Chapter 375: Bird

Chapter 375: The Bird

There is no danger here.

Beneath the distant deep sea lies an ocean of contaminated spores, a blood-red glow almost overwhelming. Pei Shu is searching for the source from which these spores originate.

Lin Xiaofeng follows closely behind him. They crouch low, as if searching for field mice in a rice paddy, making it difficult for others to spot them.

They step on a slick, black substance. Lin Xiaofeng even observes the entire process of the spores emerging up close. There are no eruption points; first, a bud appears, then slowly emerges, and finally floats in the air.

Her gaze involuntarily follows the direction of the spores, noticing that they float no higher than 1.5 meters, roughly at the level of an adult's chest. Beyond this height, they begin to disperse slowly.

Pei Shu is sketching, and after several observations, he notes that the path of the spores resembles ocean currents or electrical currents.

Pei Shu asks, puzzled, "Why can't they go any higher?"

He reaches out to touch the "air," which functions similarly to the air on the surface, containing oxygen and allowing them to breathe freely.

Apart from its sticky texture, which seems highly humid, it does not affect human survival at all.

The contaminated spores cannot break through this line; once they touch it, they start flowing downward.

Pei Shu finds an empty bottle and teaches Lin Xiaofeng how to collect samples. This equipment is available in everyone's backpacks, though he has just discovered it.

The special air substance is collected in the bottle, remaining transparent with no visible difference.

Lin Xiaofeng asks, "Should we collect the contaminated spores?"

Pei Shu says, "Don't move."

The spores themselves are not significantly different; the issue lies with the air. Pei Shu adds, "Scrape off some of the mucus."

Lin Xiaofeng carefully collects the sample with the empty bottle and asks, "Can we do a preliminary analysis?"

She is eager to understand what this substance is.

Pei Shu replies, "We need to send it inside the wall."

Professional scholars outside the wall have the equipment and capability to analyze it. They have nothing, and Pei Shu, being an outsider, only knows how to collect and record data.

Pei Shu thinks for a moment and sees this as a good opportunity. Pretending to be casual, he asks, "Zhu Ning, why don't you send Xiaofeng for further training? She has a lot of talent and could study systematically."

For scholars outside the wall, interest comes first; other skills can be cultivated. Lin Xiaofeng is very focused, and Pei Shu sees her passion, which is rare.

Lin Xiaofeng's face turns slightly red, feeling the sudden focus on her, especially the praise.

Zhu Ning assists Pei Shu in his investigation, "I'll leave it to her. Xiaofeng, do you want to go?"

Lin Xiaofeng hesitates, unsure how to respond. Zhu Ning seems to guess her thoughts, "Not now, but after this is over, we can return inside the wall to study."

Return inside the wall? It sounds wonderful. Since meeting Zhu Ning, Lin Xiaofeng feels the world has become much broader.

Whatever she wants to learn, Zhu Ning supports her. In the past, she only learned how to pose for photos, apply makeup, and take pictures. Now, she has learned to shoot guns, drive, and investigate.

Even becoming a scholar sounds cool.

But Zhu Ning always lets her decide. Even if Lin Xiaofeng wanted to return to modeling today, Zhu Ning would likely be happy to send her to a good teacher without judgment.

Lin Xiaofeng has received unprecedented support from Zhu Ning, feeling the vastness of the world and the freedom to soar.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiaofeng nods, "Yes, I want to."

She is no longer the old Lin Xiaofeng. When she wants something, she speaks up confidently, knowing she won't be refused.

Pei Shu waits for this response and immediately says, "I know a professor named Lu Yuting. I'll introduce you to her later."

Pei Shu sounds like someone promoting a tutoring class, "My classmate, currently investigating outside the southern wall. Her professional skills are top-notch. She has two Psychic abilities: one for analysis and screening, and the other is kept confidential, but rest assured, she is very strong."

Anyone who can survive outside the wall is not weak, especially those conducting investigations.

