Strange Flying Squirrel

Food is extremely important!

A food shortage would plunge the entire Exploration Team into a desperate situation. Even just the pressure of a shortage could trigger panic and unrest within the whole team.

After discussing with Cang Xu, Zhen Jin went alone to Zi Di's tent.

This tent was second only to Zhen Jin's in size.

There were no Guards outside the tent.

Zhen Jin had originally wanted to arrange some people for Zi Di, but Zi Di clearly stated she didn't need them.

She had her own means of defense.

Zi Di had already gone to rest. Preparing potions for all the team members was a huge workload and a very troublesome process, which had exhausted her.

Zhen Jin paced outside the tent. Although the problem was serious, Zhen Jin didn't want to easily disturb Zi Di.

Let her rest well.

Just as Zhen Jin was thinking this, Zi Di, who was sleeping soundly inside the dim tent, twitched her nose lightly, then slowly opened her eyes.

"Is that you, my lord?" Zi Di's voice came from inside the tent.

Zhen Jin had just turned to leave, but hearing the voice, he immediately turned back. "It's me. There's something I need to discuss with you."

Soon, rustling sounds came from inside the tent. Before long, Zhen Jin saw Zi Di fully dressed, lifting the tent flap, and personally welcoming him.

"My lord, please come in." Zi Di ushered Zhen Jin into the tent.

Zhen Jin directly stated his purpose.

Zi Di, however, shook her head. "I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I will disappoint you this time, my lord."

"Although your method is feasible, I need a crucial ingredient to make the corresponding potions."

"And I've almost used up this ingredient. I only have a tiny bit left as a reserve against accidents."

"What kind of ingredient is it? Can we find it here?" Zhen Jin was unwilling to give up.

Zi Di shook her head, her expression troubled. "Perhaps this ingredient grows somewhere on this Sea Island. But I have no clues about it."

"Furthermore, even if we had such an ingredient and made enough potions to use on the Sheep Flock, it would be somewhat counterproductive. Because doing so would expose the secret of the Green Grass."

If the Sheep Flock used the potions to clear the chaotic Magic from their bodies, others would understand the truth that the Sheep Flock were also victims.

The true source of Magic—the Green Grass—would then be exposed.

The Green Grass here was a Magic plant. After being plucked, it was much easier to carry and transport than mutton.

Zhen Jin said, "I've already told Cang Xu this secret."

Zi Di was slightly startled, then immediately understood. "My lord, you did the right thing. Cang Xu is indeed a rare talent."

"Perhaps he had already discovered this secret, but he didn't reveal it, which proves he is quite wise."

"Or perhaps, he hadn't discovered this secret, but by being so honest about such a significant secret, he will surely understand your sincerity in wanting to treat him as one of your own."

"Congratulations, my lord, on recruiting such an excellent advisor."

Zhen Jin, however, shook his head and told Zi Di about what happened afterward.

Zi Di was quite surprised. "There's actually such a Battle Qi Formula?"

She immediately frowned, her tone a little worried. "My lord, if such a Battle Qi Formula is easily offered, its value probably won't be too high."

"Mr. Cang Xu himself is a scholar, not a beast tamer. The most crucial thing is that he doesn't possess extraordinary power."

"If this Battle Qi Formula were very valuable, he could completely exchange it with other nobles for greater benefits."

Zhen Jin held a different view on this. "Cang Xu doesn't seem like someone who doesn't know the gravity of things. He acts with a sense of proportion. He understands the value of these green grasses, so the Battle Qi Formula he offered is at least of equal value."

"This is his bargaining chip to maintain his freedom and refuse my recruitment. However, this only makes me value him more."

Speaking of this, Zhen Jin smiled slightly.

Regarding the food shortage, Zhen Jin asked Zi Di again.

Zi Di didn't have any good ideas either, only saying, "This sea island is very large, full of dangers, but also contains rich resources. We can only take it one step at a time. Perhaps we can find a better food source than the sheep flock. Furthermore, before searching for my lord, we set up several camps along the way, and some supplies were stored in the camps. If we can find the way back and get these supplies, it can also alleviate the problem of food shortage."

