Chapter 004: Reunion

“If Du Fan were to come here now, how many more races would be along the way?” At this moment, the highly perceptive Count Wade asked anxiously. If Du Fan continued on this path, even the underground world might become what it truly is under his influence.
“In reply, envoy,” Huamusi stepped forward and whispered to Count Wade, “If Du Fan continues this way, he will next encounter the Magic Bat Clan and the Dark Owl Clan. These two races can meet Du Fan in the shortest time. If he goes further, he will also run into the Earth Tiger, Cold Butterfly, and Sky Spider clans. Based on their journey, they will reach our location through the Regional Canyon in three days.”
“Five races?” Count Wade frowned slightly and looked at Ulbas ahead. “It seems we haven’t been to the Regional Canyon before, have we?”
“Yes, envoy,” Ulbas replied calmly. “The Regional Canyon has three layers, and it is said that races left over from the War of the Gods reside there. Even we dare not enter lightly. If Du Fan really goes in, he will surely never return.”
“Oh?” Hearing this, Count Wade nodded in satisfaction and said to Ulbas, “Order your subordinates to report back when they reach the Regional Canyon. Then I can return to the Gavin Empire to restore its glory.”
“Understood!”
……
Meanwhile, Du Fan and his group continued to wander through the underground world. Soon, a cave appeared ahead, from which came a strange fragrance.
Entering the cave, milky-white stalactites dripped liquid of the same color. Watching this natural wonder, Du Fan comfortably closed his eyes and said, “This must be the middle part of entering the underground world. If nothing goes wrong, I think we’ll be able to encounter another race in two days.”
“Mm!” Hearing Du Fan’s words, Naixiu nodded and asked curiously, “Why do I feel like there are some strange things around us? Could it be that I’m not yet accustomed to this environment?”
Upon hearing Naixiu’s words, the three powerful warriors beside Du Fan nodded at the same time.

Rob watched Du Fan carefully and asked, “I also feel a strange sensation here. It seems like someone is always spying on us.”
“Heh,” Du Fan sneered, glancing at the four powerful warriors before him. With the pressure of a domain master instantly emanating, he shouted, “That’s right! We’ve now entered the realm of magical beasts!”
As soon as Du Fan finished speaking, the stalactites in the Frozen Winter began to vibrate incessantly. Silver-colored flying creatures flapped their wings wildly, charging toward Du Fan and his group.
Sensing these scattered energies, Rob snorted coldly. His body vanished instantly from its spot, reappearing with two strange species already knocked unconscious in his hands.
“Demon bats?” Nayixiu covered her mouth in surprise, staring at the two strange magical beasts in Rob’s hands. She cried out, “Throw them away! They’re filled with demonic energy that could affect our minds!”
Hearing Nayixiu’s words, Rob rudely tore the two demon bats in half and said indifferently, “These bats are quite common among magical beasts. I know about their demonic energy—it must be a remnant from the necromantic faction from the continent.”
Upon hearing this, Du Fan nodded, looking at the demon bats in surprise.
The necromantic faction was the only one capable of opposing the Holy Church in the darkness. It was incredibly rare to encounter necromantic magical beasts here—far rarer than winning the lottery.
“Everyone,” Du Fan cleared his throat and said excitedly, “Ten demon bats should be enough to make an armor set. I want their whole bodies!”
After hearing Du Fan’s orders, the powerful warriors vanished from their spots for a moment before reappearing, this time carrying numerous dead demon bats. There were countless demon bats in the cave, and it took Du Fan and his group nearly an hour to eliminate most of them. Yet, hundreds of demon bats still lurked in the Frozen Winter, watching Du Fan and his group warily.
“Huh,” Du Fan exhaled heavily, speaking in a detached tone as he looked at the mountain-like pile of dead demon bats ahead. “A hundred skins should be enough. Let’s keep these creatures alive so they can continue to multiply.”

