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

The initial itinerary was less of an exploration and more of a grueling sightseeing tour.

Not long after leaving the rift area, a swarm of [Abyssal Predator Bats (Lv.78)] attracted by the life force rushed in.

These bats have wingspans of over two meters, their fangs gleam with a poisonous light, and they hiss as they launch sonic attacks.

Liu Nian didn't even make a move; Arachne merely raised one of her forelegs slightly.

Arcane Web - Silence

A nearly invisible giant net made of pure arcane energy instantly opened, enveloping all the bats within it.

The next second, the network cable tightened, and countless tiny arcane explosions occurred simultaneously inside each bat.

puff puff puff...

Like balloons bursting by an invisible hand, dozens of abyssal predatory bats didn't even have time to scream before turning into bursts of blood mist and energy fragments that fell to the ground.

Liu Nian soon discovered, somewhat frustratingly, that after killing these monsters, the Charmander and the Echo Crab hadn't leveled up at all!

In other words, due to his player status, he can only gain experience and items by killing monsters above level 89.

This greatly reduced Liu Nian's interest in taking action.

"Let's move forward quickly!"

Liu Nian originally wanted to try riding the little fire dragon, after all, having a dragon by his side made it hard not to have some "bold ideas".

However, the system notification coldly and directly interrupted his reverie:

[Note: Your pet's level is too low and does not meet the riding requirements.]

[Riding Requirements: This type of pet must be Lv.30 and have a loyalty level of ≥90.]

Liu Nian pursed his lips and withdrew his movement as he was about to mount his horse.

Level restrictions are understandable.

However, leveling up to 30 is quick. As for loyalty, it's currently maxed out. As long as you don't make arbitrary sacrifices or abuse your pet, its loyalty won't drop.

The lower the intelligence of a pet, the easier it is to train its loyalty. Pets like Arachne require careful nurturing. If you do anything offensive to her (you know what I mean), it could cause her loyalty to drop drastically.

His gaze then shifted to the enormous echo crab beside him, its shell shimmering with the light of flowing water and sonic waves.

This thing is big enough to be more than a "crab mount" in theory. Liu Nian had tried it before, and the system didn't prohibit it, but the actual experience was... well, let's just say it wasn't great.

The Echo Crab's unique, slightly bumpy "crab walk" gait when it moves sideways, along with the irregular swaying caused by the alternating rise and fall of its eight legs, is hardly comfortable, let alone fast.

Rather than leisurely "roaming" on it, the mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex is much more enjoyable; a professional mount is much more comfortable than a pet.

The group proceeded along the banks of a wide underground river, the water emitting a soft, pale blue fluorescence derived from certain special minerals, illuminating parts of the riverbed and the jagged rocks along the banks.

Just as they passed a bend in the river where the current was relatively narrow and the current was swift—

"Splash—!!!"

The once calm, glowing river surface suddenly erupted with a huge splash! A massive, slippery shadow burst forth from the water at an astonishing speed!

That was a [Blind Multi-Headed Water Monster (Lv.85 Elite)]! It had a thick, long body similar to a giant python, covered with slippery, dark green scales, and most terrifying of all were the three hideous heads that forked from its neck!

Each head has a blind eye, with only two deep holes in the eye sockets. However, it has a unique way of positioning itself. Almost the instant it emerges from the water, all three heads turn towards the direction where Liu Nian and his group are on the shore!

The left side of the head suddenly retracted and extended, spraying out a large ball of dark green, viscous acidic liquid that emitted a pungent, sour smell. It shot out with a whooshing sound, and the air around it made a "sizzling" corrosive sound!

The central head took a deep breath, and the surrounding water vapor instantly condensed into dozens of crystal-clear, sharp-edged icy water arrows, which, carrying a bone-chilling cold, shot out in a fan shape!

The right side of the head emitted a sharp screech, and its long neck lashed the river surface like a whip, creating a high-pressure water jet mixed with gravel and undercurrents that shot straight to the bank!

However, Liu Nian didn't even pause for a moment.

Arachne, who had been floating quietly, casually raised her arm and gently waved it towards the water monster.

There were no incantations, no radiant energy, and no warning signs.

There were only three explosions:

"Smack."

"Smack."

"Smack."

Like three water-filled balloons being punctured simultaneously by an invisible needle.

The blind, multi-headed water monster, which was roaring menacingly and whose three heads were each unleashing different attacks, suddenly froze!

Immediately afterwards, its three terrifying heads exploded simultaneously from the inside out, as if they had been implanted with miniature bombs inside!

Dark green, viscous blood, broken flesh and bones, unformed acid and frost energy mixed together, turning into a brief but bloody "skull fireworks" that fell into the river.

Having lost control of its head, the water monster's thick, long body convulsed and twisted violently, stirring up turbulent waves on the river surface.

But it didn't die immediately! This creature possessed tenacious vitality, allowing it to still react and flee even with its head shattered. Its headless remains, like a startled giant eel, suddenly lashed out with its tail, splashing water high into the sky, and then plunged deep into the darkness of the glowing river at an even faster speed than when it appeared, quickly disappearing without a trace, leaving only a patch of murky river water dyed dark green and ripples that gradually subsided.

"...It's pretty tough. It probably has some kind of ability to regenerate its head." Liu Nian glanced in the direction where the water monster disappeared.

The column continued its advance; such a sneak attack was no longer even considered a minor incident.

As we went deeper, the terrain began to change.

They left the riverbank and entered a strange region.

Here grow vast expanses of crystal clusters shimmering with alluring colors. The clusters come in various shapes, some resembling towering trees, others like dense shrubs, and their colors are vibrant and dazzling: crimson, orange-yellow, emerald green, indigo, and deep purple... intertwined together, making this underground space resemble a dreamlike gemstone forest.

Unfortunately, these things are not minerals; they are very brittle and, apart from being pretty, have little value.

In a relatively open area in the center of the crystal cluster forest, the sounds of fierce fighting could be heard.

A massive [Gemstone Giant Lizard (Lv.89)], its body seemingly inlaid with various gemstones, roared angrily. Its tough, agate-like skin was already covered with many wounds. It was now wielding its thick, powerful tail with a hammer-like end and its huge mouth that could spew scorching crystalline dust, fiercely fighting against a group of attackers.

When Liu Nian saw what the attackers looked like, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

They are a group of spider-like spirits!

"Huh?" Arachne suddenly showed an expression of great interest.

Liu Nian glanced at Arachne. It seemed that his magical pet also had a half-human, half-spider form. No wonder he was interested in spider-like elves.