40: Chapter 40 Crimson Flame Fruit Appears

Lin Muchen stepped into a pile of gravel at the edge of Withered Vine Cliff, almost slipping.

"Damn it, System, is this optimal route meant for goats?" He quickly steadied himself, grabbing onto a nearby old vine.

[Path planning is prioritized based on safety and stealth.]

[Turn right in thirty meters. You will leave the Withered Vine Cliff area and enter the outskirts of Chiyan Valley.]

[Ambient temperature is beginning to rise. Host, please pay attention to regulating Spiritual Qi to resist the heatwave.]

Lin Muchen wiped away some sweat.

It really was hot.

The further he walked, the drier the air became, feeling scorching as he breathed it into his lungs.

The surrounding trees became sparse, their leaves scorched yellow, and the ground was dark red sand and stone.

"This hellish place is like it has underfloor heating turned on," he muttered, circulating the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian.

The Spiritual Qi of the eighth level of Qi Refining, carrying the cool sensation from the Origin Star's feedback, circulated through his Meridians, immediately dissipating most of the parching heat.

"Refreshing!" Lin Muchen was delighted. "6.5% feedback is top-tier; it comes with its own air-conditioning effect."

He quickened his pace.

After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, his vision suddenly opened up.

A massive valley appeared before him.

The valley entrance was like the open maw of a fire beast. Looking inside, the valley floor was dark red rock, with wisps of white steam rising from some cracks.

A heatwave rushed at him, and his vision was somewhat distorted by the high temperature.

[Arrived at the outskirts of Chiyan Valley.]

[Beginning scan for chiyan fruit growth areas and potential threats.]

Lin Muchen hid behind a giant rock and poked his head out to observe.

The valley was quiet, with only the whistling sound of hot wind blowing through the rock crevices.

"System, any discoveries?"

[Scanning...]

[Detected strong Fire attribute Spiritual Qi fluctuations eight hundred meters ahead, at the western rock wall of the valley floor.]

[Matching characteristics: chiyan fruit, mature stage. Quantity: three plants.]

[Warning: High-energy life reaction detected entrenched near the chiyan fruit.]

[Target Analysis: Second-Order Demonic Beast, Chilin Python. Estimated body length exceeds five zhang. Fire attribute, excels at ambush, strong defense. Weakness located seven inches below the neck.]

[Comprehensive Assessment: Target strength is equivalent to a Cultivator at the Peak of the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage and holds the geographical advantage.]

[Host is advised to proceed with caution.]

"Peak ninth level of Qi Refining? And it has the home-field advantage?" Lin Muchen licked his lips. "These points really aren't easy to earn."

He shrank back behind the rock, his mind racing.

A direct confrontation definitely wouldn't work.

He had to use strategy.

"System, what's the Chilin Python's sensing range? If I sneak over from the side, do I have a chance?"

[The Chilin Python's thermal sensing range is approximately fifty meters. However, the chiyan fruit growth area is an open rock wall with no cover.]

[Once the Host enters within fifty meters, detection is certain.]

[Suggested Plan: Use the Origin Star Iron-Tooth Ant Colony for ground distraction.]

[The Chilin Python is sensitive to vibrations. The ant colony can approach from underground and launch a sudden attack to draw its attention.]

[Host can take the opportunity to approach quickly and attack its seven-inch weakness.]

[Estimated success rate: 68%.]

"Iron-Tooth Ant Colony?" Lin Muchen's eyes lit up. "That works! A classic feint!"

He immediately sank his consciousness into his Dantian.

In the Origin Star, the Iron-Tooth Ant Colony was transporting minerals near the volcano in an orderly fashion.

"Brothers, time to work!"

With a thought, Lin Muchen directly mobilized about three hundred of the strongest Iron-toothed Ants.

These fellows had been nourished by the Origin Star's Spiritual Qi and tempered by star iron minerals; they were several sizes larger than ordinary ants, and their mouthparts gleamed with a metallic chill.

"Target: eight hundred meters ahead, western rock wall of the valley floor. Dig through the ground, don't show your heads. Wait for my signal, then rush out together and bite that big snake! Just draw its attention, don't fight to the death!"

The command was issued.

The three hundred Iron-toothed Ants instantly burrowed into the Origin Star's ground, then appeared directly in the soil by his feet through Lin Muchen's mental connection.

After a rustling sound, they quickly dove underground and dug toward the chiyan fruit.

"System, monitor the ant colony's progress and the big snake's movements for me."

[Understood. Ant colony digging... Estimated arrival below the target in two minutes.]

[The Chilin Python is currently in a semi-dormant state, coiled at the base of the chiyan fruit trees, head facing the valley entrance.]

Lin Muchen waited patiently.

Two minutes felt like two years.

Finally.

[The ant colony has reached the designated position.]

[The Chilin Python has still not noticed.]

[Host, you may proceed.]

"Go!" Lin Muchen barked softly.

At the same time, he sent the attack command to the ant colony!

Below the western rock wall of the valley floor.

The Chilin Python was coiled in a bunch, its dark red scales glowing slightly in the heat. It was squinting its eyes, enjoying the pure fire Spiritual Qi emitted by the chiyan fruit.

Suddenly!

The ground beneath it exploded!

Three hundred black Iron-toothed Ants surged out like a fountain, lunging at it from all directions!

The Chilin Python was instantly startled awake!

