Chiying flew through the air, hot currents surging up from below, but it maintained its flight at a relatively comfortable altitude.
Jinyao lay in Liu Yi's arms, the two merged powers within its body slowly circulating. It closed its eyes, sensing that wondrous balance.
After an unknown period.
Chiying let out a low cry from ahead.
“Mo.”
We're here.
Ahead lay a vast fissure zone where the earth had split open, forming bottomless ravines.
The rock walls on both sides of the fissure were dark red, with golden patterns shimmering on their surface, as if something flowed deep within the rock layers.
Heat waves surged from the fissure, the temperature significantly higher than on the plains.
Liu Yi walked to the edge of the fissure and glanced down.
It was pitch black below, with no bottom visible. Only an occasional golden glow flickered up from the depths, like blinking eyes beneath the earth.
She opened her bracelet, and the task page automatically refreshed.
【Side Task: Blazing Plains - Ley Line Survey】
【Current Progress: Arrived at Ley Line Fissure】
【Please descend along the fissure and collect an energy sample every hundred meters. Collection Depths: 100 meters, 200 meters, 300 meters, 400 meters, 500 meters. A total of five samples are required.】
【Collection Tool: Bracelet-integrated Sampler (Activated)】
【Note: Wild pets are active deep within the fissure; caution is advised.】
Liu Yi looked at the words “Bracelet-integrated Sampler (Activated)” and flipped her bracelet over.
On the back of the watch face was a tiny groove, currently emitting a faint blue light.
She walked along the edge of the fissure for a bit, finding a gently sloping incline.
“Let's go down here.”
Chiying was the first to fly into the fissure, its dark figure cutting a smooth arc through the darkness.
It hovered dozens of meters below, its crimson eyes looking up.
“Mo.”
It's safe.
Liu Yi nodded, holding Jinyao as she stepped onto the incline.
Ziyue walked beside her, her Frost Path laid beneath their feet, stabilizing the loose scree.
The further they descended, the higher the temperature rose.
“Yanyan.”
Ziyue's steps paused.
It turned to look at Jinyao, a hint of helplessness flashing in its purple eyes.
“Bingbing.”
You're quite comfortable.
Jinyao tilted its head.
“Yanyan?”
Aren't you comfortable?
Ziyue didn't reply, simply quickening its pace.
Liu Yi glanced at Ziyue; fine ice crystals had already formed along the edges of its fur, but each time they solidified, the high-temperature airflow would quickly melt them away.
When they reached the first marker, the bracelet vibrated.
【Depth: 100 meters】
【Please collect an energy sample.】
Liu Yi crouched down and aimed the sampler on the back of her bracelet at the rock wall.
A blue beam of light shot from the groove, sweeping across the rock wall. A few seconds later, the collected data appeared on the bracelet screen.
【Sample 1: Collected】
【Energy Concentration: 127 units】
【Note: Sample normal】
Liu Yi stood up and continued descending.
Every hundred meters, the bracelet would automatically prompt for collection.
At 200 meters, the energy concentration was 156 units.
At 300 meters, the energy concentration was 188 units.
The further down they went, the higher the energy concentration and the hotter the temperature.
When they reached the 400-meter marker, the bracelet vibrated again.
Liu Yi crouched down and aimed the sampler at the rock wall.
The beam swept across, and the data on the screen flickered.
【Sample 4: Collected】
【Energy Concentration: 231 units】
【Note: Sample normal, energy fluctuations slightly enhanced】
As Liu Yi prepared to stand up, a rustling sound suddenly came from the darkness ahead.
Ziyue's ears perked up sharply, its body lowered, and its gaze locked onto the direction of the sound.
Chiying flew up from below, hovering beside Liu Yi.
“Mo.”
Something's coming.
Jinyao poked its head out from Liu Yi's embrace, its golden eyes gleaming faintly in the darkness.
The rustling grew closer.
In the darkness, pairs of dark red eyes lit up.
They were several Rockwall Lizards, not large in size, but numerous.
Their scales blended seamlessly with the rock wall, making them almost indistinguishable in the dark; only their dark red eyes betrayed their presence.
They formed a semicircle, trapping Liu Yi and her companions against the fissure wall.
Liu Yi remained still.
Ziyue stood in front of her, its Frost Path already laid beneath its feet, ready for a swift retreat.
Chiying's throat gathered dark golden energy.
Jinyao jumped down from Liu Yi's arms.
The Mark of Radiance on its chest began to activate.
Jinyao looked at the Rockwall Lizards, and the two powers within its body simultaneously released an invisible oppressive aura.
The Rockwall Lizards' movements halted.
Their eyes were fixed on Jinyao.
The leading Rockwall Lizard let out a cry, then turned and scurried into a crevice in the rock wall.
The other Rockwall Lizards followed, disappearing one after another into the darkness.
The fissure fell silent once more.
Jinyao withdrew its gaze and turned to Liu Yi.
“Yanyan?”
Why did they run away?
Ziyue retracted its Frost Path, walked over to Jinyao, and looked down at it.
“Bingbing.”
You scared them off.
Jinyao tilted its head.
“Yanyan?”
Me? I didn't do anything.
Chiying flew over from the side, observing the Mark of Radiance on Jinyao's chest, which was slowly fading.
“Mo.”
That mark isn't just for show.
Jinyao looked down at its chest; the mark had completely receded into its body, leaving no trace on the surface.
“Yanyan.”
It chirped, a hint of realization in its voice.
So that's what scared them away?
“Mo.”
Chiying nodded.
Jinyao's tail perked up.
“Yanyan!”
Then I'm pretty awesome!
Liu Yi's lips curved into a slight smile as she watched Jinyao's smug expression.
“Let's go, there's one more level.”
She crouched down, aiming the sampler at the rock wall.
【Depth: 500 meters】
【Please collect an energy sample.】
The beam swept across the rock wall, and the data on the screen began to flicker.
【Sample 5: Collected】
【Energy Concentration: 278 units】
【Note: Sample normal, energy fluctuations stable】
【Ley Line Survey task completed, all samples collected. Please return to the surface to submit the task.】
-
【Side Task: Blazing Plains - Ley Line Survey】
【Task Status: Completed (Ready for Submission)】
【Please proceed to the Saint Glow Secret Realm Camp to submit sample data to the task terminal.】
【Current Points: 1050】
Liu Yi glanced at the points total and closed her bracelet.
“Let's go, back to camp.”
By the time Liu Yi reached the camp, it was already dark.
The camp, located near the entrance of the Saint Glow Secret Realm, was set up by the Saint Candle Beast Tamer Association. Dozens of tents formed a circle around a central open space.
Several bonfires burned in the open space, and contestants sat in small groups around them, some eating, others discussing the day's tasks.
The task terminal was at the back of the camp, a waist-high device displaying the task list and points leaderboard.
Liu Yi brought her bracelet close to the terminal.
With a “ding,” the screen lit up.
【Unsubmitted Task Detected: Blazing Plains - Ley Line Survey】
【Submit?】
Liu Yi tapped “Yes.”
【Submitting task...】
【Sample data uploaded】
【Task Rating: Excellent】
【Points Gained: 80】
【Current Points: 1130】
【Points Leaderboard updated】
Liu Yi exited the task page and opened the points leaderboard.
【Sacred Fire Trial - Points Leaderboard】
【1. Liu Yi: 1130 points】
【2. Ji Qiu: 340 points】
【3. Song Ci: 310 points】
【4. Wen Mingyuan: 290 points】
【5. Shi Lingyue: 270 points】
【...】
Rate on N.U.