“Mm.” Only then did Naixiu hear Du Fan’s words and feel somewhat reassured as she followed him further into the underground world. After all, natural elves cherished life and peace above all. Yet even if Du Fan insisted on destroying the Demon Bat clan, Naixiu likely wouldn’t show mercy either.
…
“There are only a few hundred left of the Demon Bat clan…” At this moment, Count Wade sat dejectedly on the ground, staring at Ulbas before him. He hadn’t expected that in such a short time, another race would have lost most of its members at Du Fan’s hands. Even Count Wade could no longer figure out what Du Fan intended to do.
“Yes,” Huamusi replied, still shaken, as he began to report to Count Wade beside him. “According to messages from our kin, Du Fan and his four companions, relying on their strength as domain masters, killed most of the Demon Bat clan within two hours, leaving only a few hundred. But now they have crossed the territory of the Tiger clan and are heading straight toward the Regional Gorge.”
“Oh?” Count Wade exclaimed, looking at Huamusi. If the news was true, Du Fan probably still didn’t realize the horrors of the Hell Gorge. If he entered it now, no matter how strong his companions were, it would be difficult for them to escape the wrath left behind by these ancient races.
“By the way, envoy,” Ulbas said humbly, bowing his head to Count Wade. “Prince Envoy already knows that Du Fan is heading to the Regional Gorge. It seems he is already there, ready to intercept Du Fan. In that case, should we…”
“Save him?” Count Wade shook his head helplessly and said to Ulbas, “The speed of the Green-Faced Wolf is among the fastest in the underground world. If Landi insists on escaping, I don’t think Du Fan and his group have the ability to catch him.”
“Mm.” Hearing Count Wade’s words, Ulbas wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and slowly stepped back.
In Ulbas and Huamusi’s eyes, Landi’s life or death wasn’t that important. What mattered was that their leader was Count Wade. If Landi were indeed killed by Du Fan, they would likely be the first to face Count Wade’s wrath. So under no circumstances could anything bad happen to Landi in the underground world.

“By the way.” At this moment, Count Wade seemed to remember something and slowly asked Urbans beside him, “What exactly is the Regional Gorge like? Why do you become so panicked just at the mention of those four words?”
“Please forgive me, my lord,” Urbans replied awkwardly to Count Wade, “The scenery of the Regional Gorge is extremely beautiful. Although we live in an underground world without sunlight, the Regional Gorge seems untouched by it—there is still sunlight and flowers. But once we enter the Regional Gorge, our own abilities become useless, and we can’t activate our domains. If we encounter those ancient races, we’re like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.”
…
By now, Du Fan and his group had arrived at a magnificent gate dozens of meters high. In front of it stood a glowing figure silently.
“Landy?” Du Fan exclaimed in surprise, looking at Landy before him. He never expected to see Landy in this underground world, and Landy indeed seemed different from before.
“Du Fan,” Landy sneered, staring at Du Fan and his group. The green light around him vanished instantly as he said coldly, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”
“Oh?” Du Fan stepped forward and asked curiously, “Shouldn’t you be in the Gavin Empire as a count’s son? How did you end up here?”
“Hmph!” Hearing Du Fan’s words, Landy took a step forward hysterically and shouted, “Shut up! If not for you, my father and I wouldn’t still be too ashamed to return to the Gavin Empire, hiding in this hellish place like refugees!”
“Heh.” Du Fan sneered at Landy’s words and said mockingly, “Little guy, whether you can return to the empire is your family’s business. What does it have to do with me? This is the battlefield—if you want to settle our grudge, I’m ready anytime.”
“Hmph!”
Landy snorted coldly and transformed into a green beam, rushing toward Du Fan in an instant.
Feeling the fierce energy approaching, Du Fan quickly dodged and then kicked out with all his might.
“Thwack.” Landy effortlessly blocked Du Fan’s kick with his right hand, then swung his right hand at Du Fan’s face, but that was also blocked by Du Fan.

After separating, the two looked at each other in surprise. It had only been a day since they last met, yet their strengths had grown significantly compared to before. Before reaching the Hell Gorge, Du Fan had already collected many red-haired ant crystal cores, restoring his domain power to its strongest state, which explained why he had appeared even more formidable in his previous fight against Randy. Randy was no different either; he was wearing the fur of a green-faced wolf from the underground world, allowing its true power to be unleashed there.

“Heh, your strength has improved even more than before,” Du Fan said with mockery, looking at Randy. “Look at you—you’re definitely a superstar among werewolves. You must have picked up quite a few female wolves, right?”

“Shut up!” Offended by Du Fan’s mockery, Randy lost face and unleashed the full power of the green-faced wolf within him. A totem two meters tall appeared behind Randy, radiating the aura of a level-9 magical beast. When this energy was released, the magic cores stored in Du Fan and the others’ rings began to tremble with unease.

“Du Fan, give up your life!” Randy roared, swinging a punch infused with the power of a level-9 magical beast and his own immense domain force in Du Fan’s direction!