Shang Ruoyan went up the mountains the next day. She wanted to hunt for meat. When she reviewed some information about ordinary animals, beasts, and Zergs, she realized that Zergs were the evolved versions of animals on Earth, like seafood. She did not even expect crabs to appear in massive sizes.
Why would humans fear food?
"Yuebao, are Zergs poisonous? Are they exposed to radiation and carry toxins in their bodies?"
[No, Master. It is the opposite. Zergs are not affected by radiation, and not all possess toxins.]
"Why do humans fear them?"
[Master, some creatures in the Zerg family parasitize living beings, like Gu worms.]
"But Gu worms are propagated by their masters. Do they reproduce here freely?"
[Master, have you forgotten? This is the interstellar era, and everything is possible. In this era, high-level beasts and Zergs can gain consciousness at the level of humans. It is certainly not impossible for them to control those lower-level creatures, or anyone beneath their mental and physical power.]
Shang Ruoyan sighed.
She walked up to the stream.
"Yuebao, can you detect creatures beneath this calmness?"
[I can detect their physical and mental powers, Master. The highest level of mental power is the A-peak level. The highest level of physical power is the B-peak level.]
"But I only want creatures below C-peak level. Let's not fight hard today. I just want to test the waters. I prefer having fresh ingredients at home."
[Master, there's still a hidden wormhole that's not yet discovered by the military in this forest. It contains lots of C and D-level Zergs. Remember the crabs you mentioned? They exist in that wormhole.]
"Give me the location."
The location pointed Shang Ruoyan into a massive cave with three entrances. Shang Ruoyan became skeptical about entering.
"Are you sure I won't be buried alive here?"
[Don't worry, Master. I will lead you in.]
Shang Ruoyan entered with a leap of faith.
Yuebao chose the middle entrance for her. When she entered, there was only darkness in the place.
"Yuebao, do you have night vision glasses?"
[Master, you can use your Vitality Credits to enhance your vision!]
"Help me put half of my Vitality credits to enhance my vision, and the other half to increase my speed."
The vitality credits worked like magic. Shang Ruoyan could finally see clearly in the darkness. She felt that things in her range of vision could be zoomed in. She sighed in appreciation. The interstellar era has many wonders, and the hidden space is a rare gift.
Ruoyan finally saw the number of Red Zerg Crabs in the cave.
"Yuebao, are they dormant? So many? Can I put some in the space, alive?"
[Master, you can collect them all inside the space. There is a good space for them, and the system likes collecting hard shells from different Zergs and beasts.]
"Hard shells? What for?"
[Master, when the system's market opens, the system sells shields for warriors. The system collects all kinds of shells as a constituent for making shields. Selling shields is also an extra income provider.]
"Good!"
Shang Ruoyan silently transferred the sleeping Red Zerg Crabs into her space.
"Yuebao, the tunnel is deep. Are there high-order Zergs at the bottom?"
[No, Master. But I could detect a massive energy fluctuation. It could be an ore that attracts the Zergs. If we get it, it might help with your cultivation."
Shang Ruoyan decided to venture deeper.
When she reached the innermost part of the cave, she was shocked to see and massive jade plate. Texts were carved on the surface of the jade, but she could not read or identify the language written on it. She felt illiterate.
Shang Ruoyan retrieved the jade slate and every treasure around it. Several kinds of special stones and ores could be found that contained pure energy. She also dug several illuminating ores, like an alternative to a flashlight.
The sight inside with the light looked like a distant galaxy filled with endless dazzling stars. Shang Ruoyan had ventured the Earth as an assassin, but this cave was the only thing that reminded her of Earth.
"Yuebao, does Earth still exist?"
[Master, I'm afraid not. The Milky Way Galaxy has already clashed with the Andromeda Galaxy when we arrived here.]
Shang Ruoyan hurried out of the cave, but halfway through, an earthquake occurred. She maximized her speed to escape. When she escaped successfully, the wormhole inside the cave erupted and its size evolved. The appearance of the wormhole alarmed the military. Shang Ruoyan did not waste her energy and rushed home.
It was only when she arrived home safely that she saw the chaotic news on Skynet. Hundreds of A-mid-level ranked Zergs appeared from the wormhole, and one S-level was spotted, but was pushed back by power users. When the wormhole collapsed, the casualties were unknown.
"Yuebao, did we contribute to the chaos?"
[Not really, Master. The Zerg's wormhole was truly dormant along with the Zergs. Retrieving the jade slate did not have any influence on the wormhole. But I saw that the Lotus Life Herb was about to mature on the water source of the stream where we passed by.]
"How does a plant's maturation affect its environment?"
[Master, the Lotus Life Herb is different from other medicinal herbs. Once it matures, the life around it will flourish, and it is also a sought-after herb, not just by humans but also other species in the galaxy. It can cure most kinds of diseases, and it's considered a miracle plant.]
"We should have taken it. It can help the general heal his wounds."
[But, Master, all kinds of beasts would chase you. Even high-level beasts appear in the forest for this herb. We don't have enough strength to own it. Picking the herbs is not an easy task. The Lotus Life Herb also possessed a spiritual guardian.]
"How do plants inherit spiritual guardians?"
[Master, the Lotus Life Herb is one of the rarest kinds in the galaxy. Based on history, the gods put this kind of herb as a treasure in the mortal realm. But whoever picks it will need the consent of the guardian sent by heaven.]