This was a floodplain where fishwood trees grew in abundance. Xing Rui called the region "Valzeya."
In Mud Language, it meant a low-lying land filled with magic. The region was vast, lying northeast of Blackwater Swamp and directly above the Mara River basin.
In the flooded forest, fishwood was one of the most dominant tree species. Hundreds upon thousands of fishwood trees rose from the muddy brown floodwaters. These trees usually stood three to fifteen meters tall, and during the long flood season, the lower halves of their trunks were completely submerged in the turbid river water.
Above the surface, trifoliate compound leaves spread from the branches, gleaming olive green in the gloomy rain.
With Black Swamp as his starting point, Famu had traveled along the waterways in every direction, surveying as he went. This was the last region he had reached, and also the place Xing Rui had warned him to approach with caution. Supposedly, an ancient noble from the King's Territory lived here in Valzeya, keeping the flooded forest wet all year round. Xing Rui had ventured in when she was twelve and swum toward its depths for a long time, only to find herself back at the entrance when she came to her senses.
Typhons had always believed in mysterious omens. Xing Rui had fled without looking back and had not thought about the place again.
It was not just her. None of the Typhons in the Mara River system would set foot here.
Famu did not enter either. He traveled along the outskirts of Valzeya, smashing fishwood trees beside his path to serve as markers, trying to go around the flooded forest.
He had not expected to run into someone blocking his way.
It was an adult male Typhon, a third smaller than Famu and even more slender in build. Compared with Famu's burly, powerful torso, the scrawny fellow looked downright stunted.
His scales were the same olive green as the fishwood leaves, with dark gray saddle-shaped markings.
The camouflage of his scales made the male blend almost completely into the floodwaters. His gray markings overlapped with the crisscrossing shadows of the trees in the water, making him nearly impossible to distinguish with the naked eye when he held still, while his movements looked like waves in the water.
Famu remained on guard. His Furnace Core had detected the other party an hour ago. He had thought it was a curious member of his own kind and sped up through the water, only for the other to follow close behind without being shaken off.
Now he had even blocked Famu's path.
Famu thought of the magical flooded forest, and his muscles tensed as he slowly coiled his body in the floodwaters.
"My name is Dasomir. I am a priest candidate heading to the King's Territory this rainy season," the male introduced himself.
To be safe, Famu did not answer.
The other did not mind and went on, "You may also call me by another name. It is my priest name, Kong Cui."
Judging by his tone, the male seemed to be showing off his name. Did the name Kong Cui have some special meaning? Or did Kong Cui represent a particular Typhon family, just as nobles gave not only their own names but also their family names when speaking to one another?
Famu did not know. In the world of Typhons, he was a genuine illiterate.
"You are also on your way to the King's Territory, are you not?" Kong Cui studied Famu from ahead of him and exclaimed, "What perfect scales, what powerful muscles, and such an enormous body. You are beautiful. Please accept this compliment, and for its sake, I hope you will not blame me for making a humble request."
Famu remained silent.
"I hope to accompany you to the King's Territory," Kong Cui said, making his request.
"What do you think?"
Seeing that Famu still gave no response, Kong Cui added, "As you know, I am a priest candidate, yet I have already been given a priest name. Believe me, I will not hold you back on the journey or during the selection."
Famu did not know how to put his thoughts into words.
His attention was not on Kong Cui's priest name. What concerned him was that the pilgrimage apparently had a hidden option to form a party.
Could it be that this was how the King's Territory selection was really fought, with female Typhons serving as meat shields while male Typhons dealt damage from behind with mysterious magic? Famu's thoughts wandered, and his powerful imagination conjured up the scene.
The other party was very polite, waiting patiently for Famu's answer.
Famu backed away a short distance and slowly gave his name. "Famu."
Hearing Famu's voice, Kong Cui was startled. "Your voice sounds rather deep..."
"Never mind. It wasn't easy finding a female who's both beautiful and powerful. I can't let this chance slip away..." Kong Cui muttered, but Famu's Furnace Core caught it.
"Allow me to correct you, Priest Kong Cui. I am a male, not a female," Famu said.
"What?"
Famu heard Kong Cui scream.
"Male?" He looked incredulous. "You're male? How is that possible? Males simply can't grow as big as you!"
Seeing how shocked he was, Famu could hardly tell him that he was not even an adult yet. He lowered his voice, a deep rumble bursting from his throat. "As you can see, I am a male Typhon, so I cannot agree to your request. Please leave. I need to continue on my way."
Kong Cui stared at Famu. "I heard the voice of a Child of the Earth, a Child of the Earth as pure as can be. You are not male. Disguising our voices is easy for us, but the resonance of a Child of the Earth cannot be concealed. Even if you reject me, sir, do not use such a ridiculous excuse."
"I'm leaving," Famu said.
Kong Cui nodded. "You rejected me, even going so far as to use an excuse like that. Of course you may leave, but before you do, I need to reclaim some of my dignity from you."
"You may reject me, but forgive me, I cannot accept such an insult."
With that, Kong Cui sank beneath the water.
An ink-black shadow spread toward Famu from the place where he had submerged.
"Earth Vein Energy fluctuation detected. Life-form level four," the Scepter warned.
Famu noticed that the currents around him had changed.
Whatever it was could not be seen with the naked eye, but the Child of the Earth's Furnace Core sensed a threat and let out a heavy rumble.
Wisps of strange power acted upon the currents, stirring the surface into a vortex that swallowed Famu and dragged him toward deeper water.
Famu swung his torso, turned, and plunged straight into the deep water at the center of the vortex.
Inside the vortex, the currents seemed to take on solid form, scraping against his scales like blades. At the same time, the pressure underwater rose sharply, multiplying several times over. It bore down on Famu's body, but his sturdy bones and powerful muscles ignored it.
In the dim depths, Famu spotted Kong Cui.
Kong Cui was surprised to see Famu appear underwater, but what surprised him even more was how fast Famu swam.
It looked ordinary enough, but this was after he had used the power of his Furnace Core to affect the currents!
Famu moved closer to him.
"Y-y-you! Stay back!" Kong Cui mistakenly thought Famu meant to hurt him. In a panic, he unleashed the power of his Furnace Core.
The power was inconspicuous, but it caused the still water within dozens of meters to fall into a strange state of stagnation.
The water grew extremely viscous, and the pressure kept rising. Famu could clearly see wisps of shadow shifting over Kong Cui's scales. They were the gray markings on his scales, but now the markings flowed, becoming shadows that seeped into the water and became part of it.