Chapter 355 – Tianyuan Territory's Situation is Just Too Difficult

“Have we already passed through the turbulent zone and arrived at a new area?”

Shen Linglong gazed into the distance, her eyes taking in rolling mountains and dense forests, but there was nothing particularly remarkable about the scenery. She couldn’t spot the towering black peak Tianyuan had mentioned earlier.

How could they be sure?

Sophia said, “We’ve spent over two days exploring the previous hazardous area and are very familiar with its surroundings. I’m certain these mountain ranges and terrain are different from before.”

She was 100% confident.

Sophia had complete faith in her memory and observational skills.

Additionally, she had another piece of evidence to support their passage through the spatial channel.

The Black Crows!

Before entering the hazardous area, she had left numerous created Black Crows in the vicinity. These crows could persist for one or two days. While they were still navigating through the hazardous area, Sophia maintained a strong connection with the Black Crows, constantly observing the scenes outside the hazardous area through their eyes.

This was her insurance measure.

She had left varying numbers of Black Crows in different directions outside the hazardous area. If any legendary monsters appeared and headed toward the hazardous area, they could at least retreat calmly or use the information advantage to set up an ambush.

But now, her connection with her created Black Crows had been completely severed.

This indicated they had traversed an extremely vast distance through space.

“This must definitely be another region!”

Of course, even so, she couldn’t be certain this was the region where their territory was located. After all, she still hadn’t spotted the conspicuous Black Colossus Mountain.

She activated the Mental Link.

Within two seconds, she received a definite, affirmative answer.

“We’ve found the right place!” Sophia revealed a smile, and the pressure weighing on her shoulders significantly eased.

…

“Flutter, flutter—”

Wispy black mist swirled around Sophia’s body, from which crimson-eyed, black-feathered crows emerged, vanishing like drops of water merging into a lake in the blink of an eye.

“No immediate dangers detected in the surroundings for now.”

As she spoke, she half-knelt, pressing her hand against the barren ground before her and channeling energy into it.

In an instant, a dark crow feather mark appeared, then slowly faded and disappeared.

“What are you doing?” Shen Linglong asked.

“I’m marking our location,” Sophia paused before continuing, “I’ve observed that the turbulent zone behind us is extremely vast, stretching endlessly to both left and right with no end in sight.”

“This way, if we don’t mark it, it won’t be easy to find the channel entrance again next time we come.”

Oh right!

Shen Linglong realized belatedly, having nearly forgotten such an important task as leaving markers.

She glared at the Rumbling Rockbeast beside her: You couldn’t remind your Lord about this!

The Rumbling Rockbeast looked wronged with its eyes—it had just emerged from the Mark Space after all.

…

After placing a sufficient number of markers, the group of humans and creatures began heading north.

Wandering monsters gradually appeared before them;

Through the Black Crows’ vision, they detected numerous monster groups, along with a few monster camps;However, as they journeyed northward, monster camps gradually disappeared, replaced by large-scale, numerous monster tribes with towering city walls… or what could be called monster cities.

“Monster tribes of this scale… are no simple matter.”

Shen Linglong gazed at the images projected by the Black Crow, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She noticed that large patches of bloody flesh membranes clung to the dark brown towering walls, pulsating as if alive, grotesque and unsettling.

“It seems like the monsters have conquered some living territory and built their own tribes upon it.”

“Such tribes possess at least several dozen Fourth Order BOSSes and inevitably conceal some type or types of flesh weapons. It wouldn’t surprise me if Legendary Realm monsters appeared within these tribes.”

Having been with the Pioneer Group and dealing with frontline monster forces for at least two and a half years now, Shen Linglong recognized at a glance that this was a monster faction that had embarked on the path of flesh.

Such monster tribes were more troublesome than those worshipping fallen gods. The latter, at most, could summon avatars of fallen god attendants. The true forms of fallen god attendants couldn’t reach here, and she could slaughter any number of mere avatars.

But monster factions walking the path of flesh eternal life might conceal various bizarre flesh weapons. Facing such aberrant weapons, even as a Legendary, she had to be extremely cautious. A single moment of carelessness could inflict wounds on both body and mind.

Once, there was a Legendary Realm powerhouse called ‘Stone Hammer Lord’ who, due to carelessness, was struck by a crimson light.

