Chapter 2, The Great Gobi Desert

Not only is the name of this fortress not mentioned in the documents issued by the military department of the capital, but even most of the senior generals of Moria are completely unaware of the existence of such a place on their own territory. To be precise, His Majesty the Emperor and the gray-haired members of the Council of Elders are not yet old enough to suffer from severe memory decline. The reason they dare to leave a gap unfilled is that in the ancient language of Kanlan, the term "Bianyun" means the realm of ghosts. To be precise, His Majesty the Emperor and the gray-haired members of the Council of Elders are not yet old enough to suffer from severe memory decline. The reason they dare to leave a gap unfilled is that in the ancient language of Kanlan, the term "Bianyun" means the realm of ghosts.

It was unclear when it began, but Sajia had curled up beneath the belly of a large horse, fixating intently on the tall figure of his father on the carriage, not daring to shift his gaze even slightly. At this moment, the demonic beasts leaping into the air were already clearly visible in his peripheral vision; they were extending their knife-like claws, with long, viscous drool dripping from their gaping mouths, roaring as they lunged toward the first piece of flesh before them—Kamelei. At this moment, the demonic beasts leaping into the air were already clearly visible in his peripheral vision; they were extending their knife-like claws, with long, viscous drool dripping from their gaping mouths, roaring as they lunged toward the first piece of flesh before them—Kamelei.

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Many wise, mediocre, and even foolish monarchs have noticed that the divine beings, who reign over countless living souls, seem indifferent to the conflicts among their followers. Consequently, targeted political marriages began to emerge among the nations on the continent. Following this, various alliances, both large and small, overt and covert, seemingly sprang up overnight like mushrooms after rain. In these special groups characterized by mutual exploitation and deep suspicion, the majority are weak nations seeking self-preservation. However, there are also powerful nations that join forces, with the aim of plunder and invasion.

A crimson light suddenly surged, slanting across the sky. It was more dazzling than the blazing sun and more brilliant than lightning, accompanied by a strange "buzzing" sound as it ignited. This was the light of the horse-slaying blade

Boss!" Weika suddenly reached out with a hand as large as a bear's paw, grabbing the back collar of Saka's clothes and forcefully throwing his small frame towards Kamulei. "It's them, it can't be wrong!"

Kameray nodded slightly, his expression exceedingly complex: "Time really flies... I still remember when we first arrived at Bianyun, you were just a big child, and you didn't even know how to wield a knife. It feels like a dream; when I woke up, you had already become the most bloodthirsty and ruthless marauder in this desolate land."

You rascal! No matter what it is, you always want to drag me along. Is it because I'm a bit bigger, so I can take a beating even if I can't fight back? Kamrei laughed heartily and waved his hand, but there was a hint of desolation in his tone. If it weren't for you insisting on following me back then, I wouldn't have been sent to this wretched place to suffer... Uh, we've been here in the clouds for at least nine years, right?

The expanse of Gobi between the Rosha Valley and the Kingdom of Moria is one of the most intricately complex dead zones on the continent of Kanlan. As far as the eye can see, the heavens and the earth are enveloped in a vast expanse of reddish-brown. Hills of various sizes stretch for miles, with peaks rising like a natural, boundless labyrinth. Between the hills, countless concealed "Mang Wells" are scattered throughout the underground. These sand and stone pits, small as ponds and large as lakes, move like independent life forms beneath the earth, changing their positions every day. When one inadvertently steps into their engulfing range, often before sinking underground, one has already succumbed to death due to blood loss—a multitude of sharp-edged, constantly swirling small stones stubbornly and slowly grind away the flesh and even bones trapped between them. Due to the larger surface area of the ground sinking under slight pressure, companions are unable to take any rescue action. The only means of escape is for the trapped individual to sever the part of their body that has sunk into the "Mang Well." If one is quickly trapped at the throat, the only option is to sever one's own head, as it is the easiest way to achieve relief.

