Stubborn Stone

"Hidden Space?"

The Sky Stone Steps were completely destroyed, and Linsey showed no mercy.

He pulled out his Meteorite Pickaxe and smashed it into the ground beneath his feet.

Clang—

The black stone of the Sky Stone Steps remained completely still.

The broken parts looked fragile, but even when Linsey pounded on them hard, not a single tiny crack was left.

"..."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Linsey, still not believing in bad luck, tried a few more times.

As a result, not only were there no gaps, but not even the slightest scratches were left.

"The material grade is too high; the Meteorite Pickaxe can't dig it up."

"The last time I encountered this situation was... no, it was the Source Isolation Ice Jade of the Black Mountain World. That thing was used by Dragon Beast to imprison Red."

Linsey raised an eyebrow.

He still has some samples of the Source Isolation Ice Jade, but he hasn't been able to use them yet.

Since his pickaxe wasn't high enough, he had no choice but to resort to his old method:

"If the [Game Player's] skills can't handle it, then let's rely on brute force!"

Linsey switched to the Indestructible Blade and slashed it forcefully at the ground beneath her feet.

Clang!

A sword slashed down.

Linsey felt like she was fighting against the whole world.

The powerful recoil force traveled from his arm to his body, causing him to lean back uncontrollably and almost lose his balance.

"..."

Linsey bent over with her arms hanging down, her eyes glazed over.

His arm went numb from the shock, and it took a moment for the Life Source Material to remove the uncomfortable feeling.

"This is really something, they won't even let us collect materials."

Linsey shook her head with a wry smile.

The Sky Stone Steps are a passageway connecting two worlds.

Later, it was reinforced by the powerful figures of the City of Law, so it was only natural that he couldn't dig it up.

However, this can be extrapolated from the above.

What kind of being could destroy this world passage?

"Conservatively speaking, it's at least in the Seventh Stage, right?"

Linsey sighed.

Theoretically, he can't brute-force his way in, and there's no way to enter using a treasure map. He'll most likely have to activate the [Decryption Game] module and work his way through before he can get in.

Linsey simply chose a more direct approach.

A magical rune flashed on the back of his hand, and the earth-burrowing effect of the [Mountains Crest] was immediately activated.

Although the Sky Stone Steps are exceptionally hard, they are still made of earth and stone.

Linsey burrowed down, and like sinking into quicksand, she instantly slid into the ground.

A few seconds later, Linsey successfully reached the secret room.

He landed on solid ground, and after turning on the Jellyfish Lamp, a closed space enclosed by dark rocks appeared before him.

The space here is quite small, roughly the size of a one-bedroom apartment.

In the center of the flat ground, a cluster of scale-like stones grows out, gathering into a bamboo shoot shape.

Directly above it is an inconspicuous grayish-brown stone.

"This time it's simple."

"Just like the secret realm of Climbing to Heaven Vine, it's simply a secret space."

Linsey stepped forward.

There was no danger here, and he also identified the properties of the stone.

[Unusual Object/Material: Primordial Stubborn Stone]

[Stones imbued with immense earth elemental power can be used to craft various items. When crafting materials are scarce, Primordial Stubborn Stone can substitute for any mineral material.]

[An extremely rare and unique item, of extremely high value.]

"..."

Once the Primordial Stubborn Stone is in your hand, its fate is sealed.

Linsey didn't bother to look at any of the extra synthesis formulas.

Because in the magic rune synthesis system, the material needed to upgrade the [Mountains Crest] again is this!

[1 Mountains Crest + 1 Primordial Stubborn Stone = Eternal Imprint]

Linsey did not hesitate and immediately began the synthesis.

[Heral Code/Material: Eternal Imprint]

[After equipping, greatly increases the user's petrification/stun/physical resistance; grants the passive effects [Extension of the Earth] and [Stone Skin]; activates the active effect, allowing the wearer to pass through soil and rocks for 15 minutes and breathe in underground environments; can also be used as a material to craft other items.]

Extension of the Earth: When the wearer stands directly on the ground, their Constitution increases by 30 points; and their stamina recovery speed is greatly accelerated.

Stone Skin: Strengthens skin's resistance.

[An ultimate magic rune imbued with the power of the earth; a special item of extremely high value.]

"Ultimate Magic Rune?"

Linsey was somewhat bothered by this description.

The effect of [Eternal Imprint] is already quite exaggerated; within the earth element's magic rune sequence, this is the final effect.

But the problem is...

The description of the [Eternal Imprint] attribute still suggests the possibility of crafting other items.

Linsey tried putting it on the Workbench.

[1 Energy Mark + 1 Eternal Imprint + 1 Source Mark + 1 Freedom Mark = World Rune·Elements]

"World Rune?"

Just by looking at the name, Linsey could guess how powerful this equipment must be.

He checked his luggage.

The fire and water elemental runes are only missing the ultimate materials to obtain the corresponding markings. Only the air elemental runes lack the materials to craft the basic emblems; otherwise, he could immediately catch up with the water and fire elemental runes.

"Not bad either."

"This is another long-term goal."

Linsey tried equipping the [Eternal Imprint].

Just like the attribute description says, he gained two new statuses, and his Constitution immediately increased by 30 points.

At the same time, a continuous stream of power converged from the earth into his body.

Linsey had a premonition.

Now, even in the fiercest battles, as long as he stands on the ground, he has inexhaustible stamina.

"Now, I've become Antaeus?"

Linsey thought of the giants in Greek mythology who could not die while standing on the ground.

Then he took out the [Law of Icing] from his bag.

He wanted to test the defensive capabilities of his Stone Skin, but after the sharp light of the [Law of Icing] flashed in his hand, he decided to play it safe and start with ordinary swords, beginning with the lower-level ones.

Swipe—

Ordinary swords and knives couldn't penetrate her defenses at all. Linsey only felt a slight itch on the skin of her hands, as if an insect was crawling on them.

Then switch to Meteorite sword with elemental damage.

Zi—

The sound of glass scraping against Linsey's skin.

But it still couldn't break through his defenses, leaving only a white mark on his hand.

"..."

"It seems that if it were a little stronger, it could break through the defense."

Linsey nodded in satisfaction.

Providing this level of defense is already quite outrageous.

After dealing with the spoils from this hidden space, Linsey prepared to leave.

However, when he turned his head, he noticed the stone pillar where the [Primordial Stubborn Stone] had just been placed.

"We can't waste it..."

Linsey walked forward with a wicked grin, waving her manuscript.

As a result, the stalagmites, which are scaly in shape, are just as solid as the material of the Sky Stone Steps and cannot be knocked down at all!

"..."

"Never mind."

"I'm an open-minded person by nature, and I don't need everything!"

Linsey consoled herself with a thought.

He then activated the [Eternal Imprint] ability, jumped upwards, and left the secret space.