Chapter 340: The Core Zone

“The Intermediate Realm?” Luo Feng stared at the screen, his heart suddenly tightening.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind. Logically, he had not disclosed his participation in the Cosmic Probationary Mercenary Examination to outsiders. Very few people knew about it. Although He Ruo knew, he was from Beilong City and lacked the authority to contact a supreme expert like Zhenyan! Then, how did Lord Zhenyan, this Overlord, find out that he was in the Intermediate Realm?

“Don’t be surprised! Back then, when I talked with you three, I could tell you had aspirations for cosmic adventures. Considering your strength, the first thing you’d likely do for a cosmic adventure would be to participate in the ‘Cosmic Probationary Mercenary Examination.’ The examination site for the entire Heilongshan Star Region is a Thunder World.” Zhenyan spoke straightforwardly.

Luo Feng looked at the tall, muscular figure on the screen: “Lord Zhenyan, you’re looking for me?”

“This Intermediate Realm was created by a Monarch named Kabu, known as the Thunder Monarch, who was quite famous in the Heilongshan Star Region millions of years ago.” Zhenyan explained rapidly. “Moreover, Monarch Kabu was very lucky, even considered quite wealthy among Monarchs, and possessed several highly coveted treasures that made other Monarchs envious!”

Luo Feng’s heart stirred, and he quickly asked, “Then, Lord Zhenyan, why haven’t you and the others entered the Intermediate Realm?”

This question had puzzled him, Hong, and Thunder God for a long time.

“It’s a long story. You’ll understand when you come out of the Thunder World.” Zhenyan’s voice was deep and powerful. “I’m contacting you to inform you that although only ‘Stellar-Level Adventurers’ can enter the Thunder World, the treasures within the Intermediate Realm are irresistibly tempting. Therefore, all major organizations and powers in the Heilongshan Star Region have dispatched armies composed of ‘Stellar-Level Ninth Stage’ warriors into the Thunder World.”

“What?” Luo Feng was startled.

An army composed entirely of Stellar-Level Ninth Stage warriors?

The Heilongshan Star Region encompassed more than 8,000 star systems, including over 500 vassal states like the Silver-Blue Empire! With such a vast domain, how many Stellar-Level Ninth Stage warriors would be deployed?

“How many in total?” Luo Feng quickly asked.

“Gathered by the most elite peak experts across the entire Heilongshan Star Region and decided through the ‘Monarch Conference,’ all factions combined have dispatched nearly 2 million adventurers.” Zhenyan said gravely.

Luo Feng fell silent.

Two million?

It is said that when the number exceeds ten thousand, it feels like a sea of people. Two million warriors would form an ocean of humanity, stretching endlessly. All of them were Stellar-Level Ninth Stage! Even a million-strong Stellar-Level Ninth Stage army would cause Cosmic-Level experts to flee in fear.

Even ants can kill an elephant!

To a Cosmic-Level expert, a Stellar-Level Ninth Stage warrior is like an ant, but two million ants could kill and eliminate everything, possibly exhausting their internal primordial energy.

“The adventurer groups vary in size—some under Monarchs, some under Overlords, and some under Cosmic-Level experts.” Zhenyan smiled encouragingly, “Because they aren’t united, you don’t need to worry too much. As long as you avoid and maneuver around them, you still have a chance to survive.”

“Understood.” Luo Feng, however, couldn’t relax.

Two million Stellar-Level Ninth Stage warriors!

It was simply hair-raising! It would be difficult for a single Monarch to gather two million Stellar-Level Ninth Stage subordinates, but this time, with the combined effort of all factions in the Heilongshan Star Region, it was naturally effortless.

“Grand.” Luo Feng sighed inwardly.

“Lord Zhenyan, why are you contacting me?” Luo Feng asked again.

“Of course, I have something for you.” Zhenyan smiled. “Let me tell you, although two million Stellar-Level Ninth Stage warriors will enter, the real grand gathering of experts on Canglan Star is a rare opportunity in the Heilongshan Star Region! Experts from all factions have gathered to guard Canglan Star, prohibiting other adventurers from entering the Thunder World. At the same time… once someone emerges from the Thunder World, such as you, Luo Feng! If you don’t belong to our two holy lands, four major organizations, or sixteen great families… you can imagine the consequences.”

Luo Feng’s face changed drastically.

This was outrageous!

The major organizations of the Heilongshan Star Region had obviously joined forces, determined to seize the Intermediate Realm for themselves! If you didn’t belong to their factions, you might face threats and coercion at best, or worse, be killed and robbed!

“There is now a large group of Cosmic-Level experts on Canglan Star!”

“There are over a hundred Overlords!”

“And nearly ten Monarchs!”

“Luofeng, tell me, what kind of tragic fate would you face if you emerged from the Thunder World?” Zhenyan looked at Luo Feng with a smile, but his tall, imposing figure made the smile genuinely terrifying.

Luo Feng was indeed frightened.

Monarchs?

Beings capable of causing the extinction of life-bearing planets like Earth with a single slap! Interstellar fleets were mere toys in the hands of a Monarch. Even the Silver-Blue Empire would tremble before a Monarch, and the Norrinsbane family would be like ants in comparison. And now, nearly ten such beings were on Canglan Star?

Goodness!

“Lord Zhenyan, what should I do?” Luo Feng looked at Zhenyan, already guessing the thoughts of this supreme expert.

“You probably already know my intentions.”

