Chapter 188: A Hopping Good Time

Chapter 188: A Hopping Good Time

I cant help but look down at my foot with frustration; specifically, my shoe that is stuck in this weird, sticky substance.

The first thing I do is identify what exactly Ive stepped in.

My scan informs me its just a residue left on the top of a naturally occurring Moss in the forest. Whats most interesting about it, is that its a cooperative action between it and small predator creatures.

This moss grows best on top of prey trails, which are a little more cleared away because of the constant movement than other areas. This gives it more sunlight, rainfall, and room to grow compared to the surrounding area.

Why this is important is that when predator animal defecate on top of it, it releases a similar scent to the area, as well as the sticky substance. When a prey animal gets stuck in it, it releases a slightly different scent that can alert the predator animal to the catching of prey.

Giving them both easy access to another food source.

Luckily for me and likely the predator animal, almost all the creatures around here have learned lessons about cultivators and messing with them.

The guards dont tolerate strong creatures being around here, and slaughter them if theyre nearby. Even when a cultivator is caught in this trap, the animals wont make a move until theyre absolutely sure the cultivator is dead. In the meantime, theyll wander off and do other things.

However, this is only one type of plant in this part of the jungle. This doesnt include the other parts of the jungle, which arent close to the guards and their protective influence.

If I have to lookout for things like this, I most definitely will have to reduce my combat scan

Compared to the things over here, anything that slows me down or catches me could be a large waste of time and possibly get me killed.

There are just too many things out here to watch for.

While keeping my combat scan active, I move my other foot to another area, off of the path in the middle of a thick grouping of plants that I double check will not cause any issues for me. Then, I slipped my foot out of the shoe.

Then I carefully use a knife that I previously bought at the market to cut away the substance from the shoe.

I then put the shoe back on.

Just as a test, I attempt to use my scan to find other things that could be issues for me, in a similar way. That means not hurting me, but hindering or damaging my possessions. Just in case, I also include anything that could double as a trap.

70% of everything I can see with my scan lights up like a Christmas tree.

Vines that are positioned in ways to catch onto feet like rope traps. Leaves that will cause severe itching, even for me. Large networks of bug tunnels that will collapse when a creature of sufficient size steps on it, normally allowing them to feed on it. And countless more variations of things.

Every single thing in this jungle is trying to survive in one way or another, and is packed densely together. Whether thats by working together or preying on something weaker.

I had considered sending the same thing to plants, but it would serve no purpose.

Despite that, I had already tested it was possible (back in the cave with Lin, Ai, and Gong), these have no level of sentience. Not only that, but they wouldnt be able to move their limbs, anyway. Its all automatic actions at their level.

It would be like telling a regular person to stop their stomach from digesting food.

Because of the vector chosen, though, I dont have to deal with any plants that would stop my short-term flight.

When I do land, I find myself on a thick branch just above the emergent layer of the tree, above the canopy. There are a few creatures here, but as they have accepted the contract, they are basically ignoring me.

Seeing this opportunity, I plan out my route using the scan.

Where previously, I would have taken 9 days to get deep enough into the jungle to grab the flower, now I could get it within the day.

This is mainly because I will be flinging myself through the air, which opens the possibility to many many things I could do in this jungle. Like collecting rare plants and materials for alchemy. Or taming wild and interesting creatures. And practicing my healing in different ways.

The only issue is that it will get dark soon. And thats when the real monsters move.

I also cant use anything too crazy over here, as Im still well in sight of the guards spiritual sense.

I could stay within the zone for a bit and just head out tomorrow.

But, despite the goodwill they have toward me, I cant rely on that. They also have a responsibility to the sect and city (when their lives arent unnecessarily threatened). I also dont know who else might come through the teleporter looking for me.

Ive already risked enough being here this long.

So, before I start, I send out the avoidance taming contract along the route and then move through the sky with a jump, from emergent tree to emergent tree. From a distance of around 3 kilometers or more away.

Every time I hit a tree; it shakes the whole thing from the force of my jumps.

If these trees werent so huge and sturdy, they would have snapped.

Its also good that I put out the avoidance contract. If I hadnt been pacifying them, Id likely be assaulted with absurd amounts of angry creatures.

This continues on for an hour, before the light dims and I can sense stronger creatures coming out.

Landing on the last tree for todays journey, I quickly spend the remaining daylight creating a small treehouse in the emergent layer.