Firepower Reserves! Attack!

"Bi Fang, an exotic beast recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, often carried fire in its beak and caused havoc."

"It seemed to be a beast of calamity. Since it bore its name, the Transcendent power of the [Bi Fang Sigil] should be related to fire."

Seeing its attributes, Wu Yu understood.

The little stone in his hand had already become an explosive under the Transcendent power of the [Bi Fang Sigil].

As for its destructive power and exact effects, he would have to test them out.

And clearly... attacking while they were traveling was not a good idea.

"I can feel my control over this little stone..."

Wu Yu recalled what he had done earlier.

This little stone was probably like the panel—he could make it explode with a single thought!

"Unfortunately, whether it's the sigil or the talent, the information is all vague. I'll have to explore it myself."

"Otherwise, even with a curse, a red talent would definitely be terrifying."

"I just wonder how it compares to the [External Heavenly Spiritual Root]..."

Wu Yu's heart stirred, and he felt faintly excited.

Once he returned, with the [External Heavenly Spiritual Root] and a red talent, the Transcendent Gate would no longer be an obstacle.

When he shattered it with one punch, he would go and see the true sights of this life!

Could a martial artist really pluck stars and seize the moon after taking an injection?

Between cultivators flying through the skies and magnetic levitation cars, which was faster?

Were cyborgs' "mechanical ascension" and "psionic ascension" really as dazzling as the rumors claimed?

A mountain might look close enough to reach, yet it could run a horse to death. Though the mountains seemed right before their eyes, it took the group three hours to cross the wasteland and enter the forest.

The originally excited crowd gradually calmed down and began resting in a patch of shade.

"It's such a short distance on the map, but we've been running for so long!"

The fat chef was drenched in sweat, panting as he complained.

Having gone so long without strenuous exercise, the fact that he had managed to keep walking for three hours was already thanks to that chair in the Mysterious Tower.

"Everyone, take a break!"

Inspector Liu was still full of vigor. He said loudly, "Judging from the [Map], there are five evacuation points! One is in the 'Evil Tiger Stronghold,' one is in 'Redfang Village,' and one is in 'Lostway Cave'! Those three places look dangerous at a glance and cannot be visited. Only the end of the road and the very distant first location have evacuation points!"

"This evacuation point at the end of the main road is the closest and the safest!"

Inspector Liu's booming voice immediately soothed everyone's restless nerves.

"Let's rest for half an hour before we move on!"

"Alright! We'll listen to Inspector Liu!"

"Perfect, we can get some rest."

Everyone echoed their agreement, and Wu Yu also found a shady spot to rest.

After running for three hours, everyone understood that time here differed from reality. It was night in the real world, but it was nearly noon here, with the sun blazing overhead!

"Young man, are you alright?"

Yu Tiezhu was resting beside him. Seeing Wu Yu's pale face, he could not help asking with concern.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired from walking for so long."

Wu Yu answered politely.

"Haha, you young people just don't get enough exercise! Back when I was at the construction site..."

Yu Tiezhu boasted about his strength, his spit flying everywhere.

Wu Yu listened in silence and glanced at his inventory. There were no fewer than seven little stones inside!

Along the way, he had occasionally picked up a stone and inscribed it with the [Bi Fang Sigil]. He had originally wanted to make dozens, maybe even a hundred, but after inscribing only three, his body had begun to feel unwell.

The first inscription had taken only the blink of an eye to complete, but the second had taken several minutes to successfully trace. The farther he went, the slower it became.

By the time he inscribed the seventh, his heart was pounding, his body felt weak, and he decisively stopped.

Clearly, the [Bi Fang Sigil] consumed something!

"Judging from the descriptions of the High-Grade Spirit Wine and Exquisite Food, the [Bi Fang Sigil] consumes vitality and blood, or spiritual power! It might even consume both!"

With a hypothesis, it needed to be tested.

Wu Yu did not hesitate. He directly took out a steamed bun from the 'Exquisite Food' in his inventory.

The bun looked exquisite, and a wisp of fragrance drifted from it.

Wu Yu merely took a whiff, and his tired, weakened body immediately felt much better!

"I underestimated this food!"

His heart jolted, and he took a bite and swallowed it.

The bun tasted excellent, but Wu Yu had no mind to savor its flavor. Instead, he carefully felt the changes in his body.

In less than three seconds, his body relaxed, and he felt comfort and warmth everywhere.

"It's about as effective as the 'Life-Recovery Potion' the academy handed out last time. My body should recover after a while."

"But that was a Transcendent potion!"

"This is only green quality..."

Wu Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly wolfed down the bun.

Fortunately, the bun was not large, and it was soon entirely in his stomach.

Wu Yu's condition improved more and more.

It was not merely that his stomach was full. The vitality and blood throughout his body seemed to be boiling, while a breath within him whirled wildly, giving him the urge to charge into the forest and sprint wildly!

"Young man, did you bring that bun in too?"

Yu Tiezhu noticed it and said enviously, "It smells so good. Once we get back, I'm definitely going to have a huge meal!"

"I'm telling you, my daughter is a chef! She can even make sweet-and-sour carp, and it's delicious! Do you know sweet-and-sour carp? That was a recipe from before the Great Cataclysm..."

He seemed utterly devoted to his daughter, never able to stop talking about her.

Seeing that Yu Tiezhu had not paid attention to the bun from earlier, Wu Yu relaxed.

"My body has recovered a lot. I can continue."

"The [Bi Fang Sigil] consumes vitality and blood, and I have two hundred restorative items that replenish vitality and blood. That counts as good news."

Half an hour later, everyone had more or less finished resting.

Yu Tiezhu had boasted for a full half hour without repeating himself once. Wu Yu could only admire him for it.

While responding to him, Wu Yu added another sigil stone to his pocket.

"Time's up!"

Inspector Liu glanced at his watch and rose, preparing to lead the group onward.

Suddenly!

"Aah—!!!"

A scream came from the distance!

Everyone scrambled to their feet in panic.

Inspector Liu drew his pistol and looked in that direction. In a deep voice, he asked, "Who went over there?"

"Big Fatty! H-he... he said he was going to relieve himself."

The middle-aged woman spoke tremblingly and hurried to Inspector Liu's side.

Seeing this, Wu Yu also moved over, placing himself in front to shield the others.

"That fat chef... Hmph, he was probably snatched away by a twisted creature... Oh, no, this place should have wild beasts instead!"

Blue Hair glanced at the young woman and cracked a joke, pretending to be calm.

At that moment,

Another scream came from ahead.

A figure burst out from the bushes, looking utterly bedraggled.

It was the fat chef!

But he was covered in blood, one arm was already missing, and his face was filled with terror.

"Inspector Liu, save me, save me!"

He ran frantically toward Inspector Liu, but after only a few steps, he staggered and fell.

Behind him, the bushes were chopped down by machetes, and several familiar figures emerged.

Animal-hide clothing, tall and muscular bodies, machetes clenched in their hands...

"They're the mysterious people!"

"There are so many! There are more behind them!"

"Careful!"

Several people cried out in alarm, and Inspector Liu decisively fired his gun!

Bang!

The nearest burly man in animal hides froze. A hole appeared in his head!