Zhen Jin nodded, preparing to leave with a slight disappointment.

Just as he lifted the tent flap, a flicker of hesitation crossed Zhen Jin's face, but in the end, he turned back and asked, "Zi Di, do you still have the blood of that Monkey-Tailed Brown Bear from before?"

Although he asked this, Zhen Jin didn't hold much hope.

The blood of the Monkey-Tailed Brown Bear contained magic power and was a magic material. However, the magic power in the blood would quickly dissipate over time. It was not easy to preserve, and the cost of preservation was high.

But Zi Di's response pleasantly surprised Zhen Jin.

She actually still had some of the brown bear's blood.

"Give it to me," Zhen Jin said.

Zi Di didn't ask anything and directly opened the small leather pouch at her waist, handing several glass bottles to Zhen Jin.

Zhen Jin held the test tubes containing the brown bear's blood and left Zi Di's tent.

The strongest person in the entire team was himself.

Now that food was scarce, almost everyone else would have their strength greatly reduced due to taking potions.

Zhen Jin had been unable to mobilize his Battle Qi, and in this situation, the ability to transform his hands into sharp claws became Zhen Jin's strongest means.

According to my previous guess, if I drink this brown bear blood, I can replenish the corresponding magic power in my body. It's very likely I can reproduce the mutation from back then! Zhen Jin thought to himself, gripping the glass bottles in his hand.

His gaze was firm, and he said to himself again, Of course, I won't drink this blood unless it's absolutely necessary.

The chaotic external magic power would erode his flesh and reduce his potential.

But just like the words of the Hundred Needles Clan Leader in his memory, sometimes one cannot be afraid of risks, nor can one fear sacrifice!

Early morning.

Between the towering trees, a thin white mist lingered.

Green moss and various brightly colored mushrooms dotted the forest floor.

A small orange deer was foraging for food in the forest.

It had its eye on a patch of low-lying bushes and was about to approach when a series of rapid sounds suddenly came from the other side of the bushes.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

Startled, the little deer turned around like lightning and quickly left.

After a few breaths, the squeaking sounds grew closer, mixed with human shouts.

"Chase!"

"Don't let these Flying Squirrels get away."

"Use the crossbow, quickly use the crossbow."

The sounds grew louder, and then three Flying Squirrels squeaked and screeched, leaping directly over the bushes and fleeing wildly.

The pursuers behind them were blocked by the bushes, their speed forced to slow down as they watched the Flying Squirrels disappear into the forest.

"What a shame!"

"Sigh, still couldn't catch them."

The leaders among the pursuers were the brothers Lan Zao and Huang Zao.

Huang Zao looked unwilling and wanted to continue the chase, but Lan Zao stopped him: "Have you forgotten Lord Zhen Jin's order? Don't stray from the main group. We are already very far from Lord Zhen Jin."

"I just wanted to get more food. This Flying Squirrel is big, its meat is safe, and it's very plump," Huang Zao sighed.

The Exploration Team didn't have much food left, and this invisible immense pressure weighed on everyone's hearts.

But remembering Zhen Jin's command, Huang Zao could only grit his teeth and give up.

When the few pursuers returned to the team, they saw that Bai Ya and others had already started processing the Flying Squirrel carcasses on the spot, skinning, cutting, cleaning, and then smoking them.

More than ten days had passed. Zi Di had prepared enough potions to resolve the magic erosion within the Exploration Team members. After resting in place for a few days, Zhen Jin led everyone to set off.

This team had gone through the crisis of poisoning. Almost everyone's physical condition and combat strength had declined somewhat, but having shared hardships together, they were now more closely knit and coordinated.

In the subsequent journey, they encountered several more crises, all of which were repelled by the united efforts of the group, with Zhen Jin stepping forward to face the attacking magical beasts.

"I'm very sorry, Lord Zhen Jin, we only killed two Flying Squirrels," Huang Zao walked up to Zhen Jin and reported shamefully.

Zhen Jin nodded and instructed: "Hand these over to Bai Ya and the others to handle."

