Accompanied by the Crow Guise Black Feather, Zhang Yuan embarked on a search around the small valley.
The area was mountainous and densely forested, seemingly devoid of human presence. The natural environment was incredibly complex, housing countless species of living beings.
Searching for a second host here was no easy task.
It was like finding a needle in a haystack!
Fortunately, the Divine Nest could sense genetic hosts at close range and provide hints to the host.
This greatly reduced the difficulty.
Despite this, Zhang Yuan wielded his Firewood Knife, hacking through thorns and underbrush, arduously searching for nearly two hours, disturbing many hidden snakes, insects, and rats among the vegetation.
All the while, the Divine Nest remained unresponsive.
However, Zhang Yuan remained undeterred; he was determined to keep searching.
Meanwhile, the Crow Guise Black Feather hovering in the air began to vibrate continuously, emitting a low humming sound.
As if reminding Zhang Yuan that time was almost up!
Zhang Yuan understood the meaning and reluctantly turned back toward the small valley.
If he couldn't find anything today, he'd come back tomorrow.
Where there is one host, there will be two. He believed that with persistence, he could find the second and third hosts!
[Genetic host found!]
Unexpectedly for Zhang Yuan, just as he had walked only a dozen steps, a prompt suddenly appeared in his view.
He nearly jumped up in surprise.
The thrill came so suddenly, catching him off guard!
Immediately, he widened his eyes and scanned around for the life form sensed by the Divine Nest.
There was a strong sense of anticipation as if opening a blind box.
In the next moment, Zhang Yuan's gaze locked onto a clump of shrubs just three feet away.
In the dense foliage, a completely emerald green mantis was facing off against a black-and-white Silver Ring Snake.
Zhang Yuan involuntarily held his breath.
The mantis seemed as if sculpted from jade, its armored shell shimmering with a beautiful gloss. It tentatively swung its scythe-like forelegs to launch attacks on the small snake in front.
Although the Silver Ring Snake was small, its overall size surpassed that of the mantis.
Yet it faced the mantis's attacks as if facing a formidable enemy, curling its body and raising its head, continuously dodging the opponent's swinging forelegs.
Indeed it appeared to be at a disadvantage!
Zhang Yuan didn't immediately interrupt their fight but patiently watched instead.
The Emerald Mantis's temperament was evidently fierce; after repeated probing failed, it launched a real assault.
With a flash of "sword light," a foreleg bristling with spikes struck the left eye area of the Silver Ring Snake with lightning speed.
A deep wound was instantly inflicted.
The Silver Ring Snake, in pain, instinctively opened its mouth to bite at the Emerald Mantis.
However, the Emerald Mantis nimbly evaded.
Simultaneously dodging the Silver Ring Snake's counterattack, the fierce mantis launched a torrential assault.
Each strike aimed at the Silver Ring Snake's head!
Such a level of battle seemed insignificant within the biosphere, yet Zhang Yuan, as a bystander, found it enthralling.
He couldn't even clearly see the Emerald Mantis's moves, only feeling that this little creature fought with extreme flair.
The Silver Ring Snake suffered consecutive heavy blows; its head oozed with fresh blood and lost one eye.
Panic-stricken, it turned and darted into the shrubs, attempting to flee.
No match, completely outclassed!
Seeing its prey attempting to escape, the Emerald Mantis immediately raised its bladed forelegs high.
Ready to chase.
However, at that moment, a "giant palm" suddenly descended from the sky.
Grasping it tightly in the palm!
The Emerald Mantis was entirely unprepared for the Great Yellow Finch lying in wait on the side, and caught off guard, it instinctively swung its forelegs, struggling to resist.
Successively carving shallow scratches into Zhang Yuan's palm.
Zhang Yuan seemed unaffected.
The Divine Nest Badge on the back of his hand emitted a faint glow, ancient spells silently blossomed on his tongue.
The Emerald Mantis in his palm suddenly vanished.
In the second nest room of the Divine Nest, a new host was instantly added!
[Host: Zhang Yuan]
[Divine Nest: Level 1 (30%)]
[Host: Level 2 Black Giant Ant (9%)/4 times Strength]
[Host: Level 1 Jade Mantis (2%)/Basic Sword Mastery]
[Qi Blood: 68/75]
[Source Material: 0]
Basic Sword Mastery!
The data on the Divine Nest panel displayed by the second host brought Zhang Yuan another great surprise.
This extraordinary life form, the Jade Mantis, surprisingly possessed the power of "Mastery."
Mastery, skilled and proficient!
This was an uncommon and precious extraordinary ability, even if limited to "Saber Technique."
Zhang Yuan took a deep breath and quietly activated the newly-gained Jade Mantis, imbuing himself with "Sword Mastery."
A strange power surged from his left hand, instantly sweeping through his entire body.
Sending shivers down Zhang Yuan's spine.
Involuntarily, he clenched the Firewood Knife in his hand.
At that moment, Zhang Yuan felt that the seemingly ordinary Firewood Knife had accompanied him for decades, becoming a part of his body.
Connected to him by flesh and blood!
Zhang Yuan casually swung it.
A sharp sword aura cut through the air in front of him, and several leaves fell to the ground.
The cut surface was incredibly smooth!
Even without having learned proper swordsmanship.
At this moment, with the knife in hand, Zhang Yuan vaguely possessed the demeanor of a Sword Dao master!
He believed that in this state, facing the previous wild boar, he could solve the problem with a single strike.
Just when Zhang Yuan intended to further test the power of "Saber Technique Mastery," the Crow Guise Black Feather emitted vibrations again.
Unable to help it, he hurriedly wrapped it up.
Zhang Yuan glanced at the Divine Nest panel again, noticing that the Qi and Blood Value had only decreased by 10 points.
Unlike the highly demanding Power of the Black Giant Ant, the activation and imbuement of the Jade Mantis's "Saber Technique Mastery" required much less Qi and Blood Value.
This meant that simply utilizing the extraordinary ability of "Saber Technique Mastery" could be sustained for a considerably longer period!
The result left Zhang Yuan immensely satisfied.
The joy in his heart was beyond words.
Still, despite his happiness, Zhang Yuan remained composed.
He followed the Black Feather back to the small valley.
Zhang Yuan discovered that the pile of boar viscera he had dug up before had disappeared.
The Crow Guise was gone too.
Only the empty-bellied sow lay there.
Without hesitation, Zhang Yuan swiftly split the wild boar in half with his saber.
Offering half as a sacrifice for Source Material, while the other he hoisted onto his shoulder and hurried toward the edge of the mountain.
If he delayed any longer, he might not make it back to the village before nightfall.
Moreover, outside the village, the wilderness at night was extremely dangerous!
Zhang Yuan did not spare his Physical Strength and, guided by the Crow Guise Black Feather, hurried along. Finally, as the sky began to grow dark, he reached the entrance leading into the great mountain.
Seeing the curling smoke from the mountain village ahead, only then did he truly relax.
Turning his head to look, the Crow Guise Black Feather was already nowhere to be seen!