https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-139-College-Entrance-Exam-Ends-Pianpian-Departs-Repaying-Monthly-Ticket-Loan-8-/13686607/
Chapter 138: Breeding Base
(Thank you, 'Your Dad, Laughing Loudly,' for the 2nd Patronage Award)
From the outside, the place looked like a massive factory—hermetically sealed, completely isolated from the world beyond.
To visit, tourists had to pay 200 yuan for a ticket.
Bai Zhenzhen muttered under her breath: Damn it… Could Xiong Wenwu really be chasing sales targets, choosing this place as our meeting spot just to boost his performance stats?
Though annoyed, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen still spent 400 yuan, buying two tickets and stepping inside the Breeding Base.
As soon as they entered, the sensation they’d felt in the Protected Zone—every breath like a cleansing wave, body and mind washed clean—vanished instantly.
In its place came a dry, bitter air, thick with the scent of machinery and something vaguely organic, yet sterile.
Zhang Yu frowned. “The Breeding Base doesn’t connect to the Protected Zone’s air supply? Is this… what we normally breathe?”
Bai Zhenzhen sighed inwardly. These beasts in the Protected Zone haven’t even gotten to breathe their ancestors’ air for generations.
Just then, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the corridor.
“Long time no see, Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen.”
Zhang Yu turned—and there stood a towering figure already waiting for them. It was Xiong Wenwu, head of Hongta High School.
Seeing them, Xiong Wenwu smiled faintly. “Let’s talk while we tour. Can’t afford to waste our ticket money.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen fell into step behind him, arriving at the first stop: the Hatching Room.
Along the corridor, endless transparent chambers lined both sides, each housing different types of beasts. The only thing they all had in common? Beneath each one lay a large, egg-like object—resembling dragon eggs.
But half of the rooms were empty, unused.
“So this is the Breeding Base for beasts,” Bai Zhenzhen mused, watching the creatures like she was at a zoo. Then she pointed at a massive bear. “Haha, Xiong Wenwu, look at that bear—doesn’t it look just like you before your transformation?”
Xiong Wenwu glanced at Room 33. Inside, a colossal beast bear lay curled up, snoring softly.
“That’s my mother,” he said flatly.
“Huh?!” Bai Zhenzhen blinked, stunned.
Xiong Wenwu continued, “We select suitable female beasts from the wild, implant them with True Dragon Bloodline, and breed offspring infused with dragon blood.”
“Used to use artificial incubators, but the company found it cheaper to use real mothers. Since production volume isn’t high, we needed a real one.”
He gestured toward the creatures. “After all, the Protected Zone is full of beasts. Grabbing one is easy.”
His voice remained calm. “She’s my mother… but she’s not intelligent. Doesn’t even recognize me anymore.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were speechless. They’d never encountered anything like this—no words, no reaction, just silence.
They moved on to the Newborn Area.
Inside climate-controlled incubators, various young beast-kin lay sleeping, staring wide-eyed at the world, or screaming in pain as needles injected them with unknown substances.
Xiong Wenwu said matter-of-factly: “These infants undergo constant medical treatments. Those who can’t endure the dosage are eliminated.”
Next came the Learning Room.
Young beast-kin sat attentively before screens, watching a children’s version of Hongta Pasture’s employee onboarding training—teaching them how to treat the company like a family.
Bai Zhenzhen gasped. “No way… this is the children’s version of the onboarding course?”
Zhang Yu nodded slowly. This is insane.
Bai Zhenzhen continued, “They’re born with jobs already? Outside, people would kill to get this kind of start.”
Xiong Wenwu spoke with quiet pride. “Every beast-born child born here is guaranteed a job. They get training from childhood, instilled with company values.”
“Because of that, ordinary people protest every year, begging to send their kids here to study with us.”
Further on, a group of young beast-kin performed synchronized exercises, shouting slogans:
“Hand in hand, we move forward! The light of father’s love shines upon us all!”
Before them hung a portrait of a black dragon—clearly the school’s chairman.
As they walked deeper, the age of the beast-kin increased. From onboarding training, to general education, then exams,分流—many were assigned to work off their breeding debt. Fewer remained to continue studying.
Xiong Wenwu said: “Once, we produced vast numbers of beast-kin. Some studied hard, passed university exams, became valuable assets for Hongta Pasture.”
