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Gunther Great Rift Valley is a dangerous and peculiar place on the plateau, said to be formed by a cataclysmic war that cracked the sky and shattered the earth. Its total area is as large as three or four nations, with numerous high-energy danger zones yet to be explored.
That day, a blue pigeon was flying in the sky, crossing over a nearly five hundred meter high steep cliff, and entered the bounds of Gunther Great Rift Valley.
The blue pigeon was transformed by the Silkworm Queen, now a Level 2 creature. If it actually spread out its body, its length would exceed fifteen meters; thus, transforming into a large blue pigeon was no difficulty at all.
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“Ivan, there is a mountain over there that looks like a tree stump, quite peculiar,” the Silkworm Queen remarked from afar, having spotted a strange mountain situated at one corner of the valley’s floor.
“That is indeed a tree stump, also the location of the Ancient Tree Spine Academy. This area is the territory of the Ancient Tree Spine, but the sorcerers from the Ancient Tree Spine don’t meddle much in affairs.”
Ivan sat comfortably on the back of the blue pigeon. He was somewhat surprised by the Silkworm Queen’s vision, which could see through the fog to locate things dozens of miles away, even the Sorcerers Academy which was guarded and concealed.
Like the Mongna Ant Land Cottage, the Ancient Tree Spine Academy’s campus was also quite odd, settled in a large, dry tree stump that was as big as a mountain.
“It’s hard to imagine how big and tall that tree was when it was alive; it would be even better if it were a mulberry tree,” the Silkworm Queen mused.
“Haha, you could try planting mulberry trees in the empty nest; maybe they will survive,” Ivan suggested.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll take the opportunity to let them try that.”
This was the first time the Silkworm Queen, as an intelligent creature, accompanied Ivan on a trip, and exhibited exhilaration all along the way, asking various questions that made the journey quite lively.
The address provided by Solomon was on the other side of Gunther Great Rift Valley. The blue pigeon quickly left the Ancient Tree Spine behind and flew into a narrower branch of the valley, descending as it moved forward.
“Ivan, I sense other creatures here,” the Silkworm Queen informed.
“Hmm, proceed with caution.”
There were various large and small crevices inside the Great Rift Valley; Ivan’s destination was one of them. He could detect the rich and chaotic energy particles around and saw huge spider webs hung in the narrower parts of the fissure.
It seemed that no one had come here for a long time, and other creatures had taken it as their lair.
‘Green Scythe’
Wanting to take the lead, the Silkworm Queen conjured two crescent-shaped scythes almost a meter long after seeing that he did not refuse, immediately hurling the blue scythes toward the front of the fissure.
The blue scythes spun forward, and wherever they passed, the spider webs shattered, undoubtedly alarming the predators hiding all around.
Yellow Rock Spiders the size of chariots emerged from the crevices of the surrounding cliffs, their bodies blending with the color of the rock as if they were cast from yellow rock.
“Every creature hold your fire, don’t act rashly, this sorcerer is our esteemed guest.”
The Yellow Rock Spiders, preparing to swarm the intruders who had damaged their webs, were stopped by a belated voice. A spider with white down showed itself.
Ivan had not expected to find an intelligent creature in this place, especially an old spider, clearly smaller in size than other adult spiders.
“Esteemed sorcerer from Mongna Ant Land Cottage, please refrain from further attacks. Our kind are relatives to the Guardian Eight-legged Black Spider from your academy. Let’s talk this over,” the old spider said quickly, trying to establish a relation.
What a load of relative nonsense, Ivan naturally didn’t believe such a tale. It was just typical bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
“What is your name?”
“Howde.”
“Can you make your kinsfolk back off? I don’t like being surrounded.”
“Did you hear what the distinguished guest said? Everyone, back off, retreat now,” Howde commanded.
“`
Under the old spider’s reprimand, the other Yellow Rock Spiders reluctantly retracted back into the crevices of the rock walls, and the Silkworm Queen could only sullenly dissipate the still-spinning green scythe.
Since the old spider was so understanding, Ivan didn’t want to be overly harsh on it and directly ordered this local bully to lead the way to the location Solomon spoke of.
“Your Excellency,” the old spider said, “there’s no such place as you mentioned here. Have you got the wrong location?” Hearing his words, the old spider, wary of something, started to feign ignorance.
“Hmph! If you truly don’t know, then you are of no value alive.” Ivan raised his hand, a flame that sent shivers down one’s spine ignited in his palm.
“Your Excellency, I remember now! I actually do know that place. There are many deep pits there, and from time to time, a strange force bursts out, pressing so fiercely that spiders cannot cling to the rock walls and fall into the pits—it’s very dangerous.”
Seeing the flame about to descend upon itself, the old spider dared not harbor any more selfish thoughts and hurriedly changed its tune and admitted knowledge.
“Lead the way.”
“No problem.”
The old spider left a message for the other Yellow Rock Spiders and made its way to the farthest corner of the crevice, walking on the rock walls as if it were flat ground.
Soon, the old spider dug open a huge rock, revealing an entrance.
Walking through the entrance and going a certain distance, Ivan discovered a spacious cavern within, only three to four meters high, filled with pillars connecting the ceiling and the floor, as well as stalactites and stalagmites.
Occasionally on the ground, there were well-like deep pits, the formation of which was unknown, bottomless at a glance, and one could sense a peculiar aura inside them—the aura of power emanating from the earth.
“Old Spider, you didn’t want to lead us in here just because of the scattered mineral deposits on the ground, did you?”
At this moment, the Silkworm Queen reverted to its original form, a crystal-clear giant green silkworm, using the old spider as a mount, noticing there were many small pits on the ground filled with mineral deposits and water droplets dripping from the stalactites.
“You and Your Excellency have seen us at our worst,” the old spider said sheepishly.
“We wouldn’t bother with such trifles, stingy,” the Silkworm Queen teased.
“Yes, yes, it is I who lack experience.”
The old spider, aware of its own weighty presence and knowing it could not defeat this seemingly harmless little creature, let alone the sorcerer whose depth was unknown, dared not show a hint of anger.
“That strange power is about to appear.”
At that moment, a rumbling sound came from the deep pits around, like a spring about to gush forth.
An invisible force spread into the cavern, causing Ivan’s body to feel heavier.
He knew the gravity had changed, and he could also sense that each pit emanated a different power, affecting the gravity field in distinctive ways, creating disorder and even inversion.
Being in such a place, without the ability to perfectly control one’s body power, it was indeed easy to stumble when walking; no wonder the old spider spoke of great danger.
For Ivan, however, it was completely within his capacity to endure.
He looked around and focused on a stalactite pillar directly opposite a deep well pit. This one was different from the others, continuously vibrating under the influence of the Power of Earth—a rare and peculiar force resonance.
This was the exact location recommended by Solomon, where one could clearly sense the point of the earth’s tremors.
Ivan was filled with emotion, marveling at the breadth of Solomon’s information and at the remarkable workmanship of nature.
Just as he was about to take action, something on him experienced an anomaly, interrupting him.
Ivan took out his identity token from the Sorcerers Academy and found that it was Sorceress Mauline from the Lidia family contacting him; he frowned slightly, surmising that her reaching out at such a time probably was not good news.