Chapter 3430: Cold

The Luck Monkey leaped among the ancient buildings, leaving a trail along the way that only Su Xiao, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, and Baja could see.

Although the Luck Monkey was a bit mischievous, as a noble among monkeys, it was essentially different from the naughty monkeys like macaques. After eating the Prison Rice, it began to lead the way dutifully.

However, because this little guy was a bit mischievous, the path to find the Soul-Severing Shadow Stone · Fragment was likely not a straight line, but it would at most walk in an S-shape and would not appear in a Z-shaped route to trick people.

In the ancient capital, Su Xiao moved forward following the golden footprints left by the Luck Monkey. On the spaceship, he had seen a simple map of this continent. Going north, after leaving the "Yada Ancient Capital," he arrived at the adjacent "Cold Graveyard."

If the "Yada Ancient Capital" was the habitat of the Vine Tribe, then the "Cold Graveyard" was the territory of the Ghost Tribe.

Information was too limited. Su Xiao's understanding of the Ghost Tribe could only rely on partial information given by the world introduction, for example, the Ghost Tribe inherited the darkness of the Yada people.

In this world, as a neutral force, the Vine Tribe's combat power should not be very prominent. Although the ancient capital was located in the center, there were no resources here. This was the notarization area after each opening of the Tree-Born World.

Participants who entered the Tree-Born World in the past had almost turned the "Yada Ancient Capital" upside down. The "Cold Graveyard" was different. It was outside the notarization area of previous times. It might have been thousands of years, or even longer, that no outsiders had set foot there. While more dangerous, it also represented more opportunities.

Just as Su Xiao was thinking this, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's barking came. Looking at the sound, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's expression was slightly frustrated.

After the supply competition started before, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang didn't participate but went to chase the plane. Judging from its expression, things didn't go smoothly.

"They didn't agree over there?"

"Wang."

Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang tilted its head.

"How did they refuse? Tell me the original words."

"Wang wang wang wang..."

"?"

Ona, who was on the side, looked at Su Xiao and Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang communicating, feeling very suspicious in her heart. She didn't understand a single bark of Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang. She didn't know how Su Xiao understood it.

"Is that so."

"Wang wang wang!"

"Hmm, I'll be there later."

As Su Xiao spoke, he nodded.

"Wang."

"Ah this~"

Ona, who had been listening attentively, felt like she had listened to nothing. This "face-to-face conspiracy" left her and Wood with no temper at all.

"Two, let's track the Luck Monkey's footprints first, my boss will be there later."

Baja spoke, and Su Xiao disappeared from Ona and Wood's sight in a few flashes.

Two hours later, above a valley on the south side of the ancient capital, an old-fashioned plane stopped on the rock runway above.

In the valley, the waterfall fell, and the pool below was steaming with white gas. The whole valley was a scene of green mountains and clear waters, birds singing and flowers fragrant.

Su Xiao stopped on the rock platform above the valley. As if sensing his arrival, a humanoid existence in the valley that looked like an alien cast its gaze. Its oval head was disproportionate to its body, its eyes were unexpectedly large, and it had thin arms and thin legs.

"Here again. How many times do I have to repeat it to you? I am a neutral person notarized by the Void Tree and will not favor either side."

The big-headed person spoke. If it were before meeting Caesar, Su Xiao might have barely believed this. Caesar was often a military supply officer notarized by both the Void Tree + Samsara Paradise, but that guy's unique skill of "plucking feathers from a wild goose" was unforgettable.

"There is something I want to talk to you about."

As soon as Su Xiao's voice fell, a warning notification appeared.

【Warning (Void Tree): Immediately stop negotiating with the special neutral unit of this world. If you ignore this warning, it will lead to a significant decrease in your reputation...】

After checking the warning content, Su Xiao felt much more at ease. If it were a direct penalty mechanism, he would turn and leave. The majesty of the Void Tree could not be touched. As for the warning, ignore it.

"Received the warning, right? So..."

The big-headed person stopped halfway through his words. He checked Su Xiao's reputation with his own authority. That reputation, which had already dropped to red, represented many things.

"This friend, no need, really no need. This is a killing competition. I am a neutral unit running errands and cannot help you do anything."

The big-headed person's attitude changed a lot. With Su Xiao's low reputation, if he said he would draw his sword and hack him, the big-headed person estimated that the other party could do this. He was a neutral unit located inside the notarization area. In a sense, he was an alternative participant, but many people couldn't figure out this problem.

Su Xiao hadn't figured this out initially either, until that time participating in the Strongest Competition, he reached a transaction with Violent Rat in an obscure way, and he understood this concept.

