The rare treasure discovered by the exploration team earlier was inside one of the lava springs; the Ice Condensation talent could create a passage for everyone to pass through.
"I'm Yu Yu, I'm in Area A, I saw Peggy, we're together."
"I'm Chris, I'm in Sector E."
"I am Lu Zhou, and I am in Area B."
Following the assembly procedure, everyone reported their location to each other via the Mental Link.
However, even after the four of them contacted each other and gathered together nearby as arranged in the tactical meeting, no one received a reply from Wen Jing.
" Wen Jing? Where are you? Please reply if this is received."
"..."
"No response? Could she have traveled to Zone D?" Yu Yu immediately said, " Wen Jing, if you're free, go to Zone C. We're on our way now."
Of the four people gathered, Chris, Wilderness Body was a mutated giant crocodile, grinned, revealing his jagged white teeth. If he were in human form at this moment, he would have been laughing gleefully.
Area D is infested with powerful Wilderness Beast. You cannot use the Mental Link to communicate within 500 meters of it, as it will attract its attention. Ji Shuang was injured because of this last time.
This point was naturally discussed at the tactical meeting. The Wen Jing isn't using the Mental Link now is definitely because he unfortunately ended up in Sector D.
If Wen Jing manages to successfully evacuate to Area C, that would be fine. But if she's even more unlucky and encounters that powerful Wilderness Beast in Area D, then...
"Let's go."
All four of them had this suspicion, though their opinions differed. However, on the surface, they all rushed to Area C after Yu Yu gave the order.
"Look what that is--"
Far off, before they had even fully entered the C area, Lu Zhou, who was in charge of reconnaissance, suddenly spoke in the Mental Link.
The other three followed his gaze.
In the distance, on a slowly flowing lava stream, a solidified... directional arrow appeared.
Even more outrageous, below the arrow, it says 'This way' in Federation script.
The four of them subconsciously walked forward a distance, and only when they saw the solidified arrow and text being slowly eroded and falling off with the flow of lava did they realize that they were not seeing things.
"Was it left by Wen Jing?"
Peggy stared blankly in the Mental Link, though she used a question, the meaning was clear: the one who left this mark could not possibly be Wilderness Beast.
Only Wen Jing, who possesses the ability to freeze ice and can use these lava flows as a canvas, could achieve this.
"Wait, if Wen Jing wasn't in Sector D, why didn't she report her location?"
The four looked at each other, completely baffled.
Why don't you talk during team fights? Are you trying to act like a pro?
While the other four followed the arrows in bewilderment, Wen Jing had already arrived at the D area they were trying to avoid.
Here lies an enormous lava spring, unmatched by any other region.
Using [ Compressed State ], Wen Jing was invisible, his gaze fixed intently on the Giant Wilderness Beast, fifty meters long, leisurely bathing in the lava spring.
It resembles a mutated giant lizard, but at this size, it's not much different from a Western dragon.
"While the Chess Game World has Skill Points, it has absolutely nothing to eat. Devouring this guy should replenish some of the bodily substances I've lost."
Chapter 145
Wen Jing was lucky this time; upon arrival, he was directly in his destination, Area C.
She received the Mental Link from the others, of course, but having learned from her previous experience, she naturally wouldn't 'speak' in front of the Azure Jade Exploration Team.
Wen Jing didn't think that the Ocher Soil Student Council could keep her special mental abilities a secret, but such information would only be found out by people or forces that were paying special attention to her, and she didn't need to expose it herself.
Just like how the outside world knows she has ice-type abilities, but has only shown the strength of ordinary Frost Vein Silk, they don't know she also has Ice Domain.
Therefore, while the other four were still communicating and gathering, Wen Jing had already efficiently started taking action in Area C.
Anyway, her not answering won't affect anything. This exploration team was already estranged and there was no real team spirit. In the end, they would still arrive at their destination, Area C.
Wen Jing, the lone wolf, quickly located their target in Area C—a type of purplish-red coral situated beneath the lava.
Wen Jing tasted a small amount of coral and found that its flavor and energy were rather ordinary. It was also Digestion much more slowly than other foods, which made him realize that the value of this rare treasure lay in its application as a material.
At this time, Azure Jade and the other three had finished reuniting, so she didn't waste any more time. Following the tactical meeting plan, she cleared a path, left a mark, and then went alone to Zone D, which was considered a dangerous restricted area by the others.
After learning from Ji Shuang that a powerful Wilderness Beast existed here, Wen Jing became very interested.
Wilderness Beast were more important to her than minerals.
The former Digestion slowly and has a low conversion rate, while the latter not only has a high conversion rate but may also grant special properties upon consumption. The choice is self-evident.
*
Inside the Giant lava lake, the high temperature distorted the air, and the pungent smell of sulfur permeated the air.
The behemoth's massive body was mostly submerged in the largest lava spring, with only its back, covered in dark red scales, visible, resembling a small island.