Moria and Bati are the two most powerful nations on the continent of Kanlan. Although they have not been hostile to each other since ancient times, they have never been friendly either. The news of their alliance, once announced, caused a sensation comparable to the news of the Dark Demon Emperor's death during the War of Gods and Demons! All the onlookers, anxiously awaiting the storm, gradually discovered after a period of calm that these two great nations, after the agreement was reached, showed no signs of military expansion or preparation for war. Following a wedding that was part of the alliance agreement, there has been little interaction between the two countries, and the border between them remains heavily guarded, showing no signs of the harmonious atmosphere that should exist between allied nations. All the onlookers, anxiously awaiting the storm, gradually discovered after a period of calm that these two great nations, after the agreement was reached, showed no signs of military expansion or preparation for war. Following a wedding that was part of the alliance agreement, there has been little interaction between the two countries, and the border between them remains heavily guarded, showing no signs of the harmonious atmosphere that should exist between allied nations.

Sajia is the only exception in the convoy. Since leaving the valley, every adult in the convoy has fallen into a peculiar state of exhilaration. They drive their vehicles and ride their horses throughout the night, vigilantly moving about, sparing no effort to exhaust every ounce of their strength. When their gaze occasionally sweeps over the bags of grain loaded on the carts, the cold eyes of these men show a slight change. At that moment, they appear to be entirely different from the cruel killers in the valley; on the faces, devoid of black scarves, there is a subtle radiance of warmth and pride.

When the first golden rays of the morning sun pierced through the heavy smoke and warmly enveloped the team, the men, without exception, relaxed from their heightened state of vigilance that had been maintained throughout the night. Amidst a chorus of low laughter and teasing remarks, Kamrei withdrew his cold, sweeping gaze and lightly scoffed, "What a waste to have waited all night..."

Wika's actions came to a halt, and in a gentle tone, he said: "So that's how it is... Child, everyone in Bianyun, including myself, knows that in your father's heart, you are far more precious than his own life. Although I am not clear about what exactly has happened, I hope you will also consider this: behind your father stands the entire Bianyun Fortress." Looking at the expression on Saka's small face, which seemed to be both understanding and confused, he tapped his own head and smiled broadly, saying: "When you grow up, you will naturally understand!"

"How can they appear during the day? There seem to be quite a few of them." Matisse sighed lightly, patting the full quiver beside him and said, "What is meant to come has come; I just hope the small gifts we prepared will be sufficient."

After carefully maneuvering around two closely situated mud pits, the convoy came to a slow stop. To the left, a shallow puddle caught everyone's attention. Although the liquid remaining in it was more accurately described as mud rather than rainwater, the vast majority of the group dismounted one after another, heading towards this rare source of water in the Gobi Desert.

"Uncle Wika, Father... Father deceived me." Sagar lowered his gaze, staring at the blurred reflection on the water's surface, and his gem-like clear purple eyes quickly dimmed.

"We are merely a group of people who wish to survive, nothing more." Kamrei reached out to tighten the garment draped over Saka, speaking in a calm and gentle manner.

After the second and third waves of volleys struck simultaneously, Matis and his brothers swept through the approaching beast horde in an extraordinarily unique manner, akin to harvesting wheat. These robust and fierce men, each time they drew their powerful bows, did not release a single arrow, but rather a whole row of feathered arrows! At the moment the arrows left the bow, every large hand gripping the bowstring would deliberately shake, with some exhibiting a wide range of motion while others were more subtle. This peculiar shooting action yielded results of utmost precision, as the wildly shot arrows obliterated an equal number of beast lives, with not a single miss. After nearly ten years of living in an environment rife with lethal threats, the bows and arrows in their hands had become a thousand times more dangerous than the most venomous golden viper on the continent

Death does not in the slightest affect the insatiable thirst for blood that the demon beasts possess. With a reduction of nearly half in the number of the gnawing beasts, they indifferent ly traverse the corpses of their kind, and after a brief moment of full acceleration, they successively lower their forelimbs and leap high into the air! A dark shadow looms overhead, and a strong stench of blood wafts through the wind. The only remaining barrier between humans and demon beasts is a wall formed by a circle of wagon bodies.

