Chapter 44
"Safe Jade Buckle!" Xiang Haoyu climbed to the edge of the cage and held on to the metal pillar tightly.
"I used to have a jade safety buckle on me. It belonged to Gu Yuan's sister and was passed down from their family. As long as you spread the news about his sister and then show him this jade safety buckle, he will definitely believe it!"
Deputy Base Commander Qian's face turned dark instantly, and Dr. Jia's expression also looked unhappy.
This is really bringing up something that is not related to the topic!
The warehouse was completely looted, and naturally nothing was left of the belongings of the captured mutants stored inside.
Not to mention...
"Gu Yuan had already found his sister. How could he have been deceived by fake news?"
Thinking of Gu Yuan's sister who had the ability to control beasts, Deputy Base Commander Qian gritted his teeth.
He later sent someone to inquire about it, and only then did he know that the failure of his plan was the work of Gu Yuan's sister. He didn't know how she had found out the spies he had planted, allowing Gu Yuan to capture everyone at the very beginning of the mission.
Even when they later encountered a level five mutant plant and were nearly wiped out, it was the mutant plants and mutant dogs under Gu Qi who saved them!
Adding to that Lord Xi, not only did all his plans fail, but he also allowed Gu Yuan to complete the task in one go, further expanding his power in the base, making him restricted in every way!
"How is that possible?!"
Xiang Haoyu's face was full of disbelief.
Could it be that the person they saw at the base gate was really Gu Qi?
Suddenly, he thought of something and asked hurriedly, "When did he find Gu Qi?"
Seeing his expression suddenly turn grim, Deputy Base Commander Qian suddenly felt a little better and answered his question: "From what I understand, it was around the time you left the base."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "After Gu Yuan left with you that time, he came back with his sister. Didn't you know?"
Deputy Base Commander Qian thought that Xiang Haoyu had known about this matter for a long time. After all, Gu Yuan said that his sister had already arrived at the base at that time, and after knowing that he had left, she chased after him. Logically, she should have met Xiang Haoyu.
"How is this possible? No! This is absolutely impossible!"
Xiang Haoyu was unwilling to believe this fact, because if it was really as Deputy Base Commander Qian said, wouldn't it mean that he had been plotted against by Gu Yuan before entering the valley?
But he didn't realize it at all and was confident that he could trick Gu Yuan.
"You must be lying to me, yes, you are lying to me..."
He absolutely couldn't be that stupid. Deputy Base Commander Qian and the others must be deceiving him. No, no, no, all this was fake. He must still be in an illusion.
Xiang Haoyu loosened his grip on the metal pillar and fell to the ground powerlessly, still muttering things like "This is all fake, I'm the protagonist".
Deputy Base Commander Qian looked at him with disgust, feeling that this man's brain was broken and his mental state had become abnormal.
On the other hand, Dr. Jia on the side had a thoughtful look, his eyes were calculating.
The one who is truly adapted to the wind system is not Deputy Base Commander Qian, but him.
If we can find a way to capture Gu Yuan's sister, maybe we can really have a chance to get the wind-type energy core. Dr. Jia's eyes showed madness again.
Only a superpower core like that is worthy of him!
It's just that the beast-controlling ability is a bit troublesome. Dr. Jia stroked the forbidden ring inlaid with "crystal" on his hand, and suddenly had an idea in his mind.
"I've detected something amiss near the base. I'm afraid a crisis is imminent. Perhaps we can take advantage of this..."
Dr. Jia stopped talking here.
It’s not that he didn’t speak, but the time for Shui Jing had come.
Gu Qi's expression was slightly serious, and he soon came up with an idea.
"Let's go find the Jadeite first."
The top priority is to improve our strength, both hard and soft power.
The mutant squirrel raised its paw upon hearing this and was about to offer to lead the way when Jiucang pointed in the direction of the beautiful pile of stones in its memory: "Come this way, I've discovered a spiritual jade vein over there."
Gu Qi was startled at first when he heard this, and then a look of joy appeared on his face.
Thinking about it carefully, I feel that it is expected.
With so many spiritual jadeites of various attributes, it seems normal to have veins, or it would be strange if there were no veins.
While walking in the direction Jiucang pointed, Gu Qi asked, "Is the spiritual vein below the spiritual jade vein?"
