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Realm within a Realm — Mountain Region
Luo Feng, Hong, and Thor were gathered within a mountain range, their appearances noticeably disheveled.
The battle suit on Thor's left shoulder was badly torn, blood seeping through the ruptured fabric.
"Second Brother, your injury… is it serious?"
Hong looked at Thor, concern evident in his voice.
"It's nothing major," Thor waved him off, though his expression was ugly.
"It'll heal in a day or two."
He sat heavily on a rock, then clenched his teeth.
"Brother Hong, Luo Feng—did either of you get a clear look at who ambushed us?"
Over the past few days, they had been harvesting large quantities of cosmic crystals inside the Realm within the Realm.
Today, while collecting another vein, they were suddenly attacked by a hidden team participating in the Universe Apprentice Mercenary Assessment.
"I didn't see their faces clearly," Luo Feng said slowly.
"But if I run into them again, I should recognize them."
The attackers had struck from concealment. At the time, everyone was focused on escaping, and his telekinesis had only briefly sensed the opponent's aura.
"They're definitely not an ordinary team."
Babata appeared on Luo Feng's shoulder, speaking with certainty.
"They used C2-grade laser guns for the ambush. Those things aren't cheap. In a place like the Heilongshan Empire, ordinary mercenary teams simply can't afford them."
He folded his arms and glanced at Thor.
"You were lucky. The beam only grazed your shoulder. If it had hit your heart or head, you'd already be dead."
"Damn it!"
Thor cursed, his face dark.
"Don't let me run into them again!"
He had nearly died—how could he possibly be in a good mood?
And worst of all, it was an ambush by another assessment team.
In mercenary trials, the most dangerous thing was never the mission itself—
it was other participants.
"Even if you meet them again, there's nothing you can do," Babata said coldly.
"They have C2-grade laser guns."
Thor's expression turned even uglier.
"Shit. If I'd known, I would've brought the railgun I bought last month. If I'd had that, I'd have blasted those trash bastards to death."
"Don't worry."
Hong spoke calmly.
"The third brother should arrive soon. Once he's here—are you still worried about revenge?"
"Yes!"
Thor's eyes lit up instantly.
"I can't do it myself—but I know how to find backup!"
Babata remained silent.
With Jiang Yan's strength, a mere C2-grade laser gun posed no real threat.
Elsewhere within the Realm
"Hmph!"
A man in purple-gold battle armor snorted, displeasure written across his face.
"That team was the first to enter the Realm within the Realm. They must be carrying a massive amount of cosmic crystals—and yet we let them escape."
He was none other than Brolin, the Ninth Prince of the Heilongshan Empire.
A subordinate behind him said respectfully,
"Your Highness, as long as they remain inside this Realm, everything they collect will eventually belong to you."
"Exactly," another echoed.
"Our people are already guarding the entrance. They can't leave."
"In a few days, once the reinforcements from the Two Holy Lands and the Four Major Organizations arrive, those loose teams will all be lambs waiting for slaughter."
"Heh."
Brolin sneered.
"That makes sense. No matter how many treasures they gather now, they're just collecting them for this prince."
At the entrance to the Realm within the Realm, he had already united the Two Holy Lands, the Four Major Organizations, and the Sixteen Families participating in this assessment.
He had even stationed nine C2-grade laser guns there.
Five of them were his own.
Southern Wind and Thunder Canyon — Realm Entrance
Unlike the rest of Wind and Thunder Canyon—where violent winds howled and thunder raged—
the area within several hundred meters of the entrance was eerily calm, as if wind and lightning were forbidden from approaching.
Nine figures stood before the entrance.
All were ninth-order star-level warriors.
They hailed from different factions: the Two Holy Lands, the Four Major Organizations, and the Sixteen Great Families.
In short—
They represented the aristocratic ruling class of the Heilongshan Empire.
Facing them were thousands of unaffiliated warriors, all of ordinary background.
Every one of them had come to Thunder World to participate in the Universe Apprentice Mercenary Assessment.
"A bunch of background-less ants think they're worthy of the treasures of the Realm within the Realm?"
One of the nine sneered.
He was a fair-skinned young man wearing a purple-gold battle suit.
Many in the crowd clenched their fists—but none dared speak.
Because in his hand was a C2-grade laser gun.
The eight behind him held the same weapon.
Nine C2-grade laser guns.
Weapons capable of easily killing a second-order universe-level expert.
Thousands of warriors felt anger—but fear crushed it.
The treasures tempted them.
But their lives mattered more.
Against a C2-grade laser gun, star-level warriors had zero chance of survival.
"The Thunder World is an assessment site of the Mercenary Alliance!"
Someone finally shouted.
"The treasures here should be competed for by strength! What right do you have to monopolize them?!"
"That's right! The Two Holy Lands and the Four Major Organizations are being far too overbearing!"
"We refuse to accept this!"
Angry voices rose from the crowd.
"Refuse to accept it?"
The young man sneered.
He casually drew a line across the ground with the muzzle of his laser gun and said coldly:
"Anyone other than the Two Holy Lands, the Four Major Organizations, or the Sixteen Families—
step past this line, and we shoot."
"Haha. If you don't accept it, telling us is useless."
"If you have the ability—argue with the C2-grade laser guns in our hands."
The nine burst into laughter.
Armed with laser guns and backed by ninth-order star-level cultivation, they feared no one.
The faces of the thousands grew grim.
"Brothers!"
A burly, red-faced man roared from the crowd.
"There are only nine of them! Even with laser guns, we can overwhelm them with numbers!"
"Are we really going to watch the treasures be taken—and be slaughtered like sheep?!"
The crowd stirred.
Anger ignited in countless eyes.
Weapons tightened in trembling hands.
Seeing this, the red-faced man roared:
"Brothers—charge with me! I'm no coward!!"
But before he could take a second step—
Cold light flashed in the purple-gold youth's eyes.
The C2-grade laser gun locked on instantly.
A blinding white beam flashed.
The red-faced man didn't even have time to scream.
His body was pierced straight through, collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
"Fool who doesn't know his place."
The young man raised his laser gun and swept his gaze across the crowd.
"Who else isn't convinced?"
Silence.
The courage that had just ignited was instantly extinguished by death.
No one dared take another step.
Whoosh—!
At that moment, the sound of air tearing apart rang out.
A pale-gold streak of light shot toward the entrance from afar at terrifying speed.
Upon closer inspection—
A blurred figure stood upon the golden stream.
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