In the heart of the Hidden Realm lies the area richest in cosmic crystals. However, adventurers are not foolish. The two Holy Lands, the four major organizations, the sixteen great families, and explorers from various cosmic nations and planets all head toward the center, competing fiercely. The struggle there is the most brutal, and the terrain is extremely hard, much like the Storm and Thunder Canyon in the Thunder World. Mining there is very difficult, so it’s actually better to search around the periphery of the Hidden Realm.
“Scattered cosmic crystals, when gathered together, can be astonishing.”
Ba Bata advised.
Luo Feng listened with one ear while simultaneously commanding the Mo Yun Vine to drill deep into the ground. Three hours later, this was the third location they had discovered that contained cosmic crystals.
“We’re really striking gold,” Luo Feng thought joyfully.
The first site yielded 3,000 cubic units.
The second site had slightly less—2,000 cubic units.
And this third site—according to Ba Bata’s scans, it contained 4,000 cubic units!
“Shh~” The Mo Yun Vine quickly retracted.
“Ba Bata, how much? Four thousand?” Luo Feng asked.
“Yes, four thousand,” Ba Bata replied.
Luo Feng then looked up toward Hong and Lei Shen above and grinned, “4,000 cubic units.”
“Haha…” Both Hong and Lei Shen showed delighted expressions.
It must be said—blood brothers still settle accounts clearly. Although Luo Feng had helped them a lot, both Hong and Lei Shen, as well as Luo Feng himself, clearly understood that if the rewards of a cosmic adventure were not clearly defined from the beginning, conflicts would inevitably arise later. They had seen this happen too many times on Earth.
Therefore, the three of them had already agreed beforehand:
If all three worked together, each would receive one-third.
If one person did most of the work while the other two assisted, the main worker would receive 60%, with the other two each getting 20%.
If one person did all the work while the others didn’t participate at all, the main worker would receive 80%, and the other two would split the remaining 10%.
“We now have a total of 9,000 cubic units of cosmic crystals,” Luo Feng said, feeling cheerful.
“Keep searching,” Hong said anxiously. “Our time may be limited. Once the major organizations arrive, there won’t be anything left for us.”
“Yeah,” Luo Feng nodded, his expression turning serious.
The younger generations of noble families and organization members would surely report their findings to their superiors. Soon, Cosmic-level experts, even Sovereigns—and perhaps even the peak martial power of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, the Monarch-level experts—might arrive. At that point, where would there be room for a mere Stellar-level pawn like them to get involved?
A newly discovered world is already enough to drive people mad and cause many powerful beings to perish.
Even more so for a newly discovered Hidden Realm.
The Hidden Realm is far more attractive to powerful beings than an ordinary world.
“Let’s hurry!” Luo Feng commanded. “We must keep searching for the next site.”
…
Within the Hidden Realm, it was like digging for treasure! Other teams might not be as fast as Luo Feng’s group, but even obtaining 100 cubic units of cosmic crystals would be an astronomical fortune for an ordinary Stellar-level adventurer. Thus, every Stellar-level adventurer at this moment was digging frantically!
Unless one went to the center to fight with tens of thousands of other adventurers, no one could match Luo Feng’s team in terms of excavation efficiency.
It couldn’t be helped…
Ba Bata’s detection and alert systems were originally taken from the Yimo Star Ship, and even most Monarchs didn’t possess such advanced equipment.
…
A triangular, charcoal-black spaceship traversed the cosmos and arrived near the star Canglan.
Two men wearing silver-white cloaks stood side by side. Both wore two-star mercenary badges on their chests.
“Brother Mingyu, this time we brothers should be able to obtain some treasures. The Thunder Monarch was once extremely famous, and it’s said he possessed many treasures. However, when he finally perished, he self-destructed, and no one managed to gain anything,” said a handsome man with long purple hair, wearing a silver-white cloak, and whose eyes gleamed like swords.
“Brother Donglai, since both of us were relatively close to Canglan Star, we were among the first to arrive. It’s only natural we’d obtain some treasures,” replied the other, a tall, muscular man clad in dark-blue armor.
These two could be considered opposites.
One was a dashing, elegant man with violet locks, while the other stood like an indomitable steel-clad titan. These were the famed masters of Three Axes Mountain—Mingyu and Shao Donglai! Both ranked among the supreme Sovereigns. Naturally, they also served as external affiliates of the Virtual Universe Company’s Warrior Division.
The Warrior Division of the Virtual Universe Company allowed many members to belong to other minor organizations.
Compared to the Virtual Universe Company…
Even the Qianwu Cosmic Nation posed little threat, let alone the Three Axes Mountain within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire.
“Although those Stellar-level adventurers were the first to discover the Hidden Realm, the treasures inside are not something they can claim. Obtaining some cosmic crystals is already a great fortune for them. They should be satisfied,” said the purple-haired man, Shao Donglai, with a smile.
“We didn’t get any cosmic crystals back when we were at the Stellar level,” Mingyu mused.
The two Sovereigns naturally believed…
That Stellar-level adventurers had no qualifications to compete for the treasures within the Hidden Realm.
“Shall we land at the planetary docking port?” Shao Donglai asked.
“No need,” Mingyu shook his head. “I own property on Canglan Star. Landing directly won’t be seen as an insult to the planetary lord.”
The spaceship entered the interior of Canglan Star and soon hovered directly above the Mercenary Alliance’s base.
…
One handsome, one muscular, both wearing silver-white cloaks symbolizing their status.
