This crystalline root had to belong to the great pine tree. If he damaged it,
a massive root would probably lash out at him the very next moment.
Lu Hao proceeded with extreme caution, not daring to touch it and avoiding all contact with the roots as best he could.
As long as he left the roots intact, the great pine tree would not react. After all, plenty of rat-like demonic beasts lived underground in the Earth Cave.
Humans would not necessarily care about ants crawling beneath their feet.
At that moment, Lu Hao tried to make himself even less noticeable than an ant. Only then could he keep the great pine tree from noticing him.
Lu Hao skirted the crystalline root and continued exploring deeper underground.
Soon, Lu Hao struck something hard ahead of him. It was an energy stone of very low purity, but finding energy stones meant he had already reached the mining area.
Lu Hao began digging along the surrounding mineral vein.
Gradually, Lu Hao spotted some hollow spaces where crystalline roots encased the energy stones. These roots wove an enormous cage around the entire mineral vein!
They looked harmless, but anyone who dared disturb them would be met with a Rank 9 strike.
Lu Hao kept digging forward. The energy ahead grew increasingly dense, which also meant he was approaching the heart of the vein.
The energy stones he encountered grew increasingly pure as well.
Lu Hao moved carefully. The great pine tree stood at the center of the vein, and there might even be a Rank Eight Venerable right above his head.
The next moment, his digging opened onto a passage.
I've reached the excavation area! Lu Hao's eyes lit up. The energy stones here were already fairly pure. A little farther ahead was