Not far away, the puddle, no deeper than the ankles, had begun to bubble and boil like a pot on the stove. Large splashes of mud erupted from the bottom of the puddle, resembling a miniature volcano spewing lava. A vague reddish-brown mist gradually rose from the distant horizon in the south, expanding as it ascended. As its color grew more intense and its size more massive, everyone in the convoy felt the ground trembling beneath their feet. Strangely, it trembled almost silently.

"Well, I have thought it through. If they were to come last night, I would have sent you to stay behind as a rear guard," Kamray replied

"Uncle, what are those things?" Sajia timidly asked, tugging at the back hem of Wika's clothing beside her.

Matisse smiled faintly: "It's been eight and a half years, boss"

Matisse, with his lightly raised eyebrows and youthful, rugged face, reveals a weariness that is utterly incongruous with his age: "Sometimes, I really can't distinguish my current identity. Boss, have we now become a group of bandits?"

Where there is war, there are also alliances

The most dangerous night has passed, and as the sunlight transitions from warm to scorching, only a few dozen miles remain on the journey home. Under the blazing sun, the men have begun to shed their long garments meant for warmth, shaking their already empty water bags. On their weary faces, there is an unmistakable glimmer of spirit. For just beyond the vaguely visible giant hill ahead lies their home.

Sajia held her breath and took a few sips of muddy water, wiped her lips, and sat down to the side with a gloomy expression

"I will strive to understand it clearly. Thank you, Uncle Wika," said Sajia hesitantly as he stood up. At the same time, a circle of extremely fine ripples, barely noticeable, rose from the center of the water's surface and quietly spread out. This change, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, caused the originally noisy puddle to quickly fall silent. The warhorses drinking water began to whinny softly, and the men, whether crouching or standing, simultaneously ceased their conversations, warily scanning the surrounding wilderness.

The convoy was quickly encircled in a circular formation. Sections of sturdy wooden carriages were placed horizontally around the perimeter of the horses and men, forming a sparse barrier that was barely more than nothing. In the gaps and crevices, several men, with grim expressions, took out iron boxes from their waist pouches and meticulously applied the thick, dark liquid inside to each arrowhead. Others removed the leather coverings from the horses' backs and pulled out bundles of brand new white-feathered long arrows, lightly tossing them at their companions' feet. They carried out all these actions silently and swiftly, their brows filled with a chilling intent to kill. Others removed the leather coverings from the horses' backs and pulled out bundles of brand new white-feathered long arrows, lightly tossing them at their companions' feet. They carried out all these actions silently and swiftly, their brows filled with a chilling intent to kill.

Far away, several meters away, Kamrei extended his arms to embrace and securely catch Saga, his gaze had turned sharp as a blade: "All team, defensive formation!"

"Good child, it seems that something is troubling you." The scarred man patted the frail shoulder of Sajia, drew a gleaming short knife from behind his waist, and began to scrape away the calluses on his palm. "If you are willing, speak up. Perhaps I can offer you some useful advice."

Even if I die, I will not allow those foul-smelling individuals to harm a single hair on Xiao Sajia's head" said Matisse淡淡地道

It was as if one had collided with an invisible, heavy wall while advancing; amidst the swirling dust, the leading herd of beasts suddenly collapsed in perfect unison. The massive armored beasts let out long, mournful howls as they crashed to the ground, stirring up great clouds of sand. These ferocious predators lost their lives in an instant, lying stiff and motionless on the scorching desert surface, trampled by their kindred who surged over them like a tide, leaving a scene of carnage. Their steel-like scales did not alter their fate; in the eye sockets of each fallen armored beast was embedded a white-feathered arrow. This was a small gift prepared for them by the neighbors from the border clouds.

