Chapter 112: Under the Same Starry Sky

The Machine Folk are said to be an ancient race buried in history.

Unlike their mechanical-appearing armor, they are not machines at all, but alchemical creations similar to Kusla.

Or put another way, most are magical constructs or silicon-based beings forged by divine or magical power.

They once had a brilliant civilization and were not entirely wiped out; most survivors fled to the Machine Realm, an outer plane largely controlled by metallic lifeforms.

"She should still be alive—at least her soulfire is still burning. The Hall of Heroic Spirits awakened her, but if she's been left too long, it's hard to say."

Ancient races have stepped off the stage of history—some went to so-called other worlds, while others remained, or returned to the Prime Plane for various reasons.

The Underworld is a gathering place for all kinds of descendants; hiding underground may be a good way to evade the hunting and revenge of dominant races—there are many descendants and returnees.

It's only natural that the Underworld harbors evil species like Mind Flayers and Liches—not because they prefer to live here, but because their reputations are so foul that appearing on the surface equals declaring war.

They came from outer planes and the Plane of Death; the Underworld is safer.

From Kuku's feedback, this Machine Folk is not a returnee but a survivor, and is likely now in the race's special "hibernation mode."

Mortal life has no immortality; she could remain in stasis for a long time in her "refrigerator," but once removed, she would rot quickly. If left unattended and beginning to awaken, she would likely die for real soon.

"Probably right here! Yes! This spot." Kuku pondered, pointing to a coordinate on the map—a region outside Mosodilka City, seemingly a cave system in a rock face.

Leaving the city? This undoubtedly gave the temporary squad a headache.

There are still crowds outside the inn, and even this street is hard to exit—how are we supposed to leave the city?

It's not that we can't force our way out, but we still have urgent matters to handle; breaking out is easy, but coming back is hard.

"I can teleport people here. No magical fluctuations—most wards can't block it." Many large cities have similar anti-teleportation wards, but "The Snake's" ability can pierce through them directly.

The smiling Violet Rose pointed to a corner outside the city.

"My 'Return Spell' can lock onto a maximum of five coordinates. Indeed, leaving markers along the way is a good habit."

Seasoned veteran adventurers really do surprise you at every turn.

With the destination confirmed, now comes personnel: Li En and Kuku are naturally going; Violet Rose is also very interested—this should be enough.

"Can I come too?" The voice that suddenly spoke was unexpected to everyone: Nocturna.

She is an extraordinary being, but her combat power is negligible.

"Opportunities like this are rare," she said, looking to her sister as if seeking support.

Larry thought for a moment, then nodded. "If Li En Senior goes, I go too. I'll protect Noona."

Well, that was utterly unsurprising.

With personnel now roughly settled, Shaliman glanced around and suddenly felt it might be safer to go along.

"I'll come too," the ambassador said outright, choosing to go treasure hunting.

Now the temporary embassy was truly left with only Liushou personnel.

At this moment, Li En noticed Kuku's cheerful humming and fell into thought.

Kuku was clearly impatient—he pulled out a miner's helmet, a pickaxe, and even found a pair of tattered overalls.

His eagerness to depart immediately looked less like a rescue mission and more like a treasure dig.

"No… maybe it really is treasure hunting," Li En finally realized.

There's no reason ancient Machine Folk would suddenly be buried here—this place is likely an ancient battlefield or ruin, and such places are the easiest to yield treasures.

He looked at Nocturna with a subtle expression—no wonder she's a professional merchant; her reaction is swift.

From just a few fragments of conversation, she sensed an opportunity and followed without hesitation—even if she gained nothing, bonding with the "Magic Girl boss" through treasure hunting was worth it.

He turned to Larry—how could such a clever family produce such a fool?

"Senior? Do you have something to assign me?" Noticing Li En's gaze, Larry immediately rushed over like a dog summoned by its master.

"... rotect your sister," Li En could only say—offer her encouragement.

Ten minutes later, accompanied by a hissing incantation, half the inn's guests simply vanished.

Twenty minutes later, every faction in Mosodilka City that had been watching this place received the news.

"These filthy surface-dwellers—they definitely had a backup plan," someone cursed, halting the dispatched assassins.

"Is this a statement that they can leave anytime?" After receiving the news, the city's ruler, Verna Tarabal, nodded in satisfaction.

At least for now, both sides who wish to avoid war stand on the same ground.

These unofficial allies being slightly stronger is a good thing—allowing certain families to act freely is also her own subtle test.

There are things she cannot interfere with directly; she even hopes Li En and his group will go on a bloody rampage.

"Perhaps I can create an opportunity for them—after establishing dominance, there'll be fewer troubles, and they'll move more easily within the city," the city's female countess seemed to be contemplating how to escalate tensions.

She had long wanted to change something.

While Li En's group set off joyfully on their treasure hunt, the second batch of candidates were also caught in confusion and busyness.

