Finally, Liz, Ciri and Triss decided to visit the mountain to see what was going on. After leaving the children at the inn and entrusting them to the owner, the three of them packed up and crossed the hill to the mountain the locals had mentioned.
“…It’s really strange.”
Although she had heard about it from the tavern owner before, after seeing the mountain with her own eyes, Triss had to admit that the mountain was indeed strange.
The reason is simple.
This mountain is too high!
How high is it?
The three high people looked up, but they couldn't see the top of the mountain. They could only see the mountain covered by clouds!
Triss was sure that she had never seen such a high mountain in the North. Although there were towering mountains on the edge of the North, such a unique mountain was quite rare. Unlike ordinary mountains, this mountain gave people the feeling that it was formed by something pulling it out of the ground. It was steep and rugged, especially against the backdrop of the surrounding gentle and low hills.
"Let's go this way..."
Looking at the path next to them, Liz walked straight up, and Ciri followed closely behind. Only Triss frowned and carefully examined the path in front of her, with a look of doubt in her eyes.
Although it seemed like just an ordinary path paved with cobblestones to ordinary people, it was not that simple to the thoughtful sorceress. You have to know that in this world, the development of civilization itself was at a very low level, which can be seen from the roads. Generally speaking, only cities and their surrounding areas have cobblestone roads, and most other places are basically dirt roads, not to mention the mountains and wilderness, where there are either roads made by people or trails for wild animals.
It would be a waste to pave a path with pebbles at the foot of such a mountain. Besides, this place is almost deserted. Who would have nothing better to do than spend so much effort to build a road here?
Triss was a little confused about this, but she calmed down and followed the two people. The scenery at the foot of the mountain was almost the same as other places. There was nothing special except green grass and a few trees. However, as everyone walked along the stone path to the end, the scene in front of them suddenly changed, which surprised everyone.
"This is……"
Even Triss couldn't help but gasp when she saw the scene before her.
After they turned around the mountainside, they saw a long staircase paved with pure white stone slabs extending all the way upwards. Looking around, it looked like a stream flowing down from the mountain, forming a zigzag trajectory and extending all the way into the clouds.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, you are going to kill us."
Even Ciri's expression changed at this moment. She was now certain that this mountain was 100% Fang Zheng's masterpiece. It could be seen from the stairs in front of her that made people want to die. Apart from him, there would be no other person who would be so bored and go to such great lengths to play such a prank.
As for Liz, she had no expression on her face. After all, as Fang Zheng's students, the girls had been tricked by Fang Zheng more than one, two, three, four or five times, and they were used to it.
"Why don't I go up and explore the way first."
Triss's expression was much more serious now. Fortunately, as a warlock, she had the ability to teleport, so she didn't have to walk up like the others. So she also said something, and then a light flashed on her body, and then...
"No effect?"
Triss was stunned to see herself still standing there.
"What's going on? Why is it ineffective?"
"Ah... Miss Triss, you'd better not think about teleporting in Mr. Fang Zheng's territory... He won't let you succeed..."
Ciri complained speechlessly at this moment. She also remembered that when she just traveled to the continent of Semlia and woke up, because of the language barrier, she thought the other party wanted to lock her up, so when she failed to break through, she tried to teleport away, but she didn't expect that the teleportation would fail directly.
Ciri was also puzzled at the time, and later she asked Fang Zheng and found out that people had been prepared for this. After all, Fang Zheng had teleported to countless worlds and had seen many people with teleportation magic and abilities. So in order to prevent these guys from rushing into his bathroom while he was taking a shower, Fang Zheng would usually lock the space and prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
And this means that even Ciri has to walk...
"……let's go."
There is a saying that goes, "If you run too far up the mountain, your horse will die."
This sentence is also very suitable here. Everyone climbed up all the way, but wherever they saw, besides the magnificent scenery, there were steep, almost endless stone steps that seemed to extend all the way to the sky. At the beginning, the three ladies could still climb up with the attitude of enjoying the outing, but soon, they found that they were simply suffering.
"I, let's go back and think of another way."
Leaning on the railing, Triss kept gasping for breath, and Ciri sighed helplessly.
"Are you sure? Triss? Go down now?"
"this……"
Hearing Ciri's question, Triss was speechless. She lowered her head and looked down, only to find that she was already halfway up the mountain. From a distance, she could even see the village where she and the others had been before. Those houses felt smaller than pebbles... Had she climbed hundreds or thousands of steps?
When Triss thought about having to walk down here to go back, her legs went weak.
Not only that, but now Triss discovered that the design of this place was quite sinister. At first, the surrounding scenery was very beautiful, and the stairs here were not high and narrow, but were paved with smooth and wide stone slabs. In this way, people would feel very relaxed while climbing the mountain, and would not feel that climbing the mountain was such a tiring thing.
However, when they were exhausted, they realized that they had already climbed halfway up the mountain without realizing it. They no longer had the strength to go up, and they also had no strength to go down...