If the big-headed person was a neutral unit that left after dropping the supply boxes, it was best not to have contact with the other party. But if the other party stayed in a secret place in the notarization area after dropping the supply boxes, waiting for subsequent supply box drops, then one could operate from it.

The big-headed person, no, the neutral person who called himself Paul, had a helpless look. Clearly, he had watched a certain movie and felt that his appearance was similar to the protagonist in the movie.

Su Xiao took out a price tag and took out a small bottle, rolled the small bottle in the price tag, and threw it to Paul.

"I am a neutral unit, it is impossible to receive..."

Paul stopped halfway through his words, raised his hand to catch the price tag rolled into a paper tube. His expression was slightly strange.

"Bring him here, or throw away the price tag in your hand."

Leaving this sentence, Su Xiao turned and left. His reputation was dropping wildly. He estimated that continuing to negotiate would likely trigger the penalty mechanism directly.

Su Xiao could be certain that Paul had a probability of over 70% of being a neutral unit that could be negotiated and cooperated with, and it was the kind certified by the Void Tree. Right now, he hadn't found the correct way to open it, so of course, the warning notification was skyrocketing.

Using a game as a metaphor, it was equivalent to a player who had just entered a new scene using the advantage of a fully open map to find an NPC that could only be negotiated in the late stage. This violated the "scene rules" but did not violate the "game rules."

Watching Su Xiao's retreating back, Paul poured a very thin small bottle out of the price tag rolled into a paper tube. He estimated that the space-time energy in this bottle was at least 10 ounces.

"Quite savvy. It's no wonder, after all, he is a Hunter from the Mad Paradise."

Paul kicked a stone into the pool. A few seconds later, a hippo-headed silly pilot floated to the water surface.

"Let's go, get to work."

"Still... haven't... reached the second stage."

The hippo-headed pilot's head sank, only revealing its eyes. The water surface bubbled. It preferred to soak in the water.

"This is a private job, let's go."

Paul took out his watch to check the time. If he went fast and came back fast, there would be no mistakes.

North side of Yada Ancient Capital, at the very edge.

According to the Luck Monkey's footprints, Su Xiao didn't take long to catch up with Wood and others, or rather, it was Wood who suggested waiting here.

In Wood's view, Su Xiao was a very important "teammate." After entering the "Cold Graveyard," if they encountered danger and couldn't fight, it would be better to have more people to share the firepower. In other words, three people being chased by a dog had a lower risk than two people being chased by a dog.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Su Xiao exhaled white gas from his mouth. The further north he walked, the lower the temperature. The originally lush land was now barren, and a rotten smell faintly permeated the black mud. The cold fog made the front look misty, and the visible distance was no more than 50 meters.

"We are all friends, don't be so polite. If you don't come, how can we enter the Cold Graveyard first?"

Wood opened with a smile.

"..."

Su Xiao didn't answer but continued to move forward.

Toot toot toot~

"Hmm? What sound?"

Ona's delicate brows furrowed, her gaze looking left and right.

Toot toot toot~

"Xiang Bubu, what's wrong with you?"

Ona found the source of the sound. It was the sound of Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's hind legs trembling. Because it was trembling too fast, it made this sound like a small electric motor.

"It's nothing, it's just a bit cold."

Baja laughed wickedly. Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, hiding behind Su Xiao's legs, wanted to bite Baja, but it couldn't. Now, if it was more than 3 meters away from Su Xiao, it would lose its sense of security. In this scene, if a ghost didn't float out, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang would stand on its head and pee and drink it itself!

After a simple discussion, the team formed a formation. Su Xiao, as a close-combat type, was at the front, followed by Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang and Baja. Ona paid attention to the left and rear, and Wood paid attention to the right and rear.

The cold fog drifted. Except for the abnormally black ground, there were no trees, not even a root of grass, and it was getting colder.

This cold was not just a low temperature; it was a cold that penetrated the bone marrow and soul.

Su Xiao had experienced a similar feeling once. That was in the ancient castle of the Painting World. He had a room on the second floor at that time, so he was naturally not affected by that kind of cold. It was said that the Moon Apostle was frozen until she was a bit mentally retarded.

This thin fog was a soul fog aimed at the soul, which could make the soul feel cold.

"Achoo~"

Ona sneezed, exhaling cold air from her mouth, her face turning slightly pale. Wood nearby was no better, the green pupil flames in his eye sockets frozen until they were dim.

This cold was aimed at the soul. Su Xiao also began to feel cold. One could imagine the situation of the others. However, Su Xiao could still persist. Enduring for a few more hours was not a problem for him.

