Black Tide Upheaval

[Black Tide] Actually, when everyone first came out of the Giant Flower's belly, they were quite frightened.

After all, the number of "living corpses" emerging from the soil is countless, and they are impossible to kill, which is indeed quite frightening.

But later, after the group rushed into the dense forest, they found that it wasn't all that interesting.

Especially for a team like Rein's with a high average Extraordinary Rank, survival isn't too difficult as long as they aren't surrounded by too many high-ranking "living corpses".

Those corpses resurrected by the "Abyssal Demonic Qi" were not so exaggeratedly powerful that they were invincible.

They originally thought that those ancient corpses had come back to life, and that there might be beings that surpassed the "legendary" level.

But clearly, no.

They deliberately avoided the enormous "ancient zombies" shrouded in mist in the distance. Ordinary fifth-tier "zombies" were already among the top combatants in the zombie horde.

But even that couldn't withstand a barrage of blows from three legendary warriors and two hundred elite Kolman Warrior.

After fighting them, we realized that this "zombie horde" was not actually a big threat to this elite team.

Of course, this is on the premise that they don't stay in one place for too long, otherwise they will attract more and more powerful beings to form an encirclement and get bogged down.

And,

After killing more, the group gradually gained experience and discovered that those "living corpses" were not invincible.

Whether it's the lowest-ranking Skeleton Monster or a fifth-ranking undead, a black crystal can be found inside their bodies after they are destroyed.

The stronger the monster, the larger the crystal.

But just like the core of a monster, it's located in the head, heart, or near the dantian.

After the "magic crystal" was removed, the corpse died completely.

The black "magic crystal" that drives the resurrection of corpses was also discovered by Rein and his team to be an energy treasure!

Mafat was extremely familiar with "Abyssal Demonic Qi," and at a glance, he confirmed that it was a very pure crystal of Abyssal Demonic Qi.

Furthermore, after some experimentation, Rein and his team discovered that this crystal could be directly absorbed by Transcendent, much like a magic core, to enhance their fighting spirit. It could even be used as a magical material for alchemy and enchanting, creating one-time-use items such as Magic Array and Magic Scroll.

Suddenly, Rein's opinion of the Black Tide changed.

He suddenly realized that this "zombie horde" was not just a crisis, but perhaps an opportunity!

Although this anomaly will inevitably kill many people.

However, at least the area around the "Ashen Forest" is now filled with an extremely dense concentration of "Abyssal Demonic Qi." For those who cultivate in this black mist, their battle qi will increase several times faster than in other places.

Of course, this is on the premise that the negative effects of the rampaging demonic energy on the body can be resolved.

While the "magic crystal" extracted from a corpse is less effective than the "magic core" extracted from a magical beast, it is still a genuine energy crystal.

Moreover, the most outrageous thing is that a piece could be pulled out from each of the corpses!

Compared to the odds of having to hunt hundreds of magical beasts to get a single "magic core," this is practically free money.

It is foreseeable that this kind of energy crystal will definitely become a mainstream hard currency in the future!

Especially for the hunters, as long as they can gain a foothold in the hell covered by the [Black Tide], those "living corpses" will not be a problem, but will be money everywhere!

Moreover, along their journey, Rein and his group also discovered another interesting place!

That's a ruin!

Because when those corpses deep in the soil came back to life and crawled out of the ground, they brought out many burial objects from a discontinuous civilization that was not from this era, or even never seen before.

What does the presence of a corpse mean?

There are ancient ruins, ancient cemeteries, and ancient battlefields.

What does the presence of so many corpses mean?

This signifies a large ancient city ruin, a treasure trove of a fragmented civilization that has never been explored!

In the past, when hunters explored new lands, they mostly only looked for surface ruins. This was because those buried deep underground were difficult to find and time-consuming.

That's a level that the hunters could never have dug with such effort before.

But now, they don't even need to probe or dig; the distribution density of those "humanoid zombies" directly tells them where ancient ruins and treasures are.

By examining the burial goods brought out from the corpse, one can determine whether the underground ruins are rich in resources and worth excavating further.

With this in mind, Rein could already foresee many things.

In the future, this vast land west of the Alkolon Mountain Range will surely become a true "hunting paradise," attracting countless hunters.

Moreover, once the Transcendent individuals discovered the benefits of "Abyssal Demonic Qi" for cultivation, this black mist area would no longer be regarded as a "poisonous mist area," but as a true "cultivation holy land," sparking a nationwide cultivation frenzy!

At that time, the value of the "black crystals" dug out of the corpses will increase, and they may even be in short supply.

Those "living corpses" that may temporarily instill despair will later become the most important source of wealth for the hunters, who will compete to hunt them down.

In this way, it is certain that "City of Radiance," as the only city currently connecting the east and west sides of the Alkolon Mountain Range, will absolutely benefit greatly.

Once the Five Great Families declare the establishment of their own kingdoms, they will be able to attract countless hunters to join them in a short period of time, and their power will increase dramatically!

It's even possible that in the future it could become the Third Reich, on par with Omar and Sid!

Both empires will experience significant population loss, and a new order is about to be established.

Of course, this advantage also applies to the new territory that Rein and his team are planning in the "Karatva Basin".

That location, once the news gets out, will become a second City of Radiance, or even better!

Rein and his group of two hundred people traversed the mountains and forests.

Even when faced with troublesome high-level "zombies," the three legends were able to deal with them instantly. The group did not encounter much trouble and quickly broke through the zombie horde's encirclement.

