The Truth Behind the Transformation
"It's no use for you to know, he's not someone you can handle..." The Fire Control Elder, facing Zhuge Xiang's question, didn't remain silent, but simply sighed slightly, his meaning clear: even if he told them, it would be useless.
"Whether we can handle it or not is our business; whether you speak or not is yours. If you don't speak, we won't force you. Go down there yourself, and you'll find out eventually."
Zhuge Xiang was not angry at the old man's attitude. He was very easygoing. "Tell me if you want, or I'll go down here myself and I'll find out what's going on."
The old man looked at Zhuge Xiang with slight surprise, but seeing Zhuge Xiang's clear eyes, he said, "I didn't expect you to be so carefree. You're right, whether you can handle it or not is your business, but whether I tell you or not is my business. Since you all want to know, then I will tell you."
After gathering his thoughts, the old man spoke, a hint of reminiscence in his expression, "This all started with our Fire Control Tribe. Legend has it that in Ancient Times, our ancestors slaughtered people in the Mortal Realm, attracting the attention of the Immortal Qibo. However, Immortal Qibo was kind and did not kill our ancestors, but imprisoned them in this Minor Thousand Worlds containing the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Immortal Qibo said that once the cruel and bloodthirsty nature of our Fire Control Tribe changes, the imprisonment of us in this Minor Thousand Worlds will naturally be lifted."
"Countless years have passed, generation after generation have multiplied, and we, the Fire Control Tribe, believe we have achieved peace and prosperity, no longer betraying the cruelty and bloodthirstiness of our ancestors. Yet, even now, we have not been able to leave this Minor Thousand Worlds. Instead, starting hundreds of years ago, every ten years, a group of outsiders appears in this Minor Thousand Worlds, disturbing our peaceful lives."
"Back then, our Fire Control Tribe was imprisoned for slaughtering humans. Now, for the past few hundred years, countless human Cultivator have entered this Minor Thousand Worlds once every ten years, as if we had become their playthings for hunting and amusement. Over time, the Fire Control Tribe's hatred for humans has once again burned away their kindness and reason. Just a few years ago, this anger, suppressed for hundreds of years, finally erupted..."
"Evil Demonic Qi, growing from within, has Demonization countless members of the clan. Some powerful and noble members have already descended the Heaven-Piercing Tower, attempting to forge a path out. Those weaker members have been concentrated on guarding the First Layer, tasked with eliminating any outsiders who attempt to enter..."
The old man spoke slowly and weakly because of his frail health. It took him almost half an hour to explain the situation regarding the Heaven-Piercing Tower. Zhuge Xiang and the others finally understood the Truth about the Fire Control Tribe's anomaly from his words.
In general, this is not the fault of the human Cultivator, nor is it the fault of the Fire Control Tribe. Since the Immortals's fall, the Heaven-Piercing Tower has been ownerless, opening once every ten years for humans to come in and train, which is not wrong.
However, the Fire Control Tribe, having been imprisoned here for millions of years, has long since tempered their minds to a state of tranquility. But every ten years, when human Cultivator enter, they will surely stir up a bloody storm.
Fighting for treasure, resulting in bloodshed, and accidentally injuring Fire Control Tribe is not uncommon. Some even resort to stealing treasures from the Fire Control Tribe, killing them to cover their tracks...
Imagine, once every ten years, those of us living in the Heaven-Piercing Tower become like pigs and dogs kept in cages, at the mercy of others. Anyone would be enraged, let alone these Fire Control Tribe, who are inherently a fiery and volatile Demi-Human Clan.
"Are those Fire Control Tribe on the first floor just weaklings? Have the real strongmen already gone down?" This was the question that concerned Lu Yuling.
Thousands of the Fire Control Tribe attacked together, almost burning the entire First Layer to ashes. And these were all the weak ones? It seems that after Demonization, the overall strength of these Fire Control Tribe has greatly improved.
"Alright, we understand about that. Thank you for telling us, sir." Nodding, Zhuge Xiang led Lu Yuling and the others to leave, but was interrupted by the old man's call.
"Wait, may I ask you for a favor?" With weak eyes, he looked at Zhuge Xiang and the others, a pleading look deep in his eyes. It was his last request. Judging from the old man's weak appearance, he might even be the only one left on the Second Layer. With his physique, he definitely wouldn't last more than a few days.
"What is it? Please speak freely," Zhuge Xiang replied, nodding emphatically, looking at the other person with clear eyes.
With a slight tremor, the old man reached into his robes and slowly pulled out a tattered Cloth Doll, handing it to Zhuge Xiang. He said, "If... if you go down there and encounter a child named Ming Yan... please give this to him."
"Ming Yan?" Zhuge Xiang reached out and took the tattered Cloth Doll from the old man, looking at him questioningly. Just for such an ordinary, worn-out Cloth Doll?
"Yes, thank you for your trouble," the old man nodded, clearly not wanting to explain further.
