246: The three great princes!

The World Lord World is fraught with danger.

These dangers come not only from fierce beasts and the environment but, more often, from the other warriors participating in the assessment.

Human hearts are unfathomable!

Especially when facing conflicts of interest!

"The Minghe River in the core region of the World Lord World is about a million kilometers from us.

If we fly straight, it will take about three months."

On top of a small hill, Chen Fan and the other five were resting, preparing for the journey ahead.

"This Realm Lord Ming Sa's world is too vast, isn't it? I've seen World Lord Worlds in the Virtual Universe, and none of them are even half his size, like the Thunder World or the Ice Sea World... none were ever this big."

To Chen Fan's right, Ma Liang 'gulped' down azure wave marrow, frowning as he spoke.

"The Universe Mercenary Alliance's assessments always have a reason. If they were all easily completed, how would they select the strong?"

Thunder God said without turning his head, as he was scanning the surroundings, observing the changes.

In his heart, only those who survive crisis after crisis are truly strong.

As for those warriors who pass the assessment by luck, they can only be called unqualified strong ones.

"Now, there are four paths for us to take to the Minghe region."

As he spoke, Chen Fan opened his smart optical computer and projected a map of the Netherworld into the air.

This was crucial information Kluowen had specifically given them.

After all, the World Lord World is both heaven and hell.

Especially a World Lord World like the Netherworld, which has not undergone extensive exploration, it is a treasure trove for adventurers and Universe Mercenaries.

However, until the major factions could agree on distribution, this Netherworld was temporarily designated as the Universe Mercenary Alliance's assessment ground for probationary mercenaries.

Although this arrangement might be a little unreasonable.

But to the high-ranking officials of the major factions, how much of a threat could a few small Astral Rank warriors pose to their interests?

With their peak Astral Rank strength, even forming a team, they still couldn't enter some critical areas.

As such, everyone was relieved.

Unfortunately, they hadn't considered the emergence of teams like Chen Fan's... "The first path goes straight ahead directly to the core region of the Netherworld. This path has many fierce beasts and quite a few dangers..."

"The second path goes through the Secluded Wasteland, crosses the Langhuan Mountain Range, and bypasses it. The route is very long, and there are more fierce beasts than on the first path..."

"The third path, the fourth path..."

Chen Fan introduced the four paths one by one and looked at them, asking, "What do you all think?"

"If it were me, I'd definitely choose the second path, the one with the most fierce beasts and the most dangers. I'd just kill my way through!"

"As for danger, we're not afraid!"

Thunder God patted the Battle Blade behind him, speaking first.

"I agree. If we're not in a hurry, why not appreciate the scenery of this World Lord World?"

"Furthermore, we still have dozens of brothers scattered here. This is a good opportunity to gather them while we tour."

The black-clad Hong glanced at Thunder God and calmly stated his thoughts.

"I also agree."

"Agree."

Xue Zhan and Ma Liang exchanged glances, both nodding in agreement.

"In that case, it's the second path then!" Chen Fan nodded.

"Let's go, time to find our brothers!" Thunder God excitedly said... Immediately after, Chen Fan's five-person team began their longest and most frantic journey in the Netherworld.

The five of them flew in mid-air, their ostentatious display making many fierce beasts gnash their teeth in hatred, all chasing after Chen Fan and his team.

Every now and then, when the number of monsters gathered was sufficient, the five would turn around and charge back, slaughtering them.

This strange behavior left the fierce beasts that had been chasing them utterly bewildered.

Before they could react, sharp blade energies, one after another, had already descended upon their heads.

At this moment, Chen Fan's five-person team was like a battlefield meat grinder, displaying terrifying slaughter.

Wherever they passed, they left behind a trail of severed limbs and shattered bones.

Soon, a large group of Astral Rank monsters was pushed back and utterly annihilated by Chen Fan and his team.

"That was exhilarating."

After a fierce battle, Thunder God's entire face was flushed with excitement.

Beside him, Hong stood with his silver long spear planted on the ground, exuding the demeanor of a God of War.

Ma Liang, on the other hand, stood atop a giant armored rhinoceros, raising both his blades in a drumming stance.

Xue Zhan, meanwhile, was diligently dissecting monster materials.

As the patriarch of Earth's Jingji Garrison.

Even with Chen Fan's assistance and support, Xue Zhan couldn't shake off his frugal nature.

After all, he was a warrior who had fully experienced the Great Nirvana Era, and he understood the importance of material resources.

Back then, acquiring a single monster lord would make him too excited to sleep for several days.

Now, with Astral Rank monster corpses all over the ground, Xue Zhan was even more delighted.

He bent over, using two sharp flying knives as tools, skillfully performing the dissection work.

With each swift movement of his blades, the vital parts of these Astral Rank monsters all fell into Xue Zhan's pocket.

Under the dark night sky, Chen Fan quietly recorded this scene with his smart optical computer.

He believed these images would become cherished memories for everyone in the future.

An hour later, all monster materials had been dissected, and Chen Fan's five-person team once again set off.

This time, the path they had to travel was very long, likely requiring five months...

Two hours after Han Li and his six companions counter-attacked and eliminated the three small teams.

A middle-aged man in silver battle armor with a cold expression arrived quickly with twenty Astral Rank Level Nine warriors.

At this moment, he held a device similar to a special detector and dug up all twenty-nine corpses of the personal guards from where Han Li had buried them.

"Damn it!"

This general-like middle-aged man crushed the smart optical computer detector in his hand with a 'bang,' gritting his teeth and cursing:

"Who is it? Who dared to lay hands on the personal guards of my Black Dragon Mountain Third Prince?"

