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But that line of gold notes made Lin Che's pupils suddenly contract.
Are you familiar with...the terrain of most areas?
This is no longer a simple support spirit.
This is a living map! A seasoned guide!
In a perilous secret realm, the value of such intelligence far exceeds that of mere attribute advantage.
"That's it."
Lin Che's voice carried an undeniable decisiveness.
The staff member was taken aback for a moment, seemingly not expecting him to make a decision so quickly, and then the smile on his face became much more genuine.
“You made a wise choice.”
After paying a substantial deposit and signing his name on the rental agreement with an electronic pen, Lin Che successfully rented the seemingly unremarkable but actually highly skilled burrowing mole for 800 yuan per day.
As he walked through the taxi center, a warm evening breeze blew by.
He looked down at himself.
He was wearing a brand-new insulated waterproof jacket, and his bulging backpack was filled with supplies to deal with any emergencies.
Inside the Poké Ball at his waist was his most trusted partner, the Growlithe with boundless potential.
What he held in his hands was a burrowing mole that had just woken up and was looking at him with serious and professional eyes.
An unprecedented sense of security filled his entire chest.
He was armed to the teeth for the adventure that was about to begin.
Chapter 13 First Steps into the Secret Realm: The Flame Stones Beneath the Earth!
At the entrance to the secret realm, on the cold metal terminal, the final verification and registration of his identity information was completed. A pale blue energy screen flowed down from the archway, silently sweeping over Lin Che's entire body.
There is no hindrance at all.
He passed through the thin, rippling energy barrier and officially entered this volcanic ash secret realm, numbered "Bing Shang-7".
Instantly, a completely different kind of air rushed into my nasal cavity.
It was a unique smell, a mixture of strong sulfur and scorching rocks, dry and burning hot, almost evaporating the last bit of moisture from your lungs.
The feel underfoot is also completely different.
Instead of the solid metal floor supplying the town, it was soft, fine volcanic ash with an astonishing temperature. Each step sank several inches deep, and when pulled out, it kicked up a cloud of fine, reddish-brown smoke that tumbled in the distorted heat.
Looking around, the whole world appeared as a monotonous and oppressive ochre red.
The earth was cracked, and strange rocks were scattered everywhere.
The distant mountains, shrouded in the omnipresent heat rising from the ground, became blurred and swayed like a mirage.
"Come out, everyone!"
Lin Che gave a low shout, flicked his wrist, and accurately threw two red and white Poké Balls into the open space in front of him.
With two crisp clicks of the mechanisms opening, a burst of red light shot out.
"Ouch!"
A cheerful, energetic bark rang out, and a Growlithe, all orange with black stripes on its back, appeared on the ground first. As soon as it landed, it was scalded by the hot volcanic ash beneath its feet, causing it to frantically raise its four little paws in alternating motions, its comical appearance softening the somber atmosphere of the place.
But it quickly adapted to the temperature, and its curiosity took over completely. Swinging its fluffy tail, it began to run around in a small area, its small nose close to the ground, constantly sniffing out unfamiliar scents in the air.
The other red light revealed a small, serious-looking burrowing mole.
Unlike the curious Growlithe, which was new to the area, this Pokémon, rented by Lin Che at a high price, displayed extremely high professionalism. The moment it landed, its body slightly crouched, and its sharp eyes immediately and alertly scanned every rock crevic and shadow that might be hiding danger.
Less than a kilometer into the hidden realm.
Lin Che stopped and pulled a professionally designed map, treated with waterproof and oil-proof coating, from the side pocket of his tactical backpack. Holding the map in one hand, he slowly traced the outline of the distant mountains with the fingers of his other hand, planning his next route.
According to the map, if you travel three kilometers further north, you will find a small lava cave, which is one of the gathering places of the fire-type Pokémon "Ponyta". It is a very suitable target for Growlithe to level up in the early stages.
However, just as he was about to make a decision...
A sudden change occurred!
The [Eye of Truth] system in his mind, which had been dormant since his transmigration and only appeared when identifying spirits, suddenly emitted a clear and cold notification sound, like a data stream!
【Ding! 】
[High-purity fire-based energy source detected...]
[Target location: Southeast, 80,000 meters.]
[Coordinates at depth: 3 meters underground.]
This sudden message was like a thunderclap that exploded in his mental world!
Lin Che's pupils contracted sharply in that instant.
His fingers holding the map froze in mid-air, and he even paused for a moment.
Energy source!
Not an elf!
Since the awakening of the Eye of Truth, this is the first time the system has proactively issued an alarm, and the target is not any living being, but a pure energy source!
This was absolutely an unexpected and wonderful surprise!
The string of reason within him was plucked, and he instantly analyzed the immense value involved. An energy source that could be actively marked as "high purity" by the [Eye of Truth] was likely far rarer and more valuable than an ordinary wild elf!
