Chapter 405: Chapter 390: Deep Layer

Zhou Leng jumped into the passage, looking around.

This passage was extremely wide, almost twenty or thirty meters high, similar in size to the passageways of the underground city of the Elves.

The difference was that the walls were covered with dense wooden structures.

Some were root hairs, some were the outer bark of tree roots.

Zhou Leng sniffed, and even though this was deep underground, except for the faint smell of soil, it was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees.

The air was rich with life force.

The bark of the Mother Tree emerged from Zhou Leng’s collar, growing leaves that gently swayed, absorbing the life essence here.

Zhou Leng looked closely and vaguely thought of a possibility.

“Xiaoyong, do you think this might be a passage left by the roots of the dead Mother Tree?”

Xiaoyong nodded frequently.

“Just as I thought…”

“Chirp chirp…”

Xiaoyong suddenly accelerated, and Zhou Leng hurried to follow. After ten or so minutes, they arrived at a cavern hall.

Its size and shape were very similar to that of the Blood Hunting Grounds.

The previous underground city seemed also to be modified from spaces left by the Mother Tree underground.

In the hall, many people were either sitting or standing, most of them from the Elf race.

“Zhou Leng!” Several friends were there, but Cyan Flame looked pale, as if he’d just survived a disaster.

“Your Grace!” Silver Lake Moon and Silver Lake Wind, along with other Elves, were also there.

Silver Lake Wind, despite his tattered clothes, showed no visible injuries.

Zhou Leng whispered, “When there are outsiders, call me Zhou Leng, do not call me anything else. Pass it down.”

“Understood!” Silver Lake Moon hurried to send the message.

“Chirp chirp…” Xiaoyong called out to Zhou Leng and the others before quickly leaving.

Vigorous Root watched Xiaoyong’s departing figure and said, “He’s going to save people; most of us were saved by him.”

Zhou Leng watched as Xiaoyong’s figure disappeared into the passage.

“What’s the situation exactly?” Zhou Leng scanned the group.

The Elves looked embarrassed.

Vigorous Root sneered, “Based on our speculations, it’s very likely some Elf King is behind this. Once the Elves here are about to go extinct, a forbidden spell would be unleashed, causing an earthquake for hundreds of miles, burying everyone with the Elves.”

Silver Lake Wind whispered, “It’s just speculation; there’s no evidence.”

Cyan Flame, looking pale, said, “Then how do you explain that most Elves survived with minor injuries, while non-Elven groups were severely injured?”

Silver Lake Wind said, “After all, I’m a Legendary Mage; in times like these, I can naturally protect myself. Most of our Elves can use some spells, and with the presence of Mother Tree’s power here, wood-element spells are particularly strong.”

As Silver Lake Wind spoke, he hooked his right hand upward, without even chanting a spell, and a vine as thick as a human waist sprouted from the ground, covered with thorns, stopping only after extending tens of meters up.

“I couldn’t do this elsewhere,” said Silver Lake Wind.

“I’m also a Demon Spirit Master,” Cyan Flame said.

“Are you proficient in wood-element spells?”

Cyan Flame did not answer.

Zhou Leng said, “I also hold an Elf identity, but it seems I don’t get any special treatment, being buried in stones.”

Cyan Flame said, “Let me put it this way: during this earthquake, Grandmasters surely won’t die. But below Grandmaster level, at most one-fifth can survive. Those of us who made it out, either had some skills, were lucky, or received special treatment from the disaster creator.”

Vigorous Root said, “Quite a few of our Tree-men should have survived, being underground, and because this place is full of Mother Tree’s power.”

Cyan Flame raised his left arm, tearing off his sleeve, and slowly said, “This is the final proof.”

On the left arm, an Elf numeral was prominently displayed.

Zero.

Zhou Leng looked at his own left arm.

7238.

Before the Blood Hunting Grounds, it was just over five thousand, but now it was over seven thousand.

Zhou Leng said, “Mr. Wind, let’s assume, hypothetically, that it’s the work of some Elf King. Then what might this place be?”

Silver Lake Wind said slowly, “If we’re assuming, this is a deep hunting ground, originally abandoned. Our entry here might force us into a blood hunt, just like when you accidentally entered the Lower-Rank Blood Hunting Grounds.”

“There won’t be any powerful monsters here, will there?” Zhou Leng’s question sent a shiver through everyone around.

Silver Lake Wind said, “Not likely, this place is abandoned, nothing should go wrong. The biggest issue would be the Demons that fell down with us; there are too many. Even if only one-tenth remain, that’s tens of thousands. They will be our targets. Or rather, we are their targets.”

“What do you think about this?” Zhou Leng asked.

“I originally wanted to lay down here forever, thankful for the Elf King’s blessing.”

People nearby rolled their eyes.

A slip of the tongue.

Silver Lake Wind’s aged eyes turned and he quickly said, “The deep hunting ground has one huge advantage: ancient tree fossils are abundant here. In fact, most of the ancient tree fossils on the surface come from here. You all, have great fortune.”

Vigorous Root, who didn’t like the Elves, said grumpily, “The ancient tree fossils are all in the rocks and soil; how many can we find?”

“There are so many passageways here, you can see them on the walls. Haven’t many people noticed them before?”

Vigorous Root didn’t refute, as he also discovered several blocks.

Zhou Leng’s mind became active; he had previously given an entire Ant Queen’s insect juice to the Mother Tree Leather Armor, and now he’s a bit short.

“What do you all think?”

