48: The mastermind behind the scenes was unexpectedly revealed!

The incident at the training ground last time was a significant setback for Lin Fan and his group. Although they spoke harshly, they probably wouldn't dare to openly provoke trouble again in the short term.

Li Dong was well aware of this; he didn't have time to engage in petty squabbles with these second-generation rich kids.

Li Dong remained silent, focusing solely on Cultivating and accumulating Merits.

This old man just wants to earn Merits points now, and anyone who tries to stop him won't succeed.

The mission board in the New Recruit Camp was always surrounded by many people. Most missions were for patrolling or clearing low-Rank Yao Beasts, offering pitifully few Merits points, and requiring teams to compete for them.

Li Dong's gaze swept across the board and quickly locked onto a mission that seemed to offer good value.

“Clear the subterranean Demon Spider colony in the abandoned mine outside the Prefecture city, and investigate any unusual situations deep within the mine. Danger Rank: Medium. Recommended Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase (three-person team). Merits Reward: 400 points.”

Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase Demon Spiders sounded a bit challenging, but 400 Merits points for a solo mission was quite substantial. The key was the word “solo”—no need to argue with others over Merits, making it the most efficient option.

As for the vague “investigate unusual situations,” that was probably one of the reasons no one wanted to take the mission.

“This is it,” Li Dong said, tearing off the mission slip.

The few new recruits nearby looked surprised when they saw him take this mission.

“Hey, buddy, this mission isn’t easy! I heard that mine is super spooky; a team went in before and lost some people!”

“Yeah, even though the subterranean Demon Spiders are only at the Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase, there are many of them, and they can spit venom and weave webs. The terrain is also complex, so it's too dangerous for one person.”

Li Dong just nodded, offering no further explanation, and headed to the registration desk with the mission slip. The same deacon from last time was in charge of registration. Seeing Li Dong, his gaze was noticeably more complex, but he said nothing, professionally registering him.

Prefecture outskirts, abandoned mining area.

The once bustling mine had long been desolate, leaving only rusty machinery and numerous dark mine entrances, like grotesque mouths opened by the earth.

The entrance to the mine Li Dong had chosen was even more overgrown with weeds, and a chilling wind blew through it. Even before getting close, he could smell a strange mix of earthy and putrid odors. A crooked wooden sign stood at the entrance, with the words “Danger, Do Not Enter” written in cinnabar, alongside temporary sealing runes left by the Demon Suppression Division, which looked quite old, their Spiritual light dim.

It seemed no one had dared to come here for quite some time.

Li Dong checked his equipment. The Mystic Iron Demon Suppressing Ruler was in his hand, and the Spiritual power of his Black Scale Armor subtly flowed beneath his skin. Without a moment's hesitation, he stepped directly into the dark mine shaft.

Upon entering the mine, the light abruptly vanished, with only the faint glow from the entrance behind him barely outlining the contours. The air became unusually damp and turbid, carrying a strong Demonic Qi and a nauseating stench.

Drip... drop... The sound of water droplets seeping from the rock walls and falling into the puddles on the ground echoed in the silent tunnel, sounding exceptionally clear.

Li Dong immediately heightened his Spirituality perception, scanning his surroundings like a radar. A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator's Spiritual sense far surpassed that of the Body Tempering Realm, and darkness could not completely hinder his investigation.

The mine tunnels were narrow and winding, extending in all directions with many forks. The ground was slippery, covered in gravel and an unknown slime. The deeper he went, the stronger the Demonic Qi became.

He advanced cautiously, his footsteps light, trying not to make a sound.

After penetrating several hundred meters, the tunnel ahead suddenly opened up into a relatively spacious underground chamber. Many grayish-white, sack-like objects hung from the chamber's ceiling, while the floor and rock walls were covered in dense spider webs.

“Hiss hiss…”

Faint scraping sounds came from all directions.

They're here!

Li Dong's eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip on the Demon Suppression Ruler.

The next moment, dozens of dark figures, like ghosts, darted out from cracks in the rock walls and spider sacs hanging from the ceiling, pouncing fiercely towards Li Dong!

Subterranean Demon Spiders!

These Demon Spiders were several times larger than ordinary spiders, with eight long, bristly legs supporting their dark brown bodies. Their abdomens were distended, their mouthparts hideous, and their compound eyes gleamed with a sinister green light.

There were thirty to forty of them! And the aura of each one had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase!

