Light Fortress

Chapter 1760 - 408: The God on Black Snow Mountain

"These corpses are... travelers."

Silver Fox stood with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "This is a group that split off from the human race during their migration six hundred years ago. Over the years, they have been wandering in the void, searching for the ’oasis.’ After confirming the existence of the Five Continents through the Duolu River Disaster Realm’s [Gate], they should have gone mad trying to find where the Five Continents are."

The battle images of the Duolu River Disaster Realm have already spread among the high ranks of the Five Continents.

However, in the eyes of these high-ranking officials,

this war is already over... Even the most powerful Divine Throne has been killed, and the Traveler’s Spark, which preserved its full power, has been thrown into the furnace by Her Majesty the Empress!

This group has no future to speak of; even if they truly found the location of the Five Continents, what then?

For things that have already ended,

they have no interest in further investigation.

"I didn’t expect there to be so many ’traveler’ corpses here. So, before they contacted the Five Continents... they had already encountered the Netherworld King?"

Silver Fox himself was somewhat confused.

He didn’t know that the Netherworld King had a wager with the travelers.

Bai Xiu also noticed something unusual: "So many travelers... all died here. Was there once a battle here?"

Snap!

Bai Xiu’s mind stirred.

Standing on top of the airship, the Thunder Realm Walker snapped his fingers.

In an instant, countless thunder lights surrounded the pitch-black and dry Calamity Barrier’s skytop.

Finally, a bolt of lightning slashed down, shattering the snow within a kilometer of the Source Energy Boat’s landing point.

Little Xiuzi silently watched the scene before him. After the lightning shattered the snow, countless densely packed corpses appeared on the ground like swarms of ants, an appalling number.

Countless travelers died on this land... Their blood had long since been drained, leaving only dried shells.

"This is a grave left by the Netherworld King."

Gu Shen said, his expression complex, "Perhaps your guess is correct. The Netherworld King attempted to train an army of the dead... and these travelers were the materials he prepared."

Within the Five Continents, if one wants to form an undead army, a massacre is necessary!

Changye, Central City, Light City, Source Tower, even the Holy City... Would never allow the Netherworld King to carry out such slaughter.

But if the materials for the undead army are not the humans of the Five Continents,

then it makes sense.

"The Netherworld King planned to use the ’travelers’ to make an army of the dead?"

Silver Fox murmured, "This happened a long, long time ago... So there really was a Divine War in this barrier?"

The truth about the Tundra travelers,

even the three generals were unaware of it.

In their eyes, the ’traveler’ who was killed by the Empress had already spat out the Spark, apparently the traveler itself!

So at this moment, in Silver Fox’s view, the corpses within this Calamity Barrier perfectly corroborated that blank piece of history... It was precisely because of the clash with the Netherworld King that the traveler itself got weakened, allowing Her Majesty the Empress to obtain the Spark so ’easily!’

"It looks... like it."

Gu Shen didn’t directly point out the truth.

Actually, the "truth" Silver Fox saw was already very close.

Because the traveler itself was indeed "weakened"... and that Spark was indeed in the hands of Her Majesty the Empress.

Tracing back the causes and effects, much of the force came from the Netherworld King.

In Gu Shen’s view, the existence of these traveler corpses proves one thing: the transaction between the travelers and the Netherworld King was definitely more than just a simple return to the land.

The Netherworld King could easily kill these low-level creatures.

But without the travelers’ nod of approval,

such a large group of tribesmen wouldn’t have come here... As the leader of the entire tribe, the traveler decided their lives and deaths. If he was unwilling, then these people wouldn’t have died.

Following this line of reasoning,

helping the Netherworld King create an undead army was likely a point in the contract signed by the travelers back then.

There are many traveler corpses on the ground.

But in Gu Shen’s eyes...

they don’t seem like those who died in battle. These corpses are well-preserved, like soldiers in legend who were buried alongside their monarch.

For the "travelers," this group wandering in the void.

They possess strong discipline.

If the Monarch orders them to die,

they would immediately go to their deaths!

"Rumble."

After seeing these traveler corpses on the ground, the airship no longer landed but hovered low.

The thread of pitch-black calamity was clear and obvious.

This thread of calamitous breath seemed like a line, guiding the airship towards the truth’s end. Beyond the shattered mountains of this broken land, a towering black snow mountain appeared in their sight.

...

...

At the moment he saw the black snow mountain, Gu Shen’s already uneasy Heart Lake became even more suppressed and restless. He frowned, staring intently at this snow mountain that had appeared in his dreams more than once.

Silver Fox and Bai Xiu only noticed that Gu Shen’s breathing was somewhat irregular and didn’t know the real reason for this phenomenon...

Gu Shen, in the identity of the "Netherworld King," had visited Black Snow Mountain more than once.

It was in that Dream that he saw an ancient traveler nailed to the rock wall, bound for many years.

It was also through that Dream that Gu Shen unharmed, lifted the curse of the Heavenly Sheath Fragment...

There are no two identical snowflakes in this world.

But it’s quite possible for there to be two identical snow mountains.

A scene within Gu Shen’s dreamscape.

