Chapter 736: Peril Beneath the Green: Crisis and Alliance Aid

Seeing that enormous Wild Tung Tree on the screen, Huo Lei sucked in a sharp breath. Zhao Ze’s mother, Zhao Ze, Kuang Qingwei, Zhu Li and the others went pale just imagining what would happen if that thing popped up in their territory.

Tan Qi instinctively scooted closer to Zhao Ze’s mother. With her single arm, Zhao Ze’s mother hugged her student, gently patting her back as they watched the video together.

When the ten-minute Wild Tung Tree removal video finished, even Tang Huai fell uncharacteristically silent. Only then did everyone realize how close they’d come to a disaster that could have wiped out their entire territory.

Once again, the lords were reminded—walls or no walls, danger was never far from their land.

Xia Qing spoke up, “You all saw it. Once this high-risk Wild Tung Tree comes under attack, it blooms and bears fruit, which draws birds that peck at it and spread seeds everywhere. That’s exactly why, after the year’s first Devastation Rain, so many aggressive Wild Tung Trees burst out in our territory.”

“After going through Devastation Rain, these aggressive Wild Tung Trees evolve from low-risk to high-risk and start taking over forests, the whole valley.” Seeing everyone’s heavy faces, Xia Qing switched gears, trying to encourage them.

“We got lucky. The Safe Zone already sent a task force to wipe out the worst threat. All that’s left is to clear out any Wild Tung Trees that emerge during Devastation Rain and clean up any that sprout in the nearby Evolved Forests after. As long as we do that, we can avoid a catastrophe.”

Huo Lei asked, “Xia Qing, your Black Blade can’t cut through the Wild Tung Tree’s roots and vines?”

Xia Qing explained, “If they’re about as thick as your arm, you can chop them with enough effort. Still, pulling them out works faster because even after cutting, you have to dig out everything left in the soil and the roots.”

Tang Huai let out a sigh, “Give these things a few more years to evolve, they’ll turn into tree demons! No joke.”

Tang Heng steered them back on track, “From my experience, once a Devastation-Evolved Wild Tung Tree sprouts, as long as it’s under two meters tall, two healthy adults with sharp enough blades can uproot it within fifteen minutes. The key to handling these trees is mobilizing enough people during Devastation Rain—patrol your territory around the clock, catch them early, and clear them out fast.”

“Tang Heng nailed it.” Xia Qing picked up the thread. “We’ve got about a month until the second Devastation Rain, and those High Evolution Element Spinach Seeds will ripen then too. Every territory will be fighting a tough battle. Don’t pin all your hopes of protecting your land on outside help—make sure you’re prepared.”

How each lord prepares is up to them.

“Got it!” Zhao Ze and Zhu Li replied in perfect sync. Their two territories happened to be the weakest in the Alliance.

Qi Fu, chairing the meeting, moved them to the third topic. “Last thing for today: Devastation Rain will last at least three days. Keeping up your strength is the only way to meet this crisis head-on. That’s why our leader went to Third Brother to ask for a special benefit for Alliance members.”

Everyone turned their heads toward Xia Qing, who took out a glass test tube filled with a clear, colorless liquid from the Medicine Box.

Tang Huai, seated straight across from Xia Qing, leaned in, his eyes growing round. “Is this… Evolution Element stim shake?! My god!”

Xia Qing just looked at him.

Tang Heng reminded him, “Bro, the retail price for one Evolution Element stim shake is ten thousand credits. Even for Alliance members, it’s still several thousand credits each.”

Third Brother would never sell such rare and costly medicine to everyone. Plus, the side effects of the Evolution Element stim shake aren’t something everyone can handle.

Good point! Tang Huai gazed at Xia Qing, practically pleading for her to explain.

“This one’s actually called Nutrient Source. Third Brother invented it. Juice fifteen milliliters from High Evolution Element Spinach Leaves, add one gram of Nutrient Source, and you’ll get a high-quality Premium Nutrient Shake. The energy in that is equal to one and a half shakes made by Fire Phoenix.”

“I…”

Tang Huai was about to curse but a glare from Yue Haiying made him remember the kids sitting at the table. He switched quickly, “Oh wow, that’s crazy! Xia Qing, how many credits for a tube of Nutrient Source?”

Who wouldn’t want such a game-changing medicine? Everyone held their breath, eyes wide, waiting to hear the Alliance member price.

No sense keeping them in suspense, Xia Qing came out with it, “Alliance internal price: 100 credits per gram.”

The Alliance members exploded at the price.

“How much?”

“A hundred?!”

“That’s cheaper than dirt! Third Brother is too generous.”

“How is Third Brother so incredible? What’s going on in his head?”

Of course, Third Brother is the pride of Blue Star—an idol quality through and through! He gives it to her at 80 credits a gram, and to the other allies at 100. Xia Qing was the one who came up with the name Nutrient Source too!

Xia Qing kept a straight face, but inside she was beaming.

Kuang Qingwei quickly broke down the math for everyone. “Right now, High Evolution Element Spinach buys for 400 credits per pound. At 15 milliliters per shake, 40 credits’ worth of spinach leaves more than covers it. So we’re basically paying 140 credits for a Premium Nutrient Shake that’s worth 3,000 credits on the open market!”

Yue Haiying hadn’t said much, but even his breathing sped up. If they could mass-produce Nutrient Source, sending the Military on missions would be way safer, and they’d save a ton in expenses.

Shi Du, who spends more time on missions than anyone, knew exactly how valuable top-tier nutrients were. “This kind of shake doesn’t just recharge your energy. It can even relieve and repair injuries. Sister Qing, can we take this homebrew shake once a day too?”

“Evolved fighters get a full one, regular people can take half or even a third for a day’s nutrition.” Xia Qing added, “But there are drawbacks to this shake.”

“Nutrient Source needs to be stored at 0 to 10 degrees Celsius, and it only keeps for two months. Once you mix the shake, it only lasts twenty-four hours, even in the same temperature range.”

Yuan Yan spoke up, “We don’t have a fridge, but we do have an ice store. We can keep it there.”

To stretch out food supplies in the territory, last winter when it was coldest, the lords had hacked up plenty of river ice and stored it in cellars they’d dug ahead of time.

Zhao Ze’s mother chipped in, “A one-day shelf life works great for us—we can just make it as we need it. Qing, how much can each territory buy?”

Such a powerful medicine obviously couldn’t be supplied without limits.

Xia Qing replied, “Each territory can buy up to 100 grams, so talk it over with your team and let Qi know how much you need.”

“Buy it, absolutely!” Tang Huai thumped the table in excitement. “If Fire Phoenix ever finds out Territory Seven has a medicine this outrageous, they’ll flip!”

Zhu Li wondered how Li Si would react. “If Fourth Sister were still around, she’d be negotiating a trade right now.”

Kuang Qingwei laughed, “She’d be raging at Third Brother for setting the price too low, saying it ruined her exclusive medicine’s edge!”