by <unknown>
The gladiators did not expect that Yuchi Ba would be so straightforward as to reveal such a confidential plan, nor did they expect that they would be entrusted with such an important mission. For a moment, they became both excited and lost, not knowing what to say in their confusion.
Li Yao was very calm. "Master Yuchi, this is a very important operation. Why are you handing it over to the ignorant newbies such as us?"
"Three reasons," Yuchi Ba said frankly. "Firstly, the mission is not to be carried out by newcomers such as you alone. The Mausoleum of Chaos used to be a laboratory of God Chaos that boasted an unbelievable coverage. The part that is buried deep below the ground is even more splendid. It is essentially an immeasurable palace that demands a lot of hands in order to search entirely.
"Therefore, this is an operation of a super large scale, and more than five hundred members of the Blade of Chaos will participate in it. You will only act as support.
"Secondly, the pieces of the map of the Mausoleum of Chaos are the top secret and the ultimate treasure for Elder Nether Spring. In order to retrieve the pieces, we attacked Bone Sand City openly and fought countless bloody battles against Elder Nether Spring's subordinates. A lot of our experts sacrificed themselves so that the pieces of the map could be escorted back safely.
"Honestly speaking, after such heavy losses, there are not too many experienced experts that can cover the entire Mausoleum of Chaos right now.
"Thirdly, and most importantly, there are of course a lot of experts of a higher level inside our organization. However, such experts all have legal, false identities on the surface, and they need to show up in public every once in a while. For example, my 'Death Teeth Guards' are definitely elites among elites. But if they disappear at the same time all a sudden, wouldn't it be equal to declaring to the public that I am carrying out a secret mission?
"Right now, a lot of investigations are underway. Now that Elder Nether Spring has lost the map pieces of the Mausoleum of Chaos, he must have figured out our goal. The mobilization and concentration of elites on a large scale will very likely be noticed by him! Therefore, we have no choice except to involve more newcomers in the mission!"
The explanations were rather plausible, and even Li Yao did not find any discrepancies after pondering for a while.
"Everyone!"
Yuchi Ba raised his voice and said, "The operation to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos is extremely dangerous. One moment of carelessness, and you may die without a grave. I cannot promise you anything except that I will take part in the operation personally and lead the vanguard! As long as we make it and unearth the legacy of God Chaos, we will have resources to fight against the Pantheon of Demons. That is the only way out for us and our families!"
The gladiators whispered to each other and could not wait to try. Many of them had been convinced by Yuchi Ba.
Explore the Mausoleum of Chaos, find the origin of the demon race, and receive the legacy from forty thousand years ago!
It was something that they would not even dream of one day ago.
But right now, it was likely to become reality!
"Master Yuchi, can we refuse the offer, and what will happen to us if we do?" Li Yao asked as emotionlessly as before.
"Of course you can!" Yuchi Ba declared. "Even if you've made up your mind to join the mission, you will have to go through strict screening tests. After all, it is the Mausoleum of Chaos, which is full of peril, that we are going to explore. Any mistake that you make might not only get yourself killed but also drag those near you into the disaster!
"Therefore, we cannot possibly force a bunch of dissatisfied slaves to go on an adventure in such a dangerous place. Won't we be trying to kill ourselves if so?
"If you say no…"
Yuchi Ba pondered for a moment and said slowly, "I don't want to lie to you. Since you've entered the secret base of the Blade of Chaos, seen my real face, and heard such important secrets, you are not going to get out of the place for the time being.
"If you are willing to join the operation to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos, you will go through a period of special training in the next.
"If you would rather not, you can stay in this place and do the jobs that you can. You can also receive regular training while waiting for the assignment of other missions.
"In the days to come, you will be closely monitored, but after the operation to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos is over, or if my identity is completely exposed, everything will be different."
The decisions seemed to be rather rigorous, but they were quite understandable. After all, an insurrection was not an invitation to dinner, and rules had to be followed to ensure that nothing went wrong.
Li Yao continued his questioning. "Our family are perhaps still in Void Turmoil City. Can we visit them?"
"No."
Yuchi Ba shook his head and replied without any hesitation.
"You have been 'killed' in public under everybody's eyes. You are now the reincarnated bodies that should not belong to this world. What will your family think if they run into you without any preparation?
"Your family might not have nerves as tough as yours. If they reveal traces without them knowing, not only will our organization be exposed, your family members will also be sent into the secret prisons of the Pantheon of Demons and interrogated until the last bit of information inside their bones is dug out!
"I guarantee that you cannot begin to fathom the interrogation methods of the Pantheon of Demons, and you will prefer being killed to facing them!
"Therefore, for the sake of your family, it is best to keep your distance.
"However, the organization can help you hand over one or two of your belongings to them and give them a few last words.
"In the meantime, the organization promises that, whether you take part in the operation to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos or not, we will do our best to look after your family and help them live a more comfortable life without being affected by their past!
"When the mission is accomplished, maybe, at an appropriate time, the organization will arrange for you to watch their new life from afar!"
