Chapter 194 - 168

The arrival of the Fourth Fleet completely alleviated the personnel pressure faced by Astera. However, the accompanying housing problem became a new challenge for everyone.Rebuilding residences was clearly not an option in terms of time, and furthermore, this area was filled with a unique microorganism. Wood cut down would not last long without special treatment.So, everyone decided to dismantle the ships. Those vessels capable of navigating the high seas had already undergone multiple anti-corrosion treatments. They were not only readily available high-quality materials, but the residences built from them would also have a longer lifespan.Just as Astera was immersed in a bustling atmosphere of activity, the cloaked middle-aged man quietly slipped away from the crowd and ventured alone into the nearby forest.As an experienced explorer, he had once ventured deep into dangerous territory to collect Tearstones from Uragaan and successfully hunted the internal organs of a Goss Harag.He was fully confident in his abilities; even when facing a completely unfamiliar continent, there was no trace of fear in his eyes.As long as he completed this mission, the money he earned would be enough for him to return to his hometown, purchase large tracts of land, and live a prosperous and peaceful life, no longer having to endure the elements or wander from place to place.After all, not everyone was passionate about the profession of a hunter. The working environment was harsh, not to mention the constant risk of life-threatening danger.Reality was not a game; there was no chance to start over. Among the hunter community, perhaps less than half successfully retired.The cloaked middle-aged man walked through the dark and deep dense forest, surrounded by towering trees with diameters of twenty to thirty meters, which made him feel as if he had come to a land of giants.He had heard that in the Dundorma region, there was a vast Ancient Forest formed by primeval forests. He wondered which forest was more spectacular compared to the one before him.However, there probably wouldn't be an Ancient Tree as tall as a mountain there! Even deep within the forest, by looking up through the gaps in the branches and leaves, one could see that majestic, towering giant tree.It was like a lighthouse, clearly guiding the creatures in the forest, ensuring they would never get lost.How did such an unimaginably giant tree grow? Could it truly be a creature born in the natural world?It was said that its initial height was less than half of what it is now. It was only after that mysterious Elder Dragon settled and resided in the tree that it seemed to have a second life, beginning to grow madly upwards."Lord of All Life, Creator of Ecosystems, Master of the Ancient Forest, Eternal Unfalling Dragon… just thinking about these titlesmakes one's heart feel doubly pressured!"Having traveled all day, the cloaked middle-aged man chose a natural tree hollow as a temporary shelter as night fell.By the faint light emitted by a glowstone, he carefully took out a wooden statue from his in arms, his rough fingers meticulously tracing every line on the statue, his eyes filled with solemnity.He had just bought it at Astera. It was a carving of that Elder Dragon.As an experienced explorer and bounty hunter, he naturally wouldn't be so naive as to hope he could hunt such an extremely dangerous Elder Dragon.His purpose in coming here was merely to sneak into its nest while the Elder Dragon was out, to see if he could gain any advantages.In the underground black market of the Old World, the price of dragon power crystal had been driven to an astonishing level. One gram could sell for an exaggerated 100,000 z. If it were the legendary true crimson blood, the price would be unimaginable.As long as he could bring back a fist-sized piece, then all the adventures he had experienced would have been worthwhile.Of course, after acquiring it, he would also have to consider how to successfully bring it back.After all, such an item was a controlled substance, strictly prohibited from circulating among the general public. Anyone returning from the New World would undergo strict scrutiny, and once found carrying dragon power crystal, it would be confiscated by the state.In the Old World, if humans wanted to obtain dragon power crystal, they could only rely on so-called contributions and seniority. In front of it, money was like blank paper, worthless."I wonder if those guys responsible for the rendezvous are reliable. They said they would follow the investigation team, but I haven't seen any sign of them yet.Could they have been shipwrecked?"Harboring both anticipation and worry for a new life, the cloaked middle-aged man sealed the entrance of the tree hollow with large bundles of branches.This way, it would ensure ventilation and not be easily detected by monsters outside. He then tightened his cloak and