Unexpectedly, Jiu Cang shook his head and said: "The main spiritual vein is not spiritual jade marrow, but source jade."
Gu Qi paused.
"The source jade worth 30 million high-grade spirit stones?"
It takes a spirit stone equivalent to the entire wealth of a medium-sized sect to buy a piece the size of a walnut. It is said that this is the source jade that can refine one's aptitude and turn inferior spirit roots into heavenly spirit roots.
The kind that has no side effects, is not limited to the user's cultivation level, and has a chance of washing out special spirits.
This is also the reason why it is rumored that everyone in ancient times had natural spiritual roots and special spiritual bodies.
Jiu Cang nodded and said, "The Source Jade Spiritual Vein is not big. It is located in the very center of the valley bottom. It is surrounded by some associated mineral veins. The most common of them is the Spirit Jade Marrow Vein. There is also a Source Crystal Mine, and the Star Sand Mine you have been looking for."
Hearing this, even Gu Qi, who was well-informed in the world of immortal cultivation, couldn't help but widen his eyes.
If those people in the world of immortal cultivation heard that high-level mineral veins such as Ling Yucui Mine, Yuan Jing Mine, and Xingsha Mine are just associated mineral veins, they would probably think that the person who said this was crazy, right?
If before this, Gu Qi was still a little hesitant about where to place the cave, then at this moment...
"Let's not look for the spiritual jade first. Let's find a suitable place to set up the cave."
"No, it should be said that we need to find an empty place to place the cave."
There is no place in this valley that is not suitable for arranging a cave. With such abundant spiritual energy, Gu Qi even thought that if he stayed there for too long, he might become "drunk on spiritual energy" (bushi
Looking at her sparkling eyes, Jiu Cang pursed his lips and smiled softly, his expression gentle.
"Then place it in the center of the valley, where it is the most spacious."
What is surprising and not too surprising is that there are not many plants in the valley, and even fewer animals.
Abundant spiritual energy is a good thing for most creatures, but when it exceeds a certain level, it becomes a bad thing. Most creatures cannot adapt to excessive spiritual energy.
In other words, the plants that do exist in the valley are extraordinary.
Gu Qi looked around and saw that the potential levels of the mutant plants in his sight were not low, and their levels were also not low. None of them was lower than level five.
Swinging his sword to block the mutant plants that were attacking again, Gu Qi skillfully asked first and then fought.
Unlike before, even after she defeated these mutant plants, she did not collect them all into the cave, but decided whether to contract them based on their wishes.
It's not just because she's in a good mood, but also because the mutated plants that grow in such a spiritual land are complementary to the land where they grow.
They are the core of the natural formations in the valley. Gu Qi will naturally not destroy those natural formations unless they are willing to do so. In that case, Jiu Cang can take action and use other actions as a substitute.
More than half an hour later, Gu Qi finally arrived at the center of the valley, looking a little solemn.
There was white spiritual mist all around, and visibility was very low. Even she could only see the situation within a few meters at most.
However, her solemn expression was not due to the low visibility, but because the concentration of spiritual energy here was too high. She was having a hard time suppressing her cultivation, and if she continued to stay there, she was afraid that she would not be able to suppress it.
She quickly released the cave and placed it in the center of the valley where no living creatures grew.
The placement of the cave was silent, without even a speck of dust being stirred up, and only the mutant plants nearby felt it.
However, thinking of the brutal human who had just beaten them to the point of breaking their branches and leaves, no mutant plants stretched out their hands to try... their roots only dared to observe quietly from where they were.
[It seems like there's something big.]
[From where I am, it seems like a mountain peak, almost reaching the sky.]
[Oh shit! The sky seems to have gotten higher.]
[It's not just like that, the sky is really getting higher!]
The mutant plants were quiet for a while, and then they continued to communicate after a while.
[Are all the humans out there so powerful?]
[The last time I saw a human with my fist, he was so weak.]
[Wow… I’m so jealous. That human actually has his own mountain!]
Gu Qi, who had just entered the cave, quietly released a trace of consciousness to blend into their midst.
[I envy you all for having your own mines.]
Looking at the cave that had grown several times larger and the empty location for the mineral vein, Gu Qi sighed lightly: Unlike her, I can only search everywhere by myself.
If she didn't want to destroy the natural formation, she could dig some of the minerals, but she couldn't move them into the cave.
