Chapter 2722: Ore Veins and Vine Planting

The Golden-Eyed Player’s newly relaxed spirit instantly tightened, and he stared at Xu Huo, seemingly wanting to penetrate the helmet to see his expression. He quietly clenched his hand, ready to act at any time.

However, Xu Huo just turned sideways to the side, and the instrument’s needle didn’t move; it still pointed in the same direction.

The Golden-Eyed Player laughed, "I thought the instrument had malfunctioned."

"Really?" Xu Huo replied meaningfully.

The instrument certainly wouldn’t malfunction; it indeed pointed at him earlier. It’s just unclear what energy this instrument targets—Nüwa Stone, Super Props, or Heart of the Child?

But that doesn’t matter; in this setting, he could easily influence the Golden-Eyed Player’s judgment.

"What is this box for?" Yan Jiayu already knew there was someone inside, "Can hiding in the box avoid the influence of Spiritual Energy? But hiding in the box means you can’t move, right?"

"This is a specially made box with a certain ability to resist interference, and it has no side effects for the Player," Golden-Eyed Player said, "Hiding inside at least gives some relief."

Yan Jiayu didn’t comment but said, "Besides holding people, it should be able to hold other things too, right?"

"You mentioned there are Super Props left here. If this area’s situation is related to Super Props, it might carry Spiritual Energy far beyond other parts of the zone. Without a suitable container, it’s hard to take it away. This box should be perfect."

She then turned to Xu Huo, "Shall we find one too?"

Xu Huo chuckled, "Isn’t there one right here?"

Upon hearing this, Golden-Eyed Player quickly said, "The box is a minor issue; you can also keep it."

Xu Huo did not give a firm response but said, "That’s about it; let’s go."

The group set off again, guided by the instrument, walking along the long underground passage for about half a day before finally discovering some distinct traces.

Compared to the previous corridors’ mineral and Mutant Plants condition, the minerals and plants where Xu Huo and the others currently stood had undergone significant changes. First, the minerals obviously improved in quality, reaching the raw material level for manufacturing Advanced Items, and the Mutant Plants were even more remarkable. Though they were only small clusters, they thrived deep in the cave, almost filling the cave entirely, showing the soil here is special.

"Be careful; this place is full of fungi," the Golden-Eyed Player warned, "Many are toxic."

While speaking, a nearby Mutant Plant was accidentally triggered, causing several vines to quickly retract, stirring the surrounding plants, and scattering a large quantity of seeds from the fine fungi, which soon filled the narrow passage as wide as a person.

To avoid alarming more Mutant Plants, they proceeded cautiously. After about ten minutes, the path broadened, revealing a massive mineral cave. It seemed the cave hit a dead end, evident by the drilling marks everywhere. The stone skin fell off to expose colorful minerals.

"We’re rich!" Yan Jiayu exclaimed.

Indeed, they struck it rich with this underground vein. Although Xu Huo’s perception couldn’t fully penetrate these stone walls, the detectable areas were at least several hundred meters thick.

"Let’s dig," Yan Jiayu eagerly said, "It’s a small fortune before heading out!"

Xu Huo certainly didn’t object, bringing out several Mechanical Beings to start mining.

Seeing he seemed to plan to stay here, Golden-Eyed Player said, "Not continuing? We haven’t found traces of Super Props yet."

"The emergence of such a mineral vein indicates there might be Primeval Stones underground," Xu Huo said, "The district’s anomaly might not be caused by Super Props. No matter how strong Super Props’ energy is, they’re limited in size. If it’s replaced with Primeval Stones, it makes more sense. What do you think?"

Having come this far, Golden-Eyed Player wasn’t about to give up easily. He said, "I’ll look around nearby."

"Feel free," Xu Huo found a place to sit down, indicating he really didn’t intend to leave.

Golden-Eyed Player called out another companion from the box, leaving one unconscious person inside, and of course, the box was left behind.

Yan Jiayu picked up minerals nearby, commenting, "Ignoring the Primeval Stones, this person isn’t honest."

"Maybe he thinks there are no Primeval Stones here," Xu Huo said, "Or he believes Super Props are more valuable and easier to carry."

Yan Jiayu didn’t mind, prioritizing the immediate benefits at hand.

Such a massive mineral vein couldn’t be excavated in one go, especially given the depth here, where large movements could easily cause collapses.

However, it’s a great place for planting things.

Xu Huo took out a potted plant from the luggage compartment; the seed had already sprouted. It was difficult to expect it to possess self-awareness like the Divine Woman Vine, so it couldn’t be simply thrown here to grow, lest he couldn’t find it when he returned.

In a rock wall crevice, he tucked the flowerpot soil along with the previous nutrient soil and fertilizer, dumping everything in.

"What is this?" Yan Jiayu leaned over for a look.

"Mutant Plant," Xu Huo said, "Extracted from Dou Shengnan’s eye."

Yan Jiayu was rather surprised, "The Guile Sound Knights indeed dare to do anything, even ignoring their eyes."

"What will it grow into? The small leaf patterns resemble eyes."

"Probably a vine-like plant," Xu Huo pondered, "I don’t know its name; let’s just call it the Divine Woman Vine."

"Once it grows, I’ll transplant it to my residence—no problem guarding the home."

Putting it in an instance works too.

Yan Jiayu squatted down, "It’s growing so fast; new leaves have already emerged."

Only after a few exchanges.

Xu Huo was also quite surprised, "Looks like it really likes it here."

After pondering briefly, he also buried the Nüwa Stone, just as he pressed two handfuls of soil, he found an unusual sticky feeling on his palm. Removing his gloves, fine fungal filaments were seeping from his fingertips.

Yan Jiayu glanced at it and busied herself. Xu Huo’s poison had already been cleared, so King Fungus didn’t need to grow extensively, but he hadn’t expected even when he distanced from the Nüwa Stone, fungal filaments continually seeped from his skin. Soon, his protective suit couldn’t hold.

Helpless, he could only return to the Divine Woman Vine, taking off his protective suit, wearing only a helmet.

Yan Jiayu helped set up a Metal Shield by the rock wall, mainly to block view, "Do your thing; I’ll handle the outside."

Fortunately, King Fungus’s frenzied growth didn’t bring discomfort; perhaps his body as a vessel was already too full to contain so much filament, so it kept expelling.

King Fungus didn’t change much, but the Divine Woman Vine rapidly grew and integrated with the surroundings, releasing Spiritual Energy.