Without the water monster's obstruction, Yaoyao quickly suspended the Formation Plate beneath the waters of Heavenly Lake. During this time, the Formation Flags of the Action Team members were all set up.
At noon, as the yang energy converged, Yaoyao activated the formation. The vast magic formation enveloped the entire Changbai Mountain Heavenly Lake, as well as the surrounding tens of miles.
"These are Sensor Tags. They can connect with the Formation Flags in the surrounding tens of miles. If there's any ghostly aura, they will react." Yaoyao explained. "Once more than half of the tags in your hands malfunction, you must notify me."
Yaoyao distributed a square tag, seemingly made of iron yet not, to each of the Action Team members present. The members were utterly fascinated, examining them repeatedly. They had never seen such a unique formation before.
After familiarizing themselves with their assigned posts, everyone began searching for a place to settle. Heavenly Lake was at the mountain peak, and snow had already begun to accumulate there. The temperature difference between day and night was vast.
Without a cave to shelter from the wind and rain, the night's cold winds would be unbearable, even for those present who were above Third Tier. Changbai Mountain's massive body contained many naturally formed caves, so finding a suitable one was not difficult.
They found a perilous mountain crevice.
"This spot looks good," Gu Huanzhen said. "We can see the sea of forests outside, and it'll be convenient for hunting or picking fruits." Gu Huanzhen put down his luggage. After surveying the area, he found that the mountain here was high,
with the cliff face forming an arc, perfectly blocking the wind. This terrain was ideal for a camping base. Gu Huanzhen, with his rich camping experience, chose it at a glance.
"Then let's set up the tents!" Yaoyao said, a little excited. In truth, her task was complete after setting up the formation. The reason she hadn't returned was simply to have some fun. Because it was her first time camping, she found everything interesting and was too excited to sit still.
When Sixth Brother set up the tent, she handed him materials; when he built the bonfire, she went to gather firewood, busying herself with great joy. Before long, two tents, one large and one small, were set up.
Yaoyao's small tent was a beautiful pink, adorned with cute cat prints. Inside the tent were soft pads, cotton quilts, and even toy pillows, all so complete it seemed as if they had come for a vacation.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened. Clusters of snowflakes drifted down, and the world turned a hazy, uniform white. On a platform not far from the cave, an iron pot was boiling water, steam rising in billows like mist.
Many mushrooms were added to the pot, making a large pot of mushroom soup base. Beside it were platters of thinly sliced raw meat and plenty of fresh vegetables.
Clearly, on such a day, gathering around a red clay hot pot stove to eat sliced meat hotpot was undoubtedly a wonderful thing. As for Changbai Mountain being sparsely populated, where did the sliced meat and vegetables come from? This was not an issue.
After all, the Gu family had agreed for their daughter to have fun, not to participate in a wilderness survival challenge. Naturally, nothing that should be sent was missing.
"Wow, it smells so good!" Yaoyao delightedly dipped a piece of sliced meat into the rich, fragrant sesame paste, then popped it into her mouth. The aroma of the meat blended perfectly with the flavor of the dipping sauce, neither overpowering the other.
Paired with sour plum drink chilled with ice, Yaoyao ate without even lifting her head. Seeing this, Gu Huanzhen also smiled cheerfully, occasionally adding meat to his sister's plate.
After another mouthful, he paused, chopsticks in hand, and said, "The snow doesn't look heavy. Tomorrow, let's explore the woods and see if there's anything good." They were ultimately out to have fun; staying cooped up in the tent would be boring.
However, he wasn't sure if the snow would get heavy overnight. If it did, it would make the paths difficult to traverse.
Regarding this concern, Yaoyao patted her chest, assuring him it was no problem. She pulled out a few talismans and handed them over. "These are Light Body Talismans. Stick them on yourself, Sixth Brother, and you'll be able to walk on snow without leaving a trace!"
Gu Huanzhen's eyes lit up upon hearing this. These were undoubtedly treasures, whether in snow or jungle. If used in combat...
