Chapter Sixteen: Rapid Growth Device

Since it was so simple, what was there to hesitate about? Just do it!

He ordered the goblin to walk over to the Bloodflame Grass and commanded it to pull it up and bring it back. Wang Xian and Lu Sheng both kept their eyes fixed on the spot where the Bloodflame Grass grew; one hoped for an accident, the other hoped for none. The one wishing for an accident was Lu Sheng. Sacrificing a goblin for five function cards would be a huge profit for him. If the goblin succeeded and brought it back, he’d only get one card. In comparison, he naturally hoped for an accident. People are driven by profit, yearning for greater rewards is simply human nature.

No accident occurred; the goblin safely brought back the Bloodflame Grass.

Wang Xian was in high spirits as she received the Bloodflame Grass. Even with the veil covering her face, the crescent shape of her eyes revealed her delight.

“Let’s go. We need to leave here, or if the Rock Giant King finds us, we’re doomed.”

Lu Sheng cursed inwardly. Why didn’t she say so earlier? If she’d told him sooner, he would have fled! He followed Wang Xian, retreating quickly in a chosen direction. After running for a while, Wang Xian finally stopped.

“Tell me, what kind of function card do you want? I’m in a good mood right now.”

“I want a function card to enhance breeding.”

“What do you need that for? Aren’t you a combatant? Don’t you want a combat function card?”

Wang Xian found it odd. What was going on in this guy’s head? He was already catching useless goblins, and now he wanted a breeding function card? Was he planning to run a farm? Could it be he was afraid of dying?

Wang Xian suddenly felt as if she’d discovered Lu Sheng’s secret: the man before her was definitely afraid of death. Seeing how the goblins surrounded him confirmed her suspicion. He was absolutely terrified of dying!

“No, I just want a card to enhance breeding.”

“Fine, take this. It’s useless to me anyway. Consider it your reward for helping me—now we’re even.”

Wang Xian handed Lu Sheng a card and then left. Where she went, Lu Sheng didn’t know, nor did he care. He was focused on the card in his hand.

[Rapid Development Device]
Quality: White
Tier: First Tier
Function: Install in a breeding area; all creatures within a one-kilometer radius develop twice as fast.
Consumption: Requires one first-tier source pearl per day.

This was fantastic! Lu Sheng wished he could thank Wang Xian’s ancestors for eighteen generations. Wang Xian had no idea how much this small gift would help Lu Sheng. In her hands, it was useless; only in the hands of someone who needed it did it become a treasure.

The device itself was a meter-long straight rod, with a circular, rippled top about half a meter wide. At the very top of the ripples was a groove where the source pearl was placed. You just had to stick it into the ground to use it. The only pity was that he didn’t have a single source pearl; otherwise, his batch of Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes would be born in just a day and a half.

The Blood Moon had already passed for over fifty minutes; soon he would be able to return. He was still in the stone forest. The Firebird was still circling above, tangling with the Rock Giant, swooping down to harass it with fireballs whenever the giant tried to go back. The Rock Giant grew exasperated, roaring impotently, wishing bitterly it could fly. If it could, it would tear the Firebird in two.

This Rock Giant was at least a third-tier creature; otherwise, it couldn’t withstand the Firebird’s attacks without a scratch. As for its exact strength, Lu Sheng couldn’t tell.

Wang Xian’s plan now seemed to be to recall the Firebird at the very last moment before returning. But why? Was she afraid the Rock Giant would go mad after discovering its Bloodflame Grass was gone? That didn’t quite make sense—after all, the grass was gone. Would the Rock Giant really be able to track someone by the scent of Bloodflame Grass?

Unable to figure it out, Lu Sheng stopped trying. Guessing someone’s motives was exhausting work.

Time ticked away, and soon the final minute arrived. The Firebird, already showing signs of fatigue, finally vanished after launching one last fireball, transforming into a card and flying off in a direction opposite to Lu Sheng’s.

A sense of unease filled the air. With less than a minute left before he could return, Lu Sheng felt the atmosphere thick with danger. He began to retreat quietly—just in case the Rock Giant really did cause trouble. Regardless, keeping his distance could only help.

Under Lu Sheng’s watchful gaze, the Rock Giant trudged back home. With the Firebird gone, it was finally ready to return happily. But as it reached the entrance, it discovered its treasured Bloodflame Grass was missing.

At first, the Rock Giant thought it was seeing things, but after a careful look, it realized the grass was truly gone!

“Wurong!”

A furious roar unique to Rock Giants echoed through the stone forest. Even Lu Sheng, at the far edge, felt an intense wave of danger. He saw the Rock Giant suddenly turn in his direction. It had no eyes, but Lu Sheng could sense its burning rage, as if it wanted to incinerate him.

No—actually, it wanted to incinerate the goblin beside him!

He could feel that most of the giant’s anger was directed at the goblin who had just pulled up the Bloodflame Grass. He was merely caught in the crossfire.

Could the Rock Giant really track enemies by scent? Was this a talent or a skill? It was likely a skill; if it were a talent, the giant would have discovered them while they were stealing the grass.

Luckily, less than thirty seconds remained before he could return. The Rock Giant was still far from his position, with little chance of reaching him.

Wang Xian had inadvertently saved his life. Although she’d sent him to steal the Bloodflame Grass, she had paid him. In fact, Wang Xian had deliberately helped Lu Sheng; she knew plucking the Bloodflame Grass would enrage the Rock Giant, and if Lu Sheng was discovered, he would surely be hunted down. But if she told him the truth, he would refuse to help her—and if there were other monsters in the lair, she’d be in trouble.

When all was done, Wang Xian could have left directly on her Firebird, but that would have doomed Lu Sheng. In the end, she couldn’t bear to see him die, so she kept her Firebird fighting the Rock Giant until the very last moment.

Just as Lu Sheng thought he could safely return, he stared in horror at the Rock Giant. The giant was charging through the stone forest straight at Lu Sheng, nothing like the sluggish pace it showed when fighting the Firebird.

Its speed—each stride covering dozens of meters—meant it could reach him in barely twenty seconds.

What to do?

Right! He could send the goblin who had handled the Bloodflame Grass out as a sacrifice; only that goblin had touched the grass.

In a panic, Lu Sheng wasn’t sure if this would work, but at this point, he had to try anything. He moved the goblin away and ran off in the opposite direction. Even if the Rock Giant killed the goblin and still wanted to hunt them, they could at least buy a little time.

He ran without hesitation!

Lu Sheng felt his heart racing faster than ever, the thrill of racing against death. If anyone liked it, they could trade places with him—he certainly didn’t enjoy it.