Chapter 128 - 103: Perception Ring! Fortress Defense Line! Information on the Blood-tooth Python and the Bloodthirsty Vine King’s Movements
[Rating: B-Level]
[Source: A- Level Extraordinary Creature · Unihorn Catfish · Bone]
[Description: When used in an aquatic environment, the user’s aquatic abilities will be significantly boosted for a short time.]
[Note: This Extraordinary Artifact consumes Spiritual Power. The more Spiritual Power you have, the longer its effect lasts. This Extraordinary Artifact cannot be re-forged. Once damaged, it will be permanently destroyed.]
The "Water-Boosting Pearl" was like a weaker, limited version of Water Mastery that consumed Spiritual Power, so Chen Chong naturally had no need for it.
It would be more valuable in Xu Jun’s hands.
Gazing at the Extraordinary Artifact in his hand, Xu Jun was so moved he almost dropped to his knees on the spot...
Chen Chong, however, didn’t think much of it.
The remains of the Unihorn Catfish he’d brought back had been successfully crafted into an Extraordinary Artifact. Although its ability was average, at least it hadn’t gone to waste.
However, the Stone Claw Eagle feathers collected from the barren mountain had turned to ash the moment they were tossed into the Forging Furnace.
Apparently, they weren’t viable materials for crafting an Extraordinary Artifact.
The dozens of Stone Claw Eagle eggshell fragments, however, did successfully produce another Extraordinary Artifact.
Although, calling it an Extraordinary Artifact might not be entirely accurate.
It was actually a dozen or so hard, pellet-like objects.
The data described them as single-use, C-Class edible items.
They could be fed to avian creatures. Rich in nutrients, they could accelerate growth.
Chen Chong had initially planned to give them all to the Lion-headed Geese, but on second thought, the Rock Armor Eagle was about to hatch. ’Wouldn’t feeding these to it have a greater effect?’
So, after giving a small portion to the Lion-headed Geese, he put the majority away.
Currently, the two fangs of the Blood-tooth Python were being forged in the Extraordinary Forging Furnace.
Judging by the time it took to craft the previous Extraordinary Artifacts, this would likely take at least an entire night to complete...
...
After dinner, Zhang Meng and Huang Mao produced one last batch of salt before leaving.
The amount of coarse salt had now reached about sixty catties, less than half of what the Swordsmanship Club required was left to be made.
Chen Chong checked on the status of his various resources at home.
The farmland was thriving as always. The crops were growing at an astonishing rate. The sweet potato sprouts could no longer be called sprouts; they had grown into a lush expanse of vines and leaves.
Soon, once the vines and leaves reached their maximum growth, the sweet potatoes underground would begin to form.
Even if the sweet potatoes weren’t ripe yet, the leaves and vines were edible. Plucked and cooked, they would make a nice plate of greens.
Having not eaten any vegetables for over ten days, Chen Chong couldn’t help but look forward to it.
The tomatoes and peppers were nearing full maturity; he could harvest the first batch of seeds in less than three days.
The other crops were also growing extremely well, beginning to flower and produce seeds...
Inside the bathroom, the poultry and wild rabbits were no longer the few specimens they started with. After several successful trappings, their numbers had grown to two wild ducks, three pheasants, and four wild rabbits, forming a sizable collection.
Perhaps because they had companions, the newly caught wild ducks and pheasants adapted well. The fresh grass on the ground had already been pecked clean.
Even though they were in the same enclosure, the pheasants and wild ducks coexisted harmoniously, showing no signs of fighting...
The mud pond was as murky as ever, reinforcing Chen Chong’s desire to get some Vermilion Fruits to plant.
The fish in the fishpond were quite active. With a glance, he could see many of them breaking the surface to breathe and filter-feed.
Among the surrounding aquatic plants, he could also spot many small fish hiding, while larger fish nibbled on the plants nearby...
The Rock Armor Eagle egg in the incubator was still quiet, but Chen Chong estimated it would hatch either tomorrow or the day after.
With no entertainment at night, everyone chatted on the sofa for a while before heading to their rooms to rest.
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived...
[Daily settlement beginning. Based on your harvest and performance over the past day, a score and rating will be assigned, and you will automatically receive corresponding Card rewards.]
[Over the past day, you directed several people to produce a small amount of coarse salt, captured a certain number of prey using traps, and collected the remains of Extraordinary Creatures, including an extremely rare pair of blood fangs. Furthermore, you successfully forged three Extraordinary Artifacts...]
[Score: 167 points]
[Rating: A+]
[Reward: Ability Card · Fortress Defense Line, Resource Card · Tiger Head Saber]
[Tip: Your excess score has been automatically converted into lower-level Cards.]
Gazing at the purple and blue cards that had appeared beside him, Chen Chong was a little puzzled.
