The Mysterious Land
A range of mountains stretched away in rolling waves, and everywhere the eye could see, towering peaks rose amid a sea of dark green vegetation.
Evening was falling. One mountain after another gradually swallowed the last glow of the setting sun, until nothing remained but a vast, dusky twilight.
In a valley, a group of neatly dressed figures hurried toward its depths. Every face was taut with urgency, and disdain was plainly mixed into their expressions.
A handsome young man looked at the winding, convoluted path through the valley. He stretched lazily, his brows drawing together as he let out a faint, sardonic snort. "They sure can run!"
The unremarkable-looking Man in Black standing beside him chuckled and flattered him. "What good will running do them? With Brother Tinghan here, they couldn't escape your grasp even if they fled to the ends of the earth!"
Xu Tinghan smiled faintly, a trace of pride showing on his face. He watched the group's fleeing figures disappear deeper into the valley with casual indifference, though his eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that mysterious land just up ahead?"
At his words, the Man in Black narrowed his eyes and looked ahead. He sensed the direction in which their auras had vanished, then examined the features of the surrounding terrain and nodded gravely. "It seems so. Should we keep after them?"
Xu Tinghan fell silent for a moment, then shook his head with a scornful smile. "No need. Before the Demon Race and the human race entered the fourth level, people from the Demon Scorpion Clan had already gone ahead to scout. Not a single one came back alive. If they charge in like this, we won't even need to lift a finger."
The Man in Black nodded, curiosity in his eyes. He