Reluctantly bidding farewell to the Nan Ming Legion as they left, Shu Bao and Fu Qing began exploring along the edge of the swamp insect zone. As they walked, they learned some common knowledge about finding their way through the chaotic swamp, like knowing which areas with certain plants were safe to walk on.
Their purpose this time, besides familiarizing themselves with the environment, was also to search for valuable magical materials to quickly earn their first pot of startup funds in the chaotic world.
Gradually, the number of people around them dwindled. Eventually, they couldn’t hear any human sounds. They began to see some valuable magical plants, clearly untouched by those in a hurry to cross the swamp.
To avoid conflicts, Shu Bao and Fu Qing agreed that one would be responsible for the left side of the area and the other for the right side. The magical plants found in their respective areas would belong to them. Thus, the following scene unfolded.
“Moon-hugging fern, a three-leaved plant, with dewdrops that condense in the heart of the leaves all year round, 2 silver coins per plant.” Shu Bao carefully picked this small fern, noticing that the dewdrop in the center was enveloped in a very thin transparent membrane, making it less likely to fall off.
Fu Qing looked down at the needleball he had just found, 2 copper coins each.
“Ah! It’s Welwitschia, 5 silver coins each!”
Fu Qing looked at the mud mushroom he found, which was worth 2 copper coins each.
After maintaining this pace for a while, Fu Qing finally couldn’t help but speak, “Can I walk on the left side?”
“Sure,” Shu Bao readily agreed.
So, they swapped positions. Just a few steps later, Shu Bao saw a strangely shaped plant. The plant was waist-high, with round, fist-sized purple-black fruits growing on it. Most strikingly, the fruits were surrounded by colorful leaves stacked together, resembling a feather duster. “What is this?”
Before Fu Qing could say anything, the plant spoke up, “I know, I know, I know.”
Shu Bao was startled, thinking he had encountered a spirit plant about to gain consciousness. “You can talk?”
“Know, know, know.”
Shu Bao asked, “What do you know?”
“Know, know, know.”
After a moment of silence, Shu Bao said, “Could this be the Omniscient Fruit?”
Fu Qing tried to speak in an extremely calm tone, “30 silver coins each.”
“So the Omniscient Fruit looks like a feather duster!” Shu Bao had expected the Omniscient Fruit to look grand and majestic but was surprised by its appearance, which seemed neither omniscient nor particularly intelligent.
“You’re the feather duster!” The feather duster immediately cursed back.
Shu Bao and Fu Qing were stunned. They once again doubted whether the Omniscient Fruit had any sentience. Shu Bao tried asking, “Do you know what a feather duster is?”
“Know, know, know.”
Shu Bao was speechless.
Seeing this, Fu Qing said, “This ugly thing probably doesn’t have any intelligence. It just knows some…”
“You’re the ugly thing!” The feather duster retorted.
Fu Qing: “!!!”
Fu Qing, who always cared a lot about his appearance, frowned. “You’re the ugly one, looking like a colorful caterpillar!”
“You’re the caterpillar!”
“No, you are!”
“You’re the caterpillar!”
Shu Bao watched in astonishment as his beautiful friend and a feather duster argued, each calling the other a caterpillar!
Even the mouse was a bit confused. If the mouse remembered correctly, wasn’t a butterfly a caterpillar before it broke out of its cocoon?
Finally, the beautiful teammate reached out, yanked the fruit from the top of the feather duster, and handed it to Shu Bao with a calm expression, saying, “I’ve picked this colorful caterpillar for you. Next time you encounter one, just grab it directly and don’t say too much.”
Shu Bao replied, “…Okay.” Though Shu Bao felt that what the mouse said wasn’t entirely accurate, he kept this thought to himself. It seemed the mouse had discovered where the beautiful friend’s sore spot was. From now on, he should never mention the word “caterpillar” in front of his beautiful friend, even if the mouse thought caterpillars were fluffy, soft, and cute.
The two continued on their way. Shu Bao encountered several more Omniscient Fruits. Each time, before it could even finish saying “know” three times, it was swiftly picked by the beautiful friend.
