252: Wulingbang collects water fees

Hanqing River, this is a river renamed by the Qingtian Base after exploring the Shennongjia map. As for the old map, it is no longer applicable, because now this place is not only much larger, but also inexplicably has many high mountains and great rivers. According to speculation, it is very likely that the Wuxiao Tribe's previous secret realm and blessed land have integrated into reality.

And in the Hanqing River, there are many Mist Spirit Mussels, which can nurture a pure and flawless mussel pearl. The mussel pearl can produce mist and accumulate slowly. If placed in one place for three to five years, the mist can cover several kilometers, making it a natural maze (maze).

The most crucial thing is that this item can purify the currently contaminated water source, so its value is extraordinarily high.

Moreover, by using Exotic Energy to stimulate it, the speed of water purification can be increased. However, to achieve what Li Tianheng mentioned—a Mussel King capable of purifying a hundred li of a river—is clearly quite rare, even fantastical.

Tang Ping also wanted to see what this so-called Mussel King looked like.

Soon, the two arrived. As they leaped into the Hanqing River and delved a hundred meters beneath the surface, Tang Ping finally understood why this Mussel King could purify an entire river. On a massive stone bed, he saw a mussel pearl that was as large as a two-story villa. What Mussel King? This should be called a Mussel Emperor! Tang Ping even felt as if he had returned to the Ancient Era; this mussel was simply too enormous.

“Tang Ping, Sister Xiao Cao said only you can move this thing now. Can you really move it?” To be honest, Li Tianheng was still a bit skeptical.

“Yes!” Tang Ping nodded. Although this mussel was a bit large, it was no problem for him to take it away. After all, his Shelter also had a space several hundred meters in diameter formed by the fusion of secret treasure fragments. Taking this mussel was not an issue at all.

Approaching the Mussel King, Tang Ping clearly felt a special, pure energy emanating from within the mussel: “It seems this special energy is what gives the Mist Spirit Mussel the ability to purify contamination.”

Tang Ping reached out and touched it. He had initially worried that the mussel might resist, but there was no movement at all. He easily stored it in his space.

“Such a large mussel spirit, does it not have its own consciousness?” Tang Ping was somewhat puzzled, but he quickly realized that it was probably not that it didn't have one, but that it had been erased by the White-Haired People before.

“He really put it away!” Li Tianheng rubbed his eyes, somewhat incredulous.

“Let’s go. We’ll take this thing to the source of the Qianxi River first. Oh, did Sister Xiao Cao say where to put it?”

“Yes, yes. Put it in the section of the river outside the base; it will be easier to manage and guard later.”

“Alright.”

The section of the river outside Qingtian Base became a major area for the base, personally guarded by Old Man Xuanshan. As for Tang Ping, he became interested in the Mussel King. Although his Heavenly Mansion Base didn't have any rivers, it would be nice if he could get one and put it in the sizable lake in the city. Anyway, it was only forty to fifty kilometers from the Heavenly Mansion Base, practically like his own home.

Unfortunately, after more than ten days, Tang Ping only found a Mist Spirit Mussel about two to three zhang in size, and its mussel pearl was only one to two meters in size. “This is too small.”

He sighed, and suddenly an idea popped into his head: he wondered if he could use the Ancient Era Mini-Game to get a mussel bloodline to transform the Mist Spirit Mussel.

But after thinking about it, Tang Ping gave up, because he was currently barely a bug killer. For slightly stronger bugs, it would take him half a day to fight.

He also wanted to gain some strength improvements through trade, but currently, there was almost nothing that could enhance his strength. Some skills, for him, were just burdens; they couldn't compare to his Mystical Art.

The same went for some extraordinary tools and weapons: his defense couldn't compare to Green Lotus Birth, his support couldn't compare to Child of Nature, and as for attack, his S-rank Glazed Flame was unparalleled in combat, and he himself possessed an S-rank blade.

Currently, the only things he could gain through trade that would improve his strength and be useful to him were attribute stones and s-rank experience stones.

attribute stones could be purchased by the base itself; there was no need for bloodline trading.

As for s-rank experience stones, he had traded for some. Tang Ping was confident that he was currently among the closest people to Level Five, having reached over seventy thousand experience. Unfortunately, the s-rank experience stones he could trade for were pretty much depleted.

“Alas, indeed, being too powerful and advancing too quickly also has a downside,” Tang Ping sighed. “That is, there are almost no treasures that can pique my interest, and I’ve also lost the joy of finding treasure chests.”

Seeing a Level 1 Talent User by the river not far away, happily grinning for half a day after opening a treasure chest and getting two attribute stones, Tang Ping just shook his head slightly. He thought back to how he used to be like that, but unfortunately, that joy was gone. “The life of a master is indeed lonely. No wonder those big shots always have a cold expression all day long.”

Miao Qingshi in front of him rolled her eyes: “Alright, alright, I know you’re very powerful. Now, Mr. Master, please go help me collect the overdue water fees from this base.”

“Okay, okay.” Tang Ping stood up, his Wings of Flame spread behind him. After thinking for a moment, he decided riding the Great Emperor Moth would be more intimidating. His eyes fell on the base opposite: “They actually dare to default on Qingtian Base’s water fees. I wonder where they got the guts.”

The power of Qingtian Base had long become common knowledge on both banks of the Qianxi River. Those who dared to openly defy it now had grass growing on their graves; that’s how domineering they were.

As for reasoning, Tang Ping's brothers and sisters preferred to use their fists. Of course, Tang Ping was no different.

With a single slash, a crescent-shaped flame blade tens of meters long struck the level five shelter in the base.

“Who! Who dares to attack my Baifeng Base!” An enraged voice rang out, and an extreme chill instantly erupted from the level five shelter, engulfing the Flame Moon Slash. But clearly, the man before him seemed far from strong enough.

“Master, save me!” Baifeng exclaimed in alarm. Where did this strong person come from? Why did he attack him right away?

A more powerful chilling energy instantly disintegrated the Flame Moon Slash.

Seeing this, Tang Ping's gaze also narrowed slightly as he looked at the gaunt figure that appeared behind the young man. It was an old man, but very thin, almost inhuman. He was not an S-Rank Talent User, but he was very strong.

“I don’t care who you are. Since you’ve established a base near the upper reaches of the Qianxi River, you must pay water fees.”

At this moment, Baifeng also knew who the other party was, and immediately complained indignantly: “Hmph! This Qianxi River isn’t yours, why should I pay you water fees! Don’t think I’ll yield like everyone else! You people don’t go clean up Pollution Beasts or rescue survivors; all you do is deprive other bases of their living space. You are simply the cancer of Great Xia!”

“Oh.” Tang Ping simply said “Oh.” Why did they have to come to the upstream when the downstream was free? They were taking advantage and still talking as if they were righteous. However, he was too lazy to explain; the strong do not need to explain to the weak. He turned to the gaunt old man, “This old man, is he your confidence to speak to me like this?”