This powerhouse, standing over two and a half meters tall with a robust, muscular build, immediately… developed a swollen belly.

And within half an hour, gave birth to a flesh monster.

It’s said that if other Pioneer Group powerhouses hadn’t arrived in time to rescue them, Boss Stone Hammer might have perished on the spot. Even so, even after Stone Hammer Lord sought out a Holy Light Sage afterward for comprehensive healing and purification, the psychological trauma reportedly remains unhealed to this day.

“Who could recover from that!” ×4.

Sophia and Seventeen were shocked.

Sickle Moon stared in stunned disbelief.

Lord Mu, already mentally linked, also expressed how terrifying this was. So Heavenly Aberration Eternal Life had such methods? He hadn’t been cautious enough in the past.

“Of course, although such tribes are more challenging to conquer, they still can’t stump this Lord.”

Shen Linglong said.

If she didn’t have urgent business now, she’d charge forward and slash this monster tribe to pieces. If she encountered a Legendary monster? Even better—her Legendary kill count could get a “+1”.

The group bypassed this large tribe and continued northward.

Crossing mountains, rivers, and forests.

With Sophia’s Black Crow scouting ahead, their journey through the wilderness proceeded very smoothly. They encountered not only no dangers but even genuine combat situations were rare.

However…

Powerful explorers advancing deep into the wilderness must also avoid combat whenever possible. Monsters are endless, impossible to eradicate completely, while explorers’ strength and energy have limits.

Sometimes, if combat becomes unavoidable, it means… they might be facing a major crisis.Thus, even though their journey north was relatively smooth and their squad had the support of Shen Linglong, a Legendary Realm expert, Sophia still dared not let her guard down. Moreover, along the way, she had noticed traces that might have been left behind by Legendary Realm battles.

The group pressed on continuously, traveling for over ten hours before taking a brief rest.

After resting for one or two hours to recover their energy and strength, they set off again.

The further north they went, the more monsters they seemed to encounter. Three times, Sophia found no detour routes or the detours were too long, forcing them to decisively take action and slay the high-level monsters they encountered.

In the world around them, the drifting Crimson Mist also seemed to thicken. Nearby, visible red mist threads appeared strand by strand, only to slowly vanish and repeat the process. In the distance, the sky was tinged with a faint, ominous red.

But when their gaze pierced through the ominous reddish hue and the gray mist, they could glimpse towering, magnificent Black Colossus Mountains reaching into the clouds, faintly visible.

“I never expected that within such an energy-chaotic danger zone, there truly exists a passage to another region. Could this be another Great Domain? Have we already left the Twilight Plains?”

Shen Linglong began to ponder.

She had encountered similar chaotic danger zones before, but such places were barren, hazardous, and devoid of any Treasures—who would bother exploring them thoroughly? Who could have guessed that within such a danger zone lay another world? Or was this particular danger zone unique?

Shen Linglong couldn’t find an answer.

It wasn’t that she lacked intelligence, but the Eternal World was too mysterious and unpredictable. No one could guarantee what they might encounter during exploration.

Not to mention danger zones outside the Taixuan Alliance’s territory—even within the borders, there were many unexplored regions.

In these areas, explorers might stumble upon great Opportunities, soaring to new heights… Every year, such fortunate individuals emerged, some even stepping into the Legendary Realm because of it.

But even within the territory, in regions where high-level monsters were rarely seen, explorers could still face great crises. Sometimes, danger zones or death traps would suddenly appear, causing Legendary Realm experts who entered to perish.

“Our Taixuan Alliance isn’t short of areas to explore and develop. Still, no matter what, we’ve discovered and opened up a new route and a new region. Reporting this should earn us a fair amount of Alliance contributions, right?”

She muttered to herself.

Rescue Tianyuan from danger, earning a significant favor from him; then gain additional Alliance contributions…

That would be double the joy.

Traveling north for two nights and three days, the group gradually approached their destination.

At this point, Sophia slowed their pace.

They also encountered the officer sent to receive them.

It was Rakshasa.

Rakshasa often traveled south, responsible for engaging and contending with the experts of Blood Serpent Embrace. He was quite familiar with the situation in this area.

“Follow me.”

Under his guidance, the squad did not continue north but detoured eastward in a wide arc.

“There are Legendary Realm ambushes ahead in that area.”

