97: An appetizer right away? Amazing!

Mingwang District, in the remote suburbs.

More than a dozen black off-road vehicles formed a torrent of steel, speeding along the silent highway.

The roar of engines tore through the tranquility of the countryside.

Led by Zhou Yuan, the elite forces from the Spiritual Energy Bureau and the Mysterious Thunder Sect were advancing at full speed toward the destination indicated by that phantom.

The atmosphere in the convoy was somewhat oppressive, with gravity written on the face of every team member.

However, in the backseat of the lead car, Chen Nian was calmly resting with his eyes closed, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with him.

"Special Commissioner Chen."

From the passenger seat, Zhou Yuan's voice broke the silence inside the car.

He was holding a compass-shaped Magical Artifact. A thin, long needle in the center of the Magical Artifact was emitting a faint spiritual light, pointing unwaveringly in a certain direction.

"The direction is stable, and the energy link between us and the target is very clear."

"According to the feedback from the Magical Artifact, the lair of that thing should be not far ahead."

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhiqiang's calm voice came through the convoy's public communication channel.

"Attention all units, we are about to enter the target area. Everyone, be on high alert and maintain maximum vigilance!"

"Received!"

"Received!"

A uniform response came from the channel.

A few minutes later, the screech of brakes rang out one after another.

The convoy came to a steady stop in front of a valley surrounded by mountains.

The needle of the Magical Artifact in Zhou Yuan's hand was now vibrating violently, glowing brilliantly, and pointing straight into the depths of the valley.

The end point of the signal was inside!

Everyone got out of the cars.

A cold, foul aura rushed toward them, mixed with a thick stench of blood and decay that made people want to retch.

This aura was identical to the one previously sensed on members of the Iron Wolf Gang.

But it was purer, thicker, and more evil.

If the aura on the Iron Wolf Gang members was just a polluted stream, then the valley before them was the deep pool at the source of that pollution!

The members of the Spiritual Energy Bureau and the Mysterious Thunder Sect all looked troubled the moment they came into contact with this aura.

"What an evil aura!"

"This place is definitely a land of great misfortune; the things inside are probably not easy to deal with."

"That's right, just the energy fluctuations on the periphery make me feel palpitations. This is trickier than any case I've handled before."

"It seems this mission won't be easy…"

Discussions rose and fell, and fear and unease appeared on everyone's faces.

They were all battle-hardened elites, but the scene before them still exceeded their cognitive range.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan walked quickly to Chen Nian's side, lowered his voice, and looked extremely serious.

"Special Commissioner Chen, it seems we found the right place. The true form of that Demonic Evil is nine times out of ten hiding in this valley."

"However, the aura inside is no small matter; I fear there is more than one Demonic Evil entrenched here, and it may have even formed a lair."

Chen Nian casually glanced at the black mist-shrouded valley, but a satisfied curve hooked at the corner of his mouth.

"Hmm, not bad."

"There are many Demonic Evils; it's a good place."

This nonchalant assessment stunned even Zhou Yuan.

A good place?

This was clearly a place of near-certain death!

This Special Commissioner Chen's way of thinking was indeed different from ordinary people…

Zhang Zhiqiang also walked over. He glanced at the valley, his brows locked tight.

"Special Commissioner Chen, the situation is unclear. Shouldn't we first formulate a detailed battle plan?"

"For example, send a reconnaissance team in to scout the path, figure out the specific situation and the number of Demonic Evils inside, and then decide the main direction of attack…"

He desperately wanted to use professional procedures to alleviate his inner unease.

However, Chen Nian casually waved his hand, interrupting him directly.

"No need."

"They are just a bunch of rats hiding in a gutter; what kind of plan is needed?"

"Just roll over them directly."

That casual attitude made it seem not like he was going to wipe out a terrifying Demonic Evil lair, but as simple as going to the vegetable market to buy groceries.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhiqiang was instantly speechless, and the rest of his words could not be spoken.

In the abandoned factory, Chen Nian's unbelievable, miraculous strength had completely overturned his worldview.

Although reason told him that acting cautiously was the golden rule, his intuition was screaming that this man's words might be the truth.

Because he really had the capital for it!

In the end, he could only relent and turn to give orders to the members of the combat team.

"Everyone, follow Special Commissioner Chen's commands and be prepared to deal with any emergencies!"

Hearing this, the combat team members instantly straightened their backs in unison.

Their expressions became extremely serious, and they replied in unison.

"Yes!"

Everyone became ready for battle.

However, Chen Nian was already ignoring everyone's reactions.

He didn't even glance at them again, simply striding toward the dark valley entrance.

