Chapter 29: Potent Healing Effects

To use the word "fierce" to describe this enormous beetle is no exaggeration. It was massive, about half the size of an adult's palm, its entire body covered in a black, lustrous carapace that reflected a deep, inky shine. Its front legs were thick and powerful, ending in strong pincers, and beneath four pairs of red compound eyes, a set of symmetrical mandibles—dozens of them—formed a horrific mouthpart. The grotesque size alone made it far more terrifying than any ordinary insect. Most bizarre of all, seven or eight mushroom-like tendrils burst through the shell on its back, each stalk pure white, slender and upright, capped with tiny, bright red umbrellas. Such vivid coloring in nature usually signaled deadly poison.

The thought that she had just eaten something so disgusting made Catherine retch uncontrollably, but Ling Mo had no intention of letting her off. He thrust the insect toward her face again, urging her to swallow it quickly.

Catherine staggered back, her hands waving frantically like lotus leaves in the wind. “Master, I feel much better now, really! Such a precious creature shouldn’t be wasted. Perhaps it’s best to save it for the next time I’m injured?”

Ling Mo frowned. “You feel better? That’s just your own impression! The second lobe of your right lung still has a visible wound that hasn’t healed, and the coronary artery near your heart remains damaged. Do you believe that if you exert yourself again, you’ll suffer an acute heart attack and die? Listen, be good, and eat it.”

Do you have some permanent “X-ray vision” ability to see inside people so clearly? Catherine grumbled inwardly, but dared not show a trace of it. She reluctantly took the beetle, its tendril-like legs scraping her palm with an unsettling sensation that made her skin crawl. She scrutinized the beetle up and down, then made a final plea: “Master, such bright colors usually mean it’s poisonous. Could I not eat it?”

“The so-called poisonous mushrooms aren’t truly toxic. Fungi just contain a lot of substances the human body can’t absorb. Besides, do you even know what this is? I won’t say more, just open the chat and see for yourself. Your viewers know more than you! With your meager knowledge, you’re lucky to still be alive as a wilderness streamer.”

Huh?

Puzzled, Catherine opened her live chat, only to be overwhelmed by a wall of “Eat! Eat! Eat!” The comments were filled with people drooling, urging her to eat it. There was not a single compliment about her daring escape—everyone was just egging her on to devour the creature. Even more astonishing, these eager viewers were all the high-roller patrons who frequently tipped her channel:

“Streamer, eat it now!”
“Do you know you’ve found a treasure?! Eat it!!”
“What a waste, I just want to grab it and shove it in my own mouth!”
“If you don’t eat it, keep it safe for me! I’ll pay one thousand gold coins if I get to eat it in three days!”

“Shameless! You think you can buy this quality of insect fungus for a thousand coins?!”
“Streamer, I have lower demands! Even if you save it for me for a month, I’ll pay two thousand coins!”
“I’m from the National Biological Research Association—check my verified ID! If you won’t eat it, save it for research, it’s invaluable!”
“…”

A flood of golden text from wealthy viewers streamed by—some frantically encouraging her to eat, others offering large sums to buy it, but all making it clear: the thing in her hands was a rare and extraordinary treasure! Catherine couldn’t help but ask, “I’m not trying to belittle myself—I’ve traveled all over and never seen anything like this. Why do my viewers seem so familiar with it?”

The official account of the “Mijian National Biological Research Association” sent a floating message bar across the entire screen, displaying a long explanation:

“That’s because you’ve always been too poor! In some parts of the Chana Empire, this thing is called ‘Winter Insect, Summer Grass,’ but its scientific name is a fungus of the ergot family. It’s neither insect nor grass, but a fungal spore parasitizing the larvae of bat moths. After absorbing all the larva's nutrients, it bursts out and grows. It’s of immense nutritional value! Its minor functions like healing are nothing compared to its ability to rapidly repair hidden injuries to the heart, lungs, liver, and pancreas! Rumor has it, it even extends life! Whenever it appears on the market, it’s bought up at sky-high prices. Ordinary people haven’t even heard of it, let alone seen it! Regular specimens are only as big as a little finger—yours is the size of a fist! What’s more incredible, it didn’t emerge from a larva but a mature insect. The last time I saw a fungus like this from a mature insect was sixteen years ago!”

