118: Two remote-controlled characters survive, poisonous women gather, and the road ahead is long and they advance again!

At the edge of a newly formed beach due to the "Great Fusion," two figures almost simultaneously ran from different directions. Seeing each other, they were both stunned, then their faces erupted with joy.

"A-Yong!"

"A-Cheng!"

Yao Yong and Yao Cheng, two young disciples of the Yao Family, unexpectedly met here.

Yao Cheng plopped down on the beach, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and grinned, "A-Yong, you're here too? I thought I was the only unlucky one teleported to this godforsaken place!"

He patted his bulging card bag at his waist and said like he was presenting a treasure, "Look, I picked up a lot of good stuff along the way! Although they're all low-tier items, even a mosquito's leg is meat!"

Yao Yong also had a joyful expression and nodded, "Me too. I cleared out a few small areas that had just completed their rule-set transformation and harvested some first and second-tier materials and cards. This rule-set transformation of the New World is practically free welfare!"

Both of them were at the third-tier in strength, considered outstanding among the younger generation of the Yao Family, but in the entire secret realm, especially after the "Great Fusion," they seemed a bit lacking.

Yao Cheng said with lingering fear, "That commotion just now was too terrifying; the whole world was shaking! I felt like the aura of those demonic beasts suddenly became several times stronger!"

Yao Yong deeply agreed, "Exactly. I just sensed an aura from afar that was at least late-fourth tier! It scared me so much I quickly took a detour."

He paused, looked at Yao Cheng, and suggested, "A-Cheng, I think the depths of this secret realm must be very dangerous now. With our strength, rushing in would likely lead to more bad than good."

Yao Cheng nodded repeatedly, "That's what I thought too! What treasures or opportunities? My life is more important! Why don't we just continue sweeping the outer areas? Safety first, grab what we can; it's better than going back empty-handed."

"Good!" Yao Yong readily agreed, "Let's do that! Teaming up, we can look out for each other."

So, Yao Yong and Yao Cheng formed a temporary team and began their "junk collecting" endeavor in this newly generated, vast outer region.

They were cautious, avoiding areas with powerful auras, and specifically targeting places that had just completed their rule-set transformation and had weak Source Power fluctuations.

Occasionally, they encountered one or two ignorant third-tier demonic beasts. The two of them, working together with tacit understanding, were able to kill them without much danger, splitting the beast cores and any cards that might drop. They had small gains and enjoyed themselves.

"A-Yong, look! There are a few newly rule-set transformed [Iron Wire Grass] over there!"

"Over there! That silly [Beach Giant Pincer Crab] seems to be at the peak of the second tier. Let's go for it!"

The two of them were tirelessly happy and quite carefree... Meanwhile, in a vast swamp area, the air was filled with nauseating purplish-black poisonous mist.

In the center of the swamp, De Xiner, dressed in her combat suit, stood gracefully. Her face was somewhat sickly pale, but her eyes shone with astonishing brilliance.

The poisonous mist swirling around her was even denser than that in the surrounding environment, almost solidifying!

At her feet, several large early-fourth tier Poison Swamp Crocodiles were already dead, their bodies blackened and stiff, rapidly decaying and dissolving at a visible rate.

"Third-tier eight-star peak!"

De Xiner felt the surging Source Power within her and smiled.

"This secret realm is simply tailor-made for me! These demonic beasts, these rule-set transformed plants, can all become nourishment for my poison gu!"

Just then, three figures quickly approached her from a distance.

"Young Miss!"

The newcomers were disciples of Deyun Hall, two late-third tier and one early-fourth tier. They had finally found De Xiner using a unique Deyun Hall token.

Actually, it wasn't hard to find her; the entire area around her was purple, and anyone with eyes could see something was amiss.

Seeing the terrifying poisonous domain around De Xiner, awe appeared in the eyes of the three.

"Young Miss's divine skill has greatly advanced, congratulations!" the three disciples flattered.

De Xiner nodded with satisfaction, "Very good, you've arrived. The manpower is still too little."

Her gaze swept over this swamp, which had been tainted by her poisonous power, and only greed remained in her eyes.

"These outer areas are, after all, just small-time stuff."

"Follow me deeper! I want this entire secret realm to become my poisonous domain! All who dare to oppose me will become food for my poison gu!"

Her voice was sharp, with a hint of hysteria.

It was just a little chuunibyou.

"Oh, right," De Xiner suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you discover any traces of Lu Yuan along the way?"

The three subordinates exchanged glances and all shook their heads.

"None were found."

A hint of disappointment flashed in De Xiner's eyes.

"Hmph, good thing he hid far away! Once I control this secret realm, I'll slowly deal with him!"

"I want to toy with him bit by bit!"

With that, she waved her hand.

"Go! To the central area of the secret realm!"

...Volcanic island, lava cave.

Lu Yuan, holding his alloy short blade, cautiously stepped inside.

The entrance was narrow, allowing only one person to pass. The deeper he went, the higher the temperature, and the dense sulfur smell in the air was almost suffocating.

His combat suit automatically covered his head.

"Ding... dong... ding ding..."

The faint metallic knocking sound came from deeper within the cave, becoming clearer.

Lu Yuan held his breath, turned a corner, and suddenly, his vision opened up.

Inside the cave, it was actually a huge naturalcave!

The cave walls were embedded with fire-red glowing crystals, emitting powerful fire-elemental Source Power.

"Fire-elemental Source Crystal Vein!"

