Chapter 23 Flower Path

"So, besides failed Fire Seeds, there are also imperfect ones. If there are imperfect Fire Seeds, does that mean there might be perfect ones too? And what does this sacrifice to heaven even mean? Do you have to let all your teammates die just to enhance your power? That's way too cruel. And how do you even define a teammate? If I just consider someone a teammate, does that make them one? Then could I treat enemies as teammates, and by killing an 'enemy teammate,' gain more strength..." Lin Shen thought with certain greed in his mind.

*He studied the issue for a while but couldn't figure out how this sacrifice to heaven ability works. It didn't seem like an active skill—its effect might only become evident in the future when it activates.*

For the rest of the time, Lin Shen stayed home to heal his injuries, hoping his hands would recover before the departure.

Every twelve hours, he had to change the medication. Each time, five bottles of medicinal solution were needed to completely soak his hands, and just the cost of the medicine amounted to six figures.

Thankfully, these medicines were effective; although his hands didn't fully recover before the departure, they were no longer a serious issue. He could lift heavy objects without trouble, but high-intensity combat was still risky. *He worried that his not-yet-healed bones might crack again.*

Lin Shen carried the medicines with him, applying them periodically. He figured it wouldn't take more than a few days to fully recover.

During his healing period, Lin Shen fed some low-level Base Mutation Eggs to Death Powder. That creature didn't reject any and devoured thirty or so Steel Mutant Eggs.

*He thought that after eating so many Base Mutation Eggs, surely it would manifest some talent. But there wasn't even a peep—no talent, no changes, not even a slight alteration in its size.*

*Lin Shen began speculating: perhaps Death Powder could only acquire talents by consuming Base Mutation Creatures that carried Fire Seeds.*

By the promised departure time, Ye brought Lin Shen an alloy-level Pet Capsule containing a White Gold Beast.

White Gold Beasts weren't particularly rare alloy-level pets and were mainly prized for their speed—they were often used as mounts.

Many people enjoyed using White Gold Beasts as mounts—not only because of their speed but also because of their stunning appearance. Pure white with a single horn on its forehead, it resembled the legendary sacred unicorn. It was the top choice for those who prioritize aesthetics.

Lin Xiangdong himself was one of those aesthetics-focused individuals, and among his mounts was also a White Gold Beast. Ye had selected this particular White Gold Beast for Lin Shen to help him continue impersonating Lin Xiangdong.

The two White Gold Beasts appeared almost identical. However, Lin Xiangdong's was an elite specimen with a speed of 20, while Ye's substitute had a speed of 18.4. Though slightly inferior, it was enough for the disguise.

The Ghost-faced White Beast, clad in alloy-forged chain armor, was indistinguishable unless one took action—it could easily pass for Lin Xiangdong's steed.

As the two were about to leave, Wei Wufu silently followed behind them without a word.

Ye glanced at Wei Wufu and seemed like he wanted to say something but was stopped by Lin Shen.

The trio headed to the agreed-upon meeting place, where people from the Qi and Wang families had already gathered. Leading them were Qi Shuheng and Wang Tian'er, who were speaking with Bai Shenfei.

"The Lin Family is only sending three people?" asked Wang Tian'er with a frown as he looked at the trio.

"For something as trivial as Gourd Mountain, isn't three people more than enough?" Lin Shen said while sitting atop his White Gold Beast, showing no intention of dismounting.

Wang Tian'er's face darkened, but Qi Shuheng gave him a subtle signal to stop him from speaking further.

Qi Shuheng smiled and said, "Each family has its own considerations. It doesn't matter how many people they send, as long as everyone works together."

"Since everyone is here, let's set off," Bai Shenfei said. She glanced at Wei Wufu, who was following Lin Shen. She didn't say anything about it.

She reached out and tossed a white Pet Capsule. When it landed on the ground, it transformed into a creature with a snow-white body like jade, resembling both an ox and a Triceratops.

The sight of her mount brought slight changes to everyone's expressions—it was clearly a Crystal-based Creature.

*"People from Sea Corn Base really are extraordinary—even their mounts are Crystal Base level," Lin Shen thought to himself.*

Nobody said anything further. Each summoned their respective mounts, and the group set forth from the base in a grand procession.

Lin Shen curiously looked around as they traveled. Since his birth, he hadn't left the base more than a handful of times. To him, the outside world was an intriguing, unfamiliar realm.

Most of the roadside areas were covered with green plants, dotted with colorful flowers. High and low "hills" rose and fell everywhere. If one looked closer, they would realize those "hills" weren't actually mountains but buildings overgrown with vegetation.

Two hundred years ago, this place had been a modern city. Now, it barely resembled its former self. Occasionally, parts of roads or structures peeked out, but most were dilapidated, collapsed, or swallowed by greenery.

Among the greenery, sporadically, some peculiar plants appeared—they had metallic branches and leaves.

Lin Shen knew these weren't metal sculptures but genuinely living metal plants.

These metal plants were another type of Base Mutation Creature. However, their Base Mutation Fluid was often scarce and difficult to extract. Frequently, people would cut them down to use them as materials.

The group wasn't much in the mood for conversation. One by one, they urged their mounts to follow Bai Shenfei, galloping swiftly across the verdant landscape.

Along the way, some low-level Base Mutation Creatures were startled and fled in all directions, but the group didn't bother pursuing them.

