10 Global Evolution
Inside the abandoned sewage pipe, it was pitch black. The flashlight provided them with a visibility of only seven to eight meters, and most of the light was swallowed by the suffocating darkness.
The wild grass beneath their feet creaked as they stepped on it, and the chirping of insects echoed through the air. Cong Xia hadn't heard such sounds of nature up close for a long time. He had grown accustomed to the various noises created by humans, and now he felt uncomfortable. No, it was more than discomfort. The sewage pipe, where he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face, felt like an underground cave covered in vegetation. He had no idea where it would lead or what unknown things awaited them ahead. The deep fear made it difficult for Cong Xia to breathe.
To alleviate his own tension, Cong Xia desperately tried to engage in conversation with Cheng Tianbi.
"Brother, let's talk."
"Hey, how old are you? Twenty? Twenty-three?"
"Brother, aren't you afraid? Are you hungry? We gave our food to those dogs. What are we going to eat next? How about eating some wild grass?" Cong Xia was now hungry and couldn't help but salivate at the thought of the uneaten monkey meat from noon.
In fact, Cheng Tianbi was even hungrier than him. Since he realized the changes in his body earlier that day, he had been in a state of hunger. He just didn't have time to eat a proper meal, and now there was nothing left.
However, with the rapid evolution of plants and animals, who knew if these grasses had already developed toxins? He couldn't eat recklessly.
Cheng Tianbi said, "Endure it. We'll figure it out once we get out of here."
"I'm worried about you being hungry. You're the only one with combat capability here. You need to conserve your energy," Cong Xia expressed his concern.
Cheng Tianbi calmly responded, "I'm not so hungry that I need to eat grass. Let's pick up the pace and find a way out of here before thinking about food."
Cong Xia sighed, once again feeling frustrated by his own uselessness. He couldn't even get some decent food for his friend who had saved him twice.
The two continued to venture deeper, walking for nearly three kilometers without seeing any exit. However, Cong Xia noticed that the undergrowth beneath their feet was decreasing, replaced by an increasing number of spore-bearing plants. The air was filled with a damp, stuffy odor, making it difficult to breathe. The path beneath their feet also became increasingly treacherous, covered with slippery moss and various types of mushrooms that felt slimy. Every step felt like stepping on some kind of secretion.
In a careless moment, Cong Xia slipped and fell, landing on the ground. When his hand touched the damp and sticky vegetation, he felt an indescribable disgust.
Cheng Tianbi pulled him up. "Watch your step."
Cong Xia desperately wiped his hands on his pants, expressing disgust. "So disgusting, sticky and gooey."
Cheng Tianbi shone his flashlight around, illuminating an area filled with mushrooms of various colors and sizes. They were densely packed, creating an uncomfortable sight.
Cong Xia swallowed his saliva and instinctively grabbed Cheng Tianbi's hand.
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow and said, "Let go."
Cong Xia was on the verge of tears. "Brother, just let me hold on for a while. This place os fucking scary. I can't go on much longer."
Cheng Tianbi rolled his eyes.
Cong Xia tightly held onto Cheng Tianbi's hand. The firm, calloused palm was warm, and it gave him a sense of regained mobility in his legs. He had no doubt that if he were alone in such an eerie place, he would have gone insane within five minutes. Cheng Tianbi was his lifeline, and he wished he could stick himself to Cheng Tianbi with adhesive tape.
If it weren't for the inappropriate circumstances, Cheng Tianbi would have knocked Cong Xia unconscious.
He felt helpless and annoyed by Cong Xia's weakness, but as long as he was still alive and wearing his military uniform, he couldn't easily abandon his mission. Besides, he owed Professor Cong a favor, and he was determined to bring Cong Xia back to Beijing.
Cheng Tianbi had no choice but to let Cong Xia hold his hand. At least it prevented them from slipping.
The palms of their joined hands quickly became sweaty. Cong Xia's inner tension caused him to grip tighter and tighter, afraid of losing his only psychological support.
