The scorching sun relentlessly baked the desert.
The air shimmered with heat, causing a slight distortion in the distance.
Three thousand humans trudged across the dunes, their feet sinking into the sand with each step, their pace slow.
Tang Zheng and Ya La'er walked at the forefront, pausing frequently to observe their surroundings.
"Have your people rest," Tang Zheng said, standing atop a dune and gazing at the endless yellow expanse, turning to Ya La'er beside him.
"This is our third rest stop. We can continue. We live in the desert; we're accustomed to this environment. We don't need such frequent breaks."
Ya La'er gripped her silver-white spear as she spoke.
"We still have over two days of travel. There's no rush. Preserving stamina is crucial."
Tang Zheng shook his head expressionlessly, glancing at the three thousand humans behind him, and said softly.
The Three Great Oases.
The Orc Oasis was closest to Shadow Valley, followed by the Dwarf Oasis, with the Human Oasis being the farthest.
The Gray Dwarf Oasis was about three days away from the Human Oasis.
Of course!
This was under normal circumstances. The force of 3,000 humans seemed large, but most were ordinary people.
Prolonged trekking was a significant drain on their stamina, especially in the scorching desert heat.
The water they carried was also being consumed at an alarming rate.
"This rest will last until evening. From now on, we rest during the day and travel at night," Tang Zheng told Ya La'er again.
Tang Zheng had never led an army before, causing him to overlook many issues. Fortunately, Ya La'er was there to prevent things from going awry.
In the process, Tang Zheng learned a great deal.
"Travel at night?"
Ya La'er paused, then her eyes lit up, immediately realizing it was a good idea. "I understand, Hero."
After issuing the order, Ya La'er quickly returned to Tang Zheng's side, her face filled with anticipation, seeking advice on Martial Arts training techniques.
Time passed, and night began to fall.
The three thousand refreshed human members began their journey again.
Without the scorching sun, their movement speed noticeably increased.
The next two days passed without incident.
Although Despair Valley was home to some powerful Demon Creatures, they were scattered across the vast desert, making encounters rare.
The pale moonlight bathed the desert.
A ten-member Gray Dwarf team, pulling a heavy wooden cart, stopped in a flat area of the desert.
Five Gray Dwarves lay around the cart, snoring loudly, while the other five yawned, occasionally looking around warily.
They were the Gray Dwarf team sent to the humans by the Forging Minister.
The army's crushing defeat!
They were even forced to deliver weapons as an apology to the inferior humans they usually looked down upon, leaving the proud Gray Dwarves deflated.
No one was in the mood for jokes.
Just as the Gray Dwarves were dozing off, a delicate shout suddenly rang out.
"Earth Charge!"
In an instant! A bright yellow figure appeared before the Gray Dwarf sentries, sweeping a spear and sending one flying.
"Enem..." A Gray Dwarf screamed in terror, but before he could finish, the silver-white spear struck, killing him instantly.
In the blink of an eye.
Ya La'er had already taken out two Gray Dwarf sentries and was about to kill the third.
A series of cold glints flashed in mid-air.
Whether they were Gray Dwarves on guard or Gray Dwarves awakened from their slumber, all were killed by these cold glints.
Tang Zheng stood next to the wooden cart loaded with weapons, glanced at the items on the cart, flicked the blood off his greatsword with a shake of his right hand, and picked up a Gray Dwarf he had deliberately left alive.
"So powerful, as expected of Hero-sama."
Ya La'er stopped her silver spear, ready to strike, and looked at Tang Zheng with admiration.
She had only managed to take care of two Gray Dwarves, and the rest had already been dealt with by Hero-sama.
"Human... human, don't kill me!"
"We're here to seek peace." The only surviving Gray Dwarf cried out in terror.
"Seek peace?" Ya La'er's wheat-colored cheeks tightened upon hearing this, and a look of anger appeared in her silver eyes. "So many of our people have died at the hands of you Gray Dwarves, and now you say you want peace!"
"If it weren't for Hero-sama's appearance, we would all have died at your hands!"
Faced with Ya La'er's angry questioning.
The Gray Dwarf's gray-white beard trembled incessantly as he looked in terror at Tang Zheng, who was holding him up.
This was the mysterious person who had crushed their army, and he was actually a human! It's over!
The clan was in danger! The Gray Dwarf's terrified expression intensified. They had been sent to the Oasis where the humans were, not only to deliver weapons and seek peace, but more importantly to find out whether the mysterious powerhouse was of the human race, and what his attitude was.
And now that he was here, the answer was self-evident.
"We Gray Dwarves are willing to cooperate with you humans, we can help you forge weapons exclusively for humans..." the Gray Dwarf shouted in terror as he struggled.
