As soon as the time was up, Su Yao poured in a few more bottles of potion.

Su Yao used third-level potions, which were very effective, and soon she was lively and energetic again.

"Can I just go over and take it? There won't be any more danger, right?"

Entering the inner room, there was only a lotus-shaped high platform. In the center of the platform was a box, a smaller version of the white treasure chest from earlier. The small treasure chest was open, and in the middle was the Water-Avoiding Pearl, continuously emitting a faint glow.

[Just take it directly. There will be no danger before taking it, but after taking it, this underground cave will collapse, close, and disappear. The host needs to escape quickly.]

This is indeed like the setting in many novels: take the treasure, and the secret realm collapses.

Su Yao nodded to show her understanding, temporarily giving up on taking the Water-Avoiding Pearl, and instead turned to start searching for the exit door in the cave.

The room where the water-repelling pearl was placed had many doors leading in different directions. However, after Su Yao opened all of them, she discovered that only one path was passable.

Su Yao shone the flashlight inside, but didn't see any other creatures, nor did she hear any sounds. However, Su Yao still had doubts, because the position and direction of this door seemed somewhat familiar.

Su Yao took a few steps back, looked again and again, carefully compared, and finally confirmed that this intersection was indeed the one marked with "Leaf."

At the fork, flowers and leaves diverged; she chose the flowers. Now, must she walk the path of grass again?

This time, Su Yao didn't ask the system again. When it came to matters of life and death, the system wouldn't lie. So she immediately got into a starting position, grabbed the water-repelling pearl with her right hand, and dashed towards the "leaf" opening.

At the same time, the cave began to collapse outward from the lotus platform at its center. The ground sank, the stone walls cracked, and rocks from above kept falling continuously.

Su Yao desperately ran forward. Although her running speed had increased significantly since arriving in the other world, it still couldn't match the speed of the cave's collapse. Su Yao could clearly feel the falling rocks behind her getting closer and closer, and her arms and back were beginning to be struck by the debris.

This won't do, Su Yao's mind raced, thinking of using magic to help herself fend off these stones.

The use of magic on the Dragon Chant Continent is always directed at the enemy, and defenses also appear in front of oneself. Full-body defenses can only be achieved with magical weapons. Su Yao was currently fleeing for her life; if she stopped and turned around to cast a defensive spell, the result would only be a quicker death.

Su Yao had to think of a way to send the magic behind her.

Thinking this, Su Yao's mind stirred, and she began rummaging through the package.

After obtaining the Water-Avoiding Pearl, the cave no longer had that chill; instead, the temperature became quite comfortable. Su Yao had been running for so long that she started to sweat, so she had to undress while running.

Looking for something, taking off clothes, and having to escape for her life—all at once. Even the system broke into a cold sweat for her.

"Found it! I just remembered there was something like this!"

Reading ten lines at a glance, Su Yao quickly found the item she was looking for.

A rusted metal shard: its composition unknown, but it is both incredibly hard and exceptionally smooth, capable of reflecting magical energy like a mirror.

Note: This item cannot withstand magic energy above level three. Please use with caution.

At this moment, her high school knowledge came in handy. Su Yao immediately placed the metal piece in the right position to reflect the magical energy.

The gravel strike wasn't a very severe attack method; as long as the defensive magic was well-controlled, it could protect both the metal pieces and Su Yao's body.

The cave was collapsing faster and faster, and behind Su Yao was already a field of ruins.

At this moment, she stopped in her tracks. Ahead of her, a large mass of wriggling insects had appeared.

[Name: Curvy Bug]

Level: 8

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The dark, crawling Curved Worms are powerful but extremely timid. They rarely take the initiative to come to the surface and attack others, but if someone suddenly descends to the ground, it will anger them.

They like to live in clusters underground and also enjoy moving around with the seasons. However, the distance they move is very short, only exchanging between adjacent caves to the north and south.

They are extremely sensitive to changes in the underground environment. As soon as there are any unexpected changes in the underground caves, they are the first to become unadapted. The most common sign of their discomfort is stacking their bodies on top of each other and heading vertically towards the surface, creating a large hole to the ground above. This is when they are the most irrational and also the weakest.

Su Yao finally understood the meaning of the path of life and death; it was entirely designed based on the living habits of this twisted worm!

The flowers and leaves represent two different directions and two different seasons. If you choose the right path, there will be no twisted worms. If you choose the wrong one, you'll be chased by a swarm of frenzied level-8 twisted worms, and that would be a dead end!

Waiting to traverse all places, obtain the Water-Avoiding Pearl, the cave collapses, and the Ququ worm, unable to adapt to the environment, will try to escape, paving a way out for those who come.

Interlinked, even a single misstep is unacceptable.

Su Yao stopped running, put away the metal plate, enveloped herself in a defensive spell, and then began to climb up the "stairs" made of twisted worms.

This method of using a defensive magic shield to cover the entire body blocked all the flying stones, but it also consumed a huge amount of magical energy. After climbing just one-third of the way, Su Yao began to feel palpitations and panic, unable to continue.

