Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Not only were the Kunlun Mountains mountains the origin of many myths, it was also a heaven for explorers. It cut through Beijiang and Nancang. Qingzhou was in the east. It was 2500 kilometers long, and the average elevation was 5500 to 6000 meters. It was 130 to 200 kilometers wide. Its total surface area was over 500 thousand square kilometers.
Many small countries were not even as large as this mountain. It was very magnificent.
At first, explorers preferred exploring Lop Nur. Later, everyone realized that the Kunlun Mountains was the most dangerous place to mankind. Some even tried to cross Death Valley.
Lu Shu sat in the train and looked up information on Death Valley. He wanted to see whether anyone had successfully crossed the valley. It was fine even if it was before the dawn of the magically rich era.
But the descriptions online were quite sketchy. Some said that they had successfully crossed Death Valley, but were not willing to provide information on their starting point, their exit point, and the car that they had used. One variety program had attempted to cross Death Valley as well, but they only strolled around the area before carrying the camera on their shoulder in fear and running away. It was a good start, but a poor ending to the show.
Scientists explained that there was lightning and an underground river. But the explorers claimed that there was a frozen dragon in the Kunlun Mountains. The entrance to that place was beneath Death Valley.
Some also said that in historical records, the Kunlun Mountains were the first place where demons appeared to eat humans.
The train was headed to Sacheng, the provincial capital of Nancang. Lu Shu had wanted to go to Qingzhou, which was closer to Death Valley. But more explorers gathered in Sacheng. Those who wanted to climb the mountains would first get used to the high altitude there. There were people who even built inns there. Most explorers would conduct their training there and wait for good weather to climb the mountains.
Transport was very convenient now. Some rich explorers had provided financial support. There was no lack of funds here.
The train was about to pull into the station, but Lu Shu had not found any leads.
Suddenly, a burly man passed by Lu Shu and saw that Lu Shu had maps in his hands. He was also looking up routes on his phone. He stopped in his tracks and smiled. “Young man, are you also here to explore?”
Lu Shu looked up. He was wearing a blue T-shirt with a jacket tied around his waist. He was wearing a hat and had a massive backpack on his back.
Lu Shu thought about it and said, “Yup. If not why would I be here for. But I could not find a good team to go with. Brother, you seem to be very experienced.”
The burly man laughed. “I have done this for over ten years! There is no place that I have never been to! There is no place in the world that I cannot go to!”
Lu Shu was dumbfounded. “Brother, so you’ve been to Death Valley, right?”
“From Zhang Yanfeng’s distress, +666!”
Zhang Yanfeng’s face turned red. He said in a small voice, “I have never been there.”
Who knew that Lu Shu would bring up such a difficult place so quickly? When he saw that Lu Shu did not even have a backpack, he thought that Lu Shu was a beginner. But he had boasted too quickly…
“Ahem.” Lu Shu cleared his throat. “Brother, please don’t be offended. I was just asking.”
Lu Shu felt bad. He had genuinely asked out of curiosity.
Zhang Yanfeng did not seem to be a petty person either. After the initial awkwardness, he laughed. “Although I have never been there before, but this time, those who gather in Sacheng can choose three routes to take. For the first route, we will climb the boundary mountain and cross the Keriya Pass. For the second route, we will go to Mêdog County. As for the last route, we will cross into Death Valley through Kumukili Desert!”
Zhang Yanfeng was an expert when it came to exploration. If not, he would not be able to walk along routes that were more than 5000 meters above sea level. He was the kind who would be able to make a stir just by posting on his timeline. But he had been humiliated by Lu Shu…
Lu Shu suddenly asked, “But can we enter the Kunlun Mountains? I heard that something happened inside recently?”
When Zhang Yanfeng heard this, his eyes lit up. “Brother, so you are in the community as well? Now, there are strict orders that prohibit entry. But the problem is, the Kunlun Mountains are so big. Who would be able to stop us? We have already planned the route. We were born to challenge the limits of life. Bears, wolves, snowstorms, what have we not encountered? Don’t worry. We bring hunting guns into the mountain!”
Lu Shu thought that this group of explorers were taking a huge risk. Could the current danger level in the Kunlun Mountains be compared to the dangers that they had experienced in the past? He was not in the explorer community, but a member of the realm of cultivation.
He wanted to remind him. “After all, it is the magically rich era. We still have to be careful. Brother, you should be more cautious.”
When Zhang Yanfeng heard this, he grew unhappy. “Brother, are you looking down on us?”
Lu Shu was dumbfounded.
Why would I look down on you?”
Zhang Yanfeng suddenly laughed out loud. “Brother, we have a Class D secret practitioner leading us.”
Lu Shu finally understood. No wonder he was so strong-willed. So they had a secret practitioner present. Back then when he was still Kasyapa the Venerable, he had heard that some secret practitioners had made use of their physiques to lead mountain climbing teams. It was a lucrative business.
Everyone in this world had their own ways to live. It was good that some people were willing to earn money through these kinds of jobs. It was much better than beating people up for a living, right?
Lu Shu suddenly had a change of mind. “Brother, I want to join you. Is that okay?”
When Zhang Yanfeng heard this, he was very happy. He was different from the amateur explorer groups. They were professionals. They depended on this for a living.
Leading tours and reporters to explore the area was a very lucrative business. The more famous they were, the more sponsorships they would receive. He had talked to Lu Shu earlier to bring in more business.
Zhang Yanfeng laughed. “We’ll have to see your physique. But you have to pay to join our team.”
“Never mind then…”
“From Zhang Yanfeng’s distress, +666!”
Lu Shu was particular about money. Zhang Yanfeng never thought that this conversation would have so many twists and turns…
But they were not a charity either. Zhang Yanfeng said softly, “Brother, we can’t take you in for free. If you encountered an inexperienced group, they might really leave you to die in there. Furthermore, the Kunlun Mountains are very dangerous now! Is money more important or is your life more important?”
Lu Shu said frankly, “Money is more important.”
“From Zhang Yanfeng’s distress, +666!”
Needless to say, Lu Shu did not think much about the protection that a Class D secret practitioner could provide. Lu Shu did not care much about safety. If Lu Shu was familiar with the route, he would be able to make money from customers as well…
Who else could protect Lu Shu other than himself? But he would have to find another group to join.
