Chapter 43: Heartfelt Connections

The Forest Patrol Leader has seven special powers, which isn’t surprising.

After all, he is a fourth-tier Forest Patrol warrior, equivalent to a super extrahuman.

Every life evolution allows the integration of one exotic species, accounting for four powers along with his innate special powers, totaling seven.

All Star Realm species have innate special powers.

However, most extraterrestrial races lack innate powers, like humans who rely solely on integrating exotic species for strength.

Some powerful Star Realm species possess rare and unique innate powers. They become targets in extraterrestrial races’ hunts during evolutionary moments, triggering endless conflicts and genocidal wars.

But, an exotic species can only be integrated once!

Ji Xinghuo notices four starred special powers on the interface, guessing these are the Forest Patrol Leader’s integrated exotic species, now non-reformable.

The right-side hologram shows only three slots for exotic species.

These three are the Forest Patrol Leader’s innate powers: Language of the Forest, Scent Tracker, and Bloody Frenzy.

The Language of the Forest is a common talent among the Forest Patrol, a high-quality power but less valuable than Heartroot of Green Ivy.

Scent Tracker is what the Forest Patrol rely on to track prey, usually awakened during their first life evolution.

Scent Tracker, too, is a high-quality power and a template for hunters.

The last one, Bloody Frenzy…

Ji Xinghuo almost jumped up upon seeing it. Bloody Frenzy is an extreme power!

It’s an enhanced version of the high-quality power “Berserk,” burning one’s blood to double strength instantly, entering a fearless frenzy state immune to most psychic attacks and quickening pace and reflexes.

Also, Bloody Frenzy lasts longer and unlike “Berserk,” it doesn’t have a period of weakness afterward.

As long as blood isn’t burned to life-threatening levels, Frenzy can be sustained!

Paired with powers like “Fast Self-Healing,” “Carnivore,” or “Blood Eater” that quickly replenish blood, Bloody Frenzy becomes a formidable regular combat technique at minimal cost.

For strength-based extrahumans, Bloody Frenzy is a real game-changer!

Its value…

Ji Xinghuo envisions stacks of money piling up like small hills.

Typically, the Forest Patrol rarely awakens Bloody Frenzy. At least, Ji hadn’t heard of it before, but this Forest Patrol Leader being a Bloody Warrior with Drinking Flame Rage made its awakening during his life evolution plausible.

“Ren Mian.”

Ji Xinghuo immediately turns around saying, “I think he might have an exotic species for Bloody Frenzy.”

“Bloody Frenzy!” Chi Zhonglin exclaims excitedly, stopping his dissection of another Forest Patrol corpse and quickly walking over, “Where is it?”

Ren Mian also steps forward to observe, “Indeed possible. He is a Bloody Warrior. Previously…” She suddenly stops, then continues, “I heard there’s a fifty-percent chance for Bloody Warriors to awaken Bloody Frenzy, likely found in the heart.”

Chi Zhonglin’s eyes sparkle.

“Xinghuo, lend me your knife.” He takes Ji’s Lei Chi knife to slice open the Forest Patrol Leader’s chest.

Minutes later, Chi Zhonglin pulls out a pulsing heart valve, blood-soaked, and a surge of vitality spreads.

It still beats as if alive.

“Found it!” Chi Zhonglin exclaims with joy, “Super-limited power, Bloody Frenzy, we’re gonna be rich, haha…”

“Let me see.” Ji Xinghuo demands.

Chi passes the blood-stained exotic species. Ji grasps it and data pops up in his vision.

【Exotic Species: Bloody Frenzy】

【Grade: Super-limited】

【Integration Success Rate: 80%】

【Can be Upgraded: No】

After reading the info, Ji is momentarily stunned, fixating on the last line, his first encounter with a non-upgradable power.

He had always wondered why every exotic species he had encountered so far indicated whether it could be upgraded.

Could all actually be upgradable, so why bother displaying this info?

Now, he discovers some truly can’t be.

Ji initially excited about Bloody Frenzy now loses much interest upon realizing it can’t be upgraded.

His greatest advantage is using spiritual source energy to swiftly upgrade powers and unlock potential. A non-upgradable power is of little use to him.

Even as a super-limited power, its efficacy is discounted.

Besides, with only an 80% integration success rate, it shows less compatibility with him. Had it been 90% or higher, it might have been worth a try, at least for an early power boost.

Ji hands the exotic species to Ren Mian.

She clearly also has little interest and passes it to Jiangnan Caiyi, who eventually returns it to Chi Zhonglin.

“I want to integrate this!” Chi states seriously, “If I had Bloody Frenzy earlier, I could’ve taken him on directly,” he points at the body on the ground, “plus with my Fungal Giant allowing quick blood production, this matches perfectly with Bloody Frenzy, doubling my strength.”

