The scorched-black, deep pit resembled a scar on the earth, emitting a pungent smell of burning and the strange odor of molten metal. The inferno of last night had incinerated the insect swarm and the queen nest, but it also left behind a mess and an indescribable weakness. Under Zhao Xiaoya's continuous "Glimmer Comfort" and the draining of her mental power, Li Mubai finally and slowly awoke from his deep coma. His complexion was still frighteningly pale, but his eyes had regained their usual coldness, though a subtle fatigue was now present deep within them. The others, also dragging their depleted bodies, cleaned the battlefield and treated the marginally damaged wheat seedlings.
Sunlight dispersed the last wisp of gunpowder smoke, baking the scorched-black pit walls until they were scalding hot. Just as everyone was preparing to completely bury the insect nest ruins to prevent any resurgence, the sharp-eyed Qián Duōduō suddenly pointed at the glazed, hard shell at the bottom of the pit and shouted:
"Wait! Down there... it looks like there's something!"
Everyone immediately gathered around. They saw that beneath the charred, molten insect corpses and sticky shell, near the center of the pit floor, a cold, metallic sheen, entirely different from the surrounding scorch, faintly emanated! The sheen was not the dark red of molten metal, but a purer, silver-gray that remained unchanged after being tempered by high temperatures!
"Dig it out and see!" Yuan Fang's heart stirred, and he immediately gave the order. Li Mubai was still recovering from serious injuries and couldn't use "Shadow Manipulation". Sun Qiang and Chén Dàyǒng picked up the spare tools (a relatively intact shovel and a thick piece of pottery) and carefully cleared away the glazed shell and charcoal covering it.
The clearing work was exceptionally difficult. The hard shell was incredibly sturdy, and residual waves of uncomfortable bio-energy and high temperatures remained. Sun Qiang used "Localized Hardening" on his arm, while Chén Dàyǒng relied on brute force. After expending immense effort, they finally cleared the area.
What was revealed made everyone hold their breath!
It was a metal box, about a foot square! Its material was neither gold nor iron, exhibiting a deep silver-gray color. The surface was covered in extremely intricate, seemingly naturally formed geometric patterns, within which flowed an extremely faint, almost imperceptible, ethereal blue light. The box was perfectly sealed, with no signs of a lock or switch, appearing as a naturally integrated whole. It was embedded in the exceptionally solid red soil at the pit's bottom, scorched by high temperatures. Despite last night's fiery onslaught, it remained spotless and undamaged!
"What... what is this?" Táng Xiǎoyuè's eyes widened.
"The queen insect's treasure?" Lín Tāo guessed.
"It feels... very ancient, and also... dangerous." Sū Nuǎnnuǎn instinctively took half a step back. Her "Absolute Taste" Lv.3 seemed to have detected an extremely faint, yet heart-pounding energy aura emanating from the box.
"Appraise!" Yuan Fang suppressed his excitement and immediately activated his Lv.3 "Basic Appraisal Technique", concentrating his mental power!
Target: Unknown Metal Box
Material: Unidentifiable! Not any known metal or alloy. Density far exceeds known limits.
Condition: Faint energy patterns on the surface (ethereal blue), Energy Nature: Unknown (not superpower, not psychic, not elemental). Internal structure completely shielded from detection.
Energy Response: Extremely faint, but extremely high-level. Exhibits faint, synchronous fluctuations with the deep contamination source of "Rust River Pollution" and the queen insect's core energy from last night (has been purified).
Danger Level: Unknown (currently stable, no active aggression).
Remarks: Guardian object of the insect nest core, deeply connected to "Rust River Pollution" and mutated creatures, priceless!
Unable to appraise! Even the material couldn't be identified! This exceeded Yuan Fang's cognitive limits! But that faint, high-level energy fluctuation, and its synchronous connection with the "Rust River Pollution" and the queen insect, all indicated it was no ordinary item!
At the very instant Yuan Fang finished his appraisal, the system interface in his mind suddenly flashed violently! A line of never-before-seen, shimmering golden text forcibly popped up:
[Ding! Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Abyss Peeker!]
Achievement Requirement: Successfully discovered and contacted a "Primordial Relic" deeply connected to the "Xuanhuang Anomaly" core contamination before reaching the corresponding strength level.
Achievement Reward:
talent skill points x3!
free attribute points x3!
Unlocked Achievement System Module: "Primordial Codex"!
Unlocked Special Item: "Primordial Seed (Inactive)" x1!
["Primordial Codex"]: Records key items and creature information related to the deep contamination of the "Xuanhuang Anomaly" and primordial power. Currently recorded: [Unknown Metal Box (No. 001)] - Insufficient information, requires contact with more "Primordial Relics" or increasing "Basic Appraisal Technique" level to unlock detailed information.
["Primordial Seed (Inactive)"]: A peculiar seed containing faint primordial life essence. Activation conditions unknown. Purpose unknown. Warning: Contains uncontrollable power, handle with caution!
Concurrently, Yuan Fang felt that within his Inventory (one of the system's basic functions), a peculiar seed phantom, enveloped in soft white light and constantly subtly changing form, appearing between reality and illusion, had materialized out of thin air!
An achievement! And a hidden one at that! The rewards were breathtakingly generous! 3 talent skill points! 3 attribute points! It even unlocked a brand new achievement system and a mysterious item!
Yuan Fang's heart nearly stopped! He immediately looked at the others, and discovered that his companions also wore expressions of shock and elation!
"I... I got it too! An achievement! Skill points! Attribute points!" Táng Xiǎoyuè was too excited to speak coherently.
"Me too! Three skill points! Three attribute points!" Lín Tāo excitedly waved his fists.
