Chapter 470: Valaya's Gate

"Praise the great King of the Southlands! The Greater Daemons of the Four Gods are no match for your divine hammer!"

"A toast to your invincible heroism!"

Once Sinuoli had made up his mind, he returned to the main body of the fortress, enjoying the cheers and greetings of the warriors who were resting between shifts. He followed the logistics personnel pushing the catering carts into a temporarily opened banquet hall.

Although the victory of the campaign had not yet been officially announced to kick off the final celebration banquet, the warriors of the Dwarf and human races had already held countless private ones. It was the nature of the Dwarf race to enjoy feasting and singing, and Sinuoli did not want to force a change.

"Y-Your Majesty Sinuoli! H-how did you find the time to c-come over? Here, on behalf of Tiefengbao, I toast you!"

In the center of the long table, King Kazador was holding his wine cup high, taking on many at once. What he was famous for throughout the Qunshan was not just the godlike strength that allowed him to carry a fallen mine cart on one shoulder, but also his massive capacity for drink, having once out-drunk three Trolls.

Compared to the "Little Beards" who wanted to kill more rats to build their reputation, this powerhouse, who had been known as one of the two pillars of the north and south of the Qunshan alongside the Slayer King a hundred years ago, generously gave the credit away. The Dragon had already broken its wings under the Hammer of Wrath, and the only things that could pique his interest now were Greater Daemons.

"My thanks!"

From the day he took control of the Southlands, Tiefengbao had given his territory unwavering support, and King Kazador had provided immense help in the campaign to retake Eight Peaks.

To say nothing of the distant past, during his bitter struggle with Skarbrand, it was Kazador who used his prestige and experience to stabilize the morale of the army, preside over the overall situation, and methodically advance to expand the fruits of victory.

"I toast you on behalf of the entire equipment factory!"

Rising with his king was Thorek Ironbrow. The thick, furrowed brows of this Rune Master, known for his severity and fiery temper, were rarely relaxed. His Rune Armor was half-unfastened, and he was drinking heartily.

"Good, good, good! I toast everyone present as well! Without everyone's hard fighting, how could I, one man with one hammer, accomplish such a great feat?"

Seeing that he would fall into a sea of alcohol if this continued, Sinuoli jumped onto the long table to take the initiative. What an honor it was for a Demigod to toast them! For a moment, the mountain-shaking cheers made the belly of the mountain tremble slightly.

"Is there some important matter?"

Kazador leaned into Sinuoli's ear, and his guards tactfully cleared some space for the two leaders.

"It's about that matter from last time! Will you and Master Ironbrow come with me?"

"It would be an honor!"

A moment later, the three men's guards had assembled. More than three hundred elite Dwarfs stood in the shadow of the fortress's main body like a silent city wall. Gotrek Gurnisson raised Sinuoli's banner, waiting only to set off.

"It is a pity that Grimbrindal has left. If he had come along, it would have been absolutely secure."

"My injuries have healed, and I have the Chosen of the War God. With your champion here, is it really necessary?"

Sinuoli's unfulfilled expression drew the old king's confusion. Half of the high-end combat power of the Qunshan was gathered here; even if that Skarbrand were to come again, he could not run wild.

"Southeast, target Walayashangxindi."

Sinuoli shook his head without answering. He mounted his golden Rock Sheep and pointed the way with his halberd.

"Does it have to do with the Ancestor Goddess?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. That place was originally the legendary location of Valaya's Gate—a set of pillars and lintels covered in mysterious Runes. After the great earthquake, that secret place lost its trace. My grandmaster once organized an expedition to find it and even left behind a notebook."

Seeing that Sinuoli had no desire to explain further, Thorek Ironbrow explained the ins and outs to his king as they walked. When Sinuoli had approached him, this Rune Master had also been greatly shocked—

As the Chosen of the Ancestor Goddess, it was not strange to know of the existence of Valaya's Gate, but why was he so certain that he had the relevant information in his hands? Just because Tiefengbao was the only remaining fortress in the south?

However, as a loyal Dwarf, a Rune Master who was dedicated to finding lost treasures and sacred relics, Ironbrow decisively decided to cooperate with Sinuoli and provided all the data.

With the foundation laid by the previous exploration that had been forced to interrupt due to a sudden Skaven attack, the team quickly got on the right track. Sinuoli corrected the direction based on his faint intuition, while Ironbrow planned a reasonable route through the broken terrain based on the maps of his predecessors.

"Report! A suspicious location has been discovered ahead, perhaps leading to some underground space."

Whether in legends or historical records, Valaya's Gate was not far from Eight Peaks. Early the next morning, the scouts brought back useful news. For Dwarfs, finding buried ruins was as simple as prospecting for minerals.

"Dig!"

With something on his mind, Sinuoli's order was exceptionally simple. After setting off, he would use the system to probe the surroundings every little while. Theoretically, the minions of Nagash would not appear as they originally did, but was it reasonable for Skarbrand to descend into the mortal realm?

"It's through! It's through, Your Majesty!"

The accompanying warriors did not know what Sinuoli was worried about. Rumors combined with reasonable speculation made them believe that what awaited them ahead was an honor even more worthy of praise than the retaking of Eight Peaks. Their spinning Rune Weapons easily dissolved the rock and soil.

"Maintain vigilance!"

Sinuoli took a deep breath and dismounted. He took the oil lamp handed over by the guard and was the first to step into the passage, carrying his hammer.

"Praise the Ancestor Chosen!"

"Thank goodness this holy place has not yet been desecrated!"

Sinuoli's vigilance infected every member, but after passing through the not-too-long, dilapidated corridor, there were no Night Goblin Fanatics chewing hallucinogenic mushrooms and spinning large chain hammers, nor was there a rat army with Warpstone firearms waiting for them.

On the contrary, they saw the legendary object. The fragmentation of the land caused by the great earthquake stopped abruptly in front of a magnificent stone gate. The Runes inscribed on the stone gate and the surrounding pillars were so powerful that even an ordinary person without talent could easily perceive them.

"Valaya's Gate, the legendary dwelling of the Ancestor Goddess. Reopening it means opening a brand new era; the Ancestor Gods will walk among the Qunshan once again."

Thorek Ironbrow shouted excitedly. In the thousands of years spent isolated from the Old World, finding Valaya's Gate and regaining the guidance of the Ancestor Gods had always been the main goal and spiritual pillar of his lineage.

"Gotrek, arrange the sentries! Master Ironbrow, go open the gate."

Elites were elites after all; despite being extremely excited, they maintained their discipline. Sinuoli did not want to delay and quickly assigned tasks.

"Me? I go open the gate? You are the..."

"If I tell you to go, then go. I believe in your ability."

"This, alright! As you command!"

Ironbrow lay on the gate and began to work hard. Valaya had left behind three of the most powerful Rune locks. Sinuoli swore that he would never allow the original tragedy to happen in front of this gate. He leaned on his divine hammer and closed his eyes to rest, maintaining his best state.

If it were the configuration of Niefuruita plus Heifu Juer, of course, they would dare to come and dare to die. But Nagash still had that great general Akahan under his command. Although it had surfaced in the Old World, one still had to be on guard.