A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 199 Extraterrestrial Visitors

What lies 256 kilometers underground?

On Earth, some say there's nothing there, some say it's the abode of demons, and others say it doesn't matter because no one can explore that place.

In the prime plane, there exists a world.

The elevator slowly descended from the ground to underground.

Ten kilometers, one hundred kilometers, two hundred and fifty-six kilometers.

With a crisp "ding," we arrived in the underground world.

Jiang Shuzhou stepped out of the elevator; it was his first time in the underground world.

This is the sky above the eighth level of the underground world. Jiang Shuzhou's arrival here is meant to reignite the conflict.

When will the Tower of Babel be completed?

Jiang Shuzhou asked the designer beside him who was constantly wiping away sweat.

"Sir, at most six months, six months will be fine."

Hearing his boss's words, the designer was terrified, fearing that he might lose his life at any moment.

He knew Jiang Shuzhou's methods all too well.

"There isn't that much time. Three months. I'll give you three months. The Tower of Babel must be completed in three months."

"My lord, this..."

The designer seemed very hesitant; if he agreed but failed to deliver, his fate wouldn't be much better than death.

"I will send you more people."

"But sir, where is anyone else? All the prisoners are here."

"Aren't there many below?"

Jiang Shuzhou looked down.

The designer was speechless.

Jiang Shuzhou's single sentence determined the life and death of countless people.

It's obvious that if you don't submit, you die.

"As you wish."

Jiang Shuzhou nodded.

The Tower of Babel, according to legend, connects the sky and the earth, and is a creation of humankind in its attempt to compare itself to the gods.

It was destroyed by divine punishment, leaving only ruins behind.

Jiang Shuzhou, on the other hand, is now rebuilding the Tower of Babel underground.

He wants to connect the surface of the underground world with the sky. From then on, this place will not only be the central hub of the entire underground world, but also the core of power in the entire underground world.

As for the gods?

There are no gods here.

Interestingly, the underworld perfectly embodies the maxims of alchemy.

Up is down, and down is up.

To understand the sky above the underground world, we need to dig downwards.

But to descend from the basement into the sky, one needs to fly.

Jiang Shuzhou could fly, but the soldiers couldn't.

However, this didn't stump Jiang Shuzhou; he could simply use a primitive hot air balloon.

Finally, Jiang Shuzhou stepped onto the land eight levels underground.

This is a mushroom jungle emitting a faint glow, with giant mushrooms, as big as trees, emitting tiny specks of light.

This thing shouldn't be poisonous, right?

Out of caution, Jiang Shuzhou casually cast a detection spell.

The result was that it was non-toxic and edible.

Then the military rations for this period of time were available.

We could even consider large-scale cultivation of this mushroom.

I just don't know if there are any real trees here.

The soldiers began to explore the surroundings, and the camp was gradually established.

Jiang Shuzhou didn't go with them; he wanted to see the new things in this world and learn some information.

The primary goal is to find a local.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Jim walked through the desolate wilderness as usual, heading towards the mushroom forest.

Although he said he wasn't interested, that was just a way to lull the elves into a false sense of security.

He has a grudge against the elves. It's fine if they don't meet face to face, but once he's recognized, he'll face endless pursuit.

That's why he never accepts commissions related to elves.

However, he needs to rely on the power of outsiders.

"Has that thing already escaped?"

Looking at the deep trenches in the ground, Jim deduced where the burrowing worms had gone.

He also breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems the elves only cared about the sunstone and didn't notice anything else; perhaps many of them didn't even know that the sky was an illusion.

Who are you looking for?

"I……"

Jim then felt his body stiffen and he was unable to move.

Using the dim light of the forest, he saw a person shrouded in shadow before him.

At the same time, his whole body began to make creaking sounds, as if he were being squeezed countless times.

"I have the key to the Blood Lake!"

In an instant, the pressure vanished.

Jim collapsed to the ground, his entire body soaked in sweat.

He almost died.

Jiang Shuzhou waited silently in front of Jim.

"Alright, have you rested enough?"

Jim lay sprawled on the ground, completely unseemingly, showing no intention of getting up.

"Now, I'll ask, and you'll answer."

Start by detecting lies.

What is a Blood Lake?

"You don't know about Blood Lake?"

Jim looked quite surprised.

what.

Subsequently, he broke one of his ribs.

"I ask, you answer; I don't mean you ask me!"

Jiang Shuzhou seemed very impatient. "A prisoner of war, and he's asking me questions?"

"The Blood Lake is the ancestral home of the Hamlet family."

Hamlet? Isn't that the name of a small town?

However, Jiang Shuzhou soon figured it out.

Many people name cities after their own surname and given name; perhaps Hamlet once belonged to the Hamlet family.

However, as time has passed, the Hamlet family has long lost its former glory; perhaps it has changed its name, or perhaps it has already disappeared.

"What's there?"

"The Hamlet family's gift to their descendants can only be unlocked by the key."

Is it a family treasure?

I don't know what's inside, but judging from the name, it's probably a study of the Way of Flesh and Blood.

Jiang Shuzhou couldn't help but think of the previous lord, that nobleman.

His family crest appears to be a book and a drop of blood, which is clearly something his ancestors left behind.

No wonder he, as a descendant of a sorcerer, lives such a miserable life.

It turns out our ancestors hid the treasure underground; we have to dig it up to get it.

Perhaps never imagining their family would fall to such a state, the ancestors of the Hamlet family placed their gifts in the eighth underground world.

At this depth, apart from wealthy people like Jiang Shuzhou who can afford to dig, which other mid-level mage could dig this deep?

However, this is a good thing for Jiang Shuzhou. After all, he is Hamlet's lord, so he is practically a junior, and it is only right that he takes some.

"You seem to know who I am? Tell me more."

"My wife is the heir to the House of Hamlet, and she knows about the outside world from the family records."

Jim said, but a look of sadness and grief flashed in his eyes when he mentioned his wife.

"Where is she?"

"She is dead, killed by the elves."

"What's your purpose in coming here?"

"I will seek revenge! Revenge against the elves!"

Goodness, he might be a bit love-struck, but he's a real man.

"Hey, I knew it! We're all on the same side. Come on, young man, I'll get you a veterinarian right away."

Jiang Shuzhou's expression changed abruptly; it turned out there was a loyal follower overseas.

Now we have a legitimate reason to act.