My inventory is full of monster materials.

Chapter 142 Heading into the Dark

Madeline led her team of seven into a spacious underground space that resembled an air-raid shelter.

The environment here is dark and damp. The kobold corpses are no longer visible, only a faint smell of blood remains in the air, a testament to the fierce battle that took place not long ago.

The group descended deeper into the dark passage, where the space gradually narrowed. Torches stood on the walls along the way, their flickering flames barely illuminating the path ahead.

Logistics soldiers or grey-robed apprentices came and went from time to time, and when they saw Madeline and her party, they would all give way and bow to each other with great respect.

As the journey continued, the traces of the kobolds' lives became fewer and fewer, until they turned a corner.

A cave appeared before them, with blast debris still remaining at the edge of the entrance, clearly indicating that it was a newly opened passage.

Deep inside the cave, a large group of people were busy around a stone wall that was nearly 100 square meters in size.

The stone wall was painted with intricate runes and patterns, and the ground was also engraved with corresponding patterns. Standing on it was an old man dressed in a mage's robe, surrounded by many young people who looked like apprentices, who were carefully adding to the magic array patterns on the ground.

After the team arrived at the cave entrance, Madeline took the lead and spoke in hushed tones with the old mage, her expression solemn.

The remaining team members scattered, curiously looking around, their eyes occasionally falling on the stone wall and the magic circle, full of doubt.

Mark's gaze was fixed on the magic circle on the ground. He turned to Gray beside him and asked softly.

"What kind of magic array is this?"

Gray didn't answer immediately after hearing this; instead, he smiled and asked in return.

"What kind of magic circle do you think this is?"

"what?"

Mark was taken aback. Seeing Gray's amused and cryptic expression, he suppressed his curiosity and patiently squatted down to carefully observe the magic circle patterns on the ground.

The magic circle was made up of densely packed magical runes, and Mark had previously come into contact with a lot of knowledge about runes when he was learning scroll copying.

Runeology is a vast and complex discipline, but the runes of the four basic attributes of wind, fire, water, and earth each have very distinct characteristics.

For example, earth-element runes are heavy and have rough lines, giving off a calm and composed aura.

The runes on the ground in front of them were engraved with a large number of "earth marks", with a faint earth element swirling around their surface.

Mark suddenly came to his senses and spoke.

"This is a zero-ring 'clay modeling' technique?!"

Gray nodded approvingly and said with satisfaction.

"Mark, you have quite a talent for magic."

Then, He Lei looked at the magic circle on the ground and slowly explained.

"This is a 'Sculpting Array' built on the basis of 'Sculpting Clay Technique'."

"The power of a simple 'Clay Shaping Spell' is limited, only able to manipulate a small amount of earth and stone. However, if it is amplified through a magic array, it can unleash power far exceeding that of a basic spell, achieving unexpected results."

Mark looked at the busy mage and apprentice before him and continued to ask.

"So what are they going to do now?"

Gray smiled slightly, with a hint of mystery in his expression.

"They want to open a door here."

As soon as the words were spoken, the magic circle was completed. The apprentices quickly spread out around the magic circle, holding magic staffs to maintain its stability.

The old mage in the center of the magic circle took a deep breath, prepared to activate it, and after a brief conversation with Madeline to confirm that everything was in order, he raised the staff in his hand.

Madeline turned around and walked towards the team members, giving them solemn instructions.

"Everyone, step aside. Mage Liam is preparing to activate the 'Clay Shaping Array.' Be careful to avoid the area affected by the array's effect."

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly took a few steps back, their eyes fixed on the stone wall.

As Liam muttered an incantation, the light from his staff surged, and earth magic flooded the magic circle like a tidal wave. The runes on the ground instantly lit up with an earthy yellow light, which spread along the stone wall.

Immediately afterwards, a large hole was forcibly "pulled open" in the thick stone wall in front of them, and rubble fell down in a flurry.

Then, the stone wall, like soft clay, was kneaded and shaped by an invisible hand, gradually forming a stone gate three or four meters high, with a neat set of stone steps extending from below the gate.

After the magic circle was activated, Mage Liam and his apprentices were all drenched in sweat, pale-faced, and utterly exhausted.

Clearly, activating such a large-scale clay-shaping array consumed a significant amount of their magical and mental energy.

Madeline stepped forward, bowed slightly to the mage Liam, and said respectfully.

"Thank you for your hard work, Master Liam and all the apprentices. It is thanks to you that we were able to successfully open the passage to the underground river."

""

The old master simply nodded and, without saying anything more, led his apprentices, dragging their weary bodies, and turned to retreat.

Then, Madeline climbed the stone steps and walked to the stone door. The sound of rushing water coming from behind the door grew louder, and wisps of water vapor rushed towards her, causing the surrounding temperature to drop a few degrees.

