Starting Off Survival With A Small Treehouse

Chapter 347: Chapter 278: The Beast Tide is Approaching, Strange Phenomenon (4000 Words)_2

An axe...

Xu Xin breathed a slight sigh of relief.

It didn’t sound like a particularly powerful weapon.

”The mutant humans I saw in the underground city bear a strong resemblance to the appearance you just described.”

He had previously told Ji Chaoyang about his experiences in the underground city, and Ji Chaoyang was aware that he had seen mutant humans there.

Ji Chaoyang remained silent for quite a while, contemplating something.

Xu Xin did not speak either, as he was also pondering how to survive the impending disaster.

After dozens of seconds, Ji Chaoyang spoke.

”Xu Xin, I’m afraid we’re going to have to engage in a defensive battle,” Ji Chaoyang’s voice became somewhat lower, ”In the icy cold, with outside temperatures at least tens of degrees below zero, most survivors wouldn’t have the ability to go out. If these mutant creatures attack the treehouses, the survivors will have to defend themselves inside.”

”Yes, I think so too. Although we have the plant heart and don’t need to worry too much, the others...”

Among the explorers, only four had plant hearts to guard the treehouses.

Xu Xin, Ji Chaoyang, Wen Guixin, and Wang Lei.

If a beast horde were to attack the treehouses, the remaining five would need to defend their treehouses themselves, let alone other survivors.

”From the visions in your prophecy, do you think there’s a high likelihood of those beasts attacking the treehouses?” Xu Xin asked.

”Very high,” Ji Chaoyang said resolutely, ”As I mentioned, it’s as if those beasts were ambushed there early on, with nothing there one second, and the next second they all popped out from behind the trees, as if being commanded by someone.”

”...Those mutant humans?”

”It’s very possible.”

”If they can hide behind trees, the individuals shouldn’t be large, right?”

”Hmm, the largest I saw was a snow wolf weighing less than a hundred kilograms. But we mustn’t be careless, as I only got a glimpse for a few seconds, and there may be larger ones behind them.”

Phew...

Xu Xin exhaled deeply and pressed his lips together.

A beast horde manipulated and commanded?

This reminded Xu Xin of the ant horde in the Treehouse Defense battle.

This crisis won’t be easy to overcome.

However, fortunately, the expert in treehouse defense had just been won over by him.

Although they couldn’t provide advanced weapons yet, the new green-grade heavy crossbows could be mass-produced.

The green-grade fine wood and beast tendons in their possession were innumerable.

Xu Xin immediately informed Ji Chaoyang about Ma Hongwei and the new crossbow arrows.

”A treehouse repeating crossbow?” Ji Chaoyang immediately thought of the same thing as Xu Xin, his voice rising, ”Can this repeating crossbow be loaded with explosive arrows?”

”I haven’t tried it yet, but it should be possible,” Xu Xin replied.

”Try it quickly, and if it works, it would be ideal,” Ji Chaoyang’s steady tone revealed a hint of excitement, ”The power of explosive arrows isn’t greatly related to the speed and penetration of the arrows themselves. They explode upon impact. If this repeating crossbow is equipped with explosive arrows, it can have a significant effect with just a green-grade. Oh, can the control panels be mass-produced?”

”Not yet, each control panel requires blue-grade round wood,” Xu Xin sighed. He also found this somewhat regrettable, ”You have to grow it yourself, and I suspect not many have done so.”

”Blue-grade round wood?” Ji Chaoyang immediately said, ”I still have three pieces. I will trade them to you now. Prioritize installing control panels for those without plant hearts; we can do without them for now.”

As he spoke, Xu Xin immediately received a trade notification.

The four of them had plant hearts and, unless there were thousands of mutant creatures attacking like the last time with the ants, no overly strong mutants posed a threat to the treehouses.

”I also have plenty. Ma Hongwei himself planted many blue-grade round wood, and I also planted one myself, so it’s enough to give each explorer one.”

”That’s good. By the way, there’s something I want to ask,” Ji Chaoyang inquired, ”Can you see the number of people in Section 187 on your side? Has their total population been decreasing recently?”

Has the population in Section 187 been decreasing?

It seems... that’s indeed the case.