Chapter 720: The Mysterious Land
Chapter 720: The Mysterious Land
The Dragon Nose Horse galloped swiftly along the river, its hooves kicking up mud as it ran. The two pack horses behind it kept up at a good pace, matching its speed.
Chen Chuan had never ridden a horse before, but with his exceptional control over his body and coordination, he quickly adjusted to the saddle and rode like an experienced horseman.
The undeveloped land they were traversing was filled with dense forests, but the riverbanks opened up into a vast expanse. According to the map provided by Chen Bitong, the river's direction led straight to his destination, so for now, all he needed to do was follow its course.
However, in the Fusion Zone, things changed frequently, and common sense didn't always apply. Chen Chuan would adjust his course as needed based on the specific circumstances.
Moreover, this region was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface.
As he rode along the river, he occasionally encountered strange and bizarre creatures near the water. To save time, he usually avoided them, but when he couldn't, he relied on his spiritual power to drive them away.
After riding for several hours, the river ahead suddenly narrowed, and on both sides, he saw a large number of pebble-like stones on the riverbank. They were all similar in size, almost as if they had been polished by hand.
Chen Chuan took a quick glance and then urged his horse to leap over them. However, as the horse's hooves touched the stones, they suddenly stood up on their 'feet' and quickly crawled into the river.
These 'pebbles' turned out to be insects with shells resembling the river stones, and as he passed by, a stretch of stones several miles long began to undulate like a wave.
Chen Chuan paid them no mind and continued riding. His speed was actually far from the Dragon Nose Horse's limit, and the pack horses could still keep up.
After traveling a few miles, he looked back and saw that the river stones had disappeared without a trace, and the narrow river was now blocked, causing the water to overflow.
The two pack horses seemed to be panting heavily from the rush, so he decided to stop for a rest. He then checked the Vitality Index on his wrist.
Even without using his Second Self, the index still read zero.
After cultivating sufficient spiritual power, he could clearly sense the invasive energy and easily repel it.
He realized that the stronger his spirit, the more adaptable he became in this region.
Chen Chuan looked up and saw Chao Ming flying above, scouting the surroundings for him. Chao Ming didn't stray too far, as the environment and creatures here were highly dangerous, and staying close allowed them to support each other.
After a short rest, Chen Chuan fed the horses some water and nutritional paste before continuing their journey.
The next few hours of the journey went smoothly, but in the afternoon, the river took a sharp turn, and the banks were covered in an endless expanse of black, decaying soil. Within the soil, fat, long worms with crimson heads wriggled and burrowed.
Chen Chuan recognized them immediately from his memory; they were a type of worm called Crimson Headed Worms.
The reason they left such a deep impression was due to Chen Bitong's experience—these worms were especially delicious when roasted, and they didn't require any seasoning. Roasting them on maple wood branches added even more flavor.
It wasn't that Chen Bitong and his team were gluttonous; eating the creatures of the Fusion Zone was also part of their work.
Many things in the Fusion Zone were highly nutritious, some could be used as medicinal ingredients, and many were valuable biological materials. This was why so many companies established branches here.
One could say that undeveloped regions were extremely dangerous, but if they could be explored and utilized, they would become treasure troves.
Third Limit Fighters could discern the approximate life limits of creatures, knowing what was edible and what wasn't. With their robust vitality, even if they mistakenly ate something unclear, they could withstand it.
Of course, this was only possible with teammates to support them. Alone, they wouldn't dare take such risks.
Chen Chuan wasn't concerned about this, as his Second Self ensured he wasn't afraid. However, he didn't have the leisure to roast worms; he'd rather spend that time cultivating.
He knew that the black decayed soil appeared safe, but stepping on it could cause one to sink in. There was no solid ground to gain traction, and even he needed to be cautious. The best choice was to avoid it.
So, after a brief pause, he detoured around the area, finally bypassing it after several hours.
However, this detour took them far from the river's original course. In the Fusion Zone, determining the direction wasn't easy, as there were no stars or moon to guide them. They could only make rough estimates based on their surroundings.
