Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

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In the darkness, the shadows of the woods provided Zhao De and his team with invaluable cover. Nevertheless, the tense atmosphere in the air still made everyone's heart race.

"Hurry! We must get out of here quickly!" Zhao De urged his companions urgently. "The enemy won't give us much time."

Not far away, two human soldiers dressed in ordinary armor were talking. Upon seeing Zhao De and his group suddenly appear, they immediately drew their weapons and became alert. "Hey! Don't move! Who are you?" one of them shouted, his eyes filled with wariness and unease.

But when they recognized that it was Zhao De's small team, their faces immediately showed expressions of surprise and awe: "My God, it really is the Planeswalker!"

Another soldier quickly chimed in, "That's right, we've heard about your bravery! Don't worry, we'll do our best to distract the pursuers, please escape this place as soon as possible!"

Hearing these words, Zhao De felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Even in this perilous situation, there were still people willing to trust and support him. "Thank you so much for your kindness," he said. "If I manage to return to camp safely, I will definitely remember your help! Now, go on your way, be careful!"

After saying this, the squad continued their escape deeper into the night. The sounds of battle and enemy shouts echoed behind them, particularly jarring in the stillness of the night.

Chapter 1207 Territory

Chapter 1207 Territory

“This is terrible…” a young recruit said breathlessly. “I never imagined I would face such a situation one day.”

Meanwhile, the veteran on the other side comforted him, saying, "It's alright, child. With Lord Planeswalker by our side, we're all still alive. I believe he can lead us through this difficult time!"

Just then, several unfamiliar armed men suddenly jumped out of the woods and blocked Zhao De and his group's path. "Halt!" the leader said in a deep voice, "This is our territory. No one may pass without permission."

Seeing the new trouble, everyone felt a sense of frustration. "Is there really nowhere for us to escape to..." a girl whispered in despair.

But soon, things took an unexpected turn—the other side clearly recognized the group of soldiers and didn't show the malice one might expect. "You...you are the men led by the famous Zhao De?" the leader asked hesitantly. "If so, please allow us to apologize for our previous actions. We have also heard of your heroic deeds and are willing to offer our assistance as a token of our remorse. Please come with us."

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhao De's eyes; he hadn't expected to encounter anyone willing to lend a hand at this crucial moment. This undoubtedly gave the small team a glimmer of hope. "Thank you," Zhao De quickly replied, "but we must act soon. If the pursuers arrive, everyone will be in danger."

“No problem,” the leader nodded. “Please follow me. I know a shortcut to get through this forest faster and avoid the enemy’s sight.”

Led by several people, Zhao De and his group quickened their pace, following the concealed path deeper into the dense forest. They occasionally spotted patrolling enemies along the way, but each was quickly guided around before they could reach them. This efficient operation reassured the team members somewhat.

“These friends are really amazing!” Lilith, walking beside Zhao De, whispered. “If it weren’t for their help, we would probably be surrounded by now.”

The monk nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude though he said nothing. He knew that encountering such kindness in such a critical moment was a rare and precious experience.

However, their respite was short-lived. Just when everyone thought they had temporarily escaped the threat, a familiar roar came from ahead. Everyone immediately became alert, because only the powerful enemy could cause such a commotion. "Not good!" Zhao De gritted his teeth, "He's still catching up!"

"Hurry! Let's keep going!" one of the guides shouted. "This path leads directly to a hidden cave entrance on the edge of the cliff, where there's a safe passage to the other side."

“Wait,” Zhao De interrupted him, “Are you talking about that secret passage that supposedly leads directly to the enemy’s rear?”

The man paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, that's it. But it's fraught with danger inside, and a specific spell is needed to open the door..."

“Leave this to me,” Zhao De said firmly. “As long as we can get through safely, I’m willing to accept even the most difficult challenge.”

After a difficult trek, they finally reached the secret entrance on the edge of the cliff. Sure enough, a huge stone door blocked their way, seemingly without any mechanism or handle to move it.

Chapter 1208 Secret Passage

Chapter 1208 Secret Passage

As everyone speculated about how to enter, Zhao De took a deep breath and slowly reached out to touch the seemingly cold and unfeeling yet mysteriously powerful rock wall. With a low chant, light gradually shone from his fingertips…

"Wow!" a member of the squad couldn't help but exclaim. "Is this the legendary power of a Planeswalker? That's so cool!"

