97: Chapter 97 Mine Anomaly, Ancient Creatures

The moment Lin Ye stepped out of the mine exit, a rush of fresh, moist air greeted him, mixed with the fragrance of soil, decaying leaves, and vegetation. This was a stark contrast to the environment inside the Ancient Mine, which was filled with the scents of sulfur, blood, and decay; it felt like a different world.

The exit was located on the hillside of a low mountain, hidden by dense vines and shrubs; it would have been extremely difficult to discover if one hadn't come from inside. Looking out, an endless primeval forest stretched before his eyes. The trees were tall and towered into the sky, their crowns blocking out the sun, with only sporadic spots of light filtering through the gaps in the foliage to fall upon the thick layer of humus on the ground.

It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the western sky orange-red, coating the forest in a warm hue. However, the depths of the forest were already growing dim, with shadows spreading between the trees as if countless eyes were watching from the darkness.

"We're out... we're really out..." Zhao Wuji collapsed onto the ground, breathing in the fresh air deeply, his face filled with the relief of having survived a disaster.

Not just him; everyone in the squad felt a sense of relief.

Having spent nearly three days in the Ancient Mine, enduring the siege of the Soul-Devouring Mist Yao Beasts, the fierce battle against the Cave Spider swarm, and the life-and-death struggle against the Earth Dragon Scorpion King, everyone had teetered on the edge of death several times. Now that they had finally returned to the surface, the feeling of being reborn was indescribable.

"Check our location." Although Lin Ye was also relaxed, he did not completely let his guard down.

Qin Ruoxue quickly unfolded the map and compared it with the surrounding terrain. A moment later, she pointed to the southeast: "We are currently on the outer perimeter of the northeast side of the Ancient Mine, about fifteen miles from the main mine entrance we entered. This is the 'Black Forest' area, marked on the map as a 'Medium Danger Zone,' where a large number of level 40-50 Yao Beasts roam."

"Black Forest..." Chen Hao scanned his surroundings vigilantly. "I've heard of this place. It's said that deep in the forest, there are elite monsters above level 55, and there might even be small tribes of Yao Beasts."

"Let's find a safe place to rest first." Lin Ye made the decision. "Although our status has recovered, our equipment is severely damaged, and our supplies are running low. We need time to rest and resupply."

The squad found a natural rock cave on the hillside. The entrance was small, only wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side, but the interior space was spacious, enough to accommodate over a dozen people. Deep in the cave, there was an underground stream flowing through; the water was clear and safe to drink directly.

Lu Ming set up a simple early warning Formation and a concealment Formation at the cave entrance. Although his Materials were limited and the effects of the Formations were average, they could at least provide basic defensive functions.

Night fell, and the forest plunged into darkness.

A bonfire was lit inside the cave. The orange flames dispelled the darkness and chill, bringing a sense of security. Everyone sat around the campfire and began to assess their respective conditions.

Lin Ye took out his damaged equipment from his Storage Pouch and inspected them one by one.

His own Void Armor set was severely damaged in the battle; the chest plate had cracks, the bracers were deformed, and its durability was less than 30%. The myriad things mother qi cauldron embryo, however, remained intact. This growth-type Natal Artifact strengthened as his own power increased, and it was now a top-tier item among Rare-grade gear, just a hair's breadth away from Epic-grade.

Su Qingyue's Ice Jade Staff had been overused; the ice crystal at the top of the staff had developed fine cracks and required gentle nurturing to repair. Her Vast Cold Spirit Body had Advanced further under the nourishment of the life spring divine fluid, and the moonlight flowing around her body was more fluid, but the burden on her Meridians from continuous high-intensity spellcasting needed time to recover.

Chen Hao's longbow body was slightly deformed, and the dragon tendon string also needed replacing. His arrows were almost exhausted, leaving him with only seven explosive arrows and twelve regular arrows. As an archer, having no arrows was like a warrior having no sword.

Shi Potian's great axe was intact, but his heavy armor had been severely damaged in the battle against the Scorpion King; most of the armor plates had fallen off, greatly reducing his defensive power. His Tyrant Body Bloodline had been refined to 45% purity after being overdrawn and baptized by the life spring divine fluid, but for that reason, it needed time to stabilize and should not be overused in the short term.

Yan Wu's staff was completely destroyed, and she could now only use basic Fireball Spells, which were greatly reduced in power. Sheng Guang's Holy Light scepter was also damaged, reducing his healing ability by at least 60%.

