Chapter 46: Efficient Method
Su Xiao naturally understood what Baha was implying, but whether he could obtain that kind of reward depended on the actual situation.
Assuming the Black Swamp was merely an outstanding hunter of the Diba Clan, then killing other Diba Clan members would still yield a considerable amount of World Source, at least between 2.7% and 3.2%.
Calculating based on a 3% World Source reward per Diba Clan kill, Su Xiao would need to kill 32 more Diba Clan members for his World Source to exceed 100%, and killing 48 would give him a chance at obtaining a World-Class Treasure Chest.
Su Xiao wasn't sure how many Diba Clan members were on the outer perimeter of Origin Island. If there were enough, he wouldn't mind "hunting" here for a few days, even though doing so might increase the difficulty of his mission.
Apocalypse Paradise would definitely summon Contractors to Origin Island. If Su Xiao delved deep into Origin Island now, with his travel speed, he could absolutely gain the upper hand.
But doing so would mean giving up the benefits on the outer perimeter of Origin Island. Once he completed the mission, Su Xiao would be teleported out of this world.
How to choose between the two left Su Xiao deep in thought. Should he prioritize the mission, or reap some benefits first? After all, he had encountered such a good place as the outer perimeter of Origin Island for the first time.
After pondering for a moment, Su Xiao decided not to rush into the central area for now. Considering the importance of the World Core, once he got close enough to it, Apocalypse Paradise would most likely teleport the Contractors directly there.
If that happened, it would be like drawing water with a bamboo basket — all his efforts would be in vain. Not only would he miss out on the benefits of the outer perimeter, but he would also have to deal with those Contractors from Apocalypse Paradise.
Realizing this, Su Xiao decided to clear out the outer perimeter of Origin Island first. He wasn't just aiming for the World-Class Treasure Chest; he also wanted the True Attribute Points converted from World Source during the world calculation.
Su Xiao had Baha and Amu keep watch around the area while he and Bubu Wang searched the few wooden huts of the small tribe.
After searching, Su Xiao confirmed one thing: this was only a temporary dwelling.
Su Xiao sketched a map on the ground, dividing Origin Island into three layers. The outermost area had no exploration value — it was a forest zone filled with undead, and the rewards for killing them were pitifully low.
Further inward was the swamp zone, or large areas of shallow water. The deepest parts of the shallow water were only two to three meters. This area was likely circular, separating the forest.
Based on Su Xiao's map, Bubu Wang began exploring the surrounding area in a circular route, essentially traveling along the inner edge of the forest.
Su Xiao waited for nearly six hours before Bubu Wang returned. It had made a full circle, traveling around the "outer perimeter of Origin Island."
Given Bubu Wang's speed, completing a full circle in six hours meant Su Xiao was already quite deep into Origin Island. It wouldn't be long before he reached the central area.
The bad news was that Bubu Wang hadn't found any more Diba Clan members. Instead, it had found many alien creatures, most of which inhabited the shallow waters.
Learning this, Su Xiao was somewhat disappointed. The number of Diba Clan members in the outer area was even smaller than he had imagined.
Su Xiao looked at the wooden bridge extending into the swamp. Following this bridge would likely lead to other Diba Clan members, but it would also be more dangerous.
After six hours of rest, Su Xiao's condition had basically recovered. The team followed the wooden bridge deeper into the swamp.
Creak, creak~
The wooden bridge had clearly been built many years ago. There were no railings on either side, and some of the logs on the bridge surface had rotted into dust, revealing the muddy water half a meter below. Various suspicious creatures swam in the water, the three main types being: giant leeches, undead worms, and micro-bacteria.
The smell of the swamp wasn't actually unpleasant, as long as you didn't fall into the water.
Su Xiao's expression remained calm. With his Azure Steel Shadow Energy protecting him, he basically ignored the creatures in the muddy water. But Bubu Wang ahead of him was a bit panicked. The fur on its back was standing on end. Although it could blend into the environment, there were countless creatures beneath its feet that could take its life, making it inevitably nervous.
The wooden bridge was built among sparse trees. Not long after moving forward, Su Xiao reached the shallow water area. The water surface was slightly green, the murky water was bottomless, and plant leaves floated on the surface.
The trees in the shallow water area were denser. Their trunks were bare, but their canopies were lush and green.
After traveling only a few hundred meters, Bubu Wang at the front stopped in its tracks. Three Diba Clan members, wearing grass skirts and holding spears or oversized stone hammers, walked toward them from the front.
The wooden bridge was only one meter wide. As the saying goes, when two meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins.
"Moo!"
Amu roared, slapping his hands on the bridge surface.
Crack, crack, crack...
