Chapter 164

Words : 1139 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 164: Chapter 164 After a brief moment of shock, Clayton quickly calmed himself, careful not to make a sound. What lay before him demanded absolute silence. Ahead was a large hollow within a tree. Inside it, a creature lay in deep slumber. Judging by how relaxed the monster’s body appeared and the steady rise and fall of its chest, Clayton could tell—it was sound asleep. Since the noise he’d made earlier hadn’t disturbed it, he exhaled a quiet sigh of relief. The sleeping creature was none other than a mid-tier, one-star black bear monster. At a glance, the bear looked almost cute in its sleeping position. But the ominous aura radiating from it, along with the bloodstains matted into its fur, sent a wave of unease through Clayton’s chest. There was no mistaking it—the creature was extremely dangerous. Clayton knew it was best to leave immediately. He didn’t want to invite any unnecessary trouble. With that decision made, he slowly began backing away, moving as silently as possible. But just as he was about to complete his retreat, something caught his eye—not the bear, but something lying beside it. His curiosity sparked, Clayton focused on the object... and saw a red, scale-like fruit nestled near the bear. When his observation skill activated, he was stunned. The object lying beside the bear was none other than a Dragon Blood Fruit, a primary ingredient in the creation of the True Potion. While Azure Hibiscus was used to restore energy and mana, the Dragon Blood Fruit was vital for healing blood and stamina. For mental or soul-based enhancements, one would need plants like lotus or other soul-affiliated herbs. There was even a chance the mutated lotus monster—which had previously controlled a giant serpent—could fill that role, though mutation might have altered its properties. Faced with such a valuable find, Clayton hesitated. Should he risk his life for this opportunity? Or walk away and let it slip through his fingers? For a long moment, he couldn’t decide. Still uncertain, he slowly continued to retreat until he reached a distance he felt was safe. Only then did his mind begin to clear. Truthfully, Clayton could fight the bear. But considering the area was still crawling with bounty hunters and powerful individuals, any noise could attract unwanted attention—and if that happened, the fruit would likely be taken by someone else. Worse still, the fruit wasn’t even ripe. Picking it now would waste its potential. His hesitation deepened, though the thought of abandoning such a rare opportunity gnawed at him. "It’s all pointless... unless I can take it without making a sound," he muttered. Then, as if inspiration had struck, his eyes lit up. "Yes! I’ll steal it without making a sound!" He recalled the tools he had on hand—sleep-inducing incense, a pollution magic scroll, and Tuberose pollen. All ideal for casting silence and illusion on a sleeping monster. Since the bear was already asleep, it wouldn’t even realize it had fallen deeper into a dream. Clayton reevaluated the plan and decided it was worth the risk. He immediately began to prepare. His skeletal minions were sent to spread out, each carrying their assigned tools. What Clayton failed to notice was a pheasant perched nearby, silently observing his every move. Once the skeletons were in position, Clayton gave the signal. First, the calming incense was lit. Then, the illusion-inducing pollen was released into the air. Clayton made no further moves. He simply waited for the bear to descend into a state of total unconsciousness. A faint snore echoed in the silence. Clayton continued to wait. Moments later, a deeper snore followed. His eyes gleamed. He quickly activated the scroll in his hand. A cloud of black smoke shot out, swirling toward the bear’s head—signaling that the spell had taken effect. To be certain, Clayton snapped a small twig. Crack! He looked toward the bear, heart pounding. No movement. The bear remained deeply asleep. Clayton crept toward the tree where the Dragon Blood Fruit grew. Despite all his preparations, nerves still gnawed at him. But he forced himself to keep moving. Once he confirmed the fruit was indeed what he thought it was, joy surged through him. But rather than simply pick the fruit, Clayton began carefully digging up the entire plant. He wanted to take the whole tree with him. After all, who wouldn’t prefer a candy factory to a single piece of candy? It wasn’t an impulsive decision. While he didn’t yet have the means or place to grow it, he possessed a special hibernation jar capable of preserving living organisms in stasis. With it, he’d have a "ready-to-plant" seed waiting for the right moment. He dug carefully around the one-meter-tall tree, ensuring he didn’t damage its roots. Though the digging wasn’t physically exhausting, the mental strain of doing it so close to a monster wore him down. Still, everything was proceeding according to plan. His sweat and pale complexion were the only signs of just how tense he truly was. With the plant finally secured in his hands, Clayton prepared to leave. The sooner he was gone, the better. But just as he was about to place the tree into the hibernation jar, a red blur shot toward him at incredible speed. Clayton froze. He hadn’t expected any interruptions at such a critical moment. Looking up, he saw it—the pheasant from earlier! And in its beak was the unripe Dragon Blood Fruit! The skeletons, stationed at a distance, immediately sprang into action, chasing the fleeing bird. Fuming, Clayton sealed the tree inside the hibernation jar and took off in pursuit. Everything was going smoothly—until— ROAR! A thunderous roar shook the forest. Clayton stopped in his tracks, trembling. He spun around, ready for the worst. But the bear... was still fast asleep. He blinked, wondering if the stress was getting to him. Then— ROAR! Another deafening roar echoed through the trees. This time, Clayton understood what was happening. It wasn’t an angry roar. It wasn’t an attack. The bear... was yawning. Clayton couldn’t help but laugh—partly from relief, partly in disbelief. Realizing it had been a false alarm, he resumed the chase. He ran as fast as he could, following the trail left by his skeletons and the fleeing pheasant. Though the bird was quick, it was only a low-tier, one-star monster. Nothing too threatening. Clayton was thrilled—finally, an easy opponent. With renewed confidence, he and his minions cornered the pheasant. Everything seemed ready to wrap up... until the bird vanished! Clayton panicked, scanning the surroundings. "Damn it! Where the hell did that thing go?!" He frantically searched the area. Then— ROAR! But this time, the roar was different. Unlike the earlier yawns, this one was charged with emotion—rage, pain, frustration. Clayton froze. He understood now. This time, he was in real trouble.

Chapter 164

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