prompt: Base Module is updating. Current progress: 9%...49%...99%..."
"Prompt: Base Module upgrade complete."
"Prompt: Unnamed Oasis connection complete."
Finally, there were no more complications. It was just the 100,000 Destiny Points spent, which made Professor Fang feel a slight pang of heartache.
There were no more opportunities for large-scale Destiny Point income, yet expenditures were increasing with each passing moment: Mythical Awakening, designated draws, skill fusion.
The exclusive skills for Brother Black Blade, Xing Jinglei, and the others would have to wait.
He opened his status panel.
The hundred thousand Destiny Points were not spent in vain. The Base Module interface had undergone a significant transformation.
[Flame of Hope Secret Realm (Main Base)]
[Level: Lv5 (25/100)]
This number meant that another seventy-five Secret Realm Stones were needed to upgrade the Secret Realm to Lv6, which was practically impossible. Even selling a super Oasis wouldn't yield enough Secret Realm Stones to gather such a quantity.
He could only wait for the slow supply from Yidola's Tree of Life or the feedback from the sublimation of Blue Star.
In addition to the familiar content, the upgraded interface now displayed several expansion options.
[Currently Connected Bases (1/3): Unnamed Oasis]
--
[Unnamed Oasis]
[Level: Lv2 (89%)]
[Owned Resource Points: Mingliu Crystal Mine - Lv1 -, Jin Tie Wood Forest - Lv1 -, Vitality Spring - Lv1 -]
[Other: Nil]
The area, overview, resource points, and other details of this Oasis were presented to Fang You in data form, closely matching their previous assessment, but much more detailed.
"Managing an Oasis, upgrading an Oasis, can increase the output of resource points within it. In data terms, these resource points have been upgraded."
"Apart from Oasis upgrades, expanding the scale of resource points mainly involves meticulous management."
For instance, the Mingliu Crystal Mine, even if mined carelessly and violently, would still yield new ore over time. However, if the mining process caused minimal damage to the ore veins and the mine was carefully nurtured, the output of the ore deposit would slowly increase.
In simpler terms, the resource point had slowly upgraded itself!
This was not a secret among Oases; it was common knowledge. There were even more advanced methods, such as those employed by great Oases... by concentrating the 'vitality' of the Oasis, the resource points could also be slowly improved.
Although this unnamed Oasis was not yet of the Great Oasis caliber and did not possess a true "Heart of the Oasis," its connection to the Base Module had significantly strengthened. He could now, like the master of a great Oasis, make minor adjustments both inside and outside the Oasis.
It was rumored that some Oases possessed unique cultivation techniques for specific resource points.
For example, the blood or remains of certain creatures could promote the growth of mysterious plants, but the specific type of remains or treasure corresponding to each resource point was a closely guarded secret.
"Of these three special resources, the highest grade is Mingliu Crystal, a blue-tier material. Vitality Spring water is green-tier, and Jin Tie Wood is ordinary white... but in reality, the value difference between the three is not significant."
"The Mingliu Crystal Mine has the highest grade, but its output rate is correspondingly very low. In this tiny vein, there are only a few raw ores containing crystals. Jin Tie Wood has the lowest grade, and consequently, there is a large forest."
"However, one thing remains the same: increasing the level of a resource point can increase its output!"
Fang You's consciousness lightly touched one of the items.
Instantly,
"Ding!"
"Prompt: Resource point 'Mingliu Crystal Mine - Lv1 -' can be upgraded. This upgrade requires the consumption of - 1000 Destiny Points, 1000 Mystic Crystals -. Do you wish to upgrade?"
This price was much higher than upgrading the training ground from Lv1 to Lv2, but...
It was still incredibly cheap!
Compared to meticulous management and special cultivation methods that would take a long time to yield results, the consumption of Mystic Crystals and Destiny Points was almost negligible.
Upgrade! Absolutely upgrade!
"Prompt: Consumption deducted. Resource point 'Mingliu Crystal Mine' is upgrading. Estimated completion time: 10 days."
