Chapter 87

Chapter 87

To their surprise, all of them dove underwater.

In no time, the entire lake surface became eerily calm.

"How strange. This lake was teeming with Thunder Monsters—if not hundreds of millions, then at least tens of millions. We only killed a few, yet they all fled?"

"Am I just too strong, or has something unknown happened beneath the lake?"

His gaze fixed on the lake water shimmering with deep thunderous energy.

The further down one went, the denser the Thunder Element became.

Though his resistance to thunder was decent, if he attempted to dive to the lake’s depths, he’d likely be half-crippled by the electricity before even reaching halfway.

"Forget it. The main task takes priority!"

At the Gold Mine, Elder Lei’s clansmen had donned the guards’ armor and even the plain equipment Qin Han had discarded, significantly boosting their strength as they took control of the mine.

By the time Qin Han returned, Elder Lei was already waiting at the entrance with a few of his clansmen, and before them knelt a ragged figure, tightly bound with a strip of gray cloth stuffed in his mouth.

It was none other than—Li Yang.

"You’re actually alive?" Qin Han’s eyes flickered with surprise.

This guy had been beside the Supervisor at the time, and Qin Han had casually shot him with an arrow.

From what he remembered, the man had collapsed along with the others.

Yet now, he appeared to be in surprisingly good condition.

Elder Lei explained, "I interrogated him. The moment he sensed things going south, he feigned death and later disguised himself among the miners. If not for the miners reporting him, he might’ve actually escaped."

Hearing this, Qin Han was mildly astonished.

To survive under those circumstances…

This Li Yang was quite the talent.

Elder Lei continued, "However, after being captured, he began begging for mercy, claiming he wished to defect and turn over a new leaf—swearing eternal enmity toward the High Priest."

Qin Han scoffed, "What use is a mere guard? The High Priest is at the Black Stronghold. We can just head there directly."

Elder Lei shook his head. "Young hero, you may not be familiar with Thunder Poison Island’s terrain. The Black Stronghold is far from here, with Poison Barrier Auras stretching endlessly along the way and dense forests blocking the path. There’s only one viable route."

"Along that path are numerous checkpoints and many civilians. The slightest misstep could alert the High Priest prematurely."

"If that happens, the Black Stronghold will descend into chaos. The treasure staff you seek, as well as the woman you mentioned, could both be affected."

"But this man is different. He hails from the Black Stronghold. With him as our guide, we can reach the stronghold smoothly. Once we assess the situation properly, we can act—ensuring everything proceeds without a hitch."

After a moment’s consideration, Qin Han gave a slight nod, accepting Elder Lei’s reasoning.

...

Half an hour later, Qin Han, Elder Lei, Tiger Cub, and Li Yang— all dressed in guards’ uniforms— prepared to depart.

According to Elder Lei, while the guards’ outfits were standardized, their weapons were often personal.

In many cases, recognizing a weapon was enough to identify its wielder.

To avoid suspicion, Qin Han deliberately wore the Moonlight Shadow at his waist.

They procured two Ox Carts, loaded them with gold ore, and set off toward the Black Stronghold.

After traveling just five kilometers, they encountered the first checkpoint.

Just as Elder Lei had described, the checkpoint was heavily guarded, and beyond it, small villages dotted the landscape, with civilians milling about the roads.

Fortunately, with Li Yang leading the way,

They fabricated the excuse that the furnace at the Gold Mine was damaged and they needed to take the ore to the Black Stronghold for smelting. The guards at the Checkpoint didn’t suspect a thing, allowing them to pass through effortlessly.

...

Night fell, and the moon hung high in the sky, round like a white jade plate. Moonlight spilled onto the ground, shimmering like silver. At this moment, the Moonlight Shadow blade at Qin Han’s waist was also bathed in the lunar glow. Strangely, when the moonlight touched the blade, an unusual phenomenon occurred—the light seemed to come alive, swirling hazily around the weapon as if enveloped in a dim, golden radiance.

Hum!

Qin Han, who had been focused on his journey, suddenly felt a vibration at his waist. He looked down, a flicker of astonishment crossing his face.

Moonlight Shadow: Dark Gold-grade (Unique Treasure)

Attack: 100

Weakens all resistances

Breaks through all armor

Unlocking in progress: 1%.