leaned against the tree trunk, falling into a light sleep.After a brief investigation of the Ancient Forest's ecosystem, Logan returned to his nest at the top of the tree.Thanks to their powerful physical condition and high metabolism, the Grimalkyne that had been drunk earlier had now sobered up. The treetop had also been thoroughly cleaned, showing no trace of the previous mess.Logan summoned a few Felynes, then extended a claw and slowly sliced downwards along the Lagiacrus's lower jaw. His sharp, high-temperature-infused claw easily cut through the Lagiacrus's tough hide, creating a large wound that extended to the tip of its tail.Then, the entire Lagiacrus hide was completely peeled off, the internal organs removed, and the whole creature was spitted onto a huge log and placed over glowing red charcoal.This thing resembled a crocodile, so its cooking method would probably be similar to a crocodile's. Roasting it over charcoal, then rubbing it with oil, salt, seasonings, plus chili and honey, the taste surely wouldn't be bad.Soon, the huge Lagiacrus was completely devoured. However, the taste left Logan somewhat disappointed; it tasted like tough, old chicken.Fortunately, it provided a good number of evolution points, another dozen or so points added to his account. If it weren't for the fact that each creature only granted evolution points upon initial hunting and consumption, with Logan's strength, he could probably easily farm thousands or tens of thousands of points.After eating and drinking his fill, Logan, having nothing else to do, decided to check on the two Nergigante "eggs" he was raising in the tree hollow.It had been a long time since he last saw them. He wondered how they were developing.Flying downwards along the thick tree trunk, the distribution of branches and leaves above had changed somewhat due to the Ancient Tree's continuous growth.However, guided by the Grimalkyne, Logan quickly found the natural tree hollow. As a place for storing important materials on the tree, the entrance was guarded by a pair of Grimalkyne.They were among the stronger, hunter-trained members of the Grimalkyne, with an average height of nearly two meters, wielding various weapons, and clad in armor forged from Logan's shed photosynthesizing plates and various layered metals.Among this Grimalkyne guard squad, the leader was the familiar Fish Ball. Its height reached an astonishing 2.3 meters or more, its body was muscular, and its fur was fiery red, looking exactly like an upright flaming tiger.Upon seeing Logan, these Felynes immediately greeted him joyfully, then pulled open the tightly closed door of the tree hollow behind them. The passage, which initially seemed quite wide, now appeared somewhat narrow as Logan's body continued to grow. However, fortunately, by slightly shrinking his body, he could just barely pass through.Walking along the brown-black wooden passage, it wasn't long before two wide pools appeared before Logan's eyes.The originally clear and transparent pool water, with the passage of time, now presented a light green color, like jade.This pool was located at a node of energy transmission within this giant Ancient Tree. The Leyline Energy surging from underground would be transmitted upwards through the pool water, and the Celestial Marrow Energy absorbed by the branches and leaves would also flow downwards through this spot.Coupled with the sugary components flowing down from above through the tree's nutrient transport structure, this place was truly blessed.Ordinary people, by simply soaking in this pool water, would continuously improve their physical fitness. Even if they did nothing, they could at least reach the level of an elite hunter. The nutrients and energy contained within were absolutely no less than an Elder Dragon's blood.And the two Nergigante "eggs" soaking in the pool water had now reached a length of about 15 meters and a diameter exceeding 10 meters. The originally pitch-black egg membrane, as it continuously expanded, gradually lightened in color until it became completely transparent, allowing the outline of the embryo inside to be clearly seen.Like the Gore Magala, with sufficient nutrition, the Nergigante also had no so-called juvenile period, emerging at birth in a near-adult, youthful form.However, these two fellows seemed somewhat different from ordinary Nergigante. Through the transparent egg membrane, one could see that the pair of huge horns on their heads presented a crystalline texture, like diamonds, and the tips of the spines on their bodies also shimmered with bright fire.Was it because the distribution of carbon elements had changed? It was unclear whether this change was good or bad. Judging by the current situation, they would probably hatch soon, and then two powerful new combatants would be added.The cloaked middle-aged man was startled awake by a cacophony of bird calls. He quickly rolled