Following McGee and the others along the way, Thorne controlled the water flow to trail behind, ensuring a constant supply in case of emergencies.
From McGee and his companions' explanations, Thorne pieced together the basics of the Earth Spirit Clan and the nearby power distribution.
About a thousand years ago, after their Earth Spirit God perished, the clan was banished to this underground world, never to leave again. They couldn't cultivate either—only those with exceptional talent naturally gained Mortal Tier strength upon reaching adulthood.
Fortunately, their ancestors, over centuries, bonded with the dim-witted Rock Monster Clan nearby. These two weak groups formed a strange symbiotic relationship, relying on each other to survive in this sunless underworld.
Without sunlight, most plants couldn't grow, and many that did were highly toxic.
Thus, nearly all races here were carnivorous, sparking frequent battles and deep-seated racial hatreds.
Beyond intelligent races, numerous magic beasts thrived, adapting swiftly to the underground environment. Often stronger, they forced most intelligent races to huddle in tiny territories, hunting cautiously—daily losses were common.
As they spoke, McGee's group reached their clan grounds.
It lay beneath a narrow crevice under a rock cave, requiring them to stoop to enter. The rock monsters, too large, stayed in the cave above.
Through the crevice stretched a spacious sunken valley, yet housing nearly ten thousand clan members, it felt cramped.
Thorne understood—the narrow entrance blocked most large predators, offering the Earth Spirit Clan a relatively safe haven.
"Clan Leader, we're back. We brought a Giant-Toothed Fish, and a great one wishes to visit," McGee said, approaching a middle-aged man amid the crowd, directing the fish to be laid down.
The Clan Leader glanced at the fish, surprised, then noticed the wound—beyond McGee's group's capability—and asked urgently, "A great one? Where? Bring them quickly."
Before McGee could respond, Thorne's voice echoed in the Clan Leader's mind.
"Heh, Clan Leader, forgive my intrusion. I'm merely curious about this place."
Startled, the Clan Leader looked at McGee, who met his gaze, aware the leader heard Thorne but unable to explain the phenomenon.
McGee pointed to the trickling water trailing him, suggesting it might be Thorne.
The Clan Leader eyed the stream, puzzled—he'd never heard of a race embodied as water.
"No need to wonder. This stream is just part of me—my true form is far larger," Thorne explained.
Still confused but not daring to press, the Clan Leader nodded respectfully.
"I came across McGee's group by chance. Call me Lake God. Now, tell me about this underground world's origins," Thorne said.
Hearing "God" in Thorne's title, the Clan Leader suspected divinity. Thorne's inquiry about the world's origins reinforced this—perhaps a god from outside, the only kind able to enter here.
"Reporting to Lord Lake God: no one knows when this world began. My clan arrived nearly a thousand years ago, but we're not the oldest—some say others have been here for ten thousand years."
"A legend circulates among us intelligent races: we're war criminals. Our gods died in battle, and we were exiled here, unable to leave or cultivate, left to perish naturally as punishment for waging war."
Thorne's mind reeled. This underworld was a prison—what war killed gods? Who had the power to banish so many races here? The Clan Leader claimed no one could enter or leave—why could Thorne?
Withdrawing his perception, using the stream as a conduit, Thorne confirmed he could come and go freely.
Finding no special barrier at the entrance, he had the bored Ghost Thorn Tree test it.
The tree cautiously extended a root into its drilled hole. All seemed fine.
But as the root fully entered, an inexplicable force rapidly corroded it along its length. Powerless, the tree severed it in panic.
No pain registered, amplifying its dread.
"What happened, Master? As my root entered, a mysterious force eroded it—I had to cut it off," the tree said.
Such a thing!
Thorne, unaffected, found it odd—likely his system at work.
This confirmed the Clan Leader's tale: outsiders couldn't enter, nor could insiders leave.
"But I'm an exception. If I built an underground river here, could its creatures move freely too?" Thorne mused.
"Your idea makes sense, Master, but we shouldn't rush. Let's develop slowly and understand this world first," the tree advised.
Thorne nodded—haste risked complications. Opening a passage would affect him first; he'd only proceed when benefits were assured.
Meanwhile, the Clan Leader continued, detailing the underworld's origins, the Earth Spirit Clan's millennium of growth, and the nearby region's state.
Thorne gained a rough grasp. Nearby creatures weren't too strong—only the dark river's depths held unknowns, its mightiest inhabitants a mystery.