[!!! It seems like a strange new plant has sneaked in.]
[Not a new plant, no, it could be a new plant. Could that human be a plant spirit?]
[Wow! Is it that amazing?]
[My inheritance contains a method for transforming, but it feels like it will take a long time.]
Gu Qi, who had already closed his cave, did not hear these words, and naturally did not know that she had transformed from a ferocious human into a powerful mutant plant that could transform among the mutant plants with their own spiritual veins in the valley.
She was checking the current situation of the cave. In another twenty days, the base would be faced with a wave of monsters consisting of mutant creatures and zombies.
It was also the largest wave of monsters since the end of the world when she lived through the late apocalypse in her previous life.
His eyes fell on the newly unlocked facilities in the cave, and Gu Qi felt a little relieved. With it, half a month of preparation time should be enough.
She turned to Jiucang beside her and said, "Help me speed up the flow of time in the planting area and use the spiritual jade as a spiritual stone."
On the other side, in the Hope Base:
"What?!" Captain Fang, who was always steady, stood up suddenly.
"Are you telling the truth? When did you find it? Where did you find it? Do you have any evidence?"
Facing a series of questions from Base Captain Fang, Gu Yuan's expression was solemn: "Someone told me this news. Just now, the people I sent to investigate brought back news that is enough to confirm her words are true."
When Gu Yuan first saw the news of the monster tide from the things left by Xiaoqi, he was also in disbelief. It was not until he sent people to investigate the several places mentioned by Xiaoqi that the news he got confirmed her words.
There really are many mutant creatures and zombies gathering towards the Hope Base. They even hide and move at night.
He placed a few round stones in front of Captain Fang Ji: "There is evidence inside."
"What is this?" Director Fang Ji looked puzzled. What evidence could be hidden in these stones?
Gu Yuan raised his hand and pressed it on a stone, injecting a trace of spiritual power.
Suddenly, a picture was projected above the seemingly ordinary stone. Although the viewing angle was a bit narrow, one could still clearly see the zombies gathered together. There were quite a lot of them, and there were hundreds of them visible from this angle alone.
What concerned Captain Fang the most was that these zombies were very quiet and gathered together indoors, as if they were intentionally hiding.
"Don't alarm them. There are still more zombies that haven't been recorded." Gu Yuan said, raising his hand and pointing at a spot on the map on the table. "This is where they are now."
Captain Fang's pupils shrank slightly. "So close, with so many zombies, why didn't anyone notice it before?"
"Among them are advanced zombies that are good at hiding, suspected to be psychic zombies. Plus, they all gather secretly at night..."
After Gu Yuan said this, Base Chief Fang immediately understood what he meant.
Whether it is their desired base or other bases, now if they want to monitor the situation around the base, they rely more on manpower. Many machines can no longer be used, as if they were destroyed by something. The few that can be used can also be easily destroyed by mutant creatures and zombies.
Then, Gu Yuan showed the images recorded in several other photo stones to Director Fang and marked the locations on the map.
Not only are there thousands of zombies gathered in groups, but there are also mutated plants disguised as ordinary plants, and there are quite a few mutated animals hiding in every corner.
Even the photo stone recorded that when someone passed by the mutant plants, they did not move at all. If the person who recorded it later had not deliberately used supernatural powers to attack them, Director Fang would have thought that they were just ordinary plants that accidentally grew in a pile.
This is undoubtedly even more shocking.
Although some mutated plants have no interest in humans, most of them still have bloodthirsty instincts and will subconsciously capture passing creatures as nutrients.
Judging from the situation where these mutated plants were awakened by superpowers, most of them are obviously bloodthirsty. Their seemingly ordinary stamens are covered with densely packed sharp teeth, which will bite off a piece of flesh from a person if they get the chance.
What makes them suppress their instincts, disguise themselves as ordinary plants, and remain motionless when humans pass by?
And what about those mutated animals? Why do they hide and don’t want to be discovered?
Looking at the marks not far from the base and hearing Gu Yuan say that there might be more that have not been discovered, Base Captain Fang frowned and looked extremely solemn.
“There are too many…”
There are so many of them that even if all the psychics in the base were sent out to clean them up, they might not be able to be cleared out, not to mention that they are gathered together in piles and their levels are not low.
