Two days later, the advance party sent out to scout finally returned, having successfully located the passage leading to the next layer. Though this was largely anticipated, a wave of elation swept through the assembled group. Two consecutive, decisive victories had stoked everyone's enthusiasm for challenging powerful monsters to an unprecedented peak. They were eager, hungry for the next great battle, speculating on what formidable demons awaited them on the subsequent level—a clear demonstration, I supposed, of morale soaring to the heavens.

In truth, Jian Li and I were fully aware that the fifth layer of the Illusionary Realm was, in fact, the world of the Yellow Springs. Naturally, we could not reveal this to the others. Our deliberate stalling earlier served two purposes: first, to gauge the true capability of this large allied force and ascertain whether they possessed the requisite strength to breach the passages leading to the deepest levels of the Illusionary Realm.

The evidence proved that if the forces from the major guilds worked in concerted harmony, reaching the lowest depths of the Illusionary Realm was not an impossibility.

The second reason for the delay was to buy time for Feng Qingtian and the others who were rushing at full speed toward the Demonic Dragon Continent. According to our original plan, Feng Qingtian would rendezvous with Tong Lei, Yun Xi, Yun Shang, and the other core elite disciples of the Yun family who remained stationed outside. They would then follow the passage we opened and stealthily infiltrate the Illusionary Realm world behind us.

Originally, our intention was to enter the Illusionary Realm alongside Feng Qingtian’s arriving group. However, Jian Li and Lu Tong were deeply concerned that this large-scale joint operation could easily result in the complete annihilation of the entire force if any mistake was made. After all, no one understood the sheer terror wielded by the Woma Patriarch, the Evil Centipede, and the Yellow Springs Patriarch better than they did. The Dragon Shadow Manor and the Lu Clan of the Artificers had paid an excruciatingly high price over generations while exploring the Illusionary Realm.

If this massive contingent were to suffer total defeat now, the continent of Marfa would be unable to organize another large-scale expedition to the lowest levels of the Illusionary Realm for a very long time afterward.

To prevent any operational errors by the main force that could lead to the failure of the entire endeavor, Jian Li and the others were compelled to join the action prematurely. Nevertheless, given the progress so far, the team coordination demonstrated by Nalan Qiushui, Hong Tianluoxiao, and Mo Ling during this joint operation was truly admirable.

At the very least, the internal strife or disrespect for command that Jian Li and the others had worried about had not materialized, solidifying our belief that the chances of success were high. The subsequent phase of the plan would revolve around the final contention for power after reaching the tenth layer of the Illusionary Realm.

Feng Qingtian’s subsequent group of younger disciples was the crucial element of this entire operation. We would not allow their presence to be exposed until the final moments of securing the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword. Our ultimate trump card for seizing the sword was the Super Thunder Array—the very formation that Feng Qingtian, myself, and the elite young disciples of the Vermilion Bird Alliance had used to slay the Yellow Springs Patriarch in the Yellow Springs world.

Inside the tent!

“I have a letter from Yun Xi,” Yun Peng exclaimed excitedly. “Qingtian and the others have already landed at the Red Sea.”

“They’ve finally arrived,” Jian Li said solemnly.

“Calculating the time, they should reach the entrance to the Illusionary Realm in twenty days at most,” Feng Yuanming stated.

“We still have enough time,” Bi Yan added, a hint of joy on his face.

“After we break through the Yellow Springs world, Xingchen, you must find a way to remain on the fifth layer and rendezvous with Qingtian’s group,” Jian Li continued, his expression grave. “Only when you and they are united will we possess the strength to contend with the Azure Dragon Gang, the White Tiger Alliance, the Black Tortoise Alliance, and that bunch from the Brotherhood.”

“The Thunder Array,” Feng Yuanming declared, thrilled. “Once we have the Super Thunder Array, even the combined forces of the Brotherhood’s elite mages and the three major guilds won't be our match.”

“……” Yun Peng looked slightly taken aback, turning to Feng Yuanming with hesitation. “While the Thunder Array is powerful, the elite mages of the Brotherhood and the unique skills of the three major guilds are certainly not ornamental.”

“Indeed,” Yun Ju agreed, his face etched with concern. “I know that Xingchen and Qingtian once relied on the Thunder Array to slay the Yellow Springs Patriarch, but let’s not forget that the Brotherhood’s mages managed to kill the Woma Patriarch, and the mages of the three guilds combined with the Brotherhood’s mages blasted the Evil Centipede to death. Can the union of Qingtian and Xingchen truly be stronger than the combined might of the Brotherhood and the three major guilds?”

“You can rest assured on that score,” Feng Yuanming subconsciously glanced toward me before stating firmly, “This Thunder Array this time will be several times stronger than the one Xingchen and Qingtian hastily cultivated in the Yellow Springs world before.”

It turned out that after leaving the Yellow Springs world, the Vermilion Bird Alliance had vigorously trained the Super Thunder Array. The scale of the training was three times larger than the 180-person Thunder Array demonstrated in the Yellow Springs world, increasing from 180 members to 540. In the year I was away, the training for the 584 members of the Vermilion Bird Alliance’s Thunder Array was nearly complete. The only thing missing was practical application in combat.

Of course, the drills for the 580-person Thunder Array were all centered around the premise of my presence. Their task was simply to master the release and harmonization of the Thunder Array’s energy field. As for how to wield this immense power, that naturally fell to me.

In other words, the 584-person Thunder Array would only constitute a truly complete Thunder Array when I was added to it. Consequently, I was the absolute core main force for the final plan to seize the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword.