Lu Yuan's heart trembled.

Although it was only in its nascent form and not large in scale, its quality was extremely high!

The rule-set transformation had concentrated all the impurities! What remained was the essence!

In the central area of the vein, there were several fist-sized fire source stones, blood-red in color, with what looked like magma flowing inside, emitting energy fluctuations far exceeding the ordinary source crystals around them.

"High-quality fire source stone!" Lu Yuan's breathing quickened slightly.

These few pieces alone could probably equate to most of the energy he absorbed from that fifth-tier beast core before!

And next to the vein, Lu Yuan made a new discovery.

There, a broken stone forging platform was placed!

The forging platform was ancient in style, covered with a thick layer of volcanic ash, but traces of frequent use could still be faintly seen.

On the surface, there were also several fist-sized, completely black metal ingots scattered about.

The metallic clanging sound he heard earlier was coming from near the forging platform.

Lu Yuan's gaze sharpened as he looked at the corner of the forging platform.

There, a small figure about half a meter tall, burning with a faint flame all over, was curled up in the corner, trembling.

It was human-like, with slender limbs, skin that appeared rocky gray-black, and hair that was a cluster of dancing flames.

A pair of round eyes looked at Lu Yuan in terror, and it was tightly clutching a small stone hammer in its hand.

Its energy fluctuations were not strong, probably around the second tier.

And this little thing actually didn't have the phantom chains of the secret realm's rule-set transformation on its body!

Was it a native of this secret realm? Or some kind of special energy life form?

Lu Yuan temporarily called it a "Flame Sprite."

"Chirp chirp! Gurgle gurgle!"

Seeing Lu Yuan look at it, the Flame Sprite let out a series of urgent, sharp cries, waving its small stone hammer, seemingly warning Lu Yuan not to approach.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

This little thing was quite fierce.

He raised his hand, trying to release a hint of goodwill, and slowly approached.

The Flame Sprite, however, became even more terrified. It suddenly threw an ordinary fire source stone at Lu Yuan, then turned and tried to squeeze into a rock crevice.

Lu Yuan's figure flickered, easily dodging the stone, and instantly appeared in front of the Flame Sprite. He extended a large hand and picked it up.

"Chirp chirp! Squawk squawk!"

The Flame Sprite struggled desperately in Lu Yuan's hand, its small fists and tiny stone hammer raining down on Lu Yuan's arm, but it was like tickling.

Lu Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This guy had less strength than a cat.

It had energy fluctuations, but in reality, it was a small good-for-nothing.

He put the Flame Sprite on the ground, pointed to the high-quality fire source stones, then pointed to the small stone hammer in its hand, and made a hammering motion.

The Flame Sprite tilted its head, seeming a bit confused.

Lu Yuan simply picked up a slightly lower quality fire source stone and handed it to it.

The Flame Sprite looked at Lu Yuan warily, hesitated for a moment, but still took the fire source stone.

It placed the fire source stone on a flat rock, raised its small stone hammer, and began to tap it, "ding ding dong dong."

With each strike, a faint spark erupted from the contact point between the small stone hammer and the crystal, merging into the crystal.

A miraculous scene unfolded!

As the Flame Sprite hammered, the fire source stone, which originally had many impurities, visibly became purer, its color more vibrant, and the Source Power fluctuations it emitted also increased significantly!

"It can purify ores!" Lu Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up.

This was simply an unexpected joy!

If these high-quality fire source stones were further purified by it, the effect would probably double!

The Flame Sprite hammered about a dozen times, seeming a bit tired. It handed the purified fire source stone to Lu Yuan, then pointed to its mouth, then to the ordinary fire source stone nearby, making "goo goo" sounds.

Lu Yuan understood.

This guy consumed energy when working, and it seemed to feed on fire source stones.

"No problem!"

Lu Yuan immediately picked up a few of the lowest quality fire source stones from the ground and handed them to the Flame Sprite.

The Flame Sprite cheered, took the fire source stones, and began to gnaw on them, "crunch crunch," like eating an apple, sparks flying from its mouth.

Lu Yuan was also not polite. He picked up several purified fire source stones near the sprite, sat cross-legged, and began to absorb them.

Pure fire-elemental Source Power surged into his body, even smoother than when he absorbed the Lava Giant Lizard's beast core, and more suitable for a Card Master's body!

His Source Power limit began to soar rapidly!

Seven hundred ninety-five points... eight hundred points!

Eight hundred ten points!

Eight hundred twenty points!

When the energy from these purified fire source stones was exhausted, Lu Yuan's Source Power limit steadily remained at 823 points!

"Awesome!"

Lu Yuan opened his eyes, looking at the several fist-sized high-quality fire source stones, his eyes filled with fervor.

He gestured, handing all the remaining high-quality fire source stones to the Flame Sprite.

The Flame Sprite, full and energized, began to work diligently, "ding ding dong dong."

Lu Yuan supervised from the side, occasionally pacing back and forth to prevent it from running away.

Soon, all the fire source stones were purified.

Lu Yuan absorbed them one by one without hesitation.

A few hours later!

When the last purified high-quality fire source stone turned to dust, the Source Power vortex within Lu Yuan's body vibrated with a roar, and his Source Power limit successfully broke through!

【Source Power: 1032 / 1032】

He successfully broke through to third-tier three-star!

(The Yao Family provided low-quality source crystals, which were cheap, abundant, and easy to find. High-quality source crystals were controlled minerals, expensive, and filled with Source Power, incomparable.)