""Abyss Peeker"... "Primordial Seed"?" Li Mubai leaned against the field ridge, his eyes under the brim of his hat sharp as knives, murmuring the system prompt thoughtfully as he looked at the silver-gray box.
"Primordial Codex? This thing... its origin is too great!" Sū Nuǎnnuǎn looked at the box, then felt the peculiar seed in her inventory, her small face grave.
All twelve of them, without exception, received the "Abyss Peeker" achievement rewards! Each person gained 3 talent skill points and 3 free attribute points! This was truly a godsend! Especially at this critical juncture, after a fierce battle, with everyone wounded and depleted, desperately needing to improve their strength to deal with the subsequent challenges of the "Wailing Wheat"!
The immense surprise diluted the physical fatigue and injuries. The group immediately immersed themselves in the excitement and contemplation of allocating their points.
Yuan Fang:
Free Attribute Points x3: All to Spirit (INT)! [Spirit (INT): 11 → 14]
Talent Skill Points x3: "Basic Appraisal Technique" Lv.3 → Lv.5! (Used 2 points) + Retained 1 point.
Lv.4: Appraisal range expanded to a 2-meter radius around self, information depth further enhanced (can analyze more complex energy structures).
Lv.5: Mental power consumption reduced to 0.6 points/use! Added faint "Energy Trajectory Tracing" ability (can vaguely track residual energy trajectories within a short period)! Slight increase in analysis resolution for "Primordial Relics".
Retained 1 skill point, with the aim of the next branch skill for the talent "Animism" (Intermediate "Soil Improvement" not yet unlocked, requires completion of the rotation planting mission).
Li Mubai:
Free Attribute Points x3: All to Spirit (INT)! [Spirit (INT): 13 → 16] (Huge increase!)
Talent Skill Points x3: "Shadow Manipulation" Lv.2 → Lv.4! (Used 2 points) + (Retained 1 point).
Lv.3: Shadow's physical ability increased to 3% of original body's! Can temporarily detach up to 5 meters, more complex manipulation.
Lv.4: Shadow can initially perform "Energy Mimicry" (e.g., simulating weak electrical currents for paralysis, simulating high-temperature burns), immense consumption. Added "Shadow Stealth" (briefly merge into shadows for rapid movement, short distance, extreme consumption)!
Chén Dàyǒng:
Free Attribute Points x3: 2 points to Constitution (CON) [Constitution: 12 → 14] + 1 point to Strength (STR) [Strength: 8 → 9]
Talent Skill Points x3: "Accelerated Growth" Lv.3 → Lv.5!
Lv.4: Effect range expanded to 2 meters; Lv.5: Acceleration effect increased to 2%! Mental power consumption slightly reduced. Added faint "Life Resonance" (provides a slight group buff to healthy plants within range).
Others also allocated points rapidly according to their roles:
Táng Xiǎoyuè: [Spring Gush] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (2000ml daily! Better water quality! Contains more "Superpower Energy")
Sū Nuǎnnuǎn: [Absolute Taste] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (Traceability stronger, can analyze more complex energy structures)
Lín Tāo: [Powerful Gastric Acid] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (Digest 50g daily! Stronger catalytic effect)
Lóng Fēi: [Dust Removal] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (8-meter radius, can create temporary "Vacuum Zone")
Zhào Xiǎoyǎ: [Glimmer Comfort] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (Effect close to good medicine, can weakly stimulate cell vitality)
Sūn Qiáng: [Iron Skin] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (Hardened area larger, duration longer, hardness close to hardwood)
Qián Duōduō: [Metal Conversion] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (10g converted daily, more types, faster speed)
Wáng Lěi: [Language Mastery] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (Understand more complex creature intentions, can attempt mental communication)
Zhōu Mǐn: [Telepathy] Lv.3 → Lv.5 (10-meter radius, can weakly influence the emotions of low-level creatures)
The glow of skill point allocation circulated around everyone, a sense of power and greater control over their abilities dispelling their fatigue. The entire team's strength had undergone a qualitative leap after discovering this mysterious "Primordial Relic"!
"This box..." Yuan Fang looked again at the silver-gray metal box at the bottom of the pit. Although his upgraded Lv.5 appraisal skill still couldn't analyze its core, it could capture clearer energy patterns and faint, extremely complex internal structural echoes. He carefully pried it out with a tool (it was unexpectedly light), placed it in a thick pottery box, and wrapped it in multiple layers of rags for isolation.
"Let's seal it for now. This thing involves too much, it's not something we can research at our current level," Yuan Fang said gravely, his gaze sweeping over his companions. "The priority now is to use this improvement to protect our wheat fields! The growth period of the "Wailing Wheat" has just begun, and greater challenges lie ahead! Especially... the noise!"
The group's gazes fell upon the green-eared wheat field stretching out its tender leaves in the morning light, their eyes becoming incomparably resolute. The sense of strength brought by the upgrades, along with the unknown hope from the "Primordial Seed", made them feel less fear and more confidence to face the impending "Wailing Wheat" noise period.
"As for this..." Yuan Fang felt the faint pulse of the "Primordial Seed (Inactive)" in his inventory, like a sleeping heart. "Perhaps, it will be the key for us to truly improve this wasteland."
Beside the ruins of the insect nest, hope quietly sprouted in another form. A life-and-death crisis triggered by insect infestation ultimately brought about a leap in strength and a key to deeper secrets. On the wasteland, crisis and opportunity always went hand in hand. Holding new power, shouldering the secret of the "Primordial Relic", these youths were about to face the true trial of the "Wailing Wheat" field – the desperate and hopeful interwoven "wail" that would echo across the wasteland!