While they lay in wait on the path the first team was bound to take, other weaker camouflaged monsters were also lying in ambush ahead of the other human teams.

It possessed top-tier camouflage skills capable of deceiving the detection spells of Rank 7 Mages, and it could extend this skill to cover its monster companions.

Dozens of Prismatic Demon Lizards, all at Rank 6, flicked their long tongues out from their massive, bloody maws, eagerly anticipating entangling the first humans they encountered and swallowing them whole.

Their tongues had the ability to weaken anyone they touched; even a Rank 6 Warrior would be instantly incapacitated if ensnared.

As long as they held the initiative, they could use their tongues to entangle over twenty Human Adventurers in an instant, then quickly carry them off to a safe place to enjoy the feast at leisure.

Seeing this group of humans who were completely oblivious to the danger, the Prismatic Demon Lizard Lord's mouth curled into a grin, its cold blood flowing faster.

However, just as the group of humans was about to enter their attack range, they seemed to stop in their tracks.

This move was entirely outside its expectations.

Could they have seen through its camouflage?

Impossible!

The Prismatic Demon Lizard Lord immediately dismissed the thought. Its camouflage skill was something even a Purgatory Dragon couldn't see through, and it was still active. There was no way these Adventurers, with an average rank of six, could see through it.

It looked up and suddenly realized that the humans below had abruptly aimed their weapons at the rocky platform where they were hiding.

Gao Tianfeng gave the order: "Action!"

Boom!

Multicolored spells, sharp arrows, and throwing weapons shot out from the crowd in front.

"Hiss!"

Over a dozen Prismatic Demon Lizards were caught in the crowd's attack; violent explosions sent limbs flying.

They hissed and shrieked in terror, scrambling down from the rocky platform in a panic. Their camouflage was broken, and their true forms were revealed.

Gao Tianfeng was just as shocked as the Prismatic Demon Lizard Lord.

Seeing the massive lizards with their iridescent, oily skins on the rocky platform, Gao Tianfeng couldn't help but take a deep breath.

If it hadn't been for the Gray Wolf's warning, they would have walked blindly beneath that platform, and the entire team would have suffered heavy casualties!

At the same time, the other teams that had sensed something was wrong also began their preemptive counterattacks, catching the monsters lying in ambush ahead completely off guard.

"Run!"

Having lost the advantage of the first strike, the Prismatic Demon Lizard Lord immediately ordered its surviving subordinates to retreat in a panic.

In the first team, the Mage who had been maintaining the detection spell gaped in astonishment. After the Prismatic Demon Lizards were driven off, he looked toward Da Huang.

What those two animals said was actually true! His own judgment had been wrong.

He had to admit he had misjudged the situation.

"Captain, should we pursue?" a Warrior asked.

"The mission is more important. Don't let a blind pursuit break our formation and lead us into another trap."

The monsters that ambushed them were clearly organized and commanded; they were much harder to deal with than the scattered monsters found in a typical dungeon.

"This is a battlefield. Remember our mission."

Gao Tianfeng gave the order calmly. After checking with the other nine teams and learning there were no casualties, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The other teams, with the help of the animals, had also sensed the danger and avoided the monsters' attacks.

In the second team, Butterfly Feather released hallucinogenic scales that drifted forward, causing a group of Prismatic Demon Lizards to reveal themselves without even realizing it. They were ultimately used as target practice and wiped out on the spot.

Because of this, Butterfly Feather gained all the follower experience—60 points from fifteen Prismatic Demon Lizards.

The other animals that participated in the battle also gained varying amounts of experience, ranging in the dozens.

However, in the first team, Da Huang, who had only provided information, didn't receive a single point of experience. It was itching with impatience; if it had known, it would have charged in itself.

Seeing the monsters attempting to escape, Da Huang couldn't take it anymore and bolted out of the formation.

Meow? Chocolate only felt a gust of wind blow past.

By the time it turned its head, Da Huang was already long gone, and it hadn't even had time to stop it.

Meow!

Chocolate's fur stood on end from the shock. It had promised Qi Ye that it would keep an eye on Da Huang, and the moment it looked away, the dog was gone!

It had called out to the Lord before, so the Lord must be watching everything through its mind right now.

At that thought, Chocolate felt its skin crawl, and its head throbbed with anxiety.

It wanted to give chase but hesitated. After all, it was only Rank 4, and it was too dangerous outside. If it went out alone, wouldn't it just be causing trouble for the Lord?

Da Huang, come back quickly!

Chocolate prayed in its heart as it watched Da Huang leap onto the platform like a bolt of lightning, chasing after the fleeing Prismatic Demon Lizards.

It's over!

If Da Huang just disappeared, it would have to take full responsibility!

Gao Tianfeng turned back to look appreciatively at where Da Huang had been, only to find that Da Huang had vanished from the center of the team.

"Captain, it went after them!"

A team member pointed toward the platform, speaking in surprise.

What!

Gao Tianfeng was startled and indeed saw a silver-white afterimage flash across the platform.

He almost ordered the team to pursue immediately, but then he remembered there was still a Big Cat with them and decided to seek its opinion.

"What should we do next?"

Chocolate was anxiously waiting for the non-existent Qi Ye to give it an order. Seeing Gao Tianfeng come over to ask for its opinion, it wore a blank expression and shook its head.

Seeing the Big Cat shake its head so meaningfully, Gao Tianfeng nodded, a look of realization dawning on his face as if he understood perfectly.

He announced to everyone:

"Don't worry about it. We'll rest here for a bit to recover our stamina and Mental Energy while we wait for the Gray Wolf to return to the team."

The entire team spread out slightly, remaining alert while they entered a state of rest.

Meanwhile, Chocolate's mind was filled with panic; it hadn't heard a word Gao Tianfeng said. Its mind went blank from time to time because the Lord hadn't said anything.

It's over, the Lord must be having some angry!

While Chocolate was lost in its wild thoughts, Qi Ye had finished sorting out He Chenyang's affairs and had just switched his consciousness over to Chocolate.

Through Chocolate's vision, Qi Ye saw that it was on a mountain with the humans. It looked like the team had already set out and entered the Reserve.

"What happened?"

Qi Ye asked casually. He wanted to get a general idea of the humans' progress into the Reserve.

What happened?

Chocolate finally heard Qi Ye's voice, but after repeating the question in its mind, its soul nearly flew out from fright.

The Lord had clearly been watching the whole time, yet he asked such a thing.

He wanted it to admit its own mistake and take responsibility for failing to look after Da Huang.

The Lord was clearly furious!