After many years of investigating the Dream Plane, Hao Ren has developed some habits, that is, he will never let go of any clues that look like coincidence, but he will never easily regard these clues as solid evidence.≈He compared them in his mind.
The date provided by Betsy and the day when the Rock Marton incident ended were found to be the same day, but this does not mean that the two events must be connected. The universe is so vast, the chance of coincidence is small or large.
Not small.
It's just that this coincidence still makes people care about it and makes him think more.
"Is there any problem?" Betsy asked curiously when she saw the change in the expression on Hao Ren's face.
"Maybe it's a coincidence," Hao Ren said truthfully, "The time when the energy pulse was generated in the Dark Mountains was the day we opened the Koro Prison."
He had already shared his group's adventures in the world of Koro with Betsy, who knew about Rock Marton.
"It may indeed be just a coincidence," Vivian frowned slightly, "but what happened in the Dark Mountains is still very concerning, especially since we are preparing to arrange a group of 'remnants' to pass through the wall of reality. This kind of change is really disturbing.
...There are many legacies of the ancient Magic Empire there, and some of the people we are going to bring are remnants of the Ancient Magic Empire. Maybe there will be some 'connection' between the two."
"Everyone in Horleta is now considered a 'remnant' of the ancient magic empire," Lily said, somewhat disapproving of Vivian's opinion. "They have no problem living here, so why would something happen to a few people who came back from Earth?
?”
"Anyway, I think we should go to the Dark Mountains to check out the situation," Hao Ren said. "I am also very interested in the ancient magic empire. If they left any research materials and records about the belief in the goddess at that time, it would be very important to them.
My research will be of great help."
"I can give an answer to this matter now," Ofra said simply. "Although the investigation of the Dark Mountains is under the royal supervision, in fact, the ruins have always been adventurers, mercenaries, and experienced people from all walks of life.
Places frequently visited by nobles and others are not dangerous places that outsiders should not approach. Although the investigation team has sealed off several areas with the most frequent energy explosions, I think if it were you... you would have no problem getting in."
Ofra said at the end, showing a subtle smile: "And I think many people are really hoping that you can go and see it."
Hao Ren and his team once solved the shadow of destruction that shrouded Horleta, uprooted the Firstborn Organization within the planet, and also saved the country from the guns of the Guardian Titan's battleship. Although the civilians did not know the details, the upper echelons of the kingdom were
Knowing how capable these "world-saving experts" are, in fact, if Hao Ren took the initiative to see the situation in the Dark Mountains, many people in the kingdom would be eager to do so. This is simply a national-level veteran Chinese doctor coming to the village for a free clinic, okay?
!
Sure enough, just as Ofra said, Hao Ren and his party wanted to go to the Dark Mountains to check the situation as soon as they submitted the news. They received approval immediately, and the whole process was well arranged. The patient's family members had prepared banners and were waiting for the veteran experts to come to the free clinic.
appearance……
Betsy muttered at home, "I just came home and had some free time. I downloaded a few new movies a few days ago. I didn't have time to watch games, play, catch up, or even drink." But when she got out, she was still slutty.
She followed her out and prepared to "investigate" with Hao Ren. At that time, Hao Ren asked her very strangely: "Didn't you just come back from the Dark Mountains?"
"It's been a long time since I went on an adventure with you," Betsy said confidently, "I see you showing off your achievements in text messages all day long, and it makes me feel itchy. Just treat me like a trumpet leader."
Hao Ren was quite amused by these reasons, but in the end he took the female mercenary with him. He knew that Betsy actually had a restless personality. This was because she couldn't stand the loneliness after being a noble for two years and ran away.
It can be seen from his participation in the knights' battles that this former mercenary who has joined the circle of celebrities still has a heart that is as white as snow and comes and goes as the wind, just waiting for some exciting event to activate it.
With the help of Marshal Ofra, Betsy easily adjusted her schedule in the Knights, and two days later, she and Hao Ren arrived at the Dark Mountains located in the southeast of the kingdom.
The Dark Mountains are close to the southeastern border of Horleta. On the other side of the mountains is the country of the mountain elves. This mountain range that stretches to the southern hills is not as majestic in scale as the Dragon's Back Mountains, but it is a
A natural barrier and treasure house, it isolates many threats from the other side, including mountain elves and orc tribes. It also provides the southeastern part of the kingdom with the best quality potions and magical mineral sources. These are only produced in the safer areas at the foot of the mountain.
The supplies are enough to feed hundreds of thousands of people.
In a general sense, the "Dark Mountains" spoken by the Horleta people does not refer to the entire mountain range, but specifically to a part of its middle section. This area includes three peaks and a large number of rugged and rolling mountains, as well as mountains.
