However, the Deputy City Lord of Star Tower City, Alek, had a completely different expression as he looked at Lin Qi and the others.

"More than four hundred High Tier Martial Artists, including fourteen Bone Forging Realm experts with Hall Master Lin Qi, is this the hidden strength of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall?" Alek couldn't help feeling shaken as he observed the players curiously examining their surroundings.

Although they had guessed that the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall had quite a background and that its strength was far from simple, only today did they realize they had somewhat underestimated the hall.

More than four hundred High Tier Martial Artists—if they transformed, they would all be akin to Deputy City Lords. Coupled with over a dozen Bone Forging Realm experts, these Bone Forging experts' transformation strength is unimaginable.

A team like this isn't much weaker than those top-tier teams.

"The hidden strength of this Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall is indeed terrifying," Desolate Wolf also scrutinized them and sighed. "If Earth Star Pharmaceutical hadn't sent those old guys, perhaps Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall could really claim all the gains in Mist Mountain Prison."

The Holy Blood Mercenary Corps, in its alliance with Star Tower City this time, could at most scrape by in Mist Mountain Prison's Upper Level Area and, with luck, maybe reach the Middle Level Area.

But the strength now revealed by the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall obviously qualifies them to operate in the Lower Level Area.

Mist Mountain Prison, as a prison, has three layers: upper, middle, and lower. Once entered with a key, each layer has a limited number of people allowed. The Upper Level Area can admit up to 100,000, the Middle Level Area up to 10,000, and the Lower Level Area up to 2,000. Once an area reaches capacity, the prison automatically closes the passageways until visitation ends and reopens to allow departure.

For the various major forces across the Four Domains, the 100,000 places in the Upper Level Area aren't an issue since there are just 10,000 keys, equating to 1,000 keys, allowing all arriving forces entry. However, entering the Middle Level Area isn't as easy—it requires fighting.

Or, put another way, strength must be proven to make all major forces understand they are qualified to enter. Should any team deem another unqualified, a fight ensues, as is the case for entering the Lower Level Area.

Clearly, the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall's team has the strength to rank in the top twenty, while their team might not even reach the top hundred—it really depends on luck.

In the midst of Desolate Wolf and Alek's discussion, a sudden commotion erupted in the Mist Mountain path, as terrifying Qi and Blood clashes instantly filled a kilometer-wide radius, restricting the movements of all skilled teams enveloped by the Qi and Blood.

They saw a woman with three pairs of golden wings confronting two middle-aged men. One man was of the Half-Beast Race, and the other belonged to the Sub-demon Race.

The Battle Armor of the Half-Beast Race middle-aged man had the Earth Star Pharmaceutical insignia, while the Sub-demon Race man's armor bore the Mist Mountain Domain City mark.

The woman with the golden wings, whose Qi and Blood rivaled a true Blood Coagulation Realm Initial Tier, fell short before the Sub-demon Race man's Qi and Blood.

This sight left Priscilla, the guide, dumbfounded.

"Even though the Sixth Senior Sister has broken through, she still isn't a match for the Corps Leader?"

Priscilla was full of shock and confusion as she observed Xie Feina, whose face was somewhat pale.

Sixth Senior Sister Xie Feina had reached Perfection in the Second Layer of Sequence Extraordinary Level Martial Skills. Since her Extraordinary Level Martial Skill sequence ranked 31st, higher than Corps Leader Parius' 42nd, under normal circumstances, she should have defeated Corps Leader Parius.

Unexpectedly, even without engaging in battle, Sixth Senior Sister Xie Feina was already losing to Corps Leader Parius in terms of Qi and Blood, which was simply incredible.

Qi and Blood typically peak in youth; though Corps Leader Parius looked like a man in his early forties, his actual age was fifty-five, nearly twenty years older than Sixth Senior Sister Xie Feina. Under normal circumstances, Corps Leader Parius' Qi and Blood shouldn't surpass Xie Feina's, yet reality was completely the opposite.

