Blind Spot
Chapter 137: Contact 126 - Episode 4 (Thanks Alliance Hierarch for the reward)

Chapter 137: Contact 126 - Episode 4 (Thanks Alliance Hierarch for the reward)

Zhao Funing’s fascination with Li Chengyi’s appearance and the aura it had created slowly faded in such comparison.

Her attention gradually shifted toward Li Qingpeng.

In comparison, Li Qingpeng was young and promising, a graduate from a prestigious university. He was already a junior leader at his workplace and had bought a house in the provincial capital, full of potential for the future.

On the other hand, Li Chengyi was silent and reticent. Although his income was decent, he still lived with his parents and only had an ordinary bachelor’s degree.

This approach might be cliché, but it was undeniably effective.

At least now, in Zhao Funing’s eyes, although Li Chengyi had a better appearance and temperament than Li Qingpeng, after the comparison, those qualities seemed like all show and no substance.

As they chatted, Li Qingpeng occasionally asked Li Chengyi about biopharmaceuticals, but Li Chengyi failed to answer properly, not due to ignorance, but because his understanding was shallow and merely at a common level.

After several instances, Zhao Funing began to suspect that Li Chengyi’s biopharmaceutical work might well be fabricated.

Probably invented on the spot to boast.

The claim of a monthly salary of twenty thousand could likely be an exaggeration to save face.

Soon, Zhao Funing’s attitude toward Li Chengyi cooled off, and she became increasingly enthusiastic in her conversations with Li Qingpeng.

Li Chengyi, for his part, breathed a sigh of relief. Not only did he not dislike Li Qingpeng’s actions, but he also found them somewhat amusing.

At his level, the other’s performance seemed like a child running over to compare whose playdough sculpture was better.

Noticing the two leaving him out and chatting away on their own, he could tell Li Qingpeng was interested in Zhao Funing.

He simply stood up and gave the two of them the opportunity.

But as soon as he walked away, rumors that he wasn’t actually working in biopharmaceuticals spread among the few of them.

To boast and keep up appearances, he claimed a monthly salary of twenty thousand and that he worked for a biopharmaceutical company.

Such gossip also shifted the way others looked at Li Chengyi.

After all, no one appreciates someone who loves to brag, has no real skill, and relies on lies to show off.

Meanwhile, Li Chengyi had stood up, greeted Chen Xudong, and walked toward the direction of the Sunflower Field.

He didn’t care about the opinions of these childhood friends.

Just as a person doesn’t pay attention to the secretive chirping of insects in the grass by the roadside.

The Sunflower Field was less than a hundred meters away from the farm’s lawn, just around the corner.

Upon entering the greenhouse,

Li Chengyi was instantly awestruck by the flower field before him.

A glance revealed row upon row of neatly arranged sunflowers, at least several hundred plants.

A dense expanse of golden blooms filled his view.

Many tourists were also taking photos or shooting videos with their phones, with a number of visitors not fewer than on the farm’s side.

It was clear that the scenery attracted many people.

Li Chengyi took a breath and slowly walked along the pathway specially made for visitors in the middle of the flower field.

As he walked, he lightly stretched out his hand to touch the periphery of each golden-fringed, black-hearted bloom.

Strands of Flowers’ Essence steadily flowed into the mark on the back of his hand.

This was another variety of sunflower cultivated through science, different from the ones he had touched earlier.

Seeing the Flowers’ Essence continually increase, his mood, which had been somewhat listless just moments ago, quickly improved.

Suddenly, his hand paused as he spotted some golden yellow blossoms scattered in the cracks of the ground below.

The small flowers clearly were not sunflower droppings, yet they emitted a strong fragrance.

’Golden Osmanthus,’ Li Chengyi’s eyes lit up.

He was particularly fond of osmanthus, having often eaten osmanthus cake since childhood; he had a great fondness for the intensely fragrant small blossoms.

’That’s right, the osmanthus blooms in October, and now is the season for osmanthus to bloom.’

With the attitude of ’why not touch if it’s free,’ Li Chengyi squatted down and quickly touched the osmanthus blossoms on the ground that someone had apparently plucked.

A faint trace of Flowers’ Essence flowed into the back of his hand, followed by subsequent information.

’Golden Osmanthus: An evergreen tree or shrub, prefers warmth, requires deep soil layers for growth, likes slightly acidic soil, not drought-tolerant, loves light. Blooms from September to October. Its character is spicy and warming, can be used to refresh the mind, treat insomnia, forgetfulness, frequent dreaming, and other symptoms. However, excessive consumption may lead to vomiting, chest tightness, and nausea.’

’Flower Language Technique: The breeze of harvest (creates a subtle airflow that can blow upon objects. Any plant requiring cultivation, when continuously affected by the breeze of harvest, will have a 20% increase in survival rate, 20% faster growth, and the number of flowers and fruits produced will double).’

’Floral Dress collection degree: 0%.’

’Hisss...’ This Flower Language Technique... Li Chengyi initially didn’t think much of it, but upon careful consideration, he suddenly realized its perverse aspect.

The reference here was to anything requiring cultivation.

Meaning, those plants in the Blind Spot, if they could be transplanted, could definitely benefit from this Flower Language Technique to enhance their survival rate.

’And... it doesn’t seem to specify that it has to be a plant...’ Thinking about this, Li Chengyi felt a shiver.

Actions defined as cultivation in biology could be numerous.

Planting in soil is one type, and planting in flesh is another.

’Perhaps it could be useful for future transplantation research.’

