162: Chapter 162 The Squad Leader's Decisiveness! Shocking!
"Notification: Your evolution level has successfully increased to 'C-'!"
"Your body has undergone a long baptism of immense Lightning Energy and successfully transformed into a Golden Thunder Body!"
"Your race has successfully evolved into a Thunder-Clapping Giant Bird!"
"automatic upgrade system update starting... Update complete!"
"You have gained a new attribute—Mental Power Level! You have gained a mental skill—Detection Spell!"
"The levels of your mental skills Intimidation and Telepathic Sensing have increased!"
Everything that happened to Ye Yang after the golden lightning was clearly recorded in the system log.
Everything was normal; no anomalies were found.
"The function of my system is to upgrade automatically and display all my information on a system panel, just like a real-life game interface..."
"Then it's very likely that eating this Black Giant Snake's gallbladder originally granted toxin immunity, and the system simply displayed it..."
After Ye Yang figured it out, he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
"As expected, the path of Devouring Evolution is extremely tempting."
As long as one keeps devouring, they can quickly become stronger. Gaining power is so simple that no creature could resist the temptation.
If Ye Yang didn't have the automatic upgrade system to rapidly increase his evolution level automatically, he surely wouldn't have been able to withstand the lure of power and would have gone out to hunt other powerful creatures as well.
"Except for this Black Giant Snake, you guys can eat these two prey."
Hearing this, the already famished Xiong Da, Panda Xiong Er, and Monkey King Wukong immediately pounced onto the corpses of the Variegated Giant Tiger and the gray Giant Lizard, gorging themselves and eating in huge gulps.
Having just been affected by the dragon blood fruit, their races had undergone transformations, and the latent potential deep within their bodies had been stimulated, requiring a massive amount of food.
Even the usually vegetarian Giant Panda Xiong Er was now devouring bloody flesh with a wide mouth.
As for the Little White Fox Ah Li, she zipped over, took the heart of the Variegated Giant Tiger, and ate it in small, elegant bites.
Then, Ye Yang looked up, his golden pupils gazing into the distance.
He narrowed his eyes unconsciously, leaving his thoughts unreadable.
...
On the other side.
High in the distant sky, the helicopter from the Jianghai City reconnaissance unit still remained.
The reconnaissance squad had originally wanted to evacuate, but after reporting the intelligence to the leaders of Jianghai City, they were ordered to wait here.
"I don't know what those leaders in the city want us to stay here for..."
"I hope they let us go back soon, otherwise, if that Ancient Creature giant bird finds us, we're dead meat—"
Beep beep—
The communicator on the helicopter rang.
"Hello, Hawkeye Squad. After consideration by many leaders of Jianghai City, we have decided to dispatch you to communicate with the Ancient Creature giant bird..."
"The mission has two objectives: first, ask the Ancient Creature codenamed 'Divine Phoenix' about the cause of the beast tide; second, obtain the spirit fruit from the great tree at the summit of Divine Phoenix Mountain."
"Of course, this mission is not mandatory; it depends on you."
When the communicator went silent, the members of the helicopter reconnaissance squad looked at each other and nodded silently.
Seeing this, the squad leader took a deep breath.
"Leader, we guarantee... no, we will do our best to complete the mission!"
"Good! You are all true soldiers! On behalf of Jianghai City, I thank you!"
After the communicator hung up, the squad leader looked at his silent comrades.
"This mission is for the safety of Jianghai City... it is extremely important..."
Looking at the distant mountain forest, he sighed, "Hurry up and send messages to your families."
...
After a short while, the helicopter flew toward the depths of the mountain forest.
The golden light emitted by Ye Yang was very dazzling. Near the collapsed Divine Phoenix Mountain, the reconnaissance squad quickly found his location.
The helicopter slowly descended and landed in an open space.
"Stand by where you are; don't go over there."
"Captain... it's too dangerous for you to go alone!"
"Is it any less dangerous if we all go together? Follow orders!"
"Yes, sir!"
The reconnaissance squad leader walked step by step toward the distance. The mountain-like aura around him made him feel very uncomfortable; every step felt like walking through a swamp.
In fact, he knew that even if he didn't let his team members follow, it was still extremely dangerous.
After all, that Ancient Creature giant bird's speed was simply too fast...
Finally, he arrived in front of Ye Yang.
"Whew... Lord Divine Phoenix, I am a soldier from Jianghai City. I have come to your territory this time... because of the beast tide..."
"May I ask what the cause of the beast tide was?"
Looking up at the three-to-four-meter-tall golden bird before him, he felt an invisible and powerful sense of pressure. He felt like an infant, weak and frail...
Ye Yang looked down at the human in military uniform. There was no surprise in his eyes; he had seen the helicopter tens of kilometers away long ago.
"Heh... speak plainly. I think you already know that the beast tide was attracted by the spirit fruit on my Divine Phoenix Mountain. State your purpose—human!"
Although Ye Yang's voice held no anger, its inherent avian coldness caused fear to surge in the captain's heart.
In truth, they had also guessed that the spirit fruit on the summit of Divine Phoenix Mountain was the reason for the beast tide.
But... that spirit fruit was so precious. If he asked for it, he might very well be torn to shreds by a single claw from the giant bird before him.
However, his duty as a soldier still gave him the sense of responsibility to state the mission requirement.
"Lord Divine Phoenix—we, Jianghai City, would like the spirit fruit from your summit..."
"ROAR!!!"
Before the reconnaissance squad leader could finish, he heard a violent roar!
His body trembled as he looked toward the source of the sound.
He actually saw a massive snake corpse...
Was that the powerful Black Giant Snake from the summit of Divine Phoenix Mountain?!
It had actually been killed by the Ancient Creature giant bird so quickly?!
Then he felt himself being targeted by a massive wave of malice. He looked over...
He saw a snow-white giant bear staring at him with a bloodthirsty expression, its fanged mouth still chewing on flesh.
Xiong Da, who was currently eating, did not want these two-legged beasts to take away those precious spirit fruits; he knew exactly how valuable they were.
Just as the squad leader's body was about to collapse under the Intimidation of this aura.
A clear and cold voice rang out in his ears.
"You may."
"What?!"
The squad leader looked up at the Ancient Creature giant bird. In those flashing golden pupils, he saw a grand aloofness, without the slightest hint of deception.
"Roar..."
"Chirp chirp..."
Ye Yang's words left the surrounding animals somewhat confused, and they made puzzled sounds.
"That is wonderful... thank you, Lord Divine Phoenix."
Ye Yang's golden pupils flashed as he looked at the dragon blood tree standing in the distance.
"However, I have conditions."