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a dark and narrow tunnel before them. Zhao De turned to look at everyone in the group, his eyes filled with determination. "We don't have much time, let's go in."

"Sir, is there really a way out inside?" a new recruit couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with undisguised worry.

"I believe in Master Planeswalker," the veteran said again, his tone calm yet full of confidence. "No matter what difficulties lie ahead, as long as we stand united, there is no challenge we cannot overcome!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire group seemed to be injected with a powerful stimulant. They looked at each other and finally decided to follow Zhao De into the secret passage.

The tunnel was cold and damp, filled with an indescribable odor. The occasional echo of dripping water sent chills down their spines. But even in such harsh conditions, Zhao De and his group remained vigilant and determined, advancing rapidly.

"Look, there seems to be some light over there!" Lilith exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a corner not far ahead.

Just as everyone quickened their pace toward the light source, several enormous magical beasts suddenly leaped out of the shadows beside them! They bared their sharp claws and teeth, letting out deafening roars, seemingly preparing to attack the intruders.

"Back off!" Zhao De shouted, quickly stepping to the front of the group to block the monsters' path. "Lilith, you and the rest of you find somewhere to hide. I'll handle these problems."

However, no one did as instructed. Everyone drew their weapons, ready to fight side by side. "We are all your comrades-in-arms, how can we let an adult face danger alone?" Lilith said firmly.

"Haha," Zhao De laughed and shook his head, "Well done, let's go together!"

With that, the battle erupted instantly. Zhao De wielded his longsword, unleashing dazzling yet practical techniques; the others provided support using their respective skills. After a fierce battle, the once-fierce demonic beasts finally fell one by one.

"Phew... thankfully everyone's alright." Lilith said with a sigh of relief after cleaning up the battlefield.

“Yes,” Zhao De nodded, “but this doesn’t look like a particularly safe place. We have to keep going until we find an exit.”

Following the direction of the light, they soon discovered a wide passage. Unlike the dark and oppressive atmosphere before, this place had a warm and bright feel. More importantly, at the end of the passage, they could see a faint but clearly visible sliver of sunlight.

"That's the exit!" someone shouted.

Just as everyone was preparing to rush towards the light, a powerful surge of magical energy suddenly appeared. "Not good," Zhao De's expression turned extremely grave, "It seems we haven't completely shaken off the enemy..."

Meanwhile, at the other end of the camp, a mysterious figure dressed in black robes stood on the edge of a cliff, watching everything unfold: "Hmph, you thought you were safe just because you escaped here? Zhao De, this time you won't get away so easily!"

Chapter 1209 Source of Magic

Chapter 1209 Source of Magic

Just as everyone was preparing to rush towards the light, Zhao De's warning brought them to a halt. His brows furrowed, his gaze fixed intently ahead, and the sudden sense of oppression made the air feel heavy.

"Master Planeswalker, what should we do?" a young warrior asked in a low voice, his voice filled with barely concealed fear.

"Everyone, don't panic, stay alert." Zhao De tried to keep his voice calm. "Lilith, use your perception skill to scout ahead."

Lilith nodded quickly, closed her eyes, and slightly opened her arms, as if conversing with her surroundings. "Wait..." she suddenly opened her eyes, her expression changing, "There is a very powerful source of magic not far from the exit."

At this moment, an experienced veteran couldn't help but say, "Could they be our pursuers? I didn't expect them to find this place."

“No, it’s not them.” Zhao De’s voice carried a hint of uncertainty. “This force is far more evil… We must find a way to deal with it as soon as possible.”

Before the words were even finished, that mysterious power suddenly erupted, causing the entire passage to tremble violently. The surrounding rock walls seemed unable to withstand the impact, and rubble fell everywhere. At this critical moment, a black figure appeared in their sight, emanating a suffocating aura of darkness, its crimson eyes fixed intently on the group.

"I've finally found you, Zhao De." The man in black robes spoke slowly, his tone gentle yet full of threat.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the soldiers involuntarily gripped their weapons tighter. Zhao De stood at the forefront, his gaze fixed firmly on the powerful enemy before him, whose true nature he knew nothing about.

