Chapter 5

The restricted area formed in the southeastern corner of Nanhuangzhou is not very large.

The ruins from which Xu Qing and his group left are located at the edge of the restricted area.

This is why the scavengers could reach the city on the first day of sunlight.

So, as the sky grew darker, they were almost out of the restricted area's range.

Although they encountered some mutated beasts along the way, the scavengers quickly dealt with them.

After observing, Xu Qing made a judgment in his heart.

He felt that if he were to act, he could match up against the six scavengers, except for the old man called Lei Team Leader, whom he could not handle.

"They are not cultivators, but their ruthless and precise timing, along with their disregard for death in critical moments, enhance their lethality."

Xu Qing analyzed in his heart, pondering that he could fight any of the scavengers individually, except for Lei Team Leader.

If it were two of them, he could still manage, but if it were three, he would be in trouble.

With this judgment, Xu Qing became even more cautious.

He also keenly noticed that as they got closer to the outside world, the scavengers' expressions became more relaxed.

They even joked with each other along the way.

Only the old man called Lei Team Leader remained silent throughout the journey.

The others also showed great respect for him, which piqued Xu Qing's curiosity about the old man's identity.

However, this curiosity did not reduce his vigilance. Even as they were about to leave the restricted area, Xu Qing remained alert, keeping a distance from the scavengers.

He stayed not too far behind, listening to their conversations while cautiously following them.

As the sky was about to completely darken, a warm sensation greeted them, and Xu Qing paused, looking back at the wasteland behind him and then at the world ahead.

It seemed as if there was an invisible boundary in the world.

Inside the boundary, it was the newly formed restricted area, cold and icy.

Outside the boundary, it was the normal world, with the earth coming back to life.

They had left the restricted area.

Although it was night outside, the stars were brilliant, and the moon was high in the sky.

The land, though desolate, was far less cold than the restricted area, and occasionally, the sounds of normal birds and beasts could be heard.

In the distant grass, Xu Qing even saw a rabbit watching them warily.

All of this made Xu Qing feel a bit dazed.

The scavengers also visibly relaxed, and even Lei Team Leader eased his brow.

"Finally out. This time was relatively smooth, but if possible, I never want to step into the restricted area again."

"Not go to the restricted area? To survive and live better in this hellish world, one must risk their life in the restricted area. Eventually, I will buy a residence permit for a Seven Blood Pupil sub-city!"

Outside the restricted area, the scavengers were clearly more relaxed, and their words spread.

Xu Qing remained silent but listened carefully. On this journey, he had learned a lot of information he had never encountered before from their conversations.

For example, the Seven Blood Pupil, which he had heard the scavengers mention multiple times, seemed to be a powerful force.

The name Zituo was also mentioned several times.

"Do you have such low aspirations? There are many Seven Blood Pupil sub-cities, and Lujiao City is one of them. However, the qualification is not just about having enough spirit coins; it also requires a recommendation from a Seven Blood Pupil disciple. Besides, what does a residence permit mean? My goal is to gain entry to the Seven Blood Pupil and become a disciple!"

"You won't last three days in the Seven Blood Pupil. Everyone can talk big, but why don't you say your goal is to go to the Ancient Gaze Continent, where the origin of the human race is located?"

Xu Qing's heart stirred at this. He had seen the name Ancient Gaze on a bamboo slip.

"Go to the Ancient Gaze Continent? If I had the ability to ignore the taboo creatures in the sea, do you think I wouldn't go?"

Two of the scavengers seemed to have a verbal conflict and started arguing.

Xu Qing perked up his ears, ready to continue listening to their conversation to gather more information. Suddenly, the old man Lei Team Leader, who had been silent throughout the journey, glanced at the two and spoke for the first time.

"Going to the Ancient Gaze Continent is not impossible. There are four methods. Think about which one suits you."

"First, achieve the Foundation Establishment stage before the age of fifteen and become a rare genius. Second, pay 300,000 tons of spirit coins to buy a migration quota from Zituo, Seven Blood Pupil, or the Departure Sect."

"Third, make outstanding contributions to the human race in alchemy. Fourth, be taken as a personal disciple by one of the major families of the Zituo Holy Land, the peak masters of the Seven Blood Pupil, or the leader of the Departure Sect."

"Oh, and there's a fifth method: become a treasure nurturer. Think about which one suits you."

The scavengers fell silent, especially when they heard the fifth method, their expressions became uneasy, and fear showed in their eyes.

Xu Qing's eyes also narrowed. He had heard of the term "treasure nurturer."

In the slums, he had a few familiar companions who were taken away by some well-dressed people.

It was said that they were to be trained as treasure nurturers, and at the time, the other children in the slums were very envious.

After hesitating for a moment, he looked at Lei Team Leader and asked softly.

"Please, what is a treasure nurturer?"

Lei Team Leader's gaze fell on Xu Qing, and he spoke calmly.

"Using one's body to nurture a magical treasure, practicing special cultivation techniques, and using flesh and blood to dilute the heterogeneity pollution of the magical treasure, so that the increase in heterogeneity from each use is mitigated, allowing for continuous use, while the body gradually withers and dies."