Only then did the group wake up as if from a dream, hurriedly stepping forward to follow closely behind.

However, at the very instant Chen Nian's foot stepped into the valley's range.

A sudden change occurred!

"Hum—!"

An energy fluctuation more than ten times stronger than before erupted violently from the depths of the valley.

Immediately after, on the ground not far ahead, those dense shadows began to twist and squirm violently, as if countless hands were struggling to crawl out from the depths of the earth!

The next second, one hideous and terrifying figure after another actually "grew" directly out of the flat ground.

Appearing out of thin air!

These Demonic Evils were in various forms; some had green faces and fangs, some were covered in pustules, and some were twisted humanoid shapes purely condensed from black gas.

The power fluctuations radiating from them were violent and powerful; not a single one was weak.

They were all clearly at the Second-Tier or Third-Tier and above!

What made one's scalp tingle even more was that these Demonic Evils actually began to speak human language, issuing bursts of dry, ear-piercing threats.

"Humans… stop!"

"Trespassing into the place where our master slumbers, you… are seeking death!"

"Get out!"

"Otherwise, your flesh and Soul will all become nourishment for this land!"

The voices of dozens of Demonic Evils converged, forming a wave of malicious sound that echoed endlessly in the valley.

Seeing this, everyone at the scene was immediately shocked.

The courage they had just mustered was instantly shattered by this sudden turn of events.

"What is this situation?!"

"The aura of these Demonic Evils is so powerful; they are all Third-Tier and above!"

"And they can actually speak human language; that's a characteristic only high-level Demonic Evils have!"

"Oh no, it seems the situation ahead is not simple!"

Panic spread rapidly like a plague.

The members of the Spiritual Energy Bureau and the Mysterious Thunder Sect retreated one after another, fear written on every face.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became frozen and dead silent, and people's breathing became extremely heavy.

However, in this dead silence and despair, Chen Nian just smiled contemptuously.

He didn't even pause his steps.

To others, these terrifying Demonic Evils were enough to bring about the end of the world, but in his eyes, they were just a group of slightly stronger ants.

He just flicked his hand casually.

"Whoosh—!"

Countless red threads, thinner than hair, suddenly erupted from his fingertips.

Interweaving into a net of death in the air, they surged toward those Demonic Evils with a sharpness that could tear through everything.

The speed was extreme!

Those powerful Demonic Evils that had just been showing off didn't even have a fraction of a second to react.

In an instant, their bodies were cut into countless pieces by the red threads.

No screams, no struggle.

Just like that, abruptly, under the horrified gaze of the crowd, they were instantly slaughtered.

They turned into black gas filling the sky and dissipated into the air.

Meanwhile, in Chen Nian's mind, the System's broadcast was ringing frantically.

【Ding! Killed Second-Tier Demon, gained 155 points.】

【Ding! Killed Second-Tier Demon, gained 193 points.】

【Ding! Killed Third-Tier Demon, gained 628 points.】

【Ding! Killed Third-Tier Demon, gained 913 points.】

…

Listening to the System broadcast constantly ringing in his mind, Chen Nian felt very satisfied.

Not bad, not bad.

Just upon entering the door, so many appetizers had come to him to be killed.

He hoped the "main course" in the depths of the valley would not disappoint him.

However, the people behind him were instantly stunned.

Everyone was petrified on the spot, their faces filled with shock that could not be described in words.

Time seemed to have frozen at this moment.

"One… one-hit kill?"

"These Demonic Evils were more than just a little bit stronger than those guys from the Iron Wolf Gang, and yet they were still killed in one move?"

"Too strong, this is no longer a question of whether he is strong or not…"

"Special Commissioner Chen, he is simply a god!"

"I was actually worried just now that going in without a plan might cause trouble; now it seems I was the clown…"

The fear and despair that had just filled everyone's hearts were now gone.

In their place was overwhelming shock and fanatical worship.

However, Chen Nian did not pay attention to their shock.

He just casually brushed the dust off his sleeves and said faintly.

"The trash has been cleaned up."

"Continue advancing."

After speaking, he continued walking toward the depths of the valley without looking back.

However, just at this moment.

In his mind, the System's broadcast rang out again.

【Ding! Detected powerful demonic entity — Blood Pupil Mountain Lord!】

【Triggered special mission: Kill Blood Pupil Mountain Lord!】

【Mission reward: 20,000 points, obtained skill 'Blood Pupil Domain'!】

Blood Pupil Mountain Lord?

Plus 20,000 points and a new skill!

Listening to the System broadcast, Chen Nian was very satisfied.

It had come, just as expected!

Things were about to get interesting!