Chapter 10: Crisis Everywhere

What exactly is the purple crystal? And what about that shadow with an air of sinister invasion? Is the disappearance of the mutation points related to it?

Xu Qing couldn't fathom it. As he pondered and analyzed, the figures of Thunder Team and others returned one by one, each glancing at him as they passed. Xu Qing composed himself, a sharp glint in his eyes. Whatever those things were, they weren't important right now.

After a brief rest, it was his turn to act again. Xu Qing stood up, wiped his iron skewer on his clothes until its cold gleam shone once more, and then, the moment Cross walked past him, he abruptly dashed out. His speed was astonishing, instantly closing in on the pursuing wolf pack. The sounds of combat and pained screams mingled, a brutal baptism for the young man. Having survived the awakening of a deity and the rain of blood, he now reflected a gradually honed sharpness in the fading light of the setting sun.

This time, he lasted even longer. Time slowly passed as Thunder Team continuously retreated and rotated their resistance. The sun vanished, the bright moon hung high, and night descended upon the restricted zone, yet the sounds of battle persisted.

It continued until dawn arrived, when their exhaustion reached its limit, all their white pills were consumed, and the concentration of foreign substances in their bodies was nearing the critical point of mutation. Finally, the wolf pack began to disperse. As the morning light spilled down, the last black-scaled wolf in the restricted zone's jungle cast a weary glance at them before disappearing into the distance. Slowly, silence returned.

Everyone was covered in thick blood, lying on the ground, panting heavily. Xu Qing was no exception; despite the purple crystal's restorative abilities, the intense mental strain left him utterly exhausted.

“Finally…we survived,” Luan Ya murmured beside him, struggling to get up. She looked at Xu Qing and softly said, “Thank you.”

Man Gui, also gasping for breath, gave Xu Qing a thumbs-up. In that night's struggle, Xu Qing’s actions and endurance surpassed even Thunder Team and Cross. Indeed, without him, some of them might have already mutated before the wolf pack even began to retreat.

Only Xu Qing lay there, gazing at the sky. Beneath his exhaustion lay a profound bewilderment. During the night's battle, the rate at which foreign substances accumulated in his body was significantly slower than before. He even had a feeling that the foreign substances were spontaneously disappearing every moment.

As the others rested, Thunder Team rubbed his brow, his serious gaze sweeping over Cross and the others. He spoke in a hoarse voice, “This can’t be a coincidence. The black-scaled wolves’ persistent pursuit feels more like something was attracting them. So, take out any foreign items you’ve acquired recently. We need to inspect them carefully. I suspect this was…man-made.”

At Thunder Team’s words, Cross and the others nodded in agreement, promptly inspecting their belongings and taking out various items. Xu Qing’s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was wondering if it had something to do with the iron block from Ma Si’s belongings, Luan Ya suddenly gasped beside him, pointing towards Man Gui.

Among the items Man Gui had taken out was a wooden box. The box was damaged and seemed to be constantly decaying on its own, emitting faint wisps of scent. Given the jungle’s complex odors, it was hard to distinguish without careful sniffing.

“Why is this thing corroding by itself?” Man Gui asked in surprise.

Thunder Team immediately stepped forward, picked up the wooden box, and then handed it to Luan Ya. Luan Ya sniffed it carefully, her expression turning grim as she nodded. “How did you get this thing?” Thunder Team asked Man Gui.

“I bought it at a stall in the camp the day I returned. It contained insect repellent powder…” Man Gui scratched his head.

“This is made from butterfly-rabbit droppings. When stimulated by external factors, it self-ignites and attracts scale-covered creatures… Black-scaled wolves are a type of scale-covered creature,” Luan Ya explained slowly, looking at Man Gui.

Man Gui stood there dumbfounded. The atmosphere around them instantly solidified, and Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. After a long moment, Thunder Team shook his head. “Man Gui was tricked. To set up such a trap against us in the camp, it’s clear who’s behind it.”

“The Blood Shadow Squad!” Cross interjected coldly.

“Given the Blood Shadow Squad’s setup, it’s hard to say they don’t have a follow-up plan, and we’re not in good condition right now…” Luan Ya hesitated.

