The combination of plant cultivation and livestock breeding, with deliberate environntal manipulation for intensive agriculture, was undeniable proof of a high level of civilization.
In Jie Ming’s previous life, even on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, only a certain Eastern nation could claim such refined agricultural practices.
“But… this is a serious problem,” Jie Ming said, his expression growing solemn as he surveyed the scene.
The soul search of the previous Lava Giant had contained no ntion of a “plantation” or “livestock breeding” in this stronghold.
Moreover, judging by the soil marks, the plants’ growth state, and the pristine condition of the artificial light source, this setup appeared to be newly established!
This ant their intelligence was outdated, and the Lava Giant population here had undergone unknown changes.
The other three wizards were equally stunned.
They had expected a barracks, a mining vein, or a weapons research facility—not a “farm”!
Clearly combat wizards, they likely only skimd battle-related reports on the Lava Giants, making this common knowledge among logistics wizards a shocking revelation to them.
“Did we… co to the wrong place?” one Level 1 wizard asked instinctively.
The other Level 1 wizard, skilled in reconnaissance, shook his head. “No, my navigation is correct. This is definitely the stronghold.”
“Then what are these? Do Lava Giants need to eat?”
“Yeah, don’t elental beings survive by absorbing elental energy?”
Jie Ming couldn’t help but explain, and upon learning of the Lava Giants’ unique digestive systems, the other three wizards gasped in amazent.
After their brief shock, the wizards instinctively spread out, collecting plant and soil samples for research.
They carefully used tongs or ntal energy to gather plant samples, storing them in specialized bags or analyzing their elental composition, energy fluctuations, and toxicity on the spot.
Jie Ming approached a plant with blazing red leaves. Unlike the others, he didn’t bother with complicated thods.
After examining it with his All-Purpose Eye, he plucked a few roots and popped them into his mouth, chewing!
The other wizards gasped in unison.
Even plants adapted to high temperatures could be toxic, and eating alien flora was a wizard’s taboo!
If they weren’t in enemy territory, they might have let out a piercing shriek.
But Jie Ming’s boldness wasn’t recklessness.
He had absolute confidence in himself.
His long-practiced Body Forging thod not only gave him physical strength far beyond his peers but also granted exceptional resistance to harm.
Even lethal alien plant toxins would only cause mild discomfort, unable to harm his core.
Moreover, with the All-Purpose Eye’s precise analysis, he could instantly discern a plant’s basic composition. Combined with his cultivator’s high resistance, he feared no known plant toxins.
“Hmm… peculiar taste, less moisture than expected, like roasted sweet potato,” Jie Ming mumbled while chewing, a hint of enjoynt on his face.
Though his words were casual, his mind rapidly analyzed the plant: “Its appearance suggests succulents, but its structure is closer to fungi—no wonder it grew so fast.”
“It looks juicy but is surprisingly dry… though it contains stimulants that might enhance fire elental resistance with long-term consumption. Limited potential, though…”
The other wizards exchanged glances, then sheepishly approached Jie Ming to share intel.
They briefly discussed their preliminary findings.
Though Jie Ming didn’t reveal all his conclusions, his direct testing was clearly far more efficient.
The four regrouped to discuss their next move.
“The situation’s changed,” the Level 2 wizard said gravely. “This developnt ans our prior intel is unreliable. The Lava Giants’ combat strength and numbers here may have increased.”
He looked at the two Level 1 wizards and Jie Ming. “I suggest a risk assessnt. This isn’t just a military outpost. The ‘plantation’ indicates the Lava Giants plan to stay long-term.”
After weighing the pros and cons, three decided to stay and investigate further, while one chose to leave.
The departing wizard promised to establish stable long-range communication with the camp, relay the latest intel, and request reinforcents.
The others agreed, unwilling to recklessly venture into an altered, unknown danger.
Jie Ming chose to stay.
He had ample reasons.
First, his Level 4 defensive rune artifacts, prepared in advance, could withstand high-intensity attacks, ensuring he wouldn’t easily fall into peril.
Second, he had the hidden Five Aggregates Rainbow Mirror as a trump card. Its “Light Transformation” ability allowed him to escape as pure light, nearly impossible to intercept, giving him a perfect exit.
Most importantly, Jie Ming’s goal wasn’t slaughter.
His core objective was to collect as much Mortal Dust Qi as possible, and these living, “society-building” Lava Giants were his pri targets.
He didn’t need to delve into danger—just staying here long enough to test his Mortal Dust Qi collection was his greatest success.
Of the other two who stayed, one was the Level 2 wizard.
Bold yet ticulous, he aid to capitalize on this unexpected opportunity to gather deeper intel, paving the way for the main army’s invasion.
After all, rarer and deeper intel yielded higher rits.
The other, a cautious young Level 1 wizard, stayed mainly to follow the Level 2 wizard’s lead.