The path beneath their feet became increasingly slippery, and they had to make an effort to maintain their balance every three steps. Despite their efforts, they still fell several times. Falling onto the slimy spore-bearing plants didn't hurt, but it was disgusting.
In fact, most of the mushrooms were incredibly vibrant. It was hard to imagine such colorful and splendid plants growing in a place devoid of sunlight. However, the more vibrant the plants, the more poisonous they tended to be. Cong Xia restrained his curiosity and avoided those beautiful mushrooms.
After walking for over an hour, both of them were drenched in sweat. They had covered less than a kilometer on the spore-bearing plants, which was more exhausting than walking ten kilometers on level ground.
Gradually, they noticed a faint, ethereal blue light ahead. It could possibly be an exit. Both of them rallied their spirits and walked toward the source of the light.
After another half an hour, the halo of blue light became larger and larger. When they turned a corner around a sewage pipe, they were suddenly greeted with a bright scene that left them astonished.
That was an incredibly vast cave, with a diameter of at least a hundred meters. The cave walls were covered in a variety of mushrooms, each with its own color and characteristics. Some were vibrant, some were plain, and some even emitted a faint glow. But the most eye-catching feature was the enormous transparent mushroom at the very center of the cave, radiating a soft blue light.
The mushroom was as tall as a three-story building and had a diameter of sixty to seventy meters. It had a short and stout stem, no thicker than a car's, and its cap resembled an inverted bowl perched on top. The cap looked like an umbrella flipped inside out by the wind. The massive mushroom was entirely transparent, and beneath its surface, visible to the naked eye, ran a network of blue veins. These veins resembled capillaries, densely woven and intertwined. Strangely, the veins not only covered the mushroom's surface but also extended from its body, spreading across the ground like the veins of an underground river. It seemed as though all the creatures within the cave were entangled within its intricate web.
In the center of the mushroom's cap, there was a dark green luminescent object, its true nature indiscernible. However, it appeared that all the veins originated from that point.
The colossal mushroom swayed gently within the cave, its movements subtle, as if swaying along to a lullaby. Its transparent body, the blue glow of its veins, and its unparalleled size combined to create a mesmerizing yet eerie beauty. However, despite its beauty, this sight sent chills down the spines of the two human observers.
"What kind of mushroom is this? How can it grow to such immense proportions?" Cong Xia's thoughts roared within his mind. He regretted not having acquired more knowledge about spore-bearing plants. Perhaps it would have proven useful at this moment.
Cheng Tianbi took a step back, lowering his voice as he said, "Let's return to the fork in the road we passed earlier and find another way around."
For the first time, Cong Xia detected a trace of nervousness in Cheng Tianbi's tone.
Although the two life-threatening encounters they had faced earlier were already perilous, they were still familiar creatures, albeit larger in size. Their behavior and weaknesses remained unchanged. However, the creature before them surpassed their wildest imagination.
Cong Xia couldn't comprehend how, within a mere thirty hours since the earthquake, the city he believed he knew so well had secretly given birth to such horrifying and unimaginable creatures.
The two cautiously retraced their steps, fully aware that no matter how far they had to detour, they must avoid getting any closer to that colossal mushroom.
Just as they had taken two steps back, they suddenly felt vibrations beneath their feet. In an instant, the ground they had been standing on shot upwards. Lowering their heads, they realized that they had unwittingly been standing on a mushroom, reddish-brown in color, and as wide as a dining table. They had mistaken it for solid ground!
The mushroom forcefully knocked them off balance, and as they landed, the mushroom itself "stood" up, propelling them onto the next mushroom in succession.
Their bodies were coated in a slippery, viscous fluid, making it impossible to regain their footing or escape. Helplessly, they were passed along by the grotesque mushrooms, tossed about without control. Cheng Tianbi tightly gripped his gun, firing at the enormous mushroom, but the bullets seemed insignificant—once they pierced the mushroom's body, they silently disappeared.
Cheng Tianbi swiftly twisted his waist, evading the push from a mushroom. With a powerful strike from his palm, accompanied by a gust of wind, a white light appeared in the air. With a crisp sound, the mushroom was struck and bent, as if in pain, curling up its body. Cheng Tianbi fell to the ground alongside the mushroom.
