Pfft!
Seconds later.
Sharp Tiger Claws pierced through the chest of the last Fishman Leader.
Thud!
Three watery-blue Auras of Energy flew out from the Fishman Leader's corpse one after another, merging into Han Ning's body.
[Druid Growth Progress +265] (Current Lv5, 1071/2000)
[Mental Power +0.15] (Mental Power: 3.55)
This included the energy obtained from killing ordinary Fishmen earlier. The amount wasn't much—about 3-4 points per Fishman—but it added up to several dozen points in total.
As the energy entered his body, a warm current surged through him. Combined, it was roughly equivalent to what he'd gained from that big Tuna.
"So it seems these three Fishman Leaders were stronger than Vortex Shell Crabs but weaker than the Tuna, probably around levels 4-5..."
Han Ning speculated silently.
The remaining scattered Fishmen, witnessing their leaders' gruesome deaths, immediately fled in all directions without hesitation.
Unlike the monsters Han Ning and the others had encountered in the Mist Zone, these didn't continue attacking them.
Zou Yu and his fellow Awakened gazed at Han Ning with deep reverence, their earlier dissatisfaction completely gone from their expressions.
The monster leaders they'd struggled desperately to hold their own against couldn't even last a few rounds against Han Ning.
Han Ning ignored their stares.
The dark golden fur covering his body rapidly receded, his bulging muscles returning to normal as he transformed back into a young man wearing tattered shorts.
He walked over to the wall where the staff-wielding Fishman Leader had died, bending down to retrieve the twisted Staff with its strange dark green fruit growing from the tip.
It felt slightly heavy in his hand, with a smooth yet plant-like toughness. Countless fine green rootlets covering the Staff seemed to writhe slowly under the fruit's faint glow.
He examined the pulsating dark green fruit carefully, sensing the faint moisture and life energy within it, his interest thoroughly piqued.
"Probably some kind of aquatic plant. Interesting. I wonder if I can take it back to cultivate?"
Han Ning's eyes gleamed.
As a Druid, he'd become highly sensitive to plants.
Moreover, since that green-skinned Fishman had used this thing to summon Seaweed, there was a good chance it was an Extraordinary Fruit.
Next, he collected the broken Seashell Scimitar fragments and charred Bone Spear remnants dropped by the other two Fishman Leaders, stuffing them into his waterproof backpack.
These items all contained mysterious energy and held significant research value.
With the spoils gathered, Han Ning broke the silence: "Were these three Fishmen the strongest creatures occupying this place?"
"Gulp..."
Zou Yu swallowed hard, snapping out of his daze. Meeting Han Ning's calm gaze, all the resentment and anger he'd felt from being used as bait had completely dissipated.
Only deep lingering fear remained.
He nodded weakly, his entire demeanor subdued: "I'm not entirely certain, but these three leaders were the strongest monsters we've observed on campus so far."
"Then take your people inside and see what useful items remain," Han Ning instructed.
"Alright..."
.
Zou Yu dodged, avoiding Han Ning's gaze. This time, they didn't dare refuse him again. They helped their injured companions up and swam together into the second floor of the cafeteria.
Han Ning followed closely behind, while Su Mingke bit her lip and silently trailed a few steps behind him.
The interior of the cafeteria was in complete disarray.
The first floor was entirely submerged, with murky water floating rotten remnants of tables and chairs and unrecognizable garbage.
The group climbed through the windows to the second floor, where the water only reached their ankles.
This area had once been the serving section, but now it resembled a vast, damp nest.
The floor, walls, and even the crevices in the ceiling were covered in a slippery layer of dark green seaweed—almost like an enlarged version of the seaweed on the Fishman's Staff—emitting a strong, fishy stench.
In relatively drier areas, crude nests made of tattered cloth, torn fishing nets, and broken bones were scattered about.
Inside them curled numerous Fishman offspring, each no larger than a kitten, with translucent skin and unopened eyes.
Sensing the presence of strangers, these tiny creatures let out faint, squeaky chirps.
The group searched through the five-story space.
Having been transported to this otherworld for nearly a month, combined with the damp environment, most of the fresh food had either rotted or been devoured by the Fishmen, leaving almost nothing behind.
Only a few shredded, empty packaging bags remained.
In the filthy water, traces of rotting garbage and unidentifiable chunks of flesh could vaguely be seen, the stench overwhelming.
After several rounds of searching, most of what they found was useless trash.
The most valuable items were likely the weapons wielded by the three Fishman Leaders.
Han Ning shook his head inwardly.
Tools like kitchenware or emergency light batteries could be found elsewhere in the cafeteria.
Considering they still had to visit the seed vault, he decided to forgo them entirely.
As the Awakened from the Agricultural and Forestry University worked together to eliminate the weaker Fishmen, Han Ning spoke up:
"The Fishmen here are no longer a threat to you. Now, take me to the seed vault."
Zou Yu and the others paused their actions, exchanged glances, and nodded silently.
...
After leaving the central cafeteria, they still encountered quite a few wandering Fishmen in the vicinity.
But none possessed the strength of the three Fishman Leaders they had faced earlier, posing little threat.
About ten minutes later.
"That's the Seed Experiment Center up ahead," Zou Yu said, pointing to a relatively isolated, modern-style seven-story building in the distance.
The first floor was already submerged, but most of the second-floor windows remained intact and tightly shut.
Han Ning chose to smash a window on the second floor to enter directly.
The others followed closely behind.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of desiccants, disinfectant, and faintly musty wood.
Unlike the damp, filthy environment outside, the vault felt stifling from lack of ventilation but was relatively dry.
Despite the spacious interior of the experiment building, most of it was occupied by bulky lab equipment.
Led by students familiar with the facility, Han Ning arrived at the seed storage room.
Rows of tall metal shelves stood in orderly arrangement.
On them, countless transparent glass bottles, sealed bags, and foil pouches were densely packed, meticulously organized.
Some special varieties were even stored in low-temperature refrigeration areas.
But without electricity now, it was unclear whether those seeds had been damaged.
Above each seed sample, printed labels detailed their names and specifications.
For example: "Super Rice - Fengyou No.1", "Disease-Resistant Corn - Jinsui No.8", "High-Oleic Peanut - Luhua 99", "Storage-Tolerant Tomato - Improved Ruby Type"... and so on.
The dazzling array of labels saved Han Ning considerable time in identification and classification.
His gaze swept across the abundant variety of seeds, and a plan had already formed in his mind.
"Take them all." Han Ning signaled for the others to help.
Zou Yu and the rest hesitated for a few seconds before ultimately choosing to assist.
The collection work proceeded efficiently and orderly.
Thanks to the warehouse's excellent sealing and management, the vast majority of seeds were well-preserved, meeting dryness standards with no noticeable signs of mold.