Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 265: Beast Empire

North of Undead City, Xiao Mu and Xiao Hui continued their journey northward.

The Burrowing Beasts were the closest race to Undead City. Further north, there were other races, and their mission was to eliminate these small races.

The terrain here was similar to the Barren Plains—desolate, devoid of greenery, and lifeless. The only difference was the presence of more dead trees and some peculiar large rocks, making the landscape less flat.

"Xiao Mu, how much more experience do you need to level up?"

"More than half, but I'm getting there."

The siblings stood on the back of a bone dragon, flying rapidly forward, accompanied by a few liches and the Death Spirit.

These were all the undead they brought. Dealing with these small races didn't require the entire undead army.

Of course, ahead of them were numerous scattered specters, gathering intelligence.

After flying for an unknown amount of time, they saw a continuous mountain range stretching east to west.

The peaks soared into the clouds, covered in snow, appearing white.

"Wow, those mountains are so high!"

Xiao Hui stood on the bone dragon, flying high, yet the mountain peaks were still higher.

Soon, the siblings and their undead landed on the mountain. The area was filled with dead trees and unknown black vines, along with many creepy-looking insects.

"The last two races are on this mountain. Let's go."

Xiao Mu, Xiao Hui, and the undead followed the specters deeper into the mountain.

Halfway up, they found a massive tunnel, large enough for the bone dragon to enter. It was pitch black inside, like a lurking abyssal beast.

"Leaders, the race inside is called the Rockfang Beasts. There are nearly a hundred of them on this mountain, a unique creature forming a race."

The specter informed the siblings about the creatures. These creatures were scattered across the mountain, each living in similar large caves.

Each adult had strength ranging from Commanding level to Monarch level. There were only about a hundred of them, but being unique to this area, they were considered a race by the system.

"Ugh?"

Xiao Hui groaned, sensing trouble.

"We have to find a hundred caves? That'll take forever. Why can't they just gather in one place for us to wipe out?"

These creatures had no ruling class, each being independent. This meant there was no king to kill to indirectly control them.

"It is troublesome, but we have no choice."

Xiao Mu led the way into the cave, followed by the undead.

Suddenly, a pair of yellow eyes lit up in the darkness, and the cave shook as a massive figure charged at them.

Slash!

A huge bone blade pierced it, pinning it to the wall.

Xiao Mu used a light orb to illuminate the cave, finally seeing the creature's appearance.

It was a massive beast standing on four legs, with a head resembling an enlarged lizard, deep green skin, sharp black claws, and yellow bone spikes on its back. Its long tail ended in a spiked ball, like a flail.

"So this is a Rockfang Beast? What a strange-looking creature."

Xiao Hui commented.

The Rockfang Beast was only Commanding level, easily killed by a Monarch level lich. However, it was only pinned to the wall, not killed, as the lich looked to Xiao Mu.

"Kill it. These creatures are rare. Commanding level is useless. If a Monarch level submits, we can spare it, but they must relocate."

Hearing Xiao Mu's decision, the lich ended the Rockfang Beast's life, summoning it as an undead.

"Let's split up. Searching cave by cave is too slow."

Xiao Mu instructed the surrounding Monarch level undead.

The undead split into ten groups, searching the mountain for Rockfang Beasts, leaving Xiao Mu, Xiao Hui, and a specter behind.

"Aren't we going to search the caves?"

Xiao Hui asked.

"I want to check out the mountain peak first."

Xiao Mu looked up at the towering peak, shrouded in thick clouds, disappearing into the sky. Maybe there was something at the top.

In typical web novels, isn't that how it goes?

But Xiao Mu had other reasons, unlike Xiao Hui's whimsical thoughts.

"It's so high. It must be beautiful up there. I can already imagine standing above the clouds!"

Xiao Hui was excited.

"Let's go!"

She pulled Xiao Mu towards the peak, with the specter following silently.

As they neared the peak, they could almost touch the clouds.

Seeing the clouds so close, Xiao Hui closed her eyes. Xiao Mu pulled her through the clouds.

After a moment of darkness, they were greeted by blinding light. Xiao Mu squinted, standing on the peak.

The peak was barren, covered in ice and snow, surrounded by a sea of clouds, with the dazzling sun above.

The sunlight had no warmth. Xiao Mu opened his eyes, observing the surroundings.

"Wow, it's so beautiful. It's my first time flying this high."

Xiao Hui marveled, feeling her spirits lift at the sight of the sun.

"It's my first time seeing the sun on the Eldoria continent."

Xiao Mu was also filled with emotion. The endless sea of clouds seemed to cover the entire continent.

"Xiao Mu, there's nothing here. Why did you come up?"

