Chapter 1439: Chapter 1439: Starting Out

The Commanding Flag flapped without any wind, rustling loudly.

Atop the Commanding Flag, a virtual image of a Soaring Dragon was intermittently visible among the clouds, and the character for “star” was even more dazzling, glittering with golden light.

Then, a gigantic virtual image of the Commanding Flag, just like the real one, appeared in the sky above the entire Legion, immensely large and flickering uncertainly. A faint golden light enveloped the two hundred thousand soldiers of the Starfire Legion.

It wasn’t just the Starfire personnel who were stunned, but also the audience watching Starfire’s actions.

Although it was known that good War Equipment could affect the entire army, this kind of grandiose effect was something they had never seen before.

Moreover, the feeling given off by the Starfire Legion had changed; although the two hundred thousand-strong army was tightly packed with each corps becoming separate parts, now they conferred a sense of unity like never before.

This kind of feeling would only occur when legions of the same Race, dressed in the same uniform equipment, converged.

But this feeling emerged in the chaotic legion comprising Warcraft, Worm Tribe, elves, and the Blood Race, as if they were one entity.

The members of the Starfire Team felt it very directly; as the Commanding Flag was raised, their attributes were also raised significantly by the flag.

And it felt as if they had truly integrated into the military formation, looking up to the endless clouds steaming above, as if becoming a part of the huge Soaring Dragon’s body.

“System: Starfire Team One enters the second checkpoint.”

“Scouts, move out.”

Hundreds of Dark Godguard Rangers mounted on bat mounts took to the skies, entering the portal swiftly.

Five minutes after entering the portal, a team of Rangers returned to the vast external area of the giant portal.

“Report to the Legion Commander, the portal leads to a vast abandoned underground passage, with no enemies within ten thousand yards.”

“Reconnoiter further.” After watching the Scout fly away, Li Yao continued, “Move out.”

The great army of Starfire entered the portal rapidly like a Soaring Dragon, shrouded in the faint golden light and clouds.

The interior was, as described by the Scout, an underground world with remarkably wide passages.

At the top of the passage and along the sides, there were special luminescent plants, as well as star-shaped lamps that merged into the rock walls with a unique design.

“Report to the Legion Commander, a split in the path has been discovered five kilometers ahead, dividing into two routes, with teams three and five of the Scouts currently entering to investigate.”

Every five or ten minutes, Scouts would return to the main force to report, sparing Starfire’s main body the need to pay too much attention, and allowing them to simply focus on advancing.

After entering the passage for half an hour, Starfire’s Legion encountered no obstacles or blockades. After about fifteen minutes, various statues began to appear on both sides of the passage.

Among the statues, there were Giants, stone people, mechanical beings, various Worm Tribe creatures, and some strange monsters such as Faceless Ones, and even the figures of Angels and Demons.

Upon seeing the statues, Li Yao temporarily handed over command to the enchantress, while he carefully observed the statues, and Team members educated in archaeology began to identify and explore them.

When they reached the fork, Li Yao’s archaeological skills advanced a small step.

“What stories do the carvings on both sides of the stone walls tell?” Feng Yi asked with curiosity.

Li Yao took a deep breath before speaking, “These bas-reliefs depict the Guardians of the East Continent region and the ancient divine armies in battle during ancient times, detailing how they sealed the ancient gods that once dwelled here, as well as the construction of this city by the ancestors of the Dwarves, the ancient Earth Spirits. However, many parts are obscure and ambiguous, and the stories are incomplete. These bas-reliefs are not comprehensive, or perhaps they continue in other passages.”

“These people really… Others have carved bas-reliefs as descendants, but they, after building a city, used bas-reliefs to promote their own great achievements,” the Guardian Angel holding the Commanding Flag said with a pout.

“These carvings were made by descendants of the Earth Spirits. It seems they were carved between thirty thousand to ten thousand years from the current era, while the war with the ancient gods occurred over a hundred thousand years ago. Moreover, strictly speaking, the outskirts we are now in are not the city built in ancient times but the result of the awakened Earth Spirits and other creatures expanding continuously,” Li Yao explained.

“That makes sense. Isolated from the world here, it must be dreadfully boring; having only arts to play with, otherwise, they’d probably go mad,” Fireworks commented.

The enchantress nodded, “So, the ancient gods truly succeeded in Corrupting this city no more than a few thousand years ago, at least since the time the Dwarves in the outside world were afflicted by the Curse of Flesh and left.”

“Mhm, plus, it seems that this so-called Outer City is merely the small towns that surrounded the city, which after being buried and sealed, were re-excavated by the Earth Spirits connecting to the main city area, thus forming what is now called the Outer City,” Li Yao pondered for a moment before saying, “Combined with the branches discovered by the Scouts, it suggests the outer city has many thoroughfares, making it difficult to find the true central district.”

“Which way do we choose now?” The newcomer Mu Zi asked.

Li Yao thought for a moment before replying, “Let’s wait for the Scout report. The information we have now is still too little.”

The Starfire Legion halted their advance, quietly forming orderly rows, without making a single sound. The passage was silent, and to the audience, Starfire’s army was like a hidden dragon within the clouds.

After a while, a team of Scouts returned.

“Report to the Legion Commander, two armies are clashing deep within twenty thousand yards of the left passage, Earth Spirits are using Rune Machinery to chase down an army of the Light Faction. The army has lost over one hundred thousand and is fleeing towards another passage,” the Scout quickly reported.

Li Yao nodded and asked, “Based on your judgment, can we withstand attacks from the Rune Machinery?”

The Scout pondered for a moment before saying, “We can, but there will be significant losses.”

At that moment, another small team of Scouts returned.

“Report to the Legion Commander, there is a huge space after twenty thousand yards down the right passage, with a gathering point of Cave dwellers. The stronghold has numerous large vehicles, seemingly transporting some sort of precious mineral.”

Li Yao’s eyes lit up as he continued to inquire, “Was the surrounding area scouted, is there a presence of a vein?”

“Judging from the wheel tracks on either side of the eastern passage of the stronghold, all are consistent with the transportation of bulk goods in the direction of the Inner City. We can initially deduce there are mineral resources. Of course, it could also be a transfer station. Further details need to be clarified.”

“Reconnoiter further,” Li Yao commanded sharply, “Our target is the right passage, move out.”

Starfire Legion again resumed marching, rapidly entering the right passage.

“Why not take advantage of the left passage, with other teams drawing away the creatures, we could take over the stronghold and plant our flag,” Li’s sister questioning said.

Li Yao smiled and explained, “Rune Machinery is a good thing from ancient times; vital in defeating the Worm Tribe. If we went there, damage is one aspect, and we would also have to compete with that guild. The right side is different, there’s a big opportunity to seize.”…