Chapter 76

Wang Yong had in his pocket three pieces of imperial green glass-type jade and one piece of purple glass-type jade, all of considerable value, as well as a bank card with over 70 million yuan recently transferred to it. He was strolling down the streets of KM, admiring the various ethnic minority landscapes. It was quite surprising how many ethnic minorities there were. There were the Dai, Naxi, Bai, Hani, and Nu, among fifteen unique ethnic minorities of YN. Additionally, there were other ethnic minorities such as the Zhuang, Miao, and Yao. The entire YN province has a total of twenty-five ethnic minorities, and as the provincial capital, KM almost showcases all the unique landscapes of these twenty-five ethnic groups, including their clothing, food, and architecture, which left Wang Yong dazzled.

In YN, the forest coverage is very high, especially in some border areas where large tracts of primeval forest still exist. With economic development, primeval forests in the country have become increasingly rare, but here, they have been preserved for various reasons. YN, known as the "Kingdom of Flora and Fauna," has established 112 nature reserves, with the area of primeval forest in these reserves reaching 30 million mu, accounting for about 20% of the province's natural forest area. According to the head of the YN Forestry Department, the nature reserves established in YN have effectively protected over 100 major forest types and more than 90% of the wild animal and plant species. Located in the southwestern frontier, YN has a diverse climate and rich vegetation types, making it one of the world's most famous regions of biodiversity. Currently, YN has established 112 nature reserves, covering a total area of over 2.2 million hectares, making it one of the provinces with the most and most diverse nature reserves in China.

Precious animals: 46 species, including wild buffalo, wild elephants, Indochinese tigers, Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, slow lorises, gibbons, white-tailed pheasants, and hornbills, are under national first-class protection. Another 154 species, including macaques, bear macaques, gray langurs, red pandas, pythons, pangolins, musk deer, and green peacocks, are under national second-class protection. Peacocks, in particular, are almost everywhere. The local people, based on their long-term observation of peacocks, created the world-renowned peacock dance.

There are also many rare plants, such as the skyward tree. The skyward tree is a tall evergreen tree that, to stand out in the tropical rainforest and show its unique grandeur, competes with other plants for more sunlight and rain. It usually grows to a height of 70 meters and a diameter of over 2 meters (some can reach 93 meters). It stands tall and points to the sky, like a giant umbrella. The Dai people call it the umbrella tree. The skyward tree is a first-class protected plant and one of the eight rarest plants in the country.

Of course, there are also the famous banyan trees. A famous essay about a bird's paradise has made people across the country familiar with this unique tree species that can form a forest from a single tree. The banyan tree is a tall evergreen tree, reaching a height of over 30 meters, with a broad and lush canopy. Standing under it gives a sense of being under a vast sky. It is an ideal natural resting place, and some large banyan trees can cover an area of 5 mu, providing a resting place for over a thousand people.

The massive banyan tree is supported by numerous aerial roots. When the branches grow to 10 to 20 meters, they produce many aerial roots, which are initially as thin as fine wire and sway in the wind. Once they touch the ground, they take root and grow into the soil, becoming trunks that gradually grow taller and thicker, supporting the vast canopy along with the main trunk. These aerial roots can number from dozens to hundreds or even thousands, with the largest having a diameter of over 1 meter and the smallest 20-30 centimeters. The main trunk can have a girth of 6-7 meters, forming a dense and interconnected banyan forest.

Thus, the banyan tree is known for its ability to form a forest from a single tree, a unique landscape that delights visitors to the tropical rainforest. This is the tree Wang Yong most wants to obtain, but unfortunately, it can only survive in the subtropics, and the northern region where Wang Yong lives cannot support it. If he could plant one in his village, it would cover the entire village with its shade, connecting with the trees on the mountain, creating a magnificent and beautiful scene.

There are many other distinctive trees in YN, such as the arrow poison tree, which secretes a highly toxic sap that can truly cause death upon contact with blood.

There is also the miracle tree, known as the "king tree." The king tree is a tall and beautiful tree, reaching a height of 30 meters and a diameter of 80-120 centimeters, with a straight trunk and a round canopy. Its leaves are large and smooth, and its branches extend horizontally, with good natural pruning. It has a golden, beautiful trunk with a fine and dense texture, hard and resistant to insect and decay. It grows very quickly, averaging 3-3.5 meters in height and 3-4 centimeters in diameter per year, reaching 30-40 meters in 8-10 years, with a single tree volume of about 1.5 cubic meters. It is a rare fast-growing timber species in the country. Moreover, it has an amazing ability to withstand dry heat and poor soil, making it an excellent material for construction, furniture, and artistic carving. It is known as the "miracle tree" or "gem tree" worldwide.

