Chapter 1011: The Cream of the Crop Among Evolution Wolves of the Same Age Group

"Wooo—"

On the way back to her territory after picking Chinese torreya nuts, the old wolf following behind Xia Qing suddenly turned around, claws digging into the ground as it let out a low growl to intimidate the approaching enemies.

Xia Qing immediately set the bag in her hand on the ground, drew her black long blade and held it at the ready, standing shoulder to-shoulder with the old wolf. Does Daigua, who had been climbing along in the trees, immediately hid among the dense branches and leaves; the startled little Feimao's first reaction was to burrow into Xia Qing's coat pocket.

Clawing and scratching at the snake-skin of Xia Qing's protective suit where the pocket was with its claws but failing to find the pocket, the little fellow's fur stood on end all over its body.

Xia Qing reached out, scooped up her smallest companion, and placed it on her shoulder, just as she heard the sound of human footsteps coming from the Evolution Forest ahead.

Once she saw the figure, Xia Qing sheathed her blade and stood up straight. "Fourth, it's fine, it's not an enemy."

Wearing a full set of special protective gear, with weapons and a protective mask hanging at his waist, Yang Jin walked out of the Evolution Forest. Seeing Xia Qing dressed in a sleek, pitch-black leather protective suit that fit her perfectly, accompanied by a soft, adorable little squirrel and a fierce-looking old wolf, with her white-faced monkey hiding in the big tree nearby, he immediately asked, "Sister Qing, did you run into an attack?"

Unless she had encountered an attack by a creature that could release toxic gas or venom, she would not have sealed her backpack in packaging bags.

Xia Qing nodded. "I went to pick chestnuts just now and got the venom and pheromones of Evolution Hornets on me."

Going to pick chestnuts with a wolf, a monkey, and a squirrel?

Yang Jin smiled. "I remember last year the chestnuts were harvested in early September, right? After the Calamity Rain, I'll team up with you to harvest them. Sister Qing handles defense, I pick the chestnuts, and Sister Qing just needs to share a few jin of green-light chestnuts with me."

Green-light chestnuts, and a few jin at that? Even if you are a top-tier speed Evolver with insanely fast fruit-picking hands, I can't afford to hire you.

Xia Qing answered expressionlessly, "Such a small matter wouldn't dare trouble Captain Yang. I have a fixed harvesting team."

That business deal fell through, but there was always the next one. Yang Jin beamed. "Sister Qing, that protective suit of yours—is it made from the hide of that high-hardness Evolution Python from last year? Is there any python hide left? I'd like to make a set too."

A set? What are you thinking? Xia Qing shook her head expressionlessly. "It's all used up. Where are you headed?"

I wanted to come check on you, then go to Territory Seven to pick up Calamity-Rain Suppressant, then return to the Safe Zone to prepare for the third Calamity Rain. The next time we meet will be after the rain.

Having run into her here by chance, Yang Jin now had only one thing left to do. "I'm going to Territory Seven to get Calamity-Rain Suppressant. Shall we walk together?"

Xia Qing shook her head. "You go first. Fourth and the others aren't familiar with you—they'll start a conflict."

See each other more often, and they'll get familiar. Yang Jin looked at the fierce-faced old wolf. "Another Brain-Domain Evolver? Its aura is very strong—its combat power at peak condition must be extremely high. Right now it should be among the best of Evolution Wolves in its same age group. Congratulations on gaining another powerful companion. I'm heading off first—call me anytime if anything comes up?"

No wonder his business does so well—just look at how well he speaks! Xia Qing nodded with a mild expression. "Stay safe during the Calamity Rain period."

"Will do, you too." Yang Jin beamed and hurried on his way.

Xia Qing led her companions and stopped at the edge of the dense forest in Zone Three of Mountain Forty-Nine. After dodging the sneaky patrol team member Peng Lin, she quickly crossed the isolation belt and the north gate, returning to Territory Three.

Xiao Jiang, who was digging a pit inside Territory Three, saw that Xia Qing had changed into a different protective suit and called out from a distance, "Sister Qing fought a battle with a swarm of Evolution Hornets?"

Why not come closer? Afraid of being roared at by the wolf, and beaten up by the sheep.

Xia Qing nodded. "Wrecked a set of protective gear."

