The sixth night.
The sound of wind and rain outside the window still hadn't ceased.
If he could rig up a wind turbine, Han Ning reckoned he'd never have to worry about electricity again.
Having just finished resting, his Spiritual Power was now at its peak.
[Spiritual Power: 10/10]
He fixed his gaze on a makeshift target three meters away, assembled from empty plastic water bottles.
"Vine Manipulation!" With a thought, he no longer needed to deliberately shout the skill name.
Whoosh!
Eight dark green vines, each about the thickness of a finger, shot out from thin air.
Han Ning's fingers twitched slightly.
In his hands, these vines were like invisible threads controlled by a master puppeteer.
Two lashed around the bottle's body to anchor it, four crisscrossed tightly around the neck, and the final two whipped nimbly against the base.
Crack!
The fragile plastic bottle couldn't withstand the concentrated force of the vines. It instantly deformed before bursting apart with a loud pop, shredded into pieces.
Fragments of plastic and the cap scattered in all directions.
After repeatedly torturing the water bottle like this—
[Vine Manipulation proficiency +7, current 95/100]
[Druid growth progress +2, current 88/100]
"Not bad."
A faint smile tugged at Han Ning's lips as a sense of satisfaction welled up inside him.
If he were to face one of those small juvenile Crocodile Lizards now, he was confident he could wrap them up in vines with a single move—maybe even crush their bones.
Of course, against an adult Crocodile Lizard, he still had no chance.
With his Spiritual Power depleted, he headed to the kitchen as usual to check his food supplies and prepare an energy-replenishing dinner.
After nearly ten days of consumption—
The water dispenser's tank was completely empty, and only seven bottles of mineral water remained from the opened pack.
The noodles were gone, and only a third of the rice was left.
The compressed biscuits, at least, were barely touched.
There was also half a can of beans.
Unfortunately, these were fried broad beans—no way to plant them.
The potatoes were growing well, and their tubers should be ready soon.
But distant water couldn't quench present thirst.
"At most, three or four more days."
"Looks like I'll have to go out."
Truthfully, the dry rations were still sufficient, but water was critically scarce.
Water was the source of life. Han Ning figured that if he went without it for even a day, he probably wouldn't be able to recover his Spiritual Power losses.
The restoration of Spiritual Power was closely tied to his physical condition.
Dragging his slightly exhausted body to the kitchen, Han Ning prepared a basic survival meal.
Thankfully, he had once impulsively bought a portable gas stove and six fuel canisters for a hiking trip—only to give up halfway, too tired to even reach the mountain's base.
The equipment had been left unused.
Now, it proved invaluable.
A bowl of half-cooked rice, about 300 grams, drizzled with a mix of soy sauce, cooking oil, and a bit of chili paste—just enough to replenish daily fat intake and add some flavor to the bland meal.
A few roasted broad beans sat atop the plain white rice.
He needed to eat 600-700 grams of rice daily to ensure he never got too hungry, as it would affect his Spiritual Power recovery.
Mechanically, Han Ning shoveled the rice into his mouth, chewing without enthusiasm.
From time to time, he'd pick up a brown orchid bean, greedily licking the barbecue seasoning coating it as if savoring some supreme delicacy.
"I'm not eating rice right now—I'm eating grilled beef, twice-cooked pork, braised pork knuckle, spicy crayfish..." He closed his eyes, entering fantasy mode.
After dinner, Han Ning lay on his bed, staring blankly ahead as he quietly waited for drowsiness to take over.
It had been nearly ten days since he transmigrated here. The apartment had long lost power, leaving the bedroom pitch black. What else could he do besides zoning out?
An indeterminate amount of time passed.
Han Ning gradually felt a hint of sleepiness creeping in.
Suddenly.
"Screeeech—"
A blood-curdling, unnatural sound exploded right beside his ear.
Not thunder, but the violent impact of tremendous force against metal.
Immediately followed by the teeth-gritting, ear-piercing shriek of twisting, tearing metal.
"Creak... SNAP!!"
"?!"
Han Ning bolted upright, straining his ears.
The source of the noise was unmistakably coming from the direction of his apartment's small exterior balcony!
Without hesitation, Han Ning rushed toward the living room, his right hand already spreading wide as deep green spiritual light gathered in his palm.
The balcony door remained tightly shut.
By the faint emerald glow emitted during his Vine Manipulation's charging phase, Han Ning could vaguely make out the situation outside.
On the balcony windowsill, the previously intact metal security bars now bore a gaping hole the size of a washbasin.
A grotesque head was wedged in the opening, its table-tennis-ball-sized yellow vertical pupils gleaming with savage intensity in the darkness.
Locked unwaveringly onto Han Ning inside.
It opened its protruding jaws, using rows of tiny, razor-sharp teeth to frantically gnaw at the security bars' edges.
The screeching grind of metal on metal filled the air.
"Same bastard again—really holds a grudge."
Han Ning recognized this juvenile Crocodile Lizard—its size matched the one he'd driven off days ago. Probably the same individual.
"SKREEE!!"
As if sensing the threat gathering in Han Ning's palm, the juvenile Crocodile Lizard emitted a short, piercing shriek, its attacks growing even more frenzied.
Its powerful hind legs braced against the exterior wall as its entire upper body violently thrust inward.
"CRACK!"
Another support bar snapped completely.
"Fucking die already!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Han Ning's eyes as he violently thrust forward his fully charged right palm.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
The deep green spiritual light erupted from his palm like a tangible substance.
Eight dark green vines lashed out like whips.
Their color was a deep emerald, surfaces covered in rough protrusions, each as thick as a grown man's index finger.
Two vines instantly coiled around one of the lizard's forelimbs gripping the balcony edge.
Another two constricted around its newly intruding neck.
The remaining four wrapped around its torso and hind legs.
"ROAR!"
The eight vines tightened relentlessly.
Caught off guard, the juvenile Crocodile Lizard found itself thoroughly bound.
The grating sound of scaly hide grinding against tough vines filled the air with a teeth-setting "screeee."
[Vine Manipulation Proficiency +3, Current: 98/100!]
Han Ning grunted, his face paling.
Controlling the vines provided some sensory feedback—the terrifying brute force of the lizard's struggles transmitted directly back to him.
It felt like ten wild bulls simultaneously yanking at his arms, his entire body trembling uncontrollably from the strain.
"This damned thing, what terrifying strength!"
Han Ning was horrified—this was merely a juvenile.
The few Crocodile Lizards he had encountered before, he had only tried to toss them away, never engaging in a direct contest of strength like this.
He didn't dare slack off in the slightest, pouring all his effort into maintaining the vines' restraint.
"Tighten! Squeeze it to death!"
Under the control of his will, the vines began rapidly constricting.
A deep green light shimmered across their surfaces, their toughness reaching unprecedented levels.