A familiar yet unfamiliar warmth spread without warning from her Dantian.
The Qi Ocean within her Dantian churned like splashing water, surging chaotically through her limbs and bones.
【Host, this is bad—it’s the pink fluff that’s the problem!】
Plants capable of inducing lust were rare even in the Cultivation Realm. Why would one appear in this book’s Apocalypse?
“Damn it! It’s a mutant plant!”
“System, can you detect what kind of plant this pink fluff comes from? This cursed plant must have been infected by the virus and mutated, causing anyone who inhales its powdery fluff to break out in a feverish, seductive state.”
【Host, this System can currently only detect dangers related to humans within a certain range. If it’s a mutant plant, my level isn’t high enough to detect it!】
Hua Wuyan’s limbs were beginning to weaken, but she still pressed on toward the yellow beam of light.
“With my current cultivation, I can’t resist the effects of this mutant plant. Help me search the mall for a Clarity Pill or an antidote for Aphrodisiac Poison.”
Even as she spoke, her steps began to falter. “Found it—the crate is over there!”
But just as she was about to approach, a tree nearest to the crate suddenly began to tremble.
The tree stood about two or three meters tall, with lush branches and leaves. On the side of every dark green oval leaf was a budding red flower.
As the tree shook, the red buds were knocked loose. Once detached from the branches, they gradually faded into pink.
One by one, silk-like pink fluffs unfurled the moment they left the branches, blooming in the air like umbrella frames.
Fine, dust-like pink powder spread from the fluffs, merging with the air.
That was it!
The mutated tree was actually shaking off its fluff to attack any living thing that came near.
Hua Wuyan shook her head, trying to fend off the lust threatening to overtake her mind, and gripped her long blade tightly. She pulled a water bottle from the System Warehouse and poured it over her head and face.
It was useless—all for nothing.
“System, did you find the antidote?! I can’t hold on much longer!” This damned tree’s mutation was utterly perverse—it could actually stir up a person’s lust.
【Host, found them—this is a Clarity Pill, this is a Charm-Breaking Pill, and here’s a mask to keep you from inhaling more of that mutant fluff.
That fluff looks suspicious. Put the mask on first to avoid getting hit again. I’ve already collected a sample for research. Try these pills and see if they work!】
Hua Wuyan swallowed the Clarity Pill and the Charm-Breaking Pill in one go, then put on the mask the System had given her.
The two pills dissolved the moment they entered her mouth, flowing into her organs.
A cool, refreshing energy seeped into her viscera, and the burning heat throughout her body began to ease. The inexplicable desires surging in her heart and mind gradually receded as well.
Hua Wuyan let out a sigh of relief. “Good thing the Cultivation Realm’s pills work on this.”
She rushed toward the airdrop crate, and the System’s delighted voice came through just as her hand touched it and stored it in the System Warehouse.
【Host, this is a B-grade Supply Crate! It can be exchanged for 1,000 Opportunity Points.]
“Forget that for now—it’s only been a little over a month into the Apocalypse, and plants in the botanical garden are already mutating. Exchange for a chainsaw for me. I’m cutting down this mutant tree first.”
Although she didn’t know when this tree had started mutating, considering that it had only been a little over a month since the apocalypse began, if this mutated tree already possessed such power, what would happen as time went on?
This root of disaster could not be left alive.
The chainsaw screeched against the trunk, metal grinding against wood—it should have been able to cut through a tree in no time.
But even after the teeth on the chainsaw’s metal bar were worn completely flat, the trunk showed not a single mark.
Instead, because of her actions, the tree shook again, raining down a large flurry of pink catkins.
The catkins brushed past her neck and forehead, the fine silky threads lightly grazing her skin, filling her with a strange sense of panic and unease.
“The trunk of this mutated tree is harder than metal. This place is too dangerous to stay. We need to leave immediately!”
[Got it! I’ve calculated the best route back to the school for you, Host.]
Hua Wuyan had intended to return the way she came, but she had barely taken ten steps back when her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.
Both legs were numb and weak, unable to support her. A restless agitation rose within her heart, and a familiar burning sensation surged again from her Dantian.
[Host, what’s wrong with you?]
“I don’t know. It seems the Aphrodisiac Poison from those catkins wasn’t fully cleansed, and it’s flaring up again! Exchange for more Clarity Pills and Charm-Dispelling Pills, hurry!”
She slammed one hand against the ground, trying to use the impact to disperse the chaotic heat racing through her body.
The Clarity Pill and Charm-Dispelling Pill entered her mouth once more.
It worked!
But the effect was much weaker than before.
She slowly rose to her feet, realizing that moving too quickly only intensified the heat within her. Suppressing her impatience, she walked at a slow, deliberate pace back toward the path she had come from.
But then, not far away, footsteps sounded. She immediately ducked behind a thick tree trunk to conceal herself.
The pink catkins had already shrouded the entire area like a dense fog. In the distance, three teams were approaching her position.
“Damn, what the hell is this pink stuff?”
“Huh, it actually smells kind of nice.”
Hua Wuyan rolled her eyes in exasperation. These people couldn’t have picked a worse time to show up—right when she was about to leave.
Even she, a Cultivator, had fallen victim to it. These people, even if they were Ability Users, probably couldn’t resist the aphrodisiac effects these catkins had on the human body.
[Host, the System is already analyzing the properties and composition of this mutated plant. An antidote will be developed soon.
For now, don’t speak or move. Save your strength to suppress the Aphrodisiac Poison.]
“Hurry up!”
The effects of the Clarity Pill and Charm-Dispelling Pill were about to wear off. She exchanged for a few more pills—she absolutely could not lose control at this moment.
[Almost there, almost there. Progress is already at 2%.]
“Faster!”
Hua Wuyan kept popping Clarity Pills and Charm-Dispelling Pills, desperately suppressing the heat surging through her body. But just then, the three teams that had been approaching suddenly stopped in their tracks.
Hua Wuyan peeked out to look.
The three teams had more men than women, and now every single one of them had a flush spreading across their faces. Several of the men in particular were breathing so heavily that she could hear them from over thirty meters away.
The women were frowning and trying to endure it, but their hands had already begun unconsciously tugging at their thin clothing, murmuring “hot.”
One of the girls, who looked quite young, had already lost her mind to the delirium. She leaned toward a man beside her.
“Captain, I’m so hot.”
The moment she finished speaking, the captain grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.
His action seemed to pull back a curtain, unleashing the most primal instincts and desires found in nature.
Hua Wuyan watched as the three teams actually set up camp right there on the spot, using the sky as their canopy and the earth as their bed.
Suddenly, the sweet murmurs of women, the heavy panting of men, and a chaotic scene of men and women—even men with men—made Hua Wuyan click her tongue in disbelief.
[I can’t watch this, I really can’t. Who would’ve thought so many of these people are into that kind of dragon-and-phoenix hobby?]
“System, you’re being way too easily shocked. If you get the chance, I’ll take you to the Yin-Yang Tower of my Wind-Moon Sect to broaden your horizons. What’s so surprising about this level of debauchery?”
[What! There’s something even more thrilling?]
“Of course! The Yin-Yang Harmony Art of my Wind-Moon Sect encompasses mental techniques, incantations, and postures that these mortals couldn’t possibly imitate with their crude attempts!”
[Wow, Host, you’d better not go back on your word! Once you finish this mission, you’ll take me to—]
Before the System could finish its sentence, it suddenly saw its Host stand up directly from behind the tree and walk out.
[Damn it, Host, your Aphrodisiac Poison hasn’t fully worn off yet—why are you suddenly standing up?]
[Ah! Don’t go over there!]