"Alright, if we happen to run into him, I'll definitely help you give him this Cloth Doll, but if we don't, don't blame me."
Since the other party was unwilling to say more, Zhuge Xiang did not press the matter. He casually put the Cloth Doll into his storage space. Seeing that the old man had already turned around and walked away unsteadily, Zhuge Xiang and the others also turned around.
"Ding! Quest 'Cloth Doll' triggered. Quest requirement: Deliver the Cloth Doll to Fire Control King Ming Yan. Quest completion reward: 20 million experience points, plus a Forging Blueprint. Accept/Reject."
However, just as Zhuge Xiang and the others turned to leave, a system notification suddenly rang in Zhuge Xiang's mind. This quest notification startled Zhuge Xiang slightly. Delivering a Cloth Doll was enough to trigger a quest? And the reward was a whopping 20 million Experience Points and a forging blueprint?
The Fire Control King? This mission seems to be more than just a simple one; there might be follow-up missions.
Ming Yan, I originally thought he was just an ordinary Fire Control Tribe, but it turns out he is the Fire Control King. No wonder the old man wasn't worried about whether he would encounter him. If he could really keep going, he would definitely meet him.
"What's wrong, my husband?" The mission notification startled Zhuge Xiang slightly. Mo Lingna, who was beside him, clearly sensed it and looked at Zhuge Xiang with some doubt and concern, asking.
"It's nothing," Zhuge Xiang shook his head, smiled slightly at Mo Lingna's concern, and continued on his way, taking over the task as he went.
Just as Lu Yuling had said, the third passage to the Heaven-Piercing Tower was located below a cliff. After jumping off the cliff, they entered the third level. As far as the eye could see, the ground on the third level was smaller than that on the Second Layer, but it was also very quiet, with not a single person in sight.
With Lu Yuling leading the way and no Fire Control Tribe obstructing their path, the journey was smooth and unimpeded. In no time, Zhuge Xiang and the others arrived at the Seventh Layer the Heaven-Piercing Tower.
The Seventh Layer of the Heaven-Piercing Tower was even smaller, only about a hundred miles in radius. However, upon descending to the Seventh Layer, Zhuge Xiang and the others discovered that the place was no longer silent; many Fire Control Human Clan had remained there.
However, most of these people were casualties, and countless corpses could be seen on the ground. Of course, the Demonic Qi on the Seventh Layer was also much denser. The Fire Control Tribe had dark red eyes filled with negative emotions such as killing, madness, and violence.
"It seems we'll be fighting from now on," Lu Yuling said, glancing at the Fire Control Tribe who had been completely Demonization and lost their minds.
"Let's not get entangled with them, let's just go straight down to the Eighth Layer," Zhuge Xiang shook his head, he had no intention of wasting time here. Mo Lingna and the others next to him also nodded, indicating that they agreed with Zhuge Xiang's words and did not want to get entangled with these Fire Control Tribe had lost their minds.
"The only path I know is this one. I don't know how to get down to the Eighth Layer," Lu Yuling said, her expression calm and slightly indifferent.
Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized that although Ice Maiden had entered the Heaven-Piercing Tower back then, she entered very late and hadn't even seen the Altar of Sacrifice on the Ninth Layer before being forcibly teleported out. Back then, she had only entered the Seventh Layer, which was not surprising.
"Since that's the case, let's make our move." Zhuge Xiang has never disliked killing. Since they don't know the entrance to the lower level, they'll just have to find it slowly. These Fire Control Tribe who have lost their minds? Killing them is fine; they're just Experience Points.
"Don't just slaughter all these Fire Control Tribe. See if any of them are temporarily conscious," Zhuge Xiang instructed Lu Yuling, Mo Lingna, Wu Zhao, Tie Zhan, and others, with the Dragon's Judgment Sword in hand.
"Why is that? These guys have lost their minds; they're just mindless walking corpses who only know how to kill. What's the point of keeping them around?" Zhuge Xiang's instructions made Tie Zhan frown, not understanding Zhuge Xiang's intentions.
"From the Second Layer downwards, the Fire Control Tribe are all together, trying to clear a path to leave. These Fire Control Tribe are obviously left behind after losing their minds. If they were still conscious, they should be able to smell the passage to the Eighth Layer."
Lu Yuling, understanding Zhuge Xiang's thoughts, offered a cold explanation.
"I see," Lu Yuling's explanation made Wu Zhao nod in understanding.
"As expected, my husband is truly intelligent," Mo Lingna said with a smile and a hint of pride. Not only is he powerful, but he is also incredibly meticulous. With such a wise and courageous husband, Mo Lingna was naturally proud.
"Hmph..." However, Tie Zhan gave a slight snort, his face turning somewhat ugly. He couldn't help it; Zhuge Xiang could think of all this, yet he insisted on asking, making himself appear foolish, especially in front of Mo Lingna. Tie Zhan felt uncomfortable, but wisdom was truly a rare commodity for him. (To be continued...)