Outside the circle, compared to inside, this place was more like a dead land.
It lacked the vibrant forests of the outside. Forget trees; even grass was hard to find.
There was only a wilderness with mountains standing tall.
At this moment, Ling Feng was single-handedly fighting eight members of the Masked Group!
"Brother Jian! Wake up, quickly!"
*Swish!*
Ling Feng flipped in mid-air, dodging a sword strike from Wang Quan Ba Ye and Zhang Zheng.
"Damn it."
Ling Feng narrowed his eyes, looking at the black foxes within Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others.
Now, Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others had all had their minds controlled by the black foxes.
They had been outside the circle for several months. Not long ago, the eight of them had suddenly launched a surprise attack on him.
This was because he was the only one present whose mind had not been invaded by the black foxes.
Ling Feng dodged the fierce attacks of the several people in a desperate state. On a distant mountain peak, a woman entirely cloaked in black, resembling a fox, watched everything quietly.
"The day of harvest has finally arrived. It's just that, for some reason, I couldn't invade that person's body. Otherwise, with such strength, they would undoubtedly be even more delicious."
The Black Fox Lady of the outside licked her lips. What she was referring to was naturally Ling Feng.
"Found you!"
Suddenly, a figure darted from the void like lightning.
A flash of blood-red sword light, and sharp sword energy directly annihilated the surrounding black foxes, simultaneously burning them to ashes with terrestrial fire!
"How is this possible!?"
The Black Fox Lady was incredulous. Seeing Ling Feng's familiar face, she was shocked.
The opponent had known her existence all along! How was this possible!?
A moment later, she too was burned to ashes by the terrestrial fire.
"Phew, that's done. Next is to restore Brother Jian and the others' senses."
However, Ling Feng knew that although he had killed the Black Fox Lady, he hadn't killed her completely.
Her consciousness had transferred. He could only say he had killed a clone.
Just as the Black Fox Lady had thought, he had sensed the black foxes invading Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others shortly after arriving outside the circle.
The one that invaded him had been shattered by his soul.
Now, with Ling Feng gone, the Masked Group had begun to slaughter each other. Brothers who had once been as close as kin, who had faced life and death together, now all wanted to take each other's lives.
"Heaven, Earth, and Man Tri-Array! Earth Array! Immobilize! Heaven Array! Protect!"
A scroll floated into the air, emitting a dazzling radiance, and the grand array took shape!
"Ugh!"
Within the golden barrier, Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others roared and struggled blankly.
Ling Feng walked into the grand array. After some thought, he realized it was time to end this.
The reason he hadn't exposed the black foxes immediately was to let Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others understand the dangers of the outside and see more of it.
"Hong Hong!"
"Jingle bells."
With the sound of a bell, a graceful figure appeared beside Ling Feng. Her red dress fluttered, and her breathtaking beauty was tinged with a hint of worry.
"Ling Feng, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I just need to ask you to use the Demon Extermination First Style to strike out the black foxes from their bodies, one by one."
Although he could use soul and mental attacks, it would easily cause significant damage to Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others' souls and consciousness.
"Black foxes?!"
Tu Shan Hong Hong was slightly surprised. She looked at the restrained Wang Quan Ba Ye and the others and indeed discovered the presence of black foxes within them!
"Demon Extermination First Style!"
Tu Shan Hong Hong punched Wang Quan Ba Ye's abdomen. The next moment, a black fox was forced out of him.
"Ying!!!"
*Swish!*
Ling Feng drew his sword, annihilating its soul completely!
"What's wrong with me?"
After the black fox was dealt with, Wang Quan Ba Ye quickly regained consciousness. With a brief observation, his intelligent and shrewd mind understood that something major had happened.
"Your mind was controlled by a black fox. Not only you, but all my brothers, except me, were also affected."
Ling Feng explained the cause and effect to Wang Quan Ba Ye.
Upon hearing this, Wang Quan Ba Ye's pupils contracted, and he felt a lingering fear.
Indeed, it was not without reason that this outside area could become a forbidden zone.
"Hong Hong, please help the others as well."
"Mhm."
Tu Shan Hong Hong unleashed the Demon Extermination First Style, driving out the black foxes from everyone's bodies, one by one.
