At night, the two took turns resting; Shao Qi kept watch during the first half, and Zhou You took the latter. Inside the cave, a solar-powered lamp hung, accompanied by a solar heater.

To facilitate martial artists living in the wilderness, many energy-storing products were innovatively developed by humans. There are countless types of energy-storing lamps alone, which are much safer than starting fires outdoors.

At night, the sounds of beasts were still audible. In this vast mountain range, the law of the jungle played out continuously. Should humans venture in, they too would become part of the food chain. The natural advantage humans once held, using tools, had gradually diminished, and any slight oversight could mean becoming a creature's next meal.

As the night's temperature continued to drop, Zhou You placed the heater next to Shao Qi and sat close to him, covering themselves with a thick blanket to stay warm.

Having shared a bed with Zhou You for several days, Shao Qi had grown accustomed to his proximity. Zhou You finally believed Shao Qi's sentiment – without deep trust, who could sleep so soundly next to a stranger?

Trust is a beautiful thing. At least Zhou You found it beneficial, and his attitude towards Shao Qi naturally grew more affectionate.

The next day, as they set out, Shao Qi began searching for his destiny heartstone. Its mysteries eluded him, but it certainly aided cultivation. If he hadn't lost it, his injuries wouldn't have taken so long to heal.

Strangely, whenever he invoked his inner energy, he felt a faint sensation. However, neither summoning nor tracking elicited any further response. Perhaps the distance was simply too great.

Zhou You drove, listening to the latest pop songs. The forest in the early morning seemed unusually tranquil. But soon, he felt a slight warmth in his chest—a familiar sensation experienced during recent practices.

"Could it be that thing that entered my body last time causing this? I don’t know if it's good or bad, but my recent practices seem to be more energized." Zhou You trained alone, with no master or school to turn to for advice.

Shao Qi's voice came through the earpiece, "Ten miles east, there are energy fluctuations of advanced mutated beasts. It's either a mutant fighting humans or two mutants battling each other. Shall we check it out?"

Zhou You cautiously asked, "If it's two high-level mutants, can we handle them?"

"If it's two mutants, we'll wait till they weaken each other before striking. It's a win-win if we get something for nothing."

"Makes sense. I'll change our course. But this means we won't reach our destination today."

Both vehicles adjusted their direction, heading into an even denser forest. The armored vehicle often struggled, forcing them to alight and clear a path, slowing their progress considerably.

"The trees here are incredibly tall." Zhou You observed through the window, unable to see the treetops. The lush foliage blocked the sunlight, necessitating headlights to navigate.

"Older trees used to have annual rings, one for each year. Now, cutting down any random tree reveals it to be a century-old specimen. Yet, records of this mountain range indicate the oldest trees were only about forty years old."

"Is such unnatural rapid growth good or bad?" Zhou You had observed that if two trees grew too close, one would inevitably lose out, resulting in its death.

Not only were the plants rapidly encroaching on human territories, but their competition amongst themselves was also fierce.

An old vine hung from a cedar tree. The armored vehicle's route would cut such vines. Zhou You didn't pay it much attention. However, as the vehicle passed, there was a loud sound. The gray vine was much thicker than anticipated, and the vehicle's cutter couldn't sever it.

The ground was covered with thick fallen leaves, hiding a microcosm of life underneath, teeming with insects. Most people wouldn't dare tread on such ground, let alone peel back the leaves to see what lay beneath.

As the old vine was jostled by the armored car, the ground beneath began to shift. The rustling of leaves created an eerie sound.

Zhou You asked uncertainly, "I haven't seen this type of gray, spotted vine in the database. It's not aggressive, is it?"

Shao Qi hadn't seen the incident; he could only see the vine swaying from the treetops. It seemed ordinary, showing no signs of abnormality.

"The direction of mutation in vine species is consistent. Originally, they were dependent on large trees, coexisting with the host tree and drawing energy from it. Experts caution that if you notice the vines detaching from the tree, be wary, as they might have evolved to survive without relying on trees."

Zhou You looked up along the old vine, unsure if it had detached from its host tree. The next moment, the ground quivered, shaking off dead leaves and twigs, revealing gray vines covering the floor. Among the intertwined vines lay countless skeletal remains, their origins indistinguishable."

"Something's off about this vine. Mr. Shao, be careful and try not to open the windows." Zhou You launched his flying knife, aiming to cut the long vine into segments. The knife, infused with inner strength, surpassed any ordinary cutter. It successfully sliced the hanging vine into several sections."

"It seemed easy enough to cut, but the grisly scene on the ground kept Zhou You on guard. To Shao Qi, he said, "Hold off on moving your truck. Once I drive the armored vehicle fifty meters ahead, you follow. If something seems amiss, reverse immediately."

Shao Qi advised him to be cautious, then held a incendiary grenade in his palm."

"Chapter 058: Tracking the Advanced Mutant Beast"

"Zhou You knew that any minor oversight in the forest could be deadly. The old vine on the ground might have been agitated by a vehicle, but he didn’t let his guard down, passing the area at a crawl in his armored vehicle."