"Prompt: Consumption deducted. Resource point 'Vitality Spring' is upgrading..."
"Prompt: ..."
All three resource points were upgraded.
However, Lv2 was currently the highest level. The level of a resource point could not exceed the level of the Oasis, and similarly, the level of the Oasis could not exceed the level of the "Main Base."
"If the Oasis level is to be increased..."
This was no longer a one-click upgrade.
Fang You shifted his posture and pondered, "The traditional management and upgrade route for Oases is also not a secret. It can be summarized in two words: Population!"
"As long as a certain number of people live within the Oasis, the Oasis will slowly and imperceptibly grow. The larger the population, the better the Oasis is managed, and the faster this growth will be. Eventually, the Oasis will visibly expand, its vitality will increase, and then the output of both ordinary and mysterious resources will significantly increase."
"The reasons behind this are unclear, but this is how the current great Oases have come into being, developed step by step."
Procreate and multiply.
Cultivate the Oasis.
In contrast, those with some strength but smaller scale are called elite Oases. Elite Oases are essentially ordinary Oases with limited self-produced resources, requiring them to explore and plunder externally to sustain the consumption and progress of their strong individuals.
Great Oases cannot grow their population without limit.
Limited living space is one factor, and the restriction of food is even more troublesome.
But the benefits brought by population are tangible. The more people there are, not only does the Oasis grow faster, but it also allows for the selection and training of promising new talents, giving rise to more non-human powerhouses.
With a larger number of powerhouses, exploring the bizarre realm and uncovering ruins becomes more convenient.
This is why the Great Oasis route is considered the orthodox path of management. Elite Oases have no advantages other than being easier to manage.
"Oases like the town of Ludeng, or even worse ordinary Oases, have almost no powerhouses. In such circumstances, they can barely obtain resources externally, and due to their small population, the Oasis cannot grow. Their resource output is extremely limited, making it even harder to trade externally for the resources they need..."
"Their strength is too weak to obtain resources, and without resources, their strength cannot improve... Most ordinary Oases fall into such a vicious cycle. Once disaster strikes, they are very likely to be wiped out."
"Therefore, the start of managing an Oasis is crucial. When some countries migrate to an Oasis, they are left with only a few thousand or a few hundred people. Survival and reproduction are difficult, let alone development. While other countries start with tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people, their advantages in production, construction, and Oasis upgrades are unparalleled."
"And my Blue Star..."
There are currently only four and a half people on the Oasis, but his Blue Star has billions of people! Many times more than a super Oasis!
This vast population is an immeasurable treasure.
"Before building the Oasis, I need to conduct an experiment."
Fang You walked to a steep rock face and extended his hand, placing his palm on the rough stone.
His divine sense then communicated with the Secret Realm, which was far away on Blue Star.
On Blue Star, it only costs 50 units of Mystic Crystals to construct a Secret Realm portal, allowing him to reach any location on Blue Star at any time. As the Secret Realm level increases, the number of Secret Realm portals also grows rapidly. By now, he could construct 60 to 70 Secret Realm entrances.
He just didn't need that many.
So, could Secret Realm portals connect to beyond Blue Star?
He had tried before. The shallow layers were possible, but at a greater cost. As for the deeper layers of the bizarre realm? His attempt failed unexpectedly, but he discovered that there was still a sliver of a possibility.
The bizarre realm and the Oasis environment are completely different worlds.
In the gray fog, space is unpredictable and fraught with danger, while the Oasis is safe and stable.
Recalling his thoughts.
Fang You's main body on Blue Star began to output Secret Realm power. Perhaps this Oasis was also integrated into the Base Module, as the intangible and vast Secret Realm power seeped into the unknown space, spreading towards the Oasis in a way he could not yet understand or observe.
At the same time, a force from the Oasis, like a blinking lighthouse, was preparing to receive this special power.
But it failed!
After consuming a significant amount of Secret Realm power, Mystic Crystals, and Destiny Points, this attempt was unsuccessful.
