Next, Lei Xiao and his party left the city lord's mansion in Gelin City.
Moreover, in the nearby area, they reunited with Ye Cang, Chao Yan and other main subordinates, and all galloped towards the new mining area in the back mountain of Gelin City.
It is worth mentioning that, in order to conceal their identity from others, Lixia and Reese did not go directly with Lei Xiao and others.
Instead, under Lei Xiao's instructions, he stayed at the city lord's mansion for a while before heading to his destination via another route.
In addition, before leaving, Lei Xiao also equipped the two siblings with a storage ring, an invisibility cloak, ten second-level healing potions, and ten third-level advanced pyrotechnics.
An ammunition scroll, as well as a set of knight equipment including a fourth-level lance, a fourth-level long sword and a fourth-level light armor.
Because when Lei Xiao upgraded his armor from the beginning, he upgraded it together with accessories such as helmets, combat boots, and gauntlets. When he previously gave armors to other subordinates and guards, they were also used as a set.
Therefore, it was natural that Lisha and Reese were completely dressed up from head to toe, which directly made a qualitative leap in their combat effectiveness.
As for the two sets of third-level knight equipment that the two of them had previously equipped, Lei Xiao has also taken them back and upgraded them.
I just got the third-level equipment that can equip an elite knight squadron, and a brand new set of fourth-level knight equipment.
Just like that, along with the wind and lightning all the way.
When the two suns, one large and one small, began to slowly descend between the sky and the mountain tops, the orange-red sunset glow filled the sky.
Lei Xiao and his party, who were already in the new mining area of Houshan, reunited with the brothers and sisters of Richardis.
"Lord, what should we do now?"
Lixia, who bowed to Lei Xiao and stood by a stream, asked eagerly.
At this time, like Reese beside her, she had put on a set of dark blue knight casual clothes, making her figure significantly slimmer than before.
Under the illumination of the setting sun, her slender body reflected a tall and tall orange-red figure in the gurgling stream behind her. The ripples made her look full of spunk.
Compared with Lin, who is also a knight, although Risha's behavior is a little more immature, it can definitely be called clean and tidy.
"Is this the area where the abandoned ore veins of the new mining area are located?"
After gently patting Li Xia on the shoulder to signal him to relax, Lei Xiao immediately spoke.
"Back to Lord, that's exactly what it is."
Feeling the warmth from Lei Xiao's palm, Lixia's expression became obviously calmer.
Then he quickly bowed and responded: "Since the old mining area was abandoned, this new mining area has been mined for more than a hundred years, causing many mineral veins to be exhausted, and this area is the exhausted abandoned mineral vein area."
Directly opposite, while listening to Lixia's reply, Lei Xiao looked around.
The place is deserted and overgrown with weeds, with only criss-crossing abandoned metal tracks and large and small mine entrances scattered everywhere.
The sun was setting in the west, and the desolate environment was almost no different from the old mining area where Su Rusu Mo and others were.
"I understand, let me handle the rest."
After observing the surrounding environment, Lei Xiao thought for a while and said: "Although I don't know what happened to your father, but since it was not man-made, it will definitely leave some subtle traces."
After finishing speaking, Lei Xiao first nodded to Huzhang and Hongye beside him, signaling the two of them to sense again.
Then, from Lixia's hand, he took an ordinary second-level knight sword that Lord Hod used for training, and handed it to Bai Wei, who had always maintained the form of a giant white wolf.
This was what Lei Xiao had ordered Lixia to prepare in advance. Even though so many days had passed, the possibility of directly finding Lord Hod through the smell was slim.
But as long as some clues can be found, coupled with the perception of two fifth-level powerhouses, and such cross-positioning, the search efficiency will naturally be maximized.
On the other side, the huge body was lying on the ground with two front paws, the furry white wolf head was approaching, and the big and comfortable black nose was sniffing carefully at the hilt of the knight's sword.
Immediately, the giant white wolf's fluffy hair trembled, and it swung its big tail wildly and went to search on its own.
Seeing this scene, Lisha and Reese on the side couldn't help showing expressions of surprise again.
