When Xiao Sheng revealed his ultimate goal, everyone began to ponder seriously. They were all moved by his words. Indeed, there were only two paths forward. One was to return in disgrace, having failed the mission and lost their ability users, which would surely earn them contempt. The other was to continue striving, bring back the mutated plants, and then the Ability Administration would possess the capability to produce evolution bases independently.
The importance of evolution bases, whether for ordinary people or ability users, was irreplaceable. With evolution bases, one could become an evolver, and breaking through the evolution barrier also required evolution bases. Furthermore, after the fourth-tier ability users, evolution potions were no longer effective. To continue evolving, one could only consume evolution bases. Currently, the only place in the world capable of mass-producing evolution bases was Yuzhou, and Yuzhou controlled a mutated plant.
It was imaginable how significant the Ability Administration would become once it could also mass-produce evolution bases. In the future, the Ability Administration would become an indispensable organization, and even the headquarters would have to consider its stance.
After considering these points, everyone became interested. Indeed, if Yuzhou could gain an important position by selling evolution bases, then the Ability Administration could do the same in the future, thus becoming an irreplaceable organization.
However, at this moment, Lu Yizhen inquired, "Then, do you have a way to defeat the treants? What method do you have to defeat them? You might as well tell us so we can offer some advice. Putting aside other matters, how will you deal with a sixty-meter-tall giant treant?"
Xiao Sheng looked towards Shen Feng and his group in the distance and said, "For the giant treant, Shen Feng can serve as a distraction. As long as we can deal with the other treants and then concentrate our forces to attack the giant treant, we will surely achieve victory. Moreover, I have discovered the weakness of ordinary treants: they are very fragile internally. We can completely exploit this point to attack the treants."
As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Feng immediately shook his head, sat down with his long sword, and said, "Don't dream. Whether you attack the treants or not has nothing to do with me. You'd better think this through. I won't take action. The fact that I came to save you doesn't mean I will obey your commands."
Shen Feng was very displeased that Xiao Sheng had counted him among the combat forces. Xiao Sheng seemed too familiar. His relationship with the Ability Administration was only average. The ability user with whom he had the best relationship was Yue Hengyi, and that friendship was built over half a year of interaction. Unfortunately, Yue Hengyi was killed. Therefore, these people were even less related to Shen Feng. To borrow his strength to fight was simply wishful thinking.
Seeing Shen Feng's disagreement, Xiao Sheng quickly said, "Shen Feng, my dear brother-in-law, how can you be so heartless? If you had stronger strength, wouldn't it be better to protect your sister in the future? Can you bear to watch me fight the treants alone?"
"I can bear it. If you want to fight, please do as you please. I won't stop you. Also, let me remind you, without sufficient strength, don't do things you're not sure about. I'll be returning in a few days. If you want to leave with me, that would be best. If you plan to continue fighting, I won't manage you," Shen Feng said calmly.
Shen Feng did not lose himself because of the term "brother-in-law." After all, Shen Feng was relatively clear-headed. If Xu Xing had not been captured, Shen Feng would not have spent these days considering the rescue of everyone. Now, Xiao Sheng wanted to move Shen Feng with just a few words, which was undoubtedly wishful thinking.
After receiving Shen Feng's answer, the others turned to look at Xiao Sheng, their meaning clear: your first step has already failed. What other tricks do you have?
At this moment, Xiao Sheng thought seriously for a moment and then said to Shen Feng, "Then I want to borrow something from you. I hope you won't refuse."
"What is it?" Shen Feng did not respond directly but first began to inquire. If the borrowed item was precious, then he would have to say no.
"I want to borrow your seeds," Xiao Sheng said, taking out the seeds Shen Feng had given him. "One seed is not enough. I want ten seeds. Please support me. This doesn't require you to do anything. This should be fine, right?"
Shen Feng turned his head away and said calmly, "I'm sorry, there are none. There is only the one seed you have in your hand. If you want more, I'm sorry, there are none."
It turned out that Xiao Sheng had heard that Xu Xing was able to cause an earthquake because she had consumed a seed, which allowed her to break through the limits of her abilities and unleash powerful combat strength. Xiao Sheng saw hope in this seed. If his combat personnel could all eat seeds, wouldn't they be able to unleash the power to destroy the treants?
However, Shen Feng disagreed. The Welwitschia mirabilis was dead, and there were only fifteen seeds left of this type. Every seed consumed was one less. Shen Feng had already given one to Xiao Sheng, and he didn't ask for it back. Now, Xiao Sheng was pushing his luck and wanted more Welwitschia mirabilis seeds. These were life-saving items; how could he give them away casually?
After Shen Feng expressed his attitude, Xiao Sheng immediately felt troubled. If he couldn't get enough seeds, his side would have no way to defeat the treants.
Thinking of this, Xiao Sheng said seriously, "Shen Feng, we're not not returning them to you. Do you have to be so stingy? I'll borrow ten seeds from you, and I'll definitely return double in the future. I keep my word. You won't find such a deal anywhere else."
