Chapter 256 - Nivalis
Hao Xuan summoned Bai and made his way further into the unknown land.
The deafening blizzard didn't let up for even a second forcing Bai stick to the side of mountains, gulleys, and valleys found along the way for safety.
The winds were blowing at around 200 km/h and Hao Xuan wouldn't even be able to stand on his own there.
"Baracus, do you know where we are?" he shouted at the watch.
*Beep*
"No. I'm already supporting the secondary network you had me create for those encrypted spirit bands so I don't have a lot of resources left to waste on other things. Each kingdom has its own network which I can't access remotely. I need to get into the mainframe that controls everything and then I can have access to most of the data."
The modified spirit bands were piggybacking on the main network that was available everywhere in the beast world but they were using Baracus's own hardware to actually decode the communications.
This put a lot of extra strain on his systems and severely limited his functions.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?!"
"You didn't ask."
Hao Xuan faltered at the unexpected response, "...a...alright, I'll give you that one. So what do you need to fix this?"
"I made a list of all the things I need. I can place the order when we get back to Mei if you can confirm."
*Beep*
A list of more than 700 items appeared in front of Hao Xuan's eyes, making him shake his head helplessly.
"Yeah it's fine, just order whatever you want. I don't need to go see everything," he waved his hand dismissively.
"Got it. I will still need the help of an experienced technician or blacksmith to make a few things. You will have to find me one."
Baracus's tone lightened and Hao Xuan could feel the satisfaction from it. Sometimes even he forgot that Baracus was not a human but an artificial intelligence that gained sentience. He seemed more human than most.
"Sure, I'll ask around."
**
The journey continued for another day as the sunset once more.
Hao Xuan was looking for a place to make camp for the night when he heard Bai's echo voice in his mind for the first time in a very long time. It still sounded the same, a thick voice that seemed like it belonged to a man in his 30's.
"There is something up ahead..."
Hao Xuan followed his line of sight and saw a hollow cavity on the side of a mountain a few hundred meters away. Its peak was shrouded in a layer of clouds.
It was tens of thousands of meters in diameter with only one side visible to Hao Xuan.
The mountain itself was in shambles though. It looked like someone had beaten it with a large rod of some kind. There were hundreds of meter long cylindrical marks all over it.
The cavity itself looked like a deep tunnel that had been dug not too long ago.
Unsure of what to think of the situation, he waved his hand and summoned Ensis and Monk.
Monk seemed like he was in a much better condition and although the wound on his chest hadn't closed up, it wasn't bleeding any more.
Hao Xuan pointed at the broken mountain.
"That mountain, what do you think of it?"
Ensis squinted his eyes and scrupulously examined every little detail in sight before speaking up.
"It seems like a fight had taken place there not too long ago. From the indentations on the side and layer of snow on top, it looks like it happened sometime within the last 24 hours."
"Mhm," Hao Xuan gave a nod before looking at Monk, "What about you? Any information?"
The few times he had come into contact with Monk, he had come off as a very easy going guy, yet right now he sullen expression over his face, perhaps because he couldn't come to terms with his new reality.
Hao Xuan's countenance turned cold after getting completely ignored by the four-armed Jia elite.
"You tried to kill me yet I spared your life. Even gave you the 'pleasure' of serving me. Don't give me that face, you would have killed me in a heartbeat. There is no one to blame but yourself. The sooner you come to terms with this the better you will feel. Now.."
"Answer me!" (These mean that Hao Xuan used his ability to give an order).
Monk's body trembled as he couldn't control himself anymore. A pained expression flashed past his face for just an instant.
"I-It's was probably a fight between Ether beasts. There are a lot of them in this place..."
His voice sounded robotic, almost as if it was someone else speaking through him.
"This place? You know where we are?"
His head moved up and down once.
"Nivalis, the Fourth entrance to the Frozen Graveyard of Tertium."
As the words came out of Monk's mouth, a high pitched noise reverberated in the surroundings making everyone cover their ears from unbearable pain.
*RIIIIIIIIIING~*
"What the f*ck was that?!"
Hao Xuan jumped back in shock while taking out the glaive, he looked around for enemies while droplets of blood poured out of his ears.
"You did this you f*ckwad. You forced me to say the full name of this f*cking place," Monk retorted, pointing at Hao Xuan like an idiot.
Hao Xuan's brow shot up in anger in response, "What the hell does saying a name have to do with what just happened? What was it? Niv-mm!"
"Stop talking for god sakes! Please!" Monk quickly moved ahead and covered his mouth. He then leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"It is a word of power. Beings under the Profound Realm cannot even utter it in this area. This place has a danger level of 4 according to the standard of our world. Anyone under the Profound realm shouldn't be here." (author note)
"Mmfmm!"
Seeing as Hao Xuan somewhat understood what he said, Monk removed his hand.
"Are you sure? How come I didn't come across any beast hordes and things like that?"
"There are no hordes here. This place is home to Ether beasts that are at least as powerful as cultivators of the Profound realm and higher. A few of them are even more powerful, having stepped into the boundaries of the legendary Desolate Beasts."
****
Authors Notes:
Danger levels are in ascending order.
Level one is lowest (white color is weakest)
level 2 (blue)
level 3 (green)
level 4 (orange)