Chapter 73: They Have Cheats Too!

Chapter 73: They Have Cheats Too!

An ocher crystal gleamed with a metallic sheen, its long, sharp spikes extending and retracting intermittently.

Liu Ji stared at it, swallowing nervously.

This was a pure earth elemental spirit.

This was clearly earth (element), yet it had a metallic luster and was covered in sharp spikes...

It looked painful to bite into, and chewing would probably be worse.

Noticing Liu Ji's constipated expression, Yaine asked, "Are you sure you can eat that? Don't choke on it. Cali's not here, and I won't be able to heal you."

"Uh, I'll be careful and have a tiny bite first..." Liu Ji said, cupping the pure elemental spirit and squatting down. Recalling the impulse he had when transforming into a burrowrat, Liu turned into a green armadillo of sorts.

Then, with tiny paws, he brought the pure elemental spirit to his mouth and took a small nibble.

Hmm...

Rock-hard.

Still, with some effort, Liu Ji could bite into it, though chewing was tougher; it was like gnawing on frozen meat.

More surprising was that although there wasn't any taste, Liu Ji, in his burrowrat form, found it strangely "delicious." It was like he was driven by a physiological craving.

Slowly but steadily, Liu Ji gnawed at the entire pure elemental spirit, while Yaine gawked in amazement.

While this was an earth elemental spirit in name, earth encompassed all materials found in the ground. The four fundamental elements of water, fire, earth, and wind corresponded to life, destruction, land, and sky.

Thus, pure earth element couldn't be compared to ordinary rock. The metallic luster wasn't superficial either; an earth elemental spirit's hardness resembled well-tempered steel.

Yet, it had been consumed by Liu Ji just like that.

Are these little creatures' teeth that strong? Or did Liu Ji's transformation enhance even his bite strength?

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Elsewhere in the labyrinth, Osar, who was being led by the small potatoes came to a sudden halt, his ears twitching. "Hmm? Did you hear that?"

"Does it sound like activity outside?" Girunini said, pressing her ear to the wall. "But it's faint and hard to pinpoint with these soundproof structures."

"Mm, never mind. Let's just continue following these little ones." Osar sighed. The complex structure made it nearly impossible to trace the source of distant sounds.

Just as Osar was about to continue forward, he realized that the little potatoes had stopped moving. Following that, they heard strange sounds of activity again.

Gradually, it got louder, sounding like it was coming from in front of them.

No, it sounded like it was behind...

Osar had a bad feeling.

Osar's guesses were ascertained as it got closer. The sound of activity was simultaneously coming from their front and back.

Realizing they were surrounded, Osar quickly moved the little potatoes into his basket and tossed it into a corner. "Enemy attack! From both sides!"

"Ah, I know already!" Girunini responded, her eyes glowing red as she brandished her axe. "You guard that side, I'll take this! Don't let a single one through!"

"Rest assured. In this sort of setting, no one gets past me unless I'm dead," Osar said, his body swelling as golden waves rippled across his skin.

"Don't say such ominous stuff. If you can't hold, fall back, and I'll cover you," Girunini said as blood aura surged around her. "Stay alive, got it?"

"Of course." Osar, influenced by the blood energy, grinned.

As their exchange ended, earthwalker soldiers appeared on both sides, swarming forward in an endless tide.