Above the mage!

Chapter 579 Elemental Seeds

【Stone-skinned Lizard】(7/7).

Looking at the newly appeared source point on the source column, even though it was only at the first level, Gao De was still slightly pleased.

With the help of Mandora's Eye, gathering the last three Stone-skinned Lizards was a piece of cake for Gao De.

So in less than half an hour, he completed the acquisition of a new source point.

Come to think of it, he hadn't added any points in a long time, and a long-lost sense of anticipation welled up in his heart.

Ultimately, the reason is that Gaode Maps has almost completely wiped out the variety of ley line creatures around Phoenix.

The limitation that a type of ley line creature can only obtain one source point greatly restricts its ability to add points to enhance spells.

While ley line creatures are easy to find, different types of ley line creatures are not so easy to find.

Now that he had the new Origin Points, he didn't hesitate at all, his target being the plus sign next to the [Ice Butterfly] spell in the spell bar.

Although 【Ice Butterfly】 is not a powerful combat spell, its unique nature as a pure ice spell makes it worthy of a source point.

Gao De focused his mind intently on the plus sign after the [Ice Butterfly] spell in the spell bar, and then gently tapped it.

The next instant, after the familiar "point-adding cutscene," the [Ice Butterfly] spell model gained stars and connecting lines, completing the transformation.

Subsequently, some information instinctively flooded into Gaode's consciousness.

【Ice Butterfly [Ice Spell]+】 (Prophecy, 1st Ring):

You create a faintly glowing ice butterfly in a visible, unoccupied space.

Additional: When flying to a designated landmark, if there is a more concealed, safer, or faster feasible path (such as a cave entrance covered by vines, a path made by wild animals, or a cliff that can be safely climbed), the Ice Butterfly will choose the path first.

At the same time, the changes in the brightness of the pale blue light indicate the level of convenience of the path (the brighter the light, the more convenient it is; the dimmer the light, the more time-consuming it is).

Looking at the new effects of [Ice Butterfly+], Gaode had a lot to say but felt like complaining.

Damn it, what kind of name is Ice Butterfly? Gaode Maps is the name you should have.

Isn't this just an upgrade from straight-line navigation to intelligent route planning?
Undoubtedly, this enhancement is a huge boost to the functionality of the spell itself.

It not only saves Gaode's travel time, but also guides him to discover those easily overlooked secret passages, and even brings additional exploration benefits.

Of course, it also has limitations.

The Ice Butterfly must find a feasible path, not create one out of thin air.

It also cannot pass through solid rock walls or anti-magic zones.

More importantly, the paths it discovers may bring additional benefits, but they may also bring additional dangers.

Because the optimal path does not necessarily mean safety, for example, some paths may be inhabited by dangerous creatures.

With the Stone-Skinned Lizards' Origin Points depleted and their spell enhancement complete, Gao De was satisfied and decided to let these little lizards go.

There was no point in staying on the outer layer any longer; the middle layer of stalagmite forest was the real purpose of his trip.

Gaode Maps began to delve deeper, heading straight for its destination.

There weren't too many unexpected troubles along the way. Occasionally, one or two unruly stone-skinned lizards would appear, but Gao De would easily deal with them.

Unfortunately, according to the information, the outer area of ​​Blackrock Canyon is often inhabited by burrowing spiders.

Whether it's good luck or bad luck, I didn't encounter it on Gaode Maps, otherwise I could have gotten another +1 point.

As we strode through the outer area, the large rocks beneath our feet were gradually replaced by smaller, broken stones, and the smell of sulfur in the air grew stronger.

Just as he rounded a black rock as tall as a person, the view ahead suddenly opened up, causing him to subconsciously slow down.

It was an area completely shrouded in underground steam.

Countless rocks of various shapes rise abruptly from the ground, standing densely in the middle layer of the canyon.

Like a forest of stones, it appears and disappears in the hazy steam, standing out conspicuously.

These rocks are called bamboo shoot rocks, which are dark gray in color and covered with fine holes and lines of varying depths on the surface. They are sharp at the top and thick at the bottom.

At first glance, they do indeed resemble bamboo shoots that have just emerged from the ground, but that is not the real reason for their name.

According to records from the Buddhist Association, the most unique characteristic of bamboo shoot stones lies in their growth.

Like bamboo shoots, they can continuously absorb impurities and dust from the air.

Then it transforms these substances into its own components, growing slowly but steadily.

Without external interference, there is virtually no upper limit to its height.

