Chapter 181

A moment of silence.

Translation: "A moment of silence."

The curved blade on Lao Dao Feng's head slowed its rotation, moving slowly like a lazy, full-fed poisonous python, shifting its massive body.

Note: The phrase likely contains a typo; it probably means 'the curved blade on the top of Lao Dao Feng's head'. Translation: 'The curved blade on Lao Dao Feng's head slowed its rotation, moving slowly like a lazy, full-fed poisonous python, shifting its massive body.'

We need to keep meaning. Let's translate: "The curved blade on Lao Dao Feng's head slowed its rotation, moving slowly like a lazy, satiated poisonous python, slowly shifting its massive body."

Note: The original line describes the blade on Lao Dao Feng's head slowing its rotation, moving slowly like a lazy, satiated poisonous python, shifting its massive body. Translation: 'The curved blade on Lao Dao Feng's head slowed its rotation, moving slowly like a lazy, satiated poisonous python, slowly shifting its massive body.'

The sharp aura around them vanished, and hundreds of tiny fireflies fell from the sky, swirling and dancing around everyone.

Translation: "The surrounding sharp qi vanished, and hundreds of tiny fireflies fell from the sky, fluttering around the crowd."

From far away, a dull, earth‑shaking thunder explosion could be heard.

Translation: "From far away, a muffled explosion of opening-the-mountain thunder could be heard."

The slave cannon fodder of the Golden Wraiths launched another attack.

Translation: "The Gold Undead's slave cannon fodder launched another attack."

Lao Dao Feng narrowed his eyes at Doria, and after a while he reached out; a firefly landed on his palm, its tail's glow flickering and illuminating a small patch of skin on his hand.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng squinted at Duo Li Ya. After a while, he reached out, and a firefly landed on his palm, its tail's fluorescence flickering, illuminating a small patch of skin on his palm."

"My Blood Saber... recently we lost a batch of elite personnel." Lao Dao Feng said in a low voice: "Although we received our due compensation, losing those few experts from the War Hall still weakened our strength."

Translation: "\"My Blood Curved Blade... recently lost a batch of elite personnel. \" Lao Dao Feng said in a deep voice: \"Although we received our due compensation, the loss of those experts from the War Hall still weakened our strength. \""

Lao Dao Feng said solemnly: "That's why these past few days we haven't launched a full‑scale clash with the Golden Wraiths; instead we've been reorganizing our troops, recruiting personnel, and restoring our weakened strength."

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng said in a deep voice: \"That's why, these past few days, we haven't launched a full-scale conflict with the Gold Undead; instead, we've been organizing our troops and recruiting personnel to restore our weakened strength. \""

Doria smiled and nodded: "I actually already foresaw your assault on the Golden Wraiths' sniper squad... This is the perfect pretext for war, and also the perfect cover... Who would believe that you lost so many people and yet could still join forces with the Golden Wraiths?"

Translation: "Duo Li Ya smiled and nodded: \"I actually already foresaw your attack on the Gold Undead's sniper squad... This is the best pretext for war, and also the best cover... Who would believe that you lost so many people and still could join forces with the Gold Undead? \""

Lao Dao Feng snorted: "That makes sense... but we still lost so many capable men. Let me see your sincerity; use your sincerity to earn my trust."

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng snorted: \"That's the reasoning... but we still lost so many experts... Let me see your sincerity; use your sincerity to exchange for my trust. \""

Lao Dao Feng, who had been sitting in the big chair, stood up and stepped toward Doria, narrowing his eyes at his handsome, pale face: "Words from a pretty face are untrustworthy; all pretty faces deserve to die... So how will you earn my trust?"

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng, who had been sitting in the big chair, stood up and stepped toward Duo Li Ya, squinting at his handsome pale face: \"Words from a pretty face are untrustworthy; all pretty faces deserve to die... So, how will you earn my trust? \""

Doria smiled and opened the beast‑skin book with a golden cover.

Translation: "Duo Li Ya smiled and opened the beast-skin book with a golden cover."

Thumb‑sized golden runes leapt out one by one from the beast‑skin book with difficulty, gradually assembling above Doria's head into a golden formation over three feet wide and long.

Translation: "Thumb-sized golden runes jumped out of the beast-skin book with difficulty, gradually assembling above Duo Li Ya's head into a golden formation over three feet wide."

A flash of golden light, and all the golden runes exploded, turning into specks of golden light that drifted down.

Translation: "A flash of golden light, and all the golden runes exploded, turning into specks of golden light that drifted down."

