It doesn't matter what the lord is.

Lingwu Lord looked at him deeply, but did not refuse. He only said:

"can."

12. All of them understand

At only eighteen years old, Reed fearlessly attracted the gaze of the gatekeeper.

Although there was nothing in the empty eye sockets of the gatekeeper beast, it still stood up sharply and let out a low roar with its rotten vocal cords, probably sensing that someone had entered the area it was supervising. Lid raised his hand, and black flames swept towards the beast with festering skin and flesh like a tsunami.

At that moment, the gatekeeper suddenly dug the ground with its sharp claws, rushed up to the overwhelming black fire, and instantly broke through the wall of fire, ignoring the sizzling sound of the meat on its body. Because it had been rotten for a long time, the smell did not have the aroma of barbecue at all, but was filled with a nauseating stench.

It shook off the remaining flames on its body and continued to pounce on Reed, who immediately ran away.

Lid finally discovered a serious problem. Although the Lingwu Lord said it lightly, the living mechanism that could guard the upper three tribes must have been an extremely powerful spiritual beast when it was alive. Although it was unknown what race it was, the power contained in its body should not be underestimated. Therefore, a thousand years of time could not completely corrode it. This broken body still contained terrifying power.

Lid shouted loudly:

"Go defuse the bomb, Zhao Zhao!!"

Then he ran away.

He deftly turned the corner of the maze, but the gatekeeper turned a little slower due to its huge size, and crashed into the corner of the maze with a bang, creating cracks in the solid wall. Lid could see the red figure flashing by from the corner of his eye, but he didn't have time to take a closer look. Even though he had already used all his strength to run, the distance between him and the gatekeeper was still shortening.

Fortunately, the monster's turning speed was not fast, and Lid kept turning corners to delay for about ten seconds. But then he found that he had run onto a straight road, with a strong wind behind him. Lid used his arms to protect his face and rolled on the ground, avoiding the attack of the gatekeeper, but the road ahead was blocked.

Although he had the option of fleeing backwards, the gatekeeper beast didn't seem to want to give Lid this chance. It slapped him on the head with its rotten claws, but the power contained in it was extremely amazing. Lid chose to block the attack with the black flame armor, intending to use the force to flee backwards. If everything went well, he could turn around and taunt him with something like "This is my escape route."

What he didn't expect was that the gate beast's attack was so powerful that it sent him flying backwards, crashing into the corner of the maze, and he spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground in front of him. Seeing that zombie-like beast pounced on him again, Lid used his black flame armor to prop himself up against the wall, and with the help of the reaction force of the flame explosion, he fell to the side.

This action bought him a few seconds more.

Before he could get up, the gatekeeper beast pounced on him to the ground. The one in the middle of the three heads opened its mouth, revealing teeth that had not decayed but had begun to turn black. A stench of corpse filled his face, and the gatekeeper beast bit directly at Reed's head.

Lid hit the gatekeeper's jaw with his backhand to prevent it from getting close to him. Black saliva dripped on Lid's face, and a puff of white smoke came out. The two of them confronted each other for two or three seconds. Lid suddenly felt the force on his hand lighten, and when he came to his senses, he found that the ferocious beast had collapsed and had no strength. His palm directly hit its middle head away.

Reed breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the matter with Lord Lingwu should have been dealt with.

He also didn't know how the Lingwu Lord would deal with these traps without him. But she must have her own way, such as using some means to lure away the gate beasts, or using her invincible golden flame to think of a solution.

Lid took the heavy gatekeeper off his body, tore open its already tattered belly, fumbled around inside, and took out a crystal. Although the gatekeeper in front of him was huge, the crystal inside its body was only half the size of Lid's palm, and it was engraved with various complex patterns. Lid took a quick look and felt that the design was very ingenious, but he couldn't figure out the specific principle for the time being.

The lost ancient civilization is something that Reed has always been interested in.

There is more than just humans in the world. There is a wider world beyond humans. And these technologies that humans have never mastered represent the upper limit of the world's development. It is said that the wisdom of the three tribes is generally higher than that of humans, and the fact that they can build such a secret place under the sea is a proof of this.

