“Your Highness—don’t be so nervous~”
Kneading Mu Xuan’s somewhat stiff muscles, Qiansitelin spoke with a smile, an undisguised predatory look in her eyes.
The Lightforce Mu Xuan used for her disguise was almost non-existent.
It looked like one thing, but in reality, it was another.
Without careful adjustment, “clipping” could easily occur.
When she had placed her hand on Mu Xuan’s shoulder in the meeting hall earlier, she had almost caused a clipping error right in front of Lutherch.
“It’s all because of you!”
Hearing Qiansitelin’s words, Mu Xuan glared at her crossly, the cowlick atop her head swaying back and forth.
Fortunately, no one else had been there—Mosen was out, and Lutherch already knew her true identity.
Otherwise, that strange situation would have been difficult to explain.
“Don’t go too far!”
Seeing Qiansitelin attempting to pull away the only two items of clothing left on her body, Mu Xuan felt a surge of shy anger.
Just then, Qiansitelin suddenly opened the bathroom door, and a dense cloud of white steam billowed out.
“But Your Highness, you won’t be able to take a bath like this~”
The warm steam brushed against her body, catching Mu Xuan off guard.
Taking advantage of the moment, Qiansitelin’s fingertip flicked lightly, exposing a large expanse of snowy-white skin that had been covered.
She should have felt a slight chill, but the pervasive steam immediately filled the air, leaving only a comfortable warmth.
Mu Xuan’s face flushed crimson.
She wrapped her arms tightly around herself to shield her body.
“Qiansitelin!”
The other woman’s fingertips slid across her fair, delicate skin, causing her to shiver involuntarily.
Qiansitelin seemed not to hear Mu Xuan’s indignant voice.
“Your Highness’s skin is so white~ It’s time for your bath now~”
—
*Clang!*
The heavy sound was like a blow to a clogged pipe, sending sparks flying in every direction.
What should have been the crisp ring of metal clashing carried a dull undertone, like the Great Artisan God’s massive hammer striking a red-hot steel ingot.
Beads of sweat rolled down his bronze forehead, and his thick eyebrows knitted together tightly.
‘No, this sound is wrong.’
His fingertips brushed over the slightly vibrating anvil.
An incredibly subtle, almost imperceptible tremor was traveling through the cold stone from deep underground.
“Great Artisan God!”
The heavy stone door of the forge was slammed open.
A Dwarf warrior burst in, not even having time to remove his soot-covered felt hat.
His expression was more solemn than ever, carrying a hint of panic.
“The Molten Heart… the Molten Heart is restless! And—”
Before he could finish, the minute vibrations became suddenly clear the moment the stone door opened, coming from all directions.
Countless tiny *cracks* rang out, like ice fracturing beneath one’s feet.
Tools hanging on the stone walls—pincers, chisels, even heavy metal shields—were all buzzing and rattling, as if pulled by an invisible force trying to break free from their restraints.
The Great Artisan God pondered for a moment, his expression grave.
He suddenly threw down his massive hammer and rushed out the stone door, with the Dwarf warrior following closely behind.
Passing through the dim corridors, he drew closer to the Vulcan Tribe’s Wonder Building—the Molten Heart.
It was a massive cluster of furnaces powered by flowing lava.
The closer they got to the Molten Heart, the more violent the tremors became, and the air grew increasingly hot and thick.
The pungent smell of sulfur was mixed with an indescribable scent—a mixture of rusting metal and decaying flesh.
Inside the vast cavern, many Dwarf warriors and artisans had already gathered.
Holding weapons or tools, their faces were filled with suspicion and wariness.
The lava river still flowed within the deep chasm, but its surging dark-red light appeared exceptionally manic.
Large bubbles burst from time to time, splashing dangerous sparks.
Even more unsettling were the surfaces of the massive stone pillars supporting the cavern ceiling; fine, spiderweb-like cracks were silently spreading, and debris continued to fall.
“Great Artisan God!”
A Dwarf warrior quickly stepped forward, reporting in a hoarse voice:
“The vibrations began three hours ago and are getting stronger! The lava flow has become unstable, and the temperature seems to be rising abnormally! Several forging furnaces in the workshop area have gone out, and cracks have appeared in the hearths! And… look at the mine entrances!”
Following his trembling finger, several dark tunnel openings leading to deeper veins were emitting visible wisps of Black Mist.
Wherever the mist passed, the rock quickly became gray, brittle, and crumbled.
“Corruption… it’s the Goblins! And—”
A young artisan growled in anger, gripping his tool tightly.
The Great Artisan God’s face was grim.
He walked to a crack-riddled stone pillar and pressed his calloused palm heavily against the cold rock.
A vibration even more chaotic than before traveled up his arm.
He looked up abruptly, his voice more serious than it had ever been.
“Maximize the power of the Molten Heart. Activate all Entries.”
“Divide into five groups to reinforce and clear the three main tunnels. Also, Balom, come with me to activate the ‘War Bastion’!”
The moment the order was given, every Dwarf sprang into action.
“Understood, Great Artisan God!”
“Clearance Team One, over here!”
“Teams Two and Three, head to the west tunnel!”
The suppressed panic was instantly replaced by an explosion of activity.
Long years of rigorous forging and crisis-tempering allowed this race to display incredible discipline in the face of a true threat.
—
As the power of the Molten Heart was pushed to its limit, the entire cavern shook violently, as if a sleeping behemoth had been fully awakened.
The flowing lava river suddenly became brighter and hotter, turning from dark red to a blinding orange-white.
The roaring was no longer disorganized; instead, it transformed into a low, powerful pulse with an ancient rhythm.
**[Leyline Resonance · Fortification] activated!**
**[Purification Field · Incineration] activated!**
Under the influence of the invisible force field, the spreading speed of the cracks on the cavern ceiling and walls abruptly slowed.
Some small fissures even began to slowly mend themselves.
The cracks on the surface of the support pillars were covered by an imperceptible energy film emitting high-temperature red light, temporarily stabilizing them.
At the edge of the lava river, the glowing liquid that had been flowing naturally surged up as if it were alive, forming a wall of churning lava fire.
A strange scorched smell permeated the air—no longer just sulfur, but the residual scent of some foul filth being thoroughly incinerated.
As soon as the Black Mist entered the core area of the Molten Heart, it let out a *sizzling* sound, quickly dissipating and fading.
Although it could not be completely stopped, it greatly purified the air in the core area, reducing the direct impact of the Corruption on the Dwarfs.