Chapter 179 - 119: Underground Race Against Time!

Chapter 179: Chapter 119: Underground Race Against Time!

The Golden Crow circled the laboratory, its speed so fast that only a dark gold afterimage remained.

From the Recording Platform to the window, from the window to the ceiling, then diving from the ceiling to the Temperature-Controlled District, it came to a sudden halt right at the tip of Surtr’s nose.

Surtr jumped in fright, its dark gold eyes widening as the flames on its body flared up.

"Look, look, look!" the Golden Crow hovered in midair. Its wings weren’t flapping, yet its body floated steadily.

It opened its beak and spat out a Fireball the size of a broad bean. The fireball traced a figure-eight in the air, looped behind the Recording Platform, emerged from the other side, and landed precisely into the empty cup in front of Chen Shang.

A pale gold flame danced quietly on the surface of the water.

"Boss, how’s my control?" The Golden Crow landed on the rim of the cup, tilting its head to look at the flame on the water. "Coupled with my speed, am I the strongest one in the house now?"

Chen Shang swept his gaze over it using the Eye of Truth. The dark gold halo on the surface of the Golden Crow’s feathers was an extremely thin layer of flame Armor. The remaining trace of Wind Element had already merged with its feathers and no longer required active activation.

Its flight speed had surged dramatically, and its ability to shift gears was swift, almost instinctive.

In terms of Attack Power, although that Fireball was small, its compression density was nearly twice as high as before, capable of delivering an attack of roughly three thousand degrees. Even without mastering leverage multipliers, this already fell within the Attack Power parameters of Tier Two Creatures.

The Golden Crow flew back and forth excitedly, chattering non-stop. Surtr lay in the Temperature-Controlled District, its massive head swiveling to follow the Golden Crow’s figure until its eyes grew dizzy.

Luna Xiya floated in silently from outside the door, hovering in midair as she looked at Chen Shang.

"Chen..."

Chen Shang glanced at Luna Xiya, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

Luna Xiya was the first to follow him. She had been a Tier Two Early Stage Plant Type lifeform from the very beginning. She worked diligently every day, studied hard, and even maintained the Wood Spirit Small Garden. She took care of the crops and balanced the nutrients in the soil so the Wood Spirits could farm in peace.

Her mycelium had even participated in the early testing of the automated growth Mechanical Armor device, providing a wealth of useful data. Yet, she had never been able to evolve.

The Golden Crow had advanced from Tier One to Tier Two, integrating the Samadhi True Flame into its origin source, and Surtr was also growing steadily, its size increasing day by day.

Only she remained the same Tier Two Hallucinogenic Mushroom as before, her combat strength virtually unimproved. Furthermore, due to attribute counters, her current combat strength might not even be enough to defeat the Golden Crow anymore.

Chen Shang sighed and let her land on his palm. "Luna Xiya, the Wood Spirit Small Garden needs your involvement, and you are the reference subject for the entire automated growth Mechanical Armor device. Without the mycelium growth data you provide, it would be very difficult to create my device.

"Therefore, your value is entirely unique. Once I find a suitable Rune, I will definitely help you evolve."

Luna Xiya nodded and floated back into the small garden.

Chen Shang actually had expectations for Luna Xiya’s evolution path: Plant Type, support-oriented, or a mycelial network. These were important components of his future plans. It was just a pity that he hadn’t encountered the right attributes yet.

Several weeks later, Alicia visited again. Chen Shang looked up from the Recording Platform and handed her the freshly sealed Cyan Jade Gourd.

This gourd was about the same size as his own, sharing the same pale cyan hue with fine Ice Crystal patterns on its surface. Inside, it contained the Eternal Night Cold Tide that the two of them had co-developed.

Alicia tested it herself. The gourd could release the cold tide continuously for three Hourglass durations, with a radiation range of several hundred meters. It perfectly met her need for an area-of-effect Witchcraft to alter the combat environment.

After the experiment, Alicia reloaded the Eternal Night Cold Tide, confirmed that the Witchcraft inside was stable, and stored the gourd into the Space Equipment at her waist.

"When do we leave for the Broken Rock Plane?" This was the promise she had made in exchange for the Cyan Jade Gourd.

"Let’s go tomorrow. I’ll see if I can call in one more person."

After the two parted ways, Chen Shang headed straight for Evelyn’s laboratory. When he knocked and entered, Evelyn was in the midst of developing the Divine Sword’s combat potential.

The blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, the severed Fire Elements leaving behind streaks of dark red afterimages.

She sheathed the sword and glanced at Chen Shang. "Did you need me for something?"

"I’m planning to go to the Broken Rock Plane to search for an Earth Attribute origin source. Want to come along?" Chen Shang invited.

Evelyn thought for a moment before shaking her head. "More than half the time before the second minor exam has already passed. I don’t want to run around right now. My study progress isn’t as fast as yours. If I leave now, I’ll fall even further behind when I get back."

She waved the Divine Sword at him. "But I can lend you the sword. Five thousand Wizard Coins for one use."

Chen Shang frowned in consideration. The Divine Sword’s ability to sever Fire Elements wouldn’t be useful in the Broken Rock Plane, but its innate sharpness and Magic Power conduction efficiency were well worth the price.

"Alright, thanks!"

He transferred the funds via his Crystal Plate, took the Divine Sword, and stored it in his Space Book.

The next day, Chen Shang settled his household affairs, granted Amy laboratory access, and set off for the Teleportation Gate.

He didn’t plan on bringing his pets this time. The Broken Rock Plane would severely limit the combat strength of the Golden Crow and Surtr. While Luna Xiya had an affinity for the Earth Attribute, she had to maintain the Wood Spirit Small Garden.

When he arrived at the Teleportation Gate, Alicia was already waiting. Dressed in a silver-white robe, she seemed unburdened, though all of her gear was neatly packed within her Space Device.

One after the other, the two of them stepped into the Teleportation Gate.