Back to base.
After the routine testing, Shen Heng followed Li Daoyi toward the command center.
Shen Heng first gave Li Daoyi general overview of the findings of this exploration, and then said:
"By the way, the name 'One-Horned Lizard ' might need to be changed later!"
"Hmm? Why?" Li Daoyi glanced at Shen Heng.
"The intelligence this time mainly came from the One-Horned Lizard. When it was discovered, it seemed like it was about to grow a second horn on its forehead. Later, during my interrogation, I asked about it. I learned that their tribe in the Ruins Realm is called the Arcane Lizard, not the One-Horned Lizard. The unicorn horn is just a characteristic of a certain stage of their development," Shen Heng said.
" Arcane Lizard?" Li Daoyi repeated.
"Yes, it implies having unique abilities." Shen Heng nodded, then continued:
"They didn't have horns at the very beginning."
"When breaking through from the Second Tier to the Third Tier, the first horn will grow. This horn has a fixed ability: to strengthen the body."
"The second horn will grow when the Fourth Tier is about to break through to the Fifth Tier. The ability of this horn is random, and it will generate a unique ability at a certain moment based on the One-Horned Lizard's own experience, bloodline, and even emotions."
"The third one will grow when you break through from the Sixth Tier to the Seventh Tier. The ability of this one can be influenced or even chosen by the user to a certain extent."
"Oh? There are still three corners left, is there no fourth one?" Li Daoyi turned his head and looked at Shen Heng with great interest.
He knew that some Calamity Beast might have special characteristics after reaching a higher level, but this was the first time he had heard about the complete growth path of a certain Calamity Beast.
"Hmm... maybe so, but judging from the trend of horns growing earlier, the fourth horn might not grow until they break through from the 8th Tier to the Ninth Tier. The highest rank they reach is only the Seventh Tier," Shen Heng said thoughtfully.
"So that's how it is!"
Li Daoyi chuckled softly, raising his hand to stroke his half-white beard.
"So, with each horn that grows, your strength will increase to a certain extent, right?"
"Well, from having no horns to having three, his strength is probably roughly equivalent to C-Class to S-Class," Shen Heng explained further.
"Then, in their two-horn and three-horn states, their specific fighting style and strength are directly linked to the abilities that their subsequent two horns can generate."
Li Daoyi nodded and slowly said:
"This race is interesting! It seems like their abilities are constantly evolving along the path of mutation."
Shen Heng nodded slightly, indeed.
Li Daoyi suppressed his smile and looked at Shen Heng, saying:
"Okay, I understand. I'll synchronize this information with headquarters later."
Although during this period, it seemed that Chief of Staff Zhang Weijun and others were in charge of all affairs.
However, there are actually some distinctions in terms of functions and decision-making.
In matters such as the management of inspectors and communication with the headquarters of the Supervision Bureau, Li Daoyi was the one with the most power.
Furthermore, Li Daoyi is also very important in the strategy formulated by the base.
However, he didn't even enjoy managing his own position, let alone other complicated matters.
Shen Heng nodded slightly; this was the purpose he had mentioned beforehand.
He turned his head, glanced at the ordinary soldiers passing by, then quickly looked away and asked:
Have the other exploration teams returned?
"No, tomorrow's the last day, isn't it?" Li Daoyi walked forward with his hands behind his back. "But we originally thought some teams would return earlier for various reasons, but now it seems..."
During their conversation, the two returned to the command center.
Having received advance notice, Zhang Weijun and the others were already seated at the long table, but were still handling their respective tasks.
"Chief of Staff, General Zhou, General Wang!"
While Shen Heng was greeting people, Li Daoyi went over and sat down first.
Upon hearing the sound, Zhang Weijun and the other two looked up.
" Inspector Shen, please sit down!" Zhang Weijun put down his work and gestured for the empty seat to the side.
Shen Heng nodded slightly and walked towards the empty seat.
"Heh, finally I can rest and listen to stories again!" General Zhou Zhenguo also put down his work and laughed.
"Hmm, I wonder what Shen Heng has gone through this time!" The slightly overweight General Zhou Zhenguo nodded with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Shen Heng's lips twitched slightly, but he still sat down.
Is it because the pressure at the base has decreased recently, so they're in a much more relaxed mood?... Shen Heng sensed the ease in their voices.
Compared to the other two, Zhang Weijun didn't joke around, but his words were also much more relaxed than when he first entered the Erosion Zone.
"You came back early, did you find something?" Zhang Weijun asked Shen Heng.
Shen Heng nodded slightly and recounted the detailed process of the incident, as well as the latest intelligence he had gathered.
The expressions on everyone's faces quickly changed from relaxed to serious, and then to solemn.
" The Ruins Abyss Court Council..."
Zhang Weijun frowned, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table as he repeated the name word by word.
He looked up, his gaze serious as he looked at Shen Heng.
"Is there any further news about this Court Council?"
"No, and I think even at this stage, it's difficult to get more information. Even the tribes that are qualified to participate in this Court Council have only heard of Court Council once or twice in the past few decades, let alone others!" Shen Heng slowly shook his head.
Zhang Weijun nodded slowly.
"How could such a loosely organized group exist and manage its subordinates properly?" General Zhou Zhenguo said solemnly.
"It can't be considered normal management, can it? Didn't they say that the tribes under their jurisdiction are often at war?" Wang Yuanshan said from the side.
"This can actually exist?" Zhou Zhenguo asked.
"Its existence is likely due to the vast disparity in individual strength, leaving the lower classes completely powerless to resist," Zhang Weijun said in a deep voice.
"In this situation, those at the bottom have no choice but to obey the rules set by the top in order to survive."
Everyone nodded slightly upon hearing this.
Zhang Weijun tapped on the table, bringing the topic back to the present.
"Alright, you just said that you learned from the Calamity Beast that if we leave it completely unattended, those at the Seventh Tier will be able to enter the Erosion Zone in three years, right?"
"Mm," Shen Heng nodded in response.
"Three years?" Zhang Weijun frowned, pondered for a moment, and then turned his gaze to Li Daoyi.
" Daoist Master Li, do you have a way to reach the Seventh Tier within three years?"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Li Daoyi.
Li Daoyi narrowed his eyes slightly and said:
"I'm currently at the Middle Stage of the Sixth Tier. Judging solely from my cultivation speed, I should have a chance to reach the Seventh Tier in three years, but..."
Li Daoyi paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone.
"In martial arts cultivation, there's a hurdle every Third Tier, and these hurdles aren't easy to overcome, especially for those of us who don't know how to cultivate."
"The previous hurdle, the one between the Third Tier and Fourth Tier, took us more than a year to overcome."
"This time, the hurdle between the Sixth Tier and Seventh Tier might be bigger than we imagined."
Upon hearing this, everyone's brows furrowed instinctively.
However, Li Daoyi had not finished speaking when he continued:
"Moreover, it's meaningless for just one person to reach the Seventh Tier!"
"The invasion of the Ruins Realm is an invasion of the entire world, not just an invasion of a single place or a single race."
"There's more than just this one Erosion Zone."