Jinyao finished its last run, panting as it trotted back to Liu Yi’s feet, looking up at her.
“Yanyan!”
I finished!
Liu Yi knelt down, rubbed Jinyao’s head, and offered it energy liquid and recovery liquid.
“Drink up.”
Jinyao drank in small sips, then licked its lips after finishing, letting out a tiny burp.
“Yanyan.”
Are we starting tasks tomorrow?
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded. “Starting tomorrow, there will be main tasks and side tasks, and you can choose which ones to accept.”
Jinyao’s eyes lit up.
“Yanyan!”
Can I do tasks too?
“It depends,” Liu Yi said. “If there’s a suitable task for you, I’ll let you do it.”
November 15th, early morning.
Her wristband vibrated.
Liu Yi opened her eyes and sat up in her tent.
Jinyao was still asleep on her lap, startled awake by the vibration, and groggily lifted its head.
“Yanyan?”
Are the tasks here?
Liu Yi raised her wrist, and the screen lit up, displaying lines of information.
【Sacred Fire Trial · Main Quest Issued】
【Main Quest: Explore the Saint Glow Secret Realm’s Core Area, reach the “Blazemark Ruins,” and activate the Trial Stele.】
【Task Description: In the Saint Glow Secret Realm’s Core Area lies an ancient ruin named the “Blazemark Ruins.” Legend says that long ago, the Blazing Lion tribe and the Iron Fist Ape tribe forged an alliance here, jointly guarding the Saint Glow Secret Realm. In the center of the ruins stand three Trial Steles, corresponding to the Blazing Lion tribe’s “Trial of Flame,” the Iron Fist Ape tribe’s “Trial of Fist,” and the “Trial of Radiance” jointly established by both tribes.】
【Task Objective: Reach the Blazemark Ruins and activate any one Trial Stele. Activating each stele grants corresponding points. Activating all three steles grants an additional reward.】
【Task Duration: November 15th - November 21st (7 days total)】
【Recommended Route: Crimson Ridge Mountains → Lava Corridor → Blazing Plains → Core Area】
Liu Yi stared at the screen for a few seconds, then exited the main quest page.
The side quest list unfolded.
There were numerous task entries, categorized by area, with each task indicating its location, content, and estimated time. She quickly scanned them, temporarily excluding those requiring high-intensity combat.
Finally, her gaze settled on a side quest.
【Side Quest: Crimson Ridge Mountains · Ore Vein Survey】
【Task Location: Eastern section of the Crimson Ridge Mountains, Abandoned Mine】
【Task Content: Assist Surveyor Old Chen in investigating energy anomalies within the mine, and collect ore vein samples.】
【Estimated Time: 2-3 hours】
【Recommended Pets: None specified】
【Task Reward: Trial Points +50】
Liu Yi stared at the words “Recommended Pets: None specified” for a few seconds, then turned to look at Jinyao.
Jinyao was staring at her without blinking.
“Yanyan?”
Can I do it?
Liu Yi looked at Jinyao’s bright, sparkling eyes and nodded.
“Yanyan!”
Liu Yi packed up the tent and put it in her backpack.
“Ziyue, Chiying, let’s go.”
-
Eastern section of the Crimson Ridge Mountains, Abandoned Mine.
The cave entrance wasn’t large, only wide enough for two people, and it was pitch black inside. Several blurred characters were carved into the rock wall at the entrance. Liu Yi leaned in to see them: the mine’s identification number and safety instructions.
A round, chubby Digging Mole squatted at the entrance, its yellowish-brown fur covered in dust.
It saw Liu Yi and her companions and immediately stood up.
“Digging!”
Liu Yi knelt down, eye-level with the Digging Mole.
“Are you Surveyor Old Chen’s pet?”
The Digging Mole nodded, then turned and scurried into the cave, looking back at her after a few steps.
“Digging!”
Liu Yi followed the Digging Mole into the mine.
The temperature inside the cave was lower than outside, and glowing ores were embedded in the walls at regular intervals, barely illuminating the path ahead.
After a few minutes, a fork in the road appeared.
The Digging Mole stopped at the intersection and pointed its paw towards the right passage.
At the end of the passage was a spacious mining chamber where several people stood. The leader was a white-haired elder, dressed in a gray work uniform, holding a detector. Beside him was a Black Iron Ant. Several young Beast Tamers were also standing nearby, likely having accepted the same task.
Surveyor Old Chen looked up, his gaze sweeping over Liu Yi, then lingering for a moment on Ziyue, Chiying, and Jinyao. When he saw Jinyao, his eyebrows slightly arched, but quickly returned to normal.
“Another one,” his voice was gruff. “You’ve come at a good time, we’re short-handed here. Take your pets to Tunnel Three to collect samples. You need to gather five different colored ores, at least three pieces of each. The sample bags are over there, help yourself.”
He pointed to a stack of canvas bags in the corner, then turned back to discuss the data on the detector with a nearby staff member.
Liu Yi walked over, grabbed a canvas bag, and headed towards Tunnel Three.
The Digging Mole followed at her feet, looking back at Jinyao every few steps.
Jinyao was sprawled on Chiying’s back.
“Yanyan?”
The Digging Mole heard the sound, ran back, and looked up at Jinyao.
“Digging.”
Your color is so beautiful.
Jinyao’s tail perked up, and it poked its head out from Chiying’s back.
“Yanyan!”
Thank you!
The Digging Mole chirped again, then turned and continued to lead the way.
The entrance to Tunnel Three was at the deepest part of the mining chamber, a sloping path extending downwards.
Along the rock walls on both sides of the passage, the colors of the ore began to diversify.
There was dark red Hematite, golden yellow Pyrite, deep blue Covellite, and several types of Mixed Ore with colors blended together.
Liu Yi took a small hammer from her canvas bag and approached the nearest Hematite vein.
Ziyue stayed by her side, vigilantly observing the surroundings, Chiying hovered beside her, and Jinyao jumped down from Chiying’s back to squat at Liu Yi’s feet.
Liu Yi chipped off a piece of Hematite and placed it in the canvas bag.
Jinyao poked its head into the bag to look at the ore, then looked up at the deep red vein on the rock wall.
“Yanyan?”
Are these the ores we need to collect?
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded. “Five different colors, at least three pieces of each.”
Jinyao tilted its head, stood up, and walked to the rock wall.
It extended its paw, tapped and knocked on the rock wall, then turned to Liu Yi.
“Yanyan.”
The purple one is behind that corner.
Liu Yi paused, then walked around the corner.
Indeed, there was a patch of deep purple ore on the rock wall, even darker than Covellite, emitting a faint, cool glow under the mining lamp.
She chipped off three pieces and put them in the canvas bag.
Jinyao poked its head out from behind the corner, watching her.
“Yanyan!”
Was it purple?
“How did you know?”
“Yanyan.”
Jinyao’s tail perked up.
I just know.
It squatted in front of the rock wall, continuing to tap and knock on it with its small paws.
“Yanyan!”
There’s some here too!
Liu Yi walked over; it was another spot she hadn’t noticed before.
Jinyao’s paw stopped on a grayish-white ore vein, its surface covered in fine silver patterns.
Liu Yi chipped off three pieces.
“This is Silver-Veined Ore, it’s quite rare.”
Jinyao looked up.
“Yanyan.”
You’re welcome.
Liu Yi couldn’t help but chuckle, reaching out to rub Jinyao’s head.
Rate on N.U.