Zhenyan spoke casually, “It’s simple. You are among the first batches to enter the Intermediate Realm. Although the other Stellar-Level Ninth Stage armies are numerous, they are too late! You are the ones most likely to obtain the treasures. Monarch Kabu’s treasures are so many that even Monarchs are envious. Naturally, even a small portion would be enough to interest me, an Overlord.”

“What you need to do is, after obtaining the treasures, give me the ones that can interest me!”

“Of course, I won’t let you down!” Zhenyan smiled.

“And, with my name behind you, the various organizations and factions naturally won’t dare to harm you.”

…

All the strong are intelligent, so Luo Feng naturally did not refuse.

After conversing with Zhenyan, Luo Feng logged out of the Virtual Cosmic Network.

“Sister-in-law, did my brother just come back?” Luo Hua, somewhat tired, walked out from his wooden hut. Xu Xin, who was sitting outside on a chair researching data, smiled and nodded: “Yes, he just logged into the Virtual Cosmic Network for a bit. However, he just returned to reality.”

“I needed to talk to him! Oh, I missed the chance.” Luo Hua frowned.

“What is it?” Xu Xin closed the ‘notebook’ she had projected virtually. In the Virtual Cosmic Network, the browsing screen could be set to whatever one desired, but since Xu Xin came from Earth, she was already used to using a notebook and naturally modified it slightly with an ‘auxiliary brain.’

“It’s about the Earth Summit.”

Luo Hua explained, “The Earth’s various national leaders discussed it. They want… to send out some vanguard groups into the cosmos. They want to formally make contact with the universe.”

“What?” Xu Xin frowned.

“People are like that. They now have ‘Mind Sensors’ that can connect to the Virtual Cosmic Network. But now they’re not content with just connecting through the network; they want to make physical contact.” Luo Hua shook his head, “They asked me to pass a message to my brother. Anyway, I’m just a messenger, I don’t have the authority to decide anything.”

“Don’t rush.”

Xu Xin frowned as she spoke, “Your brother is very busy now. Wait until he finishes this busy period, then tell him about this matter.”

Luo Hua thought for a moment and then nodded: “Hmm, okay.”

…

Intermediate Realm.

In the bushes, Luo Feng and his four companions crouched.

“Sanzi, agreeing to Lord Zhenyan was the right decision,” Thunder God nodded thoughtfully. “What he said makes sense. Those big organizations must have joined forces. They certainly won’t let some small fry without a background take away the treasures.”

“I thought the same, so I agreed,” Luo Feng nodded.

“But now I’m worried about one thing,” Thunder God frowned. “After we come out, we have to go with Zhenyan. But what if Zhenyan secretly kills us and takes our treasures? That way, he doesn’t have to offer anything and can get all the treasures we obtained.”

“Right, we must be cautious about this,” Hong also nodded.

“I’m worried about this too,” Luo Feng was troubled.

Cooperating with Zhenyan could help avoid being targeted by other experts. But what if Zhenyan turned on them?

An Overlord expert could easily wipe them out with a single hand.

“Don’t fret, Luo Feng,” a crystalline voice resonated within Luo Feng’s consciousness. “Zhenyan reaching out to you is merely one of his schemes! Recall, there are tens of thousands who have already stepped into the Intermediate Realm! With so many vying for treasures, even Zhenyan harbors little faith in your success. Compared to the vast legion of two million behind you, your odds are merely slightly more favorable!”

“Moreover!”

“Now on Canglan Star, there are many experts gathered—Cosmic-Level, Overlords, and Monarchs. This is a rare grand occasion in the Heilongshan Star Region! If someone dares to ambush and kill on Canglan Star, those Monarchs will immediately detect it. ‘Zhenyan’ wouldn’t dare to do something so despicable on a place like Canglan Star. Experts care deeply about their reputation and dignity.”

“Believe in the promises of the experts!”

“Especially in places where experts gather, like Canglan Star. Even the most cunning and deceitful individuals must maintain the basic decorum of a powerful being.”

Babata’s words eased Luo Feng’s worries.

Indeed.

An Overlord expert, feared even by cosmic-level nations, especially in such a grand setting, wouldn’t risk their reputation for something trivial.

…

“Now, an army of two million adventurers is continuously pouring into the Thunder World. They will reach the Intermediate Realm in seven or eight days. So, we can no longer linger on the outskirts of the Intermediate Realm,” Luo Feng murmured in a hushed tone. “We must make haste and advance toward the core region of the Intermediate Realm!”

“Right! Cosmic Crystals are precious,” Thunder God also nodded. “But the treasures coveted by Overlords, and even Monarchs, are truly valuable.”

Hong nodded slightly.

“But we also need to be cautious. There were already tens of thousands in the Intermediate Realm initially,” Luo Feng frowned. “Especially those major organizations and powers, who have formed teams and united. Compared to them, our five-man team is too weak. So we should stay low for now and first figure out the situation in the core area.”

“That makes sense. The core area is where Cosmic Crystals are most abundant, and that place must already be drenched in blood.” Thunder God was somewhat excited.

In the Intermediate Realm for eight days.

Luo Feng’s team had never dared to go to the core area because they guessed it would be a chaotic, bloody battleground.

But now, they had no choice but to go.

For in seven or eight days, the two-million-strong army would arrive through the gateway, first emerging in the borderlands.

“Move out!” Luo Feng ordered.

The five-man team immediately transformed into five streaks of light, flying toward the center of the Intermediate Realm.