CHAPTER 418: CHAPTER 245: XIONG DA AND XIONG ER, DARK VOLCANO (COMBINED)_2

Now, Qin Shou’s supply of Constant Star Energy Crystals is pretty much adequate.

...

The next day.

Early in the morning, the group geared up and followed the Golden Dragon Team onto the dragon-shaped flying device.

The Dark Volcano was located at the ends of the Molu Mountain Range. Compared to Earth’s Andes Mountains, the Molu Mountain Range was longer and would take more time to traverse.

With nothing better to do, Qin Shou randomly searched for information about the Golden Dragon Team.

The Golden Dragon Team had nine members in total, but only five participated in this mission, including the captain.

The captain, Abra, had achieved the Unbreakable Realm Five-star Level. His transformation beast was the Ruijin Dragon Beast.

The Ruijin Dragon Beast was a dragon beast unique to the Monster Planet. Although it couldn’t use energy-based attacks, in terms of attack, defense, speed, and agility, it was outstanding among monsters of the same level.

Abra’s transformation into the Ruijin Dragon Beast naturally made his strength formidable.

The other four team members traveling with him could transform into a Flame Three-headed Dog, a Mechanical Locust, a Luminous Poison Jellyfish, and an Earth Boring Giant Armored Beast.

All of them were at the Unbreakable Four-star level.

As for the Giant God Race and Earth’s team assisting this mission, Qin Shou had gathered some basic information through the intelligent system.

The Giant God Race only dispatched two members. Given their population was always sparse, sending two was already a huge favor.

Earth’s team, too, consisted of only five people, led by Leng Wanbai’s aunt, Leng Xinlan.

Qin Shou hadn’t expected Leng Xinlan, who was of the same generation as Yan Bo, to be at the Unbreakable Realm Five-star level—two star levels higher than his dear Third Uncle.

Even if his Third Uncle used a Breakthrough Potion to advance to the Unbreakable Four-star level, it would still be no competition.

So, he resolved to improve his relationship with this formidable aunt in the future.

It’s not about cozying up to the strong—really, it’s just because Leng Xinlan is Xiao Bai’s aunt. Qin Shou simply wanted to get closer to her, that’s all.

Yes, absolutely. My intentions are that pure.

Very pure.

...

By dusk, the flying device finally landed.

On the barren ground, Qin Shou followed the group off the flying device, and his eyes immediately caught sight of the massive volcanic crater exuding dense Dark Energy in the distance.

The area within dozens of kilometers around the crater was devoid of vegetation—completely desolate. Occasionally, small creatures, pitch-black as ink and radiating Dark Energy, observed the group from afar.

Dark Creatures weren’t like those mindless monsters in movies that attack anything in sight.

Though transformed by Dark Energy, their intelligence wasn’t degraded into "dimwittedness."

For instance, when Qin Shou transformed into his Dark Giant form, if he saw a little girl holding a balloon, he wouldn’t impulsively smash her with a fist.

Conversely, when he took on the form of the Light Giant, he wouldn’t suddenly be obsessed with saving the world.

Who he was remained who he was.

Shortly after they landed, two streaks of light flashed through the sky, and two giants clad in heavy battle armor landed with a thunderous crash that shook the ground.

Upon seeing them, Abra led the group to greet the two newcomers.

"Friends from the Giant God Race, we are the Golden Dragon Team. My name is Abra. They..."

Abra only introduced the four team members, while Qin Shou and the others were mentioned briefly.

The two giants in battle armor resembled massive mechas. They nodded slightly and introduced themselves.

"I am Xiong Da."

"I am Xiong Er."

"We come from the Xiong Family."

Their voices boomed like rolling thunder in everyone’s ears.

Qin Shou: "..."

Did I step into the wrong set?

However, looking at the duo’s broad shoulders and sturdy frames, those names really did suit them.

Broad shoulders like tiger monsters, sturdy frames like bear monsters—an apt description indeed.

As the evening deepened, stars streaked across the night sky, and an airship swept through, descending near the dragon-shaped flying device.

Several figures leapt from the airship, and Leng Xinlan was still clad in her pristine white battle armor. Her long hair was neatly tied, and her flawless look seemed even younger and more vibrant.

In his first instinct, Qin Shou hid behind Lublu, avoiding Leng Xinlan’s gaze.

Life experience in two lifetimes had taught Qin Shou one thing: a woman’s intuition is terrifying.

Sometimes, all it took was a single glance for them to develop suspicions.

Though he wasn’t particularly close to Leng Xinlan, Qin Shou didn’t believe Xiao Bai’s aunt wasn’t secretly observing him from time to time.

Of course, this "observation" was merely to make sure he wasn’t acting out of line.

Meanwhile, Abra enthusiastically greeted Leng Xinlan and her group.

After mutual introductions, the three teams gathered for a brief discussion about their plan concerning the Dark Volcano, setting a time to enter the volcano tomorrow to capture the Drue Traitor.

