Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

It seems that the powerful figures in the lost lands have been living in comfort for too long and have long since lost their vigilance.

They were surprisingly equipped with such real-time updated communication tools. Maps, markers, friendly positions, and battle plans were all readily available, making command and dispatch convenient and efficient.

However, such an important intelligence carrier was not equipped with the most basic self-destruct mechanism.

If the enemy were to crack the code, wouldn't that be tantamount to exposing all of our actions and real-time locations to the enemy?
Are they overconfident in their encryption technology?
Or do they genuinely believe that the pure-blooded humans of the Lost Lands are simply incapable of cracking their advanced methods?

What arrogance!

But now, this arrogance will come to an end. A human champion blessed by the four Chaos Gods has arrived.

They will pay the price for their arrogance!
Li Yelai examined the intelligence and map on the animal parchment and smiled sincerely: "Wow, the whole map is here!"

"The champion has reached the heavens and unlocked the full map cheat again." Immortal Lord Chang Le laughed as well: "And here we have the Heaven-Deceiving Array, as well as the strongest assassin in the giant city."

The human and the immortal exchanged a glance and both revealed joyful smiles.

So, let the scam begin!
Li Yelai instantly understood the manipulation techniques of the animal paper using the "Deceptive Blessing" method.

After reviewing the original records, Chang Le Xianjun easily imitated the way the female overlord's team originally spoke.

And sent a message to the nearest team.

At the same moment, in a secluded mountain forest in the distance.

Thorne stood still, his gaze fixed on a hidden cave entrance not far away.

That was where the human team had once hidden. The team had washed away all traces and scents in the cave and laid numerous misleading marks and markings inside the labyrinthine cavern.

Clearly, the other party was extremely cautious. Even before realizing they were being tracked, they had set up countless baits and traps along the way.

"A pure-blooded human who has survived in the restricted area until now is indeed not someone to be trifled with." Herik sighed softly beside Thorne. "If our hunting methods hadn't just undergone a new round of upgrades, we probably would have let them slip through our fingers this time."

In order to hunt pure-blooded humans more efficiently, the tracking technology of the Dead Sleep Dungeon is constantly iterating and evolving. Each upgrade means a bloodier siege.

To this end, some hunting teams have even spared no expense in training and enhancing psionicists specifically, investing massive amounts of resources.

The 'hounds' under the Scarred Female Overlord's command are one such product.

Despite continuous improvements in human concealment techniques under such technological dominance, there are still limits.

Now, the hunting party has firmly pinpointed the location of the human team.

They did not rush to approach, but followed from a distance. They had enough patience to wait for their prey to lead them to the hideout of the tribe... At that time, they would inflict the deepest despair on their prey and enjoy the last glimmer of light that burst forth from that despair.

“It’s just a futile struggle.” Thorne’s tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger. “Have any other teams responded?”

Herik quickly glanced at the slightly glowing parchment in his hand and reported, "Four hunting teams have responded to our call. They are the forces of the Blood-Eyed Overlord, the Rugged Fang Overlord, the Howling Gale Overlord, and the Black Zombie Overlord."

"Hmph, they're all quick to act." Thorne's lips curled into a sneer. "It seems they're all itching to get a piece of the pie."

“After all, we can’t easily leave the restricted area. We’ve heard that war is raging outside, but we can only accumulate strength here, which has been frustrating for a long time. All of you gentlemen are unwilling to miss this rare hunting opportunity. Moreover, it seems that a hegemon-level being has emerged among the pure-blooded humans… This is too tempting for you gentlemen,” Herik analyzed.

Several days ago, the powerful figures within the restricted area clearly sensed the fall of a supreme being.

Further intelligence gathering revealed that in a great battle that broke out in a distant sea, more than twenty overlords perished and three supreme beings died.

The brutal battle shocked the nobles of the Dead Sleep Palace.

Has the war in the outside world become so intense?

This created a sense of urgency, but also ignited their excitement.

However, the interior of the lost lands was relatively peaceful, and the anomalies on the eastern coast had not yet been fully investigated. They were refused entry and, with nowhere else to vent their frustrations, they naturally turned their attention to the overlords of pure-blooded humans.

"Tsk, they all swarmed over as soon as they smelled the fish... but there's only so little prey." Thorne frowned. "Probably not enough to go around."

"Alright, warn them not to expose themselves." Thorne glanced at the parchment, then frowned: "Why did Bloodeye go in this direction?"

After glancing at the parchment, Herik replied, "The Blood-Eyed Overlord's subordinates, the 'Hounds,' have specialized in tracking abilities; perhaps they've found the scattered humans."

