Chapter 89: Let's Set Off! Collecting Ice!
The team and He Liang went to wander outside the base according to the collection mission plan, leaving Ji Mu and Raymond at home to look after the house. Of course, Yu Miaomiao and Lu An put away everything they could in the house, as they did not yet fully trust Ji Mu.
With Ji Mu's special ability, he should be able to handle petty theft properly, so the others don't need to worry too much. As long as he doesn't go out and cause trouble, there won't be any problems. In addition, there are still many flying insects in the base, so most people won't go out.
The flying insect infestation outside the base was much less severe than inside. It was as if these flying insects had emerged from the soil and gathered in the underground city. In particular, the large flying insects seemed to have a specific target, gathering a large number of smaller flying insects and swarming around the underground city in clusters.
Outside the base, there were only a few flying insects, most of which were still crashing into the gate of the underground city.
The moment she stepped out of the underground city, the blinding sunlight shone on Yu Miaomiao's face. The warmth brought by that long-lost sunlight made her feel dazed for a moment, as if everything had returned to that morning before the apocalypse. Yu Miaomiao stood at the window watching the sun rise. Unfortunately, she could never go back to that moment.
The surface ice has gradually melted, making the ground more slippery, but with He Liang protecting us, even going out becomes more interesting.
"Seriously, He Liang, have you ever considered joining our team? Our team's benefits are definitely better than the patrol team's, and we also provide food and lodging."
Lu Anguan and Yu Miaomiao took an outdoor lamp and three deck chairs from their spatial storage, and the group set up an "outdoor campsite" in He Liang's shadow.
The three lay on the deck chairs, while He Liang moved with incredible speed, his shadow swiftly traversing the slippery, rugged ice. His supernatural ability had also quietly upgraded during this time; now, his movement speed within the shadow was increased thirtyfold, a factor that could be controlled. He could freely adjust this multiplier, meaning that for every meter he moved, the shadow could travel up to thirty meters.
"I feel like you guys are trying to recruit me into your team, but it's really just an attempt to enslave me."
He Liang looked at the world where only he was injured and felt a little aggrieved.
Although it was just for show, since it was a rare opportunity to get out, I decided to search the nearby mountains before the temperature rose too high and see if there were any usable herbs.
In addition, there's another small goal this time: to collect ice. Although Lu An can now control his ability to make ice, using his ability is very physically demanding. Just like Liu Yao's ability to copy has a limit, Lu An's ability also has a limit as his physical strength is depleted. He needs to use his ability wisely.
Adhering to the principle of never wasting one's own time if one can get something for free, getting free ice cubes is certainly more satisfying.
Extreme heat shouldn't be far off. Although it's still a long time since the extreme heat of the last life, everything is different in this life, and Yu Miaomiao can't accurately predict the exact time of the extreme heat. Moreover, the temperature is already rising rapidly. If it weren't for He Liang's Shadow Movement ability, the group would already feel the warmth if they were walking outside.
There are two main reasons for collecting ice now: first, it's not as cold as during the extreme cold period, and the ice isn't as impenetrable; second, He Liang is here, so the group can travel to more distant places. Although they have a vehicle, driving on the ice is slippery and wastes fuel, which is nowhere near as enjoyable as He Liang's special ability.
In less than two hours, the group arrived at Yan Hui Mountain, the closest mountain to the base. Although it was the closest, it was actually nearly 300 kilometers away.
If it weren't for He Liang's special ability, ordinary gatherers wouldn't have been able to reach such a distant place in just a few days.
This is also why Yan Hui Mountain is more likely to be a place of interest than other places.
This place is surrounded by mountains and far from cities, meaning there are far fewer survivors and more possibilities.
Whether it's the possibility of finding herbs or the more unpredictable dangers, the four-person team, plus the upgraded trio, is now a formidable force.
The three little ones' training at the Dungeon Mutant Pet Training Base has come to an end and has been quite effective. At least Tuanzi and Yuanzi's obedience has improved, and the dog has also learned various commands and attack techniques. Perhaps this trip will provide an opportunity to test the results.
Yan Hui Mountain was originally a quiet place for recuperation and relaxation. Apart from a dilapidated temple, there were no other attractions on the mountain. It had not undergone much human intervention and remained a pure, natural, and pristine mountain forest. There was only one hiking trail, and the ice layer covered the bottom of the mountain for dozens of meters, so it was not far from the top.
He Liang had only walked a few steps along the mountain path when he could vaguely see the dilapidated temple through the gaps in the trees. This temple had been abandoned for more than ten years, and only a few pilgrims would occasionally come here.
However, they were unsure whether there were any survivors inside the temple at that time, since the altitude would protect people from the first rise in water levels.
Upon reaching the vicinity of Yan Hui Mountain, the three of them emerged from He Liang's shadow. Since they couldn't see anything in the shadow, they would have to search for and identify the herbs themselves.
Many trees in the mountains and forests died due to the extreme cold, and even those that didn't die were covered with a thick layer of ice. However, new mutated plants sprouted in the bushes, and many other plants danced wildly in the air along their route.
"Be careful, these are plants that might get you caught in them and then slowly wrap you up and digest you."
These are all mutated plants that Yu Miaomiao knew well in her previous life. Many of them will not attack humans unless they actively seek them out. However, if you walk right into their trap, they will not refuse you.
By the time she reached the halfway point of the mountain, Yu Miaomiao had collected many new plant species that she hadn't been able to find on her last trip. Of course, they were all useful to her, but not all of them were beneficial to humans; some of them were poisonous.
Every medicine has its side effects; the key is to control the dosage. These so-called poisons, when used in the right amount at a critical moment, can be life-saving medicines.
However, Yu Miaomiao's collection of these items wasn't solely for saving people. She also wanted to test the poisons. In this apocalyptic world, who knows when she might need them? Anyway, it's always good to try new things.
"This is a mutated Bidens pilosa, also known as Bidens pilosa or Bidens grandma's vegetable. When it's young, it can be eaten as a vegetable, and it tastes quite good. As a medicinal herb, it's a common wild herb that can clear heat and detoxify. The mutated Bidens pilosa has enhanced medicinal effects, so the dosage should be carefully considered when making medicine. It can generally be seen by roadsides, in wastelands, and near houses."
Weiwei, keep a close eye out along the mountain path... pick any you see. Remember, remember, you absolutely mustn't leave us and venture deeper into the forest alone.