Chapter 128 – Rift Valley

A squad composed of three Formal-Level experts was completely unstoppable for those Apprentice Rank believers. Almost every time, Bahanger only needed to go over and smash his hammer to easily eliminate most of the enemy’s forces.

However, capturing these strongholds one after another served little purpose beyond increasing the probability of finding Tisha Xia’er. While these outposts were undoubtedly important, it was strange that Tisha Xia’er had shown no signs of appearing thus far.

As for the cure for the disease… unfortunately, there wasn’t the slightest trace of any antidote in any of the strongholds. Tisha Xia’er hadn’t considered at all how her followers would survive if the plague leaked from the “factory.”

“If ya ask me, that so-called Tisha Xia’er is just scared. She’s probably terrified seeing us, might’ve even run off crying to her mama, hehe.”

After effortlessly destroying three strongholds, Bahanger grew increasingly contemptuous of Tisha Xia’er. In his view, someone who remained silent while enemies attacked their doorstep must lack real strength. According to Moradin’s teachings, such a Leader was a complete coward, the kind most despised by dwarf warriors.

However, neither Kangkai nor Punk agreed with Bahanger’s perspective. Punk, in particular, scoffed at the idea that “Tisha Xia’er was hiding out of fear.” He had witnessed her madness firsthand—someone who would not hesitate to pounce and bite even in a Projection state, understanding fear?” That was the biggest joke.

Yet Tisha Xia’er’s current actions were indeed highly unusual. Punk sensed a brewing conspiracy, vaguely feeling that if they didn’t quickly resolve the Tisha Xia’er situation… they might not only fail to obtain the Legendary Equipment but also risk losing their lives here.

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“Alright, the fourth stronghold is ahead. We can’t let our guard down!”

Punk vigilantly watched a deep Secluded Valley straight ahead. After a morning of travel and slaughter, the trio had arrived here—a massive rift on the Prairie, as bottomless as the prairie’s gaping mouth.

It was said to have been created by a full-force strike from a Legendary Expert warrior before the Dillon Kingdom was even established. No one knew the depth of the crack, but its width was about ten meters, stretching straight forward until it connected with the distant Boulder Forest.

Due to the overwhelming residual water-attribute ice-based Battle Aura from the Legendary Expert, biting cold winds still encircled the crack, turning hundreds of miles around into an icy world starkly different from the grassland.

Honestly, both Punk and Kangkai believed the Great Rift was the least likely hiding place for Tisha Xia’er, for no other reason than its extreme danger!

The residual Battle Aura of a Legendary Expert was no joke. The canyon’s freezing energy constantly eroded everything around it. Creatures that fortunately withstood the erosion and evolved were at least Formal-Level, and having their wills erased by the Legendary majesty, they were all without exception insane monsters!

How much risk would one take just stepping out here? A slight misstep could mean dying right at your doorstep, wouldn’t it?However, as one hidden base after another was destroyed, this rift no longer seemed so impossible. As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest. Perhaps Tisha Xia’er was banking on this very idea—those harsh environments and frenzied monsters could serve as excellent “gatekeepers.”

The closer they got to the rift, the stronger the sense of danger became. While the three were still some distance away, Kangkai quickly reminded Bahanger before the battle:

“Mr. Bahanger, I must tell you that arrogance is the first step toward failure. We are facing a powerful opponent with unknown abilities. The slightest negligence could lead to an irreversible tragedy.”

Kangkai’s earnest warning stemmed from his deep regard for Punk’s advice, as Punk was the only one in the team skilled in Divination Spells. But Bahanger clearly wasn’t appreciative.

“Hmph! No need for a little brat like you to remind me! Back in my day, I was the leader exploring ruins and have been in more fights than the two of you combined!”

The dwarf curled his lips in displeasure. As a veteran warrior, he couldn’t accept being lectured by a “junior,” so he loudly retorted the moment Kangkai finished speaking.

Hearing the dwarf’s ungrateful declaration, Kangkai could only shake his head helplessly. Though their philosophies were completely different, he didn’t want to argue with Bahanger to avoid internal conflict.

Punk, on the other hand, paid no attention to Bahanger at all. He secretly hoped this guy would remain underestimating their enemy—better yet, if Bahanger charged at Tisha Xia’er upon sight, he’d make a perfect meat shield.

Seeing that neither Kangkai nor Punk spoke up, Bahanger mistakenly thought they agreed with him, a smug expression spreading across his face, his thick beard twitching upward.

“Hehehe, just watch from behind when the time comes. I’ll smash that Tisha Xia’er’s head to pulp with one hammer strike for daring to trip me up.

I’m not bragging, but back in the day, I shattered a giant’s leg bone with one hammer blow and crushed two giants’ skulls with another. I chased an entire tribe of giants all over the mountains! If not for…”

Well, the dwarf’s innate skill—bragging—had been activated.

His tall tales might fool inexperienced apprentices, but to two “well-traveled” Formal-Level professionals, it was downright laughable.

Kangkai rolled his eyes listening nearby.

An entire tribe of giants? Everyone knew only a giant community with at least five or six Formal-Level adult giants could be called a tribe. Five or six Formal-Level giants—if the three of them encountered such a force now, they’d have to turn and run. The dwarf’s boasting had reached astronomical levels.

Just as Kangkai, who valued honesty, couldn’t take any more of this nonsense and was about to retort, Punk’s calm yet deadly serious voice cut off Bahanger’s bragging.

“Bahanger, Kangkai, I believe we may have arrived. My Divination Spell is showing clear indications now.”

Hearing Punk’s reminder, both Bahanger and Kangkai looked over.

While listening to Bahanger’s boasts along the way, the three had unknowingly reached the edge of the Great Rift. Here, the ground for a hundred miles was frozen solid by ice, and scattered snowflakes still drifted down from the sky.Kangkai was well aware of the dangers of the Great Rift. Anyone who could establish a home here either possessed some special means or undoubtedly had formidable strength and courage.

“So it’s inside this rift indeed. It’s truly an ideal location—easily defensible while allowing tactical advances. The surviving creatures here are likely formidable, and that Tisha Xia’er certainly has both nerve and vision.”

“What’s there to fear? The ruins I explored back in the day were far more perilous than this.”

Bahanger maintained his usual boisterous and careless demeanor, but his grip on the hammer betrayed his true unease.

This time, no one paid any attention to the dwarf’s words.

Punk sensed the chilling energy permeating the air, and his heart swelled with emotion. This was the power of a Legendary Expert—merely a single strike had left traces that persisted for centuries without fading. Even now, though the earth-shattering force was long gone, the biting wind that pierced through even the “Protection from Cold” spell allowed Punk to imagine how overwhelming the energy of that legendary blow must have been… enough to tear the heavens and split the earth!

“Alright, let’s head down!”

Without waiting for responses from Kangkai or Bahanger, Punk swiftly completed casting the Lightness Technique. Due to the razor-sharp energy winds in the air, he opted against descending through flight.

He nimbly scaled down the steep cliff face, while Golem One moved like an agile spider ahead of him, continuously using its sharp claws to carve out handholds for Punk to grasp.

Soon, Punk had descended dozens of meters along the precipitous rift wall. After exchanging glances, Kangkai and Bahanger didn’t hesitate either. Channeling their Battle Aura, they punched indentations into the rock face and quickly followed Punk downward.

The icy winds whipped frost and mist skyward as the three figures soon vanished from the vast Prairie. The frigid rift stood like an unhealed wound upon the grassland, showing no signs of closure through the passing years. From its bottomless, sheer depths, endless bitter winds howled relentlessly!

(End of Chapter)