The moment the troll fell, Lin Feng didn't even give it a second glance, simply sweeping the loot into his bag with a casual wave of his hand.

This was the seventh troll they had encountered in this area.

They were all Level 19 common trolls; they hadn't encountered anything like that Level 23 elite from that night again.

"Work's done." Lin Feng stood up, retracting his spear as his gaze swept across the battlefield.

Zhao Hu was using his newly acquired 【troll tusk shield】 to block a troll's final, desperate strike before its death.

The tusks on the shield's surface glowed with a dark red light, and the -20 reflection damage completely finished off the already low-health troll.

He grinned: "This shield is too useful! I can kill monsters just by standing still!"

Tie Dun watched from the side with envy, looking down at his own 【troll bone shield】. Although its defense was higher, it lacked the reflection effect, making it «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» feel a bit less interesting.

"Tie Dun, how are things on your end?" Lin Feng asked.

Tie Dun patted his shield: "Rock steady! This shield is hard; they can't break it!"

After everyone finished clearing the battlefield, they rested in place.

This was the fourth night.

Ever since killing that Level 23 elite troll that night, the team had been steadily farming monsters in this area.

Although the Level 19 common trolls were still massive, both their attack power and recovery speed were significantly lower than that of the elite.

On the third night, they had killed eleven Level 19 trolls.

Zhao Hu charged at the very front with his new shield, while Tie Dun protected the flanks; the coordination between the two grew increasingly seamless.

Troll bone clubs smashed against the blue shields, sending sparks flying, but the two remained as immovable as mountains.

Wang Wu and Arrow Eye's arrows specifically targeted the trolls' eyes and throats, while Shadow Snake lunged out from the shadows to deliver the finishing blows.

Su Yurou's Healing Spell would occasionally descend once or twice, but most of the time it wasn't needed at all because the trolls simply couldn't break through the duo's defense.

A Wang and Scarface Liu also gradually found their rhythm. The two stayed on either side of Su Yurou, and whenever a stray troll tried to bypass the front line, they would use their shields to block it firmly.

Although their arms went numb from the shock every time, the two gritted their teeth and persevered, and their levels soared.

"A Wang, that block just now was pretty good!" Tie Dun took a moment to praise him.

A Wang grinned foolishly, gripping his shield even tighter.

By the end of the fourth night, everyone's harvest was plentiful: seven pieces of green equipment, over thirty white crystals, as well as some troll tusks and thick hide materials.

During the day on the fifth day, everyone rested in the cave while Su Yurou took inventory of the equipment and distributed it to those who needed it.

A Wang and Scarface Liu each received a piece of green leg guards and armor, significantly boosting their defense.

Even Shadow Snake received a pair of green boots that increased agility; although they weren't as good as the pair she was wearing, they were good to keep as spares.

"Full green gear." Lin Feng glanced at everyone's equipment and nodded with satisfaction.

He himself wasn't short on equipment; the crimson blood headband, rock-solid chestplate, windchaser boots, and his soul-bound Wildfire Spear were more than enough.

On the fifth night, the battle became even easier.

Perhaps because the trolls in this area had been mostly cleared out, the frequency of their appearances decreased significantly.

They only encountered five in the first half of the night, and even fewer in the second half, with only three.

Lin Feng even had time to observe everyone's combat habits.

Zhao Hu's fighting style became increasingly fierce; relying on his shield's reflection, he charged at the very front every time, as if he wanted to shove his face right into the trolls' faces.

Tie Dun was much more steady, always keeping his troll bone shield protecting his vital points, and occasionally using a shield bash to cause a stagger, creating opportunities for Shadow Snake.

The coordination between Wang Wu and Arrow Eye was already perfected. The two hardly needed to communicate; one shot the left eye and the other shot the right, forcing the trolls to swing wildly with their eyes closed.

Shadow Snake's figure flickered through the shadows, every strike precise and lethal.

Su Yurou's Healing Spells became more composed, and she even had the leisure to observe the battlefield situation and anticipate who would need healing ahead of time.

