Chapter 46
With the crisis averted, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Shu was utterly impressed by Luo Yonghui and his companions.
—In such a dangerous place, they might even be willing to send food to a squirrel, yet they dare to come up here.
Even so, they still wanted the siblings to join the exploration team.
He would never do it, even if you killed him!
Luo Yonghui: "Keep moving forward."
The mottled moss on the branches is as thick as a blanket, and when you step on it, it makes a "crunching" sound.
Fifteen minutes later, the group arrived at the farthest end of the branch.
There stood a huge red bird's nest, which looked like an upside-down basket. Just by looking at the nest, it wasn't hard to guess the size of the mutated bird.
Luo Yonghui: "Yan Liang, you guys stay outside and keep watch."
As he spoke, Luo Yonghui prepared to climb up the Bird's Nest.
Jiang Zhi followed without saying a word. Luo Yonghui glanced at her and tacitly approved.
Standing at the edge of the bird's nest, Jiang Zhi peered into the huge nest, which was as big as a truck bed. It was a mess. Dry grass and branches were scattered everywhere, bird feathers were everywhere, and there were a few clumps of bird droppings.
Inside were several huge bird eggs and some colorful stones of different shapes and sizes.
Luo Yonghui's face lit up with joy when he saw the stones.
He jumped in and, without saying a word, took all the stones.
Jiang Zhi stared intently at a feather in the bird's nest that was over a meter long and as thick as a thigh.
Yes.
Jiang Zhi risked following along because countless golden items appeared on the dashboard.
This enormous mutated oak tree was indeed covered with rare and precious treasures.
"Beep—Golden item found: White Eagle Feather. Use to generate a hurricane."
Jiang Zhi suppressed her excitement and put the feather away.
—Finally, we have a decent magical weapon.
Luo Yonghui saw it but assumed it was just a young girl's hobby and didn't pay any attention to it.
"Beep—Golden item found: White Eagle droppings. Use to accelerate plant growth."
Jiang Zhi's eyes lit up. This is good stuff too!
Such a huge lump of feces.
Okay, okay!
Yan Liang caught a glimpse of Jiang Zhi's movements out of the corner of his eye, and his lips twitched.
This girl really loves scooping up poop...
Jiang Zhi swept through the bird's nest, which was several hundred square meters in size.
Even if it wasn't a gold item, Jiang Zhi didn't let go of things like bird feathers.
Hmm, this can be made into arrows for her brother. I'll take it.
Hey, the fruit that the white eagle is eating smells so good, I'll take it!
Wow, the vines used for the white eagle's nest are so tough! They can be made into weapons for my second brother, so I'll take them too.
...
Before long, the snakeskin bag in Jiangzhi's hand became bulging.
Jiang Zhi finally stopped when she couldn't fit it any further.
Luo Yonghui found it somewhat amusing. This girl had a perfect sense of propriety; she hadn't touched the raw stones in the bird's nest, nor had she even asked any questions. She had only touched some seemingly insignificant things.
Luo Yonghui was happy to give her some benefits.
Jiang Zhi filled the bag before she had a moment to observe the white eagle eggs in the nest.
There were five bird eggs in total, each about half a person's height, and each a different color.
She touched the one that was next to her.
"Beep - Found a golden item, a white carved eggshell. Use it to double the item value."
The sound from the dashboard struck Jiang Zhi like a knife.
Items doubled...
Is it what she thinks?
If it were a feature that "puts things in and doubles them", that would be absolutely amazing!
But Jiangzhi could only dream about it.
Even if she really wanted the eggshell, there was nothing she could do; the eggshell's purpose absolutely could not be decided by her.
Moreover, the egg hasn't hatched yet, and she doesn't want to be chased by the giant mutated bird.
Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, the giant egg suddenly trembled.
Jiang Zhi was taken aback.
—Is it about to hatch?
Luo Yonghui acquired the last colored stone in the Bird's Nest.
Seeing Jiang Zhi staring blankly at the bird eggs, he said, "White eagles hold grudges. If you dare to touch them, you'll be hunted down even if you run to the farthest corner of the mountain."
Jiang Zhigan laughed, "I was just touching it."
Luo Yonghui packed his things and said, "Let's go."
Unbeknownst to them, a giant snake, a hundred meters long, emerged from the branches next door and was slithering towards them.
until--
"Warning! Warning! A giant mutated creature has been detected approaching from below. Please take precautions! Please take precautions!"
Jiang Zhi subconsciously turned her head to look over.
A dark red tongue, as thick as a thigh, was seen searching in the air, while huge branches blocked most of the view.