From a distance, the stone pillars in the stone pillar forest are scattered at varying heights, with the short ones no more than half a person's height and fresh rock fragments still attached to their tops.

The tallest of them are over thirty feet high, their tops hidden in thick steam, with only a blurry outline visible, like giants guarding the canyon.

Gaode walked towards the direction of the stone forest.

Extremely fine quartz sand began to appear in the gravel underfoot, making a rustling sound as you stepped on the soles of your boots, like stepping on a thin layer of crushed crystal.

Those are hard, non-absorbable particles excreted during the growth of the stalagmite.

Just then, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a dark brown color.

Those were a few objects scattered along the edge of the bamboo shoot and stone forest, leaning against the bamboo shoot and stone, or half-buried in the pile of rubble.

The color contrasts sharply with the surrounding gray stalagmites and white steam.

Gao De took a closer look with Mandora's Eye.

Those irregular gullies and dark brown bark are the branches of the Rock Ridge Giant Oak.

He immediately quickened his pace, reaching the edge of the stone forest in a few steps, then squatted down and picked up a relatively thick branch.

He ran his fingertips along the broken part of the branch, and his eyes suddenly lit up: the wood fibers on the broken surface were light brown and had a slightly damp sheen.

If you gently scrape it with your fingernail, you can scrape off tiny wood chips, and there are even a few grains of fresh soil stuck between the fibers.

This is definitely not a withered branch that has been left for a long time. Judging from the common sense of magic plant science, the time since it broke is definitely no more than ten days.

"The original form of the Rock Ridge Giant Oak must be in the canyon!" Gao De gripped the branch tightly, his eyes flashing with barely suppressed joy.

Judging from the freshness of the branches, the original organism is most likely deep within the stalagmite forest, not too far away.

Even if you're unlucky, it will only extend to the inner areas of Blackrock Canyon at most.

In any case, this is a much better result than expected.

Gao De held the branch in his hand, opened Mandora's Eye, and entered the stalagmite forest shrouded in steam.

As soon as you enter, the surrounding environment changes abruptly.

The sunlight overhead was blocked by thick steam and towering bamboo-shaped rocks, and the light dimmed instantly.

White steam condensed into a translucent mist, swirling between the bamboo-like rocks, reducing visibility to less than five yards. Further away, objects appeared as blurry black shadows.

The smell of sulfur in the air grew stronger.

The terrain of the stone forest is more complex than imagined.

The bamboo-shaped rocks are scattered at varying heights, some reaching over thirty feet in height, their tops hidden in the steam, and their thick bodies requiring two people to encircle them.

Some are only half a person tall, with sharp stone tips pointing upwards, like blades hidden in the ground.

The gaps between the bamboo shoots vary in width; in some places, two people can barely pass side by side, while in others, only one person can turn sideways.

You also have to be careful to avoid the sharp spikes protruding from the stone, as you may get your clothes torn or even your skin scratched if you are not careful.

The soft "rustling" sound of stepping on the quartz sand is amplified infinitely in the silent stalagmite forest, but is quickly drowned out by the "hissing" sound of flowing steam, creating an eerie interplay of movement and stillness.

Add to that the cave spiders hidden in the stalactite forest, and it's no wonder that few people are willing to approach this area.

But Gaode didn't care about these things.

His attention was completely focused on the vision of Mandora's Eye.

The earth element energy in the air flows slowly through the cracks in the bamboo shoots like brown streams.

The deeper you go into the stalagmite forest, the denser the "streams" become, eventually converging into small "energy lakes".

As a typical earth-type magical plant, the Rock Ridge Giant Oak must grow in the area where earth elemental energy is most concentrated, which is the core clue he is looking for.

Gaode didn't care about the obvious terrain; he simply followed the direction of energy flow, nimbly weaving among the bamboo shoots and rocks.

The Mandora Eye not only helps him find the Rock Ridge Giant Oak, but also serves as an early warning system, allowing him to detect potential leyline creatures in advance.

After walking for about an hour, Gaode suddenly heard a very soft "rustling" sound.

This is not a sound made by the natural elements of the stalagmite forest, but the sound of cloth rubbing against rocks, with a crisp echo of metal colliding.

He stopped abruptly, went on alert, and looked at the bamboo shoot-shaped rock on his right.

That was the direction from which the sound came.

But before Gaode could make a move, a familiar female voice came from behind the bamboo shoots, clear and cold with a hint of wariness: "Is someone there?"

Then came a series of steady footsteps, and a figure slowly emerged.

