The stone dwellings of the four-armed people were tall and square, exuding a primitive architectural beauty. Although the stones used for the exterior walls were uneven, they were meticulously stacked, resulting in remarkably smooth walls.
Qian Ye entered one of the stone houses, surprised by its neatness. The walls were covered with large, perfectly cut white stone slabs. Inside, there was a bed, a stone table, and wooden cabinets for storage and weapons. Above the entrance, two massive lion heads were embedded, evidently trophies commemorating heroic deeds.
To Qian Ye, the armor and weapons stored within the house were unremarkable, though any single piece would still hold some value if transported beyond the Great Maelstrom.
He entered another stone house, finding it almost identical to the first, with no difference in the armor or weapons. After checking a few more, he realized these stone houses were more akin to barracks for high-ranking warriors rather than typical residences.
Among the dozens of stone houses, two were noticeably larger, each divided into an outer and inner room. The outer room was filled with stacks of leather-bound parchments, scribbled with who knows what devilish things. The inner room, besides the usual daily necessities and weapons, contained additional food supplies. These consisted of innards and claws from various creatures, which the natives considered exquisite delicacies, worthy of careful preservation. However, Qian Ye found them repulsive.
In each of the two large stone houses, there were several sealed clay jars. Holding his breath and shielding himself with Bloodfire, Qian Ye carefully opened one of the jars. Instantly, an indescribably pungent smell filled the air. Just a whiff made his blood race and his primal desires surge, creating an almost irresistible urge to seize the two women and have his way with them.
He quickly resealed the jar and used Bloodfire to burn away the stench, only then daring to breathe freely. Fortunately, this exploration task was something only Qian Ye could handle, with Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan waiting outside. Had they been inside, the smell might have caused yet another problem.
After a moment’s thought, Qian Ye called the two women in and explained, “The contents of these jars are likely related to White Fruit, enhancing blood circulation. However, using them comes with complications. I just smelled a bit and almost couldn’t control my primal urges.”
Ji Tianqing took a long needle and pierced it through the jar’s seal, sniffing the needle and examining its color. She then said, “It indeed contains White Fruit, along with many other ingredients. If I’m not mistaken, this is their spring wine.”
“Then let’s destroy it,” Li Kuanglan said. She now held a deep hatred for such things.
However, both Qian Ye and Ji Tianqing opposed this. Qian Ye carefully picked up the jars, storing them one by one in Anduva’s mysterious space. Ji Tianqing, with her smaller storage, managed to take two jars as well. These items could be life-saving in dire situations, and the cost seemed acceptable.
Li Kuanglan, seeing this, had an idea and tried to pick up a jar, only to realize she lacked the necessary spatial equipment, causing her some embarrassment.
Without a word, Qian Ye took the jar from her and stored it in Anduva’s space.
Besides the wine, Ji Tianqing spent a long time studying the dried organs, bones, and claws. The Great Maelstrom was filled with treasures, and these items, painstakingly collected by the natives, might contain priceless artifacts. After much examination, however, Ji Tianqing found nothing of value, and her valuable storage space could not be wasted on uncertain items.
Meanwhile, Qian Ye noticed a bowl-sized bone containing explosive origin power and decided to keep it for future study.
After clearing out the stone houses, only the central plaza remained. In the center of the stone fort, there was a circular plot of land planted with various fruits and vegetables, resembling a garden. Beside it was a deep, murky well. In the middle of the plaza, a small tree, surrounded by a fence, indicated the natives’ high regard for it.
According to Ji Tianqing, this small tree was the White Fruit tree, now reduced to a stump by her hand.
Though the White Fruit’s effects were miraculous, retrieving it for the Empire would make it a valuable treasure. However, transplanting it posed a significant challenge, so Qian Ye didn’t feel too bad about it. The real problem was how to survive the night.
Qian Ye left the fruits and vegetables in the plaza untouched, as well as the chopped White Fruit tree. None of them knew the cultivation method or the specific uses. After they left, the natives would likely return to the stone fort. They might know how to cultivate the White Fruit and perhaps save the tree.
Clearing out the stone fort yielded some gains. First, it eliminated the threat of the native warriors, especially the four-armed ones. Additionally, they obtained the wine. While the White Fruit’s invigorating effect was diminished when brewed into wine, its stimulation of primal desires was greatly enhanced. But survival was the top priority, and the wine provided a last resort.
