The next morning, Ding Meng showed up at Zeng Kang's research facility on time.
The research facility was still the same. Most of the people who came in and out were prosthetics. Meiling was buried in her work, and Zeng Kang seemed to be forever polishing those bones.
The only difference was that Hong Da and the others were here again, and they were all equipped with new armor.
Actually, it wasn't accurate to describe them as armor. They should be called battle suits. These battle suits were obviously made of bone material. They were like a set of light yellow tights that covered the wearer's body, leaving only the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears exposed. They definitely didn't look as majestic and mighty as battle suits. Instead, they looked more like mummies.
Ding Meng couldn't help but smile.
Xiao Ai said, "I'm analyzing the composition of this suit. It's very flexible and doesn't fear sharp metal weapons. It's also resistant to heat and cold. According to my calculations, it seems to be able to resist a variety of poisons. It's indeed a good piece of equipment for Origin Ability users with prosthetics."
However, Hong Da didn't miss the expression on Ding Meng's face. He was a little annoyed. "Do you think we're funny?"
Ding Meng ignored him. He couldn't be bothered to pay attention to this group of people. To him, Hong Da and the others weren't worthy of his attention.
"Kid, Brother Hong is asking you a question.
Are you deaf? "Someone beside him was unhappy.
Ding Meng said, "Do you have many of these bone armors?
Can you give me one? "
When they heard his question, everyone burst into laughter. Even Hong Da couldn't help but laugh. "Kid, your combat strength isn't that great, and there's something wrong with your brain. Only the strongest people in Health Town deserve to have these things. Haha, do you think you deserve it?"
Ding Meng's eyelids drooped and he didn't answer. At this time, a clear and cold voice came from the gate. "Why would a real expert need bone armor?
Only the weak are equipped with battle suits. The strong don't need them at all. "
Another dozen or so men and women rushed in. This group of people was different from Hong Da's group. They were dressed very simply. It felt like they were wearing simple leather clothes. Only the elbows, shoulders, knees, and wrists were made of metal. Moreover, each of them carried a cold weapon on their back. Looking at the shape of the scabbard, it should be a long saber, a cavalry saber, a short sword, or a scimitar. To be able to use these things, their martial skills should not be bad.
The leader of the group was a young girl. She wasn't tall, her hair was short, and her facial features weren't very delicate. However, when put together, she gave off a valiant and resolute feeling. This was especially true for her tall nose bridge and thick eyebrows, which made her look very lively. In terms of appearance, this young girl would be a natural beauty even in the Holy Grail Federation.
However, the young girl's skin was dark and rough. Her arms were muscular, and blue veins could be seen with the naked eye. After all, she was a person from this place, so it was impossible for her to have any high-end cosmetics. If this young girl really had such conditions, then she wouldn't be worse than Dai Yi and Eirinn.
Even so, many people on Hong Da's side were secretly looking at the young girl's towering chest. Ding Meng's focus was definitely not on these. From the moment the young girl walked in, he felt the unique aura on her body. Moreover, the young girl didn't have any prosthetics on her body. She was a healthy Origin Energy user.
Xiao Ai couldn't help but praise, "This girl is very special. Her Origin Energy is very stable and thick. Although I predict that she's a war elder, her foundation is quite solid. Look at her temperament and dress. She's definitely an expert among people of the same level."
Ding Meng also nodded. The young girl's aura gave him the feeling of a wild beast that could erupt with amazing energy at any time and place.
Seeing the young girl and her group come in, Hong Da's expression changed. He hesitated and said, "Jun Ling, aren't you …"
Jun Ling tilted his head and glanced at him. "What about me?
Do you think I'm dead? "
Hong Da suddenly didn't speak.
Jun Ling glanced at this group of people again. "When the tiger is not in the mountain, the monkey will be the overlord. You dare to call yourselves the strongest with just scrap metal?"
Someone at the side seemed to be flushed red and couldn't help but want to flare up. Who knew that he would be stopped by Hong Da.
"Let's go!" Hong Da seemed to be very afraid of Jun Ling. He turned around and left without saying a word.
Mei Ling greeted them. "Sister Jun Ling, are you going out again?"
Jun Ling nodded and said, "Sister Mei Ling, please prepare some supplies for us. We're about to set off."
"Okay, no problem."
Mei Ling seemed to have thought of something and took the initiative to say, "Oh right, this Brother Feng is new. He also wants to collect materials. If you're going hunting, can you bring him along?"
Jun Ling naturally also noticed Ding Meng. It had to be said that this young girl's eyes were very sharp. She stared at Ding Meng's hand for a long time before saying, "Little arrow!"
A young man behind her immediately stood up. "Sister Jun!"
Jun Ling said in a low voice, "Give him a knife!"
Little arrow immediately took off his knife and handed it to Ding Meng.
This was a reversed short knife. It was less than half a meter long and the belly of the knife was wider. The blade was slightly bent forward. After being unsheathed, the blade was condensed and heavy, but it didn't reflect light. Moreover, the material seemed to be a rare metal. One could tell at a glance that it was a sharp weapon.
