The apocalypse struck, and I became a druid.

Page 109

Han Ning opened the bucket lid and used a shovel to scoop out a large piece of dark red, shiny, and fine-textured dough.

Amazingly, the dough quickly became dry and loose on the surface and fine particles separated inside after being stirred slightly with a spatula.

In just a few seconds, it transformed from a viscous mass into special soil radiating subtle energy fluctuations.

"To be honest, I can't see anything in this soil. All my knowledge has been wasted."

Professor Ye picked up a bit of soil, feeling the peculiar sensation through his fingertips, and was somewhat bewildered.

The knowledge I learned before doesn't seem to be very useful anymore.

"Hehe, the technology from another world is more or less extraordinary, but I estimate that the knowledge you have learned can still be of great use."

Han Ning offered a word of comfort.

Under Professor Ye's guidance, Han Ning carefully dug out the squirting cucumber plant along with a small amount of original soil around its roots.

Professor Ye then laid a layer of ordinary soil at the bottom of a prepared new pot as a buffer and drainage layer, and then mixed the high-energy soil with some ordinary soil evenly and covered it.

Han Ning carefully buried the roots of the squirting cucumber plant in the well-mixed high-energy soil, ensuring that the roots were completely covered by this precious soil.

“Alright, boss, try the ‘massage’ method you mentioned earlier.” Professor Ye stepped back, both to observe and to learn.

Han Ning nodded, recalling the movements of those withered hands in the scene of the transmission of the will of nature.

His palms glowed with emerald green light once more, and he gently placed his hands over the main stem of the squirting cucumber plant.

The gentle vitality of [Nature's Blessing], combined with the stimulating properties of [Rapid Growth], begins to press, rub, and gently caress different parts of the plant with a specific rhythm and intensity.

Sometimes I gently stroke along the veins of the stem, sometimes I pause briefly at the swollen nodes near the roots to apply gentle pressure, and sometimes I gently press on the base of the leaves.

His movements, though seemingly casual, contained a peculiar rhythm, as if guiding the flow of energy within the plant and stimulating specific growth points.

[Nature's Blessing (Beginner) Proficiency +1, currently 162/200]

[Rapid Growth (Advanced) Proficiency +1, current 413/500]

……

Nourished by the dual skills and this special massage technique, the squirting cucumber plant trembled slightly.

The leaves became visibly greener and thicker, with a very faint emerald luster on their surface.

The tiny bud at the top, like a fetus in motion, swells and contracts slightly, and a faint fragrance wafts from the tightly closed opening.

“There’s a reaction…” Professor Ye stared intently.

Han Ning, who operated the plant himself, fully felt the vibrant life surging within it.

He continued massaging until the plant showed no further abnormalities, then stopped and said:

"As long as it works, that's good. It seems that this massage is not something that can be achieved overnight and needs to be continued."

Professor Ye agreed wholeheartedly: "That's right, mutation is a complex process that requires continuous stimulation and energy supply."

After massaging one squirting cucumber plant, move on to the next one.

There will definitely be more than one plant for the experiment. Han Ning prepared a total of 8 plants for observation in the first stage.

After completing the entire process, even he felt somewhat exhausted.

Unfortunately, these squirting melons, apart from exhibiting some unusual phenomena, did not actually mutate.

……

Over the next few days, Han Ning's life became regular and fulfilling.

The people at Biyun Resort have entered a rare period of relatively peaceful development.

Before leaving home in the morning, Han Ning would use the "Fast Growth" ability on ordinary crops to accelerate their maturation time and, incidentally, increase their proficiency.

Then massage the squirting cucumber and observe it.

Rest for a while to recover some of your spiritual energy.

He would invite Xu Ming, Professor Ye, and that incredibly fast young awakened individual named Xiao Yu to form a team for a hunting trip.

Han Ning didn't lift a finger; she just acted as a caregiver, leaving the three of them to do whatever they wanted.

He only uses his healing spell to treat their injuries when they are wounded.

The reason for bringing Xiaoyu along is simple: he's fast.

Han Ning planned to train Xiao Yu and use his super speed to act as a scout, gathering information on the monsters and other survivors in the city.