Ice froze. Amu leaped onto the frozen ice surface and charged toward the three Diba Clan members.
"Kulaha (Native language)."
One Diba Clan member roared. What greeted him was an ice warhammer.
"Yahoo!"
Baha dove from a low altitude of several dozen meters, pouncing on another Diba Clan member. Only one enemy remained.
Su Xiao drew the longsword at his waist and sprinted forward on the wooden bridge.
Ten minutes later.
Pfft.
The longsword pierced through a Diba Clan member's throat. This man had at least three slash marks on his chest and a torn wound on the back of his neck. Even so, he still tightly gripped Su Xiao's collar until the light completely faded from his eyes.
[You have killed Diba Clan Warrior: Stone Claw.]
[You have killed Diba Clan Warrior: Poison Spine Grass.]
[You have gained 5.82% World Source. Current total World Source: 11.41%.]
[You have obtained Perfect Infected Blood (Legendary Material).]
[Hunter may choose from the following rewards...]
...
Su Xiao once again chose Bloodflame Blade. The fiery glow swirling around the Dragon-Slaying Flash's blade became more pronounced. Although it was only a temporary ability that would disappear upon leaving this world, it was exceptionally effective against the Diba Clan.
With the cooperation of Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha, they killed two of the three Diba Clan members in ten minutes and captured one alive.
"Woo! Woo!"
A female Diba Clan member, tightly bound, struggled with all her might, glaring at Su Xiao as if she wanted to devour him alive.
"You can't die yet. After all, your kin are too hard to find."
Su Xiao didn't kill this female Diba Clan member named Blood Crow because she had an ability called "Uga" that could attract other Diba Clan members.
Taking out the Demon Jar and the Soul Walker Dagger from his storage space, Su Xiao opened the Demon Jar with some reluctance. The pure black demonic energy drifted out, and under his control, it gradually clung to the blade of the Soul Walker.
Soon, the Soul Walker's blade was completely pitch black. This consumed a full 5% of the high-purity demonic energy in the Demon Jar — something Su Xiao was usually reluctant to use, as he absorbed it to enhance his Demon Mark passive ability.
"Amu, hold her down."
As soon as Su Xiao spoke.
Bang!
Amu stomped on Blood Crow's head. Her body instinctively curled up, her head sinking into the ice surface, sending ice chips flying.
Su Xiao held the Soul Walker in a reverse grip. Wisps of black smoke rose from the blade. The fallen Blood Crow began to struggle violently.
Pfft!
The short blade plunged into Blood Crow's neck, piercing from the neck into her chest cavity.
"Ah~"
Blood Crow let out a low moan, her entire body arching backward into a C-shape.
Gurgle, gurgle...
Black blood vessels spread across Blood Crow's neck. Her pupils gradually shattered, and within the cracked fissures, fire patterns flickered, as if flames were burning in her eyes.
The pitch black on the Soul Walker's blade quickly faded as all the demonic energy entered Blood Crow's body.
A few minutes later, Su Xiao untied the composite alloy ropes binding Blood Crow. Amu stood nearby, raising his ice warhammer high.
"Amu, when I say 80, you smash her."
Baha stared at Blood Crow. No one knew if the demonic energy could control this Diba Clan member.
Blood Crow lay motionless, her body curled up as if dead. Suddenly, her hand lifted.
"80!"
Baha shouted.
Whoosh~
The ice warhammer head, three meters in diameter, came crashing down. Su Xiao raised his arm, and the ice warhammer stopped mid-air. Amu's body jerked, nearly throwing his back out.
"Control successful."
Su Xiao snapped his fingers twice in front of Blood Crow. She tilted her head, looking at Su Xiao with confusion.
"Uh... it did succeed, but I feel like she's a bit... dumb?"
Baha looked at Blood Crow. It sensed that this Diba Clan member wouldn't live long — at most, two to three days of life remaining.
"That's not important."
Su Xiao patted Blood Crow's face and said, "Shout."
"Uga?"
Blood Crow let out a dazed, low cry.
"Woo-woo~"
Bubu Wang lifted its head and howled, clearly getting into the spirit of things.
"Louder."
"Woo-woo..."
Bubu Wang howled even more enthusiastically.
"I wasn't talking to you."
Su Xiao pinched Bubu Wang's mouth shut and signaled Blood Crow to attract other Diba Clan members with her shouts.
"Uga!!"
Blood Crow threw her head back and shouted with all her might, sending waves of sound rippling outward.
"Holy crap..."
Baha was startled into flight. Su Xiao's plan had worked, but Blood Crow's shout was too loud. Heaven knows how many Diba Clan members it would attract.