Chapter 54

"Have you found it, sir?"

"Yep, they're right on the statue." After a long while, Du Nan dug out two stone eyeballs from a statue. He never expected that inside them were the four-star Earth Frost Core and the five-star Sky Frost Core, the components of the Ice Gate technique. These lost seed cores were placed so openly on the roadside, with nothing but a shield against mana, and no other disguise.

Is it really so 'safe' on Scrap Metal Planet? Or is it because there are too few mana warriors and too few people who understand mana knowledge here?

These motorcycle thugs can't even read, let alone understand what seed cores are.

"It's good that you found it, congratulations, sir." The old driver was overjoyed.

The thugs could tell it was something valuable, but they didn't think of taking it. This wasn't a matter of strength, but a deep-seated belief instilled by their teachers: If one day they could break out of Scrap Metal Planet, it would definitely be thanks to the mana warriors. If one day Scrap Metal Planet could achieve peaceful self-governance, it would certainly be due to the efforts of the mana warriors.

We are thugs... they thought: What we can do is use our bodies to pave the way for the mana warriors, so they can lead their descendants over the high wall that blocks Scrap Metal Planet.

Woo woo woo!

Before Du Nan could speak, several large starships flew by.

"Sir, don't attack, these are cargo ships." The old driver, seeing Du Nan's expression change, quickly explained: "These aren't garbage ships; they are merchants, not bad people. They must be here to pay the mana warriors."

Before he finished speaking,

The starships opened their cargo doors, and one package after another of clothing fell to the ground with the wind.

At the same time, large bags of food were also dropped.

At this moment,

The thugs didn't move.

"We'll wait a bit. They won't get far anyway. Let them... let them eat their fill, and then we'll take it." The old driver, seeing Du Nan's confusion, quickly explained. Robbery was no problem, but letting them eat first and then robbing them later was fine too.

Du Nan was speechless.

As 'thugs,' you really have too much sympathy.

"Hammer, what do you mean by paying the mana warriors? I don't understand. Scrap Metal Planet is a place where you can enter but not leave. How can these benevolent merchants deliver food without being bombed by orbital weapons? And how can they pay for services when the mana warriors can't leave? Do they know the situation here and are sending aid?"

"I'm not quite sure either." The old driver scratched his head.

The team leader took over: "Sir, this is related to a place called the Mana Network. I heard only mana warriors can enter that place. The payment is the money they earn there. As long as the merchants don't bring weapons, minerals, or energy batteries, they generally won't be stopped. Some merchants are very influential; as long as they have enough money, they can even bring in some small weapons."

"Right, I heard only some very prestigious mana warriors can get these good things." The old driver added.

Du Nan listened.

He completely understood.

The mana warriors on Scrap Metal Planet earn money from the Mana Network. Since they can't leave, the money is useless to them, so they have merchants deliver food and clothes at regular intervals. The merchants don't care about the Federation's policies; they just want to make money. This 'charity action' is hard to stop; everyone wants to save face, and no government would dare to label itself as 'evil.'

Inside, they are dirty, but on the surface, who isn't a gentleman or a lady?

"Where can I find such a device?" Du Nan, having obtained the Earth Frost and Sky Frost cores, wasn't in a hurry. The Mana Network is a good place for training; ordinary maps are boring, but the history battle maps are powerful. He hadn't been able to 'defeat' Qin Zhong yet.

"The city, the city must have it." The team leader looked ashamed, as if they wanted to help but their motorcycles couldn't reach the Mana Network.

"Thank you, let's go to the nearest city." Du Nan didn't correct him.

The Mana Network isn't a 'place,' though it is an independent 'place'... This is something hard to explain to a group of uneducated people.

The old driver was delighted. He thought this mana warrior was truly a great person, who would work hard to earn money and bring resources like food and clothes to the planet. Today was a lucky day; he had helped such a great hero, and his life was not in vain.

Du Nan pondered.

At this point, he understood.

The local thugs and hunters were a knot that could never be untied: the major federations didn't want Scrap Metal Planet to become civilized, so they sent assassins to destroy all factories, farms, and buildings. They also assassinated all scholars and those who taught knowledge. The thugs, being uneducated and without skills, couldn't survive without robbing. Before they died, their most important task was to take a hunter down with them.

To kill a hunter, they would do anything to survive and obtain weapons and equipment.

To kill a hunter, they would risk their lives.

In the minds of these thugs, only those who held books and possessed mana power were the future of their descendants and of Scrap Metal Planet. As Old Hammer said, just showing a bit of mana would make someone willing to risk their life to help. This seemed to be a deep-seated belief, like a faith in a 'light of the future.'

