"There seems to be something underneath this array," Otarais whispered to Brand after observing for a while. She vaguely sensed a corrosive magic seeping up from underground, like underground water overflowing to the surface. Wind Elves are innately sensitive to magic; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to create the fantasy-like existence of magic sword skills. Brand nodded, and the Deer Demon Sister guided the way ahead; after leaving the Crystal Cave, they continued to delve deeper.
After walking for a while, the four walls underground suddenly presented a strange dark red color. Upon closer inspection, this dark red was actually caused by a sand-like rock layer, embedded with quartz-like crystals that sparkled under light. Brand touched it with his hand and, upon examining his palm, was shocked to find it covered in crystal powder.
"What's going on here?" he couldn't help but stop and ask.
"The rock layers here have always been like this since the construction of this underground hall," the Deer Demon said, picking up a piece of the stone and looking at it. "But recently, these rocks have been crystallizing more severely. These red shale layers never used to extend to this point."
Brand instinctively felt something was off. "Do you know this type of rock?" he asked Otarais quietly after bending down to pick up a piece of rock himself. Otarais looked at the stone in his hand and, after pondering for a moment, replied, "This type of rock has properties similar to the Magic Quartz Sand produced in the Black Forest. Have you heard of that mineral?"
Magic Quartz Sand is a magical crystal ore born from areas infested with magic, often found beside streams in some parts of the Black Forest. It looks a bit like multicolored gold sand. This type of crystal ore is mostly impure, allowing travelers to make a small fortune if encountered, but pooling manpower to excavate it wouldn't be worth the effort.
Of course, Brand had heard of this mineral. He picked up the rock. "Whether it is or not, we'll know by experimenting." Detecting magical element distribution is basic knowledge for any caster. Brand, having an Elemental Mage level, had no trouble with this. He lifted the stone with his left hand, extended his thumb, index, and middle fingers with his right hand, aligned the magic triangle, and recited a mysteriously magical character, causing the stone to emit a faint glow.
"Indeed it is."
"It seems so," Otarais nodded. However, this level of quartz sand doesn't even compare to the average mineral quality. Its magic content is mottled and impure, with no value for extraction. Simply put, even taking a piece home seems excessive.
"This indicates severe magical contamination here," Brand lifted his head and looked around cautiously.
"But this area is within the territory guarded by Lord Martha, Brand."
"That's what makes it suspicious," Brand tossed the stone aside and raised his head, just in time to see Yi Lian stopping. The Deer Demon Sister stood poised on her four hooves, looked ahead to gauge the distance, and then said, "Little one, it shouldn't be much further from here; inside is a dead end. Do you still want to check it out?"
Brand took a couple of steps forward, intending to see what was inside. But just as he lifted his foot, golden ripples suddenly spread through the space ten paces ahead, revealing a slowly rotating, clock-hand-like translucent golden array. Brand had planned to say they should go in and take a look, but upon seeing the array, he suddenly changed his mind and said:
"Let's go back."
"Huh?"
Both the Deer Demon Sister and Otarais in his heart uttered a soft "huh?" They assumed Brand would certainly go in to take a look. The Sister paused slightly as if she thought of something and quickly explained, "This array is a seal placed by the master, but it doesn't stop me from taking you in and out."
But Brand shook his head, as if he had made a firm decision, "No need. Since there's nothing interesting inside, there's no need to bother. The fewer times such a seal is opened, the better."
"That is true," the Deer Demon Sister nodded, but she gave Brand a curious glance. Having followed Trisman for hundreds of years, her experiences were at least as extensive as Brand's, so she wasn't simply convinced by his excuse. However, since Brand wasn't willing, she did not force him.
The two women present were both knowledgeable. Otarais also had the same doubt, but she was more direct and immediately asked in a low voice, "Brand, what's wrong?"
