Cao Guang was suprised when all of his theories were proven wrong, the military squad made their way to the relay station or atleast where it was supposed to be.
What was left of it was just pieces of rocks left undigested by the Sandstorm Demon Locusts and the metal buildings. There were a couple of warehouses made of just metals. Only that had survived the wrath of Sandstorm Demon Locusts.
"What happened here, where is everyone?" Zhang Qihu asked in a genuine tone to Cao Guang's amusement.
Cao Guang had miscalculated badly, Shi Qianshou wasn't trying to destroy the place, it was already done, looking at the place it was completely decimated last week or so.
News had yet to reach the outside world because no survivor made it out. Shi Qianshou went away from the place and made the Sandstorm Demon Locusts eliminate everything while he had an ironclad alibi and wouldn't be suspected.
He then used his influence to send Tong Xuan and others to be the first to discover the phenomenon of the missing relay station. All of these guys are his men.
They will search and kill survivors, while sending the message back. HQ who then have no choice but investigate will have to send someone capable to this hellhole. And Shi Qianshou will volunteer and earn some merits, search for the Earth Pistil, when he fails he labels it all on an undetected and fierce Sandstorm and the military moves on.
He killed all of them and then he judges what killed them, sure enough. I know Lin Feili is still alive but it's whether or not he knows enough to prove Shi Qianshou guilty.
Regardles, I don't need a guide, I'll find the Burning Mountains on my own, if I can use the advance spell with Flame Belle's help, I could deal with the guy. If I can't I'll let Lin Feili stay here.
When I'm strong enough I'll deal with Shi Qianshou and his cronies and Lin Feili lives to tell the truth.
After Cao Guang ruminated in his mind, Shi Qianshou's men did an honest search of the place and decided to head back to report as they couldn't get any connection in the place. Shi Qianshou had probably destroyed the equipment before leaving and they weren't obviously carrying a portable tower with them.
The group then split into two after two days, Tong Xuan went back to report and the others stayed. Cao Guang helped them search on the first morning before he made his way to the Burning Mountain in the night.
There were some signs of a human living in the periphery, it wasn't much some footprints and remains of a type of snake, but needed an experienced eye to be sure.
Cao Guang ignored all symptoms he found even when he felt like he was being watched. He wasn't sure if it was Lin Feili or Shi Qianshou's men.
He knew one thing for sure only Advanced Fire mages could go further from this point.
There wasn't any in Tong Xuan's group, he wasn't sure if Shi Qianshou could if he came to place in person.
Cao Guang laboriously made his way up the mountain. It couldn't be found during the day due to the natural maze in the area. During the night the fire spread and the elemental Sacred land came into life. Only there weren't any species living in this area.
Cao Guang didn't have any sense of safety in this place anymore and he couldn't ask the Little Flame Belle who was in pain to keep watch for him while he slept.
The scorching heat was starting to affect him as well. The place was a true boiling cauldron. Pieces of soul seeds lay on floor like dirt yet Cao Guang didn't give them a second look as he walked up the Mountain.
His skin was scalding and fell off occasionally, the shoes ad dress he was wearing barely held on owing to the fact that was provided to him by the Magic Association on becoming a badged Advance Mage.
He couldn't afford any equipment at the point and opted for the standard equipment provided by the association. They had some welfare programs for mages.
Cao Guang's throat and body nearly collapsed from dehydration as he fell multiple times on to the flaming hot rocks. He didn't have Mo Fan's Demon element, his cultivation was far worse than when Mo Fan struggled here.