Cyan Flame pointed upwards and said, “Xiaoyong said that this place is like the Blood Hunting Ground, you can enter but cannot exit. I suspect the Ancient Elf King is behind this. If we don’t kill enough demons, we might all die inside.”

Vigorous Root said, “With the Elf King’s cruelty, if there are too many demons and too few elves in the end, the result would definitely be a massive blast, killing everyone.”

Silver Lake Moon whispered, “I suspect there’s a blood-mark jade wall somewhere that can show our ranking.”

Zhou Leng asked, “How big is this place, and what’s the chance of encountering a Grandmaster?”

Everyone turned to look at the old man Silver Lake Wind.

The old man was silent for a moment, then said, “Some Grandmasters should have died; those who haven’t are generally very powerful and won’t kill indiscriminately. Of course, Demon Grandmasters and giant insect Grandmasters will still kill indiscriminately. However, the giant insect Grandmasters should all be dead.”

Everyone rolled their eyes at Silver Lake Wind; without the Elf King’s deliberate targeting, the giant insect Grandmasters couldn’t all be dead.

Zhou Leng said, “In that case, we are much safer. How about we scout around? Collect fossils if we find any; if not, exorcise demons or contact allies.”

“We indeed need to scout. However, the passageways here are extensive, and there are many channels; you need to be extremely careful. Sir Zhou Leng, let’s have a chat.”

Zhou Leng followed Silver Lake Wind to a corner, where Silver Lake Wind tapped the ground lightly with his magic staff, enveloping them in a green light shield.

“Duke Your Highness, I need to explain something to you.”

“Please,” Zhou Leng said.

“I don’t know much about this place; it’s all based on ancient books and legends.”

“In fact, the Elf World has participated in the Ten World Wars multiple times.”

“This Ten World War is probably the tenth.”

“The Elf Empire was destroyed last during the eighth.”

“Before the Elf Empire, there were older Tree-men or other races. This underground passageway is the legacy of an even older Mother Tree.”

Zhou Leng said, “This hypothesis makes sense; many worlds have records of multiple Ten World Wars.”

Silver Lake Wind said, “This place is different from the previous hunting ground. Unexpectedly, there should be a hidden exit here. Finding the exit is the priority. According to my guess, only elves or Tree-men with the right bloodline can open the exit.”

“As for the specific location of the exit, it’s uncertain; it could be just a passageway, a possible altar, or even a palace.”

“It might also be dilapidated due to age, and some powerful Grandmasters can break through weaker spots to dig their way to the surface.”

Zhou Leng said, “What exactly is this place?”

“The final resting place of the Elf race,” Silver Lake Wind said.

“I understand, but your burial sites are a bit many; I’ve entered twice,” Zhou Leng said.

“I’m prepared to rest here forever, even if the exit is found, I don’t wish to leave. So, Your Highness, please lead the remaining elves out and give them a new home.”

Zhou Leng said, “Is this the main reason why the Light King chose me as the Prophet?”

“Probably.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“The Elf race will surely provide you with considerable assistance, even if they all become Magic Craftsmen; your gains will far exceed your imagination,” Silver Lake Wind stared at Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng said, “From the start, we’ve had a basis for cooperation. Rest assured of that.”

“I hope you can become a competent Elf Duke.”

“I am first the Martial Artist Zhou Leng, then the Frost Giant Duke, the Steel Dwarf Duke, the Friend of the Tree People, and lastly, the Elf Duke.”

“Hmm?” Silver Lake Wind’s murky eyes became even murkier.

Zhou Leng said, “As long as they are my subordinates, I will naturally provide them with adequate care. Additionally, I do not recommend you die here; future elves need a wise and open-minded leader to accompany them through the toughest paths.”

“What do you want to say?”

Zhou Leng said, “Currently, only Blue Star and the Demon Spirit World can accept elves. However, once in the Demon Spirit World, elves are likely to become subjects of Demon Spirit experimentation. If they come to the Dragon Country, there will be more security. Of course, they can be dispersed, calling it a racial backup.”

“Let me think about it,” Silver Lake Wind said.

After exchanging views thoroughly, the two returned to the team.

Zhou Leng, Cyan Flame, Vigorous Root, and the other three Tree-men discussed briefly, then brought Silver Lake Moon along to form a team for exploration.

The other forest tribes also formed teams to explore different passageways.

Zhou Leng activated the mapping feature of the Demonized Watch to record the route.

The cavern hall had six passageways, and the group chose the auspicious number 6 passageway to set out.

Just after stepping out of the 6th passageway, Zhou Leng sensed an ancient tree fossil 30 meters deep on the right wall and immediately recorded it.

The team continued forward; this is the area formed by the root of the Mother Tree. The Tree-men’s senses are especially keen, combined with Cyan Flame’s spell detection, Zhou Leng no longer remained on high alert.

Proceeding, Zhou Leng reviewed cultivation resources.

Having just entered the Blood Shock Period, there’s still much to learn and cultivate.

Cyan Flame said, “You continue cultivating; when the Demon Spirit Trials come, let’s aim for the top ten.”

Vigorous Root asked, “Zhou Leng is going with you to the Demon Spirit Trials?”

“Yes.”

Vigorous Root said, “Zhou Leng, you’d better be careful; the Demon Spirit Masters are very treacherous, and their spells are unpredictable. For us, who mainly rely on physical confrontation, it puts us at a disadvantage. Some magic is trivial; no matter how strong you are, it can be hard to break.”

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