No one knew how long it had been, but a figure finally emerged.
As the familiar figure appeared, many people held their breath.
"There are so many people here."
The newly appeared figure spoke first. This person was undoubtedly Shi Yu.
He had been studying the stone bead that could control the ruins before coming out.
He figured out that this stone bead was actually the main body of the ruins.
It was similar to a spatial device, with a vast space inside the ruins.
The ruins were quite special. Although the environment of the ice plains and snow mountains appeared earlier, the actual situation inside was barren and desolate.
Its essence was not an ice-based space but a highly malleable ordinary space.
Everything the explorers saw was likely created by the "spirit" of the device, Shell, using illusions.
However, the ice energy crystals and ethereal stones were real. After all, without these, the "spirit" of the device, Shell, would not have been able to support over a hundred people exploring the ruins so easily.
"Shi Yu, did you pass the sixth level?"
After Shi Yu came out, Old Feng looked at the summoning array that disappeared under his feet and asked nervously.
"Living up to everyone's expectations." Shi Yu nodded.
As he spoke, Commander He shouted instantly, "Everyone, get back to what you were doing. Don't just stand here. Go back to your camps."
His shout startled the surrounding apprentice beast tamers.
Clearly, it was not suitable to have too many idle people around next.
...
A moment later, Shi Yu was warmly invited to the command center by President Feng and Commander He. Only the three of them remained there.
President Feng looked at Shi Yu with a beaming smile, completely surprised by how capable Shi Yu was!
Now, the beast tamers' associations in other districts would surely be dumbfounded!
How about that, we didn't even give you a chance to challenge, and we directly cracked the ruins!
"Shi Yu, after you passed the sixth level, did you obtain something like the core of the ruins, which can control the entire ruins?"
Based on the recent changes, the two of them came to this conclusion, and President Feng asked expectantly.
"All other resources inside the ruins belong to you, but the ruins themselves might not."
The ruins themselves were the most valuable, after all, as they were originally a legendary beast tamer's space.
After development, it would be top-notch equipment for raising pet beasts and spirit plants.
The value of a single ruin was no less than that of the Evolution Holy Spring, and might even be higher.
"I know that."
Shi Yu nodded. This was also mentioned in the contract everyone signed before entering the ruins.
After cracking the ruins, the things obtained inside belonged to the explorers, but the ruins themselves did not.
Even the ownership of the ruins did not belong to the Pingcheng Beast Tamers' Association.
The relevant laws of this country were similar to those of the country Shi Yu was previously in.
Ruins discovered within the country's borders belonged to the state.
Unless they were passed down from ancestors, they could not belong to individuals.
However, although the ruins belonged to the state, as they were discovered in Pingcheng and cracked by the Pingcheng Beast Tamers' Association, Pingcheng still had the right to prioritize the use and development of the ruins.
Once the state sent specialists to investigate the ruins and confirmed the historical information they represented, if the ruins had no other value and did not need to be submitted, it would be no different from belonging to the Pingcheng Association.
This was also why President Feng hoped someone in Pingcheng could crack the ruins. With the development rights of the ruins, if they used it for farming, Pingcheng could harvest a large amount of high-level resources.
Using it to cultivate new talent and pet beasts would definitely have excellent results, and Pingcheng would soon enter a rapid development phase.
"Is this it?" Shi Yu took out the stone bead.
At this moment, President Feng and Commander He's eyes lit up when they saw the stone bead.
"That's it. This might need to be handed over to the Archaeological Association for research first," Old He said.
"President Feng, you'll inform the higher-ups?"
"Maybe these guys can really find something out. It would be great if they could uncover the truth about the beast tide."
Commander He looked at President Feng, urging the archaeologists to finish their research as soon as possible.
Finding something out would be good, and not finding anything out would also be good.
"Alright. I'll notify the higher-ups to send people for research." President Feng nodded.
"Actually, there's no need to notify them..."
Shi Yu smiled and put away the stone bead.
"I'll keep this for now. I'll give it to Pingcheng after I finish my research (or when it's no longer needed)."
The two of them: ???
After Shi Yu spoke, President Feng and Commander He looked at him.
Huh?
Was Shi Yu crazy? For such ruins, even the Pingcheng Association wouldn't dare to withhold them; they had to wait for the state's allocation.