Finishing, he looks to Ren Mian, hoping for approval.

However, Ren Mian shakes her head, “Bloody Frenzy is impressive, but it might fall short post-legendary. Its potential isn’t as great as you think. As your power grows, it appears more mediocre, unless… you seek the blessing of the Crimson Emperor and control Drinking Flame Rage.”

Ji is surprised.

It seems the drawback of Bloody Frenzy’s non-upgradability was already researched.

According to Ren, Bloody Frenzy seems to be a by-product of Drinking Flame Rage; it truly shines only with the presence of Blood Flame.

Chi flinches, shaking his head, “I don’t want to go mad.” Yet he adds reluctantly, “I’ll think it over, no rush.”

The four collect all exotic species from the Forest Patrol corpses.

The corpses here, at least second-tier, they gather ten “Languages of the Forests,” eight “Scent Trackers,” three “Dim Visions,” and two each of “Precision” and “Balance,”—all possible awakenings for the Forest Patrol.

While not high-quality, their quantity makes them valuable.

With the exotic species collected, the team retreats.

Ren sets a new direction, leading them dozens of miles through the night to a hidden spot where they set up camp. After washing up and changing into clean clothes, they eat and quickly fall asleep in their tents.

Hours later.

When Ji wakes, it’s already daylight, and outside the rain has lessened yet still drizzles on.

He turns to see both Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi, heavily wounded, still deep in sleep.

Ren sits at the tent opening, watching the rain.

“Awake?”

“How are you feeling?”

Ren’s voice echoes in Ji’s mind—hearing through a thought necklace to avoid waking the others. Carefully, he sits up replying, “I’m fine. No injuries. Fully recovered now,” walking over to sit beside her.

“Good,” Ren nods.

“Aren’t you sleeping, Ren?” Ji looks at her profile—her hat and scarf ruined in battle, now revealing her impeccable visage, far more pleasing than the outside view.

“I’m not tired,” she states simply, “I need very little sleep. A few hours each week suffice.”

Ji realizes and envies this somewhat.

No wonder during forest pursuits, when everyone else was exhausted, she remained vibrant, regaining strength quickly as if never tiring, keeping herself peak-fit.

If I could forgo sleep, that’d give seven or eight hours more for training daily.

“That must be an impressive power, right?” Ji curiously asks.

Ren turns smiling—without opening her mouth, still, he hears her, “Prying into others’ secrets isn’t a good habit.”

Ji gets lost for a few seconds.

He finally understands the saying, “One glance can overturn cities, a second can overturn nations.” As healthy in body and inexperienced in love, resisting such a gentle, intellectual, and stunning woman proves hard.

A seed sprouts in his heart.

Chasing power, climbing life’s evolutionary ladder isn’t purely about results—the journey’s joys shouldn’t be missed.

Setbacks might occur, but without trying, how would one know? What if it succeeds?

Life’s brief, why not give it a shot!

Seeing Ji distracted, Ren feels slightly annoyed yet resigned, accustomed to it.

“Many secrets, Ren?” Ji finally catches up.

To him, Ren is enveloped in layers of mystery, her true self unclear.

“Everyone has secrets. It’s just a matter of how many and their worth,” Ren counters, “You too have secrets, and not small ones.”

“Yes.”

Ji nods openly, internally adding, “Mine’s big.”

He doesn’t voice the latter half, but because they’re linked mentally, a slight lack of caution could reveal his thoughts.

Ren’s body pauses, and she glances sideways at Ji.

“Uh…” Ji feels immediately embarrassed, “I mean, the secret’s big.” The thought necklace, not always a great tool—slips can easily disclose one’s mind.

“You need to keep secrets better; you’re too obvious,” Ren advises, serious again, “Sometimes, you have to let go, like last night. You should’ve retreated with Chi and Caiyi instead of revealing your hand. Luckily, it was me. With someone else, you’d be in trouble now, got it?”

“I understand, but I can’t abandon teammates.”

Ji meets her gaze, “Especially since it was to save you. And because it’s you, I’m willing to take the risk(content#)

<#summary>After discovering exotic species that can radically enhance powers, Ji Xinghuo and his team survive a battle and recover while debating the merits and risks of integrating powerful but unstable abilities. When reassessing bonds and strategies, Ren Mian reveals the nuances of greater powers often hide complications, implying deeper secrets among them.

<#newEntities>

<#CHARACTERS>[{“季星火”: “Ji Xinghuo”}, {“池中鳞”: “Chi Zhonglin”}, {“任棉”: “Ren Mian”}, {“江南彩依”: “Jiangnan Caiyi”}]

<#PLACES>[]

<#ORGANIZATION>[]