Roars rumbled and thundered, echoing incessantly within the cave. The terrifying Primeval power contained within震得 Qian Ye’s ears buzzing. The hidden stalker involuntarily let out a faint fluctuation of breath, inadvertently revealing traces of his presence. At this moment, however, everyone’s focus was drawn by those eerie laughs, so none noticed a figure lurked nearby.
Adolph’s face twisted, his gaze meeting Claudia’s. She, too, wore a look of shock. Venerable Master slowly opened his eyes, saying, “Would you not worry about disturbing the Earth Dragon, and all of us die here in this very cave?”
Though his tone was balanced and unassuming, not particularly loud, it reverberated in the underground world instantly. As his speech rose, the laughter sounded not quite so shrill afterward.
“Hmph! All praise you old man so extravagantly. It’d long intrigued me to test the so-called ability to appease the Earth Dragon for myself.”
Lightning sounded high in the air—wave after rolling wave thundered through the subterranean domain to gather at the great door.
She was an amazon, mighty in stature, draped in dark teal battle gear with an outstanding set of metallic wing bones on her back. Running across those articulated frames were vivid sparks of lightning. Indeed, she seemed almost everywhere aflame with electric fire—not confined merely to her armor but leaping playfully in her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes, breathtaking yet fearsome rather than appealing. Though strikingly gorgeous her face seemed, her aura of lightning overwhelmed all thoughts other than sheer fright.
Moving forth, she flew straight as an arrow into the middle of the subterranean expanse in grand style and massive presence yet without triggering response or alarm within the encysted lair: no movement stirred the colony creatures—neither colossal rock crocodile armies nor the bestial insect throngs.
Adolph, Claudia and Gaimel each made respectful bows, saying in unison, “Most honored to meet you here personally, Esteemed Lady Carol.”
Carol sneered loudly: “Honored? You must all be cursing inside how倒霉 my presence means smaller share. You probably hope I drop dead halfway so there’s one fewer sharing the treasure.”
Adolph hastened to interject: “Of course not, Esteemed Lady Carolyn, with you here it will significantly uplift the chances of success on all our missions from hence. But, given your great stature and ability, why dare expose you risk like this? It’s too hazardous to attempt such a descent!”
“I dare attempt because I don’t fear death.”
With a contemptuous snort, Master Wei added, “Bravery without wisdom, just that.”
Carol fixed a penetrating glare: lifting her brows higher as she said, “What’s an old coot like you… Once we’ve left here I definitely shall be seeking to taste your prowess firsthand.”
Serene and dignified, Master Wei responded gravely: “Honored bearer of the Lightning Whip Lady, if truly you seek strong duels then perhaps we can visit your Majesty’s imperial capital. No need to employ the Inner House Four Families; I assure you the Department of War itself alone offers ample opportunity to match you measure.”
Despite bold boasting typical of her level, Carol dare not say she had conquered all imperial generals to claim undisputed invincibility underground as well. At their pinnacle, none among would speak blindly and knowingly falsify one’s abilities—it would debase her reputation needlessly.
“Everyone already knows well enough about the Empire’s greatness—Otherwise, none like us would’ve needed to hide in this desolate neutral realm.”
With atmosphere growing tense, Adolph quickly attempted diplomacy, asking: “Esteemed Lady Carolyn, may I ask what artifact brought you to these perilous tunnels this night?”
Carol answered coldly: “Merely a droplet of Earth Dragon blood—to cover my descent fare. More importantly—I’m searching for a certain person known to be now hidden in these subterranean halls!”
She extended a finger, snapped outward, releasing a surge of lightning which formed and traced features into midair, rendering one vivid human image sharply within their minds.
Instantaneously, Qian Ye’s mind reeled—the depicted figure, unmistakable himself—precisely his original countenance. Since arriving among neutrality’s borderlands few occasions showed true face—the usual disguise at harbor city persisted always.
“How could she…?!” Wonder filled his mind.
At the back, Venerable Wei’s countenance shifted slightly as he gasped, “Could it truly be Qian Ye? Then he actually hides inside too?!”
“I neither know nor need care for a ‘Qian Ye.’” Carol snapped grimly. “Only: He killed my younger brother. I allow him no path away from here alive!”
Understanding, nodded Adolph slowly then. He answered with precision, addressing both Lady Carole and the general tension.
