The clay Converts faithfully carried out Gauss's orders, closely following the guiding monster Convert, merging with the trees and moving stealthily through the underground root network.

Along the way, other Converts continuously joined the advancing group, as if summoned by some special existence, all heading in the same direction together.

Through shared perception, Gauss vaguely captured their positions. Even at a distance, he could roughly map out their route in his mind.

The deeper they went, the taller and darker the surrounding trees became, their twisted bark and trunks occasionally revealing eerie patterns resembling human faces.

However, because the number of glowing fungi increased, the environment actually became much brighter.

Gauss dismounted from his Ostrich.

He left Golden Spike and Slingshot behind, with Ulfen staying to protect them.

The upcoming area was no longer suitable for them to continue forward.

After marking the mounts' location on his mental map, Gauss proceeded cautiously deeper into the Dark Forest with Aria and Serlandul.

"Chirp chirp chirp---"

Besides insect sounds, there were no other noises.

However, to avoid alerting potential threats, Gauss didn't release his Clay Spiders for an "all-you-can-eat buffet."

The three of them carefully monitored their surroundings as they advanced through the Dark Forest.

They encountered monsters several times along the way.

Despite the Scale Powder Butterfly's invisibility effect, invisibility didn't mean complete disappearance—many methods could still detect their presence.

Gauss's Monster Encyclopedia thus gained two new ordinary entries: Blade Ants and Gem Beetles.

The total number of species reached 35.

Blade Ants were large ant-like creatures with forelimbs as sharp as blades.

Gem Beetles were shiny insects, though what covered them weren't actual gems but rather irritating glitter powder. When they sensed approaching creatures, they could spray this powder several meters to attack enemies.

However, low-level monsters no longer posed any threat to Gauss.

He efficiently dealt with several encounters using his short blade, wiped off the mucus, sprayed odor-neutralizing liquid, and continued forward.

Using cold weapons for these close-range encounters was the simplest, most efficient method that created the least noise.

"The insects are getting more numerous," Aria said, watching the dense swarm of insects on tree trunks and the ground, unconsciously shrinking back slightly.

Gauss currently had little interest in ordinary insects and didn't want to divert attention to clearing them.

Even though these insects might potentially evolve into monsters in the future, for now they were just ordinary creatures.

The ways monsters emerged in nature were more diverse.

Some were born from reproduction between male and female individuals of monster species, some were seeded in other biological hosts like Goblins, and some even reproduced asexually.

But how did these monsters originally appear?

Humanity had actually conducted research on this question,

which was somewhat similar to Gauss's previous life's "chicken or egg" paradox.

Since most known monsters were reproduced by other monsters, how did the first monsters emerge? Where did they originate?

These questions formed a deep vortex that had attracted wise thinkers since ancient times, with scholars endlessly debating.

Mainstream theories fell into several categories.

The Chaos Origin theory suggested monsters, like humans and other creatures, naturally condensed from disordered chaos as entities that had always existed.

The Ancient God Creation theory proposed that powerful, indescribable beings created the first monsters for some purpose—perhaps experiments, waging war, or simply as entertainment to relieve boredom. Different monsters then interbred with each other and with other creatures, creating even more diverse races through new bloodline entanglements.

Another mainstream view was the Mana Mutation theory, which held that monster emergence tended toward a natural phenomenon. In environments with concentrated or polluted mana or other special conditions, local creatures would undergo induced mutations over time, with these effects deepening through generations.

This eventually caused irreversible changes to their forms, habits, and even essences, ultimately creating monsters completely different from the original species.

Additionally, there were theories like the Dimensional theory, Natural Evolution theory, and others.

Many speculations might even coexist simultaneously.

The Dark Forest was already situated near an abnormal mana node. Being here personally and feeling the effects of the forest's active mana made Gauss increasingly feel the Mana Mutation theory had merit.

Environments could indeed create monsters.

Suddenly, Gauss paused mid-step.

Not because he encountered enemies on his side.

But because the scene finally changed in the second consciousness he was connected to in his mind.

