After finishing the most valuable crimson mushrooms, Wen Jing headed straight for the upper level of the giant tree.
The plan to devour the giant tree will naturally start from top to bottom. With the terrifying vitality of the giant tree, if it is not uprooted, it may even grow longer along the way.
Arriving at the lush sea of upper-level leaves, one is surrounded by the clear, melodious calls of red and white birds.
Sensing this scene, Wen Jing's heart stirred:
"Why not try out the new ability?"
The insect silently floated to a branch, sensing that at least five red and white birds were active nearby.
The next moment, Wen Jing tilted his head slightly, and the spiritual energy he released transformed into a surge of energy that swept outwards in a strange way—
Howl of the Hunt!
Upon using the mental power technique for the first time, Wen Jing immediately sensed a distinct difference.
Although both involve using mental energy, using secret techniques is different from directly using Mental Shock.
The former is like using one's own body to clash head-on with another, injuring the enemy while also bearing the recoil; while the secret technique is like a person mastering a tool, not only can it achieve a more powerful effect with less mental energy, but this transformation method itself is also a kind of armor-like protection.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
Almost simultaneously with the release of this psychic ability, the red and white birds that were engaged in various activities around them suddenly froze, instantly losing all consciousness, and fell straight to the ground as if they had died suddenly.
"That's amazing!"
Even though it was his own attack, Wen Jing was still taken aback and quickly used his Gravity Silk to pull the six falling red and white birds back.
After pulling it over, she discovered that the red and white bird didn't just look like it had died suddenly; it really had died suddenly, its brain dead directly from the impact of the Howl of the Hunt.
This might be partly due to the Red and White Bird's low mental strength, but Wen Jing then realized that the intimidation effect was only effective against enemies with a certain level of mental strength. If the difference in mental strength between the two sides was too great, the opponent would be directly 'shocked' to death.
Furthermore, mental attacks on intangible matter are unaffected by physical laws or physical strength, making them a truly real attack...
Wen Jing's current strength is enough to easily kill the Red and White Bird, but it's definitely not as unpredictable and swift as a mental attack.
"Its basic attribute allows it to devour giant trees; as for combat skills and secret techniques... perhaps we could focus on enhancing that ability."
Previously, Wen Jing might not have had this idea, but after acquiring the two rare mental traits, [ Basic Hive Mind ] and [ Howl of the Hunt ], she felt she could develop in this direction.
It's better to leverage strengths than to compensate for weaknesses, and besides, she doesn't have any obvious weaknesses.
Thinking about the secret techniques involving mental power in the Integral mall, Wen Jing shook his head, looked at the giant tree beneath him, and decided to eat first.
[The direction of evolution has been determined...]
[Evolve by consuming points...]
[315→55]
[Evolution complete]
[ Mouthparts IV ] [ Digestion V ]
[Gained Traits: Advanced Rapid Bite, Advanced Rapid Digestion ]
They were only "rich" for two days before returning to the Ancient Wilderness and became poor again.
However, her efforts to earn Skill Points were primarily aimed at improving her Digestion abilities.
However, Wen Jing still couldn't assess the true value of [?? Devour], even after spending over two hundred points to evolve to Advanced Rapid Digestion, the overall Digestion level was still only level five.
Having located a giant tree, the little insect began its formal plan to devour it.
" Gigantification."
The small insect transformed into a terrifying giant, its tough mandibles snapping off a section of twig in one bite, then sucking the remaining leaves and branches into its mouth like noodles.
"Click click click..."
This massive evolution, combined with the Gigantification that is rarely used in normal times, has allowed Wen Jing's devouring efficiency to completely surpass the 'worm' level of black threadworms and ants, achieving truly effective devouring.
With an unprecedentedly rapid eating speed, all attributes on the panel are increasing by decimal points.
Giant trees can produce 'essence' Emerald Crystal Rice Grain, which naturally contain energy.
However, for other creatures here, the energy contained in the giant tree is too dispersed. Apart from the black threadworms, which live as borers, most other creatures collect the essence that has condensed on the giant tree.
For Wen Jing now, the time cost of collecting various essential items is less valuable than improving his Digestion ability and directly devouring the giant tree, thus achieving a qualitative change through quantitative accumulation.
As dusk approached and the time of day approached 6 PM, Wen Jing's mouthparts, which had been busy all day, finally stopped.
Looking around, she had devoured more tree canopies in a single day than a century-old giant tree. She had also casually eaten some red fruits and red and white bird eggs, but compared to the ocean-like canopy of giant trees, it was still just a drop in the ocean.
Completely engulfing it will likely be a long-term endeavor.
