She picked it up and saw that it was a blue orb about the size of a tennis ball.
A faint trace of water element could be felt from it.
[Ping! You have obtained a Basic Water Source Orb.]
At that moment, the system notification sounded.
Ye Lian checked the information on the [Water Source Orb].
It turned out to be one of the main ingredients for crafting [Life Recovery Potion], making it quite valuable.
“This is definitely a good item. I’ll keep it.”
Putting the Basic Water Source Orb back into her backpack, Ye Lian continued searching the giant crab’s body for useful materials.
Before long, she found a yellow crystal about the size of a chestnut.
“A Tier-2 Mind Crystal? Not bad.”
She casually tossed the crystal into her backpack and shifted her gaze to the crab’s shiny, jet-black shell.
This was the shell that her Gale Spear couldn’t pierce—its hardness was clearly impressive.
Even after taking a direct hit from her, it hadn’t shattered.
The quality was undeniable.
Placing a hand on the shell, Ye Lian began the dismantling process.
Unlike before her [Transformation], the refining process now felt effortless.
“My spirit stat is ridiculously high. I feel like I could keep refining for a whole day without getting tired.”
Ye Lian was thoroughly enjoying herself.
The Demon Emperor’s body was simply too well-suited for divine-level refining techniques!
She extracted the essence and discarded the waste, and in no time, the massive shell was reduced to scrap.
What remained in her hand was a condensed black sphere.
This was the shell’s essence.
“Next, I’ll reconstruct and begin the enhancement.”
Her gaze shifted as Ye Lian gripped her spear and poured energy into it.
Instantly, the already-formed Gale Spear softened, turning limp and malleable.
“It’s ready.”
As she spoke, the black sphere in her hand disintegrated.
Countless black particles flew toward the spear, slowly fusing with and consuming it.
Time ticked by second after second.
Ye Lian patiently carried out the enhancement, continuously deepening her understanding of the ability.
***
Finally, after five minutes, the process was complete.
The originally green spear now had a black [core] embedded within it.
The blade portion of the spear had also gained two black edges, giving it an even sharper and more aggressive look.
The whole weapon now exuded a more dominant aura than before.
“Attack power increased by 100. Penetration ability slightly enhanced. Not amazing, but it’ll do.”
After checking the upgraded stats, Ye Lian commented calmly.
Right now, most players outside probably didn’t even have a decent weapon to their name—yet here she was, unimpressed by a spear with over 100 extra attack power.
Truly, the well-fed never know the hunger of the starving.
But then again, who could blame her?
That bit of attack power wasn’t even as strong as her bare fists.
Holding the weapon actually made her weaker.
Just like in that previous battle—because she was afraid the spear would snap, Ye Lian hadn’t dared to go all out.
Otherwise, how could she have failed to pierce the shell of a mere giant crab?
The problem was whether it was worth risking the spear’s durability.
In times of scarce resources, she naturally wouldn’t take that gamble.
After reinforcing her spear, Ye Lian glanced at her status screen.
When she saw the number “6” next to her level, some of the tension in her heart eased.
She was now only four levels away from Mu Ling.
If she played it safe for another hour or two, she should be able to catch up.
With that in mind, she opened the level ranking list.
At first, she thought she was seeing things—then her eyes widened in shock.
Mu Ling’s level had jumped from 10 to 14!
***
“No way. She’s totally cheating, right? She has to be cheating!”
If today wasn’t the game’s first closed beta, Ye Lian might’ve assumed Mu Ling was some battle-hardened veteran.
The tension that had just faded now returned with full force.
Mu Ling was like a sword hanging over her head, a constant reminder not to grow complacent.
Logically, having become the Demon Queen with overwhelming power, it would’ve been normal for Ye Lian to feel a little smug.
But with that suspiciously overpowered player always one step ahead, she couldn’t afford that luxury.
“Mu Ling… what are you?”
***
Outside—
“I’ll never forgive you… Yue!”
Deep in the forest, a voice laced with hatred echoed.
That cold, bitter resentment felt like it could pierce the soul itself.
A flash of the blade—and over a dozen ferocious monsters, resembling oversized gorillas but ten times more violent, were instantly sliced to pieces.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
“Hah… hah… It’s not enough. Not enough! Not even close!”
Even after cutting down the monsters, Mu Ling was still dissatisfied.
Her usually bright and focused eyes were now bloodshot.
The icy calmness around her had turned into a frigid storm, like a walking freezer of death.
If Ye Lian was feeling pressure, Mu Ling’s was ten times heavier.
“This should’ve been stopped while it was still in its infancy. So why wasn’t she there? Why? This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. She shouldn’t exist! That cursed Demon Queen!”
Her hand gripped the blade tightly.
Mu Ling’s face was pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
She was afraid.
And what she feared most… was the newly born Moon Demon Queen.
There was no interaction between the two, no shared past.
Yet Mu Ling was filled with hatred for Ye Lian, as if killing her was the only way to prove her own worth.
It was a tragic kind of madness.
‘If I don’t stop her before she becomes a disaster… then what’s the point of coming back here at all?’
‘The world… the world will—’
Her thoughts cut off, but the tremor in her body did not.
‘What kind of past did Mu Ling carry?’
‘What kind of future was she desperately trying to rewrite?’
Tftc!
I smell angry yuri rage.