A team of snow camels moved forward slowly in the snow.
Liu Ping said loudly,
"Uncle Zha Sha, how long until we reach the border?"
On another snow camel, a thin man replied, "Lord Knight, we are almost at the checkpoint, look …"
Liu Ping looked in the direction of his finger.
In front of them was a towering mountain that stretched as far as the eye could see. This mountain was like a wall, completely covering the entire plain.
A winding path extended forward, all the way to the foot of the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, there were several buildings.
"Both of you, that's the border sentry post. You have to check your pass, then you can pass through this mountain through the underground tunnel and reach the other side of the mountain. That side is the territory of the Kingdom of Ceylon," Zha Sha said.
"What's the climate on the other side of the mountain?" Hua Qingkong asked.
The guide smiled and said loudly, "Both of you, please be prepared. This mountain blocks most of the cold air from the Kingdom of Ceylon, so Cold Hammer Town can still exist. Once you pass this mountain, the climate will be even worse. Ordinary people can't survive at all."
The camel team continued to move forward.
Finally.
The team arrived at the sentry post.
Zha Sha went to settle the camels, while Liu Ping and Hua Qingkong went to check their passes.
In the warm office, a man with a big belly carefully looked at the pass and said, "I'm sorry, but.....Are you from the energy exploration team?"
"Yes," Hua Qingkong said.
"So young," the man said emotionally.
Liu Ping glanced at his epaulette and smiled, "We're just trainees."
The other party was a major.
He was probably the highest-ranking officer in this sentry post.
"Let's get to know each other. I'm Major Bart, who is in charge of this sentry post." The major put down the pass and cleared his throat, "It's like this. Two mineral deposits were found in the underground tunnel. I hope you can help me investigate and make a record."
As he spoke, he placed the two passes aside and continued, "This won't take long. I'll stamp your passes as soon as I come back and give you some self-defense items. What do you think? "
Liu Ping and Hua Qingkong looked at each other.
If it was just to make a record, of course, it shouldn't be a problem.
The exploration of minerals also needed to be recorded by professionists like them and reported to the higher-ups. Then, they would send people to carry out the next step of the work.
"Okay," Hua Qingkong said.
The major said, "Then it's settled."
He stood up and led the two of them outside.
Liu Ping looked around and suddenly found a military chess set on the other side of the desk.
This is a very popular game in the army.
"Eh? Major Bart, you also know how to play Army Chess? "Liu Ping asked with interest.
Major Bart didn't expect him to ask such a question. He was stunned for a moment before replying, "In a place like the border, there is no decent entertainment at all. Playing chess is a good way to pass the time. Well, let's hurry up and see those mineral deposits."
He led them out of the room.
… …
Underground tunnel.
Every hundred meters, there was a dim light that illuminated the spacious tunnel.
"Strange, the book didn't mention this tunnel at all."
Liu Ping said with interest.
"This tunnel has existed for a long time. It was discovered as the Empire's territory continued to expand. It wasn't dug by our people," Major Bart said.
"So it's not about the Empire's merits. No wonder it's not written" Liu Ping said in relief.
The ground was covered with neat little pebbles, which were quite solid when stepped on.
Liu Ping squatted down and touched it.
"Green Mist Stone." he whispered.
"That's right. This stone is very good for paving the road. The roadbed below is also very solid, so we don't have to worry much," Major Bart said.
Liu Ping looked around again.
On the rock walls on both sides, there were occasionally some residual colors and outlines of objects. At a glance, it was obvious that they were murals from a long time ago. However, they had been eroded by time and could no longer be seen clearly.
He went forward and touched it, then sighed.
"It's quite a high-level mural technique. If it weren't for the mission, I would really like to stay here for a while."
"You know this too? I remember that you are explorers, "the major asked.
"Yes, when I was alive, I was an artist in some fields." Liu Ping said casually as he admired the incomplete mural.
Hua Qingkong interrupted, "Does this tunnel lead to the Ceylon Kingdom?"
"Yes." the major said.
"Such a tunnel is necessary for historical research. Why didn't anyone come here, and there are no decent records?" Liu Ping asked curiously.
The major shrugged and said, "I'm not sure. We only care about guarding this place. Who knows what the higher-ups think?"
After walking for a while, there was a fork in the road ahead.
"Look, there are five tunnels here. The mineral deposits we found are in two of the tunnels. You need to go and record them separately."
The major waved his hand and a group of soldiers walked out.
