The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?!

"Sure."

The panda nodded contentedly and continued munching on bamboo shoots.

"Huh?"

Bai San looked out the window and exclaimed again.

"Found another treasure?"

Liu Zheng asked with great interest.

"Where do all these treasures come from? Mr. Liu, don't bother thinking about the little things we Bai Family have."

Bai San replied speechlessly.

"What are you saying? I'm trying to solve your problems at the root. Why would you exclaim if there's no treasure?"

"There's a special flower growing on the mountain ahead, called the Root-cutting Flower. Its fragrance can cause infertility, and the effect is strong. Considering it's the flowering season for the Root-cutting Flower now, should we take a detour?"

Bai San explained.

"I can't believe there's such a vicious flower. Didn't you clear them out when they weren't flowering?"

He widened his eyes.

"All living things grow according to their principles. We can't just eliminate the Root-cutting Flower because its effect is unwelcome. Besides, when it's not flowering, its leaves have healing and infection-preventing properties, which are quite useful for the mountain animals."

Bai San informed.

"I see, you Bai Family certainly have a sustainable development mindset."

Liu Zheng praised.

"Rather than fishing with a wide net, we prefer a steady approach. Otherwise, when we first discovered the Millennium Cold Jade Spring, we would have just extracted the Cold Jade."

Bai San said.

The spring water from the Millennium Cold Jade Spring naturally comes from underground sources, but without the Cold Jade as a catalyst, the water vapor cannot condense.

"Good thing you didn't dig it up, or else Cang Zhixue would protect its food."

The Millennium Cold Jade Spring is the Snow Horse's food reserve. Occasionally stealing a little, it turns a blind eye. But trying to take it all, it would let the Bai Family know how many eyes Lord Ma has.

"That's why, although our Bai Family has always been middle-ranked among the five families outside the Pass, we've never hit rock bottom, nor will we perish like the Huang Family."

Bai San, also belatedly realizing this, felt grateful.

"Speaking of which, how did the Huang Family perish?"

Liu Zheng asked curiously.

"Hard to say. Can't say well, can't say better."

Bai San shook his head.

"Alright."

He felt this conversation sounded familiar.

"So, Mr. Liu, should we take a detour?"

Bai San brought the topic back.

"I don't mind. What about you guys?"

Liu Zheng asked.

He was already selected by Hell's Game, uncertain about surviving several instances, let alone considering having children.

"I don't mind either; I can't have kids anyway."

Doctor Nile spoke first.

If he could have children, Sun God Ra would have long decreed him to create a new La Clan.

"Mr. Liu, I don't mind either; saving on protection money."

Lao Si chuckled mischievously.

His family already had a bunch of little ones, even if a few died young, there'd still be enough to continue the family line.

"Boss, I'm okay too!"

Niu Daji finally made a decision.

Although he didn't have kids yet, he had plenty of siblings to adopt as a last resort.

"No problem, human sir. Our Stone Spirit Clan's fertility isn't affected by the Root-cutting Flower."

Shi Tiantian smiled.

"Mr. Liu, I'm fine too; I already have three sons."

Bai San also expressed his stance.

Hedgehogs don't breed like mice, but they're still better than humans.

"I can't. Our panda clan just has me as the lone sapling; it's up to me to propagate the species."

The panda presented the only objection.

"By the way, are you male or female?"

Liu Zheng casually brushed the fur on its belly, finding no clues.

Panda sex characteristics, compared to other bear species, are not very obvious. Except for some gifted "giant egg youths," generally, gender can only be confirmed through official examinations or DNA tests.

Real-world panda stars "He Hua" and "He Ye" were long considered brother and sister, only later confirmed as sisters through DNA testing.

"Don't touch randomly; you're such a perv."

The panda protected its belly fur, grumbling.

"Of course I'm male, and the ultimate male among males, the Demon King among Demon Kings. Once I find my kind, I'll start a harem, have dozens of little pandas, repopulate the species and rebuild my Great Chaos Pill Sect. Hehehe~"

It imagined a future life full of "sex-cess," nearly revealing its rouge.

"Little giant panda. But what if all the ones you find are male?"

Liu Zheng teased on purpose.

"Then... then I'll just refine a gender-conversion elixir and turn them all female."

The panda growled fiercely.

"Uh... ambitious. How much more time does the detour take?"

He asked Bai San.

"About an extra hour."

Bai San calculated.

Already in the inner part of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, danger levels are higher, requiring more caution than before.

"Fine, an hour is an hour then."

Liu Zheng shrugged.

While most things are negotiable, fertility is something to consider in light of his team's wishes.

Disregarding subordinates' well-being only prompts disregard of your authority.

"Huh?"

The panda looked at him in surprise.

It thought Liu Zheng might scold it or outright ignore its opinion.

"I told you, my boss is different from the ones you've met."

Niu Daji said proudly.

"Hmph, just winning panda's favor."

The panda retorted stubbornly.

"Alright, alright, but have I won yours?"

Liu Zheng took the chance to rub its belly fur.

"Stop touching, damned rogue, I'm not your pet."

The panda fought off his salty touch.

"Fine, since you gave the bonus, I'll show you. Stop the car!"

It wriggled free of Liu Zheng's embrace, opened the car door, and jumped out.

Back in its original form, it pulled out a tuft of hair, then paced them according to some pattern on the armored vehicle's body.

"Seal completely, impermeable to plague, impervious to air, smoke, and clouds. Upon the order of Original Ancestor Hunyuan, open the Keep Out Formation!"

With a deep shout, the hair on the car transformed into black and white talismans.

Linked by black and white energy, they formed a barrier covering the armored vehicle.

"Great!"

The panda clapped its paws, satisfied with its work.

"Hey, compensate me now."

Back in the car, it pointed at the bald spot.

"Here, here."

Liu Zheng generously placed some cash over it.

"What's the use of this formation?"

He asked.

"It's called the Keep Out Formation, so it naturally closes off air. The outside air can't come in, and inside air won't leak out. Including tiny particles, pollen, spores, and so on."

The panda happily pocketed the cash, covering the bald spot with its adjacent fur.

"Ah, won't we suffocate then?"

"Just step outside and you won't. Plus, the air inside is enough for now."

The panda said.

"You? Don't you need air?"

"Hehe, with an inner core, I can circulate internally; one breath lasts three days and nights."

The panda boasted.

"Impressive. But are you sure your formation covers all those holes in the vehicle?"

Liu Zheng pointed at the body riddled with holes finer than stitches.

This Department of Security's test vehicle was remarkably sturdy; despite damage, its driving function was barely impaired.

Though other functions besides driving were nearly rendered useless.

"Don't worry, even with holes, the open air is no problem."

The panda said confidently.

The Keep Out Formation was a compulsory spell for disciples of the Mixed Pill Sect, the first it learned, and perfected over years.

The reason? Better kept to insiders.

Well, it was because the sect's core Cultivation Technique was peculiar: during practice, surrounding spiritual and impure energy were absorbed, exhaled as impurities.

In other words, farting.

The foulness, catalyzed by the technique, intensified with higher cultivation levels.

When its master was alive, his farts were legendary, terrifying all creatures from approaching the mountain.

Hence, perfecting this spell was a necessity.

"Alright, let's drive then."

Liu Zheng chose to trust it.

"Okay, Mr. Liu."

Lao Si hit the gas, and the armored vehicle headed for the mountain road up the Root-cutting Mountain.