Chapter 1946: Chapter 1940 Small Squad

“There’s something really off about this place…”

The capital city of the ancient Fire Giants was built under a volcano.

According to the Tomb Guardian’s information, this was once one of the major cities of the Giant Epoch, but it should have been constructed above the volcanic zone.

It’s said that back then, it was a beautiful city atop countless volcanic rings, standing above a sea of fire. Various Black Iron Arks sailed across different regions, while Fire Giants and other giants, unafraid of the blaze, enjoyed a pleasant “smelting life” here.

From the data, it seems the Giant Clan had intricate connections with rock and metal from the very beginning. They needed the “environment” to constantly shape their bodies. Fire Giants naturally preferred volcanic environments, which is why they built their capital here.

But what Lu Ping’an sees now…

“The buildings on the ground are gone, fine, but the underground structures also give a terrible feeling.”

As he stepped into the city beneath the dark volcano, Lu Ping’an felt a strong sense of discomfort.

The connection with the Courtyard continued, but there was a heavy sense of alienation. This subtle discomfort felt as if he had been swallowed by a massive creature.

“The structure, let’s analyze it…”

Lu Ping’an gave the order, and Zhi Xi, serving as a guard, sighed and started tearing down the wall.

Very hard but not hard enough.

The fragments cut off were tested against comparison samples, and the results were quite clear.

“Sure enough, we are inside the body of a giant…” Perhaps only this reason can explain the feeling of being completely enveloped.

Lu Ping’an quite wanted to take a deep breath, not because he was scared… He calculated the current market price of Shining Stone in the Courtyard and considered this wealth.

“Isn’t this going to make a fortune?”

“No, you won’t get rich… This quantity would devalue Shining Stone, originally worth more than gold, to the price of gravel. Besides, you have no way to excavate it.”

“Tsk, why are you getting more and more unpleasant, didn’t your rebellious phase pass long ago?”

“Isn’t this your teaching? People should live in the moment, and being alive is about being happy… Of course, it’s totally unrelated to your sudden request that disrupted all my work plans, forcing me to work overtime late at night, yep, no relation,” Zhi Xi, who now had a complete human body, became more and more like a human and also had a little temper.

Lu Ping’an was at a loss for words, so it’s when you’re retorting against me that you’re the happiest? Why aren’t you happy working overtime? But how come when I look at you…

“Well, can I ask, what exactly are you doing, and why aren’t you stopping tearing down the wall?”

“Heh, since I can’t take it, I might as well digest it on the spot, wasn’t that your teaching too?”

Zhi Xi, with flames in her hands, quickly processed and refined the stones and then placed them into the Forbidden Guard armor that had followed.

Animated Armor, turned into a mining cart.

“…is that really necessary? I’ll think of a way to take some when we leave.”

“It is necessary, what you take counts as public funds, and what I’m digging now is mine.” The girl patted her chest and fed herself a large piece.

As an “Animated Armor,” this was also the material she desired.

Lu Ping’an couldn’t hold it any longer; perhaps Zhi Xi, now with flesh and blood, was a bit overly humanized.

But to be honest, this is indeed true. Given the astonishing current market price of Shining Stone, Zhi Xi couldn’t afford it, but it wasn’t worth trading the price of a second-ring suite for a dagger material.

“That’s enough, isn’t it?”

“I plan to make an arm.”

“…Alright.” So, Lu Ping’an pretended he couldn’t see.

Ordinary Animated Armor needs only a small amount of Shining Stone to reinforce some key parts.

But for someone of Zhi Xi’s level, high-quality, large quantities of materials are needed. If the material isn’t enough, a large number of low-grade materials need to be melted and enhanced, which is astronomically expensive.

And if the purpose isn’t to “repair the flesh,” but to create a limb, a potentially combat-capable “enchanted arm,” the amount needed would be even more terrifying… Zhi Xi’s original form is a Demigod, in some sense a giant God.

“How about you go through official channels?”

“Sure, but you’ll have to wait until my fortress is fully reinforced.”

“Doesn’t that mean it’s not up for discussion?”

So, Lu Ping’an also ignored Zhi Xi’s behavior of earning upgrade materials for herself.

The temporary team didn’t have many members, Zhi Xi brought along two Forbidden Guards as escorts following protocol, mostly serving as labor and hired thugs.

Miss Rou, who hadn’t been seen for a while, was dragged out of the laboratory. Now, Lu Ping’an needed a professional Alchemist to provide logistical support, and she was whispering with her research team along the way… Lu Ping’an tried to join in, but as the client and big boss, when he approached, the conversation on the other side became unusually official.

Since it somewhat hindered the work process, Lu Ping’an got kicked away… as the team became more complete, Lu Ping’an, the high-level official, subtly seemed a bit redundant when there wasn’t much going on.

“They’re here.”

And the first to give a warning was the “bodyguard” who had been sitting with closed eyes, meditating.

Xia Qin was actually quite idle… with her special status as “Imperial Family,” there were many inconveniences, and she didn’t hold a position within the Courtyard’s organization, instead, she worked long-term at the Ancient city.

Because of this, as the Director of the Bureau of Anomaly Management, she experienced a multitude of extraordinary events through the ages, mastering a large assortment of skills that weren’t necessarily high-level but peculiarly useful.

Now, as she made her way along the wall, she served as the team’s radar, now providing an early warning.

However, after mentioning it, it became a bit awkward… everyone was on high alert for a full three minutes, but there was no sighting of the target.

“Pfft.” Thus, Lu laughed out loud quite impolitely.

While the others, caught between wanting to laugh and not daring to laugh.

The boss’s wife made a fool of herself, and the boss laughed… laughing at this moment, aren’t you worried the boss’s wife will hold a grudge against you?

“Lu Ping’an… how far away are they?” Time seemed to have thickened Xia Qin’s skin somewhat, her slightly flushed face masked with calm as she deliberately asked.

But seeing the sword sheath she clenched with cracking sounds, Lu Ping’an needed to be careful with his answers.

“Uh, I can’t see through it, the Avatar in front of us, likely stronger in this Underground City’s giant body… Maybe the walls interfered with the echo, most of my detection methods had no results. It might feel close, but the passage might be impassable.”

Lu still had a certain social acumen, most methods failed… meaning some methods succeeded.

Lu Ping’an knew, but he didn’t say.

So, with her face a bit rigid, Xia Qin nodded, sheathed her longsword, ready to pretend nothing happened.

“Then let’s continue…”

“Boom!”

Subtly, the next moment, a large number of Stone Giants flooded the passage.

Now, things became even more subtle.

“Pfft.” Only Lu dared to laugh out loud.

And Xia Qin, she simply stood silently in front of Lu Ping’an.

Wielding her sword lightly, slicing them into fragments.

Then, silently noted it down, ready to make sure someone paid later.