“After so many years, there are now tracks of Beast People all over Heaven’s Vault Continent. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that they’d appear underground!”
“I see, so that’s how it is...”
They engaged in idle chat along the way, following which Meng Lei subsequently saw the legendary Doghead Kobolds. Indeed, they were just like what their name implied—they had a dog head but a human’s body, which was covered in thick fur.
On top of that, they didn’t live in houses but caves instead!
“What an amazing race!”
Meng Lei released his divine cognition into the surroundings and enveloped the Doghead Kobolds within.
Since he was here, he couldn’t possibly return empty-handed. He had to bring a little something back with him after all!
However, what gave Meng Lei a mental breakdown was that this particular Doghead Kobold tribe was actually stone broke. They didn’t even have a decent treasury!
After much difficulty, he finally found a cave that was used to store treasures—only to discover that the inside was actually filled with all sorts of animal bones, jerky, and magic cores...
...There were no gold coins or Laws of Nature Origin Crystals at all!
“These Doghead Kobolds are poorer than even me!”
Meng Lei couldn’t help but curse under his breath.
Upon hearing what he’d said, Bubbles remarked with a laugh, “There’s more to it than meets the eye, Master. This particular Doghead Kobold tribe, as well as several other races in the vicinity, are worshipers of a Black Dragon.
“Dragons are avaricious in nature, and that Black Dragon is no exception. In fact, it goes a step even further—it has plundered most of its worshipers’ clans’ treasures!”
Meng Lei’s eyes lit up at the sound of that. “In other words, that Black Dragon must be extremely wealthy?”
“Is there anyone among the Dragons that’s poor?”
Bubbles replied affirmatively, “I’ve interacted with that Black Dragon before. That fellow’s the most avaricious Colossal Dragon that I’ve ever met. It solicits toll fees even for mere passage through its territory. It practically can’t get any greedier!”
“Avarice is great, avarice is fantastic! It’s only when one is avaricious that they would gain ample assets!” Meng Lei licked his lips as he said, “Let’s go! We’ll look for that greedy Black Dragon now!”
Under Bubbles’ lead, they arrived at the Black Dragon’s den in no time. Even from a great distance off, they could already hear a series of thunderous snores.
“Go get him, Bubbles!”
“Yes, Master!”
Bubbles nodded lightly and released a bit of his aura.
The snoring in the den came to a sudden stop, and then, a lazy voice rang out. “Passage through here will cost you 100 Laws of Nature Origin Crystals!”
“100 Laws of Nature Origin Crystals? That’s really greedy!” Meng Lei shook his head lightly.
Bubbles replied with a smile, “It wouldn’t have become known as the most avaricious half-deity of the underground world otherwise!”
Then, he said, “Is that how you should be treating an old friend, Baxter?”
“Eh?”
A soft sound of surprise later, a huge Dragon head poked out of the den. “So it’s you, the rapist. You’ll have to leave behind 1,000 Laws of Nature Origin Crystals as a toll before you can pass!”
Black lines filled Bubbles’ forehead as he retorted, “Do you believe me when I say that I’ll beat you up again if you malign me any further, Baxter?”
“Have you forgotten where you are again, Bubbles?”
Baxter, the Black Dragon, let out a dull, heavy snort as he scoffed, “This is the underground world, not your Fallen Sea. It’s no place for you to act so impudently!”
“Oh, he’s pretty arrogant!”
Meng Lei couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“It can’t be helped! Although these wicked underground deities are all fierce and perverse in nature, they form an extremely united front when facing outsiders.”
A resigned Bubbles said, “I’ve fought that Black Dragon a few times before. Although it’s no match for me, that guy would always summon his friends as helping hands, so...”
“So, you’ve suffered at his hands a few times before? That’s great, then. We can avenge both new and old grudges at the same time!”
Meng Lei snickered as he rubbed his fists against each other in anticipation. “I don’t believe we can’t take down those despicable underground half-deities if we join hands! If we can subdue them and empty out their dens at the same time, then that would be even better!”
“Isn’t that a little too risky, Master?”
Bubbles was somewhat weak-kneed at the sound of that. “The vastness of the underground world is something that’s beyond your imagination. There are so many evil deities here that you can’t even count them on both hands!”
“The more, the better! Only then would things be interesting!”
Meng Lei licked his lips and flew straight out. “This is a robbery! This is a robbery! Gold coins, Laws of Nature Origin Crystals, divine cores, and treasures—hand them all over!”
“Roar! Where did that little bug come from!”
The Black Dragon opened its jaws and sprayed out a wave of dragon breath to melt and corrode Meng Lei, but with a flash, Meng Lei had arrived right in front of it!
“Baxter, right?”
Meng Lei gave him a slight smile and said, “I’ve taken a fancy to your den. Please scram immediately, and I’ll spare your little life, albeit reluctantly!”
“I’m going to eat you, you worm!”
Utterly enraged, the Black Dragon opened its cavernous jaws and bit right at him!
“Behave!”
Meng Lei gave a light snort as the Hammer of Destruction appeared in his grip. Aiming it right at the Black Dragon’s nose bridge, he swung it down forcefully!
With the power of a half-deity’s high-grade divine body, and coupled with the Hammer of Destruction’s fearsome destructiveness, a hole was smashed right into the Black Dragon’s nose