“I affirm his presence does further complicate affairs here beneath these vaults. Yet the moment holds gravity—may I propose we attempt passage now through this great door first, to achieve our ultimate gain? If this… what-was-it-called ‘Yie’ survives those creatures above—then more likely than lost paths bring him hither inevitably in time.”
Claudia added: “With underground so vast, riddled ever with perils. Whether we succeed capturing him or not: survival odds for a solitary wanderer would shrink.”
Carol nodded in deep thought: “So shall we decide: Old one, shall my assistance pry doors open for you forthwith?”
Venerable Wei cast one sideway look and replied indifferently: “No brute force can shift this portal open so easily though.”
That brought a dark line across Carol’s countenance. Even so, seasoned warrior as she may was, her eyes sweeping momentarily estimated accurately the gate’s mass and potential barriers. Even with zero locking mechanism behind that surface—it well exceeded what muscle and power could force.
With measured composure, she retreated one step to accept: “Then I shall witness firsthand this ‘wisdom.’”
Without more exchanges, Master Wei proceeded forward towards the immense threshold. Pressing two bare palms upon it, his silhouette appeared so dwarfed and infinitesimal when compared alongside—barely more prominent than an ant might stand—yet his posture mimics that of pushing wide gates with intent force. Carol sneered openly but waited to witness results.
Opening began. Ancient mantras—unfathomable but rhythmical, rose through his murmurs.
Thin threads of pure unalloyed primal force flowed forth from incantation, spreading as invisible currents covering the immense gate. From Qiantye’s keen sight, harmonic fluctuations in pitch caused the primal force about the gates to resonate in kind, amplifying like waves upon an ocean rising ever larger as surging crests layered upon themselves.
Indeed a profound arcane arts—keenly fascinating Qiantye with full attention riveted, committing visual imprint of each miniscule movement and transformation. Proficiency of such skill would allow even ordinary practitioners to summon devastating force akin to divine might—even without attaining ‘Divine General’ class power.
Such an intricate process took not only time but focus, requiring uninterrupted concentration—any distraction could prove disastrous. This technique represented vast significance even though requiring great exertion. While others like Adolph, Claudia, etc., observed focused and intense expressions, Carol showed only disdain though glimmers of shock reflected faintly within. As for them however—in the absence of Qinye’s visual advantage, observing such primal force changes brought negligible insights.
Little by little, Venerable Master’s guided force gradually engulfed the colossal portal entirely. The gate began slightly vibrating. His murmuring pitch suddenly escalated dramatically—illuminating depressions upon that massive slab’s enscrollments and reliefs with light. Hidden inscripting motifs activated and surfaced visibly.
The vibration became more violent.
Roars reverberated again.
Slowly… opening began…
Just a small crack in the massive seal—but glimpses through revealed an enormous new world beyond, vaguely distorted but perceptible. Scenes twisted as if under liquid—obscured.
Carol grimaced at what she perceived.
This grand gate was locked using arcane arrays, the opening of which needed Venerable Master Wei’s expertise and mastery. In the absence of that, she, even tripled in strength would utterly lack power needed to force past entry.
Concurrently as gates shifted earth quaking vibrated within entire cave, insect swarm agitations showed in uneasy creepings. Yet the beasts of crocodilan ranks and crystal clans exhibited none: only silence stillness.
Refreshing and crisp breath of new existence wafted through the door crack—included within it—a faint shaft of brilliant sun gleamed faintly down… lighting a little the darkness held ancient and deep below.
The aged wizard’s chanting slowed then ceased, his aura dwindled while visible exhaustion clouded his aged frame as he sat cross-legged upon stone ground to recuperate, not once looking backward at that opened mystery beyond the entrance he’d unchained.
Adolph and Claudia gaped at that threshold beyond.
Metal bones behind Carol’s silhouette spread like blades. Arcs sizzled in her wake.
“Allow me the honor to check this domain ahead,” she stated, wings unfolding in a thunderous flare.
Adolph and co-operative colleagues shifted aside respectfully knowing no objections required against such wisdom now displayed. By far, she emerged among gathered as indisputed superior among the rest—thus logical that she assume role of pathbreaker.
From deep concealment Qian Ye could catch little of what new world waited—yet instinctively, he sensed it held fewer terrors than the Earth Dragon’s chamber. Shifting vision slightly, backtracking focus to one nearby hidden observer… whose essence rhythm flickered unpredictably.
