CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 136: EARTH DRAGON RISING, PART 2

"A horde of wild boars numbering over a thousand, and there’s only six of us."

"You kill so many that you go numb. In the end, you don’t even recognize what a wild boar looks like. As long as you see something moving on the snow, you just swing your blade at it... And this kind of hunt happens several times every winter."

"So actually, living in the north, it’s not that hard to survive."

"It’s just that compared to the lands of the Mechanical God Sect, life here... is less convenient."

"I can see that."

Chen Jian nodded in response, but then he asked:

"Are there really so many wild boars for you to hunt? With boar herds that can easily number over a thousand, hasn’t that broken the ecological balance?"

"How could there be so many resources here to sustain such a massive boar herd?"

"I don’t know either."

Ji Xing shook his head and said:

"But that’s the reality—after I got to the south, I was puzzled as to why there weren’t as many wild boars down there."

"Not to mention wild boars, other prey are also much fewer."

"Some people say it’s because there’s a Mountain God in the north."

"But I have a vague feeling that the so-called Mountain God is likely some kind of monstrous creature."

"A creature that can create resources and nourish life?"

Chen Jian mused aloud:

"Then such a thing shouldn’t be called a monster..."

"Who knows?"

Ji Xing sighed and continued:

"It’s indeed currently nourishing the humans living here, but who knows one day, it might kill everyone living here."

"Perhaps humans themselves are its livestock?"

As his words fell, Chen Jian couldn’t help falling silent.

Could such a thing really be possible?

A monster that raises humans?

What would be its purpose?

This clearly doesn’t align with the survival instincts of creatures...

Chen Jian’s face was full of doubt, and at that moment, the three of them had reached the end of the most bustling street in Jinmen City.

"Let’s go back."

Chen Jian spoke, saying:

"Go to the council hall and find the people from the Holy Blood Temple. Arrange accommodations before letting others into the city."

"After a night’s rest, we..."

"No need."

Ji Xing pointed forward and said:

"Our welcoming party has already arrived."

Looking in the direction she pointed, Chen Jian immediately saw three Holy Blood members in blood-red robes.

Their expressions were solemn, but there was a deliberate respect in their eyes.

He took the lead and walked forward, and the leader of the three Holy Blood members also came forward immediately.

"Sirs."

The person spoke:

"I come from the Holy Blood Temple, a monitor under the Holy Father, named Xie Yuan, appointed to welcome you by the Holy Father."

"I didn’t know you had already arrived, and I couldn’t greet you from afar. Please forgive me."

"The Holy Father has arranged accommodations for you in the city. If it’s convenient, please follow me."

"Alright."

Chen Jian replied simply. Xie Yuan made a gesture of invitation and led Chen Jian and the others towards a side street off the main road.

Chen Jian kept a close watch on his actions, and just then, a few lines of brief text appeared on his smart eyeglasses.

"3 monitors, not one."

"Above the Blood Source, very strong."

"1."

Chen Jian sent back a response and then looked at Ji Xing, who was clearly on alert.

Obviously, she had already learned how to use the smart eyeglasses and was quite proficient with them.

However, Chen Jian also knew her tension was somewhat unnecessary.

The current Holy Blood Temple had no reason to act against their team, nor would they dare.

On the contrary, after meeting Lin Yu, Chen Jian felt that the so-called "Holy Father" actually needed him.

Compared to himself, the Holy Father seemed even more eager for this meeting.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown such high-level sincerity in welcoming his team.

The group of six bypassed the bustling city center and walked along an oil lamp-lit path towards an independent building.

Walking ahead, Xie Yuan introduced in a soft voice:

"This was originally my private residence, but since returning to the Holy Blood Temple, it has been vacant for a long time."

"However, it’s still very clean and comfortable."

"Upon learning you were coming, I arranged for people to clean it specifically."

"Now, there is hot water, food, and electric lights that might suit your preferences."

"Please spend the night here, and tomorrow morning, I will personally lead you to the Imperial City."

"Thank you for your efforts."

Chen Jian casually offered a polite remark, which Xie Liu deftly picked up on:

"It’s your efforts that deserve recognition."

"Your team’s achievements have already spread across the north, and even the Holy Father has praised the might of the Huaxia Army."

"Of course, what the Holy Father admires more is your team’s attitude towards monsters."

"That unwavering determination is rare in this world, and the Huaxia Army’s desire to ’eliminate monsters’ far exceeds the desire to ’compete for resources.’ This alone proves the nobility of your team."

This flattery wasn’t particularly sophisticated, but it didn’t arouse Chen Jian’s resentment either.

However, he did acknowledge one thing: his team indeed annihilated every monster on this wasteland.

Therefore, he didn’t appear too unsociable.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he led the team into the residence with Xie Yuan.

The sound of a generator buzzed from behind the house, and the lights gradually lit up.

A well-dressed butler approached, greeted by Xie Yuan’s whispered instructions, then returned inside to prepare dinner for the guests.

Meanwhile, Xie Yuan gave Chen Jian and the others a tour of the residence, introduced various facilities, and then took his leave.

After he left, Chen Jian used a radio to notify the team on alert outside the city, and in half an hour, everyone, including the convoy and equipment, had gathered near the residence.

"Not bad."

Lei Jie spoke:

"To be honest, these Holy Blood members are quite courteous."

"This progression has been quite smooth. Hopefully, when we enter the Imperial City, they can maintain this attitude."

"If so, our negotiations might be... much smoother."

"I hope so too."

Chen Jian nodded lightly, but after a moment’s pause, he suddenly said:

"But I feel like they’re hiding something from us."

"Again, their attitude is excessively magnanimous."

"Too respectful, too polite."

"Is it really necessary for them to be so courteous?"

"I feel like they’re setting up for something."

"That Holy Father must need something from us, but right now, we still don’t know what it is..."

"Then let’s not overthink it.

Lei Jie pulled Chen Jian aside and said:

"If you stay too tense, the string will break."

"Come on, let’s eat something and take a hot bath."

"Whatever it is, leave it for tomorrow..."

"Oo—oo—"

Before Lei Jie could finish speaking, a low-pitched howl suddenly came from the sky.

Chen Jian’s muscles instantly tensed, his right hand immediately gripping the handle of his explosive gun.

"What’s that sound?"

"I don’t know."

Lei Jie said in a deep voice:

"It’s far away, should be coming from the mountains to the west."

"Fu Xi, launch the drones, scout the situation!"

"Understood!"

A Turtle Drone immediately took flight, and Chen Jian frowned, looking at the images on his smart eyeglasses. But as before, he saw nothing unusual.

"No abnormal heat signals detected."

Fu Xi’s voice rang again.

"However, I have discovered abnormal geological activity 26 kilometers west."

"It looks like a mudslide or a low-intensity earthquake."

"Send over the images."

Chen Jian ordered. Moments later, an image processed by Fu Xi, but still blurry to the extreme, came through.

"What makes you deduce it’s geological activity?"

Chen Jian asked.

"Aerial reconnaissance detected a change in surface color, with more tawny patches, similar to mudslide patterns."

"Mudslide?"

Chen Jian pursed his lips.

"Late January to early February, mudslide?"

"Impossible... that must be a monster. That’s it, I’ll be damned if we don’t find out what it is!"

"Fu Xi, release the drone, and scout ahead!"

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"Understood!"