A Moonless, Windy Night

Ever since his first encounter with the "Giant Owl" and the discovery of the peculiar scent emanating from the "Mutated Creature," Xiang Kun had become extremely sensitive to its smell. This scent was also characterized by traveling farther and lingering longer than the body odor of normal creatures, and it was easily detected by Xiang Kun among many other scents.

After entering Purple Huan Mountain, Xiang Kun's senses of hearing, smell, and sight worked at full capacity to collect sensory information from the surrounding area.

So even though the scent of the "Mutated Creature" was very weak, Xiang Kun still detected it immediately.

Although his main purpose in exploring Purple Huan Mountain at night was to find traces left by the "Mutated Parasite" and learn relevant information, he did not actually expect to find the "Mutated Parasite" in the mountain before entering it, nor did he expect to find its nest or anything like that by its scent.

After all, parasites are different from other animals; they do not have a long-term habitat but move around with their host, who is their "habitat".

Normally, it's unlikely that it would leave any scent in the mountains, considering that it had been parasitizing the "vampire patient" for a year.

In their non-parasitic state, they are always in the mountains and in the water.

So he was somewhat surprised to smell this.

Could it be that after escaping the "vampire patient" state, it entered the mountains again through another host?

Does it still have an extraordinary attachment to this mountain?

Xiang Kun squinted, focusing all his attention on his sense of smell, carefully discerning the details of that faint scent, first determining its origin.

However, a few minutes later, after locating the source of the smell and walking a distance in that direction, Xiang Kun realized—he had smelled this smell before!

Although Xiang Kun had seen the real parasitic situation recalled by the "vampire patient" through the "Dream Within a Dream" created by Lao Xia, he could not smell the "Mutated Parasite" in the dream because the dream's owner had never smelled it before; she had no such smell in her knowledge.

Therefore, normally speaking, Xiang Kun had never smelled the odor of the "Mutated Parasite".

Whose scent is this?

The distinctive odor of "Mutated Creature" is highly recognizable when mixed with all other odors, but it is much less recognizable and harder to distinguish among the odors of "Mutated Creature".

However, Xiang Kun had only come into contact with and smelled a few "Mutated Creature" in total. By using the process of elimination, he quickly determined whose scent he was smelling in Purple Huan Mountain.

Continuing to follow the scent, and as the location of the source became increasingly clear, Xiang Kun found a high vantage point, climbed a tree, and gazed into the distance.

In infrared thermal imaging mode, Xiang Kun's field of vision is very far and has strong penetrating power. He immediately locked onto a faint blue dot in the dense forest in the distance.

Without a doubt, the small blue spots represent "Mutated Creature".

At this distance, it's difficult to discern the creature's appearance from the composition of the blue spots alone, but Xiang Kun has already determined from the scent that it's the "mutated giant bird" he encountered in the Wushu Mountain area years ago.

Before the Lunar New Year, when he and a group of friends went to Tongshi Town, this "mutated bird" attacked tourists in order to hunt another "mutated ant" living on the main peak of Wushu Mountain, causing a fall off a cliff. This also attracted the attention of the investigation team of "Shenxing Technology" led by Fang Pingfang and Mi Qiao.

Xiang Kun even confronted this "mutated giant bird" from a distance one night, and they almost came to blows.

Why is it here?

After identifying the "mutated giant bird" by its scent, Xiang Kun knew that this creature wasn't after him.

If it were targeting him, he wouldn't have only just realized it now. If the big bird wanted to "keep an eye on him," it would have been impossible for him not to notice it, even high in the sky.

The large bird's current position is not at all about monitoring or following him.

The large bird may have just happened to stop here for a rest, or perhaps it's making this its new habitat?

Xiang Kun also didn't believe it was such a coincidence.

Most likely, this "mutated bird," like himself, is after the "Mutated Parasite" that once appeared in Purple Huan Mountain.

It may have encountered that "Mutated Parasite" in Purple Huan Mountain, or it may believe that the "Mutated Parasite" will return, so it waits here in ambush?

Regardless of its reason for being here, now that Xiang Kun has discovered it, it has automatically changed from the "hunter" to the "prey".

