Cave Refuge

The primary limitation on the number of cultivators was the concentration of Spirit Power in the air. Although the concentration of Spirit Energy was continuously increasing outside, one must not forget how recently the floods had receded.

Even if the concentration of Spirit Energy in the air could satisfy the growth conditions of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, it hadn't been long since the waters had receded.

Therefore, at this time, the external environment simply did not meet the natural growth conditions for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Naturally, the increasing concentration of Spirit Power in the air had nothing to do with those Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Thinking of this, Dong Tianyu released his Divine Sense. Unlike before when he had only probed the immediate surroundings of his body to guard against attacks from unknown creatures, this time he expanded his Divine Sense to its maximum range to get a general understanding of the entire forest.

As Dong Tianyu expanded his Divine Sense to its maximum range, the results confirmed his suspicion: the forest he was in might no longer be on Blue Star but situated in a particularly special plane.

The boundary lines he had crossed earlier, although they appeared connected on either side, actually belonged to two different planes, which explained why one side was day and the other night.

Now, the forest that Dong Tianyu was in actually had a smaller independent range than the Cave he owned. However, for unknown reasons, these smaller spaces were tightly connected and had lost the crystal barriers in between. Thus, after these spaces were connected, they appeared as a single whole space, making crossing them no difficult feat.

At this moment, Dong Tianyu felt like he had entered a labyrinth. Although he kept walking straight, aware that the next forest space was more dangerous than the current one and promised better rewards, it seemed like there was no end in sight.

Although he had begun to collect Spirit Plants, the endless path with no visible end made Dong Tianyu somewhat weary.

After all, his original intention for entering the forest was just to understand what was happening in the suddenly appearing forest, but now that he was deep inside, Dong Tianyu didn't really want to stay there.

However, as the old saying goes, since he had come and already explored more than a dozen different forest spaces, sinking costs had already been invested, and gains were beginning to appear.

Unless those with extremely strong willpower, most people would continue forward like gamblers, wanting to see what kind of Spirit Plants the next cross through another forest space would yield.

This situation was like a gambler caught in a winning streak; unless the subsequent results continuously fell far below expectations, or unless they were completely bankrupt, they would not choose to leave.

And Dong Tianyu's choice was not much different from most people's. Since every time he passed through a forest space he could obtain a Spirit Plant, unless he went through three to five forest spaces consecutively without any gains, it would be difficult for Dong Tianyu to choose to turn back.

Along the way, Zhou Dong Tianyu was not just mindlessly pushing forward, but was carefully recording each forest space he traversed, documenting his experiences one by one.

As Dong Tianyu traveled, from forest spaces with only plants, to those with a Bug Nest, then unsurprisingly to those with small animals, followed by medium animals, and then large animals.

By the time Dong Tianyu had experienced a forest space with creatures larger than the trees, Dong Tianyu was actually looking forward to what creature would appear in the next forest space.

When crossing those forest spaces with animals, Dong Tianyu was no longer recklessly pushing through as he had done before, but was carefully searching every area of the space, making sure to transport every animal into his Storage Space.

At this time, it was a period when ordinary food was scarce outside. Dong Tianyu had thought he would find some edible plants or fruits in the forest, but unexpectedly, he didn't gain much in the way of crops or fruits. Instead, he acquired a large amount of meat.

When Dong Tianyu moved the Frost Snow Tree, which emitted a chilling cold aura, into his Cave, he speculated what might appear in the next forest space.

At this moment, the forest space that Dong Tianyu was in housed giant creatures that were taller than the trees. After slaying all the giant creatures, a Frost Snow Tree that appeared near the boundary line could be considered a peak Foundation Building Stage Spirit Plant.

That's precisely why Dong Tianyu paused at the edge of the boundary line, hesitating to cross into the forest space on the other side.

Although Dong Tianyu had reached the First Transformation of Golden Core, greatly surpassing ordinary Golden Core cultivators, his usually casual attitude was because he had been encountering opponents far below his own realm. Now, facing an enemy likely equal in Cultivation Level, he had to take things seriously.

Of course, Dong Tianyu was not a coward; he wouldn't turn back just because of a potential enemy. After steadying his mind for a moment, he resolutely stepped across the boundary line.

What Dong Tianyu absolutely did not expect was that, upon stepping across the boundary line, he mysteriously emerged from the deep forest and looked around, confirming once again that he was truly on the edge of the deep forest.