Immediately afterwards, a huge snake coiled around the branch they were on. Its size was terrifying, and the branch would tremble with every inch it moved upwards.
Luo Yonghui and the others also keenly sensed that something was wrong with Jiang Zhi.
I quickly followed her gaze.
A giant snake head suddenly appeared in everyone's sight.
Luo Yonghui cursed under his breath, his face turning ugly.
Unfortunately, this time they were unlucky and encountered a viper that came to steal the white eagle eggs.
"Split up and run!"
As soon as Luo Yonghui finished speaking, Chen Shaoting and the others started running wildly.
Luo Yonghui grabbed the brother and sister by the arms and was about to run towards the tree trunk when the mutated giant snake opened its mouth wide and pressed down with its head, blocking the three of them.
Luo Yonghui decisively threw the two back towards the Bird's Nest: "You two run back, and find a chance to get back to the tree trunk later. Yan Liang will meet you there!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning appeared in Luo Yonghui's palm, and with a whoosh, it transformed into a bolt of lightning that flashed towards the enormous object in the other direction.
Jiang Shu fell flat on his face, and Jiang Zhi, ignoring Luo Yonghui, grabbed Jiang Shu by the back of his collar and headed back to the Bird's Nest.
Both sides have superpowers, and who knows if these superpowers will harm innocent people when they fly.
At this point, the only option is to hide.
Once back in the nest, the two lay on the edge to observe the situation outside.
Jiang Shu grimaced, "Snakes again? Are we cursed at snakes...?"
Moreover, this snake was much larger than the one they had encountered in the gathering area before.
Ordinary people wouldn't feel the slightest resistance after seeing this.
Luo Yonghui was throwing out all sorts of superpowers over there like they were free.
According to human descriptions, Luo Yonghui's ability to withstand the attacks of this behemoth for so long is already worthy of the title of captain.
But Jiang Zhi knew he wouldn't last long.
There's no way around it, the gap between the two sides is just too big.
Jiangzhi was anxious.
If this continues, the three of them will definitely not be able to escape.
As Jiang Shu watched the man and the snake struggle, he muttered anxiously, "What do we do? What do we do? Captain Luo can't hold on much longer... Ah Zhi, are we going to die?"
As expected, Luo Yonghui was forced to retreat under the attack of the mutated snake.
In a split second, he pulled out the gun he had been carrying on his back and aimed it at the mutated snake.
A powerful laser flashed, but only left a shallow mark on the mutated snake.
Hu Yang used this gun before, and it took down a mutated wild boar the size of a small car with a single shot.
However, it can't harm the mutated snake's body, demonstrating the snake's high level of defense.
Seeing that Luo Yonghui was about to be overwhelmed, Jiang Shu became even more anxious.
"Ah Zhi, think of something quickly—"
"Shut up!"
Jiang Zhi's mind raced as she looked at the feather she had just found.
An idea flashed through my mind.
She looked up at the countless branches above and, sure enough, saw several bird nests.
"Brother, are there any bird eggs in the nest up there?"
Jiang Shu: "No—A-Zhi, what are you planning to do at a time like this? Hurry up and come up with a solution—"
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Zhi took out a feather, placed it on top, and then vigorously waved it.
In an instant, a gust of wind emanating from the feathers of the white eagle howled up, stirring up the broken branches in the nest like flying sand and stones, stinging people's faces.
The wind was initially swirling not far above the two people, but in no time, the whirlwind grew stronger and stronger, and soon it drifted upwards like a tornado.
The trees above were instantly whipped up by a gust of wind, and their branches creaked and groaned.
Many insects and small mutated beasts were startled and ran out.
Jiang Shu was dumbfounded and stammered, "A-Zhi, what... what are you doing?"
Jiang Zhi was not very satisfied with the wind that had just picked up.
She instinctively felt that she hadn't unleashed the true power of the feather.
This time, Jiang Zhi focused her mental energy, and when she fanned out, she infused a portion of her mental energy into the feather.
The feathers seemed to be injected with energy, cutting through the air with a "whoosh" sound. In an instant, the branches and leaves overhead swayed even more violently than before, and large swaths of emerald green leaves fluttered down.
Even more caterpillars fell down.
Jiang Zhi was secretly delighted.
There was a feeling that I knew it was true.
Many leaves fell directly into the bird's nest, hitting the two people on the head.
Jiang Shu quickly spread out his leaves and shouted, "Azhi! What are you doing? If you're going to fan someone, fan that mutated snake! Why are you fanning it upwards?!"
Some of the smaller branches fell down, and Luo Yonghui took advantage of this to haphazardly strike the snake's vital spot with several lightning bolts.