Did Shi Yu think that by cracking the ruins, he could gain ownership of them?
"This..."
President Feng was about to explain the severity of the situation when Shi Yu took out his credentials.
Sigh, this old credential might only be useful at this moment.
The first page of the credential showed Shi Yu's handsome portrait and his identity proof.
Department of National Relic Strategic Investigation and Support, Reserve Member, Shi Yu.
At the bottom of the credential was an unforgeable stamp from the highest official of the Donghuang Ancient Country Beast Tamers' Association Headquarters.
"According to regulations, I have the authority to investigate unearthed relics, which is higher than that of the Archaeological Association."
"I currently have other tasks and might need this relic bead, so I'll keep it for now."
Shi Yu planned to keep it for a while to study, as he would need it to explore the Ice Dragon Ruins.
Before he tackled the ruins, he had consulted with Lu Qingyi. The power of the Eleventh Bureau was greater than Shi Yu had imagined.
Lu Qingyi suggested that if Shi Yu could crack the ruins, he should show the Eleventh Bureau credential to President Feng.
President Feng was a person who rose to prominence during the beast tide ten years ago, saving countless lives and always fighting on the front lines with Commander He and others to protect the evacuation of civilians. Although his strength was not great, his character was impeccable.
In the future, if Shi Yu wanted to investigate the Ice Dragon Ruins, he could also ask President Feng and Commander He to be his bodyguards. They had clear identities and had been working to solve the root cause of the beast tide and uncover the historical truth of the Ice Plains City.
In short, once he showed the Eleventh Bureau credential, the ruins would belong to Shi Yu, and he could use them for as long as he needed. When he no longer needed them, he could dispose of them as he pleased.
At that moment, Shi Yu sighed that joining the Eleventh Bureau was not in vain. Having an official and legal identity was indeed convenient.
If he could hold such a relic space during his apprenticeship, the benefits were obvious. It could quickly assist his growth, and Lu Qingyi also meant for Shi Yu to use the ruins reasonably.
"Grass (a type of plant)."
At this moment, President Feng and Commander He were still a bit dazed.
They looked at the credential Shi Yu placed on the table, feeling dizzy.
Although they knew little about the Department of National Relic Strategic Investigation and Support, seeing the large stamp and the Eleventh Bureau's designation, they were stunned.
In Donghuang Ancient Country, there were thirteen special organizations, each representing a different field, gathering the most elite people in that field. They were called the First Bureau to the Thirteenth Bureau and were directly responsible to the highest official of the Beast Tamers' Association Headquarters, with immense power.
Although they did not recognize the long and cumbersome name, seeing the Eleventh Bureau's symbol and the stamp, President Feng and Commander He opened their mouths slightly.
Especially President Feng, who looked at Shi Yu in disbelief.
Shi Yu, it turns out, was from the Eleventh Bureau?
He recalled Shi Yu's previous evaluation of himself, "Just a beast tamer with a hobby for archaeology."
Damn, liking archaeology meant he was an archaeologist???
At this moment, President Feng finally understood why Shi Yu had cracked the ruins so quickly.
He also finally understood why the previously unknown Shi Yu had risen so rapidly.
If Shi Yu had been absorbed by such an organization, his starting point would definitely be far beyond that of his peers in Pingcheng and even the Ice Plains City.
"I knew you weren't an ordinary guy..." President Feng said, still dazed as he looked at the credential.
"This relic might be related to the Ice Dragon Ruins on the snow mountain and is a key factor in solving the beast tide, so I want to study it for a while..."
"Of course, no problem." President Feng nodded heavily.
After Commander He recovered from his shock, he added, "If it can solve the beast tide, that would be great. The situation on the snow mountain has worsened, and the reports from the Great Commander and Lin Hongnian are not good."
"Have you already found something out?" Seeing Shi Yu's certainty that the relic was related to the beast tide and even the Ice Dragon Ruins, President Feng asked.
Shi Yu took back his credential and nodded, "The sixth level of the relic was an Ice Dragon."
"What???"
After Shi Yu spoke, the two of them widened their eyes, looking at him in disbelief, wondering if they had heard correctly.
"It was just a level ten awakened Ice Dragon illusion, not that scary."
