Wang Cheng listened to the conversation between the two from a distance, a helpless expression on his face. In his hand, he was holding the limp body of an Ironwire Horned Python.
If anyone saw this, they would undoubtedly be shocked, because this Ironwire Horned Python was surprisingly a seventh-rank Apprentice-level beast, even if it had only just broken through.
After so long, Wang Cheng was getting a bit bored, so he hoped his parents would return sooner.
This place was, after all, far from safe. If a planet-level beast appeared, he might not even be able to handle it himself.
So, under the subtle guidance of his mental energy, the couple finally discovered their "opportunity"—that is, a Tricolor Ganoderma.
As for the beast guarding the Tricolor Ganoderma, it had already been dealt with by Wang Cheng, its bones completely crushed.
After carefully stowing away the Tricolor Ganoderma, Leng Yan turned to Wang Cheng and said, "Hubby, we've already gained a lot this time. I think we should leave the inner area. We've been here long enough, and I'm worried the situation might change. We've already found the herbs we needed, and even found some for Acheng—let's quit while we're ahead."
Hearing his wife's words, Wang Hao snapped out of his joy. He didn't object. After a moment of contemplation, he firmly said:
"You're right. We can't let greed cloud our judgment. If we get too greedy and encounter a powerful beast, it might end in tragedy. Let's bring the aircraft down and leave!"
Hearing they were finally leaving, Wang Cheng let out a breath of relief and couldn't help but silently complain:
"You're only thinking of leaving now because you've gained something. Otherwise, who knows how much longer you'd have stayed. If I hadn't taken care of that beast in advance, neither of you would've gotten out unscathed…"
Once Wang Hao and Leng Yan boarded their aircraft, Wang Cheng also let his own aircraft descend and followed slowly, flying toward the outer zone.
However, once their aircraft reached the outer region, they slowed down, causing Wang Cheng to raise an eyebrow: Were they planning to use the Tricolor Ganoderma right in the aircraft?
That actually wouldn't be a bad choice—once they reached the fortress, there was no guarantee they could keep it.
Fortunately, their aircraft was in stealth mode, so apart from the Fortress Flight Group's rental center, no one knew they were in the outer zone.
Even if other aircraft passed by, they were AI-controlled and would automatically avoid them.
While the two were strengthening themselves, Wang Cheng wasn't going to stick around.
After all, his own aircraft was a planet-grade one. Though he didn't mind spending contribution points, he also didn't want to waste them.
After returning to the fortress and returning the aircraft to the Fei Xing Group, Wang Cheng entered the wilderness again through the manual access point.
But unlike flying in, the moment he stepped out the fortress gates, the strong scent of blood filled the air.
Even though the battlefield in front of the city wall, spanning tens of kilometers, had already been cleared of flesh and remains, and all tunnels dug by burrowing beasts had been collapsed and sealed—
The blood-soaked soil still gave off a thick, nauseating stench.
Forcing himself to endure the smell, Wang Cheng quickly left the battlefield area. He didn't go far—just returned to the Youshui Lake area.
After all, to him, there weren't many valuable places in the outer zone. Instead of wandering aimlessly, he might as well go fishing for beasts at Youshui Lake.
Sure enough, after staying less than a day, Wang Cheng caught over a hundred mid-rank Apprentice-level beasts.
It seemed that after the beast tide, Youshui Lake had become the area with the densest concentration of mid-rank Apprentice-level beasts.
Though catching over a hundred mid-rank Apprentice beasts was rewarding, Wang Cheng's biggest gain was actually in herbs.
Thinking about what he did before made him smile. Initially, he had tossed a single clover into the gray energy, which then directly enhanced his physical body.
This was a bit disappointing. But after throwing in over a dozen clovers and giving the energy a mental command to "enhance," a new clover emerged. This one was clearly much more developed than the originals.
Wang Cheng took out the enhanced clover and popped it in his mouth. "Mmm, has a fragrant taste—not bad! But it seems like it only enhances physical fitness. Is that still useful to me?"
Although its effect wasn't huge, even for someone like him—a seventh-rank Apprentice—it still provided a strengthening effect.
It was somewhat similar to the energy the gray substance used to enhance him.
No matter the grade of beast corpses, the energy refined from them could still strengthen him.
But the cost was higher, and their effects on him were rather limited. After all, he had the energy from the gray substance, so these herbs were practically optional.
If he weren't on a slave planet, he could've sold these herbs. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible on Shuoyuan Star.
He couldn't even give them to his parents, so they were more or less useless to him.
While he was lost in thought, a call request came through. Seeing it was his mom, Wang Cheng casually answered:
"Hey, Mom, what's up? You guys back?"
Leng Yan's virtual image popped up immediately:
"Acheng, why aren't you home? Where are you?"
"I'm by Youshui Lake on the outer edge. When did you get back?"
"Just now. Hey, don't hang around Youshui Lake anymore—hurry back. Your dad and I have something good for you."
Wang Cheng chuckled, his eyes lighting up. "Looks like you two had quite the harvest. Alright, I'll head back right away."
With that, Wang Cheng didn't linger. He rushed back to the fortress, and within an hour, he was home.
Opening the door, he found his parents had already cleaned up and were sitting in the living room eating. A backpack sat on the coffee table.
Seeing Wang Cheng return, Leng Yan immediately smiled. "Acheng, come here quickly. Look what we brought back for you!"
Wang Cheng was, of course, familiar with what was in the backpack—he'd seen them harvest it—but he still acted confused, walking over and opening the pack with curiosity.
"So mysterious—what good stuff did you get this time? Let me see… Huh? Clover? Wow! Wuteng Leaves? Damn, you guys struck it rich. This is a great haul—so many low-rank Apprentice-level herbs. Didn't get any mid-rank ones?"
Seeing how excited Wang Cheng looked, Wang Hao smiled smugly:
"Good thing your mom and I went out together this time—otherwise we wouldn't have gotten so much. We even found a mid-rank Apprentice herb. Both of us gained significant strength."
Leng Yan took over proudly. "Your dad's physical strength is now at seventh-rank Apprentice level. And I'm officially a sixth-rank Apprentice now. From now on, both of us are qualified to explore the inner zone."
Seeing their smug faces, Wang Cheng silently complained:
"Even if you go explore, you won't get anything more than this. If I hadn't scouted ahead and dealt with the guardian beast, you two probably wouldn't have made it back. The inner zone's exploration had a lot of casualties this time. While low-rank herbs aren't guarded, mid-rank herbs definitely are."
(End of Chapter)