To the strange case of Zhong Shenxiu, shutting down an "Access Point" required no "Lockdown Scroll"; releasing a mere trickle of "Mental Waves" would suffice, and what's more, he could do it in "batch processing"—a level of efficiency simply unattainable by other mercenary groups!
This resulted in a bizarre spectacle: wherever Zhong Shenxiu and his group passed, the "Access Points" vanished one after another!
As for the demonic insects spilling out of these "Access Points," they stood no chance against Zhong Shenxiu's advance. More often than not, they disappeared from this world the very moment they manifested!
"Young Master, where exactly are we heading?"
"A place where powerful demonic insects are expected to appear..."
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Gwendolyn, leader of the "Heavenly King Mercenary Group," listened quietly as the report from her subordinate unfolded, the look of shock deepening on her face!
"The 'Access Points' are gone? You mean all those 'Access Points' outside have vanished?" This was the third time Gwendolyn had asked.
"Yes, Commander. I saw it with my own eyes; it's absolutely certain!" The subordinate stated, his expression grave. It had taken him a considerable time to recover from the sheer shock of what he witnessed!
Silence descended. Gwendolyn seemed lost in thought, only breaking the quiet after a long pause to ask, "Do we know the specific reason?"
"The precise reason is unknown, but..."
"But what?" Gwendolyn pressed urgently.
"But several brothers witnessed that as the 'Ten Cloud Drifting Mercenary Alliance' passed by, the 'Access Points' began to disappear sequentially. They didn't see anyone use a 'Lockdown Scroll' during the process!"
"So, it was them!" Gwendolyn murmured, momentarily distant again.
She knew the identities of Xia Luo and her companions; they were the legendary, most mysterious, and most formidable "Ethereal Mercenary Group." If it were them, then it was understandable!
"Do you know where they went?" Gwendolyn had managed to regain much of her composure.
"They are heading toward the 'Five Yin Brown Great Canyon'!"
The 'Five Yin Brown Great Canyon'? Why would they go there now??
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"Report—" a subordinate's voice echoed from outside.
Scolia, inside the tent, immediately commanded, "If there's new intelligence, come in and speak!"
"Commander, we've located the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'!" A subordinate strode in from outside, breathing shallowly as he spoke.
"What? You've located the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'?" Scolia jumped up, appearing intensely agitated.
"Yes, according to the latest intelligence, the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' is currently moving towards the 'Five Yin Brown Great Canyon'!"
"They are finally making a move! Good, good, good!" A faint smile touched Gwendolyn's lips.
In the current volatile situation, she believed only this "Ethereal Mercenary Group" could resolve this crisis!
"Relay my order: select one hundred people to accompany me to the 'Five Yin Brown Great Canyon'; the rest remain on standby!" Gwendolyn declared with imposing confidence.
This was an opportunity, a chance to advance and retreat alongside the "Ethereal Mercenary Group." Gwendolyn wasn't foolish and certainly wouldn't pass up such a moment.
Even knowing the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" didn't require their help, demonstrating goodwill was always the correct strategy!
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Meanwhile, Zhong Shenxiu and his group were drawing closer to the "Five Yin Brown Great Canyon." Strangely, as they approached, the number of "Access Points" they encountered dwindled along the way.
Following about fifty meters behind Zhong Shenxiu’s party was another contingent—this group was none other than the "Mysterious Mercenary Group"!
"Xia Luo, did you see? That woman has been staring at you the entire time. I bet they are here for you!" Kenny teased. With her around, the journey was never dull!
"Why would they be here for me?" Xia Luo looked genuinely puzzled.
"Have you forgotten? It seems your competition with her hasn't been concluded yet. She must still be unconvinced!"
"No... that can't be, right?" Xia Luo replied with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The group walked slowly but finally entered the "Five Yin Brown Great Canyon" successfully!
As Zhong Shenxiu and his party paused to rest, Clement approached with a solemn expression, stopping directly in front of Xia Luo.
Kenny winked at Xia Luo, her expression clearly suggesting: See, wasn't I right!
Xia Luo ignored Kenny’s playful jab and offered Clement an awkward, somewhat weary smile. "Hello!"
"Let us continue that fight!" Clement cut straight to the chase.
Ugh~~~
Xia Luo’s mouth twitched visibly; it seemed Kenny had guessed correctly. She wasn't one for confrontation, so after careful consideration, she offered, "Perhaps next time?"
"When is 'next time'?" Clement proved to be remarkably direct.
Sweat dropped.
Xia Luo glanced helplessly toward Kenny, who promptly ignored her distress.
"The environment here is quite nice; we can just do it here!" Clement took it upon herself and even retrieved Xia Luo's sword.
Just as Xia Luo felt cornered, Zhong Shenxiu’s voice rang out, "Hey, I say, when challenging one of my team members, shouldn't you seek my permission first?"
Seeing the faint smile on Zhong Shenxiu's face, Xia Luo knew she was off the hook, but she also knew Clement was about to have a bad day!
Ah, some people never learn without a proper lesson. May fortune favor you!
