This question was merely a probe; Chen Feng had no idea where the 'there' that Austin feared actually was. A casual inquiry like this might prompt the other to reveal it.

"Senior appears so young yet possesses such immense strength, and can make the Ice Rock Battle Wolf submit. If Senior didn't originate from 'there,' I truly cannot fathom who else on this continent could be this formidable!"

Austin seemed unmoved, not even hinting at the location, which left Chen Feng feeling unusually frustrated.

Naturally, Chen Feng couldn't press the issue; doing so would immediately expose his ignorance. He took the Yellow Jade Magic Crystal and patted his slightly dizzy head, which ached from physical exhaustion, saying, "I don't wish for more people to know my affairs!"

Upon hearing this, Austin was overjoyed. From the tone of the 'Senior,' it was clear he agreed to help him acquire it. Hidden within every step was the scent of death. Almost no one who entered the valley floor ever returned alive!

A hundred years ago, a Dou Zun level expert ventured in on an adventure. Three years later, he successfully escaped. However, upon emerging, his tragic appearance was such that even his closest friends failed to recognize him when he returned home! Not only was this unfortunate fellow physically emaciated, but he had also become utterly deranged. Not long after, he died amidst anxiety and terror!

To reduce a Dou Zun expert to such a state, the interior must be unimaginably terrifying!

Therefore, once this news spread, the periphery of Dragon Diagram Mountain became a nightmare in people's minds. Almost no passerby dared to use the outer paths anymore.

Xiao Hu also spoke of the Nine Nether Gorge with a look of utter horror: "Boss, that place is too terrifying; perhaps we shouldn't go!"

Chen Feng glanced at Xiao Hu, suddenly filled with doubt: "When I first met you, you were only three months old, how could you know so much?"

Xiao Hu replied, "I possess inherited memories; many things are recorded within those memories!"

Chen Feng nodded, on the verge of deciding against the trip, when an idea suddenly sparked.

One cannot see a rainbow without weathering the storm; flowers raised in a greenhouse lack true vibrancy! If he shied away from every difficulty he encountered, how could his cultivation advance? Among the people of the King of Fighters, who didn't live for challenging themselves, constantly pushing forward to reach the peak of their cultivation? From KOF94, through KOF95, KOF96, KOF97... the striving never ceased!

With continuous challenges, everyone's cultivation refined, and the forms of their power constantly shifted and grew stronger! Thinking carefully, every King of Fighters memory in his mind surfaced only when his life was in peril: the 'Raging Stone' appeared when suppressed by the Orochi; the Phantom Crane Steps were grasped while being hunted; and the Orochi Hiss was learned by delving deep into a wolf pack...

If he remained in this nest of ease for too long, perhaps even the most crucial King of Fighters memories would cease to manifest!

Go! If such a prime opportunity were wasted, it would be a true loss. Moreover, there was the promise of triple cultivation speed. Still, this suited Chen Feng well enough; he welcomed the peace and quiet.

Grace, being frail and lacking a Horse-Drawn Carriage, was struggling with the long journey's fatigue. Fearing she would hold the group back, Chen Feng assigned a stronger Ice Rock Battle Wolf for her to ride. As a Third-Tier Battle Beast, the Ice Rock Battle Wolf possessed formidable strength and speed, maintaining pace without slowing even with a rider on its back.

Being able to ride an Ice Rock Battle Wolf made Grace look at Chen Feng with even deeper admiration! She had pestered her brother to come along, initially wanting only to see the sights, but never expecting to experience so many dramatic turns of fortune; her excitement only grew.

With hundreds of Ice Rock Battle Wolves clearing the path ahead, the journey was surprisingly smooth. As night fell, the group found a narrow valley to stop, setting up tents within its confines.

The valley was shaped like a funnel, easy to defend and hard to assault. Surrounded by towering peaks, it was the optimal resting place within hundreds of miles.

Chen Feng occupied a tent alone. As soon as darkness fell, he ordered Xiao Hu, the White Wolf King, and the surrounding wolves to guard the valley perimeter, guarding against sneak attacks from high-level demonic beasts that prowled Dragon Diagram Mountain at night.

Inside his tent, Chen Feng reflected on the day's experiences.

Upon leaving the valley, he had immediately offended a group of powerful factions. Offending them wasn't a great concern; at worst, he could kill them all. After all, in a place like Dragon Diagram Mountain where demonic beasts roamed freely, a few deaths were the most common occurrence.

However, after enduring more than half a year in the valley depths, suddenly encountering humans made it difficult for him to be merciless.

He shook his head with a wry smile. Had he become soft-hearted, or had six months in isolation changed his state of mind?

After thinking for a while without finding an answer, he ceased dwelling on it. Taking a deep breath, he sat down cross-legged to refine the vortex of energy within his body.

The successive battles during the day had pushed him into the mid-stage of the Sixth Level. Gazing inward, he saw the energy vortex in his Dantian had shifted from pale yellow to solid yellow, spinning slowly and emitting intense energy fluctuations.

The energy vortex of a Sixth Level Fighter was vastly stronger than that of a Fourth Level, and far easier to control, swirling in his Dantian like a yellow nebula.

Recalling the activation of the Orochi Hiss during the day, Chen Feng sighed, realizing that to unleash the ultimate move, he had to detonate the energy vortex!

The King of Fighters techniques were truly a peculiar method of cultivation—detonating the vortex to release a finisher, violently releasing energy using every single fighting cell in the body!

He hadn't expected the techniques from the King of Fighters to manifest so concretely within his own body.

Yet, without Senior Yan Long's rigorous training, simply attempting to detonate the vortex would likely cause his body to collapse and result in instant death!

Sighing, his gratitude towards Yan Long deepened. Simultaneously, he pondered when Yan Long might have time-traveled. Based on his tone, it wasn't too far removed from his own era, as Yan Long had mentioned that if he hadn't traveled, he'd be back on Earth watching television, chasing girls, and driving tractors—things that only became popular after the 1990s.

The span of time between them on Earth was small, yet in this other world, it spanned ten thousand years. It seemed that time travel could transcend temporal barriers!

Just as Chen Feng was lost in thought, Xiao Hu's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Boss, a flock of Pterodactyls is flying towards the valley entrance!"

"Pterodactyls?" Chen Feng blinked in surprise.

"No, wait—it looks like a group of Pterodactyl Riders!" Xiao Hu's voice was level but hurried, sounding quite anxious.

"Pterodactyl Riders? Don't move yet, wait and see what their intentions are!" Chen Feng transmitted mentally.

Before the mental message faded, Xiao Hu's anxious voice rang out immediately: "They are heading straight for the valley, likely looking for a place to rest too!"

ps: Just a dozen more votes until fifth place on the New Book Chart, friends, charge!