章 28: Section 29: Toxic Attack
編集者: Henyee Translations
As a scholar who served the Sha Ta family for thirty-eight years, Cang Xu was well aware of the division of strength among the transcendent.
For a Silver Level Fighting Energy cultivator, if not using fighting energy, they could lift approximately 350 kilograms and deliver an 800-kilogram heavy punch. Confronting twenty or thirty ordinary adults head-on wasn't a problem at all. Their endurance to the environment and pain surpassed that of ordinary people, but facing strong crossbows still posed a significant danger.
In other words, the physical qualities of a Silver Fighting Energy cultivator were still within the realm of the human race, constrained by the structural limits of the human body, representing the limit of mortal physical development.
However, becoming a Golden Level Fighting Energy cultivator greatly enhanced the quality of fighting energy, which nourished and transformed the body, completely surpassing the limits of mortals.
Without using fighting energy, a Golden Level expert could achieve a running speed of up to 120 kilometers per hour and lift weights of around ten tons. They could also charge through thousands of soldiers wielding swords, capturing flags, and strategizing effortlessly.
Ordinary arrows and crossbow arrows posed no threat at all, but facing magical crossbows still carried risks.
When the head sheep fought against Huang Zao, Cang Xu personally witnessed several times when the head sheep rammed into tree trunks, knocking down towering trees.
This proved that even though the head sheep were only Bronze Level, its ramming force when charging was exceptionally powerful, far greater than an ordinary heavy cavalry charge!
A Silver Level Human Race Fighting Energy cultivator, purely relying on physical strength, could not resist such a charge from the head sheep.
Zhenjin, however, naturally and effortlessly intercepted the head sheep that had run a long distance and was in mid-charge.
The displayed strength in this interception already exceeded the limits of Silver Level.
Therefore, Cang Xu couldn't help but speculate about the possibility of Zhenjin possessing Golden Fighting Spirit.
"As far as I know, the Hundred Needle Family's bloodline is not known for strength but excels at precision."
"If a knight had a constant spell of bear strength or other forms of support magic, it could achieve similar results. However, in areas with a magic ban, such constant low-level support spells should fail."
"Or could it be due to consuming some strength potion?"
Ultimately, Cang Xu once again considered the possibility of Zhenjin having a Golden cultivation.
"If Zhenjin truly is a Golden Level expert with such strength and talent, the Hundred Needle Family will undoubtedly rise again!"
Under Cang Xu's watchful eye, Zhenjin suddenly flexed his arms, gripping the goat horn, violently lifting the head sheep high.
Then, he mercilessly threw it away.
The head sheep fell to the ground, struggling a few times before getting up, looking dazed as if stunned by the throw.
Immediately, its eyes turned blood-red as it violently charged at Zhenjin again.
Zhenjin again pinned it down, allowing it to thrash for a while before throwing it far away.
After a few more rounds, the head sheep's unwillingness, anger, and hatred all dissipated, replaced by fear and timidity toward Zhenjin.
Eventually, the head sheep stopped charging, standing up after lying on the ground and remaining motionless.
When Zhenjin voluntarily walked up to it, it made bleating sounds, lowered its head, and averted its gaze, its bleeding body trembling continuously.
Zhenjin patted its head and then touched its horns.
The head sheep shivered and voluntarily laid down on the ground.
Amid many adoring gazes, Zhenjin nodded in satisfaction and ordered, "Take it away for me, treat it a little, and feed it carefully but don't let it eat too much."
"My lord, do you want to tame this head sheep as a mount?" Seeing the battle end, Cang Xu walked over.
Zhenjin nodded, smiling as he asked, "Do you think it's possible?"
"Of course, it's possible." Cang Xu affirmed with a smile, "As far as I know, the most common mounts on the Dwarf Continent are goats. Goats can traverse steep mountains and their skills are very high. A one-year-old wild goat can use its adept climbing skills to ascend snow-covered rocks, crossing many obstacles that we humans cannot overcome. But I don't know the exact method for taming them."
