Chapter 181

【You have entered the underground palace exploration area: Blackstone Mine (Lv. 20)】

Translation: 【You have entered the underground palace exploration area: Blackstone Mine (Lv. 20)】.

We need to keep the brackets and parentheses exactly? The Chinese uses 【】 and （）. We'll translate the content but keep the same bracket types? Probably we should keep the same punctuation: 【】 and （）. We'll output: 【You have entered the underground palace exploration area: Blackstone Mine (Lv. 20)】.

【High danger ahead! Recommended level: Lv. 20-Lv. 25】

Translation: 【Danger ahead! Recommended level: Lv. 20-Lv. 25】.

【Environmental effect: reduced visibility】

Translation: 【Environmental effect: Reduced visibility】.

Wearing a hood, Ying Duo's presence was directly sealed off, and with the ever-active 【Concealment】 skill, they sometimes almost forgot that Ying Duo even existed.

Wearing a hood, Ying Duo's presence was directly sealed off, and with the ever-active 【Concealment】 skill, they sometimes almost forgot that Ying Duo even existed.

The hooded Ying Duo had his presence sealed outright.

We'll output: 【4】 Wearing a hood, Ying Duo's presence was sealed outright, and with the ever-active 【Concealment】 skill, they sometimes almost forgot that Ying Duo even existed.

All four suddenly realized this; in the vast tunnel, they could only hear their own footsteps, but normally no one would pay attention.

Translation: "All four suddenly realized this; in the vast tunnel, they could only hear the footsteps of the four of them, but normally no one would notice."

In this dark, silent environment, they clearly realized one thing.

Translation: "In this dark and silent environment, they clearly realized one thing."

Without that blinding Ying Guang Lu marker, Ying Duo's presence could actually drop to this extent.

Without the blinding Ying Guang Lu marker, Ying Duo's presence could actually drop to this extent.

If Ying Duo switched to being an assassin now, could he silently sneak up behind anyone and cut their throat without anyone noticing?

Translation: "If Ying Duo switched jobs to become an assassin, could he silently creep up behind anyone and slit their throat without anyone noticing?"

Soon they stopped worrying about random thoughts; the front part of the tunnel was still fairly spacious, with clear signs of artificial digging and reinforcement, but the deeper they went, the narrower and more rugged the surroundings became.

Translation: "Soon they stopped worrying about idle thoughts; the front part of the tunnel was still fairly spacious, with clear signs of artificial excavation and reinforcement, but the deeper they went, the narrower and more rugged the surroundings became."

Side passages also appeared frequently, like a crisscrossing maze inside the mountain.

Translation: "Branch passages also appeared frequently, like a crisscrossing labyrinth inside the mountain."

Relying on the map provided by Cai Mao, they chose a tunnel marked 'Third Branch of the Main Mining Area' to advance; according to intelligence, the last missing mining team was conducting excavation work here.

Relying on the map provided by Cai Mao, they chose a tunnel marked 'Third Branch of the Main Mining Area' to advance; according to intelligence, the last missing mining team was conducting excavation work here.

As they went deeper, scattered chunks of ore emitting a milky white glow began to appear on the rock walls.

Translation: "As they continued deeper, scattered chunks of ore emitting a milky-white glow began to appear on the rock walls."

"This is 'Source Crystal ore.'" Luo Jinyou immediately recognized this ore.

"This is 'Source Crystal ore.'" Luo Jinyou immediately recognized this ore.

Under the puzzled gazes of the few, Luo Jinyou then spoke up again to explain:

Translation: "Under the puzzled gazes of the others, Luo Jinyou spoke up again to explain:"

The main energy source used in Tianmian City—Source Crystal—is produced by refining and concentrating this raw ore through multiple processes.

We need Tianmian City from glossary, Source Crystal. So: "The main power source used in Tianmian City—Source Crystal—is produced by refining and concentrating this raw ore through multiple processes."

Qi Hengyu furrowed his brow instinctively upon hearing that, brought a mineral lamp close to the rock wall, and illuminated a section of the raw ore.

We need Qi Hengyu from glossary. So: "Qi Hengyu furrowed his brow instinctively at the words, brought a mineral lamp close to the rock wall, and illuminated a section of the raw ore."

"This stuff's output doesn't look low either? Why is energy in Tianmian City absurdly expensive, affordable only to those at the top?"

We need Tianmian City. So: "The output of this stuff doesn't look low either? Why is energy in Tianmian City absurdly expensive, affordable only to those at the top?"

They, as Special Ability Practitioners, can use their own energy to activate runes, but Tianmian City is mostly populated by ordinary people, who can only rely on this Source Crystal as an energy source.

They, as Special Ability Practitioners, can use their own energy to activate runes, but Tianmian City is mostly populated by ordinary people, who can only rely on this Source Crystal as an energy source.

