Cataclysm King

Chapter 499 Dragon Egg
Ji Xun and Qin Rushi walked out of the tent.

Everyone seemed to be accustomed to the noise of fighting outside the cave, and each was doing their own thing.

Bonnie was fiddling with those colorful poison jars; Chen Jianwuliu was holding the magic sword [Night Whale Killer], meditating and comprehending the sword's meaning; Losen and Sam were fiddling with today's dinner by the small fire. After eating dry food for so long, they always wanted to have something hot to eat.
Everyone looked at Qin Rushi as he came out, and they all tilted their heads and greeted him, "Leader."

However, when they saw Ji Xun coming out, everyone was stunned for a moment, as if their brains just realized what they saw, and they shouted in surprise and joy: "Brother Ji Xun!"

No one knew how long it would take to advance to the seventh level, and these ten days passed in a flash.

Suddenly seeing Ji Xun appear again, everyone was shocked, but at the same time, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

There are risks in the extraordinary advancement. If you cannot withstand the extraordinary characteristics of the professional card, you will be distorted.

Moreover, the seventh level is the watershed for top card masters, and this level is a taboo in the Eastern Wasteland. After all, in the past three thousand years, countless predecessors died at this threshold.

Apart from Qin Rushi, they have not seen another seventh-level card master in Donghuang.

The cadres also didn't know Ji Xun's situation.

I thought he took the risk of advancing just for this exploration, and he must have taken greater risks in his haste.

So now seeing Ji Xun coming out safely, everyone was concerned and excited.

"Brother Ji Xun, have you succeeded in advancing? Is everything going well?"

"How does it feel to advance? Hey, why do I feel like after you advance, I can't sense any aura at all?"

"."

Everyone gathered around and looked at Ji Xun carefully from head to toe.

After all, they were all at level six, and would all face this threshold soon, so they asked a lot of questions.

There were too many questions to answer all at once, so Ji Xun just smiled and said, "Well, it went well."

During the past half month of advancement, not only Qin Rushi, but everyone has been protecting me, so I have to say thank you.

At the end he added: "Thank you all for your care these days."

Of course, Bonnie and the others didn't care at all.

It was just dinner time, so they gathered around the campfire.

As soon as Ji Xun sat down, Ivan, who was eating so much, jumped into his arms and rubbed against him obediently: "Ah Ji Xun, you finally came out."

Ji Xun smiled and touched the little girl's head, and suddenly found that someone was missing, so he asked, "By the way, where is Senior Xu?"

Bonnie said, "I don't know why the old senior suddenly disappeared the day after you entered into retreat and advanced."

Everyone's expressions were also very confused. Luo Sen thought Ji Xun was worried about the safety of the old senior, so he added: "The leader said not to worry, so we didn't look for him more."

However, Ji Xun just said "Oh" after listening.

Don't worry about anyone, don't worry about that one.

Moreover, this kind of sudden disappearance was not the first time, and Ji Xun did not take it seriously.

Everyone gathered around the fire and ate dinner.

Everyone was very curious, and Ji Xun was not reluctant to talk about his own advancement process.

Just ate and chatted.

Although there is already a seventh-level Qin Rushi in the Revolutionary Army, her [Valkyrie] sequence is too special and there is little that others can learn from her.

On the contrary, Ji Xun's jack-of-all-trades profession and his advanced insights made Bonnie and the others listen attentively.

Because he is on the path of mastering all elemental laws, and also takes into account Qigong and martial arts, this covers almost the majority of the fifty-two demon god sequence.

So he could answer almost any questions that Bonnie and the others had.

Others can also find some experiences that are suitable for themselves after listening to it.

Before I knew it, an hour had passed since we chatted.

"I used to think that the [Polynomist] was unreliable. Now that I see you, I know that if you can really advance to a high level, you will be incredibly strong. You can master all the techniques."