A three‑foot‑wide beast skin drifted down from above Doria's head; he pointed, and a beam of white light lifted the skin, letting it hover before Lao Dao Feng.

Translation: "A three-foot-wide beast skin drifted down from above Duo Li Ya's head; he pointed, and a beam of white light lifted the skin, letting it hover before Lao Dao Feng."

"This is an ancient ruin I found through divination. Coincidentally, its entrance lies within your Blood Saber's territory." Doria laughed, his eyes narrowing: "Inside there is danger, but also great fortune..."

Translation: "\"This is a primeval relic I found through prophecy technique. Coincidentally, its entrance lies within your Blood Curved Blade's territory. \" Duo Li Ya smiled, eyes narrowing: \"Inside, there is danger, but also great fortune... \""

Doria took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I faintly sense that inside there is a treasure that could let you break through the Life Pool realm and enter the next wondrous stage... Could this represent my sincerity? Could it earn your trust?"

Translation: "Duo Li Ya took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: \"I faintly sense that inside there exists a treasure that could let you break through the Life Pool Realm and enter the next wondrous realm... Could this represent my sincerity? Could it earn your trust? \""

Lao Dao Feng's body trembled slightly, and he stared wide‑eyed at Doria in shock.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng's body trembled slightly, and he stared wide-eyed at Duo Li Ya in shock."

"Our Blood Saber has been rooted here for hundreds of years... Every inch of this land has been turned over by those rat pups... You say there is an entrance to an ancient ruin here?" Lao Dao Feng's tone grew especially harsh.

Translation: "\"Our Blood Curved Blade has been rooted here for hundreds of years... Every inch of this land has been dug up by those rat pups... You say there's an entrance to a primeval relic here? \" Lao Dao Feng's tone turned especially harsh."

"Those rat pups don't have my divination skills." Doria looked confidently at Lao Dao Feng: "Why don't we go look?"

Translation: "\"Those rat pups don't have my prophecy technique, which is useful. \" Duo Li Ya confidently looked at Lao Dao Feng: \"Why don't we go take a look? \""

Lao Dao Feng and He Weng exchanged a quick glance.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng and He Weng exchanged a quick glance."

Their eyes flickered, as if they were conveying much information through their centuries‑long tacit understanding.

Translation: "Their eyes flickered, as if they were conveying much information through their centuries of tacit understanding."

After a while, Lao Dao Feng slowly nodded: "You must come with us... and the Golden Wraiths must not seize the opportunity to launch a full‑scale attack... If they make any move, you're dead."

Translation: "After a while, Lao Dao Feng slowly nodded: \"You must come with us... and, the Gold Undead side must not launch a full-scale attack while we're gone... If they make any move, you're dead. \""

Doria nodded seriously: "When I arrived I already told them that unless I return, they won't launch a full‑scale assault... Of course, the slaves' harassing attacks won't stop, after all we want to give the neighboring folks some excitement."

Translation: "Duo Li Ya seriously nodded: \"When I came, I already told them that unless I return, they won't launch a full-scale attack... Of course, the slaves' harassing attacks won't stop, after all, we want to show the neighboring folks some excitement. \""

Lao Dao Feng then laughed.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng then laughed."

He pondered for a moment, then immediately named several people.

Translation: "He pondered for a moment, then immediately named several people."

He Weng, Tang Seven, Niu Man and other senior members of the Blood Saber were left behind at the garrison to monitor and defend against the Golden Wraiths.

Translation: "He Weng, Tang Qi, Niu Man and other high-ranking members of the Blood Curved Blade were left by him at the garrison to monitor and defend against the Gold Undead."

And the newly joined Wu Tie, along with a few of Lao Dao Feng's direct subordinates, he ordered them to muster an elite force, follow the route on the beast‑skin map, and seek the entrance to that ancient ruin.

Translation: "And the newly joined Wu Tie, along with a few of Lao Dao Feng's personal elite, he ordered them to muster a select force, following the route on the beast-skin paper, to seek the entrance of that primeval relic."

A faint whisper sounded in Wu Tie's ear: "Gun Ye, your task is to keep a constant watch on Doria."

Translation: "A faint sound sounded beside Wu Tie's ear: \"Qiang Ye, your task is to keep constant watch on Duo Li Ya. \""

Wu Tie glanced at Lao Dao Feng.

Translation: "Wu Tie looked at Lao Dao Feng."

The one transmitting the voice was clearly Lao Dao Feng.

Translation: "The one sending the voice transmission was clearly Lao Dao Feng."

