Jade City was flying when Zhou Yi placed Black Thorn on the rooftop. Its surface had too many long and sharp spikes to bring it indoors.

Yuan Xiao asked with a puzzled face, "Why are you telling me such a major secret about controlling Black Thorn, Chairman?"

"Black Thorn is very precious, without a doubt."

Zhou Yi shook his empty right sleeve, "After all, it cost me an arm. But if I didn't trust you, why would I keep you by my side?"

"You're my assistant; you need to know enough to be able to help me."

He informed the other party, "Now that Gong Zheng is occupied with various company affairs and he's not a combat member. I will entrust many things to you, and you need to learn more. Later on, you'll need to pilot Black Thorn for missions and combat."

Yuan Xiao showed a somewhat bewildered look, "I've never met someone like you... We haven't known each other for long, why do you trust me?"

Zhou Yi looked at her, "You are focused when you work, have a strong sense of competition, a clear self-awareness, dare to challenge the strong, and willing to learn new things... I think you're not bad."

"But,"

He warned, "If you want to leave, just come and talk to me about resignation. I won't stop you. Otherwise, the company won't accept it. They'll consider it espionage or desertion; traitors must die."

"..."

Yuan Xiao thought it over carefully, "Even if I wanted to leave, I'd have nowhere to go. You are very strong, you take good care of Sun Hao, and you're also willing to help me deal with Dragon and recover Nian Gao."

"Then there's no problem. Meeting each other can be considered fate. Cherish the present."

Zhou Yi said, "Get me a can of coke, a cold one."

Yuan Xiao took out a can of coke from the nearby refrigeration box, and thoughtfully pulled the pop-top, handing it to his mouth.

"Hey, hey, hey... I'm just missing a hand, not incapable of taking care of myself; I don't need to be fed water."

Zhou Yi took the metal can with his left hand, took a sip of the drink, and felt his mood lighten a bit.

He wondered, "Why is Angel of Death in human form?"

Yuan Xiao replied, "Because most of the Consciousness we acquire originates from humans, and Consciousness can influence the material carrier."

"If more chaotic consciousness is absorbed, one becomes a Hunter like me. If more orderly consciousness is acquired, then Healers like Sun Hao evolve. Chaos always far outweighs order, so Hunters are the most numerous and Healers have a very low chance of being born."

"Are all Hunters in their daily life in the form of young girls?"

"Not necessarily; the shape and age segment depend on the initial selection."

When an Angel of Death is born, there is an option similar to customizing a face, allowing one to choose from within the Consciousness and finalize into a particular human form, which cannot be changed afterwards. The monster form during combat is the true body.

Yuan Xiao chose the young girl image she has now.

Young Consciousness is active and more easily affects the external structural finalization.

Thus, when Angels of Death walk amongst others, they mostly appear as young boys and girls.

"How much has your Deathline increased this time while dealing with Black Thorn?"

Zhou Yi said, "Let me see."

Black lines like earthworms appeared on Yuan Xiao's body.

The Deathline connections completed over half of her neck region, and around her lips and the corners of her eyes, the Deathlines were particularly dense.

The white garment she wore also showed many Deathlines—those seemingly clothes were, in fact, part of Yuan Xiao's body as well.

She said, "The number of Deathlines has increased a bit, now covering about forty percent of my entire body; the situation is still okay. In the past, I rarely engaged with lifeforms of the same level, always trying to avoid direct combat, because it consumes a lot."

Zhou Yi nodded as well, "Well, from now on, try to operate Black Thorn for combat."

...

Jade City landed.

Zhou Yi first went to Maria Hospital.

Seeing the Chairman had lost his right arm, Da Vinci immediately conducted a targeted examination on him.

However, the results made the Mechanical Doctor's display screen flicker incessantly.

"This situation... is a bit illogical."

"Chairman, your right forearm has been burned and melted by high-intensity energy, and your upper arm, shoulder, and chest have also experienced different degrees of impact and burns. But internal cells are repairing at an exceedingly fast rate, and have already greatly improved."

"The damaged muscles, blood vessels, and bones at the amputation have already undergone cellular-level renewal and replacement, and this inexplicable situation really... doesn't match any known flesh and blood lifeform."

"Given the current super-fast Regeneration, it won't be long before the right arm completes its natural growth and repair. However, it will consume a large amount of energy, please remember to resupply, Chairman."

Zhou Yi suddenly understood.

No wonder his right hand felt a bit itchy.

Without treatment, it would heal on its own.

The White Suanni is truly a family treasure.

This was the first time Zhou Yi's body had been mutilated. He had always been careful in the past, not even shedding blood.

Zhou Yi decisively decided, "Then there's no need for a prosthetic limb. Let's not waste resources."

He politely declined Da Vinci's request to stay in the hospital for observation.

After a day, Nemo and An Insecticide Squad led by Red Kestrel completed their mission and were brought back to the company by Duke Destructive's ship.

Red Kestrel was shocked by Zhou Yi's amputation.

"Zhou, did you get into a fight with Duke Destructive?"

"No, it's a bit complicated..."

He gave a general account.