【Warning: You are currently suffering from the "Soul Freezing" effect.】

【During the "Soul Freezing" period, your own vitality recovery will be significantly suppressed, but aura abilities, potions, etc., will not be affected by this freezing.】

【During the "Soul Freezing" period, you will suffer 2 points of soul damage per second (Soul Strength has exempted 86.6%).】

【During the "Soul Freezing" period, your Basic · Nerve Reflex Speed will decrease by 1 point every minute (after the Soul Freezing effect is removed, this debuff will recover. If you suffer from the Soul Freezing effect for too long, it will lead to a permanent decrease in Basic · Nerve Reflex Speed. The higher the Soul Strength, the higher this resistance).】

【During the "Soul Freezing" period, your Intelligence attribute will gradually decrease. If the reduction is too large, it will lead to a permanent decline in your maximum mana and permanent damage to your perception.】

【Current Freezing Value: 0.12% (slowly increasing).】

【If the Freezing Value exceeds 50%, the debuff effect of "Soul Freezing" on you will increase significantly.】

【If the Freezing Value exceeds 85%, your mobility will be severely lost, and the debuff effect of "Soul Freezing" on you will increase again.】

【If the Freezing Value reaches 100%, your soul will be frozen and shattered. This is a soul execution, and you will die.】

Su Xiao had guessed before that the abnormal states in this world would be very troublesome, but he didn't expect them to be so brutal.

His current Soul Strength was 590 points, and he was still like this. One could imagine the situation of Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, Baja, Wood, and Ona.

"Soul Freezing" suppressed his own vitality recovery, that is, self-healing, health self-recovery, etc., derived from the Physique attribute, passive abilities, equipment, etc., were all suppressed. The good news was that aura abilities and recovery potion effects were not affected.

After Su Xiao exempted 86% with his Soul Strength, he still had to suffer 2 points of soul damage per second. In other words, the initial damage of Soul Freezing was about 15 points per second. One minute was 900 points of soul damage, and one hour was 54,000 points of soul damage. Who could stand this?

Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang and Baja grew to the eighth tier and underwent dozens of potential awakenings in the attribute enhancement warehouse. Their Soul Strength was also over 120 points, which could exempt 16%–17% of the soul damage caused by "Soul Freezing," suffering 12–13 points of soul damage per second.

The good news was that Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's "Ice Goddess Aura" was taking effect, which was simply life-saving.

Even so, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang and Baja couldn't hold on for too long, not to mention that soul damage was just an appetizer for the "Soul Freezing" effect. The temporary reduction in reaction speed was very dangerous, especially when facing sudden situations, and the temporary reduction in Intelligence attribute would lead to sluggish perception.

Slow reaction + sluggish perception + sudden situation, the evil consequence would be paying with one's life.

What was even more powerful was that this abnormal state would continuously increase its effect as the sufferer's freezing value increased. When the freezing value exceeded 50%, the soul damage suffered would increase by several times, reaching several thousand points of soul damage per minute. By then, the soul damage in one hour would be at least over 200,000.

"This broken monkey, what kind of path did it lead?"

Baja, trembling like a sieve, spoke. It felt like its brain was about to freeze.

"Wang."

Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang barked, its expression gradually becoming joyful. In the past, whenever the weather was cold, its smart IQ would occupy the high ground. This time, its thinking was almost frozen, and its smart IQ was not working.

Right now, they had already penetrated a distance into the "Cold Graveyard." It was still in time to turn back now. If they continued to march for 1–2 hours, causing the freezing value to approach 50%, it would be too late to turn back.

Su Xiao looked at Wood and Ona. Wood didn't express his position, and Ona nodded, meaning to continue moving forward. She had explored many dangerous places in the Meteorite Star and was not afraid of the current situation.

Except for the cold fog and the black earth, there was nothing around, not even a withered grass. After marching like this for more than half an hour, Su Xiao stopped.

Marching in the "Cold Graveyard," so far, everything else was fine, but it was too expensive in terms of recovery potions. The 50 bottles of 【Vitality Essence】 he brought had already consumed 5 bottles, and this world progress had just begun.

The cost of being injured in the "Cold Graveyard" was very high. Injuries could only rely on Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's aura and recovery potions. Other aspects were significantly suppressed by the freezing effect.

Su Xiao could fully imagine how troublesome the real toxins, dark curses, and other abnormal states hinted by the Void Tree would be.

It wasn't that Su Xiao was insane to choose to bring 50 bottles of 【Vitality Essence】 into the world. Originally, he planned to bring 100 bottles, but due to the material exchange quota limit, otherwise, he could have made 200 bottles.