The aura emanating from the giant white wolf was obviously much higher than that of the two of them. Coupled with the huge sharp fangs at its mouth, it could be said to give people a terrifying feeling.
And it is simply unbelievable that the lord can tame such a terrifying monster like a puppy.
At this moment, Lisha and Reese had no doubt that if the two of them faced this ferocious white giant wolf alone, even if they fought together, they would probably only end up with a narrow escape.
Just when the two of them admired Lei Xiao even more.
Huzhang and Hongye also swayed and disappeared in place, as if they had found some clues.
Just like that, when the two suns completely set, the orange-red sky began to turn into dark blue.
Hu Zhi, Hong Ye, who went out to explore, and Bai Wei, who re-entered human form, all returned to Lei Xiao.
When they went out, they saw two people and a wolf, and when they came back, there were three people. Lisha and Reese, who were full of expectations but confused, didn't wait for them to react.
Directly opposite, Hong Ye took the first step forward and bowed to report: "I would like to inform you, Lord Qi, that the three subordinates have found the traces of Lord Hod!"
After Hong Ye finished speaking, Huzhang and Bai Wei on the side also nodded.
"Very good!"
Hearing this, the siblings around Lei Xiao couldn't help but start cheering for joy, with excited expressions on their faces. Even their doubts about Bai Wei's sudden appearance were instantly forgotten.
"Good job."
With a faint smile, Lei Xiao nodded slightly and motioned for the dragon woman in front of him to continue speaking.
"Lord, through the energy perception of my subordinates and the tiger stick, although I did not find the aura of the fourth-level powerhouse, I found that there is a weak energy fluctuation from an unknown source rippling in this valley."
I saw Hongye still maintaining a respectful posture, and said heroically: "Because the terrain in the mountain is extremely complex, and the weak energy fluctuations from unknown sources appear and disappear, it is extremely difficult to capture.
Therefore, thanks to Bai Wei's olfactory guidance, we were able to find the exact direction of the weak energy fluctuations in time."
"Sister Hongye, thank you. I just found a general direction."
Hearing the sound, Bai Wei on the side smiled shyly and took off the illusion mask on her face.
At this point, when the siblings Lixia and Reese saw the furry prick ears on the top of Bai Wei's head, they both opened their eyes wide and realized it belatedly.
It turns out that beside the lord, there is actually a Snow Wolf tribe who has always been quite hostile to the human race!
"If they find out that Hong Ye is actually a dragon, I'm afraid they will be so shocked that they faint on the spot."
Smiling helplessly, Lei Xiao nodded slightly and motioned to Hong Ye and the three people in front of him to continue the report.
"Lord, in short, after a careful search, my subordinates and others finally found a long-abandoned mine in the mountains over there!"
Having said this, Hong Ye stretched out her slender finger and pointed at the two western peaks where the sun had just set.
At this time, two bright moons were quietly in the sky, the sky had completely darkened, and only a vaguely visible forest area with lush vegetation was visible.
"Lord, at the entrance of that long-abandoned mine, my subordinates did smell a hint of Lord Hod's scent!"
On the other side, Bai Wei shook her big white tail and echoed: "Besides, there is only one person's footprints in the cave, so it can match!"
"Very good, then without further ado, let's go take a look."
Taking a deep breath of the slightly refreshing night breeze, Lei Xiao first waved his hand, and then took his own steps.
Next, it didn't take long.
Under the guidance of Hong Ye and the others, Lei Xiao and the other subordinates stood at the entrance of the mine.
If you look carefully, you will see that this place is not located on a mountain wall, but in an overgrown depression, leading underground.
The abandoned and broken minecart rails at the entrance are completely covered by the surrounding vegetation.
In addition, the front of the mine is also full of bushes. If you don't search carefully, it will be difficult to find the entrance.
"I didn't expect that there would be such a hidden abandoned mine at this location."
After pulling up the weeds blocking the road for Lei Xiao, Li Xia couldn't help but said in surprise.
"It's a place you don't even know about. It's no wonder that nothing was found in previous searches."
Lei Xiao smiled helplessly, and then said: "Let's go in and check it out."
Next, Nan Xing, Nan Yue, Ah Ling, and Ah Bing were left guarding the door.
