Chapter 848: Poisonpine Fungu and Tightvine Tree Monsters

Read at: https://blogspot-translatedstories.blogspot.com/?m=1 

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“Which direction should we head next?” Qiao Sang asked.

“Keep going straight.” Yuan Jiewen pointed firmly toward the path ahead.

The three of them continued forward.

After trekking for an hour, Yuan Jiewen finally relaxed his brows and suggested, “We’ve reached a safe zone. Should we take a break here?”

Safe zone? Qiao Sang followed his gaze. She saw a patch of soft grassland, filled with brightly colored fungi of all sorts.

“Yap…”

Yabao lowered his head and sniffed at a red-striped mushroom, opening his mouth as if to take a bite.

“Jun Jun!”

But in the next second, the red mushroom opened two eyes, looking startled, and bolted away in a flash.

“Yap yap…”

“These are Poisonpine Fungi?” Qiao Sang asked as she looked over the field of mushrooms.

She had studied the detailed guides on Secret Realm No. 88, and knew there was an area where Poisonpine Fungi lived.

Poisonpine Fungi were mid-tier dual-type beasts of Poison and Grass attributes. They were rare in that they came in many colors. 

They enjoyed burying their roots into mud to rest. Though timid, they were friendly by nature, even wild ones rarely attacked humans unprovoked.

But their racial ceiling only reached high-tier, so their market value was not great.

Yuan Jiewen grunted in confirmation. 

“In Secret Realm No. 88, most beast territories are clearly divided. Whenever a single species’ population exceeds 88, you won’t find other species nearby.”

Qiao Sang paused.

“Where does that number, 88, come from?”

“There are research teams that sell information about secret realms. They studied it.” 

Yuan Jiewen couldn’t help but complain, “Honestly, I think the number’s kind of fake. But it’s true, when a species’ numbers reach several dozen, you won’t see others nearby.”

He paused, then added: “Flying-types are the exception.”

After that, he asked again, “Boss, should we rest here?”

“Let’s rest for a bit.” Qiao Sang agreed.

Actually, travel fatigue could be dispelled with a single Light of Healing, but Professor Mikayla was right, unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to waste energy casting healing skills, especially in a secret realm.

Yuan Jiewen immediately found an empty spot and sat down.

Shellblade Behemoth kept watch nearby.

“You’re not going to rest?” Qiao Sang turned to look at Lin Shi, who was still standing without any signs of fatigue.

“I’ll skip the rest.” Lin Shi smiled. 

“I’ll check if there are materials I need around here.”

With that, she bent down and began searching through the plants.

“Boss, you should rest too.” Yuan Jiewen said. 

“Further in is high-tier beast territory, we need to conserve our strength.”

“I’m not tired yet.” Qiao Sang replied, remaining vigilant of the surroundings.

Her body constitution and years of sleepless training had given her far greater stamina than most beastmasters at her level.

Besides, this was her first time in a secret realm. Even though this was supposed to be a safe zone according to the guides, she dared not lower her guard.

“Xun~”

On the other side, Little Treasure poked the head of a yellow Poisonpine Fungus.

“Jun Jun!”

The yellow mushroom’s eyes flew open, and it dashed away in panic.

“Xun~”

Amused, Little Treasure poked a pink Poisonpine Fungus next.

“Jun Jun!”

The pink one screamed and fled.

“Xun~”

Little Treasure covered his mouth, snickering, before poking the heads of a blue, a red, and a green Poisonpine Fungus in turn.

Each one bolted frantically.

“Xun~”

Soon, his attention was drawn to a black Poisonpine Fungus.

Little Treasure approached, reaching out his paw.

“I heard you shouldn’t touch the black ones in this area?” Qiao Sang recalled a strategy post she had read online.

“That’s right.” 

Yuan Jiewen removed his gas mask for a drink of water and explained, “Black Poisonpine Fungi are the most toxic. They’re usually the leaders of their groups and have the worst temperaments. Unlike the others, they aren’t afraid of humans. If provoked, they’ll summon the nearby fungi to attack together.”

“On their own, Poisonpine Fungi are timid, but with a black one leading, they’ll gain courage.”

“But don’t worry.” Yuan Jiewen’s tone shifted. 

“There aren’t many black ones. As long as you don’t provoke them, they’ll usually stay rooted in place, motionless. Plenty of beastmasters have come here looking for them and never found one.”

He went on to explain in detail.

After all, the beasts Qiao Sang revealed were not native to the Central Hollow Region, so it was reasonable for her to be unfamiliar with Poisonpine Fungi.

