In the circular courtyard, as the black insects drew closer to the Huishi grass, their numbers dwindled.
Many of the insects veered off midway in their escape, withdrawing back into the rolling mass of darkness outside.
By the end, only about one-tenth of the original black insects actually made it to the cave’s safe house.
"The Huishi grass has such a function!? No, wait, perhaps this is one of the key methods to expel and isolate the black disaster in large cities."
— Lowering the environmental red value.
This was an idea that just occurred to Yu Hong.
'The red value can even influence the blood tide black insects.
This suggests that, essentially, perhaps both the blood tide black insects and the shadowy beings are part of the same existence?' he mused.
Holding a candle, he shut the glass window cover and retreated to a safe area.
Watching the sporadic black insects flow in, he felt more curiosity and plans regarding the Huishi grass rising in his heart.
If this little bit of Huishi grass could influence the blood tide, how about if there were more? What if the entire courtyard were filled with it? Could it completely block the incursion of the blood tide black insects? Maybe even Dapi?
Excitement grew within Yu Hong.
He never expected that something he had casually synthesized could have such a significant effect.
The blood tide insect disaster had severely affected his sleep for a long time.
It wasn’t just him; others like Old Li, Old Zhou, and Dr. Xu felt the same way.
He had asked about countermeasures before—if shadowy beings could be isolated or hidden with Huishi grass, but the blood tide was indeed a different matter altogether.
The next morning, Yu Hong stepped outside, bathed in the morning light.
Yesterday, he had infused one strand of inner energy, and today he wanted to see the results of that catalyst.
As he stepped outside, a small patch of lush green grass immediately caught his eye.
“So much!?” Yu Hong stood startled at the door, his eyes wide as he gazed at the Huishi grass in the courtyard.
Yesterday, only a dozen tiny plants had been there; now, over twenty had sprouted.
They sprawled across a third of the stone courtyard.
“Only one day…” Yu Hong couldn't help but let out a quiet gasp.
He felt incredibly grateful for having the Black Seal assist him; otherwise, in this dangerous and terrifying environment, he might have perished the very first day he arrived, leaving no trace behind.
Descending the stone steps, he confirmed that the newly sprouted Huishi grass was indeed real and healthy.
He quickly tested the red value data in the courtyard.
This time, the reading at the boundary of the courtyard came out to -13.
That was a significant increase compared to before.
On the third day, Yu Hong infused two strands of inner energy to accelerate the growth of the Huishi grass again.
By the fourth day, most of the courtyard was covered in Huishi grass.
And at the boundary of the courtyard, the red value reading had reached -41.
Late at night, Yu Hong stood behind the wooden door, peering through the glass window at the courtyard outside.
A gentle white light enveloped the entire courtyard, extending outward into a part of the surrounding area.
As the area bathed in white light spread, the black insects hurriedly avoided it, diverting their paths around this region to rush elsewhere.
Thud, thud, thud.
Soon enough, heavy footsteps echoed, and a large, dark beetle emerged from the shadows, stepping into the white light area.
But after just a few steps, close to one-third of the distance, the giant beetle shook its small head, turned away, and quickly disappeared into the thick night.
Watching this scene unfold, astonishment spread across Yu Hong’s face.
"Even Dapi can be driven away!" He felt a rush of joy in his heart.
"A large Huishi stone only emits a red value of around negative eighty or ninety when near, but the range of red value emitted by this Huishi grass is actually negative thirty or forty—and it continuously spreads, getting higher as it gets closer."
He had measured the data; roughly, the Huishi grass near him could reach a red value of over negative one hundred, which was comparable to continuously stacking a large Huishi stone right at the cave’s entrance.
“Although I don't know how long it can sustain this consumption, this thing can recover its consumption on its own, far more cost-effective than the Huishi stones!”
Through the glass, Yu Hong watched the blood tide black insects skirting around and felt a deep sense of security.
The Huishi grass, which he had stumbled upon, now served such a vital role.
Gazing at the blood tide black insects avoiding the area, he suddenly wondered: if he could synthesize Huishi grass from Huishi stones and wild grass, what about using larger Huishi stones and other plants? What about trees? Could he synthesize living things like cockroach mushrooms to produce powerful changes?
If he could control the results of the synthesis, could combining cockroaches or lizards yield special enhanced creatures that he could control?
At that moment, his mind whirled with chaotic thoughts, each one bringing forth a flood of inspiration and countless possibilities, filling him with excitement for the future.
The next morning, he quickly left for the courtyard again.
This time, he didn't focus on the Huishi grass; its effects had already been thoroughly observed last night.
Walking up to the crude dirt mound in the courtyard, he looked at the mound, which barely reached his knees, and extended his hand.
He pressed his palm against the rough surface of the wall.