Clement turned to Zhong Shenxiu and asked coolly, "Who are you?"
"The leader of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'!" Zhong Shenxiu’s tone was even more placid than hers.
At these words, Clement and every member of her accompanying group froze as if turned to stone!
"Since you wish to issue a challenge, how about I introduce you to someone considerably stronger? Do you dare accept?" Zhong Shenxiu was already setting the hook.
"Who?" Clement was already taking the bait.
"Someone quite young." Zhong Shenxiu said, then turned and called out, "Robin, come here!"
As Robin approached, the other members of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" immediately pitied Clement.
"Well, she is indeed quite strong. If you don't feel confident, I can introduce you to someone slightly weaker!" Zhong Shenxiu adopted an expression of consideration for Clement's well-being.
"Her!" Clement finally bit down on the trap Zhong Shenxiu had laid for herself.
The duel began instantly, yet it ended just as quickly, leaving Clement herself in disbelief!
She had lost, defeated confusingly, because from the moment the contest started, she hadn't seen Robin again. She only felt her body being thrown about violently, up and down, never getting a chance to strike back!
The rest of the "Mysterious Mercenary Group" members were stunned into silence. When had they ever seen their leader appear so weak, toyed with like an inanimate object?
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The "Heavenly King Mercenary Group" and the "Tiger Leap Mercenary Group" arrived sequentially and, without question, fell in line with Zhong Shenxiu's group.
Zhong Shenxiu's stance toward these newcomers was one of "neither opposition nor support"!
Time passed slowly; everyone waited quietly here for two days. During this period, the world was calm, and no one knew what Zhong Shenxiu was waiting for.
However, this waiting did not continue indefinitely, as on the third day, an anomaly finally occurred—the very thing Zhong Shenxiu had anticipated!
Suddenly, numerous strange, small black spheres materialized out of thin air all around them. They were not excessively large, about the size of coconuts.
These little black spheres were starkly visible under the light, and their rapid rotation lent them an added layer of strangeness!
What in the world were these things?
Similar questions ran through many minds, but no one dared approach to investigate.
The atmosphere grew heavy, like the calm preceding a fierce storm.
Indeed, when thousands of demonic insects surged forth from these small black spheres, everyone present was startled into a sharp intake of breath.
The "Mysterious Mercenary Group," living up to its reputation as a team composed of "Z-War" veterans, reacted first, immediately engaging in ferocious combat.
The "Heavenly King Mercenary Group" and the "Tiger Leap Mercenary Group" were slightly slower to react but displayed their fearless bravery, joining the fray to intercept the oncoming swarm of demonic insects!
In contrast, Zhong Shenxiu’s group appeared shamelessly passive, watching the battle from the sidelines. The only oddity was that not a single demonic insect charged toward them.
Half an hour later, the battle concluded. Most of the demonic insects had scattered, and a few were eliminated. Everyone could finally rest. The vast majority of the credit belonged to the "Mysterious Mercenary Group"; they were truly formidable!
But then...
"They're here!" A peculiar light flashed in Zhong Shenxiu's eyes.
As his words faded, a colossal claw reached out from a black sphere directly above their heads.
The appearance of this claw was like a Roc spreading its wings, instantly blotting out the light and imposing an indescribable pressure!
Those with less fortitude were already trembling, their legs giving out as they sank to the ground. Even veterans like Gwendolyn turned ashen-faced, unable to utter a word.
Moments later, a massive, protruding lower jaw entered their line of sight, its constantly dripping saliva resembling a waterfall!
How immense was it? To call it a mountain would not be an exaggeration!
"What... what is this? A de... demonic insect?" Scolia felt a tremor of fear she had never known. Gazing at the monstrous entity hanging overhead, he didn't possess the will to resist!
"H-how can this be? How is 'Yan Sen' here?" Clement’s face was devoid of color, her voice trembling slightly.
Indeed, 'Yan Sen' was the name of this demonic insect, a creature countless times more powerful than 'Heiluo'! Clement had only seen it once while in the "Alien Dimension," and even then, it was only from a great distance!
The expressions of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" were distinctly different from the others. Far from showing tension or fear, they watched the gigantic 'Yan Sen' with an air of detached appreciation.
At this moment, another of 'Yan Sen's' massive claws extended, instantly intensifying the pressure felt by everyone!
Clement was intimately aware of 'Yan Sen's' strength. This type of insect was utterly impossible for humans to handle; even her full-power strike would be no more significant to 'Yan Sen' than a mosquito bite.
Clement now intensely wished she could strangle Zhong Shenxiu and his group for leading them to such a place and encountering 'Yan Sen.' Wasn't this deliberately leading them to their deaths?
What infuriated Clement the most was that Zhong Shenxiu and his group were actually laughing! Had they gone mad? Even if they didn't know 'Yan Sen's' true power, didn't such a colossal monster inspire any fear in them?
Clement had considered fleeing, but retreating in the face of 'Yan Sen' was foolish. 'Yan Sen' had a habit of pursuing moving objects; the large swarm of insects that appeared earlier might have been the result of its chase!