As the thunderous rumble gradually rose in pitch, resonating in the ears of the people in the ranks, a monstrous beast, covered in triangular blue scales and measuring a full twelve feet in length, finally emerged densely from the murky mist formed by the dust, moving swiftly and erratically. These creatures, exposed to the sunlight, bore a resemblance to an enormous, magnified pangolin, with heads as fierce as a lion. Their thick, soft pads on their feet allowed them to run at high speeds without making a sound, akin to a massive yet agile cat. It is said that these monsters are the descendants of ancient fairies and mountain beasts, possessing low intelligence but exhibiting remarkable vitality and adaptability to their environment. This giant "pangolin" is a distinct subspecies among the monsters, typically found only in the vast terrains of the Gobi Desert, capable of outrunning the vast majority of terrestrial creatures, and known for their bloodthirsty and greedy nature. They are called "Gnawing Armored Beasts." This giant "pangolin" is a distinct subspecies among the monsters, typically found only in the vast terrains of the Gobi Desert, capable of outrunning the vast majority of terrestrial creatures, and known for their bloodthirsty and greedy nature. They are called "Gnawing Armored Beasts."

Although this super alliance does not convey an overwhelming sense of impending storm to the outside world, its existence has created an intangible deterrent. Several bellicose monarchs seem to have suddenly been enlightened by the doctrine of light, tempering their tempers, and the entire Kalan continent has experienced a period of relative tranquility.

After the neatly aligned bowstrings quivered, a dense buzzing sound suddenly erupted. Dozens of white rays shot out from behind the protective wall formed by the carriage, rushing towards the swarm of armored beasts. In the split second before the two sides collided, these broad white lights suddenly trembled in a peculiar manner, then split into four, transforming into nearly a hundred sharp, whistling light shadows that plunged directly into the beast horde

Despite the fact that nearly 90% of the human population on the continent of Kanlan are followers of the Church of Light, and that the monarchs of each nation are the most devout adherents of the divine race, such shared faith does not guarantee peace. The divine radiance seems unable to eradicate the greed that shackles the human spirit. In the struggle for broader and more prosperous territories, wars between nations frequently erupt

Matisse was taken aback, shaking his hands repeatedly and saying, "You... you can't be serious, can you? I certainly don't want to become their dinner! At the very least, I should have a partner with enough strength, preferably someone like you."

Matisse, riding alongside him, smiled and said, "Boss, you aren't blaming those big fellows for not coming to visit us, are you?"

As a seasoned veteran who has entered and exited the Great Gobi more than a hundred times, Weika can clearly distinguish whether the faint sound coming from half a mile away is that of a three-tailed lizard or the smallest type of burrowing toad. At this moment, the shallow water surface right before him is spreading increasingly intense ripples, yet he cannot detect any unusual sounds in his ears

The parched and desiccated ground has long been scorched by the blazing sun, radiating intense heat and emitting waves of scorching air. Like a pack of leopards after a hunt, the robust and strong men crowd around the shallow pool, bending down to drink the murky water that is as hot as the ground itself

For Kamray and his companions, the terrain here is as familiar as the scars on their bodies. Even in the pitch-black night, they can effortlessly discern the clues. Years of traversing this desolate land have honed each person's keen sense of hearing—this is the only way to locate the position of the hidden well. The subsidence of sand and gravel beneath the ground produces a faint sound akin to a snake slithering, extremely subtle. Of course, for an ordinary person, this sound is indistinguishable from utter silence

"You should do it this way: first, blow a few gentle breaths to push the floating dust on the water's surface to the side. Then, quickly drink the water, yes, sip by sip, and be gentle in your movements to avoid stirring up the mud below." A man with a large scar running diagonally across his face squatted nearby, smiling as he watched the adorable actions reminiscent of a little puppy, his gaze filled with affection and tenderness.

In fact, since the self-alliance, both countries have quietly increased their military presence along the neighboring borders. The aging emperor of Morlia has even mobilized five legions to construct an impenetrable steel wall on the plains behind the Qilizha Mountains. Subsequently, a large contingent of light troops composed of infantry and mages set out from the capital, Yanzhong, passing through fifteen provinces. Upon reaching the border, they disbanded without removing their armor and ascended the mountains, with nearly every garrison outpost along the foothills receiving ample personnel and material supplies. The only exception was a fortress called "Bianyun".

