I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 88

The further they went, the more numerous and exquisite the decorations and carvings in the passage became.

The gemstone decorations along the corridor began to form patterns, and all these gems had been specially polished and cut, with obvious signs of human craftsmanship.

Carvings everywhere started to be inlaid with gemstones, and all sorts of mineral veins and mineral tribe sculptures were colored with gemstone sand.

These differently colored gemstone sands probably represented different mineral tribes, used for distinction.

The precision of the carving and the dazzling colors made the sculptures even more lifelike, Mo Ling even felt like he was watching an art exhibition.

Before long, Mo Ling once again found that mighty mineral tribe sculpture with countless arms.

“That same sculpture again, just who was this?”

Because this giant mineral tribe was so distinctive, Mo Ling had a deep impression of it.

Here, the giant mineral tribe was also colored with gemstone sand, but its coloring was especially unique.

All sorts of colored gemstone sands covered the mineral tribe like multicolored pixels, which then formed different color blocks.

The shapes of those color blocks were very strange; Mo Ling looked for a long time but couldn’t figure out what they were.

Around the giant mineral tribe’s countless arms were still mottled patterns, still especially tiny and impossible to distinguish.

“Was it faith?” Mo Ling was puzzled.

The more he looked, the more he felt it was some kind of fictional being. Considering that the ones infected by the Vein Mutation Disease would develop emotions, maybe faith could arise as well.

Thinking this, Mo Ling continued drifting forward.

Not long after, the passage ahead suddenly brightened.

“Was that sunlight?”

Blinding sunlight shone in through the opening ahead, making the countless gemstones at the entrance sparkle brilliantly.

The previous gemstone decorations couldn’t compare to the splendor at the entrance now.

The seemingly chaotic gems at the entrance, under the sunlight, cleverly formed several rainbow-colored refracted beams, creating a dazzling ring of light that wrapped around the entrance.

It was like a portal to another world.

The brilliance of the gemstone prisms  extended into the passage, like a rainbow bridge welcoming guests.

Mo Ling admired it for a long time, noticing that the gemstone prisms even adjusted direction with time, so the rainbow bridge always filled the corridor-clearly by design.

So beautiful.

Mo Ling really wanted to experience stepping onto it, but for now he could only watch from inside the cube.

After admiring it, the group continued forward.

“Was this outside, on the surface?”

“Why was there sunlight?”

Mo Ling’s question vanished the moment they passed through the entrance.

This wasn’t the surface, but still a huge hollow. At the top of the hollow, though, there was a skylight.

Above the skylight was a giant prism, channeling sunlight into the hollow, where countless more prisms reflected and refracted the light, illuminating the entire space.

Inside the hollow were countless gemstone houses, all built in wildly different and whimsical styles.

Some were crooked like sand sculptures made by children; others were exquisitely crafted.

There were very short bunkers, apparently with many underground levels-and some tall and slender, like the stone pillars of the Needle Stone Forest, soaring to the hollow’s ceiling.

Though the forms varied, the layout was orderly, and under the refracted light from the prisms above, the whole place was dazzling.

The outer edge of the hollow had clearly been expanded many times, with massive man-made stone pillars supporting the space, and every pillar was covered in dense carvings.

The exit of the rainbow bridge was suspended in midair, giving a bird’s-eye view of the hollow. Even with limited vision, Mo Ling could feel the splendor.

“I didn’t expect the Hollow Vein to be so prosperous, this is far more advanced than any previous mineral vein.”

A broad staircase led down to the hollow’s floor.

As they slowly descended, Mo Ling saw the ground was paved with neat stone bricks, with roads crisscrossing in an orderly network.

Most striking of all, every mineral tribe member here had a completely different expression and was busy with their own affairs.

Compared to the lifeless mineral veins before, everything in the Hollow Vein felt vibrant.

A petite mineral tribe member  watched them for a long time before finally approaching and greeting them, “Hello.”

This petite mineral tribe member looked just like a human girl, with a very expressive face and gemstone jewelry.

If not for the jade-like skin, she’d be indistinguishable from a human girl.

Li Luo seemed unused to being greeted by a mineral tribe member, and after a long pause, replied, “Hello.”

The petite mineral tribe member glanced at the group and said curiously, “A human, a normal mineral tribe, and a infected, a combination is rare. What brings you here?”

“Just sightseeing,” Li Luo replied casually, not telling the truth.

The petite mineral tribe member nodded, pointed to a gorgeous building, and said, “You can go to that building and find the village chief. Just let him know you’re here. We don’t have many rules, just don’t break anything.”

Then she looked at Shi Beng, asking in confusion, “Friend, aren’t you afraid of me? Do you know what I am?”

“You’re a infected by the Vein Mutation Disease, I know. I’m scared too…” Shi Beng seemed about to launch into his theory again.

But halfway through, the petite mineral tribe member interrupted, looking very moved. “This is the first time I’ve met a normal mineral tribe member brave enough to come to Neon Village. I’m glad you aren’t’t prejudiced against us.”

She then showered Shi Beng with praise, and began to complain about how her own people had driven her out.

Like a housewife who hadn’t found anyone to talk to in ages, she kept venting to Shi Beng, occasionally praising him.

When she got excited, she almost patted Shi Beng, then suddenly realized and quickly pulled her hand back, stepping away.

She seemed very concerned about her own behavior, peaking at Shi Beng to see if she’d scared him, her face full of worry.

But seeing that Shi Beng didn’t avoid her, she became even happier and started complimenting him non-stop, even changing how she addressed him.

“Warrior, do you want to come to my house? I have lots of beautiful gems, I can make you a bracelet. Do you know what a bracelet is? It’s…”

The petite mineral tribe member kept gesturing and explaining in front of Shi Beng, unconsciously moving closer, then shyly retreating when she realized it.

The cycle repeated.

Shi Beng stood motionless, like an ancient statue.