Ahead, an endless high wall stretched across the horizon.
The wall was formed by countless closely arranged gray-green "pillars," with an average height of over fifty meters, extending infinitely in both the north and south directions.
Between them are even more diverse and bizarre structures.
Giant "flower buds" about to bloom, layers of stacked "hydrangeas," and "plants" coiled like giant ferns.
And many more indescribable and strange creations.
They intertwine and depend on each other, together creating a vibrant and wondrous scene.
The boundary of the Sea of Corruption.
If it weren't for the fact that this forest has been ravaged for thousands of years, a first-time visitor might mistake it for a fantastical jungle in a surreal world.
In reality, those seemingly diverse "plants" are all mimicking the appearance of various highly poisonous mycelia.
According to records, the fungal ecology of the Sea of Corruption is so complex that it is impossible to exhaust it, but its main framework is a special type of fungus called "insect-fed trees," which are those "pillars."
They contain chlorophyll, enabling them to photosynthesize, and have extremely deep root systems, giving them a powerful ability to draw and retain water from deep within the earth.
The insect-fed tree serves as a nursery for other fungi and a food source for countless Sea of Corruption insects, making it the cornerstone of this forest.
(Insect Food Tree Setup Set)
At this moment, an unusual tranquility pervaded the edge of the forest.
There were neither the buzzing of insects nor the spewing of purple miasma, nor even a single spore to be seen. Thus, the Sea of Corruption and the desert were clearly separated into two worlds.
Yupa raised his hand, signaling the column to halt.
"It's very clean, isn't it?" He looked up at the forest.
"This is because the temperature continues to drop during the rest of the season, and most fungi on the periphery of the forest have entered dormancy, making this one of the relatively safe windows for exploring the Sea of Corruption."
39
For Yupa, the outer regions of the Sea of Corruption had long lost their mystery and threat; coming here felt like coming home.
After all, he spent less time in the Valley of the Wind than he did exploring the Sea of Corruption.
But this time is different.
Yupa pulled on the reins and spurred his horse toward a particularly tall and robust young man with a buzz cut in the group.
His name is Sura, and he used to be a miner in the valley. The reason he joined this expedition is simple: he is a Blessed, with the power of Golden Rune flowing through his veins.
"How are you feeling, Sura?"
Yupa's gaze swept over the young man; he needed to assess the team's condition, especially the mindset of this key figure.
"Excellent, Master Yupa! To be honest, I've wanted to come to the Sea of Corruption Decay for a long time, but I've never had the chance. Now I'm finally able to."
Sura smiled, appearing completely relaxed and without any sign of tension.
He has always been a bold yet meticulous person with a strong sense of adventure.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken the lead in following the princess to the forest for disaster relief, or realized the benefits of the work points system as soon as it was implemented and was the first to redeem them.
"It's good to be curious." Yupa nodded, his tone becoming serious. "But the Sea of Corruption is not a friendly place. If things go wrong, evacuate immediately. Don't worry about anyone else, understand?"
"Understood!" Sura's smile faded, and she answered seriously.
Yupa turned to the entire team and instructed, "Everyone be on high alert. Check that the insect whistles are within easy reach, and hang the flashbangs in the most convenient locations."
"During the test, you are responsible for keeping watch. If there is any unusual activity, do not hesitate to immediately use a signal flare to warn others and then retreat."
"Finally, remember one thing: absolutely—absolutely never—shoot any insects."
The team members responded in unison and checked their equipment again.
The insect whistle can emit a specific frequency to repel most of the insects in the Sea of Corruption, while the cold light flashbangs carried in the chest pocket can also have a deterrent effect. These are the most basic life-saving equipment for explorers of the Sea of Corruption.
Yupa tightened his anti-virus mask and looked at Sura: "Come with me."
He instructed the other eight men to remain in place and stand guard, while he and Sura pulled on the reins and walked towards the edge of the Sea of Corruption.
The ground gradually transitions from yellow gravel to a soft, elastic layer of mycelium, making almost no sound when stepped on.
The closer you get, the more oppressive the forest becomes. Tiny fungi of various colors cling to the insect-eating trees, like "flowers" growing on the trunks.
He had spoken at length with Nausicaä's great-grandmother last night and learned of the old woman's worries and suspicions.
The Erdtree is likely the opposite of the Sea of Corruption; its " Law of Regression " can even turn active mycelium into fly ash.
But Yupa felt that something was wrong.
He has extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of the complexity and subtlety of ecosystems.
Forests and grasslands can stand side by side, deserts and oases can coexist, and even some highly poisonous plants may have antidotes growing nearby. The mutual generation and restraint of all things in nature is the norm. So why do the Sea of Corruption fungi react so violently, like fire and water, to the power of the Erdtree?
Or, to put it another way, did those mycelia truly wither because of the power of the Erdtree?
It was understandable that the old man viewed the two as opposing forces, Yupa's experience and intuition told him that the truth was likely not so.
Therefore, he had to conduct the experiment himself, for practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.
With this question in mind, the two arrived at the foot of the insect food tree.
Looking up, one can see a massive structure spread out like an umbrella above.
Apart from the howling desert wind, the surroundings were deathly silent, and nothing unusual happened.
Yupa's eyes gleamed behind his mask; he felt an irrepressible excitement rising within him, his insatiable thirst for knowledge stirring once more.
The two dismounted, Yupa took a glass test tube from his breast pocket, then pulled out a dagger and scraped some powder off the grayish-green bark.
When the mycelial powder fell into the test tube, the colorless, transparent liquid in the test tube quickly turned purplish-black.
Yupa raised his arm to observe the color change against the sunlight, then shook his head, stuffed the test tube back into his pocket.
No matter how clean or fresh the air may appear (compared to the depths of the Sea of Corruption ), these mycelia still contain enough deadly toxins.
Sura then raised his hand, clad in a thick leather glove, and gently pressed it onto the surface of the insect food tree.
The surface of the insect-fed tree was covered with fine, downy mycelium, and he could almost feel liquid flowing deep inside the trunk, whether it was an illusion or not.
He adjusted his breathing, his muscles tensing slightly.
Before they set off, the Divine Tree had clearly warned them that this trial might be dangerous and that they must be prepared to flee at any time.
But Sura wasn't afraid; instead, he felt excited, just like Yupa.
After all, seeing the Sea of Corruption was a dream he had kept deep in his heart!