Upon seeing the mutilated bodies of these personal guards, the silver-armored man could no longer suppress the rage in his heart. His aura erupted, sweeping in all directions.

The personal guards who had arrived with him all lowered their heads, not daring to look.

The aura unleashed by this silver-armored man, though peak Astral Rank, was already no less powerful than a Universe Rank Level One.

As the seventh-ranked personal guard captain under the Third Prince, the twenty-nine shattered corpses before him were all excellent talents on whom he had placed great hopes.

But now, they had all perished here.

As a captain, he was incredibly furious.

"Set up a perimeter. I need to enter the Virtual Universe to report this matter to the Third Prince!"

"Yes, sir!!" Everyone around responded in unison... Virtual Universe.

Black Dragon Mountain Island, inside Black Dragon Castle.

A Third Prince, dressed in a purple bathrobe with two large curved horns on his head, lay in the lounge, enjoying a full-body massage from seven or eight beautiful women.

He lay quietly on the pillow, exuding the unmistakable aura of a superior.

At the same time, the aura emanating from his body was fierce and brutal, clearly indicating that he was not a benevolent person.

The surrounding beauties giving the massage were all as quiet as cicadas in winter.

As the Third Prince of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Bukata possessed supreme power and wealth.

This was solely because he had a father who was a World Lord Level Eight and a grandfather who was a peak World Lord.

The existence of these two backgrounds was enough for him to act recklessly within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire.

"Comfortable... a little more pressure on the lower back!"

"Yes! That's the strength!!"

Lying on the lounge bed, Bukata showed a look of enjoyment on his face.

"Beep beep!!"

Suddenly—

An email appeared on the communication optical computer beside him.

"What? Is this good news from Bu Shier about the Netherworld?"

With half-closed eyes, Bukata opened the email.

"Reporting, Your Highness, our Second, Fourth, and Seventh Squads are suspected to have encountered a large-scale ambush in the World Lord World and were completely annihilated!!"

"What!?"

Bukata was instantly startled, his brain crashing for a moment.

Three seconds later, he recovered.

"You all... get out of here!!"

Amidst his angry roar, Bukata grabbed the beauty on his left and slammed her heavily towards the door, looking utterly enraged.

The several frightened beauties scrambled to escape, fleeing out of the lounge.

At this moment, Bukata tightened his purple robe and slowly sat up, his face filled with gloom.

Bukata looked at the optical computer with a face full of fury, saying sinisterly, "Big Brother, Second Brother, since you two want to make the first move, then don't blame me, Bukata, for turning hostile and disowning you!!"

After speaking, the Third Prince looked at the smart optical computer and ordered, word by word: "Buloki, command the other twenty-seven standby personal guard teams to all enter the Netherworld."

"Additionally, I will borrow troops from my grandfather and enter the World Lord World together. As for Big Brother and Second Brother... they won't be able to compete with me!!"

"Yes, Your command!" The other party's reply was swift and decisive... Canglan Star, in Black Dragon Castle.

The Third Prince opened his eyes and emerged from the Virtual Universe.

He stood up and walked to the window.

From the top floor, he looked down, and most of Black Dragon came into view.

Gradually, the Third Prince Bukata's expression grew increasingly ferocious. He extended his right hand, spread his five fingers, and then clenched them tightly, muttering:

"I will definitely obtain Realm Lord Ming Sa's legacy for Grandfather, to help him advance further on the path of a World Lord!!"

"With his support, I can also logically become the next ruler of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire!!"

A deep, sharp glint flickered in Bukata's eyes.

"Someone! To the Netherworld!!" Bukata shouted, and many warriors immediately responded in unison—

"Yes, Your Highness!"

...Almost at the same moment.

In the main hall of a luxurious castle in the northern part of Canglan Star.

A tall man, dressed in a black imperial robe, wearing a golden imperial crown, and walking with a powerful stride, waved his hand:

"Let's go, into the Netherworld, to have a good meeting with my two younger brothers!"

"Yes, First Prince!!"

"Four elite personal guard squads have already assembled and are ready at all times, just waiting for the First Prince's command!"

A servant-like middle-aged man respectfully said.

"Besides that, this old servant has also prepared ten squads, totaling five hundred Astral Rank Level Nine warriors, for Your Highness's needs."

"Hmm! You've done very well, Buji!!"

The black-robed, imperial-crowned man nodded upon hearing this, looking very satisfied at the servant who had followed him for several centuries, and slowly said:

"When we return from the Netherworld this time, I will give you abundant rewards—wealth, beautiful women, luxurious estates... everything you could wish for!!"

"This old servant thanks Your Highness for your grace!!!"

"Depart!!"

"Yes!!"

...Shortly after the First Prince left, the old servant Buji took out his communication optical computer and secretly sent out a message—

"First Prince Bulasi has already departed. Please, Second Prince, make haste!!!"

Ten seconds passed, and an email came back.

"Good!" The reply contained only one word, concise and to the point... The addition of the three Black Dragon Mountain Princes made the Universe Probationary Mercenary assessment in the Netherworld become bewildering.

Even so, the entire Netherworld had not yet reached a state of upheaval.

For no other reason than this:

The ownership of the Netherworld, constructed by Realm Lord Ming Sa, is currently jointly controlled by several major powers.

This is not something that one faction can decide alone; it requires everyone's approval...

However, the inclusion of these three Princes will indeed bring many surprises to Chen Fan and his group...