The two descended from the ship.
“Hey, Mingyu, Donglai!” A green-skinned man in armor quickly flew over.
“Mo Le, what’s going on?” Mingyu and Shao Donglai, the two Sovereigns, flew over. The green-skinned man had what seemed to be a double pupil in each eye. He pointed discontentedly toward a nearby villa. “Look, the entrance to the Thunder World is being blocked by the Mercenary Alliance. They won’t let anyone else in.”
“What?” Mingyu and Shao Donglai were both shocked.
With all the major factions of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire sending their experts, could it be that the local leader of the Mercenary Alliance stationed on Canglan dared to block them?
“Let’s go,” Mingyu said.
Instantly, the three Sovereigns strode forward.
At the villa’s entrance stood twelve Cosmic-level experts. Each had a unique aura—some cold and sharp, some domineering, some smiling, some sinister. The villa guards didn’t dare to stop them, but at the entrance stood a silver-haired woman in a bright silver battle suit.
“Mingyu, Lord.”
“Donglai, Lord.”
Many of the Cosmic-level experts immediately bowed.
Mingyu and Shao Donglai nodded slightly, then turned their gazes to the woman. Mingyu barked, “The Hidden Realm has appeared within the Thunder World, making it unsuitable as a trial world. Since it’s no longer a trial world, it should be open to all mercenaries. Why are you blocking the entrance?”
“Who are you?” the silver-haired woman demanded.
“Mingyu, Commander of the Three Axes Mountain,” the muscular Mingyu stared at her.
“Listen well. My name is Qiniya,” the silver-haired woman radiated an aura of frost, as though she were the sovereign and divine ruler of this realm.
“Qiniya?” Mingyu and Shao Donglai both frowned.
The Black Dragon Mountain Empire had very few Monarchs, and even fewer Sovereigns. They knew all the famous ones. Yet they had never heard of a female Sovereign named Qiniya.
“The Thunder World is a trial world recognized by our Mercenary Alliance. Unless the Alliance revokes its status as a trial world, it remains one. As a trial world for novice mercenary evaluations, only Stellar-level adventurers are allowed to enter. Mercenaries are forbidden!” the silver-haired woman declared.
Mingyu, Shao Donglai, and Mo Le, the three Sovereigns, were all growing angry.
Rules?
Sometimes rules should be followed, but sometimes, they simply shouldn’t be.
“Qiniya, what position do you hold in the Mercenary Alliance that you dare to block three two-star mercenaries!” Mingyu roared.
…
Eight hours later.
The sky had darkened. At the entrance to the Thunder World, outside that villa, six Sovereigns and twenty-one Cosmic-level experts had gathered. Yet none could enter past the silver-haired woman, Qiniya.
“Boom!”
The heavens and earth trembled slightly.
A large number of people at the Mercenary Alliance base looked up into the sky and saw a silver-white pyramid appear above. Many, including Mingyu, gasped in shock: “A Mechano Race spaceship?” Within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, only a few powerful experts possessed Mechano Race ships, and all were of great renown. This one appeared to be particularly advanced.
The silver-white pyramid suddenly vanished.
A massively built bald man abruptly appeared. His eyes burned with flames, and a flame mark adorned his forehead. His gaze swept downward, causing all the Sovereigns below to instinctively bow their heads in fear, while the Cosmic-level experts had already respectfully bowed.
“Lord Anmengzi!”
All the Sovereigns and Cosmic-level experts greeted respectfully.
Anmengzi, known as the “Flame Monarch,” was undoubtedly one of the most supreme experts among the Monarchs of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. His mastery of flame had reached an unfathomable level, capable of burning space itself into collapse.
“Step aside!”
Anmengzi’s gaze fell upon the silver-haired woman.
The silver-haired woman looked at Anmengzi, her gaze lingering on the flame mark on his forehead. She smiled faintly. “Anmengzi? You’ve already gained recognition from the Cosmic Fundamental Laws? No wonder you’re a top-tier Monarch. However… this is a trial world recognized by the Mercenary Alliance! Only Stellar-level adventurers participating in the trial may enter. No mercenaries are allowed!”
“I told you to step aside!” Anmengzi’s voice was deep and resonant, causing a tremor in the hearts of all present.
Buzz!
A silver-white glow suddenly surrounded the silver-haired woman.
“Reckless!” she roared furiously, pointing at the mighty expert before her. “Anmengzi, do you dare to defy the laws of the Mercenary Alliance? This is a trial world—only Stellar-level adventurers may enter. If you wish to die, then go ahead! I guarantee that if you enter now, the Mercenary Alliance’s Enforcement Team will hunt you down afterward and obliterate your soul, leaving not even a trace behind!”
“And to all others present, listen well!”
The silver-haired woman stepped aside and pointed at the villa.
“If you wish to die, then enter!”
For a moment,
Six Sovereigns and twenty-one Cosmic-level experts stood in silence. Even Flame Monarch Anmengzi hesitated, watching the silver-haired woman thoughtfully, not daring to recklessly enter.
Day after day passed.
Increasing numbers of experts converged upon Canglan Star, yet none dared breach the Thunder World’s threshold. The ominous warning—”Enter if you seek death”—radiated terrifying deterrence. Meanwhile, within the Hidden Realm, the Stellar-ranked “cannon fodder” adventurers burned with frenzied exhilaration. Luo Feng’s squad toiled relentlessly, racing against time to unearth treasures.
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