The king tree has strong vitality and is easy to plant. In addition to abundant seeds for natural regeneration, the stumps have strong sprouting ability, and after one year, new plants grow to 1-2 meters in height and 2-3 centimeters in diameter. The second-generation sprouts grow five times faster than the original forest. Even if the tropical rainforest vegetation is destroyed by natural disasters, the king tree's offspring can still stand tall and cover the sky.

With so many good things, how could Wang Yong miss out? He was very excited to see what the small world would be like when he left.

Entering the primeval forest is no small matter. Apart from the dangerous animals and plants, getting lost alone can be fatal. Without certain outdoor survival skills and knowledge, entering the primeval forest is almost certain death. The primeval forest is vast, and to explore it, food and clean drinking water are essential. Especially drinking water, although there are many water sources in the jungle, most are unsuitable for direct human consumption.

The water contains many eggs, bacteria, and viruses. Even if it looks clear, drinking it can cause diarrhea at the least and be fatal at worst. Therefore, it is best to bring as much drinking water as possible to avoid drinking unsafe water out of desperation.

For Wang Yong, this is not a problem. With his supernatural small world, the spiritual spring water inside is enough to last him for ten lifetimes. The various vegetables, fruits, and fish and shrimp in the water ensure he will never lack for food or water. However, he doesn't want to eat raw food, so a set of cooking utensils is essential. He also needs some medicine, as anything can happen in the jungle, and having some medicine is a good precaution.

Buying medicine was simple. Wang Yong walked into a pharmacy and bought most of the necessary items, mainly cold medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood-clotting medicine. He bought a lot of Yunnan Baiyao. After buying the medicine, he threw everything into the small world.

To prevent the animals from destroying the medicine, he found a cave to store it and blocked the entrance with stones. After hiding the medicine, Wang Yong hailed a taxi and told the driver to find an outdoor equipment store. The driver, without a word, started the car and sped off.

After several turns, Wang Yong was almost dizzy. An hour later, the driver stopped at a store called "Old Soldier." He then said bluntly, "We're here. The best outdoor equipment store in YN. Fifty yuan."

Wang Yong, still dizzy, got out of the car, and to his surprise, the driver followed him into the store. As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Company Commander! I've brought you a customer!"

"Here, Wild Dog, can you be a bit quieter? How many times do I have to tell you?" A man in his thirties, dressed in a Chinese Army camouflage uniform, came out and scolded the driver, who was called "Wild Dog."

It seemed this was an outdoor equipment store run by a retired veteran. The man called "Company Commander" and Wild Dog were likely former elite soldiers, possibly even from special forces. This was evident from their strong bodies and agile movements, which were not typical of ordinary soldiers.

"Hello, what would you like?" the Company Commander, as he will be called, smiled at Wang Yong and asked.

Wang Yong was taken aback. He had expected the Company Commander to be as stern and unsmiling as Wild Dog, but he was surprisingly friendly.

"Um, I want to go on an adventure in the forest. I don't know what to prepare. Do you have any suggestions?" Wang Yong thought it was best to listen to the advice of a professional.

Although Wang Yong didn't care about the so-called dangers in the forest, there is an old saying: "The more skilled, the braver." Wang Yong was not only skilled but also had the supernatural small world and the AI Xiaoguang. He doubted there was anywhere on Earth that could trap him. After inheriting the small world, Wang Yong could perform many immortal techniques. Compared to true immortals, he might be weaker, but in the modern, technologically advanced society, these so-called superstitious things allowed him to ignore most dangers. As the five elements in the small world increased and the small world expanded, he could learn more techniques, and their power would also increase.

"Oh, it seems you're a first-timer in wilderness survival. You need to prepare well, especially not going alone. It's best to have someone experienced with you, or it will be too dangerous," the Company Commander said seriously. "The primeval forest is much more terrifying than you can imagine. Even experienced people can make mistakes."

"No problem, we're going as a group, about ten people, and we won't go too deep," Wang Yong lied, without a hint of guilt.

"Good, having more people is better for safety. I'll pick out some essential items for you. With these, while I can't guarantee your absolute safety, they will greatly reduce the risk of harm."

"Okay, please pick them out for me. I'll look around the store."

The Company Commander and Wild Dog went to select the equipment, while Wang Yong browsed the store, especially the military section. Domestic and foreign military camouflage, boots, jackets, hats, glasses, binoculars, compasses, and various realistic military knives and gun models left him dazzled. After some time, the Company Commander returned with a large backpack, and Wild Dog had already left.

"Take a look. With these, and if you're careful, you'll be almost safe."

The Company Commander then taught Wang Yong a lot about wilderness survival. After half an hour, Wang Yong paid and thanked the Company Commander gratefully before leaving the "Old Soldier" outdoor equipment store with the large backpack. (To be continued.)