Chapter 338 The Villain Lady Arrives 167
Just as Ari and his group disappeared into the depths of the valley, another group quietly approached the altar. This was a group of five thieves with sturdy bodies and ferocious faces. They wore black tights, with all kinds of daggers and short swords hanging around their waists, and their eyes flashed with greed.
"Haha, it seems we've arrived at the right time!" The thief leader, a man with a scar on his face, laughed. He looked around and nodded with satisfaction. "There are indeed traces of treasures here. Let's look around and see if there's anything we missed."
The thieves scattered and began to search carefully around the altar, but they found nothing except a few shallow footprints and some scattered arrows.
"Boss, there's nothing here. Looks like someone got here first." A thief reported dejectedly.
"Hmph, they're lucky!" Scarred Man snorted coldly, with a fierce look in his eyes. "But, this doesn't mean we give up. Go and tell 'Shadow-sama' about the situation here. Maybe he will be interested."
The thieves quickly gathered and left the valley quietly like ghosts in the night.
As time went by, the sky was bright, and the valley welcomed the third group of visitors - a group of scholars in robes holding scrolls and notebooks. They came from different colleges and gathered together because of their common interest in ancient civilizations, forming a temporary academic expedition.
"The atmosphere here is really exciting and tense." The leading old scholar, an old man with white hair and beard and bright eyes, exclaimed. His name is Erwin, and he is one of the most prestigious historians on the continent.
"Yes, these runes, every stroke contains profound meaning." His student, a young female scholar Leah (also has the same name as the previous character, but is a different role) echoed excitedly. She was busy recording every detail on the altar with a magic pen.
"But this place has obviously been cleaned up by someone," said another scholar, a middle-aged man wearing glasses and with a serious expression. "From the footprints and traces of battle, at least two groups of people came here before us."
"This is normal. Such a major discovery will naturally attract the covetousness of all parties." Erwin smiled and shook his head, "However, the purpose of our coming here is not to fight for treasures, but to learn and inherit. As long as these runes are still there, we have unlimited possibilities."
Scholars began to discuss around the altar. They debated the meaning of the runes and explored the possible historical background. Although they gained nothing, their hearts were filled with desire and pursuit of knowledge.
Just as the scholars were immersed in the ocean of learning, a heavy sound of horse hooves broke the tranquility of the valley. A team of paladins wearing silver armor and holding long swords slowly came. They rode tall war horses and wore white cloaks representing holiness and justice, looking particularly majestic.
"This is where the vision occurs. We must ensure safety here." The leading paladin, a middle-aged man with a resolute face and piercing eyes, said in a deep voice. His name is Leonardo, and he is one of the most respected paladins in the church.
"Yes, sir. According to our intelligence, many forces have been here, but none of them found any valuable clues." A young paladin reported.
Leonardo nodded, and he looked around, his eyes finally resting on the altar. "These runes... they seem to be related to the will of the gods. We must be careful and not make any mistakes."
The paladins began to set up a cordon around the altar and set up a temporary camp. They decided to stay here and wait for more clues and instructions.
As time went by, more and more forces gathered in the valley. Explorers continued to explore in the hope of finding more secrets; the thieves secretly observed and looked for opportunities to strike; scholars held heated discussions around the altar, trying to unravel the mystery behind the runes; and the paladins stood firm to protect this sacred land.
Different forces intertwined and collided in the valley, and everyone's heart was filled with their own calculations and expectations. However, in this complex torrent, there seemed to be an invisible force silently guiding everything.
As the atmosphere in the valley became increasingly tense, the various forces, as if being pulled by invisible threads, focused their attention on the seemingly ordinary but mysterious altar. The sunlight shone through the sparse clouds, dappling on this ancient land, adding a bit of mystery to the undercurrent that was about to take place.
Explorer Ari and his team, with their infinite desire for the unknown world, continued to go deeper into the valley. They shuttled through the dense forests, and the land under their feet seemed to hide countless secrets. Every step they took was filled with awe and expectation for the unknown. "These runes seem to be related to the sacrificial rituals of a lost civilization." Ari stopped and stared at the complex patterns carved on a boulder in front of him, frowning, trying to piece together relevant clues from the fragments of memory. "We must find more evidence to prove our guess."
At the same time, the members of the thieves were watching everything from the dark. They hid under the shadows of the trees, their eyes flashing with cunning and greed. "It seems that those paladins and scholars are playing the same card." The scarred man whispered to his companion beside him, with a sneer on his face, "But we are different. We only need to find that treasure, and we don't care about anything else." His voice was low and powerful, as if it could penetrate the deepest desires of people's hearts.
The scholars seemed calmer and more rational. They sat around the altar, recording every detail in their notes. "Although these runes are ancient, they contain a lot of information." Old scholar Erwin stroked his beard, with wisdom in his eyes. "If we can unlock the secrets of these runes, we may be able to uncover a long-forgotten chapter in history." His student Leah (a young female scholar) was concentrating on drawing rune patterns, trying to better understand and remember them through visual means.
The paladins remained on high alert, patrolling every corner of the valley to ensure that no potential threats approached the altar. "We must always stay awake and not let any evil forces defile this sacred place." Leonardo said to his knights in a deep voice, his voice firm and powerful, as if it could give everyone endless strength and courage.