Live Strong in the Wilderness

Chapter 523: Tastes Pretty Good

"You guys stay here, I’ll go check the situation. If it’s all clear, I’ll have you come over," Xu Yi said before heading toward the woods.

The others remained where they were, watching Xu Yi.

Xu Yi moved quickly and entered the woods within half a minute.

Picking up spikes from the ground, Xu Yi used his Poison Detection Skills.

"This substance contains mental toxins, which can cause full-body paralysis and damage to sensory nerves, resulting in sensory loss."

Xu Yi frowned. He hadn’t expected this thing to be so potent.

Then Xu Yi continued moving forward.

He needed to know the speed and power of these shots.

As soon as he got close, hundreds of spikes shot toward Xu Yi.

Xu Yi sensed with his Spiritual Power and quickly breathed a sigh of relief.

The force and speed of these spikes weren’t significant. Given their current physical strength, they wouldn’t be harmed even without resisting with Telekinesis.

With that reassurance, Xu Yi went back to inform the others to enter the woods.

"This plant is so incredible, minus 59 degrees, and it hasn’t frozen to death," Lu Ke observed curiously, eager to know if the plant was edible.

In response, Xu Yi took out a machete and chopped one down.

The center had a small white part, which looked tender.

Xu Yi used Poison Detection Skills to check it. The middle part was toxin-free and contained abundant nutrients. In other words, the middle part was edible.

Xu Yi cut away the edges and peeled out the center area.

This part was a bit like water bamboo, tender and as thick as an arm.

Xu Yi sliced a piece and put it in his mouth, finding it somewhat crunchy, but the flesh was even better than water bamboo.

"Delicious, and it tastes great," Xu Yi sliced off a section and handed it to Lu Ke, and then gave some to the others.

Of course, to eat this thing, they’d have to expend a significant amount of Telekinesis.

They had to form a Telekinesis Field around it to prevent it from freezing.

"Really, it does taste a lot like water bamboo, delicious. We have another fruit... maybe even a vegetable," Lu Ke said happily. She felt that while what Xu Yi brought back was indeed tasty, it seemed somewhat lacking in energy.

If not paired with Fierce Beast meat, they’d probably be hungry again shortly after eating.

Their digestive capacity had significantly increased, and their energy needs were higher. Ordinary food only served to enrich their taste experience.

So now, when making porridge, there had to be more Fierce Beast meat than rice.

Otherwise, within two or three hours, they’d need to eat again.

To solve this, they’d have to wait until after the 500 days were over to plant the seeds Xu Yi brought and see if they could increase the energy from rice-like foods.

Otherwise, they’d have to collect plants from this world to find alternatives.

"Not bad. We should try sautéing it tonight," Xu Yi said with some anticipation.

After staying for a while, Xu Yi and the others continued their exploration.

This wasn’t a 5th level Fierce Beast territory yet. But Xu Yi felt they were probably not far, maybe a day or two away from reaching the 5th level Fierce Beast territory.

Reaching the 5th level Fierce Beast territory would mean the challenge officially began.

Soon, night fell.

"Xu Yi, are we digging snow caves again tonight, or should we set up tents on the ground?" Qin Fan asked.

"Let’s go with the ground. This forest is quite dense, the wind shouldn’t be too strong," Xu Yi replied.

If the wind wasn’t strong, there was no worry about tents being blown over or away, so they could naturally set up tents on the ground.

Qin Fan nodded and started setting up with the others.

Their tents could be joined together, just needing two. One side for the males, the other for the females.

Xu Yi naturally used the Spirit Race tent with Lu Ke, so he didn’t need to stay with them.

Their tents came with bathrooms, processed like space capsules, using biodegradable bags for disposal on-site.

Hygienic, clean, and odorless.

Additionally, there was a cleaning system, adding just 3 liters of water allowed for a comfortable hot shower.

The living conditions were on a completely different level from the previous 200 days.

So they opted for tents rather than digging snow caves.

"So comfortable, this tent is just amazing. Keke, I’m going for a shower, want to join?" Wang Jin wiggled a pinky at Lu Ke.

"Sure, let’s go to my tent, the cleaning system is even better," Lu Ke agreed, noting she hadn’t let anyone else try it yet.

"Sister Su Yan, want to join? I guarantee it’ll be eye-opening," Lu Ke didn’t want to leave Su Yan out, as she was the person Lu Ke was closest to along with Wang Jin.

Of course, she got along well with others too, but not to the extent of sharing a shower.

"Sure, I want to see Spirit Race technology," Su Yan agreed outright.

"Take this Star Chart, it has some things you might need," Xu Yi said, slightly blushing, giving the Star Chart to Lu Ke.

Naturally, it contained various female items.

"Thank you," Lu Ke accepted warmly.

Lu Ke managed their tents and released one in an open space, then went in with Wang Jin and Su Yan.

Cheng Jie and Liu Li were using the electric stove to prepare dinner.

Xu Yi and the other men gathered in another tent, skipping training as it was nearly dinnertime.

"Want a smoke? I brought 40 cartons this time," Xu Yi said, offering some special edition cigarettes, obviously for Qin Fan.

Xu Yi himself wasn’t much of a smoker, he just smoked occasionally.

"Thanks a lot, bringing me such mental nourishment," Qin Fan hugged Xu Yi tightly; he was quite the smoker.

"Old Qin, give me two cartons, my habit’s not that heavy," Zhou Chun said straightforwardly.

Having been together for so long, formality was unnecessary.

One could say they shared a friendship forged through life-and-death experiences.

"Two cartons aren’t enough, let’s split it; Xu Yi doesn’t smoke," Qin Fan chuckled.

Figures like Qin Chao and Zhou Mo seemed like kids to Qin Fan, not yet of smoking age.

Thus, they divided the 40 cartons Xu Yi brought.

Subsequently, Xu Yi joined them in the smoking session.

Tobacco’s harm was notable, but for Xu Yi and the others, it had no impact anymore.