Lu Ming had very few Formation Materials left; most of his Formation Flags were destroyed, the cracks in his Formation Plate had widened, and the spirit ink for inscribing runes was running out. Qin Ruoxue had lost some of her intelligence-gathering tools during the battle, leaving her with only basic maps and recording tools.

Zhao Wuji had consumed two of his life-saving items: the Vajra Protective Amulet had been used twice, with one remaining; the Thousand-Mile Escape Talisman had been used once, with one remaining; the Substitute Puppet had not been triggered, which was fortunate.

"The losses are not small," Lin Ye summarized after finishing the count, "but the gains are even greater."

He looked at the pile of jade boxes, which contained the essence refined from seventy-nine primordial life stone Ores, as well as twelve bottles of life spring divine fluid—although seven bottles had been used, five still remained. In addition, there were the Epic-grade stinger, Fine-grade scales, and Rare-grade earth vein core obtained from the Scorpion King, as well as the Soul crystals obtained from the Mist Yao Beasts, and the Spider King's poison sac and carapace fragments obtained from the spiders... The total value of these Materials far exceeded the losses in equipment.

More importantly, everyone's strength had improved. The average level had increased by 1-2 levels, and everyone had unlocked new abilities. This was an unimaginable leap in the early stages of the game.

"Leader, what are our arrangements for the next steps?" Lu Ming asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

Lin Ye pondered for a moment. "First, we will rest in the Black Forest for two days to repair our equipment and replenish our supplies. Then, we will return to the Chaos Valley."

He looked at Qin Ruoxue. "Pavilion Master Qin, does the Heavenly Secret Pavilion have any intelligence outposts near the Black Forest?"

Qin Ruoxue nodded. "Yes. On the edge of the Black Forest, there is a small player gathering place called 'Linjian Town,' where the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has a branch. I can contact them to obtain the latest intelligence and replenish some supplies."

"Good. Tomorrow morning, you and Zhao Wuji go to Linjian Town to purchase necessities and also inquire about the movements in the outside world over the past few days. We've been in the Ancient Mine for three days; a lot might have happened outside."

"Understood."

"Everyone else, start repairing your equipment and cultivating tomorrow. We must return to the Yan State in our best condition."

After the tasks were assigned, everyone went to rest.

Lin Ye sat near the cave entrance, not falling asleep immediately. He gazed at the pitch-black forest outside the cave, his thoughts surging.

This trip to the Ancient Mine yielded gains far exceeding expectations, but it also exposed too many problems.

First was team coordination. Although there had been training, in real life-and-death battles, the coordination was still not tacit enough. The deaths of Tie Shan and Shadow Killer, while partly due to the special nature of the Mist Yao Beasts, also indicated loopholes in the team's defense and reconnaissance Systems.

Second was the lack of intelligence. The estimation of the dangers inside the Ancient Mine was severely insufficient, and they almost suffered total annihilation. If it hadn't been for the sudden realization of the Chaos Soul Suppressing Seal, and if it hadn't been for the timely refinement of the life spring divine fluid, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Finally, there was the gap in strength. Facing a boss of the Earth Dragon Scorpion King's level, they had used all their strength to barely win, and they had even drawn out the even more terrifying Earth Dragon Mother Scorpion. If the Earth Dragon Mother Scorpion had fully awakened and pursued them at that time, they would have had no possibility of escape.

"Strength... it's still not enough." Lin Ye clenched his fists.

The Peak of the Dao Palace Fourth Layer was considered top-tier among players, but in this vast "covering the heavens era" world, it was still insignificant. One had to know that the truly powerful beings in the Late Stages of the game were existences capable of plucking stars and grabbing the moon, and traversing the Void Realm. These current achievements were merely a starting point.

But at the same time, it also allowed him to see hope.

The potential of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body was infinite, and the effects of the life spring divine fluid were astonishing. The resources obtained this time were enough for the core members of the Heavenly Court to raise their strength to another level. As long as there was enough time, he was fully confident in leading the Heavenly Court to stand at the Peak of this world.

But... was there really enough time?

Lin Ye recalled the warning from Li Ruoyu (heavenly dao fragment): the game would merge with reality in one year. More than three months had already passed, and less than nine months remained.

Within nine months, he not only had to improve his personal strength but also expand the Heavenly Court, integrate player forces, and deal with the impending Dark Turmoil, as well as... the truth behind that mysterious System.

