In contrast to Varcorâs outer fearful appearance, Ace was relatively calmer because, despite this wyvernâs mysterious status within the Corpse Clan, he knew the latter wouldnât bother the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander with something like this.
Furthermore, the Corpse Clan followed a strict hierarchy, and their Nine Bone Legion Divisions were very disciplined, so Varcor wouldnât lie in front of the Wyvern, yet at the same time, he wouldnât dare to reveal too much about the Ninth Bone Corpse Commanderâs matters.
Lastly, even if the Wyvern were to really send Ace into the Yang Chamber, it wasnât harmful for Ace at all, and since it also helped Ace enter the Lower Grave Strata, it serves him just fine.
"I wonât dare to resist any punishment. I know I have committed a great offense by deserting my squad, and Iâm willing to take full responsibility for it, my lord." Ace acted as if afraid, yet still unwilling to explain anything beyond what he was supposed to.
The Wyvernâs previous discontent with Varcor lessened slightly as he started to believe Varcorâs anecdote, which means Varcor didnât desert his position out of cowardness but under his superiorâs orders.
But he still wasnât fully convinced, and with a peculiar glint in his eyes, he asked impassively, "Varcor Dain, if I contact the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander, will he vouch for you?"
Ace was secretly alarmed at this moment because he really never thought that this Wyvern would have such a status that allowed him to contact the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander directly, or he might be just bluffing to catch him in a lie.
However, now that Ace was riding the tigerâs back, there was no way to get off, and if it really came down to it, he would just get even worse punishment than the Yang Chambers, but the Corpse Clan wonât kill their members because there were far more hellish punishments worse than death for an Undead Soul!
"My lord, I wonât dare to consider myself important enough for Ninth Commander to vouch for me under different situations. So, I canât confidently reply to my lordâs inquiry. Please forgive my lack of confidence." Ace replied appropriately in a taciturn tone.
The Wyvern fell silent at that moment as the Corpse Qi entering his body grew denser and more violent, while its draconic eyes, indifferent to life, flickered with a hint of amusement.
"Heh, alright, Varcor Dain, you have managed to convince me." The Wyvern unexpectedly chuckled, and Ace sighed in relief, but it was still too soon.
"However, as Iâve said, and you know, there are rules and regulations to follow; I canât simply allow you to walk out of here without any punishment for your actions.
"Even if it was the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander who had summoned you back, Iâm in charge of the Great Corpse Carnival, and he also knows it. So, in a sense, making you desert your position could also be considered an act of provocation against me!"
Suddenly, the Wyvernâs voice turned icy, "But I wonât make things difficult for you since you were following orders, so, after the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander is done with you, youâll go to the Yang Camber and stay there for One Corpse Cycle (10 years). You may tell this to the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander, and if he has anything to say about it, tell him it was Belfast!"
Ace couldnât be happier when he heard the wyvern, or Belfast, didnât blow out this matter and decided to finish it here and now.
Although Ace wasnât sure if Belfast would contact the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander later or seek an explanation for this misconduct, it didnât matter as long as Ace was out of this place.
With a hint of reluctance and fear, Varcor humbly bowed his head, "I accept my lordâs arraignment, and I couldnât be more grateful for your leniency."
"Heh, leniency?" Belfast couldnât help but snicker before it dismissively said, "Alright, you may go now."
The next moment, an exit opened behind Ace, and Belfast closed its draconic eyes as if back to sleep or probably using his law sense to monitor the carnival, and no longer cared about Varcor.
As for Varcor not following through with his punishment, Belfast wasnât worried too much because Varcor wouldnât dare to go against him, while the Ninth Bone Corpse Commander wouldnât try to dissuade him from Varcor.
After all, Belfast had already given the Corpse Commander enough face by not detaining Varcor right away or bringing this matter to the Corpse Governor. So, in Belfastâs mind, this matter was already over.
Ace followed the pathway that led him directly outside the Vein Carriage Chamber, and he did not allow his gaze to wander too curiously, just in case Belfast still had his eye on him.
Aceâs destination was Varcor Dainâs cultivation cave, which was located within the Ninth Bone Legionâs territory.
The Ninth Legion, like any other Bone Corpse Legion, occupied a tiered cavern complex shaped like an inverted pyramid. Each level was carved into the cavern wall, forming ring-like platforms connected by bone bridges.
At the center rose a colossal pillar of black fossilized marrow, engraved with thousands of names of the warriors of the Ninth Legion.
There was even a âmemorial steleâ bearing the names of those who perished in failed corpse refinements or in battle against the Evernight Council at the entrance to these territories.
As Ace crossed one of the bone bridges, he noticed something else massive. Sealed vaults embedded into the cavern walls, guarded by corpse formations and elite sentries in the realm of Abyssal Lords.
Ace instantly recognized those vaults from memory, his eyes flashing with a thievish glimmer,
âThe treasure repositories of the Ninth Bone Corpse Division!â
The Corpse Clan had not been idle. Although the Evernight Council had plundered territories outside the Undead Boundary for centuries, the true wealth of the Corpse Clan had always remained here, within the Lower Grave Strata.
Moreover, these repositories contained treasures harvested from the Upper Ancient Battlefield, like weaponry, knowledge, and rare materials condensed by the unique environment of the Undead Boundary, which were stacked in sealed containers, and many precious treasures, making these repositories enormous.
Moreover, the most precious treasures of the Corpse Clan, rows upon rows of corpse coffins, stood vertically within reinforced chambers, each containing refined or partially refined vessels waiting for suitable Undead Souls.
If the Evernight Council knew the true scale of wealth preserved beneath their noses, they would likely grit their teeth with frustration and might have attempted another invasion regardless of cost.
âThe real treasure was never the surface,â
Ace thought calmly,
âIt was always below!â