Amazing.

Such a professional explanation convinced Catherine. She thanked the helpful viewer, then brought the enormous insect to her lips. She stared into the lifeless compound eyes for a moment, steeled herself, shut her eyes, and took a huge bite.

The expected gush of juices never came. The carapace, which looked hard and black, crumbled under her teeth, revealing a dry, fibrous interior. The insect’s body was packed full of these tangled threads—the root system of the fungus, twisting together more tightly toward the top to merge with the mushroom stalks that had burst through the shell.

After the first bite, Catherine’s eyes lit up. It looked revolting, but the taste was astonishingly delicious—so fresh and sweet she almost wanted to swallow her own tongue. The fibrous strands melted on her tongue like honey from a dream, while the slightly firmer carapace provided the perfect counterpoint: chewy yet tender, sweet yet savory. She ate faster and faster, devouring the beetle in a few large bites, leaving only the umbrella-like fungus stalks. Lingering over this insect-shaped “honey biscuit” for a moment, she then popped the mushrooms into her mouth without hesitation.

Mmm—Catherine nearly moaned in delight. Saving the stalks for last was definitely the right choice! Their texture was like braised pork belly, meltingly tender, but the flavor surpassed even the finest abalone. Each bite released an even stronger burst of umami, so delicious she almost couldn’t bring herself to swallow. When the last scarlet cap finally slid down her throat, a tidal wave of energy surged through her body, cleansing her like a rushing sea.

“Hold your breath! Focus on the flow of energy! Immerse all your senses in your lungs!” Ling Mo’s stern voice snapped her out of her rapture. She quickly gathered her thoughts, directing her mind inward. She immediately understood why Ling Mo had insisted she eat the fungus. The energy from this insect grass was faintly perceptible to her senses!

Though hazy and indistinct, like viewing flowers through mist, she could sense the energy breaking down in her intestines, merging into her blood, and being delivered to every cell. Especially in her injured lungs, the energy poured in even more fiercely, making her awareness sharper. Immersed with closed eyes, Catherine mused: So this is how my lungs work? So this is how the oxygen I inhale is utilized? The efficiency is so low—only about a tenth of each breath’s oxygen actually powers the body, with the rest wasted on exhalation. If only...

Ling Mo watched expressionlessly as Catherine entered a meditative state, her breathing gradually slowing: from once every four or five seconds, to once every ten or so, then longer and longer, finally to once every two minutes. At that point, a brilliant ivory glow shone over her skin. Though it lasted only a moment, Ling Mo knew well—she had made a breakthrough! Catherine had officially advanced to Intermediate Martial Artist.

He had not instructed her in any martial theory; she had grasped her own unique breathing technique entirely by intuition. With this, the last major weakness of her naturally evolved body was repaired—her lung endurance and oxygen utilization had multiplied many times over. Her actual attack and burst strength hadn’t grown much, but her stamina and recovery had increased exponentially.

Perhaps the purpose of geniuses is to discourage others, to show them they are not cut out for this path. In just two days, Catherine had leapt from a total novice to an Intermediate Martial Artist. Ling Mo recalled his own arduous journey with a complicated heart, forcibly suppressing his jealousy. He walked over and patted Catherine on the shoulder. “Don’t remain in meditation too long. Prolonged immersion drains your spirit and is not worth it—just like magical meditation, moderation is key.”

Catherine murmured assent and opened her eyes, her expression calm. She tapped her chest and confidently told Ling Mo, “Master, I’ve advanced.”

“Yes, you’ve advanced,” Ling Mo confirmed, hesitated, then praised her. “Remarkable.”

At those words, a broad smile blossomed on Catherine’s face. Her body trembled as she struggled to contain her excitement, but in the end, she couldn’t help herself and threw her arms around Ling Mo, burying her head in his shoulder to take a deep breath, her words choked with emotion. After a moment, she released him and stepped back, asking enthusiastically, “Master, now that I’m an Intermediate Martial Artist, what’s the next step in my training?”

Ling Mo let her hug and release him without moving, then smiled and rubbed his nose. “Training? No rush. Now you can travel quickly—let’s head to our original destination. If we’re late, we’ll miss the rare spectacle.”