Chen Chuan compared the map stored in his Dimensional Token with his current location. If he hadn't veered too far off course, there should be a gathering place of indigenous people nearby where they could communicate.
Chen Bitong had once stayed there for a few days, and if they could find it, they would know their exact location. With luck, they might even obtain information about the Union and Linaxis Federation's garrison camps.
Chen Chuan had just wasted a lot of time circling around, and it seemed unlikely that he would make it to his destination before nightfall. The nights in the Fusion Zone were notoriously treacherous and eerie, making it ill-advised to travel after dark. So, he needed to find a place to set up camp first.
Nothing in the wilderness of the Fusion Zone could be trusted, not even the trees. Areas near water were especially dangerous. Eventually, he found an open area backed by an earthen slope.
After marking the spot, Chen Chuan delivered several consecutive punches to the ground, and with the sound of explosions, a deep pit appeared. The force of his punches shattered the rocks, insects, and weeds beneath, pulverizing them into dust.
Next, he unfolded a folding shovel and, with minimal effort, dug out a cave large enough for two people to turn around in.
Once outside, he sprinkled some special insect-repellent powder into the hollow and then retrieved a unique curtain from the bag on the horse's back. He laid the curtain inside the cave and sprayed it with a potion, causing it to harden and support the structure.
After completing this step, he took out a tent coated with a special substance. He laid a layer of it on the ground, covering the hardened curtain, and then set up the tent, securing it tightly. Finally, he fastened the hooks and buckles along the edges, ensuring no gaps.
After a final check, he walked to the ground and chopped some firewood. He arranged three campfires in a triangular pattern around the tent, about five meters away, and placed a 'Fire Core'—a necessity for spending the night in the Fusion Zone—in the center. After leading the three horses to the tent, he lit the fires.
The blazing flames illuminated the tent, creating a warm glow.
Chen Chuan glanced at his watch; it was almost six o'clock. He called out to Chao Ming, who obediently entered the tent. As Chen Chuan followed, the world outside suddenly darkened, and the tent became pitch black.
He flicked a switch, and the configured oil lamp lit up. Chao Ming curled up obediently in a corner.
Chen Chuan fed Chao Ming a few nutritional bars and then descended into the dugout beneath the tent.
Determined not to waste time, Chen Chuan decided to open a rift for spiritual cultivation. The Fusion Zone was dangerous, and he wouldn't take risks without the ability to repair rifts. Now that he could, he felt more confident.
After a while, he felt something crawling on the tent, searching for an opening. Simultaneously, he sensed the entire area moving, as if something was pushing it forward. Ignoring these sensations, he focused on his breathing. After a while, he stabilized his state and retrieved the Snow Queen Saber.
Gripping the hilt, he made a swift slash, and a gap, glowing and arm's length, appeared before him. A rush of air burst from the rift, and the tent filled with countless shrill shrieks, as if right by his ears.
Through the rift, he saw countless tiny, eye-like objects, sticking together and occasionally rotating.
Chen Chuan stared at the scene, recalling that in Central City, most things beyond the rift were phantoms. But in the Fusion Zone, they seemed to have substance. Interestingly, after these objects appeared, the strange noises outside ceased, and he no longer felt anything amiss.
Calmly, he sat before the rift, his knees supporting the Snow Queen Saber. He channeled a technique to absorb essence.
Unconcerned with the nature of the beings beyond the rift, Chen Chuan was ready to slash and destroy anything that tried to cross over. If they overwhelmed him, he could instantly seal the small rift.
After a period of cultivation, he realized that the essence he absorbed from the rift was far more abundant than in Central City, surpassing his usual experiences.
Moreover, the rift persisted for an unusually long time. In the past, when he cultivated in Central City, rifts would weaken after about four hours. But here, even after four hours, the rift showed no signs of diminishing.
However, the beings beyond the rift grew restless, testing the boundaries.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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