Chen Cheng was a little taken aback that no one tried to stop him.
Had these people gone mad? Were they really just letting me in?
Then it occurred to Chen Cheng that whether he unlocked the Codex probably made little difference to Smog. If he did unlock it and slaughtered so many people that rivers of blood flowed, it might even help him.
He entered the Dwarf Kingdom, a vast city spanning a thousand li around an active volcano.
The sight of it reminded Chen Cheng of the Ruined Capital. Perhaps the Ruined Capital had once been even more prosperous, but after this, both great cities might end up as nothing more than ruins.
The city was as quiet as ever. Chen Cheng had no intention of knocking on doors to ask questions. He simply took Melos straight toward the great volcano at its center.
At the Southern Barbarian Legion's camp, scouts reported Chen Cheng's entry into the city. Inside the command tent, Yan Hezi and the other two looked toward the White-Faced Scholar, who sat as calmly as a fisherman sure of his catch.
Beside the scholar, Cang Xiao was scratching his ears and cheeks.
"He's gone into the city. Once the Codex is unlocked, I'm afraid our cooperation will come to an end."
Annam was the first to lose his patience and blurt it out.
Yan Hezi and Siam tried to hold him back, but they clearly felt the same way.
"Enough of that nonsense. He flew out of the void without a scratch. When you agreed to avoid his edge for the time being, none of you had anything to say. Now you can't stop wagging your tongues."
Cang Xiao's temper burned like fire. Unable to stomach Annam's words, he immediately struck back.
"You plague-ridden monkey,