Even from the fact that they are quietly gathering together and hiding, there must be a higher-level being among them leading and commanding them, which undoubtedly makes the mutant creatures and zombies more difficult to deal with.
But just leaving it alone is definitely impossible.
After a moment of contemplation, Base Chief Fang looked up and said to the person beside him, "Go notify the higher-ups at the base, as well as the heads of the large and medium-sized supernatural groups, and have them all come over. Tell them there's an important matter that needs to be discussed."
After the man left, Director Fang pointed at the photo stones and asked, "Are these disposable or reusable?"
"It can be reused." Gu Yuan took out another thing left by his sister, "If others want to see it, just put the photo stone here."
Looking at the jade tray engraved with some strange patterns, Director Fang couldn't help but show some curiosity in his eyes.
Neither of these items looked like technological products. Judging from what Gu Yuan had said earlier, these items were probably given to him by the mysterious Lord Xi. Add to that the information and the shop he had opened at the base...
What is the origin of that Lord Xi?
Facing the question from Base Captain Fang, Gu Yuan gave the same answer again: "She has no ill will towards the base."
Seeing him like this, Base Captain Fang knew that he would not be able to get anything out of him this time. If he wanted to know the origins of Lady Xi, he would probably have to wait until she voluntarily revealed it.
But it was just as Gu Yuan said, Lady Xi had no ill will towards the base. On the contrary, the things she took out were of great help to the base and gave many people hope of survival.
"If anyone else asks about this later, remember to stick to what we said before," Base Commander Fang said, pointing to the items on the table. "These are the supplies the base used to trade with Lord Xi."
Only by showing that Gu Yuan's relationship with Lord Xi is not that close and that things can only be obtained at a price, will those people not have any bad ideas.
Gu Yuan nodded in understanding: "Don't worry, I know what to say."
If he didn't know Captain Fang well, and didn't know what his sister said, he wouldn't have revealed too much to him.
The two looked at each other and headed towards the meeting room together.
After this meeting, the atmosphere at Hope Base became visibly tense.
The base has issued more missions to hunt mutant creatures and zombies, and more people are going out every day.
Some people returned with spoils, while others never returned. Whether they died in battles with mutants or zombies, or went to other bases with their bags packed, only those who traveled with them knew.
Both Gu Yuan and Base Director Fang had anticipated this kind of people who would choose to flee upon hearing the news, but when they discovered that some of the base's higher-ups and some of the supernatural groups had also made such a choice, they couldn't help but feel even more solemn.
But the news cannot be kept secret forever. After all, people with special abilities are needed to deal with the mutant creatures and zombies that are gathering.
Fortunately, after receiving the request for help from Hope Base, some bases sent some people with special abilities to help, and the cleanup progress seems to be pretty good.
Gu Yuan also took out a communication stone tablet and sent the latest information about the base to Gu Qi.
Deep in the Death Mountains, in the central area shrouded in fog.
After refining a batch of Huineng Dan, which is the improved version of Huiling Dan, Gu Qi saw the message sent by Gu Yuan.
[The elixirs and weapons you sent are very useful. The cleanup plan is going much more smoothly and the progress is much faster.]
"We've almost cleared out all the mutants and zombies near the base. If we keep clearing them out like this, there shouldn't be another monster wave like you mentioned, right?"
Faced with such good news, Gu Qi's expression did not relax at all, but became more solemn.
She replied to Gu Yuan: Don't let your guard down, a large number of mutant creatures or zombies may approach in the next two days.
The mutant creatures and zombies attracted in these ten days are just appetizers. In another ten days, we will be faced with the largest siege by monster waves that seems to have no end. Before that, there will also be small or medium-sized monster waves attacking the base.
According to Jiu Cang's inference, in these two days, the cracks in the spiritual veins hidden under the Hope Base will expand, and more spiritual energy will flow out. At that time, what will be attracted will not be the sparse mutant creatures and zombies now.
That’s right, those mutant creatures and zombie groups that Gu Yuan, Director Fang and others had seen in large numbers were just sparse and shapeless in Gu Qi’s eyes.
Not to mention how shocked Gu Yuan would be when he received this message, after sending the message, Gu Qi plunged into the Time Realm again to continue refining pills or spiritual weapons.