The two of them opened their mouths slightly, not believing him.
If it was an Ice Dragon, the racial level would be at least King, or even Overlord!
With such a racial value, even if the growth level was relatively low, just level ten, slaughtering Extraordinary-level beings would not be difficult.
Could Shi Yu's Iron-Eater defeat a dragon of the same level?
That would mean Shi Yu's Iron-Eater had the qualifications to compete with the strongest beings.
Although the two knew about Shi Yu's performance in the Evolution Holy Spring competition, they still looked at him as if he were a monster.
Defeating a dragon of the same level... This was something most beast tamers could only dream of.
Even the Dragon Tamers, the strongest branch of beast tamers, mostly raised sub-dragons.
Dragons were still considered invincible.
However, thinking about Shi Yu's identity in the Eleventh Bureau, they could only accept his extraordinary strength.
After all, they had no idea what kind of training the organization had given him.
"Since that's the case, you can keep the relic bead. However, the news we release to the public might need to be adjusted," President Feng said after a moment of silence.
Although Shi Yu's identity was powerful, his strength was too weak. Such a treasure in his hands could attract covetous eyes.
Therefore, they could not publicly say the relic bead was in Shi Yu's possession.
"I'll leave that to you, President Feng."
"Alright..." President Feng smiled bitterly. Shi Yu had given him a big challenge.
But it seemed Shi Yu had even more potential than he imagined.
The previous investment was well-placed, and he had indeed recognized talent.
With Shi Yu in Pingcheng, this relic might just be the beginning. The Ice Dragon Ruins, which had remained unsolved for over a thousand years in the entire Ice Plains City, might one day be cracked by Shi Yu!
The truth hidden in that relic was the most crucial for the Ice Plains City.
...
Afterward, Shi Yu was escorted back to his residence by President Feng.
During this process, Shi Yu also informed Lu Qingyi about his task progress, wondering if there were any additional rewards.
Then, he began to summarize his gains from the relic.
Currently, there were over 1,000 first-level ice energy crystals and over 300 second-level ice energy crystals in the relic bead.
In addition, there were 45 ethereal stones.
If these resources were converted into money, the energy crystals were manageable, but with the ethereal stones, the value could easily exceed hundreds of millions.
Becoming rich overnight, that's what it means.
However, the biggest gain might be the Reality-Illusion skill, the Ice Dragon Whisker, and the relic itself.
The Reality-Illusion skill confirmed the cultivation path for the Green Silk Worm.
The Ice Dragon Whisker might be used to enhance the Green Silk Worm's silk, increasing its potential.
Dragon whiskers were the strongest and sharpest lines in the world, far beyond the level of insect silk.
Shi Yu was thinking of ways to extract the essence from the dragon whiskers.
Then there was the relic itself.
Besides being a key to cracking the Ice Dragon Ruins, it was also a spatial device that could hold living things.
And the growth environment inside, although greatly diminished over time, was still a sanctuary for most low-level pet beasts and spirit plants.
"The Pingcheng Beast Tamers' Association probably wants to use the relic for farming, so they can quickly cultivate high-quality spirit plants using the relic's environment."
"With sufficient resources, they can develop the city's economy and the beast taming field."
"This idea is actually good. After my research, I might also use the relic for farming..."
"Then, carrying a farming space with me, and having a plant pet beast take care of the spirit plants as a gardener, I could easily obtain cultivation resources, food, and supplements in the future..."
"It seems I need to contract a plant-type pet beast to learn plant control..."
Farming is great!
Especially with the available land.
With ethereal stones, his beast taming space should quickly reach level two or even level three.
Contracting a second or third pet beast might not be far off, possibly within a year.
Or, could he repeat the current cultivation model for the Green Silk Worm?
Not contracting a new pet beast for now, just taking care of it externally and communicating through mental感应, and then contracting when both sides are ready and have a strong bond.
This would also give him and the new pet beast a period to get to know each other.
Shi Yu quickly sent a message to the beautiful Lu.
"Remember the pet beast cub we talked about last time?"
"Is there a plant-type pet beast cub with a high racial level but low growth level, a gentle and obedient personality, and a professional gardener who can farm?"
Recommend a good book: "Creating a Game in Another World"