“After we break through the Yellow Springs world this time, Xingchen, you must stay on the fifth layer to meet up with Qingtian’s group coming from behind,” Jian Li instructed me. “Only when you are with them can the full power of the Thunder Array be unleashed.”

“Disciple understands,” I quickly replied.

I hadn't seen Feng Qingtian, Xia Ya, or Han Yunzhen for over a year. I wondered how much they had grown. Thinking about the comrades with whom I had once fought side-by-side reuniting, a surge of hot-blooded excitement coursed through me.

No matter what! We are determined to obtain the Scarlet Blood Demon Sword.

After breakfast, the main contingent reformed and set off toward the passage linking the fourth and fifth layers of the Illusionary Realm.

Following the fork in the road southeastward, we arrived at the lair of the Evil Centipede two hours later.

Before us lay a massive sinkhole, sloping sharply into the earth, resembling an open railway tunnel. It was pitch black inside, and only after everyone produced their Phoenix Luminous Pearls could we clearly make out the surroundings.

Despite being psychologically prepared, a collective gasp of surprise escaped everyone when they finally saw the scene.

We were standing in a cavern the size of four basketball courts. Passages extended outward in four directions, making us feel as though we were at a colossal crossroads.

The entire pit was vast, shaped like a somewhat irregular ring, flatter near the bottom. Compared to the jagged and rough cave walls, the ground was comparatively level. Upon closer inspection, one could see patches of sticky, brownish muck clinging to the cave walls, clearly shed skin or debris from the Evil Centipede. Perhaps these marks were left by its colossal body dragging violently against the rock as it passed—a testament to how thick the monster’s hide must have been.

On the flat ground, two distinct, deep tracks were clearly visible, resembling a pair of standard-gauge train rails set remarkably far apart. Recalling the Evil Centipede’s legs, which seemed disproportionate to its body, I was certain these marks were made by the creature moving underground, its immense bulk and weight pressing the surface into this shape.

The air was thick with a strange, foul stench, like a pile of spoiled, fermented fish left untreated for ages. Even with the Black Iron Helmet filtering out strong odors, I felt a wave of nausea and the urge to vomit—the exact same smell I recalled from the tunnels beneath the Death Coffin. This bizarre odor was unforgettable once experienced and something no one would ever wish to smell again.

It was noticeably cooler inside the cavern compared to the outside, and we could feel chilling gusts of wind that made our hair stand on end. Perhaps it was psychological, but many people instinctively shivered. After all, this had been the lair of the terrifying monster that struck fear into all who heard its name.

“This is the Evil Centipede’s nest,” Yun Lei said nervously.

“It seems certain,” Yun Xiu echoed, his voice trembling slightly with tension.

“Heh, I wonder if the Evil Centipede ever had a mate,” I mused suddenly, curious if such creatures paired up.

“Ah, don't scare me,” Yun Lei exclaimed in alarm, instinctively darting his eyes around the surroundings.

“Exactly. If a male or female Evil Centipede suddenly rushed out now, none of us would escape,” Yun Xiu admitted with apprehension.

“That seems unlikely, right?” Yun Lu murmured.

“Stop scaring yourselves,” Yun Zhen snapped irritably.

“What’s scaring ourselves? I think it’s quite possible,” Yun Lei argued, the thought growing more frightening the more he considered it.

“Oh, yeah. This place looks like its lair; maybe there’s a nest of baby centipedes,” Yun Xiu said, his imagination running wilder than mine. Still, if the Evil Centipede did mate, giving birth to a litter of young Evil Centipedes wasn't entirely impossible.

“Evil Centipede offspring,” Yun Lei muttered. “If they exist, they probably wouldn't be that big, right?”

“Even small, they're still Evil Centipedes. Even if they aren't as large as the one we fought before, they could probably swallow us in one gulp,” Yun Xiu agreed wholeheartedly.

“Enough! All of you, quiet!” Yun Peng said sharply. “Look at you all—bolder than mice.”

“What they’re saying isn’t entirely baseless; it’s better to be cautious,” Yun Ju stated gravely. “This is the Illusionary Realm; anything strange can happen here.”

The random speculations of the few young rangers made the already tense main force even more unnerved. Everyone widened their eyes, cautiously scanning the surroundings. Who could guarantee there was only one Evil Centipede? I myself had witnessed another Evil Centipede in the Centipede Cave in Mengzhong. Finding another one rush out now wouldn't be surprising at all.

Furthermore, this was a deep underground passage; if we encountered one, we wouldn't even have a chance to flee. Thinking of this, my momentary relief dissolved back into anxiety. I knew far too little about this ever-changing world of Marfa, and I hoped I was merely worrying needlessly.

We proceeded with trepidation, but fortunately, we encountered no further unexpected incidents. Two hours later, the main contingent finally passed through the passage and reached its end. Light flooded our eyes, revealing a world that looked familiar.

The ceiling of the cave walls was dark brown, and the surrounding walls were a blurry, coarse yellowish-black. The ground was uneven, looking like a disaster zone bombed by tens of thousands of cannons.

It felt colder here than in the preceding passage, like being inside a gigantic ice cellar, sending shivers down one’s spine.

The air was filled with a nauseating, decaying stench, mixed with a vague, sickly green mist, creating an indescribable sense of gloom and dread.

“Yellow Springs World,” I breathed instinctively.

Indeed, what lay before us was identical to the world of the Yellow Springs I had previously experienced.

“What? The Yellow Springs World?” Nalan Qiushui and the others looked toward me in astonishment.

“That’s right. This place is exactly the same as the Yellow Springs World,” I confirmed seriously.