“Xun?”

But just as he finished, Little Treasure had already lifted the black Poisonpine Fungus by its cap with his paw.

He curiously brought it close to inspect, puzzled as to why it hadn’t run away like the others.

At that moment, the black Poisonpine Fungus slowly opened its eyes. Without hesitation, it opened its mouth and spat out a puff of black poison.

“Xun!”

Startled, Little Treasure dropped it.

The black fungus flipped through the air in a smooth backflip and landed firmly on the ground.

Then it shouted: “Jun Jun!”

All the other Poisonpine Fungi opened their eyes at once.

Witnessing the whole thing, Lin Shi’s mouth twitched as she moved closer to Qiao Sang.

“Boss, things look a little bad…” Yuan Jiewen quickly stood, strapping his gas mask back on with practiced speed, his face serious.

“I saw…” Qiao Sang muttered, pressing her forehead.

“Xun!”

Little Treasure instantly shifted next to his beast master, calling out with a stern expression, clearly saying, They’re about to attack us.

This is all your fault… Qiao Sang shot him a look. 

“Restrain them all.”

At that same moment, every Poisonpine Fungus opened its mouth and released black poison gas.

“Yap!”

“Xun~”

Yabao and Little Treasure’s eyes glowed blue simultaneously.

Two invisible forces spread outward.

The fungi froze in place, mouths still open, locked mid-action.

But the black gas continued to spread.

“Lu Ai…”

Lubao held her nose with one paw and zipped up her jacket with the other.

“Shellblade!”

Shellblade Behemoth slammed a claw onto the ground, blasting up a water pillar about a meter wide.

“Leave this to me!” Qiao Sang called out. 

“Gangbao!”

Shellblade Behemoth paused, glancing at his beast master.

The boss is really thoughtful, she knows I’m weaker and wants to save Shellblade Behemoth's strength… Yuan Jiewen was touched, nodding at his beast.

Shellblade Behemoth withdrew his claw, letting the water pillar fade away.

“Gang Slice!”

High above, Gangbao, who had been circling the skies, flared her wings with force.

Her entire body of feathers suddenly glowed with a brilliant violet light.

Countless violet feathers shot down like blades, striking the Poisonpine Fungi below, swiftly wiping them all out.

All points… Qiao Sang thought as she looked at the fallen Poisonpine Fungi.

The violet-glowing feathers traced graceful arcs through the air before flying back and reattaching to Gangbao.

Yuan Jiewen walked steadily over to Qiao Sang and said: “Boss, the air here is full of toxins now, we need to leave quickly.”

Qiao Sang glanced toward their main client, saw that she was still wearing her gas mask, and felt reassured. She nodded.

“Alright, let’s move out now.”

After they left the Poisonpine Fungus territory, Lin Shi suddenly spoke up: “You probably inhaled some of the Poisonpine Fungi’s toxins earlier. Do you want to treat it first?”

“That’s right, Boss,” Yuan Jiewen echoed. 

“The poison doesn’t harm the human body directly, but after some time, it causes hallucinations, making people do embarrassing, socially deadly things.”

“Last time, someone got poisoned in a secret realm, and an hour later, he marched into the depths hugging a Ten-Faced Monkey, confessing his love to it. Someone recorded it and uploaded it online.”

He paused, then smoothly added flattery: “You’re the backbone of our team, we can’t have anything happen to you.”

Even if you didn’t remind me, I was already planning to treat it… Qiao Sang nodded lightly. 

“I understand.”

Before coming here, she had researched the Poisonpine Fungus and knew this area would be one of their habitats.

Qiao Sang called out: “Lubao.”

“Lu Ai.”

Lubao unzipped her little jacket and hopped onto her beast master’s head. 

The gem on her forehead instantly lit up, casting its glow over Qiao Sang, Yabao, Little Treasure, Gangbao, as well as Shellblade Behemoth and Silent Croaker Frog, who weren’t wearing protective masks.

Good heavens… Lin Shi recognized the skill, opened her mouth to say something, but in the end held her tongue.

The blue light faded away.

Lubao hopped back into the backpack, zipped it shut with practiced ease.

Yuan Jiewen’s eyes lit up.

“Boss, is this the beast you mentioned before, the one that knows Light of Healing?”

Qiao Sang gave a small “Mm.”

“What healing skill did she just use?” Yuan Jiewen asked curiously. 

“It actually healed so many targets at once.”

“It’s just Healing Light.” Qiao Sang replied.

Yuan Jiewen froze, eyes widening in disbelief.