The pressure was like a mountain.

But there was not the slightest hint of retreat in Lin Ye's eyes, only a more determined light.

Having lived a second life, he was determined to change his fate and reach the absolute Peak. Any difficulty would only be a stepping stone for his progress.

Late at night, Lin Ye sat cross-legged to Cultivate.

The "Chaos Scripture" circulated within his body, resonating with the four great divine stores. The Chaos Fire in the Heart Divine Palace, the Chaos Earth in the Spleen Divine Palace, the Chaos Gold in the Lung Divine Palace, and the Chaos Wood in the Liver Divine Palace, which had just been opened to 80%, formed a subtle cycle.

With one of the Five Elements missing, the cycle was not yet complete, but it had already demonstrated astonishing effects.

Lin Ye could feel that his recovery speed was several times faster than before. Both his Divine Power and Qi and blood were recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye. The Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body's efficiency in absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had also greatly increased; with every breath, massive amounts of Spiritual Qi surged into his body, transforming into Chaos Divine Power.

What surprised him even more was that his comprehension of the Chaos Law was also deepening.

The previously self-created Chaos Soul Suppressing Seal and Chaos Creation Furnace were just shallow applications based on the Chaos Law. But now, he vaguely touched upon something deeper—the essence of Chaos, which was inclusion, creation, and also destruction.

After a night of cultivation, the gains were quite substantial.

When the first ray of dawn filtered through the forest foliage, Lin Ye opened his eyes; his sharp gaze was restrained, and his aura was even deeper.

The others also woke up one after another.

After eating some simple dry rations, Qin Ruoxue and Zhao Wuji set off for Linjian Town. Both had changed into relatively intact equipment and carried a shopping list and some Spirit Stones—mainly those Medium Grade and High-Grade Spirit Stones obtained from the Ancient Mine.

The remaining people began their respective work.

Su Qingyue nurtured her staff, Chen Hao repaired his longbow, Shi Potian polished his great axe, Yan Wu attempted to use Spells to condense a temporary staff, Sheng Guang practiced basic healing Spells, and Lu Ming organized the remaining Formation knowledge, attempting to deduce more efficient Formation structures.

Lin Ye, meanwhile, began to study the spoils of war.

First, the Soul crystals.

Fifteen translucent gray crystals were laid out before him, each with mist flowing inside, where distorted faces could be vaguely seen. Lin Ye picked one up and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Hum—

The crystal vibrated slightly, and a surge of pure Soul energy flowed along his arm into his Sea of Consciousness. Lin Ye felt his spirit refresh instantly, his Divine Sense feeling as if it had been washed, becoming clearer and sharper.

[Absorbed Soul Crystal x 1, Divine Sense permanently +50.]

[Current Divine Sense: 5,200 -> 5,250.]

[Prompt: The effect of similar items diminishes; the Divine Sense improvement effect of each Soul crystal decreases by 10%. A maximum of ten can be absorbed.]

It was indeed effective.

Lin Ye continued to absorb them; the second one increased it by 45 points, the third by 40 points... When he had finished absorbing ten Soul crystals, his Divine Sense had increased by a full 350 points, reaching 5,550 points.

He did not absorb the remaining five Soul crystals—these could be left for Su Qingyue, Qin Ruoxue, and others who needed to improve their Divine Sense, or used as the main material for refining Soul artifacts.

The significant improvement in his Divine Sense brought immediate results.

Lin Ye expanded his Divine Sense, its coverage area increasing from 520 zhang to 555 zhang, and its perceptual precision also improved by at least 30%.

He could even "see" the textures inside the surrounding trees, the activities of insects and ants underground, and the flow trajectory of Spiritual Qi in the air.

"As expected of Rare Grade Materials."

Lin Ye put away the remaining Soul Crystals with satisfaction.

Next was the Spider King Poison Sac.

Three green sacs, each the size of a fist, were covered in fine, blood vessel-like patterns on the surface, feeling soft and elastic to the touch.

Lin Ye carefully cut one open; inside was viscous green venom that emitted a pungent, sour, foul smell.

[Item: Spider King Venom (Fine Grade)]

[Type: Alchemy Materials / Poison]

[Description: A highly toxic liquid extracted from the body of the Rock Cave Spider King, possessing extreme corrosiveness.]

