Starting from the low-lying lands in the east, riding through the fluctuating hilly terrain upon the swamp ant’s flight, they ascended to a high-altitude plateau. At the end of the plateau, there was an almost vertical cliff.
This was the ’Cloud Gazing Cliff’ leading out of the Moon Pincer Peninsula.
Located at the westernmost side, the Cloud Gazing Cliff served as a natural barrier for the Moon Pincer Peninsula but also blocked lower strength creatures from leaving the peninsula.
"It’s truly spectacular," said Ivan, as he looked out at the endless cliff that rged with the stretching clouds, unable to restrain his sense of wonder.
"Yes, yes, I wonder what’s down there; it feels dangerous," agreed the Silkworm Queen, peering down the cliff. It was so deep that the bottom was invisible, yet she sensed it was no benevolent place.
"I have heard that the Cloud Gazing Cliff didn’t originally exist. Two powerful beings battled here, causing the surrounding mountains to split and the earth to turn upside down, and thus the cliff was ford.
There are traces of the battle below, and the murderous intent from that ti hasn’t completely dissipated; you can naturally feel the danger, and moreover, the further down you go, the denser the marks of battle beco, and the greater the lurking murderous aura."
Ivan also glanced down, feeling his hair stand on end in the sa way.
The higher the strength level, the stronger a being’s power and aura. When powerful creatures battle, their strong will and dense aura can leave traces that last for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Hearing his explanation, the Silkworm Queen felt enlightened yet yearned for the day she might achieve such prowess.
"Swamp ant, keep going," she commanded.
The swamp ant silently carried on, leaving dry land and sailing above the thick clouds.
Outside Cloud Gazing Cliff, the terrain was like land made of clouds, slowly drifting with the wind. Scattered and thin clouds floated above this landmass.
Whether they were individual clouds or vast cloud layers, collisions occurred occasionally. When they collided, electric sparks were born, emitting a ’zzzz’ sound, quite conspicuous and caution-inducing in this ocean of clouds.
The two creatures and one human weren’t afraid, however.
"Look quick, there’s a little creature over there," halfway through their journey, the Silkworm Queen spotted a creature roaming within the sea of clouds—a young elent creature.
This elent creature was entirely ford from white clouds, with a pair of deep blue eyes flashing with lightning. Stay connected through .Côm
"Who are you to call others ’little thing’ when you’re such a tiny bug yourself? I think you’re the real little bug here," the elent creature retorted upon hearing her words, clearly displeased.
"Hey, I didn’t curse you, yet you’re taking it so seriously, little thing." The Silkworm Queen laughed, thinking if she revealed her true form, she might frighten this little fellow.
"Well, you can’t call ’little thing,’ or I won’t play with you," the small elent creature’s eyes blazed with even more lightning, seeming ready to strike in anger.
"I---won’t call you that then, my little friend. See you next ti,"
The Silkworm Queen wanted to say more, but Ivan subtly interrupted and said sothing that made her change her words.
Seeing the Silkworm Queen suddenly back down, the little elent creature stayed perplexed. The clouds around it began to transform, revealing other elent creatures, like giants, each the size of a small mountain, and there were several of them.
After flying so distance, the Silkworm Queen looked back with an inexplicable expression and couldn’t help but pout.
"These elent creatures really know how to hide; I didn’t notice them at all."
"They are born from the clouds and can rge into the sea of clouds. Of course, it’s hard to spot them if you aren’t paying attention. They seem to be a clan that doesn’t bear much ill will toward humans. We shouldn’t provoke unnecessary trouble." Ivanexplained.
"Hehe, I know that."
The Silkworm Queen secretly reflected on herself. After passing Cloud Gazing Cliff, things were not the sa as on the Moon Pincer Peninsula. In the future, she mustn’t be so unguarded.
After this small episode, they did not encounter any other creatures along the way.
However, as the swamp ants kept moving forward, the bolts of electricity below and above the clouds grew more nurous, and from ti to ti, it was possible to see lightning swimming among the clouds, resembling a species of electric eel.
These bolts of lightning were all moving in one direction, which was exactly where they were headed.
"Ahead lies Lightning Cliff, composed of many peaks that are covered with special stones that spontaneously attract lightning from the surroundings. It’s a treacherous place we must cross," Ivan explained.
Accompanied by Ivan’s voice, peak after peak quickly ca into view, poking their heads out of the clouds with only their pointed tips blocking the way.
These tips ford a line and continuously attracted lightning from the sky and around them, a situation not unlike a downpour.
Persistent peals of thunder reached their ears.
Sotis, you have to admire the masterful wonders crafted by various accidents; although many peaks have transford into an impassable wall of lightning, there was one spot not covered by the strikes—a pathway in the center of one of the peaks.
It looked like a slit cleaved by human hands called ’Slit of Sky’.
Apart from this Slit of Sky, based on past experiences, taking any other route was likely to result in powerful lightning strikes, leaving one constantly on guard.
"Such a dangerous place is perfect for ambushing travelers. Will there be any robberies?" the Silkworm Queen blurted out, a hint of excitent in her voice.
"We don’t have anything of value; I doubt anyone would be interested in us. Relax," Ivan joked.
"True," the Silkworm Queen said, a bit disappointed.
A minute or two later, Ivan’s expression beca strange, as the Silkworm Queen’s words ca true—soone was indeed robbing an airship at the Slit of Sky on Lightning Cliff.
The airship’s emblem looked sowhat familiar, but he had no intention of ddling, only instructing the swamp ants to stop at a distance.
...
In the Slit of Sky ford by two half-cliffs, an unusually shaped airship was hooked by chains extended from both sides, caught in a dilemma that forced the people on the airship to co up on deck to confront their attackers.
"Damn you! How dare you rob a ship from the Ancient Tree Spine," a sorcerer on the deck glared at the surrounding bandits, who had undergone so sort of blood experints, making their appearance and aura disgustingly repulsive.
However, their strength was not to be underestimated, and there, they caught them off guard.
"What nonsense tree and spine, never heard of it; right, everyone?"
"Right, right,"
"Just a bunch of nobodies."
The leader of the bandits laughed heartily, his words imdiately echoed by his followers, hurling various mocking comnts.
"Even the mighty Berserk Lightning Python you face does not pay respect. If you don’t hand over half of your goods, an excruciating lesson is inevitable," declared the leader, revealing his notorious alias ’Berserk Lightning Python,’ threatening to teach the ship’s crew a lesson.
The bandits’ arrogance infuriated the sorcerer on the deck, forcing him to fend off the attacks coming from all sides. Fortunately, the airship was equipped with a defensive array, which ant the bandits could not harm them for the ti being.
"Boss, there’s soone over there watching us; should we rob him first?" one subordinate was the first to notice a figure in the distance, his face excited yet fierce as he suggested.
Like the others, this subordinate had a pair of wings slightly disproportionate to his body, allowing him to fly in midair.
"That’s a lone traveler, probably not weak. He knows better than to provoke us; we don’t need to ss with him for now,"
Having glanced over, the Berserk Lightning Python noted the onlooker’s deanor of soone enjoying the show. Although annoyed, he was not ready to make a rash move. From his experience, these fearless lone travelers were the most troubleso to deal with.
Reviews
All reviews (0)