The old man’s robe was plain and ordinary, showing no hint of anything special. Yet, this lack of uniqueness was precisely what made him stand out. In the camp, people were clearly divided by their attire, either from the military or warriors of the Moonlight White Devils. Only this elder was completely unremarkable.
A sullen-faced man in his thirties approached the elder and said, “Elder Wei, we’ve been waiting here for a full day. The longer we delay, the more likely the Earth Dragon will recover. We should act as soon as possible, if feasible.”
The elder replied calmly, “The method I taught you to pacify the Earth Dragon is far more effective than your previous ones. As long as you follow my instructions, there will be no issues. Unless someone deliberately provokes the Earth Dragon, which would be out of our hands. But, it’s not so easy to provoke an Earth Dragon, after all.”
The middle-aged man conceded, “Elder Wei is right. However, the longer the night, the more dreams. Staying here for too long is not good. What are we still waiting for?”
“Opportunity,” Elder Wei responded serenely.
The middle-aged man’s expression turned awkward, but he persisted, “What exactly is this opportunity?”
Elder Wei did not answer directly but instead asked, “Andorf, you are usually a patient person. Why are you so anxious now? Is something wrong with the pacification of the Earth Dragon?”
Andorf hesitated for a moment before admitting, “The flesh we have is running low. According to the ritual’s consumption, we might only last three more days.”
Elder Wei spoke indifferently, “If there isn’t enough flesh, just kill more people. Problem solved.”
“But the people in Lian Gang City have already been killed, and the captives and slaves have been used up. There are no more humans in the nearby area.”
“Then go further. There are several human cities around Lian Gang City, like Nan Qing City. Three days can do a lot.”
Andorf sighed, “That’s Zhang Buzhou’s territory. Our reach doesn’t extend there.”
“Isn’t that Wolf King one of Zhang Buzhou’s men? Let him handle it.”
“But…”
Elder Wei smiled wryly, “Since it’s a cooperation, he must contribute. There are many people on his territory. A few thousand missing won’t be noticed. If he can’t manage such a small task, what’s the point of having him? Or does General Andorf plan to sacrifice his own kin? I’ve always said using blood sacrifices is more effective than human ones.”
Andorf’s face changed, and he reluctantly agreed, “Then we’ll wait as you instructed.”
He summoned three subordinates and ordered, “Go back and report Elder Wei’s words to Commander Kunbre.”
The three soldiers left the camp swiftly.
After they left, Andorf approached Elder Wei again, asking, “Elder Wei, what exactly is this opportunity you speak of?”
Elder Wei chuckled, “When the time is right, you will know. This is a great opportunity. If we handle it well, the Empire will keep its promise. Once the province of You is under the control of Lord Mask, you will be easily granted a fiefdom of half a county for your efforts.”
Andorf beamed, “It’s all thanks to Elder Wei’s guidance. However, the Western Continent seems a bit barren, doesn’t it?”
A flicker of mockery passed through Elder Wei’s eyes, and he said slowly, “Compared to Qin and Yue continents, the Western Continent is indeed barren. But that’s just the surface. In reality, it’s rich in resources, with countless minerals, some of which are essential for war. The reason it’s not prosperous is because the Eternal Night considers it a contested land, leading to continuous wars over the centuries.”
Elder Wei paused, then continued, “If not for the potential of this place, why would the illustrious Zhao Clan abandon their core territories and move to the frontier? If not for your indispensable role, how could you have a stake in the Western Continent?”
“Yes, yes. Rest assured, Elder Wei. Lord Mask has decided to contribute, not just now, but also during the suppression of the Zhao Clan, we will send troops.”
Elder Wei laughed, “Let’s first handle this matter. Once we obtain the item, annihilating the Zhao Clan will be a mere formality, no need for Lord Mask to worry. Speaking of warfare, in my opinion, your army is skilled in guile but lacks righteousness. If you meet the Zhao Clan’s main force in open battle, it might not end well.”
Andorf’s face flushed with anger, but he dared not retort under the elder’s pressure.
The atmosphere in the camp was heavy, but Elder Wei was indifferent. He warmed his hands and returned to his tent.
Outside the camp, Qian Ye listened, his heart racing. He didn’t expect the Empire’s military to reach the neutral territory. From what Elder Wei said, the military was here to deal with the Zhao Clan, and a key part of their plan lay in the Earth Dragon’s lair.