[Attributes: Toxicity +300, Corrosion +150]

[Effects: 1. Apply to weapons, attacks carry 'Highly Toxic' effect (deals 500 points of poison damage per second, lasting 10 seconds); 2. Refine into Poison-type Medicinal Pills or poisons; 3. Special uses (such as corroding specific Materials).]

[Handling Warning: This item is highly corrosive and requires a special container for storage.]

Good stuff, but not useful for now.

Lin Ye resealed the poison sacs and stored them in his Storage Pouch.

Next were the Petrified Shell Fragments, Earth Spirit Crystals, and Earth Spirit Crystal Souls.

These Earth-type Materials could be used to repair or strengthen Shi Potian's heavy armor, or as Materials for Lu Ming to set up Earth-type Formations.

The most precious were the Scorpion King Poison Sting and the earth vein core.

Lin Ye picked up the five-foot-three-inch-long poison sting.

The sting body was dark gold, with natural spiral patterns on its surface, its tip as fine as a steel needle, flickering with a ghostly green cold light.

Holding it in his hand, he could feel the terrifying toxicity and a trace of faint Dragon might contained within.

"Epic Grade Materials..."

Lin Ye examined it carefully.

Materials of this level were likely rare across the entire server right now.

If he could find a Master-level Blacksmith and combine it with other auxiliary Materials, he could completely forge an Epic Grade Poison-type weapon, or add an Epic Grade special effect to an existing weapon.

But the problem was, the current Blacksmiths among the players were at most at an Advanced level; it was already good if they could handle Fine Grade Materials.

They couldn't even smelt Epic Grade Materials.

"Looks like I'll have to learn it myself."

Lin Ye gave a wry smile.

In his past life, his secondary professions were Alchemy and Formation; he only had a slight dabbling in blacksmithing.

In this life, if he wanted to fully utilize these Advanced Materials, he would likely have to put blacksmithing on his agenda.

The Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body learned everything quickly, but a person's energy was limited after all.

Alchemy, Formation, blacksmithing, combat... each required time and energy to study.

"Perhaps... I can Cultivate specialized talent."

Lin Ye had an idea.

The Heavenly Court now had five thousand members; surely some possessed blacksmithing talent.

As long as he provided resources and guidance, cultivating a few Master-level Blacksmiths was not impossible.

He put away the poison sting and picked up the earth vein core.

This was an earth-yellow crystal the size of a fist, with golden veins circulating inside, as if it had life.

Holding it in his hand, he could feel the pulse of the earth—heavy, steady, and endless.

Lin Ye tried injecting a trace of Chaos Divine Power into it.

Hum—

The earth vein core lit up with a soft light, resonating with his Spleen Divine Palace.

The Chaos Earth operated automatically, absorbing the pure Earth-type Spiritual Qi emitted by the earth vein core.

Even more magically, through the earth vein core, Lin Ye could vaguely perceive the structure of the surrounding earth.

Where the rock layers were solid, where the soil was soft, where there were underground currents, where mineral veins were distributed... this information appeared in his mind like a 3D map.

"What a good treasure!"

Lin Ye's eyes lit up.

This earth vein core was not only a precious Cultivation resource and a Formation core, but also an excellent exploration tool.

With it, searching for mineral veins, surveying terrain, and setting up Formations would all be twice as effective with half the effort.

He wore the earth vein core close to his body and immediately felt the operating speed of his Spleen Divine Palace increase by at least 30%, and the absorption efficiency of Earth-type Spiritual Qi also significantly improved.

In one morning, Lin Ye finished sorting all the spoils of war and formulated a preliminary plan for their use.

At noon, Qin Ruoxue and Zhao Wuji returned.

They were carrying a large parcel, filled with the purchased supplies.

"Leader, the situation is a bit grim."

Qin Ruoxue reported with a grave expression.

"How so?"

"First, in the three days we entered the Ancient Mine, many things happened outside."

Qin Ruoxue said quickly, "The Six Kingdoms Alliance has established three large camps on the periphery of the Ancient Mine, with a total of over two thousand people, and is organizing large-scale exploration.

The Yaoguang Holy Land has also dispatched an official team, led by an Elder in the Dragon Transformation Realm; it is said that their goal is clear, heading straight for the depths of the Ancient Mine."

"In addition, tech players from the Eternal Star Domain have also appeared.

They established a temporary base on the west side of the Ancient Mine, bringing a large number of mechs and exploration equipment."

