In Shennongjia, Lu Zhiyu drove alone to Muyu Town. Although it wasn't peak tourist season, the town was still bustling, with people coming and going and all sorts of visitors. Many were handing out flyers, while shops held events to attract attention. There were also plenty of performances at night.
After exploring for a while, Lu Zhiyu checked into a hotel. The next day, he headed into the mountains, choosing a less-traveled hiking trail. He planned to make his way through the area, gathering all kinds of plants, animals, and other materials he wanted to improve the range of flora and fauna and the ecosystem in his Maria World.
Earlier, Lu Zhiyu had tried putting white mice into the Maria World, choosing one of its five continents for them. By now, the seeds he had scattered there had begun to spread across the world. The air seemed even cleaner than he had imagined, and the mice were living comfortably. There was even algae in the sea that he didn't recognize—plants that had come into existence naturally.
Lu Zhiyu had also brought large numbers of fish into the Maria World, along with stray dogs and cats he had found on the streets. Small populations had begun to form, though the cats and dogs had completely reverted to living as wild animals. The fish, too, were breeding in the sea. But since Lu Zhiyu had sealed the zero-dimensional passage, and they lacked the Source Substance and the Zerg Race's innate advantages, these species and populations were evolving at an entirely natural pace.
Lately, Lu Zhiyu had become somewhat obsessed with this. He bought plant seeds in a frenzy, and whenever he found an unfamiliar insect, bird, or small animal, he packed it up and took it with him, adding to the Maria World's variety of flora and fauna. Whether they could survive there was up to nature to decide: survival of the fittest.
Besides, Lu Zhiyu didn't want every species to share the same zero-dimensional passage and draw energy from the zero dimension at will, using the dimensional authority he controlled. At the very least, they couldn't draw energy from the zero dimension beyond his control. Later, Lu Zhiyu planned to gradually open access to the passage on his own terms, rather than let the Zerg Race develop unchecked.
Shennongjia was a World Heritage Site. The key reason it had been nominated was its rich variety of plant and animal life. To Lu Zhiyu, it was an immense treasure trove.
Shennongjia had eleven types of vegetation and was one of China's three major centers for genera of endemic seed plants. Scientific surveys had confirmed that the region was home to at least 3,767 species of vascular plants, 590 genera of temperate plants, 205 locally endemic species, two endemic genera, and 1,793 species endemic to China.
The region had preserved vital ecosystems for many rare animal species. More than 600 vertebrate species had been recorded there, including 92 mammals, 399 birds, 55 fish, 53 reptiles, and 37 amphibians.
Its mountainous terrain provided essential habitats for several endangered species. More than 1,300 golden snub-nosed monkeys had been recorded there, and 67 rare wild animals—including leopards, white storks, white snakes, great bustards, and giant salamanders—were under state protection.
It was also a paradise for insects, with 4,365 species discovered so far.
Lu Zhiyu traveled through the region, using his mental power and strong physique to gather the resources he wanted. He swept through the place like a locust swarm, rounding up entire groups of snakes and monkeys, as well as a family of Asian black bears. He didn't care in the slightest. Whether what he was doing was illegal or unethical, he didn't know. At any rate, nobody saw him.
Having a strong physique, fearing no danger, and wandering freely through the mountains was a wonderful feeling. It was something Lu Zhiyu had never imagined before. His old body would never have held up to so much hiking through the wilderness. And without his mental power to warn him of danger, keeping his nerves on edge all the time would have been exhausting. After all, Shennongjia was full of dangers and was hardly a safe place.
Moreover, without his mental power constantly scanning the area, Lu Zhiyu couldn't have quickly found the plants and animals he wanted. He even came across a few old ginseng plants and some rare medicinal herbs, which he carefully collected.
Along the way, Lu Zhiyu kept digging up plants by the roots and transplanting them. When he found signs of wild animals, he followed the trail to their lairs and rounded them all up. He had just dug a family of moles out of the ground and sent them to the Maria World when he spotted bear tracks on a nearby path. He also found some fur lying on the ground. It was white.
"Look what we've found—a lone adult albino bear. Let's see if we can catch it!"
"An albino bear can provide us with..."
Lu Zhiyu started laughing as he spoke. Still, quite a few animals in Shennongjia had suffered at his hands over the past few days. He had chased large predators with the Universe Scroll, sparing neither tigers nor leopards, lynxes, or monkeys. A bear posed no threat to him at all. His confidence was through the roof!
Lu Zhiyu used his mental power to examine the tracks and gather information about the bear. It must have passed through here half a day earlier and should be living somewhere nearby. Sure enough, he hadn't tracked it for long before he spotted the albino bear on a slope in a small grove ahead.
An albino bear was an albino form of the Asian black bear, extraordinarily rare, with fewer than ten in the world. Its fur was very different from that of a polar bear: it wasn't pure white, but had a slight brown tinge.
Lu Zhiyu watched it from a distance. It was an adult female, and it looked pregnant. It was probably very temperamental right now, and approaching it could easily provoke it. The white bear's ears stood upright, its head was large, and its little tail was tucked beneath its backside, making it look cute. But when it turned around, its fierce face and sharp fangs made it clear that it was not an animal anyone should provoke.
But Lu Zhiyu was no ordinary person. He charged forward, pulled out the Universe Scroll, and ran straight at the albino bear. The white bear froze for a moment, then flew into a rage. It reared up and roared at Lu Zhiyu. Its roar echoed through the forest, shaking the birds and beasts, while leaves fluttered down all around.
Lu Zhiyu showed no hesitation. He aimed the Universe Scroll at the albino bear and drew it inside, then dropped it near the family of black bears he had captured earlier. A pregnant female bear was practically two for the price of one. Of course Lu Zhiyu wasn't going to let her get away.
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