A Wang and Scarface Liu had also completely adapted to the rhythm of battle. Although they rarely participated in damage output, they protected Su Yurou so well that not a drop of water could leak through.

Occasionally, when a troll was enraged and tried to flank them from behind, the two would join forces to block it.

At three in the morning, the last troll fell.

The battlefield fell silent, with only the sound of heavy breathing and the occasional distant roar.

Lin Feng checked everyone's levels.

He himself was halfway through Level 19. Shadow Snake was Level 19.

Zhao Hu, Wang Wu, Arrow Eye, Su Yurou, and Tie Dun were all Level 18. A Wang and Scarface Liu were both Level 16.

"Not bad." Lin Feng nodded. "This trip was worth it."

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

Tie Dun plopped down on the ground, hugging his shield and chuckling foolishly: "I never thought I could level up this fast!"

Zhao Hu patted his new shield: "Following the Lord, anything is possible."

Wang Wu said with emotion: "Back in Qingshi County, I couldn't even gain a level in several years. These few trips down the Rift Valley have given me more than the last ten-plus years combined."

Arrow Eye nodded silently.

Su Yurou said softly: "I also didn't expect to reach Level 18 so quickly..."

Shadow Snake still didn't speak, but a very faint smile flickered in her eyes.

A Wang and Scarface Liu looked at each other, both seeing the excitement in the other's eyes.

How long had it been since they joined Beacon Fire Town? Now they were already Level 16 and fully decked out in green gear; this was something they wouldn't have dared to dream of before.

Lin Feng's gaze swept over everyone, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Alright, let's talk business."

Everyone's expression turned serious.

"The trolls in this area have clearly become fewer tonight." Lin Feng paused.

"If we go deeper, there might be higher-level monsters. Our current state isn't suitable for taking risks."

He looked at the sky; there were about two hours left until dawn.

"We'll scout one last time. If we encounter any, we'll kill them; if not, we'll wait for dawn and head back."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

For the next two hours, the team continued to roam the troll area.

Just as Lin Feng expected, there were fewer and fewer trolls. In the latter half of the night, they only encountered two stragglers and killed them easily.

At five-thirty in the morning, a faint light began to appear on the horizon.

The grey mist receded toward the depths of the Rift Valley like an ebbing tide, and visibility gradually returned.

Lin Feng stood on a large rock, gazing into the depths of the Rift Valley that were faintly visible in the mist.

There, Shadow Snake had reported stronger aura fluctuations.

But he didn't act impulsively.

"Withdraw." Lin Feng jumped down from the rock. "Let's head back to rest."

Everyone's eyes lit up in unison.

"We can finally go back!" Tie Dun was the first to cheer.

Zhao Hu let out a long breath: "This trip was worth it!"

Wang Wu put away his longbow and smiled: "Let's go back, take a good bath, and get some sleep."

Arrow Eye nodded silently, though the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Su Yurou walked to Lin Feng's side and asked softly: "Lord, when will we come back next time?"

Lin Feng glanced at her and said calmly: "Rest for a few days and wait for news."

He didn't specify what news it was, and Su Yurou didn't ask. But she vaguely felt that the Lord already had a new plan in mind.

Shadow Snake scouted ahead as usual, and the team returned toward the Rift Valley exit along the familiar path.

Behind them, the grey mist gradually dissipated, and the Rift Valley returned to its daytime tranquility.

Five nights of combat had resulted in a leap in everyone's levels and updated equipment.

The team from Beacon Fire Town had grown significantly stronger.

The moment they stepped out of the Rift Valley, the morning light spilled onto their faces.

Tie Dun took a deep breath and grinned: "First thing when we get back is to have a good meal!"

Zhao Hu slapped the back of his head: "All you think about is eating!"

Everyone burst into laughter, their steps light as they walked toward Beacon Fire Town.

Behind them, the Crying Rift Valley stood silently.

But everyone knew that they would be back.