The size of the fruits varies.
The golden blood they contain must also vary.
This time, only Baiyu's entire left hand transformed into gold, progressing very slowly.
However.
Baiyu was not discouraged at all; instead, he was full of energy, continuing to head toward the next dangerous point marked on the map.
Although these marked dangerous points do not all contain Golden Fruits or Exotic Beasts with golden blood,
following this pattern greatly increases the chances of finding them.
At least he didn't have to wander aimlessly in this vast forest like a headless fly, wasting time.
Ten days later.
Baiyu returned to the temporary residence where Jiang Han and others were located.
During those ten days.
He practically visited every dangerous location marked on the map, personally checking each one.
Many places were simply dangerous.
But many other places.
Contained Golden Fruits and plants that bore Golden Fruits. As for creatures with golden blood, Baiyu did not encounter any.
He discovered that the plants that bore Golden Fruits were bizarre and varied.
But the Golden Fruits produced were all the same.
This was intriguing.
Baiyu thought that these things must be parasitic on these plants, continuously absorbing nutrients to grow, while also attracting surrounding animals to become their nutrients.
After investigating these dangerous points,
his hands were completely transformed into gold.
The more he explored, the less threatened he felt by these marked dangerous places. Golden transformed hands possessed incredible destructive power.
Moreover,
Baiyu felt that his physical condition had improved.
Returning to the residence.
Jiang Han, Grandmaster Long, and Wulin were almost unrecognizable to Baiyu.
The three looked haggard, although they ate every day, they often went with one meal and without the next.
And they hadn't bathed in a long time.
They were as dark as if they had been dug up from the ground, losing all their previous luster.
Of course.
At least they were still alive.
Grandmaster Mu had been missing since the beginning, and the others felt he had met a tragic fate.
Upon seeing Baiyu return, Jiang Han was the first to stand up, overjoyed: "Baiyu, did you find a way to leave?"
Wulin and Grandmaster Long also looked at him with hopeful eyes.
They had been waiting too long.
If they stayed here any longer, they might go insane.
Fortunately.
Baiyu did not disappoint them.
"The exit seems to have been found; we can leave at any time."
Baiyu still wished to remain, to continue searching for Golden Fruits or Exotic Beasts with golden blood in this Tidal World.
However.
It appeared the situation would not allow for that.
And such things were clearly not common. At the moment when his hands were fully transformed into gold, the voice of Senpao gave new instructions.
And that was to urge him to leave.
The same as before, the message was formed by dry leaves blown by the wind, in standard Imperial language: "Take what you've obtained and leave, don't expect to gain more from my world."
Obviously.
The person was issuing an eviction order.
Nonetheless.
Baiyu stored two Golden Fruits in a container, which he had not yet consumed.
"How do we leave?"
Jiang Han asked, "How far is the exit from here, and are there enemies on the way?"
Baiyu shook his head: "There's no need; we can leave any time we want. In fact, the exit has always been hidden near us, we just previously lacked the ability to open it."
Upon hearing Baiyu's words,
the others furrowed their brows, momentarily puzzled by his meaning.
However.
As Baiyu's words ended, he demonstrated the exact location of the exit through his actions.
He held his arms out horizontally, his arms quickly turning golden, like a divine statue of gold.
"Heh!"
With a loud shout,
he grasped the void with both hands and forcefully pulled it apart.
In the empty air, a crack suddenly appeared.
As Baiyu continuously pulled it open, the crack grew larger and larger until he forcefully tore a door from it.
"As I suspected, leaving requires the power of the Golden Fruits."
Looking at the portal, Baiyu thought to himself.
To pull open such a door, both hands must be fully transformed into gold at least.
Even a little less wouldn't suffice.
"Let's go."
Baiyu informed the still-shocked three, then took the lead entering the portal.
The three hesitated a moment before closely following.
In their hearts, there were indeed many questions, but now was not the time for questions or explanations.
No matter what,
nothing mattered more than leaving this accursed place and ensuring their survival.
...
The sensation of passing through this portal felt much like that of a Teleportation Gate.
The four felt a momentary dizziness, and when they regained clarity, they found themselves back on the black stone altar plaza.
The trees surrounding them had all completely withered.
Encircling the black stone altar plaza were numerous Demon Race warriors, each with bloodshot eyes and exuding killing intent.
However.
Unlike their predicament in the forest.
Jiang Han and the others didn't retreat when facing the aliens; instead, they took the initiative to attack.
Returning to the real world.
Their strength had fully returned, and with their Mechanical Armament, these alien races that dared to besiege them were essentially courting death.
Their pent-up frustrations had no outlet and now found a target.
The trio divided into three directions to attack the aliens, with a Mechanical Fortress parked not far away amidst the ruins.
Everything was the same as when they had left.
It was as if the half-month of encounters in the forest had happened in the blink of an eye in the real world.
And indeed, that was the case.
Baiyu hadn't had the chance to act when Senpao's voice echoed in his mind:
"Successor of the Black Moon, you have completed my trial.
You can absorb the Golden Fruits and wield the power of the Golden Race, proving your potential to inherit Divine Power.
Congratulations.
For being able to participate in this intense, suspense-filled game.
The golden blood within you will shine as the brightest star in the night sky, guiding other successors to hunt you.
Of course.
You can also hunt them.
If you wish to know more and aim to survive the upcoming battles among the successors, come find me in the Jade Forest.
At that time.
I might consider accepting an ally as weak as you."
Senpao did not appear.
But Baiyu was certain the entity remained hidden nearby.
"Why did you do this? And what role did you play in this alien invasion?"
Baiyu asked back.
"After all this, you still don't understand how Golden Fruits are born? Only enough blood and war can baptize and yield such treasures of the world.
If you truly want to know,
come to the Jade Forest, and I will naturally tell you."
Senpao's voice carried a hint of amusement, gradually fading, while around them, more demons and aliens emerged.
Baiyu furrowed his brows...
Were aliens and humans both just fodder for birthing Golden Fruits?