Xu Qing's eyes widened, and he fell silent for a long time.

The others also seemed to lose their desire to talk due to the term "treasure nurturer" and walked silently in the darkness.

After leaving the restricted area for some distance, they set up camp on a plain.

Unlike in the restricted area, the camp outside included a burning bonfire.

As the flames burned, the warmth increased, and the scavengers gathered around the bonfire, taking out food to roast, gradually filling the air with a fragrant aroma.

Looking at their food, Xu Qing swallowed hard, sitting far away and taking out a half piece of hard jerky from a leather bag, tearing it with his teeth.

Lei Team Leader, sitting by the bonfire, glanced over and stood up, walking to Xu Qing.

As Xu Qing suddenly looked up, Lei Team Leader threw a leather bag at him, which contained a few warm steamed buns.

Seeing the buns, Xu Qing's eyes widened, and he resisted the urge to eat, speaking softly.

"Thank you."

Lei Team Leader said nothing and returned to the bonfire. One of the scavengers laughed and said,

"Lei Team Leader, why are you so nice to this kid?"

"They are all pitiful people. Meeting is a form of fate, and if we can help, we should."

There were three buns, and they were warm in his hands.

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, seeing that the others were eating the same buns, he pretended to take a bite, observing them. After a while, he found that they were still normal, and after a long wait, he finally took a small bite, holding it in his mouth for a moment.

After confirming it was safe, he slowly chewed and swallowed.

He waited for a long time again, and after confirming it was safe, he felt relieved and couldn't resist eating a whole bun in large bites.

He hesitated again and then slowly ate the second bun in small bites.

Although he was still hungry, he wrapped the last bun carefully and placed it in his leather bag, treating it like a treasure.

The sky grew darker, and the scavengers gradually returned to their tents. Lei Team Leader, as he did the previous day, handed the sleeping bag to him and said before leaving,

"I'm giving it to you."

Xu Qing looked up at Lei Team Leader and suddenly spoke.

"Why?"

"Why what? The three buns and the sleeping bag... there's no reason. If you have the heart, you can get me some food in the future." Lei Team Leader turned and walked towards the tent.

"What do you like to eat?"

"Me?" Lei Team Leader stood by the tent and thought for a moment.

"Snakes, they taste good." He then entered the tent.

Xu Qing held the sleeping bag, looking at Lei Team Leader's tent for a long time, and nodded heavily, crawling into the sleeping bag and closing his eyes.

However, he did not fall asleep immediately. Instead, he silently practiced the Sea Mountain Technique, which had become a habit for him.

Even though the practice was extremely cold, he did not give up, seizing every opportunity to work hard.

Especially the mention of achieving the Foundation Establishment stage before the age of fifteen by Lei Team Leader. Although he did not compare himself to the geniuses mentioned, he still had some thoughts.

"I'm fourteen this year..." Xu Qing murmured, continuing his practice.

Time passed slowly, and soon five days had gone by.

Xu Qing followed the scavengers over mountains and through grasslands.

Three of them left halfway, confirming Xu Qing's previous judgment that they were a temporary group.

By the seventh day, after two scavengers with knives also left, only Xu Qing and Lei Team Leader remained.

That night, at the foot of a mountain, by the bonfire, Lei Team Leader looked at Xu Qing, who had carefully eaten the buns and wrapped half of one, and spoke slowly.

"Kid, by noon tomorrow, we will reach our destination, where I live. It's a scavenger camp."

Xu Qing looked up at the old man.

The old man gazed into the distance and continued.

"Scavenger camps are often built next to restricted areas. So, on the other side of the mountain, there is also a restricted area."

"Compared to the newly formed restricted area you were in, this one has existed for a long time. It not only has fierce beasts but also dangerous terrain, and the heterogeneity is extremely dense. An ordinary person would die if they stayed inside for a day, and even I can only last seven days."

"But it is rich in Seven-Leaf Grass, which is a necessary ingredient for refining White Pills."

"White Pills are the basic pills that cultivators use to resolve heterogeneity in their bodies. So, many outsiders come here, but they value their lives and are unfamiliar with the terrain, so they rarely go to gather it themselves. Instead, they pay spirit coins to local scavengers to do it for them."

The old man looked at Xu Qing.

"Do you understand what I mean?"

"You mean that the local scavengers in the camp are willing to risk their lives for money, and they will do anything for it."

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed after hearing about the White Pills and their effects, and he thought for a moment before speaking softly.

Lei Team Leader's eyes showed surprise, and he smiled.

"You answered partially correctly. What I want to tell you is that the scavenger camp operates on the principle of the strong preying on the weak, with strength being the ultimate rule."

"But at least it is a place to live, with a market and a place to buy necessities. Sometimes, trade caravans also come, so each house in the camp has considerable value."

"Therefore, not just anyone can enter. Each new face must undergo a beast trial to gain the right to live there, a rule set by the camp leader."

"And if you successfully pass, I can allow you to live with me for a fee." The old man looked at Xu Qing and spoke slowly.