Before Jiang Shu could even feel happy, he discovered that the snake's scales remained completely still.
Jiang Shu's face turned deathly pale: "It's over, it didn't work at all—"
Jiang Zhi didn't have time to pay attention to that.
This time, she set her sights on several bird nests in the sky and poured all her mental energy into the feathers.
A terrifying gust of wind swept out, instantly snapping off the branches of the large trees above. Thick branches were blown to one side, bark peeled off in a flurry, and dust filled the air, carrying with it a few withered leaves. The tornado rose straight up, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
With another wave of the fan, the wind and clouds changed color, the sky instantly darkened as if it were night, and the wind howled mournfully, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, rushing straight ahead.
This time, the mutated bird on the nest couldn't sit still any longer. It raised its head and cried out, flying away from its nest to avoid being seriously injured.
Luo Yonghui, who was not far away, was also taken aback by what he saw.
—What is this girl trying to do?
He soon learned Jiang Zhi's purpose.
Several mutated birds whose nests had been destroyed swooped down on the brother and sister.
The impact speed is similar to that of a rocket launcher.
"Holy crap!" Jiang Shu pulled Jiang Zhi down to squat down.
Jiang Zhi called out, "Uncle Luo!!"
Luo Yonghui's face lit up with joy.
"Good timing!"
He barely dodged the mutated snake's whip, and seized the opportunity to leap several times to the top of the bird's nest where the brother and sister were.
The mutated snake followed closely behind, and just as it opened its blood-red maw, ready to swallow the person and the bird's nest together...
The attack from the mutated birds above has arrived.
"Bang!!!"
The two collided, producing a deafening sound.
Jiang Zhi only saw the sharp beaks of those birds pierce into the head of the mutated snake.
Although it didn't pierce through, it broke through the mutated snake's defenses, and it looked painful.
In pain, the mutated snake swung its tail at several mutated giant birds.
The giant bird was swept towards its nest.
The bird's nest lurched.
Luo Yonghui's expression changed—the Bird's Nest was about to collapse!
In an instant, Luo Yonghui held the two children tightly in his arms.
Just then! A sharp bird cry rang out through the sky, followed by a gust of wind.
After several loud bangs came from above, the Bird's Nest calmed down.
Jiang Shu tentatively opened one eye.
Then a mutated white eagle flapped its wings, which were hundreds of meters long, and hovered in the air.
Jiang Shu exclaimed in surprise, "It's a white eagle!"
No matter what, the white eagle will definitely protect its lair. With the white eagle holding off the mutated snake, they will have a chance to escape.
Luo Yonghui released the two and jumped onto the edge of the Bird's Nest to look over.
The white eagle flapped its wings a few times, and a hurricane ten times more powerful than Jiang Zhi's feathers blew out from the white eagle.
The white feathers in its wings stood up like steel needles, and its sharp eagle eyes stared intently down below.
The mutated giant snake raised its head high, its scales gleaming black, flicking its tongue and hissing loudly.
Immediately, the white eagle attacked, folding its wings and swooping down like an arrow, its sharp claws flashing coldly as it aimed for the giant snake's vital spot. The giant snake was not to be outdone, its thick body whipping violently, attempting to knock the white eagle away with its tail. The white eagle nimbly dodged to the side, using the momentum to send a branch flying.
Then the giant serpent opened its blood-red maw and spewed out a burst of intense flames, which the white eagle barely dodged by flapping its wings and flying high.
The brother and sister turned pale upon seeing this, and even Luo Yonghui looked extremely unwell.
It turns out the snake wasn't really going to attack at all. Maybe it was just playing with them like it was teasing a small insect.
The mutated snake spewed flames, and even from this distance, one could still feel the scorching heat.
The mutated snake and the white eagle were locked in combat.
In an instant, the surrounding branches were knocked askew, and the scene frightened the small mutated beasts in the vicinity, causing them to scatter and flee, not daring to even breathe.
Even the few mutated birds that were slightly smaller than the others had vanished without a trace.
The two sides fought more and more fiercely.
The mutated white eagle seemed to be deliberately keeping the battlefield away from its nest. Seizing the opportunity, it grabbed the snake's head with its sharp claws and instantly threw the mutated snake onto a branch next door.
Seeing this, Luo Yonghui said to the brother and sister, "Let's go quickly!"
Jiangzhi also knew that now was the best time.
But the bird egg with the golden shell had cracked during the bumpy ride and was about to hatch.
Jiang Zhi gritted her teeth, "Wait for me!"
She poured her remaining spiritual energy into the bird egg.
—That's right, she still wants this eggshell that can turn into double the items!
