Gourmet Hunter - Chapter 475 (Patreon)

Chapter 475: Who Did It

The term "Shen Character" is used to amplify the effects of Nen abilities and enhance various Nen traits, much like the rune formations in cultivation culture.

This is an extremely complex and expansive field of Nen knowledge. Whether strong or weak, it has many uses. Beyond amplifying various traits, it also has functions similar to "agreements" and "rules."

According to the sequence of Nen formation, the more complex the Shen Character, the stronger the amplification effect, but the longer the engraving time, and the construction process also becomes more complicated.

Learning the Shen Character is generally not difficult, but mastering it is not so easy.

Luo learned the Shen Character from Ging, which means he was led into the door by Ging, but how to refine and improve it depends on individual ability.

Regardless of the type of Shen Character, their common point is that they must exist through Nen as a medium. No matter how strong the Nen, even for an Emitter type, once Nen leaves the body, it will gradually weaken and dissipate over time.

However, with the amplification of the Shen Character, the duration of the Nen effect can be greatly extended, but there is still a limit.

Mito has a wooden box engraved with a Shen Character by Ging, primarily characterized by extending the duration of Nen retention and having negligible rule power.

This Shen Character engraved on the tree root has been preserved for an unknown amount of time.

Luo carefully examined the Shen Character on the tree root, memorizing the construction sequence and shape, then simulated the engraving to derive the result.

"Is the trait a constraint..."

Luo's eyes showed a thoughtful look.

The other meaning of constraint is suppression. So, what is being suppressed? The growth of this tree?

Moreover, this Shen Character engraved on the tree root differs slightly from Luo's understanding of Shen Characters.

Nen is the medium of the Shen Character, with relationships like load, transmission, extension, and association.

It can be said that without Nen, there would be no Shen Characters. This is an absolute law. However, the framework of this tree root violates this law.

It was not engraved with Nen, but it indeed requires Nen as fuel to operate the Shen Character, and that fuel is the tree's life force.

The weak life force Luo felt from the Shen Character came from the tree, which is also the fuel for this Shen Character with the "constraint" trait.

Using a certain method, replacing Nen with the tree's life force is truly ingenious.

Assuming this Shen Character was left by Ging, it's unclear what his intention was. Luo simply took out his phone and dialed Ging's number.

Few people know Ging's private number, and Luo is one of them, able to contact Ging at any time.

Soon, the call connected.

"I found a Shen Character on a tree root under a big tree on Whale Island. Did you do this?" Luo cut to the chase as soon as the call connected.

"Not me. Are you sure it's a Shen Character?" Ging's tone was filled with surprise.

"I'm sure. Besides you, who else would leave a Shen Character on Whale Island?" Luo asked puzzledly.

There aren't many people on Whale Island. Even though there are many transient visitors, there are few Nen users, let alone those capable of using Shen Characters to this extent.

Ging was silent for a moment, then, as if suddenly realizing something, asked, "Why did you go to Whale Island?"

Luo's eyes rolled, and he bluntly said, "To see your son."

In fact, he saw Mito more than he saw Gon, but if he said that, it would seem like he was trying to take someone's cousin away.

Hearing Luo's reason, Ging was helpless but didn't tell Luo to stay away from Gon. Instead, he continued the topic, asking, "What's the content of the Shen Character?"

"The trait is constraint, engraved on the tree root, using the tree's life force as a medium. Judging by this ouroboros mechanism, the Shen Character's effect is likely to suppress the tree's growth, but this tree is just an ordinary poplar."

"Interesting." Ging's eyes lit up.

"What do you think?" Luo asked.

"First confirm if the poplar's growth is abnormal."

"Let me check."

Luo threw a Qi Round Slash at the poplar, cutting it down. From the tree rings on the cross-section, he deduced its approximate age and compared it to the current situation. The poplar's growth was normal.

In other words, the Shen Character using the poplar's life force as a medium did not suppress the tree's growth.

Luo conveyed the confirmation to Ging, who seemed to be in thought and did not respond.

"If it's not suppressing the poplar, it's likely suppressing something nearby." Ging speculated after a while.

"Yes, I think so too."

Luo glanced at the environment around the poplar and said, "On the surface, it's a suppression effect constructed with an ouroboros mechanism, but in reality, it's simply using the tree's life force. So, will you come over?"

"Yes, but it will take at least a week." Ging said.

"Then come over first." Luo said.

"Try not to damage the Shen Character before I get there." Ging reminded.

"Got it. I'll hang up now."

Luo replied and hung up the phone, putting it away.

Then, he fused the cut poplar back together, carefully digging out the soil near the tree root to expose the buried tree roots.

Soon, he made a new discovery.

The poplar's roots were entangled with another tree's roots about ten meters away, and that tree's roots also had a Shen Character with the "constraint" trait.

This discovery seemed like a clue. Following this clue, as Luo discovered more trees with Shen Characters, his astonishment grew.

It was like forming a formation. Each tree with a Shen Character was an indispensable part of the formation, creating an array to achieve a certain effect.

The Shen Characters on the roots were not complex; in fact, they were very simple, only able to trigger one trait. However, the sheer number made the effect enormous when all Shen Characters were connected. But what was being constrained?

Luo was puzzled and could only continue to explore along the discovered line.

The initial guess was wrong. The constrained object was not near the tree but farther away.

After an hour, Luo arrived at the foot of the active volcano.

Looking at the lush forest on the mountain, he was surprised and said, "Is it suppressing the volcano? The question is, who left these Shen Characters?"

The active volcano at the "head" of Whale Island smokes every day, yet the surrounding area is lush with trees, indicating the volcano hasn't erupted for a long time. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many trees.

Based on this point, the guess might be closest to the truth.

However, more than verifying this guess, Luo was more curious about who engraved this epic, ultra-large Shen Character.

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