Evolution... and the Successful Operation of Cultivation Techniques Under Normal Conditions!

That said, when it was actually time to prepare for the return journey, it proved even more troublesome than the trip here.

After changing out of their tattered clothes, they threw away everything in their backpacks as well—simple tents, waterproof raincoats, and the like. Right now, everyone wished they could discard every last bit of miscellaneous baggage to make room for more of the spiritual materials they had gathered.

Yuan Zhengxin was the most extreme among them. If they had not genuinely needed supplies like food and water on the road, the fat man would probably have risked throwing away even their remaining provisions.

As he put it himself, "With all this fat on me, can't I handle two days of travel?"

There was no need to mention the mud and sand dug up from the depths of the Sinkhole. Among the strange weeds and vegetation, they also carefully dug up several thriving plants, roots and soil included, stuffed them into prepared bags, and took them away.

As for the tiger carcass that had already been skinned, Ruan Chenggang picked out the better portions and cut down dozens more pounds of meat. He hastily smoked and roasted it over a fierce fire, replacing much of their food supply before finally stopping in relative satisfaction.

That said, the spiritually tainted materials they had collected by now were somewhat too heavy—cross-country trekking through deep mountain forests while burdened with weight was no simple matter.

Even the black cat, whose body was starting to trend toward "roundness" from eating too much, rumbled in displeasure. Yet there was nothing it could do about its black-hearted litter-scooping servant. A small women's makeup bag used for carrying supplies had been forcibly tied to its back, making it share a little of the labor.

...Only heaven knew