Chapter 353: Jungle Archer
Chapter 353: Jungle Archer
The forest grew increasingly ferocious as they ventured deeper along the mountainous terrain. The trees twisted and contorted, their roots causing cracks in the earth, and the once-abundant wildlife was nowhere to be seen.
Lin Sai and Qinggan continued their journey, navigating the treacherous terrain with its uneven ground and tangled undergrowth. The forest's very essence seemed to be under attack, and the deeper they ventured, the more perilous their surroundings became.
Once a vibrant and lively forest, it now resembled a demonic lair, with thorny vines stretching from the shadows, transforming the entire area into a treacherous domain. A gentle breeze occasionally stirred the air, carrying not only the scent of soil and foliage but also, it seemed, the forest's pain and anger.
Yet, amidst this perilous environment, Lin Sai and Qinggan moved with an air of safety and relaxation. They navigated the forest with ease, untouched by the menacing trees, as if they were invisible to the forest itself.
The reason for this peculiar phenomenon was simple. Lin Sai possessed something that prevented the forest from perceiving him as a threat, even considering him an ally. As for Qinggan, she was a Stage Six Life Scholar, capable of unifying her aura with the environment and assimilating with other life forms. With a simple adjustment, she could ensure their safety from the forest's hostility.
"The deeper we go, the more ferocious the forest becomes," Lin Sai observed.
"But the overall condition of the forest hasn't changed; only this particular path we're on shows this trend," Qinggan added.
"That means we're on the right track," they concluded, sharing their thoughts.
They could foresee a future where a hidden realm deep within the forest awaited them, and their enemies were preparing for their arrival. Lin Sai, not one to procrastinate, began his preparations during the journey, focusing on equipment and supplies that would be useful in combat.
As he inspected the items on the workbench, he stumbled upon a long-forgotten synthesis formula with a peculiar name:
[3 Vines + 10 Mushroom Spores + 1 Wooden Bow = Jungle Archer]
The missing mushroom spores were no longer an issue; he had obtained a set and carried them in his bag. Without hesitation, Lin Sai proceeded with the synthesis.
[Weapon: Jungle Archer]
[When using arrows made entirely of wood, the flight speed and power of the arrows are increased. The Jungle Archer can also be used to shoot plant seeds, allowing them to grow in more distant locations or even inside enemies.]
[Jungle Weapons Master - (1/3)]
[A unique longbow of moderate value.]
Lin Sai retrieved the Jungle Archer, a longbow with a body carved from wood, its grain visible and exuding strength and flexibility. Tough vines wrapped around it, serving as the bowstring, with some vines gracefully curving along the bow's body, creating a smooth and elegant arc.
The entire bow was adorned with ice-blue mushroom spores arranged in a pattern resembling leaf veins. From certain angles, they emitted a beautiful glow.
"Shooting seeds..." Lin Sai's eyes lit up at the thought.
His left hand was currently in poor condition, reducing his need for a bow. However, the Jungle Archer's ability to shoot seeds intrigued him greatly.
Lin Sai immediately drew the bowstring, attempting to pull it back.
Snap—
The vine and bow body formed an arc as Lin Sai successfully drew the bow.
He carefully felt the tension, realizing that using the bow and arrows in combat would ultimately be impractical.
However, with some effort, he could manage to occasionally shoot seeds with it to achieve certain goals.
With this in mind, the two continued their journey.
As the mountain peaks merged into a massive mountain range ahead, Qinggan was the first to halt:
"Lin Sai, we've reached our destination."
"Oh?"
Lin Sai stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.
He opened his map, scouting the situation within the mountain range ahead.
While admiring Qinggan's keen senses, Lin Sai also reflected on his own abilities.
The 【Map】 skill, though highly practical, was not a perfect ability.
It required opening the Attribute Panel to view it.
Moreover, when passively activated, its scouting range was limited, necessitating manual control for large-scale reconnaissance.
"The Awakened's perception abilities also need to be honed," Lin Sai thought to himself.
As he studied the map, Lin Sai saw the scene ahead.
In the center of the mountain range was a low-lying canyon, and although the massive green creature below the forest dominated the view, careful observation revealed numerous red dots, along with a few yellow and green ones.
"..."
"There's a valley ahead, and quite a few people inside," Lin Sai communicated to Qinggan.
The two resumed their journey, slowing their pace in unison and lowering their voices to avoid detection.
Qinggan even used his skills to blend their auras with the environment.
Unless they were physically spotted, they were as inconspicuous as the mud in the forest, virtually invisible.
At this moment, they had the advantage of knowing their enemy while remaining hidden.
Even if they had to engage, they could surely capitalize on this advantage!
...
The pair ventured deeper into the mountain range.
The origin essence reaction here was even more intense.
Dark clouds filled the sky, blocking the sun's rays from penetrating the thick cloud cover.
Not only were the towering trees affected, but even the vines twisted and coiled like giant pythons.
Lin Sai reached the edge of the valley, peering into its depths.
The first sight that greeted him was a desolate canyon.
As Qinggan had sensed, this was a hidden realm, and the density of origin essence in the air far exceeded that of the two realms Lin Sai had previously encountered.
However, in contrast to this natural power...
The valley was riddled with exposed tree roots, stripped bare of all vegetation.
Vines, shrubs, and even sharp thorns had been cleared away, leaving the forest's hostility towards humans evident.
The Awakened who had arrived here first, in their quest for safety, had thoroughly purged the area.
As Lin Sai's gaze moved forward, he saw a calm, clear lake within the canyon, with a small island at its center.
A faint white mist hovered over the valley, not thick enough to obscure vision completely.
But from this distance, Lin Sai and Qinggan couldn't discern the island's details.
"..."
Lin Sai raised an eyebrow, contemplating further investigation and even considering digging a secret tunnel.
Just as he was about to act...
Qinggan spoke up:
"Lin Sai, take a moment to sense the origin essence here."
"Familiarizing yourself with the forces of nature will enhance your control over life origin essence!"
(End of Chapter)
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