From the degree of this Tree-Born World, one could hear that the environment of this world must be very complicated. Bringing more recovery potions was definitely correct.

Vitality Essence was a potion Su Xiao formulated himself. Excluding the Black Maple Tree aspect, the material cost was only 5 Soul Coins per bottle.

【Vitality Essence: Each manufacture requires 1500 mana points. Requires materials: Vitality Extraction Essence, Life Spring Water, Crystal Bottle, Black Maple Tree leaf juice (5.2479 grams, requires 6 extremely precise processing procedures: activation, active extraction, mental power catalysis/filtration, etc.).】

If it weren't for the material quota limit and mana recovery, Su Xiao would have really brought 200 bottles of 【Vitality Essence】 into the Tree-Born World this time.

At this moment, Wood and Ona could occasionally see Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang and Baja drinking 【Vitality Essence】 like fruit juice. The two naturally sensed the rich vitality drifting out after the 【Vitality Essence】 was opened. This must be a recovery potion, and a very precious one at that.

In Ona's cognition, even if there were mines at home, one couldn't drink like this. She sighed low, took out a bottle of potion, drank a small sip, and then tucked the remaining half bottle back into her bosom.

The group was walking when Su Xiao suddenly stopped and asked: "Two, is your freezing state serious?"

Hearing Su Xiao ask this, Wood secretly became vigilant, and Ona was already prepared for battle.

The cooperation of the three was equivalent to a blood beast, a skeleton, and a tentacle girl cooperating. If all three were strong and had utilization value for each other, it was peace. But once one side was weak, it was highly likely to be torn apart and swallowed alive by the other two evil ghosts.

Of course, when facing an external strong enemy, this situation would not occur. When facing an external strong enemy, the three would even rescue each other. Before defeating the strong enemy, everyone was a good teammate.

"My state is not bad."

Wood spoke.

"The cold hurts the skin."

Ona's fingertips touched her cheek, showing composure.

"Is that so? Understood."

As Su Xiao spoke, he took out two injection guns from the storage space. Inside were the diluted 【Soul Freezing Antidote】, which he obtained in the purple supply box.

Originally, there was only one 【Soul Freezing Antidote】, but it was diluted into 8 doses by Su Xiao using "Bai-style Solution." Although the effect of a single dose was not as strong as the original, the number of times it could be injected was high.

Borrowing a sentence from Alchemy Mentor · Coin, "'Bai-style Solution' is one of the greatest inventions in pharmacy." Its strong compatibility and reproducibility made it a perfect diluent.

Su Xiao used "Bai-style Solution" to dilute potions, not to add water to the potions. The original potion with an overall effect of 10, after being diluted into several parts by "Bai-style Solution," had an overall effect of at least 15–17. This was the reproduction characteristic of "Bai-style Solution." This was a solution formulated with soul energy + trace space-time energy.

Su Xiao injected Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang and Baja with one dose of 【Soul Freezing Antidote】 each. Their freezing values dropped rapidly, and before long, they dropped below 5%. The effect was outstanding.

Wood and Ona both sensed the change in Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang and Baja's aura. Wood coughed lightly and said: "There is such a good thing? Give me one too."

"The quantity of this potion is limited. Just now I asked if your freezing state was serious, and you both said it wasn't serious, so you don't need it for the time being."

Hearing this, Wood and Ona had nothing to say. Just now, Su Xiao took the initiative to ask if their freezing state was serious. One said the state was not bad, and the other showed composure.

If Zuiyas were here, it would definitely be: "I was farting just now, it's not working, hurry up and give me a shot, my second brother is about to freeze off."

Unfortunately, Wood and Ona didn't have the thick face of Zuiyas. Wood belonged to the kind who didn't want face at critical moments, while Ona always maintained restraint.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed. More than a dozen fluorescent white tentacles as thick as fingers protruded from Ona's sleeve, blocking a sharp claw. This sharp claw half-cut the tentacles, and rosy blood flowed out.

"Roar!!"

The roar spread like a sound wave, and the mixed soul impact made Ona see double. If it were in the past, she wouldn't be like this, but she was suffering from the "Soul Freezing" effect, and her reaction and perception were significantly temporarily reduced.

Attacking Ona was a monster with tattered clothes and frost-white skin. Its eyes were radial blue, and this blue occupied the entire eye. The frost-white skin on its face was full of fine frost patterns. Its hair was sparse but exceptionally elegant, as if it had used Head & Shoulders.

Seeing this monster for the first time, Su Xiao felt that the strength of this thing was a bit wrong, reminding him of the "Dungeon Killing God" in the Holy Land · Kiria.

At that time, the "Dungeon Troupe" composed of six Dungeon Killing Gods almost killed the Priest in seconds.