The brown uniform fit her figure perfectly, her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and the stray hairs on her forehead were damp with steam. Her sharp, eagle-like eyes were now looking at Gao De with surprise.

"Elena?!" Gao De exclaimed softly.

Because the person in front of them was none other than Elena, with whom they had been cultivating in the demiplane for a month just half a day ago.

Gao De never expected that, just half a day after parting ways in Emerald Valley, he would run into the stalagmite forest in Black Stone Canyon again.

"It's you! How did you get here?!" Elena's surprise was no less than Gao De's.

Her sharp eyes scanned Gao De from head to toe, clearly wondering why he was there.

Gao De composed himself, held up the Rock Ridge Giant Oak branch in his hand to show Elena, and said frankly, "I found a dead branch of Rock Ridge Giant Oak at the Magic Plant Market in Green Forest City. After inquiring, I learned that I picked it up from Blackrock Canyon."

"I am a plant magician, and I am currently conducting research. I am very interested in the Rock Ridge Giant Oak, so I came here."

"After arriving, we found this recently broken branch of the giant oak tree on the edge of the stalactite forest. We were almost certain that there must be a giant oak tree in the forest, so we came in."

Have you seen him in the vicinity?

The Rock Ridge Giant Oak was very important to him, but that was because of Flora and the entire Northern Kingdom practicing the "Green Wood Longevity Sutra".

To other mages, the Rock Ridge Giant Oak was just a second-tier magic tree.

As a lieutenant in the Rockwind Guard, Elena certainly wouldn't covet this item, so there's no need for her to hide it.

Moreover, if you speak out, you might be able to get some information from the other party.

“The Rock Ridge Giant Oak.” Upon hearing the explanation, Elena’s surprise faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

She raised her hand to brush away the stray hairs from her forehead, paused for a moment, and instead of answering Gao De's question directly, she changed the subject: "Actually, I came to Black Rock Canyon to look for something."

"What is it?" Gao De Gao De immediately replied.

He knew, of course, that this was someone else's privacy, but since Elena had brought it up specifically, it was obvious that there was more to come, which is why he wisely responded.

Elena's gaze swept over the surrounding bamboo shoots, and she lowered her voice, uttering two words: "Elemental species."

Gao De's pupils contracted slightly.

A month ago, he had just heard the name of the Elemental Species from Lieutenant Colonel Grayling, and he already understood the power and value of the Elemental Species.

Even the lowest-grade elemental species is worth over 100,000 gold coin, and it is extremely rare and priceless, making it a true treasure.

Could something like this really be hidden in Black Rock Canyon?

“Specifically, there may be a necromantic elemental in Blackrock Canyon,” Elena nodded and explained further, “This is not my first time in Blackrock Canyon. I have entered it many times before to search for it. Although I have not found the physical entity, I have collected a lot of clues.”

"So, I'm quite familiar with Blackrock Canyon, and I might actually know where the giant oak tree on the ridge you're looking for is."

“What do I need to do?” Gao De asked.

He had already understood Elena's unspoken meaning.

If the other person isn't looking for him for something, there's no need to talk to him so much.

A hint of approval flashed in Elena's eyes, clearly pleased with his decisiveness: "I discovered a cave deep in the canyon, where the necromantic energy is exceptionally dense, and it is highly likely that it contains elemental species."

But a late-stage Tier 3 elite Cave Spider Queen dwells in the cave; with my strength, I might not be a match for it in a head-on confrontation.

"I could manage to kill it, but it would come at a price. I need to confirm whether there are really elemental species inside before deciding whether to take the risk."

She paused, then explained her plan: "My idea is that I will lure the Cave Queen away, and you can take the opportunity to enter the cave and confirm the existence of the Elemental Species."

"If you agree to help, I can take you to the Rock Ridge Giant Oak first."

"If the target cannot be found, the cooperation is void; if it is found, you will be obligated to fulfill the contract."

"how?"

Gao De quickly began to calculate in his mind.

Although he possesses the Mandora's Eye, it doesn't guarantee he can find the Rock Ridge Giant Oak.

Even if we could find it, Blackrock Canyon is so large that it would likely take a long time.

What he lacks most right now is time.

The elite Crypt Spider Queen at the late Tier 3 is indeed dangerous, but he only needs to enter the crypt to confirm, without needing to fight her head-on, so the risk is relatively controllable.

Moreover, Elena even offered to help him find the Rock Ridge Giant Oak first, showing her great sincerity.
After a moment's thought, Gaode made his decision and nodded emphatically: "Deal."

(End of this chapter)