Exchange X Gains

For the World Tree.

"Although I have never seen them, I have heard of Sapient Life from the inland regions in my ancestors' records, and I have communicated with them."

The Dragon Turtle spoke slowly, seemingly with a hint of longing in its voice.

"The tree canopy is the sky; beneath the sky's canopy, all things grow and flourish."

Simple words seem to convey a different message.

Kevin and his friends were curious, but they had very little information to draw on; they only had a general idea.

Simply put, the World Tree's canopy is so exaggerated that it completely blocks out a large area of the sky.

But in this area beneath the sky, life flourishes because of a certain Specialization of the World Tree.

I wonder just how big this World Tree is. If it's incredibly large, exceeding all limits of imagination, then even a portion of the Sky Overlord is only part of its canopy.

Kevin and his friends then asked a variety of questions until most of their doubts were answered, at which point they finally stopped. They had gained a lot.

"In that case, if you are interested, you can stay here a little longer; perhaps you can learn more about us then?"

At the invitation of the Dragon Turtle, Kevin and his friends, wanting to learn more about their neighbor, temporarily settled down by the lake.

The Dragon Turtle seemed to have made preparations in advance, building a dwelling in a huge snail shell some distance from the lake, though it was extremely empty inside.

Fortunately, it was just a temporary place to stay, so they didn't care about these things.

The group immediately separated.

Begin the conversation while ensuring safety and maintaining politeness.

After several days of interaction, Piyon successfully learned the language of these Sea Folk and began to converse with them using the bouncy tones.

Kevin, however, was more curious about the survival methods of this race, and spent his days observing the living conditions of various Sea Folk from high places.

Firstly, Sea Folk do not have so-called institutional requirements. From birth, each individual has certain responsibilities, which are mostly related to their physical appearance.

For example, creatures that resemble Lobster or crabs with shells are most likely individuals within the group responsible for fighting and protecting others.

The fish that appears to be a giant individual or has a shape similar to a whale are the most powerful individuals in the group.

Individuals who wield such strength are the fewest, because they are indeed enormous in size, and besides the necessary carrying, they can also play an important role in combat.

After observing for a period of time, it was found that there were no more than 50 such individuals.

Of course, this is only part of what they can see.

And various individuals formed from different marine organisms, each with different responsibilities depending on their marine habits.

There were also various individuals carrying snail shells and clams on their backs, but it was later discovered that these individuals differed greatly in appearance from Sea Folk and did not belong to the Sea Folk.

Rather, they were marine creatures that the Sea Folk found and cultivated during their survival process. They kept them in captivity in certain areas, and the clam shells and giant snail shells they used for construction were produced from them.

Then there are various corals and pearls, which are either taken from the bottom of the lake or directly from outside the homeland. These two items directly become artistic embellishments or raw materials for the tribe.

Although the Sea Folk has its own area of expertise determined from birth, this only means that they usually do this kind of work; they also have leisure time.

In their spare time, they enjoy things that are completely unrelated to their work, ranging from all sorts of things, but mostly leaning towards what humans perceive as art.

And, to be honest, Kevin found these artworks quite beautiful, even though he had never seen this style before; he could appreciate the beauty in them.

For example, the huge shell house they live in now is made of polished shell, and there are carved patterns in some places.

The most beautiful times are midday when the sun is at its strongest and at night.

The entire shell will be in its most perfect state under the sunlight, and some parts will shimmer under the carving, and then the beauty of light will be reflected on the roof; the same is true of moonlight.

Overall, it is an art form that integrates with the natural environment of sculpture.

Of course, there is also a form of leisure entertainment, which Kevin named Water Ball Toss.

A ball of water is condensed and then thrown out; participants catch the water ball and toss it around.

There should be certain rules, but they seem to be different each time. The main purpose is to have fun and also to train their control over the water polo ball.

That's right, almost every Sea Folk possesses the same skill as the Dragon Turtle: manipulating water currents.

Of course, such manipulation of water flow is limited. In Kevin's view, most Sea Folk manipulate water flow mainly to give them more freedom in the water, enabling them to increase their speed and agility by manipulating the water flow.

And so, they stayed there for almost half a month before finally saying goodbye and leaving.

We walked out through the cave and boarded the moored yacht to return to port.