"The most troublesome thing is,"

Qin Ruoxue paused, "yesterday afternoon, there was a violent earthquake in the depths of the Ancient Mine, lasting as long as a quarter of an hour.

After the earthquake, the Chaos Mist on the periphery of the Ancient Mine showed abnormal fluctuations, with concentrations rising and falling, and... strange sounds came from inside."

Lin Ye frowned: "What kind of sounds?"

"It sounded like... roaring, and also like some kind of ancient chanting."

Qin Ruoxue recalled the descriptions from the intelligence personnel, "Many people heard it, but the accounts differ.

Some believe a Treasure Trove has emerged, others believe some great ominous thing has awakened.

Now the periphery of the Ancient Mine is in Chaos, and the various major forces are gathering manpower, preparing to deal with the changes."

Lin Ye's heart stirred.

The roaring in the depths of the Ancient Mine... could it be related to the Earth Dragon Mother Scorpion?

Or... related to that mysterious cave entrance?

"Any other news?"

"Yes."

Zhao Wuji interjected, "When we were purchasing in Linjian Town, we heard a rumor: three days ago, a mysterious team brought out 'something incredible' from the depths of the Ancient Mine, triggering a small-scale pursuit.

But no one knows exactly what it is, and no one knows the identity of that team."

"Also, the Black Forest has not been peaceful these past few days."

Qin Ruoxue added, "Yao Beast activity is abnormally frequent, and types rarely seen before have appeared.

The guards of Linjian Town said they even saw traces of 'Gargoyles'—those are Level 55 Elite monsters, usually only active in the deepest parts of the forest."

Gargoyles?

Lin Ye remembered the corpses kneeling around the stone tablet in the Ancient Mine; after they died, they turned into stone statues.

Could there be a connection between the two?

"How is the purchasing situation?"

Lin Ye asked Zhao Wuji.

"Basically bought everything."

Zhao Wuji opened the parcel, "Arrows were replenished by three hundred, one hundred of which are Enchanted Armor-Piercing Arrows.

Medicinal Pills were replenished with fifty bottles of Advanced Blood Recovery Pills and thirty bottles of Advanced spirit recovery pills.

Miasma Clearing Pills, Soul Suppressing Pills, and Detoxification Pills, twenty bottles each.

Also ten portions each of Bone Knitting Ointment and Organ Nourishing Pills for healing."

"I also bought some blacksmithing Materials, but the quality is average, at most able to repair Fine Grade equipment.

Advanced Materials are simply not on the market; they have all been monopolized by major forces."

"Additionally, I heard some news,"

Zhao Wuji lowered his voice, "Three days from now, there will be a secret auction at the Black Market in Linjian Town.

It is said that there will be 'good stuff' flowing out from the Ancient Mine.

The auction requires an invitation to attend, and I have already obtained two."

Zhao Wuji handed over two black metal cards.

The front of the cards was engraved with patterns of skulls and gold coins, and the back had complex anti-counterfeiting runes.

[Item: Black Market Auction Invitation (Linjian Town)]

[Type: Special Credential]

[Description: Admission credential for the underground Black Market auction in Linjian Town, each allowing up to two people to enter.]

[Validity: 72 hours]

[Auction Time: Midnight (Zi Hour) three days from now]

[Location: Third underground level of Linjian Town, secret room 'Blood Crow Nest']

"Black Market auction..."

Lin Ye took the invitation, "Interesting.

Perhaps I can find some good stuff."

He handed one invitation to Qin Ruoxue: "Pavilion Master Qin, you and I will go at that time.

Everyone else stay outside to provide support."

"Understood."

"Now, everyone hurry up and repair your equipment and adjust your state.

In two days, we will set off to return to Chaos Valley, stopping at Linjian Town on the way to attend this auction."

Everyone acknowledged the order and got busy.

Time flew by, and two days passed in a flash.

During these two days, the team's equipment was basically repaired.

Although the quality did not improve, at least the functional utility was restored.

Their states were also adjusted to their best; everyone had digested the improvements brought by the life spring divine fluid, and their strength was stabilized.

On the morning of the third day, the team left the cave and Advanced toward Linjian Town.

The Black Forest was denser than imagined; towering ancient trees blocked out the sky and sun, and the ground was a thick layer of humus, feeling soft and squishy when stepped on.