With some time left, Qian Ye led the two women deeper into the forest. It seemed that each native tribe had its own territory. After searching a vast area, all signs of native activity pointed back to the stone fort. As the search continued, the sky began to darken.
Reluctantly, the three returned to camp, deciding whether to change directions or abandon the site and move to a more distant area come dawn.
But how would they survive the night?
In the void outside the neutral lands, a colossal warship silently emerged, its sharp prow both elegant and menacing. The giant thorny castle emblem on the ship’s hull declared the identity of its master.
This blood kin warship, larger even than the Imperial mothership, belonged to Duke Medanzo, the Lord of No Light.
Behind Duke Medanzo’s warship, two more titanic vessels appeared, clearly also ducal-class. They were followed by a swarm of smaller warships, like a hive of bees, heading towards the neutral lands.
Of the hundreds of blood kin warships, most bore the emblems of the Dracula and Lakin clans, with a few belonging to other ancient lineages.
The immense blood kin fleet sped through the void, slowing down at a certain point. Two other fleets appeared, one on each side, swiftly approaching. The leftmost fleet, led by a vessel no smaller than Medanzo’s, was the Arachne fleet. Before it even neared, a deep, resonant voice boomed, “Old friend, we meet again.”
Medanzo’s somewhat effeminate voice responded, “Not long at all, considering our long lives. The last battle was but yesterday. Loza, what does the Spider Queen intend this time?”
Grand Commander Loza did not directly answer, instead saying, “The greatest Spider Queen has her plans; I am here merely to observe.”
Medanzo snorted, clearly not believing him.
Both the Arachne and blood kin fleets halted, maintaining a safe distance from each other, clearly mistrusting. The rightmost fleet, smaller in size, approached quickly, stopping just out of range of the Arachne and blood kin fleets.
This did not reassure the Arachne and blood kin, and Loza first spoke, “You are too close. Either retreat or advance.”
Medanzo added menacingly, “The neutral lands are not your place. What, do you devils mean to risk everything this time?”
From the devilkin fleet, a medium-sized warship sailed forward, with a figure standing on its deck, enveloped in a black robe, dark flames burning faintly around, distorting everything within. He spoke in a hoarse, measured tone, “Even if I had thoughts of ambush, I would not be a match for your combined forces. Afraid, oh Grand Commander and Lord of No Light?”
The devilkin fleet’s range was greater than that of the Arachne and blood kin, allowing them to bombard the other two while remaining out of range. However, the devilkin fleet was notably smaller, with the largest ship barely reaching ducal class, and no grand duke-class vessel.
Compared to the devilkin, the Arachne and blood kin had their strengths. Arachne ships were formidable in defense, sturdy and durable. Blood kin ships, on the other hand, were balanced and excellent in all aspects, often faster than the devilkin ships. Thus, neither Loza nor Medanzo held the devilkin fleet in high regard. Loza’s rebuke was more about preserving dignity.
Seeing the figure on the devilkin warship, both Loza and Medanzo were startled, revealing themselves.
Medanzo slightly bowed, apologizing for his earlier words, “It is the esteemed Eternal Flame. But why, my lord, have you come in person?”
Eternal Flame was a true titan among the devilkin, having fought alongside Night Empress Lilith against the Celestial Demons. In the absence of the Emperor, he often represented the devilkin. Beyond his status, Eternal Flame’s power surpassed both Loza and Medanzo, the true reason for Medanzo’s respect.
Eternal Flame did not acknowledge Medanzo’s respect, merely saying, “The environment beyond the Great Maelstrom may be unsuitable for us, but that does not mean the same applies within. Since I am here, even the most unsuitable environment will change.”
Loza and Medanzo exchanged a glance and said, “Eternal Flame, this attempt to seize the Great Maelstrom passage was initiated by your devilkin, with Admiral Lin Jiar as the commander. Yet now, Lin Jiar has been defeated by a nameless novice, losing even his flagship. The passage fell to the humans because of your failure. The chance has already been given, but you failed to seize it. Therefore, the agreement on the distribution of the passage cannot be altered!”
Eternal Flame seemed to sneer, “Not even with me here?”
Loza glanced at Medanzo, who nodded, and Loza firmly replied, “No.”
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