Chapter 37: Oasis Project
The aircraft shuttled through the metallic jungle of the city. Su Yulan pressed her face against the porthole, looking down at the cityscape that was both deeply familiar and utterly alien.
She finally let out a long breath when the brightly lit sign of the Pet Love Home came into view.
“Thank goodness this place hasn’t changed.”
It was the same familiar clinic she remembered. The glowing pink sign cast a soft, welcoming light, standing like a warm lighthouse in the middle of a cold, mechanical city.
“We’ve arrived,” Chu Feng announced, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Su Yulan stepped out of the aircraft and pushed open the front door of the clinic.
Instantly, a wave of fresh, vibrant air washed over her.
Her eyes widened, and she took a deep, greedy breath. It smells incredible!
The air was sweet and fragrant, carrying the distinct scent of fresh soil and blooming flowers. Just standing in the entryway, the crisp atmosphere wrapped around her, making every tense muscle in her body relax.
Looking around, she was stunned to see the clinic completely transformed. Lush green vines, vibrant flowers, and plump, spherical cacti decorated every available surface.
“Wait, is this…”
Her eyes locked onto a particular plant. “Is that… Dragon Blood Vine?!”
Su Yulan stared at the incredibly rare, high-grade spiritual plant in absolute disbelief. It was casually draped over a shelf like an ordinary houseplant!
Since when does my sister use Dragon Blood Vines as basic interior decor? Is this even the same shop?!
But the surprises didn’t end there. She peered through the reinforced glass of the nursery and saw a lively group of kittens and puppies chasing each other in circles!
She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Seeing it on a screen and seeing it with her own eyes were two entirely different concepts!
Only one phrase could describe the atmosphere in the room: Overflowing with life!
How could there be so many thriving spiritual plants and energetic Spirit Beasts in one place?!
“Yulan, you’re here!” a familiar voice called out.
Su Yulan whipped her head around and saw Su Wudeng smiling warmly at her. “How was the flight? Did everything go smoothly?”
“The flight was fine,” Su Yulan mumbled, still in a daze. “But I’m so shocked I almost didn’t recognize the place. The clinic looks completely different!”
Su Wudeng laughed, having fully expected this reaction. “Why don’t you let Huihui show you around first? I need to have a quick meeting with Chu Feng and Lin Yue.”
“Ah? Oh… okay. Go ahead, sis!” Su Yulan nodded blankly, still trying to process the sheer volume of life surrounding her.
Su Wudeng smiled. Almost everyone who walked through those doors for the first time had the exact same expression.
Leaving her sister in Huihui’s capable hands, Su Wudeng led the two executives into a private office.
Without any preamble, she cut straight to the chase. “I’ve noticed something. Our planet is completely broke, isn’t it?”
Her blunt, serious tone immediately put Chu Feng and Lin Yue on edge.
Chu Feng didn’t try to sugarcoat it. He sighed bitterly. “Yes. The primary issue is that we lack a core pillar industry.”
“We have vast stretches of wasteland, but barren dirt doesn’t generate revenue,” he explained, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “The soil is dead. There’s no surface water, and crops won’t grow. We’ve conducted extensive geological surveys, but the mineral deposits are negligible. And we certainly don’t have any tourist attractions. No outside investors are willing to set foot here.”
It was a vicious cycle of poverty.
Su Wudeng suddenly grinned. “Who says wasteland can’t make money? We’re going to turn that dirt into a goldmine.”
Chu Feng and Lin Yue stared at her. What on earth is the Planet Master talking about? How do you turn a dead desert into a goldmine?
Su Wudeng stood up and activated the holographic projector on the desk. Four massive words materialized in the air:
“This is my master plan,” she declared. “Our planet may be barren, but it possesses an abundance of unused land. That is our greatest asset! We are going to use that land to cultivate spiritual plants, establish habitats for Spirit Beasts, and eventually, build a thriving eco-tourism industry!”
Chu Feng and Lin Yue exchanged a look of pure shock.
The Oasis Project sounded like a fantasy. Living greenery was a premium luxury resource across the entire galaxy, let alone actual Spirit Beasts.
They? A destitute Level-4 rock? Building an oasis?
Is she crazy, or are we?
Reading their stunned expressions, Su Wudeng smiled and elaborated. “Don’t think it’s impossible. I plan to terraform the 500-kilometer radius surrounding the central metropolis into a massive, self-sustaining oasis!”
