Treasure Emerges?

98%...99%...100%

"Scan successful."

As the scan-success notification popped up, Bai Chuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly slipped away before anyone came over.

When he returned once more to his nest, over twenty meters underground in the depths, Bai Chuan finally relaxed completely. Ever since his nest had collapsed last time,

he had relocated his cave more than twenty meters beneath the ground.

It was precisely because of how deep it was that those humans hadn't managed to find their way to his doorstep during this time.

After all, Bai Chuan had seen one of his kind—a king cobra sleeping peacefully in its nest, only to be forcibly dragged out by a rugged-looking man, who held it in his hand and toyed with it as he pleased.

He suspected they might have some kind of tracking technique. That was why he had stayed invisible and kept his presence concealed all this time.

"Humans, huh." Bai Chuan sighed with an inscrutable look, then opened the Panel again and looked at the ability models.

Let's see what your abilities are like.

"Race: Human."

"Abilities: Wise Brain LV3 (King), Agility LV2, Stamina LV2, Symbiosis LV1, Information Communication LV1, Willpower LV1, Strength LV1..."

"Are these the abilities of humans in this world? A new rank for an LV3 ability, 'King'?"

The instant the ability panel appeared, Bai Chuan's attention was drawn to the ability listed first, its characters seeming to blaze like flames.

"King!"

Could LV3 be on a completely different level from the other abilities? Wise Brain?

Bai Chuan was taken aback at first, then quickly understood and nodded.

It made sense. Humans could become the true rulers of the world precisely because of their brains and their incomparably nimble hands. In other words, was "King" a level above "Overlord"?

Then another question came to mind: were there any ranks above "King," or did LV4 come next?

Bai Chuan lowered his head and mulled over this new rank. Although humans didn't seem to have many abilities, every one of them was powerful.

But he didn't seem to see the abilities he was looking for.

Where exactly had these humans gotten their strange powers?

Some moved with the speed and lightness of swallows; some were so soft all over that they seemed boneless; some possessed astonishing strength; and others wielded weapons with unparalleled skill.

Bai Chuan was puzzled. None of the abilities listed above seemed to match the strange things he had seen those people do.

Could these powers have been cultivated after birth, making them impossible to take away?

He shook his head. The situation was unclear, and he didn't feel like overthinking it. His most pressing task was to understand the humans' language, find out what they were after, and see whether he could get a piece of the action.

After all, this was his territory. If he had the chance and didn't give his visitors a proper welcome, wouldn't they think their host was rude?

Bai Chuan smiled faintly, his gaze distant.

Anyone would be fuming if a bunch of people rummaged through their home, leaving them too afraid to show themselves.

He carefully studied each ability for a while.

In the end, Bai Chuan looked at "Information Communication LV1." Of all these abilities, this was the one most likely to let him understand what the humans were saying.

Besides, it wouldn't take long to evolve a LV1 ability. Perhaps he could finish in time, before they found what they were looking for.

In that case, time to strengthen it.

He casually pulled out the ability, dismantled it, and put it into the fusion process.

After completing the familiar steps, Bai Chuan fell asleep.

Evolution began once more.

Time passed, and before he knew it, it was noon the next day.

As the familiar sound of shattering rang out, Bai Chuan broke free of the dry, hardened substance clinging to him. It had formed when the sticky material from the evolution process hardened.

He raised himself up and carefully took stock of how he felt.

"Strange. It doesn't seem like anything's changed."

Bai Chuan sounded uncertain. Could the ability have failed to strengthen?

He opened the Panel and checked. The ability was there.

"Maybe it's a passive ability. I'll know once I try listening."

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

A man and a woman sat by a campfire, roasting a wild chicken that hissed and dripped with oil. As drops of scalding hot grease fell onto the glowing coals, thick white smoke billowed up, accompanied by a mouthwatering aroma.

"Big brother, do you think 'that thing' is really here? We've been searching for so long, and still haven't found it."

After tossing a few more logs onto the fire, the woman massaged her aching leg and asked the man in puzzlement.

"Mm." The man glanced at her, then lowered his head and continued turning the roast chicken on its stick. Only then did he answer, "Judging from all the rumors going around lately, and the fact that Master Guangshan really did stay in this area for several years some time ago, it's almost certainly here."

"And did you already forget about the Frozen Stream we found not long ago? That was probably caused by 'it.' Let's finish eating and hurry back to the search. We can't let anyone else get there first."

"This concerns the rise and fall of our Lineage. I wonder if Father and the others will make it in time. Fortunately, he already asked friends nearby to come over."

The man sighed as he finished speaking.

"The power of ice! Who knows how many demons and monsters it'll attract. I hope we make it in time."

"Oh..."

The woman pouted in displeasure, but with something as important as the family's affairs at stake, she had no choice but to rein in her temper. They were the closest ones, after all. She gave a sullen reply.

Boom!

Just then, an incredibly intense wave of cold air burst out in the eastern direction.

In an instant, a thin layer of ice spread rapidly across the ground, centered on that spot. White frost covered the lush green leaves as the freezing spread at incredible speed,

turning everything within a hundred meters into winter.

Not long afterward, a cold wind swept toward the two siblings and snuffed out the blazing campfire in front of them.

The siblings exchanged a glance. The next moment, the man dropped the roast chicken in his hand, sprang to his feet, and dashed toward the Cold Air Center. The woman followed close behind.

Had Bai Chuan been there, he would have realized that these two were the first humans he had ever seen.

At the same time, the instant the cold air erupted,

that part of the forest suddenly came alive. Cries of surprise, elation, and excitement rose and fell as people rushed toward the Cold Air Center.

"What's that?"

Bai Chuan had just come out when he happened to spot this astonishing sight. Curious, he raised his head and looked in that direction.

"Charge! That treasure has finally appeared! Whether we make a name for ourselves and become heroes everyone envies depends on today!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Those words suddenly rang in his ears. Even Bai Chuan was startled. Invisible, he halted and turned to look at the few loudmouths not far away.

He suddenly realized that a treasure must have appeared.

And he really had understood the humans of this world.

A treasure?

He watched the figures grow farther and farther away, narrowed his keen snake eyes, and followed right behind them.