The reason Xiang Kun went to great lengths to find information about the "Mutated Parasite" and determine its whereabouts was to capture a "Mutated Creature" to enrich the secret Research Base that he and Lao Xia were about to establish in Chongyun Village, so that they could have more "live" samples besides himself for him, Lao Xia, Alice to observe and study.

Such samples are always welcome, whether they are insects or birds, as long as they are "Mutated Creature".

A few months ago, Xiang Kun would have only been able to defend and counterattack against this "mutated giant bird"—if it attacked him and he dragged it into a ground battle, he might have been able to kill it.

But if the big bird is cowardly enough, like during their brief encounter near Wushu Mountain last time, and flies away directly, then Xiang Kun really won't be able to catch it.

But things are different now; Xiang Kun is no longer helpless against those who can fly.

Now, on this dark and windy night, deep in the Purple Huan Mountain, with no one from "Shenxing Technology" watching him covetously, only him and the "mutant bird," and he was the first to spot the "mutant bird," while the bird was unaware of his presence—truly a perfect storm of timing, location, and people... the perfect opportunity to catch the bird.

Of course, Xiang Kun did not let his guard down. He continued to observe his surroundings from the tree to make sure there were no other threats or spying.

After all, this "mutated giant bird" must have been "registered" with "Shenxing Technology".

At the same time, he was also calculating and deducing based on the observed terrain, his own abilities, and various relevant information, formulating an executable plan in his mind.

When Xiang Kun found that he could no longer see the "mutated bird".

It wasn't because it was too far or too dark. In night vision mode, his vision was basically no different from during the day. He could see very far away and see very small details clearly.

But now, where that "mutated bird" is located, there is indeed nothing there. And after switching the visual mode to "infrared thermal imaging visual mode," the blue spot can be seen again.

Xiang Kun instantly understood: This guy can become invisible!

Let's pause for two seconds to mourn for that "mutant ant." Without a doubt, the bird's cloaking ability came from the ant it captured.

The examples of the "mutated spider" and the "mutated bird" devouring other creatures suggest that these creatures, who are not fixated on their own appearance or group identity, can quickly and extensively acquire the characteristics of other "Mutated Creature" after devouring them.

In comparison, Xiang Kun is probably a "Mutated Creature" with a greater "human burden." Therefore, he is slower in acquiring the characteristics and abilities of other "Mutated Creature" each time he devours them. Moreover, he may not be able to acquire many of their characteristics and abilities, or they may have changed significantly compared to the original owner.

But precisely because of this, he may be able to develop more powerful, complex, and mysterious abilities or characteristics based on the abilities of other "Mutated Creature".

Other "Mutated Creature" gain power by drinking blood and devouring others, increasing or expanding their abilities; he, however, absorbs and fuses them.

For creatures like "mutated spiders" and "mutated birds," the more abilities they acquire from other "Mutated Creature," the better; they use them like peripherals, just plug them in and use them.

Xiang Kun, however, must first "format" new abilities; they must be integrated into his own system. If they are incompatible, even the strongest abilities cannot be accepted—just like Guo Tianxiang's ability to hypnotize directly through eye contact and language.

This was not a choice that Xiang Kun actively controlled, but rather a choice that came from his subconscious, or rather, his instinct and nature.

Looking at the blue spots in the infrared thermal imaging visual mode, Xiang Kun on the tree couldn't help but rub his hands together, somewhat excited. This big bird was not just a "Mutated Creature," but a "mutated Mutated Creature that had devoured at least one other Mutated Creature and acquired its cloaking ability," making its research value undoubtedly much higher.

He looked up at the night sky; the clouds were thick, obscuring the moon and stars—it was a cloudy day.

The humidity in the air is not low either.

It wasn't the best weather, but it was already pretty good. If it had been a real thunderstorm with heavy rain and wind, the "mutant bird" might not have appeared here.

Xiang Kun quietly climbed down the tree and slowly crept towards the location of the large bird. He moved very slowly and carefully, trying to blend in with the sounds of the wind, insects, and other natural sounds in the mountains to conceal the noise he made.

