Forge a path to success.

Chapter 106 Golden Leaf City Treasure Hunt Competition

"This... Egg? How did you get involved with these people?" Ji Huaisu asked.

[Cloth was just foraging for food...] Egg wrote pitifully, [He stole one of their apples and almost got killed; it's a sign of moral decay and the decline of human nature.]

"They've all become thieves and still have the nerve to criticize the world?"

The thief's stolen goods are perfectly legitimate spoils of war!

The egg devoured a large piece of bread and wrote with an air of righteous indignation. The shop assistant, who resembled a white, fluffy bat, was struggling to serve the third plate of roasted meat bread. The surrounding citizens stared at the giant egg, which single-handedly blocked the entire aisle, with expressions as if they were observing a rare beast released from its cage.

This egg, whose real name was unknown, claimed that it had angered pirates because of its hunger and had come to seek help from Zilong, who was wise and powerful. Chu Hengkong thought that the egg's words were about as credible as Fan De's intelligence, but since it hadn't shown any malice, he didn't mind taking it for lunch... However, the egg's enormous appetite made him take notice.

Thirty minutes after being seated, this egg had devoured three servings of roast duck, two platters of fried seafood, and five golden leaf pancakes (a local pastry similar to pizza), and was now tackling the newly arrived large portion of bread and roast meat. Its method of eating was as bizarre as its very existence: its thin outer shell temporarily detached, transforming into sharp, slender claws. The claws appeared hollow, allowing it to suck food into the shell with a single pierce. This method of eating was remarkably efficient, having already defeated the enthusiastic Miss Huaisu, who was known for her large appetite, ten minutes earlier, while the egg seemed to have plenty of room to grow.

"But I didn't expect Zilong to be so decisive in killing that thief," Egg wrote cheerfully. "I thought you would give that person a chance to repent."

"I'll say it one last time, I'm not Zilong, I'm Chu Hengkong." Chu Hengkong sighed. He felt he was sighing more and more lately, probably because the number of unreliable people around him had increased exponentially. "I'm an assassin, I'm not that picky about who I kill."

"Oh? Oh oh oh? Oh..."

The egg stopped writing, and an unintelligible muttering emanated from within. After pondering for a long time, it hesitantly wrote: "I've never heard of your name before... Could this place be the late Eastern Han Dynasty?"

Chu Hengkong got a little agitated: "The late Eastern Han Dynasty is a time period, not a place. How exactly did you read the book?"

Egg was also very excited: "I read every page carefully, so I know very well. The late Eastern Han Dynasty was a world outside our homeland!"

"I really can't go on..."

Seeing that Chu Hengkong was suffering from severe mental breakdown, Fan De stepped forward without hesitation to negotiate on his behalf: "This... egg! First, tell me what kind of environment you think this outside world is?"

Egg proudly writes: [The so-called outside world is a chaotic battleground where the Knights of Dong Zhuo, the pilgrimage team from the Grand View Garden, and the Twelve Beauties of Liangshan clash for the Holy Grail. At night, the Flower Monk Lin Daiyu wields the Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff) to reap lives; by day, it's the stage for the final battle between the Roc Ninja and Erlang Shen, where Wu Song and Hercules, wielding the Broken Steel Holy Sword, storm the Heavenly Palace; Charlemagne rides the Alps, the sun god; and the Flying General Lü Bu's loyalty is unparalleled!]

Chu Hengkong slammed his fist on the table, his scream resembling the roar of a seal that hadn't eaten for three months. Ji Huaisu patted his partner's back gently, feeling deep sympathy: "Ah Kong... although I don't understand what it's saying, don't take the egg too seriously..."

"What kind of person are you to write such utter rubbish?"

The egg arched forward, as if raising its head: "I am the proud and powerful warrior, Lü Bu!"

“No, you’re an egg,” Van der said.

I came to the late Eastern Han Dynasty in search of my destiny. Is Chu Hengkong the same?

Van der remained calm: "He went out to buy supplies."

[The "smacking sounds" during the shopping segment implies a search for something, and while the overall atmosphere and purpose are somewhat unpleasant, the "smacking sounds" suggest you're still keeping me here for dinner. I understand your purpose. This cake is delicious!]

Even Vande couldn't hold back this time: "Finish what you're saying! Don't go eating cake when you're getting to the point!"

【I'm full, thank you~】The egg rolled around, 【As a reward for the meal, I have something to tell you.】

[Your response was excellent; when you kill, you have to be swift and decisive. In this city, prolonged fights are never a good thing.]

When Chu Hengkong looked up, the egg had already rolled to the restaurant entrance, and the last line of words was engraved on its back:
Good luck, warriors with great smells! The treasure hunt is fierce, I wish you all the best!

The egg rolled a few times and disappeared from everyone's sight, probably to go somewhere else to pretend to be a rock and cause trouble. Ji Huaisu nudged his partner beside him: "What kind of creature is that from your hometown?"

“My hometown has evolved for 46 billion years and has never produced such a bizarre creature.” Chu Hengkong waved his hand helplessly, “Search it on Fande.”

Vande ate fries with his tentacles: "I don't remember, probably some recently appeared species."

"There's no reason for a new species to know the story of my hometown."