As she spoke, the holographic projection shifted, displaying a breathtaking simulation. The barren, gray desert was rapidly overtaken by a rolling tide of emerald green, a literal miracle of life unfolding before their eyes.
She zoomed in on a specific patch of greenery. “This is Wind-Breaker Grass. It’s a highly resilient spiritual plant capable of surviving in extreme environments. Its root systems spread rapidly, forming a natural windbreak that stabilizes the soil and stops desertification.”
“Phase One of the Oasis Project will involve planting 10 million seeds of Wind-Breaker Grass, covering exactly 500 square kilometers. Once Phase One is complete and the soil moisture has stabilized, we move to Phase Two: establishing agricultural zones.”
“We will begin mass-cultivating high-yield spiritual plants, specifically Star-Spirit Grass. It has massive market demand, a rapid growth cycle, and most importantly, our planet’s arid climate is actually perfectly suited for it!”
This was a calculated choice. Star-Spirit Grass was a lower-tier substitute for the highly coveted Star-Soul Grass, widely used by Beastmasters to increase compatibility with their mechanical pets. It was incredibly affordable, and the market for it was virtually infinite.
Best of all, during the Prosperous Era, Star-Spirit Grass grew like a weed. Su Wudeng had zero concerns about securing a massive supply.
“Once the first harvest comes in…” She paused, watching the executives’ eyes widen with realization.
“Then… we’ll be rich!” Chu Feng murmured subconsciously. “With a steady export of Star-Spirit Grass, our planet will have a massive, continuous stream of income!”
The prospect was intoxicating.
However, Chu Feng forcefully suppressed his excitement, pointing out the glaring flaw. “But, Planet Master… the plan is brilliant, but we don’t even have seeds!”
Su Wudeng waved her hand dismissively. “I’ll handle the seeds. The real question is execution. Can we get the manpower?”
Lin Yue thought for a moment. “Manpower is the easy part. Our citizens are desperate for work. The real issue is logistics. Our planet doesn’t have a single modern heavy-duty mechanical pet. You can’t terraform a wasteland in those extreme conditions using manual labor.”
She pulled up the planetary registry and projected the logistics data. “Look at this. This is our entire fleet of construction and agricultural mechs.”
She smiled bitterly. “They’re obsolete, horribly inefficient, and break down constantly. Their only redeeming quality is that they’re cheap. They definitely can’t handle a project of this scale.”
Chu Feng sighed in agreement. “The most advanced mech on this entire planet is an S-10000 model, and that’s already several generations old.”
Advanced mechanical pets? Su Wudeng’s eyes sparkled. I just happen to have a bunch of those!
“Who says we don’t have any?”
With a grand sweep of her hand, she deployed the twelve mechanical combat pets she had looted from the mercenaries.
The massive machines materialized in the room, their sleek, titanium-alloy armor gleaming with a cold, deadly luster. Just by looking at them, it was obvious they were worth a fortune.
“Holy shit!”
Chu Feng leaped out of his chair. “Oh my god! Is that… is that the Star-Hunter X9000?! That model hit the core world markets less than six months ago!”
Lin Yue practically threw herself at the nearest mech, her eyes shining with manic glee. “Is this the Abyss Behemoth D7?! The manufacturer only produced 10,000 of these for the entire galaxy!”
“And look at this one… damn! I wouldn’t even dare to dream about piloting something this beautiful!”
The two executives were like kids in a candy store, running their hands reverently over the cold metal armor.
“The combined value of these twelve mechs is easily over five billion credits!” Lin Yue gasped, her voice trembling. “Planet Master, where did you get these?! Even wealthy Level-3 planets don’t have access to this kind of cutting-edge hardware!”
She looked at Su Wudeng, her eyes wide. “Are you really going to use these for the terraforming project?!”
Chu Feng looked ready to drop to his knees and worship her. “You’re just giving these to us? You’re too generous!”
Su Wudeng smiled modestly. “Will these be enough to get started?”
“Enough?!” Chu Feng sounded delirious. “It’s overkill! These are apex-tier military mechs! Using them to plow dirt is a criminal waste of their potential!”
Chu Feng and Lin Yue exchanged a fiery look of determination. The Oasis Project is absolutely viable!
If the Planet Master could genuinely procure the seeds, with these god-tier mechs handling the heavy lifting, success was guaranteed! Their backwater planet was about to skyrocket in the galactic rankings!
Watching their fervent excitement, Su Wudeng gave herself a mental pat on the back. Her pitch had landed flawlessly.