Moreover, they gradually discovered the pattern.

Not all places have a large number of "zombies". For example, in places with shallow mud or in mountainous areas that are all rock, there are very few wandering "zombies".

After traveling hundreds of kilometers south, the team gradually got dark and chose to spend the night resting in a valley full of exposed rocks.

There are very few undead here, and none of them are high-level. They can at least hold out until dawn without attracting too many monsters.

The Kolman people lit a bonfire and roasted the game they had hunted along the way.

After enduring so many days of despair inside that Giant Flower, the survivors showed expressions of relief.

The Kolman people, known for their singing and dancing, performed a war dance around the bonfire. This dance was used to commemorate the dead and also to celebrate their survival.

Mafat held a high position in the tribe, and only his friends from the Kolman Tribe, such as Rein, Bazel, and Canossa, were allowed to dine at the same table with this old man.

The crackling campfire dispelled the boundless fear brought by the darkness.

The golden-brown, crispy roasted monster meat had a rich, meaty aroma. After eating dry rations for so many days, everyone finally tasted meat and devoured it with great relish.

Having been on the run, they now had some free time and began to reflect on their previous experiences.

They still felt lingering fear when they thought about the incredibly large "Moroshir King Flower".

They thought they were doomed, but they never expected to come out alive.

The biggest contributor, of course, is Rein.

With a large chunk of roasted meat in his mouth, Bazel asked, his words muffled, "Rein, what exactly was that bug you used to almost drain that Giant Flower? It felt really weird to me."

"That's called a 'Neuro-bloodline Worms.' Legend has it that it's a parasite that evolved from the blood vessels inside the corpse of an ancient Divine Beast, but I don't know if that's true."

Rein gave a brief introduction to the origin of the "Demonic Self-worm".

Now that the topic has come up, he also has some concerns.

Although legend has it that in ancient times, some powerful Transcendent did this in order to gain power comparable to that of the gods.

But the legend has been around for tens of thousands of years, so who knows if it's just "misinformation passed down through generations"?

Right now, there are three knowledgeable legends right in front of us; perhaps they can see something.

After thinking for a moment, Rein asked, "Seniors, those insects absorbed nutrients from that Giant Flower and seem to have matured. But I can't sense where they went; they seem to have completely merged into my meridians and flesh. Can you help me see if those insects will be harmful to my body?"

Upon hearing this, the three legends were naturally happy to help take a look.

Mafat, Bazel, and Canossa each pinched and checked Rein's pulse, and after various attempts, they seemed to have no trace of the insect.

Rein looked at the group shaking their heads, then pouted, "Seniors, didn't any of you see anything?"

Bazel shrugged and said, "From what I can see, those worms seem to have integrated into your blood vessels and muscles, just as you said. And I just checked, and your muscle strength is indeed much higher than before. I also suspect this might be a process of continuous feedback and benefit. Perhaps it will take some time before you slowly notice the changes."

Rein: "."

Canossa, who was standing nearby, also asked, "Rein, what difference do you feel?"

After thinking for a moment, Rein said, "I feel like they're just more durable, right?"

He thought about how the machete hadn't severed his arm before, and it seemed like this was the only unusual thing about it.

He paused, then added, "Oh, and... I seem to have an even bigger appetite; my digestive system is more efficient."

Thinking about how I had just eaten over 100 pounds of barbecue, I should have been full by now, but I didn't feel much.

Canossa chuckled as she listened, then asked, "What about the meridians? According to you, since the worm may have merged into the meridians, that should be the biggest difference."

Rein was taken aback. "Meridian? I don't feel any change."

"Oh! I almost forgot, you're only at Second Tier."

Canossa smiled and shook her head.

As she spoke, she placed her slender hand on Rein's arm and said, "Then let me test your meridian strength. If you can't take it, just tell me."

"Oh."

Rein nodded.

Then I felt a warm current flowing from Canossa's hand into my meridians.

That comparison instantly made him feel as if a "great flood" had rushed into the "stream" within him.

As Canossa channeled her battle qi, she said, "I will slowly channel the battle qi into you. If you feel you can't take it anymore, just say so."

"Oh."

Rein nodded.

Then, after a few breaths.

Canossa frowned and asked, "You still don't feel anything?"

"How does it feel?"

Looking puzzled, Rein said, "I don't feel anything."

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, Canossa's bright eyes flickered, and she vaguely guessed what was going on. Then she increased the amount of battle qi she was inputting.

The next instant, Rein suddenly felt that the "flood" surging into his meridians had become even larger.

But it seems I still don't feel much.

Canossa then asked, "And now, how do you feel?"

Fearing something might go wrong, Rein truthfully said, "I think you've channeled even more battle qi."

Canossa's expression turned slightly strange as she listened, and she asked, "I mean, didn't you feel any stinging or throbbing pain in your meridians?"

Rein shook his head, looking puzzled. "No, I feel warm and cozy, quite comfortable."

To describe that feeling, it's probably like a deflated balloon that's only been inflated a little; it's far from bursting.

Upon hearing this, the three legends understood something, and their expressions became very strange.

Then Canossa stopped probing and withdrew her hand.

Rein looked completely bewildered. "Mrs. Canossa, what did you find out?"

Canossa smiled slightly and replied, "That's good news."

Bazel, standing to the side, clearly understood as well, and exclaimed with admiration, "Rein, you've struck gold!"