Chapter 49: Crystalline Armored Ground Lizard

Unfortunately, there was only 1, and it was broken down into even smaller fragments due to taxation.

There were also two extremely rare, somewhat dreamlike spirit-type evolution stone fragments, which similarly became even more shattered after being taxed.

Su Liu carefully sorted and stored all of these, with each piece representing future potential or bargaining capital.

Meanwhile, the two attributes Su Liu needed the most—wind and space—appeared particularly scarce and precious.

After roughly seventeen consecutive strikes with the first refined steel pickaxe, accompanied by a duller thud than usual:

Crack!

A slender fissure suddenly burst open on the part of the pickaxe head that touched the ore wall!

Immediately following this, the durability of the entire pickaxe instantly dropped to zero!

The metallic luster gleaming on the handle dimmed completely, turning it into a heavy lump of scrap metal.

Su Liu felt her hand grow light, followed by a wave of total exhaustion.

"Hoo... The first one is spent."

Panting, Su Liu put down the broken handle. Without taking a moment to rest, she immediately switched the broken tool in her backpack for a brand-new refined steel pickaxe.

"Tuanzi, hold on. We'll leave after mining for a little longer."

Daring not to linger, amidst the intervals of harassment by spectral monsters, she swung her pickaxe again at the area she had previously marked, where faint cyan currents occasionally flashed within the ore vein's radiance.

Clang! Clang! Clang! ...

At last, after seven consecutive strikes on the same spot, several pale cyan crystals imbued with the breath of gale-force winds were dug out!

Next came two crystals infused with a mysterious silver halo, as if miniature nebulae were spinning inside them! Su Liu held her breath as she picked them up, a surge of excitement welling up in her heart: "Wonderful! Three wind-type and two space-type!"

Aside from the evolution stones, the vein also contained some associated minerals: pebble crystal clusters flashing with colorful shimmers, which could be used as low-grade embedding materials.

There were also several mineralized bone fragments of extreme hardness and mixed energy, possibly fossils of ancient creatures with unknown uses.

Even a tiny, silver-gray speck of associated space dust was found, though Su Liu had no idea what it was for.

Boom!

Just as the durability of the second pickaxe was completely exhausted, a dull surge suddenly came from deep within the ore wall.

Right after, a monster much larger than the previous specters—shaped like a pangolin, but with a head covered in thick crystal-cluster armor—suddenly burst out from the soil below!

Clearly attracted by the continuous digging sounds and the intense crystal energy, it roared the moment it appeared and charged toward the crystal ore vein at Su Liu's feet, evidently wanting a share of the spoils. At the same time, its thick tail swept toward Su Liu with a whistling wind!

"Damn it! It's a Level 3 Crystal-Armored Earth Lizard!" Su Liu cursed inwardly. This was no ordinary small fry!

She immediately stopped mining and leaped backward in a flash.

"Tuanzi! [Void Trace]! Aim at the base of its tail! [Gale Stride] to harass its eyes!"

Two cold, sharp spatial cutting lines instantly appeared at the joint where the lizard's tail swept and right in front of its wide-open, snapping jaws!

Simultaneously, Tuanzi's petite figure darted out like lightning, landing three precise [Gale Stride] energy blasts fiercely on the crystal-armored lizard's sole weakness—its relatively fragile eyes!

Roar! The crystal-armored lizard cried out in pain. Its sweeping trajectory was blocked by the spatial rifts, and its lunge was interrupted, letting out an angry roar.

Taking advantage of this opening, Su Liu poured her remaining spiritual energy and strength into her legs. The gale force of [Gale Stride] combined with the faint shimmer of the Hourglass of Chen!

Swoosh!

Her figure moved so fast it left a trail of afterimages, flashing to the side of the lizard. The pickaxe in her hand had somehow been replaced by a venom-coated dagger.

Crack!

With a forceful roar cutting through the air, her final strike—charged with gathered power—smashed viciously into the vulnerable spot where the crystal-armored lizard's back of the neck met its crystal armor!

The heavy impact, combined with the Tier 3 weapon's sharpness, managed to pierce straight through the crystal armor, sending the shockwave deep inside!

The crystal-armored lizard let out a miserable howl. Its massive body froze abruptly, then it stumbled and collapsed heavily onto the ground, twitching a few times before lying still.

Su Liu breathed heavily, sweat soaking her temples.

She quickly gathered a few evolution stones of unknown attributes that had been blasted away, stained with the lizard's blood, along with a fist-sized, hard-textured piece of earth amber glittering with an orange-yellow glow.

Looking at the dazzling array of crystal ores and various miscellaneous materials harvested in her backpack—totaling twenty-five spirit beast evolution stones of different attributes, including three wind-type, two space-type, plus various associated vein materials and extra battle drops obtained during the mining process.

The chill deep within the mine shaft seemed to grow heavier.

Su Liu wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking at the last remaining refined steel pickaxe in her hand, then gazing back at the [Spirit Beast Evolution Stone Vein] shimmering like stellar fragments.

The harvest was already quite substantial—three wind-type and two space-type stones, which, when traded with other players for other attributes, would be more than enough for Tuanzi's evolution needs.

However, with this final pickaxe, should she play it safe, mine a few more guaranteed evolution stones, or venture deeper to try her luck?

Spirit beast evolution stones were certainly important, but the treasures in this mine definitely weren't limited to just this kind. The Stellar Pickaxe's requirement of 50 game coins was simply too high, not to mention its usage prerequisites, making it impossible to attain in the short term. This refined steel pickaxe was currently the only key capable of mining veins of "rare" grade and above.

Thoughts raced rapidly through Su Liu's mind, weighing risk against reward.

"Tuanzi, let's go check out somewhere else! Let's search for clues about the 'Time Crystal', or... other high-tier stuff our pickaxe can mine!"

Su Liu made up her mind, her gaze turning sharp. Spiritual evolution stones were temporarily sufficient, but the opportunity to explore the unknown held far greater temptation.

"Ying!"

Sensing her master's adventurous spirit, Tuanzi let out a soft cry, its fluffy tail wrapping gently around Su Liu's neck as if expressing support and determination to explore together.

The girl and the fox continued deeper along the uneven main mining tunnel sloping toward the earth's core.

The fluorescent mosses in the surroundings gradually shifted from a deep blue-green to a cold-textured purple-silver hue. The energy particles permeating the air grew more active, faintly harboring even more dangerous undercurrents.

The occasional miner stone-puppets and player figures seen along the way had nearly vanished; clearly, this was not an area ordinary miners should tread.

Su Liu's gaze swept across the walls on both sides.

Every now and then, she could spot tunnel entrances covered by peculiar light membranes, upon which phantom runes representing different attributes and grades shimmered:

[Diamond Marrow Vein - Rare (Weapon Embedding)]—pulsing with a light membrane holding the cold, hard sheen of a diamond.

Su Liu's refined steel pickaxe could only leave slight scratches on it, completely unable to shake it in the slightest.

The system prompt was crystal clear: [Grade mismatch, current pickaxe unable to mine].

[Elemental Resonance Cluster Vein - Rare (Weapon Enchantment)]—the light membrane of this vein shimmered with intertwined red and blue elemental power.

Likewise, when the refined steel pickaxe struck it, it felt like hitting a thick barrier, and the recoil made Su Liu's thumb and forefinger slightly numb.

[Grade mismatch, current pickaxe unable to mine].

A vein as deep as the night sky, dotted with silver points like starlight.

It was the [Star-Patterned Mithril Vein - Epic (Armor Core)].