For Lid, this place is not only a dangerous area, but also a treasure trove that can be explored endlessly.

Regarding the future development direction of Yuxi City, science and technology are definitely an important step, but Lid does not intend to only carry forward the traditional science he brought with him. This is equivalent to completely ignoring the magic system that people in this world have spent thousands of years to create, and ignoring the brilliant civilization they once created. In the long run, Yuxi City will eventually fall into a state of complacency and it will be difficult to make new breakthroughs.

Science itself should be inclusive. Bringing these great achievements in magic back to Yuxi City will also rapidly improve Yuxi City's attainments in traditional magic. After returning, Lid even wants to set up a magic research institute to study these lost and recovered ancient civilizations.

In terms of physical strength, humans are indeed inferior to other races. But in terms of curiosity and thirst for knowledge, humans are no less than any other race. This is why they can always carry heavy loads and move forward.

...Of course, it’s a little early to think about this now.

Lid put the crystal stone in his arms and wiped the dirty blood off his face. He felt as if he had taken a bath in mud. He exhaled and tried to act as if nothing had happened, and went back to meet up with the Lingwu Lord.

The Lingwu Lord looked at him, who was covered in dirt, and said expressionlessly:

"Don't be so brave next time. I have a way to burn these rotten things."

After saying that, she turned around and raised her finger. Lid felt the cold water falling from the sky, directly washing him through. As expected, this woman also knew how to use magic, but it was unclear which magician she learned from, or whether it was a skill passed down from generation to generation in the Lingwu lineage.

While wiping his hair, Lid complained to the Lingwu Lord:

"Then tell me in advance. I don't want to take this risk a second time."

Lingwu Lord said lightly:

"You can choose to hide behind me next time, if you're not ashamed."

This is the lukewarm irony that Reed is hiding behind the woman.

Lid scratched his head, put on his bag, and muttered:

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. This is what I should do."

Just as he was about to follow, he saw the Lingwu Lord pointing his finger at the chain extending out of the magic circle carved on the wall, and said without turning his head:

"If you want to study this kind of living mechanism, you'd better remember the control device in your head as well."

"I've marked the damaged parts. Once they're connected, they'll work fine."

"The magic circle is carved on the wall, and I don't have any paper or pen with me. It's up to you how much you can remember."

13. Night talk for two

Reed didn't know how Lord Lingwu saw through his thoughts.

Reed didn't know why Lord Lingwu didn't stop it.

He also didn't know what the Lingwu Lord knew and what she wanted.

Over the next day, Reed saw many different kinds of living mechanisms.

The first thing you see is a three-headed beast standing on four legs. In fact, there are also winged unicorns and monsters with human heads and snake bodies in the maze. Of course, the most shocking visual effect is the "Meat Pile" creature. Countless living organs are mixed together, and the rotten flesh and skin are fused together, and it is impossible to distinguish them. The magic crystals are stuck together and become a huge core. It looks like a strange meat ball with various heads. When rolling, it will wrap and merge everything on the road. It is a terrible creature that will leave a shadow on your body and mind after you meet it.

Even with Lord Lingwu's fire, it took a whole afternoon to completely burn this thing.

Lid had gradually lost interest in these living organs. After discovering that the magic crystals inside them operated in similar rules and there was no need to collect them repeatedly, he no longer had the enthusiasm to charge in the front line and began to take advantage of the Spiritual Martial Lord. The Spiritual Martial Lord's golden flame was really useful against such powerful and brainless creatures. Once ignited, it would burn more and more vigorously. The gatekeeper beasts on fire would struggle desperately, but due to the restrictions of the magic crystals in their bodies, the range of movement of each gatekeeper beast was very limited.

Lingwu Lord and Lid only need to quickly withdraw from the attack circle of the gatekeeper beast after lighting the fire, and then wait for the gatekeeper beast to die on its own. The whole process is very humane and has no negative effects. If they were a couple, they could even use this time to talk about love outside.