"Wow, Ji Xun. Why do I feel that the seventh level you mentioned is not difficult at all? You advanced to the next level so easily?"

"That's because Brother Ji Xun has a good foundation, with both divine power and domain blessing. It would be strange if he couldn't advance. Bonnie, stop imagining nonsense and focus on comprehending the domain first."

"No wonder, brother Ji Xun actually chose all elemental affinity? In this case, doesn't your [True Explanation of All Things] have no restraint?"

"Isn't it? When he was at level 6 before, he could fight against a level 7 monk. Now, I can't think of any other way for him to lose except by level."

"Hey, who do you think is more powerful, Brother Ji Xun or the leader? Hahahaha."

"."

Ji Xun's extensive knowledge once again won everyone's recognition.

Everyone benefited greatly from the extraordinary knowledge he shared.

Because everyone was already very familiar with each other, Bonnie and the others could even make jokes about him and Qin Rushi.

The chat atmosphere was very harmonious.

However, as they were chatting, a lurking assassin suddenly appeared in the air.

It turned out to be the chief assassin "Sick Tiger" Shan Dong who had just returned from reconnaissance.

He looked at Ji Xun and said in surprise: "Oh, brother Ji Xun has advanced successfully?"

Ji Xun smiled and nodded.

Shan Dong sat by the campfire and Sam gave him a bowl of broth.

Qin Rushi knew that he came back with news, so she asked, "Uncle Dong, what's going on outside? The fighting outside today seems to be more intense than yesterday."

Shan Dong said, "Yes, Chief. It looks like the people from the Holy See have discovered something. There have been fierce battles on the fifteenth and sixteenth floors below. Just now, more than a dozen large mercenary groups from the Holy See came, and I saw at least two thousand elite soldiers went down."

As he spoke, he gulped down a mouthful of broth and added: "I also saw them organizing a transport team, pulling ropes, and it seemed that there were a lot of things being put up there."

"Ah."

Qin Rushi listened and nodded slightly, his eyes showing thought.

The others didn't take it too seriously, as this was how they had been getting through the days.

But as Ji Xun listened, a lot of things instinctively came to his mind.

What is the purpose of the Holy See's people developing the Dead Zone at all costs?
Is it just to stop the golden dragon god Malodius from returning from the underworld?
However, this dead zone has always been here. Why haven’t the people of the Holy See sent anyone to develop it in more than 100,000 years?
The information we had previously obtained was only about the thirteenth level.

Ji Xun asked, "Uncle Dong, what is going on below the thirteenth floor?"

Shan Dong said: "The aura of hell below the tenth floor is already very dense, and there are a large number of masters of the Holy See and powerful monsters. I didn't find a suitable place to go down. But according to my observation, the fourteenth floor is a forest, the fifteenth floor has many traces of battles, and the sixteenth floor seems to be an ancient relic. I saw some man-made stone pillars outside."

"."

Ji Xun listened carefully and had already drawn a three-dimensional map in his mind.

This dead zone is like a huge cylindrical space, layer upon layer.

Since there weren't any particularly good opportunities these days and everyone had to wait for Ji Xun to advance, no one took the news too seriously.

But now that Ji Xun has successfully advanced, many things can be planned.

"Uncle Dong, have you found the whereabouts of that [Underworld Peacock]?"

"No. However, there are many magical beasts active near the roots of the World Tree, and many of them have climbed up from the depths along the roots. The mercenaries from the Holy See clashed with these magical beasts, and the losses in the past few days have been very heavy. I have seen at least five seventh-level magical beasts and one eighth-level. I don't recognize any of them. Oh, I drew it, brother Ji Xun, take a look at what it is."

"These are all legendary creatures from hell, the [Ghost-Faced Spider], [Netherworld Dragon Eagle], [Double-Tailed Hell Scorpion], [Three-Eyed Ghost Monkey], and [Stinging Wing Snake]. Aren't these monsters all very large?"