Wang Quan Ba Ye's pupils slightly contracted as he looked at Tu Shan Hong Hong. Then he looked at Ling Feng, remaining silent for the time being.
However, upon seeing the black foxes, Wang Quan Ba Ye observed them intently. These things were creatures from the outside!?
"Uh... what happened to me?"
"My head feels so dizzy."
The others gradually regained consciousness. Once they were fully awake, Ling Feng took out a prepared recording stone and showed them everything that had just happened.
After watching, everyone broke out in a cold sweat and felt a sense of dread.
"Such terrifying creatures from outside, capable of controlling our minds."
"Thanks to our guest elder brother being here, otherwise, we might have all perished in this outside area."
"Is this the truth of the outside? We're still just on the periphery, right? If the periphery is like this, wouldn't the depths be even more terrifying?"
"..."
The crowd chattered. Tu Shan Hong Hong stood within the formation, looking curiously at the scenery outside the circle.
So this was what the outside looked like.
She had never been to the outside. All knowledge about it came from ancient texts.
"Alright!"
Wang Quan Ba Ye shouted, making everyone stop their discussion.
"I believe this trip to the outside should end here. If it weren't for our guest elder brother, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"Ling Feng also said that further in, the dangers are unpredictable. I share the same thought."
"What do you all think?"
Wang Quan Zui nodded, the first to express his support.
"I agree. If Brother Ke Qing hadn't been here, we might have met with misfortune."
The others also slowly nodded. Without exception, they all agreed to leave.
Seeing that no one had any objections, Wang Quan Ba Ye nodded and bowed to Tu Shan Hong Hong.
"Your Excellency, you must be the Great Demon Emperor of Tu Shan, Tu Shan Hong Hong, right? I, Wang Quan Ba Ye, thank you for your assistance."
"Thank you."
The others also bowed in succession to express their gratitude.
"You're welcome," Tu Shan Hong Hong replied indifferently.
"And thank you, Brother Ke Qing."
"We're brothers, no need to be so polite," Ling Feng said with a smile.
"Elder Brother Ke Qing, this fox demon sister is so beautiful, what's your relationship with her?"
"That's right, that's right, I want to know too."
Wang Quan Zui came to Ling Feng's side, excitedly and curiously gossiping.
Li Qu Zhuo also popped out from the side, nodding vigorously, his gossip heart bursting!
After the experiences they had gone through, the people present were not particularly hostile towards demons.
Unlike others, they had their own opinions.
"Alright! Little Sister, Fourth Brother! This place is not suitable for lingering. Who knows what might happen if we stay longer. Let's hurry back inside the circle."
Wang Quan Ba Ye reprimanded the two and said sternly.
"We must leave quickly. My senses tell me a large group of enemies is approaching."
Tu Shan Hong Hong looked in one direction, her expression solemn.
Upon hearing this, who dared to linger? They immediately fled.
The group moved like lightning, without any hesitation, prioritizing their lives.
Ten streams of light shot through the forbidden circle, crossing the heavenly gate and speeding towards the safe zone.
This trip outside the circle was thoroughly over. Thanks to Ling Feng's participation, all members of the Masked Group returned alive.
...
In a certain deep sea area of the Nine Provinces, several people were using thrusters to advance towards a cave.
"Wow! So pretty!"
Kiana held a transparent blue jellyfish, her eyes shining. Girls had no resistance to such cute creatures.
*Duang!*
"Kiana, what are you doing! Don't get distracted during a mission!"
Ling Feng tapped Kiana's diving helmet.
"Aren't you the same?!"
Kiana pouted in dissatisfaction, pointing at Ling Feng holding two small jellyfish, looking very unhappy about his happy expression.
"I am the teacher! The副指挥官 for this operation!"
"Then doesn't Shagao also have the same status? Why are you only scolding me."
Kiana pointed at Shagao, who was imitating a jellyfish's swimming.
Ling Feng: ...
On the Hyperion's communication channel, Future's voice came through.
"Major Schariac, a strong Honkai energy reaction has been detected from the cave!"
Bronya nodded.
"The location and shape match the information provided by the intelligence department."
"Future and I have calculated that the possibility of this being the 'Nine Nether' is 34.2%."
