Chapter 2531 - 2531: Sanggedan Desert

The next morning, Ye Qing and the two elders of the Yelu Family left the stronghold together, accompanied by Yelu Ying. To avoid attracting the attention of the Wanyan Family, no one else was with them. The remaining people, led by Helian Tiehua, split into two groups to gather information on the Wanyan Family.

The news of Ye Qing's departure was very discreet; even on the side of the World Alliance, only a few trusted individuals knew about it. Therefore, it was almost impossible for the Wanyan Family to learn about it. Besides, Helian Tiehua was watching them, and the Wanyan Family didn't have the chance to deal with Ye Qing now.

Last night, Ye Qing memorized every route on the map thoroughly. The two elders couldn't explain the map in detail, so Ye Qing decided to give it a try. After all, Ye Qing had entered quite a few tombs and gained experience. Moreover, his current physical strength was immune to injuries, even from the power of Unity of Heaven and Man; ordinary mechanisms in the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb couldn't harm him.

The Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb is located in a place called Wuzhou in the Northern Meng District. This area is still under the territory of the Seven Steering Committees of the Hong Alliance, making Ye Qing's task here more convenient.

Traveling in Helian Tiehua's private plane to Wuzhou, their vehicles were arranged upon arrival, and Ye Qing and his group drove straight to outside Wuzhou City.

Upon reaching Wuzhou, Ye Qing learned that it was a city built next to the desert. Outside Wuzhou lies the famous Sanggedan Desert, which is vast in size. Due to the strong winds and soft sand layers, building roads is extremely difficult. Currently, only one highway traverses east-west through the Sanggedan Desert. Deviating from this highway can be perilous, as getting lost in the desert significantly reduces chances of survival.

Additionally, desert pirates frequently appear in the Sanggedan Desert. These individuals are highly familiar with the desert terrain, having lived there for years. Once in the desert, travelers enter their territory, where they are elusive and one of the greatest threats, attacking passers-by. Nearby police have attempted to exterminate them multiple times but failed due to unfamiliarity with the terrain, making the pirates even more rampant.

Two major threats exist in the Sanggedan Desert: desert pirates, and the countless packs of desert wolves. Numerous oases dot the Sanggedan Desert, conducive to wolf survival. However, the food in oases cannot sustain the growing wolf populations, prompting them to hunt nearby. Initially attacking livestock from nearby pastoralists, they have gradually started assaulting humans, causing significant distress to local residents.

When Ye Qing and his group arrived, they sought local insights. Truthfully, Ye Qing hadn't anticipated the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb being buried in such a desert. Despite being a former imperial family, the ancestral tombs should choose auspicious Feng Shui locations; how could it be buried here?

Later, after understanding the Yelu Family's history and that of Wuzhou, Ye Qing reconciled. The Yelu Family originally emerged from the Meng District, and Wuzhou was once a crucial stronghold for the Yelu Imperial Clan. A thousand years ago, the Sanggedan Desert hadn't yet spread to this vicinity, making the ancestral tomb's placement understandable. The desert's gradual encroachment doesn't negate their previous choice of a good spot.

According to the directions of two elders, the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb should be located approximately three hundred kilometers east of Wuzhou, at a place called Alagu Mountain. As shown on the map, Alagu Mountain is surrounded by an oasis. Alagu Mountain stands tall, unmatched in height throughout the Sanggedan Desert. Its constantly snow-capped peak melts into streams forming a lake around the mountain, enclosing it centrally. The vegetation here is abundant, and the scenery captivating. However, the site is rarely approached. Legends of Wuzhou say Alagu Mountain is an ominous place inhabited by demons, discouraging visitors.

"Are there demons on Alagu Mountain?" Ye Qing set aside the map, looked at the two elders beside him, and asked curiously, "Is this legend true or false?"

"You ask me, who do I ask!" The two elders simultaneously spread their hands, leaving Ye Qing momentarily stunned.

"Aren't you tomb guards on Alagu Mountain? Don't you know the situation on the mountain?" Ye Qing inquired curiously.