"Yes, they are very big! Each one is many times bigger than a normal monster."

"."

Ji Xun looked at the monsters drawn by Uncle Dong and roughly guessed their origins.

Obviously, almost all the monsters in this abyss have mutations directional towards "gigantic".

Qin Rushi looked at Ji Xun's thoughtful expression and asked softly, "What did you think of?"

Ji Xun said bluntly: "It has been confirmed that the mutation of organisms is caused by the environment, and it is most likely related to the Titans. So I wonder, what did Emperor Lanlingster go down there to find? And why did he return with heavy injuries?"

Qin Rushi pondered for a moment and said, "Are you saying that there might be some terrifying existence deep in this dead zone?"

"Ah."

Ji Xun said: "If there really is any hidden danger, the Dragon God Aierel would have more than 100,000 years to deal with it. But He never came, and left the hidden danger until now. In other words, either He thinks it is unnecessary, or He dares not to come."

As soon as these words were spoken, the huge cave fell silent.

There is a slight chill on my back.

If it's the former, it's fine. But if it's the latter, why do I feel like they are here to die?
They came to this dangerous place that even the Dragon God dare not easily set foot in?
But when I think about it, it makes sense that so many cannon fodders were sent to explore precisely because the Dragon God didn't dare to come.

However, before everyone could think about it, Ji Xun saw that they were being misled by his thoughts and said with a smile: "Even if there is something terrifying, it's not that bad. It's just like... when people see an ant on the roadside, they don't necessarily want to step on it."

"."

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at him and their eyes twitched.

I always feel like there's something wrong with this analogy, but it somehow makes me feel relieved.

At this time, Ji Xun raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and said: "The information is too little, and I can't be sure of more things."

As he said that, he glanced at Qin Rushi and said, "However, if possible, I plan to go down and take a look at the situation."

Bonnie's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Go down?"

So does everyone else.

There are definitely risks, but no one is afraid of risks.

Those who wanted to go to the Holy See went there, so of course they went too.

Before, it was because Ji Xun wanted to advance, so safety was the priority; now that he has successfully advanced, and the team has gained another top combat force, it is even more worthwhile to go.

Qin Rushi glanced at everyone. They were all tacit partners, and she knew what everyone was thinking at once.

Turning around, she asked Ji Xun: "When are you going?"

Ji Xun said: "Now."

As he spoke, he thought of a detail that no one paid much attention to during the previous conversation, and said, "Those people from the Holy See are building rope ladders to move large objects. I want to see what those things are."

Not only was he curious about those things, he could also get more accurate information through the items produced.

When everyone heard this, their eyes suddenly lit up.

As revolutionary soldiers who have been collecting money for years, their experience tells them that there must be good things in those big things.

Bonnie thought about it and said hesitantly: "But Ji Xun, could those 'big objects' be bait? Like what happened in the camp last time?"

Ji Xun: "It could be, but the probability is not high. Now, both the Sun Sect and the Scarlet Sect are focusing on the ruins on the 16th floor. The masters are also tied up there. So even if those 'big objects' are of certain value, it doesn't make much sense to split up the troops to rob them. If you expose yourself because of the robbery, it will be more trouble than gain."

"Yup!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked eager to make a move.

Anything that cannot be contained must be a good thing.

They knew Ji Xun's ability to deduce.

Since he said yes, he must have considered it more carefully than others. Everyone took action immediately.

Soon, everyone cleaned up all traces in the cave and quietly sneaked out of the cave.

During the past ten days, Shan Dong, who had been in charge of the investigation, had already clearly understood a large area nearby and had also found several relatively safe roads.

They were few in number and had a small target, so they encountered no problems on their way down.

Soon, they reached the sixth layer of the abyss.

On the rock wall, you can see some people tinkering with a wooden wheel to make a lifting rope ladder, pulling up some large objects in wooden boxes from the lower level.