"They're really lucky. We can't let her find the tribe first, can we?" Thorne raised an eyebrow as he watched Scaletooth's group gradually approach Red Eye's location. "They're meeting up? When did they become so close? They even hunt together? What's Scaletooth's taste in? Did he take a liking to that scarred-face guy?"

So he marked the location on the parchment.

"Don't let the big fish get away, come here quickly!"

On the other side, deep within a dark cave.

The composed young man at the front of the group suddenly froze, his steps halting in place.

"What's wrong, Yanhong?" The young woman beside him, who was gently stroking her lower abdomen, immediately noticed his unusual behavior.

This young man, who was always calm and composed, and who was about to become a father, was always the most composed and calm commander in the team.

He once led his team to a counterattack against the pursuers in a desperate situation, and he also commanded with composure when hunting ancient beasts.

But at that moment, a hint of undisguised panic flashed across his face.

“Isabel…we may have been discovered.” Yan Hong’s arm trembled for a moment, but he forcibly suppressed it in the next instant.

His words were like ice falling into still water, freezing the entire advancing team in place.

Only the black-robed monk who had been following behind remained with his head bowed, murmuring ancient prayers, but now there was a hint of barely perceptible madness and urgency in his voice.

"Are you sure?" someone asked in a trembling voice. "Is it inspiration?"

“It’s not inspiration, it’s too fantastical.” Yan Hong took a deep breath and explained in a low voice, “I sent out three batches of mimicry celestial soldiers to the territories of several nearby extraordinary creatures to provoke and even attack their races. Logically speaking, intense battle fluctuations should have broken out by now. At the latest, there should be some activity by now.”

He looked around at the familiar yet tense faces in the darkness.

"But since we entered this cave... we haven't sensed any fluctuations."

"It's too quiet, my fellow countrymen."

"Whether it's the mimicry-like celestial soldiers we sent out, or those extraordinary creatures nearby that should have been irritable and easily angered..."

"All of this was done in complete silence."

"So, what power... could possibly plunge everything into such a deathly silence?"

"What kind of being could make the mimicry of celestial soldiers, who possess the ability to teleport, unable to find a target, and unable to even stir up a ripple?"

Yan Hong paused.

“We’ve been discovered, and we’re completely being followed.”

"They're right behind us!" "The enemy has already laid a trap; the supernatural beings nearby were either driven away beforehand, or... scared away by some even more terrifying being!"

The cave was deathly silent, except for the monks' unwavering prayers.

But everyone's face appeared deathly pale in the flickering light.

"Yanhong." A calm voice rang out; it belonged to the oldest soldier in the team. "What do you want to do?"

“We must not reveal the location of our tribe.” Yan Hong’s voice was calm. “Seal all the intelligence we have gathered and put it back in the designated location. The next investigation team will take it away when they arrive.”

"What about us?"

“Keep moving forward, pretend you know nothing. Head northwest towards the snow-capped mountains; that's the territory of the ancient dragons. The terrain there is more complex, and it's inhabited by adult ancient dragons and a large number of whelps. Perhaps we can drive away the hunting party, or at least create chaos, giving us a chance to escape.” Yan Hong paused for a moment: “If it comes to a last resort…”

“I’ll cover their retreat. I’m the oldest and not very talented.” The older warrior who spoke first calmly replied, “With the help of the mimicry soldiers, I can at least distract them for a while.”

The other two team members also spoke at this moment.

"Count me in, it'll increase the chances of success."

“Yanhong, you are the most talented and the smartest. And Isabel, you are pregnant. If we weren’t so short-handed, you shouldn’t have come. You two must not be left behind.”

The two calmly joined the rearguard.

Isabel instinctively gripped Yanhong's arm tightly.

Yan Hong didn't turn around, but simply placed his hand gently on the back of her hand.

“You can’t hold them off. Besides, it’s not time to continue until we reach that point!” Yan Hong’s expression was as firm as a rock.

So, a few hours later, after noticing that the human group was beginning to venture deeper into the territory of an adult Elder Dragon.

Thorne said quietly, "Walking into a death trap? It seems they've discovered us."

Each adult Elder Dragon is a supreme being. This human team is not strong enough to face even one adult Elder Dragon.

If the human team wasn't going to their deaths, then there's only one other possibility.

"They want to use the ancient dragon's intimidation and the complex and treacherous terrain of that area as a last gamble, seeking a glimmer of hope." Herik accurately stated Thorne's judgment: "In this way, they will have no way to return to their clan. As in the past, these pure-blooded humans would rather all die outside than become guides to expose their homeland."

