Chapter 25: The Nine Towns of Mo'ao Mountain |
Luo Ming's spear was the longest, so it was the first to strike the Wood Puppet Abomination. However, the incredibly sharp spearhead came to an abrupt halt upon piercing the abomination's chest, unable to advance even an inch further. Yet Luo Ming's face showed no surprise - clearly, he had known he couldn't penetrate the creature's flesh.
At the same time, Li Hu's Yanling saber came slashing down on the abomination's legs. Clang!... But the strike only produced a metallic ring without visible effect.
Only when the final longsword was about to slice through its body did the Wood Puppet Abomination show genuine wariness. It first turned its head to dodge, then twitched the fingers of its right hand slightly.
Boom... Crack... Suddenly, the earth shook violently. The nearest tree began trembling intensely before abruptly uprooting itself, as if coming to life. Its branches moved like human arms, swaying ominously. One after another, seven more nearby trees followed suit, all uprooting themselves and using their branches to propel forward, rapidly encircling the group.
Thousands of branches from all eight trees extended like snakes or monsters toward the three men, moving with terrifying speed and leaving no gaps for escape. The situation had reversed instantly - where moments ago they had surrounded the abomination, now they found themselves completely trapped.
Luo Ming's face showed panic, while Li Hu remained calmer, looking to the young swordsman for guidance. "Getting entangled will be troublesome - let's break through these trees first!" the young man commanded.
Responding immediately, Luo Ming and Li Hu began attacking - one thrusting and sweeping with his spear, the other hacking left and right with his saber, cutting down countless branches and vines. The young leader was even more impressive, his flashing sword not only severing vines but cutting straight through the trunks of three or four large trees.
Suddenly, the young man's eyebrows shot up in realization. He whirled around to look where the Wood Puppet Abomination had been standing, his expression turning grim. The creature had completely vanished.
"We've been tricked - these trees haven't even been turned into puppets yet!" As if to confirm his words, the menacing trees instantly lost their vitality, all their branches and vines collapsing to the ground with thunderous crashes.
Luo Ming's face immediately filled with tension and confusion. Just as he was about to speak, Shi Qing arrived with his four companions. The five immediately knelt and prostrated themselves before the three rescuers.
"This humble one Shi Qing from Boulder Camp offers deepest gratitude for your lifesaving grace, which we shall never forget," Shi Qing declared.
Luo Ming, though distracted, still helped Shi Qing up politely: "Leader Shi flatters me. I was no match for that abomination either - you should thank these two lords from Beishuo Camp." Remembering introductions were needed, he added: "This is Lord Yang Ning, and this is Lord Li Hu."
"Beishuo Camp?" Shi Qing was puzzled by the unfamiliar name but quickly turned to kowtow three times each to Yang and Li.
Though he'd already guessed Luo Ming ranked below these two, hearing the powerful leader of Rogge Camp - the only mid-sized settlement around Redwood Ridge and its strongest Digging Realm expert - address them as "lords" still shocked Shi Qing. What level must Beishuo Camp be? Large camp? Mega camp? With his limited knowledge, these were the only possibilities he could imagine.
Neither Shi Qing's group nor Luo Ming noticed the subtle frowns and flashes of disdain that crossed Yang Ning and Li Hu's faces at the word "camp." But seemingly deeming them unworthy of correction, neither man commented.
"My lords," Luo Ming ventured, "might I ask why this Wood Puppet is called a Craftsman Abomination? What does it want? And why would its advancement threaten all camps around Redwood Ridge? I beg your wisdom."
His questions made both men frown slightly. Li Hu shook his head disdainfully: "I don't know how you've survived this long in the Ice Abyss being so ignorant."
Yang Ning surveyed the group's animal hide clothing with pity before sighing: "Given your circumstances, we can't blame you. This is your first time hearing 'Ice Abyss,' isn't it?" Luo Ming, Shi Qing and the others all nodded - the term was completely new to them.
Exchanging a knowing glance with Li Hu, Yang Ning explained: "The Ice Abyss is the name our Great Lord Yang Zun gave this world, meaning 'Frozen Chasm.' This name has been recognized by all humans across the nine towns south of Mo'ao Mountain. You must remember it well."
At the mention of Yang Zun, both men's faces filled with deep reverence bordering on worship. This display from such powerful individuals left Luo Ming and the others both awed and intensely curious.
"M-may I ask about this Mo'ao Mountain and nine towns?" Luo Ming hastily corrected himself when their sharp gazes warned against directly mentioning Yang Zun's name.
"To omit 'Great Lord' before his name is a capital crime in the Ice Abyss," Yang Ning said coldly. "I'll pardon your ignorance this once. Repeat this offense, and don't blame me for being merciless."
Luo Ming shuddered at the killing intent in Yang Ning's voice and immediately bowed deeply: "This lowly one spoke rashly out of ignorance. I beg your forgiveness."
Yang Ning continued: "The Mo'ao Mountain Range is the largest in the southern Ice Abyss. No one knows its full length - we only know all human settlements exist along its southern foothills. As for the nine towns..." He paused, glancing at Luo Ming with a faint smile: "They refer to the nine largest settlements there."
"The nine... largest?" Luo Ming and the others looked puzzled. Finally Luo Ming ventured: "Surely they must each have over five thousand people? Mega camps?"
Li Hu and Yang Ning burst into laughter filled with contempt for his ignorance, leaving Luo Ming awkwardly forcing a smile while Shi Qing shot him a sympathetic look.
Still curious about the towns' true scale, they were stunned when Li Hu finally answered: "Each of Mo'ao Mountain's nine town-level settlements houses over one hundred thousand people."
"One... hundred thousand?" The number left all six listeners dumbfounded, their minds reeling.
"And we," Li Hu declared proudly, chin raised, "come from one of those nine towns - Beishuo Town!" His tone brimmed with arrogance and satisfaction at their shocked reactions.
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