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So recently, many cultivators have been arriving in Red Mound City from various parts of the Red Rock Forest, causing a housing shortage and driving prices sky-high.

Apart from those cultivators who came for the dragon's treasure, there are also many wandering cultivators with ill intentions, specifically targeting these outsiders. Few cultivators who are targeted by them manage to escape unscathed.

Earlier, when Wen Qiao and the others went to find lodging, those with fierce expressions who kept staring at them were precisely these wandering cultivators.

The scarcity of resources in the Red Rock Forest has made most cultivators here brutally ruthless, with very few showing mercy—those who do simply cannot survive in this place.

This is forced by the environment and is the norm in the Red Rock Forest.

In contrast, the young beasts inhabiting the Red Rock Forest remain largely unchanged, simple enough to be bribed or traded with Spirit Restoring Pills.

After asking around on the streets, Wen Qiao and the others visited the shops in Red Mound City to learn more about the local situation.

From what they observed, items like pills, talismans, artifacts, and formations were also in short supply. A single *Earth-Grade* Spirit Restoring Pill could fetch a sky-high price, making Wen Qiao momentarily tempted to sell a few bottles of *Earth-Grade* Spirit Restoring Pills.

However, considering the situation in the Red Rock Forest, she quickly scrapped the idea.

Wealth should not be flaunted—this principle holds true everywhere.

Finding nothing else worth seeing, Wen Qiao and the others returned to the inn, planning to stay for a few days before setting off for the Redbone River with the other cultivators.

Chapter 400

Outside, the rain began to start up again, its sound clearly audible even inside the house.

The Red Rock Forest truly experienced several rain showers every day, sometimes even raining nonstop for an entire day, blanketing the world in a hazy red mist.

Apart from the pitted red rocks eroded by the rain, no flesh-and-blood creature could withstand the red rain.

"Is there really no other way?" Wen Qiao couldn't help but ask.

If they were traveling outside and suddenly got caught in the rain without a place to take shelter, wouldn't they be melted into a puddle of blood, leaving not even bones behind?

Ning Yuzhou stood by the window, observing for a moment before saying, "Let me study it."

Seeing him collect some of the red rain in a stone bowl made of red rock for research, Wen Qiao and the others let him be and continued scouting the city to gather more information for future contingencies.

Wen Qiao took Wen Guangun and her father-in-law, Ning Jichen, to inquire about ways to avoid the corrosive effects of the red rain.

Naturally, Ning Jichen took charge of the inquiries. As the former emperor of Dongling, he had the commanding presence and tactical savvy of a ruler. He was quick-witted, had a strong sense of the bigger picture, and knew exactly what needed to be done at any given time. Most importantly, he understood the art of conversation.

Otherwise, if Wen Qiao were to ask with her usual impassive expression, even if people answered out of admiration for her beauty, it might still feel awkward and easily lead to conflict. More importantly, Red Mound City was mostly populated by cutthroat outlaws with violent tendencies, who would either prey upon a beautiful Female Cultivator or harbor malicious thoughts. How could Ning Jichen bear to let his lovely and obedient daughter-in-law suffer?

After their inquiries, they discovered that the cultivators here were just as powerless against the red rain.

"If you're caught in the rain while in the wild, your only option is to quickly find or dig a shelter nearby. However, the red rocks, altered by the rain, are immune to corrosion and extremely hard to dig. Most likely, you'd be melted before finishing."

"If we're talking about digging experts in the Red Rock Forest, it would have to be the Red Rats."

"Exactly. When the Red Rock Forest underwent its mutation, many young beasts fled, but the Red Rats stayed. Despite their low-level status, they’re remarkably fast at digging red rock caves. Having a tamed Red Rat to help with digging in the wild is quite convenient."

"That’s absolutely true..."

Hearing this, Wen Qiao finally understood.

After entering Red Mound City, she had noticed many cultivators keeping Red Rats and found it odd, given their low-level status—far from an ideal choice for a Contract Beast.

Since their only use was digging, Wen Qiao's mind turned to Wen Guangun.

"I wonder if Wen Guangun can dig. Let's go outside and test it out," Wen Qiao said, lifting Wen Guangun from her shoulder into her arms and gently rubbing its furry head. "Wen Guangun, we're counting on you now. You've got to do your best."

With Sister Wen saying that, what else could it do?

The usually lazy Wen Guangun stretched out a paw and placed it on her hand, signaling its agreement.

Choosing a time when it wasn't raining, Wen Qiao and the others went outside Red Mound City to test Wen Guangun’s digging ability.

Wen Qiao, Shi Wuming, Wen Tuti, and the rest each tested the hardness of the red rock.

First was Wen Qiao. She struck the red rock with her spirit weapon, managing to chip off a piece, but the weapon also sustained a chip. A few more strikes like that, and the sword would be ruined.

This was exactly why everyone said using spirit tools to dig wasn’t practical—no one had enough to spare. Besides, resources in the Redrock Forest were scarce, and no cultivator would waste spirit tools on digging.

Next was Shi Wuming. He swung at the rock repeatedly but didn’t even leave a scratch, earning him a look of disdain from Wen Tuti.

Wen Tuti also tried digging with her claws, making loud *thud* sounds. In the end, she was panting from exhaustion, having only managed to dig a shallow pit—just enough to fit her rabbit form inside.

After observing, Ning Jichen concluded that the red rock, altered by the red rain, was indeed incredibly tough and difficult to excavate.

Once everyone had tried, it was finally Wen Guangun’s turn.

Wen Guangun hopped onto a red rock several zhang tall (about 10 meters), climbing up and down, tapping here and scratching there with its claws. Then, with a single swipe, it sank its claws into the rock like it was soft tofu, swiftly scooping out a hole.

"Wow, Wen Guangun is amazing!" Shi Wuming and Wen Tuti exclaimed together.

Wen Guangun crawled out of the hole and proudly lifted its head at them.

"Then we'll rely on Wen Guangun from now on," Wen Qiao said, feeding it a Spirit Restoring Pill. "Wen Guangun digs way better than those Red Rats."

Earlier, they had inquired about the digging speed of a seventh-rank Red Rat—it couldn't hold a candle to Wen Guangun, their little digging expert.