211: plan

Upon hearing Xu Yan's inquiry, Xiong Nian was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. He didn't say much, simply indicating that he didn't mind Mikhail's previous actions, and then handed the decision-making power back to Xu Yan.

After receiving Xiong Nian's response, Xu Yan pondered for a moment before speaking: "A demi-plane, plus a clan treasury, is certainly very attractive. However, I don't have any intention of acting as a nanny for newborn spirit beasts. That being the case, let's have a chat with Mikhail."

Afterward, Xu Yan spoke to the space fragment in front of him: "Let's make a deal. Let me enter to have a talk with him, how about that?"

While speaking, the power representing Xu Yan's Myriad Affinity Innate Talent began to emerge.

To Xu Yan's words, the space fragment in front of him showed no reaction, as if Xu Yan were talking to himself.

Xu Yan was anxious about this too, but he simply watched the space fragment quietly.

About a quarter of an hour later, Xu Yan suddenly felt his vision blur, and then he found himself in another space. Before his eyes appeared Xiong Nian and an earth-yellow giant bear of similar size.

Xu Yan's arrival first startled Mikhail, but he quickly retrieved from Xiong Nian's memories that this was the Beast Tamer, and the creator of those delicious spirit food.

Thinking of this, Mikhail smiled at Xu Yan in a friendly manner and greeted him: "Hello, Xiong Nian's Beast Tamer, I am Mikhail."

"Hello, I am Xu Yan."

After exchanging greetings, the human and the bear turned the topic directly back to the bear cubs.

"Xiong Nian has already told me the general situation. Undeniably, the rewards you offered are indeed very tempting. Regarding those Earth Bear cubs, I can give you two plans.

One is that I take them back to the Myriad Spirits Mansion at the Third Academy. As a new species of bear-type spirit beast, their lower limit is at the Monarch Rank bloodline level. I will ask my mentor, and the Myriad Spirits Mansion will at least establish a dedicated protected area suitable for their survival, providing sufficient food and resources in the early stages until there are double-digit adult individuals in the clan.

The cost is that they need to cooperate with the researchers at the Third Academy for some harmless research, and after they reach a certain scale, students or teachers from the academy will go to look for spirit beasts to form contracts with, provided that both sides are mutually agreeable.

At the same time, I will also give them the growth resources you prepared for the cubs, along with half of the resources from the demi-plane treasury. Not to mention Saint Spirit Rank, it shouldn't be a problem to let three or five of them grow to the Overlord Rank."

After stating the first plan, Xu Yan paused for a moment, wanting to see the other party's reaction first.

After listening to the plan Xu Yan provided, Mikhail nodded and said: "This plan can be considered a decent future for the bear cubs. However, I still want to hear the second plan you have to offer.

Also, is it possible for those, or rather, some of the bear cubs to follow you? Whether it is staying by your side to fight for you, or working for you in your forces or industries, that is also fine.

In our original world, earth, water, wind, and fire are the basic elements. The 'Earth' in Earth Bear includes not just soil, but also metal and wood. In addition to strong combat power, Earth Bears are naturally gifted in mineral exploration, construction, and planting."

After listening to Mikhail's words, Xu Yan continued: "This second plan actually has to do with me.

I have a secret realm, but it is still in its nascent stage and has not yet given birth to intelligent life. If we can reach an agreement, the demi-plane I obtain from you will be merged into this secret realm.

The second plan is to let those Earth Bear cubs enter it and become the first batch of living beings in the secret realm. I don't need them to fight for me; I just need them to grow in the secret realm and incidentally manage some areas.

In addition to the growth resources you have prepared, I will also provide them with additional resources. And if any of them want to go out and see the world, I can also hand them over to the Myriad Spirits Mansion separately to find suitable companions for them.

However, the disadvantage of this plan is very obvious. I am only one person and have my own things to do. Compared to the refined breeding provided by the researchers and Breeders at the Myriad Spirits Mansion, I lean more towards free-range rearing. I will provide sufficient resources to ensure their safety before they reach adulthood, provided they don't do anything reckless, but that is all I can offer.

Besides that, there is an upper limit to the strength that those cubs can reach in the secret realm. Currently, the strength limit in the secret realm is the Monarch Limit, and after some time, it will be able to be raised to the Overlord Rank. As for anything beyond that, I cannot guarantee it.

These are the only two plans I can offer. Whether you choose me and which plan you choose is up to you now."

After stating the second plan, Xu Yan closed his mouth and waited for the other party's choice.

To Xu Yan's surprise, after handing the choice to Mikhail, the other party didn't even think much before giving a very decisive reply.

"I choose the second plan."

While speaking, Mikhail bowed deeply to Xu Yan in a very human-like manner, then raised his claw to pierce his chest, taking out a broken branch with emerald green vines and leaves from his heart, and handing it to Xu Yan.

"This is the demi-plane I spoke of, and the unborn bear cubs are also inside. In the future, I will leave them in your care."

Visibly, after taking out that broken branch, Mikhail's body began to turn into elemental particles and rapidly disintegrated.

Watching his body gradually dissipate, there was no sadness or fear of demise in Mikhail's eyes; instead, they were filled with warmth, reluctance, hope, and blessing. Seeing this left a bitter taste in Xu Yan's heart.

However, before he could see Mikhail completely vanish, the surrounding environment changed again, and the consciousness of Xu Yan and Xiong Nian returned to the transit station.

Although no sound had reached his ears, an indescribable voice inexplicably emerged in Xu Yan's heart.

"Do not let this happen again."

He subconsciously wanted to find the source of the voice, but the moment this thought arose, Xu Yan felt his hands sink.

Looking at his hands, he saw that in one hand he held the broken branch Mikhail had given him, and in the other, he held a gray hexagonal crystal. Through the hexagonal crystal, he could vaguely see a large bear sleeping inside.