Chapter 26: Behind the Desert

Yin Shabel stood alone as she single-handedly eradicated the sandworm infestation that had plagued the oasis. Through her efforts, she successfully restored the desert’s only vital transit point amidst the barren wasteland. However, it was with great regret that the Oasis Foundation, which had been diligently nurtured by the Bedouin tribe for generations, lay in ruins.

Now, the once-thriving oasis resembled a desolate ghost town, its vibrant life reduced to a few decaying tree’s. Its former glory was naught but a distant memory, shattered like the fragmented ruins scattered before Yin Shabel’s feet.

Suddenly, her body became engulfed in a radiant white light, emanating an ethereal aura. From the ground ahead, tendrils of black mist crept up, coalescing into a hazy silhouette. Sombra’s head displayed a dialog box, but its contents were nothing but a jumble of unintelligible characters.

Yin Shabel, too, bore a similar display above her head, engaging in encrypted communication with the figure. Swiftly, the shadow dissipated, leaving behind an air of intrigue.

Facing the computer screen, Yin Shabel humbly kneeled on one knee, her voice filled with reverence. “My lord, I sought the wisdom of the departed through last-day prayers. They revealed that the sandworms attacked this oasis in a brazen attempt to plunder the copper mines hidden beneath its surface.”

She continued, “Sandworms possess an insatiable appetite for ores. They consume these precious metals, assimilating them into their bodies, fortifying their formidable skin and bone.”

“Most mining sites across the desert have fallen under the dominion of sandworms from various regions. However, this oasis was once blessed with divine protection, shielding it from their encroachment.”

“But recently, the divine shield waned, and the sandworms wasted no time in launching their assault. A small-scale war erupted amongst their ranks, all for the sake of seizing control over the coveted copper mines. The twelve sandworms I vanquished were the ultimate victors in this grim contest.”

Lu Yao listened intently. Coppera resource he had feared to be absent from the Garlic tribe’s graspwas now within their reach. It seemed that fate had unveiled an opportunity amidst the deserts he traversed in search of metalworking expertise.

Yet, Yin Shabel’s next words shattered his optimism like a sudden gust of icy wind. “Unfortunately, my lord, there is only a scant amount of copper ore left here. The sandworms have devoured the majority of it. These creatures possess an insatiable hunger, consuming copper and iron ores until nothing remains but mere traces of their indigestible remains.”

Copper mines devoured by the ravenous beasts…

Gazing upon the lifeless husks strewn across the desert floor, a glimmer of inspiration ignited within Lu Yao’s mind. If the sandworms absorbed the ore to reinforce their very being, could it be that the copper ore still lay within their remains?

Without hesitation, Lu Yao issued his command:

Examine the creatures’ corpses for traces of copper.

Yin Shabel swiftly carried out the directive, returning with the test results. “As you suspected, my lord, fragments of copper lie embedded beneath the sandworms’ hide, remarkably resilient in their composition.”

Lu Yao’s heart swelled with joy. The absence of the apostles would have rendered this revelation impossible. The secrets concealed within the sandworms’ anatomy would have remained undiscovered.

No.

Without the apostles, venturing into the treacherous desert and engaging in combat against these formidable foes would have spelled certain doom for the Garlic tribe.

It was through Yin Shabel’s exceptional abilities that they now stood to gain.

The hunters of the Garlic tribe followed Yin Shabel’s lead, venturing deep into the desert until they reached the oasis. The sight of the lifeless, serpent-like sandworms scattered throughout the area filled the pixelated warriors with an exhilaration they had never experienced before.

“What mighty beasts these creatures were! In their prime, they must have instilled sheer terror in the hearts of all who beheld them.”

“Their hides surpass the thickness of even sea monsters, while their sheer size dwarfs any behemoth of the deep.”

“Monster meat! Supple leather! And bones of unparalleled strength!”

“A bountiful harvest indeed!”

One of the pixelated villagers exclaimed, a visible exclamation mark hovering above his head.

“There’s something extraordinary about these sandworm skinscopper! It’s copper!” exclaimed one of the tribe members, his voice filled with excitement.

