Chapter 342: Reunion

Filled with endless confusion, Rod was pulled by Sognar toward the front hall, unsure of what had happened. It seemed like no trivial matter, yet not a trace of anger could be seen on Sognar’s face, leaving Rod even more puzzled. He could only stare at the front hall.
Before long, under Sognar’s pull, Rod arrived at the front hall. To his surprise, Lilith, Lucy, and the others were also there. The once spacious hall now appeared cramped due to the large crowd—dozens of people packed in.
Rod froze, his breathing growing heavier. He stared at the people before him, his eyes flickering. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. His heart raced suddenly. Everyone in the hall seemed to sense Rod’s change. There was a rare silence, the atmosphere heavy. Not only Rod but also the group across from him was panting heavily, their eyes darting around, their faces flushed with excitement.
“Leader! We’re here!” After what felt like a long time, a man at the front spoke in a trembling voice.
“Leader, we’re here!” Followed by synchronized voices, each person, face flushed with excitement, shouted loudly.
“Good, it’s good that you’re here!” Rod said in a deep voice.
“Skora leads the Death Scythe Squad to report!” The man who had spoken earlier suddenly stood up straight and shouted.
“Members of the Death Scythe Squad report!” The others followed suit, shouting loudly with great momentum.
Indeed, it was none other than Skora and his group, who had resolutely followed him to Iron Bar Town back then.
Seeing those familiar faces—Nightingale, Skora, Keroth, Viski, Kambi, Sambik, Cael, and others—Rod realized they were no longer the inexperienced group of years ago. He could instantly tell of their strength: three at the divine level, with the rest at the quasi-divine or sacred levels. In just a few years, they had made tremendous progress and become incredibly powerful.
“Brother Hori!” Turning to look at the man who had been smiling at him the whole time, Rod spoke in a deep voice. This man was Hori, the one who had helped him countless times before!

“Good, you’ve made great progress!” Horri nodded and said in a low voice, his expression complex. After several years apart, the young boy he once knew had grown to an unimaginable extent—like a falcon spreading its wings to fly high, far beyond his own comparison! The scenes from the past flashed through his mind as if they had just happened, filling him with deep emotion.

“Hehe, you kid, you’ve hidden quite a few things from us. Having such a team and not telling us!” Sognar couldn’t help but speak out, patting Rod’s shoulder with a mix of envy and jealousy.

Although this group’s strength was average—nothing significant to him or even to the dragons—they carried an aura that made anyone tremble. The deadly intensity of that aura was almost suffocating. In fact, Sognar felt threatened; if they attacked him, he might not be able to withstand it.

Hearing Sognar’s words, Rod felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn’t expected Skora and the others to actually come inside the Source of Darkness.

Looking at Horri, he also sighed inwardly. Indeed, they were part of the Scorpion King’s forces.

As Sognar continued speaking, the atmosphere gradually eased. Lilith stepped beside Rod, saying, “A pretty good team, very strong~!” Her gaze was also complex.

“Brother…” Kambi, Sambik, and Jem couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped forward to speak.

Reuniting with brothers was beyond words, but their eyes said much more.

“Alright, we won’t disturb you any longer. Gather together, and we’ll leave first!” Giving Sognar and Lucy a look, Lilith spoke understandingly. She knew Rod and the others needed some time and space alone.

Although reluctant, Sognar left under Lilith’s gaze.

Soon, only Rod and his group remained in the hall, looking at each other with excited expressions, unable to speak.

Four years had passed in the blink of an eye. They had so much to say, yet didn’t know how to express it.

“Alright, everyone, sit down!” Rod didn’t know how much hardship these people had endured, but from their aura and expressions, it was clear their lives hadn’t been much better than his own over these years—they must have suffered greatly. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have developed such an imposing aura.

“Head, you really made us wait so long! If not for Brother Hori’s assurance that you were safe, we would have rushed in to find you long ago!” Thinking of the three-year agreement and the fact that there had been no news from Rod by now, Ke Ruode wore a bitter smile.

When they first heard from Hori that Rod had entered the Source of Darkness, everyone was incredulous. To them, the Source of Darkness was a magical place, a forbidden zone—how could Rod have entered there? It’s easy to imagine how worried they were upon hearing this news. If not for Hori’s constant interference and assurances, they wouldn’t have endured until now. Thankfully, nothing bad had happened.

After some small talk, the group finally got a general idea of each other’s lives over the past few years. The atmosphere gradually eased, becoming a bit warmer, yet filled with deep emotion. No one expected that Skora and the others had gone through so much hardship, dealt with so many challenges, and constantly teetered on the edge of death. It’s easy to imagine what their lives had been like—lives on the brink of life and death, with dangers that Rod could only imagine.

In contrast, Skora and the others were even more moved by Rod’s experiences this year. Although Rod had hidden much of what had happened, only sharing a few minor details, even those were enough to shock them. Listening to Rod’s account, everyone was deeply moved, able to sense the dangers involved.

……

“No way. The Netherhell Fire is the most precious treasure of our Black Phoenix clan. As you know, it’s related to matters of great importance. Even our own clan members can hardly borrow it, let alone outsiders. There’s no discussion possible!” In another place, inside a hidden chamber in the Netherhell Manor, five elders and Merk were in the same room. Hearing Merk’s words, one of the elders frowned and said coldly.

“Cough, cough… Um… Second Elder, I know this is difficult, but you all know Lucy’s personality. If things go wrong… Besides, that kid Rod is really talented. He’s already reached the Yin Yellow realm at such a young age. Given time, the heights he could reach are unimaginable. Moreover, he’s truly grateful to our Black Phoenix clan. Can’t we show some flexibility?” As the leader of the Black Phoenix clan, Merk now sounded almost pleading. If outsiders saw this, they would be utterly shocked—Merk, known for his coldness, was acting in a way no one could believe.

Any of the elders here is an incredibly powerful being—far surpassing those openly displayed among our Black Phoenix clan; they are actually enforcers.
“Hmm, this Rod is indeed remarkable. He’s saved Lucy several times, and this time he even took her into the Yin Huang realm. He’s truly been a boon to our Black Phoenix clan! But as for the Netherhell Fire…” The elder seated at the bottom spoke in a low voice, showing some hesitation.
“Hey, everything else might be negotiable, but the Netherhell Fire can’t be borrowed. Not just him—how many members of our Black Phoenix clan could even withstand its fierce trials? Practicing at the top magma vents on Netherhell Mountain for a few days might be considerable, but entering the core area to face the Netherhell Fire’s test… that’s impossible…” Another elder said with a frown, clearly troubled.
“Then let him practice by those top vents for three days. That’s already the greatest concession we can offer. No need to discuss anything else!” At this, the elder who had remained silent until now spoke. His position clearly indicated he held the highest rank among them, and after he spoke, the others stopped arguing.
“Father!” A clear voice came from outside. Hearing this, the enforcers and Merk relaxed their solemn expressions and showed slight smiles.
“Lucy has arrived!” Merk said with a wry smile.
“Come in!” Before Merk could respond, the leading elder spoke in a kind voice.
“How did you get here? Don’t you know you’re not supposed to be here?” Merk frowned in displeasure when he saw Lucy enter.
“Hmph, it’s not my first time here. Why be so angry? Ugh!” Lucy complained unhappily at Merk’s words.
“Enough, Merk. Stop talking. I allowed her to come here!” The leading elder stepped in to defuse the situation.
“Elder, you’re spoiling her too much!” Merk said with a bitter smile. This elder was usually strict and impartial, but when it came to Lucy, he was extremely indulgent, leaving Merk at a loss for words.
“What do you know! Do you have any objections to my decision? Lucy, ignore him. You can come anytime you want from now on!” With a cold glare, the elder spoke sternly.
“Grandpa Dolong is the best!” Hearing the elder’s words, Lucy made a face and said happily. Then she hopped over to the elder and started acting spoiled. What was once a serious meeting now had a much more relaxed atmosphere.

“What’s the matter!” Merck said with a frown, forcing a smile as he looked at Lucy.