This is definitely a deliberate design!!
The three of them rested for a while on the platform and continued to climb up. After spending a long time, they finally reached the end of the stairs - no wonder!
“This really isn’t over yet.”
Looking at the narrow gap in front of her, Triss couldn't even breathe. When they finally reached the end of the stone steps, they were surprised to find that there was an even narrower path ahead, which could only allow one person to pass. There were steep and smooth stone walls all around, and only in front of them was a path that could only allow one adult man to pass. Looking up, they could even see a thin line in the sky above their heads...
The three of them could only bite the bullet and continue forward, but then they found themselves facing an even more bizarre scene.
After walking out of the narrow path, she was faced with a strangely shaped stalactite cave. Although there were no monsters inside, the strange stalactites alone made people feel uneasy. For some reason, under the light of the fire, Triss felt that the swaying shadows seemed to be living creatures. Several times, she did feel as if she was being spied on by something hidden in the darkness.
Not only that, what is even more depressing is that the exit of this stalactite cave is cleverly designed and hidden, and even makes use of the colors of the surrounding environment and the principles of light and dark shadows. If Triss did not have other spells to use, the three people would probably have gotten lost in the stalactite cave.
However, the trial did not end there. After leaving the stalactite cave, everyone had to face cliff climbing... On the smooth vertical 90-degree stone wall, they had to climb up carefully stepping on small holes. At this time, Triss really wanted to give up. If Ciri and Liz hadn't helped her, she might have surrendered completely.
"I, I can't do it anymore..."
After finally climbing to the top, Triss fell to the ground like a pile of mud. She turned her head and looked down. She could no longer see the ground, but only thick clouds and fog emerging in the forest. The howling cold wind mixed with snowflakes rushed towards her, covering everything in the white snow.
"Come on, Miss Triss, we should be almost there... probably."
"It must be some kind of ghost!"
Hearing this, Triss really wanted to jump off from here - but she gritted her teeth, stood up, and continued to move forward with the help of Ciri. At the same time, Liss handed her a kettle of hot soup and dried meat.
If it weren't for these things, Triss wouldn't even have been able to make it here.
"I, I say, is this really done by Mr. Fang Zheng? Could we have come to the wrong place?"
The more Triss thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. She felt as if she was exploring some ruins deep in the mountains, not looking for anyone. However, when she heard her question, Ciri and Liz looked at each other and nodded vigorously.
"Absolutely."
"It is certain that this was done by Mr. Fang Zheng!"
“…Is that so…”
Who is that guy called Fang Zheng?
"...Who on earth is that Mr. Fang Zheng?"
When Triss recovered and followed the two people along the cold mountain and road to the end, the scene before her made her involuntarily speak out the questions in her heart.
No wonder she was so surprised. In front of the three of them was a huge and heavy stone door that was dozens of meters high. On both sides of the stone door, two huge warrior sculptures that were also dozens of meters high stood there. They held long swords, wore armor, and closed their eyes. They looked vivid and lifelike, as if they could come alive at any time. And Triss and the other three standing there were not even as tall as the toes of the two sculptures...
"What now?"
Triss gasped and looked at the two people in front of her, and they looked at each other.
"Anyway...let's knock on the door first."
"Um...Mr. Fang Zheng, we are here...~!!!"
At the end, Xili took a breath and shouted. Then he heard layers of echoes floating in the mountains and gradually disappeared.
Then... accompanied by a thunderous sound, the huge stone door slowly opened a crack.
"Huh...it seems to be true."
Seeing this, Ciri breathed a sigh of relief and then waved.
"Let's go in."
The three of them walked into the stone gate, and then the stone gate closed again.
The moment they walked into the stone gate, dazzling light came towards them, causing the three of them to close their eyes involuntarily. However, when they opened their eyes again and looked forward, they were completely stunned by the scene before them.
In front of them, there were green mountains and clear waters under the warm sunshine, green grass, lush trees, bright and warm sunshine, and even waterfalls and clear ponds. All of this was in stark contrast to the cold and snowy world outside. For a moment, Triss and the others even wondered if they had been teleported to some other place...
“So beautiful…”
Looking at the beautiful scenery in front of her, Liz couldn't help but sigh, and at this moment...
“Mou——!!!”
Accompanied by a sound that sounded like a cow's mooing, but was many times louder than a cow's, a huge figure walked out of the woods in front. It had a body as big as a hill, with thick limbs, and a long neck and tail.
"What kind of monster is this!!"
Seeing this, Triss almost fainted with fright. At the same time, a clear and gentle voice sounded.
"Ah, don't worry, this is a plesiosaur... Hello, Miss Liz, Miss Ciri, welcome here."
"Miao Jie?!"
Hearing the voice, the three of them turned around hurriedly, and saw a girl with soft green curly hair not far from them, looking at them with a smile.
"Thank you for your hard work along the way. Mr. Fang Zheng is waiting for you. Please follow me."