At this moment, this frost-white monster gave Su Xiao a feeling similar to the Dungeon Killing God.

The fluorescent white tentacles were slashed and flew everywhere. The frost-white monster's attack was chaotic, like a mad dog.

Ona was not to be trifled with. A large number of fluorescent white tentacles surged from her two sleeves, entangling the frost-white monster.

After these fluorescent white tentacles climbed onto the enemy, they split like tree roots, drilling into the enemy's flesh and mouth and nose in a finer state, bringing the enemy unimaginable pain, and finally sucking up the enemy's original vitality, soul energy, etc., leaving only residue.

With a slap, Ona's fluorescent white tentacles tore a humanoid shell to pieces.

"This thing... is a bit difficult to deal with."

Ona spoke. Compared to her, Su Xiao had already detected the enemy's data through detection equipment.

The frost-white monster was called "Eroded One," which could also be called "Ice Slave." By querying the data of "Ice Slave," Su Xiao learned a lot of information about this world.

Why was the Tree-Born World once full of darkness? Because it was once directly connected to the Abyss and was a world heavily eroded by Abyss power, so there were only trees and darkness.

The Yada people did not come from darkness. They were the ancestors before the Dark Age. After being heavily eroded by Abyss power, they appeared to be assimilated with darkness and appeared to have a gap in inheritance, so they craved light afterward. If the Yada people had always lived in darkness, there would be no such thing as pursuing light.

Dispelling darkness with light secret arts was actually bombarding the channel between this world and the Abyss with light secret arts. After this channel was closed, Abyss power naturally would not pour in anymore.

Abyss power had a characteristic: after completely cutting off contact with the Abyss, it would undergo adaptive erosion and gain. For example, it eroded fire. The fire in this area would become stronger. As a price, this fire would have terrifying characteristics, such as gradually burning the world, etc.

The "Cold Graveyard" right now was where the cold here was amplified and eroded by Abyss power, thus forming the "Soul Freezing" effect.

This Ice Slave was originally a Ghost Tribe member, but because it was completely eroded by "Soul Freezing," plus the Ghost Tribe's soul would mutate before freezing and shattering, it became this appearance.

The Ice Slave was not strong in terms of survival, but the Abyss power remaining in the cold gave it strong attack ability and speed.

How about the Silver Moon Wolf? At that time, it was still eroded by Abyss power. From this, it could be seen how difficult this power was to control, or rather, this power could not be controlled.

Places eroded by Abyss power had two major characteristics: 1. Especially dangerous, equivalent to a dangerous area; 2. Rich in resources that made people unbelievable.

"This energy remains..."

Wood's expression was solemn. He took out the Abyss Jar and sucked part of the energy remaining in the Ice Slave into the Abyss Jar. Immediately, his heart trembled. Insidious as he was, he couldn't hide his joy. This world had once had a great connection with the Abyss, and the Abyss Jar came from the Abyss. Wood felt that this might be the time he was most likely to send away the "Wild Father."

A glimmer of light flashed on the golden button on Wood's suit sleeve. Except for himself, no one else could see this.

"Everyone, continue to explore."

Wood's expression was as usual, and he stepped toward the back of the team to return to his original position.

"Wait."

Just as Su Xiao spoke, a giant mouth appeared behind Wood and swallowed Wood in one gulp. This was not an attack, but running away!

"Baja."

"Understood!"

Baja's wings spread, and Su Xiao approached Baja with the Dragon Shadow Flash ability, being dragged into the different space by Baja, while Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang integrated into the environment and disappeared.

Crack, crack, crack~

At the different space channel that Baja had just closed, ice spread in mid-air, almost preventing Su Xiao and Baja from entering the different space. One could see how dangerous the situation was.

The team that was full just now was left with only Ona. She held the pendant on her neck with one hand and quickly asked about the situation with spiritual power.

"Bai Ye and Wood ran away? Wife, run! Run in the direction Wood disappeared!"

Hearing the shout from the twisted cross, Ona turned and fled. She had only rushed a few steps when she felt the ground trembling slightly. She looked back.

"Roar!!"

In the cold fog, dense Ice Slaves rushed toward Ona. Behind these Ice Slaves, there were several terrifying behemoths. Seeing this scene, Ona's blood almost turned cold. If she were caught up by these monsters, she would definitely die.

Before joining the team, Ona thought that "good teammates" were about who ran faster, but now it seemed that wasn't the case at all. ===== CHAPTER 3431 =====

Before joining the squad, Ona thought that "good teammates" competed to see who could run faster, but looking at it now, that didn't seem to be the case.