Chapter 273: Dongfang Bazha

"This is no hot spring; it is called a Divination Pool. It is close to the Earth Vein Network here, and the pool water is almost entirely condensed from the Winds of Magic. Soaking in it helps me foresee the future. You Dwarfs are innately repelled by magic, so you simply cannot feel it."

Outelakesi was still able to monitor what Sinuoli was thinking, but this Demon Toad did not intend to delve deeper.

"You go now; I have already contacted Atike. The Geomantic Web allows us to communicate with one another. Tiaya Kua is the core of the Southlands' great web, and it is also one of the few places left intact."

Sinuoli bade farewell to the Slann and, after resting for a night, began his trek once more. Sinuoli had originally wanted to borrow some pack beasts or the like from Outelakesi to save his brothers some effort.

However, although the Lizardmen had many great beasts, the Bone Temple did not have any on display; all that existed here were Cold Ones. The Lizardmen's Cold Ones were the same model as those of the Dark Elves, but they were of the same kind by nature; there was no need to smear poison on oneself and endure the side effects in order to ride them.

But it was a pity that the Dwarfs had no way to gain the approval of those ill-tempered, dim-witted reptilian creatures. Making them pull a beast-drawn cart was also unrealistic, the main reason being that there were no carriage-accessible paths in the rainforest.

After a night of relaxation, Sinuoli and his clansmen set off again under the guidance of their guide. According to Outelakesi, this stretch of road was relatively safe, as Tiaya Kua had stronger control over its vicinity.

After a long period of torment, a larger-scale Shenmiaochengshi revealed its spires from the rainforest. Just as Sinuoli was pondering how to get past, a group of Skinks suddenly popped out from underground.

"Venerable Atike sent me to welcome you, travelers far from home."

The leading Priest could actually speak fluent Common, which gave Sinuoli a great shock. But upon second thought, it was normal; a Slann could completely project relevant knowledge through psychic resonance.

"Where did you lot pop out from?"

Sinuoli asked a question; he did not remember the Lizardmen having the ability to move underground in the game.

"Our tunnel construction predates the birth of you young races!" The Skink displayed the sense of superiority befitting one of the Eldest Children of the Old Ones. The Dwarf King shook his head and did not ask further, following them as they burrowed into the ground.

"Maintaining it with magic? Truly extravagant!"

Dwarfs were experts at digging holes. Sinuoli glanced at the tunnel wall and determined that this thing was not held up by physical structure. Because it was close to the Shenmiaochengshi, it could draw upon immense power through Geomantic Web architecture; the Slann of Tiaya Kua directly propped up the underground passage with magic power.

Without the detours of "seeing a mountain but running a horse to death," the team headed straight for the city. When they emerged from the tunnel, they were already before the city walls. The defensive measures of the Bone Temple were fences imbued with magic, but the ones here were much higher-class.

The city walls built of obsidian were already sturdy enough, and their surfaces were also inscribed with golden magic networks, which could better conduct magic and enhance defensive performance.

"Since I've come, I must see the landlord first!" Sinuoli thought to himself. He did not head straight for the Dongfang Bazha, but followed the greeter along the central avenue straight toward the pyramid.

The pyramid here was more magnificent than the one at the Bone Temple, and the security force was also stronger; Sinuoli saw a small group of Temple Guard. They were clad in heavy armor, leaning their finely polished two-handed Halberds, which were engraved with sacred inscriptions, against the ground.

What was even more attractive were the unique bone helmets they wore. This type of armor was made from the horned or bone-crested Skulls of large predatory animals from Lustria. They were passed down among the Temple Guard as sacred relics, and legend had it that the successor could obtain a portion of their predecessors' strength and combat skills from them.

The Temple Guard were unparalleled protectors. The sharp-eyed Dwarfs noticed that a thin layer of dust had already fallen upon them; it was feared they had already remained on guard for many years.

"Outelakesi told me about your affairs. In my view, to realize the Great Plan, one needs to unite the strength of all races. However, I hold reservations about its idea of contacting its kin on the other side of the big pond."

On the observatory, Lord Atike's body was draped in a silk coat, and the skin exposed underneath was blue. Its strength was even more powerful than Outelakesi's before; Sinuoli was not sure if the skin color was caused by different generations or a manifestation of different attributes of the Winds of Magic.

"At the beginning of the world, your ancestors already displayed many remarkable abilities. After so many years, it seems you have made progress again. I think my city also needs your goods and services."

Lord Atike, having exchanged greetings in advance, got straight to the point. Sinuoli felt a surge of joy; this trade agreement alone made this trek worthwhile. Tiaya Kua was even more prosperous and powerful than the Bone Temple, and its purchasing power was certainly stronger.

After chatting about trivial matters, Sinuoli led his guard without stopping to rush toward the "Dongfang Bazha." From afar, he smelled the pungent scent of spices and heard the rising and falling cries of hawkers.

"Come, come, come! Walk this way, look this way!"

"Fine silk, the same style as the Slann's!"

The bosses here were not sitting at the front desks but had hired some Skinks on the spot to sell the goods. The large group of aliens suddenly pouring in from the main entrance of the market attracted the attention of the salespeople.

"I am Lord Sinuoli of the Nan Shijie Bianyuan Shanmai. Who is in charge here!"

Sinuoli had prepared quite a few opening lines along the way, but once he actually arrived, he couldn't help but say the most traditional one.

"Immeasurable Qingbao Tianzun!"

Hearing Sinuoli's loud and articulate Common, several Humans wearing silk clothes rushed out from the back hall of the shop. Sinuoli looked at those familiar East Asian faces, and tears almost welled up.

"Dwarfs? How could they be here?"

"Quick, quick, bring the sea chart!"

Several Humans were communicating in their own language. Sinuoli could understand about eighty percent; their language was basically the same as the vernacular of his past life.

"Ahem, nice to meet you, nice to meet you. Would you be willing to move into the tent to talk?" One of the Humans who could speak Common stood out to greet Sinuoli.

"Please!"

Sinuoli lifted the door curtain and walked into the shop, with five Hammer Guard following behind him.

"Uh, forgive my presumption, respected Longbeard Venerable, may I ask what brings you here?" A waiter walked up holding a teapot and poured a cup of tea for everyone.

"Where are you from? Zhendan?" Sinuoli did not answer, turning instead to ask the topic he cared about most.

"Hiss, indeed! We are all subjects under the rule of the Haotian Longdi." The Cathayan merchants were shocked; they did not expect that this Dwarf, who seemed to have fallen from the sky, would actually know these things.

"This, according to our intelligence, you and your clansmen should all live on the northern continent. How, how could you be here? Or is it that we went the wrong way?" Another Cathayan held a map and leaned in.