Vines wrapped around tree trunks like giant pythons, and some vines had eerie flowers blooming on them, emitting a sweet, cloying fragrance—those were traps set by carnivorous plants.

Lin Ye walked at the very front, his Divine Sense fully expanded, vigilant of the movements around him.

The earth vein core in his bosom felt slightly warm, constantly transmitting information about the earth's pulse.

Through this information, Lin Ye could avoid soft swamp areas, hidden underground caves, and the territories of certain powerful Yao Beasts in advance.

The journey was peaceful, and they did not encounter any large-scale Yao Beast groups.

But the sense of unease in Lin Ye's heart grew stronger and stronger.

It was too quiet.

As a medium-danger zone, the Black Forest shouldn't be this quiet.

Even if they had avoided Yao Beast territories, they shouldn't be unable to see a single Yao Beast.

"Something is wrong."

Lin Ye stopped, "Everyone, be on guard."

The team immediately entered combat state.

However, the anticipated attack did not come from the forest, but from... underground?

Boom!

A hundred meters ahead, the ground suddenly exploded!

Soil and stones flew everywhere, and a massive figure broke through the ground.

It was a rock giant standing two zhang tall!

No, it wasn't pure rock; its body was composed of some kind of dark grey Ore, its surface had a metallic luster, and molten-like red light flowed at its joints.

Its head was square, without facial features, only two deep eye sockets, in which ghost-green flames burned.

The most eye-catching part was its chest—embedded there was a fist-sized pale gold crystal, somewhat similar to a primordial life stone, but darker in color and with more violent energy fluctuations.

[Warning: Encountered unknown enemy!]

[Name: Stone Clan Juvenile (Elite)]

[Level: 60]

[Type: Archaic Being / Elemental Life]

[Attributes: Health: 8,000,000 / 8,000,000, Attack Power: 65,000-75,000, Defense: 95,000]

[Traits: 1. Rock Body (Physical Defense +100%, Earth-type Spell Resistance +80%); 2. Earth Power (When standing on the ground, Attack Power +30%, Recovery Speed +200%); 3. Petrification Aura (Within a 30-zhang radius, all targets gain one stack of 'Petrification' per second; at five stacks, movement speed -50%; at ten stacks, complete petrification); 4. Earth-Splitting Fist (Heavy strike to the ground, triggering a linear earth-splitting shockwave); 5. Rock Throw (Grab a giant rock and throw it, dealing area damage)]

[Weaknesses: 1. The crystal on its chest is the energy core, but its defense is extremely high; 2. Ice-type Spells can slow its movements; 3. Its attributes decrease significantly after leaving the ground.]

[Remark: The lowest-tier member of the Archaic Stone Race, possessing terrifying defensive power and strength, but with low intelligence and sluggish movements.]

Stone Race!

Archaic Creature!

Lin Ye's pupils constricted.

In his past life's memories, the Archaic Race was a powerful race that only began to appear in the mid-game.

The Stone Race, Blood Race, Shadow Race, Spirit Race... these Archaic Races possessed Innate advantages far exceeding human players, making them almost invincible at the same level.

Yet now, only three months after the game launched, the Stone Race had actually appeared! And it was a Level 60 Elite Juvenile!

"Retreat!" Lin Ye ordered without hesitation.

8 million HP, 95,000 Defense, 65,000 to 75,000 Attack... these attributes were simply not something they could handle right now.

Even if the whole team was in perfect condition and coordinated well, their win rate would be less than 10%.

More importantly, the Stone Race usually lived in groups. The appearance of one juvenile meant there were likely more Stone Race members nearby, perhaps even adults—those were entities above Level 70!

The squad immediately retreated.

But the Stone Race juvenile had already discovered them.

Its eye sockets, burning with dim green flames, locked onto the group, letting out a dull roar. The sound was like two giant rocks grinding against each other, harsh and filled with pressure.

Then, it took a step and began to pursue them.

The Stone Race juvenile's speed was not fast; every step was heavy and slow, but its stride was immense, covering three zhang in a single step.

Furthermore, it seemed able to sense ground vibrations; no matter how the squad changed direction, it could accurately catch up.

"We can't escape like this!" Chen Hao looked back, "Its speed isn't much slower than ours, and it has endless stamina. We must find a way to shake it off or restrict it."

Lin Ye's brain worked at high speed.

The Stone Race's trait was that they were invincible in ground combat, but their attributes significantly decreased after leaving the ground. If they could lead it into a swamp or water...