Unfortunately, Lid and Lingwu Lord had nothing to talk about. Even if Lid wanted to ask, Lingwu Lord would not speak. The two of them basically sat there leaning against the wall, listening to the wailing of the gate beast not far away, and they did not say a word in such a noisy environment, like an old monk in meditation.

This life repeated for two days. Lid couldn't help it after all. When a pile of meat was being burned, he asked the Lingwu Lord:

"Where did you get this flame? Is it a special weapon or a special magic? Is there a custom that it is passed down to girls but not boys? If I become your disciple now, can you teach me a thing?"

Lord Lingwu ignored Lid completely.

So Reed began to ask questions without any reason:

"No... We can't just live a similar life day after day like two mutes. Life is very short, whether it is active or passive, enjoyment is a very necessary part. Even if we are trapped in a secret place deep under the sea, we have to enjoy the process, do you understand what I mean?"

Lingwu Lord said lightly:

"If you keep talking nonsense, I don't mind turning you into a real mute."

Lid shuddered, but he still scratched his head and said:

"Then take that as the question I want to ask? Last time you said I could ask you any questions I wanted, there was no time limit on that, right?"

Lord Lingwu closed his eyes.

Lid thought that she probably didn't want to pay attention to him, so he shrugged, but he didn't expect that the voice of the Spiritual Martial Lord would soon be heard from the side:

"Don't think about it. This is a flame that only I can use. As for its source... it's better not to tell. It's all old news. There's no need to dig it out from the garbage dump again."

There was a hint of irritation in Lord Lingwu's voice, and it seemed that these were not good memories.

Although further questioning might yield some results, Lid did not continue to ask. The Lingwu Lord made it very clear that only she could use this kind of flame, which meant that even if Lid knew the origin, it would be of no benefit.

Lid yawned, took out a piece of dried fish from his pocket, tore off a piece and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly while asking:

"Old memories... I heard from Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai that you are only in your twenties. You seem much more mature than you look. Should I congratulate you on beating time?"

Lingwu Lord opened his eyes, glanced at Lid, and asked:

"What do you mean?"

Lid threw the dried fish into his mouth and said:

"Everyone who is alive is racing against time. Life will eventually come to an end, but there are endless things to do. Some people resist change, so they are as innocent as a baby even in their thirties or forties; some people are wise and have seen the vicissitudes of life in their teens and twenties. I always feel an inexplicable pressure when chatting with you, and I know you are a veteran as soon as you open your mouth."

Reed handed a piece of dried fish to Lord Lingwu. Lord Lingwu took it in his hand and looked at it in a trance, as if he was thinking about something that happened long ago.

After a while, she said calmly:

"Racing against time... is an interesting statement. Is that your opinion?"

Reed shook his head:

"No, my sister told me that before."

Lord Lingwu looked up a little, wondering which daughter of Lord Yunyang had such thoughts. But from the information reported by the secret guards, most of Lord Yunyang's descendants were not outstanding, and most of the women were mean and harsh, especially the second daughter, who was the most selfish. The few two or three kind girls were almost all young ladies who were ignorant of the world, and it was hard to imagine that they could say such words.

Lid poured a mouthful of cold water and said with some nostalgia:

"She has always been stronger than any other child since she was young. She always felt that if she didn't work hard, she would disgrace the reputation accumulated by her parents. Many nights when I got up from the bed, I saw her outside reciting difficult formulas, banging her head while reciting. One day she told me that she always felt like she was racing against time, but unfortunately she had limited talent, so she was often left behind. The harder she tried to catch up, the more desperate she felt. What could I do? I could only hold her in my arms, pat her on the back, and tell her that it's okay, your brother is here."

The Lingwu Lord responded coldly:

"Human talents are limited, but desires are unlimited. When desires exceed talents, we reach the so-called bottleneck."

Lord Lingwu stood up, took a look at the "pile of meat" that had been burnt into many pieces of mud, and put the dried fish into his mouth and chewed it slowly.

She said to Reed:

"I've experienced that feeling before. I've also struggled alone in the abyss. But I never raced against time. I chose to make peace with it temporarily."

“However, the deadline for reconciliation is approaching.”

"Hurry up and set off, there are still many dangers ahead."

