Chapter 0002: The Annihilation Forest

A small burst of flames erupted from the tree, and the flames were surprisingly incandescent, indicating an extremely high temperature. Following this, a sound akin to thunderous howling was heard

Water! One can go without food, but cannot do without water, and it must be pure, free from the contamination of iron hoofs and various bacteria. This makes me ponder where to source water more reliably. Nanxing couldn't help but furrow his brow, exerting all his mental effort to dig into his memories, and after a moment, a faint smile appeared on his face

Boom

Running for more than three hours before feeling tired was something unimaginable in the past. Even a little bit of assistance can change the trajectory of one's life, and Nanxing firmly believes in this.

The superior said, "His name is Xuanyuan Nanxing, a student from the 305 graduating class. His usual performance is average. I really don't understand how he managed to run so far in such a short time, and without any mistakes in direction." The instructor below casually reported the situation

Nanxing pinched hard, and indeed revealed a hint of pale yellow. Five Aoguo fruits are enough to last for two days; it should not be difficult to find a few more along the mycelium.

Everyone's stomachs rumbled like thunder, and then they turned their heads and opened their eyes

Haha, you are indeed quite unfortunate. How about we swap?" Nanxing said with a face full of camaraderie, handing over the exam questions as if he were ready to stab himself in the ribs for his friend

In fact, the coverage area of the Yanguo tree in the rainforest is extensive, making the probability of encountering the sound wave lizard very low. This cannot be blamed on Nanxing's timidity; although he has gained memories from a decade later, he ultimately remains the one in control. Therefore, he needs to invest considerable effort to practice for a period of time, otherwise this slight advantage will inevitably become commonplace as he ages.

Following the green mycelium, I quickly traced the vines and pulled out five fruits from the muddy depression, each about the size of an adult's fist. The surface of these fruits is dark green, and at first glance, they appear quite different from the Aoguo. It is only after removing the hard outer shell that the true skin of the fruit is revealed

It is imperative to find a place to rest as soon as possible; moving through the primeval forest must not deplete one's strength, as this would be extremely dangerous. You never know when you might encounter peril, especially since there are only the most basic supplies in the backpack

The roar of anger surged like a tidal wave, causing the sound wave lizard to curl its body in pain. It then tumbled to the treetops, rolling back and forth, and opened its wide mouth to expel wave after wave of sound. The explosions echoed all around, and coincidentally, one of those sound waves was rolling down from above towards the southern star.

Nanxing was unaware that he had become a focal point of attention. When his backpack was filled with over ten Aoguo, he was filled with confidence and set off on his journey once again

It was originally very quiet around, when suddenly a piercing screech rang out from above, startling Nanxing to take a few steps back. Upon realizing it was just a prickly stick bird, he patted his chest and gasped, "So it was just a prickly stick bird. Breathe, breathe, relax, relax. Tension is a taboo in battle."

This sonic lizard suspends its body with a robust tail, camouflaging itself as a withered branch, and is currently dozing with its eyes closed. They belong to the apex of the food chain on Iron Hoof Star, and their camouflage allows them to hunt more effectively while also evading their only natural enemy, the oyster hawk.

Xuan Yuan Nan Xing began to run swiftly. Ever since he experienced that the three short breaths followed by one long breath could greatly conserve energy, he has come to enjoy this sensation. The sound of the wind rushed past his ears, and the leaves swept by him, as he moved with remarkable fluidity.

Climbing onto a large rock, the view was relatively clear. Nanxing opened his backpack, revealing a box of compressed biscuits, a roll of medical bandages, and a book. There was also a compound crossbow that could be strapped to the arm, but it only had five bolts. However, the most important item in the backpack was a cheap standard laser sword

At this moment, Nanxing felt an unusual calmness within. Having become accustomed to creatures stronger than the sound wave lizard in her memories, she shed all feelings of tension and fear during the journey into the Yinguo Forest. When truly facing the sound wave lizard, her mind was left with nothing but clarity.

The relationship between the two is good, but it is limited to just that. It is important to understand that the territory of the Federation is vast. After graduating from the academy, they will be separated by light-years, and most of the academy's students may never see each other again in their lifetime. From then on, they will go their separate ways and strive for their own futures.

This secret is known to very few people, and it was only revealed by a student after graduation who mentioned that the early explorers who arrived on Iron Hoof Star planted the Aoguo fruit. After hundreds of years, the Aoguo fruit has grown in conjunction with the local mycelium. Although some mutations have occurred, its nutritional value has become even richer, especially in terms of water conservation, with each Aoguo fruit being equivalent to a small water bottle

Perhaps the memories obtained today have once again come into play, gradually calming the mind, and the breathing becomes steady. From a distance, Nanxing's silhouette seems to carry a vigor that far exceeds his age.

Brother, I also wish you good luck

"Be careful, be very careful." Nanxing's heart was in his throat. Before entering the Yanguo Forest, he had already equipped himself with a crossbow, tightly gripping a laser sword in his hand, feeling extremely tense

After running for more than ten minutes, I realized that I was very close to the Yanguo Forest. It seems that the three hours spent earlier were not in vain, but there is nothing to be particularly happy about. The sound wave lizard is extremely difficult to deal with, and if one is not careful, it could cost one their life. This is truly not something to be taken lightly.

