"Not yet, the situation isn't that dire. Tell me, can we get out now?"
Ming Yue's eyes were fixed on the roots outside, showing no sign of panic as she spoke casually.
It would be simple for her to get out; a single punch could shatter the vehicle.
However, considering that this vehicle was likely Shi Henian's prized possession, and she didn't want to damage it, she had asked.
"Beauty, it's not that I'm stopping you from leaving, but going out would be suicide. Those roots will drain you dry.
Besides, we're underground. Even if you get out, you can't escape, and you'll die even faster."
Hearing Ming Yue, Shi Henian mistook her words for fear and a desire to escape alone. He explained with a grim expression.
"Don't worry, I'm not running away. I can handle those troublesome things outside. Open the door and let me out."
"Alright, but we're running low on energy. The energy shield can only last for another minute.
If it doesn't work, hurry back into the car. At least it's safe in here."
Knowing that Ming Yue intended to solve the problem rather than escape, Shi Henian didn't doubt her but still gave a serious warning.
He then pressed a button on the control panel. Ming Yue saw a light shield appear outside the vehicle, similar to the one she had seen earlier.
It expanded, pushing away the roots that were wrapped around the car. Once there was enough space, the car door opened. Ming Yue squeezed out before the door was fully open.
With a flash of fire, a fireball appeared in Ming Yue's hand, which she hurled directly at the roots.
Shi Henian had also controlled the vehicle to fire fireballs earlier, but they had been useless against the roots.
Ming Yue's fireball was different. The roots ignited fiercely upon contact.
Those not directly hit rapidly retreated, clearly sensing danger.
"Get in the car."
Seeing the roots retreat, Shi Henian quickly called Ming Yue into the car and accelerated.
The drill at the front of the vehicle spun rapidly, charging directly towards the thick root structure ahead.
Ming Yue's eyes lit up. The underground root system of the mutated Pothos was growing inside a cave.
This should have been a large space, but it was now filled with the Pothos's roots, leaving only a hundred square meters of open ground in the center.
Upon seeing the vehicle intrude, the roots immediately moved closer, attempting to attack.
Ming Yue smoothly exited the car and snapped her fingers. The roots instantly froze, becoming immobile.
Shi Henian, who got out later, walked closer cautiously to observe. He discovered that the roots were covered in frost; they had been frozen by ice.
He was shocked. In less than an hour of being with Ming Yue, she had used lightning, fire, and ice abilities.
Moreover, each of them was at a high level. For instance, the widespread freezing ability she had just displayed with a snap of her fingers would be impossible without a level of at least eight.
"What are you spacing out for? Grab the item and let's go."
The Pothos's crystal core was hanging on the main root. Ming Yue's guess was correct; this Pothos had reached level eight.
However, its main body's level was too low for significant offensive power, otherwise, it would have been even more difficult to deal with.
She yanked the emerald crystal core from the root and prepared to leave. Ba Jiu was still waiting for her to detoxify him, and she didn't want to linger here.
"Wait, there's more good stuff here. Let's take it all."
Shi Henian quickly called out to Ming Yue, pointing to a puddle on the ground. His eyes were filled with joy.
"What is this?"
Ming Yue walked back and carefully examined the water pool, about a meter in diameter, on the ground. She couldn't discern anything special about it.
"This is the Water of Life, a rare treasure. It takes tens of thousands of years to form this much, and it's usually undiscovered.
It can promote plant evolution. The reason this Pothos mutated and progressed so quickly is likely due to it.
Furthermore, it has another function: when used in conjunction with the crystal core, it can achieve amplified effects. This is why I came here.
My success in entering this place this time is all thanks to you. I'll give you half.
However, we'll need to figure out how to transport it, as its efficacy diminishes when removed from this Mother Earth Stone."
What Shi Henian referred to as the Water of Life, the pool, was located in the center of a massive stone, which was why he was frowning as he pointed at the stone.
He hadn't expected this Mother Earth Stone to be so large, bigger than his vehicle. He couldn't possibly fit it!
"There's no time. Let's take it all, and we'll figure out how to divide it later."
In the moment Shi Henian hesitated, countless vines appeared from all directions, reaching out to entangle them.
Ming Yue shoved Shi Henian into the car and, with a wave of her hand, collected the Water of Life along with the Mother Earth Stone beneath it into her spatial storage.
"Stay close to me."
She called out to Shi Henian and then levitated, raising her hands above her head.
With a push upwards, the soil and rocks above them receded, revealing light.
She had used her earth abilities to forcefully carve out a passage and then flew upwards. Shi Henian didn't dare to delay and followed closely in his vehicle.
Outside the valley, Ji Shiyou and the others were waiting anxiously. They had seen Ming Yue get into a strange vehicle and then disappear, filling them with worry.
As they waited with growing concern, they saw the Pothos in the valley shake violently, followed by a rumbling sound.
The entire valley trembled as if an earthquake had struck. Then, they saw Ming Yue's figure, like a cannonball.
She shot up from the layers of Pothos leaves, followed by the flying vehicle.
Countless vines pursued them like a swarm of snakes.
The vines on the ground also converged towards them, attempting to trap the person and vehicle in a cage, just as before.
Initially, Ming Yue was hesitant because she didn't know the location of the crystal core and feared damaging it.
Now that she had obtained the core, she could attack without restraint. She drew a circle in the air with her right hand.
Then, she pushed it forward horizontally. The entire valley immediately turned into a sea of fire. The thick, dragon-like Pothos writhed and fled in the inferno.
They were ultimately consumed by the flames. In less than five minutes, they, along with the zombie corpses whose energy they had absorbed, were reduced to ashes.
"How is Ba Jiu?"
After setting the valley ablaze, Ming Yue paid it no further attention and landed beside Ji Shiyou and the others, anxiously inquiring about Ba Jiu's condition.
"He hasn't worsened. Have you found the antidote?"
Seeing Ming Yue return unharmed, Ji Shiyou's heart settled. He had almost rushed into the valley to fight the Pothos himself.
"I got it."
Ming Yue took out the Pothos's crystal core from her spatial storage and hurried to Ba Jiu's side, about to smash it for him to consume.
"Is he poisoned? Don't waste such a treasure. There's a better way to save him."
Shi Henian's voice rang out. He had followed Ming Yue and stepped out of the car. Seeing Ming Yue about to smash the crystal core, he immediately stopped her.