Chapter 135 - 46: [Rusted Copper Forest and the Copper Evil Spirit]

Chapter 135: Chapter 46: [Rusted Copper Forest and the Copper Evil Spirit]

"Yes."

Samael shook his head slowly.

"How long do they live in houses like these?" he asked in a low voice.

"A year or two at most? Anyone who lasts three years is considered a true warrior," Gwyneth said. "It’s rare to see people willing to stay in Gold-digging City for more than a year. Veteran adventurers all know that the Hai Xin Plain is cursed. The ones who usually come here are bold newcomers who don’t believe in superstitions, but even they typically only stay for a few months. The timid ones are scared off by all sorts of strange phenomena within two or three days."

"Chronic copper poisoning," Samael murmured. "Neurasthenia, brain damage, anemia, and impaired liver function... vomiting and diarrhea."

He recalled the pale-faced people he had seen earlier in Gold-digging City, the irritable adventurers who threw punches at the slightest disagreement, and the Alliance Guards standing on the street, staring off into space like dementia patients.

The neurasthenia caused by copper accumulation and poisoning led to irritability and a lack of focus. The pale complexions were likely symptoms of anemic weakness. With residents frequently vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, the accumulation of filth would also easily lead to disease and plagues.

The broken cross-sections of the Rusted Copper Trees scattered sawdust and dust containing copper. Unprocessed or roughly processed logs produced copper-laden dust at their cuts and on their stripped outer layers. Living long-term in an environment filled with copper-bearing dust made one highly susceptible to heavy metal poisoning.

"They need to reduce their use of these trees, and additionally, take chelating agents..." Samael paused. The medical standards here were not that advanced.

"Were you once a physician, Knight Samael?" Old Duke stopped his work of directing the Tree Ghost Monkeys to set up tents and looked at Samael. "As far as I know, the latest batch of Epidemic Scholars from the Floren Kingdom Medical Academy has recently been reporting to the Alliance, demanding that Gold-digging City stop using Rusted Copper Trees as a building material just to cut costs, claiming it is highly important."

"I am not a professional physician, I just have a bit of amateur experience—but they are right. I think the scholars of the Floren Kingdom truly have genuine expertise. These trees contain large amounts of copper, and the wooden cross-sections easily produce copper-laden dust. When it accumulates in the human body, it causes many adverse symptoms," Samael replied. "Elder Duke, when your tribe’s caravan comes to the Hai Xin Plain, how long do you usually stay here?" He looked up and asked Old Duke.

"Anywhere from a dozen days to a few months," Old Duke nodded.

"Do you experience any discomfort?"

"It seems we do not." Old Duke looked at the people of the Exile Tribe, and they all shook their heads.

Space Sub-Humans, also known as the Demon Race, supposedly did not exhibit symptoms of heavy metal poisoning. Perhaps their unique biological structure allowed them to actively expel unnecessary excess elements from their bodies. But it was also possible that they simply had stronger resistance, requiring more time for symptoms to appear. Samael shook his head.

They were immune to Spiritual Poison, but copper was merely a heavy metal element, not a Spiritual Poison. Its effect on the Demon Race remained unknown.

He thought, "I might need to use a scanner to give everyone regular medical checkups later, to prevent disease and copper poisoning."

Rusted Copper Trees were one of the surface natural environmental hazards, much like the rot dust storms of the Kana Plain. Fortunately, the Hai Xin Plain had a variety of terrains, and the Rusted Copper Forest did not make up the entirety of the surface environment. Furthermore, at least the Underground City, or rather the underground colony, should be able to avoid these effects. However, the Rusted Copper Forest was not a suitable site for constructing an Underground City.

"Please help me control a few Magical Beasts... I need to check the status of the Magical Beasts here," he finally said.

The single-horned, taro-shaped Rot Root Balls and Tree Ghost Monkeys actively ran up to him. Samael extended his Nether Copper Hand Armor, turning them over to inspect them.

[Plant-type artificial life, forest subspecies. Decomposers, Level 0 technological creatures, used as cleaners, environmental maintainers, small excavators, and basic slave laborers. Capable of manufacturing and using low-level tools. Commandable.]

[Command methods include but are not limited to: Ethereal Spiritual Signals, Spiritual Implant modifications.]

[They do not possess swarm intelligence when the population is less than 20, and only when the population exceeds 50 can they undertake relatively complex work.]

[Non-toxic, edible.]

[Individual status: Normal.]

Non-toxic? Did their bodies actually not contain any copper? Samael reached out and grabbed a single-horned taro, activating the [Nether Copper Generator]. If it contained enough copper elements in its body, the Nether Copper Generator would subject it to Nether Copper Demonization before extracting it.

The single-horned taro kicked its short legs made of roots, completely unaffected by the buzzing Nether Copper Generator.

It contained no copper. The Rot Root Ball’s Rusted Copper Forest environmental subspecies had the adaptive ability to actively expel excess copper elements.

Samael reached a conclusion and grabbed a Tree Ghost Monkey.

[Semi-plant artificial life, limited strictly to forest environments. Level 3 technological creatures, used as cleaners, environmental maintainers, plant caretakers, and basic forest nurses. Capable of using simple tools. Commandable.]

[Command methods include but are not limited to: Ethereal Spiritual Signals, Spiritual Implant modifications.]

[Symbiotes of large plants, their life cycles are closely dependent on large plants, and they will actively care for large plants in their environment. Their life activities aid in plant growth.]

[The life form of the subspecies is related to the form of the large plants in their environment.]

Samael extended his Nether Copper Hand Armor to grip the Tree Ghost Monkey’s head with one hand, activating the Nether Copper Generator.

POP! The Tree Ghost Monkey’s body exploded amidst the buzzing vibrations of the generator, blasting half-wooden, half-fleshy fragments everywhere. All that remained in Samael’s hand was a spinal column forged from Nether Copper.