Chapter 1659: Soul Vine

After half an hour of investigation, Su Xiao roughly figured out the situation on the perimeter of Atoner Heights. The slum on the outermost perimeter was a free area. There were no guards here, and there were many thieves and robbers. Even the trafficking of intelligent races was common.

Not all residents living on Atoner Heights were strong. More than 80% of the residents here had no combat power, and there was serious interbreeding among various races. Clearly, these residents were born on Atoner Heights. In the dangerous Black Abyss, they had no choice. Atoner Heights was the only place they could survive.

The residents on the outermost perimeter were not only very poor, but they were also super cheap labor. Or rather, the area they lived in occupied nearly four-fifths of the entire Atoner Heights. Less than one-fifth remained, which was the perimeter, atrium, and central area of Atoner Heights.

Su Xiao not only figured out the general terrain of Atoner Heights, but he also had a certain understanding of the ruling forces here. There were three ruling forces here: Black Marsh, Asaka, and Ancestor.

These three were all the major forces of "Atoner Heights." As for other small and medium-sized forces, because there were too many and they were mixed, they were not in Su Xiao's consideration.

Black Marsh occupied the perimeter of Atoner Heights. The few people who blocked Su Xiao earlier were members of Black Marsh. All their members wore "tokens"—some were tattoos, some were rings, and some might even be a hat. According to Su Xiao's guess, this should be some kind of energy identification device.

Black Marsh was the force with the largest number of people on Atoner Heights. More than 80% of the residents in the outermost slum were registered in Black Marsh.

To put it nicely, Black Marsh was a large armed organization. To put it ugly, Black Marsh was an upgraded version of scavengers. Their weapons were more advanced, their numbers were larger, they were more cunning, and they even had their own territory.

Scavengers were famous for being beasts, not recognizing their own kin. But when they encountered Black Marsh troops, they would choose to kneel and submit. This was killed out of shadow.

Dirty, sinister, like a group of hyenas—this was the feeling Black Marsh gave outsiders.

As for the other two forces, Asaka and Ancestor. Asaka was a killer group, occupying the atrium of Atoner Heights. Ancestor was the most mysterious and had the fewest people, occupying the central area.

Su Xiao walked on the street of the slum, throwing an iron-black coin in his hand. This was a coin issued by the Black Marsh force. These hyenas controlled the water source of Atoner Heights. The currency they issued could be exchanged for fresh water at a high ratio, so it flowed in the surrounding area of Atoner Heights and even became one of the most commonly used currencies.

Compared to Black Marsh and Ancestor, Su Xiao was actually more interested in the killer group Asaka. Because the Black Marsh force was too chaotic and mixed, and Ancestor was a force that was almost impossible to join, Asaka became the best choice.

Asaka was located in the atrium. It seemed to have a decent territory, but Black Marsh people closed the surrounding residents' entry and exit, which to a certain extent increased the difficulty for Asaka to supplement new people.

However, the Asaka force didn't seem to care about this. They looked for new people, not like Black Marsh, fooling them for a few months and brainwashing them. They needed to cultivate killers who could complete tasks independently.

Black Marsh (hostile) → Asaka/Ancestor.

Asaka (ignore) → Black Marsh/Ancestor.

Ancestor (absolute contempt) → Black Marsh.

This was roughly the relationship map of the three major forces. And if Su Xiao wanted to join Asaka, he first needed to pass through Black Marsh's territory. For these hyenas, everyone who didn't join them was an enemy.

"It seems that there is indeed no way to deal with these hyenas."

Just as Su Xiao was thinking about whether to sneak into the perimeter of Atoner Heights and enter the atrium area, a whistle came from the horizon.

A flaming meteorite with a diameter of about 100 meters fell from the sky. This meteorite was dragging a wisp of magma behind it, seemingly not summoned from high altitude but from underground.

The whistling sound became increasingly harsh. A moment later, a slight vibration came from under Su Xiao's feet. The landing point of the meteorite in the distance was like a flower scattering in the sky, and the scorching red magma splashed at least tens of meters high.

This scene, like a movie special effect, appeared more than ten kilometers away, roughly in the position where the atrium approached the central area.

Just as that meteorite dragging magma fell, an extremely ominous breath began to spread on Atoner Heights. This breath was dead and silent, but what was surprising was that this breath was extremely aggressive.

"Roar!!"

More than a dozen gray vines, pitch-black and at least several meters thick, shot into the sky. After these vines twisted together, they merged rapidly, and large cracks began to appear on the surface.

With a crisp sound, the surface of the twisted vines shattered, revealing the crystal-clear body. After a few vines tightly entangled, they looked like a giant python—dangerous, mysterious, and devouring people.

Following the roar of the vine python, a visible shock wave spread. This shock wave came at an extremely fast speed, almost instantly affecting Su Xiao.

With a hum, Su Xiao took a few steps back.

【The Hunter has received a soul shock effect and will be dizzy for 18 seconds (originally 60 seconds; because the Hunter's soul strength is excellent, 70% of the dizziness effect has been exempted).】

【The Hunter has received an attack from the Soul Vine (Growth Stage 89%). Attempt to obtain the data of the Soul Vine?】

……

As the buzzing in his brain receded, Su Xiao's vision returned to normal. Being forcibly stunned for 18 seconds was certainly not pleasant; this was the longest duration of hard crowd control he had ever endured in his history. It wasn't psychological, spiritual, or physical, but a raw, direct oscillation of the soul.

The control effect of this ability was extremely formidable, but it actually possessed no lethality. It was an oscillation, not an impact. Aside from feeling a bit dizzy just now, Su Xiao had no other abnormalities at the moment.

Only then did Su Xiao notice the second notification from Reincarnation Paradise.

"Attempt to acquire."

【You are attempting to acquire data on the Soul Vine (Growth Stage 89%). This action may cause you to become hostile with the indigenous faction 'Progenitor'. Continue? Yes/No.】

After pondering for a few seconds, Su Xiao chose to continue. The central area was already in a state of total chaos, so the Progenitor faction was likely not as dangerous as imagined right now.

【Attempting to acquire data. Apostle's Eye has been activated. Judging……】

【You have acquired 13% of the Soul Vine's data.】

Name: Soul Vine (Overlord-level plant)

Category: Ancient plant (Growth Stage 89%).

Health: 72.88%

Skill 1, Soul Root System (Passive, Lv. 70): The Soul Vine can absorb, refine, and purify 'Soul Power' through its root system. During the period when the Soul Vine absorbs 'Soul Power', there is a high probability of generating Soul Crystals.

Skill 2:???

Skill 3:??????

Skill 12: Soul Fruit (Passive, Lv. 85): After the Soul Vine enters the mature stage, it will bloom on its own and bear Soul Fruits.

Hint: Soul Fruit, an extremely rare resource. Consuming it can significantly increase soul strength and provides a chance to awaken a new talent ability. The minimum grade for this talent ability is S-grade, and the maximum is SSS-grade (the current talent ability, Soul Eater, is an S-grade talent; SSS-grade is a top-tier talent ability).