'Strengthen the courtyard wall!'
Yu Hong silently commanded in his mind.
This was a test, a probe.
The previous enhancements had all been small in size, and this time he intended to test a larger volume of reinforcement.
From the enhancements he had conducted thus far, he realized that the Black Seal’s enhancement mostly derived from himself, based on how he perceived things.
To put simply, the target of the enhancement was primarily controlled by him in terms of size, concept, and boundaries.
If he viewed a section as a whole, then the Black Seal would similarly estimate and give a result on whether it could be strengthened and the specific countdown time.
So, in that moment, he planned to conduct an unprecedented test.
That was...
**
**
**
Crack, crack.
In the deep mountains.
A tall, robust figure strode through the forest of fallen leaves, occasionally halting to determine the right direction to proceed.
"We're almost there."
The figure abruptly stopped and carved a triangle into a nearby tree trunk.
Looking up, he revealed a slightly distressed expression; it was the white python, Guo Xudong, who had come all this way.
He glanced around and suddenly made a sprint forward, leaping up to grab a robust tree branch.
Using one hand to exert force, he swung himself up, stabilizing himself atop the branch as he peered into the distance.
On a distant hill, he could vaguely see a dilapidated gray-white structure.
“White Hill Village, I've arrived. According to the intel, that person should be nearby.”
He jumped down from the branch and quickened his pace toward the village.
'Two consecutive groups have gone missing around here.
Either there’s a great danger, or someone is behind it.'
Guo Xudong swiftly traversed the woods, silver-gray dagger appearing in his palm, held low.
Half an hour later, he reached the stony road outside White Hill Village, staring into the village from the road.
Deep alleyways, pitch-black doorways and windows, lifeless houses, and barren walls greeted him.
Guo Xudong held a small bag of Huishi tightly in his other hand and slowly entered the village.
But he had barely taken a few steps when he halted, lowering his head to examine the ground carefully.
Soon enough, he seemed to discern something, and stood back up, gradually retreating out of the village limits, circling around White Hill Village.
He made circle after circle.
After over an hour, he had fully scouted the entire village.
“There are no signs of activity.” Guo Xudong decisively turned and walked down the hill.
“According to the intel, that person is either within the village or residing in a nearby cave. That cave should be close by. I need to search carefully.”
He muttered to himself, following the narrow path away from the village, disappearing into the forest.
**
**
**
Yu Hong pressed one hand against the courtyard mound.
At the same time, he closed his eyes, remaining silent and still, maintaining this posture.
After a few minutes, once he felt his mind had calmed, he silently thought.
'Strengthen the courtyard wall, solidifying the material, raising height and thickness.'
Sizzle!
In an instant, a black line flowed from the Black Seal on his hand and fused into the courtyard wall.
Then, to his astonishment, a black countdown actually appeared on the mound before Yu Hong.
'15 days, 6 hours, 44 minutes.'
“!!!!!” Seeing the countdown appear, a smile of indescribable joy spread across Yu Hong’s face.
“It actually works!!!” Though it would take a long time—fifteen days, likely due to the volume of reinforcement being too large, far exceeding the ordinary materials he had previously enhanced.
Even if a perimeter wall was low and small, it still weighed much more than earlier items.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
'If I enhance the courtyard wall as much as I can myself, could I significantly shorten the strengthening time?'
'And if the courtyard wall can be strengthened, can the puddles be too? Could I strengthen them into a well? What if… the entire cave safe house could be reinforced all at once?! Even if it takes longer, if I can directly strengthen it into an underground sanctuary with multiple rooms, that would be a huge relief.'
Upon realizing that the enhancement from the Black Seal was based on his conceptual understanding of the overall area, he thought,
'If I consider the entire planet underground as one unit, can I directly reinforce the planet?' he boldly speculated.
After that thought crossed his mind, shaking off that unrealistic notion, a strong desire to quickly complete the courtyard wall surged within him.
However, regrettably, his ordinary Huishi had run out; he needed to go to the mine to replenish his supplies.
Otherwise, while his silver talismans would be sufficient, he would be left without materials for ordinary talismans and large Huishi.
Returning to the cave filled with joy, he packed his bag, gathered his tools, locked the door, and headed straight for the Huishi mine.
Not long after he left, a robust figure emerged silently from the forest, observing the cave safe house surrounded by the courtyard.
The figure crouched down, slipped behind a tree trunk, set down a backpack, and put on a mask, helmet, and a full-body bulletproof suit, one by one.
Once prepared, he slowly approached the cave with a dagger in hand, revealing a pair of slightly troubled eyes.
It was Guo Xudong, the white python, who was investigating the area!
The Bookstore of Heaven’s Dao has returned! Everyone interested, hurry and take a look!
(End of chapter)