The vision of the clay constructs that had been following the monster Convert finally regained light as they emerged from the pitch-black depths underground.

This discovery also relieved Gauss, who had been constantly monitoring the clay constructs' situation.

The clay constructs' activities also consumed mana.

That earlier underground journey had already used up much of the mana pre-stored in the clay. If they traveled any further, he worried it would be completely depleted.

This was a major drawback of clay magic—excessive consumption.

As clay constructs, all their energy consumption came from mana Gauss pre-stored,

and the mana Gauss could store wasn't unlimited—how much he could invest depended on himself, the Mud Statue's spiritual energy, and material strength.

Those without abundant mana truly couldn't handle this clay magic.

Through the clay Convert's perspective, Gauss finally saw where they had arrived.

The surroundings were densely packed with dark tree species, and in his field of vision, Gauss also saw many moving dwarf treants.

The term "dwarf" was relative—compared to the ordinary trees around them that reached dozens of meters, they were still giants to ordinary monsters.

The dwarf treants' trunks bore aged human faces formed from bark wrinkles—deep-set eye sockets and elderly, wrinkled lips.

Their branches swayed slowly like withered arms, their roots pulling from the soil as they moved slowly and heavily.

'Another elite monster species!'

Gauss discovered them through the clay construct's perspective and felt immediate joy.

His elite points had now reached 43.

He only needed to kill one new species to accumulate enough points for an upgrade.

However...

Gauss temporarily set aside the idea of using these two clay constructs that had infiltrated the area to attack.

Simply because they were surrounded by numerous Converts and dwarf treants.

The Converts made of living thorns seemed to have formed a symbiotic relationship with the dwarf treants—some Converts even clung to the dwarf treants' branches as if perching on host bodies.

The two clay constructs obediently huddled in the corner, "depending on each other for survival" in their space.

If they launched an attack, they would likely be swallowed by wave-like assaults the next moment.

This wasn't particularly frightening since they didn't have true life, but Gauss had worked hard to get them inside—letting them be killed for nothing would be wasteful.

After giving the command for the clay Converts to stay in the corner, Gauss continued observing the environment through their perspective.

Their location was like an enclosed space, surrounded by several rings of Black Trees that appeared completely impenetrable from outside, unable to glimpse any interior scenery—like a strictly guarded forbidden area. The mana concentration in the air was slightly denser here than elsewhere, carrying an ancient and heavy pressure.

The noise of insect chirping was completely absent here, replaced by a solemn silence as if all sound in the air had been absorbed by this royal ground itself.

The Converts entering this area stopped making noise, either standing on dwarf treants or finding their own spots to press against the ground motionless like pilgrims.

Extremely fine root tendrils extended from their bodies, piercing into the royal ground as if able to connect with the land itself through this.

The ground was everywhere covered with a thick layer of glowing moss emitting soft yet undeniable green fluorescence, like an enormous mycelium carpet occupying the entire royal ground.

Tiny insects quietly crouched on the moss.

The sight presented a contradictory scene—bustling yet quiet. Both intelligent monsters and insects, typically considered uncontrollable in common understanding, merged into a harmonious silence.

Something's wrong.

Even though Gauss's group had reached near where the clay Converts were located, and could see the Black Trees at the periphery of that eerie woodland with a slight upward glance,

he didn't dare enter recklessly, instead choosing to temporarily hide behind an ordinary tree trunk.

The number of monsters inside was somewhat excessive.

Even Gauss couldn't guarantee he could retreat unscathed if he entered.

After signaling to Aria and Serlandul,

he continued controlling the clay Converts.

Based on previous circumstances, other creatures didn't seem to notice anything unusual about them anyway.

The clay Converts slowly moved, inching toward the center of the woodland.

Three incredibly massive treants stood silently there, their height far exceeding the surrounding dwarf treants, their enormous canopies like dark green imperial canopies spreading across the sky.

From a distance, they looked like white mountain ranges, extremely spectacular.

In my perception, the dwarf treants' aura was somewhat weaker than the Converts', while those three Converts emitted even more intense fluctuations.

I couldn't even determine their specific levels.