With her were a dozen high-level alchemy, rune or weapon refining puppets, as well as a formation puppet made by Jiu Cang.
It’s not that Gu Qi doesn’t want to refine more, but the existing materials are only enough to refine these.
In a blink of an eye, another five days passed and Gu Qi came out of the time realm again.
Looking up at the foggy sky, she looked dazed for a moment, as if not five days had passed, but fifty days.
No, it wasn't as if, for her, fifty days had passed.
It was not until she saw that the cave warehouse, which was originally filled with spiritual jade and various spiritual plants and spiritual minerals, was now empty, that her expression suddenly became clear and her eyes showed a bit of pain.
Activating the Time Realm consumed most of the Spirit Jade, and adjusting the time flow rate in the planting area consumed a small amount...
"Quick!" Gu Qi looked at Jiu Cang who was waiting nearby and said quickly, "Quickly shut down the Time Realm and adjust the flow rate in the planting area back to normal."
At least leave her a few pieces!
You have to know that the spiritual jadeite used is not only the previous harvest and the one given by Xiao Ping'an, but also the one dug from the spiritual jadeite vein later. Once it is used up, it will be gone forever unless she finds another spiritual jadeite mine.
Jiu Cang said gently, "The planting area has been moved back in advance, and the Time Realm was closed when you came out."
"That's good."
Gu Qi immediately felt relieved. Jiu Cang was indeed as reliable as ever.
"Aqi, take a rest for a while. I hope the situation at the base is okay. I have already built a teleportation array. You can teleport directly there after you have rested."
As soon as Jiu Cang finished speaking, the communication jade talisman that Gu Qi placed outside the time realm lit up again.
She quickly took out her phone to check the messages she had received. Since five days ago, Gu Yuan had been sending her relevant messages every day as she requested.
Four days ago.
[The base was attacked by a swarm of mutant rats in the middle of the night. Mutated rats emerged from all directions.]
Three days ago.
[The mutant rat tide hasn't been completely resolved yet, and many mutant birds are flying in. Fortunately, the energy barrier you sent was deployed in time, so the base didn't suffer too much damage.]
Two days ago.
[At night, the barrier's energy consumption increased significantly. I suspect mutant rats are attacking from below. I've injected Spiritual Transformation Fluid into the underground barrier's array as you instructed, and the barrier's energy consumption is gradually decreasing.]
One day ago.
[The mutated rat and bird waves were barely dealt with, but during the mutated rat wave, a large number of zombies gathered, forming a zombie tide. Fortunately, their levels were not high, so they were still able to cope.]
just.
[The base suddenly experienced a tremor. The cause is currently unknown, but I've found the epicenter of the tremor is located in the underground research facility you mentioned last time. After the tremor, the zombies surrounding the base became even more frenzied, with even Level 4 and Level 5 zombies appearing.]
Just after I finished reading this message, Gu Yuan sent another one.
[We've just detected that advanced mutants and zombies are approaching the base. They'll probably reach the perimeter tomorrow. Also, the aura monitors have detected a sudden 87% increase in aura within the base, and the value is still rising.]
Upon seeing this message, Gu Qi's already ugly face turned darker.
Such a large increase in value, without further ado, was caused by the sudden enlargement of the hidden spiritual vein crack beneath the base. As for why it suddenly enlarged...
Gu Qi thought of the shock mentioned in the previous message, and his eyes dimmed slightly. This time, the large-scale monster wave might come early.
Jiu Cang's face on the side also looked unhappy.
Now Aqi definitely won’t be able to have a good rest. Thinking of the culprit who caused all this, a murderous look flashed in Jiu Cang’s eyes.
After counting the resources in the storage space, including elixirs, talismans, spiritual tools, and array plates, Gu Qi looked up at the unhappy Jiu Cang and said helplessly, "It seems that we can only rest after this is over. Now let's go to Hope Base."
Even though he really wanted Gu Qi to have a good rest, Jiu Cang had no choice but to nod and take her to the teleportation array outside the cave.
Gu Qi had just taken the anti-dizziness pill and activated the teleportation array when she received another message.
[Xiao Zi just said that it suddenly lost contact with Lan Lan, and Deputy Base Commander Qian took the shop...]
Before I could see the rest of the content, the teleportation array lit up with light.
The next second, Gu Qi and Jiu Cang disappeared from the teleportation array.
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