Wen Jing concealed himself in mid-air, his compound eyes Calmness locking onto his target.
Judging from its aura and energy, this lava giant lizard is on par with the original Crypt Spider King.
However, unlike the Spider King, which has a bunch of offspring as reserves, the giant lizard in front of us concentrates all its power on itself, and its individual strength should be stronger than that of the Spider King.
Although Wen Jing's attribute values are now only half of what they used to be, her skills, experience, and unique characteristics remain.
"Let's begin."
Without the slightest hesitation, she moved, her Gravitational Field unfolding to form a microgravity zone surrounding her. Her speed increased dramatically, yet without causing a single air disturbance, and she approached the giant lizard like a ghost.
The moment he entered the attack range, Wen Jing made his move.
Ice Domain!
The extremely cold blue Frost Vein Silk concentrated at a single point and shot like lightning towards one of the giant lizard's eyes, which was submerged in lava.
"Whoosh--"
The temperature on the lava lake plummeted the moment the Frost Vein Silk appeared.
The collision of extreme cold and extreme heat produced a loud hissing sound and generated a large amount of white steam.
At the same time, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses appeared in the little insect's compound eyes.
[ Molten Core ] / [ Scorching Breath ] / [ Magma Armor ] / [ Ley Line Surge ]
Enemies of this level might alert you if you use Tactical Glasses before a surprise attack, so Wen Jing only checked the entry when he made his move.
Judging from the color and light, it is indeed an enemy of the same level as the Spider King. No wonder the Azure Jade Exploration Team didn't even dare to approach it.
"Roar--!"
The giant lava lizard, caught off guard, let out a roar of pain and rage, abruptly raising its head from the lava, its attacked eye covered with a layer of obsidian-like cooled lava.
The temporary blindness in one eye does not prevent it from discovering tiny Wen Jing.
With a gaping maw, lava breath swept out like a burst dam, causing huge waves of lava to rise from the lava lake.
As the waves crashed down, they struck the lingering chill of the Frost Vein Silk, solidifying into all sorts of strangely shaped rock pillars.
Wen Jing did not engage in a direct confrontation. Under the influence of the Gravitational Field, she made various Extreme Speed changes of direction that defied the laws of physics between the magma and the rock pillars, seemingly narrowly avoiding the scorching breath.
*
What's that noise?
"That's... Sector D! What happened?"
Just as Azure Jade and his companions arrived at the collection point following the directions left by Wen Jing and were mining the purplish-red coral, they suddenly sensed a fluctuation in the distance.
They all stopped what they were doing, and the same thought crossed their minds: Could it be Wen Jing?
The group exchanged glances.
"Was Wen Jing using the Mental Link in Zone D and provoking that powerful Wilderness Beast?" Lu Zhou said through the Mental Link. "This commotion... is even bigger than when Ji Shuang was discovered last time."
Peggy panicked. "What should we do? Should we go save her?"
"How are we supposed to save her?!" Chris immediately objected, his words stern and righteous. " Ji Shuang escaped from the edge of District D without even directly encountering the Wilderness Beast. If we go to District D now, we won't be able to use the Mental Link, and we might get trapped inside."
After saying that, he looked at Yu Yu: "Captain, we already said not to go near Sector D in the tactical meeting. Wen Jing didn't stay in Sector C and went off to get herself killed. We can't expect you to go and rescue her now, can we?"
The other two agreed and nodded in agreement.
If Wen Jing were one of Azure Jade's own people, they would hesitate. But not only is she not one, she's the one who squeezed out their own people.
Now that we've gained something from this trip and achieved our exploration goals, only a fool would try to be a hero and rescue her.
Yu Yu glanced at the D area where the commotion was coming from, then at the purplish-red coral that had been mostly mined, her eyes gleaming.
*
Lava balls flew in one after another, exploding in mid-air, followed by the terrifying impact of the giant lizard.
It was now covered by a strange, Thick Armor.
The bottom is made of high-hardness, high-density ultrabasic rock, while the surface is still bubbling magma. It is not only hard but also has a damage reflection effect, which is exactly what you see in the Tactical Glasses as [ Magma Armor ].
Prism Shield lit up on Wen Jing's body. It wasn't just a simple block, but rather he used the shield to deflect the trajectory of the lava ball, causing it to explode around him, and then used the blast wave to accelerate his movement.
Meanwhile, the Frost Vein Silk continuously landed on the monitor lizard's vulnerable joints, eyes, nose, and other areas.
Although the damage per hit is not high, the power of ice is extremely torturous for it.
Finally, as its injuries and energy depletion accumulated, the giant lizard became increasingly agitated and suddenly stopped chasing Wen Jing.
"Boom!"
The next moment, the entire lava lake boiled, the rock layers at the edges cracked, and a massive earthquake spread to other areas.