Lu Minfeng and Sang Chu both heard Tu You’s words, and they exchanged a glance.
Without a word, both pulled out their freezing guns and fired at the creature while retreating.
“ROAR—!”
Another furious roar echoed, and the white flood dragon’s thick tail swept across, instantly dispersing the freezing mist.
It bellowed at them in rage, and a surge of scorching heat exploded outward, blasting the two of them off their feet.
“Wind Shield!”
“Earth Shield!”
They landed on their elemental shields. Meanwhile, Lin Muxue had already released her hovercar and activated the safety mode.
“Sang Sang! Senior! Just dodge it—don’t attack!”
The hovercar shrank into particle size, completely invisible to the naked eye. While Lin Muxue fired shots to draw the flood dragon’s attention, she issued rapid commands to the hovercar.
“ROAR!”
The white flood dragon charged toward her attacks, its massive body slamming repeatedly into the invisible hovercar.
Once it was lured away from Sang Chu and Lu Minfeng, the particle car shot toward them at high speed, scooped them inside, and immediately fled in search of another exit.
“ROAR—ROAR—!”
The humans had vanished.
The enraged flood dragon thrashed wildly, smashing the cavern into rubble.
The way they came was completely blocked. The hovercar had no choice but to search for a new escape route.
The three rode the hovercar, fleeing through an underground river before finally escaping through the roots of a mutated plant.
In the vehicle, Lin Muxue gasped for breath:
“My god—my god! That scared me to death! What the hell was that?! Don’t tell me that was actually a dragon!”
Once they left the cave, neither Lin Muxue nor Lu Minfeng could see Tu You, so he simply appeared in front of them.
Tu You said, “That was a jiao—a flood dragon. A thousand years to become a jiao, ten thousand to become a dragon. It was only one step away. You stole its spirit jade, so it went mad. Normal reaction.”
Lin Muxue shuddered. “Makes sense. If someone ruined my chance at immortality, I’d kill them too.”
Tu You widened his eyes. “Young lady, weren’t you also digging out its spirit jade?”
“Of course I was. So what? Treasure belongs to whoever finds it. From our perspective, we did nothing wrong. From its perspective, wanting us dead is also reasonable.”
Lu Minfeng took a long time to steady himself before standing. He had taken a hit from the jiao’s tail, and his body ached severely.
“Ah Chu, how do I use the treatment pod?”
He did not bother with politeness. In the apocalypse, survival required a sound body.
Muxue turned to him, startled. “Senior, you’re injured?”
Lu Minfeng nodded. “That jiao’s strength is overwhelming. It feels like all my organs have been rearranged.”
He still spoke through shallow breaths. Sang Chu immediately led him into the medical cabin.
“I installed a large treatment pod in every hovercar. But I hope you two keep this a secret.”
Muxue helped him inside. “It’s different from the smart-brains and other devices?”
Sang Chu nodded. “Only three of these exist. According to the smart-brain records, a lot of that technology is beyond what we understand. So it can only be used by us.”
She opened the treatment pod. The interior was flawless and pure white, giving away nothing.
“Xiao Xue, help me put him in.”
After they placed him inside and closed the lid, the indicator light turned green. Muxue stared wide-eyed.
“Oh my god—that’s amazing!”
Tu You rolled his eyes. “You’ve said that at least a dozen times today.”
“Well, it is amazing!”
Sang Chu said, “Xiao Xue, let’s go. I have a mental cultivation manual. Let’s train together.”
Muxue looked uneasy, glancing at Tu You. “I can learn it too?”
“Yes. I know you feel your spatial ability is useless and you can’t protect anyone, but with mental power you might be able to attack spiritually.”
“I want to learn!”
“Good. Let’s go.”
After giving her the manual and key points, Sang Chu returned to her room.
Tu You asked, “Ah Chu, do you want to try absorbing the spirit jade? Strengthening your abilities will make time-space travel safer.”
“Yes. That’s the plan. I’ll leave some for them too. But we still need more resources. Help me locate the next marked treasure point—preferably near Haishi.”
“Haishi? That’s far from here. Why go there?”
“Muxue and I are from a small town near Haishi. We wanted to go back after the apocalypse began, but we couldn’t travel. Now that we have food and means to survive, I want to check. Maybe our families are still alive.”
Tu You hesitated. “After all this time… I’m afraid they might…”
“We’ll confirm it first. Besides, that town is good for building a base. It’s backed by mountains and had farmland. Even if things are ruined, the land is still there. I can bring back seeds and plants suited for the apocalypse.”
“…Fine. Since you’ve already decided, I’ll look for a route. You try using the spirit jade. I’ll lock the door so no one interrupts.”
Sang Chu nodded. “And don’t let Muxue go out while I’m in here. Put the hovercar in particle mode so no one sees it.”
Tu You thumped his chest. “Leave it to me!”
Once he left and locked the room, Sang Chu retrieved a piece of spirit jade.
Tu You didn’t know how to use it, so she could only rely on instinct.
Based on what she had read in novels, she held it in her hand, sat cross-legged, and ran her breathing technique.
Power began to flow into her palms, entering her body.
Boom—
Flames erupted within her, burning through her limbs.
Then a cool stream washed through her meridians, soothing every scorched inch.
Suddenly, she was surrounded by vast wilderness, the scent of spring wind brushing her skin, vibrant with life.
When she finally opened her eyes, the two pieces of spirit jade in her hands had crumbled to ash.
She felt lighter—renewed.
Immediately, she grabbed a vine of grapes from her space storage, plucked it bare, and activated her wood ability.
In an instant, a new plump grape grew.
“Just as I thought—wood ability upgrades fastest.”
(End of Chapter)