Its massive body sprang up, and its thick tail swept across, sending dozens of Iron-toothed Ants flying on the spot.

But more ants had already crawled onto its body, their sharp mouthparts biting fiercely into the gaps between its scales!

Hiss—!

The Chilin Python let out a furious hiss, its body twisting frantically in an attempt to shake off the "little bugs."

Now!

Lin Muchen lunged out from behind the giant rock!

With the Gale Boots fully activated, he was like a shadow, rushing straight for the rock wall across the scorching ground!

Fifty meters, covered in the blink of an eye!

The Chilin Python sensed a new threat and snapped its head around. Its crimson pupils locked onto Lin Muchen, and it opened its maw, about to spit a burst of scorching fire poison!

But Lin Muchen was faster!

With a flip of his right hand, the star dagger was already in his grip.

A faint starlight shimmered on the dagger, drawing a silver line through the heat-distorted air.

Target—seven inches below the snake's neck!

The Chilin Python instinctively tried to retract its head to dodge, but the hundreds of Iron-toothed Ants still biting frantically caused its movements to lag.

Puchi!

The star dagger pierced accurately into the gap between the scales, sinking up to the hilt!

"Break for me!" Lin Muchen roared, frantically pouring Spiritual Qi into the dagger.

The power of starlight exploded inside the Chilin Python!

Hiss—!!!

The Chilin Python let out an agonizingly shrill scream, its massive body twitching violently. Its thick tail thrashed the ground wildly, sending gravel flying everywhere.

It suddenly broke free, turning and fleeing frantically toward the depths of the valley with the star dagger still embedded in its seven-inch mark, leaving a trail of dark red snake blood.

"Trying to run?" Lin Muchen couldn't bear to lose his star dagger.

He moved his thoughts.

The star dagger embedded in the snake's body vibrated violently, and the starlight exploded again!

The Chilin Python let out another miserable hiss, its flight speed increasing even more as it vanished around a corner at the bottom of the valley.

"Forget it, the dagger is more important." Lin Muchen didn't give chase; he turned and lunged toward the rock wall.

Three chiyan fruit trees grew in the rock crevices, each bearing a fruit the size of a fist, entirely crimson with flame patterns on the surface.

The fragrance was intoxicating; just one sniff made the Fire attribute Spiritual Qi in his body much more active.

"Good stuff!" Lin Muchen was nimble, carefully picking the three chiyan fruits and placing them into the jade boxes he had prepared.

[chiyan fruit collection complete.]

[Task settlement: points +500.]

[Current point balance: 777 points.]

"Five hundred points acquired!" Lin Muchen was delighted. "This trip was worth it!"

Just as he put away the jade boxes, the System prompt rang again.

[Anomaly detected.]

[Scanning the roots of the chiyan fruit trees...]

[Discovered weak but continuous Spiritual Qi fluctuations, originating deep within the underground rock layers.]

[Analysis: Suspected connection to a small Fire attribute Spiritual Vein node.]

[The energy leaking from this Spiritual Vein node is the primary source of nutrients for the chiyan fruit's growth.]

"Fire attribute Spiritual Vein node?" Lin Muchen's eyes widened. "There's a mine under this place?"

[That is one way to understand it.]

[The scale of this node is small, but the quality is pure.]

[If the Origin Star Spiritual Vein Prototype (after exchange) can be connected in resonance with such a node, it can accelerate the Spiritual Vein's growth and grant it Fire attribute characteristics.]

[Recommendation: Mark these coordinates.]

"Mark it! It must be marked!" Lin Muchen quickly had the System record the location. "When I've saved enough points to exchange for the Spiritual Vein Prototype, this is the first place I'll come to 'plug in'!"

In high spirits, he turned to leave.

After a few steps, he suddenly felt a slight warmth in his Dantian.

Not heat from the outside; it was coming from the Origin Star.

He performed an Internal observation with his Divided Soul.

He saw the three-color hub light group in the Origin Star glowing slightly, especially the red part representing the Fire attribute, which was more active than usual.

[The Origin Star's world will has produced a weak resonance with the pure Fire attribute Spiritual Qi encountered just now.]

[Fire is also an important link in the cycle of heaven and earth energy.]

[This experience has potential benefits for the ecological evolution of the Origin Star.]

"There's even this benefit?" Lin Muchen was amused. "It seems I should look for more places with distinct attributes to visit in the future."

He didn't delay any further and quickly left Chiyan Valley the way he came.

On the way back, his steps were much lighter.

777 points.

Although still some distance from 1200, hope was right before him.

"System, keep an eye on the Ore Vein once we're back, and have the Stone Puppets work overtime digging! Also, see if there are any other good tasks like the chiyan fruit one!"

[Understood.]

[Warning: Two first-order Fire Lizards are approaching two hundred meters to the Host's front-left. It is recommended to bypass them.]

"Bypass, bypass. I won't waste time with them." Lin Muchen decisively changed direction. "I'm eager to get home now; I just want to make money!"

His figure quickly disappeared into the scorched yellow forest.

Behind him, the heatwaves of Chiyan Valley remained.

Deep in the valley floor, the injured Chilin Python huddled in its cave, the wound at its seven-inch mark still bleeding, the embedded dagger shimmering slightly.

Even deeper underground, that small Fire attribute Spiritual Vein node silently emitted heat and Spiritual Qi.