However, Fang You was not discouraged at all; his eyes shone brightly.
"It failed, but I saw the possibility of success."
"Both increasing the Secret Realm level and the Oasis level can increase the chances of constructing Secret Realm portals!"
"And..."
"Secret Realm power seems to be able to nurture the Oasis, bringing about a slight improvement."
The connection had broken just now, but the not-yet-formed "Heart of the Oasis" gave him a vague feedback of "still wanting more."
Secret Realm power could nourish.
He still couldn't mobilize Secret Realm power outside of Blue Star, but it seemed he could use his body as a transmission channel to provide a little sustenance to the Oasis.
He discovered through experimentation that this was true!
"The Secret Realm power can recover on its own with a small consumption. Therefore, distributing a little to nurture the Oasis is a risk-free profit... Once the Oasis is built and a large population floods in, the Oasis's accumulation can increase rapidly."
"The Secret Realm cannot be upgraded in the short term, but the Oasis can. This is the possibility of constructing portals! And once Blue Star has a secret portal to the outside world, then..."
The blockade by the evil god faction would become meaningless.
Blue Star's strategic space would also expand infinitely.
Initially, Fang You planned to build a "commercial Oasis," like the Starfall Fortress in the City of Falling Stars. However, using this place to build a commercial Oasis would be a waste, and its geographical location was also not ideal.
He would treat it as a secret rear base.
As for a commercial Oasis, well, he would find another one.
Oases are precious to those who need them, but to those who don't, they are just a commodity.
He remembered that the Blazing Flame Great Oasis held an Oasis coordinate, which they had once used as leverage.
Given Blue Star's current status, purchasing this coordinate would be very easy.
However,
"It won't work under the name of Blue Star."
"If we want to build a commercial Oasis, we must distance ourselves from Blue Star and build it under the name of a hidden and powerful trans-continental organization."
"This matter..."
Well, he would let Qianmian handle it.
After all, Fang You had prepared for two possibilities before this: one was An Jianyou searching, and the other was Qianmian purchasing the Oasis. Now, both would be utilized.
...
...
Blazing Flame Great Oasis,
The master of the Oasis, 'Cang Yan,' wearing a luxurious robe embroidered with vivid phoenix patterns, stood on a high point of the palace, looking out. Half of the prosperous landscape of the Great Oasis met his gaze.
Pavilions abounded, traffic flowed, trees were verdant, and rivers surged.
This was the Great Oasis he had managed and built, a sacred place in the eyes of many ordinary Oasis dwellers—prosperous, abundant, and stable. But only Cang Yan knew that managing a Great Oasis was like treading on thin ice.
A slight misstep could result in a severe blow, or even annihilation.
How many Great Oases had been destroyed within this bizarre realm? He did not want the Blazing Flame Great Oasis to be the next.
"This Blue Star is now completely sealed. Furthermore, our cooperation with Blue Star is not close. Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself. If our Blazing Flame Great Oasis could also produce a being with mythical combat power, why would we worry about advancing?"
However, without it, he could only be cautious.
He continuously nurtured the geniuses within the Oasis, slowly strengthening it, while carefully avoiding disasters, hoping that one day, he could cultivate top-tier powerhouses capable of impacting the mythical realm.
He fiddled with his earring and connected to a communication channel.
"How was the resource point output this year?"
"Lord Yan, the output of our main resource point, White Iron Stone Mine, increased by 1.3% this year. Estimated that after a few more decades of cultivation, this mine will be upgraded to a giant ore deposit, bringing immense wealth to our Blazing Flame."
"Of the White Iron Stone produced this year, thirty percent is reserved for our own use, and the rest is prepared for sale... Selling it to Blue Star would have been a good choice; we could have sold it at a high price and gained their favor, but..."
From the earring, the voice of an elder from the Blazing Flame Great Oasis could be heard.
Cang Yan's expression was calm, nodding occasionally.