"Are you satisfied with what you've gained this time?"

Qiduo looked at Piyon and asked. Piyon hadn't stopped working lately and was the busiest one among them.

Piyon nodded without hesitation, his excitement barely concealed.

"This is a completely different race from humans, with its own civilization, culture, and racial characteristics."

"The only pity is that they don't have their own writing system; information seems to be recorded directly through some kind of Pheromone."

It was a bit of a pity, but he immediately cheered up and took out a pearl the size of a fist from his pocket.

"See this? They gave it to me."

It wasn't just Kevin and his group who were curious about the Sea Folk; the Sea Folk were also curious about Kevin and his human companions.

However, the two sides were unable to communicate, and the Dragon Turtle only gave the language pack to the two individuals whose names had an X after them. These two were also among the few individuals who would leave their home to patrol and explore.

Clearly, such a language package is not something that can be given away casually.

This made Piyon, the human who could speak the language of the Sea Folk, very popular.

"This was made by a sculptor from the Sea Folk; it's like a family heirloom, look!"

As he spoke, he proudly placed it in the sunlight, and the seemingly ordinary pearl shone with a brilliance under the sunlight.

Then, it appeared as if all sorts of fish were floating in the air above the pearl, swimming around it.

As the sunlight shines at different angles, these fish exhibit different postures, creating something that aligns with human aesthetics while fully showcasing the art of the Sea Folk.

"Don't let Biscuit see us," Qiduo warned.

To everyone's surprise, Piyon winked and grinned mischievously, "What's the point of not doing this?"

Kevin was talking to Rukira and the Koala at that moment.

Is it able to communicate with the outside world?

"Yes, it feels like there's absolutely no obstruction, which is strange."

Within the Interstitial Space, Rukira's Metal Ant communicated seamlessly with the outside world; the entire lake was situated in a strange interlayered state.

What about you? What are your thoughts on this trip?

Koala took a swig of wine and shook his head.

"I don't know, I just think this race is very peculiar, and I can't apply my Judgment of Evil to them."

They won't kill each other, they won't harbor any ill will towards each other, and they have no malicious intent towards us.

His restraint is completely useless in the absence of conflict.

"This race still shows too much artificial influence."

Kevin was speaking, and Qiduo, who was walking over from the side, nodded in agreement.

"This race is not an evolved species at all. If I'm not mistaken, there should be some kind of biological device at the bottom of that lake."

As she spoke, Qiduo produced some reports, which she had just retrieved from the makeshift equipment on the ship.

"In terms of genetic similarity, the genetic differences between individual Sea Folk creatures are enormous, but the genetic differences between these Sea Folk and similar marine organisms are extremely small."

"Their creation process likely involved a combination of genes that primarily endowed them with abilities and intelligence, along with genes from marine organisms."

"Therefore, the only similarities between them, besides the inherent similarities between marine organisms, are the most basic core genes."

During this period, Qiduo didn't need to collect anything deliberately; she could easily obtain quite a few things containing the genes of various organisms.

"Won't this anger them?" Rukira and couldn't help but ask, his concern for safety being paramount.

Piyon glanced at him and shook his head, saying, "You're still viewing these alien races through a human lens. You need to understand that they are completely different from humans, and their way of thinking is entirely different."

Perhaps, from the perspective of the Sea Folk, what's wrong with this?

They didn't see anything wrong with it, because they were indeed created in there, and things like gene synthesis and combination were of little significance.

They lack the peculiar philosophical questions that humans have regarding ethics, self-thinking, and will.

They have different views on life and the world.

Just like they wouldn't understand why humans are so disorderly.

Upon hearing this, Rukira realized what was happening, and after a moment's thought, nodded seriously. "Indeed, I'm too rigid."

He himself is a product of the combination of humans and Chimeric Ant, yet he hasn't directly grasped this point, which is truly unacceptable.

"Let's end the exploration here. Don't be too curious about this thing. The mother machine that created them, or the mother body, are things that should never be explored."

Kevin said directly, his expression unusually serious.

Upon hearing this, Qiduo and the others nodded solemnly. The source that created them must be the most precious and inviolable thing of the Sea Folk.

Simply exploring will inevitably stimulate them, and any unnecessary stimulation is just asking for trouble.

