Chapter 74 – Harvest

Chapter 74 – Harvest

Having confirmed the benefits, Cheng Yang became even more cautious. However, the Level 2 Spirit Stones were spaced far apart, forcing him to move slowly. As he progressed, he had to pick up and absorb the Level 1 Spirit Stones scattered on the ground.

Though Cheng Yang remained vigilant at all times, he found the process exhilarating. After all, gaining 10 Spirit Energy points every few seconds was something anyone would be thrilled about. Even with his current strength, it would take him ten seconds to gain the same amount by killing first-stage mutated beasts. Comparatively, he much preferred this method of harvesting Spirit Energy.

After more than ten minutes, Cheng Yang finally picked up another Level 2 Spirit Stone and carefully stored it in his backpack. At this point, he felt that even if someone offered him a piece of golden-grade equipment in exchange for these Spirit Stones, he wouldn’t take it. These stones were far more valuable to him.

Nearly an hour later, Cheng Yang reached the third Level 2 Spirit Stone. The entire process had gone smoothly, with no sign of the giant rat he had expected to appear. He bent down slowly, picked up the stone, and placed it in his backpack.

After standing up, Cheng Yang noticed a few Level 1 Spirit Stones in the distance and decided to collect them first. As he approached, he discovered a bend in the path, explaining why he hadn’t seen further ahead earlier.

Just then, a sense of foreboding washed over him. Before he could react, he heard the rapid patter of footsteps echoing from afar, identical to the rhythm of the giant rat’s approach earlier.

*Damn, there really is another one…* Cheng Yang cursed inwardly and immediately turned to run.

After dashing about ten meters, he glanced back and saw a massive rat emerging from around the corner, its eerie blue eyes fixed on him. Seeing this creature, Cheng Yang felt more composed. It was identical to the one he had killed earlier. If he could take down the first, he could handle this one too. The only downside was that he’d have to use another health potion.

Cheng Yang regretted not bringing more health potions. As for mana potions, they weren’t as crucial at the moment.

This time, Cheng Yang didn’t take as many risks. After taking a hit, he immediately drank a health potion and continued his assault. By the time the giant rat died, Cheng Yang’s health had dropped to just over twenty points.

Staring at his pitiful remaining health, Cheng Yang debated whether to use another health potion. He checked the countdown on his status panel: three hours and twelve minutes remained, and he only had three health potions left.

After some thought, Cheng Yang decided not to waste a potion. Instead, he sat down to meditate. Although meditation only restored about 1 point of health per minute, it would fully recover his health in an hour, which was acceptable.

As time passed, Cheng Yang’s health eventually replenished, and he ventured deeper into the cave once more. The pattern repeated itself: after rounding the bend, he spotted four pale blue Level 2 Spirit Stones within sight, with more obscured further ahead.

This time, Cheng Yang was wiser. He guessed that the path up to the bend was safe, but beyond it, another giant rat likely lurked. He quickened his pace, collecting and absorbing the Level 1 Spirit Stones while storing the Level 2 ones in his backpack.

As he neared the bend again, Cheng Yang held his breath and crept forward, hoping to spot the rat’s hiding place and prepare for the next battle. Ideally, he wanted to ambush the creature before it noticed him.

However, reality had other plans. Before Cheng Yang could peek around the corner, a shrill screech echoed from the other side.

*Just as I expected.* Fortunately, Cheng Yang was prepared. He quickly retreated a few steps and hurled an ice orb around the corner.

By some stroke of luck, the first ice orb triggered a slowing effect, reducing the rat’s speed by half. It could barely keep up with Cheng Yang, let alone chase him down. Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Yang continued to retreat while rapidly firing two more ice orbs, cutting the rat’s health by nearly half.

The slowing effect lasted only two seconds. As soon as it wore off, the rat charged at Cheng Yang with renewed speed. Cheng Yang didn’t hesitate, launching another round of attacks. By the time the rat closed in, it was down to a sliver of health. It managed to land only one hit before falling to Cheng Yang’s ice orbs, saving him a health potion.

Cheng Yang returned to the bend, finally able to peek around safely. However, what he saw disappointed him. The ground ahead held only three pale blue Spirit Stones, with far fewer Level 1 stones scattered about.

*This is cutting corners!* Cheng Yang grumbled internally but quickly collected the stones.

His personal Spirit Energy had now reached 13,000 points, with nearly 5,000 earned from killing mutated beasts in the past two days and the remaining 8,000 absorbed from Spirit Stones in the cave. This didn’t even account for the eleven Level 2 Spirit Stones in his backpack.

Cheng Yang’s harvest was incredibly bountiful. For anyone else, acquiring so much Spirit Energy by the tenth day of the apocalypse would be a dream come true, far more practical than any high-grade equipment. Of course, compared to building blueprints, it paled in comparison.

Glancing at the faint blue glow ahead and his dwindling supply of health potions, Cheng Yang decided to press on. As he approached the next bend, he braced himself for the expected sound. But to his surprise, nothing happened even as he neared the corner.

*Could there really be no mutated beasts ahead?* Cheng Yang wondered, though the thought didn’t bring him joy. If there were no giant rats, it likely meant no Spirit Stones either.

With trepidation, Cheng Yang peeked around the corner and was stunned by what he saw. The previous sections of the cave had been narrow passages, but ahead lay a cavernous hall spanning over 10,000 square meters. Embedded in the walls were numerous deep blue gemstones, resembling the Spirit Stones he had collected but with a much richer hue.

*This is going to be the death of me!* Cheng Yang gasped, realizing these were likely higher-grade Spirit Stones. Each one probably contained an immense amount of Spirit Energy. With over a thousand such stones in the hall, the total energy would be astronomical—millions, perhaps even billions. Cheng Yang imagined himself standing atop the world with such power.

The temptation was overwhelming, but the stones on the walls were out of reach. However, scattered across the ground were at least ten deep blue Spirit Stones, far more accessible and enticing.

Most people would have rushed forward without a second thought, but Cheng Yang, having lived through the apocalypse once before, knew better. He understood the world’s cruelty and dangers far more than others.

Tearing his gaze from the alluring stones, Cheng Yang surveyed the cavern. At the far end, five massive rats lay sprawled. Four resembled the ones he had killed earlier, but the central one was nearly twice as large. Its position suggested it was the leader of the pack.

*What kind of creature could lead a pack of peak first-stage mutated beasts?* Cheng Yang was certain it was at least an early second-stage beast.

The thought sent a chill down his spine. While killing a peak first-stage beast wasn’t too difficult for him, facing an early second-stage creature was a different matter entirely. As Chen Yun, the territory guard of Falling Phoenix Village, had said, a combatant who couldn’t defeat a stronger beast with the aid of potions and equipment didn’t deserve the title.

But the beast before Cheng Yang wasn’t just a small step above him—it was likely an early second-stage powerhouse. Second-stage creatures were rare even in his previous life, but one thing was certain: they were at least twice as strong as peak first-stage beasts.

Facing such a foe, Cheng Yang knew he stood no chance. It would be like a first-stage beast trying to fight him—utterly hopeless.

At this moment, Cheng Yang felt death looming closer than ever, even more so than when he had encountered the massive flying mutated beast earlier.

*What should I do? Retreat? I’ve already gained so much…*

PS: Seeking recommendations and collections…