When he was about thirty meters away from the "mutated bird" in a straight line, Xiang Kun stopped, raised his hand and glanced at the few Coin he had been holding in his hand to avoid them rattling in his pocket, and began to prepare to make his move.

The fact that he could control the "Super-Linked Object" at will was his biggest source of confidence in daring to capture the "mutated bird" alive.

Suddenly, a rapid, intense chirping of birds came from the nearby trees, instantly shattering the tranquility of the mountain forest.

What the f...

Xiang Kun wanted to curse—no, he wanted to curse birds!

Although Xiang Kun couldn't understand the specific meaning of the birdsong, through his long-term interaction and observation of "Gold Glitter" and his bird language communication with "Little Apple," he could instinctively react to the general meaning expressed by the birds' calls.

There is no doubt that the hooting was a warning.

As for the target of the warning, it goes without saying.

Even though the bird's position and body didn't change or move at all in infrared thermal imaging mode, Xiang Kun instinctively knew that its attention was on him and that it had spotted him!

As Xiang Kun moved over, he noticed the little bird in the tree, but he didn't pay it any mind. Based on his experience, the noise he made wouldn't disturb the bird.

But clearly, he miscalculated; this was not a "normal bird."

Xiang Kun had no time to be upset; his mind raced, calculating and deducing the possibilities of various action plans.

Should we stay put, pretend nothing happened, and hope the "mutated bird" hasn't noticed us?

No, it's pointless. Although we're not 100% certain the big bird has found us, gambling on that almost impossible probability is too passive.

Should we launch a direct attack, according to the previous plan, to capture the large bird?

The previous plan relied on the premise that the giant bird hadn't spotted him and that he had made the first move. The most crucial step was to use the "Super-Linked Object" that controlled his flight to attract the giant bird's attention. But now that the giant bird has spotted him, the plan can no longer be fully executed.

Based on his brief encounter with the bird at Wushu Mountain, he observed and analyzed its behavior and deduced that if he attacked it directly now, there was a 97% chance that the bird would simply flap its wings and fly away first.

The thought and calculation in his mind came to a conclusion in an instant. Almost simultaneously, as the birds in the tree cried out in alarm and the "mutated giant bird" turned its attention to him, Xiang Kun shouted angrily:

"What the hell are you yelling for! It's so noisy!"

As he spoke, he bent down, picked up a stone, and threw it at the tree, but he didn't hit the bird; he just startled it and made it fly away from where it had come from.

After that, Xiang Kun stopped hiding his whereabouts and movements, and walked through the mountains and forests while cursing, but he moved in the opposite direction from the "mutated bird".

If he were to suddenly attack, the giant bird would definitely run away, and at this distance, his chances of intercepting it were very low. Since his whereabouts had already been exposed, he might as well go all out, pretending that he was unaware of the "mutated giant bird's" existence, and move "openly and honestly" in the mountains.

After all, the "mutated bird" had been in a state of cloaking, and it might not have known that Xiang Kun had already discovered it.

Of course, if it were a cautious and suspicious human like Xiang Kun, it would wonder why it only discovered Xiang Kun's location at this point, but it is not human after all.

Xiang Kun bet that it wouldn't be that suspicious.

Moreover, Xiang Kun is also a "Mutated Creature".

Its swooping attack on Wushu Mountain proves that, in the eyes of the large bird, Xiang Kun was also "prey".

If it came to Purple Huan Mountain for the "Mutated Parasite," wouldn't it also have designs on Xiang Kun, this suddenly appearing "Mutated Creature"?

Xiang Kun bet that it was that greedy.

Xiang Kun was heading towards the mountaintop, stopping frequently along the way to close his eyes, look up, and sense changes in the atmospheric electric field through his "sixth sense."

He wanted to make a bold attempt to truly combine the abilities that the Little Chubby Girl had helped him "develop" with the ability to "Electric Flight," and this late night in the deep mountains was the best place for the experiment.

And that "mutated bird" will be the best experimental target.

Of course, this is all on the premise that it actually takes the bait and actually flies over.