However, before he could regain his footing, the mushroom beneath his feet suddenly sprang up, joining the group of mushrooms carrying them.
In just a matter of seconds, like cargo, the two were transported by the mushrooms to the center of the cave. Finally, their bodies were catapulted into the air, and the enormous mushroom opened its "mouth," swallowing them whole.
They landed in the very center of the mushroom's cap, plunging into a pool of ankle-deep slime.
The slime had an unpleasant smell, reminiscent of astringent plants, but its texture was disgustingly slimy. It was difficult for them to stand up as they struggled to get out of the slime. They cautiously observed the interior of the mushroom cap.
From inside, the flesh of the mushroom cap was incredibly beautiful. Its thick, transparent body was filled with delicate, bluish veins resembling nerves. The mushroom swayed gently, and the blue glow of the veins flickered, resembling stars in the sky, creating an illusion of entering a magical world where everything seemed unreal.
Cong Xia lowered his head and saw the dark green light they had seen from the outside, now enveloped by the flesh of the mushroom cap and countless intertwined blue veins. The soft and full green glow was still elusive, even at such a close distance. They couldn't make out what it actually was.
If the blue veins were the mushroom's nerves, was this green glowing mass its heart?
Cheng Tianbi snapped them back to reality with a single sentence, "Don't look anymore, we are about to be eaten."
Cong Xia paused for a moment and suddenly noticed small bubbles rising from the slime beneath his feet. It was like boiling water, with the density of the bubbles increasing. The slime was gradually multiplying. He heard a sizzling sound as his shoes were melting!
Cong Xia quickly jumped aside, avoiding the slime puddle. But their respite was temporary. Once the slime rose to a certain height, they would dissolve in this nauseating slime, becoming nutrients for this giant mushroom.
Cheng Tianbi's fingers touched the mushroom's smooth flesh, and then he drew his military knife and fiercely stabbed at it. The mushroom's body contracted briefly, releasing transparent liquid from the pierced area, but it quickly expanded again.
There was a reaction!
Cheng Tianbi tightened his grip on the knife and repeatedly stabbed the mushroom's body. Transparent liquid sprayed out, and before it hit the ground, it suddenly solidified in mid-air, forming tendrils that swiftly wrapped around Cheng Tianbi's limbs, suspending him in mid-air.
Cong Xia hurried over, desperately pulling at the transparent, elastic rope formed by the liquid. It had incredible resilience and flexibility, and no matter how far he pulled, it didn't break. Even attempting to cut it with the military knife proved futile.
Cong Xia was on the verge of tears, desperate. "Brother Bing, hold on, you had to hold on. I'll, I'll find a way to save you," he said, his own words betraying his uncertainty.
Cheng Tianbi struggled for a while, sweating profusely, but he couldn't break free from the grip of the transparent rope. Calmly, he spoke, "This rope has conveniently caught you in its web. Try climbing out along it. If you can run, then run on your own."
Cong Xia had a mournful expression on his face, "I won't leave by myself. Without you, it's as good as death. It's better if we die together."
Taking a look around, Cheng Tianbi couldn't think of any way for them to escape. The entire place was filled with the offspring of the giant mushroom. Even if they managed to climb out of this mushroom, they wouldn't be able to leave.
Cong Xia circled the pool of slime, his gaze once again drawn to the mysterious green glow.
The heart...
He stared at the glowing mass, his eyes shining with an unusual brightness.
The slime was on the verge of boiling, the water level rising by three to four centimeters. It wouldn't be long before they would be submerged. Instead of that, why not take a chance?
However, the memory of his shoes being corroded by the slime earlier made him hesitate. If he tried to approach the "heart" of the mushroom, he would likely be dissolved into a pool of blood.
But perhaps Brother Bing could survive.
If they did nothing, they would eventually die. But if he made an attempt, perhaps the formidable Brother Bing could escape.
Trembling, Cong Xia picked up the military knife and stood beside the pool of slime. His lips quivered as he gathered the courage to step into the sticky slime, embarking on the boldest act of his life.
