Chapter 633: Chapter 177: Positioning Array_4
Ah Dai asked, "So this means the cave that once saved your life is to the south?"
Audi nodded, "It should be. I was fighting tirelessly within the Death Mountain Range, and finally found that place when my strength was nearly exhausted. Though the Undead Creatures are fierce, they also have their own weaknesses. The congregation of different species there makes them prone to confusion. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to venture so deep into the Death Mountain Range. You can utilize this to swiftly progress into the heart of the mountain range. If you’re careful, you both have a good chance of reaching your destination given your abilities."
Half an hour later, under the leadership of Audi, the group had exited the vast forest of the Tian Yuan Clan. The atmosphere began to grow increasingly heavy as they drew closer to the Death Mountain Range, causing a strong sense of unease in Xuan Yue who practiced Light Magic.
Audi halted his steps, pointing to a bare mountain in the distance, "Once you cross that mountain, you’ll enter the territory of the Death Mountain Range. I’ll accompany you until here. Be careful on your journey, if it becomes impossible to proceed, retreat immediately. Don’t push yourselves too hard. As long as you’re alive, there’s hope. Life is most important."
Ah Dai nodded, smiling, "You can go back, we’ll be careful. And we’ll need you and Aunt Queen to guard our Magic Array."
Audi nodded, "Rest assured, as long as the Elf Clan exists and the Elf City stands, the Magic Array will not disappear. Take care." After saying this, he spread his transparent wings and flew back along the same path to the Elf Forest.
Excitement shone in Ah Dai’s eyes. He scanned his comrades, declaring, "We’ve finally reached the Death Mountain Range. Our two previous attempts to enter this place, shrouded in an aura of death, have failed. Today, nothing will obstruct our path. Let’s move, my comrades. Our aim is the center of the Death Mountain Range."
Everyone’s blood seemed to boil with Ah Dai’s words, filling them with an intense desire to fight. They all knew that they were about to face the greatest test in their lives. Ah Dai began to chant, "Drawn by the blood of the Divine Dragon, open, oh the great gate of time and space." The energy-restored Dragon’s Blood responded to his call with a brilliant glow. Within the halo of blue light, the massive figure of Sheng Xie appeared before their eyes.
Sheng Xie’s form gradually became clearer, he spread his broad wings and let out a loud cry. The clear sound of his dragon roars echoed around, filled with joy. All eyes were fixed on the giant dragon, his massive figure of more than ten meters long, which left everyone in awe. Seeing a dragon up close for the first time, their hearts brimmed with excitement.
"Big brother, you finally let Xiao Qie out. I was almost suffocating in the Dragon’s Blood."
"Xiao Qie, this time your big brother won’t make you go back so easily. Soon, we’re entering the Death Mountain Range, the most dangerous place on the continent. I have no idea what awaits us there, are you willing to take on this adventure with us?"
Sheng Xie lowered his huge head, his golden eyes flickering with a soft glow. He rubbed against Ah Dai using his long Golden Horn, saying, "Big brother, you don’t need to ask Xiao Qie. Wherever you are, Xiao Qie will be there too. No danger can separate us. In this world, you are the only family Xiao Qie has."
Warmth surged in Ah Dai’s heart as he stroked Xiao Qie’s giant spiral horn, smiling, "Xiao Qie, your brother will never leave you either. Rest assured, as long as I am alive, I won’t let any creature harm you. You are my most important comrade! Let’s go. We will climb the mountain and cross it. After that, it’s time for us to fight."
Sheng Xie let out a long chant, his voice full of excitement. His golden eyes swept over everyone before raising his head high, expanding his wings and erecting the scales covering his body, ready for battle.
Ah Dai spoke to the group, "Brother Yan Shi and Yan Li, Kino and Yue Ji, you all lack the ability to fly. You should mount Xiao Qie to ascend the mountain and conserve some energy. Vila and Sister Zhuo Yun, you should stay close to Yue Yue and me."
With Ah Dai’s arrangements in place, the group of eight and one Dragon ascended into the sky, heading towards the mountain of about five hundred meters in front of them. As they ascended along the mountainside, they could distinctly feel an evil aura radiating from the mountain. Yue Ji, the weakest among them, couldn’t resist knitting her brows. As they got closer to the summit, the evil aura grew stronger, even Yan Shi and his brothers and Zhuo Yun began to feel uneasy. Just as Xuan Yue was preparing to bestow Divine Blessings on everyone, the golden rings on everyone’s hands lit up. Surrounded by a ball of golden light, it completely separated them from the outside evil, the magic artifact blessed by the Pope had started to exhibit its power in shutting out the evil darkness.
Relieved, Yue Ji said, "Experiencing such discomfort even before we have fought the undead creatures, it will probably be even more dangerous inside the Death Mountain Range. No wonder Audi, the grand Elf Envoy, repeatedly warned us to be careful."
Looking somewhat anxious, Kino spoke to Yue Ji, "I told you not to come, but you wouldn’t listen. It’s not too late to leave now."
Huffing, Yue Ji said, "I knew the Death Mountain Range was dangerous, but I’m not scared. Don’t think that we women can’t match up to you men, I know what it means to face difficulties head-on. You just need to take care of yourself and not worry about me." She then took her silver bow off her back, mounted a silver arrow, and kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
A height of five hundred meters was not much for this group, and in less than ten minutes, they had reached the summit. It was a stone mountain, without a blade of grass in sight and the summit had a very small area, only amounting to a few hundred square meters. After getting to the summit, they found that the previously bright sky had suddenly darkened, completely covered in clouds, not a ray of sunlight in sight.
The sense of oppression in Xuan Yue’s heart increased. To ensure everyone’s safety she still bestowed Divine Blessings on each of them. Ah Dai moved closer to Xuan Yue and asked worriedly, "Yue Yue, you don’t look so good. Are you not feeling well? Or is maintaining the connection with space magic too taxing?"
Xuan Yue shook her head and said, "I’m not feeling unwell. Although maintaining the connection with spirit magic does consume some of my power, the energy contained within the Phoenix’s Blood is supporting me, so it doesn’t affect me much. However, this place is full of death and evil aura, which is discomforting. Don’t you feel oppressed?"
Ah Dai looked blank, then shook his head and said, "Evil? I don’t feel it. Except for the sky getting darker, isn’t everything else the same?" Despite the unease in his heart, he hadn’t felt the scenario as Xuan Yue described.
Xuan Yue looked at Ah Dai quizzically as if she realized something, "Ah, so that’s why..." Realization flashed across her previously curious gaze. Gripping Ah Dai’s hand, she said, "I understand now. Even though this aura is evil, when compared to that Sword of Hades you possess, known to be the most sinister, it pales in comparison. Regular usage of the Sword of Hades and conflicts with the evil aura it contains, coupled with the vigorous life force of your True Qi, you would naturally have resistance against the evil aura and hence don’t feel uncomfortable. One more thing, I must remind you, once we enter the Death Mountain Range, no matter what kind of danger we face, you must not use the Sword of Hades."
A puzzled Ah Dai asked, "Why can’t I use the Sword of Hades? With my current mastery, I can basically control its evil aura, it won’t harm the group."
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