Chapter 731: The Lizard

Troglodytes, also known as "Trogues".

There are no fewer types of native humanoids living in the Underdark than in the surface world.

But there are only a very small number of underground residents, whose level of civilization is comparable to that of the human society in the surface world, such as dark elves, subterranean gnomes, and stone giants, who often live in magnificent and prosperous dungeons.

As for the other underground dwellers with a lower level of civilization, almost all of them have the custom of digging caves. Why do only the Zhanli people have the nickname "caveman"?

In fact, the Lizardmen really have this qualification!

In the eyes of modern people, the Zhanli people are nothing more than a primitive and barbaric nation, and their civilization is still in the stone age when they drink blood.

The only commendable advantage of this race is probably its super fecundity, making it the most populous humanoid in the Underdark.

The expansion and aggression of a race is often directly proportional to its fecundity, and the troglodytes are no exception.

This evil race, everyone is proud of plundering and killing, and often breaks out fierce conflicts with other races in the underground world in order to expand their territory.

However, no matter how good the lizardmen are at multiplying and expanding, they can only be regarded as a small threat in the dark region where the strong are like clouds.

There are two main factors that limit the hegemony of the Lizardmen.

First of all, of course, the level of civilization is too low. The most advanced weapons that the troglodyte can manufacture are just gun heads and daggers polished by obsidian.

With such rough stone equipment alone, no amount of fighters can conquer those more civilized underground residents.

In addition, the troglodytes lack strict organization and unified leadership.

The Zhanli people's society is still at the clan and tribal stage. Tribes, big and small, are like a mess, and there are always feuds between them that cannot be resolved.

The vendettas and infighting between the clans exhausted the vitality of the Zodiac people, and it was almost impossible to unite and build a powerful empire together.

Although the Zhanli people are not doing well now, their ancestors were once rich!

According to reliable historical records, the troglodytes are one of the oldest civilized races in the world of Vales.

The ancient cultural relics unearthed in the underground ruins also show that in the remote prehistoric era, the troglodytes once created a huge underground empire.

At that time, the level of civilization of the troglodytes was at least one era ahead of other humanoid races.

When the ancestors of humans still worshiped fire in caves, the troglodytes built magnificent rock temples and regarded other races, including humans, as slaves.

However, for some reason, with the changes of the times, other races continued to evolve and became more and more civilized and progressive. Instead of progressing, the civilization of the Zhanli people declined sharply.

Today, the protagonists and supporting roles in the prehistoric era have been reversed. Human beings have become the rulers of the surface world, while the Zodiac people have instead become barbarians hiding in underground caves and "jumping gods" around the campfire.

Looking back on the glory of the Zhanli people in the past, and looking at their current situation, Joan couldn't help feeling secretly.

Sometimes, the changes of a civilization are very much like the fate of an individual—ups and downs, ups and downs, unpredictable.

Putting aside these distracting thoughts, Joan whistled.

The throat-lock monster "Gulu" was squatting in a pile of rubble nearby. He turned over the stones and pulled out the frightened scorpion. He skillfully pulled out the poisonous hook of the scorpion's tail. Li, chewing and creaking.

Hearing the master's whistle calling, Gulu spit out the scorpion shell residue with a "bah", picked the fattest scorpion in his hand, and rushed over, holding the wriggling scorpion in front of Joan with both hands, A flattering expression.

Joan waved his hand, politely rejecting Gulu's gift.

The choker was no longer polite, and stuffed the half-dead scorpion into his mouth, chewing until the juice splashed.

Joan made a series of spell-casting gestures, and took two consecutive shots on Gulu's bald head, blessing it with "secondary spiritual connection" and "visual connection".

"Gulu, there is a war lizard camp in the opposite valley. Go down and investigate, and try to find out what the war lizard men are planning to gather here."

Joan gave instructions telepathically.

At this time, there was a gloomy roar in the valley, as if someone was digging a tunnel deep in the cave.

Joan turned to look at the place where the roar came from.

Just under a cliff on the side of the valley, the Lizardman dug a large hole in the smooth stone wall, and from time to time, figures came and went in and out of the hole, appearing to be in a hurry.

The roar just now came from the depths of this huge cave, which aroused Joan's curiosity.

"Gulu, did you see that rumbling cave? It looks like a mine."

"After you go down, try to find an opportunity to sneak into the cave to see why there is noise."

Gulu nodded vigorously, remembering his master's instructions.

Joan thought for a while, but was still a little worried, so he waved his hand and cast a spell, chanted a mantra, and cast two more spells on Gulu.

The first is "invisibility", ensuring that Gollum avoids the troglodytes' sight as he travels through the troglodyte camp.

The second is the 3-ring transformation spell that Joan just learned not long ago, "Water Breathing".

"Vilya!"

Joan chanted a Quenya mantra that symbolized "air", and a golden light appeared on her fingertips.

When he touched Gollum, the magical power condensed at the fingertips was transmitted to the choker, and gathered into an air bag on its head.

This group of airbags is bound by a force field film, like a colorless and transparent helmet, covering Gulu's head completely, continuously supplying it with fresh air.

Wearing this "air helmet", Gulu will not feel suffocated no matter whether he is underwater or in a vacuum environment.

Joan blesses this spell because of the stench of the Lizardmen camp in the valley.

Gulu was protected by "water breathing", so he didn't need to inhale the air polluted by the troglodytes, thus avoiding being stunned by the stench and revealing his whereabouts.

"Okay, you go, pay attention to your own safety."

Joan gave another last word.

Although Gulu is not very smart, he can still understand the master's considerate care through the many spells cast on him by his master, and he flew down the mountain full of gratitude.

The choker has fleshy pads and barbs on its hands and feet, and it climbs cliffs more calmly and nimbly than the ground lizard, and it dives down the valley without making a sound.

Under the protection of "invisibility", Gulu quietly approached the camp of the troglodytes.

At first, it was worried about being discovered, so it walked close to the cliff, using shadows to hide its whereabouts.

But it soon noticed that there was no need for him to hide in the shadows.

Under the protection of the "invisibility technique", even if he walked in front of the lizard man in a big way, the other party would still turn a blind eye.