Because the energy contained in the raw ore is extremely dilute, it usually takes about ten or so pieces of raw ore to refine a single low-grade Source Crystal, so the cost naturally can't be lowered.

Translation: "Because the energy contained in the raw ore is extremely dilute, it usually takes ten or more pieces of raw ore to refine a single low-grade Source Crystal, so the cost naturally cannot be lowered."

Luo Jinyou continued, benefiting from his foster father being a geology expert, he had also picked up a lot through exposure; Shen Zexi nodded and added a few more sentences.

We need Luo Jinyou, Shen Zexi. So: "Luo Jinyou continued, benefiting from his foster father being a geology expert, he had also picked up much knowledge through exposure; Shen Zexi nodded and added a few more sentences."

Moreover, energy conversion technology has only recently been opened up for research and reform; previously, the Church strictly controlled Source Crystal veins, but in recent years there has been significant improvement.

Moreover, energy conversion technology has only recently been opened up for research and reform; previously, the Church strictly controlled Source Crystal veins, but in recent years there has been significant improvement.

On one hand, it's due to the former Pope's downfall; on the other, perhaps the rise of the Dome has given the Church a sense of crisis, but with current technology, the Church's rune technology still cannot be widely popularized.

On one hand, it's due to the former Pope's downfall; on the other, perhaps the rise of the Dome has given the Church a sense of crisis, but with current technology, the Church's rune technology still cannot be widely popularized.

As they spoke, they arrived at a large area of untouched Source Crystal ore; coming here, the place opened up considerably, but the ground was littered with debris from mining, so they needed to watch their step.

We need Source Crystal. So: "As they spoke, they arrived at a large area of Source Crystal ore that had not yet been mined; upon arriving here, the space opened up considerably, but the ground was littered with debris left from mining, so they needed to watch their step."

They decided to check the situation nearby and look for clues about the missing miners.

Translation: "They decided to look around here for any clues about the missing miners."

But around here there seemed to be nothing; they hadn't even found any signs of mining, and the ore in this area was unusually well-preserved.

Translation: "But there seemed to be nothing around; they hadn't even found any signs of mining, and the raw ore in this area was unusually well-preserved."

Huh?

Translation: "Huh?"

Chen Mizi squatted down in a relatively open area, wondering if there was something underneath.

We need Chen Mo Zhi. So: "Chen Mo Zhi crouched down in a relatively open area, sensing that something might be underneath."

The gravel pressed the torn fabric underneath, and the dust covering the ground made it even harder to spot.

Translation: "The rubble pressed a torn piece of fabric to the bottom, and the dust covering the ground made it even harder to spot."

It looked like fabric?

Translation: "It looked like fabric?"

It just looked too tattered, so Chen Mizi turned his head, wanting Shen Zexi to come over and check the situation, but he hadn't had a chance to speak yet.

We need Chen Mo Zhi, Shen Zexi. So: "But it looked too tattered; Chen Mo Zhi turned his head, intending to call Shen Zexi over to take a look, but hadn't yet spoken."

"Bang!"

Translation: "Bang!"

A sharp gunshot rang out without warning, instantly breaking the cave's silence; several people jerked their heads around to look at the shooter.

Translation: "A crisp gunshot rang out without warning, instantly shattering the cave's silence; everyone jerked their heads toward the shooter."

Ying Duo somehow had his pistol out again and fired a shot at Chen Mizi.

We need Ying Duo, Chen Mo Zhi. So: "Ying Duo had somehow drawn his pistol again and fired a shot at Chen Mo Zhi."

Instead of a dull hit on flesh, it produced a crisp 'ding' upon entering the darkness, as if striking something hard like metal or rock.

Translation: "Instead of a dull thud from hitting flesh, it emitted a crisp 'ding' upon entering the darkness, as if striking some hard metal or rock."

Chen Mizi didn't have time for anything else; he immediately sprinted toward Ying Duo's direction, that sound was just too close, as if it rang right by his ear, yet there should have been nothing beside him!

We need Chen Mo Zhi, Ying Duo. So: "Chen Mo Zhi didn't have time for anything else; he immediately sprinted toward Ying Duo's direction—the sound had been so close it seemed to ring right in his ear, yet there should have been nothing nearby."

"Roar—!"

Translation: "Roar——!"

The sound of rocks grinding together came from his ears, the roar sounded simultaneously, and a huge figure burst out from the rubble pile.

Translation: "The sound of rocks grinding together came from his ears, the roar rang out simultaneously, and a massive figure burst from the rubble pile."

It was a 'giant' estimated to be over two meters tall, its body mainly composed of some gray-black rock, with only two eyes flashing dark-red light glowing on its head.

It was a 'giant' estimated to be over two meters tall, its body mainly composed of some gray-black rock, with only two eyes flashing dark-red light glowing on its head.