Zhu Ning deliberately says, "Then I'll need to evaluate her."

"Feel free to check," Pei Shu responds, "Talented people aren't afraid of tests."

Zhu Ning chuckles, finding this interaction quite pleasant. They are discussing ordinary matters, giving the impression that they still have hope.

Pei Shu finishes collecting the samples, looks around, and instructs Zhu Ning to stand in a specific position. She complies.

Pei Shu says, "Try absorbing it and see if you can make the contaminated spores break through this line."

He wants to understand what is blocking the spores from rising further.

Zhu Ning listens and acts, the black mucus behind her surging. Without moving, her chest rises and falls slightly, as if taking deep breaths.

Once she begins, the surrounding spores tremble. Zhu Ning's power disrupts their specific "path," but they compress in one direction, suggesting there is indeed a barrier that even Zhu Ning cannot penetrate.

Pei Shu tries waving his hand, stirring the air below, but there is no change. To him, it makes no difference, but to the spores, it seems layered.

Why?

Is the problem not with the air? Is there a force below attracting them?

Pei Shu asks Lin Xiaofeng to collect two more bottles of air from below, labeling them. He directs Zhu Ning, "This time, sit down."

Zhu Ning sits cross-legged, the spores now floating above her head. Her expression is calm, like a high monk meditating in the forest.

Pei Shu says, "Try again."

Zhu Ning closes her eyes, her chest rising and falling as she breathes.

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes widened slightly as if a strong wind had suddenly blown around her. The contaminated spores were swept away by a force, passing by her side and instantly engulfing Zhu Ning.

The process of devouring went smoothly, indicating that the contaminated spores here were no different from those outside.

A void immediately formed where Zhu Ning had devoured, like a field after the harvest, revealing large patches of blackness.

Pei Shu: "Continue, stop when I say so."

The black slime was visibly growing, and the number of contaminated spores here far exceeded any Zhu Ning had ever devoured. She even doubted whether she could finish them all.

The black slime was twisting and struggling, like an inflated balloon, expanding monstrously. Lin Xiaofeng watched helplessly as the black slime grew three times, four times, five times its original size.

The black areas increased while the red areas decreased, and the "ground" they stood on became visible.

Several red dots condensed below, continuously releasing contaminated spores, not yet fully grown, resembling young plants.

Lin Xiaofeng had speculated that they might be above some kind of creature, given how slippery it felt underfoot. But after the contaminated spores briefly disappeared, symbols appeared.

Only humans used symbols.

Plants and animals did not need such complex things to record information. Was this place man-made?

The lines underfoot gradually extended, and Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but move her feet, not wanting to block the symbols. She stepped back, as if witnessing a miracle unfolding before her eyes.

The further she retreated, the farther she was from Zhu Ning, who sat cross-legged in the distance, surrounded only by contaminated spores.

Lin Xiaofeng couldn't describe the feeling; she could only watch from afar, as if unable to enter Zhu Ning's world.

Is Zhu Ning conscious now? Can she understand what I'm saying?

The devouring took a long time. Previously, Zhu Ning's devouring only took a few minutes, but it had already been over twenty minutes and hadn't stopped.

Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but stare at her watch. Would Zhu Ning burst from overconsumption, like a human who overeats?

No one dared to speak. Bai Cheng stood coldly behind them, the black slime occupying their space, like a summoned demon.

If Zhu Ning lost control, Bai Cheng would have to clean up the mess.

The three of them couldn't help but step back, grateful for the vast space, like a prairie. They silently watched Zhu Ning, wary of the unknown dangers this action might bring.

But nothing happened. Everything remained calm and orderly, even though Zhu Ning had devoured so many contaminated spores without incident.

Was it because the rules here were too complex and hadn't been triggered? Or was this place simply tranquil?

The sound of waves still echoed in their ears. Pei Shu had initially thought the waves were caused by the collision of contaminated spores, but now it seemed they came from all directions.