Shan Dong pointed to the rope ladder and said, "That's the Holy See's transport team in front. There are a few more places over there that were newly built today. Going down from this position, you will be near the ruins on the 16th floor."

"Ah."

Ji Xun nodded.

A few people hid in the darkness, carefully observing the mercenaries busy on the rock wall in the distance.

There is a pile of dragon feces around the platform to prevent the invasion of low-level monsters.

There were about a hundred people on it, and a lot of boxes piled up.

Driven by a winch, a rope as thick as an arm slowly pulled up some sealed boxes from the depths of the pitch-black cave.

The boxes all look almost identical, and you can't tell what's inside them from the outside.

Seeing this scene, everyone looked embarrassed.

Sam muttered, "Ah, Captain. These boxes all look the same. Which batch should we grab?"

With so many boxes, even the mercenaries might not know what's inside.

If they really want to grab something of low value, it’s not worth exposing themselves to it.

Qin Rushi glanced at Ji Xun and replied calmly: "Wait."

With a simple command, everyone hid on the rock wall and waited patiently.

This wait lasted half a day.

Although high-level card masters have strong observation skills, when it comes to analyzing details, no one can compare to Ji Xun.

He just lay there, carefully observing everything on the cargo platform.

Observe the mercenaries' behavior, demeanor, clothing, and the force they exert when moving boxes.
Then my mind automatically deduces their identities and mentalities.

This is a member of the "Red Oak Mercenary Group", led by a sixth-rank deputy captain, and their overall strength is not too strong.

At least for Ji Xun and his companions, those defenses were useless.

Ji Xun felt that if he were a high-ranking official in the Holy See, and he really had some "treasures" to transport, they would definitely be mixed in these ordinary boxes.

Make sure the enemy doesn’t know how to grab that batch.

Even the escort wouldn't know what's inside.

But that is just an ordinary treasure.

If it really is a "treasure" or some sensitive item, Ji Xun doesn't think those people in the Holy See would be so confident as to let these low-level card masters escort it.

There must be some hidden means of protection.

This is what Ji Xun observed.

He has no interest in ordinary treasures.

So even though he guessed that there might be valuables in some of the boxes, he still didn't do anything.

But just wait patiently.

Just like fishing, only if you are patient enough can you catch big fish.

During this half day, hundreds of boxes were transported up from the lower level one after another.

Bonnie and the others were getting bored of waiting.

At this moment, Qin Rushi suddenly spoke up: "Ji Xun, pay attention to the two escorting mercenaries."

Everyone looked over there.

Of course Ji Xun noticed it too.

Every box that comes up is accompanied by two mercenaries for escort, and this time is no different.

But Qin Rushi's keen sense found something unusual and said, "The mercenary holding the axe is level six."

This is a mercenary at the deputy captain level. He is personally escorting the goods, so there must be good stuff.

Moreover, this guy is hiding very secretly.
Everyone had already sharpened their knives. Sam asked excitedly, "Chief, are we going to take action?"

Qin Rushi hesitated for a moment as he listened.

Although she noticed the abnormality, her intuition told her that something seemed to be wrong.

She glanced at Ji Xun and asked, "What do you think?"

Ji Xun looked into the distance, with a sly smile on his face: "I think, let's wait a little longer. There must be good things in this box, but they may not be the best. All the boxes before were to cover these few. But if I were a high-ranking official in the Vatican, I would put the better ones at the end, not the first one. In this way, no matter which box is attacked, the masters above and below can quickly reinforce it."

Everyone thought it made sense.

But Bonnie also asked bluntly: "But Ji Xun, how can you be sure that it is not this box?"

Ji Xun shrugged: "Not sure. It's just a bet on human nature. The higher the position, the less likely you are to take risks."

After these words were spoken, Qin Rushi nodded in agreement.

"what?"

Bonnie didn't quite understand yet, so she asked again, "So who do you think we should wait for?"

