Chapter 38: Forest Clans

Late at night.

Ji Xinghuo woke up on time and glanced at his mechanical watch, noting he’d slept for six hours.

The Star Realm had entered “Mid-Moon,” the fifth month of the hot season, which lies in the middle of this period. On the 18th day of Mid-Moon, the starry night and the dark night will each last 12.4 hours. After that day, the starry night will be longer than the dark night and the weather will become hotter.

Ren Mian was sitting at the tent entrance, her eyes slightly closed as if she hadn’t moved for hours.

Ji Xinghuo sat up, a small movement that immediately caught her attention, causing her to open her eyes and look over.

The two exchanged glances in the dark.

Ren Mian got up and made space, Ji Xinghuo moved over to the still-warm grass mat, watching as she crawled into a sleeping bag next to Jiangnan Caiyi and fell asleep within half a minute.

Ji Xinghuo looked away.

He too closed his eyes slightly but felt absolutely no desire to sleep, his spirit alert. His magnetic field sensing instantly extended outward, covering everything within a 350-meter radius.

The hollow in the mountains was silent.

The occasional chirping of insects made the pitch darkness around even deeper.

Occasionally, animals passed by but would not discover the tent hidden in the thorn bushes; any that came close were repelled by the scent of the animal repellent plants.

Out of boredom, Ji Xinghuo opened the interface of Xiangxing Eyes and, after a moment’s thought, allocated today’s acquired 15 spirit source points to “Rotating Magnetic Field.”

The upgrade progress was updated to 117/359.

It was still a long way from advancing to level two; the physical strengthening effects were not very noticeable, but the range of his magnetic field sensing had extended nearly ten meters.

Given his role in the team, the stronger his perception, the safer everyone would be.

Ji Xinghuo calculated.

When the first level of Rotating Magnetic Field was completed, his magnetic field sensing could reach around 500 meters.

That would be a sufficiently safe distance; even legendary rangers would find it hard to launch a fatal attack on a target 500 meters away.

For enemies beyond legendary, if encountered, knowing their presence would be pointless.

Guarding at night was the hardest.

However, Ji Xinghuo had strong resolve and maintained a relatively high focus. During these six hours, monsters entered his magnetic field range but didn’t approach the tent, so he didn’t alert his teammates and let the monsters leave.

At dawn, everyone woke up.

Jiangnan Caiyi reheated last night’s leftover spider leg meat for everyone’s breakfast and topped up their water; the team then continued on their way.

Before leaving the camp, Ren Mian removed the plant defenses outside the tent, collected the seeds and samples, and restored the area to its original state.

They headed west.

By noon, the team had covered more than seventy kilometers.

The few battles they encountered weren’t very intense, and they captured two heterogeneities, though only one was of premium quality, worth about 100,000 Asian Yuan.

In the afternoon, they walked a long distance. Ji Xinghuo felt it strange that they hadn’t encountered any monsters, and even wildlife seemed scarce.

“Sister Ren, could we have entered the territory of some powerful creature?” he whispered.

“Probably not.”

Ren Mian took out a rudimentary map marked with striking red crosses on several spots indicating dangerous forbidden zones.

“We’re not in any danger zone; the nearest one is also quite far away,” she confirmed after a careful examination. “Either we’re just unlucky not to encounter any, or there might be a gathering place of Star Realm heterogeneities or a tribe nearby.”

Ji Xinghuo asked, “Are there Star Realm heterogeneities west of the City of Freedom?”

“Of course.” Chi Zhonglin laughed. “Which part of the Star Realm doesn’t have heterogeneities? Just in the Thousand Peak Abyssal Forest, there are dozens of races, nominally vassals of the Tianyu Royal Court.”

Ren Mian reminded, “Most heterogeneities can be communicated with, but don’t let your guard down and never approach them carelessly. Some uncommunicative heterogeneities can be more dangerous than monsters, as you don’t know if they harbor any hostility.”

She listed some Star Realm heterogeneities, thoroughly describing their abilities and customs.

“I’ve got it,” Ji Xinghuo nodded.

Along the way, his teammates often passed on hunting experience and knowledge of the Star Realm.

Most of the time, it was Ren Mian speaking, as her understanding of the Star Realm was profound.

Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi had been in the Star Realm for several years, but their knowledge was vastly different compared to Ren Mian, often needing to listen carefully.

Ji Xinghuo had a good memory and remembered everything well.

In fact, before entering the Star Realm, Ji Xinghuo had studied many heterogeneities; his college major was the Star Realm Language, including three heterogeneity languages along with related courses. Language is the best window to understanding a race or a civilization.

In this respect, his foundation was better than most, understanding it quickly.

As starry night approached.

Suddenly, Ji Xinghuo stopped and whispered, “Someone is approaching, and they’re not monsters.” He discerned after a moment, “Three of the Forest Clans.”

There really was a heterogeneity tribe nearby.

Ren Mian was not surprised and asked, “Can you tell which tribal branch they are from?”

“I can’t,” Ji Xinghuo shook his head.

Magnetic field sensing doesn’t show colors or images; the images in his mind are abstract, identified only by magnetic field shapes and the strength indicating power levels.

