I Contracted Myself

Nighttime.

On a narrow path in the Salt Mountain area, Zhang Ping trudged along with Liu Sishan.

Both sides of the road were lined with a type of salt-tolerant plant called hydrochloric grass. The fruit of this plant was rich in hydrochloric acid, highly corrosive, and would explode into the sky when ripe, scattering seeds all around.

During the fruiting season, the area within a hundred miles of hydrochloric grass became extremely dangerous, often facing sudden acid rain.

Aside from the fruit, the leaves of hydrochloric grass were also very sharp and secreted a special sap. If cut by the leaves and exposed to the sap, the pain would be magnified hundreds of times, potentially causing shock and death.

This hydrochloric sap was both a medicine and a poison in Mingzhu City.

After identifying the hydrochloric grass, Zhang Ping walked very cautiously. In contrast, Liu Sishan, who was ahead, moved with ease, completely unconcerned about the hydrochloric grass around her.

"That's your target. Get ready and go."

Liu Sishan stopped halfway and pointed to a white rabbit eating hydrochloric grass not far away, speaking softly.

Although this rabbit was a mutated beast, its size hadn't changed and it was still the size of a regular rabbit.

Zhang Ping looked at the rabbit and immediately used his appraisal skill.

[Appraisal Successful]

[Mutated Beast: Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit]

[Race: Mutated Rabbit]

[Potential: ☆☆☆]

[Lifespan: 30]

[Rank: Low-level Mutated Beast]

[Level: 9]

[Talents]

[Corrosive Water Bullet: Can shoot highly corrosive water from hidden sweat glands in its ears]

[Water-Storing Fur: Fur can store liquid and release it when needed]

[Rapid Reproduction: Can reproduce faster than normal creatures]

Corrosive water?

Zhang Ping carefully observed the ears of the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit but found nothing unusual.

He couldn't imagine how this rabbit would fight. Moreover, the rabbit was eating hydrochloric grass, which provided excellent protection, making it difficult for him to approach.

"How should I deal with it?"

Zhang Ping frowned in thought. He currently had no means to target distant enemies.

The flames provided by the Fire Eater ability could only attack close to mid-range targets, anything beyond two meters was out of reach.

Liu Sishan must have chosen the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit as his opponent for a reason. She might have a way to counter it.

"I don't have long-range attacks, and approaching would be hindered by the hydrochloric grass. The problem must lie with the hydrochloric grass."

Zhang Ping squatted down and carefully observed the hydrochloric grass.

The edges of the hydrochloric grass leaves were serrated and much harder than ordinary leaves. Zhang Ping glanced at the rabbit eating grass not far away, then lightly released a bit of flame from his fingers. The hydrochloric grass leaves softened immediately upon contact with the flame, feeling completely different.

"So that's it!"

Zhang Ping suddenly realized.

Hydrochloric grass was afraid of fire; it would soften when exposed to flames.

He roughly knew how to pass this challenge.

He stood up, took off his shoes, cut his pants into shorts with a dagger, and finally took off his shirt.

After placing his clothes aside, he gripped the dagger and charged towards the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit.

As soon as he stepped into the hydrochloric grass, flames erupted from his feet just before touching the grass, causing it to soften and providing a comfortable footing.

Flames continuously flickered on his body.

Whenever he was about to touch the hydrochloric grass, flames would burst from the corresponding part of his body.

Although his Night Walker talent reduced his presence, the continuous flames still alerted the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit. The rabbit flicked its long ears, shooting droplets of black liquid from the tips.

The black liquid scattered like buckshot, moving too fast for Zhang Ping to dodge. Upon contact, flames erupted from his body, evaporating the liquid instantly.

However, the dagger in his hand was hit by the black liquid, leaving countless tiny holes.

Ignoring the damage, Zhang Ping powered forward, thrusting the dagger at the rabbit. But the rabbit curled up, its fur secreting a large amount of green liquid.

Hydrochloric sap!

But it was too late.

When he pulled the dagger out, it had been completely corroded, leaving only the handle in his hand.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Ping cursed, tossing the handle aside and igniting his fists, punching towards the rabbit.

But the rabbit wasn't stupid.

Before his fists could land, it leaped away, dodging the attack.

After dodging, it quickly turned, flicking its ears in the wind, shooting droplets of black liquid at Zhang Ping again.

Boom!

Zhang Ping swept his left arm, flames forming a wall that blocked all the black liquid.

When the flames dissipated, Zhang Ping looked around but found the rabbit had disappeared.

He was dumbfounded.

The rabbit had run away?

But he quickly realized that prey would naturally run from predators.

The Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit had some defensive and offensive abilities, but it was still fundamentally a grass-eating rabbit.

Since it didn't need to eat Zhang Ping, why would it fight him? Of course, it would run at the first chance.

Zhang Ping looked at Liu Sishan helplessly, "Sister Sisi, what now? The rabbit ran away."

"If it ran, then chase it," Liu Sishan said calmly.

She picked up Zhang Ping's clothes and walked towards him, freezing all the hydrochloric grass in her path and crushing it underfoot.

"Where am I supposed to find it?" Zhang Ping said with a bitter smile.

Liu Sishan didn't reply, continuing forward. Zhang Ping had no choice but to follow. After a while, they reached the edge of the hydrochloric grass field, where the ground was dry and covered with a thin layer of white frost—salt.

As they walked further, Zhang Ping began to smell the stench of rotting corpses.

[Squeak!]

...

[Hiss!]

...

[Crunch, crunch!]

Through his Wind Whisperer ability, Zhang Ping started hearing strange noises.

He frowned, "Sister Sisi, something's not right. I'm hearing a lot of creatures."

"In the deepest part of the Salt Mountain area, there's a mutated plant called the Salt Frost Tree. Every year, when it bears fruit, a large number of mutated creatures gather to fight for the Salt Frost Fruit.

Although the Salt Frost Fruit is extremely salty and requires a lot of water to consume, eating it for the first time can enhance the potential of Awakeners and mutated beasts. That's why many mutated beasts and Awakeners fight for it every year," Liu Sishan explained slowly.

Zhang Ping's eyes widened, "Could it be tonight?"

"Judging by the time, it should be tonight," Liu Sishan said calmly.

Zhang Ping stopped, frowning, "It's too dangerous. With my current strength, Sister Sisi, do you think I can handle this?"

He was resolute in his refusal.

He had a Contract Gem and didn't lack potential. What he needed was time to convert potential into strength, so he had no interest in the Salt Frost Fruit.

"If I'm not mistaken, your Wind Whisperer ability awakened after you came into contact with the Wind Gem, right?" Liu Sishan suddenly asked.

Zhang Ping's eyes widened in surprise, "Sister Sisi, how do you know about my ability?"

"Did you think you were the only one in the world with the Appraisal Skill? We've known about your abilities for a while. You seemed keen on keeping it a secret, so I didn't mention it," Liu Sishan said with a slight smile.

In fact, after Zhang Ping displayed his Fire Eater ability, she had the organization's appraiser evaluate his attributes.

Zhang Ping was speechless.

He could appraise others, so why wouldn't others be able to appraise him?

It was a normal thing, which explained why most Awakeners in Mingzhu City didn't mind others knowing their abilities.

"We've studied your abilities, especially how you suddenly gained the Wind Whisperer ability. We believe your abilities might have a mechanism for triggering new abilities, possibly through contact with certain treasures or special environments. The Salt Frost Fruit might help you awaken other abilities," Liu Sishan explained.

Zhang Ping, though not a young man, felt a bit embarrassed but quickly composed himself, frowning, "Sister Sisi, if you know my abilities, you should understand that as long as I stay alive, I'll eventually become strong. So why take the risk?"

"There have been many cases like yours. For example, there was an Awakener whose ability was Transcendent Adaptation. He could awaken different abilities in different environments. But as he aged, his ability's strength declined rapidly. After 70, he never awakened a new ability again. At 90, he decided to take a risk and died in a magma layer, leaving no remains," Liu Sishan said, looking at Zhang Ping.

Seeing Zhang Ping listening intently, she continued, "Awakeners are not gods; they are still human. While some can live for hundreds of years and maintain peak physical condition, most see their strength decline after their prime.

Not all potential can be converted into strength. You should seize every opportunity to become stronger, rather than always thinking you'll get stronger in the future. Because the future is uncertain, how long do you plan to wait?"

"…"

Zhang Ping was silent. This was the first time he had heard such things.

He knew that Awakeners' strength declined with age, but he didn't realize their superpowers would also weaken.

In fact, he had many unrealistic ideas, like awakening abilities such as 'immortality' or 'undying,' living a carefree life, and becoming a god.

But Liu Sishan's words were a cold splash of reality, making him realize how naive he had been.

"Sister Sisi, have you been here before?" he asked.

Liu Sishan looked into the distance, taking a moment to answer, "I came here when I was a member of the Investigation Team. Back then, I could only use my abilities for defense, and it was a near-death experience."

"Then let's go," Zhang Ping nodded.

Liu Sishan smiled slightly and immediately followed Zhang Ping.