Removing the protective shield, Su Yao felt a bit better, but soon the stones battered her all over again.

Su Yao had no other choice. Seeing the thick-skinned Ququ worms, she suppressed her disgust and directly burrowed into a layer of them, becoming a step in the "ladder" herself.

[……]

The system always manages to find very peculiar ways to break the deadlock on its host.

"Just tell me if this is useful or not!"

Su Yao truly regretted it, regretted not abandoning the disgusting intrusion earlier.

Compared to the body of the Ququ worm, Su Yao was quite petite. She burrowed into the center and was completely covered, not at all worried about being hit by stones. Moreover, the Ququ worm intertwined back and forth, layer upon layer, pushing upwards until it broke through the ground and reached the sunlight. Su Yao was effortlessly lifted out!

Back in the off-road vehicle, Su Yao was very tired. However, she had no desire to stay here and watch the bugs crawl out or listen to the ground rumble. All she wanted now was to quickly return to the hotel.

……

"That piece of land has collapsed, so how am I supposed to build a farm?" Su Yao asked the system groggily.

The system resignedly took over the off-road vehicle's autopilot for Su Yao, while also navigating a safe route. Now, it even had to answer all of Su Yao's questions. It felt that it had truly mastered the art of multitasking!

The ground collapse only lasts for 24 hours, and once the time is up, it will refresh into new, normal black soil.

After the Curved Worms completely escape, they will travel far before settling down again. Their movements carry an aura of eighth-level majesty, causing lower-level evil spirits and beasts nearby to automatically keep their distance. Therefore, this area will be extremely safe, and there will be no concerns about planting.

The game has considered everything for the players.

After hearing this, Su Yao finally felt relieved and fell asleep right at the entrance of the inn.

[Host, wake up! We're at the door! You can't let your employees know about my existence!] Although the system was already half-revealed to Felix and Ya, that thin layer of secrecy still couldn't be pierced.

Su Yao stretched lazily and sat up.

The little snake saw its master wake up and immediately came over. Su Yao patted the little snake's head and handed it and the man-eating flower each a piece of wild beast meat and five beef dumplings. "This is the protection fee for the journey. Thank you for protecting me."

The meat of the beast, the little snake, and the man-eating flower can all be eaten, and they can all help them level up. It's just that the leveling effect on the man-eating flower isn't as good. As for the beef shumai, it's the little snake's new favorite. It has recently become obsessed with beef shumai and no longer likes buns or anything else. The man-eating flower can't speak, so it's unknown what it likes, but it eats whatever it's given. Su Yao wouldn't begrudge a single beef shumai; it's just a matter of a few dozen gold coins. Naturally, if she can be a master of serving, she will be a master of serving.

The car pulled into the garage, and as soon as Su Yao got out, she saw the three Peng brothers standing at the entrance.

"Boss! Welcome back!"

"Boss, I missed you so much! Long time no see! I knew you could do it!"

"Boss, you've worked hard. Are you hurt? Do you still need any potions?"

After spending a long time together, the three Peng brothers were also transformed by the leisurely, joyful, and friendly atmosphere of the inn. The cunning look in their eyes was gone, and they had much less hostility, especially Peng Er and Peng San, who changed the most. Under the light, when they smiled, they looked like innocent college students.

Su Yao smiled and nodded, "Everything went smoothly, thank you for coming to welcome me."

"Wow! Boss, you're amazing!"

"Hahaha, I knew it! Lord Zhanxing, light it up quickly, let the celebration begin!"

Peng Yi pushed his two younger brothers aside to make space for Su Yao, guiding her to look up at the sky.

The battle star leaped out of the window, its tail flicked, and auspicious clouds instantly spread across the sky above the inn.

Su Yao also saw Ya fly out. She was using her light magic to create "stars." One by one, the magical orbs flew into the auspicious clouds, illuminating them and lighting up the sky.

"Congratulations, this is my gift to you."

Su Yao was stunned by the beauty before her and moved by their thoughtfulness. At this moment, Felix walked up behind Su Yao and handed her his gift.

Su Yao turned around and took it, her face like a little kitten's, smiling foolishly.

Peng Er and Peng San exchanged a glance, silently thinking to themselves that when the boss smiled, he looked even sillier than they did!

"What is this?" Su Yao asked, "Can I open it now?"

"Of course."

Felix's gift was also in a box, but this box was more luxurious than the one containing the water-repelling pearl. Su Yao weighed it in her hand and felt it should be made of pure gold.

The box opened, and another pure gold object appeared.

It was a golden dragon, a lifelike little golden dragon ornament.

"Is this the Battle Star?" Su Yao asked Felix, puzzled.

Felix was taken aback for a moment, but then he quickly nodded: "...It's a golden dragon. Whether it's a war star, I don't know, but I do know it can bring fortune."

"Fortune!" Su Yao's eyes shone even brighter than the light magic orb of Ya!