Chapter 533: Chapter 533

"Are you all right? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Jun Bao asked with concern, looking at Jing Shu, whose face was pale.

"I’m okay. I just suddenly had a severe stomach ache," Jing Shu said casually, wiping away her sweat. Though her heart was still palpitating, and it took a long time for her to calm down.

She had now confirmed without a doubt that this black liquid was essentially the same as the red liquid she encountered last year in the United States. The Magic Cube Space also had a strong reaction to it, although she had not yet determined what exactly the black liquid did. If the red liquid was a product of four-dimensional space, then what about the black liquid?

Moreover, she had a faint feeling that this might be the opportunity for the Magic Cube Space to upgrade. It was yearning and calling for the black liquid, just as the fat chicken was excitedly cheering; it too liked this kind of energy.

If there was enough black liquid, could her Magic Cube Space consume it to complete the upgrade process? She had definitely practiced enough over the last half year, but she had hit a bottleneck she couldn’t break through. Now, she finally had a clue.

It was just that the energy contained in the mud was too scarce. Even if Jun Bao concentrated it in the mud-water bucket, she couldn’t feel it. Only this kind of refined liquid made her Magic Cube Space react.

Jing Shu’s complexion changed rapidly: one moment pale and weak, the next excited, and then worried and frowning.

"Do you need to see a Doctor?" Jun Bao asked. He had just finished speaking when he realized there were no Doctors around here, so he added, "I have some stomach medicine here. Because of my health, I’m always well-stocked."

"No need, no need." Jing Shu’s complexion had returned to a rosy hue, and she finally became interested in the black liquid. "How much of this liquid can be refined from this bucket of mud-water? If it’s related to the red liquid, then it really is of great research value."

Jing Shu indeed knew something.

Jun Bao gave a vague smile, seemingly having seen through something, but he didn’t say anything and simply continued, "From this bucket, maybe not even a drop can be refined. All this has been collected during our exploration of the Tianshan Mountain Range these past many days."

Jing Shu’s heart immediately cooled. It had been about ten days, and only a dozen drops had been refined. Wasn’t this efficiency too low? Last year, her Magic Cube Space upgraded by consuming a red crystal, which was equivalent to a cubic meter of red liquid.

What use were these mere dozen drops? When would the Magic Cube Space upgrade? Could it be necessary to find the ’heart’ of the black liquid as well, just like with the red liquid?

Wait... Had it been present in the mud-water since they entered the Tianshan Mountain Range? So, this entire Tianshan Mountain Range... Oh, what a headache! Last year, at least there were clues; it was known to be in the dead tree roots. But now, it was in the mud-water. Where in the world wasn’t there mud-water? What could possibly be done? Surely, she couldn’t really collect it with an iron spoon like Jun Bao, could she? What a loss of prestige, such a waste of effort! It was just like panning for gold in sand.

Jing Shu frowned and began to think quickly. The energy in this liquid was so dispersed. Had it spilled out, or what?

"Shall we collect it together? I have another spoon," Jun Bao invited.

Jing Shu took the spoon and joined in collecting the mud-water. It was like a group of adults fretting over their livelihood while these two plump friends were joyously playing in the mud.

"Let’s collect some first; every little bit helps," Jing Shu said, dipping the spoon in and giving it a shake. Some areas reacted, while others did not. The mud-water from the areas that reacted was kept and poured into the bucket.

Soon, Jing Shu found that the closer to the center of the mud pit she went, the denser the energy was. She couldn’t help but wonder, in the Tianshan Mountain Range, was it also denser closer to the center? But they had walked for so long; could it be they still hadn’t reached the center of the Tianshan Mountain Range?

The fat chicken was also running back and forth near the center of the mud pit; apparently, it also knew what was going on.

Just as they found themselves in a dilemma, a loud shout from Yang Yang pierced the air. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥

"There’s a situation!"

However, it quickly became apparent that not only had Yang Yang returned, but he had also brought back three people with him. These individuals had arrived on a "vehicle"!

They could actually travel through the mud pit?!

The vehicle was an air-filled cushion made of some indistinguishable hide, coated with tree gum, and tied together to resemble a hovercraft. It was very sturdy; at least it hadn’t deflated from friction in the mud. It swiftly ’glided’ before them, and its occupants shone a bright flashlight in their direction.

The flashlight beam swept over them, lingering longest on the minibus. The newcomers greedily eyed each other and nodded quietly.

Yang Yang sat on the makeshift hovercraft in a peculiar pose, yet he still held himself upright, looking handsome. The other three men stood on it; one of them gently kicked Yang Yang.

"Give them two boxes of Compressed Biscuits," Yang Yang said.

"Why?" Hong Bin’s eyes widened. Compressed Biscuits are meant for rescuing the Seed fleet. We have plenty, but to distribute some without even knowing who these people are... isn’t that inappropriate? Besides, unprovoked charity isn’t allowed by the higher-ups.

"Because I’ve been kidnapped. Haven’t you noticed I can’t move?" Yang Yang said helplessly, struggling with his bound hands.

Everyone was speechless. Yang Yang got kidnapped?

Jing Shu looked on in amusement. This member of the special department, a man who had faced life and death with her in the United States, had now been kidnapped by three ordinary people? Speaking of which, what exactly was Yang Yang’s ability? Was he truly so powerless? So incompetent...

"Stop joking. They placed an insect inside my body. If they don’t remove it, I think the consequences will be severe," Yang Yang said, appearing even more helpless. He hadn’t actually messed up; really, he was just ambushed. Utterly shameless, those guys, even more shameless than him!

Despite being kidnapped, Yang Yang somehow managed a wry smile. They’d better not let him escape unharmed, otherwise...

Seeing that Yang Yang didn’t seem to be lying, one of the three men behind him sneered, "We thought so many people had arrived, but it turns out it’s just a few old, weak, sick, and disabled individuals. What a waste of a precious larva! Don’t waste our time. Once the larva hatches, your companion will serve as its nourishment."

Only then did everyone grasp the gravity of the situation.

Jing Shu silently deployed an insect. She found it difficult to control in the mud; her insects also needed air. She grew alert. She didn’t know who these people were. Meeting them here, they surely weren’t just ordinary mountain or village folk, right?

When they mentioned the larva hatching, did it mean they also possessed some kind of ability?

Lu Liu looked at Jun Bao, who subtly nodded. Lu Liu then reluctantly brought out one and a half boxes of Compressed Biscuits from the minibus, saying apologetically, "Originally, there were two boxes, but we’ve eaten some. This is all the food we have left..."