Having him, a newcomer who just joined, be responsible for watching Doria?

Translation: "To have this newly joined newcomer be responsible for watching Duo Li Ya to death?"

And to have him participate in excavating the ancient ruin instead of staying outside to monitor the Golden Wraiths?

Translation: "And to let him participate in excavating the primeval relic, rather than staying outside to monitor the Gold Undead?"

Wu Tie silently sneered, thinking that Lao Dao Feng's trust in "Gun Ye" is also limited—after all, his joining the Blood Saber was too conveniently timed, appearing exactly at this critical juncture.

Translation: "Wu Tie secretly sneered, thinking that Lao Dao Feng's trust in 'Qiang Ye' was also limited—after all, his joining the Blood Curved Blade was too coincidental, appearing right at this critical juncture."

Lao Dao Feng didn't let him stay outside but placed him under his own eyelids—this is the right choice.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng didn't let him stay outside, but placed him under his own eyelids—this was the correct choice."

Especially having him monitor Doria—putting it bluntly, this means "Gun Ye" and Doria are both under everyone's surveillance.

Translation: "Especially having him monitor Duo Li Ya—put bluntly, this meant letting 'Qiang Ye' and Duo Li Ya both fall under everyone's surveillance."

"Gun Ye" if he sincerely joined the Blood Saber, he could naturally restrain Doria's movements.

Translation: "\"If 'Qiang Ye' sincerely joined the Blood Curved Blade, he could naturally restrain Duo Li Ya's movements. \""

If he colluded with Doria, and they ever showed any abnormality, Lao Dao Feng still has all these people with him.

Translation: "\"If he colluded with Duo Li Ya, and they ever made any move, Lao Dao Feng still has all these people with him. \""

From all directions, shadows loomed as the Blood Saber's finest troops were mobilized; they activated various hidden forts and mechanisms in the stone‑pillar forest, set up all kinds of warning systems, and even activated some massive‑consumption formations.

Translation: "From all directions, shadows loomed as the Blood Curved Blade's finest troops were mobilized; they activated various hidden forts and mechanisms in the Stone Pillar Forest, triggered various warning systems, and even activated some massive-consumption formations."

The entire core area of the Blood Saber turned into a huge killing trap, while Lao Dao Feng led Wu Tie and others toward the small lake beside the stone‑pillar forest.

Translation: "The core area of the Blood Curved Blade turned into a huge killing trap, while Lao Dao Feng led Wu Tie and others all the way to the small lake beside the Stone Pillar Forest."

This small lake, spanning a dozen li, is ordinary; beneath it lie river mouths and several yin rivers connected, so the water remains full year‑round, containing abundant aquatic products that can be harvested all year, making it the Blood Saber's most vital water source and an important food source.

Translation: "This small lake, a dozen li in radius, is ordinary; below it have river mouths connecting to several Yin Rivers, so the water stays full year-round, containing abundant aquatic products that can be fished constantly—it is the Blood Curved Blade's most important water source and also a vital food source."

Lao Dao Feng brought a group of old brothers; after a bloody slaughter hundreds of years ago, he wiped out the forces that originally occupied this place, founded the Blood Saber, and set the headquarters here.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng brought a group of old brothers; after experiencing a bloody slaughter hundreds of years ago, he wiped out the forces originally occupying this place, founded the Blood Curved Blade, and set the headquarters here."

Over the centuries, Lao Dao Feng has also organized people to dive into the lake bottom, but aside from some aquatic plants and large numbers of fish, shrimp, turtles and crabs, and occasional water snakes and pythons washed in from the yin rivers, there is nothing else abnormal in this small lake.

Translation: "Over the centuries, Lao Dao Feng also organized people to dive into the lake bottom, but aside from some aquatic plants and large numbers of fish, shrimp, turtles and crabs, and occasionally water snakes and pythons washed down from the Yin Rivers, the small lake held nothing else unusual."

Even the mouths of those yin rivers are only about a meter in diameter; even if the yin rivers held terrifying giant creatures, they could not enter the lake through such tiny openings.

Translation: "Even the mouths of those Yin Rivers are only a few feet in diameter; even if the Yin Rivers held terrifying giant beasts, they could not enter the small lake through such tiny openings."

Thus, over time, Lao Dao Feng and his men also lost interest in this small lake.

Translation: "Thus, gradually, Lao Dao Feng and his men also lost interest in this small lake."

However, according to the beast‑skin map, the entrance to an ancient ruin lies deep in the lake's center.