Cheng Tianbi saw through his intention, a flicker of surprise appearing in his eyes.
Cong Xia glanced at him and forced a smile, "Brother Bing, there's always been one question that has intrigued me. How old are you exactly? How many years have you been in the army? Just tell me."
Cheng Tianbi pondered for a moment, "Twenty-one, four years."
Cong Xia chuckled, "Just as I suspected, you're five years younger than me. You're truly amazing. By the way, if it weren't for me, maybe you would have left Kunming a long time ago. I'm sorry for always burdening you."
Cheng Tianbi silently watched him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Cong Xia took a deep breath and clenched his teeth. He stepped into the pool of slime and swiftly ran towards its center before the pain receptors could react.
However, after only a couple of steps, the searing agony reached his brain. Cong Xia let out a loud cry as he felt the skin on his lower leg being scorched away!
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, his fists tightly clenched.
Cong Xia had never experienced such excruciating pain before. It felt as though something was forcibly stripping his skin away, and every nerve in his body screamed in torment: pain! pain! pain!
With a resounding roar, Cong Xia fell to his knees, gripping the military knife tightly and thrusting it mercilessly towards the dark green glow.
The mushroom cap convulsed violently, causing the entire mushroom to shake like an earthquake. The slime continuously emitted numerous bubbles, and thick streams of blood surrounded Cong Xia's body. The portion of his body submerged in the slime had been corroded down to the bone!
Cheng Tianbi tightly shut his eyes.
Cong Xia's eyes turned bloodshot, and in a frenzy, he relentlessly drove the knife downward until its blade struck a solid object.
In an instant, the mushroom's convulsions ceased, and the slime stopped boiling. It felt as if time had come to a standstill.
Suddenly, the dark green "heart" emitted a brilliant radiance, illuminating the entire cave as if it were broad daylight. The earth shook violently. Cong Xia's grip on the knife weakened as his body lost all strength. He was engulfed by a blinding white light, and then consciousness slipped away from him.
10 Global Evolution
Inside the abandoned sewage pipe, it was pitch black. The flashlight provided them with a visibility of only seven to eight meters, and most of the light was swallowed by the suffocating darkness.
The wild grass beneath their feet creaked as they stepped on it, and the chirping of insects echoed through the air. Cong Xia hadn't heard such sounds of nature up close for a long time. He had grown accustomed to the various noises created by humans, and now he felt uncomfortable. No, it was more than discomfort. The sewage pipe, where he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face, felt like an underground cave covered in vegetation. He had no idea where it would lead or what unknown things awaited them ahead. The deep fear made it difficult for Cong Xia to breathe.
To alleviate his own tension, Cong Xia desperately tried to engage in conversation with Cheng Tianbi.
"Brother, let's talk."
"Hey, how old are you? Twenty? Twenty-three?"
"Brother, aren't you afraid? Are you hungry? We gave our food to those dogs. What are we going to eat next? How about eating some wild grass?" Cong Xia was now hungry and couldn't help but salivate at the thought of the uneaten monkey meat from noon.
In fact, Cheng Tianbi was even hungrier than him. Since he realized the changes in his body earlier that day, he had been in a state of hunger. He just didn't have time to eat a proper meal, and now there was nothing left.
However, with the rapid evolution of plants and animals, who knew if these grasses had already developed toxins? He couldn't eat recklessly.
Cheng Tianbi said, "Endure it. We'll figure it out once we get out of here."
"I'm worried about you being hungry. You're the only one with combat capability here. You need to conserve your energy," Cong Xia expressed his concern.
Cheng Tianbi calmly responded, "I'm not so hungry that I need to eat grass. Let's pick up the pace and find a way out of here before thinking about food."
Cong Xia sighed, once again feeling frustrated by his own uselessness. He couldn't even get some decent food for his friend who had saved him twice.