Rakshasa explained.Yesterday, he had spotted the hostile Legend from afar. Using his innate talent ‘Slay Evil’, he had glimpsed immense evil karma from a distance, thus deducing that monsters were among the enemies lying in ambush in that area.

When he came earlier, he had glanced over a few times and confirmed that the Legend was still lying in wait.

After bypassing this area, Rakshasa wound his way east and west. Even so, they inevitably encountered some elite monster squads.

From time to time, sounds of battle and explosions echoed in the distance.

“Boom—”

The world shook.

Green and blood-red colors appeared in the distant sky, almost splitting it in two.

“It’s… a Legendary battle!”

Shen Linglong’s gaze sharpened.

A Legendary battle had actually erupted here. Moreover, judging by the scale of both sides’ Domains, these two Legends were clearly not weak—they were both ‘three-thousand-meter-level’ powerhouses!

The Legendary battle erupted suddenly but ended quickly, lasting only a few dozen seconds before both sides withdrew.

Rakshasa was used to it.

In the past half month, there had been no less than eighteen, if not twenty, Legendary battles. Sometimes two or three major clashes erupted in a single day.

The enemies feared General Dolai and dared not linger.

But on their side, the three allied forces were short on Legendary Realm powerhouses and found it difficult to take the initiative, leading to repeated stalemates.

They could only wait for an opportunity.

Now, with the arrival of powerful experts from Taixuan, was this their chance?

…

At the southern gate of Tianyuan Territory.

From afar, the figures of Sophia, Shen Linglong, Rakshasa, and others appeared, walking quickly.

Mu Yuan was already waiting there to welcome them.

After all, Linglong Lord had spent her own time and energy, even taking certain risks, to trace clues for him all this way. By reason and courtesy, he had to receive her warmly.

Although his own Deadbone and Dolai likely far surpassed Shen Linglong in combat power now…

This didn’t mean a Legendary Realm expert like Shen Linglong was unimportant.

Even if, worst-case scenario, Shen Linglong couldn’t contribute much in the war, her arrival meant Tianyuan Territory had reestablished contact with the outside world.

They would have backing, hope, and security.

He was confident that in a few months he could sweep through the Monster Overlords and stabilize the regional situation, but… if he could call upon powerful allies to crush Jackal Fang and Blood Serpent Embrace with thunderous force, Mu Yuan would undoubtedly choose the latter.

Relying on himself meant treading on thin ice every day;

Relying on powerful allies meant he could face anything without fear!

Even if inviting strong reinforcements from Taixuan came at a cost.

Mu Yuan hosted a welcome for Sophia and the others, and arranged accommodations for Shen Linglong’s group in the South District—two rare-grade residential buildings.

Tianyuan Territory rarely had outsiders, but it couldn’t remain ‘closed-off’ forever. For a territory to grow, it must eventually connect with the outside world, and Mu Yuan had long made preparations.

He had obtained some Miracle Blueprints from purifying Roots of Filth and Blood Pools, and had used some in the South District to construct lifestyle-oriented Miracle Buildings like ‘single-family villas’, ‘Advanced Housing’, ‘hot springs’, and ‘parks’.

The next day,

Mu Yuan learned about the current situation from Shen Linglong.

With Blue Star’s fusion complete, the Taixuan Alliance had stabilized internally, but the frontline battles remained somewhat deadlocked.

The Crimson Tide was growing increasingly fierce, potentially leading to a Filth Disaster like the one sixty-one years ago.Under such circumstances, many powerful individuals were pinned down at the frontlines, making it quite difficult to summon legendary reinforcements. The Cold Moon City Lord was said to have ventured deep into the Land of Red Mist, engaging in dozens of clashes with the apex existences among the Monster Overlords.

“I hadn’t realized the situation was this severe.”

Given these conditions, he felt somewhat embarrassed to request reinforcements, especially since he still had some degree of confidence in handling the situation.

“It’s not quite that dire—not all Lords have rushed to the frontlines without hesitation,” Shen Linglong said. “Leave the matter of reinforcements to me!”

She patted the steel plate emphatically.

She had also come to understand the current state of Tianyuan Territory, which could only be described as extremely arduous, surviving in the cracks.

Surrounding him were Monster Overlords!

Fortunately, this region still had powerful forces like the elves and giants; otherwise, no matter how exceptional Tianyuan was, he would have collapsed long ago.

(End of Chapter)