The core area of the world within a world.
This was originally a beautiful plain, but now it had become a blood-soaked battlefield.
The four from Earth were huddled in the grass on the side of a hill, watching the bloody battle.
"They're fighting again, over a few hundred units of cosmic crystal, it's really not worth it…"
Lei Shen looked at the dazzling lights shooting across the sky in the distance and couldn't help but sigh.
Now that they held three hundred thousand units of cosmic crystal, they naturally felt it wasn't worth it.
However, a few hundred units of cosmic crystal, if placed outside, would be worth over a billion Ganwu coins, enough to buy a large number of slaves at the ninth rank of the stellar level!
"People die for wealth, birds die for food, it's human nature."
Hong glanced at the auxiliary optical brain, which displayed a dense array of red dots in every direction: "This guy is even more terrifying than a beast tide!
"I don't know how many people have died!"
Luo Feng's face was filled with horror.
It wasn't that he was afraid of the number of people, but that the scene of the fighting was bloody and terrifying.
In front of them, within a few to dozens of miles, more than a thousand corpses were piled up, both male and female. Some were intact, while others were not. There were humans, sub-humans, and even some beast-like creatures.
Their only commonality was that they were all dead.
"Small factions can't compete for major opportunities and can only choose to fight on the periphery to snatch cosmic crystals."
Jiang Li also sighed with emotion: "Let's go."
The four of them continued forward towards the core castle. Along the way, they occasionally saw deep pits that had been dug, obviously the aftermath of digging for cosmic crystals.
And beneath some of the deep pits, the corpses of star-level adventurers lay scattered about, truly making use of everything.
"Hmm? Is that Ye Changge?"
Hong suddenly received a call request from the virtual universe.
After he and Lei Shen broke through to the star level, they each went to set up their own accounts.
"I received one too."
Lei Shen said, "I met her when Hong and I were adventuring. She's a universe-level adventurer from the Black Cloud Society, and she's a good person."
"She's probably trying to recruit you."
Jiang Li nodded slightly, roughly guessing what was going on.
Following that.
Hong and Lei Shen entered the virtual universe network.
"Haha."
The communication connected, and Ye Changge, upon seeing Hong and Lei Shen, threw her head back and laughed heartily, "I knew you two were tough, you definitely wouldn't die!"
Her appearance was no different from Earth people, and her black combat suit and short hair made her look heroic.
"You haven't died either?"
Lei Shen quipped.
"Changge, you've also entered the world within a world?"
Hong got straight to the point, asking the question directly.
Previously, when he and Lei Shen planned to venture into the Thunder World, they had invited Ye Changge, but she had declined.
Now, she had suddenly contacted him, and Hong could guess why.
"Yes."
Ye Changge nodded, a trace of sorrow flashing across her face. "It's not just me. Goodwin and Xilote Ya also entered, but they weren't as lucky as I was..."
"Our condolences."
The two words hung in the air, and Hong and Lei Shen sighed in unison.
Ninth-rank stellar beings were dying in droves; for those below ninth rank to survive was truly a matter of luck.
"Let's not talk about that..."
Ye Changge said with concern, "The entrance to Thunder World is now blocked by the major forces of Black Dragon Mountain."
"Even if you get the treasure, it's useless. You'll still die when you leave!"
"How about you two join our Black Cloud Society? At least there's a chance to get out alive!"
Hearing this.
Hong and Lei Shen exchanged a look and shook their heads.
"Don't have any illusions!"
Seeing this.
Ye Changge said urgently, "There's an immortal god outside, six sector lords, and dozens of domain lords..."
"Even if the master of the Thunder World were to revive, they'd have to accept their fate!"
"What are the conditions?"
Hong pondered briefly, then asked directly.
"All the treasures you obtained before are yours. Just obey the Black Cloud Society's orders and seize the final treasure."
Ye Changge informed them of the situation: "Except for the two great holy lands which have to hand over a certain amount of cosmic crystals, the other forces are all the same, regardless of the treasures they obtained before!"
"Wait a moment."
Hong exited the virtual universe network and explained the situation to Jiang Li and Luo Feng.
"I'll listen to Brother Jiang."
Luo Feng was very direct.
"Guild Master, joining them would save us a lot of trouble."
Jiang Li pondered slightly, "Besides, we wouldn't have to compete for the final treasure!"
Hearing this.
Both Hong and Luo Feng's eyes lit up.
According to the declarations of the various parties, what they had obtained previously belonged to the individuals, so the ninety million Thunderstones naturally had nothing to do with the Black Cloud Society.
Outside the giant castle, in the core of the world within a world.
"These two are my brothers, Jiang Li and Luo Feng, along with Lei Shen."
After meeting up with Ye Changge, Hong introduced her, "This is Ye Changge. I met her when Lei Shen and I were exploring Bo Na Star."
"Also, there's Goodwin and Xilote Ya. Unfortunately, they died in the Wind and Thunder Canyon."
Ye Changge sighed.
Then, she shook her head, adjusting her mood, "Do you see that giant, deep blue castle up ahead? That's the core of the world within a world. The real treasure is inside. Right now, all the factions are waiting for the external lightning to stop."
"Our Black Cloud Society is divided into three formations: front, middle, and rear. The free adventurers we recruited are all in the first formation."
Ye Changge pointed to the formation closest to the giant castle. Tens of thousands of star-level adventurers were densely packed on the outer edges, their realms varying greatly.
"Cannon fodder?"
Hong and Lei Shen looked at Ye Changge simultaneously. She immediately twitched her mouth and said angrily, "We're in the third formation!"
"Thanks," Hong said with a cupped fist.
They were also free adventurers and hadn't been assigned to the first formation, which was clearly thanks to Ye Changge.
"You know how to say thanks?"
Ye Changge glared at Hong and harrumphed, "Don't you two go running off. I'll go report to my senior brother."
"Alright!"
Time continued to pass, and more and more adventurers gathered outside the giant castle.
The two holy lands, the four major organizations, the sixteen major families, plus some affiliated countries, there were at least nearly a million star-level powerhouses around the castle.
"Look, it's people from the Hundred Tigers Pavilion."
Lei Shen immediately recognized the distinctive emblem on the Hundred Tigers Pavilion's battle attire, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"Swoosh!" "Swoosh!" "Swoosh!"
Shadows flew past, gathering around the giant castle, taking up a large area.
"There are even more people than we thought!"
Luo Feng looked up at the sky, as various forces continuously added new members. In just one day, the numbers were approaching two million.
"Almost two million!"
Faced with such a large number of Star-level warriors, Hong also felt the pressure and said, "Jiang Li, are we still going with the original plan?"
"Yes."
Jiang Li still smiled calmly, "After the castle opens, you all decide what you want to exchange for, then leave immediately!"
"It's not about us exchanging..."
"It's about how you are going to leave after exchanging!"
Lei Shen waved his hand, "Nearly two million stellar-level people! The pursuit will be like the sky being covered!"
"Yeah, Brother Jiang!"
Luo Feng was also full of worry.
Getting out was naturally no problem. Abusika was outside; who would dare to attack?
But to fly back to the entrance from within the world within a world, even at Jiang Li's maximum speed, would take two or three days.
"Don't worry, they won't be able to stop me."
Jiang Li was full of confidence.
At this moment.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed across the sky.
"Sachi from Black Dragon Mountain pays respects to His Highness, the Ninth Prince!"
"We pay respects to His Highness, the Ninth Prince!"
"May His Highness be safe and well!"
Tens of thousands of people from the Black Dragon Mountain holy land suddenly spoke, their voices like thunder and fire, shaking the heavens.
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