The Dark Energy was especially dense at night, making it unfavorable for team operations.

Afterward, Abra assigned Qin Shou and the others to guard the vicinity of the Dark Volcano to prevent the Drue Traitor’s escape.

"As expected, this is our role,"

Lublu sighed and shook his head beside Qin Shou.

"Wait."

As the group prepared to leave for the Dark Volcano’s perimeter, a crisp female voice called from behind.

Qin Shou turned around to see Leng Xinlan producing a number of energy crystal stones, distributing them among the group members.

"These are Light Energy Crystals. They can provide some resistance to the corruption of Dark Energy. Keep them well," Leng Xinlan commanded.

When it was Qin Shou’s turn, Leng Xinlan handed the crystal to him as he lowered his head to thank her, without noticing anything unusual.

After the Light Energy Crystals were distributed, Lublu gazed longingly at Leng Xinlan’s retreating figure.

"What an understanding, gentle, and lovely Earth woman. I feel like I should..."

Smack!

Qin Shou swatted the back of Lublu’s head with a fierce expression.

What? You wanna be my uncle-in-law?

I’ll destroy you if you even try.

Wait a second—what is this ’uncle’ nonsense?

Too into character... snap out of it...

"What the heck was that for?" Lublu rubbed his head angrily.

Qin Shou’s expression shifted instantly. Smiling, he said, "There was a Dark Blood Mosquito on your head."

"What?"

Lublu shuddered, quickly thanking him. "Thanks, Qilusi. I almost misunderstood your intentions..."

A bite from a Dark Blood Mosquito was no joke.

Qin Shou waved his hand. "Don’t worry, we’re all on the same side."

...

Moments later, the group dispersed to guard the Dark Volcano’s perimeter.

Qin Shou stroked the Light Energy Crystal in his hand, keenly detecting faint traces of Dark Energy being repelled within a three-foot radius by the crystal’s weak Light Energy.

"This is..."

Qin Shou furrowed his brow. This was Light Energy from the Giant Stone Statues!

How did Leng Xinlan get her hands on this?

What did she do to my Giant Stone Statues?

Qin Shou’s face twitched. Don’t tell me they were dismantled?

He quickly pulled out the Divine Light Stick and found no abnormalities in its Magic Mirror Core.

"Phew..."

Qin Shou sighed in relief. Glad it’s fine. Otherwise, the loss would’ve been unbearable.

Looking again at the Light Energy Crystal in his hand, Qin Shou speculated that it was likely created by a user of the Giant Stone Statue in their giant form, injecting Light Energy into a blank Earth Core Energy Crystal.

Although it could repel Dark Energy to some extent, against overwhelming Dark Energy, this amount of Light Energy was far from sufficient.

Qin Shou tossed the Light Energy Crystal into the air, channeling Light Energy from within his body to absorb the crystal’s energy until it was depleted, then casually threw it on the ground.

Afterward, he retracted his Light Energy, allowing Dark Energy to swirl around him, forming a vortex that absorbed the faint threads of Dark Energy lingering in the surroundings.

"Huff, huff..."

Within moments, the Dark Energy vortex grew as it was greedily consumed by Qin Shou’s body, his internal Dark Energy surging rapidly.

Feeling the exponential growth of his Dark Energy, Qin Shou’s eyes lit up. Did that actually work?

Which means...

Before he could celebrate too much, the surge of Dark Energy finally provoked the Light Energy within him, which emerged as white threads, stopping the Dark Energy from further expanding.

"Ah, seriously? You want me to keep both balanced?"

Qin Shou pouted. While Dark Energy had found a shortcut to grow, Light Energy...

During the day, absorbing sunlight for Light Energy was mediocre at best—not as efficient as normal cultivation.

Even ascending into the high skies closer to the blazing sun wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Qin Shou mused that even landing on the surface of the sun might not yield remarkable growth.

He hypothesized there was likely some unknown method of accelerating Light Energy growth beyond relying on massive amounts of energy crystals.

The same likely applied to Dark Energy.

He had simply encountered the right opportunity with the Dark Volcano, giving Dark Energy the upper hand for now.

But the disturbance from Light Energy reminded Qin Shou—he couldn’t let it lag too far behind Dark Energy, or there would be trouble.

Stopping the absorption of Dark Energy, Qin Shou instructed Big Big Wolf to accelerate development on a storage device for Dark Energy.

With sufficient Dark Energy reserves, Qin Shou could focus on boosting Light Energy using Constant Star Energy Crystals, thereby saving half the crystals.

...

Time passed, and moonlight pierced through the thick black clouds, illuminating the ground. Midnight approached.

"Roar..."

Suddenly, the stillness of the night was broken by an endless series of blood-curdling beast cries. Qin Shou snapped awake.

"Beep... Esteemed master, a massive surge of Dark Creatures has emerged from the Dark Volcano. It is advised to return to the team immediately..."