Chapter 166: Seeing What One Should Not See

Just like the many civilizations in the real world, different races have different strengths, different levels of technology, and different surrounding environments, which often leads to different styles of housing.

But whether it's the dogfolk's rubble piles, the ox‑headed folk's log cabins, or the batfolk's cliffside caves, they are all understandable architectural designs.

But this one in front of me…

Could it be that a group of enormously sized giant ants also lives on this underground plain?

Leaving aside what combat power a magnified insect would have, just thinking of the un‑magnified southern giant cockroach…

Thinking that, he quickly opened the map and checked it.

Fortunately, the white dots gathered here are actually just a group of gnomes.

Unlike the medical condition in reality, in the fantasy world "gnome" is the name of a race.

They are optimistic and clever, natural inventors, and many mechanical constructs and magical arrays involve their designs and participation.

But their bodies are too fragile, with low strength and agility, and essentially no profession offers much room for development.

Thus gnomes are a peculiar species that lies between "subhumans", "humans", and "spirit‑people".

The powerful can be on brotherly terms with elves and dwarves, while the weak just roll away and sit at a table with goblins.

And to be able to successfully build such a large settlement structure on the unstable underground plain.

It seems that although this group of gnomes is overall comparable in strength to the molefolk, their engineering and manufacturing abilities are probably also impressive.

If the players had been a bit smarter during the internal test and managed to befriend them…

Thinking of the various device schematics still posted on the dogfolk village bulletin board, Ji Ming can already imagine what kind of crazy gear future players will wield to "forge new lands".

Leaving the valley, the vegetation gradually faded, replaced by a field of jagged strange rocks.

Seeing no one around, Ji Ming decided to test the power of his new skill.

So he set up a stone as a target and stood more than twenty meters away.

Calm and composed, the divine technique was naturally activated successfully.

With almost no wind‑up, he only felt his eyes warm slightly, and two beams of light shot out immediately.

But because it was a test, Ji Ming didn't pour much divine power, so the laser eyes lasted only an instant before vanishing.

He walked over to inspect and found that the stone already bore a scorching through‑mark.

And because he shook slightly when activating, what remained there was not a small hole but a crack.

With that power, if it hit a person they'd end up with a blue patch and a purple patch…

He was still calculating when he suddenly noticed that a spot on the cross‑section seemed different in material from the rest.

Since the stone was already cracked, he used his long‑handled shovel to pry it open.

When he looked closely, he realized it was a raw crystal.

Moreover, although the crystal was highly transparent, it contained faint threads of blue, giving it a very uncanny appearance.

Ji Ming rubbed his temples: "Whoa, what is this thing?"

The next moment his eyes felt a chill, and a message suddenly appeared in his mind.

Low‑purity magical crystal, can store magical energy.

Estimated price: one gold coin…

Huh?

Ji Ming's heart stirred, and he looked down at the shovel in his hand.

Super Invincible Supreme Flashy Ultimate Shovel.

Crafted by the system with the aid of a supreme deity's power, it never erodes, never gets lost, never breaks.

Because it is bound to Ji Ming, its estimated value is zero.

Although the system can help open anyone's panel, the item lacks similar detailed information.

So this so‑called "Saint's Judgment" not only attacks but also has a "one‑glance truth‑determination" effect?

Come to think of it, you have to determine the nature before judgment; you can't pass a verdict when you don't even know what the person is.

Putting the unexpected one‑gold‑coin treasure into storage, Ji Ming immediately began searching to see if any of its companions were nearby,

However, this magical crystal seemed to be an exception; he searched far and opened several more stones, but couldn't find a second one.

Instead, while passing a patch of grass growing in a stone crack, he suddenly heard an inexplicable rustle.

The branches were brushed aside, and a nosy figure poked its head out from within.

A humanoid but extremely short body, with a doll‑like face sporting a pretended mature beard.

From the two wild rabbits he dragged behind him, it must be a gnome responsible for hunting.