“Don’t worry, I’m just stretching my muscles,” Fu Qing said as he handed the Omniscient Fruit to Shu Bao, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
Shu Bao: “…”
Afterward, the beautiful friend almost turned into an Omniscient Fruit radar, swiftly picking them before they could even complete a single “know”. Even if three or four grew together, it didn’t slow the beautiful friend’s speed at all.
Thus, Shu Bao gained a better understanding of his beautiful friend’s abilities. The only thing that made the mouse a bit embarrassed was that most of the Omniscient Fruits grew on the mouse’s side. However, it seemed the beautiful friend’s focus had long since shifted away from this.
The chaotic world is a place rich in species. Even in the treacherous swamps, there are many wondrous plants and animals. The pristine white lotus flowers rise out of the mud, filling the pond with radiant beauty, resembling a fairyland. Huge toads over two meters tall, with tongues as thick as an arm. Elegant cranes with fair skin, beautiful appearances, and long legs, leisurely pecking at fish and shrimp in the muddy waters.
Shu Bao thought that even if he didn’t collect any magical materials on this trip, the vibrant scenery was worth the journey. Fu Qing’s assessment, however, was that it would have been perfect if there weren’t any Omniscient Fruits in the swamp.
When the time was about right, the two returned to the meeting place of the exploration team.
Shu Bao had exceeded his quota for Omniscient Fruits and gave Fu Qing two additional ones as compensation for the previous marsh crocodile incident.
This time, Fu Qing did not refuse. He silently calculated the recent gains and found that there was quite a gap between him and the beautiful friend. This puzzled Fu Qing—when had his luck become so poor?
However, with the crossing of the swamp insect zone imminent, Fu Qing shifted his focus to checking the situation of the swamp.
Compared to before, the situation in the swamp insect zone had not improved much. The magical insects churning in the swamp had only increased. The people at the edge of the swamp were primed and ready, waiting for the command to start.
As Shu Bao and Fu Qing returned to the Nan Ming Legion’s team, the front of the formation had already begun to move.
With a command, various magical lights began to flash, instantly illuminating the chaotic world. The most prominent lights at the front of the team were blue, as several ice mages used their magic to freeze the water on the surface of the swamp, creating a path of ice across the swamp.
Everyone immediately surged forward, following the icy path toward the other side of the swamp. The magical insects in the swamp were already agitated, and now, startled, they began to attack those entering the swamp.
The large earthworms and leeches attacked from both sides, some crashing into the icy path from below.
Shu Bao sat on the big white cat and looked down, spotting numerous strange-shaped worms wriggling beneath the ice. Even the mouse felt a shiver at the sight.
On the ice, people moved at their fastest speed. Despite the large number of people on the team, their movements were swift and unhesitant, as everyone understood that a delay of even a second could mean death.
The swamp insect began to stir. The dormant magical insects flapped their wings and surged from all directions. In this situation, Fu Qing did not dare to fly too high to avoid being surrounded by the insects.
Due to the fast movement, he couldn’t take out his violin. However, with the insects in a nearly frenzied state, the probability of being influenced by the violin’s sound was quite low. Fu Qing controlled wind blades to circle around, preventing the insects from getting close. He continuously released wind blades to attack the insects closing in.
Shu Bao took out his staff and cast a large firestorm toward the most concentrated area of the insects. Flames erupted instantly, accompanied by crackling explosions, causing the magical insects to fall one after another.
Other adventurers also showcased their skills to protect the ice mages and ensure the path was fully cleared.
After crossing the most densely populated area of the magical insects, the ice mages were nearly exhausted. Without hesitation, everyone jumped into the swamp and began to wade through the water.
People were continuously attacked by the magical insects lurking in the mud. Blood mixed with the swamp, almost invisible. Some were bitten by unknown creatures and dragged into the swamp before they could even scream.
Shu Bao watched in horror and could only increase the speed of casting fireballs.
Fu Qing deliberately kept an eye on the beautiful friend, both to gauge their strength and to be prepared for any unexpected situations, so he could provide timely protection.
When the beautiful friend casually threw out a powerful fireball, Fu Qing was convinced of their strength. However, as they proceeded, he noticed that the beautiful friend only used fireballs, which puzzled him.
The icy path behind them had long been shattered by the giant earthworms, whose massive bodies were rapidly advancing toward the group. Earth and metal mages collaborated to erect a broad, thick concrete wall from the ground, temporarily halting the advance of the earth dragons.