The two continued to venture deeper, walking for nearly three kilometers without seeing any exit. However, Cong Xia noticed that the undergrowth beneath their feet was decreasing, replaced by an increasing number of spore-bearing plants. The air was filled with a damp, stuffy odor, making it difficult to breathe. The path beneath their feet also became increasingly treacherous, covered with slippery moss and various types of mushrooms that felt slimy. Every step felt like stepping on some kind of secretion.
In a careless moment, Cong Xia slipped and fell, landing on the ground. When his hand touched the damp and sticky vegetation, he felt an indescribable disgust.
Cheng Tianbi pulled him up. "Watch your step."
Cong Xia desperately wiped his hands on his pants, expressing disgust. "So disgusting, sticky and gooey."
Cheng Tianbi shone his flashlight around, illuminating an area filled with mushrooms of various colors and sizes. They were densely packed, creating an uncomfortable sight.
Cong Xia swallowed his saliva and instinctively grabbed Cheng Tianbi's hand.
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow and said, "Let go."
Cong Xia was on the verge of tears. "Brother, just let me hold on for a while. This place os fucking scary. I can't go on much longer."
Cheng Tianbi rolled his eyes.
Cong Xia tightly held onto Cheng Tianbi's hand. The firm, calloused palm was warm, and it gave him a sense of regained mobility in his legs. He had no doubt that if he were alone in such an eerie place, he would have gone insane within five minutes. Cheng Tianbi was his lifeline, and he wished he could stick himself to Cheng Tianbi with adhesive tape.
If it weren't for the inappropriate circumstances, Cheng Tianbi would have knocked Cong Xia unconscious.
He felt helpless and annoyed by Cong Xia's weakness, but as long as he was still alive and wearing his military uniform, he couldn't easily abandon his mission. Besides, he owed Professor Cong a favor, and he was determined to bring Cong Xia back to Beijing.
Cheng Tianbi had no choice but to let Cong Xia hold his hand. At least it prevented them from slipping.
The palms of their joined hands quickly became sweaty. Cong Xia's inner tension caused him to grip tighter and tighter, afraid of losing his only psychological support.
The path beneath their feet became increasingly slippery, and they had to make an effort to maintain their balance every three steps. Despite their efforts, they still fell several times. Falling onto the slimy spore-bearing plants didn't hurt, but it was disgusting.
In fact, most of the mushrooms were incredibly vibrant. It was hard to imagine such colorful and splendid plants growing in a place devoid of sunlight. However, the more vibrant the plants, the more poisonous they tended to be. Cong Xia restrained his curiosity and avoided those beautiful mushrooms.
After walking for over an hour, both of them were drenched in sweat. They had covered less than a kilometer on the spore-bearing plants, which was more exhausting than walking ten kilometers on level ground.
Gradually, they noticed a faint, ethereal blue light ahead. It could possibly be an exit. Both of them rallied their spirits and walked toward the source of the light.
After another half an hour, the halo of blue light became larger and larger. When they turned a corner around a sewage pipe, they were suddenly greeted with a bright scene that left them astonished.
That was an incredibly vast cave, with a diameter of at least a hundred meters. The cave walls were covered in a variety of mushrooms, each with its own color and characteristics. Some were vibrant, some were plain, and some even emitted a faint glow. But the most eye-catching feature was the enormous transparent mushroom at the very center of the cave, radiating a soft blue light.
The mushroom was as tall as a three-story building and had a diameter of sixty to seventy meters. It had a short and stout stem, no thicker than a car's, and its cap resembled an inverted bowl perched on top. The cap looked like an umbrella flipped inside out by the wind. The massive mushroom was entirely transparent, and beneath its surface, visible to the naked eye, ran a network of blue veins. These veins resembled capillaries, densely woven and intertwined. Strangely, the veins not only covered the mushroom's surface but also extended from its body, spreading across the ground like the veins of an underground river. It seemed as though all the creatures within the cave were entangled within its intricate web.
In the center of the mushroom's cap, there was a dark green luminescent object, its true nature indiscernible. However, it appeared that all the veins originated from that point.
The colossal mushroom swayed gently within the cave, its movements subtle, as if swaying along to a lullaby. Its transparent body, the blue glow of its veins, and its unparalleled size combined to create a mesmerizing yet eerie beauty. However, despite its beauty, this sight sent chills down the spines of the two human observers.
