The vegetation in this back mountain is truly lush.

Giant ancient trees reaching fifty or sixty meters high at every turn, massive vines resembling walls, and various wild grasses growing madly in crevices.

This is practically an environment that defies all ecological logic.

Undoubtedly, this wasn't formed naturally, there must be some unknown reason behind it.

"Mmm, delicious! This place truly lives up to being the location of Grandpa Tree's branch temple, even the ordinary wild grass is of top-grade quality."

At this moment, Wang Wu, Niu Aihua, and Pork Belly, the three little demons, were squatting in a deep valley, actually just about five or six hundred meters straight down from the Great Sage Platform.

Upon reaching this place, Niu Aihua declared itself hungry and refused to move, opening its big mouth, devouring the plants with a "vroom vroom vroom" sound like a lawn mower, eating with extreme delight.

Wang Wu deeply suspected that the reason Old Niu came to participate in the examination was to sneakily eat the top-grade wild grass here.

And Pork Belly was the same, its large pig snout, like a turning plow, in no time flipped up a huge pile of massive roots and stems from this environment.

"Third Brother, hurry and eat, these are all top-grade foods, mmm, so delicious."

Wang Wu shook his head. He wasn't hungry. While the two guzzled down, he cautiously observed the surroundings with his Level 10 Danger Perception fully activated, and an Array Stone ready in his mouth. At this point, maintaining a low profile was out of the question, as he was determined to succeed in the Grass and Wood Demon Soldiers examination.

However, it was very quiet around, not even ordinary insects or birds were present, let alone any little demons.

It was as if this place were a forbidden land.

But what exactly are Grass and Wood Zombies?

Are they some kind of naturally existing monsters, or are they acquired creatures that have gone out of control?

Wang Wu thought that the four ordinary tasks and one hidden task given in this examination were absolutely targeted and had a very close relationship with the daily duties of Grass and Wood Demon Soldiers.

After all, the Divine Temple of Grandpa Tree wouldn't shelter idle demons. Having gained so many benefits, contributing nothing in return wouldn't make sense.

Also, looking at the requirements and model of this examination, one very important premise to becoming a Grass and Wood Demon Soldier is the ability to think, rather than just act blindly.

Observing the great sages of the various demon spirit monster races, to counterbalance the Human Race, they adopted strategies of mastering human skills, created a grand ecology of the Four Seas and Eight Wildernesses, had demons take the Creation Wisdom Heart Pill, engaged in eloquent human conversations, learned to follow rules, established measures and weights, etc., it became clear that being able to think, speak principles, and act according to rules were greatly advocated in the West Wilderness.

If not, and they continued to oppose the Human Race in the most primitive, savage, and chaotic manner, they would indeed be beaten in every imaginable way.

Organized resistance against the unorganized and undisciplined amounts to a Dimensional Strike.

"Therefore, one cannot merely think about finding and defeating the Grass and Wood Zombies alone, but also consider why the Grass and Wood Zombies appear. Are these things a type of 'pest'? Grandpa Tree is a century-deep Divine Tree. With such profound cultivation, even a fallen leaf from it is so magical. Then extrapolating this, there must be pests appearing on Grandpa Tree itself, and over time, could they not evolve into Grass and Wood Zombies?"

"And as the companion race of the ancient trees, the Little Tree Spirits naturally regard clearing Grass and Wood Zombies as their most important, foremost mission. Otherwise, what purpose do they serve as a companion race?"

"Furthermore, considering the long existence of Grandpa Tree, it's certain that it doesn't have just one companion race. Are there competitive relationships between different companion races?"

Wang Wu silently reflected, and an initial idea began to take shape in his mind.

That is, can this seemingly easiest first level become the breakthrough to unlock the hidden task?

Or perhaps, are the four tasks the four types of work needed in the daily routine of Grass and Wood Demon Soldiers?

Thinking this way, he glanced at Niu Aihua and Pork Belly, then smiled inwardly, not urging them, letting them eat and drink their fill.

Indeed, these two could really eat.

Niu Aihua devoured almost three hundred square meters of wild grass and various vines in one breath, then yelled, 'Eat grass up to eighty percent full, live long with a healthy stomach.'

Pork Belly, too, consumed at least five hundred kilograms of plant roots and stems, its belly bloated like a ball, lying on the ground unwilling to move, shouting how delicious it was, truly not a wasted trip!

Wang Wu was still in no hurry, strolling along the broad path the two had cleared, carefully observing the surrounding vegetation, occasionally running outside or simply climbing to the treetops for a better view.

Anyway, he did not idle around. After more than two hours passed, it was already around noon, half the day had elapsed, yet their little team still lingered here.

Presumably, the other demons were nearly finished with their first task by now.

"Lianhua, I truly apologize, the wild grass here is just too sweet and fragrant, I simply couldn't resist, it's just too delicious, unforgettable even."

Niu Aihua said while munching on grass, filled with guilt, yet it wasn't wrong, as it was still eating this top-grade stuff!

Never for a moment did it stop.

This led Wang Wu to deeply suspect that in the past three attempts at the examination, had it similarly eaten continuously for three days and three nights?