Zhenjin nodded and then asked, "Are there any Beast Tamers among those who survived from the Pig Kiss?"
Cang Xu shook his head, "It seems not."
"It doesn't matter. If there are none on the Pig Kiss, can't we find one in White Sand City?" Zhenjin patted the old scholar on the shoulder.
In this battle, he acquired what he wanted.
Subduing the head sheep to eventually tame it into a mount was only a secondary part of this harvest.
The key point was that Zhenjin demonstrated his power in front of everyone, showing his strength to the entire exploration team.
His influence over this group of people significantly increased.
The lesson from Huang Zao's betrayal was enough for him in just one instance.
Zhenjin had engraved the family teachings of the Hundred Needle Family into his heart, keeping an eye on Huang Zao, using him to constantly remind himself of how to be a qualified leader.
Looking around, Zhenjin sincerely sighed, "This is a treasure land!"
To be honest, it was his first time discovering such a fertile land on this island.
When they actually started, the exploration team was pleasantly surprised to find the scale of the sheep herds far exceeding previous scouting results.
For unknown reasons, the sheep herds here were simply overabundant.
There were several large herds with over a thousand sheep. Even more herds numbered in the hundreds. This time, Zhenjin surrounded a herd of such size.
The exploration team began processing the dead goats.
First, they bled them, skinned them, and removed the entrails. Then, some started cutting the goat meat while others cleaned the goat skins and stomachs.
After cutting the goat meat, they smoked it over the bonfire to remove moisture, allowing it to last longer.
After cleaning the goat skins, they also smoked and sun-dried them.
Goat skins could be made into leather clothing, and goat stomachs could be used as water bags.
For three consecutive days, the exploration team was busy here.
Under Zhenjin's command, they hunted three more herds.
Under Zhenjin's personal action, Bronze Level head sheep were all subdued.
Most of the adult goats were slaughtered, but some lambs were spared on Zhenjin's special instructions.
These goats were easy to raise, so feeding dozens of lambs and the four Bronze head sheep was not a significant burden.
This was the advantage of having more people. If it were just Zhenjin and Zi Di, they wouldn't have had the free time and energy.
On the fourth day, the exploration team began their return journey.
The entire look of the team had dramatically changed.
Almost everyone wore a layer of leather clothing. The leather clothes were very simple, just a piece with a hole cut out for the head. The sides under the armpits were stitched with vine-made threads, binding the front and back pieces of goat skin together.
The dark green sheep's wool was turned inward, touching the body, while the yellow goat skin was turned outward.
Everyone had large animal skin bags strapped to their backs, mainly filled with preserved smoked goat jerky.
In addition, water bags made from sheep's stomachs were tied to their waists.
The team's food and freshwater supply was very ample, almost at the limit of their carrying capacity.
After all, everyone had their load limit.
Huang Zao scouted at the front of the team.
Zhenjin, Zi Di, and Cang Xu walked in the middle of the team.
Behind them were the sheep, mainly led by Lan Zao.
In addition to dozens of lambs, the focus was on the four Bronze head sheep. These head sheep were now donned with simple reins made of vine strips, carrying a lot of supplies, mainly smoked meat, freshwater, tents, and spare weapons.
They trudged through hills and forests all morning.
They only took short breaks, each time for less than fifteen minutes.
By noon they had a half-hour rest.
The team split into two parts, one part standing guard, checking supplies, etc., and the other sitting on the ground, eating lunch.
Cang Xu meticulously inspected both the front and back of the team, finding no one missing and all supplies counted.
Under his cracked lenses, his sharp eyes carefully observed.
He noticed: Those eating looked very relaxed—some joked with each other, some ate while massaging their calves, trying to relax. Those on watch were alert with eyes wide and chests puffed.
The morale of the whole team was quite high.
Cang Xu had been part of the exploration team since its inception.
He had never seen these people exhibit such spirits.
He understood the key reason for all this.
It was not the delicious goat jerky, nor the relatively stable journey but the young knight, Zhenjin.
Everything changed because of him.
His immense power provided strong security, significantly boosting everyone's confidence.