He paused, his laughter filled with mockery: "We've tried to seduce them before, but those hiding guys were so hard-hearted, they didn't react at all. I don't know whether to praise their terrifying rationality or despise their pathetic cowardice."

Thorne's gaze remained fixed on the direction in which the human team had disappeared, as if he could see through the layers of rock walls and witness their panicked figures.

“It’s alright,” he said calmly. “Hope is the sweetest yet deadliest poison for humanity. As long as we carefully create the illusion that they have ‘escaped by sheer luck after overcoming countless hardships,’ their tense rationality will loosen, and their survival instinct will drive them to what they perceive as the safest place. Especially that pregnant woman… To preserve this future, the spark, the bloodline, humanity will unleash astonishing folly and courage.”

"Let's chase after them. Now that the disguise has been torn off, the hunt is about to enter its most exciting phase."

“Let them struggle, let them fall into deeper despair just when they think they see hope. I look forward to seeing the look of utter despair on the pregnant woman’s face when she sees the entrance to her home right in front of her, yet can never reach it.”

"The hunt begins now."

"Keep an eye on them with the other hunting teams. Humans have a lot of tricks up their sleeves!"

The hunters, who were already hiding in the surroundings, no longer concealed themselves and began to move forward rapidly by using aerial stepping.

In the valley ahead, the temperature plummeted instantly, and a blizzard suddenly descended.

The roar of the Snow Fang Dragon shook the heavens and the earth. The ancient dragon sensed the approach of the creatures from the forbidden zone and let out a threatening roar.

As the king of this snow-capped mountain's ecological niche roared, the entire snow-capped mountain range seemed to awaken like a giant beast.

The extraordinary creatures were thrown into panic and turmoil; avalanches cascaded down the mountain peaks like white tsunamis, and the earth trembled under the dragon's might. This sudden surge of ancient dragon power instantly disrupted the hunting party's formation and rhythm.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the human team concealed their presence to the extreme under the cover of chaotic psionic fluctuations and the power of nature, and fled desperately into the depths of the valley.

Drive away the tiger and devour the wolf!

Compared to the human teams that do their best to conceal their presence, the hunting teams that make no attempt to hide their presence in order to move forward at full speed are the opponents that Gu Long must face.

However, the blizzard suddenly turned into heavy rain.

A burst of heat erupted in the night sky. Thorne, high above the night, spoke in a cold voice: "A mere ancient dragon dares to stop me?"

His divinity was domineering and intense, like the blazing sun releasing its high temperature, tearing through the blizzard.

The ancient dragon roared, yet it was already considering retreating.

It naturally knew that these were creatures from the forbidden zone. The forbidden zone was rich in resources and sparsely populated. The two sides did not interfere with each other. Unless they were mortal enemies, the ancient dragon would not have clashed with the overlord of the forbidden zone.

As the ancient dragon retreated, the blizzard transformed into torrential rain, and the hunting party's elite members faced no further obstacles. They surged into the snow-capped mountains!
They were of a higher level and moved very fast, locking onto the human team in an instant.

Without the slightest hesitation, they took action immediately!
However, in that instant, time seemed to stand still, and the falling raindrops were frozen in mid-air.

The entire hunting party, and even Thorne, were visibly shaken.

Because a terrifying sense of oppression surged out of the valley like a tsunami!
They managed to scare away the approaching hunting party.

"Overlord? Human overlord? Right here?" Thorne's shock lasted only a moment before being replaced by immense elation.

In the distance, other hunting teams that were on their way also sensed this undisguised aura of dominance and accelerated recklessly. They never dreamed that their target, the strongest pure-blooded human from the Lost Lands, would actually appear here!

Deep in the valley, Yan Hong watched as Isabel and her companions disappeared along the planned escape route, forcibly suppressing the bitterness in his throat and the tears welling in his eyes. Isabel's cries pierced his heart like sharp blades.

But in the next second, all weakness was completely crushed.

At this moment, he cannot reveal even the slightest flaw... otherwise, this elaborate deception, which he has poured everything into, will collapse in an instant.

Yes, it's a scam.

He was not the true overlord. The oppressive aura that made all beings tremble, the aura that made Thorne turn pale, were all just a disguise and an amplified intimidating influence.

He is fake.

He will die.

But... as long as he acts convincingly enough, as long as he draws all the eyes and hatred of his enemies to himself.

His lover, his compatriots, his unborn child... will survive!

So, let's go!
Bastards!
"Come on, all of you!"

(Sorry, I've been super slow lately; I've only written this much after staying up all night.) (End of Chapter)