Chairman Wu probably had similar ideas long ago, but they lacked the strength to fully develop these speed awakeners.

Later that day, Han Ning would take Xuebing alone and venture deeper into the area in the northwest where the Black Serpent Monster was more active.

Find and kill elite-level black serpent monsters to obtain the energy crystals inside them.

Over the course of several days, a total of five crystals of varying sizes were collected from their bodies.

Time passed day by day, until... one evening four days later.

Chapter 121: Personnel Missing, New Plan

Evening, business district, office building.

Han Ning and Chairman Wu sat at a desk.

On the table was a portable gas stove, on which sat a kettle with a blackened bottom, its spout bubbling and steaming.

Chairman Wu picked up the kettle and poured boiling water into two teacups containing a few slices of Tieguanyin tea.

Instantly, a faint aroma of tea filled the air.

"Mr. Han," Chairman Wu said, pushing one of the teacups towards Han Ning with gratitude in his eyes.

"The vegetables you've helped us grow so quickly these past few days have been a huge help."

"It's been a long time since we've had such fresh leafy greens."

"To be honest, quite a few ordinary people in our group have already shown symptoms of vitamin deficiency."

Han Ning picked up the teacup, blew on it to cool it down, and took a sip.

"It's nothing, Chairman Wu, you're too kind."

Actually, he did it to increase his skill proficiency.

Advanced rapid growth accelerates the growth of crops with shorter growth cycles, almost one or two crops per day.

Instead of wasting so many crops, it would be better to share them with everyone.

Just as Chairman Wu was about to say something more, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.

Before Chairman Wu could continue speaking, a young man with a flustered expression walked over.

The young man, disregarding his own manners, spoke hastily:

"President, Song Ge's hunting team hasn't returned yet. I'm worried that something might have happened to them."

"When did they set off?" Chairman Wu frowned slightly.

The awakened ones at Biyun Resort were divided into many small teams.

Some teams were led by Awakened Ones at the vice-president level, while others were led by Awakened Ones who were strong but not yet at the vice-president level.

Depending on their strength, the areas they explore will differ.

"They set off this morning, and it's almost dark now, so they still haven't returned. Isn't it a rule that once they go out to explore, they must return before dark? Usually, the teams return half an hour early, but there's not even a trace of them here," the young man quickly replied.

Chairman Wu realized something was wrong and stood up: "Which direction did Ah Song and the others go?"

"We're heading southwest, west of Biyun Resort."

Thinking of the Black Serpent Monster group, which had been relatively quiet recently, Chairman Wu's expression turned serious.

"It's getting dark... wait for me a moment!"

The danger level in the wild at night is completely different from that during the day.

In the darkness, when visibility is reduced, snakes are most active.

"Everyone, please be quiet, I have something to tell you."

Chairman Wu left his desk and went to the place where awakened people and ordinary people usually gathered at Biyun Resort. He clapped his hands and repeated what the young man had just said.

"Hasn't Ah Song come back yet?"

"Could something have happened..."

"President Wu, shall we go out and take a look?"

In an instant, many awakened individuals, including several vice presidents, stood up.

Chairman Wu thought for a moment and said:

"Old Zhao, Old Xie, take a few good men out and take a look. Qianqian, your injury hasn't fully healed yet, so stay at the camp and rest for now."

"Okay!" the people whose names were called responded in unison.

Time was of the essence, so everyone didn't hesitate and quickly made preparations, equipping themselves with homemade weapons, first aid supplies, and so on, before gathering at the office building entrance on time.

Outside the office building, it was already completely dark.

The beams of several flashlights illuminated a dark area.

Chairman Wu stood at the front, his gaze sweeping over the group in front of him, and said in a deep voice, "Nighttime is different from daytime, and visibility is limited. Please be careful. If you encounter any danger, don't hesitate, come back immediately, understand?"

"understand!"

As the group was about to leave, the other awakened and ordinary people stood at the second-floor windows, waving and shouting to them:

"Everyone must return safely!"

"be careful!"

"... "

The search team members raised their hands and waved in response to their blessings, and then their figures gradually disappeared into the thick night.

……

Upstairs, Professor Ye found Han Ning gazing out the window from the floor-to-ceiling window of the office building.