The twists and turns of an unknown world are difficult to measure, and even more unpredictable is... human nature.

Swarm casually waved his hand. "Don't mind; these are just necessary expenditures for capturing the target. You just need to enter the cave with us; your guards don't need to follow. Based on the information you provided, those natives likely dug through high-temperature, high-humidity underground caverns. In that kind of environment, your subordinates would be nothing but a burden if they followed."

"Yes, Teacher."

Byron readily agreed.

The reason he'd invited them over was precisely to find a free fighter, a meat shield, wasn't it? Naturally, he was delighted.

After arranging security matters, he followed Swarm and their group into the mine.

Echo of History could easily read the past of each stone. This gold vein was very barren, with little mining value. However, the quality and reserves of the Red Iron Mine and its associated chalcopyrite looked quite promising. It was a pity that the natives, who had not even entered the Bronze Age, did not recognize their value. They were completely unaware that here lay a key that could potentially allow their civilization to soar.

After a short walk, they found a deep entrance in the sidewall of the mine tunnel. Before they could even enter, waves of moist, hot air assailed their faces.

Swarm twitched his nose. "My estimate was correct; there's indeed a vast underground cavern hidden here. Digory, Byron, activate your Spiritual Barriers. Iron Bone Knights, clear the way!"

The dozen or so heavily armored knights immediately rushed in without a word, carrying Whale Oil Lamps. They swung their swords and axes, widening the entrance enough for two people to pass abreast.

Byron followed closely and discovered the cave's temperature was likely 40 degrees Celsius, with humidity exceeding 80%. In this sweltering, humid environment, ordinary humans active for more than 20 minutes would risk their lives; indeed, bringing more people would only make them a burden. However, it had little effect on Byron and the others.

The group descended more than two hundred meters along a rugged tunnel. When the cavern suddenly opened up, they were stunned by the scene before them.

"These are... crystal pillars? They're huge!"

There were countless giant crystal clusters. The cavern before them was filled with colossal crystal pillars, each over ten meters long and weighing dozens of tons. Under the light of the Whale Oil Lamps, they refracted a stunning, magnificent radiance.

The nearby sound of dripping water proved that these crystal clusters, which had been growing for who knew how many tens of thousands of years, were still continuing to grow, albeit on a millennial timescale.

After their initial amazement, several of them shook their heads in regret. "It's a pity these crystal pillars are worthless."

Byron's [Nautical Logbook] saw it most clearly and also unraveled the principle behind the crystal pillars' formation.

Caverns and crystal geodes elsewhere weren't actually rare. They formed mainly when magma surged upward from beneath the Earth's crust, causing it to crack. Acidic volcanic fluids then seeped into these fissures, slowly corroding the limestone in the crust and forming a series of caves. Subsequently, under continuous heating from underground magma, groundwater containing calcium sulfate began to permeate these caves tens of millions of years ago. This water then solidified in cooler areas, forming gypsum geodes.

That's right, these were merely transparent calcium sulfate gypsum crystals, not silicon dioxide quartz clusters. Even quartz has the same composition as glass and isn't particularly valuable. Only the appearance of Extraordinary Materials, tainted by the Source Tide, would allow them to make a fortune.

Hoping to get rich from crystals was less promising than advancing through these labyrinthine underground passages; perhaps in the deepest recesses, they might find the meteorite that fell in ancient times.

The group moved with extreme agility, flitting through the crisscrossing crystal pillars as if flying.

More than ten minutes later, many bizarre, giant, glowing mushrooms suddenly appeared before them, each as tall as a tree. Arriving here, it was as if they had entered a colossal fungal forest. Listening closely, they could hear rustling sounds, clearly indicating that other creatures lived here.

Swarm continued, "External materials like fallen leaves, animal corpses, spores, and fungi likely entered the cave and were then digested by specialized fungi to nourish other life forms, ultimately forming a closed, massive ecosystem. The Chǐ God must be nearby."

Just then, a sound suddenly came from Byron's waist pouch.

SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK...

The Gold-digger Mouse, which he had captured for spying on a forbidden zone, slipped out of the pouch on its own. It climbed onto Byron's shoulder and began to hop excitedly, gesturing toward the depths of the fungal forest. This mouse, like his Man-Eater Sharks, had also drunk the Blood of Transformation and become one of his contracted creatures. However, Byron's control over these creatures was far inferior to that of a Beast Tamer; he couldn't even clearly convey his intentions to them.

While commanding the Iron Bone Knights to scout ahead, Swarm nodded approvingly at Byron. "The Book of Giant Insects Sect is quite suitable for Beast Tamers to dabble in. You, a Lighthouse Sequence Pirate, have done a decent job with both the sharks and the Gold-digger Mouse. It wouldn't be impossible to pursue this alongside your main path in the future."

As Swarm spoke, he inadvertently adopted a teacher-like tone. "Byron, the first step in the initiation ritual for both major branches of the Bloodthirsty Cult is the Holy Grail of Blood. While the Bloody Mary Faction emphasizes using the Blood of Transformation to concoct various Blood Brews, our Book of Giant Insects Sect focuses on using the Blood of Transformation to cultivate various insects and vermin. We don't entirely reject the other faction's knowledge. Ultimately, all paths lead to the same destination. The Forbidden Book passed down by the Bloody Mary Faction, Bloody Mary's Gourmet Cookbook, is indeed closer to the essence of Mother of Creation Lilith and purer than our Book of Giant Insects. But forming a powerful combat force with it is extremely time-consuming. And at Low Sequences, while their various Blood Brews provide more versatile methods, their combat effectiveness is far inferior to our Book of Giant Insects Sect."

Listening to Swarm discuss the "insect-blood conflict" between the two factions, Byron felt an oddly familiar sense of déjà vu. A certain swordsmanship sect faced a similar dilemma: focus on immediate power or future potential?

"Especially when we unexpectedly obtained an out-of-spec supernatural Calamity—that incomplete Touch of the Kraken. With a Gourmet who had mastered the Holy Grail of Blood as the anchoring element, obliterating those from the Bloody Mary Faction was child's play. Your decision to join us is the best one you've ever made. You're already closer to immortality than many kings of the Old Continent, and even the Saints of the Church. It's a shame such a useful, strategic-level treasure was lost by that fool from the York Family. I personally handled the handover to old Norwich of the York Family back then..."

As Swarm shook his head and sighed, he failed to notice a cold glint flash deep in Byron's eyes.

Handover? You? I've long known the Touch of the Kraken was connected to you insects, but I never imagined you were the one who personally handled it.

[Secret: The Shadow Behind the Red and White Rose War, Influence 31] The Decryption Rate also advanced from 60% to 63%.

Having identified the key culprit and accomplice, Byron, far from lashing out, became even more respectful in his demeanor.

Now is not the time. Since the entire Bloodthirsty Cult, from top to bottom, is busy preparing for the Blood Sacrifice to Mother of Creation Lilith, striving to obtain the ultimate rite—the Crimson Holy Grail—and the Blood of Immortality, stabbing you all at that critical moment would be far more satisfying than acting now.

At that moment, a suppressed groan suddenly came from up ahead.

"They've taken the bait! After them!"

Swarm's spirits lifted, and he immediately took the lead, charging into the fungal forest.