"What kind of mushroom is this? How can it grow to such immense proportions?" Cong Xia's thoughts roared within his mind. He regretted not having acquired more knowledge about spore-bearing plants. Perhaps it would have proven useful at this moment.
Cheng Tianbi took a step back, lowering his voice as he said, "Let's return to the fork in the road we passed earlier and find another way around."
For the first time, Cong Xia detected a trace of nervousness in Cheng Tianbi's tone.
Although the two life-threatening encounters they had faced earlier were already perilous, they were still familiar creatures, albeit larger in size. Their behavior and weaknesses remained unchanged. However, the creature before them surpassed their wildest imagination.
Cong Xia couldn't comprehend how, within a mere thirty hours since the earthquake, the city he believed he knew so well had secretly given birth to such horrifying and unimaginable creatures.
The two cautiously retraced their steps, fully aware that no matter how far they had to detour, they must avoid getting any closer to that colossal mushroom.
Just as they had taken two steps back, they suddenly felt vibrations beneath their feet. In an instant, the ground they had been standing on shot upwards. Lowering their heads, they realized that they had unwittingly been standing on a mushroom, reddish-brown in color, and as wide as a dining table. They had mistaken it for solid ground!
The mushroom forcefully knocked them off balance, and as they landed, the mushroom itself "stood" up, propelling them onto the next mushroom in succession.
Their bodies were coated in a slippery, viscous fluid, making it impossible to regain their footing or escape. Helplessly, they were passed along by the grotesque mushrooms, tossed about without control. Cheng Tianbi tightly gripped his gun, firing at the enormous mushroom, but the bullets seemed insignificant—once they pierced the mushroom's body, they silently disappeared.
Cheng Tianbi swiftly twisted his waist, evading the push from a mushroom. With a powerful strike from his palm, accompanied by a gust of wind, a white light appeared in the air. With a crisp sound, the mushroom was struck and bent, as if in pain, curling up its body. Cheng Tianbi fell to the ground alongside the mushroom.
However, before he could regain his footing, the mushroom beneath his feet suddenly sprang up, joining the group of mushrooms carrying them.
In just a matter of seconds, like cargo, the two were transported by the mushrooms to the center of the cave. Finally, their bodies were catapulted into the air, and the enormous mushroom opened its "mouth," swallowing them whole.
They landed in the very center of the mushroom's cap, plunging into a pool of ankle-deep slime.
The slime had an unpleasant smell, reminiscent of astringent plants, but its texture was disgustingly slimy. It was difficult for them to stand up as they struggled to get out of the slime. They cautiously observed the interior of the mushroom cap.
From inside, the flesh of the mushroom cap was incredibly beautiful. Its thick, transparent body was filled with delicate, bluish veins resembling nerves. The mushroom swayed gently, and the blue glow of the veins flickered, resembling stars in the sky, creating an illusion of entering a magical world where everything seemed unreal.
Cong Xia lowered his head and saw the dark green light they had seen from the outside, now enveloped by the flesh of the mushroom cap and countless intertwined blue veins. The soft and full green glow was still elusive, even at such a close distance. They couldn't make out what it actually was.
If the blue veins were the mushroom's nerves, was this green glowing mass its heart?
Cheng Tianbi snapped them back to reality with a single sentence, "Don't look anymore, we are about to be eaten."
Cong Xia paused for a moment and suddenly noticed small bubbles rising from the slime beneath his feet. It was like boiling water, with the density of the bubbles increasing. The slime was gradually multiplying. He heard a sizzling sound as his shoes were melting!
Cong Xia quickly jumped aside, avoiding the slime puddle. But their respite was temporary. Once the slime rose to a certain height, they would dissolve in this nauseating slime, becoming nutrients for this giant mushroom.
Cheng Tianbi's fingers touched the mushroom's smooth flesh, and then he drew his military knife and fiercely stabbed at it. The mushroom's body contracted briefly, releasing transparent liquid from the pierced area, but it quickly expanded again.