It had just been concealed among the nearby rubble, completely blending with the surroundings, and Chen Mizi had his back to it.

We need Chen Mo Zhi. So: "It had just been concealed among the nearby rubble, completely blending with the surroundings, and Chen Mo Zhi had his back to it."

Ying Duo's bullet struck it, but only left a scorch mark, not even managing to crack it.

We need Ying Duo. So: "Ying Duo's bullet struck it, but only left a scorch mark, not even a crack."

"All on alert!" Shen Zexi shouted sternly, immediately entering combat mode.

We need Shen Zexi. So: "'Everyone on alert!' Shen Zexi shouted sternly, immediately entering combat mode."

If Ying Duo hadn't acted first and shot that monster, he couldn't even imagine how dangerous Chen Mizi's position would have been at such close range.

We need Ying Duo, Chen Mo Zhi. So: "If Ying Duo hadn't acted first and fired at that monster, he couldn't imagine how dangerous Chen Mo Zhi's position would have been at such close range."

Is the player's minimap just messing with you?

Translation: "Really, is the player's mini-map just messing with you?"

Yang Yixie glanced at the level on the stone figure's head and frowned slightly.

We need protagonist Yang Yixie (male). So: "Yang Yixie glanced at the level displayed on the stone giant's head and frowned slightly."

【Stone Giant Lv. 25! High-risk target!】

【Stone Giant Lv. 25! High-risk target!】

He didn't feel much about the high-risk label; all hostile creatures with levels higher than the players are marked as high-risk by the game system.

We need Yang Yixie. So: "He didn't feel much about the high-risk label; any hostile creature higher level than the player gets marked as high-risk by the game system."

Although its level is a bit higher than theirs, they have numbers on their side, so it's not unbeatable.

Although its level is a bit higher than theirs, they have numbers on their side, so it's not unbeatable.

Isn't forming a Mercenary Corps exactly for times like this?

Isn't forming a Mercenary Corps exactly for times like this?

"What the hell is this?"

Translation: "What the hell is this thing?"

Qi Hengyu sucked in a breath of cold air; mutations only affect living beings, but this thing right here seems more like a stone that's become a spirit!

We need Qi Hengyu, Mutation. So: "Qi Hengyu sucked in a breath of cold air; mutation only affects living beings, but this thing looks more like stone that's become a spirit!"

Generally speaking, after a biological mutation, some pre-mutation traits are retained, but what could mutate into such a freakish form?

We need Mutation. So: "Generally, after a creature mutates, it retains some traits from its pre-mutation form, but what could possibly mutate into such a monstrous shape?"

Watch out! It might be an Aberrant Species that has awakened control over earth elemental power, covering its body surface with a layer of rock armor!

Watch out! It might be an Aberrant Species that has awakened control over earth elemental power, covering its body surface with a layer of rock armor!

Shen Zexi reacted the fastest, immediately speaking to steady morale, but at this moment Ying Duo had already opened fire on the aberrant species, declaring war.

We need Shen Zexi, Ying Duo, Aberrant Species. So: "Shen Zexi reacted fastest, immediately speaking to steady morale, but by then Ying Duo had already opened fire on the Aberrant Species."

Luo Jinyou pressed his hands to the ground, trying to use his aberrant arts to interfere with the aberrant species' footing, but discovered that the rock layer in that area was unusually solid, making his ability difficult to penetrate.

We need Luo Jinyou, Aberrant Arts, Aberrant Species. So: "Luo Jinyou pressed his palms to the ground, trying to use Aberrant Arts to disturb the ground beneath the Aberrant Species, but found that the rock layer in that area was unusually solid, making his ability difficult to penetrate."

The Stone Giant, having been struck by Ying Duo's attack, immediately stepped forward with heavy strides and charged at them.

The Stone Giant, having been struck by Ying Duo's attack, immediately stepped forward with heavy strides and charged at them.

The ground was shaking violently; the narrow cavern limited everyone's dodging space, and at the same time restricted the Stone Giant's agility.

We need Stone Giant. So: "The ground shook violently; the narrow cavern limited everyone's dodging space, and at the same time restricted the Stone Giant's agility."

"Scatter! Don't get hit head-on!"

Translation: "Scatter! Don't get hit head-on!"

Shen Zexi shouted while a golden Lightning Chain lashed from his hand toward the Stone Giant's head, electricity scattering, yet it only caused the giant's movement to pause slightly.

Shen Zexi shouted while a golden Lightning Chain lashed from his hand toward the Stone Giant's head, electricity scattering, yet it only caused the giant's movement to pause slightly.

Chen Mo Zhi tried to use poison, but discovered that the poison he carried only a few strongly corrosive ones could affect the stone giant; as for injections and such, they were even more useless.