Er Yong said cheerfully, "Sister Qing's protective suit only just getting wrecked now—it must have paid for itself many times over."

The wrecked Field Grade-One protective suit was one Xia Qing had bought for 1200 points in the seventh year of the Catastrophe. For Xia Qing at that time, it had been a huge sum—she had saved up for a long time before she could afford it.

Because she had lived through several years of poverty and hunger, and now she was no longer short on points, Xia Qing still cherished supplies and food dearly. A protective suit she had worn for over three years had been wrecked, and she still felt a pang of heartache.

After going home, showering, and changing into a clean, refreshing summer-style protective suit, Xia Qing figured Yang Jin had already left Territory Seven, then contacted her idol on the Lord channel. "Third Brother, are you busy right now? I have some work I need to report to you."

Zhang San responded amiably and promptly. "Not busy, come on over."

The reason her idol was in such a good mood was that he thought Xia Qing had come to deliver green-light chestnuts and Chinese torreya nuts to him.

Although she hadn't picked any chestnuts, Xia Qing had still caught a plump old hen.

According to the exchange agreement made last winter when trading for Calamity-Rain Suppressant, Xia Qing was to raise fifty chickens for Zhang San this year to meet his consumption needs. Counting the one she had just caught, Zhang San had only taken twenty-four chickens from her territory this year.

In other words, of the sixty-four chickens remaining in her territory, twenty-six still belonged to Zhang San.

Apart from the high-Evolution Bai Yu hens and the mid-Evolution black-feather roosters, if Zhang San wanted to eat roosters, Xia Qing would catch roosters for him; if he wanted hens, she'd catch hens.

Xia Qing drove to Territory Seven and found that the team members responsible for inspection at the security gate on the south side of Territory Seven were split evenly between Red Eleven and Hui Three's people.

It seemed the guards of Territory Seven had been reassigned according to the new arrangement.

After inspecting the documents, chicken, and Chinese torreya nuts Xia Qing had brought over as required, Zheng Chen led her toward the laboratory and asked, "How's your wrist? Does it still hurt?"

The day before yesterday, Zheng Chen had been escorting Zhang San to the south gate of the territory and saw Ji Li gripping Xia Qing's wrist tightly.

Xia Qing answered calmly, "It's alright."

After handing the chicken and Chinese torreya nuts to the cheerful Da Ya, Xia Qing took the documents and entered her idol's laboratory.

Seeing that Xia Qing had come empty-handed, the languid Zhang San was somewhat surprised. "What happened?"

Xia Qing casually tossed the documents aside and lowered her voice. "The swarm of hornets in the chestnut grove in Zone Three of Mountain Forty-Nine has evolved a giant hornet capable of releasing a Yi-element magnetic field, with a body length of about 18 centimeters!"

This was the first Yi-Evolution animal Xia Qing had discovered since her own magnetic sense had evolved!

Zhang San grew excited too. "Do you have photos and video?"

"I have video." Xia Qing now carried micro-recording equipment on every mission.

Zhang San plugged the USB drive Xia Qing had brought into the computer, fast-forwarded the video, and quickly spotted the giant hornet—twice the size of an ordinary Evolution Hu Feng.

He extended his pale, slender fingers and flew them across the keyboard for a while, pulling up the data on this type of Evolution animal.

"Based on the external characteristics of the swarm, this is an Evolution variant of the Asian giant hornet. It is an omnivorous animal whose diet includes fruits, tree sap, and any animal that intrudes on its territory; it favors live meat and fresh meat. Specimens exceeding 15 centimeters in body length are classified as Giant Asian Hornets. To date, thirteen bases have discovered this giant hornet, with three locations in the Evolution Forests under Hui Three Base's jurisdiction."

After speaking, Zhang San turned the screen toward Xia Qing.

The locations marked on the map where Giant Asian Hornets had been discovered were all mountain areas Xia Qing had never visited. Her eyes shining, she asked, "Third Brother, can I use this database?"

Zhang San shot Xia Qing a look and continued, "The currently discovered Giant Asian Hornets show significantly enhanced visual sensitivity, can release more pheromones, and can mobilize the swarm to swarm-attack intruders. Its stinger venom has increased in volume, but the toxin is the same as that of ordinary Evolution Hornets, and the Yi-element content in its bodily fluids has not increased significantly. What kind of magnetic field does the giant hornet you discovered have?"