Chapter 33: Two-Winged Thousand Steel Python, Hematite

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Two-Winged Thousand Steel Python, Hematite

In the Otherworldly Secret Realm, Gu Zheng and his group of four were vigilantly observing their surroundings.

They were situated in a clearing by a lake. Behind them lay a vast lake with emerald green, placid water. In front of them was a valley with steep, towering sides and a wide entrance.

"It’s too dangerous here," Gu Zheng said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping across the area. "We have to find a Spatial Passage and leave as soon as possible."

They had entered this place by accident. When the Spatial Passages suddenly appeared on Lake Heart Island, the group couldn’t dodge in time and were directly swept inside. By the time they regained their senses, they were already in this unfamiliar secret realm.

"What’s that?" One of the four, a small and thin boy, suddenly twitched his ears and abruptly turned to look at the distant valley. His name was Liu Qing. Having fused with the genes of a Tier Three Six-Eared Wind Dog, his ears were countless times more sensitive than an ordinary person’s, capable of capturing sounds from extremely far away.

"There’s something in the valley," Liu Qing lowered his voice, his expression solemn.

The four of them immediately looked toward the valley. Deep within, they could faintly see a massive, coiled silhouette. It was a snake—one so enormous it was suffocating. Its body was over ten meters long, completely pitch-black, and gleamed with a metallic luster as if it were cast from steel. The most terrifying part was that it actually had a pair of wings on its back. They were folded at its sides, with the wingtips trailing on the ground. The giant python was coiled up, seemingly fast asleep. With its breaths, a wisp of air would occasionally shoot out from its nostrils, stirring the surrounding air.

"It’s a Two-Winged Thousand Steel Python!" Gu Zheng’s pupils shrank as he recognized the Genetic Beast. A Two-Winged Thousand Steel Python of this size was definitely a Tier Three Genetic Beast.

"What is that?" Liu Qing suddenly pointed at several huge rocks at the entrance of the valley. Each of those giant rocks exceeded a meter in diameter. Their surfaces glowed with a dark red light, looking like clumps of solidified flames.

"Hematite!" the only girl in the group blurted out, her eyes instantly lighting up.

The others also looked over, their gazes turning fiery. While Genetic Beasts could be used to refine Genetic Equipment, certain natural treasures could do the same. Hematite was one of them.

"Just one piece of this stuff must be worth at least a million genetic coins, right?" Liu Qing muttered, his eyes filled with longing.

"Don’t even think about it," Gu Zheng said calmly, his voice low. "Although the Two-Winged Thousand Steel Python can only glide for short distances and can’t actually fly, it’s absolutely a Tier Three Genetic Beast. It’s not something we can afford to provoke." He paused, tearing his gaze away from the Hematite. "Life is more important than money."

The group fell silent for a moment before nodding in agreement. Gu Zheng was right. With their current strength, provoking a Tier Three Genetic Beast was no different from courting death.

"Let’s go." Gu Zheng waved his hand. The four of them quickly left the area, exploring in another direction along the edge of the vast lake.

Meanwhile.

Upon landing, Ji Zhixing stumbled but quickly steadied himself. He gripped his Yellow Stone Rod tightly and looked around with vigilance. He was in a forest. The trees were astonishingly tall, reaching dozens of meters into the sky, with trunks so thick that several people linking arms wouldn’t be able to encircle them. It was very quiet all around. He held his breath and listened intently for a long time. Only after confirming there was no movement nearby did he breathe a slight sigh of relief.

He turned to look back. Behind him was completely empty; there was nothing at all. That distorted Spatial Passage had vanished.

"The passage is gone," Ji Zhixing thought, his heart sinking. He reached out and touched his back, his fingertips brushing against something wet and slippery. Turning his hand over, he saw blood. His clothes had been torn open, and a burning pain radiated from his back.

"The black eagle’s claws grazed me," he deduced inwardly. "It should just be a flesh wound. It won’t get in the way."

"Tier Three Genetic Beasts roam this place; it’s not a place I can stay," Ji Zhixing muttered, surveying his surroundings. "I have to find a passage out as soon as possible."

Gripping his Yellow Stone Rod tightly, he cautiously ventured deeper into the forest. The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, making it soft and spongy to step on. He treaded lightly with every step, his eyes constantly scanning the area, his ears perked up to catch even the slightest sound.

Before he had gone far, he suddenly heard a RUSTLE from ahead.

Ji Zhixing halted his steps, dodged sideways behind a massive tree, and held his breath.

"Ji Zhixing?" a voice suddenly called out, startling him.

He peeked out and saw two students from Third Middle School emerging from the bushes, waving at him. The two looked familiar—they were from Class Four, but Ji Zhixing couldn’t recall their names.

"It’s me," Ji Zhixing said, stepping out from behind the tree.

"Thank goodness!" The two jogged over, their faces filled with the relief of surviving a disaster. "Are you alone?"

"Just me." Ji Zhixing nodded. "What about you?"

"We are too," one of them, a tall boy, said with a bitter smile. "That black eagle was chasing us just now. We had no choice but to find the nearest Spatial Passage and jump in."

The other boy, who had a round face, added, "After we came in, the passage disappeared. We could only keep moving forward."

"I’m Li Qiang," the tall boy introduced himself.

"I’m Zhao Gang," the round-faced boy followed up.

Ji Zhixing nodded. "In that case, let’s stick together. There’s safety in numbers. Let’s try to find a return passage as soon as possible."

The two nodded profusely. The trio teamed up and continued their exploration forward.

From time to time, massive bestial roars echoed through the forest. Whenever they heard a disturbance, they immediately steered clear, not daring to get close. After walking for a few minutes, the trees ahead suddenly began to thin out. Through the trunks, they could see a wide expanse of water.

"It’s a lake!" Li Qiang said excitedly.

The three quickened their pace and walked out of the woods. The view before them suddenly opened up. A vast lake appeared, its surface broad and its water crystal clear, resembling a giant mirror.

"This lake..." Ji Zhixing was just about to say something when he suddenly heard footsteps coming from the other side.

It wasn’t just one person; it was the footsteps of several people. He whipped his head around.

Four people emerged from the edge of the forest. The one leading them was none other than Gu Zheng. Following behind him were three Yu City Middle School students, all of whom Ji Zhixing had seen before.

Seeing Ji Zhixing and his two companions, Gu Zheng was also slightly taken aback and paused his steps.

"Brother Gu..." Upon spotting Ji Zhixing’s trio, Liu Qing’s eyes flickered as if he had thought of something, and he muttered a few words to the people around him.

Hearing this, Gu Zheng’s expression shifted slightly, his gaze sweeping over Ji Zhixing and the other two.

"Gu Zheng!" Li Qiang and Zhao Gang’s eyes instantly lit up when they saw his group. They hurried over to greet them, ingratiating smiles plastered on their faces.

"Brother Gu, you’re here too!" Li Qiang said. "That’s great. We were just worrying about where to go."

"Yeah, exactly," Zhao Gang nodded repeatedly. "It’ll be much safer following you guys."

Seeing this, Ji Zhixing had no choice but to follow.

Gu Zheng watched the three approach, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"You came at the perfect time," he said in a gentle, friendly tone. "I happen to have something I need help with."