Ji Xun: "I think if there are three boxes in this batch, then the good stuff will be in the second one; if there are five, it may be in the third one."

Bonnie asked seriously, "What if there are four?"

"Then let's try our luck."

Ji Xun smiled and said, "If we bet right, we will get a big profit; if we bet wrong, we won't lose much."

Bonnie: "But it's so dark down here that we can't see anything. How can we be sure how many boxes there are in this batch?"

Ji Xun smiled mysteriously and told his plan: "So, Aunt Qin, you guys go and grab the second bite later. I'll go downstairs to see their reactions."

After hearing this, everyone's expression brightened and they understood immediately!

If it is really something very important, even if other boxes are stolen, the people guarding the "most important" box will not leave without permission.

In this way, the main goal is determined at once.

Originally this behavior was very risky, but Ji Xun's strength was obvious to all and no one would doubt it.

Everyone just does what they say.

Quietly disappeared into the darkness.

Ji Xun took the lead.

He knew there must be an early warning trap nearby, but he used space teleportation to land under a distant rock wall without touching any mechanism.

The platform above was no longer visible, and only a few thick ropes could be seen pulling up and down.

Ji Xun hid in the darkness and watched the second box being slowly pulled up.

Taking another look at the two mercenaries above, who were perfectly disguised but had completely different demeanors, he knew that his judgment was correct.

There must be treasures in this batch of boxes.

Ji Xun did not take any action and let the second batch of boxes go.

His eyes were fixed on the darkness below.

After observing for a long time, the interval between the boxes had already been determined.

Not long after, the third box slowly came into view.

At this moment, there happened to be a loud shout from above: "Be careful, someone is robbing the camp!"

It was Qin Rushi and his companions who took action.

They triggered the warning trap and a fight broke out.

The noise was particularly harsh in the originally quiet cave.

In an instant, it seemed as if a fierce battle broke out on the platform above.

Ji Xun still didn't move. He just stared at the third wooden box.

The moment the battle was triggered, the two people on the wooden box instantly entered combat state!
Moreover, around them, Ji Xun clearly sensed the aura fluctuations of a hidden powerful person.

This kind of sudden battle is most likely to expose hidden targets.

The aura was concealed very skillfully. He might not have been able to sense it before, but now that he was at the seventh level, he could sense it clearly.

Ji Xun looked at this configuration and thought, "Hey, looks like I'm lucky."

The three men did not go to support the battle above, but instead defended their box.

I even felt that there were people rushing up from below to provide reinforcements.

Ji Xun didn't want to wait for anyone to come, so without any hesitation, he stepped into the air and rushed towards the box.

The two mercenaries didn't understand what was happening, and suddenly saw a huge fist appear in their faces.

"Boom!"

Although the two men were quite strong, they were knocked away by Ji Xun's punch and almost died on the spot.

The seventh-level being hiding in the void wanted to launch a sneak attack, but he didn't expect that Ji Xun's body was covered by a layer of black domain, which instantly decomposed his hidden dark elements.

Ji Xun looked at the assassin, whose eyes were obviously panicked, as if he didn't understand why he was exposed, and grinned.

At the same time, he punched out again.

The seventh-level assassin didn't understand what was happening, but he felt the tremendous pressure of death.

A punch was thrown out, hitting him right in the chest. He had no choice but to retreat a hundred meters and disappear into the darkness.

Ji Xun didn't want to get entangled with these people. He knocked three guards away and pried open the wooden box under his feet with one punch.

Upon closer inspection, there was actually a huge egg inside.

"Dragon egg?"

Ji Xun broke through the barrier, sensed the terrifying dragon power, and suddenly realized what this was.

For an egg to have such dragon power, there is only one possibility.

That is... the dragon egg of a pure-blooded dragon!
And since it was a dragon egg found in the dead zone, an idea popped up in Ji Xun's mind: this dragon egg may be directly related to the war that year!

(End of this chapter)