Between the dense jungle and the unexplorable zone, this area is the most dangerous part of the Dark Mountains, and it is also the part that contains the most treasures. Many legacies of the ancient magic empire are still dormant deep in the mountains. Some adventurers even rumored that the mountains and forests
The energy-gathering tower in the depths is still continuously producing precious solidified magic crystals and elemental crystal nuclei. This is almost a temptation of crazy wealth. However, behind the crazy wealth, there is also a terrifying danger:
The legacy of the Magic Empire is powerful and mysterious, and has been out of the control of its masters for thousands of years. Any ruins found in the Dark Mountains basically have security facilities that will attack intruders indiscriminately. Every year, they are released at the Mercenary Association's
Add a black box with at least two digits to the register.
Mercenaries and independent adventurers who die during the adventure will be marked with a black box in the membership statistics of that year, and will be removed from the membership in the second year.
The above things were all information given to Hao Ren by Ofra before leaving, and some scattered stories about mercenaries and adventurers were told by Betsy along the way.
Recalling these scattered knowledge, Hao Ren looked at the dark mountain forest: This mountain range is just like its name, with a gloomy and dark tone as a whole. It is not known whether it is caused by the special local water and soil environment or ancient times.
Infected by the magical energy left by the Magic Empire, the plants in this area grow extremely luxuriantly, and the most luxuriant one is a tree called "Shadow Fir". This plant with black and green leaves paints the entire mountainous area.
A layer of deep color. Even in areas not covered by mountains and forests, most of the exposed rocks on the mountain have a black and gray color. They seem to be connected with the perennial dark clouds above the mountains, making it particularly depressing at first glance.
Still some distance away from the Dark Mountains, a telemetry report of energy levels came from the data terminal: "More than thirty active energy points were detected within the range, and hundreds of dormant suspicious reactions were irregularly distributed.
In the entire dark mountain range, the radar of this aircraft sensed very strong feedback ripples when scanning the three peaks. This aircraft suspects that the three peaks have been artificially modified, and their rock compositions are very different from the natural soil and rocks.
Far away."
"It's such a place full of 'treasures'..." Hao Ren couldn't help but sigh, and told others what the data terminal had detected.
"In ancient times, the Dark Mountains used to be the junction and buffer area of several magic empires," Betsy explained. She also read this information after accepting the task about the Dark Mountains. "Those legends
Most of them are incomplete, but many legends point out that the ancient Magic Empire had a series of joint research institutions in this mountain range. At that time, the Magic Empire had reached its peak, and mortals were moving further and further to explore the truth of the world, and finally reached the point where any single
The Magic Empire could no longer move forward, so they began to unite to study some more terrifying and powerful forces. The Dark Mountains are one of their largest testing grounds. Have you seen those faint lights wandering in the sky? Those faint lights
The light cuts out the dark mountain range, including the three peaks, from the entire mountain range. It can be seen from a long distance away. The glimmer of light is the ancient energy barrier known as the 'Wall of Lolisa'.
Many scholars in the kingdom believe that this barrier was released by an out-of-control ancient elf ruins in the mountains, and Lorissa was the name of the elf magic emperor back then. From this, you can imagine how powerful the magic empire was back then.
.”
Hao Ren looked up and saw the glimmer of light in Betsy's mouth. It was floating behind the clouds. At first it looked like a hazy sunset hiding in the clouds.
If he didn't have information, it would be difficult for Hao Ren to realize that these shimmering lights are actually energy barriers covering the entire mountain range, and have been operating since ten thousand years ago, and are still blocking the wandering energy in the dark mountains.
"The testing ground of the ancient magic empire..." Vivian's voice was a little floaty, "We actually ignored such an important place..."
"At that time, our investigation was far less in-depth than it is now, and the secrets exposed by the Firstborn and the Guardians completely diverted everyone's attention. Everyone was busy paying attention to whether there were any remaining Firstborn organizations and Guardian Titans on the planet."
Hao Ren shook his head, with some regret in his tone.
Betsy also shook her head: "Not only that, but more importantly, even if there are relics of the ancient magic empire, it is difficult for you to find useful things. No matter how powerful the magic emperors back then were, they were nothing more than mortal bodies.
No matter how strong the things they created are just stone metal that is easily weathered, ten thousand years have passed. What can be left behind? In fact, what is left in this mountain range is only large areas of wandering ownerless energy and materials that are almost weathered.
The ruins of the ruins, the 'ancient treasures' rumored by the outside world..."
The female mercenary said, shaking her head in confusion: "I almost believed it when I was a mercenary, but this time I came over to take a look, haha..."