Chapter 53: Bridge Blockade
Inside the cave, Su Xiao held several Primordial Seeds in his hand, four in total.
"How do I use these? Don't tell me to eat them."
Su Xiao had already reached an agreement with the Sun Woman. He, Old Bal, and two contractors would venture deep into the Black Forest.
If conditions permitted, the Sun Woman would naturally also go deep into the Black Forest, but she couldn't leave the Red Soil Region. This current body would only last a few hours before collapsing.
"Of course not by eating them. Give them here."
The Sun Woman extended her hand, signaling Su Xiao to hand over the Primordial Seeds. After tossing the four seeds to her, she took out a few more.
The Primordial Seeds gradually transformed in her hands, changing from their original black to a pale red, with emerald sprouts emerging on their surface.
"After entering the Black Forest, you must carry the Primordial Seeds with you at all times, and crush one open every two hours. Each seed can protect you for about two hours. You must leave before all ten seeds are used up, or that place will become your burial ground."
The Sun Woman handed ten Primordial Seeds to Su Xiao.
"Only ten?"
"Do you think modifying Primordial Seeds is simple?"
Su Xiao shook his head.
"Twenty."
"Impossible."
Su Xiao didn't speak, just stared at the Sun Woman.
"Twelve at most."
"Eighteen."
After some bargaining, Su Xiao obtained fifteen Primordial Seeds.
"Time is short. When do you plan to set out?"
"Now."
Su Xiao stood up and looked at Old Bal, who in turn looked at the Sun Woman.
"Sun Goddess, my Primordial Seeds..."
The Sun Woman examined Old Bal. "My servant, use them cautiously."
"As you command."
Old Bal acted extremely obedient. Seeing this, a hint of a smile appeared on Su Xiao's lips. Perhaps this old fellow would shine with a different 'light'; at least, he had never underestimated Old Bal.
"Where are the other two?"
"They've already headed near the Black Forest. I'll notify them to wait for you."
Su Xiao and Old Bal walked out of the cave together. Once outside, Su Xiao looked at Old Bal.
"So obedient?"
"The Goddess's orders cannot be defied."
Old Bal's attitude was devout, as if he had truly become an obedient priest.
"Poor acting. If I were you, even if I had to dig out the seed from my body, I wouldn't grovel before that plant."
Su Xiao didn't believe Old Bal would become the Sun Woman's lapdog.
"But she is the Sun Goddess. How can one defy a goddess's words? Still, killing a god isn't a bad choice. It's too early now; let's get through the Cold Disaster first."
After leaving the cave, Old Bal's true nature emerged—patient, opportunistic, cunning, and ruthless. This was the real Old Bal.
"Let's go. We need to carry a lot of food and fresh water."
Old Bal nodded, said "I'll prepare it," and quickly walked toward the tribe.
Half an hour later, Old Bal, carrying a large amount of meat and fresh water, found Su Xiao. The two headed out of the tribe.
Earlier, Su Xiao had planned to leave the Red Soil Region and reach the Normal Zone, but who would have thought things would change? Now he was heading to the even more dangerous Black Forest.
The survival of Devouring Island had nothing to do with him, and Su Xiao didn't care about the Cold Disaster. If what the Sun Woman said was true, he only needed to endure the 'Cold Disaster' for one day, and his chances of survival were high.
He was going deep into the Black Forest to grow stronger and complete a hidden quest. Hidden quests were rare, and if he completed all stages, the rewards would surely be unexpected.
No one said the survival trial had to be about hiding. If there was an opportunity to grow stronger, he would seize it.
Su Xiao rode on Bubu Wang's back. Bubu Wang was running a bit slowly, mainly because he had eaten too much.
Bubu Wang had been terrified of hunger. With ample food, he had gorged himself. But after traveling through the Red Soil Region for a few hours, his stomach began to growl again.
With the compass pointing the way, finding the stone bridge to leave the Red Soil Region wasn't difficult.
After traveling for several hours, the sky began to darken. Su Xiao found a tree without snakes or insects to rest on. The Red Soil Region was lively at night, with various beast roars echoing continuously.
Lying on a tree branch a dozen meters above the ground, Su Xiao closed his eyes to rest. Bubu Wang lay belly-down on the branch, his four legs dangling naturally.
Early the next morning.
"Oww~!"
A scream woke Su Xiao. He immediately sat up, hand on his sword hilt.
There was no enemy. The one screaming was Bubu Wang. The guy had slept too soundly and fallen off the tree early in the morning. With Bubu Wang's sleeping posture, it was strange he hadn't fallen sooner.
After a simple breakfast, Su Xiao continued on. After traveling for seven hours, a cliff appeared ahead.
"The stone bridge is nearby. We'll reach it in half an hour at most. After crossing the bridge, we'll continue for three more days to reach the Black Forest."
Today was the fifth day of the survival trial, meaning Su Xiao would arrive at the Black Forest on the eighth day.
Old Bal was right; the stone bridge was indeed nearby.
Bang! Ding, ding, ding!
The sound of battle echoed from the stone bridge. From a distance, Su Xiao could see people fighting on it.
The stone bridge was several dozen meters long and over ten meters wide, naturally formed with no guardrails or protective measures.
An armored vehicle was parked sideways on the bridge. Several contractors were hiding behind it, while bullets sparked against the vehicle's other side. Dense gunfire came from the opposite end of the bridge.
Someone in the Normal Zone was blocking the bridge, ambushing contractors trying to leave the Red Soil Region.
This tactic was vicious. Although the Normal Zone was also dangerous, food and fresh water weren't as scarce—you could grab them with strength.
The Red Soil Region was different. Food was scarce there. Contractors escaping from it were generally in poor condition, with significantly reduced combat effectiveness.
Old Black and his group, hiding behind the armored vehicle, were in exactly this situation. Although the vehicle was bulletproof and could hold out for a while, the enemy would soon charge.
On a distant slope by the bridge, Su Xiao observed how many contractors were on the other side.
He could see at least eight contractors, with the total number likely no less than ten.
Su Xiao couldn't understand why these contractors were blocking the bridge. In the survival trial, Scarlet Card drop rates were very low, and most contractors escaping the Red Soil Region were desperate for food.
But Su Xiao knew one thing: to cross the bridge, he had to eliminate those contractors on the other side first. Otherwise, on the exposed stone bridge, he'd be a sitting duck—just like Old Black's group.
The gunfire continued. Old Black and his people didn't dare to pop their heads out. From Su Xiao's angle, he could see several contractors on the other side charging toward the armored vehicle.
A minute later, Old Black's group engaged in melee combat with the contractors across the bridge.
With a sniper and two mages on the other side, and forced out of cover, Old Black's group was doomed.
And so it was. Dozens of seconds later, Old Black and his people fell in a pool of blood. The forging master was kneeling, seemingly begging for mercy from the contractors across the bridge.
Soon, the contractors on the other side fell into chaos, apparently realizing they had provoked someone they shouldn't have.
Bang.
A gunshot rang out. The forging master was shot in the head, his corpse thrown into the cliff. The contractors across the bridge started arguing, shifting blame onto each other.
Bang.
A very low gunshot sounded. The sniper on the other side was shot in the head, a cloud of blood mist exploding.
Su Xiao adjusted the Spider Queen's muzzle, aiming it at a mage on the other side of the bridge.
He had to eliminate these contractors, or he wouldn't be able to cross the stone bridge. Plus, that armored vehicle would be a decent mode of transportation.