Gourmet Hunter - Chapter 476

Chapter 476: Unknown Life Form

The "head" of Whale Island occupies two-thirds of the overall area, looking from afar like a massive overturned bowl on the sea.

The mountain slopes on all sides are smooth, covered with lush trees, showing the quality of the soil, with an active volcano standing at the top center. It’s hard to imagine how these trees survive in such surroundings.

Luo climbed the mountain step by step, meeting the black cat who joined him. Seeing him climbing, the black cat asked, "Weren't you going to look for the King of the Swamp?"

Lakes and swamps are in the flat forested areas, but Luo went up the mountain instead, differing from his previous decision.

"I'll go later."

Without explaining to the black cat, Luo continued upwards, observing many lively beasts and birds along the way, showing no fear of the active volcano at the top.

While searching for the divine character, Luo unexpectedly found a stone tablet buried in the soil, also engraved with divine characters, but these were carved with Nen, not the life force of trees.

Both the tree roots and the stone tablet pointed towards the active volcano at the top.

Suppressing his growing curiosity, Luo continued to the summit.

Ten minutes later, he reached the top, arriving at the base of the chimney-like volcano, the air filled with the smell of sulfur.

"What are we doing here?"

The black cat looked up at the towering volcano, puzzled.

Luo ignored him, stepping on the air to levitate upwards.

Seeing this, the black cat transformed from his solid form into black smoke, following Luo.

In no time, they reached the vicinity of the volcano's mouth, the scorching heat evaporating the moisture from their skin.

The acrid volcanic smoke rose from within, making the volcano resemble a factory chimney continuously emitting smoke.

Luo took a few steps forward to peek inside the volcano but stopped abruptly when he felt something unusual underfoot.

Looking down at the dusty ground, he stomped his foot and brushed aside the thick layer of dust, revealing a pale brown unidentified surface.

What is this?

Squatting down, Luo wiped the remaining dust off the surface, his expression changing instantly.

Beneath his touch was a palpable sense of life force, similar to the sensation of climbing the World Tree sapling, where the life force flowing within the trunk was clearly felt.

At the same time, the white smoke font in his mind provided brief information.

Named "lichens," originating from the Dark Continent, and then no further information.

"Lichens? Dark Continent?"

Luo's emotions surged as he continued to brush away the dust, revealing not just pale brown ground but many gaps.

In no time, he cleared an area the size of a basketball court, exposing a large patch of lichens.

Standing at the edge, Luo observed the lichen-covered surface, a chill running down his spine.

More divine characters?

Beside him, the black cat, seeing Luo's strange behavior, was confused but watched as Luo suddenly leaped into the air, then looked down at the pale brown surface.

"What is this guy up to?"

The black cat muttered to himself, his eyes following Luo’s descent.

"Indeed, divine characters, extending right to the volcano's mouth."

Landing, Luo squatted again, feeling the lichen's texture. Besides the life force, it felt like rough wooden flooring.

"Tree roots, stone tablets, and unknown lichens from the Dark Continent, all to construct a giant divine character. What’s the purpose…?"

Luo took a large step forward, reaching the volcano's mouth, looking down into the bubbling magma pool below.

A true active volcano, it wouldn't be surprising if it erupted daily.

Thinking of this, Luo glanced at the nearby forest, shook his head slightly, and looked back at the churning magma pool.

The black cat walked to his side, irritably asking, "What are you looking for?"

Luo turned to the black cat, "Help me check something."

"What is it?" The black cat looked up.

"See if there are any patterns or characters on the inner walls of the volcano."

The black cat was stunned, but Luo kicked him down like a ball.

"You jerk!"

Falling towards the smoke-filled magma pool, the black cat cursed Luo from above.

Luo crossed his arms, calmly watching the black cat fall, reminding, "Change your form."

The black cat immediately fell silent, transforming into black smoke, blending into the volcanic smoke, though still discernible.

In his solid form, the black cat would be burned by the intense heat even without falling into the magma pool. In his smoke form, a mix of Nen and physical, he could resist the high temperatures.

Luo didn’t know if other Nen Beasts could do this, but the black cat could.

"Just circle the inner walls, no need to enter the magma." Luo ordered the smoke-formed black cat.

The black smoke circled in the air, forming a fist shape, then flipped Luo off before heading to the volcano’s inner walls.

At that moment, an unexpected change occurred.

A bubble burst in the churning magma, pulling out a ribbon-like magma form, transforming into a bird shape, its flowing magma resembling phoenix feathers.

Luo and the black cat, noticing this unknown magma bird, were both startled.

The magma bird’s form wasn’t fixed, still flowing magma, without visible eyes or organs, making it unclear if it was a life form.

Swoosh!

The magma bird drew an arc, connected to the magma pool, its upper body lunging towards the black cat.

The attack was swift; the black cat couldn’t dodge, part of its smoky form torn away by the magma bird.

Whether devoured or vaporized by the heat, the black cat lost a portion of its smoke form.

Suffering a significant loss, the black cat quickly ascended, distancing itself from the magma bird.

The magma bird turned, lunging at the ascending black smoke again, but fell back into the magma pool at three or four meters, its upper body surfacing in the pool.

Though it had no eyes, its upward gaze seemed to follow the black smoke and Luo at the volcano's edge.

"A life form?"

Luo stared at the magma anomaly.

The black cat flew out of the volcano, landed nearby, returning to solid form, lying on the ground with a twisted expression.

His tail was severely burned, missing a large segment.

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