While Xiao Luo chased after the little gnome who had taken his dagger, Xie Feng and the rest began to advance slowly following Emir's footsteps. With the group function, no matter how far they went; Xiao Luo would always be able to know their location as long as they still stayed on the same map.
As they advanced, Xie Feng and his group noticed that all the gnomes were similar in height to Emir, and if it wasn't for the childish characteristics that could be seen on the kids' faces as well as the purity with which their eyes shone, it would be very difficult to identify the adults from the small children.
Another thing that Xie Feng noticed as they went deeper into the gnome city was that while the younger ones were mischievous and liked to play jokes, the adults were not at all the same; on the contrary, they all had anxious and helpless looks on their faces. With faces that suggested worries about something unknown, the adult gnomes wandered down the street on their way to work or looking for their children.
Of course, as Xie Feng's group advanced further and further, it was impossible not to attract attention. The gnomes, who were only a little over a meter tall, were probably seeing such "giant creatures" for the first time in their lives; not just the young ones, even the older adults had probably never seen a human being in their lives. According to Xie Feng's understanding, gnomes had disappeared more than five thousand years ago in history, so it was impossible for any living gnome to have seen a human being unless they had left this place. But considering the precaution with which they were watching them, he believed the probabilities of such a thing having happened were extremely poor.
"Emir, wasn't your race supposed to be extinct?" Xie Feng couldn't help but ask. This question was one that, probably the girl next to him would not be able to answer and he knew it; but even then, he needed to talk to someone about his biggest doubt currently.
"Eh? That's...-"
"Wind Barrier!"
Emir was about to answer Xie Feng's question with a confused look but was interrupted. Xie Feng's expression changed drastically and without hesitation he stepped forward, waving a hand and activating one of his defensive skills.
In a matter of a second, a five-meter wide barrier with Xie Feng as its center surrounded Xie Yao and the others, including the little Emir.
BOOM!
Not even a second after Xie Feng's Wind Barrier skill was activated, a powerful torrent of fire fell on their heads and completely covered them. Their bodies could not even be seen from the outside.
The little gnomes screamed in fright and ran away, hiding behind their parents' backs while staring at the blazing sphere of fire. However, although the young ones looked scared; the adults looked calmer as they looked at the unfolding events from the distance.
Tap... Tap... Tap... Tap...
A series of footsteps coming from a nearby alleyway along with the constant crackling of flames and the wind fighting for supremacy was the only thing that could be heard throughout the place.
"Mm... How unexpected."A gnome with a white beard, skinny and with a strange pointed hat on his head stepped out of the shadows of the alley.
Next to the gnome with the pointed hat was another gnome. But unlike the previous one, this gnome had a red beard and matching hair along with a small circular hat with a light blue feather on top of his head. The gnome with the red beard also had a strange, pitch-black zither in his hands, currently the gnome's two small hands were moving along the strings of the instrument and a beautiful melody was being transmitted to everyone's ears.
Of course, the body of both gnomes was made of stone too, which highlighted their beards even more than usual.
The two gnomes seemed to have a certain prestige since the other gnomes looked at them with respect and admiration. However, even though the melody of the zither they were listening to was beautiful enough to want to sink into it, no gnome dared to look at the zither for long periods of time as if they were terrified by the instrument.
Bang!
The five seconds of absolute defense provided by Xie Feng's Wind Barrier ended and with a loud bang, both the barrier and the flames enveloping it dispersed into the air, revealing the people inside.
Xie Feng already had the Calamity Spear in his hands, looking at the two people with fury written all over his face, he shouted: "Are you crazy!? Why are you attacking for no reason!? Can't you see that there is someone of your race here!?"
That spell from before, it was so powerful that no one else except him could survive after receiving it and even then his health bar would almost empty completely after receiving it head on. You should know that he currently possessed over six thousand health points!
But what enraged Xie Feng the most was that these two people not only attacked him and his group without even knowing them; they even ignored the safety of a little girl! Among living beings, Xie Feng might not feel attached to any particular creature; however, little kids had become his weak spot after chatting with Yin Yue.... They, who didn't even have the power to protect themselves because the world hadn't given them enough time yet, deserved the chance to grow up!
"Without reason?" The white-bearded, pointy-hatted gnome sneered. "You're a human, that reason is more than enough!"
The white-bearded gnome waved his hand and Xie Feng quickly noticed a multi-colored ring light up.
With his senses trembling and warning him of imminent danger, Xie Feng didn't even hesitate and shouted out loud, "Bright Light Barrier!"
Flash!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
A white light suddenly flashed across the place, forcing everyone to close their eyes for a few seconds. For several seconds, explosions shook the place and if it wasn't for the system's protective effect, this part of the city would probably have been destroyed by now.
When the two gnomes opened their eyes again, they were surprised to see a five meter white sphere surrounding the humans. Outside the barrier, several roots as thick as an adult person's body were constantly whipping the barrier. However, no matter how much the roots attacked; the white barrier did not even flinch.
Bright Light Barrier! This was the most powerful defensive skill of the Pearl of Light and until now, Xie Feng had never been forced to use it! Now he and his group would be safe for several hours, even if an immortal beast suddenly attacked the Bright Light Barrier could surely hold out for hours without falling.... But what about after that? Xie Feng might survive, but what about the others?
"... Bright Light Barrier." The white-bearded gnome muttered. His eyes had a strange sparkle in them.
The red-bearded gnome's hands, which were touching the zither all this time without stopping, also paused as he looked forward in clear surprise. Soon, however, his hands moved again and the beautiful melody came into effect once more.
"Dad, please stop!" Emir, who had also been unconsciously protected by Xie Feng, shouted as she looked at the white-bearded gnome.
"What?" Xie Yao looked at the girl beside her in disbelief. "That person is your father?"
Xie Feng's face also changed drastically and the anger inside him only grew even more. That damn gnome was the father of this little girl but he had actually launched such attacks without even blinking! Looking at his right hand, Xie Feng hesitated whether or not to use that...
The white-bearded gnome did not seem to hear his daughter's words. He looked at the red-bearded gnome standing next to him and nodded silently.
The red-bearded gnome also nodded as if he understood something. The pattern of his hands suddenly changed and the melody playing became completely different; calmer.
All the gnomes began to fall to the ground one after another, like flies that lost their wings.
Xie Feng quickly noticed the change and soon discovered what was happening. The culprit was that musical instrument! It was inducing everyone into a deep sleep through the melody! With worry written all over his face, he hurriedly glanced at the people beside him and could only sigh in relief when he discovered that nothing bad was happening to them.
"Em." The white-bearded gnome nodded as if he had finally figured something out and said loudly, "Just as I expected, it's the Pearl of Light."
The red-bearded gnome stopped the movement of his fingers and the zither music stopped completely. A few seconds later, all the people began to open their eyes again, standing up as if nothing bad had happened.
The sudden change of events surprised Xie Feng. What was happening now...
"I apologize for our previous attitude. As a show of apology, I return your friend to you." The white-bearded gnome looked at Xie Feng with a friendly smile and pointed behind him.
Xie Feng's mouth contracted several times when he saw a group of twenty gnomes dragging a person. This person was surrounded by a strange magic sphere, and although he was constantly attacking, it didn't seem like the prison around him would break soon.... Sure enough, this person was Xiao Luo, who had gone to chase after the little gnome thief.
Realizing that he was in front of his friends once again, Xiao Luo apologized with teary eyes: "Damn it, Xie Feng.... I'm sorry! These guys are really cunning! I don't know how I suddenly fell asleep and when I woke up they had already locked me in here!"