“Others were assigned straight to work—diligent, reliable, the backbone of the company.”
“But since Luzhou Group introduced their new technology, the company shifted strategy. They’ve bought out most of our ranches and factories. This Breeding Base… might be next.”
He knew: for the beast-kin who’d lived here all their lives, leaving Hongta was worse than working in a factory.
But as just a high school freshman, he couldn’t change anything. The only thing he could do was protect the ones he cared about.
They reached the Finished Product Room.
Along the corridor, seventeen-year-old beast-kin sat at desks, studying nonstop.
Electric shock collars around their necks kept them alert, preventing fatigue.
Anchored to their desks by chains, their feet locked in place—proof of their unwavering commitment to learning.
Feeding devices in front of them automatically dispensed food after each assignment was completed.
Xiong Wenwu watched, a wistful expression crossing his face. “They’re studying the three-year General Knowledge Course—preparing for the Breeding Base’s junior high graduation exam.”
“Whether they get into senior high next year determines if they’ll study or go straight to work. So everyone studies hard.”
Zhang Yu thought bitterly: If they don’t study, they’ll starve.
Recalling everything they’d seen in the Protected Zone, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: This company… squeezes every drop from people, then stomps on them with the heel of a boot.
Then Xiong Wenwu mentioned the Spirit Vein.
“In the Hatching Rooms, to ensure the growth of young ones and the True Dragon Bloodline, we’ve installed a Spirit Vein Pipeline—bringing in air and concentrated Spirit Energy directly from the Spirit Vein.”
“But only the Hatching Rooms have this setup. So someone needs to arrange for you to sneak in.”
Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “Won’t they notice?”
Xiong Wenwu shook his head. “Most of the base is automated. Only one supervisor remains. As long as he agrees, no one will care if you briefly tap into the Spirit Vein.”
Zhang Yu pointed at his Billing Device. “What about this?”
Xiong Wenwu replied: “The Breeding Base sits on the edge of the Protected Zone. There’s an External Material Transport Channel—already cleared and secured. I’ve handled the connections. Next time, I’ll bring you through that route.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen noticed: Xiong Wenwu himself wore no Billing Device.
Xiong Wenwu added, “But only go through that channel if you’re staying inside. Don’t leave. The Protected Zone’s surveillance is too tight. You’ll be caught instantly.”
Zhang Yu asked, “And the price?”
“8,000 yuan per hour.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen exchanged glances. They both felt that wasn’t bad.
After all, outside the Protected Zone, just breathing in their current condition cost thousands per hour. And this? It was pure Spirit Vein air and concentrated Spirit Energy.
Bai Zhenzhen asked, “Why us? Why not someone else?”
Xiong Wenwu smirked. “I’ve asked around. You two are broke, right?”
He chuckled. “Too rich? I don’t trust them. But you two—poor, yet still chasing the Spirit Vein, asking me about it… Only you’d risk it. I guess I have no choice.”
He paused. “Now, there’s one final issue: the base’s only employee might refuse.”
“Later, I’ll bring you to meet her.”
“You’ll need to play along with my plan.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen exchanged a look—both wearing odd expressions.
They arrived at the Souvenir Sales Zone.
Besides standard items—onboarding manuals, special exam papers, matching Electric Shock Collars, and plush beast-kin dolls—Zhang Yu’s eyes lingered on shelves filled with animal bones, blood vials, and demon meat.
Though beasts were treated as animals, and beast-kin were entirely different, seeing these items here made Zhang Yu uneasy.
At the counter, Xiong Wenwu grinned. “Sis, I’m here to visit.”
Zhang Yu had never seen Xiong Wenwu’s rugged face break into such a warm smile.
But the one behind the counter—a small panda—frowned. Zhang Yu’s expression remained puzzled. Yet, remembering how Hongta High School’s beast-kin always called each other siblings, it made sense.
Xiong Wenwu introduced, “This is my sister, An An. If it weren’t for her teaching me to read as a child, I might’ve been eliminated long ago.”
“She has a few spots to sneak into the Spirit Vein. I can pass them on to you.”
But the panda behind the counter wasn’t pleased.
She raised both paws, glaring. “Xiong Wenwu! What are you doing?! I told you—I won’t betray company interests!”
Xiong Wenwu sighed. A flicker of helplessness crossed his face.
(End of Chapter)
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