Jiang Xuan chose some smaller Bamboo Tube Grass, dug out over a dozen plants, carefully wrapped them in green moss, and placed them in the Beast Hide Bag.
The three of them continued forward, searching for more carnivorous plants.
As they walked, a swamp appeared ahead.
"Be careful, everyone. Swamps are very dangerous. If you fall in by accident, it could be troublesome."
Chi Shao walked at the front. When she noticed something suspicious on the ground, she used her long spear to poke it. If water bubbled up, it indicated a swamp beneath.
The most dangerous part of the swamp is the lush grass.
They often hide the swamp underneath them. When someone steps on it, they sink right in. If they can't escape in time, they'll sink deeper and eventually become part of the swamp.
"Although swamps are the most dangerous, many insect-eating plants grow near them because there are plenty of mosquitoes and insects here."
"Smack!"
Chi Shao slapped and killed a bloodsucking mosquito, continuing to search around.
"Buzz buzz buzz..."
Many mosquitoes and insects came over, circling around the three, trying to suck some blood, which was very annoying.
"Sister, is there a way to stop these mosquitoes from biting us? It's so annoying."
Jiang Xuan kept waving his hand, but the mosquitoes were agile and couldn't be driven away.
"Wait, let me see what I can find."
Chi Shao searched nearby and her eyes brightened when she saw a cluster of low plants.
This plant had unique leaves that looked like small, spread-out fans, very cute.
She carefully approached, picked several handfuls of the plant's tender leaves with her bare hands, and began to rub them.
"This is called Fan Grass, because its leaves look like fans. In the future, if you encounter this grass, pluck its leaves and rub them to extract the juice. Apply it to your body, and mosquitoes will keep away."
After squeezing out the juice, Chi Shao applied it directly to Jiang Xuan's face, arms, and legs. Afterward, she continued to rub and applied the Fan Grass juice on herself and Shi Qiu as well.
Jiang Xuan raised his arm and sniffed. The smell was a bit pungent, similar to Stinky Grass, yet different, quite an odd scent.
"Hey, it really works!"
Soon, Jiang Xuan noticed a mosquito flying over but flying away quickly instead of circling them as it did before.
Shi Qiu noticed it too, showing an equally excited expression.
Chi Shao remained calm since she had used this before.
The tribe lived in the Primitive Jungle since childhood; they knew the animals and plants there well and could use them accordingly.
Tribes unfamiliar with the jungle wouldn't survive there.
After resolving the mosquito attack, the three continued searching for insect-eating plants.
"Croak..."
A huge frog in the swamp croaked like distant thunder, while various terrifying Water Beasts occasionally swam around.
Above the swamp, sparse trees hosted numerous birds perching on branches, eyeing the water's surface, sometimes swooping down to eat fish, mosquitoes, or small Water Beasts.
"Hiss hiss..."
A large, black-striped python swam across the water, startling many birds and animals into hiding.
This is the treacherous swamp, not only containing engulfing quagmires but also very dangerous animals and plants.
Jiang Xuan walked to the other side of the swamp, spotting a red tree stretching like a willow, with fist-sized fruits on its trunk.
The fruit emitted an alluring fragrance that made one instinctively gulp.
"Be careful, don't go near that tree!"
Seeing Jiang Xuan about to approach, Chi Shao quickly pulled him back.
"Is that tree very dangerous?"
Actually, Jiang Xuan was cautious, merely wanting to observe from close up.
"Of course, it's dangerous. That's a Whip Tree. If you inadvertently get too close, its branches will whip you. Someone once got whipped to death by a Whip Tree."
Chi Shao pointed to the ground beneath the Whip Tree, saying, "See those white bones? Those are the prey whipped to death by the Whip Tree."
Jiang Xuan squinted and looked over, indeed finding many white bones beneath the Whip Tree, covered with moss, not easily noticeable without close inspection.
Chi Shao picked up a dried stick about arm-thick. "Watch this."
Chi Shao raised the stick like a spear and hurled it towards the Whip Tree sharply.
"Pop pop pop!"
"Crack crack..."
As soon as the stick touched the branches, all the branches of the Whip Tree moved like countless whips, breaking the stick into several pieces.
The whip-like branches even made explosive sounds, showing how formidable their strength was.
"That's amazing!"
Jiang Xuan watched those terrifying whips with genuine admiration, the attack power of these magical plants was no less than that of animals.
Moreover, staying still made their sudden attacks even more unguardable than animals.
Of course, they had a fatal weakness: they couldn't move.
Anyone familiar with them only needed to steer clear of their attack range, and there would be no danger.
Chi Shao continued, "Despite the Whip Tree's danger, its fruits are valuable. It's said that eating them can increase your strength."
"Is it really that magical?"
Jiang Xuan found it unbelievable, sounding like a mythical story.
"I've only heard about it, never eaten it, because the Whip Tree is too formidable. Ordinary Warriors can't pick its fruits."
Chi Shao was somewhat regretful about it, as the Hunting Team of the Deer Tribe was relatively weak, always avoiding the Whip Tree rather than daring to pick its fruits.
Jiang Xuan thought for a while and said, "The most formidable feature of the Whip Tree is its branches. If there's a way to prevent the branches from hitting us, it might be possible to pick the fruits."
Jiang Xuan pondered for a moment, "Since we've come across it, how can we not give it a try?"
Shi Qiu was eager and asked, "Leader, what should I do?"
"We need some very thick dried sticks and vines."
"I'll find them right away!"
The swamp was littered with dried sticks, and vines were everywhere—easy to find.
The three gathered many dried sticks and vines, stacking them up high.
Then Jiang Xuan chose sticks of roughly the same length, laid them out like a raft, and wrapped and tied them with layers of vines.
The wooden raft Jiang Xuan made was wide and large, comprised of stout branches, appearing very sturdy.
"Done. This is a solid, giant shield."
Jiang Xuan made handle loops using vines at the bottom of the giant shield, letting Chi Shao and Shi Qiu grab the loops together and lift the entire large shield.
"You plan to use this to block the Whip Tree's attacks?"
Chi Shao, being smart, quickly caught on to Jiang Xuan's intent.
"Exactly. The Whip Tree's whips don't curve. If we hide under the shield, the whips can't hit us."
"Can it really work?" Chi Shao was still apprehensive about the Whip Tree, having been warned numerous times during past hunting expeditions and heard many terrifying legends about it.
"We'll know if we try. If it doesn't work, we'll just retreat."
Encouraged by Jiang Xuan, the three slowly approached the Whip Tree, carrying the gigantic shield, feeling both tense and excited.