Ding Meng couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Good knife!
This is a Gorkha battle knife, also known as a dog leg knife! "
Little arrow's eyes immediately revealed a look of pride. "Brother, you have good taste!"
Ding Meng flipped his wrist and the knife immediately swished in his hand a few times. Then, with a click, it returned to its sheath.
Jun Ling's eyes flashed. "Come with us!"
Ding Meng hurriedly said, "Thank you!"
"You're welcome!" Jun Ling turned and said, "Since you're here, you're one of us!"
Ding Meng frowned. "When do we set off?"
Jun Ling said, "When we're ready, we'll set off immediately."
Her so-called preparation was the supplies that Mei Ling had provided. Most of the supplies were bottles of medicine. This was easy to understand. Origin ability users didn't need much food, but carrying medicine was obviously a preparation for injury. Could it be an attack by wild monsters?
In addition to medicine, Mei Ling had also brought a large number of weapons. These weapons were all cold weapons, many of which were bone spike weapons made by Ceng Kang.
Of course, during the preparation, Ding Meng couldn't help but ask Mei Ling about the origins of Jun Ling's group.
Twenty years ago, when Professor Ceng Kang came to Madison, Jun Ling and the others were the native people of this planet. They were the nomads of this prairie. They were very brave and good at fighting. Moreover, they lived a very primitive life of hunting. At that time, this was just a village with a very small population. It wasn't until Professor Ceng Kang and Yang Wei came that this place was built into a small town.
Twenty years had passed, and the nomadic population was getting smaller and smaller. In Jun Ling's generation, there were only a dozen or so of them left. The others, such as Hong Da, were all outsiders. They didn't see eye to eye with each other.
In the eyes of Hong Da and the others, Jun Ling and the others were primitive savages. They didn't even have decent clothes on them. They wore animal skins and leather. Jun Ling and the others also looked down on Hong Da and the others. These people were all too weak.
However, Professor Ceng Kang treated everyone equally. As long as you could get your hands on animal skins and bones, he would give you what you wanted.
Ding Meng had some appreciation for Jun Ling. The girl was young, but she didn't like to talk much. She packed her things and went on the road. This was the attitude of doing things.
Outside of Health Town was the prairie. This group of people didn't have any transport vehicles. They were completely replaced by walking.
Of course, they couldn't be fast. However, Ding Meng found that these people's footsteps had a strange rhythm. Jun Ling led the way in front. Every step she took, the footprints of the people behind her were exactly the same. It was the same for the third person who followed. It was exactly the same.
It might not be difficult to walk one or two kilometers, but to walk continuously for six or seven hours without a single step was worthy of admiration. This small team was clearly a well-disciplined military force.
Xiao Ai couldn't help but say, "Actually, as long as you use the right method, walking can be a kind of relaxation for the human body. The blood circulation and heartbeat will produce an effective balance and coordination. The brain will also get sufficient rest and can think about many things that you normally wouldn't think of."
Ding Meng nodded. Jun Ling and the others had undoubtedly done this.
The person at the end of the team was Ding Meng. He definitely didn't use this method. From another point of view, Ding Meng hadn't really integrated into the team. However, Ding Meng was strong enough that this distance was nothing to him.
After walking for an unknown period of time, the prairie seemed to have come to an end. A forest appeared in front of them. The slope of the ground began to change. It was estimated that there would be a mountain terrain ahead.
Jun Ling looked up at the sky. At this time, the sun couldn't be seen. The sky seemed to be dimming. It seemed that night was coming.
Jun Ling stopped and clapped her hands. "Everyone, rest here for a while."
A dozen people immediately sat in a circle on the grass. These people had been with Jun Ling for a long time and didn't seem to like talking much. Everyone was busy. Some people lowered their heads to wipe their weapons, some checked their backpacks, and some even took out food to eat and drink.
Little Arrow was sitting next to Ding Meng. He took the initiative to hand over a lump of black stuff. It looked like barbecued meat and didn't smell very good.
"Try it!" Little Arrow said.
Ding Meng didn't stand on ceremony. After receiving it, he imitated Little Arrow and took a big bite. Although the barbecued meat was as hard as a rock, it had a different taste when it entered his mouth. It was fragrant and sweet.
Xiao Ai said, "I don't know what kind of meat this is. The energy it produces is no worse than a high-grade nutrient solution."
Ding Meng didn't care about this. He swallowed the bowl-sized piece of meat in a few mouthfuls. He didn't thank Little Arrow, but there was a hint of a smile in Little Arrow's eyes.
Jun Ling suddenly pointed to the forest in the distance. His expression was solemn. "After we enter from there, we will enter the Endless Forest. Brother Feng, if you can't hold on, you can return at any time."
This was clearly an explanation for Ding Meng. Ding Meng asked curiously, "What's the difference?"
Jun Ling said, "You'll know when you enter!"