Future and Bronya were both scientific and combat personnel, their main job being data analysis.
"Alright, let's go in."
Major Schariac nodded and led the way into the cave, with Ling Feng and the others following.
Inside the cave, the space was vast, like an underwater karst cave.
Kiana blinked her dazzling eyes, looking around in surprise.
"Through that opening, I didn't expect it to be so vast!"
Major Schariac glanced at the Honkai energy detector and said.
"The concentration of Honkai energy in the cave is quite high. This place is very likely the 'Nine Nether'."
"Yes, that's great, Major Schariac."
Mei encouraged her.
Kiana said with some surprise.
"I feel like Major Schariac is unusually enthusiastic about this mission."
"Normally, Major Schariac, who gets drunk after returning home, has been researching materials until late every night since receiving this mission."
Ling Feng and the others consciously kept their distance, watching silently, very accustomed to this.
Shagao: Kiana is going to get hit again.
Because Kiana often acted like this, she would then be disciplined by Schariac.
*Eyes glow! Hunt time!*
"Kiana, you..."
Seeing Kiana badmouthing her, Schariac's expression was amiable, wanting to teach this girl a lesson.
"Ahem, excuse me, you are still on a mission. If you want to quarrel, please do it at home," Theresa reminded them.
Schariac sighed helplessly.
"Alright, Kiana, I'll let you off today."
"Then, Major Schariac, I will repeat your mission.
Your objective is to explore this cave and determine if it is the legendary Nine Nether.
If it is, you must search for the Xuanyuan Sword and any Herrscher Marks that may be lost in the 'Nine Nether'."
"Understood."
"Oh, and for this mission, I've also found you a consultant."
"A consultant?"
Everyone was curious, wanting to know who it was.
Soon, Fu Hua's voice came through.
"Major Schariac, Teacher Ling Feng, long time no see. For this mission, please allow me to assist with guidance."
"Fu Hua, I see."
Major Schariac nodded.
"Long time no see."
Ling Feng also nodded. He had guessed that this consultant would be Fu Hua, as there were very few people from Shenzhou at St. Freya.
Regarding matters of Shenzhou, naturally, people from Shenzhou would understand better.
"Eh, isn't this the annoying class monitor?"
Kiana exclaimed in surprise.
"Fu Hua was born in Shenzhou and understands the legends of Ji Lin and Shenzhou culture very well," Theresa explained.
"I remember Ling Feng is also from Shenzhou, right? Why not just ask him?"
Kiana looked at Ling Feng.
Ling Feng: ...
Not everyone was interested in this aspect of history!
"I am from Shenzhou, yes, but I am not familiar with the legends of Ji Lin or some ancient cultures," Ling Feng said, shrugging helplessly.
"If you encounter any problems later, consult her. I wish you success in your mission."
With that, Theresa ended the communication. Ling Feng and the others began their exploration of the cave.
During the exploration, Kiana approached Mei and whispered.
"By the way, Mei, what do you think of this class monitor?"
"Class monitor... are you talking about classmate Fu Hua?"
"Yeah, that's her!"
"Classmate Fu Hua is the most outstanding of our year. At such a young age, she has already passed the Valkyrie exam and become an A-rank Valkyrie. I think she's a role model for us to learn from."
*Pfft!*
Ling Feng, who overheard their conversation not far away, couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Such a young age"?
That was the Immortal Fu Hua, who was fifty thousand years old!
Although she had slept in a stasis pod for a long time, her actual living time should be around five thousand years.
Never mind, let's focus on the mission.
However, this armor is quite good.
Ling Feng looked at the custom-made armor he was wearing. It was entirely black, somewhat resembling Sun Wukong's black armor from the Brave Brigade.
This was the third-generation Valkyrie armor technology, not equipped with any long-range weapons, and was a completely close-combat specialized armor.
"There are a large number of Honkai beasts ahead, prepare for battle!"
Schariac shouted loudly.
Everyone quickly gathered.
Ling Feng held a black long spear, assuming a throwing stance. The four thrusters at the tip of the long shaft deployed.
"This strike! Pierce the heavens!"
Ling Feng shouted in a chuunibyou manner, then threw the spear forcefully. It shot out like a missile, blasting away a horde of small Honkai beasts.