Thinking of the Zhao Clan, Qian Ye couldn’t help but recall the past. He sighed inwardly, and his resolve hardened. Elder Wei and these military men had better not think of leaving alive. As for the Zhao Clan’s safety, Qian Ye wasn’t overly concerned. A thousand-year-old family with deep roots in two provinces wouldn’t be easily toppled.
Having made up his mind, Qian Ye quietly retreated, choosing a concealed spot to lie in wait.
Soon, footsteps echoed through the tunnel, and a group of soldiers emerged from another passage, entering the camp. An officer brought a case to Andorf, who opened it and smiled, approaching Elder Wei, “Elder Wei, we have another vial of Earth Dragon’s blood.”
Elder Wei stepped out of his tent, nodded, and said, “With three vials of Earth Dragon’s blood, it’s enough. The time is right; let’s set off.”
Andorf hurriedly gave orders, and the camp buzzed with activity. Within moments, everything was packed and ready.
In one tent, a long rectangular box was tightly wrapped in cloth. It was at least three meters long, requiring six elite soldiers to carry it. Their strain suggested it weighed several tons.
Andorf left ten men to guard the camp while the rest accompanied them.
Elder Wei held a map and led the way. The map occasionally shimmered with origin power, indicating it was a mystical artifact. At each fork, he consulted the map and chose a path, leading the way.
An army of over a hundred would inevitably leave traces. Qian Ye could easily follow from a distance. To avoid being misled, he took a risk and stayed close enough to see Elder Wei.
The group journeyed deep into the underground, walking for most of the day with only one short rest. They had traveled at least a hundred kilometers from the starting camp. Qian Ye had lost his sense of direction and depth, relying on the group to lead.
Along the way, they encountered several giant beast swarms under the Earth Dragon, which Andorf and his subordinates efficiently cleared. The hundred soldiers were all elites, at least eighth level, and formidable. Even a group of rock crystal crocodiles didn’t last more than ten minutes against Andorf. His black sword was deadly, even slicing through the rock crystal crocodiles’ defenses. Groups of his soldiers could hold their own, and two groups could easily kill the crystal crocodiles.
Throughout, Elder Wei did not intervene, appearing calm and unconcerned about the threats.
After the second rest, the group quickened their pace, rushing through many intersections. Qian Ye, with his exceptional tracking skills, managed to keep up.
Exiting the tunnel, a vast world appeared before Qian Ye.
This enormous space had a dome over a kilometer high, shrouded in mist. Giant pillars, hundreds of meters thick, supported this magical underground world. The terrain undulated, with rivers crisscrossing and lakes scattered in the lowlands.
Though without sun or moon, the underground world was illuminated by a soft glow. Moss on the walls and pillars emitted colorful light, and the trees shone with a faint luminescence, creating a fairy-like world.
Such beauty was not without danger. Qian Ye spotted a massive figure on a central hill. It was a rock crystal crocodile, ten times larger than usual, covering the entire hilltop. Its back was covered in crystalline clusters, glowing with a mesmerizing light. These clusters were incredibly hard, capable of cutting even aerial warships.
The crocodile’s shell alone was probably over a meter thick, not counting the crystals. Qian Ye estimated that a seventh-level origin gun would be useless against its crystal armor; only an eighth-level gun could penetrate. But an eighth-level gun was powerful enough to breach a warship, not for the average user.
Though slow, the crystal crocodile could strike with lightning speed when hunting. This ancient crocodile likely had abilities beyond the norm, making it very dangerous.
Qian Ye remained hidden, letting Elder Wei and Andorf handle the situation.
Observing further, he noticed large insect nests near the rock walls. The insects emerging were much larger than usual, with a silver sheen. The nests likely contained Earth Dragon’s blood.
If the nests had Earth Dragon’s blood, the crocodile’s lair might as well. And the gargantuan rhinoceros must also be connected to the Earth Dragon. Could it be that the Earth Dragon nourished these insect and beast hordes with its blood?
Strange. Void beasts were not benevolent. How could one use its own flesh to sustain these creatures?
As Qian Ye looked further, he was shocked. In the distant mist, a colossal gate stood!
Rubbing his eyes, he confirmed he wasn’t mistaken.
At the other end of the underground world, a massive gate stood, hundreds of meters tall. Though unclear, it was undoubtedly a man-made structure, not natural.
In this underground world, never known to harbor life, why would such a grand, miraculous gate exist?
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