Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 31: Crossing the Uninhabited Area

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Crossing the Uninhabited Area

"Grass growing on the south side of tree stumps, trunks, and large rocks is tall and lush, and in autumn, the south side grass also withers and yellows slower?"

"Yes, that’s because of the sunlight exposure."

"The bark is generally smoother on the south side and rougher on the north side, with this being most apparent on poplar trees?"

"Exactly."

"Moss that grows on rocks favors moisture and can’t tolerate sunlight, so it usually only grows on the side shielded from light?"

"Yes."

"The stones on the mountain, due to differences in sunlight exposure, have one side that is brightest and most polished, with the sides facing sunrise and sunset being less so, and the last side almost lacking any gloss?"

"You asked me that yesterday!"

"Then let’s talk about what you just mentioned."

"Do most ant nests in a region get built in a certain direction around tree roots to get a bit more sunlight, so one side is gentler, and the other is steeper?"

"..."

"Please, spare me."

Ronald, over two days of wilderness trekking, never imagined that what would exhaust him the most would be conversing with Nade.

For two whole days, their communication mostly revolved around this pattern.

Nade asked, and Ronald answered.

With Ronald’s extensive solo activity experience before the crossing, his mind was stocked with a wealth of valuable outdoor knowledge from professionals, which now all came in handy.

Later, it even evolved to whenever Ronald faced a natural product and showed a momentary pensive expression.

Nade would inevitably follow up with all kinds of questions.

Mr. Merchant’s curiosity about this knowledge was outrageously strong!

Of course, the two days of trekking were not just a stage for Ronald to show off his knowledge.

In terms of food supply and combat, Nade also demonstrated his horrifying capabilities.

Fishing in the rivers, slaying wild beasts with a knife, rapid climbing.

Any action involving body coordination and quick responses was performed at a level that matched top athletes.

Initially, out of safety considerations.

When the two left the mansion, they didn’t take anything that looked edible from the house.

Under such circumstances.

For two days, Ronald didn’t suffer from any hunger.

Maintaining such a level of hunting efficiency, Nade was still in a state where only one arm could be used!

So, fairly speaking—

Ronald believed that if he suddenly encountered an enemy of Nade’s level on a non-rainy day.

Apart from death.

There wouldn’t be any other possibility.

————

The next evening.

The sun was already hanging at a third of the sky.

In at most two more hours, it would fall behind the mountains replacing the horizon.

On the ground, slicing the branches in front of him into three segments with two swings of his knife, Nade frowned and sniffed before turning back to Ronald:

"Ronald, how far do you think we’ve traveled?"

"How far..."

Pondering the speed of their journey over the past two days, and the changes in the surroundings, Ronald offered a quite vague number:

"About 40 kilometers in a straight line from Black Mountain."

"..."

Don’t underestimate these 40 kilometers!

Apart from initially walking out of lifeless Black Mountain, the rest of their journey was all covered by uninhabited areas.

To travel such a distance in two days through undeveloped areas was truly an exceptional achievement!

Achieving such excellent results was entirely based on Ronald’s knowledge and Nade’s robust physical strength.

For ordinary people coming to this place...

A full two days of wilderness adventure already belonged to quite dangerous and even life-threatening territory.

"40 kilometers, huh..."

Leading the way ahead, Nade sounded a bit puzzled at the moment.

"Where’s the train track then?"

"I figured the path should be like this, theoretically, we should have arrived, right?"

"Considering it’s mountainous terrain," Ronald began to reassure, "find a higher spot before the sun sets, and I can assure you we won’t be wrong in the distance we cover or the direction we’re heading."

"Alright..."

After advancing about a hundred meters more, Nade started chatting as he walked:

"Hey, Ronald."

"Hmm?"

"You’re not just making all this up, are you?"

"Making up what?"

"All that stuff about wilderness survival and judging directions."

"..."

"How much would I have to wish death upon myself in these woods to be babbling with you about this?"

He replied to Nade gruffly.

The moment he followed his companion, he sniffed the moist air of the forest.

Ronald, inadvertently, saw a very tall shadow at the corner of his eye.

Looking through the gaps in the canopy overhead, it seemed to be a very tall tree!

"Nade, look over there!"

"Eh?"

Hearing Ronald call out, Nade immediately looked in that direction.

Instantly, his tone became excited:

"Boy, let’s go take a look!"

"Okay."

After crossing several dozens of meters of forest, Ronald and Nade reached their target.

What appeared before them was an enormous tree.

According to Ronald’s experience, this should be a type of arboreal plant.

With a height of over 20 meters and even its base diameter above 2.5 meters.

A true behemoth!

Also, it was the best observation point available to them!

"I’ll go up for a look; you hold my stuff for me first."

Seeing such an excellent natural observation deck in front of him, there was no way Nade would pass it up.

He took off his jacket, handed any unnecessary items to Ronald, and energetically climbed towards the top of the tree.

Watching Nade’s agile climb, Ronald advised:

"Be careful, you only have one hand!"

Nade confidently replied:

"For me, there’s plenty I can do with one hand!"

True to Nade’s words,

Despite only having one functioning arm, with the help of a dagger and his outstanding leg strength, he climbed up effortlessly.

His movements were agile, almost like a child swinging in a garden.

In less than a minute, Nade at the top of the giant tree began surveying the surroundings.

Their current location was against the corner of a mountain range. Although it wasn’t apparent from the ground, at this height, they could see that the distant trees grew taller.

Clearly—

In the deepest part of that direction, was the vast forest at the border of Gratitude and Entrophy, the Yizi Forest.

Similarly, the border train’s tracks should be threading through it.

"Forest... train tracks..."

He muttered about the things he longed for in his heart.

Finally, at the edge of the towering woods to the right and forward, Nade faintly saw a gap in the tree crowns.

Though not conspicuous, it definitely existed.

In such a secluded place, the forest wouldn’t miss any space to grow.

That was right, it was there.

This was the place they were trying to find!

Glancing down at his companion below, Nade shouted loudly:

"Ronald!"

"I see it, it’s not far. We can get there before dark!"

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