Chapter 161 - 160: Another Direction

Chapter 161: Chapter 160: Another Direction

"I did see some blurry images in my head, and I have a vague idea of how I’m supposed to improve, but..."

Feng Ling smiled gently at Li Qing. "But where’s the fun in just copying it exactly?"

Li Qing’s expression immediately turned serious. "Feng Ling, the images the Card is showing you represent the path that’s most compatible with you. It’s also the safest direction for your growth."

’This isn’t something to be reckless about!’

Feng Ling tilted her head and looked at him. "You sure about that?"

Li Qing was baffled. He didn’t understand what Feng Ling could possibly be worried about. The path forward was clear, and she had already resolved to obtain the Eye of Horus. ’What else is there to think about?’

Feng Ling looked around. The Hunters were all busy, and no one was paying attention to them.

She lowered her voice. "Animals stop reproducing in harsh environments. The pressures of human society affect birth rates... It’s the same principle. Our human environment isn’t actually suitable for the Nest. While the life I nurture can enhance my power, it also consumes me."

She picked up a branch, poked at the embers by the fire, and recited softly, "You are the Origin of Life, you are the Mother of the World. You possess a robust physique and an inexhaustible well of power. As long as a sliver of life remains, you are nearly impossible to kill. You can bring new life, and you can also bring destruction. Life is your domain. You are everywhere, you can do anything...

"I didn’t understand before, but I’m gradually getting it. The Card has been telling me all along that the ultimate form of the Nest is just that—a nest. Like a Maze, for instance. It constantly creates new species that reproduce, evolve, and expand through survival of the fittest, eventually becoming a habitat that can support countless life forms. That’s why ’I’ am everywhere, ’I’ can do anything. To be more dramatic, ’I’ could perhaps become an entire planet."

Li Qing was shaken to his core, staring at her in a daze.

Feng Ling’s eyes reflected the firelight, giving them a warmth they usually lacked. Though her words were filled with a mind-bending imagination, her expression was serene, and a faint smile played on her lips.

She said, "Birthing life is the Nest’s greatest asset, but it’s not mine. If I keep improving myself in the direction the Nest suggests, I feel like I’ll eventually head toward self-destruction."

She turned to look at Li Qing and continued, "My goal isn’t to become the Nest itself; it’s to use the Nest’s power to make myself stronger. Your game might have set me up as a Boss, but I can’t let myself actually become one."

"I see what you mean..." Li Qing mused. "The Nest’s evolutionary path, in all likelihood, prioritizes reproduction. You’ve birthed two Pollution Bodies so far. In the future, that number will only grow—two hundred, twenty thousand... two hundred million. Those Pollution Bodies will destroy your world."

"Yes, that’s more or less it." Feng Ling nodded.

A Hunter might have called the Cat Spider cute earlier, but that was only because their interests didn’t conflict. If the Nest were to truly grow in power and birth more Pollution Bodies, they would be competing with humanity for living space.

—Pollution Bodies are a form of life, after all. They need space and food. And while they protect the Nest, the Nest must, in turn, provide them with the resources to survive.

Feng Ling didn’t want to end up in that situation. She needed to make a slight modification to the Card’s intended growth path.

"You have to help me get stronger so I can help you, Daoist." Feng Ling gave Li Qing a profound look.

After a long moment of thought, Li Qing asked her seriously, "What’s the upper limit you’re willing to accept?"

"Maybe a dozen or so..." Feng Ling considered. "I rented an entire building from Su Yuqing. For that many, there should be enough room."

Li Qing thought a dozen or so was a rather small number. Based on the vision Feng Ling had described, the Nest’s ultimate form should be able to command an army of thousands.

But that was indeed unrealistic.

For one, providing food would be a massive problem. For another, it would be morally unacceptable to humanity.

"I believe there are two paths to getting stronger," Li Qing said thoughtfully. "The first is to amplify your strengths. The Nest’s strength is birthing life. You could create thousands upon thousands of life forms to expand your domain. Since that path is currently unworkable, let’s try the other one: shoring up your weaknesses."

Feng Ling asked curiously, "...And you have a way for me to shore up my weaknesses?"

Li Qing didn’t answer directly. "The genes inside your body make choices. The Jellyfish genes thought your body should become transparent. The Queen Mother of the West’s genes thought your body needed the protection of Scale Armor. Ultimately, the Nest chose the latter because one of its core traits is stability. It has no need to enter the water, no need to adapt to different environments, and no need to even move. That’s why you’re at a disadvantage in that regard."

Feng Ling listened, falling into a thoughtful silence.

She thought of the first Card she had ever absorbed: the Killing Bee.

The Killing Bee Card didn’t just have a marking ability; it also had a speed-boosting trait. When close enough to a tracked target, its speed could increase up to tenfold.

But after the Nest digested the Killing Bee, she received no boost to her speed whatsoever.

Even now that she had evolved into her mature form, and despite her quick reflexes and agile movements, her overall movement speed hadn’t changed noticeably.

Li Qing’s analysis was correct; movement speed was her weakness.

"What if..." Li Qing continued, "What if you could birth a Pollution Body that’s incredibly fast and use it as a mount? Wouldn’t that compensate for this shortcoming? By the same logic, you should consider what other weaknesses you have that the Nest can’t fix, and then take targeted measures to address them. I believe that’s another way to grow stronger."

Feng Ling felt as if her mind had been thrown wide open.

She smiled at Li Qing. "So our strategy is shifting from winning through quantity to winning through quality."

Li Qing said with a serious expression, "When the opportunity arises, I can search the card library and pull up every Card that could cover your weaknesses."

Feng Ling nodded.

’With a clear goal, collecting Cards would be much more efficient.’

She sat by the bonfire, mulling these things over. After a moment, she asked, "How’s the search for those coordinates I asked you about last time?"

"There’s still some to go. Right now, there are 41 Mazes that have lost their administrators. I’ve just finished sorting through half of them," Li Qing replied.

Feng Ling cupped her hands together, her breath turning into a puff of white mist in the cold air. "That’s enough for now. Just take your time with the rest."

The two of them had been chatting for quite a while, and the branches in the fire were almost burnt out.

Just as Feng Ling stood up to gather more branches, Huangfu Miaomiao came running back, ecstatic. Her smile was so wide it seemed ready to burst from behind her skeleton mask. It looked like she had earned a lot of points.

Feng Ling laughed. "You’ve worked up a sweat."

Huangfu Miaomiao laughed sheepishly, taking off her mask to wipe the sweat from her face. When she saw Li Qing, however, her smile faded noticeably.

"I’ve blown up all the Pollution Bodies nearby. I see there are still some in that patch of woods up ahead. Can I go blow up a few more?" she asked Feng Ling.

"Sure, go ahead," Feng Ling nodded.

Having gotten permission, Huangfu Miaomiao cheerfully ran off.

Feng Ling watched her go, then after a moment, glanced at Li Qing beside her. "Little Skeleton really hates you."