over, instantly shifting from sitting against the ground to a half-crouching position.He carefully drew two sharp scimitars from behind his back, gently pushed aside the branches blocking the cave entrance, and peered downwards through the gap.Under a large tree not far away, a group of Kulu-Ya-Ku had gathered.He was not unfamiliar with this small Bird Wyvern species, which averaged about 8 meters in length, with bright yellow scales and a vibrant feathered crest. However, such a large gathering of Kulu-Ya-Ku was a sight he had never witnessed before.A rough count revealed at least over 10 of them, and in the middle of this group of Kulu-Ya-Ku, there was an exceptionally large one, measuring over 15 meters in length. Its entire body was covered in brilliantly colored scales, and in its pair of foreclaws, which had fleshy pads, it clutched an ice-blue egg.At this moment, this giant Kulu-Ya-Ku was continuously making squawking sounds, as if narrating something, and the surrounding group of Kulu-Ya-Ku responded in agreement.Finally, as the ice-blue egg was raised high, as if a decision had been made, they surged towards one side of the forest in a mighty procession.This bizarre scene instantly piqued the cloaked middle-aged man's interest. Since his own matters were not urgent, he might as well follow to see what was happening.With his agile movements, he began to quickly move through the treetops, like an ape, following the group of Kulu-Ya-Ku from a distance.After passing through large stretches of jungle, the group of Kulu-Ya-Ku finally stopped in an area of rocky hills.They began to grope around on the ground with their foreclaws, and once they found a suitable stone, they immediately gripped it tightly in their claws.Once all the Kulu-Ya-Ku had found their preferred "weapons," they began to cautiously advance little by little. After bypassing a few protruding rocks, a colossal creature over 25 meters long abruptly appeared before the cloaked middle-aged man's eyes.It was a Glavenus. Its entire body, covered in molten-iron-like scales, bore a scorched blue hue from high-temperature burning. The spines on its back and head ascended like flames, and the huge tail blade behind it reflected a dazzling cold light.This group of Kulu-Ya-Ku clearly knew the Glavenus's habits inside out, specifically choosing to sneak up on it while it was resting.Soon, led by the leading Kulu-Ya-Ku, they occupied several high ground positions. With a command, they forcefully hurled the stones held in their foreclaws.A whistling sound of rushing wind filled the air as huge stones, like cannonballs launched by a catapult, heavily smashed into the Glavenus's body.The loud impact, accompanied by dull thuds, instantly startled the Glavenus awake from its slumber, and it let out an angry roar towards the sky.Its azure eyes swept around and immediately locked onto the exceptionally large Kulu-Ya-Ku. Enemies meeting, their eyes blazed with fury. The Glavenus, without thinking, spewed a scorching breath.Molten slag, carrying crimson flames, struck the Kulu-Ya-Ku like a squall. However, they dodged with agile movements, then scattered in all directions, avoiding the subsequent explosions.The Glavenus, however, paid no attention to the tiny creatures fleeing in all directions, its gaze fixed on the leading Kulu-Ya-Ku, and it began to pursue it with powerful strides.The two were old acquaintances. Their first encounter was at the other end of that desert. Then, they chased each other all the way, and somehow ended up in this forest. Due to the excellent environment, they simply settled down.However, what the Glavenus didn't expect was that not only did it hold a grudge, but that Kulu-Ya-Ku was equally vengeful.The dense Ancient Forest was not like the open Wildspire Waste. Numerous thick trees formed natural obstacles, making it more suitable for agile creatures like the Kulu-Ya-Ku, rendering the massive Glavenus unable to keep up.Upon realizing this, and successfully finding more of its kind in this forest,that Kulu-Ya-Ku, relying on the precious egg in its possession and the robust physique it developed during its long escape, successfully became the leader of the nearby Kulu-Ya-Ku and, with this, launched its campaign of revenge against the Glavenus.Every so often, this Kulu-Ya-Ku would gather its kin to attack the Glavenus. Although the thrown stones could not truly harm the heavily scaled Glavenus, they could continuously harass it.Whistling fireballs continuously spewed from the Glavenus's mouth, causing violent explosions upon impact.Large areas of humus were thus thrown into the air, and huge holes were left in the thick tree trunks.However, these posed no threat to the Kulu-Ya-Ku ahead. Its long escape had accumulated rich dodging experience, and the precious egg in its claws gave it endless courage. At this moment, it was calm and even began to think about how to counterattack.