He quietly committed the Flower Language Technique of the Golden Osmanthus to memory.

Then he continued to stand up and touch the oil sunflowers.

The evolutionary collection degree quickly rose to 56%, but he soon finished with the ones along the path, and next, he needed to go inside the field.

However, there was no path inside, clearly not meant for visitors to enter.

And there were so many people around.

Standing by the path, Li Chengyi began to ponder how to enter and freely touch as he wished.

Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a farmworker wearing an ash-gray uniform.

The person was wearing a mask and carrying a bag.

"Hello," he immediately approached to make conversation, and then he mentioned he was a student who needed to conduct a research project on the relationship between sunflower oil yield and the shape of the flower disk.

Ten minutes later.

Li Chengyi was two hundred bucks lighter in his wallet, but he now sported a temporary inspection sticker on his person.

According to the farmworker, this was a temporary identification used by experts from the Agricultural Science Academy when they visited, which allowed for minor harvesting from the flower field as long as there was no significant damage.

As the person explained, this wasn’t a private side job but an official channel offered by the farm itself.

It was meant to facilitate experts, researchers, and university students to come and conduct field studies and research. Hence, the charge...

With the sticker in place, Li Chengyi confidently followed the farmworker into the flower fields, navigating through the narrow gaps between rows of flowers.

As he walked, he felt around.

He experienced a continuous flow of flower energy pouring in, and his evolution rate soared, which instantly lifted his spirits even more.

After a full twenty minutes of labor, as the last stream of flower energy surged into his mark.

The Evil Flower finally stopped absorbing new sunflower energy.

The evolution rate for the Floral Dress reached a complete 100%.

’Awesome!’

Li Chengyi was in high spirits, but soon, he remembered a new problem.

’Wait a second... The Titan Sunflower inherently only had two evolution opportunities, and the third one was added only after the New Divine Flower Position was opened.... So, does that mean... Now that I’ve absorbed the Evil Thoughts for the third evolution, there’s no way to continue after it’s complete?’

’By that logic, the Wisteria Flowers should have the most evolution opportunities.’

Considering this, Li Chengyi quickly looked at the Wisteria mark.

With a thought.

The information pertaining to the Wisteria Flowers rapidly flowed out.

And, the number of potential evolutions was clearly listed: 2+3 times.

’Just as I thought... If that’s the case, the Wisteria Flowers should have the greatest potential...’

Li Chengyi understood clearly in his heart.

’No matter what, at least it’s all sorted out now. Next, I should start absorbing Evil Thoughts.... Hmm... I used up all the Evil Thoughts bags I had last time.... I need to start over.’

Contemplating the issue of Evil Thoughts, Li Chengyi’s brows knit together slightly once again.

Like that one time when he got lucky and met several people with strong willpower, allowing him to harvest quickly.

But now it was different.... everyone around was common, and even if they have strong willpower, it wasn’t something he could see from their appearance.

’Evil Thoughts... Evil Thoughts...’

Walking out of the flower field and back onto the footpath.

Li Chengyi’s mind was preoccupied with finding Evil Thoughts quickly.

’There are many types of Evil Thoughts, not limited to any particular kind, but they are limited by their intensity.

As long as the intensity is sufficient, any type of Evil Thought will do. In that case, I don’t necessarily have to rely on killing to reap... it’s hard to find someone with a strong will. I must reuse them repeatedly...’

Li Chengyi thought deeply.

’If I can use different types of Evil Thoughts to create a harvesting cycle, that would be the most perfect pattern.’

’For instance: first, I make someone hate me, then tell them it was a misunderstanding, then make them hate me again, then clarify it’s a misunderstanding, and keep this cycle going...’

’Anger counts as Evil Thoughts too, so I could irritate someone, make them want to hit me, then compensate and console them to calm them down.

Then irritate them again, then console, then provoke....’

’Even killing intent could be done this way. Let them think they have a chance to kill me, then take that chance away. Give them another chance next time, then take it away again. Then the time after that...’

Once this line of thinking opened up, suddenly, Li Chengyi felt like his horizons had broadened.

In that moment, he suddenly realized how wasteful he had been before.

If this sustainable development were successful, he might never run out of Evil Thoughts, shearing the wool from one person to death!

’Though there’s diminishing marginal utility, I can switch strategies and keep trying.’

Walking back along the footpath, Li Chengyi also captured a few scenic photos on the way as proof that he really came to appreciate the flowers.

On his way back, he put away his phone and thought about where to start experimenting.

But after a few steps, he came face to face with a young girl wearing a tender yellow dress.

He recognized her; she seemed to be Zhuang Yijing, Yuan Lai’s close friend, here to unwind.

Seeing her holding a professional camera, Li Chengyi felt she wasn’t familiar, so he politely nodded.

"Here to see the flowers too?"

"Yeah, it was too crowded earlier, so I didn’t come in. It seems less crowded now."

Zhuang Yijing smiled, not particularly beautiful, but she had a very pleasant and gentle demeanor. The tender yellow dress revealed delicate skin on her arms and a glimpse of her long, slender legs sheathed in black stockings below the hem.

Compared to Zhao Funing’s perfectly made-up beauty, Zhuang Yijing felt like the girl next door.

"I’ve finished looking. I’ll be off now, see you," Li Chengyi waved his hand.

Zhuang Yijing also nodded with a smile, and without further conversation, they passed by each other.

’Lust +2.’

"???" Li Chengyi abruptly halted his stride. He turned to look back at her.