"Yaoyao, after we go back, could you draw a few more of these Light Body Talismans for Sixth Brother? Sixth Brother will exchange them for tasty treats." The more Gu Huanzhen thought about their efficacy, the more excited he became.
In the end, he couldn't hold back and spoke. This request made Yaoyao pause, but she instantly understood Sixth Brother's intention. She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll draw some for you when we get back."
Light Body Talismans were quite potent. If anyone else wanted them in bulk, Yaoyao would most likely not agree. But Sixth Brother was in the military, and he was most likely asking for his soldiers.
Military rules were strict, and they followed orders, so they wouldn't misuse the talismans. "Alright, then Sixth Brother thanks you in advance."
Gu Huanzhen also understood that these powers, which defied scientific principles, could not be allowed to proliferate. He would carefully vet the personnel he entrusted them to.
After a delightful hotpot meal that warmed them thoroughly, and with the day's events of undergoing tribulation and setting up formations, Yaoyao couldn't fight off her drowsiness.
With sleepy eyes, she burrowed into her tent, heading early to meet Duke Zhou. The bonfire burned with small flames, warming the space around them, and in the winter's snowy night, heaven and earth settled into silence.
...
"Wow, what a beautiful fox!"
"How is this little bird like a tangyuan [glutinous rice ball]? It can fly even without wings, I really want to catch it, wuwuwu."
In the Changbai Mountain forest, a little milky doll wearing a fox-fur hat excitedly watched the small animals nearby, looking as if she were champing at the bit. This scene made the man beside her break out in a cold sweat.
"Little sister, you can't catch these!" He frantically stopped her, then, under her puzzled gaze, earnestly began to explain. "These are protected animals. If you catch them, there will be big trouble."
The two were none other than Yaoyao and Gu Huanzhen, who had risen early to enter the forest. Gu Huanzhen had initially believed that with his rich outdoor experience, he could definitely ensure his sister had a great time.
But now he realized he was spectacularly wrong. Because all the animals his little sister had set her eyes on were beautiful, but every single one was a nationally protected animal.
For example, that round little bird, scientifically known as the Silver-throated Tit-Warbler, was a Class I nationally protected species; that White-footed Red Fox was slightly less protected, listed as Class II.
To put it bluntly, if they caught them and took them back, the police would be knocking on their door right after. They were supposed to be out enjoying nature, but Gu Huanzhen was drenched in cold sweat from fright.
"I can't catch them? That's a bit disappointing." Yaoyao somewhat regretfully scratched her palm, but her attention quickly shifted again because the forest truly had too many beautiful animals.
Moreover, with her formidable cultivation, she could catch anything she set her eyes on to play with, even tigers and black bears were no exception.
Thus, in just half a day, Yaoyao's 'ferocious reputation' spread throughout this mountain range. Wild beasts, upon seeing humans, would bolt faster than rabbits. This made Yaoyao get bored of playing. She put her little hands on her hips and said, "This isn't fun at all."
"Little sister, how about we dig for some Spiritual Ginseng and He Shou Wu instead? We can use them to nourish Mom and Dad's health." Gu Huanzhen's eyelids twitched as he listened. He was terrified that if this continued,
they would face huge trouble, so he quickly changed the subject. At the same time, he was glad he had come along; otherwise, the thought of what might happen was truly chilling.
Upon hearing about finding tonics for Mom and Dad, Yaoyao's spirits lifted. She nodded her small head repeatedly and said, "Okay! I'm best at treasure hunting!" Seeing that she was willing to agree, Gu Huanzhen also breathed a sigh of relief.
However, before long, his head began to buzz, because her claim of being "best at" was proving to be frighteningly accurate.
Gu Huanzhen looked at a basket full of Spiritual Ginseng, He Shou Wu, and Lingzhi, all resembling giant radishes, and only three words remained in his mind:
Destroy! It! All!
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