“Puff! Puff! Puff!”

As soon as the Demon Spiders appeared, they spat out dark green venom and sticky white spider webs, covering Li Dong like a deluge.

The venom was highly corrosive, making sizzling sounds and emitting white smoke when it landed on rocks. The spider webs, on the other hand, were incredibly tough; once entangled, movement would surely be hindered.

Li Dong reacted extremely quickly. With a slight push of his foot, he advanced instead of retreating. At the same time, a black light flashed across his body, and the Black Scale Armor instantly covered him entirely.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle!

The venom splashed onto the Black Scale Armor, leaving only shallow marks and failing to break through his defense.

As for the spider webs, Li Dong wielded his Demon Suppression Ruler, infusing it with Spiritual power. The ruler's movements created a sharp gust of wind, shredding the approaching webs one by one.

But there were simply too many Demon Spiders!

They were fearless, working in perfect coordination. Some spat venom and webs from the front, while others launched sneak attacks from the sides and rear, their eight long legs like sharp scythes, slashing at Li Dong's vital points.

For a moment, Li Dong was surrounded by this group of Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase Demon Spiders. Although protected by the Black Scale Armor, he was not in immediate danger, but breaking through or clearing them quickly was not easy.

These Demon Spiders are not right!

Li Dong frowned inwardly as he blocked and swung his ruler. Their aggression and coordination seemed to far exceed that of ordinary Yao Beasts of the same Rank. Moreover, he vaguely felt that these Demon Spiders' strength and speed seemed to be a notch stronger than normal Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase Yao Beasts.

As if... they had been strengthened by something?

Heavenly Pill Rifting Demon Seal!

With a thought from Li Dong, an invisible Concept of suppression spread out from him as its center.

The movements of the first few Demon Spiders charging forward noticeably paused, as if a thousand-pound weight had been pressed upon them, their speed sharply reduced.

Seize the opportunity!

The black light on the Demon Suppression Ruler in Li Dong's hand intensified. The ruler moved with his body, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Each swing precisely struck the Demon Spiders' vulnerable heads or joints.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dull thudding sounds were incessant, accompanied by the cracking of carapaces and the pained hisses of the Demon Spiders.

The Concept of suppression, combined with his Foundation Establishment Stage strength, proved remarkably effective against these slightly enhanced Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase Demon Spiders.

The battle raged fiercely, with shattered carapaces, green venom, and fragments of white spider webs splashing everywhere.

Just as Li Dong smashed a Demon Spider's head with a single strike, and its foul-smelling fluids splattered, his nose suddenly caught a faint, yet exceptionally familiar scent!

This smell... it's a spice!

That kind of sweet, yet strangely eerie spice scent!

Li Dong's movements suddenly paused, and several images flashed through his mind: the lingering scent on the controlled giant python beneath Black Wind Ridge! The faint, almost imperceptible scent on Zhao Zhen's trusted deacon in the Mu Shi County Demon Suppression Division!

Exactly the same!

How could this be?!

This unique spice scent, which should only appear in Mu Shi County and be related to Zhao Zhen's faction, actually appeared in the Prefecture outskirts, far from Mu Shi County, and in the Nest of these subterranean Demon Spiders?!

A terrifying thought flashed through Li Dong's mind like lightning.

The Demonic disturbance in Mu Shi County, the out-of-control giant python in Black Wind Ridge, the abnormal subterranean Demon Spiders in the Prefecture outskirts... could there be some direct connection between them?

Are they all related to this special spice? Do they all point to the same hidden power behind the scenes?

This discovery made Li Dong's heart pound uncontrollably a few times.

He had always suspected that the events in Mu Shi County were not simple, that Zhao Zhen had someone behind him, and might even be colluding with certain forces in the Prefecture. Previously, the System had indicated that the Lin Fan faction had an indirect connection with Zhao Zhen, and he had thought it was merely about resource transfer and information exchange.

But now, the appearance of this identical spice was almost irrefutable proof!

This indicated that the method of controlling Yao Beasts, or rather, this special spice, had already spread from Mu Shi County to the Prefecture territory!

Moreover, judging by the signs of these Demon Spiders being strengthened, they were very likely also affected by this spice, or even controlled by it!

The conspiracy hidden behind this was deeper and broader than he had imagined!

What exactly do these people want to do? Are they also using spice to control Yao Beasts in the Prefecture territory? What is their goal?

Countless questions flooded his mind, causing Li Dong to be somewhat Divided Soul for a moment.