Furthermore, 'Yan Sen' possessed terrifying long-range attack capabilities; even if one fled tens of miles away, they would still be within its effective range!
Given the current situation, the safest place seemed to be exactly where they were: as long as they remained motionless, this 'Yan Sen' might not notice them.
That's what she thought, but Zhong Shenxiu's next action nearly made her abandon all decorum and scream!
With a casual wave of his small hand, Zhong Shenxiu sent a gigantic fireball hurtling toward 'Yan Sen's' head. Its instantaneous speed was so rapid that even Clement couldn't intervene in time!
Clement was furious, her face turning green. She desperately wanted to leap over and throttle this child.
Didn't he know 'Yan Sen' was immune to all magic? Didn't he realize that doing this would only hasten 'Yan Sen' focusing on them? Good heavens, how could such a reckless child exist? Had his head been kicked by something?
But what enraged Clement even more was yet to come. After unleashing the fireball, Zhong Shenxiu even turned and gave her a mischievous smile—it was clearly deliberate!
In that moment, Clement felt like fainting!
The fireball struck 'Yan Sen's' head precisely where it was aimed. Although 'Yan Sen' possessed immunity to all magic, that depended on whose magic it was. The magic Zhong Shenxiu wielded was hardly simple!
If Zhong Shenxiu had wished, a casual Samadhi True Fire could have incinerated the massive 'Yan Sen' without a trace!
Instantly, 'Yan Sen's' head burst into ferocious flames, like a candle wick catching fire, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky!
"ROAR~~~~~"
A roar that shook the heavens erupted from 'Yan Sen's' maw. The resulting shockwave instantly destroyed more than half of the "Five Yin Brown Great Canyon" and leveled several distant peaks into plains!
What destructive power! If 'Yan Sen' had initially instilled fear, now these people were completely terrified into paralysis, Clement included!
Under such monstrous destructive force, forgetting escape, they likely wouldn't even realize how they perished!
This 'Yan Sen' was clearly enraged by the intense pain. Its body began to twist violently, emerging from the black sphere even faster—which was precisely what Zhong Shenxiu desired!
"No! It noticed us!" Clement shrieked suddenly.
Everyone could see 'Yan Sen's' indescribably huge eyes fixed upon them. Their fear reached an absolute peak.
If 'Yan Sen' let out another roar aimed at them like the first, then...
Cold sweat streamed down everyone's forehead. No one dared to contemplate the potential consequences!
As the saying goes, what you fear most is what comes true!
'Yan Sen's' upper and lower jaws snapped open wide, unleashing another earth-shattering, soul-stirring roar!
"Hooowwl~~~"
In that instant, the minds of the onlookers were filled with only one thought: I am doomed!
But reality diverged from their expectations. Aside from the sound that nearly ruptured their eardrums, not a single person died!
What was happening?
Everyone looked up again toward the 'Yan Sen' suspended in the sky, only to see a faint halo surrounding the creature, like an almost imperceptible thin membrane!
This membrane was precisely what Zhong Shenxiu had conjured, blocking the powerful energy blast ejected by 'Yan Sen'!
While everyone was still trying to process this, Zhong Shenxiu uttered a phrase that baffled them: "Hmm, it's about time to put it away."
All gazes inevitably shifted back to Zhong Shenxiu, who happened to be extending a small, fair arm, palm open toward the 'Yan Sen' in the sky!
What was he trying to do?
Clement was even more alarmed, shouting loudly, "Don't be reckless!"
She rushed forward. She had already sustained enough shock and didn't wish to endure another incident. If this little thing caused any more disturbance, even if 'Yan Sen' didn't rampage, she might!
Clement truly deserved her title as the leader of the "Mysterious Mercenary Group," possessing incredible speed, but mid-stride, her body abruptly halted because an unbelievable sight caused her mind to go completely blank!
With a mere beckoning gesture from Zhong Shenxiu, the entire body of 'Yan Sen' was yanked completely free from the black sphere. More than that, the terrifying bulk of 'Yan Sen' began to plummet straight down toward them!
"Ah!"
Several screams erupted simultaneously, and looks of absolute despair washed over the faces of the crowd once more. This was truly one crisis replacing another!
Just as the colossal shadow neared them rapidly, a brilliant flash illuminated their eyes, and sunlight streamed directly down. 'Yan Sen' had vanished!
What happened? What was the situation??
The crowd looked toward Zhong Shenxiu, the instigator of all this, only to find him shamelessly wandering off to rest, acting as if none of it concerned him!
The crisis was over. Although unable to fully accept what had transpired, everyone felt immense relief. That feeling of surviving certain death was deeply unsettling!
Finally, everyone except the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" departed. This was understandable; they simply couldn't endure any more excitement.
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Zhong Shenxiu did not leave. He spent another three days researching the area. His efforts were not in vain; he gained an entirely new understanding of "Access Points" and the "Alien Dimension," which provided him with greater certainty in refining the "Alien Dimension"!
During these days of Zhong Shenxiu's research, the day of the "Five Fiends Converging" finally arrived, and the calamity finally began to spread across the entire world...