Chapter 712: Night Raid
Fortunately, that level-170 Dark Venom Dragon seemed to dislike venturing out and interfering in external matters, living alone in the deepest part of the Dark Venom Mountain Range.
This was why so many Professionals dared to hunt monsters in the Dark Venom Mountain Range.
Of course...
No one dared to venture into the deepest part of the mountain range.
At least these small fry certainly wouldn't dare. If they provoked the Dark Venom Dragon, death was the only outcome.
The location of the Radiant Secret Realm's emergence was now confirmed to be near the edge of the mountain range's depths.
To counteract the mountain range's toxic mists, antidote pills rated A-level and above had been selling like hotcakes in Radiant City's apothecaries over the past few days, with S-level pills completely sold out.
These pills, though high-grade, were inexpensive.
Their effects were temporary and consumable, lasting only a short period.
Naturally, they couldn't fetch prices as high as those of eternal-grade pills.
Avril and her companions didn't need to purchase antidote pills. With Ansely, the Holy Sage, in their group, they had no such concerns.
The Holy Sage's fourth-tier awakened passive ability was an aura skill.
Within a ten-kilometer radius, all allies designated as friendly enjoyed the aura's effects.
The aura provided purification every 10 seconds, a 30% all-attribute boost every 10 seconds, and a continuous health regeneration buff every 10 seconds.
With such support, their team had no fear of entering the Dark Venom Mountain Range.
Along the way, they encountered several teams of Professionals from various factions.
Upon seeing Avril and Ansely in the group, many gazes lit up with greed and lust, their eyes shamelessly roaming over the two women.
Had Avril's group been of a lower level, those people would not have stopped at merely ogling—they would have turned into wolves and pounced.
Such was the cruelty of the wilderness.
Weakness was the original sin.
Soon...
Ling Zhan's group set up camp in a large cave within the mountain range.
"Tonight will not be peaceful. Take turns standing watch and remain vigilant," Avril said solemnly.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The Dark Venom Mountain Range was now teeming with Professionals.
Among them, factions with mutual grudges were likely to erupt into conflict at any moment.
Night fell.
The Dark Venom Mountain Range grew eerily silent, but beneath this silence lay an oppressive tension.
In the quiet camp, Adolphus sat at the cave entrance, his expression serious as a faint holy light radiated from him, ready for combat at any moment.
"Hmm?"
Adolphus furrowed his thick brows. His towering frame, as solid as a black tower, abruptly stood up. With a deep clang, he raised a massive glowing shield.
Clang!
A black magical beam shot out like lightning, slamming into the shield with a muffled thud.
"Hmph!"
Adolphus let out a muffled grunt. Despite being a frontline tank, he was pushed back several steps by the force of the black beam!
What did this mean?
It meant the enemy's level was significantly higher than his!
After all, in same-level battles, damage dealers couldn't usually push back tank characters.
Of course...
While tanks boasted immense defense and damage mitigation, their offense and agility were considerably low.
"Who goes there!?"
Adolphus shouted toward the dark, silent forest outside the cave.
Avril and Ansely quickly emerged from their tents upon hearing the commotion.
Ling Zhan, hearing the noise, calmly lifted the tent flap, a faint, confident smile playing at his lips.
These guys couldn't hold back any longer.
Throughout their journey, Ling Zhan had already sensed their pursuers.
For others, these hidden enemies who completely masked their presence would have been nearly impossible to detect.
But to Ling Zhan, who could sense all malice, killing intent, and hostility, the tailing individuals stood out like glowing beacons in the night.
Now, they finally made their move.
As Ling Zhan approached the cave entrance...
Swish! Swish!
Two sharp sword energies swept through the air from the forest!
Avril's expression turned icy as she let out a soft snort and hurled a spell orb in retaliation.
Boom!
The sword energies collided with the spell orb, erupting in a burst of light. But under the influence of the toxic fog, the flames fizzled out immediately upon touching the forest, unable to ignite.
"Hmph! Sneaky rats! Let's see if you can escape my grasp!"
Cute yet fiercely competitive, Avril wouldn't tolerate provocation. She leapt forward, her figure becoming a shadow streaking toward the assailants. The unique curse energy of her Sorcerer God class surged around her as she charged with murderous intent.
"I'll back her up!"
Adolphus, recognizing that the forest held more than one assailant, quickly followed.
The earlier magical beam that attacked him and the current sword energies indicated at least two, possibly more, attackers.
Judging by the power of their strikes, the enemy's level was undoubtedly no lower than 140.
With this in mind, Adolphus hurried after Avril.
Ansely hesitated, ready to follow, but seeing Ling Zhan's calm demeanor and lack of action, she paused and asked, "Ling Zhan, aren't you going to help them?"
Ling Zhan shook his head lightly and said, "There are only two attackers. Avril and Adolphus can handle them."
Ansely pressed, "But their auras are getting farther away. If we don't follow, we'll end up separated…"
Ling Zhan chuckled cryptically, "Exactly. That's what I want."
Ansely froze in confusion.
Before she could ask further...
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of wind tearing through the air filled her ears.
The next second, eight ghostly figures in black robes emerged from the forest, their presence sharp and murderous, locking onto Ling Zhan and Ansely.
"This…"
Ansely's cold, elegant face went slack in shock.
Each of the eight figures stood at level 145!
"Finally, they've shown themselves…"
Ling Zhan's gaze turned icy as he faced the eight figures. He had been waiting for this moment.
Ever since leaving Radiant City, he had sensed these ten presences trailing them from afar. Now, at last, they revealed themselves.