Jinyao narrowed its eyes, clearly enjoying the rubs.
"Keep going," Liu Yi said. "We still need two more colors."
Jinyao stood up from the ground, shook its fur, and trotted deeper into the mine passage.
It walked slowly, stopping and starting, tapping the rock wall with its paws every few steps before shaking its head and moving on.
After about ten meters, Jinyao suddenly stopped.
It squatted in front of the rock wall, looking up.
Liu Yi followed its gaze.
The mining lamp's light shone on the rock wall, reflecting a faint, pale green luster.
The color was so subtle that if Jinyao hadn't specifically pointed it out, she wouldn't have noticed it at all.
She chipped off three pieces.
The pale green ore lay in her palm, surprisingly light.
Jinyao stood up from the ground and shook its fur.
"Yanyan."
One more to go.
Liu Yi put the ore into her canvas bag and continued walking with Jinyao.
The mine passage grew deeper, and the types of ore on the rock walls became scarcer, with most areas consisting of ordinary rock.
Jinyao's steps slowed. It would walk a few steps, stop to examine the surrounding rock walls, then shake its head and move on.
After a while, it suddenly stopped, looking down at the ground beneath its feet.
Liu Yi knelt down, and the mining lamp illuminated the ground.
Tiny, shimmering golden specks glittered in the rock crevices.
Jinyao extended its paw and dug at the ground twice. The golden powder was scraped away, revealing a small, golden-yellow ore beneath, with fine patterns on its surface.
Jinyao looked up at her.
"Yanyan."
This one.
Liu Yi gently chipped off the ore with her hammer.
It was very small, only thumb-sized, but its color was pure, emitting a soft golden glow under the mining lamp. The intricate patterns on its surface resembled burning flames.
Jinyao leaned in, touching the ore with its nose.
The golden patterns on the ore's surface flickered.
Jinyao retracted its nose, tilting its head.
"Yanyan?"
It lit up?
Liu Yi didn't answer.
Jinyao stared at the stone for a few seconds, then extended its paw and gently tapped the ore.
The golden patterns on the ore's surface flickered again, brighter this time.
Jinyao's eyes lit up, and it tapped again.
It flashed.
Tapped again.
It flashed again.
"Yanyan! Yanyan!"
It turned to Liu Yi, its eyes full of excitement.
It lights up!
Liu Yi reached out and picked up the ore. The golden patterns on its surface were still faintly flickering, as if activated by Jinyao's touch.
"What kind of ore is this?"
Jinyao tilted its head.
"Yanyan."
I don't know, but it's lighting up for me.
Ziyue walked over from the side, glancing down at the ore.
"Bingbing."
It recognizes you.
Jinyao's tail perked up.
"Yanyan!"
Then it's mine!
It reached out a paw, nudging the small ore from Liu Yi's hand, then held it with both front paws.
The golden patterns on the ore's surface flashed even faster.
Liu Yi watched Jinyao's possessive demeanor and said nothing, merely tallying the ore samples already in the canvas bag.
Hematite, Pyrite, Covellite, Silver-Veined Ore, pale green ore, plus the golden ore Jinyao was clutching. Six colors.
When she reached the Tunnel Three intersection, Old Chen was standing there, holding a detector.
"Collected everything?" he asked.
"Yes," Liu Yi said, handing over the canvas bag.
Old Chen took the bag and opened it to inspect. His gaze swept over the ores, lingering for a moment on the Silver-Veined Ore, then another moment on the pale green ore.
"Silver-Veined Ore? Pale green ore?" he looked up. "Both are rare in Tunnel Three. You actually found them."
Liu Yi didn't reply.
Old Chen continued sifting through, and when he reached the very bottom, his hand paused.
He stared at the golden ore for several seconds, then took it out of the bag and held it under the mining lamp.
A golden shimmer flickered under the lamp.
"This isn't ore," he said softly.
Liu Yi looked at him.
Old Chen placed the golden ore back in the bag and handed it to Liu Yi.
"This is an ore vein crystal," his voice carried a hint of undisguised emotion. "Only the innermost core of an ore vein, nourished by energy over long ages, can form such a crystal."
He paused, his gaze falling on Jinyao. "Its presence in that spot indicates that the core energy of that ore vein has been depleted."
He handed the bag back to Liu Yi. "Take it. The crystal is yours."
Liu Yi took the canvas bag and retrieved the ore vein crystal.
She walked out of the mine with her three pets.
Jinyao lay on Chiying's back, its front paws tightly clutching the ore vein crystal.
Liu Yi opened her wristband, and the side quest list refreshed.
【Side Quest: Crimson Ridge Mountains · Ore Vein Survey (Completed)】
【Task Evaluation: Excellent】
【Points Gained: 50】
【Current Points: 50】
《Sacred Fire Trial · Side Quest》
【Side Quest: Crimson Ridge Mountains · Canyon Cleanup】
【Task Location: Western section of the Crimson Ridge Mountains, Cliffside Canyon】
【Task Content: Clear wild pets corrupted by energy in the canyon and restore them to normal state】
【Estimated Time: 2 hours】
【Recommended Pets: Pets with purification ability】
【Task Reward: Trial Points +60, additional rewards based on completion】
Liu Yi stared at the line, "Recommended Pets: Pets with purification ability."
None of her three pets possessed purification ability.
This task couldn't be done.
【Side Quest: Crimson Ridge Mountains · Ruins Investigation】
【Task Location: Northern section of the Crimson Ridge Mountains, Ancient Altar】
【Task Content: Investigate the altar ruins and decipher the ancient writings on the stele】
【Estimated Time: 1-2 hours】
【Recommended Pets: None specified】
【Task Reward: Trial Points +40】
Liu Yi's gaze lingered on this task for a moment.
Deciphering stele writings didn't require combat, so Jinyao could participate.
But deciphering words required intellect, not physical strength.
Jinyao was still on Chiying's back, playing with the ore vein crystal.
Never mind, let's just do the main quest.
Liu Yi took a deep breath, closed her wristband map, and looked up at the distant mountains shrouded in reddish-orange mist.
Ziyue walked to her side.
"Bingbing?"
Time to go?
"Yes," Liu Yi nodded. "Let's go."
Chiying flew over, with Jinyao still on its back, staring at the stone in its paws.
"Yanyan!"
The stone lit up again!
Liu Yi looked at Jinyao's excited expression, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Keep it safe, don't lose it."
"Yanyan!" Jinyao hugged the ore vein crystal tightly to its chest.
I won't lose it!
Chiying sped up, flying towards the Core Area.
Ziyue glided through the ridges on a Frost Path.
Liu Yi sat on Chiying's back, watching the increasingly close reddish-orange mountains ahead.
Jinyao poked its head out from her arms, its eyes reflecting the burning land in the distance.
"Yanyan."
Is that the Core Area?
"Yes," Liu Yi nodded. "The Blazemark Ruins are right there."
Jinyao's tail swayed gently, tucking the ore vein crystal deeper into its embrace.
"Yanyan."
Then let's go quickly.
Chiying let out a low cry and accelerated towards the mountains shrouded in reddish-orange mist.
Rate on N.U.