“Hiss!”

A Demon Spider seized the opportunity and pounced from the side, its sharp limbs slashing at his neck.

Li Dong snapped back to attention, blocking with a backhand swing of his ruler, sending the Demon Spider flying.

No, now is not the time to think about these things!

He forced himself to calm down. The battle was not over, and this place was too eerie!

He continued to wield his Demon Suppression Ruler, smashing the remaining Demon Spiders one by one, while also using his Spirituality perception to scan his surroundings more carefully.

Sure enough, the scent of that spice, though faint, was not without a trace.

It seemed to be drifting from somewhere deeper within the mine.

Moreover, the activity range of these subterranean Demon Spiders also seemed subtly related to the concentration of this scent. The closer to the source of the scent, the denser the distribution of Demon Spiders appeared, and the more frenzied they became.

This further confirmed his suspicion: these Demon Spiders were indeed related to that spice!

Man-made control of Yao Beasts! And the scale has already reached the Prefecture!

If this news got out, it would undoubtedly be a world-shattering event!

Li Dong felt a chill. He was almost certain now that the faction behind Lin Fan, the force connected to Zhao Zhen, was absolutely involved!

They were not only causing trouble in Mu Shi County, but they were also likely carrying out some terrifying plan in the Prefecture.

And he, because of that “Extraordinary Rank” recommendation spot, because he stood in their way, had become a thorn in their side.

Now, he had inadvertently stumbled upon their secret of potentially controlling Prefecture Yao Beasts... This was like having his old face forcibly ripped off and thrown to the ground, stomped on a hundred times with shoes that had stepped in dog shit, then spat on, and finally thrown into a pigsty to plaster the wall!

The urn is ready, just waiting for the turtle?

Li Dong's eyes sharpened.

He glanced at the dark tunnel leading deeper into the mine, from which the faint scent of spice emanated.

To go, or not to go?

Deeper investigation might reveal more clues, but the danger would also increase sharply. Who knew what else was inside? Stronger Demon Spiders? Or some other trap? Or even... the mastermind?

Not to go? Retreat now and complete the mission?

Li Dong weighed his options for a moment.

No, it's not the time yet. Although his strength had risen to the Foundation Establishment Stage, facing a force capable of secretly planning and controlling Yao Beasts in the Prefecture was probably not enough.

Rushing in blindly would likely alert the enemy, and might even trap himself.

He must first ensure his own safety and bring this important clue out!

He no longer hesitated. The suppressive power of the Heavenly Pill Rifting Demon Seal was released without reservation, and at the same time, more Spiritual power was infused into the Demon Suppression Ruler.

“All of you, die!”

Li Dong let out a low roar, his figure transforming into a black whirlwind. The Demon Suppression Ruler in his hand, with the sound of tearing air, swept across the entire underground chamber with speed and strength far exceeding before.

Puff puff puff!

The remaining dozen or so subterranean Demon Spiders, under the stronger suppressive force and furious attacks, had almost no power to resist. Their carapaces shattered, their fluids splattered, and they were quickly cleared out.

The entire chamber was filled with a strong smell of blood and Demonic Qi, as well as that faint, eerie spice scent.

Li Dong quickly collected the valuable Materials from the subterranean Demon Spiders, mainly their poison sacs and silk glands. These were Materials for refining poisons and Magical Artifacts, and could be exchanged for many Merits points.

After doing all this, he once again looked at the deep, dark tunnel emitting the spice scent, engraving this location firmly in his mind.

Then, without any hesitation, he turned and quickly left this eerie abandoned mine along the way he had come.

Walking out of the mine and bathing in the sunlight again, Li Dong felt no warmth at all.

His mood was exceptionally heavy.

This discovery was too astonishing, and too dangerous.

The clue from Mu Shi County was actually confirmed and extended in the Prefecture in this manner.

The forces involved behind this were probably far larger and more terrifying than he had imagined.

This matter must be reported to Centurion Zhang Wu as soon as possible! He might be able to investigate from a higher level.

But before that, he himself must be even more careful, and at the same time, spare no effort to improve his strength and earn Merits!

Only with sufficient power can he gain a firm footing in this turbulent Prefecture Demon Suppression Division, only then can he deal with the coming storm, and even take the initiative to uncover the truth!

He clenched his fist and turned to walk in the direction of the Demon Suppression Division.

“I need to quickly exchange Merits for resources...”