“So, do we continue to the gathering point to complete the mission, or do we retreat now? What do you all think?” Thunder Team asked, looking into the distance.

Xu Qing pondered, remaining silent. The others exchanged glances, and finally, Cross spoke with difficulty. “Captain, our gathering point isn’t far from here, and everyone has suffered too much loss this time. If we return empty-handed…”

Thunder Team fell silent, his gaze sweeping over Man Gui and Luan Ya. The former lowered his head in guilt, the latter showed reluctance. After a while, he sighed softly. “We’ll continue forward. Once we reach the gathering point, collect everything as quickly as possible. Then, everyone will take different routes and leave separately, regrouping at the camp.”

Thunder Team’s decision was final. After a simple rest, they resumed their journey through the restricted zone jungle.

Along the way, Xu Qing approached Luan Ya, took out the amber he had received from Fatty Shan, and asked what it was. Seeing the amber, Luan Ya was startled. She took it, examined it carefully, and told Xu Qing that it was the poisonous tail of a Ghost-faced Scorpion. This scorpion’s venom, while potent, wasn’t incurable and possessed excellent medicinal properties. When poisoned, it could instantly unleash one’s potential, though not sustained. Detoxification was required immediately after. Thus, they were mostly bred by people and were quite valuable. Xu Qing understood, thanked her, and put it away.

Afterward, they maintained vigilance, constantly observing their surroundings as they swiftly moved forward. However, compared to before, they were largely silent on this journey. Perhaps the black-scaled wolves’ appearance the previous day had driven away most of the other fierce beasts in the area. Thus, Thunder Team encountered no significant dangers along the way. Two hours later, they finally reached the boundary between the outer and inner parts of the restricted zone.

The terrain here was no longer just jungle; small hills and streams also appeared, though the water was black and undrinkable. Hidden within a dense patch of jungle was a small path, which led to an unexpected opening—a small canyon.

As Xu Qing and the others stepped into the canyon, it felt like entering another world. The top was covered by thick vines growing around it, forming a kind of ceiling that prevented sunlight from fully penetrating. Inside, there were no large trees, but flowers and grasses carpeted the ground. Fist-sized flowers of various colors filled the entire canyon, accompanied by many plants emitting a blue, crystal-like glow. Each one had seven leaves. Their light shimmered like scattered stars, transforming the quiet canyon into a serene starry night, possessing a unique beauty. This was the gathering point Thunder Team had discovered, and every such point was a top secret, the very foundation of the team’s survival.

Upon arriving, since gathering required special techniques, they didn't involve Xu Qing. Instead, they spread out to gather individually, which was faster and minimized loss. Xu Qing observed their methods but didn’t force himself to join. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and silently began to cultivate. After the battle yesterday, he found that his cultivation seemed to have improved significantly through continuous tempering, now reaching a breakthrough point. To ensure better survival capabilities in the crises ahead, Xu Qing didn't waste time. Even within the restricted zone, he circulated the Seamounteer’s Art within his body, absorbing spiritual energy from his surroundings. As the spiritual energy surged, a breeze stirred in the canyon.

Thunder Team looked at Xu Qing but did not stop him. He knew very well that the path back had a high probability of ambush. At such a time, an increase in strength was a guarantee for survival.

Not long after, as they gathered the plants, Xu Qing’s body began to emit faint thudding sounds. Patches of grime oozed from his pores, dissolving the bloodstains on his skin and merging with the dirt. Meanwhile, his flesh and blood rapidly absorbed spiritual energy, becoming increasingly tough and resilient. The sounds grew stronger, reaching a peak, then abruptly ceased, and a roar echoed in Xu Qing’s mind.

The blood vessels beneath his skin bulged suddenly, and his flesh was infused with spiritual energy, as if it contained more astonishing power and speed than ever before. All of this transformed into a sharp aura that enveloped his body, and the spiritual energy fluctuations outside his body also spread outwards.

Seamounteer’s Art, Third Level.

