Chapter 291: Reaping Rewards and Compensation

Chapter 291: Reaping Rewards and Compensation

Ji Xinghuo and his companion quickly gathered all the exotic abilities of the Vespertine Viper.

There were seven in total: Revival, Needle Spray, Miasma, Nova Toxin, Exhausting Fangs, Heavy Strike, and Thorn Armor.

It was unusual for a Radiant-level monster to have only seven exotic abilities, but this was a characteristic of the creatures native to the Earth Abyss Star.

Nonetheless, the quality of the abilities was exceptionally high.

Revival was a Starfall exotic ability and the most valuable of the lot. There were also three Transcendent abilities: Miasma and Nova Toxin, which were related to poisons and could be sold to the Nefarious Guests, and Thorn Armor, a rare defensive ability that not only protected the user but also reflected a portion of the damage back to the enemy.

The remaining abilities were more common.

The small number of exotic abilities did not make the Vespertine Viper any less formidable. It was a true Radiant-level monster, and Ji Xinghuo doubted he could have easily defeated it if it hadn't been severely injured by the nuclear blast and weakened by its ongoing regeneration.

Before leaving, Ji Xinghuo didn't forget to collect the spoils of war.

Unfortunately, most of the enemies' weapons and equipment had been destroyed in the battle, with the exception of the wooden staff that belonged to the Natural Lord, Qi Feng.

Ji Xinghuo picked it up and examined it curiously, sensing that it was no ordinary weapon.

The staff was irregularly shaped, more akin to a gnarled branch than a refined weapon. It was about 1.8 meters long, with a diameter of approximately 5 centimeters, and weighed nearly 200 kilograms—several times heavier than an iron rod. Despite its rough appearance, it had an extraordinary density. When Ji Xinghuo had struck it with his Electric Spiral Fist, the staff had remained unscathed, showing no signs of damage.

"This weapon is strange," he remarked, shaking his head.

"Let me see," Ren Mian said, taking the staff from him. She ran her hands along its length and immediately sensed its vitality. "This isn't an ordinary weapon. It's still alive, as if it were a branch freshly snapped from a tree."

"What kind of tree has such high density?" Ji Xinghuo asked, intrigued.

Ren Mian smiled. "There are quite a few."

She continued to stroke the staff, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "This branch has an interesting origin. I'll try to plant it when we get back; perhaps I can bring it back to life."

"Sure," Ji Xinghuo replied, handing her the staff. He then gathered all the loot into a bag, picked up Ren Mian, and took to the skies, soon disappearing from view.

It took them less than an hour to travel three hundred kilometers, traversing the swamp and putting distance between themselves and the site of the nuclear explosion. Ji Xinghuo landed, feeling the strain of the long-distance, high-speed flight after an intense battle. His stellar energy was depleted, and he needed rest.

"Let's take a break," he suggested.

Using electromagnetic sensing, he scanned the surroundings and detected no monsters nearby. The monsters in the area had joined the Black Tide and perished in the nuclear blast, ensuring their safety for the moment.

Ji Xinghuo sat down on a large stone and opened his backpack. Aside from the staff, he had collected several pouches from the enemies' bodies. He quickly inspected the contents and couldn't suppress a smile. "We've struck gold."

After all, these were legendary powerhouses, and they carried valuable possessions.

There were over fifty ether crystals alone, along with several hundred thousand True Dragon coins and a plethora of treasures: exotic abilities, superpower jewelry, expansion curios, and other unknown items.

"Paradise Diamond!" Ji Xinghuo exclaimed as he opened a pouch that belonged to the Natural Lord. Inside was a closed box, and when he opened it, a dazzling diamond shone before his eyes.

It was indeed a Paradise Diamond!

"No wonder Qi Feng was the strongest among them but didn't seem to have much money," Ji Xinghuo realized. "He must have spent his ether crystals on auction bids."

During the previous auction held by the Crystal English Clan, three Paradise Diamonds had been sold. It was possible that Qi Feng had acquired one of them.

Although Ji Xinghuo didn't know why Qi Feng hadn't used the diamond, he was grateful for his good fortune.

The value of this single Paradise Diamond surpassed the worth of all their other gains combined.

Ren Mian, meanwhile, was focused entirely on the staff and paid little attention to the other loot. Even the Paradise Diamond only garnered a brief glance from her.

"Ren jie, how should we divide these spoils?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"I want the Revival exotic ability and this staff," Ren Mian said straightforwardly, stating her desires. "You can have the rest, and I'll give you additional compensation."

Ji Xinghuo furrowed his brow in thought, considering the offer.

The staff held no interest for him.

Its value might be extraordinarily high, perhaps even surpassing that of the Starfall exotic ability, but it would serve no purpose in his hands. Giving it to Ren Mian for her research was the best option.