Does it not ruminate?

Damn, this is truly badass!

Wang Wu really wanted to ask, but in the end, he held back. Niu Aihua's Bloodline Talent must include eating grass. Especially considering that the cow dung it produces can grow vines that conceal aura and shadows, this might also be an evolution of its Talent.

So, this dude might be the type whose strength increases the more he eats.

In comparison, the so-called foodie Pork Belly is really lacking. After eating only 500 kilograms, it's already groaning from bloating. It's just a pure slacker dragging everyone down. For now, Wang Wu hasn't seen any special advantages in this guy.

Next, Wang Wu continued to wait patiently. As time passed, he became more and more certain. Yes, he basically guessed a truth, and this truth requires Niu Aihua to keep eating grass.

Moreover, Wang Wu already found several pieces of evidence.

Firstly, Niu Aihua encountered Grass and Wood Zombies during its past three assessments. Its claim that it could handle five at once was surely an exaggeration because the first stage only required each Demon to kill one. This means the combat power of these Grass and Wood Zombies was definitely at the Peak of Grade Eight. Could it really handle five Grade Eight zombies?

Additionally, considering Niu Aihua's current state, it indicates it didn't actively seek out the Grass and Wood Zombies; those creatures came looking for it.

Thus, excluding the possibility of the examiners actively releasing monsters, it can be inferred that Grass and Wood Zombies attack actively due to the destruction of grass and wood.

Then, the second piece of evidence, this vast area of the back mountain, astonishingly has no birds, beasts, insects, or Little Demons. Could it be that the Little Tree Spirits set up a protective circle on the periphery, keeping the Little Demons outside?

That can't be possible. Given the extent of competition among the Little Demons, how much effort and resources would the Little Tree Spirits have had to invest to achieve this level?

So, it can be generally inferred that Grass and Wood Zombies appear in this back mountain around the clock, and any Little Demon entering would be devoured.

Finally, the third piece of evidence: the vegetation in this back mountain is overly lush. With ancient trees covering the sky and vines like walls, countless wild grasses grow densely like nails driving into crevices. With such density, logically, even without malnutrition, shouldn't they blend in with the common grass?

Guess what? Each grass and vine randomly found here turns out to be of top-quality.

Wang Wu previously speculated this could be the result of the Little Tree Spirits' meticulous care. But after careful observation, all the vegetation in this back mountain seems to grow naturally, with no traces of artificial cultivation or care.

What does this signify?

It demonstrates that the Vitality and Spiritual Qi in this place are excessively abundant, reaching a surplus level.

Then, one point can be confirmed: Grandpa Tree's branch is in the back mountain.

Just the lingering reverberations of its presence, like residual heat, have led to such lush grass and wood.

"Thus, the fifth hidden task is surely related to Grandpa Tree's branch. It might require locating the branch, discovering the lair of Grass and Wood Zombies, and exterminating them. Only then might one achieve a superior assessment result."

"I dare to bet that the chronic problem that has always troubled the Little Tree Spirits is the Grass and Wood Zombies."

After waiting for another two hours or so, almost reaching dusk, the bright daylight outside gradually failed to penetrate the forest, making the place suddenly turn dim and eerie.

It was at this moment that Wang Wu vaguely sensed a feeling of being watched.

Meanwhile, Niu Aihua remained oblivious, manically eating grass. It can indeed eat, never getting a swollen belly. Eating from morning till night, it has already cleared about 900 square meters of space.

And it can still brag while muttering.

"Eat grass till eighty percent full, ensure old intestines and stomach good. Don't heed Old Niu's words, suffer's right ahead. Eating grass with seeds, aids in health indeed. One hurt meal calls for ten soups..."

"Third brother, why do I feel this place is somewhat scary?"

Pork Belly finally digested its bellyful of food and even ran to the side to drop a warm load...

At this moment, it looked quite energized, having eaten and drunk to its fill.

Wang Wu flashed it a grin, and the next second, suddenly roared and rushed ferociously towards Pork Belly.

Though he wasn't yet comparable to Niu Aihua in terms of size, his nearly 500-kilogram weight, combined with a speed of twenty meters per second, made him near to being an earthly giant beast. He could even stir up a gust, carrying grass fragments, majestic indeed.

The force of the assault was so shocking that Pork Belly nearly dropped its jaw. Could this be the air of a Ninth-Grade Minor Demon?

No way, why are you charging at me, have mercy, third brother!

But before it could yell it out, Wang Wu already zoomed past and collided head-on with something unknown.

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, Wang Wu felt like he crashed into a hard cliff. The other side remained unmoving, yet he was bounced back three to four meters, his bear paws and shoulders numb, and even a strange force infiltrated his limbs, leaving him temporarily unable to muster strength, like he was a puppet controlled by strings, retreating continuously.

His 31 points of Power wasn't advantageous at all.

"You encountered an Eighth-Grade Grass and Wood Zombie, due to its rigidity feature, it completely suppressed your Basic Power; you cannot deal damage to it, and you suffered 120 points of countershock damage, leaving you in a 3-second halt."

"Due to your own 43 points of Basic Defense, you did not suffer harm."

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