The ten exotic beasts of the Initial Forest not only represented the absolute strength of the Black Iron Grade, but also often symbolized wealth and fortuitous encounters.
As a plant-type demon beast with relatively low attack power among intermediate Black Iron Grade demon beasts, the Vine Dream was selected as one of the ten exotic beasts. Besides relying on its bizarre and unpreventable illusions, it also owed much to this verdant Vine Dream Seed.
The moment Chen Bugu picked up the Vine Dream Seed, information about this item appeared in his mind.
【Vine Dream Seed】: A seed produced by a hallucinogenic plant. It can be eaten or planted. After consumption, mental power recovery speed increases by 50% (only effective at Black Iron Grade, invalid after Breaking through to Silver); planted in soil and irrigated with mental power for a long time, it can grow the hallucinogenic plant “Vine Dream”.
A 50% increase in mental power recovery speed after consumption—this single attribute was enough to make countless Awakeneds flock to it.
It was a pity that the attribute changes brought by the Vine Dream Seed were only effective at the Black Iron Grade. Otherwise, many powerhouses in later generations would likely still return to the Initial Forest to hunt the Vine Dream after Breaking through to other grades.
However, the Vine Dream was rare and extremely hidden; even in the entire Starting Forest, there were probably only a few.
Looking at the emerald green seed in his right hand, after much thought, Chen Bugu silently put it away.
The attribute increase was certainly attractive, especially for something as crucial as mental power recovery speed, but it was a pity it wasn't permanently effective.
Chen Bugu's current mental power was as high as 300 points. Although the Decipher and Space-Time dual abilities also demanded a lot of his mental power, especially divine skills like Bullet Time, the consumption of 20 points of mental power per second was a heavy burden for Chen Bugu.
Fortunately, Inference and Weakness Detection, unlocked during the Decipher process of the eye's genetic lock, did not consume additional mental power. As long as he applied Decipher to his eyes, these two abilities would appear, and the mental power consumption to maintain Decipher in the eyes was manageable, probably around 10 points of mental power per minute.
Plant-type demon beasts were already rare, and even fewer could leave behind seeds after death.
After much thought, Chen Bugu still decided to temporarily keep the Vine Dream Seed.
After all, among various tameable demon beasts, plant-type demon beasts were the most malleable species.
Others might not know, but he clearly understood the importance of territory in the later stages of the apocalypse.
Once a Vine Dream demon beast was successfully nurtured, Chen Bugu would also have a way to make it break through and evolve, and it could then become a guardian beast within his territory.
...
After resting for a while longer, Chen Bugu got up and walked downstairs.
When he reached the lobby on the first floor of the inpatient department, Lin Lin was already there.
Lin Xiaoxiao and others gradually woke up from their coma. After a check-up, it was found that most of them had not suffered any injuries, only unconsciousness caused by mental power exhaustion.
Only Lin Ye. Lin Lin found that his weakness was not only due to the overdrawing of mental power but also other reasons, like having suffered enormous mental trauma.
After everyone woke up, Chen Bugu explained everything that had just happened to them.
“So, we’ve been eating leaves all this time?”
Wang Bin kept digging at his throat with his hand, trying to make himself vomit.
Bai Ting listened silently to the entire explanation, finally saying thank you to Chen Bugu.
After resting for a while longer, everyone resumed their exploration.
After all, the initial purpose of coming to this hospital was to find some supplies. Previously, they had been under an illusion, so many places were probably overlooked.
Moreover, since it was later discovered to be a secret realm, logically speaking, there should be a treasure chest.
Unlike before, everyone decided to act together this time, no longer splitting up the team.
The order of exploration was the inpatient department where everyone was currently, followed by the outpatient building, Ciyun Building, and Changde Building.
Lin Ye uncharacteristically refused to continue exploring, saying he would wait for everyone at the entrance.
Everyone watched him silently walk towards the guardhouse and quietly enter alone.
Everyone asked Chen Bugu what was wrong with Lin Ye.
But Chen Bugu also didn't know how to explain.
After falling into the illusion, Lin Ye was the only one who was the most agitated among everyone. Chen Bugu guessed this might be related to the illusion he saw.
Huang Yuanzhang?
He seemed to have mentioned Huang Yuanzhang...
Chen Bugu was thoughtful and decided to pay more attention to the director's office later.
In the inpatient department, Chen Bugu found a set of men's casual clothes in a wardrobe in the staff lounge. He took the opportunity to change out of his ragged clothes.
It was an hour later when he returned to the director's office.
A black treasure chest lay quietly in the corner of the director's office.
Bai Ting, Yan Kuan, and the Lin Sisters saw a Black Iron treasure chest for the first time.
After the treasure chest was opened, there were a total of three items: two green and one white.
Yan Kuan and the others' eyes lit up, as Chen Bugu had already informed them about the equipment grade classification.
And even if they didn't know the strength difference between equipment grades, the Lianxin Crossbow was a green weapon, so everyone could intuitively feel its power.
The three items produced from the Black Iron treasure chest were the 【Storage Ring (Green)】, 【Rapid Wind Dagger】, and 【Boots of Earth】.
【Storage Ring (Green)】: Contains five cubic meters of space. The wearer can store and retrieve items through thought. Living creatures cannot be placed in the Storage Ring.
【Rapid Wind Dagger】: White Grade weapon, Strength +5, Speed +5, with skill “Gale Thrust”.
“Gale Thrust: The wearer of the Rapid Wind Dagger can transform into a swift wind, crossing 10 meters within 1 second to complete a thrust. Mental power required: 5; Skill cooldown: 1 minute.”
【Boots of Earth】: Green Grade footwear, Speed +15, Vitality +15. Wearers with Earth Element affinity > 50 can activate the exclusive state “Earth Mother”.
“Earth Mother”: Activates the favor of the Earth Mother, increasing Earth attribute skill casting speed by 20% and reducing self-movement speed by 20%.
The Rapid Wind Dagger's attributes and skill were mediocre, which was understandable since it was only a White weapon.
But the Boots of Earth and the Storage Ring (Green) were both good items!
Especially the Storage Ring (Green), with five cubic meters of space, it could store a lot of things at this stage.
Everyone looked at the items and equipment before them with great desire, especially Yan Kuan.
Those Boots of Earth seemed to be prepared for him. The “Earth Mother” skill required the wearer's Earth Element affinity to be > 50%, and only he could meet this in the group.
However, including Yan Kuan, no one reached out to take them, as Chen Bugu's strength was evident.
Moreover, this battle was basically completed by Chen Bugu alone. Not only did they not help, but they almost became a burden, so they were even more embarrassed to speak up.
“Fatty, this suits you, take it~”
Yan Kuan was stunned, then quickly caught the Boots of Earth.
He didn't expect that Chen Bugu would just throw him the green footwear like that...