Free Web NovelChapter 302: Chapter 226: Clues to the Tears of the Stars (Part 2)
"Night Demons, Shadow Reapers, Shadow Spider Demons... There might also be some low-intelligence humanoid groups living in the Abyss. They also carry the diluted blood of the Alataku People. It’s been too long since I’ve been to the Abyss, so I don’t know if the situation has changed."
"The most notable characteristics of Soul Beasts with Alataku blood are their appearances—they are either extremely beautiful or exceptionally ugly. They have an extraordinary command over Dark Energy, and those with a stronger bloodline possess the power of the Undead."
’There’s a chance... So those ugly Soul Beasts I saw before all have Alataku blood in them. Maybe the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm can purify their bloodline,’ Han Ning thought. It was like seeing a sudden glimmer of light in a pitch-black environment; he had to seize it no matter what.
"Lord Akatos, if I can solve the bloodline problem, do you know what kinds of dangers exist inside the ruins?" he asked.
"You can solve it? If you really can, I’d like to ask you for a favor. In exchange, I will send Qingyao with you to ensure your safety." A humanlike expression of surprise appeared on Akatos’s face upon hearing Han Ning’s words.
"I’m not entirely sure, but there’s a chance," Han Ning said, not making any firm promises.
"A chance is worth taking! The ruins I speak of are called Night Nether City. They’re located in the Grudge Abyss in the eastern part of the Insect Continent. It was the second-largest city built by the Alataku People on the Insect Continent, and it once had a population of about 200,000."
"1,500 years ago, my Beast Master was invited by the Alataku People to visit this place with some friends. However, they were suddenly attacked. My master was gravely injured, and they used some special method to take nearly half of their Soul Spirit. All of my other companions were killed. Only my master and I managed to escape."
"After you enter the ruins, I’d like to ask you to help me find the other half of my master’s Soul Spirit. If you can’t find it... at least try to bring back some news for me."
’I never thought a Soul Beast as powerful as Lord Akatos would have a master. That must be the founder of the Dragon Blood Race, an Ancestral Insect Master who came from one of the Ancestor Families?’
Listening to the translation from Qing Fan, Han Ning was secretly amazed. He asked,
"Roughly how strong were you 1,500 years ago? And why don’t you go there yourself?"
’If Akatos went in person, with its power being second only to the Queen’s, wouldn’t it be able to get anything it wanted with ease?’
"I had just entered the Monarch Level back then. I cannot leave this place now; the entire Jade Forest needs my Life Energy to hide its coordinates. If I leave, the Five Ancestor Families will immediately discover the Jade Forest has been exposed. Exposure itself isn’t a big deal, but it would mean that I am no longer in the Jade Forest."
"How could such a formidable race just disappear?" Han Ning wondered.
"I don’t know either. It seems they vanished overnight without leaving any information. Perhaps you’ll find something once you enter the ruins. After I left Night Nether City, I followed my master to the Jade Forest to heal. Since then, I never heard any news of the Alataku People again, until Dragon Blood People adventuring on the Insect Continent gradually sent back word that the Alataku People had disappeared."
Even after all these centuries, when recounting the deaths of its companions and Beast Master, an unconcealable sadness still showed on Akatos’s draconic face.
"I understand," Han Ning said with a nod.
Akatos said no more. It grabbed a wooden board with one of its claws and began to sketch a rough topographical map.
A moment later, it pushed the wooden board in front of Han Ning and said, "This is a map of Night Nether City and its surrounding terrain that I drew from memory."
"Qingyao knows the entrance to the Grudge Abyss. She will guide you inside."
"I understand. Thank you for telling me, Lord Akatos. I will do my best to help you find news of your Beast Master."
...
After leaving the Jade Forest, Han Ning immediately began preparing to extract the bloodline of the Alataku People.
When he had set out, his only accompanying Soul Beasts had been the four little ones, including Yin Yi and Egg Pancake.
But upon returning to the academy, he was accompanied by an exquisite and translucent, jade-colored Cyan Jade Dragon.