People may be of different races, but the logic of survival is the same.

This definitely triggered the other party's deeper logic.

Not to mention that the other side prioritizes race.

If problems arise, they will inevitably become enemies, even mortal enemies.

After a few days of sailing, they returned to Moon Bay and the Small Town, where they entered the travel information into the strategy system.

Other curious people also came over to learn more, and after some exploration and understanding, the important personnel in the Forward Base gathered together to chat.

"The Dark Continent is truly fascinating. I must be patient; I must remain patient."

Netero spoke with shining eyes, explaining that he had only recently adapted to the conditions of the Dark Continent and restored his body to its peak condition. He still needed considerable time to improve his strength and reach the Knight Rank.

Neck.

"The information we've gathered before is utterly insignificant compared to this; we're practically just wandering around the Gate of the Dark Continent."

Netero's situation was both regrettable and fortunate.

Unfortunately, he had visited three times before, but had not achieved the same result.

Fortunately, he is still alive and has the right to continue running in such a bright future.

This is the happiest thing for him.

The others didn't share Netero's sentiments.

"From this perspective, we were quite lucky to have chosen a good direction to explore from the very beginning."

The combination of all the elements of the Sky Overlord's territory is indeed very suitable for them to live here.

"So, do we need to keep this woodland vibrant?"

Kurapika asked.

"Aren't we already doing it?" Melusina asked with a smile.

The entire Martial Monkey race was relocated here, and the Machine Lifeform also have their own settlement, and more will be added later.

Help him travel to other previously explored outposts and other areas to search for any surviving members of his race.

After all, Machine Lifeform are too well-suited to the overall technological development of humanity. In addition, this intelligent species has not developed powerful individuals, that is, Lord, making them very suitable as partners of the Dark Continent, or even as vassals.

Various environmental modifications and aquaculture projects are also progressing steadily, aiming to maintain the vitality of their territory. This is also a goal for them and does not conflict with their objectives.

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be counterproductive for us to continue exploring northwards?"

After thinking carefully for a moment, Pairo asked.

The All-Curing Herb is still too far away from them; they can't even be sure exactly how far. Now, they can explore further inland, to see what the areas under the World Tree's light are like—closer, safer, and easier to harvest.

Moreover, other Sapient Life forms exist within the territory of the Sky Overlord, and establishing connections or even trade among them would certainly not be a bad thing for them.

Since everyone here is Lord under the Sky Overlord, there is an inherent foundation of trust between them. It would be a shame to miss such a golden opportunity.

Kevin was also pondering this, because a crucial point was that even if other Lord emerged within the territory, no new, recognized Lord would be born.

After all, according to the Dragon Turtle, it's enough for one Lord to be recognized for one race.

Kevin is the recognized Lord, and if the expedition is to explore inland, having him lead the way is the quickest and most convenient method.

"That's right. Now we know that we are located on the Boundary, next to the territory of another Overlord."

"To guard against unforeseen circumstances, it's best to have a powerful Lord Level expert stationed in the territory at all times. If we explore northwards, the distance is too far, and you don't know when you'll be able to move freely again."

Although Slash Ghost can serve as a temporary fighting force, Slash Ghost is ultimately unstable.

Kevin actually shared this thought; he didn't really have a strong preference between the All-Curing Herb and the inland.

He's fine with anything, as long as it's a precious material.

His exploration wasn't for any specific thing, but for precious materials.

And also out of curiosity.

This can be achieved no matter which direction you go.

Exploring inland makes it easy to make contact with other Lord and greatly increases the chances of obtaining valuable materials; the All-Curing Herb is too far away, but it is certain that even its properties can be predicted.

Exploring inland would allow us to better manage our territory, and with Slash Ghost as a temporary fighting force, it would be perfectly fine.

This period also provides an opportunity for others in the territory to broaden their horizons and improve their strength. Exploring the area they are staying in first is indeed simpler and more important than directly venturing into distant regions.

"Furthermore, we can send other people to form Exploration Team, one by one, heading north. They come to the Dark Continent with their own ambitions and will take responsibility for themselves."

Netero looked at Kevin and spoke with a slightly serious expression.

Upon hearing this, Kevin thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

Indeed, the stronger Knight-level among them are capable of forming Exploration Team and venturing outwards on their own.