What did you dig out?

"First, due to our greed, we've likely encountered a situation similar to Gershon City," Huozi reported, burying his head as if feeling guilty.

Li Wei thought, As expected. "Oh? Elaborate."

"It all started in the third year after Master you fell into slumber. Before that, all of Zelandia developed steadily under your will. Furthermore, after Dishana returned to Gershon City, she and Tiger cooperated very smoothly. The inspection teams sent by Gershon City a few times were handled without incident. Thus, for these years, apart from a slight increase in mining taxes, there wasn't much interference in our development.

"However, as Master your appetite grew day by day, we had to have Tiger and the others accelerate the laying of Zelandia's transportation tracks to adapt to the mining work in the increasingly deeper West Mining Area.

"After we excavated the 13th Layer Cavity Dome Region, we discovered a vast dome region comparable to the one Gershon City is located in. But unlike that one, most of the ore layers there were exposed outside the rock strata, making it a very rich mining layer.

"After deliberation among the key members of our Hogg Mining, to cope with the mining taxes due to the population surge, we decided to risk mining that exposed dome ore layer.

"But correspondingly, we discovered a large-scale biological cluster there. Although they were common species in the Underdark, they seemed somewhat abnormal.

They seemed to have been infected by something, their bodies showing some mutations. Not only were they furious and irritable, but they were also extremely aggressive.

"At first, we only had small-scale conflicts, which didn't significantly impact our mining work. But as time went on, just recently, a large-scale beast tide suddenly erupted in the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. They attacked as if they had no regard for their lives. Fortunately, our patrols during mining were good. Upon noticing signs of the beast horde gathering again, we immediately gathered the miners, organized a retreat, and set up a defense line at the cave entrance connecting to the 13th layer.

"We fought that battle for nearly half a month. Almost every miner in Zelandia took turns to replace the exhausted frontline soldiers."

At this point, Huozi looked at Remlu, who was standing on Li Wei's claw, with admiration and astonishment, and continued:

"In the end, it was Lady Remlu who led her slime army and directly devoured more than half of the beast tide outside the battle line, allowing us to barely fend off that attack. However, many of Remlu's kin died because their organizational nuclei were damaged, and their numbers significantly decreased. Therefore, we have basically stopped mining the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. Moreover, considering the scale of the last attack, and because we are located within the Dark Magic Web and lack large-scale, sustainable destructive spells, it will be difficult to resist the next attack. Tiger has already proposed that if a second beast tide occurs before Master awakens, they will directly use Goblin engineering bombs to blow up the cave entrances of the 12th and 13th layers."

Li Wei nodded, but he didn't feel a great sense of crisis.

Under the shroud of the Dark Magic Web, Huozi and the others could still fight head-on for half a month with no significant casualties, even without large-scale, sustained magical support. This suggested that the beast tides, despite their massive numbers, did not feature many powerful, high-level monsters.

If that was the case, even if another beast tide occurred, at worst, Remlu could transform into her Gnoll form, and he could transform into his Red Dragon form and unleash dragon breath.

After this nap, Li Wei felt he could breathe out at least three times a day. After a day of rest and some food, he could transform and breathe fire again.

He didn't believe that in the confined environment of the Underdark, any non-supernatural creature could withstand three breaths of his dragon fire and not be incinerated.

"If it's only to this extent, there's no need to worry too much. Later, I'll have Tiger, Fischer, and the others organize a team to clear the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. I'll go take a look first and then decide whether to resume mining operations."

Li Wei continued to ask, "There's still one more thing. Oh, could it be that that little bitch from the Jadiel Family is causing trouble again?"

Although Huozi didn't know what "trouble" meant, it didn't prevent him from understanding the general meaning of the sentence. He somewhat stiffly offered a flattering response:

"As expected of Master's profound insight. However, six months ago, with our covert cooperation, Dishana successfully launched a coup and seized the position of Jadiel Matriarch. Before that, she was busy purging dissidents and consolidating her position as Jadiel Matriarch. Recently, she likely feels her wings have grown strong enough and has demanded that we, Zelandia, 'aid' her with a Thousand-man Squad to help Gershon City defend against the beast tide. But at that time, we were coincidentally facing a beast tide in our 13th Mining Area as well. Tiger used this as an excuse to politely decline. However, she seemed unwilling to give up. After we successfully repelled the beast tide, she sent Drow to remind us indirectly twice, and also added a condition: an additional fifty thousand slimes."

"Ah ha, as expected of the ally I chose. She's already eager to merge with us so quickly, becoming inseparable."

Li Wei imagined the Drow named Dishana putting on a show of both kindness and authority in front of Tiger. He wasn't angry; instead, he was amused. He dismissively waved his hand, "I think this Drow needs another lesson. Ignore her for now, let her wait."

"Yes!" Huozi thought for a moment and said, "Right, Master, there's one more thing you might be interested in."

"Oh?" Li Wei tilted his head, looking at his Gnoll commander, and listened attentively.

"When some orcs were mining deep in the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer, they dug up a large object. Your subordinate doesn't know how to describe it. Those orcs haven't been mentally right since then, always saying the thing is alive."

"Alive? What exactly did they dig up?"

"Your subordinate doesn't know either. It's just big! Very big. Also, Tiger and those dwarves seem a bit off. Not only did they seal the area heavily, but they also led the dwarves to worship it."

"Forget it! You're learning to tease me now. I'll go see for myself. 'Very big'! I'm already big enough, aren't I? It's not like they dug up a Titan, is it?" Li Wei chuckled.

His figure flickered and transformed into a Half-Dragon Gnoll covered in crimson heavy armor, with only his eyes visible. He waved his hand, "Call Tiger and the others. Let's go take a look together."

Li Wei was always decisive. As a Half-Dragon Gnoll, he directly placed Remlu, who was excitedly making yipping sounds on his shoulder, and then, along with the arriving Red Robe Fischer, the dwarf Tiger, and others, they took a Steam Minecart that had been laid directly to the 13th Layer Dome Ore Layer. They traveled along the not-so-straight and flat tracks to the lowest level.

It's worth mentioning that Tiger's expression was somewhat apprehensive, as if he was conflicted about Li Wei's decision to go underground. However, being unable to stop it, he remained silent the entire time.

Fischer, on the other hand, was very excited. He had heard the news, but with Li Wei absent, Tiger was nominally his manager, so he couldn't go against the old dwarf's wishes. Now that he could follow the Boss to witness it, he was naturally in a good mood.

Given Li Wei's eagerness to see the relic, the several powerful figures with explosive combat strength were not hesitant. They followed Li Wei, dealing with the scattered monsters blocking their path like Chopping Vegetables, and arrived at the location Huozi had mentioned.

Li Wei looked up and saw that on the rock wall, which had already been pried open at one corner, half of a giant face, comparable in size to his true form, was exposed. The face was covered with extremely smooth Metal Armor.

Its eyelids were closed, as if it had passed away peacefully.

Li Wei, the entire dragon, was stunned.

"Holy crap! Did they really dig up a Titan?"

Something delayed me, so I'm a bit late. Thanks to classmate Mizhi Youth for the thousand-coin reward~