There was a reaction!
Cheng Tianbi tightened his grip on the knife and repeatedly stabbed the mushroom's body. Transparent liquid sprayed out, and before it hit the ground, it suddenly solidified in mid-air, forming tendrils that swiftly wrapped around Cheng Tianbi's limbs, suspending him in mid-air.
Cong Xia hurried over, desperately pulling at the transparent, elastic rope formed by the liquid. It had incredible resilience and flexibility, and no matter how far he pulled, it didn't break. Even attempting to cut it with the military knife proved futile.
Cong Xia was on the verge of tears, desperate. "Brother Bing, hold on, you had to hold on. I'll, I'll find a way to save you," he said, his own words betraying his uncertainty.
Cheng Tianbi struggled for a while, sweating profusely, but he couldn't break free from the grip of the transparent rope. Calmly, he spoke, "This rope has conveniently caught you in its web. Try climbing out along it. If you can run, then run on your own."
Cong Xia had a mournful expression on his face, "I won't leave by myself. Without you, it's as good as death. It's better if we die together."
Taking a look around, Cheng Tianbi couldn't think of any way for them to escape. The entire place was filled with the offspring of the giant mushroom. Even if they managed to climb out of this mushroom, they wouldn't be able to leave.
Cong Xia circled the pool of slime, his gaze once again drawn to the mysterious green glow.
The heart...
He stared at the glowing mass, his eyes shining with an unusual brightness.
The slime was on the verge of boiling, the water level rising by three to four centimeters. It wouldn't be long before they would be submerged. Instead of that, why not take a chance?
However, the memory of his shoes being corroded by the slime earlier made him hesitate. If he tried to approach the "heart" of the mushroom, he would likely be dissolved into a pool of blood.
But perhaps Brother Bing could survive.
If they did nothing, they would eventually die. But if he made an attempt, perhaps the formidable Brother Bing could escape.
Trembling, Cong Xia picked up the military knife and stood beside the pool of slime. His lips quivered as he gathered the courage to step into the sticky slime, embarking on the boldest act of his life.
Cheng Tianbi saw through his intention, a flicker of surprise appearing in his eyes.
Cong Xia glanced at him and forced a smile, "Brother Bing, there's always been one question that has intrigued me. How old are you exactly? How many years have you been in the army? Just tell me."
Cheng Tianbi pondered for a moment, "Twenty-one, four years."
Cong Xia chuckled, "Just as I suspected, you're five years younger than me. You're truly amazing. By the way, if it weren't for me, maybe you would have left Kunming a long time ago. I'm sorry for always burdening you."
Cheng Tianbi silently watched him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Cong Xia took a deep breath and clenched his teeth. He stepped into the pool of slime and swiftly ran towards its center before the pain receptors could react.
However, after only a couple of steps, the searing agony reached his brain. Cong Xia let out a loud cry as he felt the skin on his lower leg being scorched away!
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, his fists tightly clenched.
Cong Xia had never experienced such excruciating pain before. It felt as though something was forcibly stripping his skin away, and every nerve in his body screamed in torment: pain! pain! pain!
With a resounding roar, Cong Xia fell to his knees, gripping the military knife tightly and thrusting it mercilessly towards the dark green glow.
The mushroom cap convulsed violently, causing the entire mushroom to shake like an earthquake. The slime continuously emitted numerous bubbles, and thick streams of blood surrounded Cong Xia's body. The portion of his body submerged in the slime had been corroded down to the bone!
Cheng Tianbi tightly shut his eyes.
Cong Xia's eyes turned bloodshot, and in a frenzy, he relentlessly drove the knife downward until its blade struck a solid object.
In an instant, the mushroom's convulsions ceased, and the slime stopped boiling. It felt as if time had come to a standstill.
Suddenly, the dark green "heart" emitted a brilliant radiance, illuminating the entire cave as if it were broad daylight. The earth shook violently. Cong Xia's grip on the knife weakened as his body lost all strength. He was engulfed by a blinding white light, and then consciousness slipped away from him.
