Chapter 654 - 469: Controlling the Catastrophe Level Demon Serpent Puppet
Chapter 654: Chapter 469: Controlling the Catastrophe Level Demon Serpent Puppet
"The one and only ’King of the Mountains.’ The Alchemy Workshop appeared near its lair, in the valley we call ’Giant’s Sleep.’"
The Dogman Wizard’s voice was laced with fear.
"The Jackal-Wolf Folk the King sent to search were discovered by patrolling Stone Elements. They barely made it back alive."
"The King says the ’King of the Mountains’ has awoken from its slumber due to the spatial storm."
Raylo leaned back in his chair.
’An awakened Catastrophe Level being.’
’This is truly terrible news.’
’Phillips’s Mobile Workshop is right there for the taking, but a Catastrophe Level Mountain Giant is blocking the way.’
’If I want what’s inside, I’ll have to dig the Alchemy Workshop out from under a collapsed mountain peak, right under the nose of the ’King of the Mountains.’’
...
When Raylo found Grand Elder Gu, this was the scene that greeted him.
An old man sat on a jutting black rock, quietly fishing.
His stooped figure blended in with the surrounding jagged rocks. If not for the peculiar fishing rod—polished from the bone of some unknown beast and emitting a soft glow under the gray sky—it would have been nearly impossible to pick him out from the bleak landscape.
Raylo softened his footsteps, careful not to disturb him.
He knew Gu preferred silence.
The old man had lived for countless years, and he carried an air of serene detachment, as if the world’s turmoil had nothing to do with him.
Raylo stopped about ten meters away, standing in silence.
Time trickled by.
An hour passed, perhaps even more.
Finally, Gu moved.
With a flick of his wrist, the bone fishing rod sliced a graceful arc through the air.
A strange, three-eyed, pitch-black fish was flung neatly onto the bank.
The fish landed on the snow. It didn’t struggle, merely staring with its three cold eyes at the old man who had pulled it from the water.
"What is it?"
Gu didn’t turn around.
"Grand Elder."
Raylo finally stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
"I, Raylo, have come to seek an audience on an urgent matter."
Gu tossed the three-eyed fish into the basket beside him and slowly turned.
"Speak. What is it?"
"You don’t do anything unless there’s something in it for you, kid."
Raylo took a deep breath.
He knew there was no point in beating around the bush with a being like Gu.
"Grand Elder, my men have just discovered traces of a Catastrophe Level Mountain Giant in the Black Stone Mountain Range."
Raylo chose his words with care.
"It was awoken from its slumber by the recent spatial storm."
The hand Gu used to hold his fishing rod paused for a moment.
But he still didn’t turn around, simply letting out a soft "Mm" to indicate Raylo should continue.
"It has taken up residence in the heart of the mountain range, in a valley called ’Giant’s Sleep.’"
Raylo said.
Grand Elder Gu turned to face Raylo.
"Mountain Giant."
Gu slowly enunciated the two words.
"Yes."
Raylo nodded.
Gu fell silent.
A flicker of genuine interest finally crossed his placid, impassive face.
He rose to his feet. Though his frame was still stooped, the moment he stood, he gave off the illusion of a titan holding up the sky.
"Interesting."
He murmured to himself.
He looked at Raylo and asked,
"What business do you have with it? That creature isn’t exactly the accommodating type."
"To be frank with you, Grand Elder,"
Raylo said.
"The Mobile Alchemy Workshop of Phillips, the Legendary Alchemy Master who vanished a century ago, is in that valley. The recent spatial storm has uncovered it."
"That Alchemy Workshop is crucial to me—and to the Black Stone Territory. I must have it,"
Raylo said.
"Unfortunately, the workshop is located right near the Mountain Giant’s lair."
Gu watched him without a word.
Raylo could feel an invisible pressure bearing down on him.
"So, you want me to help you drive away that Mountain Giant?"
Gu finally spoke, cutting straight to the heart of Raylo’s visit.
"I wouldn’t dare presume."
Raylo lowered his head.
"I only wished to ask you to accompany me, Grand Elder, to see if a peaceful resolution is possible. If... if that’s not an option, then I will find another way."
Gu looked at Raylo’s expression, a mixture of reverence and cunning, and suddenly chuckled.
The sound was raspy, yet it held a certain heartiness.
"Alright, kid. Stop playing these little games with me."
He waved his hand.
"If you want my help, just say so."
The tension in Raylo’s heart abruptly loosened.
"I’ll do it,"
Gu said.
"I came to this world of yours precisely to see what it has to offer."
"A Catastrophe Level Mountain Giant? I don’t mind taking a look."
He paused, a sharp glint flashing through his cloudy eyes.
"Besides, your timing is quite fortunate."
Gu slowly reached into his wide sleeve.
Raylo held his breath.
Gu pulled something from his sleeve.
It was a ferocious-looking serpent’s head.
It was the size of a millstone, carved entirely from some unknown type of ice crystal, and it radiated a bone-chilling cold.
The head was sculpted to look fierce and domineering. Even as an inanimate object, it radiated a terrifying pressure that made one’s very soul tremble.
It was none other than "Ice Wind," the head of the Nine-headed Demon Serpent that Raylo had given to Grand Elder Gu!
"The item you entrusted me to craft is finished."
Gu casually tossed the ferocious serpent head to Raylo.
Raylo scrambled to catch it with both hands.
The moment his hands touched the ferocious serpent head, a bone-piercing chill shot up from his palms and instantly spread through his entire body.