Xu Qing slowly lowered his head and opened his eyes. A fleeting purple light in his gaze went unnoticed by others, but his eyes held no joy from the breakthrough, only profound bewilderment. He looked down at his mottled shadow, cast by the scattered sunlight. During his cultivation, he had distinctly felt something was amiss. The spiritual energy he absorbed, after being separated by the Seamounteer’s Art, saw its pure part nourish his entire body. But the foreign substance… it didn’t flow into his arm to form mutation points. Instead, it flowed into his shadow. It was as if his shadow had devoured that part of the foreign substance.

After a long moment, Xu Qing lifted his head, suppressing all his doubts deep within his heart.

He glanced at Thunder Team and the others, who were nearly finished gathering. His gaze drifted further, past the end of the canyon, into the depths of the jungle. Faintly, he could see some structures far ahead, resembling a cluster of temples, silent through time, exuding an ancient aura.

“Those are buildings left from an unknown era. They are also the farthest limits scavengers can reach; we must not go beyond them. But if we encounter danger nearby, we can hide there,” Thunder Team said slowly, having finished his own share of gathering, as he approached Xu Qing and followed his gaze towards the temple cluster.

“A limit, then,” Xu Qing nodded.

“Indeed. Some say that in that ancient era, the reason this restricted zone formed was because a deity looked upon those temples. Some scavengers have explored there, but found nothing except a special kind of small stone that occasionally appears.” Thunder Team took out a portion of the gathered seven-leafed grass and placed it in another leather pouch.

“How are they special?” Xu Qing asked curiously.

“If ground into powder and sprinkled on scars that haven’t formed long ago, they can remove the scars without leaving any trace. They’re useless to us scavengers, but occasionally, some important figures need them,” Thunder Team explained, then looked at Cross and the others.

By now, Cross, Man Gui, and Luan Ya had also finished gathering. Under Thunder Team’s arrangement, each of them took a portion and placed it in the leather pouch Thunder Team was holding. Finally, after dividing the seven-leafed grass into five portions, Thunder Team handed the fifth leather pouch to Xu Qing. “This is yours.”

“From now on, everyone will disperse and leave individually. This way, we’re less likely to be discovered. Although it carries some risk, the probability of getting out is higher. Conversely, acting together makes us an obvious target, easier to lock onto, and our current condition isn’t suitable. If we get trapped, there will be little chance of survival.”

Thunder Team finished speaking, looked at Xu Qing, and then handed him a map. “Kid, I’m too big a target; I’m definitely the focus of Blood Shadow’s attention. As captain, I also need to provide cover for you all. You should get out and wait for me at the camp as quickly as possible.” Thunder Team spoke in a deep voice, and under the silent gaze of his other teammates, he walked out of the canyon and vanished in a flash.

Xu Qing wanted to say something, but before he could, Thunder Team was already far away. Cross patted Xu Qing’s shoulder and also departed. Finally, Man Gui and Luan Ya each shared their experiences in detail with him before hastily leaving.

Xu Qing watched them silently, put away the seven-leafed grass, and then looked back at the distant cluster of temples. After a long moment, Xu Qing turned around, took a deep breath, and dashed towards the canyon entrance. His speed, after reaching the third level of body refinement, was noticeably faster than before, and he disappeared at the entrance in an instant.

Within the restricted zone’s jungle, Xu Qing moved like a nimble ape, constantly weaving through the trees. He didn't follow the path they had taken to arrive but instead took a detour according to the map markings. He also applied the experience he had gained on the way in, distinguishing dangers, and successfully dealing with the few异兽 he encountered. At the same time, he repeatedly observed his shadow in the sunlight, a strange glint in his eyes.

He had already tried it: whether absorbing spiritual energy or breathing deeply, the foreign substances contained in all things, after entering his body, slowly flowed into his shadow, just as he had felt during his breakthrough. Tracing back, this phenomenon began after the purple crystal emitted a cold current. As his Seamounteer’s Art reached the third level, it became even more apparent. His shadow seemed to have mutated after the purple crystal swept away the black-scaled wolf’s shadow. This strangeness caused Xu Qing’s eyes to slowly narrow.