“You cured Poisonpine Fungus poison with Healing Light?!”

That really doesn’t make sense at all… Lin Shi looked at Qiao Sang, equally shocked.

Qiao Sang’s face remained calm.

“Lubao only has this one skill that can treat poison.”

Earlier, during their rest, she hadn’t bothered because they were in a safe zone. But now that they were heading into dangerous territory, it was best to clear out hidden threats immediately.

Yuan Jiewen was silent for a moment. Then he glanced at the innocent, blinking Shellblade Behemoth. Something occurred to him, and he quietly pulled off his own gas mask.

If I’d known a tiny dose of poison could just be healed by Healing Light, why did I even bother wearing a mask from the start?!

“You know, you could carry some anti-toxin potions.” Lin Shi finally said.

Qiao Sang glanced at their client.

“My beasts already have healing skills. Why waste money on that?”

Lin Shi: …

As they spoke, a tender green vine slowly crept along the ground and brushed against Yuan Jiewen’s shoe.

Lin Shi noticed it first from the corner of her eye, but pretended not to see.

Yabao’s ears twitched, he was the second to notice.

“Yap!”

He fixed his gaze on Yuan Jiewen’s shoe, and instinctively opened his mouth. A surge of blazing fire gathered in his throat.

Damn, is it aiming at me?

Yabao’s presence was too overwhelming. The moment his gaze shifted in that direction, Yuan Jiewen sensed it.

When he realized the flame was aimed toward his own foot, he panicked and quickly stepped back.

At that instant, the surrounding vines erupted violently, lashing around Yuan Jiewen and hoisting him upside-down against a massive tree.

“Hel-” Yuan Jiewen couldn’t finish. Vines whipped around his face, covering it completely, leaving no gaps.

“Shellblade!”

Shellblade Behemoth hurled one of his shells with force. It flashed with a layer of white light, transforming into a sharp blade that sliced toward the vines.

Some of the vines were cut, but it only seemed to enrage them. More burst forth, binding Yuan Jiewen even tighter.

“Ah!” Lin Shi let out a short, emotionless cry, moving closer to Qiao Sang.

“Attack the tree!” Qiao Sang ordered instantly.

Yabao, who had been holding back the fire in his throat, unleashed it toward the massive tree behind the vines.

A vortex of flame quickly ignited the giant tree and the sprawling vines.

“Jin jin!”

Suddenly, a pair of glowing green eyes snapped open on the tree trunk. The vines recoiled rapidly in pain.

Realizing the tree itself was the beast, Lin Shi’s expression turned grim.

Yuan Jiewen plummeted.

“Sheellblade!”

Shellblade Behemoth pushed off with his legs, leaping up to catch his beastmaster safely.

Tightvine Tree Monster.

A Grass-type, general-rank beast. Normally, their bodies reach about six meters. But in Secret Realm No. 88, the soil and environment suited them perfectly. 

Here, they ranged from over ten meters to more than twenty, and their strength far exceeded the average.

If you encounter one, the advice is simple: Run immediately if you can…

Qiao Sang recalled the forum entry and quickly made a decision.

“Restrict it. Attack the eyes.”

The Tightvine Tree Monster’s weakness was its eyes.

“Xun~”

Little Treasure instantly shifted to a higher position, raising two short claws.

From them, two silky black shadows shot forth, splitting and twisting wildly into dozens of dark tendrils that whipped toward the Tightvine Tree Monster.

“Jin jin!”

The monster roared in rage, extending branch-like arms.

The vines on its arms lashed at Little Treasure.

But the shadows were faster.

In moments, the dark tendrils wrapped tightly around the monster’s head, limbs, and vines.

“Careful!” Lin Shi shouted.

Countless thick roots burst from the ground, stabbing toward where Qiao Sang and Lin Shi stood.

A flash of firelight flared-

Qiao Sang and Lin Shi vanished from that spot, reappearing atop Yabao’s back.

“Yap!”

Yabao opened his mouth, unleashing a beam of red-gold light that blasted straight into the immobilized monster’s head.

Boom!

“Jin jin!!!”

With a deafening explosion, the Tightvine Tree Monster screamed in agony. The searing flames and shockwave ripped through its body, tearing it apart.

The shadows dissolved. The giant creature collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash, dirt and roots flying everywhere.

The earth shook violently.

Many hidden wild beasts, who had been secretly watching, shrieked and scattered in panic.

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T/n: Sorry dearies, life problems sprung up so I didn't have time to do this yesterday😔

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