In short, they felt overwhelmingly powerful.

Most likely exceeding level 5, reaching another tier altogether.

Gauss wasn't too clear about the exact levels.

Continue investigating, or temporarily retreat?

Gauss hesitated briefly.

Although he had some confidence in his abilities, he estimated his current strength could only allow escape from level 5 monsters. Once beyond level 5 was an entirely different level.

Moreover, this place didn't just have three suspected monsters exceeding level 5—with massive numbers of dwarf treants and Converts guarding, not to mention their 2-3 level adventurer team, even a full Master-level adventurer team might not gain any advantage.

After all, improving professional levels was by no means easy—each level increase meant significant differences in strength and social status.

Different stages represented even greater divides—once crossed, Rank breakthroughs brought earth-shaking changes.

Master-level professionals could be considered top-tier forces at the town level.

Even in a major city like Barry, Master-level professionals received special treatment and could hold important positions.

This assessment made Gauss more cautious.

Retreating now wouldn't mean gaining nothing—on the contrary, he had gathered extremely important location information. He just needed to report to Guild Leader Richie, who would then bring other high-level adventurers to investigate.

However...

"...energy disturbance..."

"...the Great One has been disturbed..."

"...don't let these humans find Him."

"Expel the outsiders! Drive all humans... out!"

His ears seemed to hear again the strange information he'd heard the day before yesterday in the Canopy Town Tavern.

His subconscious told him this place seemed to hide some opportunity.

If he disclosed the intelligence to Guild Leader Richie and others first, they might miss this opportunity here.

Moreover, just as his main body approached this area.

He faintly sensed a strange voice calling him to approach.

"Gauss."

"Gauss."

Why did it know his name?

"Gauss..." Aria moved closer to him and whispered.

"What should we do now?"

Aria's call pulled Gauss from that strange calling voice, and he shook his head.

He realized that while he was fully focused on controlling the clay constructs, Aria and Serlandul had been waiting with him here for quite some time. Since they couldn't observe the scene behind the distant Black Trees, they remained completely unaware of what was happening.

Gauss didn't hold back, especially regarding decisions affecting the team's safety, sharing all the intelligence he'd gathered through the clay Convert's perspective with both of them.

After a brief silence.

"Then continue controlling the clay to gather information," Aria said. Though surprised by the number of monsters behind the Black Trees, she composed herself and made the suggestion.

On one hand, the three had accepted the investigation mission;

on the other, they also hoped to find treasures.

Now that they'd finally reached this point, how could they simply leave? At the very least, they needed to find out what exactly was there.

Aria's thoughts aligned with Gauss's.

After having the other two guard the surroundings, Gauss continued controlling the clay aberration's movements.

He didn't dare let them move too quickly.

Since the surrounding creatures maintained relative quiet, moving rapidly would undoubtedly stand out too much.

And as they moved closer to the center, the number of Converts decreased.

In this woodland, ordinary Converts seemed to have lower status, staying only at the outermost areas. Next were ordinary dwarf treants, then the three massive treants and the pure white special Converts perched on them.

Some dwarf treants noticed these two slowly moving little creatures and pushed them with withered branch arms. Finding nothing unusual, they didn't pay further attention.

After what felt like an eternity, the clay constructs finally approached the woodland center.

In the ground area enclosed by the three massive treants, there was a depression.

The depression wasn't filled with mud, but rather gathered into a pool of jade-green clear water.

The pond water remained still and waveless, seemingly continuously absorbing the green radiance emitted by the surrounding moss and the energy circulating among all present monsters.

During this process, it emitted a special energy field.

And floating quietly in the middle of the water pool was something.

The object stood about one meter tall. Due to distance and lighting, details were unclear, but one could vaguely make out an entirely white giant egg emitting strange radiance.

And... it was slowly pulsating.

It was alive!

"What is that?" Gauss unconsciously murmured.

Even though he only observed through the clay's vision rather than being there personally, the sight still made his heartbeat accelerate.

His heart seemed to beat in rhythm with the giant egg's pulsations.

In this instant, the entire world fell silent.