Chapter 193: The Situation in Despair Valley and the Gray Dwarves Who Have Mastered Rune Technology
2025-01-16 Author: Amnesty L
The Gray Dwarf Race probably wouldn't dare invade the Human Faction again.
A decade of stability?
Tribe Leader Diyelong's words might have been an exaggeration, but it would still guarantee a period of peace.
However!
Tang Zheng had no intention of stopping there. Having finally made contact with the humans here, he needed to understand the situation in the entire Despair Valley.
He also wanted information about the world outside Despair Valley!
A plan was already faintly forming in Tang Zheng's mind.
If this place was truly in the central region of the continent, it would become a crucial transit point for him in the future.
Even if it was a remote part of the continent, it wouldn't matter; it would actually be safer and could serve as an entry point.
But all of this depended on having sufficient information.
"Tell me everything you know about this Despair Valley," Tang Zheng said to Tribe Leader Diyelong.
Tribe Leader Diyelong naturally had no thought of refusing. He had already learned from his daughter, Alar, that the terrifyingly powerful lord before him had come to their Despair Valley from the outside world.
He had also heard from his Father that humans existed outside Despair Valley, but their living conditions were extremely harsh, and many tribes had been wiped out.
However!
With power like this lord's, he could probably survive easily anywhere.
Tribe Leader Diyelong was sincerely relieved that the powerhouse who appeared in this Despair Valley was one of their own—a human.
After a moment of thought, Tribe Leader Diyelong picked up a bone from the table and drew three circles on the ground.
"These are the three largest oases in this valley. The innermost one is our human oasis. The two to the north are occupied by the Dwarf Race and the Orc Race, respectively."
At this point, Diyelong drew a broken line even farther north:
"To the far north is a towering mountain range, and to the far south is said to be a continuous chain of volcanoes."
Following Tribe Leader Diyelong's detailed explanation, Tang Zheng looked up slightly, his gaze flickering. He finally had a basic understanding of this area.
It was clearly a vast desert, yet it was called a "valley."
A mountain range to the north and a chain of volcanoes to the south completely enclosed the entire desert region.
"The oasis where those Half-Orcs are is closest to the northern mountain range. I've heard they have contact with the world outside of Shadow Valley, but I don't know any more specific details." When Diyelong mentioned the Half-Orcs, his eyes revealed fear and apprehension.
They seemed to be an even more terrifying race than the Grey Dwarves.
"Shadow Valley?" Tang Zheng looked at Tribe Leader Diyelong.
"It's here."
Tribe Leader Diyelong raised his hand and pointed to the gap in the broken line he had drawn earlier:
"This is Shadow Valley, a connecting point where the northern mountain range breaks. It's also the only route out of Despair Valley."
Speaking of which, Tribe Leader Diyelong looked up at Tang Zheng and quickly reminded him, "Shadow Valley is extremely dangerous. It's said that a fortress was built there by an outside country, and it's occupied by those Half-Orcs."
After listening to Tribe Leader Diyelong's explanation, Tang Zheng frowned slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
He had a strange feeling that this Despair Valley was like a forsaken land, abandoned by the countries outside.
But why build a fortress?
Could this Despair Valley hold other secrets? From what Tribe Leader Diyelong said, it was clear he didn't know much either.
For a people struggling just to survive, they really didn't have the time to explore and gather outside information.
What little Tribe Leader Diyelong knew, he had learned from his Father—the human from this tribe who had "stepped into" the heroic realm.
Tang Zheng had already asked about him; he was also curious about the human who had reached the "hero" level.
Based on the information he gathered, he speculated that Tribe Leader Diyelong's Father, in addition to his own talent, was very likely a possessor of an "innate ability."
That man was the true reason this tribe had been able to endure and survive to this day.
"Right, do you know what this is?" Tang Zheng suddenly remembered something. He reached into his robes, but in reality, he retrieved the fist-sized brown stone from his item box.
"The Heart... of a Stone Giant!"
Tribe Leader Diyelong straightened his back and exclaimed in shock, though considering Tang Zheng's strength, it became somewhat understandable.
"That's the core of a Stone Giant, a very dangerous monster in the valley. I heard from my Father that it's something of great value."
"The Grey Dwarves seem to be able to refine this type of stone into weapons and equipment with special abilities. The Half-Orcs also collect this stone."
