Chapter 28: Xiong Da's Departure

Time flew by, and half a year had already passed since Zhai Guangyi transmigrated to this world. However, the Spirit Fruit that had been catalyzed and evolved by the System still hadn’t completed its gestation.

If not for the fact that Zhai Guangyi could sense the sound of a heartbeat within the Spirit Fruit, he would have started to suspect that the System had deceived him. As the wait dragged on, he no longer stared at the fruit every day as he had in the beginning.

The two Spirit Fruits he had previously ordered Xiong Batian to plant seemed to have sprouted, turning into short, small saplings. After that, Zhai Guangyi occasionally had Xiong Batian plant a few more, though he himself had lost count of exactly how many.

According to the System’s explanation, the Spirit Trees grown from the Spirit Fruits he produced would be under his partial control and would obey his commands. This way, he could establish his own defensive forces, relying on these Spirit Trees to protect his followers within a certain range.

Then, about a month ago, the human Mark arrived at Zhai Guangyi’s location, announcing that the City Lord had agreed to the proposal for peaceful coexistence. When Mark returned with a team of people and a formally dressed Aristocrat, they were utterly astonished to see hundreds of Wind Demon Panthers and Storm Demon Wolves coexisting peacefully.

However, their visit this time was solely to fully assess the friendliness and threat level of Zhai Guangyi’s group, and it couldn’t be considered an official collaboration.

The formally dressed Aristocrat, representing the City Lord, proposed that only if Xiong Batian’s forces could dominate the Magical Beasts in the area east of Mesopotamia Forest near Banwang City would they be willing to formally establish a cooperative relationship with Zhai Guangyi’s group.

In the eyes of those Aristocrats, Xiong Batian, who was responsible for conveying Zhai Guangyi’s commands, seemed more like the ruler here. Many Demon Humans had their own forces, occupying treasures of heaven and earth, such as the Spirit Tree behind Xiong Batian.

Demon Humans like Xiong Batian, who were willing to communicate and cooperate, were relatively more acceptable to humans. Human cities were not lacking in hybrids of Demon Humans and humans, who were generally referred to as Sub-Human Species.

Although the human side still harbored some wariness toward Zhai Guangyi’s group, Zhai Guangyi was very willing to make efforts to demonstrate the friendliness of his side. The human population was vast, and if he could gain human followers, it would bring him significant benefits.

Meanwhile, Xiong Da seemed unable to bear the loneliness of the Forest and wished to follow Mark and the others, leaving this Forest to venture into human society.

Mark and the others naturally saw this as a good thing. As the son of Xiong Batian and the future successor to the tribe’s leadership, Xiong Da’s presence in a human city for interaction and exchange would only bring them more benefits—or perhaps serve as a bargaining chip to restrain Xiong Batian.

For regions relatively close to Banwang City, being able to establish cooperation with Xiong Batian could reduce annual military expenditure. After all, incidents of Magical Beasts harassing towns occurred every year, requiring substantial funding in this regard.

Xiong Batian, of course, was unwilling to let Xiong Da leave. But as a Native who had received no education, she was left speechless by the barrage of theories Xiong Da spewed out with just his mouth.

Zhai Guangyi did not wish for Xiong Da to leave. After all, as fellow Transmigrators and Same-Class Classmates from High School, he did not want anything bad to happen to Xiong Da. However, in this Otherworld, who wouldn’t want to go out and explore? Zhai Guangyi himself was itching to leave this place and venture out.

Moreover, after half a year of fighting Goblins and Leveling Up, Zhai Guangyi felt that Xiong Da’s strength should be no less than Luke and the others—at least enough to avoid starving in Human Society.

Nevertheless, Zhai Guangyi respected Xiong Da’s choice and selected a suitable set of Equipment from the System Shop as a farewell gift, treating it as the starter gear for leaving the beginner village.

In front of everyone, Zhai Guangyi conjured a set of Equipment out of thin air into Xiong Da’s hands. Mark and the others were utterly astonished—truly worthy of a Divine Tree capable of bestowing Blessings, it could even prepare Equipment for the Blessed One out of nothing.

This god-like act evoked not only shock but also reverence in the eyes of Mark and the others. Moreover, anything bearing divine power would inevitably instill a subtle sense of awe. In the mind of that Aristocrat, the value of this Divine Tree had risen once again.

Xiong Da joyfully accepted the Equipment bestowed by the Divine Tree. It was an adventurer’s outfit enhanced by Spirit Magic. Though simple in style, it offered strong defensive bonuses. There was also a sharp short sword adorned with a golden gemstone—its effects would require Xiong Da to discover for himself.

Before departing, Xiong Da invited Xiong Er to leave together, but Xiong Er refused, saying she would go wherever Qiqi went. Qiqi was the Demonkin Catgirl leading the Wind Demon Panthers.

When she joined the ranks of Zhai Guangyi’s Followers, Zhai Guangyi did not hold back, bestowing a Blessing upon her as well and granting many Blessings to the Wind Demon Panthers. Some evolved into Gale Demon Leopards while retaining their panther forms, while others, luckier like Qiqi, evolved into Demon Humans alongside her.

Xiong Er’s refusal dealt a heavy blow to Xiong Da, especially since they had been lovers in their previous life. The two spent a night in silence. Early the next morning, Xiong Da packed his belongings and, without bidding farewell to Xiong Er, left the Forest with Mark’s group.

As for Xiong Er, she remained secluded in the Small Wooden Hut they had built together at the beginning.

The complex emotions in her heart were something Zhai Guangyi couldn’t comprehend, as he had never experienced a situation where a girlfriend turned into a boy while he himself became a girl.

Xiong Er, who used to love chasing Qiqi around, began shutting herself inside the Small Wooden Hut from that day on. At first, Qiqi didn’t pay much attention, but lately, she had started showing concern for Xiong Er.

Qiqi had grown accustomed to having a little sister who often followed her around. Now, with Xiong Da gone and Xiong Er heartbroken, she appeared deeply troubled, unsure of what to do. Still, she would go out every day to catch a few fish, grill them, and deliver them to Xiong Er’s Small Wooden Hut.

As Chen Dabai’s good brother from their previous life, Zhai Guangyi couldn’t imagine that once cheerful and outgoing rich kid now confined to staying indoors all day.

He could only pray that his good brother would find a way to move on soon.

As for the current state of the territory, due to the active presence of Xiong Batian and the others, many Magical Beasts had begun to realize that a community centered around Zhai Guangyi was forming here.

Some joined the ranks due to Xiong Batian’s strength but did not become Followers, merely acting as her simple followers. However, when Zhai Guangyi occasionally healed them, they would be converted into Followers.

Alternatively, following the precedent of the Blessing, many Magical Beasts came seeking fame. The Blessing not only allowed them to Breakthrough their Level cap but also potentially brought about evolution. Many Magical Beasts remained stuck at a single Level their entire lives, unable to evolve and thus unable to Breakthrough. Zhai Guangyi’s Blessing was highly attractive.

Zhai Guangyi’s Followers were no longer limited to Magical Beasts; at the very least, there were now quite a few Demon Humans. Like a small village, various Wooden Huts and stone houses were piled together beneath Zhai Guangyi’s giant tree. The architectural styles were somewhat chaotic, and Zhai Guangyi wasn’t particularly skilled at managing construction matters.

If they could cooperate with Humans, they could ask them to share some experience with those Demon Humans or hire workers to assist with town planning and reasonable construction, making the environment more aesthetically pleasing. A more beautiful environment would also help Zhai Guangyi in accepting more Followers.