More and more magical insects were drawn to them, and most of the ones that arrived first were flying types. The buzzing sound of their wings had become almost numbing. When a swarm of moths emitting a ghostly green glow surged toward them, Shu Bao heard someone shout, “Don’t use fire! They’re Will-o’-the-Wisps Moths!”
Although Shu Bao wasn’t sure what Will-o’-the-Wisps Moths were, he promptly stopped casting fireballs.
However, fire mages had already released fireballs. Shu Bao saw the swarm of green-glowing moths immediately rush toward the fireballs. With a burst, the moths were ignited, but instead of diminishing, the ghostly green light grew brighter, and the number of moths actually increased!
Shu Bao quickly realized that flames seemed to be a necessary condition for the Will-o’-the-Wisps Moths to reproduce, and their breeding method was extremely strange, instantly doubling their numbers.
With fire magic rendered ineffective, the adventurers’ combat effectiveness was severely diminished. To make matters worse, without the firelight, the Will-o’-the-Wisps Moths would continue searching for the next warm area, which meant the bodies of the adventurers.
As the Will-o’-the-Wisps Moths were about to descend upon them, a bubble floated into the swarm. The bubble quickly expanded, enveloping all the Will-o’-the-Wisps Moths within it.
The moths began to collide and flail, but they couldn’t break through the bubble.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a bubble but a layer of soap film made from water, thin yet incredibly resilient.
Fu Qing’s eyes lit up. The beautiful friend indeed knew more than just casting fireballs; this massive soap bubble was impressive!
Soon, more and more soap bubbles appeared, large and small, trapping the swarms of magical insects in mid-air. As the soap bubbles floated, the insects were unable to escape.
Seeing the opportunity, everyone quickly moved forward. Fu Qing flew to Shu Bao’s side, somewhat excited, and asked, “What was that spell just now?”
Shu Bao thought the beautiful friend might have missed out on childhood experiences if he couldn’t recognize something so obvious. “It’s called ‘Blowing Bubbles.'”
Fu Qing: “…” Such a plain and unadorned name.
The others nearby, who had been quietly eavesdropping, looked on in silence.
With the bubbles solving their predicament, everyone pressed forward, delving deeper into the area. When the magical insects closed in again, the adventurers, having caught their breath, skillfully began to defend while advancing.
Afterward, the ice mage, who had recovered most of his energy with a potion, resumed creating the path, and everyone continued to rush forward. This cycle of advancing and defending continued for about an hour until they finally reached the edge of the swamp insect zone.
As they stepped onto slightly firmer ground, everyone felt a sense of relief.
Shu Bao, however, was captivated by the scenery at the shore. Next to the swamp were many tall orchids, each with bright, glowing orbs the size of a thumb at the tips of their leaves. Inside these orbs, something appeared to be flying.
“Those are fireflies of the Chaotic Swamp, also called Chaotic Fireflies. They can be used for illumination and won’t attract too many magical beasts,” Nan Ming explained.
The fireflies, disturbed by the adventurers’ arrival, began to fly off from the leaves. However, they didn’t leave but hovered in front of the group, neither approaching nor drifting away.
“Fireflies will actively provide light for living beings unless they are attacked.”
As Nan Ming’s words ended, several fireflies had already been captured by the adventurers, causing the rest to fly away in fright.
Seeing the beaming faces of those who had caught fireflies, Shu Bao quickly understood that light sources were extremely valuable in the Chaotic World. Therefore, glowing fireflies should fetch a good price, especially since not all teams have fire or light mages.
Without the illumination from the fireflies, the surroundings fell into darkness again. The exploration team, which had just worked together harmoniously, quickly disbanded. They each went their separate ways, either finding places to rest or continuing on alone. In an instant, they shifted from collaborators to competitors.
Especially the Nan Ming Legion, who had been so popular during their passage through the insect swamp, now made people wary.
Shu Bao and Fu Qing were still adjusting to this sudden change, while the members of the Nan Ming Legion seemed accustomed to it. Clearly, such brief alliances followed by renewed hostility were common occurrences, perhaps a survival rule in the Chaotic World.
