landbeastnovel Chapter 116 The Natives of the Scorching Hell
Chapter 116 The Natives of the Scorching Hell
Chapter 116 The Natives of the Scorching Hell
After resting for a while, Luo Lin and the other two got up again and immediately moved towards the edge of the Burning Mountains in the northwest.
The Ash Ring's retribution could come at any moment; we must get away from that dangerous place as soon as possible.
Traveling through scorched wasteland and rugged crystalline landscapes, the environment becomes increasingly harsh.
The chaotic energy floating in the air was like an invisible whip, continuously lashing at the protective barrier.
Some areas are filled with deadly toxic fumes, requiring detours or quick passage.
Bizarre and otherworldly creatures appeared one after another, including fire worms lurking under the scorched earth, bat-winged monsters hovering in the air and spewing scorching ash, and swarms of lava beetles with hard shells.
Combat and evasion have become the norm.
Flame Shield's defense and fire manipulation are clearly advantageous here, while Nightingale's agility and critical strikes efficiently eliminate smaller threats.
Rolin focused on sensing the environment, warning of danger, and using precise stellar energy shots to kill creatures with exposed energy cores or disrupt the perception and energy operation of large creatures.
Three days later, the three finally reached the edge of the Burning Mountains.
The so-called mountain range is actually a huge, undulating area composed of cooled lava, black basalt, and dark red crystals.
The mountain's surface was covered with huge cracks, from which spewed subterranean fire and thick smoke, making the entire mountain range seem to be slowly breathing and burning.
At the foot of the mountain, the temperature was higher than on the plains, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of molten metal.
According to the captured map markings, the high-energy reaction point of the suspected mineral vein is located near a huge fissure on the outer edge of the mountain range.
The three of them cautiously approached the marked point.
As they drew closer, the echo unit within Rolin's mental sea began to transmit clear signals.
There is indeed a strong, relatively stable energy source ahead, whose fluctuation characteristics differ from the surrounding violent environment, being more restrained and—orderly?
This doesn't seem like a naturally formed vein.
A question arose in Luo Lin's mind.
After crossing a low slope formed by cooled lava, the sight before them made all three stop in their tracks.
The anticipated desolate fissure did not appear.
Instead, there was a roughly leveled piece of land, with low, simple shacks built along the edges, constructed of dark red rocks and some kind of metal frame.
Further away, at the edge of that huge rift, stood several rough stone furnaces belching black smoke!
Some figures were busy between the furnace and the shed.
These figures were not human, nor were they the chaotic beasts encountered before.
They are about two meters tall, with a robust build, dark red or grayish-black skin covered with a rough keratin layer resembling rock or metal, and faint dark red lines at their joints.
The head resembles that of a lizard or dog, with a protruding snout, sharp teeth, and two stable flames of different colors burning in the eye sockets, some orange-red, some dark red, and even a rare bluish-white.
They wore simple leather armor or protective gear made of strung metal plates, and carried crude but clearly forged metal tools or weapons, such as pickaxes, hammers, and things that resembled spears and machetes.
At this moment, these creatures are working with a clear division of labor:
Some of the mines were mining dark red ore that emitted a faint glow at the edge of the fissure.
Some of the ore was transported to the furnace.
Another group operates the furnace, feeding ore into the furnace opening, controlling the flames, and extracting the partially smelted metal ingots.
A primitive, alien civilization with social division of labor and production capabilities!
Moreover, judging from this, it has already entered the initial stage of metal smelting!
"These are... the native inhabitants of the Scorching Hell?"
The nightingale lowered her voice, her tone filled with disbelief.
Neither the information from Shadow Raven Tower nor the Ash Ring mentions the existence of an intelligent civilization in this fragmented world.
"It looks like it, and they're mining and smelting here."
"Look at their weapons and tools; the craftsmanship is rough, but they are indeed forged."
"Those furnaces had a very primitive structure, but they were functional."
Flame Shield observed carefully.
Lorin carefully sensed the indigenous people through the echo unit.
The energy flowing within them is of the same origin as the raging fire element of this world, but it is more stable and orderly, as if it has been tamed and integrated by their bodies and will.
Especially the soul fire in their eye sockets, which is the external manifestation of their soul and energy core, containing obvious fluctuations of wisdom.
"Their individual energy levels are roughly equivalent to those between a high-level apprentice and a first-ring wizard, but they possess great physical strength and have a natural resistance to or even an affinity for fire and high-temperature environments."
"Is the social structure simply tribal or slavery?"
"Those who work near the furnace are more skilled and may have a higher status. Miners are more like laborers."
Rowling's quick analysis.
"Our mission includes exploring this fragmented world."
"The existence of these indigenous people is a major discovery."
"But the risks of direct contact are unknown; they might perceive us as intruders and launch an attack."
"Flame Shield pondered for a moment," he said.
"Look over there." Nightingale pointed to the back of the shed area, where a worn path could be vaguely seen, winding its way into the depths of the mountains.
"They clearly have more than one stronghold."
"This path might lead to their larger settlement, or even—as marked on the map, some kind of empire?"
This speculation sent a chill down the spines of the three of them.
If a systematic indigenous empire truly exists in this fragmented world, then both the difficulty of exploration and the complexity of competing with the Ash Ring will increase dramatically.
But at the same time, this also means more opportunities.
Indigenous civilizations likely possess unique knowledge or clues about the remnants of the planet's core or other rare resources in this world.
"We cannot make contact rashly, but we must investigate."
"We can try disguising ourselves."
"Rolin said."
"Disguise? How can we disguise ourselves? We look so different from them." Nightingale frowned.
"I can't change my appearance, but I can disguise my aura," Rowling explained. "My echo unit records the energy characteristics of this world and has also analyzed the energy fluctuation patterns of those natives."
"I can try to simulate an energy fluctuation that is close to theirs, but slightly anomalous."
"For example, they could disguise themselves as wanderers or exiles who have come from afar and whose energy attributes have undergone some kind of mutation."
"The Flame Shield can simulate the powerful aura of a Flame Guardian. Nightingale, try to conceal all fluctuations and disguise yourself as a shadow or a servant."
This is a bold and risky plan.
Simulating energy fluctuations requires extremely high control and cannot be sustained.
Once exposed, the consequences could be dire, especially on the other side's home turf.
"We need to capture a lone indigenous person in the field, carefully study their energy structure and behavioral patterns, and refine the details of their camouflage."
Flame Shield agreed with this idea, but proposed a crucial step.
The three lay in wait, patiently awaiting their opportunity.
This wait lasted for most of the day.
Finally, as night approached.
This world does not have a clear day and night, but the energy tides fluctuate periodically, and at this moment it has entered a relatively calm period.
A local chieftain who looked like an overseer, accompanied by two guards armed with metal spears, left the mining site and walked along the path into the depths of the mountains, seemingly to report or hand over the work.
The opportunity is here.