Chapter 87: Arriving at the Gravel Wilderness

「Day 7, evening.」 Upon reaching the city’s edge, beyond lay the barren outskirts. Lu Luo knew that what awaited them ahead was the endless expanse of the Shattered Rock Wilderness. Unlike a normal suburb, this place was dry and decaying, filled with the scent of death. Yet, even so, the Shattered Rock Wilderness still harbored life. Influenced by Dark Energy, many creatures had mutated. Even in such a harsh environment as the Shattered Rock Wilderness, it could still be a paradise for some species. Just by looking out, Lu Luo could already spot some Exotic Species scattered and wandering across the Shattered Rock Wilderness. "Dark Vulture!" Notably, Lu Luo spotted a Dark Vulture in the Shattered Rock Wilderness—a Second Tier avian Exotic Species. One of the materials required to upgrade the Observer was the eyeball of an avian Exotic Species. "Do we need to attack?" While Lu Luo spoke, Gu Fangyi had already locked onto the Dark Vulture with Hawk Eye. But as soon as Gu Fangyi locked on, the Dark Vulture seemed to sense something and immediately flew higher. "No need. The Dark Vulture is too alert. We’re still unfamiliar with this area. Let’s get used to the environment before taking any action." "Okay." Rather than hunting the Dark Vulture at this time, Lu Luo felt it was more reliable to search for the Black Wolf Spider and the silver centipede. The eyeball of an avian Exotic Species could be purchased at the marketplace in Si Ping District, while the other two materials were much harder to come by. And this place happened to have both. The mutations in the Wasteland world were occurring every moment. An area devoid of venomous creatures on one visit might be swarming with them on the next. Lu Luo chopped down an abandoned lamppost. Using his Fusioner abilities, he modified the iron pole, transforming it into an iron rod. From a distance, he used the rod to push aside the rocks of the Shattered Rock Wilderness, searching for any hidden Exotic Species beneath them. Poisonous Exotic Species, in particular, were the most likely to hide under these rocks, with the Black Wolf Spider and the silver centipede being two of them. After he pushed aside a rock, Lu Luo distinctly felt something stir. A swarm of scorpions crawled out from underneath. [First Tier venomous scorpion-type Exotic Species. Others unknown. Please remain vigilant.] "Here they come!" Gu Fangyi and Lu Luo immediately opened fire. BANG! BANG! BANG! Their bullets relentlessly massacred these small Exotic Species. However, after the deed was done, they looked at each other and shrugged, feeling like they had perhaps overreacted. The scorpions were not large, only about the size of a dog, which was far less formidable than the Red Shell they had encountered before. "Did we overreact?" "A little." At that moment, the sound of their gunfire drew the attention of other Exotic Species, many of which turned their gaze towards where the shooting had occurred. Simultaneously, the ground beneath their feet began to stir. A Rocky Ape, standing three meters tall, suddenly burst from the earth. Its body, covered with sharp rocky protrusions, lunged at Gu Fangyi. The distance was too close for Lu Luo to get back and defend, but fortunately, Qi Xinzhu had already taken a position in front of Gu Fangyi. Her golden Mechanical Arm made a CLANG! CLANG! sound, as if accumulating pressure. Qi Xinzhu raised her hand, blocking the massive body of the Rocky Ape with one slender palm. Her eyes focused slightly, and a glow began to emerge. Holy Light surged, exploding instantly. BOOM! A golden-white energy shockwave blasted through, and a beam of Holy Light illuminated the darkening sky. The Rocky Ape’s rocky protrusions, which had taken so long to form, were shattered into pieces by Qi Xinzhu with a single strike. Without its rocky shell, the true form of the Rocky Ape was simply an odd-looking, rough-skinned monkey. Although it was still a Second Tier Exotic Species, without the protection of its rock shell, the Rocky Ape was astonishingly fragile. The only improvement was its increased agility. The Rocky Ape bared its teeth at Qi Xinzhu, seeming to express its dissatisfaction with her earlier interference. Its mouth, full of bloody teeth, emitted a strong, putrid smell. It was unknown how many rotting corpses it had devoured or how many other creatures it had hunted. By this time, Lu Luo had already arrived. The Wraith Blade slashed towards the Rocky Ape, but the creature dodged. Lu Luo was somewhat surprised by the ape’s speed. He immediately dropped the Rose 390, and a massive surge of Qi He burst forth. With his speed suddenly increased, Lu Luo reached out and firmly grasped the Rocky Ape’s lower leg. Of course, the Rocky Ape resisted. It scratched Lu Luo repeatedly, but without its rock protrusion shell, its attacks were too weak. It merely left scratch marks on Lu Luo’s arm before he heavily slammed it to the ground. BANG! When dealing with enemies, Lu Luo showed no mercy. This was a life-saving habit cultivated during his many years of undercover work. With a swift motion, Lu Luo’s blade fell, severing half of the Rocky Ape’s body and killing the first Second Tier Exotic Species they encountered in the Shattered Rock Wilderness. "Thank you," Gu Fangyi nodded at Qi Xinzhu. Although he was confident he could have dodged the Rocky Ape’s attack himself, it was only proper to thank Qi Xinzhu for her assistance. "You’re welcome." Upon hearing Gu Fangyi’s thanks, Qi Xinzhu’s mood, which had not yet calmed down from Lu Luo killing five Scavengers in succession, finally improved significantly. [Very strong Holy Light power, just like the one detected last time. Her power is purer than Han Shiyu’s. In terms of both growth potential and malleability, she surpasses Han Shiyu.] When Qi Xinzhu looked at Lu Luo again, she noticed that he was also observing her. However, their purposes were completely different. Lu Luo was assessing Qi Xinzhu’s abilities and strength. Qi Xinzhu, on the other hand, was wondering if Lu Luo might view her differently because of the strength she had showcased. After a brief moment of eye contact, Lu Luo withdrew his gaze. "Let’s continue to find a place to rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll officially begin our activities." After devouring the Rocky Ape and some poisonous scorpions, the corners of Lu Luo’s mouth began to lift uncontrollably. Although only three days remained, factoring in the last day needed to return inside the Wall, they effectively had only two. However, judging by the density of the Exotic Species currently visible in the Shattered Rock Wilderness, it was completely sufficient. 「On the morning of the 8th day.」 The team from Blue Sky Biotechnology, after days of searching and scouting, finally found a nest of Rainbow Blood Mosquitoes deep in the muddy Matriarchal Swamp. The number of Rainbow Blood Mosquito nests was considerable. If they could deal with the Ghost Crabs here, they would receive a substantial reward. The rewards from Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals were substantial, consisting of the gene-enhancing potions they had researched. Therefore, even if one could not continue to break through Tiers, possessing these potions meant one could continue to grow stronger. This was why many people were willing to risk their lives. The Rainbow Blood Mosquitoes needed to rest during the early morning, thus this was the best time for them to handle the Ghost Crabs. "Boss, the bait is ready, and so are the landmines." Wu Sen scanned the surroundings. After once again ensuring there were no dangers, he finally nodded. "Good. Everyone, get in position. Prepare to move out."