Xiao Hui wasn't stupid. She knew her brother wasn't here for the view, as he was never one to please girls.

"This mountain is like a natural barrier, separating the north and south. The scenery to the north is completely different, with many races and no major powers. It's perfect for us now."

Xiao Mu explained, taking out a black energy crystal from his space ring—the fortress Essence Shard.

He activated the construction and placed the Essence Shard in the center of the peak, then pulled Xiao Hui to the edge.

A massive black magic circle spread from the Essence Shard, the ground trembling as the undead fortress slowly emerged.

Xiao Mu faced north, looking at the endless sea of clouds.

"This place is like the backyard of the Eldoria continent, or a zoo. No major powers interfere, making it a great place to develop. But we can't guarantee the undead won't be discovered, so building the fortress here is the most hidden option."

With the lesson from the hobgoblin kingdom's undead fortress being discovered, future fortresses had to be hidden, not in enemy territory.

Distance wasn't an issue with the Silverscale Leviathan for transport.

"That makes sense. I knew you weren't just here for the view."

Xiao Hui pouted.

"I did consider it."

Xiao Mu's words made Xiao Hui smile.

"That's more like it."

"What's the other race here?"

Xiao Hui almost forgot there were two races.

"The other race is on the other side of the mountain. Want to know the mountain's name? Follow me."

Xiao Mu led Xiao Hui off the northern edge, descending into darkness as clouds blocked the sky. Below, the scene was entirely different.

The mountain was covered in green trees, with endless grasslands below, a stark contrast to the other side.

"Eldoria has places like this?"

Xiao Hui was surprised. She thought Eldoria was all desolate and corrupt, with no clear skies or green plants.

"This mountain is called [Twinface Mountain]. The race on the lush side is the [Longtail Apes], but our target today is the Rockfang Beasts."

Xiao Mu explained as they flew.

"We came together, but you seem to know everything."

Xiao Hui was puzzled.

"The specters told us. You just didn't listen."

Xiao Mu rolled his eyes.

"Really?" Xiao Hui was skeptical.

The specter kindly explained again, and this time Xiao Hui listened.

The northern grasslands were called [Savage Plains].

The Savage Plains were known as Eldoria's backyard or zoo because most races here were strange beast races.

Meanwhile, in Undead City, Alex was listening to the Death Spirit's report.

"What? The race at the foot of Twinface Mountain is the Minotaur?"

According to the Death Spirit, it was indeed minotaurs—creatures with bull heads and human bodies, with purple skin.

But the key point was that the minotaurs were organized. The Savage Plains had many such races, like lion-men and centaurs.

These weaker races formed an alliance and joined the largest northern power.

That was the Beast Alliance, or Beast Empire.

A coalition of many races with a parliamentary system, don't be fooled by the name. The beasts at the center of power were highly intelligent.

These beasts were different from the Orc Empire on the Arsen continent, and they weren't a single race. They were much stronger than the Orc Empire.

Most of their groups were hybrids, rejected by their original races, forming independent races.

These outcast hybrids united to become strong and establish themselves among the races.

Strictly speaking, Ruby was also part of the beast race.

The Beast Empire's growing strength made them more aggressive, even developing bloodline extraction technology.

For selfish gains, some Beast Empire rulers began forcibly taking beasts' bloodlines. A talented beast like Ruby was rare even in the Empire, which was why they hunted her.

If you didn't join the Beast Empire, they would extract your bloodline and transfer it to others.

At its peak, the Beast Empire had hundreds of races, rivaling the werewolves of Skyreach Mountains and the vampires of Eternal Night City.

It was a powerful force, possibly with an Emperor level being, far beyond Alex's current capabilities.

But the situation wasn't all bad. The Beast Empire's forces were scattered, not concentrated. Races like the minotaurs were peripheral, and their elimination wouldn't attract attention.

Alex didn't know the exact location of the Beast Empire, but it wasn't on the Savage Plains. Even a few thousand miles was too close for comfort.

The mage association wouldn't allow it, and the Beast Empire wasn't bold enough to provoke humans.

Humans might not be united, but mages were. No race would dare provoke human mages unless they had a death wish.

"The Beast Empire, what a headache."

Alex was troubled. Why did every force have a background now?

Was it impossible to survive without one?

"The angels wouldn't control the Beast Empire, would they?"

Alex shook her head. If the angels could easily control a force with a Sovereign level being, they would have unified the world by now.

A Sovereign level being was rare; having one meant a top-tier race.

Minotaurs were beasts, but not part of the core race, just cannon fodder.

To be safe, Alex needed to investigate the Savage Plains before deciding to act. She didn't want to provoke a bigger enemy.