So…

Since divine sanction can appraise items, can it appraise people?

If it can, would the information match the panel the system provides, or would there be differences?

As a pharmacist, Ji Ming felt a surge of curiosity.

After all, if something really went wrong, he could just hand it over to Xi Er Wei Ya for resurrection.

So he had no mental burden and directly activated on the gnome:

Obey, let me have a look!

Then…

He held his breath, slipped away, ran for over a hundred meters, and only stopped upon reaching a soft meadow.

He lay down calmly, taking a deep breath.

"Ahhh, I'm blind!!!"

Covering his eyes, he rolled on the ground nonstop.

As a controllable laser eye, this thing actually has a third effect that shouldn't exist!

Can't use it, can't use it, the effect is too strong; even the High God can't contain it!

Using a strong will to suppress the mental shadow, Ji Ming struggled to crawl up from the ground.

"Better not mess with these crooked paths, let's get to work…"

Returning to the Rubble Beach, although the ground is littered with broken stones, many larger flat areas have formed.

Thus, beside a spring, a not‑small, powerful Tribe occupies a considerable area.

Ji Ming glanced from afar and saw that a large group of Lizard People were entrenched here.

Their technological level is decent; all houses are built by stacking mud mixed with stones, making them fairly sturdy.

The population isn't small either; excluding those hidden inside the houses, there are already over two hundred busy tribe members outside.

With such combat power, if they fought the Bat People—another powerful Tribe—discarding some crude tactics that rely on flying, the Lizard People would definitely gain the upper hand.

Therefore.

Ji Ming can already imagine how foreign netizens will comment on this scaly‑headed bunch once the beta opens.

— "Thick Gift Crab, how many Facebook pages will this spawn!"

The underground water in the north is clearly more abundant than in the south; before leaving the rubble, the streams have already merged into a river with a decent flow.

Continuing eastward, at the edge of this barren land, vegetation grows wildly as if in revenge.

Thus, although underground flora is generally sparse, this place is an exception.

Looking up, the towering canopies touch each other, dense enough to rival the Dark Forest.

Moreover, the once‑raging river suddenly disappears here, hidden underground.

Such thriving, otherworldly scenery, yet Ji Ming's brows gradually knit.

— Just like Sacred Tree Lake, even in a fantasy world, this cannot be a product of natural evolution!

And compared with the essentially pure, unpolluted southern plains, why is the north so flamboyant?

Could there be masters?

Geographically, this dense jungle sits opposite the Ox-headed People's Iron Hoof Tribe.

Thus, those living here are the One‑eyed Giants of the Magic Spirit Tribe, indeed a group of "masters".

Although their Tribe's population is smaller than that of moles and dwarves, each individual is of extremely high quality.

Not only does every member possess magical affinity, being natural mages, but due to being giants, their vitality is also remarkably strong.

Hence this unusually lush forest, irrigated by massive water sources, is likely their masterpiece.

To shape their home in such an exaggerated way and hide it within—what a grand gesture…

Since we're already here, we can't just wander around and leave; even if danger arises, we can teleport away.

Treating it as a tour, Ji Ming, eager to explore, walked straight in.

But upon entering, he found that under the giant trees it wasn't actually dark.

On the contrary, because almost all vegetation can bioluminesce, it's a few shades brighter than the Dark Forest in daylight.

As a half‑mage, Ji Ming sensed the magical currents in the air unusually active.

Even after pulling out that magic crystal, he could feel it gently warming—a sign that magical energy is being infused.

It seems the One‑eyed Giants live here for a reason; such a strange place, if dwelled in long‑term, would surely benefit body and mind.

If they were elves, they'd probably build treehouses atop the giant trees and use vines to make bridges.

But however clever the One‑eyed Giants are, their size and weight are inevitably large, so their houses can only be anchored to the roots.

Unlike the Iron Hoof Tribe, these wooden houses, under magical influence, grow directly from the trees themselves, appearing both more natural and more artificial.