Kamray coldly glanced at the overlapping and surging swarm of beetle-like creatures, swinging down the blade in his hand

Awakened by the heat, Saka weighed the already shriveled leather water pouch at his waist, jumped down from the horse's back, and, under the silent gaze of Kamrei, plunged into the crowd

Relying on their keen sense of smell, this large group of gnawing beasts followed the scent of blood into the Rosha Valley, devouring all the corpses along the way and pursuing relentlessly. Faced with the sumptuous feast before them, they bared their white, sharp fangs, extended the claws hidden between their toe pads, and growled and roared, eagerly launching into their final sprint.

In the early dawn, the vast Gobi Desert is shrouded in a lifeless gray dust. After playing with the howling winds for most of the night, countless tiny grains of sand and stone seem to finally feel weary, quietly lying in the shallow ditches, accompanying each other in sleep. The snake-like caravan continues its solitary and slow journey, with the bells hanging from the necks of several strong horses gently swaying, their melodious sounds gradually spreading from the hazy dust, bringing a touch of vibrant life to this boundless wilderness filled with crisis and death.

Father!" Sagar screamed in terror.

Kamray turned around and smiled at his son, a faint warmth surging across his statue-like resolute face. The shadows cast by the foremost few armored beasts rapidly expanded, completely enveloping him, with the nearest five curved claws just inches away from the top of Kamray's head

Saka instinctively tightened his body, casting his gaze towards the tall and broad figure of Kamrei. When he was very small, every time he woke up from a nightmare, he would look around in panic until he focused on his father's presence, and only after a long while could he fall asleep peacefully again. During these moments, Saka felt warm and at ease. He knew clearly that his father was right there beside him. As long as he was there, nothing could harm him, absolutely nothing. During these moments, Saka felt warm and at ease. He knew clearly that his father was right there beside him. As long as he was there, nothing could harm him, absolutely nothing.

"Prepare the bow and arrow..." Kamrela elongated his voice, expressionless as he raised the sword. Just like this unsheathed killing weapon, he faced the overwhelming tide of monstrous beasts, yet his gaze remained cold and sharp, with not a trace of change in his demeanor.

Kamrei, as imposing as a demigod, continued to lead the entire team. Despite having not slept a wink all night, this burly man with waist-length hair remained vigilant, his gaze sharp and unyielding, akin to the unapproachable edge of a sabre hanging beside the saddle. The wind on the Gobi was both cold and harsh. Kamrei wore only a thin short coat, tightening the reins slightly against the biting wind, trying to control the pace of the horse beneath him, striving to reduce the jolting. His other arm was gently cradling in front of him. Behind his robust arm, Saka was wrapped in his father's oversized coat, with a thick mane of black hair cascading over his cheeks, breathing heavily, still fast asleep.

Weikara drew the strong bow and said in a low voice, "I didn't expect that on your third visit to the Gobi, you would encounter them... These unfriendly neighbors are the demon beast clan. In their eyes, humans are food"

Kamelei glanced back at the surrounded Sajia in the center, lifted the horse-slaying weapon, stepped onto a nearby cart, and without looking back said: "Wait a moment, protect my son."

The plume of smoke from the due south approached with remarkable speed, surging within a hundred zhang in an instant. Through the thick, murky base of the smoke on the ground, one could vaguely discern hundreds, if not thousands, of enormous dark figures sprawling across the field, leaping forward with urgency. Incredibly, even at such a close distance, the ferocious manner of their movement still produced little sound.

For this group of cold-blooded killers, what is truly terrifying is not the Gobi Desert, but rather a certain creature that resides here. A creature that is more greedy, more bloodthirsty, and even more fearless than they are

The winding Qilizha Mountain Range, stretching for a thousand miles, traverses the entire Kalan continent before coiling to a close at the southeastern border of the Moria Empire. Resembling a colossal earthen dragon, this majestic mountain range forms a natural boundary between Moria and its neighboring country, Bati. Due to the existence of this formidable natural barrier, the two nations, whose strengths are evenly matched, have coexisted peacefully for several centuries. Recently, they have even formed an alliance during the splendid celebration of the birth of the God of Light.