Chapter 291 I want this level-five crystal core...

Lu Nange: "There's also a level 5 lightning element crystal, and three level 4 ones... Shi Xu has contributed a lot along the way, but he's never used any crystal cores..."

She looked up at Shi Xu: "These three level four..."

Shi Xu: "Nan Nan, Levels 3 and 4 are useless to me; it would be a waste to give them to me. We're all on a team; we should maximize the team's interests. You decide what to do."

Lu Nange nodded: "Yan-ge and A-ye both broke through to level five using two level four crystal cores..."

She picked up the two crystal cores: "I want my older brother to try these two."

Chi Yanzhou: "Let Ci-ge give it a try."

Lu Xici didn't immediately take them, but instead frowned and said, "Nan Nan, your wind element also needs to be improved. These two level four..."

"Brother." Lu Nange gently shook her head, her hair swaying slightly with the movement. "The level four crystal core I absorbed last time didn't help me break through. I feel I need the energy from a level five crystal core of the same element. Giving me these two would be a waste."

Seeing her sister's resolute attitude, Lu Xici finally reached out and took the crystal core: "Then I'll take it."

Gu Qi tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, making a crisp sound: "Brother Ci, Nan Nan is right, you should try it first... If you can break through, level four is easier to find than level five."

Lu Nange pushed the last level-four crystal core towards Chi Yi: "Brother Chi Yi, this one is for you. You absorbed a level-four one last time, so let's try it together and see if we can break through to level five."

Chi Yi accepted the crystal core with both hands and said respectfully, "Thank you, Miss Lu."

Lu Nange sighed helplessly, "Brother Chi, are you really not going to consider changing how you address me?"

Gu Wan couldn't help but interject, "Exactly! Brother Chi, we're a family, we've been through thick and thin together for so long, we're practically siblings by blood! Your 'Miss' and 'Young Master' titles sound so distant!"

Chi Yi hurriedly waved his hands: "Miss Lu, Miss Gu, that's not what I meant..."

He Zhuo and Ji Xian grabbed him from either side, He Zhuo grinning mischievously as he tightened his grip on his neck: "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and change your tune!"

Gu Qi: "Why are you looking at Yan-ge? I'm asking you, Chi-yi-ge."

Chi Yanzhou: "Chi Yi, we grew up together, you've never been an outsider."

Chi Yi: "Young...Ayan..."

He took a deep breath: "A-Zhuo, A-Xian, Nan-Nan, A-Ci, A-Qi..."

Everyone smiled and nodded...

......

On the table, the level 5 lightning crystal core lay all alone.

Gu Qi: "Level 5 lightning... Brother Yan, only you can use this thing, you..."

Chi Yanzhou didn't immediately put away the crystal core, but instead looked at Lu Nange: "Nannan, do you want to try absorbing it?"

Lu Nange pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the crystal core: [Leaving aside the fact that only Chi Yanzhou can use lightning-type crystal cores, even if we consider the logic, this level-five zombie crystal core, which was killed by Chi Yanzhou and Gu Qi together, should rightfully belong to Chi Yanzhou.]

However... Beijing is just a stone's throw away, and waking up "Youyou" requires a level 5 crystal core.

The word "有有" only refers to the right opportunity to awaken it in Beijing, without specifying when.

Once she enters Beijing's territory, the awakening condition could be triggered at any time, so she must prepare one in her spatial storage beforehand, just in case.

Chi Yanzhou noticed her hesitation: "Nannan, are you going to be useful?"

Facing the concerned gazes of the crowd, Lu Nange said directly, "I do need a level-five crystal core. Could I keep this one for now? Once I find the next level-five crystal core, Brother Yan, I'll give this one to..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chi Yanzhou had already pushed the level-five crystal core in front of her: "Take this crystal core if you say it's useful."

Without a word, Gu Wan handed over her own level-four crystal core: "Nan Nan, take as many as you need first. If it's not enough, we'll go kill more!"

Wen Qing also pushed the crystal core in her hand over: "Nan Nan, you've been taking care of everyone the whole way, this is for you..."

Ji Xian followed closely behind: "Nan Nan..."

In the blink of an eye, all the crystal cores on the table were piled up in front of her...

Lu Xici directly placed two level-four crystal cores into her palm: "Nannan, keep them if you need them."

Chi Yi said gently, "Nan Nan, I'm still far from reaching level five, there's no rush."

He Zhuo: "Little sister, if it's not enough, just tell me, and we'll figure something out."

Lu Beiye secretly clenched his little fist: [My sister needs level 5 crystal cores... I have to help her collect them, but how do I find level 5 ones?...]

Lu Nange quickly waved her hand: "No need for so many, one level 5 crystal core is enough. I really need it, as for the specifics..."

"Nan Nan!" the crowd interrupted in unison.

"Keep it if it's useful, but what you use it for—we don't want to know."

"Shouldn't we try to find some more level 5 crystal cores in the future?" Wen Qing said, turning his head.

Luo Xingyou: "Yes, Nannan will find it useful. I'll save more of these in the future."

Chi Yanzhou: "Level 5, Shi Xu, use your spiritual power to search everywhere..."

Still sitting next to Lu Nange, Lu Beiye blinked: [That's right, if we bring Shi Xu along, we can collect lots of level-five crystal cores for our sister!]

Shi Xu: "Let's go and have some fun with the level 5 zombies."

Everyone got up and started walking towards the RV, chatting amongst themselves.

Lu Nange watched as the group of people got up and left without saying a word, a few black lines appearing on her forehead: "...Sit down, all of you!"

Everyone turned around in unison, and like Lu Beiye who had been sitting obediently, they straightened their backs and sat up straight.

Even He Zhuo put on an expression that said, "I'm the most obedient one."

Lu Nange: "Use these level-four crystal cores to upgrade first. I'll keep the level-five crystal cores for now. Yan-ge, I'll give this one to you once we find a new level-five crystal core..."

Everyone nodded: "Okay."

The following morning, Gu Wan and Ji Xian successfully broke through to level four.

Wen Qing's healing ability remained at level three, but she felt that her healing ability had significantly improved.

Although Lu Xici and Chi Yi absorbed twice the amount of level four crystal cores, they still failed to break through the level five threshold.

Lu Nange understood: [As expected...aside from the original male protagonist, only my Aye, the "chosen one," can advance beyond his level. Others need a level-five crystal core of the same element to break through...]

......

After everyone worked together to prevent He Zhuo's "breakfast of love" from becoming a disaster, the steaming hot braised beef noodle soup was finally served safely.

The rich aroma of bone broth dispelled the morning chill, and the chewy noodles topped with thick slices of braised beef whetted the appetite.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone began to fully arm themselves.

They were wrapped in layers of heavy winter clothes, and scarves were wrapped around them several times, looking like a group of walking matryoshka dolls.

Lu Nange knelt down and changed Lu Beiye's temperature-controlled clothing...

Lu Beiye shook his hat: "Sister, it's so warm!"