Translation: "But according to the markings on the beast-skin paper, the entrance to a primeval relic lies deep in the lake's center."

After carefully selecting hundreds of elite warriors, even the weakest among them had attained the Gan Xuan realm; the group stepped onto the water's surface and reached the lake's center, where Lao Dao Feng pointed, releasing a surge of sharp energy that tore open a waterless passage dozens of meters wide, extending straight down a hundred meters to the lakebed.

Translation: "After carefully selecting hundreds of elite warriors, the weakest of whom had Guan Xuan Realm cultivation, the group stepped onto the water and reached the lake's center; then Lao Dao Feng pointed, and a burst of sharp qi shot out, forcibly tearing open a waterless passage dozens of meters wide that extended straight down a hundred meters to the lakebed."

"Down there?" Lao Dao Feng asked Doria in a low voice.

Translation: "\"Down there? \" Lao Dao Feng asked in a deep voice."

"Down there... we'd have to dig through thousands of meters of sand and rock, and there are some barriers I couldn't see clearly." Doria smiled: "But my divination is absolutely correct—it's right down there."

Translation: "\"Down there... we'd have to dig through thousands of meters of sand and rock layers, and there are some barriers I couldn't make out. \" Duo Li Ya laughed: \"But my prophecy is absolutely correct—it's right down there. \""

Lao Dao Feng then nodded.

Translation: "Lao Dao Feng then nodded."

He pointed to a rat‑man standing behind him; the rat‑man's fur was mottled, with patches of grayish‑white, aged skin covered in liver spots. He nodded and slowly descended nearly a hundred meters, landing directly on the lakebed's sand and stone.

Translation: "He pointed to a rat person standing behind him; that rat person, its fur mottled with patches of grayish-white, old-man spots covering its aged skin, nodded and slowly descended nearly a hundred meters, landing directly on the lakebed's sand and stone."

This rat‑man's breath had faded to the extreme; evidently his lifespan was nearly over.

Translation: "That rat person's breath had waned to the extreme; evidently its lifespan was nearly over."

Yet his magical fluctuations remained vigorous—clearly at the first or second tier of the Chong Lou realm; for a weak race like rat‑men, reaching Chong Lou is already extraordinary, a great fortune.

Translation: "Yet his magical fluctuations remained vigorous—clearly at the level of the first or second tier of the Chonglou Realm; for a weak race like rat people, reaching the Chonglou Realm is already extraordinarily fortunate."

The rat‑man chanted a spell; a puff of grayish‑yellow earth energy burst from behind him, sand and stone rolled, and a nimble little rat phantom shot out, then dove swiftly underground.

Translation: "The rat person chanted an incantation, and a wave of yellowish-gray earth qi burst from behind it; as the sand and stone tumbled, a nimble tiny rat phantom shot out and dove swiftly underground."

With a "hiss" sound, a circular pit several meters in diameter appeared on the lakebed's sand and stone, its walls smooth as a mirror.

Translation: "With a 'hiss', a round pit several meters in diameter appeared on the lakebed's sand and stone, its walls smooth as a mirror."

Accompanied by a "hiss‑hiss" sound, the pit extended straight downward; in just a dozen breaths it had pierced through over six thousand meters of sand, soil, and rock.

Translation: "Accompanied by a 'hiss-hiss' sound, the pit extended straight downward; in just a dozen breaths, it had pierced through over six thousand meters of sand, soil, and rock."

With a "ding" sound, the little rat phantom that had darted out behind the rat‑man grabbed onto a smooth black stone with its claw.

Translation: "With a 'ding', the tiny rat phantom that had shot out from behind the rat person grabbed onto a smooth black stone with a claw."

The stone's surface sprayed fine sparks; immediately, the seemingly extremely hard black stone began to undulate like water, and the little rat phantom, not paying attention, sank into the black stone.

Translation: "The stone's surface sprayed a fine spray of sparks; immediately, the seemingly extremely hard black stone began to undulate like water, and the tiny rat phantom carelessly fell into it."

The rat‑man spat out a mouthful of blood; his already patchy, balding fur fell out in large clumps, and it looked like he would soon be completely hairless.

Translation: "The rat person spat out a mouthful of blood with a 'wah', and its already patchy, balding fur fell off in large chunks, looking as if it would soon be completely hairless."

"Boss...... there really is a ghost down there." The rat-man widened his eyes and shouted loudly.

"Let's go take a look." Lao Dao Feng's eyes gleamed; he waved his hand, and the large troupe all stepped onto the void, swiftly falling downward.