"My Father once used this stone to trade for a lot of supplies from the Half-Orcs," Tribe Leader Diyelong said quickly.
"I see." Tang Zheng nodded lightly.
It was normal for dwarves, who were skilled in forging, to be able to craft equipment from such a magical material. But it was somewhat surprising to Tang Zheng that the Half-Orcs also collected it.
"Father!"
At that moment, a cheerful, clear voice called out from beyond the bonfire.
Alar came striding over, carrying a set of armor and a horn.
She had taken off her earthen-brown armor and was now wearing a cool outfit: an earthen-brown bandeau that exposed her navel, with shorts and a half-skirt of the same color below.
Her wheat-colored skin seemed to have a faint sheen under the light of the bonfire. Her legs, which were not particularly long, moved across the sand.
Perhaps due to frequent running and training, her calves were taut, while her thighs were firm and rounded. Combined with her flat abdomen, it gave her a broad-hipped physique.
At a glance, she resembled a small cheetah.
The temperature in the desert valley was always high, remaining above twenty-five or twenty-six degrees even at night.
Alar hadn't been here a moment ago; she had taken Tang Zheng's healing potion, diluted it, and was treating the tribesmen injured in the war.
It was clear the treatment was now finished.
Alar quickly ran up to the two of them. The armor she held was clearly a bit heavy, causing her to pant slightly, but she couldn't hide the radiant smile on her face.
Thanks to the mysterious healing potion, the lives of the injured tribesmen were no longer in danger. Although some tribesmen had died, both Alar and all the other tribesmen were long accustomed to death!
In this Despair Valley, "death" was the norm. All they needed to do was strive to live, to survive!
"Lord Hero."
"This is the most complete set of armor among all the loot. And this horn, it seems to have a special ability. It belonged to that Grey Dwarf commander."
After running over, Alar looked at Tang Zheng with adoration in her bright silver eyes. She slid across the sand into a kneeling position and spoke happily.
From the battle with the Grey Dwarf legion, the greatest gains for the Human Faction were naturally all sorts of metal weapons.
However, since Tang Zheng hadn't been careful about the armor during his attack, very few sets of the Grey Dwarves' armor were preserved intact.
"Alar!"
Tribe Leader Diyelong looked at his daughter, his scarred face showing a stern expression as he chided in a low voice, "Our survival is entirely thanks to Lord Hero. All the loot belongs to him."
"I know," Alar lowered her head and said in a small voice. "I just wanted to pick out a complete set to show Lord Hero."
Hearing their conversation revert to calling him "Lord Hero," Tang Zheng could only sigh and correct them again, then waved his hand. "Keep this armor and equipment for yourselves. I don't need these things."
The Grey Dwarves' equipment consisted mostly of iron weapons and iron-plated armor, which was completely useless to Tang Zheng.
"This is a set of equipment with a special ability," Alar quickly looked up and explained, her voice tinged with nervousness.
A special ability?
Tang Zheng glanced at the armor Alar was holding.
Isn't it just magic equipment?
Tang Zheng's gaze swept over to the horn. Feeling a bit curious, he raised his hand, took it, and a gleam of magic power flashed in his eyes.
'Item Appraisal'!
Seeing the information from the appraisal, Tang Zheng was stunned.
The horn's ability wasn't complex; it had the simple effects of boosting morale and transmitting sound over long distances. What truly surprised Tang Zheng was something else.
Tang Zheng reached out again, snatched the armor from Alar's hands, and activated his 'Item Appraisal' ability once more.
Watching Tang Zheng inspect the armor, Alar clasped her slender hands on her knees, her silver eyes filled with reverence.
As expected of Lord Hero. The armor was so heavy she had to hold it with both hands, yet Lord Hero could lift it easily with just one.
In particular, Tang Zheng's fair skin and black hair, so different from their own, held a mysterious charm in Alar's eyes.
To the side, Tribe Leader Diyelong noticed his daughter's gaze and glanced cautiously at Tang Zheng. A glimmer of hope flickered across his stern face.
And at that moment, Tang Zheng's eyes widened in shock as he read the information from the armor's appraisal.
These two pieces of magic equipment were both rune items!
"The Grey Dwarves in this region have actually mastered rune technology?"
Tang Zheng was inwardly shocked and surprised.
(end of chapter)