Hearing his words, everybody was whispering to each other. For many chaotic-blood demons, the only motivation to push them through life-and-death battles as gladiators was their family!
Now that they had been told that the Blade of Chaos could improve the lives of their family, all the gladiators were excited!
Joining the Blade of Chaos and exploring the Mausoleum of Chaos would not only give them access to legacy of techniques but also change the fate of their family. With any luck, they might become a hero for all the chaotic-blood demons!
On the Skeleton Island, they were already used to death, and they had personally 'died' once. The perilous Mausoleum of Chaos did not sound very scary right now!
A slender chaotic-blood demon whose hands were like claws raised his voice and shouted, "Master Yuchi, I'm in!"
"We are in, too. We are willing to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos together with Master Yuchi!"
The muscular demons with the bloodlines of the Red Blood Bronze Bulls took a step forward under the leadership of Mo Tiesheng. Their hoofs stomped on the ground, raising deafening noises in the temple.
Li Yao narrowed his eyes and made a step forward, too. He nodded. "I'm willing to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos!"
Things were getting more and more interesting.
Yuchi Ba was probably speaking the truth. At the very least, Li Yao did not sense any abnormal changes in his heartbeat, the speed of his blood flow, or the frequency of his eye movements while he was giving his speech.
However, it was one thing to speak the truth and a whole different thing to speak the whole truth.
At the very least, Yuchi Bao did not mention the mysterious drug that had been injected into Jin Xinyue's body and turned her from a demon into a human being at all.
Li Yao would have to find the answer himself in the Mausoleum of Chaos!
In the legends of mankind, the Pantheon of Demons, and the Blade of Chaos, forty thousand years ago is a critical point alike. I really want to know what the so-called 'Chaos' is exactly!
Chapter 882: Necessary Sacrifices |
Deep inside the secret base on the Skeleton Island, inside a secret chamber that was piled up with obsidian and had glamorous patterns carved on all the four walls, Yuchi Ba, who had just recruited a batch of new warriors, appeared alone.
The disobedience and intimidating aura around him were hidden. Reverence was written all over his face.
He was by himself inside the secret chamber, but there was a bottomless hole in front of him that seemed to be leading to the heart of the planet.
Around the hole were circles of complicate stripes. Yuchi Ba span the stripes as if they were a password lock. Then, a click echoed somewhere deep down in the ground. A moment later, a stream of slightly red smoke popped up from the hole and hovered in midair, condensing into a fuzzy shadow.
An obscure voice drifted out from the smoke. "Is there still no news on the Divine Blood of Chaos?"
Yuchi Ba shook his head and said, "I'm sorry for my incompetence. I was too busy preparing for the hunting of the subordinates of Elder Nether Spring and did not expect that Jin Xinyue would jump out of nowhere. The three false teams fooled Elder Nether Spring but not her, and she took the Divine Blood of Chaos from Elder Ning by following the real team easily."
"It is not because of your incompetence, but because I miscalculated." The voice in the smoke continued. "Jin Xinyue is not to be underestimated. She seems to have recruited a super expert in secret who defeated all the hunters that were chasing after them.
"Then, Elder Nether Spring seemed to reach a deal with Jin Tuyi. They declared to the public that Saintess Jin Xinyue of the Pantheon of Demons had been killed on the battlefield to suppress the Riot of Bloody Blade.
"However, I know for a fact that Elder Nether Spring and Jin Tuyi have not captured Jin Xinyue or taken back the Divine Blood of Chaos.
"Even now, both Jin Xinyue and the Divine Blood of Chaos are missing."
The shadow formed by the smoke paused for a moment and continued. "But we can't afford to wait any longer.
"If we keep on waiting, chances are that Elder Nether Spring will locate the Mausoleum of Chaos earlier than we do. Should Elder Nether Spring dig out the secrets of God Chaos, there will never be a comeback for us!"
Yuchi Ba sighed and said, "Without the Divine Blood of Chaos, our safety inside the Mausoleum of Chaos cannot be ensured. Many brothers may die miserably deep below the ground."
"This is a war," the shadow of smoke said. "A war comes with sacrifices. That is why I asked you to recruit as many new members as possible without caring about the cost. When the operation begins, let the newcomers explore the way first and try to save the core members of our organization."
Yuchi Ba nodded and said, "Understood. I have selected three hundred suitable newcomers over the past three months. After a period of special training, they will be ready to go."
"That's good."
The smoke suddenly turned from scarlet into crimson, like a furiously burning torch that was spurted out from the center of the planet. The voice in the flames was both coarse and high-pitched, giving a strong feeling of weirdness and discordance. "Remember, the Mausoleum of Chaos is of the utmost importance for our organization. Whether or not we can cut off the shackles that have been bound to us for tens of thousands of years all depends on the operation!
"Therefore, we must calculate carefully. There cannot be any unexpected factors!"
…
"So many warriors!"
"Such a vast ground!"
"The gravity here must be at least three times that of the Blood Demon Sector. The body movement is rather difficult!"
