Outside the door, twenty ninjas were already waiting in formation. Umekawa Kojiro waved his hand, and the group dispersed like phantoms, vanishing into the night.

He himself walked toward the north gate of Baigui County, where a squad of elite soldiers had already assembled, waiting for the family head to set out.

Umekawa Kojiro mounted a black Nightmare Beast and took one last look back at the brightly lit Baigui County.

Then, he withdrew his gaze and urged the beast northward.

"Set out."

In the darkness, dozens of black figures, like phantoms, disappeared at the edge of the Northern Plains.

The north gate of Beacon Fire Town.

Nine figures were ready to depart.

Lin Feng stood at the front, followed by Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Wang Wu, Arrow Eye, Su Yurou, Shadow Snake, and two new faces—A Wang and Scarface Liu.

A Wang tightly gripped the new shield he was issued after his class change; it was a green 【Guardian Round Shield】, more than twice as thick as his old, worn-out wooden shield.

His gaze was both nervous and excited, occasionally stealing glances at Lin Feng in front and Scarface Liu beside him.

Scarface Liu wasn't much better. A newly forged green longsword hung at his waist, and his other hand held an identical round shield, his breathing slightly hurried.

This was the first time both of them were following Lin Feng on a mission as "Core Members," and the feeling of being trusted made them both excited and uneasy.

"Is everyone ready?" Lin Feng's gaze swept over the group.

"Ready!" everyone responded in unison, with A Wang and Scarface Liu's voices being exceptionally loud.

Lin Feng nodded and gave a grand wave of his hand. "Set out."

The nine figures sped northward, quickly disappearing at the end of the wilderness.

...

The first night.

The outskirts of the Crying Rift Valley.

Gray mist churned, and visibility was less than twenty meters.

Shadow Snake continued to scout ahead while the other eight maintained a battle formation and advanced slowly.

"A Wang, Scarface Liu, you two stay close to Zhao Hu," Lin Feng's voice came from the front. "Tonight's goal is to get you both to Level 13. Don't be afraid; if you're injured, Yu Rou will heal you."

"Yes!" the two responded in unison.

The battle soon began.

The first wave consisted of three Level 15 Goblin Warriors.

Zhao Hu took the lead, his guardian round shield holding the front as his bone-crushing greatsword cleaved downward! Tie Dun protected his flank, his massive shield knocking back a Goblin trying to circle behind them!

A Wang and Scarface Liu nervously guarded Su Yurou's sides, shields raised, eyes fixed intently on the battlefield.

"Don't just stand there!" Zhao Hu's roar came. "Protect Miss Su!"

The two quickly snapped out of it and adjusted their positions.

Wang Wu and Arrow Eye's arrows whistled through the air, suppressing two Goblins so they couldn't even lift their heads. Shadow Snake lunged from the shadows, finishing off the wounded one with a single strike.

The battle ended quickly. A Wang and Scarface Liu hadn't made a single move throughout, but cold sweat was already beading on their foreheads.

"Relax," Su Yurou comforted them softly. "It's always like this the first time. You'll get used to it."

The two nodded gratefully.

In the subsequent battles, Lin Feng intentionally let A Wang and Scarface Liu participate.

The second time, facing two Goblin Archers. Zhao Hu held the front while A Wang raised his shield to protect the flank. A stray arrow grazed his shield as it flew past, making him break out in a cold sweat, but he ultimately did not back down.

The third time, facing four Goblin Warriors. Scarface Liu imitated Zhao Hu, raising his shield to parry. Although his arm was numbed by the impact, he successfully blocked a strike.

The fourth time, the fifth time...

Experience points were growing steadily.

At four in the morning, A Wang and Scarface Liu both reached Level 13 simultaneously.

The two were so excited they almost jumped, but seeing the calm expressions of their teammates, they forced themselves to suppress it.

"Not bad." Lin Feng patted their shoulders. "We continue tomorrow."

...

The second night.

The team continued deeper.

The gray mist still churned, but the aura of monsters nearby felt even denser.

Shadow Snake scouted ahead, her reports becoming more cautious each time.

"Lord, eighty meters ahead, I found a Harpy," Shadow Snake's voice wafted from the mist. "Level 19, solitary."

Lin Feng's heart stirred.

Harpy—a female Humanoid Monster.

He looked at everyone. "Wait for me here. I'll go take a look."

Zhao Hu was stunned. "Lord, alone? Do you want Shadow Snake to follow?"

"No need," Lin Feng waved his hand. "Just looking, not engaging. Stay on guard."

Although the others were puzzled, the Lord's orders were not to be questioned.

Lin Feng concealed his presence and, using the agility from his windchaser boots, crept forward like a ghost.

Fifty meters.

Thirty meters.

Twenty meters.

Lin Feng hid behind a boulder and slowly peered out.

Twenty meters ahead, a Harpy was perched on a protruding rock.

She was half-human and half-bird; her upper body had a female silhouette with grayish-brown skin, a cold and elegant face, and long hair that hung loose like withered grass.

But from the waist down, she had the body of a giant eagle covered in grayish-brown feathers, with thick legs and hooked talons deeply embedded in the rock.

A pair of massive wings was folded on her back, occasionally opening ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) slightly to reveal the dense feathers underneath.

She was bowing her head, preening the feathers on her wings with her sharp beak, occasionally letting out a low cry that sounded as shrill as weeping.

Lin Feng held his breath and silently activated the Eye of Probability.

A translucent panel that only he could see appeared:

【Harpy】

【Level: Lv19】

【Type: Humanoid Monster (Female)】

【Possible Drop: golden chain of deception of the false life lord (0.0001%)...】

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

Gold!

golden chain of deception of the false life lord—a gold-tier necklace-type equipment!

A drop rate of one in a million!

He stared fixedly at that line of text, his heart rate accelerating slightly.

But immediately after, he forced himself to calm down.

The Eye of Probability still has... he calculated silently; there were still ten days until the next refresh.

He would come to take it in ten days.

Lin Feng took one last look at the Harpy and memorized her location—on a protruding rock near the eastern cliff of the Rift Valley, with relatively open terrain nearby, suitable for battle.

He backed away slowly, just as carefully as he had come, and only turned to return after reaching a safe distance.

The team was still waiting in place.

Seeing Lin Feng return, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lord, how was it?" Zhao Hu asked in a low voice.

Lin Feng shook his head. "A Level 19 Harpy. We won't move on her for now. Let's change direction."

Although the group was puzzled, the Lord's decision was not to be questioned.

"Shadow Snake, change to the northeast direction," Lin Feng ordered.

Shadow Snake nodded, her figure vanishing into the mist.

The team adjusted their direction and continued exploring.

A Wang whispered to Scarface Liu, "Why isn't the Lord moving on that one? It's Level 19; we should be able to take it, right?"

Scarface Liu glared at him. "The Lord has his reasons. Ask fewer questions."

A Wang shrunk his neck and said no more.

The team continued deeper.

Gray mist churned, and faint roars came from ahead.

New battles were still waiting for them.

And in Lin Feng's heart, he already had a new goal.

In ten days, he was determined to get that golden necklace.