"Xie Feina, it's a pity. Though you've broken through, you're not the only one. Do you still want to fight?" Corps Leader Parius smiled at Xie Feina.

"The Third Layer Perfection—is this why you've always collaborated with Earth Star Pharmaceutical?" Xie Feina asked, glancing at the Half-Beast Race middle-aged man beside them.

Hundred Beasts Kalade!

A mega-genius from Earth Star Pharmaceutical, renowned for over thirty years and several cohorts senior to Parius, he had long reached the Third Layer Perfection of Sequence Extraordinary Level Martial Skill. Yet, because his Training Technique hadn't reached the Realm of Perfection, he remained stuck at the Blood Coagulation Realm.

He is now the Earth Star Pharmaceutical temporary team leader.

"Exactly," Corps Leader Parius nodded, without the slightest intent to conceal anything. "Earth Star Pharmaceutical helped me break through. I aid them with a small task. Such a shame you collaborated too early with Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, aiming to replace me and act solo. Otherwise, this action could have included you. Now, will you leave willingly, or would you like my assistance?"

"I'll leave myself." Xie Feina looked at Parius with great reluctance, not expecting Parius to have secretly broken through to the Third Layer Perfection. Going to the prison now, she'd stand no chance.

As Xie Feina turned to leave, Corps Leader Parius addressed the others in the team.

"If anyone else wants to leave, feel free to go with her—I won't stop you. But don't expect any benefits if we capture the prisoner in the Lower Level Area."

After Corps Leader Parius finished speaking, silence fell over the team. Even the Deputy Leader, who was previously allied with Xie Feina, kept silent.

It was clear who was stronger, especially with Corps Leader Parius forming an alliance with Hundred Beasts Kalade's team, making the chances of capturing the prisoner Xie Feina mentioned nearly 100%.

Who could resist such temptation?

With no further objections, Parius nodded in satisfaction.

"Parius, don't forget your promise this time in my assistance," Hundred Beasts Kalade coldly reminded.

"Rest assured, once it's accomplished, I'll ensure those above turn a blind eye to what you did," Parius nodded, glancing at Lin Qi and his company not far away with a sigh, "But it's quite an overreaction. Just a regular force; even minor intervention could handle it. Why involve a Blood Coagulation Realm? Such an overkill."

"You don't understand," Hundred Beasts Kalade also looked at Lin Qi with an icy gaze, "Earth Star Pharmaceutical hasn't acted in ages, to the point where the major forces in the Four Domains have forgotten our significance. We must remind them of the consequence of provoking Earth Star Pharmaceutical."

"Alright, as long as you help capture that prisoner, everything else is minor," Parius shrugged off the concern, finding the regular force too trivial to bother worrying over.

On the other hand, after Xie Feina left the team, Priscilla quickly approached.

"Senior Sister, should we still go into the prison?" Priscilla's eyes were filled with worry as she looked at Xie Feina.

Given the current circumstance, it was evident that Parius learned of Xie Feina's plan. If they failed to capture the prisoner this time, who knew when another opportunity like this would arise?

Solo actions rarely encounter strong prisoners in the Lower Level Area, and even if they meet, these prisoners are usually surrounded by subordinates, making capture near impossible.

Xie Feina shook her head, glancing apologetically at Lin Qi, "I'm sorry, but this collaboration might have to be canceled. I no longer have a team, and even if I went, I wouldn't have the strength."

Facing Lower Level Area prisoners isn't something an individual can handle, especially strong prisoners who require multiple experts working together to suppress them gradually.

Moreover, with Corps Leader Parius aware of her plan and their inevitable confrontation, even combining her team with Lin Qi's would mean zero chance of success.

Just as Xie Feina finished speaking and turned to leave Mist Mountain Prison, a low, robust voice suddenly entered her ears.

"What if I say I have a way to help you capture that prisoner?"

Upon hearing the low, robust voice, Xie Feina immediately turned to where it came from, seeing none other than Lin Qi.

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