Although there are chirping insects, the forest is quieter than Ji Ming imagined.

He walked several more steps forward before finally seeing a One‑eyed Giant.

From the back, she looks like an enlarged woman; only when you circle to the front do you notice her face has only one eye.

Thus, unlike some cultural depictions, she doesn't appear that barbaric; rather, her great wisdom makes her seem sagacious and civilized.

Unfortunately, after staying in the otherworld so long, Ji Ming has become somewhat desensitized to large things; this "small" one is underwhelming.

He intended to leave like that, but at that moment, another One‑eyed Giant turned around at the crossroads.

Although similar in size, this One‑eyed Giant's attire is clearly not as good as the woman's.

Moreover, upon seeing her, he immediately cleared a path and humbly bowed.

Sss…

Could it be that the random NPC I met is actually a minor noble?

Seeing her hurrying like that, could something have happened in the Tribe?

As their future friendly neighbor, I have to join the excitement.

So Ji Ming pivoted his foot, relying on his talisman shield, and stealthily followed.

Although this is a Tribe, for some reason the One‑eyed Giants don't live very densely.

Every so often a solitary house appears, giving a sort of villa‑district vibe.

Just like their clothing differences, some One‑eyed Giants reside in two‑story houses, others only in single‑room dwellings.

At first Ji Ming thought this correlated with their wealth, but after closely examining everyone's panels, he found it wasn't.

What determines their housing floors and attire is actually their rank; the higher the rank, the better the resources.

For example, Waliya, who has been following him, as a level‑23 official mage, can be roughly considered a noble of the Tribe.

Along the way, everyone bows to her; even if she smiles in response, she never lowers her head.

Thus, when she reaches the forest's center, in front of a towering four‑story building, knocking while calling for her father, Ji Ming feels a bit like a winner.

Can't blame me; I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, they shoved the big secret into my mouth…

But just as Ji Ming, tailing Waliya, successfully slipped into the house, he suddenly sensed a sharp gaze.

It was a figure sitting on the chair at the very center of the hall, as strong as a deity statue.

But the gaze lingered only a moment before growing vague; Wa Li Ya noticed her father's odd complexion and asked.

"Father, is something wrong?"

Ba Di Si Te rubbed his forehead, and bright light of magic flickered in his eyes.

"No, perhaps I didn't rest well last night, and my mind is a bit sluggish for a while…"

Ji Ming let out a slight sigh of relief and slipped silently into the shadows.

As the chief of the Magic Spirit Tribe, Ba Di Si Te was, after all, a level‑41 senior mage.

And what about himself? No matter how many odd skills he had, on the surface he was merely a level‑13 apprentice alchemist.

Relying on the Breath‑Seal Symbol, he could conceal his form before him, revealing only a fleeting glimpse, which was already a defying‑heaven cheat.

However, he inadvertently measured the concealment limit of the Breath‑Seal Symbol.

Later, when going to Dean An De Lu's house to collect supplies, he could relax a bit.

Ji Ming was silently calculating, while the two in the hall had already begun their conversation.

"Please, sit first."

Ba Di Si Te was probably the more open‑minded parent, not rushing to ask about matters, but first expressing concern.

"I see you wear a frown, yet your expression is still decent; what, were you bullied on this diplomatic mission?"

"Our Magic Spirit Tribe is so powerful; how could those humans dare to bully me?"

Wa Li Ya shook her head.

"I just feel their smiles are especially false; they're probably lying to me."

"My daughter, although intuition is indeed important, sometimes it can be deceptive."

Ba Di Si Te gave a slight smile and began his unhurried narration.

"Just like earlier, I kept feeling there was a third person present, but when I examined closely, it turned out to be merely an illusion."

"If we always become anxious about gain and loss over such matters and waste a great deal of time pondering these meaningless things, that would be true stupidity."

The shameless peeper nearby:?

No, I think it's better for you to be a bit anxious about gain and loss...