After thinking it over, Fang Qingdai finally decided to leave enough energy in the core of the energy stone to last for a year.
Hopefully, the situation will be resolved within a year, and that this year will allow more life to grow underground in the crater.
After moving the machine above the pit, Fang Qingdai hesitated again.
"If we activate it from this location, the energy storm won't affect the area below the crater, right?"
Mr. Li replied: "I was initially a little worried, but after observing the bottom of the pit, I found that the energy core's operation must have created some kind of special barrier at the bottom of the pit, which was able to isolate pollution and magnetic field intrusion."
“Currently, apart from the mental barrier, no other technological barrier can completely isolate pollution. The defensive shields of the major bases are no exception. Therefore, I judge that the natural barrier at the bottom of the pit is sufficient to defend against the energy storm.”
Old Li patted Black Hole Photon 6, his eyes shining: "Moreover, the core of this energy stone in Black Hole Photon 6 is very likely to continue circulating the magnetic field barrier that the previous core activated. If my judgment is correct, then there is no need to worry too much about the safety of the bottom of the pit."
Fang Qingdai was somewhat surprised to hear this. So, the compatibility between Black Hole Photon 6 and the crater is quite high.
With that in mind, Fang Qingdai's concerns lessened considerably.
However, out of caution, she decided to start the machine, then retreat to the bottom of the pit to observe for a while before leaving, making sure there were no problems.
The formation of an energy storm also takes time.
After starting the machine, Fang Qingdai led Old Li back to the bottom of the pit. At this point, Xiao Hei, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't sit still anymore and once again strongly expressed its determination to stay to Fang Qingdai!
Fang Qingdai rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Old Li.
"Mr. Li, I would like to ask you, what harm would it cause to the entire ecosystem if a black-tailed snake were introduced into this food chain?"
Fang Qingdai wanted to protect the group of mice, giving them enough time to develop and grow, and to safeguard this hard-won new ecosystem.
Mice eat grass and excrete feces to nourish the grassland. Although this food chain is simple, it still has its own pattern.
If other new species have naturally bred in this environment, then Fang Qingdai doesn't need to worry too much.
But Xiao Hei is a snake that grew up in the wasteland, and it's a highly venomous species.
Without Fang Qingdai leading the way, it would have been impossible for it to come to the bottom of this pit on its own.
If Fang Qingdai were to make the decision to keep Xiao Hei, thereby disrupting the ecosystem, she felt she couldn't get over it in her heart.
Old Li frowned as well. He carefully inquired why Fang Qingdai had raised this question. After Fang Qingdai explained everything, Old Li fell into deep thought again.
After a long pause, he hesitated before speaking: "Ancient books say that snakes and rats live in the same nest. Snakes prefer living environments similar to those of rats. The fact that new breeds of rats can be bred here is enough to prove that the environment here is very suitable for snakes and rats to live in."
"Your black-scaled snake must have sensed that the environment here is comfortable and particularly suitable for living, which is why it insisted on staying."
Fang Qingdai nodded: "That's what I think too, but is it really appropriate to keep it?"
If Xiao Hei stays, it will inevitably hunt small mice for food.
The researchers at the base hesitated to take away a baby mouse because it would be considered human sabotage.
Does her bringing Xiao Hei here and keeping him here also constitute a disruption of the local ecosystem?
Isn't that no different from those who release animals indiscriminately?
But after thinking for a long time, Old Li said, "Normally speaking, rodents mature early and have a strong reproductive capacity. They can have seven or eight litters a year. If nothing unexpected happens, their population will expand very quickly, and there may even be a situation where the roots of this grassland are not enough to support the rodent population."
"If the black-tailed snake is left, it may be able to limit the excessive growth of the rat population and help balance the food chain."
That way, the rats eat the grass, the snakes eat the rats, and the rat and snake droppings nourish the plants.
In theory, Xiao Hei can join this ecosystem.
Fang Qingdai thought for a moment and then released Xiao Hei.
“I can let you stay here, but that doesn’t mean I’ll just let you go and abandon you.”
"First, you must promise that you will not hunt these rats indiscriminately, except for what is necessary to sustain life."
Xiao Hei is intelligent; although not as clever as Fang Qingdai's other animal companions, it can still understand Fang Qingdai's meaning.
Moreover, there is a bond between the human and the snake.
Thinking of the bond, Fang Qingdai spoke again: "Secondly, I will not sever the bond between us. I will check with you from time to time to check on the situation here. If the ecosystem here can be stabilized, I will completely sever the bond after a year, so that you can stay here freely forever."
Xiao Hei made a contract with Fang Qingdai because of the Red Fox's suppression.
It was so well-behaved that when Fang Qingdai made a contract with it for safety reasons, it did not provoke the slightest resistance.
But this time it took the initiative to ask to stay in this environment, which shows that it still yearns for freedom.
Unlike Red Fox and Little Vine, who thrived at the Oasis Base, Cat Cat was lazy and preferred to stay in the space and sleep peacefully.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hei nodded hurriedly, its human-like demeanor drawing admiration from the researchers and children!
Even Old Li couldn't help but ask, "Base Chief, do you have any methods for training beasts? I've always been curious about why you were able to keep so many exotic beasts for your use."
Fang Qingdai couldn't say it was because of the spatial contract, so she could only use her mental power to cover it up: "If my mental power is strong enough, I can establish a mental connection with animals. The more intelligent the creature, the easier it is for it to understand what I mean."
Old Li thought it made sense, since mental ability users could control even people, let alone some animals.
The children were a little disappointed, and soon they surrounded Old Li, chattering and asking him if there was any other way to get an animal friend.
Old Li didn't treat them with perfunctory impatience just because they were a group of children. He thought about it seriously for a long time, and finally pointed to the scene at the bottom of the pit and said, "Perhaps this new ecosystem is the opportunity."
Facing the children's puzzled looks, Mr. Li said gently, "There must be many corners in this world, just like here, where new ecosystems are beginning to emerge."
"These entirely new species have not been polluted or mutated. Their temperament is more docile than that of alien beasts, and they may be domesticated by humans like animals in ancient times."
The children stared wide-eyed in amazement: "Really? Then we can have our own animal companions too?"
"Not only, not only all kinds of animals, but perhaps the wasteland will be covered with flowers and grass again, and one day you may be able to play and frolic with your animal friends on the grass."
"But all of this is on the premise that we protect these emerging ecosystems and give them the opportunity to grow."
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