Full health is the kill threshold, no matter if you're a god or a demon!

Liu Nian looked at the mission description, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Exploring the third level of the Underdark was already part of his upcoming plans. Whether it was to find new high-level leveling areas and resource points, or to satisfy his own desire to explore the unknown, the third level was a must.

As for the difficulties in finding new mineral veins... for others, it may require professional exploration skills, complex instruments, and a certain amount of luck.

But for Liu Nian... with Arachne around, these things are a piece of cake.

A reward is also something Liu Nian desperately needs!

The alliance with Toothpick City means that Liu Nian's floating city will receive a continuous stream of dwarf craftsmen from Toothpick City.

Although the gnomes in Toothpick City are not as high-level as those in Prince City of Gearheart, we must take things one step at a time. We'll deal with Toothpick City first, and then slowly take down Anvil Outpost and Gearheart!

What's more, there's also a rough map, which is perfect!

"I'll take this mission," Liu Nian nodded to Mekkatorque.

Upon hearing this, Mekkatorque beamed with joy and patted Liu Nian's leg vigorously: "Great! I knew I'd come to the right person! Have a safe trip, my friend! Be careful and come back alive; my mine is counting on you!"

Liu Nian turned and left the noisy workshop.

Next, it's time to delve into that unknown darkness, to illuminate a new map for the future of Dragon City, and for my own journey.

The energy in the core area of ​​the floating city stabilized again after being replenished with the [Refined Molten Magic Stone].

Instead of setting off immediately, Liu Nian gave himself a rare "short vacation".

The continuous high-intensity battles, the surge in attributes, and the thrilling events all took him some time to process.

More importantly, the level has already reached the current cap of 99, and there is no way to increase the level before the level unlocks in the Ascension Battle.

As for leveling up attributes, you need to find a suitable leveling area, at least an area full of monsters level 96 and above. Right now, the third level of the Darklands is just right.

At this moment, Liu Nian was in a huge room on the fifth floor of the floating city, which had been tidied up and furnished by engineering robots, with a bed, bookshelves, storage boxes, magic lamps, desks and a series of other commonly used items added.

The little dragon lay on the ground, the fireball at the tip of its tail flashing rhythmically, emitting a comfortable purring sound.

The Echo Crab huddled in the corner of the huge shell prepared for it, its front claws striking the ground with rhythmic sounds, as if it were engaged in some kind of "musical composition" that only it understood.

Arachne, still in her goddess form, sat at an old metal desk not far away, several arcane light screens floating in front of her, displaying data about the floating city...

It's such a rare moment of tranquility.

Liu Nian removed his gear and lay down on the comfortable soft bed.

First, max out your skills:

山岳泰坦的恩赐（5级）：获得无35％的伤害减免，每100点体质提供5点物理伤害减免，每100能量提供5点魔法伤害减免。

Steel Cells (Level 5): Increases the shield and armor value, magic resistance value, and damage dealt when shields are broken from 15% to 40%.

狂兽化身（5级）：狂兽持续时间从30秒提升到55秒，生命上限从50％提升到100％，魔抗与护甲提升60％，攻击速度提升65％

Undying Spirit (Level 5): Consumes 50% of your maximum health to enter the "Undying Spirit" state. During this period, physical damage below 20% of your maximum health or magical damage above 80% of your maximum health will be ignored.

破斧咆哮（5级）：作用距离从10提升到25米，持续6.5秒。怒气类技能积累速度提高到500％，生命恢复效果从50％提高到75％。

龙封万疆（5级）：伤害直径提高到80米，宽提高到13米，龙息的直接伤害提高到（205％法术强度 + 60％最大生命值）。

That used up 30 skill points, leaving 21.

Liu then began to study the map that Mekkatorque had given him.

The map was rougher than he had imagined, with many areas marked only as blank spaces and labeled "speculated," "dangerous," or "unknown." However, the marked faction names and approximate level ranges were enough to provide some valuable information.

Soon, Liu Nian discovered that the third level of the Underdark seemed to be larger in area and had more species of creatures compared to the second level.

The map actually shows more than a dozen factions!

其中比较重要的有（按照距离）：蛛化精灵的流亡城邦（Lv.85-92）、深渊矮人王国（Lv.82-90）、土元素裔部落（Lv.80-88） 、永黯湖·亡灵水裔聚落（Lv.81-89）、流亡者与罪犯集市（Lv.75-85）、菌兽母巢·变异蕈人霸主（Lv.85-95）、鏽蚀王朝·古代机械帝国废墟（Lv.91-99）……

Besides these major forces, the third layer is also teeming with wild monsters: such as the blind multi-headed water monster lurking in the underground river, the gem lizard dragon king guarding the precious crystal marrow, the thunderwing bat dragon in the magnetic storm area, and the indescribable abyssal aberration that occasionally crawls out from deeper rifts...

"It's much more lively than I expected," Liu Nian muttered.

However, this place is indeed very suitable for human players to make their final push before the Ascension War.

Of course, Liu Nian still needed to do some preliminary research beforehand. At this crucial moment, he didn't want anyone to be caught off guard. At this point, if a high-level human player were to die, it would be a huge loss.

"More than ten organized factions... the minimum level requirement is 75, and the highest level could be 99..." Liu Nian traced the glaring markings on the map with his finger. "Spider elves, abyssal dwarves, mind flayers, mutated fungus people, ancient machines... and undead waterborne beings. It's truly... a chaotic mess of demons."

Arachne tilted his head slightly, his starry eyes scanning the map: "Underground forces are generally in a semi-closed state for a long time. Their ecology and power evolution are usually quite extreme. Most native forces have completely adapted to the chaotic law of the survival of the fittest and the supremacy of strength in the long darkness. Their attitude towards outsiders is mainly one of invasion, enslavement, or destruction. So, Master, you should be mentally prepared. There may not be creatures like frost giants and dwarves that are inclined towards the order there."

Liu Nian had his own ideas. He stroked his chin and said, "But this is, after all, a game world. Even on Hell difficulty, there should theoretically be options for 'order' or at least 'neutrality.' Otherwise, wouldn't it favor players in the Chaos faction? So, to maintain balance, I think there must be some factions that lean towards the Order faction or remain neutral."

His gaze fell on the area marked on the map as [Rust Dynasty - Ruins of the Ancient Mechanical Empire (Lv.91-99)].

If so, then this force has the highest probability.

The words "machinery" and "empire" are manifestations of order.

"Let's try our luck in this 'Rust Dynasty'," Liu Nian decided. "Let's scout it out first, familiarize ourselves with the environment, and see if we can find some 'reasonable' neighbors. If they're all lunatics, then the risk for human players wanting to level up here will be too high."

Without a suitable place to settle down, resupply would be a major problem.

……

The next morning.

A fissure leading to the third level.

Liu Nian passed through the winding, narrow natural cracks covered with slippery moss and sharp crystal clusters, and entered the third layer of the dark region.

A more primal and wild energy aura, completely different from that of the second layer, rushed towards us.

Before them lay a vast, eerie, dark space, where giant, dark purple crystals, like a twisted forest, supported an extremely high dome, emitting a cold, ever-changing light.

In the distance, there was the roar of an underground river and the long howl of an unknown behemoth. The air was filled with the smell of decaying mold and a faint, indescribable fishy odor.

Arachne activated her Wide-Range Life Perception, standing beside Liu Nian, her hands outstretched, and invisible arcane ripples spread out...

The little dragon also let out an excited low roar, its wings slightly spread, and its lava-like eyes warily scanned its surroundings.

"Let's go, following the map, let's explore the 'Rust Dynasty' area first."