Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1924: Prize (2)

Ye Zhongming remained completely unaware of this matter. What exactly constituted a planetary hunting ground?

With a gesture toward the outdoors, Cheng Liujin spoke in a measured tone, "In truth, this location served as a planetary hunting ground in the past."

A stir rose in Ye Zhongming's chest. His face transformed swiftly from bewilderment to solemn focus.

"Typically, or considering every prior Novice battlefield, the individual ranking—essentially the top Novice spot—carries a reasonable possibility of unexpected outcomes."

Maybe parched from his explanations, Cheng Liujin rose to his feet, stepped out, summoned an attendant for two cups of wine, accepted them, and offered one directly to Ye Zhongming himself.

Though the Cloud Peak King experienced no astonishment, this act still sparked a favorable feeling toward Cheng Liujin within him.

Resuming his seat, the Gold Order Leader pressed on, "Yet, those handful of supreme great clans and the subsequent level of great clans nearly always secure the overall first position. You likely grasp that, regardless of whether the descendants dispatched by these great clans shine exceptionally, their collective caliber surpasses that of other groups. They excel in teamwork, hold superior knowledge, and even... possess some foreknowledge of advantageous elements, rendering their dominance in the top spot entirely foreseeable."

"They hold a near-total grip on it. Over the preceding hundred cosmic years, only a pair of upsets occurred. The latest one dates back around fifty years."

Cheng Liujin savored his wine in tiny, deliberate sips, yet at a brisk pace. With nearly every phrase, he took a small swallow. The motion of lifting and lowering the cup flowed with effortless grace, never interrupting his words.

"On that note, I must introduce yet another idea to you."

Cheng Liujin scanned the surroundings, as though ensuring no interruptions. He snapped off a fragment from the nearby stone table, dividing it into seven uneven shards.

Positioning these fragments across the leftover table surface, he indicated them while addressing Ye Zhongming, "Observe, these seven represent the Survivor Fortresses. Their relative distances mirror this arrangement."

Ye Zhongming bent forward for a closer inspection and gave a nod of acknowledgment.

Next, Cheng Liujin traced connecting lines among these fortresses with his finger, then pressed his palms together to highlight a particular zone.

"This region goes by the name Public Star Domain among the cosmic races. It spans the space linking the seven fortresses."

Cheng Liujin swept away the seven Survivor Fortresses and employed the fragments to sketch the rough contours of this star domain.

"Though it appears compact, this zone stretches vast indeed. Scattered throughout are numerous planets."

"Certain ones prove unfit for sentient beings, yet plenty harbor essential minerals or flora desired by all, earning them the label of resource stars. Additional planets support life; some lack advanced species, whereas others have evolved such beings."

Ye Zhongming absorbed the words in silence.

"Resource stars aside, even if their yields prove valuable, only the great clans dispatch vessels at intervals to extract them. Lesser clans attempting entry confront, firstly, unwritten barriers they can't challenge, and secondly, expenses beyond most means. When in need, they simply purchase what's required."

"Regarding life-bearing worlds without advanced forms—select great clans may claim those in prime spots, ones that stay within the Public Star Domain regardless of Slave Race shifts, transforming them into 'breeding stars' for cultivation of crops and livestock."

Ye Zhongming inclined his head. He understood this form of cultivation and husbandry differed vastly from Earth's simple farming and animal rearing; it involved nurturing rare flora, symbiotic organisms, and altered creatures.

"Such endeavors demand massive capital, barring lesser clans from participation. This ranks among the prime revenue streams for a few supreme great clans."

An unmistakable longing colored Cheng Liujin's voice.

At present, fewer than ten breeding stars exist, all seized by supreme great clans across the three primary alliances, such as Reina Star, Huo'er Star, and those of the Su Clan. Their production suffices to meet the clans' routine needs; everything else yields net earnings.

This setup fosters a cycle where the affluent grow richer still.

Lesser clans, along with medium and large groups, can merely gaze with jealousy. Opportunities aren't withheld, but they lack the power to fund and manage such breeding stars.

Previously, certain medium and large groups allied to experiment with breeding stars. Yet the outlays, expenditures, and unforeseen twists proved too burdensome for these factions, each pursuing separate goals. A lone mishap could plummet them from their status—a great group reduced to medium, a medium to lesser, or outright extinction.

What elevates supreme great clans to their status? Their capacity to absorb setbacks. They endure the failure of one or two breeding stars. Others cannot; they shrink from the gamble.

"The leftover category includes worlds that birthed advanced life but suffered devastation from the Slave Races."

Cheng Liujin continued, "Don't assume these planets lie in ruin with scant life persisting; they could endure several hundred cosmic years, or close to a millennium."

Several hundred or a thousand years might seem substantial, but against planetary existences spanning billions, it amounts to a mere instant.

"For such worlds, do you know the term cosmic races apply?" Cheng Liujin offered a brief query, then answered, "They deem them fifty-percent breeding stars, signifying half-formed development sites. Even upon arrival, one can harvest vast quantities of resources, magic crystals, and symbiotic entities."

"In essence, they function as another variant of resource star." Cheng Liujin tightened his grip slightly. Even he yearned intensely for such worlds.

"Naturally, unlike the initial resource star type, these carry an elevated risk level. Potent indigenous beings, evolved creatures, and symbiotic threats lurk, endangering cosmic race fighters who descend."

"Still, such perils promise immense rewards. The cosmic races, of course, refuse to ignore them. With resource and breeding stars already claimed by supreme great clans, no other group would abandon these opportunities. Thus, cosmic races collaborate on their exploitation."

"Yet a complication arises."

Cheng Liujin's tone sharpened a touch.

"Unrestricted development would favor the mightier groups, reaping greater shares. That scarcely differs from solo efforts by the supreme great clans. Following extended deliberations, a resolution emerged: these select planets serve as prizes for the Novice Battlefield's elite. The top-ranking group earns the privilege to select one, designating it a hunting ground for cosmic races."

"But that's not the crux. The vital aspect lies in how profits from these rare planets, once turned into hunting grounds, get divided."

Cheng Liujin scattered the fragments once more, selected a sizable one, and declared, "Forty percent of earnings funds the creation and upkeep of the Novice planet."

Afterward, he picked another and added, "Twenty percent forms communal benefits, allocated based on the Novice battlefield's overall score standings."