Not everyone was skilled in processing beast carcasses.

Bai Ya was the son of a hunter and had received this training since childhood, so he was very familiar with it.

The incident of the poisoned mutton made this young man stand out. He earned the nickname Lucky Kid, and almost the entire Exploration Team had been taken care of by him. Because of his diligence and simple enthusiasm, he had gained good popularity.

Huang Zao carried the two Flying Squirrels and walked over to Bai Ya.

Bai Ya was processing a Flying Squirrel. The Flying Squirrel under his knife had already been skinned and its internal organs removed. Bai Ya was using his knife, trying to cut off the Flying Squirrel's neck.

He chopped several times, but the neck bone still hadn't been completely severed.

"Hey, Lucky Kid, use this," Huang Zao said with a smile, handing Bai Ya a knife.

One look at this knife revealed it was crudely made. The handle was just slightly polished wood, and the blade was inserted into the handle, secured as much as possible with hemp rope and other materials. However, the blade was ferocious, flashing with a sharp cold glint, neither quite steel nor iron, it was one of the limbs of a Blade Spider.

This weapon, of course, belonged to Zhen Jin, but after the poisoning incident, the entire Exploration Team's combat strength declined. In order to boost combat strength as much as possible, Zhen Jin selectively lent some blade weapons to his subordinates.

Bai Ya took the knife; it was his first time touching one.

His first feeling was that it was light and convenient, not as heavy as he had imagined.

Bai Ya aimed at the Flying Squirrel's neck, and with one slash, a cold light flashed across his eyes. The Flying Squirrel's stubborn bone was instantly cut into two pieces.

Bai Ya immediately showed a look of shock. Before, cutting bones felt like cutting iron blocks. He had chopped several times, his hands were numb, and he still hadn't succeeded. Now, using this knife, it felt like cutting into a loaf of bread; it was simply too easy.

"This is truly amazing!" Bai Ya looked at the knife, expressing heartfelt admiration.

"Of course it is, this is a Silver-level magic beast after all," Huang Zao said with a smile.

But Bai Ya shook his head, "No, I mean Lord Zhen Jin. That Silver-level Blade Spider must have been terrifying. But Lord Zhen Jin defeated it. As expected of a Temple Knight!"

As Bai Ya spoke, his face was filled with admiration and reverence.

Huang Zao chuckled and agreed, "Yes, it's truly our luck to have met Lord Zhen Jin. Putting everything else aside, just from the Flying Squirrel flock we just encountered, Lord Zhen Jin threw daggers and hit every time! Most of the Flying Squirrels were killed by Lord Zhen Jin!"

"Wait, with this knife, I can process the Flying Squirrel Leader's corpse," Bai Ya thought of something, his face full of excitement, and he ran to another spot.

The Flying Squirrel Leader's corpse emitted a Bronze-level life aura, but this aura was rapidly weakening and would completely dissipate within half a day.

A dagger was stuck in the Flying Squirrel Leader's eye socket. This was the fatal wound, and it was Zhen Jin's doing.

Bai Ya tightly gripped the spider blade, slowly aimed at the right position, then cut forcefully, quickly peeling off the Flying Squirrel's fur.

The Flying Squirrel Leader's skin was very tough, and ordinary iron swords could not cut through it.

But under the spider blade, everything was easily solved.

"Huh?" Bai Ya was cutting open the Flying Squirrel Leader's abdominal cavity when his hand suddenly paused.

"What's wrong?" Huang Zao asked.

Bai Ya said uncertainly, "This Flying Squirrel Leader's meat seems a bit different from other Flying Squirrels."

Huang Zao glanced at it, "There's no difference."

"No." Bai Ya, however, had a serious expression. He first returned the knife to Huang Zao, then squatted down and pressed it, and then felt around the Flying Squirrel's internal organs and bones.

Afterward, Bai Ya's tone became much more certain than before, "There are indeed many subtle differences. I should take this to Lord Cang Xu to have a look first."

"Mm. That's a good idea." Huang Zao agreed.