Red Kestrel flew to the rooftop, circling Black Thorn with its electronic eye, repeatedly scanning.

"Its shell has interference capabilities, making it difficult to capture its accurate wavelength, and I can't confirm the details."

"The Stinger Man is actually a living fruit... It's hard to believe such a biological technology system."

"Take a closer look later."

Zhou Yi said, "First, help me contact Tree Monster Lord."

A moment later.

The voice of a big cat came from the controller tablet: "Mr. Zhou, you were looking for me?"

"A'Shu, there's a situation. I've obtained some special and precious giant tree seeds, and I want to use them to plant trees. The Tree Monster Territory has a wealth of experience in this area, so please bring a tree planting expert over to take a look."

"I'll be right there."

Three hours later.

The Tree Monster Lord arrived at the base of Jade City with a tree about ten meters tall.

He introduced, "Mr. Zhou, this is Ye Qing, the Tree Monster who is most skilled at planting trees from our Tree Monster Territory."

Ye Qing rustled its branches and leaves.

It was equipped with a translation device, with transceivers wrapped around the entire trunk to collect its motion vibrations, emitting a synthesized mechanical voice: "Greetings, Mr. Zhou."

This was Zhou Yi's first time seeing a Tree Monster.

The Tree Monster's body was also covered with entwined root tendrils that clung to the bark like a sturdy exoskeleton. The higher it went, the more it was covered with bushes and tender leaves, as if wearing a coat of branches and leaves.

With his Alert vision, Zhou Yi saw that it was the bushes on the tree that emitted white light.

He was somewhat surprised: "The Tree Monster is an outer parasitic life form?"

"That's right."

The Tree Monster Lord explained, "Tree Monsters, known as the Guangna Species, are parasites that grow on trees. The Mechanical City has officially classified them as 'Multi-leaf Mistletoe.' They form a symbiotic relationship with the trees."

"They absorb Death Light from the outside and draw water from the trees, then transfer part of the energy to the tree, allowing it to grow continuously and rapidly. Therefore, they are usually more robust and resistant to outside impacts. However, to minimize consumption, they also control the height of the tree to avoid excessive energy dispersal and waste."

"For many years, it's been the Tree Monsters that have helped me cultivate various trees. With their nurturing, the growth rate and health of fruit trees far exceed those found elsewhere. Different Tree Monsters have different specialties; some excel at growing fruits, some at enhancing branches and leaves, some can strengthen wood output... Ye Qing is the best at selecting and planting tree species."

With the basic situation clear.

Zhou Yi took out the seeds he had retrieved from the large Mud Tablet.

They were shaped like small calabashes, divided into upper and lower parts, about the length of a finger. According to the tablet, they could grow into Giant Trees.

"Ye Qing, how should this seed be planted?"

The Tree Monster extended a vine to wrap around the seed, examining it.

"Mr. Zhou, it can absorb Death Light; it's not a normal plant."

"However, it can't store Death Light. It absorbs it and then releases it again, like ineffective Breathing without a heart or lungs."

"But this does not indicate that the seed is dead or ineffective; it still has Vitality. It's just in a state of atrophy as a form of self-protection, and it can grow rapidly once activated."

"If it's ordinary soil, Energy Packs, or even Light Seeds, they probably can't compensate for this issue. A specific catalyst is needed to ensure the energy can activate the seed's Vitality."

Zhou Yi thought to himself, deservedly a tree planting expert.

All correct.

The giant tree seed was meant to be planted in the Dead Sea.

The instructions on the Mud Tablet were simple: Plant the seed in the Dead Sea, cover it with a lot of mud, and it will grow.

But key details were missing.

It must be something about the mud.

"However, as it is still a plant, it certainly has a growth mechanism. I think we can still try to plant it."

"Only, its growth rate might be very slow. I can try to nurture it, but it will take a long time to observe."

Zhou Yi nodded and then turned to Tree Monster Lord standing beside him: "A'Shu, I'll borrow Ye Qing for a while."

"No problem, it's Ye Qing's skill to be able to help you."

The Lord in the form of a big cat swiftly handed over the expert, and also admonished the Tree Monster, "Follow Mr. Zhou's arrangements, work hard here, and behave properly, understand?"

"Yes, Lord."

Tree Monster Lord left, knowing to give them space.

Then Zhou Yi told Ye Qing, "As far as I know, this seed grows in the Dead Sea. Can you enter the Dead Sea?"

The Tree Monster was astonished: "There are trees in the Dead Sea?"

It said, "I can enter the Dead Sea, but not for long. Even with my reinforcement, the bark will still be burned and damaged by the Death Light, so I can only check the situation of the tree seed once a day."

"That will work, proceed in your way."

"Yes, I will do my utmost."

And so, the first giant tree seed was planted in the Dead Sea next to Yalong Bay.

From then on, a Tree Demon started to occasionally pull up roots and enter the Dead Sea, then after a while come back to land and re-root in the soil.

Thus arose the story of the Swimming Tree Demon in Jade City.

People believed it was constantly challenging the Dead Sea, seeking to survive there for long periods, and thus repeatedly attempted this process.

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