He folded the map he had just been studying carefully without hesitation and stuffed it back into his backpack.
All the original exploration plans were completely overturned at this moment.
His eyes instantly sharpened and became resolute. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned around and locked his gaze precisely in the southeast direction.
"A burrowing mole!"
Lin Che's voice was low, but it carried an unquestionable commanding tone.
"Please help me, head in that direction!"
He pointed to the rugged rocky ground that looked no different from anywhere else.
Upon hearing the sound, the burrowing mole, which was on guard, immediately turned its head and glanced in the direction the man was pointing. It seemed to sense an unprecedented seriousness and urgency from its master's tone.
The experienced little guy didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded emphatically.
The next second, a blinding white light suddenly shone from its claws, a sign that the skill [Sharpening Claws] was activated. Its claws, sharpened to the extreme, lunged forward, and its entire body, like a knife melted in butter, burrowed silently into the soft, scorching volcanic ash beneath its feet.
On the ground, only a slightly raised archway that extends forward continuously, advancing straight towards the southeast at an astonishing speed.
"Growlithe, keep up!"
Lin Che gave a low shout and immediately took a step.
The Growlithe also abandoned its playful mood and followed closely at his feet, growling warily as it chased the trail that was moving at high speed underground.
The road ahead is far more difficult than imagined.
The rugged volcanic rock terrain is uneven, with sharp rock edges capable of tearing even the toughest hiking boots. One must always be wary of wild boulders disguised as ordinary rocks, which may suddenly spring up from the ash and attack.
Just keeping up with the speed of the burrowing mole caused fine beads of sweat to appear on Lin Che's forehead, and his breathing became heavy.
This made him realize with profound understanding that the complexity and hardship of the wilderness environment are far beyond what can be described in books.
He looked up and, through the swirling, distorted heat, glanced at the sky, which had been tinged with a hazy yellow hue. An idea began to grow uncontrollably in his mind.
"If it flew in the sky..."
He muttered to himself, a hint of longing in his eyes.
If you fly in the sky, you can completely ignore this rugged terrain and avoid most of the troubles hidden underground and in the crevices of rocks.
Own a Flying-type Pokémon that can freely soar through the sky.
This idea, which was originally just a vague concept, became incredibly clear and intense at this moment because of the tangible experience before my eyes.
Chapter 14 Fire Stone Acquired, Growlithe's First Battle!
The air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur mixed with scorched earth, and every breath felt like swallowing scalding sand.
The heat distorted the view, and the outline of the distant volcanic cone swayed uncertainly in the rising steam.
In this desolate place, the burrowing mole moved with ease. It didn't seem to be leading the way, but rather patrolling its own territory. It would sometimes stop, gently tapping the ground with the hard steel armor on its head, listening intently to the echoes from the depths of the earth's crust, and at other times it would make a sudden turn without warning, leading Lin Che around a patch of seemingly solid black rock.
Lin Che had personally witnessed a fist-sized pebble he had kicked land on the rocky ground without making a sound; it was simply swallowed up silently, without even a ripple.
That was a quicksand trap, the deadliest disguise beneath volcanic ash.
If it weren't for this experienced, expert-level burrowing mole, he would probably have been long gone.
Lin Che wiped the sweat from his forehead; the sweat evaporated instantly in the high temperature. He glanced at the Growlithe following closely behind him. The little guy's tongue was lolling out, and it was panting heavily, but its amber eyes showed no sign of retreat. Instead, they were filled with curiosity and vigilance towards the unknown environment.
Finally, the burrowing mole stopped.
This is a long-dried-up lava riverbed. The riverbed has an eerie, glassy dark red color, covered with cracks, like the remains of a dragon that died many years ago, silently telling of its past heat and violence.
The burrowing mole turned around and let out two short, sharp cries at Lin Che.
It tapped the incredibly hard rock beneath its feet with its sharp front claws.
The meaning is clear.
The target is right below.
Lin Che's eyes narrowed instantly, as if the fatigue of the past few days had been swept away by an invisible force. He crouched down and gently patted the burrowing mole's sturdy back.
"Good work, let's start digging!"
The moment the command was given, a strong fighting spirit erupted from the burrowing mole's body!
It was no longer the cautious guide, but had transformed into a sophisticated and terrifying drilling machine. With a high-pitched screech, its claws gleamed with a blinding metallic sheen, and its entire body spun like a top at breakneck speed, piercing the air with a shrill cry as it plunged violently into the lava layer beneath its feet!
"boom--!"
The rock, as hard as iron, was as fragile as a biscuit before it. Ash and debris billowed into the sky, and hot embers from the blasted rocks shot out in all directions. Lin Che instinctively took a few steps back, shielding himself and his Growlithe with his arms, feeling the violent tremors beneath his feet.