abnabooks Chapter 2331 The Monster Emerging from the Ground
Chapter 2331 The Monster Emerging from the Ground
Chapter 2331 The Monster Emerging from the Ground
"You, you..."
Seeing that his lips were chapped, He Lingchuan figured he must have been hiding in the cellar for a long time, so he took out a water pouch, shook it a couple of times, and handed it to him: "Soak your throat."
Upon hearing the sound of water, the man kept licking his lips, quickly took the water bag, tilted his head back, and gulped down several mouthfuls, not stopping even when he choked on the water.
He Lingchuan didn't ask until he had recovered, "How long have you been hiding here?"
The man countered, "Didn't you see any other monsters along the way?"
"No. You are the only living thing in this city besides us."
Upon hearing this, the man's expression darkened.
"Three hours. I've been back for three hours."
He said "come back," so the three of them realized that he was originally from Shaocheng.
He put down the water pouch, his emotions much calmer, but his eyes were still filled with fear, especially when he looked at the demonic apes and other monsters beside Dong Rui. "I just came back from the mine. Who are you people?!"
Dong Rui continued, "We tracked the great demon here, only to find that this place has turned into a ghost town."
He took out two white steamed buns and a bag of dried meat from his pocket: "Tell us first, who are you?"
"I...I am the mining supervisor of Shaocheng!" This man hadn't eaten in a long time, and his eyes were fixed on the white steamed bun like a hungry wolf eyeing meat. "I work at Tashan, ten miles north of the city."
What kind of minerals are found there?
"Mysterious crystal ore. But, but it's all been mined out."
Upon hearing this, the three exchanged glances. Over the past ten years, spiritual rains had frequently fallen, and the Emperor's Dew had flowed underground, condensing into the Xuanjing mineral vein.
With abundant spiritual energy and a surge in the production of mystic crystals, the discovery of large mystic crystal veins in certain areas is no longer surprising.
Of course, once a mystic crystal vein is discovered, it is usually seized by the largest local power.
No one would complain about having too many Mystic Crystals.
Dong Rui handed over the meat and steamed bun. The man wolfed down the food while speaking frankly and without reservation.
The Tashan mine on the outskirts of Shaocheng was originally a rich mine, and it was heavily mined more than ten years ago. Shaocheng itself only changed hands eight years ago; the new city lord was a local powerful figure who drove away the city's original owner and the monsters who coveted it, and then firmly secured his position as city lord.
Until a strange city appeared out of nowhere on the outskirts of Shaocheng!
"Appearing out of thin air?"
The changing of the guard on city walls is a common sight in the world today. Cities rich in natural resources and inhabited by virtuous people are where such places are located.
"Yes, they appeared overnight, right from underground!"
That city was even larger than Shao City, and its buildings looked magnificent, but it suddenly appeared right next to Shao City, and its towering walls even collapsed the outer walls of Shao City.
Without its outer walls, Shaocheng was like a banana that had been peeled, its most important layer of defense torn away.
Then the gates of the strange city burst open, and endless, bizarre monsters rushed out!
The city's army was mobilized urgently, but they were no match for the monsters. In the end, some were routed, some fled, and some were eaten.
The monsters became extremely ferocious and dragged out the city lord and officials, eating them clean in front of the entire city!
I don't know how many people fainted from fright that day.
The city lord and his officials were no good either; they plundered the people, oppressed the populace, and forcibly conscripted laborers. But at least they managed the city and maintained basic order.
When these monsters arrived, everything went upside down!
They truly don't treat people as human beings, but rather as livestock or food!
After devouring the city lord, these monsters took control of Shao City. Their goal was clear:
Fiber ore vein.
Within four months, they forced the people of Shaocheng to completely drain the mineral veins that could have been mined for ten years!
Leaving aside the numerous mining accidents and deaths that occurred during that time, the people of Shaocheng lived in constant terror for over a hundred days, because these monsters would eat people whenever they were in a bad mood.
They wanted to ask for help from the outside world, but no one within a hundred miles dared to come to their rescue.
So the residents tried to escape, but most of them were caught and eaten alive in public!
Unable to leave, people were forced to live in constant fear.
Upon hearing this, He Lingchuan and the others all sighed inwardly.
This is the norm in the world outside of the three great powers: small countries with few people are simply no match for the invasion of extraordinary forces, and they are either enslaved or devoured alive.
Shao Cheng's experience is merely a microcosm of ordinary people's plight, not only a particularly tragic one, but also one destined for a bad end.
As the mining official spoke, tears streamed down his face.
The day before yesterday afternoon, the mine stopped producing ore.
The growth of the Xuanjing ore vein takes time; for at least five months, Tashan will be unable to mine any more ore.
That evening, the monsters suddenly went on a killing spree in the mine!
If the ore veins aren't producing any more crystals, what use are the miners? They might as well turn back into food.
Amidst gasps and screams, the mining supervisor and dozens of miners turned and scrambled back into the mine shaft.
One by one, the miners behind him were taken away, and he reluctantly squeezed into a narrow crevice. The monster that followed was too big to fit in and gave up after lingering outside for a quarter of an hour. There were plenty of delicious prey running around outside; it didn't need to go to such lengths for a bite.
The terrified mining official stayed at the bottom of the mine for ten hours before finally climbing out and returning to the city.
As a result, the city turned into this scene—
Everyone was eaten, everyone!
"This is my home! My son and my father have been eaten!" He put down the dried meat and burst into tears. "What sins have we committed to deserve this terrible calamity?"
After returning to the city, he was hungry, tired, and scared, so he hid in his cellar and fell asleep, only to be found by He Lingchuan and others.
"The Emperor's Dew has flowed for so many years, why has the world become like this?" the mine supervisor cried. "I really wish I could go back to the past! In the past, there weren't so many monsters, the bees weren't the size of steamed buns, and the fleas wouldn't suck people dry! How could my family and friends have all been eaten by monsters?!"
The great spiritual energy explosion of the past decade has indeed brought opportunities to all living beings, but it has also brought a more terrifying danger: a more intense and faster-paced natural selection!
The world changes so fast that before most people can even react, it has already become something they can no longer adapt to.
Rats are bigger than dogs, and wild boars are bigger than houses; any poisonous weed in the mountains that used to accidentally scratch your arm would only cause redness and swelling for a day or two, but now it can be deadly!
Even in this generation, not everyone can cultivate true power, develop supernatural abilities, or make good use of the new rules.
Those who keep up catch the wave and are set for great things; their future is bright.
Those who can't keep up are abandoned by the world and fall to the bottom of the food chain, living a life far worse than before.
At this time, they will miss the good old days.
Thank you so much to the reader for the generous donation, which reflects my good wishes! We have another adorable new member!
Lunch is sorted, time to go out and buy some meat!
(End of this chapter)