Simultaneously, a notification appeared on the screen, displaying the discovery: The Garlic Tribe Discovers Copper.

The resource bar at the top of the game interface welcomed a new addition: Metal. However, the column for Metal only showcased copper, depicted in a scarce and vivid red.

The tribe members wasted no time. They busied themselves cutting up the sandworm corpses and transporting the precious remains back to the Garlic Tribe on camelback. Given the long journey and the numerous sandworm carcasses, all available camels were called upon, with the shaman personally overseeing their transportation.

During their expedition in the desert, Yin Shabel diligently cleared the path of sandworms, opening a safe passage leading back to the plains and oases of the Garlic Tribe. The end of their journey in the was drawing near.

Amidst the excitement, Lu Yao noticed a new message on the screen: In appreciation for recovering the former Bedouin tribe site, the astrologer Shahan has imparted mining techniques to the Garlic Tribe.

The Garlic Tribe Has Acquired Mining Techniques.

The Garlic Tribe Gains Prestige Among Other Tribes Due to Technological Mastery.

The Garlic Tribe Discovers Iron.

The Garlic Tribe Discovers Gems.

The Garlic Tribe Discovers Gold.

The Garlic Tribe Discovers Silver.

The Garlic Tribe Discovers Crystals.

The consecutive notifications directed Lu Yao’s attention to a tent located next to the templea former leader of the Bedouin tribe, now the Garlic Tribe’s weather forecaster, knelt outside the temple, demonstrating profound gratitude to Lu Yao.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but ponder. If Shahan had hidden secrets to share, could it be possible that others also held valuable knowledge?

Perhaps, he contemplated, it was only when individuals achieved their most cherished goals and fulfilled their ambitions and expectations that they were willing to share their wisdom, technologies, and experiences.

With the newfound mining knowledge, the tribe gradually allocated resources and began digging and excavating around the stones. Stone usage became more prevalent, evidenced by low walls constructed outside their dwellings.

Moreover, the Garlic Tribe slowly acquired the most rudimentary smelting methods. The diminutive figures dug deep holes in the ground, piling up firewood and igniting it to extract copper, iron, silver, and gold from the ore.

Before long, the words Fishing Net descended into the World reappeared on the screen. It was time for new tools to descend.

Lu Yao stretched and rose to his feet, extending his fingers and flexing his back. Each step forward in the tribe’s civilization had been hard-earned, their progress entwined with divine trials.

During this winter, Yin Shabel diligently eliminated sandworms along their journey, leading them out of the vast southern desert and into a new world of green.

They arrived at a city called Sanilo, situated by the sea and controlling the estuary. The city exuded a civilization surpassing that of the Garlic Tribe. Neatly arranged houses lined straight and intersecting stone roads, while various shops embellished the cityscape.

Tens of thousands of people called Sanilo home, with fishing boats and sailboats dotting the bustling seaport.

However, there was a peculiar aspectthe inhabitants of Sanilo were not human. They were ghostly entities.

Initially, the ghosts of Sanilo harbored misunderstandings about Yin Shabel. But after she vanquished nearly half of the ghostly soldiers in the city, their attitudes underwent a dramatic transformation, welcoming her with open arms.

The people of Sanilo treated Yin Shabel as a distinguished guest, acquainting her with the city’s extensive history. They expressed their willingness to believe in the deity Yao and offered their faith, seeking divine blessings and absolution.

The situation stabilized.

“The city of Sanilo has always extended its hospitality, especially towards those who possess extraordinary powers like you, Lady Yin Shabel,” proclaimed Chapman, the mayor of Sanilo.

“Dare I say, Lord Yin Shabel, that Sanilo is a city afflicted by a curse.”

“This place was once extraordinarily prosperous, excelling in maritime trade and agriculture, with a population far exceeding what it is now. However, after the deity we once revered in the forest fell, this city fell victim to another god’s curse.”

“We were all put to death and transformed into spirits.”

“The gods imposed totems, preventing the spirits of Sanilo from leaving this place as punishment for our alleged heresy. For many years, except for the Bedouin tribe, no one has ventured here.”

— END OF THE CHAPTER —

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep