Shadow Rift

The most important part of a plant is definitely its roots.

Many old trees, even after their trunks are cut off, can still sprout new buds. However, if there are problems with their roots, they certainly won't live long. This is also true for Mutated Plant life on the Overseas Islands. Whether it's Man-Eating Flower, Man-eating Tree, or any other unfamiliar Mutated Plant, their core weakness lies in their roots. They can basically grow back after cutting down anything on the ground.

When plants mutate to this extent, they're almost as similar to animals!

Although they don't possess the same level of intelligence as animals, they still act according to their instincts. This area is likely one of the remnants of the Great Cataclysm, but it's unknown what's inside. With Soren's current strength, dealing with these things wouldn't be a problem, but this place is far too strange, and he dares not risk venturing deep into it. He'll leave this for later; he has many things to attend to right now.

but.

Just as Soren was preparing to seal off the area to prevent others from approaching, Adele Isabella seemed to have spotted something, pointing in that direction and saying, "Your Excellency, look! There seems to be something over there!"

What is it?

Upon hearing this, Soren stopped and looked to the side, where he indeed saw a grayish-black object. He cautiously approached, observing the strange trees nearby, and then reached out to grasp one corner, intending to pick it up. However, despite his efforts, he couldn't pull it out; it seemed that part of it was still buried underground. Helpless, he could only gesture to the Red-Haired Female Pirate behind him, and the two of them simultaneously used their weapons to dig through the soil and unearth the grayish-black stone.

"It's Obsidian!"

A look of disbelief crossed Soren's face as he looked at the gray-black stone in his hand. Due to long-term weathering and the erosion of time, the Obsidian was no longer recognizable as it had been, but it could still be vaguely identified as part of some architectural sculpture, indicating that it had existed for a very long time.

Obsidian is an extremely strong and durable mineral, and it has been weathered into its current state over at least several thousand years!

This is a very rare mineral.

It has many uses, but its most common and widespread use is in sculpture. In Soren's memory, there seem to be only two places where it was used.

First is the Golem!

The second is the Wizard Tower!!!

Whether it's the Golem or the Wizard Tower, this area was definitely the territory of a powerful Wizard a long time ago. The presence of artificially polished Obsidian fragments suggests that something related to Wizard might exist within them.

There might even be a Wizard Tower!

Thinking of this, Soren's breathing quickened slightly. Even a dilapidated Wizard Tower that had stood for thousands of years held immense allure for him. Even if all its functions were destroyed, the many things stored within possessed astonishing value. Furthermore, if Soren wasn't mistaken, this might be an ancient ruin left over from the Arcane Empire Arcane Empire. It might contain surviving data, information, and Spell from that time, the value of which would be virtually incalculable.

"Let's go in and take a look!"

Soren, who had already planned to leave, decided to explore further. He instructed the Red-Haired Female Pirate behind him, "Watch your surroundings. Let's try not to disturb these plants; they look like they're asleep."

It was already getting dark.

Soren looked up at the sky, then gestured to Adele Isabella beside him. The two parted ways and circled around from the side. There were many strange trees and plants all around. They all looked very large, somewhat like an ancient primeval forest. Occasionally, when they touched a leaf, the whole plant would twitch. But it didn't seem to attack. These strange plants seemed to only attack nearby creatures when they were attacked or needed to feed.

This is similar to how wild animals become less aggressive after they've eaten their fill!

The view ahead gradually opened up.

Soren saw a large patch of pale purple flowers. He frowned, examined them for a moment, and muttered, "Mandragora? No! It just looks somewhat like it!"

He turned and glanced at the Red-Haired Female Pirate, then said in a low voice, "Be careful. Let's go around her!"

This doesn't look like it grew naturally.

Instead, they resembled things that had been artificially cultivated in the past and had survived to this day for some reason. There were strange flower seeds on the ground, which seemed to be left behind by this plant, but most of them had not germinated because the soil simply could not support the growth of so many plants. Some of the seeds had been damaged and disappeared, but some had survived, and it was unknown what their purpose was. Soren sensed that these plants were dangerous, purely the intuition of an experienced Rogue, so he did not dare to disturb them.

Many of the plants here look just like they're alive!

After bypassing the strange flowers, the outlines of some dilapidated buildings appeared ahead. Due to severe weathering and the presence of various strange plants growing all around, even with Soren's experience, he couldn't determine what they were. He couldn't even find an entrance to the buildings in front of him, so he couldn't judge the situation based on the outside. Not all underground ruins leave you an entrance, let alone a tunnel to explore.

In more advanced or ancient places, many underground ruins don't even leave you an entrance.

What will we do then?

Dig!

Dig it yourself!

They dug out an entrance, dug out a tunnel—this was how many high-level Adventurer teams dug. Many sunken cities in the desert were prone to landslides and quicksand inflows; countless people had dug their way through in search of treasure. When Soren saw the surface of the ruins, which hadn't even left him a single opening, he knew his exploration for the day had to end here. This structure had completely sunk underground, possibly even filled with Seawater; anything could happen.

You can't get in right now!

Soren must clear a passage here, then send people to dig it open, and finally find a tunnel that can be traversed together.

He observed the situation from his spot for a moment.

He was about to memorize his surroundings and any distinctive features when the Red-Haired Female Pirate suddenly exclaimed, "Sir! Look at that corner of the wall; something seems off!"

They seem to have impressive investigative skills!

Soren glanced at the Red-Haired Female Pirate beside him with some surprise, then moved towards the wall. This woman seemed to have a slightly better ability to detect things than he did, whether it was due to her superior intuition or strong basic skills. In front of Soren was a plant that looked somewhat like a lantern grass. He didn't dare to get too close, so he circled around to the back and then saw a strange, gray crack.

"Spatial Rift!?"

Soren's expression was somewhat surprised. After just one glance, he murmured, "The Shadow Plane?! The buildings here are connected to the Shadow Plane? It looks like a permanently solidified Planar Rift! Could it be that the previous owner of this place opened a fixed teleportation channel?"

Shadow Plane.

The non- Material Plane Soren is most familiar with.

He only glanced at the Spatial Rift in front of him, but he guessed its general function and cause, and he was confident that he was more than 90% correct.

This isn't arrogance, it's confidence!

He had traversed the Shadow Plane far too many times in the past, and had even lived in the Shadow Plane for a period of time.

Let's go.

Soren looked up at the sky and said slowly, "We'll come back another time. It's too dangerous to go in now."

You cannot trespass into the Shadow Plane.

Although the Shadow Plane is connected to the Material Plane, the environments of the two are not the same, and there may be some ancient and dangerous creatures. When you are active in the Shadow Plane, you may encounter monsters of Challenge Rating three or higher at any time, and the proportion of Quasi-Legendary special Hit Points and Legendary Tier monsters is quite large, much larger than in the Material Plane.

And there are Shadow Dragon in many places!

The two carefully retreated; the campsite was almost complete.

Although things were still very rudimentary, it had only been a day, and Soren didn't make any demands. What he had discovered in the eerie jungle that day was Soren main concern. The Slave, driven together by the pirates, had worked for half a day and had received some food. Although it was very rough and of poor quality, at least it was enough to fill their stomachs. Soren wasn't a stingy person; if the Slave weren't fed, they wouldn't have the strength to work—a very simple principle.

The night passed quickly.

Just as Soren awoke and was contemplating how to explore that strange place, his grim-faced Half-Elf first mate strode in and said in a low voice, "Your Excellency! Three Slave escaped last night!"

What!?

Soren's face instantly turned ashen.

The Half-Elf first mate noticed his expression and quickly said, "However, two of them were caught by us as soon as they ran out, and the other escaped into the jungle. I've already sent men to capture him."

"Those who escaped were all indigenous people!"

"Your Excellency, I suggest putting these natives in shackles while they work; they are far more disobedient than other Slave!"

Soren's face was very gloomy.

Upon hearing the Half-Elf first mate's words, he shook his head slightly, then said coldly, "No need! Pass on my order: have two crosses prepared, nail those two escaped Slave to them, and set up the racks where those Slave work."

Upon hearing this, the Half-Elf first mate revealed a Cruelty smile and immediately nodded, saying, "Yes, Your Excellency!"

"I'll get on it right away."

They were pirates.

Piracy is no benevolent profession; these Slave must be taught to respect!

...(To be continued~^~)