However, the Revival exotic ability was a different matter.

It was a Starfall exotic ability!

Although the success rate of fusing with it was only 82% due to his unique situation, that was still a relatively high probability for most other superhumans.

Successfully fusing with it would be like gaining an extra life.

Moreover, Revival didn't just offer resurrection; it also included two Transcendent abilities: Rapid Self-Healing and Limb Regeneration.

Of course, there was also a drawback.

"That high?" Ji Xinghuo exclaimed, surprised that while a success rate in the 80s was considered low for him, it was quite high for others. The fact that Ren Mian lacked the Myriad Phenomena Star Pupil yet was so confident indicated an exceptional compatibility with Ku Rong Rebirth.

"This exotic species originates from plants," Ren Mian explained with confidence. "To unleash its full potential, it must be used in conjunction with other plant-based abilities. Its effects will differ greatly depending on who uses it, me or you."

"As a Plant Witch, I can develop other abilities centered around Ku Rong Rebirth."

"It's not just about resurrection; it can also significantly accelerate the growth rate of the plants I manipulate and create favorable conditions for various plant-related research."

"Additionally, by utilizing other plants, I can compensate for the weaknesses of Ku Rong Rebirth and ensure my own resurrection." Ren Mian's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

Noticing her keen interest, Ji Xinghuo said, "Then it's yours. I can see how much you desire it, and giving it to either me or Qinghong would be a waste."

He handed her the exotic species and asked with a playful smile, "What compensation will Ren Jie offer me?"

"Thank you," Ren Mian said sincerely, fully aware of the significance of giving up a Starfall exotic species for an alien. She smiled gently and asked, "What do you want?"

"If I name it, will Ren Jie give it to me?" Ji Xinghuo teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Stop joking around," Ren Mian chided affectionately.

"Haha..." Ji Xinghuo laughed, but in truth, he had no idea what compensation to ask for.

While the Starfall exotic species and the wooden staff were incredibly valuable, their combined worth wasn't too far off from that of the Paradise Diamond, the fifty-plus ether crystals, hundreds of thousands of True Dragon coins, and other treasures they had obtained.

He didn't want to ask for too much in return.

Sensing his hesitation, Ren Mian suggested, "How about I give you some ether crystals?"

At her suggestion, an idea sparked in Ji Xinghuo's mind.

Demanding ether crystals as compensation would make the transaction feel too calculated and business-like, creating an unnecessary distance between them.

It would be better to request something that held significant value to him but wasn't overly precious to her.

Like the Qingkong Fruit.

With a smile, he said, "Ether crystals won't be necessary. How about you give me some Qingkong Fruits instead, Ren Jie?"

"What do you want Qingkong Fruits for?" Ren Mian asked, puzzled. In her grove of Qingkong trees, there were tens of thousands of fruits growing, and as a capacity-expanding curiosity effective for aliens below Tier 3, they were easily within her means.

She assumed that Ji Xinghuo was being modest and didn't want to take advantage of the Ku Rong Rebirth exotic species.

"Qingkong Fruits are useful to me, and they'll serve a great purpose. Give me a batch first, and if it works out, I'll tell you about it later," Ji Xinghuo said mysteriously.

"Alright," Ren Mian agreed without further questioning. "Once we're back, those Qingkong Fruits are yours to do with as you please."

"Deal," Ji Xinghuo nodded.

His mind was already racing with thoughts of how to negotiate with the Virtual Spirit Guests to maximize the safety of both himself and Ren Mian. Should he be able to obtain a large number of ether crystals, he would definitely share them with her.

The pair rested for a little over an hour, allowing Ji Xinghuo to recover his stellar energy.

Ren Mian stood, holding the wooden staff, having studied it for a while without reaching any conclusions. For the time being, she decided to use it as her weapon.

She glanced up at the sky; the daylight hours on Earth Abyss Star lasted only seven and a half hours, and nightfall was approaching. Once darkness fell, the visibility of the satellites would decrease, rendering the orbital laser cannons ineffective and making their journey even more perilous.

There were very few underground shelters in the Level 5 and Level 6 regions.

"There are no shelters nearby," Ren Mian reported after checking the map. "We can't set up camp out in the open, so we'll have to keep moving."

Ji Xinghuo agreed.

Once again, they disguised themselves as Fungal Giants and mounted the Wolf Soul Wood, protected by the wolf pack as they continued on their way.

After a short while, they encountered more monsters.

Traveling through the night without attracting any attention, just as dawn was about to break, the pair entered the Level 6 region.

There were four Level 6 regions on Earth Abyss Star, covering a total area of about three million square kilometers.

Deep within this expanse of land lay the "City of Eternal Night," where the stargate was located.

