si-mexico Chapter 459: Death without surprising words
Chapter 459: Death without surprising words
Despite their doubts, both Xu Ning and Kong were highly skilled and daring individuals. Even if it was a trap set by someone, they might not take it seriously.
The two chased after the shadow, heading upwards.
They even jumped over two broken steps, and finally lost sight of the figure in a room that had collapsed halfway.
However, a completely new mechanism appeared in front of the two of them.
Unlike the rotating mechanisms, this stone platform has three rows of nine round holes arranged from top to bottom.
"This mechanism..."
Before Kong could finish speaking, Xu Ning had already taken out a purplish-black bead from his pocket, which he had taken from the Black Serpent Knights.
The bead was pressed into the round hole of the stone platform mechanism, fitting perfectly, neither too big nor too small.
"It seems that the shadow was trying to tell us the purpose and quantity of these beads, but why guide us in this way? Is there some unspeakable reason behind it?"
Xu Ning said with a smile, "Anyway, it's been a great help. I was worried that collecting this stuff would be a bottomless pit, and I didn't know when I'd have enough. But now the goal is clear..."
Xu Ning took out a few beads from his pocket and counted them. Including the one stuck on the mechanism of the stone platform, there were already six.
With just three more, the mechanism should be activated. As for what will happen then, neither Xu Ning nor Kong can guess for the time being.
After taking the bead out of the stone platform mechanism and putting it back in his pocket, Xu Ning and Kong went down to find everyone and explained the situation.
"It seems we still have a long way to go. With three more beads, we might be able to find out what secrets these Black Serpent Knights are hiding."
With a goal in mind, no one wanted to delay any longer. Xu Ning took out some food from his spatial storage, and everyone ate a little before urging each other to set off quickly.
After crossing the mud-covered, upside-down city, Kagerou suddenly turned north and started jogging again.
"We've made another discovery. It seems we're destined to collect all the beads today." Kong and Paimon were both overjoyed.
Both of them have an innate passion and dedication to exploration and treasure hunting, and they are both full of energy right now.
This time they walked a rather far distance, and everyone felt that their feet were starting to become slippery.
"Zhiqiong, compare the directions and positions. Where are we now, and where are we headed?"
As Zhiqiong walked, she opened the map, compared it with the mountain walls on both sides, and said, "We are now going deep underground. If you want to give a general location, after another fifteen minutes, we may reach the bottom of the swamp we saw last time."
Zhiqiong was right. Sure enough, as they walked down Yinglangmaru, the ground became increasingly wet, and water even began to flow down the mountain walls on both sides.
Before long, even a small stream appeared. Xu Ning looked at the direction the stream was flowing in, which was the same direction they were heading, and laughed, "Maybe we're about to see an underground river."
An underground river has appeared.
Surprisingly, another building appeared alongside it, and it looked to be in the same style as the upside-down ancient city.
Like the buildings south of the rugged stone hall, it feels as if a city has been torn into pieces and placed in many different locations underground.
"There should be Black Serpent Knights stationed here, just like there! I wonder what kind of information they'll bring us this time?"
Paimon flew a little higher, shaded his eyes with his hand, looked around, landed, and spread his hands, saying, "Everywhere is ruins, there's no trace of anyone being here."
Xu Ning glanced at the main building over there. "Since Shadow Wolf Maru brought it here, it must mean that guy is nearby. However, the buildings over there are scattered and the terrain is a bit complicated. If the enemy suddenly comes out from behind the wall, we might not be able to take care of you. Zhiqiong and Katarina, take your time. Come over after we've made sure everything is alright."
Katarina gave a soft hum, "I can take care of myself."
Xu Ning glanced at Zhiqiong, who was placing a detector by the water, and whispered to Katarina, "Consider it taking care of Zhiqiong for us, thank you."
Katarina wanted to lash out a little when she heard Xu Ning's almost insincere "thank you," but seeing Xu Ning gracefully leap across the dark river with Shadow Wolf, she ultimately said nothing and stood quietly to the side waiting for Zhiqiong.
After crossing the underground river, Kageroumaru did not head into the building, but instead ran quickly westward along a straight path.
Sure enough, at the end of the path, a dark figure carrying a lance gradually came into view.
Paimon flew on Kong's shoulder, looking at the lonely figure standing in the darkness, and suddenly spoke.
"Looking at him like this, he seems so pitiful, staying in these dilapidated city walls, imagining that he is still in the territory of the ancient kingdom, guarding his people, and then being eroded by the power of the abyss until he is just an empty shell."
Katarina, who was a few steps behind, said coldly, "Then you should really see how it killed my teammate..."
Xu Ning took a sip of wine, raised his hand to stop any potential argument, then stepped forward with his wine gourd and said calmly, "Since that's the case, let's give it a quick death, both to end its hopeless wait and to console the innocent people it killed."
"...Even ominous things from the sky can be used by us..."
Listening to Katarina's translation, Xu Ning suddenly reached out and grabbed the black serpent knight's sweeping lance, as if he had been carried away by the immense force of the lance.
Then, in mid-air, the person, like a falling ginkgo leaf, silently landed behind the knight.
The Black Serpent Knight changed tactics quickly, abruptly retracting his lance and thrusting the long shaft backward.
Xu Ning seemed to have anticipated this, calmly swaying left and right. The Black Serpent Knight's heavy lance swept forward, but could no longer meet Xu Ning's face.
Xu Ning was like a ghost clinging to its back. One of his hands, seemingly slow but actually fast, pressed down on the back of the Black Serpent Knight's neck, and a surge of alcoholic odor rushed in.
The Black Serpent Knight's lance fell limply to his side. "Shatter, shatter... the chaotic illusion... how can we stop our resurrection..."
Having defeated "Heglag, the Slave of Remonstrance" in the underground river, it was time for everyone to rest. They returned to their tents in the temporary mine tunnel.
After discussing with Katarina how absurd it was for the two extremely incongruous terms "admonition" and "lackey" to appear on one person's title, Katarina became extremely dissatisfied with Xu Ning's repeated questioning of her academic credentials and stormed back to her tent to sleep.