Chapter 78: Battle of Wits 2

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Battle of Wits 2

"The minerals you’re mining... they seem a little different from what other people find!"

Selena stared, her eyes wide, at an Earth Element Crystal just a short distance away.

This piece of Earth Element Crystal was a full meter in size, its value incalculable.

If this appeared in the outside world, even a Morning Star Great Wizard would be moved enough to fight for it.

An Earth Element Crystal of this size... its value was simply too immense.

And this one-meter crystal wasn’t even the largest—there were bigger ones.

Selena began to turn, taking inventory of the Earth Element Crystals in the deep pit. After a quick count, a staggering number formed in her mind.

The sheer scale of it left Selena breathless.

"This is too much... How did you find such a massive Earth Element Crystal Vein?"

Her breathing grew heavy, and a red glint appeared in her eyes.

She stared at Andre, desperate to learn how he had managed to find such an enormous Earth Element Crystal Vein.

"I wasn’t the one who found it. This is his home."

Andre released Potato from his Servant Bag and pointed at the creature.

"An Earth Elemental Bear... Wait, its entire body is glowing like an Earth Element Crystal. This is a Primordial Earth Elemental Bear! It’s an Elemental Creature... Does that mean this Earth Element Crystal Vein is the little one’s nest?!"

"You’re so damn lucky!"

Once the realization sank in, Selena glared at Andre and spoke through gritted teeth.

She had thought that the treasures she’d collected in the Secret Realm were the most valuable.

But compared to Potato, all her previous gains were now worthless.

This was an Elemental Creature that had an entire Elemental Crystal vein for a nest. The combined value was beyond Selena’s wildest imagination.

Her family had provided her with a Battle Pet, too—a rare and valuable one at that.

But compared to Potato, the Battle Pet her family had given her was absolute garbage, not even in the same league.

"Lucky, I guess." Andre smiled and nodded. He took a piece of Honeycomb from his Storage Ring and placed it in Potato’s mouth. "I was originally just following my teacher’s instructions to find an Earth Elemental Bear cub, but I stumbled upon Potato by chance." Then he gestured for Potato to bring over the Earth Element Crystals.

Potato nodded happily and, while chewing on the Honeycomb, began to retrieve the scattered Earth Element Crystals.

Fortunately, the pit was already quite deep when Andre used his Atmospheric Burst Technique, so not many of the Earth Element Crystals had been blasted away—at most, just a few fragments.

"All these Earth Element Crystals... you’re not planning to keep them all for yourself, are you?"

As Selena watched Potato at work, the red glint in her eyes instantly turned green with envy, and a dark aura seemed to envelop her.

"Are you planning to steal Potato’s nest from it?"

Andre retorted, looking back at Selena.

At his words, the greed in Selena’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a look of utter helplessness.

"You can’t just give me nothing at all!" Selena stammered, looking at Andre.

’This Earth Element Crystal Vein was discovered by Andre, and it’s the nest of his Battle Pet, Potato.’

’By all rights, these Earth Element Crystals have absolutely nothing to do with me.’

’But a vein this massive... it’s just impossible to resist.’

But in response to Selena’s plea, Andre simply shook his head.

"No. This is Potato’s nest, and it will be used for Potato’s growth. You know how vast the resources needed to raise an Elemental Creature are."

"Now that I have this nest, you know exactly how many resources I’ll be saving. Today, I’m not giving any away, no matter who asks!"

Andre stated his position with absolute resolve.

Selena watched Andre, her eyes darting about. She waited for the moment he was busy storing the Earth Element Crystals Potato brought him into his Storage Ring. Then, she crouched down, ready to dash toward the specific crystal she had her eye on.

But just as she bent over, Selena noticed two faint drops of bright red liquid on the ground.

When she saw the two drops of liquid, Selena immediately stopped in her tracks.

’This couldn’t be Andre’s blood, could it?’

A thousand thoughts collided in her mind.

’It has to be Andre’s blood. The explosion was incredibly violent. Even if he took precautions, he must have been injured. So these two drops of liquid must be his blood!’

At this thought, Selena grew excited.

Previously, she and Jesse had agreed that the Divine Blood was in Andre’s possession, but they had been frustrated by their inability to get a blood sample from him.

It had just been a theory.

But now, without her having to lift a finger, his blood had appeared right before her. Their theory could finally be proven.

’The Divine Blood is what’s most important!’

In an instant, Selena made her choice. She veered off her path and ran past the drops of blood.

As she passed the blood, Selena flicked her finger, pulling a Witchcraft Tool from her Storage Ring to suck up the two drops from the ground.

She then ran to the Earth Element Crystal she’d been eyeing and lifted it into her arms.

But the moment Selena picked up the Earth Element Crystal, she froze, not daring to move a muscle.

"Put it down. Right now."

Andre was casually tossing two test tubes in his hand, his gaze on Selena turning ice-cold.

Selena saw the black mist swirling inside the test tubes, and a chill ran down her spine.

"You have so many! What’s the big deal if I take one?"

Selena shouted at Andre, pointing at Potato, who was still busy hauling Earth Element Crystals.

"I said, put it down. Didn’t you hear me?"

As he spoke, Andre uncorked the test tubes. Instantly, wisps of black mist began to seep out.

"What are you doing?!" After seeing Andre uncork the test tubes, the unease in Selena’s heart peaked. It felt as if the two vials in his hands could end her life.

"These Potions are called the Thousand Extremes Potion. I used this very Potion to kill six Black Wizards in the Black and White Forest. Take a guess... do you think you can survive both of them?"

Andre’s tone was utterly glacial as he stared at Selena, who was still clutching the Earth Element Crystal.

"You wouldn’t dare! If you hurt me, my elders won’t let you get away with it."

Selena said through gritted teeth, watching his every move.

"Then feel free to try me," Andre retorted. "Let’s see what’s faster—the poison in these Potions, or your elders!"

Andre made a feint, his fingers twitching, followed by his whole arm.

Watching his movements, Selena was suddenly unsure if he would actually throw the Potions.

After a moment of deliberation, the psychological pressure became too much for Selena. She finally gave in and placed the Earth Element Crystal on the ground.

In that moment, Andre’s figure seemed to overlap with that of the detestable person who had once ambushed her. It was this psychological trauma that ultimately made Selena put the Earth Element Crystal down.

"Potato, use Earth and Stone Manipulation with me."

Andre stored the Earth Element Crystals Potato had brought over into his Storage Ring, then patted the bear.

Potato nodded in confusion and placed its front paw in Andre’s hand.

Guided by Andre, he and Potato activated the Earth and Stone Manipulation Witchcraft in unison, instantly gathering all the remaining Earth Element Crystals in the pit.