Next to the highway was a large mountain forest, with peaks taller than any they had encountered before, the tallest ones reaching hundreds of meters.
With no way to drive through, they had to proceed on foot. Bai Ye decided to go, and Fang Yuxin, curious, also chose to follow. However, having Li Qingyun along would be somewhat of a burden due to her lower strength.
After some hesitation, Fang Yuxin decided to ask Li Qingyun to stay behind. The car was protected by a defensive array, and as long as Li Qingyun didn’t drive, even if zombies did appear, the array would keep her safe for a considerable time.
Nonetheless, to ensure Li Qingyun’s safety, she left Lan Re with her. Previously, Li Qingyun was unaware of Lan Re’s presence because Fang Yuxin had disguised it; Li Qingyun even believed it was just an ordinary White Jade Bracelet. She was quite curious when she saw it, not understanding why Fang Yuxin would wear a jade bracelet on her wrist in such a post-apocalyptic world; it was extravagant and easily damaged.
It wasn’t until Lan Re revealed itself that she was amazed to find out that it was actually a mutant plant! She was thrilled, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
She also was a Wood Element Superpower User, but her awakened ability was quite special, limited to extracting plant essence. Although she was just a minor assistant in her research institute, she had come into contact with quite a few mutant plants. However, those mutant plants either weren’t very powerful or were just severed twigs and withered leaves—she had never encountered a powerful mutant plant like Lan Re!
So upon seeing Lan Re, out of professional habit, she couldn’t help but want to try and extract essence from it. She had a hunch that essence from a high-level mutant plant like Lan Re must have some amazing effects!
After having difficulty reverting to its original form, Lan Re started stretching and shaking its body with excitement. Suddenly, it sensed an intention that made it shiver with coldness. It quivered and its flower bud at the top suspiciously rotated, trying to find out who dared to covet it, the great Lan Re!
Li Qingyun sat in the car, thinking that Fang Yuxin and Lan Re must have an unusual relationship. Fang Yuxin certainly wouldn’t allow her to extract the purification from Lan Re, which led her to let out a regretful sigh. Her eyes stubbornly fixed on Lan Re, unable to tear them away.
She recognized at a glance that this must be a Mutated Crystal Orchid. Crystal Orchids were naturally beautiful, but this mutated one, with a body clear as jade, was dazzlingly gorgeous!
However, despite its stunning beauty, its lethality was equally terrifying, and Li Qingyun didn’t overlook the sharp scale leaves covering its body.
Eventually, she had to give up on her idea, silently watching Lan Re with craving eyes.
Fang Yuxin, unaware of Li Qingyun’s occupational hazard, instructed her to stay in the car and to not open the door under any circumstances. She then instructed Lan Re to protect her and the remaining five people before she and Bai Ye entered the forest.
This forest was vast but different from the one where she had gotten separated from her family.
The mutant plants here were few, with the majority being ordinary plants. These ordinary plants seemed to have gradually adapted to the post-apocalyptic environment. Though they weren’t thriving, at least they were alive and hadn’t died outright.
Despite this, the pair did not dare to be careless, remaining vigilant and on alert the entire way.
The Mutant Beast kept sending out angry roars, each sound increasingly urgent and furious. Clearly, its predicament was not good.
Bai Ye, listening to the noise, felt extremely uncomfortable and began to quicken his pace, eventually almost dragging Fang Yuxin through the forest.
Bai Ye was faster than Fang Yuxin, but since he firmly held her wrist, she had to try her best to keep up. If she wasn’t a Pure Wood Spirit Body whose True Qi had healing properties, she might have wondered if her legs would break from the strain after she infused her legs with True Qi, easing the pressure.
Yet, seeing Bai Ye’s anxious and angry expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say any words of reproach.
She understood Bai Ye’s feelings, after all. If Angela or Lan Re were in trouble, she’d definitely be even more anxious than Bai Ye!
So, she said nothing; after quietly alleviating the pressure in her legs with True Qi, she followed closely beside Bai Ye.