7: Level 1 Energy Stone

The Gloomy Secret Realm is a Rank 15 dungeon, 5 Ranks higher than the previous Shallow Water Secret Realm.

Although the Rank isn't high, very few Professional are willing to challenge it, let alone clear it.

The main reason is that the monsters in the Gloomy Secret Realm all possess Undead attributes. Without a Light-type support Professional, entering this dungeon is essentially a waste of time.

Even the regular mobs are unkillable.

However, Light-type support Professionals are extremely rare, and there's no real need for them to fight monsters in such a difficult dungeon.

After all, there are many other dungeons of the same Rank that are much easier to clear.

The reason Li Changkong set his sights on the Gloomy Secret Realm was entirely because of Black Flame.

Although he was already a Rank 17 Professional, he actually only had two skills, one of which was a pure buff support skill.

However, given his current situation, it was still somewhat difficult to encounter high-Rank Professionals and learn their Advanced skills.

It would be better to evolve Black Flame first; a Black Dragon is an extremely powerful combat force.

This could be seen from how he was able to solo the Shallow Water Secret Realm with Black Flame.

Summoned creatures level up the same way Professionals do, by simply gaining experience. However, summoned creatures' experience gain requires the owner to selectively grant it to them when killing monsters.

Generally speaking, Summoners will prioritize leveling themselves up in the early stages before considering leveling up their summoned creatures.

After all, not everyone is as abnormal as Li Changkong, who can even return experience tenfold!

Leveling up is easy, but evolution is different.

Each summoned creature needs to devour different Materials to meet the evolution conditions.

But the Materials must be of the same attribute as them. For example, the new student who specialized as a Summoner, her Green Dragon needs to devour Wood-type Materials to evolve.

And Black Flame, as a Black Dragon, needs Dark-attribute Materials.

The Rank 15 Gloomy Secret Realm became Li Chang'an's best choice. After all, if the dungeon Rank was too low, it might not drop the required Materials, and the experience would be less.

If the dungeon Rank was too high, with his current meager skills, he might not be able to defeat it.

With Black Flame present, those Undead monsters were nothing to fear.

Thinking this, after Li Chang'an dropped his sister off at school, he headed straight out of the city, directly to the location of the Gloomy Secret Realm dungeon.

What he didn't know was that the Overbearing Guild had learned their lesson this time. They not only went to the Shallow Water Secret Realm but also dispatched people to stake out the entrances of various dungeons.

The Overbearing Guild's members didn't know what the person they were looking for looked like. They just kept a close eye on every passerby, looking for anyone with a Black Dragon by their side.

Even if Li Chang'an didn't know about this, he certainly wouldn't summon Black Flame outside the dungeon.

And his youthful appearance in an old school uniform naturally made those Guild Professionals overlook him, though they were somewhat puzzled as to why such a newcomer came to the entrance of a Rank 15 dungeon.

“Kid, did you take a wrong turn? This is the Rank 15 Gloomy Secret Realm! Go back quickly!”

The Professional from the Overbearing Guild assigned to guard the Gloomy Secret Realm was a Warrior. He saw Li Chang'an walking towards the dungeon entrance, and his eyelids twitched. He couldn't help but offer a word of advice.

Hearing this, Li Chang'an's footsteps paused for a moment. When he turned his head, his expression was extremely calm.

“I know.”

Immediately, under the other party's shocked gaze, he stepped into the dungeon entrance without hesitation.

“Is this kid crazy?!”

The man muttered, but he had no intention of going in to help.

He himself was just an ordinary Rank 5 Shield Warrior. How could he dare to go into the Gloomy Secret Realm? His earlier warning was already one of his few acts of kindness.

Upon entering the Gloomy Secret Realm, a bone-chilling cold enveloped Li Chang'an. The surroundings were extremely dim, making it difficult to see the environment clearly.

He scanned his surroundings and silently summoned Black Flame.

Such an environment might make Li Chang'an uncomfortable, but for Black Dragon, which is inherently Dark-attributed, it was like returning home, making it incredibly excited.

“I hope my luck is better and more Materials drop.”

Li Chang'an stroked Black Flame's head, summoned his Mage's Book, and unhesitatingly clicked on Fanatic Aura, casting it on Black Flame.

No matter what, this was a Rank 15 dungeon. Black Flame was only Rank 5 at the moment. If it were in its normal form, it might be a bit strenuous to fight.

But when it leveled up, its cold, gleaming bone spurs showcased its strength.

“Killed Zombie X5, Experience +50!”

“Killed Elite Zombie X3, Experience +60!”

......

Li Chang'an, standing behind Black Flame, calmly watched the battle before him, feeling a little depressed.

The regular monsters in the Gloomy Secret Realm were basically all Zombies. Zombies had no skills and would only fight relentlessly, relying on their undying and pain-immune characteristics.

If it were anyone else, they would have long since failed.

But Li Chang'an had Black Flame, an upgraded version of Black Flame after being buffed.

If one claw couldn't kill them, then he would use Black Dragon's Dragon Flame to burn them directly to ashes.

Fortunately, heaven was still favoring him.

[Obtained Level 1 Dark Attribute Energy Stone X1]

[Obtained Zombie Tooth X2]

After killing a few elite monsters, loot finally dropped.

Li Chang'an pulled out the energy stone from his backpack. It looked like a black sphere, faintly glowing.

This was a Material, unlike Materials like Zombie Tooth.

Materials are used to craft various equipment and weapons, relying on their inherent texture. While Materials are energy stones with different attribute energies, they can evolve summoned creatures or provide attribute bonuses to weapons and equipment.

Materials are rarer and more valuable than common crafting Materials.

Even the lowest-level Rank 1 energy stone in Li Chang'an's hand, if sold, would not be less than five hundred thousand chinese yuan.

However, he glanced at Black Flame, smiled slightly, and directly threw it into its mouth.

Black Flame, of course, knew this was beneficial to itself. It swallowed it without hesitation, and its massive body instantly changed.

It first reverted from the changes brought by the Fanatic Aura, returning to its infant form.

Then, light emanated from each scale, spreading throughout its body.

When the light dissipated, Black Flame's size was noticeably larger.

Although it couldn't compare to its brutal appearance under the Fanatic Aura, it was already significantly improved compared to before.

Li Chang'an checked Black Flame's stats.

[Black Dragon: Black Flame (Infant Stage, Mid-Rank)]

[Rank: 5]

[Strength: 80]

[Agility: 65]

[Spirit: 50]

[Physique: 120]

Black Flame's Rank remained at 5, but its attributes had greatly improved. It was likely that if it evolved from its infant stage, it would be even more terrifying!

“I still need more Materials.”

Li Chang'an sighed. What loot dropped was entirely up to luck. He could only try his best to bring Black Flame to clear the dungeon more often.