133: Step into the secret realm, welcome to the Death Maze!
An inconspicuous commercial vehicle was driving on the road to the eastern suburbs.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Lin Yuan and Night Crow sat side-by-side in the back seat.
Night Crow's injuries had mostly healed under the treatment of Apocalypse Society's black-tech medicine.
He leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes to rest.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, kept his head down, playing the role of a "newcomer" who had just gained powerful abilities and whose heart had not yet completely calmed down.
"A Li."
Night Crow suddenly spoke.
"Here! My Lord!"
Lin Yuan straightened up and responded.
Night Crow opened his eyes and turned his head to face Lin Yuan.
"Lord Tianshu saw your performance this time."
His voice carried approval.
"Work hard."
"It won't be long before you can stand as my equal."
Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat.
Good gracious.
Is this old guy testing me? Or is he painting a grand picture?
"No! I wouldn't dare!"
Lin Yuan quickly waved his hand, his voice even stuttering a bit.
"My Lord, please don't say that! This is all... all thanks to your and Lord Tianshu's guidance!"
"Without you, there would be no A Li today!"
"My life, A Li's life, is yours!"
His "heartfelt" declaration of loyalty was very pleasing to Night Crow.
Night Crow raised his hand and patted his shoulder.
"Having your devotion is enough."
Lin Yuan kept his head down, looking "overwhelmed with gratitude."
But in his heart, he was furiously complaining.
Equals?
I could press you into the ground with one finger.
The car sped along.
Soon, it arrived at the foot of Donghu Mountain.
Here, a long cordon had already been set up.
Many members wearing Dragon Shield Bureau uniforms were maintaining order on the periphery, dispersing the curious onlookers who had arrived after hearing the news.
Inside the cordon, the atmosphere was even more solemn.
Several teams wearing different outfits each occupied a territory, clearly demarcated and mutually wary.
"Those are the Wudang people."
Night Crow pointed through the car window at a group of people in Daoist robes in the distance.
"Over there, are members of the Demon City Hunter Guild."
"And also some small Families from our Jiangcheng locality."
Night Crow's voice carried disdain.
"A mob of rabble."
The commercial vehicle did not stop, but bypassed the frontal blockade and drove through a hidden small road into a camp on the back mountain.
"Our identity this time is that of Loose Cultivators affiliated with the Chen Family."
After getting out of the car, Night Crow instructed Lin Yuan and several other accompanying Apocalypse Society members.
"Later, be smart and don't expose yourselves."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison.
The camp was not large, with over a dozen simple tents set up.
A lean old man, who appeared to be in his fifties, hurried over.
When he saw Night Crow, there was a hint of arrogance on his face.
"Night Crow, you've arrived."
"Mm."
Night Crow merely grunted through his nose.
"Is everything arranged?"
"How could I ever make a mistake with such matters?" The old man raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with displeasure.
Night Crow ignored him and turned to Lin Yuan and the others, saying, "You all, go rest in that tent first and await my command."
He pointed to the largest tent in the camp.
"Yes!"
Lin Yuan and the others dared not ask more, lowering their heads and walking over.
Meanwhile, Night Crow was respectfully invited by the Chen Clan Chief into a separate small tent nearby.
As soon as he entered the large tent, Lin Yuan found an inconspicuous corner and sat down.
He closed his eyes, pretending to rest.
But Electromagnetic Induction spread out at the first moment.
Inside the tent.
The Chen Clan Chief, who had been so dignified outside, fell to his knees with a thud!
He respectfully kowtowed to Night Crow, who was sitting on a chair!
"Lord Night Crow!"
The Chen Clan Chief's voice carried an uncontrollable excitement and fawning.
"Our Chen Family will definitely accomplish what you've commanded!"
"This Secret Realm is our Chen Family's... pledge of allegiance to the Apocalypse Society!"
Night Crow picked up the tea on the table and took a light sip.
"Remember your place."
"If you do well, the Apocalypse Society will not treat your Chen Family poorly."
"If you mess it up..."
Night Crow set down the teacup with a soft clink.
"Then your Chen Family will have no reason to exist."
"Yes! Yes! This humble one understands!"
The Chen Clan Chief trembled in fear, kowtowing even louder.
Lin Yuan slowly "opened" his eyes.
Good gracious.
They're playing such intricate games.
These so-called ancient martial Families are not to be trifled with either.
They claim to be righteous and honorable, but behind the scenes, they've long become someone else's lackeys.
That afternoon.
The entrance to the Secret Realm finally stabilized.
It was a shimmering light door, like rippling water, suspended in mid-air in the valley.
The Dragon Shield Bureau and the major Families all dispatched their vanguard units, ready to enter and explore.
The Chen Family was naturally no exception.
Led by the Chen Clan Chief, a team of over twenty "Chen Family disciples" also marched grandly towards the light door.
Lin Yuan, Night Crow, and the other Apocalypse Society members were among them.
"For the glory of the Family!"
Before entering the light door, the Chen Clan Chief even shouted a slogan with great seriousness.
Lin Yuan almost burst out laughing.
Passing through the light door.
A sensation of dizziness and disorientation came over him.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
The sight before him made him slightly stunned.
They were in a gigantic maze.
All around were gray stone walls, without any visible cracks.
The stone walls extended upwards, seemingly endless, obscuring the sky.
"This... what kind of hellish place is this?"
In the team, a young "Chen Family disciple" exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone subconsciously looked up, wanting to see the sky.
Then.
Everyone froze.
Directly above the maze.
Where the sky should have been.
A blood-red eye was suspended!
It just hung there silently, motionless.
Overlooking all the tiny beings in the maze below.
"What... what is that thing?"
An Apocalypse Society member's voice was trembling.
Night Crow's expression also became solemn.
He looked up at the giant eye, silent for a long time.
"Never mind what it is."
His voice was hoarse and low.
"Our mission is to find the core of the Secret Realm."
Night Crow averted his gaze, forcing himself not to look at the eye anymore.
He took out a compass from hisIn my arms, looked at it, and then pointed to a fork in the road on the left.
"Go this way."