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Chapter 338: Rupture
Chapter 338: Rupture
"Are you talking about the fleet members?"
Lindsey had initially prepared to venture into the forest alone, continuing his exploration.
The image that appeared on the map at this moment was truly beyond his expectations.
He stood in place, stunned for a moment, before heading towards the green dot on the map, remembering to cancel his Treeman Form as he approached the edge of the Toxic Fog.
"Drake, is there something new?"
"Have you made any new discoveries?"
As soon as Lindsey stepped out of the Toxic Fog, he immediately heard a familiar shout.
Lezer arrived with several fleet members, and there were quite a few of them, totaling over ten people.
Unlike the previous exploration, this time, there were not only Awakened members from the ship but also several commoners in the group!
Among them was Wicknar, who had been following Lindsey on the ship.
Exploring the forest with commoners... Lindsey approached with a slightly complex expression:
"Lezer, with so many people, are you all planning to enter the forest?"
Lezer nodded:
"That's right. We discussed the situation by the river and reached a decision."
"It's indeed suspicious that someone else has discovered this Hidden Realm, and there's no reason not to investigate further. But at the same time, we can't just leave this Hidden Realm unattended. The fleet members also plan to develop it properly."
Lindsey asked:
"What do you mean by development...?"
Lezer quickly explained:
"We plan to set up a camp here and manage the area."
The Explorer pointed to the people behind him:
"Everyone here feels the need to continue investigating the situation, so they followed along."
Hearing this, Lindsey finally understood.
The fleet had severe disagreements.
With the clear reward of a Hidden Realm, even the commoners had abandoned their support for Lezer's adventurous plan.
The natural outcome was for them to part ways.
Lezer phrased it politely, but the people before him were likely the fleet members who had chosen to support him.
Since they had all made their choices, these companions had come here.
Lindsey spoke without reservation:
"I have some good news. I did make some discoveries inside."
"The ones who destroyed the Fungal Network left traces. I've just confirmed that they headed east."
Lezer's expression turned to great joy:
"As expected of you, you can find clues even in such an environment!"
Next, the group of over ten people reorganized.
What surprised Lindsey was that the merchant who had also organized a fleet was not fixated on the Hidden Realm before them.
The merchant had given up on the current Hidden Realm and planned to continue exploring the forest.
At the same time, he used his skills to help carry luggage, solving many of the team's material transportation issues.
The new group bypassed the Toxic Fog Hidden Realm.
Wicknar, like before on the ship, stayed close to Lindsey, but he still turned his head curiously from time to time:
"Mr. Drake, is the Toxic Fog very dangerous?"
Lindsey nodded in response:
"It's a dead end for commoners."
"Even if you protect your mouth and nose, the poison can still invade your body through your skin. Even an average Awakened can't handle it."
Wicknar's expression turned anxious.
But immediately after, his emotions were dominated by anticipation.
His experiences on the ship made him yearn for opportunities to become an Awakened, and this adventure hinted at that possibility.
Wicknar couldn't help but ask:
"Besides the danger, there must be many wonders in there, right? After all, it's a Hidden Realm!"
On this point, Lindsey didn't hide anything:
"Yes, but its products are mostly fungi, and many are poisonous. For example, I found a mushroom that can make a person's body swell, but it also has toxic side effects..."
Following Lindsey's directions, the group began their journey through the forest.
A full week passed.
Without the intervention of strong individuals, the forest's chaos continued, and they couldn't help but be disturbed by the forest's unrest during their evening camps.
Lindsey inquired with the 'Local' in the group.
When Forest Courtyard was initially developed, no one dealt with this issue.
But it would naturally dissipate after about ten days, and the current situation clearly exceeded normal.
Until mid-September.
Lindsey and his group climbed a hill in the forest.
From this vantage point, they discovered that the surrounding mountains formed a complex, overlapping state.
"What a coincidence, it's right in the east."
The mountain ranges overlapped severely, like the wrinkles on a Shar-Pei's face, creating valleys that were difficult to discern from the outside.
"These valleys..."
"It's perfectly aligned with our route."
To confirm the situation, Lindsey opened the map for further verification.
Drawing a straight line from the Toxic Fog Enclave, it would pass right through the mountain range in front of them!
"In that case, we can't just ignore it."
Lindsey informed his companions, and the route was adjusted accordingly.
They exerted considerable effort.
Finally, they climbed to the peak, following a narrow path along the mountain ridge, and turned into a small path hidden between the peaks.
When they reached the valley surrounded by mountains...
"..."
Everyone was left speechless.
The mountains gently embraced a secluded paradise.
The place was lush and vibrant, filled with ancient, towering trees of emerald green, resembling giant caps. Clear streams flowed down from the mountaintops, forming waterfalls that converged into a serene, mirror-like lake of azure blue.
Before them lay a wondrous sanctuary.
The environment was imbued with the essence of life, and just breathing the air made one feel refreshed.
It was no exaggeration.
If no one violently extracted or consumed the essence here, commoners who resided here for an extended period, and even during the once-a-decade Essence Surge, would have a higher probability of becoming Awakened!
"This... another hidden realm?"
"If I could retire in a place like this, my life would be complete."
"..."
A surprised voice came from behind Lindsey.
Among the group, it was Lezer who seemed a bit incredulous.
In over a decade in the Forest Courtyard, they had only discovered three hidden realms, and even excluding those kept secret, there wouldn't be many more.
And now, in just over a month of venturing into the forest, they had already encountered two!
Lezer's demeanor betrayed his unease and vigilance.
For explorers, it was normal to gain rewards during adventures. But when immense gains came in quick succession, even surpassing common sense, it often signaled danger.
Lezer cautiously asked Lindsey:
"Drake, can you scout ahead?"
Lindsey nodded in agreement.
He employed two reconnaissance methods simultaneously.
First, he drank the Eagle Eye Potion, climbed to a high point on the adjacent peak, and used his enhanced vision to survey the valley below.
Unfortunately, even though this was a hidden realm, it wasn't immune to the interference of the forest state.
Countless plants were contorting and rubbing against each other, making it impossible to discern anything with eyesight alone.
However, on the map, Lindsey noticed something peculiar.
Apart from the green dots representing his companions gathered around him, there were red marks within the Life Enclave, indicating hostility!
Were these the humans who had taken the core of the fungal network in the Toxic Fog Enclave?
Or did this hidden realm naturally harbor monsters hostile to humans?
"..."
Lindsey furrowed his brows.
He took out his Bat Staff, summoned two bats, and flew deeper into the forest, using the trees for cover.
Lindsey himself jumped off the cliff, returning to his companions:
"On the surface, this hidden realm doesn't seem to have any issues."
"But inside, there seems to be something hostile towards us."
Upon hearing Lindsey's description, the team members nodded in understanding.
They were about to explore the realm, likely engaging in combat with enemies.
Just as they were getting ready, the merchant responsible for carrying the luggage suddenly stopped and called out to the group in a peculiar tone:
"Everyone, I must bring something to your attention."
"I sense an intense concentration of value here!"
Lezer spoke up, "Do you mean the treasures within are valuable?"
The merchant shook his head. After a moment of hesitation, he replied awkwardly:
"What I mean is... some of my fellow merchants might have visited this place."
(End of Chapter)
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