The next second, the chick inside the egg seemed to sense the support of Jiang Zhi's spiritual power and began to tremble slightly. The fine cracks on the eggshell intensified, and then, with a soft "crack," a wet little beak pecked through the eggshell and struggled to push its way out.
A moment later, a wet little white eagle emerged, its eyes not yet fully open, its tiny black bean-like pupils darting around in their sockets. Its downy feathers clung tightly to its body, and it trembled slightly as it opened its beak and emitted a faint "cheep cheep" sound.
Jiang Zhi tried to push the eggshell over: "Brother, come and help me!"
Jiang Shu rushed over to help.
Soon, two grayish-white chicks hatched from their eggs.
The energetic little white eagle nuzzled against the ginger branch.
Jiang Zhi: ...Could it be that he's treating her like his mother?
She looked at another dying white eagle chick.
Luo Yonghui, unsure of her intentions, urged, "Jiang Zhi, don't dawdle. Now is the best time to leave."
The snake and the bird flew into the branches next door, and who knows when they'll come back.
Jiang Zhi: "Uncle Luo, can you help me keep this eggshell? I need it."
Luo Yonghui glanced at her, then took out his spatial device and stored the remaining intact lower half of the eggshell.
Then Jiangzhi asked Jiangshu to give her the remaining malt cakes he had.
After Jiang Zhilian ate the portion that Jiang Shu had given her before, her mental strength recovered by one-third.
She placed her hand on the nearly lifeless white eagle chick.
He once again exhausted all his mental energy before withdrawing his hand.
"Excuse me, Uncle Luo, you can go now."
Although it only took a few minutes to do these things, at this time, every minute could potentially delay a life.
But after taking the other party's eggshell, Jiang Zhi felt she would feel bad if she didn't do something.
Consider it compensation.
Her mental strength couldn't cure the disease, but it could keep the fledgling alive.
As for whether it can wait for the mutated white eagle to return, that's up to fate.
Luo Yonghui pulled the brother and sister to the edge of the Bird's Nest.
"Chirp chirp chirp!!"
When the other chick saw that Jiangzhi was about to leave, it became anxious and wanted to follow.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhi quickly pressed it down.
Jiang Shu exclaimed in surprise, "Azhi, this bird definitely thinks of you as its mother!"
Jiang Zhi, worried that the little guy would follow them, quickly coaxed, "Be good! You wait here for your mother to come back..."
After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, she jumped off the nest without waiting for the chicks to understand.
The fledglings couldn't climb out of the nest and could only keep chirping in the direction Jiang Zhi had left.
Luo Yonghui carried the ginger tree on one shoulder and grabbed the ginger branch on the other, running wildly toward the trunk.
I could still hear the little guy chirping.
What Jiang Zhi didn't know was that her spiritual power was extremely pure, which was a great supplement to the two mutated chicks.
Not long after the three left, another fledgling bird, which was on the verge of death, slowly opened its bewildered eyes.
Inside the tree canopy, a snake and a bird were locked in fierce combat; their size clearly indicated they were the kings of the tree. Their battle caused unrest among all the creatures in the canopy. The commotion was so great that the entire tree shook.
Luo Yonghui quickly ran back to the tree trunk.
Chen Shaoting and Yan Liang, who were hiding under the branches, breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that all three of them were safe and sound.
Chen Shaoting opened her mouth, but Luo Yonghui interrupted her, saying, "Leave first."
The way back was much faster than the way there; they simply plummeted down the rope.
Jiang Zhi felt that this feeling was similar to the cliff jumping machine she used to ride in the park.
The intense feeling of weightlessness makes one dizzy and disoriented.
Perhaps because they were trying to escape, Luo Yonghui and his group didn't pay any more attention to Jiang Zhi and her brother, and returned to the ground as quickly as possible.
It took more than three hours to get there, but only 40 minutes to get back.
When the ginger tree's feet finally landed on solid ground, they felt like they were floating.
Wu Bing, who was guarding not far from the tree roots, saw the group of people and quickly drove over.
The group quickly got into the car, and Wu Bing sped away.
No one spoke during the entire process, and their tacit understanding impressed Jiang Zhi and her brother greatly.
However, Lao Wu's car speed remained as crazy as ever.
In order to escape, they were even faster than when they came.
Jiang Shu felt nauseous again.
After the car had traveled dozens of kilometers, the huge oak tree behind them gradually became smaller, and everyone in the car finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Yonghui: "That's fine."
Upon hearing this, Wu Bing slowed down the car.
Wu Bing glanced at Luo Yonghui in the rearview mirror: "Boss, are you alright?"
