Chapter 498

Chapter 498: Crimson Crystal Lotus

Guided by the Flame Lighthouse, Midi soon reached the entrance to the underground space.

The entrance lay deep within a canyon. Two crimson tides had left the canyon scarred with bottomless rifts—dead ends that even Midi would struggle to escape if trapped. Hidden among these rifts, the entrance remained nearly invisible to the naked eye. Midi concluded only someone possessing the Flame Lighthouse could pinpoint its location.

In theory, he should’ve been the sole visitor. Yet Alexis defied logic. Though confident in his deductions, Midi entered cautiously, erasing all traces of his presence.

Upon entering, a faint but recognizable scent struck him—Dragon Breath, identical to that from the Black Dragon monument. This realization reignited his memory: the Black Dragon monument was the true prize sought by Mososbury City’s major families in Crystal Dragon Fortress. Yet it appeared nowhere—not in the Crystal Forest, the underground Dragon Tower’s ten floors, the Black Crystal Forest, or even the Dragon God Temple’s exchange list.

The relentless battles and complex calculations of the resource war had nearly made him forget this mystery. Now, the familiar aura hinted the monument might lie hidden here. Though unclear about its purpose, its value to the major families meant it couldn’t be ordinary.

Excitement flickered in Midi’s heart, but caution tightened his focus. Activating his mind-related ability, Half-Sight Perception, he stretched his psychic energy to its limits. Guided by this energy, he inched deeper through the sloping tunnel.

Time blurred as the narrow rocky passage widened. Darkness gave way to crimson light radiating from clusters of Crimson Crystals embedded in the walls. These crystals dwarfed those in the Black Crystal Forest, their vivid hue resembling congealed blood, gleaming with an eerie glow.

“Crimson Crystal Essences?” Midi murmured. The exchange rate between Crimson and Black Crystals was one to two—for essences, one to two hundred wouldn’t surprise him. Though the Black Crystal Forest’s resources were exhausted, mining these essences could swiftly amass a million Black Flame Coins.

But such treasures came with guardians: Crimson Beasts. Ordinary magical beasts absorbing Crimson Crystals grew fifty percent stronger. Here, feeding on essences, their power doubled. Purple Gold Scorpions, Metal Tigers, Two-headed Serpents—kings among Crimson Beasts—patrolled every corner.

Midi aimed to avoid conflict, but his psychic scan revealed their positions weren’t random. Each beast guarded a specific zone, as if protecting something. Concealing his aura, he slipped through an unguarded gap.

At the heart of their formation, atop a dense cluster of Crimson Crystal Essences, bloomed a flower forged entirely from crystalline crimson—the Crimson Crystal Lotus.

"Crimson Crystal Lotus!" Midi immediately recalled the knowledge he’d gained at the Dragon God Temple.

A single Crimson Crystal Lotus could be exchanged for 400,000 Black Flame Coins.

At first, this exchange rate meant nothing to Midi.

He knew true victory in resource wars came from building infrastructure and resource-gathering legions, not chasing shiny treasures.

Though the lotus seemed valuable, he assumed the actual cost of obtaining one might exceed 400,000 coins through hidden efforts.

As a strategic commander, he’d never let such distractions disrupt his plans. After all, no ruler built a kingdom through treasure hunting.

But now things had changed. The Black Crystal Forest’s resources were nearly depleted, making his command unnecessary. Here in the underground space, he was just another adventurer.

Adventurers maximize gains. With a Crimson Crystal Lotus right before him – even guarded – retreat wasn’t an option.

His eyes glinted metallic blue as he acted.

The nearest Purple Gold Scorpion dropped dead without sound.

Mind lock weakened the creature’s feeble will. Psychic sniping finished it instantly.

Other beasts remained oblivious as Midi stepped through their formation. He yanked the lotus from the ground, roots and soil clinging, before tossing it into his storage ring.

The remaining magical beasts roared, charging from multiple directions. But their encirclement already had a fatal gap where the scorpion fell.

Midi teleported thirty meters away. Black Iron Dragon Flame enveloped him as he shot through the air using Heavenly Dragon Strike. Though cramped spaces limited flying speed, teleportation easily outmaneuvered the bulky pursuers.

He vanished from sight, then purged his human scent with dragon flames. Only overlapping dragon breaths remained – untraceable.

"400,000 coins…" Excitement flickered as he checked the lotus. Combined with his existing 300,000, he needed just 300,000 more for the Primary True Dragon Body Refinement Method. His legion could gather that in days.

But retreating now would waste this exploration chance. The refinement method wouldn’t grant instant power anyway.

Deeper he pressed, finding a second Crimson Crystal Lotus. Same method, same result.

800,000 coins now. The manual was practically his.

When he spotted a third lotus, he walked away. Too many thefts risked leaving traces.

Dragon Breath grew thicker as he descended. Finally, in a crimson crystal cavern, he found it – the broken Black Dragon monument.

Four meters long, split in three sections from some ancient fall. Though dormant without magic veins, its ancient aura made his True Dragon bloodline surge.

As he reached for it, movement caught his eye – two figures darting between crimson boulders.

"Alexis? And Thor?" Midi’s pupils narrowed to slits.