He pulled up the sleeve of his left arm and looked. There was only one mutation point on his arm, and it was now extremely faint; if not examined closely, it was hard to see any trace. According to this development, the foreign substances in his body would become less and less, until they reached a pure and perfect state. This kind of perfection… Xu Qing had seen mentioned on the Seamounteer’s Art bamboo slips, something only extremely noble individuals from the human origin land on the Continent of Wanggu could enjoy.

“Is it the effect of the purple crystal?” Xu Qing murmured, squatting on a tree branch, staring blankly at the sky for a while. After a long time, he touched the place on his chest where the purple crystal was embedded, remained silent for a moment, then, looking up, suppressed all his doubts deep in his heart. With a flash of his figure, he plunged back into the jungle and continued forward.

Although the foreign substances no longer posed an immediate threat to him, this was only one of the many dangers in the restricted zone. Along the rest of his journey, Xu Qing still encountered several perils. For instance, at this moment, he saw two mutated bears whose aura surpassed that of Thunder Team. Perched on the back of these bears were large, colorful spiders, with countless silk threads extending from their abdomens and burrowing into the bears’ bodies, seemingly controlling them. This caused the two fierce bears to lose self-control as they ran. They smashed through trees directly and tore apart any other exotic beasts that obstructed them, their brutality evident. Had their target not been a red tiger, and had they not ignored Xu Qing, and had Xu Qing not immediately fled at high speed, it would have been extremely dangerous.

The dangers from the restricted zone were not limited to this. An hour later, as Xu Qing cautiously scanned his surroundings from a treetop, he saw something in the distance that a teacher in the slum had once drawn in his notes, though it seemed it shouldn’t be in the jungle. It was a massive, mountain-sized jellyfish, emanating an icy coldness. It glowed faintly as it drifted through the air above the restricted zone. Through its translucent body, sunlight revealed countless decaying remains of exotic beasts within. As its numerous tentacles swayed, each one was covered in strange eyes, though most of them were now closed.

Currently, it was leisurely flying towards the depths of the restricted zone. In its wake, the jungle below was instantly frozen, everything caught in the icy calamity. The strength of its aura was immeasurable, far surpassing Xu Qing’s. In Xu Qing’s perception, even those two fierce bears were incredibly fragile before this jellyfish. Just a distant glance was enough to stiffen Xu Qing’s body, causing a strong sense of danger to rise from the depths of his soul. It wasn't until the jellyfish disappeared into the distance that Xu Qing let out a breath, looking with a racing heart at the distant, ice-sealed jungle area, a straight line stretching into the depths.

“What if this jellyfish’s direction was towards me…” Xu Qing took a breath. He understood that in this dangerous restricted zone jungle, he had an advantage over others because the foreign substances could be absorbed by his shadow. But this advantage currently only allowed him to stay in the restricted zone longer. Unless he became stronger one day, only then would this advantage be amplified infinitely. When Xu Qing left after a moment, he was even more cautious in this restricted zone.

Thus, time flowed, and soon the sun was about to set, leaving only residual light. More roars gradually emanated from the jungle. Xu Qing, speeding through it, silently estimated his position on the map, knowing that if he traveled through the night, he should be able to leave the restricted zone before dawn. Just as he was contemplating whether to travel at night, a roar suddenly came from the distant jungle, accompanied by an almost piercing scream—a familiar sound.

“Man Gui?” Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the voice.

He immediately leaped up and cautiously approached, his lean figure agile and concealed in the jungle, making him hard to spot. Soon after, he arrived at the source of the roar, hiding in a tree canopy. Below, he saw six or seven corpses, one of which was Man Gui. His entire body was bluish-black, clearly mutated, and dismembered; his death was extremely gruesome. His massive steel shield was split in two, forming a large and a small piece, and his wolf-tooth club lay nearby, stained with blood. Clearly, he had fought with all his might before he died, taking his opponents with him in his mutation.

Xu Qing was silent, a wave of sorrow washing over him. Then, he saw Thunder Team not far away, besieged by five attackers, his body turning green, gradually weakening and nearing mutation himself! This sight made Xu Qing’s pupils contract. He gripped his iron skewer tightly, and a fierce killing intent instantly erupted in his eyes.