Only then did everyone notice that Luo Yonghui's armor was cracked, indicating that he had suffered a significant attack.
Luo Yonghui breathed a sigh of relief, "It's nothing, I just need to go back and get some treatment."
Wu Bing: "What exactly happened just now? We saw it shaking violently up there."
Chen Shaoting and Yan Liang were far away at the time and only knew the general outline, not the specifics of what had happened, so they did not answer him.
But the two of them could guess how dangerous it was just from the earth-shattering commotion that day.
Luo Yonghui glanced at the brother and sister, whose faces weren't looking too good, and then told the group a general account of what had happened.
The danger was so great that even Wu Bing was taken aback.
"You guys are really lucky."
He encountered both a level 6 mutated snake and a level 7 mutated white eagle, yet he still managed to survive.
Looking at it this way, Luo Yonghui's injuries can be considered minor.
Luo Yonghui shook his head. "We have to thank Jiang Zhi. If she hadn't found a way to attract the mutated bird up there, the white eagle wouldn't have come back so quickly."
Wu Bing then said, "Hey, Jiang Zhi, you're something else! You're quick-witted! How about it, do you want to join us with your brother?"
These brother and sister are young, bold, and quick-witted. They are promising talents, and Wu Bing thinks they are much better than those arrogant newcomers who have rare abilities but little practical experience.
Jiang Zhi still had no idea: "I'll listen to my brother."
Jiang Shu's eyes widened: ...You're blaming me again!
Wu Bing then looked at Jiang Shu, who righteously refused: "Forget it, I almost wet my pants just now."
Wu Bing laughed and scolded, "You little rascal! You're just trying to fool me!"
At this moment, Yan Liang spoke up: "Boss, the energy stone..."
Luo Yonghui smiled and then took out a five-colored stone from his spatial device.
"Mission accomplished."
Jiang Shu looked over curiously: "What kind of energy stone?"
Wu Bing smiled and said, "Want to know? Join us and I'll tell you."
"Tch!" Jiang Shu curled his lip. "Fine, I won't say then."
Chen Shaoting had a good impression of the brother and sister, and said with a smile, "Each of these energy stones is worth 50,000 points."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi immediately felt that the things she had just collected in the bird's nest no longer tasted so good.
Jiang Zhi was extremely annoyed.
50,000 points!!
If they had secretly hidden a few grains, they wouldn't have had to worry about food at all!
She just saw it; there were at least fifty, if not eighty, energy stones in that bird's nest!
This is an enormous sum of money!
Luo Yonghui rarely saw Jiang Zhi look pained, so he couldn't help but burst into laughter. He patted the laser gun on his body:
“You should have seen us use this gun; the power for these guns comes from these energy stones.”
"Not only these guns, but also laser cannons that you've never seen before, and many of the base's large weapons all rely on them."
Jiang Shu's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together, his face full of flattery: "Uncle Luo, we made quite a contribution just now, didn't we... hehehehe."
Luo Yonghui smiled and took out a few colorful energy stones. "This is your reward, but you won't use them. If you agree, I can exchange them for points."
Just as Jiang Shu was about to agree, Jiang Zhi said, "No need, we just want these energy stones, thank you Uncle Luo."
Jiang Shu shut up.
Although I don't know why his sister wants the energy stones, there must be some benefit to it for her to want them.
Then Jiangzhi said, "We also want the eggshells and the wild boar meat from before."
Luo Yonghui found it somewhat amusing; this girl appeared indifferent on the surface, but in reality, she was much more calculating than her brother.
If Jiang Zhi knew what Luo Yonghui was thinking, she would definitely spit in his face—what do you mean by being petty? This is called being shrewd and calculating!
Luo Yonghui wouldn't let those who had helped them down, so he readily agreed, "Okay, you can have them all."
The car continued driving in the countryside for a while, and soon returned to the sweet potato field from which it had come.
The group decided to rest here.
Just then, Hu Yang discovered a group of juvenile wild boars, and the group caught them all in one fell swoop.
Unfortunately, there wasn't a single edible one; all thirty-odd mutated wild boars tested positive for highly toxic substances.
After Yan Liang harvested the wild boar tusks, he disposed of all the wild boars, which made Jiang Zhi and her brother Liang Yi feel very sorry.
Luo Yonghui and Wu Bing sat to the side chatting.
From their conversation, Jiang Zhi learned that if they continued forward from the sweet potato field, they would be heading towards the base.
This sweet potato field is more than 100 kilometers away from Base No. 15.
But Jiang Zhi remembers clearly that it only took her and Jiang Shu more than 20 minutes to get from the No. 15 collection area to this sweet potato field.