’Night Demons... Shadow Reapers... there are a lot of them over in Mist Deep Valley. And there’s a Black Tower there, likely built by the Alataku People, that contains two very rare types of Soul Beasts. Maybe I should go to Mist Deep Valley first.’
In his dorm room, Han Ning sat in his chair, lost in thought.
Mist Deep Valley could only be considered the periphery of the Grudge Abyss. Influenced by the dark aura emanating from the Abyss, it had become an area that could bewilder the minds of living creatures and was teeming with Dark Soul Beasts.
Just the periphery alone gave him a strong sense of danger; he couldn’t imagine how many dangers lurked in the true Abyss.
If Qingyao weren’t accompanying him, he wouldn’t have much confidence relying solely on Egg Pancake’s power, who had just entered the Lord Level.
’Hm? The experimental Soul Beasts created by the Alataku People have Darkness and Undead characteristics. Isn’t that a perfect match for Fei Lin? ...Could it be that Fei Lin also has the blood of the Alataku People in her veins?’
Han Ning turned his head, his gaze falling on Fei Lin. She was lying on the bed with her legs crossed, hugging two identical Egg Pancakes while they all watched a cartoon. A thought struck him.
’Moreover, Fei Lin’s highly human-like appearance also fits perfectly with the theory that she has the bloodline of a highly intelligent species...’
Speculation was one thing, but in the end, he decided to make the trip to Mist Deep Valley and retrieve the two types of juvenile Soul Beasts soaking in a special liquid inside the Black Tower.
Besides, a large number of Shadow Reapers lived near the Black Tower, so he could also try to extract some of their bloodline while he was there.
"That settles it!" he said, clapping his hands.
After resting at the academy for a day, Han Ning decided to set out.
"Brother Ning, Auntie Qingyao, you must come back safely!" "HISS~"
As he was leaving, Nia hugged two very similar-looking small jade dragons, bidding him farewell with a reluctant expression.
After nearly a month of recovery, Nia’s legs, which had originally disappeared, were mostly healed. They just looked exceptionally slender compared to her upper body. Perhaps due to Qingyao’s treatment, the wrinkles on her face had also vanished without a trace, and she had returned to her original appearance as a fair Insect-man girl.
Her Jade Spirit Damselfly had a blessing in disguise. After the battle, it absorbed a large amount of Extraordinary and War General Level Wood Type Crystal Stones and, with the help of Feiyun and others at the academy, successfully evolved into a Yimu Flood Dragon.
Qingyao had a deep connection with the Yinsaike Race. As the last of the Yinsaike, Nia’s affection for Qingyao was profound.
As for the address "Auntie," it was Han Ning’s own interpretation based on the context of the Insect Language.
Calling her "Great-Grandma" would make her sound too old. According to information from Qing Fan, Qingyao was still considered young for a Flood Dragon. While not exactly a young lady, she was definitely what you’d call a "cool older sister" type of dragon.
In short, Qingyao was a female Flood Dragon in the prime of her draconic life.
"CHIME~"
Qingyao, who was lying in Nia’s arms, stirred slightly, flew onto Han Ning’s shoulder, and let out a pleasant, soft cry toward Nia, as if to tell the little girl not to worry.
Han Ning loved listening to Qingyao’s draconic cries. Her calls were different from those of Akatos and Egg Pancake. If their roars carried the characteristic depth and vigor of the Dragon Race, then hers was like that of an elegant poet or a singer. Every note she uttered was incredibly soothing. It felt like being in nature, beside a flowing spring, hearing the gentle tinkling of jade pendants.
"Nia, train your Yimu Flood Dragon well. We’ll be back soon. When we return, I’ll bring you a gift," Han Ning said with a smile, patting Nia’s head.
"Nia doesn’t want any gifts. I just want Brother Ning and Auntie Qingyao to come back safely. Nia... I don’t want to lose family ever again." Nia gripped Han Ning’s large hand, her emerald-green eyes, like a Ghost Lake, welling up with tears.
"Mm-hm, I’ll be very careful."