"So it's just a relic that drifted ashore. You could become a know-it-all in the world of sinking creatures if you scavenged for trash in the workshop district for a year." Vande wasn't interested in the egg; it was more concerned with the stone seed. "Let's go, let's hurry. The egg said 'treasure hunting,' so we're probably not the only ones looking for trees in Golden Leaf City. If we don't move soon, we might end up collecting seed husks from the sewers." Chu Hengkong seemed to want to say something, but then got up to pay the bill. Ji Huaisu noticed this detail and vaguely understood her partner's feelings.

From the games on her phone and her partner's occasional recollections, she could deduce what his hometown was like. There were no Ascended beings, only a single type of intelligent life, and the dominant civilization seemed to be a sub-technology derived from the Empire's technological advancements. A gun-wielding assassin would undoubtedly be an anomaly there; to rise above such an incongruous environment, one would have to risk their life.

Chu Hengkong spent 22 years there, so even if he didn't have any lingering feelings, he must have some memories, right? That's why he still clings to the old entertainment from before, and that's why he pays special attention to those strange terms.

"If you're curious, go find the eggs."

"Complete the task first, then do your side jobs."

Chu Hengkong touched the envelope in his pocket. The wooden envelope felt rough to the touch and carried a peculiar fragrance. Youyou said it was the work of Shi Zhong, a material element of the Senluo Divine Tree clan.

·
"Finding a seed in a city of 70 people is like finding a needle in a haystack."

"It's much easier than that; the ocean is boundless."

The penthouse suite of the Saint-Laur Luxury Hotel in northern Jinye City.

Wu He sat by the window, gazing at the scenery outside and sipping fruit wine. A large map lay on the floor, and Shakes, holding a pencil, was carefully studying the city's terrain. On the bed behind him sat a fully assembled anti-materiel rifle, its 1153mm length exuding the unique elegance of industrial technology.

The Tier 2 Relic, "Black Ball," is a custom-made relic specifically designed for reconnaissance and range. Among Shax's many guns, this weapon's firepower is unremarkable, but it's relatively easy to use; its comfortable handling is more valuable than any legendary weapon. After memorizing the map, he put away his pencil and broke off one of the two scope pieces from the Black Ball.

The circular lens rapidly deformed, revealing a concealed propeller and a miniature robotic arm. It grazed Wu He's wine glass, flew out the window, and landed on the rooftop, becoming a makeshift reconnaissance device.

“Actually, my talisman array has a detection effect,” Wu He said.

“Double insurance,” Shakes said succinctly. “Tell me your thought process.”

"This has to do with the target's habits... Do you know the Tree of Life?"

Shakes shook his head; he had only heard of this race occasionally before.

"Those are truly remarkable life forms. They are considered one of the oldest races in the Submerged Realm, alongside the Ancient Dragons, existing even before the First Abyss appeared. If dragons are the 'gods' guiding civilization forward, then the Divine Trees are the 'gods' nurturing civilization's growth." Wu He, with a sip of wine, drew a small tree on the table. "Stone Seeds are the first-order particles of the Senluo Divine Tree race. They are not large in size, but their outer shells are incredibly hard, said to be comparable to the highest-grade relics of the same level. Each Stone Seed is a seed of civilization; they cherish hope, courage, love, and order, and they grow through the positive activities of life."

Shaks frowned: "A tree-shaped firefly corpse?"

“You’re mistaken. They don’t ‘absorb’ those powers; they just use their existence to accelerate their growth, just like plants love fertile soil.” Wu He drew waves representing fragrance next to the sapling. “Once it grows successfully, the stone seeds can emit a special ‘fragrance,’ a gas that can uplift people’s moods and strengthen the life around them. A very friendly little potted plant, isn’t it?”

The aroma. Shax twitched his nostrils. As a skilled sniper, he could accurately distinguish the scent of blood from a target's wound from hundreds of different smells, but in a vast city, this became extremely challenging. They needed more olfactory assistants, inconspicuous, yet ubiquitous…

"mouse."

“A rat enhanced by the talisman,” Wu He said approvingly. “When we landed, I released a scout rat, which can infect its own kind to increase our intelligence. Two hours have passed since the rat was released, and I think we will receive good news soon.”

“Very thoughtful,” Shakes said, “but you still contacted me.”

“That’s a sacred tree, and countless people in this city want it.” Wu He picked up his wine cup again. “The next patrol boat should arrive in two weeks, but in reality, the possibility of delays due to changes in the tides is never low. We may have to wait three weeks or even a month. Even if the treasure hunt goes smoothly, we will have to stay here for a long time.”

Finding the divine tree wasn't difficult; the real challenge was keeping it intact. Wu He had already anticipated this. While others were still focused on tracking their prey, he had already devised a defensive strategy. Therefore, he spared no expense in using precious relics to create a protective barrier and hired snipers for escort. Even in Shaks' eyes, this was a reasonable plan.

It seems reasonable on the surface.

Wu He suddenly gripped his wine glass tightly, a flash of anger crossing his handsome face. Shaks, observing everything, remained calm: "A rat has died."

"Frozen to death. I'll locate the target in two minutes—"

“North, 516 meters, park exit.” Shakes picked up the black pill. “Your rat got accidentally injured. 30 seconds left.”

Wu He suddenly turned his head and saw a frozen mountain peak that pierced the sky.

(End of this chapter)