The Dark Spirit Tree

Besides, she was only 5% exploration away from 100%. Having come this far, she was even less willing to give up.

Ten minutes later, Ji Xinghe looked at the wooden box she had carved and nodded with satisfaction.

She took the small wooden box from her backpack, placed it inside the box she had just carved from Dark Spirit Wood, and then put it back in her backpack.

This time, her backpack grid actually recognized the wooden box as a single item.

She had tried using ordinary treasure chests and Storage Boxes before, nesting them inside each other, but it didn't work. Was it because the wood wasn't good enough?

She shook her head, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

What Ji Xinghe didn't know was that when she took out the small wooden box, the Dark Spirit Wood branch behind her stirred slightly.

It really was Dark Spirit Source Liquid—it said it smelled the fragrance.

It so wanted to sneak a lick. Dewdrops dripped from the leaves on the branch.

Just then, the system's excited voice rang in her mind.

[Ding, player has successfully sealed the Dark Spirit Source Liquid. Exploration +5%. Current exploration: 100%.]

[Player has completed exploration of Orchard Island. You may return at any time, or automatically return in three hours.]

[Congratulations to Player 001 for achieving the first full island exploration in the entire server. Reward: Achievement Points +5, Lottery Tickets +5, Free Attribute Points +5.]

[Announce to the entire server? Announcing will grant double rewards.]

Ji Xinghe nodded. "Announce it."

[Server Announcement: Congratulations to Player 001 for achieving the first full island exploration in the entire server. Reward: Achievement Points +5, Lottery Tickets +5, Free Attribute Points +5.] ×3

Chat channel.

Pray for the God of Wealth's Love: "Server announcement? Nah, just the big shot's personal show. How can the gap between people be this huge?"

Tyrannosaurus Warrior: "What the hell is island exploration? I don't have that on my panel?"

Player 7890: "Wah~ I'm still starving on the first floor, and the big shot's already exploring and adventuring in the stratosphere?"

Ou Ou Ou Ou Ou: "(Raising hand.jpg) I'd like to ask Big Shot 001, how do you explore an island?"

Player 9047: "They're a big shot, why would they bother with you?"

Ou Ou Ou Ou Ou: "Yo yo yo, so sour (pouting and rolling eyes.jpg)."

"..."

Ji Xinghe had no time to check the chat channel, let alone the explosive messages flooding it.

She was staring in amazement at the panel before her.

[Server Announcement: Detected that a player's announcements have exceeded ten times. All players have officially unlocked the Reputation System.]

[Note: The higher your reputation, the easier it is to win the favor of NPCs and monsters.]

Ji Xinghe opened her personal panel, and a new entry for reputation appeared.

[Current Reputation: 19 (Reward available: Treasure Chest ×1)]

[Next Stage: Reputation 50, reward Diamond Treasure Chest ×1. Keep up the good work!]

Ji Xinghe's eyes curved into crescents.

She had just unlocked the reputation system and already broke ten.

In her past life, she knew that entering certain areas required a reputation threshold.

But earning reputation was too hard—in her past life, she only had five points when she died.

After all, whether it was system announcements, NPC favorability above 80, topping various event leaderboards, or first clears of dungeons and secret realms, none of it was easy.

Her backpack grid was full, so Ji Xinghe decided to claim the treasure chest after returning.

She closed the panel, looked at the Dark Spirit Tree beside her, and said sincerely, "Thanks for the branch. I didn't bring any Nutrient Solution in this time, but I'll bring some for you next time I come."

Rustle, rustle...

Thinking she still had some time, she planned to take another look at the ruins. If the Deformed Monster there had disappeared, she'd take a little bit of stone back.

If it was still there, she'd just return to the island directly.

She raised her hand and waved. "I'm heading out. See you."

Just as she turned, the Dark Spirit Tree behind her suddenly moved.

Its roots slowly crawled out of the gray soil.

Watching the back of the figure carrying a broom, it shook its leaves resentfully, then slowly followed.

Why didn't this person invite it to visit their home? If it followed her, she'd probably share some Source Liquid, right?

Rustle, rustle... So fragrant, so fragrant...

Ji Xinghe had sensed it the moment its roots moved. Seeing it had no attacking intent and only trailed behind, she ignored it.

If it wanted to follow, fine. She could teleport back anytime. With that thought, she straightened her back even more.

The deformed monsters' roars outside faded after she sealed the small wooden box.

Walking to the edge of the gray mist, she looked out. Most of the deformed monsters had already left, leaving only a small number lingering here.

Ji Xinghe checked the remaining time on the Dark Mist Erosion Core—just over ten minutes.

Enough!

Ten minutes was plenty to kill all the deformed monsters still chasing her outside.

"Hmph!" Ji Xinghe gritted her teeth with a cold snort. She held a long grudge.

The more pathetic she'd been before, the more excited she was now.

Wooden arrows rained down toward the deformed monsters beyond the gray mist's center.

Shielded by the mist, the monsters outside had no idea danger was creeping in.

[Over-level kill: First-order Level 3 Deformed Monster, Experience Points +2, Wow Coins +1]

[Kill: First-order Level 6 Deformed Monster...]

[Kill...]

The panel flashed occasionally, and Ji Xinghe listened to the pleasant mechanical voice of the system.

In less than ten minutes, a large swath of monsters lay fallen beyond the gray mist.

Ji Xinghe went around to Drain them one by one.

Total harvest: Physique +1.2, Strength +1.5, Spirit +0.6, Agility +2.3.

She stuffed all the corpses into the trash bin.

Then she tapped the map and strode quickly toward the ruins.