Under Ye Feng's gaze, Ajin opened the bottle containing "super pure water," waved it beside Xiao Xiao, and finally poured out a little. Instantly, he struck it into a mist with his palm and sprayed it on Xiao Xiao.
"Huh?"
Xiao Xiao was very surprised.
Because after the misty super pure water landed on her, wisps of black-green things actually appeared on her body.
These black-green things were most concentrated at the bottom, precisely where they had found the altar in the forbidden human zone, closest to that broken glass bottle...
"This dark green stuff is zombie breath!"
After speaking, a flash of light appeared on Ajin's hand. The super pure water, under his control, formed a net-like spoon.
He manipulated the net-like spoon made of super pure water, scraping off all the zombie breath from Xiao Xiao's body and tossing it onto the ground far away.
Then, Ajin again turned the super pure water into mist and sprayed it on Xiao Xiao. The few remaining traces of zombie breath vanished in an instant...
And the black-green zombie breath on the ground in the distance was also rapidly dissipating...
"Zombie breath attaches itself to living humans or animals, similar to a symbiotic relationship. It won't disappear unless the person or animal it's clinging to dies!"
"Even with super pure water, you still need to strip off most of the zombie breath from the host before you can see immediate results!"
Ajin muttered to himself and then turned to look at Ye Feng.
"Here you go!"
Ye Feng was equally direct, handing over two large, soccer-ball-sized ice-attribute arcane origin stones.
Ajin's face lit up with joy. He immediately took the ice-attribute arcane origin stones. He glanced at the arcane pointer on Ye Feng's left wrist. "Young man, if you have time, come visit the Sea Restaurant~ The Sea Restaurant welcomes those with courage!"
With that, Ajin strode back to the Sea Restaurant personnel.
"Big brother, what does that person just say about red... red bean paste, su... sumimasen mean?"
"Is it some kind of food?"
After Ajin left, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but ask about her confusion.
"Oh, that's an apology. It means 'I'm really sorry!'"
Ye Feng replied, and then took Xiao Xiao to another spot.
He saw many people returning from the direction of the ancient ruins, looking disappointed.
"Hahaha~ Idiots!"
"I told you, you need a special time and a special method to enter the ancient ruins!"
"Exactly, why do you think those big powers haven't made a move yet..."
"Hahaha~ You actually tried to get ahead of others..."
...
As Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao found a shaded spot to sit down again, sounds of mockery towards those who had explored the ancient ruins first erupted around them.
Those people looked very displeased but didn't retort. Instead, they found places to rest...
...
At the Sea Restaurant's camp,
"Ajin, is that kid the one you mentioned before, the one with extraordinary talent in 'Tinder' you met in Mech City?"
A stout middle-aged man wearing a chef's hat stood beside Ajin. He pointed in Ye Feng's direction with his finger, his anchor tattoo on his forearm exceptionally conspicuous.
"That's right!"
Ajin nodded. "Sea Chef, don't get any funny ideas. That kid is a genuine Gold Rank Four, not a fake. And he just discovered the water prison formation I secretly set up!"
"Really?"
The middle-aged man called Sea Chef looked surprised. "That kid's age... even if he cultivated from the womb... to be Gold Rank Four now, it's too fast... Did he have a special encounter?"
"Probably!"
Ajin narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ye Feng. "That kid's growth speed can only be described as outrageous... When I saw him in Mech City, he was only Silver Intermediate... but now he's Gold Rank Four... That's why I went over to test him just now!"
"Mithril?"
Sea Chef frowned, his gaze towards Ye Feng carrying a hint of caution.
"Even if it's Mithril, it's still Silver. Silver to Gold is a qualitative leap... countless Aosho practitioners are stuck at Silver their entire lives..."
"That kid should have had a special opportunity... perhaps it's related to that old man in Mech City..."
As Ajin finished speaking, he had already absorbed the half-soccer-ball-sized ice-attribute arcane origin stone.
...
On Ye Feng's side,
"Big brother, I think I saw a familiar face!"
Ye Feng was drinking a cold beverage, listening to the discussions around him about exploring the ancient ruins. Suddenly, Xiao Xiao leaned close to him and spoke in a low voice.
"Familiar face?"
Ye Feng turned his head, looking at Xiao Xiao with some surprise.
"Mhm!"
Xiao Xiao nodded and pointed in the direction of the Arcanist City camp. "Big brother, I think I just saw Sister Yun Yao!"
"Wh-what?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Feng was startled.
He hadn't seen the Mech City exploration team before and thought Mech City hadn't sent anyone this time.
"It's a bit far..."
Ye Feng observed for a moment and said, "Xiao Xiao, let's go take a look!~"
"But, Xiao Xiao, even if it is Yun Yao, if she doesn't actively greet us, we shouldn't go up to talk to her, understand?"
Ye Feng's expression was quite serious.
If Xiao Xiao had indeed seen Shen Yun Yao, then things might be a bit complicated, especially since Shen Yun Yao wasn't with the Mech City contingent but rather in the Arcanist City camp...
"Mhm mhm!"
Xiao Xiao nodded earnestly.
...
Soon,
Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao arrived near the Arcanist City camp. Sitting inside was a plump middle-aged man with a smiling face, like a Maitreya Buddha.
The man didn't exude immense pressure, but Ye Feng didn't dare to underestimate him, as this person was, according to Ajin, one of the Arcanist City's "Five Arcanist Masters," Tuo Ji.
"One of the Five Arcanist Masters... on par with Far Bell's teacher, the Flame Ranger!"
Ye Feng muttered to himself and left with Xiao Xiao from the vicinity of the Arcanist City camp.
...
"Boss Sand Ghost, are we really not sending anyone to look for Ghost Spider?"
As they passed the Desert Storm camp, Ye Feng heard a somewhat dissatisfied voice. It was from a burly man with a red spider tattoo on his forehead.
"Look for what? The ancient ruins are right in front of us. You want me to divert manpower for a pointless task?"
The speaker was the one Ye Feng had met at the post station before, a one-eyed man in camouflage with a sandstorm swirl tattoo on his forehead and an eyepatch.
He looked indifferent. "Black Widow, give it up. I know he's your brother, but Ghost Spider is most likely not coming back. He's probably already been eaten by zombies!"
"The Watcher Sanctuary has been explored by so many major powers. Even if there is the so-called Stone of Hope there, after so many years, it's long gone!"
...
"Big brother, the person I saw just now doesn't seem to be Sister Yun Yao~!"
"She looked so much like her just now... but when I got closer, she didn't look quite the same... Was it because of the distance that I misjudged?"
Returning to their previous resting spot, Xiao Xiao's disappointed voice sounded.
"She is Yun Yao..."
Ye Feng smiled slightly and gently flicked Xiao Xiao's nose.
...