We began heading deeper into the Black Mist Zone.
Along the way, we encountered many Level 5 Black Ghouls.
However, these Level 5 Black Ghouls couldn't do anything to us.
With our combined strength, dealing with Level 5 Black Ghouls was naturally effortless.
But we didn't go on a killing spree.
That would only rapidly deplete our energy reserves.
That wasn't our purpose for coming here.
After traveling for some time, we finally approached the depths of the Black Mist Zone.
There, we witnessed a truly horrifying scene.
From within a vast black lake, Black Ghouls were continuously crawling out.
Seeing this, we wanted to get closer for a better look.
But before we could get too close, a masked figure dressed in black suddenly appeared before us.
Without uttering a word, he immediately attacked me.
Jiu Yangyang noticed this before I did and reacted quickly, blocking the strike for me.
Within just a few exchanges, we realized we were no match for the black-clad figure.
So we immediately fled.
Fortunately, the black-clad figure didn't seem inclined to pursue us himself.
Instead, he sent some subordinates to chase us.
Thus, we found ourselves desperately fleeing from their pursuit.
Which led to the scene you just witnessed.
You killed that human, and we were saved by you.
There's one thing I'm not sure about—whether I heard correctly.
It seemed like the black-clad figure was called back by another voice."
After hearing Song Tailang's account, Luo Feng didn't respond immediately but fell into deep thought.
It appeared the depths of the Black Mist Zone were far more complicated than he had imagined.
Originally, Luo Feng had thought that deep in the Black Mist Zone, Black Commander had obtained a Divine Artifact and was causing trouble there.
But now it seemed the situation was much more complex than that?
The attire of this black-clad figure bore a striking resemblance to that of the Hurricane Pirate Crew's leader.
If Luo Feng based this speculation solely on the fact that both wore masks, it wouldn't be reliable.
But Luo Feng had just killed a deputy leader of the Hurricane Pirate Crew, which inevitably made him speculate further.
There was a ninety percent chance that the masked black-clad figure was indeed the leader of the Hurricane Pirate Crew.
This would also explain why no one had ever seen the Hurricane Pirate Crew's leader.
If he stayed in the deepest parts of Mist Island, how could anyone possibly see him?
As for why he was here, Luo Feng had no idea.
Moreover, there was another voice that had called him back.
Could that voice belong to Black Commander?
Several questions surfaced in Luo Feng's mind.
A smile appeared on Luo Feng's face—things were getting more and more interesting.
Thinking this, Luo Feng said lightly, "I understand the situation now.
You've both worked hard this time.
You two should hurry back.
We'll continue forward.
Let's see what's really happening in that black lake.
And it'll be a good opportunity to meet that black-clad figure."
Hearing Luo Feng's words, Song Tailang wanted to advise against it—that black-clad figure's strength was truly formidable, likely even Level 6.
In the end, he chose not to speak further.
Since he had already relayed the information and Luo Feng had made his decision, there was no need for further persuasion.
Moreover, someone had to investigate that black lake.
If left unchecked, allowing the black lake to continue spawning Black Ghouls—especially those capable of breaching the Color Boundary—the consequences would be unimaginable.
Before long, the entire Mist Island might become the domain of the Black Ghouls.
After a moment of contemplation, Song Tailang spoke:
"We're severely injured and can't join you on this mission.
Be extra careful when you venture deeper, especially around that black-clad figure. In the Black Mist, he moves like a ghost—unpredictable and impossible to guard against."
"I'll be cautious. You two stay safe on your way back.
Just follow the path I came from. The Black Ghouls along that route have already been wiped out—those that survived have long fled.
Prepare a feast and wait for my return."
Luo Feng didn't have time to escort them back; they'd have to make the journey themselves. Once they reached Verdant Grassland, they should be out of serious danger.
After bidding them farewell, Luo Feng approached the deputy leader of the Hurricane Pirate Crew.
He extended his right hand and retrieved a ring from the corpse.
Luo Feng began searching through the space ring.
Based on prior intelligence, the final Treasure Map Fragment should have been on the deputy leader.
A minute later, Luo Feng withdrew his gaze from the ring, frowning slightly—there was no sign of the fragment.
Had the Bounty Hunter not been killed by the deputy leader after all?
Yet, Luo Feng had already found the Bounty Hunter's insignia inside the ring.
That Bounty Hunter was almost certainly dead.
As for the absence of a body, that wasn't hard to explain.
Pirates had no use for corpses—unless they had particular tastes, most wouldn't bother carrying enemy remains.
Luo Feng no longer cared about the meager Ocean Coins earned from turning in pirate heads.
He currently possessed hundreds of thousands of grade-5 Mist Crystals—each one, free of side effects, was worth thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Ocean Coins.
To Luo Feng, Ocean Coins were now just numbers. What truly mattered was strength.
With the Treasure Map Fragment missing here, there was nothing else to do but seek out the Hurricane Pirate Crew's actual leader.
Perhaps one of his subordinates had handed the fragment over to him.
After collecting all the nearby grade-5 Mist Crystals, Luo Feng turned forward and declared:
"Let's move out.
You've all heard the briefing—we may face formidable enemies ahead.
Stay sharp."
"Understood."
The three women answered in unison.
With Luo Feng by their side, they never had to worry about a shortage of leveling resources.
As long as they could absorb Mist Crystals, they kept consuming them without pause.
Their strength was rapidly increasing.
The four of them continued onward, advancing deeper into the Black Mist.
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