Another scene, happening here.

"Gu Shen, have you discovered anything?"

Bai Xiu asked with concern. Upon entering the Calamity Barrier, he felt an oppressive sensation, yet the Thunder Realm Walker, situated at a vantage point overlooking the Shattered Continent, detected no anomalies.

Silver Fox also directed his gaze towards Gu Shen.

Gu Shen took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Mr. Silver Fox, we must be ready to retreat at any moment."

If Black Snow Mountain is truly the one he saw in his dreamscape.

Then it’s possible that there is a fragmented figure bound by chains on the mountain.

The Traveler’s Spark is within the North Continent Furnace.

Logically speaking, the Traveler’s Soul should be residing within the Tomb Ghost.

But if we truly encounter the Traveler’s physical form on Black Snow Mountain, what does that imply?

This clan that has evolved to traverse the Old World physically, possesses an incredibly powerful physique. Gu Shen couldn’t imagine the state of the Traveler’s actual body, perhaps it’s merely an empty shell, but even with a trace of remaining consciousness, the destruction could not be resisted by this airship.

...

...

At the Gu Family Base in the Tundra District, thick snow fluttered through the sky.

Under the dim yellow light, a pale-faced man slumped over, asleep at his desk, while the few Gu Family Night Watchmen exchanged glances.

"Mr. Xing Yun has fallen asleep again..."

A young female Night Watchman, new to the scene, couldn’t help but poke her colleague beside her, whispering, "The third progressional deduction of the Storm Equation is at a crucial stage, and the Black Silver Laboratory is already set up. Should we wake him?"

"No need."

An experienced middle-aged Night Watchman said in a solemn tone, "The Young Master has instructed that if Mr. Xing Yun is tired, let him rest well. Besides, the Black Silver Laboratory is ready for testing anytime, let the researchers wait."

"I heard VIPs from the Beizhou Research Institute are here, is that okay?"

The young woman seemed somewhat anxious.

The middle-aged Watchman shook his head: "It doesn’t matter who’s here. We just need to obey the Young Master’s orders."

"That’s true."

The young woman smiled, feeling a bit more at ease, though still somewhat worried, "Mr. Xing Yun seems to sleep quite a lot... I recall he just woke up briefly, why is he tired again?"

"Decoding ancient scripts takes a lot of mental effort, you don’t understand..."

The middle-aged Watchman chuckled, "Of course, I don’t understand either. We just need to ensure Mr. Xing Yun stays well-fed and refreshed."

The Night Watchman’s work was monotonous, and they chatted intermittently.

Little did they know, these fragmented conversations drifted into the ears of the man who was slumped over in slumber.

The Tomb Ghost was asleep, but not completely asleep, just as the young Night Watchwoman said, he had just woken up, how could he suddenly be exhausted again?

Only because that mysterious spiritual power descended once more, drawing him uncontrollably into the Dreamscape.

This has occurred many times over the years.

He had gradually grown accustomed and developed the ability to "resist."

Initially, Xing Yun couldn’t suppress his slumber. Once this spiritual power descended, no matter the time or place, he’d fall asleep within three seconds.

Later.

He began attempting to control his will, avoiding immediate entry into that whirlpool.

In a state of chaos, he struggled with his drowsiness... resulting in a period where he could hear external voices, yet couldn’t control his actions—a "vacuum period."

However, in truth, such efforts were futile.

The spiritual power was too immense, and no matter how much he struggled, upon awakening, he’d return to Black Snow Mountain.

Back to that shell pierced through the chest by a spear.

This time was no different.

The idle chatter from the Gu Family Base turned faint, the Tomb Ghost’s soul grew heavy, and ultimately he opened his eyes slowly, finding himself back in the battered, bloodstained shell.

Pierced by spears and arrows onto a stone wall, even breathing was difficult.

The Tomb Ghost didn’t know the nature of the connection between this shell and his soul, but through the prolonged realistic dreams, he vaguely grasped the significance of this dreamscape...

The "owner" of this shell attempted, through the ethereal Spiritual Link, to help him see Black Snow Mountain’s environment more clearly.

Perhaps it was conveying a message.

But what is the significance?

This ghostly place is likely within the Old World, and it’s impossible for him to explore the Old World due to this dream.

If he went, with his abilities, only death would await.

The Tomb Ghost keeps his dreamscape tightly sealed; these dream images aren’t mentioned outwardly.

The Traveler’s Spark was tossed into the furnace!

If such dreadful matters were exposed, he might also be tossed into the furnace by the Empress!

"It’s happening again."

The Tomb Ghost sighed inwardly; he didn’t know if the shell’s owner could hear his inner voice. If he had a choice, he’d wish this ghostly dream wouldn’t visit him again...

Yet.

This time the scene he witnessed was different from before.

The perpetually silent Black Snow Mountain whipped up fierce winds. The Tomb Ghost suspected he was hallucinating because he saw an airship flying through the void, drawing nearer.

With markings of a North Continent code he knew well.

Most importantly...

The "owner" of this shell had excellent eyesight, and from over ten miles away, he spotted a familiar face within the airship.

"Gu..."

"Gu Shen?"