"Ya La'er, have someone check around to see if there are any other Gray Dwarves." Tang Zheng turned his head to look at Ya La'er beside him and instructed.
"Yes, Hero-sama."
Ya La'er gave the Gray Dwarf in Tang Zheng's hand a resentful look, nodded quickly, and hurried away.
Seeing Ya La'er leave.
All-Race Charm
The light of Mana flashed in Tang Zheng's eyes, and an invisible mental wave instantly surged into the Gray Dwarf's mind.
"Tell me everything about your Gray Dwarf side." Tang Zheng asked with a cold look in his eyes.
Under the influence of the charm.
The Gray Dwarf told everything he knew, without holding back.
Tang Zheng deliberately asked for some information about Rune Technology. According to the Gray Dwarf, Rune Technology seemed to have been on the verge of being lost since the fall of the Gray Dwarf Kingdom 50 years ago.
The new generation of Gray Dwarf artisans no longer had anyone who could master Rune Technology, but the Forging Minister, as a kingdom minister, still possessed Rune Technology.
After understanding this information,
Tang Zheng exerted a slight force in his palm and crushed the Gray Dwarf's neck.
After completely eliminating this Gray Dwarf squad, the humans began to advance again, finally arriving at a location about one kilometer away from the Gray Dwarf Oasis late on the third night.
"Whoosh!"
The Evil Spirit Dog, transformed into a Hawk, soared into the sky and circled above the Gray Dwarf Oasis.
After carefully observing.
The Evil Spirit Dog flew back from the sky and landed on Tang Zheng's shoulder.
The humans lying on the sand stared at Tang Zheng at the front, their bodies tense, waiting for orders at any moment.
They would rush towards the Gray Dwarf Oasis at the first opportunity.
"Everyone, get a good rest tonight, tomorrow is the real decisive battle with the Gray Dwarf race!" Tang Zheng turned around, faced the gazes, and said in a serious tone.
The crowd had traveled all night, and their physical strength was severely depleted. It was obviously not suitable to start a war with the Gray Dwarves at this time, especially since the Gray Dwarf race liked to move at night.
Tang Zheng had brought three thousand humans here, and the most important purpose was to prevent the Gray Dwarf race from escaping.
With a population of more than fifteen thousand, Tang Zheng would not be able to take care of them if they scattered over a large area.
"Everyone do as he says!" Ya La'er followed closely, her bright silver eyes flashing with excitement.
At this moment, it wasn't just Ya La'er who was excited; all the human members were filled with tension and anticipation.
In this unique atmosphere of silence, suppression, and excitement, most people didn't start to doze off until dawn.
On a small sand dune.
Tang Zheng looked towards the Oasis in the distance. Its overall area seemed to be a circle larger than the Oasis where the humans resided.
At this moment!
Around this Oasis, a considerable number of Gray Dwarves could be clearly observed.
"Hero, should we wake them up now?" Ya La'er walked over with light steps, also nervously glancing in the direction of the Gray Dwarf race, and whispered.
"No rush, let them sleep."
Tang Zheng raised his head to look at the sky and said faintly.
"The Hero wants to make a move at noon." Ya La'er heard this and quickly understood Tang Zheng's intention.
Gazing at the Gray Dwarf Oasis ahead.
Tang Zheng suddenly asked, "The Gray Dwarf race lives underground, right?"
"That's right."
Ya La'er's face was serious, and she quickly said, "Most Gray Dwarves don't like to move around during the day, and even hate sunlight. Even with the trees providing shade on the Oasis, they still built their cave dwellings underground."
This was also the most troublesome aspect.
Ya La'er's eyebrows furrowed together, seemingly feeling very tricky (troublesome).
The underground environment was complex and intricate. Even the Gray Dwarves themselves couldn't fully understand it, let alone outsiders. And once they entered the underground, there was a high probability of total annihilation.
Faced with this troublesome situation.
A smile appeared on Tang Zheng's face instead: "In that case, it's much simpler."
"Huh?" Ya La'er raised her head, looking at Tang Zheng with a face full of doubt.
Time quickly came to noon.
The numerous Gray Dwarves originally on the periphery of the Oasis had disappeared, leaving only Gray Dwarf soldiers in teams of twenty patrolling around the Oasis.
"It's time to make a move."
Tang Zheng reached out and patted the Evil Spirit Dog on his shoulder.
Whoosh! The Evil Spirit Dog's wings shook, and it immediately soared into the sky above the Oasis, acting as a watchful eye.
"Third Tier Magic · Composite Elemental Summoning!"
The Mana in Tang Zheng's body shook, and he raised his arm, aiming it forward, activating the passive ability Elemental Conversion of the [Mad Mage]: "Sandstorm Elemental Spirit!"
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