He also planned to act as a lookout, ready to signal the camp if the departing wizard failed to establish contact.
The three reached a consensus, exchanged a glance, and suppressed all excess aura.
They split up silently, moving like shadows deeper into the hemispherical chamber.
Unlike the other two, who cautiously used stealth runes and illusion witchcraft for slow reconnaissance, Jie Ming had no intention of probing deeply.
His purpose wasn’t scouting but experintation.
With a flicker, he reached the base of a massive red tree, pressing his palm to the ground. His ntal energy spread like quicksilver.
The earth reshaped silently under his Alchemy Technique, and within monts, a narrow tunnel fit for his body was carved out.
Like a leech sliding into a swamp, he slipped into the burrow, manipulating the soft soil to bury himself completely.
From the outside, the ground appeared untouched, perfectly concealed.
Inside the burrow, the thick rock layers and alchemy-reinforced soil blocked most sound and energy fluctuations.
He maintained only the faint perception of his Micro-Light Eye, lurking like a ghost in the shadows.
He didn’t act hastily, focusing all his attention on his dantian.
He closely observed the ancient rune seal for collecting Mortal Dust Qi, glowing with a faint crimson halo, trembling slightly with each trace of qi it gathered.
Jie Ming’s mood was complex—a mix of anticipation and faint unease.
Ti ticked by.
Five minutes… ten minutes… half an hour…
As ti passed, his expression grew increasingly grim.
The surrounding thousands of Lava Giants filled the air with the clamor of labor, low roars, clashing rocks, and even conversations among themselves.
Everything pointed to a vibrant, active community.
Yet his rune seal detected not a single trace of Mortal Dust Qi from the Lava Giants!
Sporadic fluctuations occurred, but they were faint remnants from wizards on the battlefield, not from these native creatures.
“Sothing’s definitely wrong!” Jie Ming clenched his fist.
He was certain the rune seal was intact, still sensitive to Mortal Dust Qi in other contexts.
The issue lay with the Lava Giants themselves.
Given the plantation, this stronghold was no re mine or barracks—it displayed clear social organization.
The Lava Giants conducted organized livestock farming, had defined labor divisions, and even maintained an artificial sun for ecological balance.
All this indicated they’d reached a conceptual level capable of producing social interactions and, by extension, Mortal Dust Qi.
There was no reason they shouldn’t qualify as a “society”!
“Why is this happening?” Jie Ming furrowed his brow, utterly baffled.
He repeatedly reviewed the theory of Mortal Dust Qi generation and the Lava Giants’ unique physiological and elental makeup.
Was it their life form?
As semi-elental beings, could their “emotional” expressions differ fundantally from known life forms?
He analyzed from every angle but found no concrete evidence to explain the anomaly.
Theoretically, he could venture deeper to a larger, more complex Lava Giant stronghold—perhaps a “city” or “royal court” at the empire’s core—to test again.
But Jie Ming was acutely rational about danger.
Venturing deeper ant facing higher-tier Lava Giant lords, possibly Level 5 or 6.
Such strongholds were far beyond his current capabilities.
Moreover, his primary goal was collecting Mortal Dust Qi, not clashing head-on with an entire Lava Giant plane empire.
Risking his life for an uncertain outco was unwise.
After much deliberation, Jie Ming reluctantly abandoned the idea of studying Lava Giant Mortal Dust Qi.
Regret and frustration surged within him—his core objective had t such a bizarre failure at its most promising juncture.
“It seems I’ll have to turn to the Frost Realm,” Jie Ming mused silently.
Since the Lava Giants were a dead end, he’d try the Snow Beasts.
Though he hadn’t studied them extensively and was unsure if they’d pose the sa issue, it was his only option now.
He quickly outlined his next steps: like in the Fla Realm, he’d find a Snow Beast settlent in the Frost Realm, collect samples, study their “society,” and attempt to gather Mortal Dust Qi.
“But my research on Snow Beasts isn’t deep. I’ll need to return to camp for relevant data first…”
As Jie Ming planned his approach to the Frost Realm—
BOOM!
A violent explosion shook the entire cavern, nearly trembling the burrow where he hid!
The furious roars of countless Lava Giants followed like a tidal wave, accompanied by intense energy flares and the surge of molten lava.
Jie Ming’s face tightened. He knew the other wizards had been discovered!
Without needing the All-Purpose Eye’s precision, the sheer intensity of the energy fluctuations and the unified roars told him this wasn’t a re skirmish—the wizards’ stealth had been completely exposed, triggering a full-scale counterattack from the stronghold!
He swiftly activated the runes pre-placed around his burrow, slightly clearing the soil covering his view to glimpse the commotion without revealing himself.
His gaze pierced the narrow gap, locking onto the source of the noise.
But before he could observe closely, another eruption of energy flared from a different direction.
“Damn it!” Jie Ming cursed inwardly.
He hadn’t expected the two wizards to be discovered so quickly.
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