Lei Xiao walked in with a total of eleven subordinates including Huzhang, Hongye, Ariel, Bert, Jubai, Yecang, Chaoyan, Baiwei, Fang Hai, and the Lisaris siblings.
This is an underground mine.
Following the not-steep descending passage, he easily crossed the nearly one-meter-high bushes, Lei Xiao, who had just entered the mine, noticed.
Although the environment here looks very normal, you can even see grooves inlaid with light spar on the solid cave walls on both sides.
However, there was an extremely strange energy fluctuation vaguely filling the air.
Based on Lei Xiao’s perception experience during this period, it can be easily analyzed.
This strange energy fluctuation has a slow and waveless frequency, giving people a lifeless and ancient feeling. It is obviously not emitted by a living body.
"Lord, what my subordinates and Hong Ye sensed is this strange energy fluctuation. The disappearance of Lord Hod must have some potential connection with it."
A rough voice sounded, and Hu Zhi, who was closely guarding Lei Xiao's side, lowered his head and said respectfully to Lei Xiao.
"I see. It seems that my father was nearby by chance and noticed the strange energy fluctuations here. Then he came to check and encountered something unknown."
Hearing the sound, Li Xia, who was following Lei Xiao, nodded thoughtfully and murmured to himself.
"It seems that things are likely to occur at the source of strange energy fluctuations. Everyone should be careful. No one knows what will happen ahead."
Under the illumination of Ariel's magic light ball, Lei Xiao walked in the mine passage that was narrow on the outside and wide on the inside while squinting his eyes slightly, always watching everything in front of him.
After Lei Xiao finished speaking, the surrounding area immediately became quiet, leaving only the sound of people's footsteps and the faint and strange energy fluctuations still rippling back and forth in the empty passage.
After walking for about ten minutes, a group of twelve people appeared in a dark mine hall.
As Ariel's fingertips danced, after many magic light balls scattered, the dark mine hall suddenly became as bright as day.
At a glance, I saw that this place was extremely spacious, covering two to three hundred square meters. There were gravels and rusty iron pickaxes and other tools scattered everywhere, making it look extremely messy.
At the same time, Lei Xiao noticed keenly.
What is different from other mines that I have visited is that although this place is messy, there are neither feces or bones of monsters nor spider webs, which makes people feel suspicious.
And, what’s even more puzzling is.
There are no other passages in this mine hall. The metal track extending along the entrance also ends abruptly at the end of the hall. It is obvious that it has not been continued.
"Lord, this is not an abandoned mine at all, but a dead hole that has stopped digging before it was mined."
On the other side, Lixia, who also noticed this, couldn't help but have a look of surprise on his fair face.
He continued: "Moreover, judging from the way the tracks are laid, this place has been abandoned for at least a hundred years..."
"It's actually a rare dead hole? What was the reason at that time that led to the cessation of mining in the mine?"
Reese looked confused and murmured to himself: "You know, there is so much land in a new mining area and mining is stopped for no reason. It almost never happens."
Upon hearing this, Lei Xiao also had a thoughtful look on his face and continued to look around.
"Lord, come here and take a look. The single footprint that was extending all the way here suddenly disappeared!"
After a while, Bai Wei's surprised voice came from the end of the hall again.
"Come right over here."
Hearing the sound, Lei Xiao immediately took his steps, surrounded by the knotweed.
When he got closer, Lei Xiao noticed.
Just as Bai Wei said, there was an obvious human footprint that indeed ended abruptly at this location, as if it was picked up from behind by a giant.
When they first entered the cave, Richa and Reese excitedly confirmed that judging from the texture and size of the shoe prints, they were exactly what Marquis Hodder left behind.
"Lord, it seems that this is where my father disappeared!"
Immediately afterwards, Li Xia's clear voice rang in Lei Xiao's ears again.
"Yes, strange energy fluctuations, sudden disappearance of footprints..."
Nodding thoughtfully, Lei Xiao turned to Bai Wei on the other side and said, "That smell..."
However, Lei Xiao hadn't finished speaking yet, and he was surprised to find out.
The woman from the Snow Wolf Tribe who was by his side just now has completely disappeared.