After twisting and turning for most of the day, by around three in the afternoon, they had only covered seventy or eighty miles. Suddenly, a colorful path appeared in the mountains ahead, prompting Bai Shenfei to halt her mount at its entrance.

The group also stopped. Lin Shen scanned the path ahead and realized it wasn't a proper road but a stretch densely covered with colorful metallic flowers that extended off into the distance, seemingly endlessly.

"I came here a few years back," Ye said beside Lin Shen. "Back then, these Color Steel Flowers were scattered sparingly among the greenery. You'd only see a small patch here and there. But now, in just a few years, they've grown into this long stretch—like a river." Ye was clearly speaking for Lin Shen's benefit, worried he might not recognize the flowers and blow their cover.

"Where there are Color Steel Flowers, Steel Tail Scorpions are bound to be close by. With so many flowers here, there must be loads of Steel Tail Scorpions lurking. We should scout ahead first." Wang Tian'er turned to Bai Shenfei.

"Alright," Bai Shenfei responded, nodding faintly without much expression.

Clearly eager to impress Bai Shenfei, Wang Tian'er didn't bother consulting Qi Shuheng or Lin Shen. He ordered one of his Mutators riding an Iron-horned Horse to scout ahead.

After activating his Base Mutation ability—covering parts of his body in Steel Carapace—the Mutator cautiously urged his horse forward. The Iron-horned Horse stepped slowly, its hooves pressing against the Color Steel Flowers and eliciting a harsh screech that unsettled everyone's ears.

After moving twenty or thirty meters without encountering any Steel Tail Scorpions, the scout grew bolder and picked up the pace.

He pressed forward for over a hundred meters without encountering a single Steel Tail Scorpion before turning his horse around and shouting back toward the group, "Boss, no Steel Tail Scorpions over here!"

"Strange. With this many Color Steel Flowers, there's not a single Steel Tail Scorpion? Something's not right." Wang Tian'er muttered to himself.

"Steel Tail Scorpions love feeding on the fluid inside Color Steel Flowers. While it's not a guarantee, the chance of finding them here should be about ninety percent. For there to be no scorpions at all, there are only two possibilities: Either these aren't actually Color Steel Flowers and only resemble them, or something unusual happened here, preventing us from seeing the scorpions." Qi Shuheng finished, then turned to Bai Shenfei and asked, "Miss Bai, is there a way to circumvent this flower path?"

Bai Shenfei retrieved a notebook from her bag, flipped through it, and said, "We can't bypass it. We'll have to go through here."

All eyes turned to the notebook in her hand, including Lin Shen's and Ye's.

*Lin Shen thought to himself, "Could she really know the route to Gourd Mountain? Is there a map inside that notebook showing the way?"*

"Since we can't take a detour, maybe we should scout the path more thoroughly," Qi Shuheng said, turning to Wang Tian'er.

Wang Tian'er barked an order to the scout on the path. The man turned his horse around and advanced once more, soon disappearing deeper into the flower-laden trail.

Half an hour later, the scout returned at a gallop.

"Second Boss, this flower path stretches for over ten miles and leads to a gorge. Inside the gorge, I didn't see any Color Steel Flowers," the scout reported to Wang Tian'er upon approaching.

"Did you encounter any Steel Tail Scorpions?" Wang Tian'er asked.

"No." The man shook his head.

Wang Tian'er glanced at Qi Shuheng, who responded by instructing one of his family's Mutators, "You scout the path too. Move along the other side."

The Mutator from the Qi Family activated his Base Mutation ability, with Steel Carapace covering most of his body. He mounted his Iron-horned Horse and strode into the sea of flowers.

Benefiting from the earlier scouting, the Qi Family Mutator traveled significantly faster this time. In less than half an hour, he returned.

"The flower path is indeed over ten miles long. The other end leads to a gorge with no Color Steel Flowers growing inside. I didn't encounter Steel Tail Scorpions or any other Base Mutation Creatures along the way," the scout reported briskly.

"What's your take on this, Miss Bai?" Qi Shuheng turned to Bai Shenfei.

"The gorge is our destination. There's no option but to proceed along this path," Bai Shenfei replied.

"If that's the case, then we'll advance to the gorge and assess the situation there," Qi Shuheng said, glancing at Wang Tian'er and Lin Shen. "Do the rest of you agree?"

"No choice, really," Wang Tian'er and Lin Shen both agreed.

The group resumed their journey and stepped onto the flower path. Lin Shen studied the path closely. The Color Steel Flowers were vibrant and exquisite, each bloom about the size of a fingernail. Their petals were shell-shaped, with edges so thin they resembled sharp blades.

The Steel Body mounts could traverse the flowers safely, but any blood-and-flesh creature touching them might immediately end up covered in wounds.

Everyone stayed highly alert, wary of the potential dangers. For seven or eight miles, the journey bore no anomalies—it was as the two scouts had reported: no Steel Tail Scorpions or other Base Mutation Creatures appeared.

Gradually, the group picked up their pace, hoping to reach the gorge soon. But then, suddenly, the entire flower path began to sway. Alarmed, everyone abruptly halted their mounts.

"Steel Tail Scorpions… so many Steel Tail Scorpions…" someone cried out in terror.

Lin Shen focused his gaze and finally saw the truth—it wasn't the Color Steel Flowers swaying but countless Steel Tail Scorpions, each about the size of a palm, crawling out from beneath the flowers. They swarmed densely, like a scorpion river, even covering the ground beneath them.