The Nan Ming Legion did not linger or draw attention. They left without stopping. As the exploration team gradually dispersed, it was likely they would eventually regroup at the location where the dragon eggs were discovered.
“Discovering the dragon egg’s location is quite close to the central area of the Chaotic Swamp, but it’s at the boundary between the central and outer regions, which is why so many exploration teams come to probe,” Nan Ming reviewed the map and confirmed that their team’s direction was correct.
“What? After traveling for so long, we’re still on the outskirts?” Shu Bao was shocked by the vastness of the Chaotic Swamp. Despite their fast pace, they hadn’t even reached the swamp’s central region.
“If we continue forward for about another day, we’ll reach the rift. No one has ventured to the deepest part of the Chaotic Swamp. It’s said to connect to the Great Chaos Plain. Just as the universe is vast, so is the Chaotic World. Even a small swamp here can be far larger than one might expect.”
“I understand,” Shu Bao nodded, realizing he should not be so easily startled in the future.
“The Great Chaos Plain?” Fu Qing, sensing a new map detail, asked with curiosity.
“It’s said that even the lord-level magical beasts there are the lowest tier. However, no one who has gone there has ever returned, so we don’t have more detailed information.”
Hearing this, Shu Bao and Fu Qing exchanged a glance, understanding that this was not a place they should attempt to explore at the moment.
The Nan Ming Legion continued forward for another day. Fortunately, they had already crossed the two most dangerous swamp areas. The journey became much smoother afterward as they avoided dangerous zones, collected magical materials, and enjoyed roasted grasshoppers during their breaks. The pace of their progress became significantly lighter.
Counting their harvest, Shu Bao found that the Omniscient Fruits and the Chaotic Swamp marsh crocodiles had been completed. As for the other materials, he hoped he could buy them at a tavern.
“We’ve arrived,” Nan Ming said, stopping to alert everyone.
The group moved forward and saw their destination.
It was a massive rift, at its widest appearing to be at least two or three hundred meters across. In this already chaotic world, the rift seemed like a gigantic abyssal mouth, silently gaping open, waiting to devour any who ventured near.
Nan Ming tossed a few illumination orbs into the rift and discovered that the space beneath was even larger. The orbs fell rapidly, and after a long while, they still hadn’t reached the bottom.
Instead, they occasionally spotted magical beasts and magical plants clinging to the cliff walls. Due to the rapid descent of the orbs, the shadows flickered by too quickly to see clearly.
Unlike the others, Shu Bao, who had night vision, could see the interior of the rift clearly. However, due to the limitations of his vision, he still couldn’t make out the bottom.
“Shall we proceed?” Nan Ming asked.
“Let’s go!” No one in the legion hesitated; everyone prepared to climb down.
Fu Qing spread his wings and was about to fly down first, but Shu Bao called out, “I think you’d better climb down using the vines.”
Fu Qing, puzzled, twitched his antennae but ultimately accepted the beautiful friend’s suggestion.
The group’s movements were always swift. They descended the rift by following the cracks in the cliff and the hanging vines. After climbing down for a dozen meters, with the help of Nan Ming’s illumination orbs, they discovered a massive spider web! The web was semi-transparent and could barely be seen up close.
The rift was already quite wide, but the spider web spanned the entire width. One could easily imagine how terrifying the spider that wove it must be.
Fu Qing couldn’t help but feel a shiver, relieved he had made it down safely. Hanging on that web would not only be dangerous but also quite embarrassing.
The legion moved silently, carefully navigating through the gaps in the spider web. They continued downward and, after passing through a zone infested with mutated bats, they were incredibly fortunate to find a raised platform with some spirit mushrooms growing on it!
The group gathered the spirit mushrooms and took a short rest before preparing to set off. Suddenly, a dragon’s roar erupted from deep within the rift.
The roar stirred up a powerful gust of wind that swept upwards.
Bats disturbed by the noise fled from the rift, and many startled magical beasts began to crawl around. The dragon’s roar had awakened the entire rift.
The Nan Ming Legion was also startled, not expecting that a single roar could be so terrifying. As they were thinking this, the area below suddenly brightened. A ball of flames rose from the bottom of the rift, illuminating it completely.
![How to Escape from the Hands of Yandere [QT]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/images-94.jpeg "How to Escape from the Hands of Yandere [QT]")