She stepped barefoot through a pool of muddy black water, but just like when she was in the northern frontier, not a single snowflake fell on her, now these dirty things also avoided her. Lingwu Lord's jade feet lightly tapped the ground, and the black water had already retreated to the surroundings.

Lid licked his fingers, put the bag back on his shoulder, and followed her.

14. Sandstorm

"You can see the prosperity of the past from this ancient mausoleum."

Lid walked to a withered potted plant, reached out and gently touched it, and the dark branches immediately dissipated into a puff of smoke. From some details, it can be seen that this place was once carefully decorated. Even when Clenus was still there, the entire secret realm might have been a small world under the sea, with its own independent ecosystem.

At that time, most of these living organs were still powerful or beautiful creatures, and the environment should have been much brighter than it is now, with green vegetation and flowing fresh water. It can be said to be a paradise under the sea. It's a pity that it has become dark and damp now, and the air is full of foul smells.

"The giants have existed for thousands of years, which means that Clenus has not continued to rule this area for at least thousands of years."

The Lingwu Lord was at a fork in the road, wondering which way to go. Therefore, he didn't even look at Lid when he spoke:

"Without the huge magical power of the Pillar of Eternal Life, it is impossible for this place to continue to operate. Everything will return to dust, and no one will be spared."

Lid poked the bonsai on the stone platform one by one and asked:

"Speaking of which, did the Giants just disappear like this? Will the Middle Six Clans be renamed the Middle Five Clans? Or will they promote one from the Lower Nine Clans to the upper one?"

Lingwu Lord finally decided to go to the left. She turned around and said to Lid:

"There is no need to think about such long-term things for now. The higher giants should not have completely disappeared, and there should be survivors among the lower giants. The resurrection of Clenus is a phased one. Since you didn't let Huang Yan die, Clenus can't be fully resurrected in a short period of time, and the giant race will not be completely destroyed."

Lid nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly realized something was wrong.

This woman... knows about Huang Yan? ?

Perhaps noticing the vigilant look from Lid behind him, the Lingwu Lord said a few words coldly:

"What do you think the Japanese guards were stationed in the southern part of Lingwu to guard against? You are the only one in the world who likes to bother with such troubles and let people in. If it weren't for the credit for the Iron Wall Defense Line, you would be dead now."

Reed recalled the question asked by Lord Lingwu when he "had to go with the Lord" at the end of the first free hunt.

——"I heard that you came here with your fiancée. Where is she?"

It seems that she already knew that the wife that Li De brought in was Huang Yan. She probably guessed it when the secret guard reported it to her. As for how she knew Huang Yan would come... most likely there were secret guards among the top leaders of the rebel army. Li De was not surprised at all. The rebel army originally developed from the disaster victims. Although there were many people, they were mixed. It was not difficult for the secret guards to blend in if they were willing.

Since the people of the Abyss Church were able to find out more than a decade ago that Huang Yan was the son of Tian Yan, it was unreasonable for the Lingwu Lord, who had been paying attention to the resurrection of Clenus, to know nothing about it. If Huang Yan could be blocked from Lingwu and let her be killed by the heavenly tribulation on human territory, the situation would instantly develop in the direction that the Lingwu Lord expected, and she would not have to worry too much.

It's a pity that everything was messed up by Reed.

Lid scratched his head. It was useless for Lingwu Lord to get angry, as he didn't know so much beforehand.

Of course, even if he knew, he would probably still choose to bring Huang Yan in.

The Lingwu Lord walked in front, his tone slightly softened:

"Forget it. It's not all your fault. The branch president of the Abyss Church has also arrived. Even if you don't interfere, they will find a way to bring in the Son of Heavenly Disgust. This is unpredictable. And you saved Huang Yan's life in the end, so your merits and demerits are offset."

Lid breathed a sigh of relief:

"Thank you so much for your generosity."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lid immediately realized that something was wrong. This woman was really born to be in a superior position. She made him feel as if he had to thank her for what she said. She had sent the commander of the secret guards to monitor Lid, and it almost threatened the lives of Lid and the little slime. The account had not been settled yet!