The sonic lizard is notorious for its ferocity, with a body approximately two meters long. It closely resembles the crocodiles on its home planet, Earth, but has a smooth body and possesses hook-like claws that can firmly grip onto large branches. When it encounters prey, it emits a large burst of invisible sound waves to attack and kill.

Nanxing felt a successful strike, and with a swift "whoosh," he sprang up and quickly climbed towards the top of the Yanguo tree. Even though the crossbow bolt had successfully pierced the eye socket of the sound wave lizard, it was not enough to deliver an instant fatal blow. It would be best to cause it to bleed from its ribs; that way, this hunt would be perfect.

It is now

A large number of leaves are piled on the ground, and occasionally, decayed fruits can be encountered. The deeper one ventures into the overgrown forest, the more one can sense a dark, corrosive atmosphere

Five crossbow arrows can trigger a weak explosion. The sound wave lizard has tough skin and flesh, but its eyes are its weak point. One must create a disturbance to attract its attention, and in the moment its eyes open, shoot a crossbow arrow to inflict serious damage. If unsuccessful, one must quickly retreat and devise another plan. It is said that completing or exceeding the exam questions in advance will enhance graduation grades. If the hunt is successful, the first will lead to the second, and I too want to compete for this opportunity. With this in mind, Nanxing steadied his breath and focused intently on the prey.

At around 2 or 3 PM, Nanxing crawled forward and discovered the first sound wave lizard

After a five-minute break, Nanxing stood up. The more than three hours of frantic running had already dried his clothes. Perhaps his academic performance at the Galan Star War Academy was not remarkable, but he inherited the excellent appearance of the Xuanyuan family: short black hair, spirited eyes, and a handsome face. Although he had not fully matured yet, his demeanor was already impressive. However, in this era, what matters is the ability to wield knowledge; appearance alone does not suffice.

At this moment, there is a unique sensation, as if having ventured deep into the jungle a thousand times, as if having shot arrows a thousand times; everything around seems to resonate in the mind, creating an intoxicating sense of control

After glancing at the watch, the chosen direction should be correct, but it is getting increasingly hot in the forest

To hunt the sound wave lizard, one must locate a particularly large annihilation fruit tree. Nanxing vaguely remembers that the annihilation fruit forest is at least half a day's journey from the Cuijian River, and it is easy to take a wrong turn.

Mediocre performance? Why don't you give it a try? The fruits in this muddy ground look somewhat familiar; could they be the Aoguo? He must have gathered a wealth of information before the exam, as there were indeed attempts at transplantation several hundred years ago. Wilson singled out the black-haired boy as a key subject for observation. In fact, achieving good grades not only provides more choices during allocation but also involves some hidden secrets related to the Life Badge.

The figure is leaping between the puddles, while the southern star is searching for a type of light green mycelium

Found it. The body of Nanxing drifted out four to five meters, as light as a feather.

Aow, aow, aow ... ...

The Iron Hoof Star Primitive Forest, also known as the Microtoxic Territory, is home to many organisms that possess weak toxins. In some areas, radioactive materials are even concealed, making water extraction crucial

"I can't believe it! Five sonic lizards, in comparison, I am simply too lucky, practically a lucky superhero. Stay away from me, don't look at me with those flirtatious eyes. Exchange of exam questions is strictly prohibited; the academy's satellite is watching from outer space!" Jimmy took a few steps back, cradling the glass bottle as if it were a treasure.

Nansheng, how is your luck? Fifty toads! This is really something; I actually have to hunt down fifty toads. Jimmy shook the glass bottle in his hand with a gloomy expression. This bottle cannot be casually discarded; it must be kept for collecting water.

Do not expect to use the lightsaber at will; the instructor on the spaceship has already explained that to allow students to experience adversity, the lightsaber in the backpack can last for a maximum of one hour. If the battle is too intense, the energy may be depleted even earlier. It is absolutely essential not to recklessly activate it for immediate gratification; one must use it judiciously, keeping track of the minutes.

The iron hooves of the surveillance satellites in outer space have locked onto the students, relaying their every move to the chief examiner. Wilson is watching the screen with great interest, as the image expands outward from the Tempering Sword River, revealing the furthest ten or so students, all of whom are typically outstanding candidates, as expected

"Hmm? Why don't I remember this little fellow? What is he doing?" Wilson's expression momentarily froze, and he quickly waved his hand, instructing someone to refine the image. It was a black-haired boy, searching for something in a muddy depression.

In an instant, a sharp cold light was triggered. The crossbow issued by the academy has a range of 350 meters. To increase the shooting power, Nanxing positioned himself not far from the tree, at a distance of approximately 50 meters, allowing this arrow to be both urgent and swift

The method of lateral jumping announced by the federation requires a high level of skill. It is not only difficult for students aged fourteen, but even among instructors, there are few who can fully master this technique. However, this is not surprising, as the instructors at the war academy are not of a high caliber; it is already quite commendable if they can reach the level of a third-tier elite soldier.

Jimmy, thank you for your care over the years. After graduation, we will likely go our separate ways. Time is limited, so let us act quickly! See you after the assessment ends in five days, and I wish you good luck

It was time to take action. Nanxing forcefully hurled a thick branch that had been prepared in advance, and the branch traced an arc in the air before striking the tree where the sound wave lizard resided.