Chronicles Of Primordial Wars (Ch. 271-500)

ch. 459-460

Chapter 459- Cave

This piece of salt flat looked like it was covered in snow, most of it was white.

There were puddles and holes on the ground, those formed after fallen snow melted.

On the white ground, salt crystals were pushed out of the ground like corals. Every crystal had a different shade of colour, either blue or red. At a glance, this looked like an ethereal dream. However, those who knew of this place could not wait to leave.

Although salt was everywhere, this salt was poisonous. Humans and animals who consumed it would die. For a long time, it was a known danger zone. Many people said anyone who entered would die, the Chilu people even said this was where the salt beast died. Anyone who entered would be trespassing its resting place and would be punished. It was a mystical area.

It was when someone passed through this place and discovered the salt mines when the area became busy.

Crackle crackle crackle—

Light crackles came from the shallow puddles on the ground.

Shao Xuan saw a pillar of orange crystal protruding out of the water surface. It had the delicate look of common crystal, very clear. The crystal pillar looked like a shoot sprouting out of soil, growing and branching upwards. Its surface had become more translucent than transparent now, plus had a layer of frost on it. It had stopped growing upon reaching half a human’s height, similar to the other salt flowers in this place. The only difference was the colour.

This was one of the ‘blooming’ salt flowers. In other puddles, there were more salt flowers. There were green, red and some black.

Although it was beautiful, relating this place to the stories only sent chills down their spines.

“Let’s go, you’ll be fine as long as you don’t eat them,” said zheng Luo.

They heard crushing crackles under their feet as they stepped on the layer of salt. It was a lot louder than walking on snow. They left behind crushed salt crystals in pieces, chunks were broken into crumbs, crumbs were ground into powder.

The team went towards higher ground when they could to avoid the troughs in the ground. Their boots were often wet and formed a salt later when dry. It was also poisonous salt.

“Footprints!” Duo Kang pointed in a direction.

Footprints were well preserved in this area. Even in hot weather, salt did not melt like snow.
“About two hundred people, not more than three hundred. Footprints were formed not more than four days ago.” Wacha was very familiar with the salt flats and could make estimations based on prints in the salt.

“Must be a new batch of recruits by the Fox tribe. This doesn’t look like something both the tribes would leave behind,” said Susha after looking at the prints.

The Fox tribe people marched in neat formations while the Shen Forest tribe had troops messier than this. Therefore, these prints were left behind by neither tribe.

“We will not stop tonight, we’ll proceed with the journey!” yelled Zheng Luo.

In the past, they would want to face their enemies at peak health conditions so they would definitely rest even if they travelled. However, after listening to Shao Xuan, Zheng Luo changed his mind.

Without hot soup, without warming porridge, everyone only ate dried meat that had hardened in the cold. They could smell salt everywhere they went. Other than the roaring wind, they only heard the crackle of salt under their feet.

At least the winds were not strong tonight, nor was it snowing. It was a lot quieter than the past few nights.

This calm seemed to encourage everyone to relax but Zheng Luo kept hurrying them on so everyone was alert at all times. They did not complain. All they knew was to listen to the chief. The chief would not harm them.