His expression changed slightly, “These three Forest Clansmen have spotted us and are coming this way.”

“We’ll avoid them.”

Ren Mian didn’t want to clash with the heterogeneities, as it could lead to big trouble.

“They’re moving fast; we might not be able to avoid them,” Ji Xinghuo felt the newcomers were hostile and already held his compound bow, fitting an arrow on it.

Soon, rapid footsteps sounded, like dense horse hooves hitting the ground.

“Get ready,” Ren Mian placed her hand on her belt, Chi Zhonglin put down his backpack and stood in front with a gun, and Jiangnan Caiyi’s figure vanished into the air.

Quickly, three tall figures burst from the dense forest.

Their upper bodies were similar to humans, but their lower halves resembled ungulates, similar to horses or deer, with large black hooves and extremely robust bodies wearing leather armor. Their faces protruded, with large nostrils, and a pair of branched black antlers grew on either side of their heads. Their round eyes emitted a primitive and fierce light.

The one in the lead, clearly a male, stood over two and a half meters tall, with a bare chest powerfully built, and legs as thick as pillars, holding a giant spear with a bundle of javelins strapped to his back.

The two with him had female characteristics, their bodies more compact and agile, each wielding a heavy long bow and nearly two meters tall.

Their skin was covered in blood-red tattoos that spread across their entire bodies.

“Forest Clans!”

Ji Xinghuo thought to himself.

The Forest Clans were common in the Star Realm, constituting a large heterogeneity that lived in forests, considering themselves the masters of the woods.

Overall, the talent of the Forest Clans was average among the Star Realm heterogeneities, and their intelligence level was also higher.

However, the Forest Clans were a race guided by faith, and differences in belief made the moral tendencies of different Forest Clan tribes completely opposite.

Some Forest Clans revered nature and were warm and hospitable.

Other Forest Clans were fierce and belligerent, hostile to all outsiders entering their territory, like uncivilized wild beasts.

Ren Mian had already activated the “Thought Necklace”; her voice sounded in Ji Xinghuo’s mind, “I haven’t seen this clan before. Let’s try to communicate first.”

“I don’t know the Forest Clans’ language,” Ji Xinghuo responded, “but perhaps they can understand the language of the Celestial Race. I’ll give it a try.”

As the Tianyu Royal Court ruled the Thousand Peak Abyssal Forest, the language of the Celestial Race should carry weight.

“Gentlemen…”

Just as Ji Xinghuo started speaking, the leading male Forest Clansman suddenly let out a furious roar, running with all four hooves and quickly throwing a javelin.

The other two female Forest Clans also fired arrows.

“What’s going on…”

Ji Xinghuo was confused, not knowing what had angered the other party.

However, his reaction was quick, and his arrow shot from the compound bow almost simultaneously.

Ren Mian’s hand flashed with green light, and a bunch of dried leaves quickly unfolded, forming a two-meter wide green lotus leaf, like a round shield in front of her and Ji Xinghuo.

Chi Zhonglin had already rushed forward.

Thump!

The javelin struck the “Shield Lotus,” piercing the leaf but sticking on it. Two heavy arrows were also blocked by the lotus leaf.

Simultaneously, one of the female Forest Clans screamed.

“Ah…”

An arrow hit her in the eye, piercing through her head, and she fell to the ground in an instant.

Seeing Ji Xinghuo draw another arrow targeting her, the remaining female Forest Clansman panicked, her eyes wide with fear as she fixated on Ji Xinghuo’s compound bow, trying to dodge the arrows, but she was completely unaware of an invisible figure already behind her.

Jiangnan Caiyi suddenly appeared, and her samurai sword flashed past, beheading the oblivious enemy.

In a single encounter, two of the Forest Clans were dead.

The leading male had no time to help, and the death of his clan members instead incited his ferocity as he charged ferociously at the approaching Chi Zhonglin.

“Hey!”

Chi Zhonglin’s body swelled to match the height of the Forest Clans, his arm muscles bursting as he collided with the opponent’s spear without hesitation.

The advantage of the Lava Lance immediately showed.

The Forest Clans’ spear broke with a snap, a scorching force traveling up his arm, penetrating his body, and causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Chi Zhonglin turned the spear tip, taking advantage of the enemy’s inability to defend, thrusting the spear into his heart.

The force on the spear exploded, blasting open the chest.

Chi Zhonglin pulled out the long spear, the fresh blood on it quickly burned dry, he didn’t even glance at the enemy’s body, and immediately withdrew.

“Let’s go.”

Ren Mian didn’t hesitate, urging her teammates to leave immediately.

Chi Zhonglin ran ahead with his spear, Ji Xinghuo and Jiangnan Caiyi followed, and Ren Mian threw a black flower on the ground behind them.

The black flower landed, rooted quickly, its roots spreading fast, devouring all plants it touched—flowers, shrubs, or trees—crazily absorbing them into nutrients, producing a pool-like fungal mat.

The dark, murky fungal mat covered a hundred meters, consuming the three Forest Clans’ bodies, digesting them completely.

In less than ten minutes, the trees turned into a pool of black water.

Shortly after, a squad of Forest Clans arrived, looking at the empty, darkened ground with faces full of wariness and anger, yet also quite bewildered.