Finally, he closed the earring and checked the information of various resource points through the Heart of the Oasis. A faint smile gradually appeared on his stern face.
Suddenly, his smile vanished, and his gaze sharpened as he looked at a figure that had appeared out of nowhere beneath a thick stone pillar not far away.
Clad in a black robe, it concealed his face and body.
He couldn't tell if the person was male or female, tall or short, fat or thin. More importantly, when had this black-robed person appeared? He had approached silently into his palace, not far away!
"Who are you!"
Cang Yan hissed, his gaze fixed on the black-robed figure. His finger subtly brushed his earlobe, silently activating an imprint to notify the palace guards.
But after a long while, the guards didn't come, and the entire palace remained silent.
"Lord Cang Yan, please do not act rashly."
A voice, neither male nor female, echoed through the spacious hall.
The black-robed figure lightly raised a hand and snapped their fingers. Instantly, one figure after another appeared from the surroundings, slowly approaching. However, their steps were stiff, and their expressions were vacant.
These figures were the palace guards.
"Lord Cang Yan, please do not misunderstand. I am here for a transaction, but I have been unable to see you and am in a hurry, so I resorted to this method."
Cang Yan: "???"
You infiltrated my palace, rendered my guards like this, and you tell me not to misunderstand?!
Even though the guards were compromised, Cang Yan himself was a top-tier Sixth Sense powerhouse. He did not fear any being below the Seventh Sense, let alone being here in the Blazing Flame Great Oasis!
His hair stood on end as if ignited, and his eyes gleamed with fiery light.
He saw it!
He saw threads wrapped around the guards, manipulating them like puppets.
He also saw countless black threads emerging from behind the black-robed figure, intertwining to form the shadow of a demon god, sinister and terrifying! The entire space seemed to darken, and the dense threads formed a vast net, enveloping him.
His thoughts gradually slowed, and his limbs felt somewhat awkward.
He had a strong intuition that if he made a move, he would be met with a thunderous strike. He... was not an opponent to the mysterious black-robed figure!
Even though the mysterious person before him was not a mythical being, he felt an insurmountable sense of powerlessness!
But,
He looked at the guards, who were gradually igniting with golden-red flames.
The black-robed figure suddenly spoke, "Lord Cang Yan, you wouldn't want your guards to be harmed, would you? Rest assured, I have not harmed them. If you are willing to talk."
The golden-red flames on Cang Yan's body gradually subsided.
"I am here solely on orders to purchase an Oasis. I heard you have one in your possession, so I came by."
"Just buying an Oasis?"
"Just buying an Oasis."
After pondering for a moment, Cang Yan provided the Oasis coordinates and information.
In his eyes, a small Oasis was not that precious. They at Blazing Flame couldn't manage it effectively, so selling it was inevitable. For now, it was like being robbed, as long as he could get rid of this mysterious black-robed figure.
But who would have thought, after the black-robed figure reviewed the information.
"It only has one resource point; it's an Oasis of lower value. Then... ten pieces of epic materials for the transaction. Lord Cang Yan, do you have any objections?"
No objections, no objections.
Even after receiving the trading treasure thrown by the other party, Cang Yan was still somewhat stunned.
He actually paid?
And this value was definitely above market price.
Just who was this strange and powerful being?!
"Your Excellency..."
"Oh, don't worry about your guards; they will recover soon and will have no lingering effects."
"May I ask Your Excellency..."
"I am just a humble worker, following the organization's orders to purchase an Oasis. Our organization has just arrived at the Starfall Cave and needs an Oasis as a merchant guild base. We also plan to open various businesses in the future. Lord Cang Yan is always welcome to visit."
The black-robed figure gradually moved away, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
The vast net of threads in the sky also dissipated immediately.
Only after the guards gradually recovered and it was confirmed that the entire palace had suffered no losses did the Oasis Master Cang Yan believe it.
However,
"Just arrived at the Starfall Cave? This is a trans-continental dragon! A super merchant guild?"
"Is this the style of business of a super merchant guild?"