It was as if there was a real sea beneath the black slime, just previously buried.

"Enough," Pei Shu said after an hour.

The force attracting the contaminated spores suddenly vanished, leaving these things ownerless, flying about aimlessly. Contaminated spores continued to grow on the ground, soon filling the entire space again.

Zhu Ning was controllable, which reassured Lin Xiaofeng. She hadn't lost her self-awareness.

Zhu Ning opened her eyes, the black slime on her eyeballs flowing, forming a human shape behind her, as if there were a fifth person besides the four teammates.

Her nape split completely open, the bone in that area slightly swollen. During the devouring, her mind had been blank, thinking of nothing until she heard Pei Shu's prompt.

Zhu Ning slowly blinked, the black slime connected to her, pulling and causing her pain. She raised her head, and the slime lowered its own.

The thing resembled a mass of asphalt or a swamp, affectionately lowering its head, seemingly trying to get closer to her. They were only an inch apart.

The black slime fed on fear. When it first entered Zhu Ning's body, it would act opportunistically, trying to consume its host, but now it was so obedient.

This thing was quite affectionate. The tentacle near Zhu Ning's heart rolled, having been hungry for too long, and the parasites in her body relaxed.

Zhu Ning's first reaction wasn't to observe her surroundings but to check the system panel. The new system interface designed by Zhu Yao was very simple, and she clearly saw two progress bars fluctuating.

One was for purifying the world, which was 22% complete.

The other was for the Eye of Foresight, which was 10% developed.

Zhu Ning had never fully understood the function of the Eye of Foresight, her understanding of it being superficial, a form of Danger Sense.

But now, the duration of Danger Sense hadn't changed, while the Eye of Foresight had. Was it because she had devoured more contaminated spores?

How could she use this Eye of Foresight? Could she peek into different timelines like the original Zhu Ning? But she couldn't even find the switch to activate it.

No new Psychic abilities had formed, but the progress bar for purifying the world was increasing. What would happen if Zhu Ning devoured all the contaminated spores here?

Her life was still at 20%, and Zhu Ning was already 19 years old, with only a few months left before the end of her life.

Her mission's completion might coincide with her death.

"Are you okay?" Bai Cheng asked.

Zhu Ning tried to make the black slime return, but it seemed to lag, as if her body had shrunk while it had grown, making it difficult for the enlarged entity to re-enter smoothly.

Zhu Ning narrowed her eyes, understanding something. The contaminated spores weren't just food; the parasites in her body would become uncontrollable as they grew stronger.

Continuing to absorb more might be dangerous for Zhu Ning.

She moved her neck, making a cracking sound, and applied slight pressure with her other hand. The black slime, sensing its master's displeasure, began to move slightly, reluctantly crawling back.

However, the speed was slow, and complete absorption would take some time.

Bai Cheng watched her from across, and Zhu Ning shook her head: "I'm fine."

She herself didn't fully understand her current state and naturally didn't mention her lifespan.

"Look," Lin Xiaofeng's words interrupted Bai Cheng's unspoken question.

Zhu Ning turned her head. Centering on her, the area she had devoured was empty, resembling an irregular circle with a diameter of about one kilometer. The full extent of this place was still unknown, but it appeared that Zhu Ning had only harvested a portion of it.

The black "ground" spread out, and the pollution spores resembled mushrooms that hadn't fully grown, just peeking through. The lines above were more prominent.

There were signs of artificial work, the lines like blood grooves on a blade, appearing more like cracks on the ground.

But how long they had been there was unclear; the edges had long since blurred, and some lines had been worn smooth.

Zhu Ning didn't walk to where Pei Shu and the others were; instead, she directly activated God's Eye.

From a high vantage point, she could see the current state. At this distance, the area Zhu Ning had devoured looked like a wheat field flattened by a spaceship. The lines below seemed alive, as if a being from a higher dimension was drawing them.

Spread wings, sharp feathers, a pointed beak.

It was a bird.