No matter how capable they are, it's impossible for them to cross such a long distance in such a short time.
Could it be, as Luo Yonghui and the others said before, that the space beneath this sweet potato field is folded?
Jiang Shu took the five energy stones given to him by Luo Yonghui and looked at them for a long time, but still couldn't figure them out.
"Ah Zhi, are these energy stones golden items?"
Jiang Zhi shook her head. "No."
These energy stones on her dashboard were the same as the ore in the sweet potato field before; they were all rainbow indicator points.
Jiangzhi concluded that the seven-color hints should be special minerals.
In any case, this trip was very rewarding.
The five energy stones that Luo Yonghui gave me alone are worth 250,000 points.
Not to mention the white eagle eggshell, which can generate twice as many items.
These things, if exchanged for food, would be enough for them to get through the winter.
Just thinking about this made Jiang Zhi feel excited.
Just then, a sharp and high-pitched bird call was heard.
Looking up, I saw a black dot the size of a computer code in the sky.
Jiang Shu saw it most clearly, and his mouth trembled as he exclaimed, "It's...it's that level seven mutated white eagle that's caught up with us!!"
Jiang Zhi's face paled: Was it chasing after those energy stones? Or that half eggshell?
Luo Yonghui shouted, "Quick! Everyone get on the bus!"
The roar of the off-road vehicle's engine quickly rose.
The car sped away, but no matter how fast it went, it couldn't outrun a level 7 mutated white eagle.
They watched as the mutated white eagle drew ever closer to their vehicle.
The mutated plants around them swayed violently in the gale whipped by the white eagle's wings, their branches whipping against each other and their leaves rustling, as if they might be uprooted at any moment.
Just when everyone thought they couldn't escape this time, a large section of the snake's body suddenly fell from the sky.
The huge snake-shaped object crashed to the ground, causing the off-road vehicle to bounce up.
It was actually that level 6 mutated viper from before!
—No, it looks like only half of it.
What does "white eagle" mean?
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but stick her head out of the car.
Under the fierce wind, Jiang Zhi's eyes were sore and painful, her eyelashes were covered with dust and sand, and every blink felt like sandpaper polishing her eyes. She could only lower her head and shield her eyes from the wind with her hand.
Luo Yonghui tried to pull Jiang Zhi back, "Jiang Zhi!"
“It’s alright, Uncle Luo.” Jiang Zhi looked steadily at the white eagle and said, “This white eagle has no ill intentions towards us.”
The white eagle was very close to them, only about a kilometer away.
With its wings spread, it's about the size of an airplane.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi, the white eagle stared at her for a long time in a human-like manner, then circled on the roof of the car for a while before flapping its wings and flying away.
It quickly turned into a small black dot.
Jiang Shu used his abilities to investigate for a moment before confirming, "The big bird has flown away!"
Wu Bing slammed on the brakes, causing the car to lurch forward and the rear to swing sideways. He quickly turned the steering wheel, the tires screeching against the ground and billowing smoke, until the car came to a complete stop.
Then Wu Bing leaned out of the window and said, "He's really gone."
Everyone quickly got out of the car.
The small section of the snake's body in front of them was piled up and looked as tall as a small mountain.
Jiang Shu clicked his tongue: "What does this white eagle mean? It dropped a piece of meat and left. It can't be trying to thank us, can it?"
These words startled Luo Yonghui, who looked at Jiang Zhi with a strange expression: "Jiang Zhi, what did you do to that baby bird just now?"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhigan chuckled, "It's nothing, just a little warmth..."
Luo Yonghui: ...This girl is quite mischievous.
In fact, Jiangzhi wasn't sure if Bai Diao did this because of her.
But for now, it's not a bad thing.
Knowing he wouldn't get any answers, Luo Yonghui didn't press the matter further.
This snake meat is from a level 6 mutated beast, so even if you can't eat it, the snake skin is still very valuable.
Jiang Shu couldn't resist running up to check it out.
"Drip, low level of toxin, edible."
At this point, the others behind couldn't sit still any longer.
—It's only low-level toxicity?!
Jiang Shu swallowed hard. "Maybe this is the case. I'll go test it over there."
Their testing equipment can only detect items weighing up to 100 kilograms. Items exceeding this weight require multi-directional testing.
Wu Bing said, "Let me do it. My detector can measure up to 1,000 kilograms."
Jiang Shu immediately felt resentful: ...This disparity is truly heartbreaking...
"Drip, low-toxicity range 100*150*200 cubic meters, total 1345 jin, moderate-toxicity range 300*456*234 cubic meters, total 2769 jin."