However, after hearing this, Shen Feng remained expressionless and said seriously, "You should find someone else to make this deal. I don't have any seeds. Also, you can't afford to return them. For this type of seed, every one consumed is one less, and the side effects are huge. I advise you not to use them casually."
Xiao Sheng was rejected by Shen Feng again, and the others also showed helpless expressions, as if Xiao Sheng's plan was about to be stillborn.
"Shen Feng, I'm doing this for your own good. Once we obtain the mutated plants and have the ability to produce evolution bases independently, my influence will definitely increase. At that time, I only need to say a few words to you, and I can mend the strained relationship between you and headquarters. In the future, you will also have a brighter future. This is completely beneficial and has no drawbacks. You will also receive double the return. Why won't you do it?" Xiao Sheng continued to persuade Shen Feng.
Shen Feng, however, thought to himself, "The most precious things in the world are those that are exclusively owned. If you can also produce evolution bases, what will I eat? I cannot help you with this."
However, Shen Feng could not reveal his true thoughts, so he adamantly stated, "There are no more. All the seeds have been used. The one you have is the last one. I won't ask for compensation. Consider this one a gift from me. Good luck."
After hearing Shen Feng's words, Xiao Sheng showed a look of disappointment. However, his gaze remained firm, and he said seriously, "It's okay, one seed is enough. I will bring back the mutated plants."
Next, Xiao Sheng continued to explain his plan to his subordinates. Xu Xing had already provided the answer: as long as one possessed sufficient power, treants could also be killed. The power of ability users was not strong enough, but borrowing more powerful strength would suffice.
"We will set up an ambush and deal with the ordinary treants in batches. You should have all seen the huge crack over there, right? It's bottomless, perhaps five to six hundred meters deep. Even if a treant falls in, it will definitely be killed. I will lure the treants to the edge of the crack, and you will seize the opportunity to push them down," Xiao Sheng's intelligence was quite high. In just a few minutes, he had come up with another method, and this method was highly feasible.
After hearing Xiao Sheng's words, Shen Feng had to admit in his heart, "This guy Xiao Sheng really has many ideas and doesn't admit defeat. If his plan really succeeds, it can indeed greatly weaken the power of the mutated plants."
Lu Xian also leaned over to Shen Feng's ear and asked, "City Lord, these guys haven't given up their plans yet. What should we do?"
Shen Feng frowned and thought for a while. Suddenly, he thought of a way, and then said to Qi Lingshan and Lu Xian, "Tomorrow, you two go and catch marmots, also known as groundhogs. Catch as many as possible. I have a use for them."
Shen Feng had not forgotten how Xu Xing entered the underground cave. It was all because Xu Xing, under the induction of a scoundrel, accidentally entered the ground. Although the cave was blocked, it could be dug open again. And to solve a problem, one must find the person who caused it. It was the marmots who dug it out before, and now it should be the marmots who dug it out again.
As long as they could reach the treants' cave directly, they could make arrangements in advance.
After hearing Shen Feng's words, Lu Xian and Qi Lingshan quickly understood. That's right, the plains near Qiuming were almost entirely filled with marmot burrows. The digging ability of marmots, after mutation, had increased tenfold. In this situation, using marmots to dig caves was not a problem.
Shen Feng looked at Xiao Sheng. Seeing Xiao Sheng still speaking passionately, he silently thought, "I'm sorry, brother. For Yuzhou, don't even think about the mutated plants you've set your sights on. In the future, when you return to China, just work hard."
Shen Feng knew Xiao Sheng's ambitions, but he could only secretly sabotage what Xiao Sheng was about to do. This was because the production capacity of evolution bases must be unique to Yuzhou. As long as they could produce evolution bases in large quantities, Yuzhou's position would be irreplaceable.
Xiao Sheng and his subordinates began to discuss. Shen Feng listened silently. On the surface, Shen Feng just didn't want to help, which was fine. After all, Shen Feng was not a member of the Ability Administration. Saving people was already doing his utmost. To demand more would be unreasonable.
However, in secret, Shen Feng was not simply watching the show; he was preparing to disrupt Xiao Sheng's plan.
Perhaps this was the legendary "dreaming under the same quilt." You never know if the person beside you is a teammate or an enemy. If you mistakenly believe the other person is a teammate, you will expose all your information and eventually be stabbed fiercely.
The next day, the ground suddenly began to shake, and then a "rumble" sound came from the distance. After this sound appeared, everyone was awakened from their sleep. They had only slept for half the night and were all very tired. Unexpectedly, a loud noise occurred at this moment, which naturally surprised them.
After being awakened, everyone quickly asked the person next to them, "What happened? Is this an earthquake?"
Everyone looked towards Xu Xing in the distance. Could it be that Xu Xing wanted to make a big move after waking up?
As a result, everyone saw Xu Xing still fast asleep. Many clothes were covering Xu Xing, and she lay by the campfire. Her complexion was the same as last night, still bright red all over, like a freshly cooked crab. Xu Xing had not yet woken up.
"What was that sound just now? Such a violent tremor, it's unusual." Seeing that Xu Xing had not woken up, everyone became confused. There was no reason for such a large movement to occur out of nowhere.