Inside herself, inner dilemma twisted—clear from her unstable energies.
Nevertheless, with unpredictable Carol introduced to the fold, regardless of her true identity—whether ‘Moon Azure’ or another—dared hesitation: action became improbable or entirely abandoned at most risk.
Even against a high divine like Carol—stealth killing blow may scratch or injure at maximum… however instantaneous retaliation assured death for aggressors.
Yet, what an Azure-like would hesitate over… Qian Ye could dare proceed fearlessly.
As Carol gathered her primal power and approached closer toward the threshold of passage—a brief delay would mean departure passed gate into other side.
At this critical time, resolute will solidified—immediately selecting and picking up two small stones nearby with swift movements.
With one graceful cast, his hand flicked releasing the rocks, striking the back of two distant snipers’ heads with precise pinpoint impact stunning both entirely unconscious on contact eliminating the imminent threats directly.
Thereafter, gathering strength he summoned forcefully the last slither of his Earth Dragon Blood sealed internally and with extreme resistance… coated the final remaining explosive onto a Primeval Force Hand Grenade.
Then he hurled toward slumbered Rock Crystal Crocodile resting silently above.
The grenade sailed soaring a thousand meters. Along the trajectory its contained primal force seeping outward as Dragon Blood aroma—this instantly agitated dormant colonies. Beasts and winged insect swarms stirred restlessly.
Even the hulking crystal croc shifted ever so slightly as tail twitched faintly sensing proximity’s encroaching danger.
At this exact moment, Carol’s vigilance perceived anomaly—glancing around just as her sharp eyes locked with the flying grenade descending rapidly toward her intended exit target atop crocodile scales.
She shrieked in shock. Alarm surged, voice bursting forth: “NOOO！！” —Yet so distant the gap: though her reaction rival lightning speed still failed grasping prevention possibility.
Crashing with finality:
Explosion tore open the chamber! Blinding white ball burst across upper frame of ancient reptilian frame, then mushrooming into fire-filled skyward explosion!
And yet…
The explosion’s Primeval force fire only covered a fraction of the croc’s cranial crest whereas shattering冲击波—against thick layers of mineralized crystal protrusion clusters—left unyielding armor intact… even the smallest crack or scar remained missing.
Direct explosion with no damage whatsoever.
The crocodile awoke.
Explosion, blaze? Irrelevant. It’s ancient instincts however recognized unmistakable resonance—Purest form Earth Dragon essence blood.
Rotating in place the Rock Crocodile locked its glowing amber gaze straight upon thunder armored Carol. It stared.
“Damn… Why always ME!!!” Carol roared irately then, hand moving faster to whip tethered waist fast to her grip—a metallic chain barbed with jagged teeth and sparking coils now coiling in readiness charged fully alive.
Hair floated midair as she focused with no time even to identify whom caused all this chaos—the weightless pressure of the behemoth locking upon made simply breathing itself now a near impossibility.
Unhesitatingly, Claudia snapped orders to retreat within first—”Forward into door with us all!”
She launched her self airborne: instantaneously reaching and passing through and disappeared entirely.
Adolph and Kaymer attempted rushing after same direction in tandem—yet slightly delayed as disaster unfolded.
At very threshold’s edge…
Upon Carol targeted, The Earth Crocodile’s sudden fury triggered seismic impact, a single step so devastatingly earthshaking that the undercroft itself groaned and trembled violently!
With such pressure released in motion… dizziness struck both two elite humans.
Both struggled, wings straining forward toward passage but the earth convulsed violently. Sudden storm surged up from below striking them powerfully away from gates! They flew forcefully, uncontrollably flung aside helplessly!
Then an unseen force wall sprouted forth from nowhere—impossibly rising behind gate, cutting off re-entry possibilities entirely.
Rising unsteadily at corner, Master Wei’s countenance remained grave as he proclaimed bluntly,
“No way past without disposing the cursed beast first.”
Left helpless, Adolph and Kaymer reluctantly returned to defensive positions before the sealed threshold.
Carol called over shoulder, yelling,“Elder! Do whatever it takes—you must! We’ll need to pair our strengths against this colossus immediately—if we hope crossing through to that uncertain next step without loss on a larger scale—we must act swift decisively.”
At this demand, Master Wei allowed his lips only a grim wry smile. “Matters likely will now not go so easy…”
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