Madeline turned around and looked at the team members behind her who were still immersed in the power of the spell, and said in a deep voice.

"The passage is now open. Next, it's your anchor point team's turn to move in."

As the squad leader, Killian immediately stepped forward to take command, then turned around to scan each member, carefully checking their condition and weapons.

He then took a deep breath and gave a loud, impassioned speech.

"Brothers, the next part of the journey is a section that the investigation team has not scouted. We need to clear it ourselves."

"Although the future is uncertain, I believe that if we work together, we will definitely succeed! Is everyone ready? Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads, except for Killian, whose gaze paused when it fell on Adele, and he asked with a puzzled expression.

"Adelle, we are now going deeper into the underground river area. The terrain is complex and narrow, and your griffin is not well-suited for this location."

The griffin beside Adele was pacing back and forth restlessly, occasionally nuzzling Adele's arm with its head.

Admittedly, the cave space in front of us is not small, but no one knows that the path ahead will be even narrower.

Moreover, griffins are aerial units, adept at high-altitude combat. In the dim and cramped underground environment, they not only struggle to exert their combat power but may also become a burden.

However, Adele is a rare professional horse archer. The advantage of horse archers lies in the speed and mobility they rely on their mounts. Once they lose their mounts, their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced.

Adele, however, appeared quite relaxed and countered with a question.

"Should we go into the water?"

This statement came out of nowhere, leaving everyone puzzled, but Killian patiently explained.

"In principle, we will not actively come into contact with water, but the specific actions will depend on the monsters and environmental conditions we encounter."

As they spoke, Killian's gaze inadvertently fell on Mark. After opening the passage, the key to the first phase of the operation fell on Mark, who was skilled in ice magic.

Adele nodded and said with a smile.

"I see. Then I'll release Xiao Hei."

"Little Black?"

Just as everyone was filled with doubt, guessing what "Little Black" was, Adele pulled a black silk handkerchief from her waist and gently laid it on the ground.

In an instant, a black halo appeared where the handkerchief touched the ground, forming a black hole with a diameter of three meters. The black hole was pitch black, with faint spatial fluctuations emanating from it.

Adele walked up to the griffin and gently stroked its neck a few times. The griffin rubbed against her palm and then disappeared into the black hole in the ground. The enormous supernatural creature vanished into thin air without leaving a trace.

The team members were all visibly surprised, and Mark was also shocked, muttering to himself.

"Dimensional Cave..."

Dimensional caves and dimensional bags are similar in principle, both created using spatial magic. However, dimensional bags can only store inanimate objects, while dimensional caves can store living objects and have a larger space, making them far more valuable than dimensional bags.

But that wasn't all. Adele pulled another black handkerchief from her waist and spread it on the ground as well. Another black hole appeared in the ground, and low growls came from inside the hole, carrying a sense of intimidation.

The next second, a six-legged black panther emerged from the black hole. It had glossy blue-black fur that was smooth and shiny, and two flattened whiskers extended from its shoulders, swaying slightly.

Mark recognized the rare creature at a glance.

Displacement Beast.

It is a unique beast of the Fairy Wilderness, which was secretly tamed and raised by the royal warriors to become a powerful killing tool. It has excellent attack capabilities and teleportation talent, is extremely fast, and has formidable combat power.

At this moment, the Displacement Beast's eyes flashed with a dangerous, eerie green light, sweeping over each member of the team, and everyone could feel a strong sense of intimidation.

But when the Displacement Beast saw Adele, it instantly became docile, affectionately nuzzling its head against her and rubbing against the back of her hand.

Adele skillfully stroked the Displacement Beast's fur, took a soft cushion from her dimensional bag, placed it on its back, flipped over and mounted it, a haughty expression on her face.

Mark clicked his tongue inwardly in amazement.

This young lady can casually produce a teleportation beast mount and has at least two dimensional caves that can store living creatures. This can no longer be described as "extravagant." The power and wealth behind her are probably far beyond everyone's imagination.

"Ahem!"

Killian deliberately coughed a few times to draw everyone's attention back to himself, and said in a deep voice.

"Alright, everything's ready, let's go."

The group climbed the stone steps and entered the stone gate. Madeline had been waiting behind the gate for a long time, carrying a string of magic lamps. Inside the glass domes were glowing magic stones that emitted a soft incandescent light.

Madeline handed the magic lamps to each person one by one, whispering her instructions.

"It's dark and damp inside, and the underground river flows swiftly. This magic lamp can illuminate the way ahead and can also ward off some low-level monsters. Be careful."

When it was Mark's turn, their hands accidentally touched. Madeline, unusually gentle, softly reminded him.

"Mark, you'll need to use ice magic to pave a path from here. It all depends on your performance. Be careful and take good care of yourself."

Mark's heart skipped a beat, and he teased with ill intent.

"What reward will I get when I come back if I behave well?"