A 3D image appeared on the detector in Wu Bing's hand, marking the components of moderate and low-level toxins.
Jiang Zhi felt she had learned something new; the detectors the mutants had were much more convenient than theirs.
Wu Bing's breathing became heavier: "1345 jin!!"
No wonder they were excited.
Even for mutants like them, it's rare to encounter this quantity and level of mutant meat.
Hu Yang and his group were also very excited.
This was the first time they had obtained so much low-level toxic mutant meat.
The base has a clear grading system for meat distribution, especially for meat with low levels of toxins.
For an exploration team of their caliber, 80% of the 1345 jin (approximately 622.5 catties) of low-toxicity mutated snake meat must be handed over to the base.
The remaining 20% belongs to the team.
Even if they hand it over to the base, their team can still get 269 jin (134 catties).
Before the group could even discuss how to allocate the money, they had already started working on it.
Then Jiang Zhi asked, "Uncle Luo, how much of this meat will you give us?"
Wu Bing: ...Uh, I forgot there were two young people standing next to me.
Luo Yonghui: "How many do you want?"
He had a pretty good idea that Jiang Zhi had done something to the baby bird, which was why the mutated white eagle acted that way.
Jiang Shu pursed his lips and muttered, "Of course we'd say we want them all if they ask us like that!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Bing chuckled and said, "I can give you everything, but can you carry it all back?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shu was immediately dejected.
Such a large piece of meat is right in front of you, but you can only look at it and not eat it all.
It's so bitter, so incredibly bitter.
It would be great if they had a spacecraft too.
"We can't give you much meat."
Jiang Zhi frowned.
Luo Yonghui explained, “If you can take it back yourselves, we can give you all of it, but the snake meat can only be stored and taken back using a space device. The base has a rule that once a space device is used, 80% must be handed over to the base. So, even if we were to share it with you, we could only take from the remaining 20%.”
Jiang Shu gasped, "Is the base trying to squeeze every last drop of profit out of us?!"
Ordinary talents have to hand over 20%, but mutants have to hand over a whopping 80%!!
Luo Yonghui shook his head, "It's not what you think. These are all things that must be handed over. The Suyuan malt cakes you ate before, as well as some energy-filled jerky specially made for the army and exploration teams, were all made by the base using the supplies we handed over."
Of course, although the base would turn a blind eye to a little less, Da Tou and his men never thought of embezzling.
The base will also assign tasks to each team, and if they fail to complete the tasks, they will receive fewer resources next time.
The brother and sister understood.
In other words, if they can bring the mutated snake meat back on their own, they won't have to hand it over.
However, food placed in the spacecraft cannot be hidden.
Luo Yonghui: "How much can you get?"
This means letting them decide for themselves.
Yan Liang's eyes showed some disapproval: "Boss..."
Luo Yonghui stopped him with a look.
Others might not know, but Luo Yonghui knew that this piece of meat owed much to Jiang Zhi.
Moreover, in this operation, Jiang Zhi was always able to detect danger before they did.
This has already proven that this little girl is no ordinary person.
Luo Yonghui was also happy to make a good connection.
Jiang Zhi thought for a moment, "We want 150 jin of low-toxicity snake meat and 300 jin of medium-toxicity snake meat, and I also want the snake skin."
Yan Liang raised an eyebrow. Although he still felt it was a bit much, it was still within an acceptable range.
Generally speaking, only mutants have the opportunity to enjoy food with low levels of toxins. People like Chen Li, although public officials, are not mutants and are usually allocated meat with moderate levels of toxins.
Even so, the amount that could be distributed to individuals was pitifully small.
—There's no way around it. Once you become a mutant, your need for meat increases exponentially. No matter how many mutant beasts you hunt, it won't be enough to go around.
Luo Yonghui didn't say a word.
"Old Wu, cut it for them."
Seeing how straightforward the other party was, Jiang Zhi felt even more favorably toward Luo Yonghui.
"Uncle Luo, do you know anyone who knows how to make spacecraft?"
Luo Yonghui raised an eyebrow: "You've found the ore to make the spacecraft?"
Jiang Zhi would never admit to that. "No, I was just asking, in case we find it later."
"Those who can make spacecraft are all registered at the base. They generally don't make them for people outside the official ranks, but..." Luo Yonghui drawled out his words.
Jiang Zhi: "But what?"
Luo Yonghui said meaningfully, "However, if you have acquaintances, everything is negotiable."
Jiang Shu: "Uncle Luo, do you mean you know that person?"
Luo Yonghui smiled but remained silent.
Everything is understood without words.