"We guard the tomb, but that doesn't mean we have to hide at the tomb entrance." The tall elder explained, "Although we guard here, we are stationed at a stronghold outside Alagu Mountain. This stronghold is a necessary passage to Alagu Mountain. If someone comes here, we stealthily track them. If the visitor seeks the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb, we drive them away. As for the happenings on Alagu Mountain, we never went there, so naturally, we're unaware!"

"Is that so?" Ye Qing took a deep breath and asked, "According to you, those who have ventured to Alagu Mountain were driven away by you? So, no one else has entered Alagu Mountain? Then why are there legends of demons on Alagu Mountain?"

"As I mentioned, if they come seeking the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb, we drive them away. But, if they're lost or accidentally pass through, we leave them be." The tall elder elaborated, "So yes, some have gone up the mountain. As for the demon tales, likely these tales circulated by those individuals from within?"

Ye Qing was perplexed, asking, "How do you distinguish whether a visitor is looking for the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb or coming for other reasons?"

The short elder explained, "Since the tomb entrance is at the mountain's base, if a visitor wants to enter it, they don't need to go up the mountain. If they ascend, there's nothing to worry about!"

"So then we also shouldn't go up the mountain soon?" Ye Qing's eyes brightened. Hearing of demons on the mountain made him somewhat apprehensive. After experiencing so much, Ye Qing knew these tales are generally true. The mountain might indeed harbor dangers. Anything deemed demonic is not ordinary!

"Not necessarily!" The short elder shook his head, "The entrance is below, but the specific location of the ancestral tomb, we don't know. All we know is our ancestors left an instruction stating: Unless entering via the entrance below, one can't truly enter the tomb. Even reaching the tomb's location from elsewhere, entry is impossible!"

Ye Qing listened in a daze; the Yelu Family Ancestral Tomb seems quite complex. The mechanisms inside are likely intricate too.

Retrieving the tomb floor plan acquired last night, this map outlines paths within the ancestral tomb. Ye Qing memorized these paths last night, though they are all dead ends. There are twelve paths in total, each terminating without accessing the final tomb chamber.

However, according to the short elder, on the appointed day, the map changes according to the Time System. Ye Qing speculated that since there are twelve paths, perhaps each corresponds to a specific hour?

Carefully examining the tomb map, Ye Qing suddenly noticed helplessly that each path led upward. This means entering the tomb necessitates climbing the mountain and entering Alagu Mountain. Ye Qing can only hope not to encounter said demons once on the mountain!

Having decided on the specific route, Ye Qing and his group set off from Wuzhou, heading straight to Alagu Mountain. Covering 300 kilometers will take six to seven hours by car. There's a day and a half until the full moon; barring unexpected events, they'll have ample time to rest upon reaching Alagu Mountain.

Upon leaving Wuzhou City, nearby vehicles were abundant. As they drove deeper into the desert, surrounding traffic dwindled. After covering over one hundred kilometers, Ye Qing's group was the only vehicle on the highway, surrounded by emptiness. Their vicinity was an endless expanse of desert, currently in a dry period, lacking moisture so much that no greenery was visible — the environment being exceedingly harsh.

Ye Qing's group was uninterested in admiring the vast desert landscape. Driving through the desert was exceedingly uncomfortable. Despite the air conditioning blasting at full capacity, they were drenched in sweat. Daytime temperatures on the desert's surface reach forty to fifty degrees, an extremely scorching heat making prolonged exposure conducive to heatstroke. The desert, characterized by large diurnal temperature variations, drops sharply at night sometimes below zero degrees. Early cotton coats and afternoon gauze, clutching a heater while eating watermelons, aptly describe the desert climate.

The Yelu Family members were accustomed to the desert climate, adapting to life therein. Ye Qing, visiting the desert for the first time, was slightly overwhelmed by the climate. However, as a trained Special Forces member, he's experienced various extreme climates; he soon adapted to the desert conditions.