Duo Li Ya stepped on a patch of white light, closely following Lao Dao Feng.

Wu Tie's feet were shrouded in rolling smoke clouds; he stuck close to Duo Li Ya, hardly leaving his side, squinting as he sized him up from head to toe.

Perhaps it was because Wu Tie's gaze was too fervent, but Duo Li Ya remained calm and composed; however, after being stared at by Wu Tie for too long, he finally couldn't stand it, turned his head and smiled at Wu Tie: "I bear no ill will toward the Blood Curved Blade… I haven't deceived you…"

"Yellow hair, quite rare. And blue eyes are also uncommon. Where are you from?" Wu Tie gripped the White Tiger Split with both hands, staring intently at Duo Li Ya's handsome face.

Duo Li Ya pursed his lips; Wu Tie enacted the blunt, crude, unreasonable bearing expected of a mixed-blood half-dragon to perfection.

Knowing the traits of the dragonfolk, Duo Li Ya understood that there was nothing to say to this savage lot.

He sighed, and Duo Li Ya said softly: "Does it matter where I come from?"

"If you don't talk, I'll beat you." Wu Tie grinned: "Gun Grandpa despises those who beat around the bush… If you're a man, just speak plainly…"

Lao Dao Feng, who was leading the way ahead and swiftly falling downward, narrowed his eyes and smiled.

He heard Wu Tie and Duo Li Ya's conversation clearly; he couldn't help but inwardly cheer for Wu Tie's words. For a scheming pretty-boy like Duo Li Ya, pure violence is the way to go!

If not for his position, Lao Dao Feng would surely have told Wu Tie to give Duo Li Ya a beating.

First beat him half to death, then Lao Dao Feng steps in to apologize, lightly scolds Wu Tie a few times, gives that pretty-boy a few gold coins for medical expenses… Oh yeah, everything is perfect just like that!

All pretty-boys deserve to be beaten to death!

Of course, as the chief of the Blood Curved Blade, Lao Dao Feng certainly couldn't directly tell Wu Tie to do that.

The lake-water passage split open by Lao Dao Feng's sharp qi collapsed; after the water churned for a while, it returned to normal.

Lao Dao Feng, face grim, led a group swiftly into the rat-people's dug pit. Several Chonglou Realm experts of the Blood Curved Blade stayed at the cave mouth, using their divine abilities to condense a thick layer of ice at the entrance.

A hundred meters of lake water covered the cave mouth, leaving no light inside the tunnel.

Wu Tie let out a muffled grunt; he flicked his left hand—Boom! —and a large fireball about a meter in diameter appeared above his head, lighting up the surroundings.

Several Life Pool Realm experts beside Lao Dao Feng also acted almost simultaneously, producing various strange objects—lamps, torches, candlesticks, fire basins—each emitting strong light, illuminating the entire tunnel that stretched thousands of meters deep.

Many people glanced at the large fireball above Wu Tie's head.

Duo Li Ya also nodded in awe: "I've heard the dragonfolk are innately gifted with powerful control over fire and magma; indeed impressive."

Wu Tie snorted coldly and said nothing more.

What Duo Li Ya referred to were the fire-dragons among the dragonfolk; their control over fire and magma is an innate talent. However, the true dragonfolk comprise many tribes, and their strengths are not limited to fire and magma control.

But this has nothing to do with Wu Tie, since he isn't a true dragonfolk.

Everyone had arrived at the bottom of the tunnel, standing above that smooth-as-a-mirror black rock stratum.

Lao Dao Feng gave a soft shout; a Profound Perception Realm werewolf swung his wolf-tooth club and struck the rock stratum.

After a tremendous boom, sparks flew everywhere; the refined steel-forged wolf-tooth club's serrated teeth shattered, then the rock stratum undulated like water, sucking the werewolf's wolf-tooth club into it; a huge force pulled his body downward several feet, he hastily let go, watching helplessly as his club was swallowed by the rock and vanished without a trace.

"Looks like there's really something strange here." Lao Dao Feng's voice carried a hint of frenzy.

"This place is very likely an ancient relic." Lao Dao Feng grew so excited his face flushed.

Ancient relics mean wealth, inheritance, great power; in this chaotic world they mean authority and status.

Of course, ancient relics are also full of danger, full of all kinds of unimaginable beings.

To explore ancient relics, one must be mentally prepared for death.

"Duo Li Ya, this is the relic's entrance… What do you think we should do?" Lao Dao Feng flew up a few meters to reach Duo Li Ya's height, then asked him earnestly and enthusiastically.