"Sir, no matter where you go to play, never get close to the ocean." On the way, the old driver couldn't help but remind him.

"Why?"

"Because there are Silver-Horned Dragons in the ocean. Hunters call the great Eight Kings, the Mountain Lord Ice Spine Ban Tu Bear, and the Ocean Lord Silver-Horned Dragon the three major threats of Scrap Metal Planet. The Eight Kings are good people, our heroes, and they don't harm anyone. Ban Tu Bears rarely come down from the mountains, and their numbers have decreased due to the Eight Kings' hunts. But the Silver-Horned Dragons are increasing in number." The old driver said.

The team leader kicked the old driver's foot, slightly angry: "How many times have I told you, the Eight Kings are eight people, not one."

"I know, I've seen one of them." Du Nan found it amusing and asked, "Even if the number of Silver-Horned Dragons increases, they are still marine creatures. Who said they pose a threat?"

"The teachers all say so." The old driver said.

A young thug sighed: "The teachers also say that one day, the Silver-Horned Dragons will become a great disaster. Too many toxic substances and waste drugs have been dumped, and the Silver-Horned Dragons have changed a lot. Some have even grown legs. The teachers say that the number of Silver-Horned Dragons is huge, possibly more than humans, so one day..."

Everyone listened, their faces dark.

Compared to their mortal enemies, the hunters, they trusted their teachers more: the greatest enemy of the Scrap Metal people in the future would be the Silver-Horned Dragons.

Du Nan didn't ask more.

At this point, he understood that the garbage dumped in the ocean was far more than on land. The mutation and evolution of marine monsters were faster than those on land. One day, the marine monsters that came ashore would be the greatest threat to the Scrap Metal people. The hunters were just a group of mad dogs sent by the federations.

"Up ahead is the city. As long as you show a bit of mana, they will definitely invite you in." The team leader pointed to a steel-encircled city on a garbage mountain.

They looked up with reverence but didn't dare to approach.

As if afraid that their dirty bodies would defile this holy place.

"Thank you." Du Nan clearly sensed that this city was the 'Holy Capital' of the thugs. It was the future of their descendants and the survival of Scrap Metal Planet. They were willing to risk their lives to protect this spiritual homeland but didn't want to defile it with their bloodstained hands.

Watching the convoy drive away,

Du Nan felt these figures were more majestic. They did all sorts of bad things but always adhered to a bottom line: not to destroy the future. In their hearts, there was always a 'bright' future. Compared to the hunters, who would do anything for money, they were more human, not beasts.

What about me?

What am I? A group of ordinary motorcycle thugs can still think of a planet, so what am I?

Du Nan's mana surged within him.

At this moment, Du Nan seemed to find what he lacked... I understand, I was wrong. A group of thugs who can't even guarantee food and drink, who put their lives on the line, and who can't even kill a small insect, have the courage to stand up against the entire Blue Star Alliance. For the future of their descendants and the planet, they fear nothing.

And myself... On the surface, I have three-star ice mana, pure blue techniques, and sixth-level martial arts. In secret, I have six-star thunder power, the origin core of thunder power, the ten-thousand fusion physique, and three fragments of a divine artifact... What do I have to fear?

The Eighty-Eight Noble Families?

The Eight Master Clans?

Old Qiao? Or the Blue Sea Federation, even the Blue Star Alliance... Do these things really matter? Borrowing a famous quote, I am a man who will become the God of Thunder. Do these scoundrels really need to be on my mind?

Thinking this, Du Nan completely relaxed.

On his shoulder,

It felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. The warnings of the Thunder Emperor and the advice of Qin Zhong were no longer a pressure on his mind... Power is in my hands; I can do as I please. Nothing can force me, and nothing can restrain me. The universe is vast, and as a worthy successor of the Thunder God's power, I shouldn't fear finding a place to settle.

No! That's not right!

The one who should be most worried is not me, but my enemies!

Buzz.

Du Nan's mind was like it had been washed by a holy spring. The Earth Frost and Sky Frost cores in his hand suddenly emitted an unusual hum. As mana flowed through his arm into his mind, a new image appeared in Du Nan's memory: from the vast universe, shrinking to a galaxy, then to a star system, to a planet, and finally to a huge underground cave with an indescribably large corpse.

At this moment, Du Nan understood why there were no other Earth Frost and Sky Frost cores. They were left by a thousand-year-old emperor. These two 'jade eyeballs' were the relics left by the Ice Emperor before his death.

At this moment, Du Nan also understood why Qin Zhong left the two cores on Scrap Metal Planet. This was the burial place of the Ice Emperor, and also the place where he failed in his quest for the greatest power.

That huge corpse was the true legacy they both hoped to pass on.