In her heart, she sent a silent prayer of thanks to those generous, selfless mercenaries who, realizing her planet was broke, had so kindly donated five billion credits worth of startup capital!
In truth, there was a Phase Three to the Oasis Project: establishing a self-sustaining ecosystem, introducing a thriving population of real Spirit Beasts, forming an elite Beastmaster guild, and accepting high-paying galactic commissions. But that was a bit too ambitious to reveal just yet.
She cleared her throat. “Our top priority now is assembling the Oasis Vanguard Team. Do you have any recommendations?”
This was right up their alley.
Lin Yue immediately spoke up. “I highly recommend Li Mo. He’s the best geological engineer on the planet…” Chu Feng nodded. “Agreed. We should also bring in…”
Meanwhile, in the nursery.
Su Yulan was mesmerized by a breathtaking Snow Crystal cat. The feline paced gracefully across the floor, pausing occasionally to groom its immaculate white paws with lazy, elegant movements.
She suppressed a squeal. “Sister Huihui, is this Baiyun?! The internet-famous cat?!”
Zhong Huihui smiled shyly. “Yes, this is Baiyun.”
She still couldn’t believe that the short clip she had casually posted had gone viral. Now, she could easily rake in thousands of likes just by posting a single picture of Baiyun sleeping.
Seeing how smitten Su Yulan was, Huihui smiled. “If you like him, do you want to play with him for a bit?”
“Wow! Really?!” Su Yulan’s eyes sparkled. “Can I?!”
“Of course,” Huihui nodded. “Xiaoyun, come here and meet Sister Yulan~”
Hearing his name, Baiyun looked up, his sapphire-blue eyes locking onto Su Yulan. He padded over slowly, each step light and graceful, as if he were walking on clouds.
Su Yulan stared at the cat, completely starstruck. She carefully reached out a trembling hand and gently stroked Baiyun’s pristine coat.
“Wow…” she gasped softly. “His fur is so soft! It’s like silk… and he’s so warm…”
Baiyun purred, rubbing his head affectionately against her knee before casually flopping onto his back, exposing his fluffy white belly.
Su Yulan looked at Huihui in absolute shock. “Is he… is he asking me to rub his belly?!”
Unable to resist, she buried her hands in the soft fluff.
“Ahhhhh!” she squealed internally. “Baiyun, you are an absolute angel!”
Huihui chuckled. “According to the Shop Owner’s growth charts, they’ll be entering their transition phase soon. Once they pass that stage, they’ll be ready to form contracts. I’m really curious to see what kind of elemental abilities little Baiyun will awaken.”
Su Yulan froze.
She stared at Huihui, her jaw practically hitting the floor. “Wait. What? You mean… these Snow Crystal cats can form soul contracts?!”
She knew her sister had contracted a husky, but she had absolutely no idea that these fluffy little kittens were combat-capable Spirit Beasts!
Her brain short-circuited. She had assumed they were just exotic, expensive pets. It had never crossed her mind that they were the legendary, super-powered beasts from the Prosperous Era!
Just then, a deep, resonant bark echoed through the room. “Awooo!”
Su Yulan turned around and saw a massive husky trotting toward them.
“Oh my god…”
The sheer size of the beast, the powerful muscles rippling beneath its thick coat, those piercing, intelligent blue eyes…
“Amber!”
She recognized him instantly. It was the legendary Sword-Heart Husky that never left her sister’s side!
Amber tilted his head, studying her intently. Is this the Master’s sister?
He trotted over, his massive paws thudding heavily against the floor, and began circling Su Yulan, taking deep, deliberate sniffs.
Su Yulan stiffened instinctively. Despite his goofy internet persona, Amber was an apex predator!
As he circled her, their spiritual energies briefly brushed against one another. Su Yulan felt a heavy, primal pressure bearing down on her, causing the hairs on her arms to stand on end.
Amber, meanwhile, was experiencing a human’s spiritual pressure for the first time. He gave an approving nod. Not bad! She’s definitely worthy of being the Master’s sister!
Noticing Su Yulan’s rigid posture, Huihui smiled reassuringly. “It’s okay, Yulan. Amber is incredibly well-behaved. He’s very smart.”
Amber gave two soft, affirming yips, as if to say, See? I’m a good boy.
Sensing that the girl was genuinely intimidated, Amber decided to break the ice. He sat down obediently and gently raised his massive right paw, offering it to her.
“He wants to shake hands?” Su Yulan gasped.
Pushing past her lingering fear, she slowly reached out and gently grasped the massive paw. It was heavy, warm, and covered in thick fur. Her heart did a little flip.