"Who are you? Why are you stopping us from leaving?" he shouted.

The man sneered, "My name means nothing to you. But something you possess is very important to me. Now, hand it over to me, and perhaps I might consider letting these innocent people go."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned. One audacious individual even shouted out, "What nonsense are you spouting?! How could a Planeswalker possibly bow down to evil forces!"

This remark immediately resonated with others, and cheers and encouragement erupted, creating a lively atmosphere. However, it also added further tension to the already difficult situation.

Faced with the crowd's indignation, the unknown opponent did not get angry. Instead, he revealed a strange smile. "Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite!" After saying that, his body suddenly trembled, and thick dark energy condensed in the air.

Seeing this situation, Zhao De knew that if things continued to drag on, the consequences would be unimaginable. So he immediately gave the order: "Lilith, Thomas, take a group of people over there to see if there are any other ways out; the rest of you, come with me to fight."

Just as the two teams were about to split up, several beams of light suddenly flew from the darkness and bombarded them. Fortunately, thanks to their foresight, everyone, led by Zhao De, quickly dodged the attack, but this made the already narrow passage even more chaotic.

With the first exchange of fire over, both sides retreated to a relatively safe distance and stood facing each other. At this moment, everyone knew a fierce battle was imminent. A tense atmosphere filled the air, and everyone held their breath, awaiting the next round of fighting.

Chapter 1210 Important Treasure

Chapter 1210 Important Treasure

"What on earth is going on?" a young female soldier couldn't help but ask, her eyes filled with confusion and unease. "We finally found the exit, but then we ran into this guy."

“Don’t be afraid,” Zhao De comforted, then turned to the man in black robes, “You said you want something, what exactly is it?”

The mysterious figure in black robes slowly spoke: "What I am looking for is an ancient magic crystal, hidden within your group. If you hand it over, I guarantee I will not harm you."

Upon hearing this, whispers arose from the crowd, everyone speculating about the whereabouts of this so-called magic crystal.

“What magic crystal? I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Lilith retorted loudly. “We’re just ordinary people; we don’t have any treasures that important.”

The man in black robes chuckled coldly, seemingly having anticipated their reaction: "Since you refuse to talk, then we'll have to resolve this with force. Remember, you forced me to do this."

As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature inside the tunnel plummeted, as if the air had frozen. The surrounding rocks began to solidify into icicles, sharp as blades, pointing at Zhao De and the others. At that moment, the figure in black robes suddenly vanished from the spot, followed by a biting gust of wind, accompanied by a barrage of ice arrows shooting towards them.

"Everyone be careful!" Zhao De shouted, then swung his longsword to deflect several ice arrows. At the same time, he quickly organized a counterattack team, attempting to force the black-robed man back. "Lilith, quickly check everyone for any unidentified objects!"

Just then, a usually taciturn veteran suddenly spoke up: "Master Planeswalker, please wait a moment... I think I know where that magic crystal is." All eyes immediately turned to the veteran.

“I see.” Lilith sighed softly; she had already guessed the answer. “That magic crystal had actually been hidden in my bag all along because I thought it looked very precious, so I wanted to bring it back to the camp as a souvenir.”

"Are you sure it's it?" Zhao De asked, his brows furrowed.

“Absolutely right,” the veteran said firmly. “I’ve seen this rare crystal by chance before.”

Just as everyone was preparing to discuss countermeasures further, the black-robed man's attacks became even more ferocious. He seemed to sense their conversation and was eager to end the fight so he could get what he wanted.

"There's no time for discussion now, we must get rid of this person as soon as possible!" Zhao De made a decisive decision. "Everyone, be careful and try to stall for time until we find another way out."

Over the next few minutes, a fierce battle ensued. Despite Zhao De and his companions' best efforts, the black-robed man's strength was clearly far beyond their expectations. Each time he unleashed a powerful magical attack, someone would fall and be injured.

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Lilith suddenly thought of a way: "Perhaps we can use that magic crystal to attract his attention and buy us more time."

"What do you mean?" Zhao De turned to look at her and asked.

“Let me try to provoke him,” the girl replied confidently. “Once he’s tied down, the others can escape or find an opportunity to retaliate.”