"Head East!" Lin Ye changed direction, "I remember the map marked a river three li to the east!"

The squad turned to the east and ran with all their might.

The Stone Race juvenile followed closely behind; it couldn't jump, so when it encountered trees blocking its path, it simply charged through them. Trees as thick as a bowl were like dried grass before it, snapping upon impact.

The rumbling of collisions and the sound of trees snapping echoed through the forest, startling countless birds.

A distance of three li would normally be covered in an instant. But now, with a pursuer behind them, every step felt arduous.

One li, two li...

They could already hear the sound of flowing water ahead.

But the Stone Race juvenile was closing in, the distance shrinking from a hundred zhang to fifty, then to thirty.

"It's going to attack!" Shi Potian shouted.

Sure enough, the Stone Race juvenile stopped, bent down to grab a millstone-sized rock from the ground, swung its arm, and hurled it violently!

The rock flew with a whistling wind, moving at a terrifying speed, targeting Holy Light, who was in the middle of the team!

"Dodge!" Lin Ye shouted urgently.

But the rock was too fast and had a large area of effect; Holy Light simply couldn't dodge completely in time.

At the critical moment, Shi Potian roared, activated Tyrant Body, and swung his giant axe horizontally!

Clang!

The giant axe collided with the rock, emitting a deafening boom. The rock was shattered, debris flying everywhere, but Shi Potian was knocked backward, only stopping after crashing through a small tree and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Just the aftermath of one throw was enough to injure Shi Potian, even with his Tyrant Body active!

"Keep running! Don't stop!" Lin Ye helped Shi Potian up and they continued their mad dash.

Ahead, a river appeared in their field of vision. It was about ten zhang wide, with turbulent currents and deep green water, its depth impossible to discern.

"Cross the river!" Lin Ye led the charge toward the riverbank.

The squad rushed to the riverbank and jumped into the river without hesitation.

The river water was bone-chillingly cold, and the current was faster than it looked. Everyone struggled to swim toward the opposite bank.

The Stone Race juvenile chased them to the riverbank and stopped.

It stood on the bank, its dim green eye sockets fixed on the group in the river, emitting an unwilling roar. But it did not enter the water—the Stone Race was naturally averse to water; their combat ability in water was greatly reduced, and the current would wash away the soil and rocks attached to its body, weakening its power.

"It doesn't dare to enter the water!" Zhao Wuji said with pleasant surprise.

Everyone took the opportunity to swim quickly toward the opposite bank.

But just as they reached the middle of the river, a change occurred.

The Stone Race juvenile suddenly bent down and smashed its fists violently into the ground!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three consecutive punches, each making the earth tremble. The force of the punches transmitted through the ground to the riverbed, triggering violent underwater tremors.

The river water churned, forming huge whirlpools and undercurrents. The squad was scattered by the currents, and some were even dragged underwater.

Even more terrifyingly, the riverbed began to crack! Cracks extended from the bank toward the center of the river, and the water poured in, creating a terrifying suction force.

"Hold on!" Lin Ye shouted, expanding his Chaos Domain in an attempt to stabilize the surrounding water flow.

But the water was not his home turf, and the effect of the Chaos Domain was greatly diminished.

Seeing that the team was about to be scattered, Su Qingyue bit her tongue and sprayed blood essence onto her staff.

"Freeze the river surface!"

Cold energy erupted, and with her as the center, the river surface froze rapidly. The ice layer spread from her position to the surroundings, temporarily stabilizing the water flow.

However, freezing the entire river surface consumed too much energy; Su Qingyue's face instantly turned pale, and she was almost collapsed.

"Get to the bank quickly!" Lin Ye supported Su Qingyue and swam toward the opposite bank.

The squad finally crawled onto the bank, all of them in a disheveled state, soaked, and covered in ice shards.

On the other side, the Stone Race juvenile was still pounding the ground, but separated by the ten-zhang wide river, its attacks could no longer directly threaten the group.

However, it did not give up.

The pale golden crystal on its chest suddenly lit up with a blinding light, which flowed along its body toward its right arm, finally converging on its fist.

The Stone Race juvenile swung its fist again, but this time it wasn't smashing the ground, but the riverbank!

Boom!