Suddenly, Amber gently pulled his paw back and nudged his snout toward the hallway. “Awoo?”
Su Yulan followed his gaze, looking toward a closed door at the end of the hall.
Although Huihui didn’t speak ‘Dog’, she easily understood his body language. She smiled. “He wants to introduce you to his friends. You’ve probably seen them on the stream. It’s Aihua and Yingying.”
Su Yulan gasped. “!!!”
The Iron-Eating Beast, Aihua! The Frostblade Snow Leopard, Yingying!
She absolutely wanted to see them!
Following Amber down the hall, she peered through the doorway and saw the majestic snow leopard resting on a medical bed.
“Wow! Yingying is so beautiful in person!”
“And Aihua is so incredibly round!”
The two massive beasts were deeply engrossed in a highly animated conversation. Although she had no idea what they were saying, they looked incredibly excited, constantly vocalizing and gesturing at each other.
It was a fascinating sight. Su Yulan turned to Huihui, burning with curiosity. “What are they talking about?”
It looked so intense! She desperately wanted to know the tea!
Huihui hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Uh… they’re… they’re two mothers, so they’re probably sharing parenting advice.”
“Parenting advice?!” Su Yulan’s eyes sparkled. “Wow! Are they talking about the best ways to groom their cubs?!”
“Well,” Huihui coughed awkwardly. “It’s more about… the cubs’ fathers…”
“The fathers?” Su Yulan blinked. That made sense. Where there are cubs, there are fathers. But why did Huihui look so awkward about it?
Unable to explain the sheer absurdity of the snow leopard’s cheating-baby-daddy drama, Huihui offered a vague smile. “You’ll find out when the Shop Owner posts the sequel to the livestream.”
Although slightly confused, Su Yulan’s attention was quickly drawn back to the two massive felines.
“Oh my god,” she whispered in awe. “Aihua is perfectly spherical! I just want to bear-hug her and bury my face in her fur!”
“And Yingying is so sleek and elegant. She must look incredible when she runs!”
“And that tail! It’s almost as long as her entire body!”
Watching the massive, fluffy tail swish lazily back and forth, Su Yulan felt an irresistible urge to pet it. She clutched her chest, overwhelmed by a strange, incredibly fulfilling sense of joy.
Is this the true magic of Spirit Beasts?
She hadn’t even spent an hour with them, and she was already completely in love!
Ding Dong!
The front door chime rang. Su Yulan looked up and saw three tall, imposing men standing in the entryway.
Zhong Huihui greeted them with a familiar smile. “Here to see the huskies again?”
The three men smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, we missed the little guys.”
“Oh, let me introduce you,” Huihui gestured to Su Yulan. “This is the Shop Owner’s sister, Su Yulan. Yulan, these three are officers from the Aether Vanguard.”
The men snapped crisp salutes. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Su.”
Su Yulan quickly bowed. “Hello! I’m Su Yulan.”
Officers from the Aether Vanguard? she thought. Why do they look so familiar…
Suddenly, it clicked. “Wait!”
They were Major General Chu’s personal adjutants! She had seen them flanking the General during a massive military symposium at Capital Beast University!
Su Yulan was completely numb. My sister is working directly with Major General Chu?!
The Aether Vanguard was her ultimate career goal. As the closest of the eight major military districts to her home planet, she had dreamed of enlisting there after graduation so she could fight the Zerg and protect her sister. She had spent countless hours studying their tactics, history, and command structure.
General Chu was a living legend. As the Supreme Commander of the Eastern Theater, his tactical brilliance and combat prowess were unrivaled across the galaxy.
And now, his personal elite guard was casually hanging out in her sister’s pet shop!
She watched in utter bewilderment as the three hardened, elite officers eagerly rushed toward the nursery. The moment the husky pups saw them, they exploded with joy, swarming the men like a pack of hyperactive, fluffy cannonballs.
It was obvious they were incredibly close.
Su Yulan felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. Since she had stepped off the star-liner, she had been subjected to one mind-blowing revelation after another. At this point, if the Emperor of the Galaxy walked through the door, she probably wouldn’t even blink.
Just then, Su Wudeng emerged from the back office with the two planetary executives.
After exchanging brief pleasantries with the soldiers, Su Wudeng turned to her sister with a warm smile. “So? Do you like the changes to the clinic?”
“Sister!” Su Yulan ran over and threw her arms around Su Wudeng in a tight hug.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice cracked. “How could I not like it? I love it so much!”