Amid the initial chaos, they quickly confirmed the truth—the knowledge crammed into their minds was undeniable reality.

They naturally began acting on their own: some verified last night's gains and started joyful self-study.

Others began covertly connecting through previously established contact methods.

While Li En set out on his journey, a private gathering among the candidates was taking place inside Mosodilka City.

"I never expected 'Poison Blade' would be your alias—is it because your sister is Black Blade?"

The alchemist Vitoria V. Uniel, the dark elf known as "Hand of the Sage," stared in surprise at the person entering the tavern's private room.

She never expected it would be this noblewoman entering the agreed-upon room.

After all, no one in the entire city failed to recognize the beautiful woman before her.

"I didn't expect the one who summoned me would be an Uniel—if anyone learned a Tarabal and an Uniel were meeting secretly, rumors would flood the city by tomorrow," said "Poison Blade" Alekne Tarabal, lowering her cloak with a sigh.

She never expected her designated "companion" would come from a rival family.

"You didn't know? I've been abandoned by my family."

"Ha, funny—I've been abandoned too."

Two disillusioned souls gathered, exchanging bitter smiles—but neither truly believed it.

Dark elves are likely the most skilled in intrigue and conspiracy in the entire world; even though internal strife has slightly lessened since the fall of Luo Si, the weak still cannot survive within their families.

Both were indeed peripheral figures in their respective families, but certainly not weak.

And they truly had to marvel at fate's cruel humor—because their families, Uniel and Tarabal, were the leaders of the hawk and dove factions respectively!

"Poison Blade" Alekne Tarabal was even the twin sister of City Ruler Verna Tarabal—older sister, not younger.

She was originally meant to lead the Tarabal family; her name, derived from the Spider God, reflected the family's high regard for her.

But fate played a cruel trick—when her sister, who carried divine blood, awakened, the designated city ruler became an outcast.

If Li En were here, he'd be startled by how similar their appearances were, yet how utterly different their demeanors.

Black Blade is an unstoppable blade; yet this woman calling herself "Poison Blade" is gentle and quiet, her aura nothing like a dark elf's.

They are twins—one a child of heaven, born at the endpoint of most beings' lives.

The other spent most of her time confined at home, with neither freedom of movement nor life.

Due to the mystical significance of twins, she was, in a sense, regarded as her sister's weakness.

Had it not been for her sister's will, she would have been executed long ago.

Suddenly, Vitoria felt this meeting had been too hasty.

"This is getting boring."

Unlike herself, who saw her family as a cage and was striving to escape, this woman—though beautiful and of special status—held little value.

She might even be an unexploded bomb that would bring great trouble.

Even though she despised dark elf ways and had long planned to "run away," Vitoria still unconsciously thought and judged like a dark elf.

She regretted meeting so recklessly.

A doll under strict guard is worse than a puppet—she can do so little; her intelligence shouldn't be leaked here.

If nothing unexpected happens, this conversation will end here (dark elves rarely drink or tea during secret meetings due to widespread poison use).

Cooperation and alliances require equal power—but at this moment, Alekne gritted her teeth and revealed a secret.

"I know the true identities of those surface candidates—they're in this city too." Her special status had its advantages; she had seen Shaliman's group's files and had locked onto them through certain means.

"Oh? Then we can discuss cooperation—what do you want?" This information was indeed highly valuable; Vitoria smiled.

"Help me break free from my family—I want freedom," the noblewoman stated her ultimate goal.

"Heh. Fine." The smile held no sincerity.

This agreement was grossly unequal—helping the "weakness" of a god-blooded heir escape surveillance and house arrest? Vitoria had no desire to die so foolishly.

"Help me gain power—power over my own future."

"How coincidental—I want the same. Perhaps we can cooperate further." Two seekers of power and change, chosen by the Hall of Heroic Spirits—this was only natural.

They swore an oath and became each other's partners.

Beneath the same starry sky, within the same rocky cavern, all the candidates began to move.

The second batch of candidates were accustomed to the cruel Underworld—hesitation meant death—but one among them was even more unusual.

He—or it—had received his teacher's (Kuku's) orders early, and began his own journey with explosives, laborers from his clan, and a giant digging mushroom beast.

Glow-glo was a young mushroom, yet he longed for adventure and blue skies.

Behind him were Woom, Spore-spore, Grey-grey, and other colorless mushrooms (mushroom people communicate through vibration; their language often includes repeated syllables and buzzing onomatopoeia, leading to many homonyms).

Mushroom people have no secrets—when a good opportunity arises, everyone shares it.

"Teacher says mushroom people will have a bright future—I, Glow-glo, might even become a strong one and a traveler!"

Meanwhile, in a certain underground ruin, a one-eyed half-mechanical being struggled to crawl, seeking to free herself from the rubble.

But this deeply buried ruin was not just home to her—some of the "rejects" Li En had kicked out were also living and exploring here!

(End of Chapter)