NOVEL SIMPLE CHAPTER 106
The dinner that evening was unusually brief, lasting less than twenty minutes. Lu Ming consumed three bowls of rice and a whole pot of the mysterious bird meat.
In terms of quantity, his appetite was modest compared to the average person, let alone the voracious eaters seen on mukbang streams. This highlighted the exceptional energy density of the bird meat.
After the meal, Lu Ming cleaned his teeth, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That bird was quite large," he remarked.
Zhang Chengcheng chuckled. "Indeed," she replied. "Zhang Lixin extracted over two tons of meat from it."
Lu Ming nodded. "Let everyone have a taste," he instructed, "and store the rest properly."
He couldn't be certain whether the giant bird was a unique occurrence or if there were more out there. Either way, such a valuable resource shouldn't be wasted.
Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan readily agreed.
"Meng Jie examined the carcass earlier," Zhang Chengcheng added. "Its physical strength was astonishing, comparable to a Level 4 Awakened."
"Additionally, Uncle Hong Lei, who retrieved the carcass, also surveyed the area. He couldn't find any zombie crystals inside its head. Of course, it's possible they were dislodged when you shot it."
"Meng Jie also noted that while it resembles a crow, it's fundamentally different. She's dubbed it an 'Exotic Beast'."
Exotic beasts were distinct from ordinary wild animals.
They were indeed stronger, comparable to Awakened individuals in terms of raw power.
Lu Ming, however, wasn't particularly interested in the scientific details. He was more concerned about a practical matter.
"Where did this thing come from?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Exotic beast meat was a valuable resource, and Lu Ming wanted more of it.
Zhang Chengcheng could only offer a helpless shrug. Meng Jie didn't know the origin of the creature either.
As a researcher, however, Meng Jie didn't simply give up when faced with the unknown. She knew how to think outside the box and explore possibilities.
In the research lab, surrounded by scientific equipment, Meng Jie held the black bird's feathers and talons, carefully examining them.
As a biologist, she was certain that the exotic black bird couldn't have evolved from existing bird species. The question of its origin remained a mystery.
It wasn't just a matter of food supply; safety was also a concern. The exotic black bird possessed the strength of a Level 4 Awakened. While a single bird might not pose a significant threat, Meng Jie had observed signs of them forming groups. If thousands of these creatures attacked...
The potential consequences were chilling.
The thought of a massive flock of those creatures descending upon the village made Meng Jie shudder. However, she quickly shook her head, dismissing the disturbing image from her mind.
"No, that's not the most pressing issue," she murmured to herself. "What if a stronger Exotic Beast appears? What if there are Exotic Beasts even Lu Ming can't handle?"
Alarmed by this possibility, Meng Jie wasted no time. She hurriedly gathered her things and drove towards the official shelter. This matter needed to be reported to Huo Sheng immediately.
By nightfall, Huo Sheng had been informed about the appearance of the Exotic Beasts. After seeing Meng Jie off, he stood in his laboratory, lost in thought.
A sigh escaped his lips after a while. "It's getting more and more complicated," he muttered to himself.
Huo Sheng felt that the more he learned, the less he truly understood. At the onset of the apocalypse, things seemed straightforward - humans, Awakened, and zombies. Even the presence of the Holy Tower and the Black Mist hadn't seemed too complex at the time, as he didn't fully grasp their significance.
But now...
A wave of worry washed over Huo Sheng as he contemplated the issue of Exotic Beasts.
"Meng Jie's conclusion is likely correct," he mused. "If the black bird Exotic Beast didn't evolve from existing species, then where did it originate?"
Suddenly, a term flashed through his mind.
"The Black Mist Zone," Huo Sheng murmured, his eyes fixed on the dark expanse beyond the shelter. "They must have come from the Black Mist Zone."
The more he pondered, the more convinced he became. However, as a researcher, mere speculation was insufficient. Even a logical hypothesis was still a guess, not a confirmed fact.
Yet, Huo Sheng knew a way to verify his suspicions.
"Dragon Mountain Hidden Cultivators Society," he mused.
Chang Yi had gleaned numerous secrets from this enigmatic group. It seemed they possessed exclusive information channels, even more extensive than the official ones. Perhaps they held the key to understanding the origin of the Exotic Beasts.
In fact, Huo Sheng had considered investigating the Dragon Mountain Hidden Cultivators Society ever since Eileen first mentioned them. However, with the urgent need to disseminate the Basic Breathing Technique, the exploration of Dragon Mountain had been put on hold.
But now, the situation had changed.
Day 105 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Saturday.
Early in the morning, the Black Mist Exploration Team, currently in seclusion for training, received orders from their superiors:
- Protect Gao Junyi on a diplomatic mission to Dragon Mountain.
- Locate the Dragon Mountain Hidden Cultivators Society.
- Establish friendly and cooperative relations with them, if possible.
Lu Ming had just completed his morning workout when he spotted three military vehicles rumbling out of the Guangping Street Shelter.
"Looks like Bai Tianyu and the others are setting off for Dragon Mountain," he mused, then promptly dismissed the thought. Instead of dwelling on others' endeavors, he focused on his own priorities, namely, the upcoming lunch of Black Bird meat, which he eagerly anticipated.
During the day, Bai Tianyu and his team ventured beyond Good Hope Village, entering what was considered a dangerous zone. However, the so-called danger proved to be relatively minimal.
Lu Ming's observation tower now stood at an impressive 250 meters, the highest point in Nanxiang aside from the Holy Tower. This vantage point provided him with an extensive shooting range, and within a radius of ten kilometers from Good Hope Village, there were no large-scale zombie hordes to contend with.
Initially, Bai Tianyu and the others made swift progress. However, as they moved beyond Lu Ming's protective reach, they encountered a higher density of zombies.
This posed no significant threat to Bai Tianyu. As a Level 4 Awakened with the Blood Boiling superpower, he could unleash a Level 5 combat prowess. While still inferior to Chang Yi, he was undeniably one of the strongest individuals in Nanxiang.
They continued their journey, exercising caution but not excessive fear. It was a trip marked by occasional surprises but devoid of any real danger.
An entire day and night passed. On Sunday, the 106th day of the Apocalypse Calendar, Bai Tianyu and his team safely arrived at the foot of Dragon Mountain.
Located in the suburbs of Nanxiang, Dragon Mountain had been a minor tourist attraction before the apocalypse. Its peak reached a mere 300 meters, with a small People's Park nestled halfway up and a modest temple perched at its summit.
Due to its limited appeal, Dragon Mountain hadn't attracted many visitors before the apocalypse, which meant a lower density of zombies in the area after the outbreak.
The eleven-member team cautiously ascended the mountain path. Along the way, they encountered some signs of human activity but no cultivated farmland.
"Looks like there's no one here," a young warrior in the team muttered.
If there were inhabitants, they reasoned, there would surely be fields. The area surrounding Dragon Mountain was relatively desolate, lacking readily available resources. Without farming, there would be no food, and thus no means for survivors to sustain themselves.
Hearing this, Gao Junyi smiled and said, "Actually, I have a pretty good idea where this Dragon Mountain Hidden Cultivators Society might be."
He took the lead, turning onto a small path that led further up the mountain, explaining as he walked.
"This place might not have farmland, but that doesn't mean there's no food. I remember there used to be a national strategic reserve warehouse on Dragon Mountain. I wonder if it's still intact."
As a former high-ranking official in Nanxiang, Gao Junyi was intimately familiar with the area.