[Damn! Total of 20 mana ores!??] Qin Hua jolted up from her lazy pose and stood on all fours.
[Woof! Did you see it properly?]
[I guess you did. How can my clone lie to me?!]
[Woof! This is big news!]
She paced back and forth, asking the system in her body. [How can I absorb these things faster?]
<Ding. Mana absorption cannot be rushed. Mana absorption rate is dependent on mana affinity>
[Then how can I improve my mana affinity? Ah! Is there another cleansing potion available?]
<Ding. Shop feature>
The list of items in the shop opened up, but unfortunately, there was no higher-grade body cleansing potion.
[Ughh. Sometimes this system is not reliable. Woof! Never mind, it's okay to spend some time here and absorb all the crystals fully.]
[Perhaps these things can even lure more beasts our way and we can train just by sitting on our asses. This should be a good experience. Woof!]
Qin Hua smacked her mouth in excitement. [You! Go and show Lu Chen all the other deposits as well.]
The clone nodded and looked at the only human being in the small underground opening who was watching all this while intently.
"You want me to follow you again?" Lu Chen asked with amusement. Everything his dog did was unique. It was almost as if another human being was thinking and doing things.
But then again, mere centipedes had made these elaborate underground tunnels. So literally anything was possible and he didn't overthink things.
He stood up and followed the clone, only to be shocked and surprised even more. And coincidentally, he as well came to the same conclusion as Qin Hua.
"It looks like we are going to spend the next week or at least a couple of days here."
"I will be back little white." He patted the big wolf and then walked out to see how things were going with the rest of the group.
All the acidic gunk and scattered around centipede corpses had already been cleared out and people were now seriously sitting and absorbing the energy with their hungry and tired bodies.
"Not bad." Lu Chen nodded in approval. It was abundantly clear that no one had slacked off.
"Listen up everyone. I have good news. We have another twenty of these mana rocks. We will be staying here for the next few days and taking advantage of these energy deposits."
"Is everyone clear on how to use this energy?"
"If you are not able to concentrate, think back to the feeling that you felt when absorbing a small mana core."
"Use this same feeling to guide the absorption of this energy as well."
Lu Chen patiently explained everything that he had concurred in this short period of time and since Qin Hua's clone was near him, she was also able to hear everything.
Unlike her, these people had no idea what a mana core was and how to form a mana core, but yet they were on the right track. She couldn't help but be impressed by Lu Chen's astute observations.
After explaining some basic things, Lu Chen then asked everyone to distribute themselves, settling down in various parts of these underground tunnels, with two people near each ore.
The numerous ores were present not too far and not too close to each other, so this presented with the obvious problem.
While everyone couldn't afford to be fully distributed and alone, which would leave them weak and defenseless, they also couldn't leave their precious resources unprotected.
What if a squirrel ran down and started absorbing from one deposit and turned into a monstrous squirrel that wreaked havoc everywhere?
Also, there might be more beasts attracted towards them as a huge number of human beings were gathered at the same place, not to mention the general presence of thick swirls of mana wisps in the area.
Considering everything, Lu Chen decided that it was best to leave two people at a single spot and placed everyone within reachable distance of each other and somewhat in a circular pattern.
So in case there is a disturbance at one point of the circle, the others could be quickly notified and everyone could gather together to fight against the said disturbance.
Meanwhile, Qin Hua, the cat, and the unconscious body of Su Yan rested at the center of this circle. In this way, she would be closer to everyone and would be able to reach all ore spots at a moment's notice.
Lu Chen looked at the rough map of the labyrinth in his hand and sighed. This was the best he could do given the irregular pattern of the tunnels.
As an added precaution, Qin Hua's clone also loitered in the hollow tunnels keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.
In this manner, everything went smoothly for the next hour. Time ticked by slowly, seeming to last much longer as the group relaxed without any worries.
Lu Chen used this opportunity to talk to Bing Che and the two others who were handicapped about Mo Ling's decision.
He also told them about the military camp's location and the main issue he had with that place. He wanted them to make a decision for themselves after knowing the ins and outs of the place.
"I will tell you all the same thing I told Mo Ling. We can part ways here as friends. No hard feelings. But if you want to stay with us, then you are more than welcome to do that also."
"I am also not sure how good their surgeons are and things like that. This is all the information that I have. I am sorry."
"There is also no need for you guys to make a decision right now and here. Feel free to take your time and think about it. You can leave whenever you want. We will understand."
It was probably unwise to give such an option to the members of the group considering that they were currently in possession of a unique treasure, but Lu Chen was more than sympathetic to their situation.
Besides, even if they wanted to leave, he was only planning to let them leave when they were ready to move away from this place. This way there would be no danger to their lives.
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