"Miss Hua, they will bring you to one of the tunnels. Mr. Liu, follow me. We will go to the other side." the major ordered.
Hua Qingkong glanced at Liu Ping.
Liu Ping nodded.
"Alright." Hua Qingkong said.
She followed the soldiers and walked towards one of the tunnels.
Major Bart and Liu Ping were left behind.
"Let's go to the other side," the major said.
"Okay."
The two of them walked into another tunnel under the dim light.
Rustle …
The tunnel was very quiet. Only their footsteps could be heard.
After walking for a while.
The major stopped and pointed to a collapsed wall in front of him. "The mineral deposits were found there."
Liu Ping looked over and saw that the wall had collapsed, revealing large rocks behind it.
"Those rocks?"
"Yes."
"Very good, I'll go take a look," Liu Ping said happily.
He was about to walk forward when he suddenly stopped and said,
"Major Bart, I also like to play military chess. Moreover, I got third place in a competition when I was in school. When you're free, shall we compete?"
"Haha, sure sure. If you're not in a hurry to leave, you can play a few rounds with me tonight." the major said with a smile.
"Then wait for us to come back. We can learn from each other then," Liu Ping said.
"Haha sure sure! Now, please go and record the situation of these ores first."the major said.
"Of course."
Liu Ping walked forward step by step.
Behind him, the smile on the major's face gradually disappeared. He stretched out his hand and gently pulled.
A card appeared in the major's hand.
The major glanced at the card and threw it out.
"Goodbye, Knight."
The card turned into a flame and flew out, slamming into Liu Ping's back.
Bang!
Before the flame could even touch him, it seemed to have been stopped by something and was extinguished without a trace.
Liu Ping slowly turned around and smiled: "Major, I saw it just now. These are just normal rocks, there's no need to record them."
Major Bart's expression became grim and shouted, "That's impossible, you clearly didn't prepare for it at all!"
Liu Ping shrugged: "There are actually a lot of things in this world that we haven't seen before, there's no need to be surprised."
In the void of space, lines of burning text had already stopped there:
[You've sent a battle invitation to Major Bart: 'When you're free, shall we compete?']
[The other party's answer is: 'Haha, sure, sure']
[The conditions have been met]
[As the Warden Knight, this battle has entered your exclusive battle mode: Soul Gambling]
[The loser's soul shall belong to the victor]
The lines of text flashed and disappeared.
New lines of burning text quickly appeared:
[The other party's spell Card attacked you]
[Attack failed]
[Under the current Soul Gambling mode, the other party must defeat all of your Cards in order to deal any damage to you]
[Just like the bartender who fought against you back then.]
Liu Ping didn't even look at these notifications and only stared straight at Major Bart:
"As a soldier of the Empire, you've also joined that evil cult? Tsk, seems like this is going to be a big deal."
In front of him, three half-human half-insect monsters silently appeared.
Major Bart appeared regretful and shook his head: "Wouldn't it be better to die a simple death?"
"Being ambushed and killed like that, I'd feel very embarrassed." Liu Ping replied.
Major Bart took a few steps back and muttered in a low voice:
"Grant me power!"
A Card silently appeared above his head.
This was a Card that Liu Ping had never seen before.
An endless black glow appeared on the Card, so much so that he couldn't see what was drawn on it.
"Then, what you're about to see next is true despair." Major Bart declared.
The Card turned into a mass of black fog that rushed downwards and enveloped the Major.
Boom
Large patches of black fog covered the entire tunnel.
At the very next moment.
A bony hand reached out from the black fog and lightly swung.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Three crisp noises.
The three insects in front of Liu Ping were instantly killed.
However, a ray of white light suddenly appeared and forcefully waved forward.
Clang!
A loud sound of impact resounded.
Zhao Chanyi appeared and stood in front of Liu Ping, shouting in a low voice: "Be careful, it's very strong!"
Liu Ping looked at her arm.
In just one exchange, Zhao Chanyi's slender white finger had already been cut open.
Blood flowed out.
Looking at the three insects, their corpses were burning in flames and were instantly burnt to ashes.
Liu Ping's expression changed and casually took out three Cards.
The three insects on the Cards were slowly disappearing, while the Cards also turned into dust and scattered from his hand.
A line of burning text appeared:
[You've completely lost three Cards: Corpse Insects]
One hit!
Three Level 11 Corpse bugs were killed in one hit!
What kind of power is this!
From the black fog, a strange voice resounded:
"I told you, from now on, you'll only feel despair"