It’s quite interesting, Xia Nan chose a camping location last night, which was not the usual slightly elevated clearing in the forest.
Instead, it was a ruin.
A uniquely shaped ruin.
The green bricks were eroded, with their grey mortar completely fallen out, exposing the yellow-brown earth underneath; a few damaged walls leaned diagonally, as if the slightest wind would blow them down, yet stubbornly they stood, occasionally swaying among the weeds at the wall corners, one could vaguely glimpse a few distinctively shaped broken black tiles.
Further back was a grand hall reduced to re broken walls, with fallen, thick beams lying on the bluestone slabs, half-rotted, while the other half seed to "bug" through the gaps in the rubble, naturally rging into the trunk of a nearby oak tree in the forest, revitalized and sprouting on its surface.
Most of the complete items in the ruins had already been taken away, but through the intricately exquisite residual patterns on the window fras, and the classical eaves on the roof corners, one could still detect the obvious Oriental aesthetic style.
After the Secret Realm of the Snake Cave expedition concluded, those buildings randomly teleported to this world with the core of the Secret Realm did not disappear but remained on site.
Xia Nan later heard many adventurers discussing in the tavern, saying these mysteriously appearing, stylistically different, uninhabited buildings were very popular with the locals.
So furniture unearthed from the depths of the ruins, preserved in good condition, had been sold at high prices in the market.
After "Hunting Day," with the large-scale movent of adventurers, this trend spread further to the areas surrounding River Valley Town, affecting even large cities like Neum, where many nobles flaunted their expensive, freshly purchased novelties at banquets.
However, the number of ruins is limited, and adventurers’ sensitivity and agility, especially concerning Gold Coins, are exaggerated.
By the ti these topics were spreading in taverns, the valuable items within the ruins had long been cleared.
With no new output, those items in the market beca rarities, further driven up in price by the aesthetic style boost and those rchants and adventurers, causing the prices to soar rapidly.
On the eve of his departure, Xia Nan heard people discussing that at a high-end auction in Neum City recently, half a screen preserved relatively intact, with exquisite hollow carvings, was fiercely bid upon, eventually purchased by a Marchioness for nearly eight hundred Gold.
Stirring thoughts in his heart.
"Nobody told these things were so valuable!"
Had I known, I would have brought more loot ho on the way back after the mission, then there’d be no worry about the reforge cost for the Beheading Longsword.
Of course, that’s just hindsight.
At that ti, I barely knew a few locals, frightened to death even by slaying a few goblins, hardly having the ti to think of it all.
After that, it was training with Barbarian Fugang for Teeth Hunting, during Hunting Day, my thoughts were entirely focused on enhancing my strength, barely paying attention to rumors.
However...
Xia Nan’s thoughts suddenly paused.
I’ve entered three Secret Realms so far.
Aside from the initial Snake Cave, there’s Neum City’s Sheep-Deer Statue Mirror World and Grey Valley’s chapel town.
There’s no need to talk more about the forr, Neum has nothing but a statue.
And Grey Valley...
When I left, though the chapel had disappeared, the buildings in the town remained.
Considering Grey Valley Village’s dread of Grey Valley, right now, only I know of this Secret Realm’s residue.
If soday I urgently need money in the short-term and can’t find a way to earn, perhaps I can use these things to do so business, make so pocket money?
Of course, I’m unaware of this world’s comrcial rules, lacking channels associated with it, risks require thorough consideration.
So, it’s necessary to plan ticulously.
Silently plotting, Xia Nan packed up his luggage, stepped over the threshold, walking out from the rundown courtyard, his figure vanished amidst the dense undergrowth and shade of the trees.
...
...
Xia Nan made ample preparations for this mission.
At this mont, the two bottles deliberately placed separately, one in the belt pouch, one stored in the backpack, the [Petrification Resistance Potion], needless to say.
Advancent to professional, ascending to Association Second Floor opened an information repository for him, which helped him master a wealth of useful information summarized by countless adventurers, hunters about the "Petrified Lizard," before the mission began.
From initial tracking, to hunting, and the final processing thod of the loot material... it is all comprehensive.
Even detailed response plans to maximize victory in encounters—what and when—have been formulated.
He was full of confidence.
The Association provided a range area where Petrified Lizards frequently appeared rather than a specific location.
When Xia Nan saw that iconic, thick oak tree snapped midway.
He did not hesitate, took out the [Petrification Resistance Potion] from the backpack behind him, tilted his head back to gulp it down—the bottle in the belt pouch is more accessible, hence kept for later use during action.
It’s colorless and tasteless, yet the experience mimics downing a whole bottle of chilled carbonated soda, stimulating the mouth, throat, simultaneously a coolness flowed from the neck into the chest, swiftly spreading through the body.
Xia Nan only felt that so invisible substance from deep within pores, inside out, had coated his skin with an unseen thin film.
Knowing the potion took effect, slightly loosening body to verify it posed no effect, he proceeded deeper into the dense forest.
A smart Hunter never purely relies on sight alone when tracking such a hazardous creature, risking peril.
Despite obtaining petrification resistance through the potion, being cautious, if possible, Xia Nan definitely aid for a preemptive strike, beheading it before the bloated, clumsy eight-legged lizard reacted.
Hence, stealthily searching for traces of the opponent beca paramount.
Initially, through ground feces.
Differing from other demons, Petrified Lizard feces contains a substantial amount of indigestible stones and minerals, distinctly unlike ordinary carnivore excrent, effectively confirming its presence and the ti it passed.
Secondly, as a solitary, territory-conscious demon.
It habitually leaves claw marks on nearby rock walls and tree trunks, guiding Xia Nan along its patrol path.
If Xia Nan happens to discover prey nearby turned into statues under the influence of Petrification Gaze.
He can also assess the activity frequency of the lizard at this location through the statue’s smoothness and erosion marks.
Finally, when Xia Nan and the Petrified Lizard are close enough.
No need for visual contact.
Its massive body slightly trembles the ground when moving, the noise from crushing undergrowth, and the mixed scent of rocks, dust and rotten flesh on its body easily reveal the demon’s whereabouts.
Xia Nan ticulously and calmly, going step by step according to the pre-task plan, carefully searching for traces of the Petrified Lizard.
A bit unexpected.
Maybe his luck was decent or because the forest periphery indeed lacked threats against this demon, Petrification Gaze—with no hindrance—rendered the lizard’s daily actions utterly unconcealed.
When Xia Nan only just progressed to the first step, using [Gravity Control] to lighten his body, nimbly climbing the nearest tallest oak to check any movents.
Among his sight, a certain canopy of the distant forest suddenly shook violently, startling nurous birds, alongside visible signs of trees breaking and toppling.
Feeling stirred, he didn’t return to the ground, rapidly moving across the interwoven thick branches between trees.
Reduced gravity and [Tidal Shaping] granted balance points on unstably grounded terrain, allowing Xia Nan’s speed almost matching on-ground movents.
Rapidly closing in!
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