CHAPTER 531: TRAVEL AND NON-TRAVEL TRAVEL CHAPTER FIFTY TREASURE VAULT_2

Morgan laughed heartily, hugging his brothers tightly. Fortunately, he did not forget to introduce Lynch and his companions; otherwise, the Mages would have stood dumbfounded at the gates of the Dwarf Kingdom, only able to admire the residents’ greeting customs.

"Welcome." The Dwarf’s gaze swept over the group but lingered particularly long on Heiss’s face: "Why is there the sinister presence of the Undead among you?"

"That is just a captive, a prisoner!" Morgan said, "And a piece of firewood for emergencies!"

The Witch Demon made no reaction, standing quietly like a statue. Its golden eyes focused solely on the Mage Lynch. Seeing its compliance, the Dwarven guards believed Morgan’s words and quickly led the group deeper into the cave.

The deeper they went, the more distinctly they could feel a warming sensation. The Ice Furnace Peak earned its name for the eternal magma energy it harbors. On the other side of the Ridge Mountains, the Melting Cliff ceaselessly flows magma, leaving black marks on the glaciers. The Dwarves carved pathways in Ice Furnace Peak to channel the heat from Melting Cliff into the caves, utilizing this natural furnace for remarkable craftsmanship. The ingenious design ensures stability for both mountains, even if Melting Cliff erupts violently, Ice Furnace Peak remains unaffected.

Generations of Dwarves have thrived here, where two drastically different environments, ice and fire, serve as their home. A Dwarf not tested by both cannot become a true man. All adult Dwarves must be capable of forging weapons near lava and standing guard in frigid snowfields.

"Morgan, during the years you were away, the excavation towards the stream has progressed smoothly." A Dwarf at the front of the group said proudly, "Perhaps in just a few weeks, the teams will reach the predetermined depth."

"Really? That’s wonderful!" Morgan jumped with joy, "I thought I would have to travel the whole world before seeing this day. It seems I returned at just the right time, lucky Morgan!"

"We stumbled upon a huge hollow, a gorge that saved us a lot of arduous work." The Dwarf continued, "It seems Gunn (God of the Dwarves) has been blessing us. If we can find the stream, we can surpass our brothers in the south and become the greatest branch of the Dwarf Race!"

"What is this stream you speak of?" Lynch asked in fluent Dwarven Language, his voice low and echoing in his chest, matching the Dwarves’ tone perfectly.

"Oh, young tall one, you must have been raised by Dwarves." A Dwarf exclaimed, "I almost thought another comrade was left behind, and I forgot to count!" Then, more excitedly, he sang: "Among the Ridge Mountains are countless treasures hidden, with nests of giant dragons; the Mage’s vaults; ancient kings and emperors placed their treasures here; even deities chose this sacred ground to store relics from the Otherworld."

Morgan continued the song: "Time flies, the years revolve, only the heavy rocks here retain the memory; they have not kept them for giant dragons, Mages, or those kings and emperors either, for even deities have their vision obscured by towering mountains; Dwarves are the true masters here, their hard work and diligence will eventually uncover the shining thresholds."

Another Dwarf chimed in: "Their bodies are strong, filled with energy and resilience; their minds are sharp, knowing how to discover the secret hoards; they work together, thousands of arms in unity; they labor in the mountains, down and down, nothing can halt the power of picks and hammers. The stars above may be brilliant, but not as much as the stream beneath the rocks, a lake and ocean pooled by gemstones..."

Soon after, all the Dwarves sang in unison, making clinking sounds reminiscent of their labor in the caves. They clapped, patted their bellies, and even thumped their throats to produce tremolo. Finally, they ended the song with boisterous laughter.

Lynch gently clapped along, while his gaze was cast downward. The rock layers here were so thick, revealing nothing but darkness. He recalled reading records about the Ridge Mountains in the Mage Association, where it was indeed where servants of certain deities stored tributes on earth; coming here not only brought them closer to celestial gods but proved their devotion in harsh natural conditions. However, those deities were either replaced by others or eliminated by the Great Arcanists of the past.