’A brand-new type of card I’ve never seen before?’
’This Fortress Defense Line... what is it?’
He picked up the purple card and, filled with curiosity and doubt, examined it...
[Card Type: Ability Card · Fortress Defense Line]
[Rating: A-Level]
[Description: Upon use, can be applied to a designated building to strengthen and fortify it, creating a fortress-like defense. The building cannot be damaged from the outside by any attack that does not exceed its defense threshold.]
[Note: This is a building-type Ability Card and cannot be used to augment the user. It can only be applied to a building. If the user dies, the effect on the building will automatically disappear.]
"Hm?"
Chen Chong froze. After a few seconds of silence, he tentatively used it on the entire apartment.
The card vanished. Nothing seemed to have changed.
But he felt a new sensation, as if the entire apartment was now connected to him.
He could perceive an invisible defensive line now protecting the whole apartment.
It wasn’t just his own room; the living room, bathroom, balcony, and the bedroom where Xu Jun and Wang Biao slept were all within its protective range.
After a long moment, Chen Chong smiled.
Although this Ability Card didn’t strengthen him personally, being able to wrap the entire apartment in a defensive line was still extremely good.
The school’s protection period was over, and heaven knew if beasts, or even Extraordinary Creatures, would invade in the future.
With their destructive power, destroying a few buildings would be all too easy.
All of his resources were here at home; protecting them was the most crucial part of survival.
Having the protection of the "Fortress Defense Line" was a form of insurance...
There wasn’t much to say about the Tiger Head Saber card. Like the war bow, it was an exquisitely crafted and sharp saber.
It was basically the pinnacle of quality for an ordinary saber.
Neither he nor Wang Biao were very skilled with sabers. Coincidentally, he had accidentally damaged Jia Wen’s saber yesterday while testing the hardness of his "Body Petrification" ability.
This Tiger Head Saber would be perfect for him.
With a good saber, Jia Wen could finally unleash his full saber-fighting capabilities and boost the team’s combat strength...
Chen Chong’s thoughts turned to the three daily intelligence reports.
[C-Class Intelligence: Fierce Poisonous Bees are naturally ferocious and fear most creatures, even other Extraordinary Creatures. However, birds of prey are their weakness. Much of the time, lost Fire Silk Honey is stolen by powerful raptors.]
[B-Level Intelligence: The Bloodthirsty Vine King is a plant-type Extraordinary Creature of extremely high intelligence. In order to evolve into an S-Class Extraordinary Creature, it has laid dormant in the jungle for several years, secretly searching for opportunities to parasitize and devour other Extraordinary Creatures. It has now found its chance, targeting the Unihorn Catfish and the Stone Claw Eagle. It only needs to successfully retract the Core Bloodthirsty Vine parasitizing the Unihorn Catfish to gain the upper hand over the constrained Stone Claw Eagle and successfully parasitize it. However, because it is missing the Unihorn Catfish’s power, its confrontation with the Stone Claw Eagle has reached a stalemate. It may already be considering finding another substitute to accumulate power...]
As he read the intelligence, Chen Chong’s pupils constricted!
Information about the fourth Extraordinary Creature had finally appeared.
’An Extraordinary Creature with high intelligence, huh...’
’To lie dormant for so many years just to evolve, and it actually managed to trap the Stone Claw Eagle and parasitize the Unihorn Catfish... its intelligence really is high.’
But hunting the Unihorn Catfish had actually disrupted its plans, preventing it from parasitizing the Stone Claw Eagle.
As expected of an A+ Class Extraordinary Creature. Even after being injured in its fight with the Blood-tooth Python, the Stone Claw Eagle still didn’t lose ground against the Bloodthirsty Vine King. It was truly leagues stronger than the Unihorn Catfish.
’But finding another substitute...’
’What would the Bloodthirsty Vine King’s target be?’
’The Blood-tooth Python?’
Just as Chen Chong was pondering this, he saw the third intelligence report and was even more shocked...
[A-Level Intelligence: The Blood-tooth Python is the land hegemon of the Primitive Jungle’s periphery and has no obvious weaknesses. Its hard scales make it unafraid of being parasitized by the other hegemon, the Bloodthirsty Vine King. The poisonous mist stored in its fangs can easily corrode any living being, and even if fully depleted, can be rapidly replenished in less than a day. But this is not its strongest ability. As an A-Level Extraordinary Creature, its ability to repeatedly fight its natural enemy, the Stone Claw Eagle, and make it wary, relies on its special self-healing ability. By simply sleeping deep underground, any non-fatal wounds on its serpentine body will gradually heal. The longer it sleeps, the faster it heals. If it is awakened mid-slumber, the healing process will be interrupted and will only resume once it falls asleep again.]
...