She then looked at her panel, which had returned to decimal point measurement.
Life: 98.78
Strength: 95.54
Speed: 63.17
Spirit: 76.35
During the process of absorbing the food, Wen Jing vaguely felt changes in his body.
I wonder if breaking the three-digit mark will bring about any qualitative change...
*
"Today marks the end of your ' Introduction to the Ancient Wilderness ' course."
Because Xie Ming was seriously injured, the compulsory course for the winter semester had a new substitute teacher. However, since it was a purely academic course, the teaching progress was not affected in any way.
The content in the textbooks can be easily memorized by Awakened's memory. What students are more interested in during class are the cutting-edge research ideas, anecdotes about Awakened, and so on that the mentors talk about in casual conversation.
Today, after submitting the electronic exam papers in the last class, the entire class graduated with 100% excellent grades.
Of course, if it weren't for 100% being an anomaly, required courses would be free credits for all students.
When class ended, Yu Yang, who was sitting next to Wen Jing, covered his eyes with his hand and started chatting with her. "What have you been busy with lately?"
Wen Jing, of course, wouldn't tell his classmates that he'd been busy gnawing on tree bark lately, so he put it another way:
"Busy getting stronger!"
"Hahaha... It really is you!" Wan Ling, standing to the side, seemed unsurprised. " Wen Jing, today is the freshman orientation party, are you going?"
Seeing that her classmates around her didn't dare to look at her, Wen Jing calculated the time in her mind. Fortunately, today was the last day of the special effects halo.
Since the grade-level ranking competition, apart from required courses, she has rarely encountered classmates in her recent activities, but every time she does, it inevitably ends up like this.
Fortunately, next month we only need to flash the class badge for three days...
After regaining her Wen Jing asked Wan Ling curiously, "Aren't we freshmen?"
"The next spring semester! Our spring semester class has already moved up to sophomore year, but the rankings are still based on our class. After the Freshman League, we'll directly move up to sophomore year," Wan Ling said.
Because of this academic system, the winter class had the fewest students, but also the most Awakened from impoverished backgrounds.
"Oh, oh." Wen Jing suddenly realized, then nodded. "We have to go."
The welcome party has food and fun, and the expenses are paid by the Student Council and the college, so of course she has to go, especially since she has recently started a life of gnawing on tree bark from top to bottom in the Ancient Wilderness, only occasionally eating some red and white birds as a treat, and her diet is very monotonous.
Now that I think about it, it's been three months since I last attended a freshman orientation.
*
"Won't I get really badly hurt?"
Outside the welcome hall, the new spring semester students chatted nervously among themselves.
At the forum, they already knew about the welcoming 'tradition' and past cases.
Especially the previous year's students, the forum was shrouded in secrecy regarding the previous year's orientation. Even if you asked, no one would reply, and the posts would be quickly deleted by the Student Council moderators.
"Moreover, last year's welcome party received the highest score ever; I wonder if they came up with some terrifyingly ruthless trick!"
"I think what we need to worry about is that our previous graduating class had the top student in the entire grade."
"I know, Senior Wen Jing! I've heard her legend on the School District Planet!"
The nervous and apprehensive new students of the spring semester arrived at the welcome party.
They were then led to a figure surrounded by a crowd. The person was sitting on a sofa, eating delicious food and drinking beverages, watching robots dance on a distant stage, exuding an air of royalty.
Strangely, although there were people all around her, no one dared to look her in the eye.
There was only one girl with a feather mark on her school uniform talking to her, and judging from her posture, she respected her.
That mark belonged to the genius of the Student Council's Operations Department.
Is this the demeanor and authority of the First in the Grade?!
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the big boss turned around and said to them, "Everyone..."
Is it coming? What kind of torture will it be?
Some of the new students couldn't help but close their eyes, awaiting their verdict.
Wen Jing: "Eat well, drink well, and have fun!"
The freshmen. "... Huh?"
Chapter 82
The pranks at each freshman orientation party are usually initiated by Student Council members from wealthy families. However, in this winter class, regardless of whether those few wealthy kids had any intention of causing trouble, with Wen Jing around, they had no say in the matter.
Upon discovering that it was a perfectly normal welcome party, the freshmen erupted in cheers, and the hall quickly filled with a joyful atmosphere.
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a normal welcome party."
I didn't expect it to be you this time.
On the sofa in the center, Wen Jing and Eve chatted while drinking beverages.
Each time there's a welcome party, an Operations Department member is assigned to oversee things. Last time, when Wen Jing was a freshman, it was Ji Shuang; this time, it's Eve.