Wu Bing clicked his tongue. "You people, you always beat around the bush. Aren't you tired? Niece Jiang Zhi, why don't you just join us? If we find any space ore, the boss will definitely help you out."
Jiang Zhi pouted: "Forget it, I don't even know if I can find it. What if I never find it in this lifetime? Wouldn't it have been a waste of my time joining?"
Luo Yonghui laughed in exasperation.
So many people want to join but can't get in, yet this girl discards them like trash.
"Alright! Old Wu, hurry up and give them the meat, then go back."
Because of the white eagle incident, the group was delayed by an extra hour, and by the time they returned to the base, it was already 6 p.m.
Luo Yonghui took out their share ahead of time.
Especially the half-headed wild boar meat, weighing over two thousand pounds, was tied to the roof of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to sink several centimeters.
Jiang Shu exclaimed, "Uncle Luo, you guys modified this vehicle really well. It's so heavy, yet it hasn't moved yet."
Hu Yang laughed and said, "Of course! Boss spent a lot of points and rare items to modify this car."
Jiang Shu was extremely envious.
I wish they could have a car too.
As Jiang Shu entered the city gate, he heard the people queuing to return to the city exclaiming in surprise—
"The exploration team is back! My God! Did you see that mutated wild boar on the roof of their vehicle? It's almost the size of the vehicle!"
"I wonder if they'll put it up for sale this time!"
...
...
As Jiang Zhi listened to their conversation, she felt somewhat dazed. Just over two months ago, when they first arrived, she was one of them.
Back in the parking lot of Zone C, everyone got out of the car.
Wu Bing and his group helped unload the goods.
Luo Yonghui kindly introduced the two to Lao Guo, who specializes in handling mutant meat.
They can cut the meat and help make it into jerky, and the price is reasonable.
Jiangzhi finally spent 1,000 points at Lao Guo's place to process the wild boar meat and half of the moderately venomous snake meat.
The brother and sister planned to carry the rest of the things back themselves.
Before leaving, Luo Yonghui said again, "If you want to sell the energy stones you have, you can come to me. The price will definitely be higher than elsewhere."
Jiang Zhi nodded, "Thank you, Uncle Luo."
Knowing the function of these energy stones, Jiang Zhi had no intention of staying.
The base's firearms need to be registered. Even Luo Yonghui and his team only took one with them on missions. This alone shows how precious the energy gun is, and ordinary people can't possibly get their hands on one.
However, with the white eagle eggshell in hand, Jiang Zhi wanted to see if she could double the energy stone's power.
If that were really possible, turning 250,000 into 500,000 would be a huge profit, wouldn't it?
After bidding farewell to Luo Yonghui and the others, the brother and sister rushed home with burning excitement.
Jiang Shu and Jiang Zhi, having plundered the bird's nest, asked with delight, "Zhi, do you think our family would be overjoyed if they knew we brought back so much food?"
Jiang Zhi glanced at him and silently took two steps away.
Didn't her brother ever think that they would get beaten up when they went back?
Although Luo Yonghui made a phone call to cover for her, her mother was no pushover.
Jiang Shu was immersed in his joyful imagination when he returned to the Jiang family home, only to see his aunt chasing a woman away with a broom.
The woman was dressed elegantly, and it was clear at a glance that she was doing well.
Wu Xiu chased them away with a broom, and they could only run away in a sorry state.
"Mom...please don't do this, I really just wanted to see Sui Sui and Si Si..."
"Who's your mother? My Jiang family doesn't have a daughter-in-law like you!" Wu Xiu said angrily. "Get out of here! You and A-Jun divorced a long time ago! You didn't even want the child back then. Sui-Sui cried until she was almost blind, but you didn't even look back at her. Now you want to use Sui-Sui as an excuse. Do you think everyone knows what your purpose is?!"
"I'm telling you! Don't bother us again! Otherwise, I'll curse you every time I see you!"
After Wu Xiu finished yelling, she slammed the door shut.
The woman stared at the gate, tears welling in her eyes. After standing there for a moment, seeing the crowd of onlookers around her, she left with the words, "I'll come again tomorrow," feeling embarrassed.
The brother and sister, who were standing not far away, exchanged a glance upon seeing this scene.
Jiang Shu: "...Was that your sister-in-law just now?"
Jiang Zhi gave him a warning look.
"Don't call me that in front of your aunt and brother later."
Judging from what just happened, it's clear that the two sides have fallen out.
Jiang Shu quickly covered his mouth.
This was the first time he had ever seen his aunt so angry, which showed just how much she hated the woman from earlier.
Jiang Zhi: "Let's go back and see what's going on."
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