Two days later, Li Yao, who would prove to be the biggest 'unexpected factor', stepped into the real training camp of the Blade of Chaos together with Mo Tiesheng and the other gladiators who had all recovered from their wounds.
Naturally, the underground of the Skeleton Island could not accommodate a training base of such a scale. But the Blade of Chaos had secretly grasped a batch of world fragments. The teleportation arrays leading to the world fragments had been installed under the Skeleton Island, through which the gladiators could reach the training space conveniently.
The greatest features of this particular world fragment, besides the increased gravity, were its vastness and desolation.
As far as one's eyes could reach, there were gray and brown rocks. Hundreds of camps had been established on the ground, where countless tough warriors were training hard under three times the standard gravity.
On their left side, ruins that looked like a forsaken temple had been set up.
On their right side were iron tanks almost a hundred meters tall with signs of crossed skulls that represented danger painted on them. There was no telling what was stored inside.
The newcomers did not expect that their organization would boast such tremendous resources. They were all excited and could not wait to try.
"Why are you still standing? Get into the training camp!" the tutors responsible for them shouted loudly.
There were three tutors in total—the Death Teeth Guards as well as those who had 'killed' them in the Hell Bone Swamp.
The Death Teeth Guard who was adept at stealth techniques and once slashed at Li Yao's back was named 'Hidden Blade'.
There was also a plump man named 'Venomous Liquid', who looked like a meatball and grimaced all day round. Other than the crimson complex eyes, there were not many features of a demon on him.
The leopard demon who was agile and best at strangling techniques had a rather strange name that was completely unrelated to her features—'Electric Boa'.
The three tutors were not only responsible for the one month of special training but also going to work together with the newcomers during the exploration of the Mausoleum of Chaos.
It meant that they were the 'subordinates' that were allocated to the three tutors. Naturally, they were very passionate about the progress of their subordinates.
The three tutors brought the newcomers to the right side of the camps next to the high and majestic iron tanks.
It was not until they were close that the newcomers began to realize how enormous the iron tanks were. They were almost skyscrapers, and even the tallest chaotic-blood demons did not even surpass the shelf at the bottom of the iron tank.
The surface of the iron tanks was silver, carved with words in a foreign language. The eyes of the skull were glittering, and they seemed to be staring at the newcomers wherever they were standing, enveloping the newcomers in fear and stopping them from looking back.
Electric Boa, the leopard demon, had climbed up a giant iron tank, leapt onto its top, and crawled in!
Venomous Liquid, the plump tutor, smiled and said, "You are basically the last batch of teammates that are going to join the operation to explore the Mausoleum of Chaos. There is not much time left for your special training.
"You used to be hunters in the wilderness who must've been good at hunting and fighting. After more than a month of strengthening on the Skeleton Island, there is not much room left for you to boost your combat ability.
"Besides, nobody can anticipate what will happen in the next second when you are in the Mausoleum of Chaos. Every choice must be made according to the situation. You might not get a chance to utilize your combat ability at all!
"Therefore, the most focus of our training is your teamwork. When your cooperation with each other is good enough, we will go to the ruins nearby and conduct simulated battles.
"The ruins are an imitation of the Mausoleum of Chaos that we built based on what we know. It is definitely poles apart from the real Mausoleum of Chaos, but it is better than nothing.
"But most importantly of all, you need to learn—"
Venomous Liquid put on a mysterious smile and stopped talking
because an iron tank almost a hundred meters tall right before everybody was suddenly emitting dull noises, as if something gargantuan was about to jump out of the container!
Huala!
The upper cover of the iron tank was fully opened. Cold air spurted out in earsplitting noises and froze the water in the air into a cluster of hazy, icy mist.
An enormous black shadow crept out of the iron tank, half covered by the icy mist, like a dragon that had climbed out of an abyss. Blood-freezing sounds were echoing while the body of the beast rubbed against the shell of the iron tank.
"Ahh!"
The faces of many newcomers were pale. Even Li Yao had a vague sense of danger, too, and constricted his eyes.
The hazy mist gradually dispersed, unveiling the full appearance of the black shadow, which was a massive snake-type demon beast that was almost a hundred meters in length and more than three meters in diameter.
The body of the snake was so large, thick, and hard that it could be called a crystal train that had come to life instead of a 'snake'!
Hexagonal scales were connected to each other and covered the demon beast in multiple layers, like the breastplate of generals in ancient times. Sharp spurs also protruded out from the joints of the shells.
As the muscles twitched, the spurs extended and contracted with spluttering electric arcs dancing around nonstop!
It was not hard to imagine that any enemy tied up by such an enormous beast would be completely torn apart by the spurts and the electric arcs before their bones were shattered!
"Hiss! Hiss!"
Three eyes could be found on the top of its head. Besides the two regular yellow eyes on the two sides of the head, there was a complex eye resembling that of an insect in the center of its forehead.
Electric Boa, the leopard demon who had vanished into the iron tank just now, was sitting right above the head of the snake. There seemed to be a dent on the top of the snake's head, allowing the lower half of her body to be melded into the head. Strands of translucent nerves connected her to the enormous snake through her spine.