The fist struck the edge of the riverbank, and the terrifying impact directly blasted away a large area of soil and rock. Even more shockingly, the shockwave formed a temporary "bridge" on the riverbed—a ridge formed by compacted soil and rubble; though not wide, it was enough for it to cross!

"It's building a bridge!" Chen Hao's expression changed drastically.

The Stone Race juvenile stepped onto the temporary bridge and began to cross the river. Although it was slow and every step was cautious, it was indeed moving toward the opposite bank.

"Go! Keep retreating!" Lin Ye did not hesitate.

In their current state, they couldn't fight at all; they had to put some distance between them.

The squad turned and rushed into the forest on the opposite bank.

This time, they didn't run in a straight line, but kept changing directions, attempting to shake off the pursuit.

After crossing the river, the Stone Race juvenile lost the specific location of its targets and could only rely on ground vibrations to roughly judge the direction. Its intelligence was indeed not high; as it pursued, it would veer off course and need to re-locate the trail.

Taking advantage of this, the squad gradually increased the distance.

An hour later, they finally completely shook off the Stone Race juvenile.

Everyone collapsed in a relatively safe forest clearing, panting heavily, exhausted.

"What was that thing just now..." Zhao Wuji said, still fearful, "It was too terrifying! One punch injured Shi Potian, and it could even build a bridge to cross the river..."

"The Stone Race, one of the Archaic Races," Lin Ye said in a deep voice, "Logically speaking, they shouldn't appear at this stage."

"Unless..." Qin Ruoxue said thoughtfully, "Unless something changed deep within the Ancient Mine, causing them to awaken early."

Lin Ye thought of the earthquake, the mysterious roar, the Earth Dragon Mother Scorpion, the stone stele, and the cave entrance...

All clues seemed to point in the same direction: deep within the Primal Ancient Mine, some kind of Seal was loosening, or had already been broken.

"We must leave here as soon as possible," Lin Ye decided, "The appearance of the Stone Race juvenile in the Black Forest indicates that the changes in the Ancient Mine have already begun to affect the surrounding area. This place will soon become very dangerous."

Everyone struggled to stand up, preparing to continue their journey.

But after taking a few steps, Lin Ye suddenly stopped.

He bent down and picked something up from the ground.

It was a palm-sized, dark gray scale with irregular edges, as if it had fallen off some larger object. The surface of the scale had a metallic luster, and it felt cold and hard to the touch.

[Item: Stone Race Scale (Fragment)]

[Type: Material / Token]

[Description: A scale that fell off the Stone Race juvenile, containing a faint aura of the Stone Race Bloodline.]

[Attributes: Physical Defense +50, Earth-type Resistance +15%]

[Effects: 1. Can be used as a material for crafting Earth-type armor; 2. Wearing it allows for a faint sensing of the Stone Race aura; 3. Unknown use (requires identification).]

[Identification Info: This scale fell off no more than twelve hours ago, caused by intense combat or energy impact. The residual energy fluctuations inside the scale indicate that its original body recently came into contact with some kind of 'Seal Power'.]

Seal Power?

Lin Ye gripped the scale tightly and looked toward the direction of the Ancient Mine.

What exactly was sealed there?

The appearance of the Stone Race, the awakening of the Earth Dragon Mother Scorpion, the trial of the stone stele, the mysterious cave entrance...

These seemingly unrelated things all seemed to be connected by an invisible thread.

And at the end of that thread, in the deepest part of the Primal Ancient Mine, lay the "truth" that even the ancient miner civilization feared.

Lin Ye took a deep breath and put the scale away.

Now was not the time to delve into it; the priority was to return safely.

But he silently noted in his heart: once the Heavenly Court's strength was sufficient, he would definitely explore the Ancient Mine again.

He would definitely uncover those secrets.

"Let's go."

The squad set off again, this time with faster steps.

The forest gradually receded behind them, but the shadows deep within the Ancient Mine were branded into everyone's hearts.

And in the depths of the Ancient Mine, unseen by them, more Stone Race members were awakening from their slumber.

Dim green eye-fires lit up one by one in the darkness, like stars.

Dull footsteps began to echo in the Ancient Mine tunnels.

A deep and ancient voice mumbled in a language no one could understand:

"The Seal... has loosened..."

"The King... is about to return..."

"This world... will once again be bathed in the glory of the Archaic era..."

The voice gradually dissipated into the darkness.

Only countless pairs of dim green eyes remained, deep in the Ancient Mine, silently staring in the direction of the exit.