“You look so healthy and happy… I’m just so glad.” She buried her face in her sister’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry… about the awful things I said before I left…”
Su Wudeng gently rubbed her sister’s back. “Don’t be silly. There’s nothing to apologize for.”
She gently pushed Su Yulan back by the shoulders, looking her up and down. “You’re home for the summer, so just relax and have fun. I’ll help you find the perfect Spirit Beast to contract. Or, if you’d prefer a mechanical pet, we can arrange that too.”
Su Yulan nodded vigorously, wiping her eyes. “Okay! I’ll listen to whatever you say!”
Su Wudeng ruffled her hair affectionately. “Good girl. By the way, remember I told you I had a surprise for you? I haven’t had time to finish it yet. I was planning on building a small garden for you in the back.”
Su Yulan gasped. “!!!”
“A small garden? You don’t mean… a garden full of spiritual plants, do you?!”
“Yep,” Su Wudeng nodded with a grin. “Just so you don’t have to worry about your health ever again.”
Su Yulan felt like she was going to burst with happiness. She hugged her sister again, nuzzling against her shoulder like a spoiled child. “I’m not worried at all anymore! You’re the absolute best!”
“And… I actually think the timing is perfect.” She looked up, her eyes shining. “This way, we can build the garden together! I want to help!”
That way, she could spend even more time with her sister!
Suddenly, Lei Jing’s military comms terminal blared with an urgent, high-priority ringtone.
He stepped away to answer it. A moment later, his expression darkened drastically.
“What?!”
“Understood! We’re on our way!”
He ended the call and strode back toward Su Wudeng, his face grim and pale.
Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Su Wudeng’s stomach dropped. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Lei Jing’s voice was tight. “The front lines have erupted. We have been ordered to return to base immediately.”
He took a sharp breath before continuing. “It’s a worst-case scenario. The Zerg’s 7th Vanguard—their most elite shock-troop division—has launched a massive offensive. Reconnaissance reports indicate they’ve deployed 80% of their total combat strength.”
“We have to mobilize to the front lines immediately!”
He looked at Su Wudeng, his eyes filled with genuine concern. “General Chu specifically requested that I warn you. Be prepared to evacuate the planet at a moment’s notice. This is shaping up to be the largest, most brutal conflict in the last ten years.”
Su Wudeng’s heart sank.
But this was the harsh reality of living near a combat zone. The only reason the inner planets enjoyed peace and prosperity was because millions of soldiers were bleeding and dying on the front lines to hold the Zerg at bay.
Lei Jing, Yuan Bo, and Qin Ke stood at perfect attention, delivering a crisp, synchronized salute to Su Wudeng.
“We deeply apologize, Shop Owner, but we must return to the Vanguard.”
“Regarding our ongoing spiritual plant transactions, please route them through our official quartermaster channels from now on.”
Lei Jing paused, his voice turning heavy with desperation. “If it’s at all possible… we implore you to supply as many medicinal plants as you can. The casualty rate for this battle is going to be catastrophic.”
He looked over at the husky pups, who were still wrestling happily on the floor. A flash of profound sorrow crossed his face. “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to form contracts with the pups. They’ll be much safer here with you.”
Su Wudeng understood the unspoken implication: We might not survive this deployment.
She looked him dead in the eye, her voice unwavering. “You have my word. Tell your quartermaster exactly what you need, and I will do everything in my power to fulfill the order.”
The three men saluted one final time, casting long, lingering looks at the playful husky pups.
“It’s time to go. No need to see us out.”
“It has been an absolute privilege spending this time with you.”
“These memories will be the brightest of our lives. It was… truly an honor.”
The three men turned and marched briskly out of the clinic. Su Wudeng watched them leave, a heavy, suffocating sadness pressing on her chest.
They were marching straight into a meat grinder, fully prepared to lay down their lives.
The oblivious husky pups continued to play, entirely unaware that the men who had cuddled and fed them might never return.
Just then, Aihua silently padded up to Su Wudeng’s side.
She gently nudged Su Wudeng’s hand with her wet nose. “Awoo?” Sister, I need to ask you something.
Su Wudeng looked down, snapping out of her daze. “What is it, Aihua?”
She followed the massive husky into a quiet corner of the room.
Aihua turned around, fixing her piercing blue eyes intently on Su Wudeng.
“Awoo!” Sister… you said I could enlist in the military, right?
Su Wudeng froze. “The military?”
Aihua wants to deploy to the Aether Vanguard?!
