"What the Treasure Ant said is probably trustworthy. The students from the Agricultural Research Institute couldn't find any trace of the roots, likely due to the Master Treasure Tree itself or other factors."
"That thing is different from ordinary Spirit Beasts..." Master Fuli thought for a moment then said, "Since the Treasure Ant mentioned it, the branches were dug up at home. Once we get to the Archaeology Department, we should get some graduate students to dig there. Maybe we'll find some trace of the Master Treasure Tree's roots?"
The likelihood of the Treasure Ant speaking the truth is high, as most Spirit Beasts remember eating and being beaten.
The Treasure Ant had just been captured, and is currently in a very honest state, so it has no reason to lie.
Unless the Treasure Ant doesn't want its own butt anymore.
"Me?"
The Treasure Ant looked at Master Fuli with a puzzled expression, feeling unfamiliar with the term "Treasure Ant".
"Hmm..."
Wang Qiqi pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go with Master Fuli's suggestion! Our Security Bureau has already conducted satellite explorations and visits, but we still haven't found any trace of the Treasure Tree."
"What the Treasure Ant said is a breakthrough."
The Security Bureau is eager to find the Master Treasure Tree, not out of any ulterior motives, nor to pick its leaves to brew tea.
The existence of the Master Treasure Tree is akin to a stock market deity, amassing wealth through its own trading skills, being well-regarded in the stock trading circles. However, the Security Bureau is unsure whether the Master Treasure Tree is successful due to its own abilities or if it is conspiring with major players to exploit retail investors.
If it's the former, it's fine, much like Master Fuli who occasionally meanders around causing small mischief or sneaks old weapons to the forest to hunt birds, which is harmless.
But if the Master Treasure Tree is the latter, its impact would be immense, affecting thousands of households.
If it hadn't been for the sudden earthquake in the Outer regions, diverting many people to assist the border troops, finding the trace of the Master Treasure Tree and investigating its attitude towards human society would have been the most important task for the Security Bureau in Chang'an City recently.
If it's harmless, help it adapt to modern society.
If it's harmful, spray some herbicide on it and seal it away, then pack it into a missile to be launched across the ocean into a military-controlled area.
Based on the clues provided by the Treasure Ant, Wang Qiqi began gathering meticulous excavators to assemble in the old village, set up searchlights, and start excavating.
"By the way..."
"How do you use this branch?" After finishing the formalities, Master Fuli picked up the branch on the table and looked at the Treasure Ant curiously.
The branch is extremely hard, comparable to a metal bumper on a truck.
Ansheng observed the flow of Spiritual Particles, and the branch indeed had the effect of gathering them, but its density was so low that unless Ansheng looked closely, it was hard to notice even the slightest flow of Spiritual Particles.
"Give it to me..."
The Treasure Ant's eyes lit up and it reached out, indicating for Master Fuli to give the branch back.
Master Fuli saw this and casually tossed the branch back to the Treasure Ant.
"The branch is for eating!"
The Treasure Ant held the branch high, aimed the pointed end at the conference table, and climbed onto the branch itself.
Opening its mouth, the Treasure Ant secreted corrosive fluid and gnawed on the branch, slowly sucking the plant roots dissolved by the mucus.
While demonstrating, the Treasure Ant kept its eyes wide open, watching Master Fuli as if fearing it would compete for its food.
"Ah, pfft..." The Treasure Ant thought for a moment, then spat more saliva onto the surface of the branch just in case...
Master Fuli: "......."
If you're going to eat a branch, go ahead. Why worry about a carnivorous canine stealing it?
Ansheng scratched his head in exasperation, not wanting to bother with the Treasure Ant clinging to a branch like it's a treasure.
"You guys enjoy yourselves! I'm going home to eat the tea eggs Ah Qing boiled for me in the kettle first."
Ansheng sighed, leaving the matter of the Red Fire Ants to Wang Qiqi and the others to handle, and walked out of the conference room.
Walking on all fours, the leisurely fox, passing by Liu Lingyu, raised its head and curiously asked Liu Lingyu:
"I remember you said earlier you were busy with some thesis model stuff. How come you have time today to come to our school and hold a banner?"
What Ansheng remembered most about Liu Lingyu was how stubborn she was, comparable to an Akita or Shiba Inu.
She seemed to be busy with some thesis, previously ranting to Ah Qing, saying her mentor must have a cleanliness and obsession disorder.
She had her thesis rejected several times, like a demon in the human world making her life miserable.
Yet Liu Lingyu, who was in a hurry to finish her thesis, was now squatting here like a street rascal. Ansheng couldn't help but wonder if her demonic mentor hadn't skinned her alive?
"My mentor! She doesn't have time now." Liu Lingyu said to Master Fuli with confidence on her face:
"I sent my uncle to her, and now my mentor, I suppose, can't even tell north from south, let alone worry about our thesis and models..."
"Is what you're doing even legal?" Master Fuli looked at Liu Lingyu in amazement.
Hey, the brothers from the Security Bureau are in the next conference room, coordinating, and arranging tasks to excavate Mawang Village.
And here you are, saying you sent a hermit out to cast spells to confuse ordinary people. Are you itching to end up in jail?
"Why wouldn't it be legal? I introduced a suitor to my mentor out of goodwill! My uncle is the most handsome temple sergeant recognized in the Qinling Dao League, super handsome and mature!"
Despite Master Fuli's skepticism, Liu Lingyu retorted with a hint of indignation.
Her civil engineering mentor wasn't unattractive or anything; she had been married before, but due to work that often required national travel, the long-distance relationship ultimately led to divorce.
Although her mentor looked decent, she had a sturdy build with muscular chest occupying her grandmother's place, making remarriage difficult even during menopause.
To get leave to visit the Fox Immortal, she resorted to deploying her super handsome uncle as bait.
"???"
Master Fuli, bewildered, squat down and looked towards Liu Lingyu, who exuded a sense of pride mixed with a hint of gratitude, then remarked:
"I thought you were casting Black Magic on your mentor; I didn't expect practitioners like you to handle things so down-to-earth..."
"Whether we practice or not, we all have to earn a living, having a criminal record makes finding a job hard, and affects future generations even if they take public exams." Liu Lingyu nonchalantly explained: "We are very disciplined in what we do, at most it leads to temporary detention records for brawls or card games."
"So..."
"Fox Immortal..." Liu Lingyu eagerly looked at Master Fuli and said: "We truly wish for goodness, wholly fitting the criteria of devout individuals, us Qinling practitioners sincerely invite Fox Immortal..."
"Stop, stop..."
Master Fuli raised his hand, turned his head, and called into the conference room, "Wang Qiqi, come out."
"Hmm?" Wang Qiqi poked his head out, holding his phone with a puzzled expression as he looked at Master Fuli.
"I didn't bring my business card. Introduce my great name, Master Fuli, to these devout believers."
Master Fuli lifted his head proudly, putting on an unquestionably righteous expression, and ordered.
Wang Qiqi: "......."
This...might not be very appropriate, right?
Liu Lingyu looked confused. Fox Immortal... apart from being with the Imperial Guards, does he have another special identity?