Heiress Unmasked: Shaking the World With Geomancy novel Chapter 2486

The family of corpse herders naturally didn't just move the dead but kept them, too.

Where corpses were kept, corpse soil would form, and the millennium-old corpse soil was the rarest of all.

Its dense negative energy made it the closest match to the weight and texture of the underworld itself.

Although Zidane had told Mike he could help him find whatever materials he needed, Mike still wanted to see it for himself to make sure it would actually work.

The car soon pulled into a mountain hollow.

As it curved along the winding path, it didn't open up into any modern village, but rows of tall, weathered wooden lodges built high on stilts.

These old houses stood between dark hills and murky green rivers, some towering as high as seven stories. Lanterns swayed gently outside, casting a faint greenish light that shimmered in the dark.

Even Mike, who had seen his fair share of strange things, couldn't help but be struck by the sight before him.

Lexie was completely unfazed. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she made a beeline for a four-story wooden lodge beside the village's main hall.

"Uncle Dalton, Grandpa, Aunt Carolina, I'm back!"

Brady gave a sigh and motioned for Mike to follow him inside.

By the time they caught up, Lexie was already being pulled into the arms of an elderly woman, who had to be pushing 90.

She cupped Lexie's face with both hands and fussed over her warmly. "You've gotten thinner, Lex."

The elderly lady was Carolina Abassi, Dalton's wife, and she wasn't alone.

The room was lined with older members of the Winslow family, all dressed with quiet dignity and unmistakable presence.

They were the clan elders, the same ones who stayed behind to guard the old ways, while the younger generation expanded the family's reach.

When they saw Mike, a total stranger walking in, they cocked their turns at him in unison.

The weight of their gazes was far heavier than the casual curiosity he had felt back in town. Even someone as socially adept as him found himself straightening up under their scrutiny.

At Brady's subtle cue, Mike offered respectful greetings to each elder in turn.

He hadn't expected such a formal reception, but Lexie had already given them a heads-up in the group chat during the ride over. So, while his visit was sudden, it wasn't entirely unannounced.

What he didn't expect was that the moment he mentioned the millennium-old corpse soil, the mood in the room shifted sharply. Every elder turned to look at him.

Even Brady, who had driven them here and joked along the way, now regarded Mike with a different kind of gaze.

Xenon narrowed his eyes, gaze growing heavier and more serious by the second. "You're after the millennium-old corpse soil?"

Immediately, Mike could sense something was off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the atmosphere had definitely shifted.

After all, Lexie hadn't mentioned anything about the soil being off-limits.

Still, he wasn't clueless. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he cautiously asked, "Does it cost money?"

Judging by the way the clan elders looked, Mike thought it wasn't going to come cheap.

He was preparing to hit up Zidane or the Special Security Agency for reimbursement later, as sealing the Cavern was a mission for the greater good.

However, Xenon visibly frowned at the mention of money. His lips parted as if ready to reprimand him, but Dalton raised a hand to stop him.

When he turned to Mike again, his expression was, once again, calm and amicable.