Madeline's face instantly turned red, and she lightly punched Mark's arm, saying coquettishly.

"Damn it, I'm talking to you about something serious!"

"Ha ha."

Mark laughed loudly, took the magic lamp, and quickly caught up with his teammates.

After stepping out of the stone gate, Mark noticed that his teammates were all looking at him strangely, especially Adele, whose eyes were sparkling, clearly already imagining a dramatic love story.

Recalling his interaction with Madeline earlier, Mark blushed and quickly changed the subject, asking a question.

"Everyone's here, shouldn't we begin?"

Killian nodded and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, let's begin."

The team members made way for Mark to walk to the front, closer to the riverbank.

Before them appeared a sizable underground river, ten meters wide, its waters surging and crashing against the jagged rocks exposed at the bottom of the river, producing a thunderous sound.

The dome above the underground river is four or five meters high, with stalactites hanging down and water droplets constantly falling into the river. The air is filled with thick water vapor, which is icy cold.

All eyes were on Mark, since everyone was counting on him to pave the way; if he failed, the team's operation would come to a standstill.

Mark took a deep breath, suppressed the pressure in his heart, gripped his staff tightly, and decided to first test the river's condition with "Freezing Ray".

Mark closed his eyes slightly, muttered incantations, and channeled his magic power, condensing a wisp of pale blue cold air at his fingertips.

The next second, a pale blue ray shot out from the fingertip and landed in the center of the river. Where the ray passed, the air temperature dropped sharply, and a thin layer of white frost appeared on the water.

But it only lasted for a second before the white frost was washed away by the rushing river. The rays fell into the water and disappeared without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea, without creating the slightest ripple or freezing effect.

The team members were completely silent, standing there dumbfounded, all with the same question in their minds.

That's it?

Eris finally couldn't help but speak, her voice filled with obvious skepticism.

"Are you even capable of this?!"

"Hey!"

Killian quickly reached out to stop Eris, his eyes resolute as he spoke.

"Let Mark decide for himself. He knows more about ice magic than we do. What happened just now was a test. There must be a better way."

Gray nodded in agreement.

"That's right, the underground river's current is too rapid, and the 'freezing ray' has limited power. Failure is normal. I believe Mark has a solution."

Adele and Nolan, being ignorant of magic, remained silent, and Eris, seeing this, had no choice but to suppress his impatience.

At this moment, Mark took a deep breath, suppressed his fatigue, and without hesitation, took out the "Winter Horn" directly from his dimensional bag.

The horn was covered in pale blue ice patterns, and its surface was shrouded in rich ice magic, indicating that it had been fully charged.

Mark had already switched the spell he had mentally inscribed in the horn to the 3rd level "Ice Wall".

The "freezing ray" we just used to test the river water was not only to test the river's condition, but also to determine the method for opening up the path ahead.

Since freezing the river is impossible, let's build an ice bridge.

Immediately, Mark grasped the horn with both hands, continuously pouring his ice magic into it, and silently chanted the incantation "Ice Wall".

The horn emitted a deep hum, and pale blue ice magic surged, enveloping the entire river surface.

Mark's eyes were focused and determined as he manipulated magic with his fingertips, guiding the shape of the ice wall.

A thick wall of ice stretched out from the edge of the stone steps and landed steadily on the stone wall on the opposite bank of the river.

The ice wall then continued to extend and widen, spreading out on the river surface in a "Z" shape, forming a wide and sturdy ice bridge in the air. The surface of the ice bridge was smooth but not slippery, and raised railings were formed on the edges to prevent people from falling.

After casting the spell, Mark was slightly out of breath, having exhausted most of his magic power, but looking at the solid ice bridge in front of him, a relieved smile appeared on his face.

The other team members also came to their senses, their faces showing admiration. Only Eris remained somewhat dissatisfied, frowning and muttering.

"Why not just lay it out in a straight line? This winding path is so inconvenient to walk on!"

Upon hearing this, Gray couldn't help but retort.

"This is the correct approach. The underground river has a rapid current and a great impact force. A straight ice bridge is subjected to concentrated force and is easily damaged and collapsed by the impact of the river."

"The Z-shaped flow can disperse the impact of the water flow, making the ice bridge more stable and less likely to be washed away. This is the safest way."

After hearing this, everyone suddenly realized what had happened and learned something new. Eris, realizing his recklessness and ignorance, was displeased but could only shut up and remain silent.

Killian took the first step, picked up the magic lamp, stepped onto the ice bridge, and tentatively took a few steps. The ice bridge was steady and did not sway at all. He turned around and waved to the crowd.

"It's very stable, everyone be careful and follow me."

The team members picked up their magic lamps and climbed the ice bridge one by one. The incandescent light illuminated the ice beneath their feet, where a turbulent underground river flowed. They stepped into the dark, murky river upstream.