"Get in line! Remember, follow all orders. You alone will be responsible for any and all consequences that arise from your failure to do so."

A Warrior from the Hao Wei Escort Agency stepped forward, checked Shu Feng’s identification tablet, and left him with those parting words before returning to the formation.

Shu Feng fell in with the group without a word, quietly observing them.

In total, there were thirty independent travelers like Shu Feng attempting to enter the Black Tortoise Realm. Apart from them, the caravan consisted of two hundred Warriors from the Hao Wei Escort Agency.

The bearded, somewhat world-weary middle-aged man was named Xiao Qing, and he was the Commander of this caravan. The white-bearded old man was known as the Sea Tributor.

Among the thirty independent travelers, one person stood out the most: a stunningly beautiful girl with long black hair, a tall figure, and a green robe. Her aura was like that of an Elf from a secluded valley.

"What a beautiful girl!"

Shu Feng’s eyes lit up when he saw the black-haired girl.

’In terms of looks and aura alone, she might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,’ Shu Feng thought. ’Only Su Mi, in her mature form, could possibly compare.’

"Young lady, I am Liu Ming, a True Disciple of the Cangming Sect from Cangming City in the Black Tortoise Realm. May I be so bold as to ask your name?"

A young man dressed in white, with a dashing air and uncommonly handsome features, had walked up to the peerless beauty, a fervent glint flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

"Vixen!!"

Behind Liu Ming, a tall, buxom girl in a pale yellow silk dress with a charmingly cute, round face gritted her teeth. She glared fiercely at the peerless beauty and muttered under her breath.

"An."

The peerless beauty said coolly.

"So it’s Miss Xiao An!!"

Just as Liu Ming was about to chat her up further, Xiao Qing’s ice-cold voice cut in from the side. "Time’s up. We’re moving out!"

The massive caravan immediately departed from Xuanlei City and set foot into the Erosion Realm.

The peerless beauty named An possessed a captivating Charm. Four more men from the group of thirty gathered around her, trying to strike up a conversation. However, she was extremely aloof and seldom spoke.

Many of the Hao Wei Escort Agency’s Warriors had also been staring at An, but the moment they entered the Erosion Realm, they all gripped their weapons and became as wary as if facing a great enemy.

The Erosion Realm was an extremely dangerous and unpredictable world. A path that was safe one day could become a deathtrap the next.

Within the Erosion Realm were dreadful, forbidden lands where even experts at the Divine Spirit Level could perish.

Only those at the Spirit Warrior Level could barely travel through the Erosion Realm, and even they were little more than cannon fodder there.

It was precisely because the Erosion Realm was so dangerous that Shu Feng hadn’t dared to venture into it rashly, despite knowing it was rich in resources.

Of course, a major company like the Hao Wei Escort Agency had traveled the road from Xuanlei City to the Black Tortoise Realm many times. They were prepared to deal with any dangers they might encounter.

At night, the entire Erosion Realm seemed to be swallowed by an endless darkness that exuded a strange and dangerous aura. There wasn’t a single sliver of light; it was so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

"Halt! Make camp!"

At Xiao Qing’s command, the entire convoy immediately stopped and began to set up camp.

Xiao Qing took out a somewhat battered Copper Lamp and lit its wick. A faint yellow glow spread out, forming a luminous Space fifty meters in radius.

Xiao Qing said coldly, "You can speak in whispers, but no loud noises! You should all be aware of the dangers in the Erosion Realm. Anyone who makes a racket will get us all killed."

The thirty independent travelers quickly formed small groups, talking in low voices.

The five men, meanwhile, were fawning over the beautiful An.

Suddenly, fierce gusts of wind began to blow outside.

The wick of the battered Copper Lamp swayed and flickered.

"Hee hee, haha!!"

"Come and play!!"

"Play with us!"

"..."

Suddenly, peals of children’s laughter rang out from the darkness.

Xiao Qing’s expression changed drastically. He growled in a low voice, "Everyone shut up! Don’t speak, don’t make a single sound, or you’re dead!"

’There’s something outside!’

Shu Feng’s eyes narrowed. With the terrifying perception of his Holy Soul, he instantly sensed an immense terror lurking outside—the kind of terror that could kill even his true body if not handled properly.

This was the Erosion Realm, a place fraught with danger. With the slightest misstep, even experts at the Spirit Saint Level could die a baffling death. That was why the task of exploring it was usually left to low-level Adventurers.

Every safe route through the Erosion Realm had been charted with the lives of countless Adventurers.

Shu Feng immediately activated a Concealing Secret Technique, and his presence faded until it was barely perceptible, as if he were nothing more than a rock by the side of the road.

Within the Barrier of light, everyone fell silent.

"Miss Xiao An, please don’t worry. I’ve slain countless ghouls like this back in the Black Tortoise Realm. Rest assured, I will protect you!"

Liu Ming drew a Long Sword, gazing at the beautiful An with deep affection as he whispered.

An gave Liu Ming a strange look, then took a single step. As if teleporting, she instantly vanished from his side.

Liu Ming froze. He felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and looked down. He saw the rotting, maggot-infested head of a child, its eyes missing, embedded in his stomach. The eyeless sockets seemed to grin as they stared right at him.

"Senior Brother!!"

Seeing this, the pretty, cute, round-faced girl in the pale yellow silk dress shrieked in terror and shot backward.

But in the next moment, the head of a small, rotting, maggot-infested boy—its eyes also missing—appeared on her abdomen. Its empty, black sockets stared straight at her.

’Sound! The monsters possess—or rather, attack—their victims through sound!’

Shu Feng calmly observed the unfolding scene. This was exactly why he had chosen to travel with a large caravan.

According to legend, some of the terrifyingly bizarre Phenomena in the Erosion Realm were projections of a mere sliver of Power from the most Top Level beings in the Void Demon Realm. Others were strange occurrences formed from the lingering Power of great figures who had perished long ago.

These terrifyingly bizarre phenomena all operated according to their own unique rules. As long as one figured out those rules, even a minor figure at the Spirit Warrior Level could escape. But if one violated the rules, even an expert at the Spirit Saint Level would die a horrible death.

"Save me!! Help me!!"

Blood poured from Liu Ming’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He let out a bloodcurdling scream as he lunged toward a burly, bald man beside him.