The Demon King is back, leading adorable kids on an adventure around the world!

While everyone else was resting, Xiao Xiao was still refining the second batch of pills, with the flames in the furnace occasionally popping open.

The ground suddenly shook, followed by another, even more violent one.

A few pieces of pebbles fell from the top of the stalagmite, making a clanging sound as they hit the ground.

Everyone stood up, with Niannian being the first to rise, her hand already resting on the Taiyi Sword.

Xiao Jin slid down from the rock and stood next to her.

Ye Qianxue and Li Mengmeng drew their swords at the same time, took two steps forward, and stood in front of the group.

The tremors came from the underground river, getting closer and closer, and then the rock wall cracked open.

Stone chips and dirt fell down with a clatter, and a large head squeezed out of the crack.

Its dark brown carapace was as rough as rock, and it had four compound eyes on each side of its head, which gleamed with a faint dark light.

Two rows of short teeth in his mouth, chewing incessantly, as if he had taken a super tonic.

The crack widened as its body stretched it, and rubble fell to the ground.

"What is this thing?" Xiao Jin frowned.

"This is an armored lizard."

Ye Qianxue examined it carefully and said.

"Earth-attribute demonic beasts have thick hides and have long since disappeared from the ground, even those above the Golden Core stage."

The lizard emerged completely, over three zhang long, with thick limbs. With a sweep of its tail, it snapped off a stalagmite.

It scanned the area, its gaze landing on the crowd. It let out a low growl that made the ground tremble, and then charged straight towards them.

Before Nian Nian could make a move, Ye Qianxue had already taken the initiative.

With the Ice Soul Sword drawn, she dodged the lizard's charge by sidestepping it and slashed at its hind leg.

The blade struck the carapace with a dull thud, leaving only a shallow mark.

"That skin is really thick."

Ye Qianxue landed steadily.

"Spread out, don't crowd together."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the rock wall on the other side cracked as well.

This time, it wasn't a large creature that appeared, but a group of black beetles.

It's about the size of a fist, covered in downy fur, and its front jaws are like two small scissors, grinding against each other to make a soft, rustling sound.

It gushed out from the crack, like a layer of black water overflowing.

"Oh no, they're gold-eating ants."

Li Mengmeng gripped her sword tightly, her voice serious.

"Don't get bitten. This thing can gnaw on metal like it's tofu, and even a spiritual energy shield can't stop it."

The two martial arts students were pale-faced, but they still raised their shields and gripped their swords, standing in front of them.

Luo Qiqi took a step forward, stood at the front of the line, clenched her fists, her face tense, and didn't back down.

The armored lizard was still charging, so Ye Qianxue stepped aside to avoid it.

Li Mengmeng delivered another blow from the other side, the tip of the sword piercing through the gap in the carapace and making a shallow cut.

The lizard, in pain, swung its tail, breaking a stalagmite.

The black liquid from the gold-devouring ants had already surged in front of them, and several of them jumped up and pounced on the students.

With a flash, Nian Nian slashed horizontally with the Taiyi Sword, the sword energy sweeping across and cutting the gold-devouring ant in front of her in two.

The others didn't stop; they continued to surge forward.

Luo Qiqi intervened, causing her to crouch down, and slammed her palm into the ground.

The rock trembled, and a circle of yellowish-brown ripples spread out from her palm.

The gold-eating ants that charged at the front were bounced back, tumbling and spinning on the ground, while those behind slowed down.

"Qiqi, a few more times!" Xiao Jin shouted.

Luo Qiqi bit her lip and slapped her hand again, creating even bigger ripples. The swarm of insects was overturned twice, leaving a patch of beetles lying on their backs on the ground.

The armored lizard charged again, this time heading straight for Nian Nian, and moving even faster.

Niannian didn't dodge, but charged forward. The tip of the Taiyi Sword shone with silver light, striking the lizard's forehead with a clang, like a stone hitting another stone.

The lizard's momentum was halted, and its limbs plowed four shallow furrows in the ground.

"Dare to bump into Nian Nian?" Nian Nian pushed the tip of her sword forward. "Go back!"

The Taiyi Sword advanced another inch, and a faint clattering sound came from the lizard's carapace.

Although it didn't penetrate, it clearly hit the bone.

The lizard tilted its head back and took a half step back.

The swarm of insects was still surging. Luo Qiqi's ripples blocked two waves, but some still managed to flank them.

The two martial arts students stood back to back, one holding up a shield to block and the other thrusting with a sword. Although they were in a flurry of activity, the insect did not get close.

Ye Qianxue delivered two more blows to the lizard, one to its belly and the other to the side of its neck.

The second sword cleaved open a gap in the carapace, causing blood to seep out.

She sheathed her sword and stepped back to Li Mengmeng's side, whispering, "Attack the first one."

Li Mengmeng nodded, walked around to the side of the lizard, and when it turned its head, she slashed at the side of its neck with her sword, the blade cutting into the gap in its shell.

The lizard, in pain, suddenly turned around and swung its tail. Li Mengmeng dodged the attack head-on, but the strong wind swept her shoulder, causing her to take two steps back.

As soon as the lizard turned around, Nian Nian leaped up and slashed it right on the head with her sword, the blade piercing through its shell and embedding itself inside.

The lizard shook its head, gripping the sword tightly without letting go. It was swung around in a circle before finally landing steadily and drawing the sword.

A deep gash was left on the lizard's head, and dark blood flowed down its carapace. It retreated, hesitant.

On the other side of the insect swarm, Luo Qiqi's lips turned white after she clapped her hands for the fifth time.

Luo Qianqian walked over, put her hand on Qiqi's shoulder, a flash of white light appeared, and Qiqi's complexion quickly returned to normal.

"That's enough." Qianqian withdrew her hand and looked at the swarm of insects. "I'll handle the rest."

She raised her hand, and a silvery-white light shone forth.

The gold-devouring ants stopped at the same time, as if they had been held down by something.

It shook a few times, then flipped over piece by piece and stopped moving, all within a few breaths.

Qianqian withdrew her hand: "It's just an illusion. She's fainted and will wake up in about half an hour."

The armored lizard glanced at the swarm of insects on the ground, then at the group of people in front of it, finally turned around, and scurried back through the crack, the sound of falling rubble fading into the distance.

The underground space quieted down, with only the sound of the underground river flowing through it.

Xiao Xiao stood up from behind the alchemy furnace, brushed the ash off her hands, and went over to check on the students:

"How are you guys?"

"We...we're not...we're not hurt."

The student holding the shield said his voice was still a bit angry.

Another student looked down at his sword; there were several small scratches on the blade, like bites from gold-eating ants.

He sheathed his sword and muttered something:

"The bugs in this place are really vicious..."

After confirming that no one was seriously injured, Xiao Xiao sat back down in front of the alchemy furnace.

"There's one more batch. We'll finish it before we leave."

Niannian sheathed her sword and walked to the crack where the lizard had crawled back. It was pitch black, and she had no idea where it led.

She didn't go in; instead, she kicked at the rubble along the edge of the crack and walked back to the crowd to sit down.

Luo Qiqi sat on a rock, rubbing her wrist. Qianqian stood beside her without saying a word.

Xiao Jin leaned against a rock, watching the martial arts academy students inspect their weapons, and casually remarked:

"Such a big commotion right after they arrived, there's probably more to come."

No one answered. Xiao Xiao put away the last batch of pills and extinguished the fire.

"Alright, let's go."

The group regrouped and continued deeper into the underground river.

The sound of water grew closer, and the fishy smell in the air became stronger.

In the distance, a few low roars echoed faintly, reverberating repeatedly in the empty cave.

……