Ji Xinghuo gazed into the distance but could see no mountains; the satellite map also indicated that this was a vast plain, though it was unclear if it was naturally formed or if it had been flattened by the Crystal English Clan's repeated nuclear attacks.

Ren Mian activated her Thought Chain of Mind, speaking internally, "We must be extra cautious from now on. Most of the dangers lurk underground."

"Should we fly?" Ji Xinghuo suggested.

Since the danger lay beneath the ground, the best course of action was to stay clear of the surface, but they couldn't fly too high either, lest they become easy targets.

Ren Mian nodded in agreement, "Alright."

Ji Xinghuo swept her into his arms.

After so many days of carrying her, it had become a familiar routine. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted off the ground. Ji Xinghuo maintained a low altitude of about five meters above the ground and flew at a steady, unhurried pace through the forest.

With his electromagnetic sensing always active, he scanned their surroundings and the area beneath them.

Not long into their flight, Ji Xinghuo's expression changed slightly as he spotted a colossal banyan tree ahead. It stood at a height of over a hundred meters, its canopy spreading out over tens of thousands of square meters. It stood alone, its roots sprawling underground, extending beyond the range of electromagnetic sensing.

The visible portion of the banyan tree above ground was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Ji Xinghuo wasn't sure if it was indeed a banyan tree, but its appearance resembled one. Countless ash-gray spirit birds perched on its branches, their weight causing the leaves to droop.

The tree was entwined with countless vines, writhing and coiling like living creatures.

"Banyan Composite." Ren Mian identified the creature in her mind. "It's a monster in the midst of evolution. We must stay away from it."

Ji Xinghuo had no intention of approaching it and quickly steered them away.

"And this is only the middle stage of its evolution?" Ji Xinghuo was astonished.

Their hunting target this time was also a Banyan Composite, and based on the etheric energy fluctuations he detected, the one before them had already reached the King level!

The King level was divided into three stages.

Ji Xinghuo had limited interactions with King-level beings, so he wasn't well-versed in the distinctions between the different stages, but in his opinion, it was already incredibly formidable.

Previously, Ren Mian had mentioned that the Banyan Composite they intended to hunt had evolved to the latter stage.

Even more powerful than the one before them!

"I have a way to deal with the Banyan Composite," Ren Mian explained, "Don't worry, we won't be throwing our lives away."

"That's good," Ji Xinghuo breathed a sigh of relief.

He focused on flying while using his electromagnetic sensing to detect any hidden dangers along their path. With Ren Mian's knowledge of plants, they carefully navigated around all potential threats.

This cautious approach slowed their progress, but it was safe.

After flying continuously for over forty hours, spanning three days and nights on Earth Abyss Star, the pair had only covered a distance of five hundred kilometers.

Finally, they arrived at Ren Mian's predetermined destination.

Ji Xinghuo gazed at the immense forest before them, which looked no different from the areas they had passed through earlier. As far as the eye could see, it was a boundless sea of vegetation.

Without satellite positioning, it would be challenging to know that this was the center of the Level 6 region.

"It's over there." Ren Mian checked the satellite map and pointed in a certain direction.

Ji Xinghuo flew in that direction and gently set Ren Mian down. Before them was a low hill hidden within the forest. It would have been difficult to discern any differences if they hadn't known about it beforehand.

Ji Xinghuo's electromagnetic sensing picked up on something unusual.

Ren Mian walked towards the hill and waved her hand, effortlessly moving the plants blocking their path to reveal a hidden entrance.

Beyond the entrance was a passage that had mostly collapsed, now occupied by various plants.

"Let's go in," Ren Mian said without hesitation as she stepped into the passage.

Ji Xinghuo followed closely behind. He watched as Ren Mian used her control over plants to create a narrow path through the collapsed rubble and continued downward.

It was evident that this passage had been artificially excavated and resembled an underground shelter, but on a much larger scale.

Ren Mian cleared the obstacles as they went deeper underground, passing through several spaces that seemed to be platform levels of a structure, but they were all in ruins, having endured the ravages of time. Any monsters or plants that had taken up residence were easily eliminated by the pair.

After traveling for over ten hours, Ji Xinghuo estimated that they were about twenty kilometers underground, deep within the crust of Earth Abyss Star.

He remained vigilant, not daring to relax for a moment.

His electromagnetic sensing revealed countless root systems permeating the surrounding crust, even denser than those on the surface!

These roots had created a labyrinth of caverns and passages, teeming with countless monsters and forming a unique underground ecosystem. Along the way, Ren Mian used her connection with plants to steer them clear of these dangers.

Finally, Ji Xinghuo's eyes widened as they reached a massive underground space.

Ren Mian stopped and said, "We're here."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end