Chapter 193-2: The Secret Beneath the Facade, Plundering Obsidian Venom Ore (2)

[The underground storage is piled high with Obsidian Venom Ore. Do you wish to use this ore to strengthen your bloodline power?]

As the overseer, whose hybrid half-dragon bloodline was far purer than Broken Horn Sharu’s, Lin Xun naturally intended to use this Shell to temper his bloodline.

[You pick up a piece of Obsidian Venom Ore (Fine+ grade), place it in your mouth, and activate Hermit Bloodline Tempering Rite to draw out the faint strand of bloodline within…]

[Absorbing…]

[You suffer intense venom corrosion!]

[The Antitoxin Core of the Divine Light Moth in your possession flickers faintly.]

[Absorption complete. Your bloodline power has increased by a very small amount!]

[You spit out a bit of ashen powder, what’s left after the bloodline is drawn out.]

[Do you wish to continue absorbing?]

That was it?

Lin Xun noticed that while absorbing the ore, the text displayed that he was suffering venom corrosion.

However, the antitoxin core in his inventory increased his poison resistance, reducing the damage from the venom.

He kept absorbing ore, but after only a few pieces, the game text displayed.

[You have suffered slight injuries.]

“I finally understand why these overseers were hoarding ore instead of just consuming it themselves.”

“So absorbing this stuff actually has a cooldown!”

At this rate, if he kept absorbing more ore, he’d die from the toxin.

Lin Xun scratched his head, then quickly thought of a solution.

Solving this problem was simple, it would just take time.

He simply needed to put all the ore into his inventory, die once, and return to the Resting Page to continue absorbing.

Every time the Shell was about to succumb to poisoning, he could use the Resting Page to restore health and keep absorbing more ore.

It was only that traveling from the Multivision Association back to Hidden Canyon would take a full day and night, a major time sink.

“If only I had a healer Shell that could regenerate… I’m starting to miss the Choir Sister already.”

Lin Xun let out a long sigh and gathered up all the ore.

The underground storage held more than two hundred pieces, with both Fine and Fine+ grade ore, part of which belonged to the newly appointed overseer.

According to what Broken Horn Sharu had said, over a hundred pieces of ore were only enough to let a mixed-blood half-dragon advance to a hybrid half-dragon.

To turn the hybrid overseer into a pureblood half-dragon, this stash of ore was far from sufficient.

“If the Abyssal Cave hadn’t collapsed, maybe I could have gone down to the lake to absorb more bloodline power… What a pity…”

After killing the demon underground, the cave had quaked and collapsed. He still clearly remembered using the Paladin of Discipline as a death substitute.

[You step out of the living quarters cave and encounter the squad of miner guards standing watch outside. A few dozing mixed-blood half-dragons jerk awake, then hurriedly kneel and salute you in panic.]

[As a noble hybrid half-dragon, and their overseer, what orders will you give them?]

[1. “All of you get back to mining! When I was your age, if I didn’t dig ore, I couldn’t even fall asleep!”]

[2. “You, yes, you there, and you. Go fetch me a female half-dragon to polish my spear!”]

[3. “I’m going to patrol the canyon. Who will guide me?”]

Two longs and a short, naturally, you pick the shortest. A must-have skill for every slacker.

[You loudly inform several mixed-blood guards that you are about to patrol the canyon and that it would be best if they could capture the two escaped murderous slaves…]

[The mixed-blood guards all eagerly volunteer. You pick the one that looks the most pleasing to your eye to escort you.]

[As it leads the way, the mixed-blood guard carefully lowers its voice and says, “Overseer Lord, you come from another canyon on the far side of the Dragon Nest, so you may not be familiar with this place.”]

[“There are only five mines in this canyon. Each overseer manages a mine and their own group of slave miners.”]

[“After those two brazen wretches cruelly murdered the old Overseer Lord, we miners searched the mines and the canyon thoroughly. We didn’t find any trace of those two wretches.”]

[“Most likely, they fled in fear of punishment and perished in the mists outside…”]

[Noble-blooded Apostle, do you wish to patrol the five mines, or visit the other overseers’ caves?]

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes and decisively chose the latter.

If the assets of two overseers weren’t enough, then he’d just kill a few more.

Gathering every piece of ore and then consuming them all at once back at the Resting Page was by far the most efficient and effortless plan.

[You interrupt the mixed-blood guard’s rambling, scolding it harshly for its loose tongue, and declare that you are going to visit the other overseers to exchange friendly greetings.]

[The mixed-blood guard immediately falls silent, lowering its head and leading you to the other overseers’ caves.]

[…]

[Soon, you arrive at the entrance to a clean and orderly cave. A squad of mixed-blood half-dragons stands guard outside.]

[Seeing you approach, none of them dare to obstruct you.]

[Alone, you step into the cave…]

[…]

About ten minutes later, Lin Xun emerged from the cave, looking satisfied.

This lucky overseer’s hoard was quite substantial, instantly doubling the amount of ore in his collection.

Without pausing, Lin Xun ordered the guard to continue leading him to the next overseer’s cave.

[…]

[The overseer’s lecherous face suddenly froze. It twitched twice, then slowly collapsed…]

[You have defeated Hybrid Half-Dragon Who Gazes Upward. Experience increased slightly.]

[You obtained Small Divine Statuette of the Radiant Stars (Junk).]

[The female half-dragon beside it shrieked in terror, but before she could scream, you thrust your gleaming blade into her mouth…]

[You have defeated Mixed-Blood Half-Dragon Who Gazes Upward. Experience increased slightly.]

[You rummage through the living quarters, then open a hidden door on one side. Inside lies the overseer’s stash. A rough estimate tells you that the quantity of Obsidian Venom Ore here has nearly reached three hundred pieces.]

[Do you wish to take all this ore?]

After killing the final overseer, the total number of ore in Lin Xun’s possession had surpassed one thousand pieces.

[A muffled bell suddenly tolled outside the cave. You tilted your head to listen, the bell sounded twice.]

[As you heard the familiar chime, memories within the Shell stirred faintly…]

[As a hybrid half-dragon of nobler blood, and an overseer of distinguished status among hybrid half-dragons, the meaning of two bell tolls was deeply etched in your mind.]

[It is time to collect the ore!]