Huang Zao and Lan Zao became his slaves, working hard these past days. Although Zhenjin hadn't shown his Fighting Energy, his profound heritage and suspected Golden Level cultivation made their future seem bright.
Throughout the journey, Zi Di followed Zhenjin closely, almost inseparable. As the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce's chairman, her proficient potion-making skills also impressed Cang Xu.
Cang Xu's gaze ultimately settled on Zhenjin.
In his long life, he had met countless nobles.
He was sure that among all young nobles, Zhenjin belonged to the top tier.
He had exceptional talent, immense power, and, most remarkably, was a qualified leader.
Under his influence, the team had become cohesive and highly spirited.
Cang Xu foresaw that the fallen Hundred Needle Family would rise again because of Zhenjin!
"If possible, staying by such a noble's side, witnessing his accomplishments step by step, and being part of the Hundred Needle Family's resurgence, perhaps, centuries later, as a scholar, my name might be recognized as a symbol of wisdom alongside his. How wonderful that would be."
"What a pity. If only I had met someone like him in my youth..."
The regrets in his heart did not show on the old scholar's face.
He approached Zhenjin and respectfully reported the findings of their inspection.
"Excellent, Mr. Cang Xu. Thanks to your suggestion, we acquired enough meat, with very ample reserves. Now sit and let us have lunch together," Zhenjin invited.
Cang Xu replied, "My advice was secondary. Without your leadership, how could we have such a situation?"
Zhenjin smiled.
Over these days, he had grown more appreciative of Cang Xu.
Though the old scholar was an ordinary person, his mind was far from ordinary.
The direction of travel of the team was decided by him.
Using only a wooden stick planted in the ground and the sunlight's position.
Cang Xu's attitude and actions always maintained Zhenjin's noble honor, making him comfortable.
His abilities were reliable and steady, with Zhenjin finding him more and more useful.
If Cang Xu had any strength, even at the Black Iron Level, he would be the best choice for a noble housekeeper. Unfortunately, he lacked extraordinary potential, which was deeply regrettable.
Even so, Zhenjin intended to keep Cang Xu by his side.
He truly was a talent!
His knowledge even surpassed Zi Di's.
And Zi Di was a Mage.
Of course, this was partly because Zi Di was young and devoted most of her time to alchemy.
Zhenjin could easily guess why Zi Di did this—good potions frequently had great market prospects and could bring huge profits.
The further they moved from Snow Peak, the higher the temperature.
The midday sun was hottest, and the new leather clothing started insulating them. Perhaps due to being well-fed and sated, everyone seemed a bit sluggish.
The team's periphery always had scouts maintaining vigilance.
Nobody raised an alarm, yet a deadly crisis quietly struck under this peaceful setting.
It began with a young man in the team shouting.
"My lord, it's terrible! All the lambs have collapsed on the ground, motionless, and they're already dead!"
"What?" Zhenjin couldn't help but change expression.
This was indeed bad news.
The lambs were quite useful. In an emergency, the exploration team could butcher them for food. If they reached White Sand City with the lambs still alive, they could be used for breeding and taming cavalry.
Zhenjin's plans were shattered; he quickly stood up to inspect personally.
"Do you know the reason?" he asked the young man who reported.
He had already recognized the young man as Bai Ya, a hunter who boarded the Pig Kiss for White Sand City to join the army.
With a panicked expression, Bai Ya shook his head rapidly. "I, I don't know, my lord. It all happened suddenly."
Zhenjin acknowledged with a hum, about to take a step when a wave of dizziness hit him hard, almost making him collapse on the spot.
Barely steadying himself, he saw that the previously high-spirited team members were now collapsing around him.
In an instant, most members had fainted.
Zi Di, Huang Zao, and Lan Zao were still barely enduring.
"What happened?!"
"Everyone seems to be poisoned!"
"What kind of poison is this?!"
Suddenly, Huang Zao pulled out a dagger, shouting at Bai Ya, "Everyone is poisoned, how come you are fine? Did you poison us?!"
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