There were two things Damien learned through his altercation with Wang Chen.
Firstly, even someone at the 4th class who had received a power boost from the Nox wasn't able to perceive the Void Essence he had quietly injected into Wang Tianhe's body.
This meant that although he still had to hide his Void Physique publicly, using its abilities in a veiled manner was still viable unless he was facing a genuine Demigod.
Secondly, if a 4th class appeared out of thin air, nobody would question it even if they couldn't sense the mana fluctuations, even the more powerful 4th class existences around.
Firstly, this meant reaching 4th class allowed some kind of great maneuverability or power that Damien didn't know about yet. Something that could allow all 4th classes to move unseen. Secondly, it meant he could summon his 4th class helpers from the Sanctuary without fear of revealing its existence.
'Even if I reveal the fact that they're serving me here and now, it won't affect my future plans. After all, nobody would expect these exhaled 4th-class existences to be following me around endlessly. And even if they did, they wouldn't expect something like the Sanctuary to exist. Most likely, they'll plot while using some means to block the method by which Wang Chen's helpers arrived, which won't hinder me at all.'
Still, he might have to whip up a scheme or two to make it seem like his 4th class helpers had left his side in the future. Being underestimated made his life far easier, after all.
Damien's five subordinates looked around curiously.
"So this is the world outside the mountain range? It feels far easier to move around, and my power seems more fluid and easy to exert. However, the mana density is a bit…" the Fire Phoenix Matriarch commented lightly.
"Right. The mana density is poor to say the least. And the vitality of the earth is lacking as well. The only benefit is that the natural suppression of the mountain range is gone." The Ice Phoenix Matriarch agreed.
"Kid, you didn't just summon me for nothing, did you? I was busy teaching this old demon here a lesson." The White Dragon King spoke annoyedly.
Lucius scoffed. "Please. As if a mere lizard could harm me. You should be thanking him for saving your ass."
The last comment especially caused Damien to raise an eyebrow. "Father-in-Law, I didn't know you knew how to speak so crassly."
"Brat, my daughter isn't even your woman so why do you keep insisting on calling me father-in-law?!"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Well, isn't it because it pisses you off so much? Your reactions are quite fun to watch, you know."
"Pfft! I know right! This old geezer is hilarious when he's angry!" The White Dragon King laughed rambunctiously.
Damien shook his head with a smile. "Anyway, you were right that I didn't call you out for nothing. Some old fart brought out 4th class existences to bully me. As my subordinates, how can you just stand still and watch?"
"Hmph! Since when we're we subordinates?" The Fire Phoenix Matriarch scoffed.
"Are you not?" Dameon quipped back.
"That's beside the point." The Fire Phoenix Matriarch coughed and looked away.
The White Dragon King rolled his eyes. "What we are doesn't matter. I finally have the chance to test the strength of those in the outside world, so why would I falter here? Brat, where are they?"
"Over there." Damien pointed at where Wang Chen and Tian Yang were standing.
"Ooooh! I call the old man!"
"That old man is my master. He'd probably beat your ass in seconds so I'd recommend not touching him."
"Tch. You're no fun. Fine then, it's those five weaklings standing behind the other weakling right? I don't know why you summoned all five of us. Just me is enough."
"No." A new voice entered the fray. It was Elvira, who had remained quiet until then. "Young Lord, please allow me to take care of them."
Damien raised his brow. "I can't say I don't understand your reasoning, but are you sure?"
Elvira cracked her knuckles. "Despite how I look, I'm not that much weaker than the White Dragon King. If we fought in physical strength alone, he'd only have a 20% chance of winning."
Damien's eyes widened. He looked at the White Dragon King for confirmation, only to see the latter turn his head away awkwardly.
"Brat, I'll warn you now. Even if she looks dainty and frail, don't let her fool you. This woman is a gorilla."
Elvira scoffed. "Since I have more important matters to take care of, I'll let it slide this time. When we get back, though, let's see how you run from me."
She vanished from her spot, reappearing behind one of Wang Chen's 4th class helpers. She grabbed the man by the top of his head and squeezed.
The other four sprung into action, but as if she was waiting for that moment, Elvira flicked her wrist. The earth was torn apart, giving way to massive vines that mirrored the ones Ruyue and Feng Qing'er had encountered in the Primordial Undying Realm.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The vines thrashed the four men, forcing them to go on the defensive. Elvira turned her attention back to the man in her grasp.
"Now, let's play, shall we?"
Boom!
A ferocious punch landed on his stomach, shooting him hundreds of meters into the air. Elvira's form flickered, leaving an afterimage as it appeared above him.
Bang!
Gripping her hands together as if she was going to hit a volleyball, Elvira slammed downward, causing the man's body to fold like an omelette as it shot down to the ground.
But just like before, Elvira didn't allow him to regain his bearings as he fell. She appeared next to him again, catching his neck and yanking him back, abruptly shifting his momentum and forcing his bones to collapse.
After that, what could only be called a one-sided beating occurred. Damien was able to truly understand how much of a gorilla woman Elvira was.
'How does she even hide such frightening strength in that tiny body?!' Damien wondered inwardly. But looking around, he realized something.
'Right, this is supposed to be a secret realm opening. My bad.'
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Hey, I know she can handle things alone, but I'd prefer if we could finish up as quickly as possible. I have to go attend to my wives, you know? I can't waste time on petty squabbles with these old geezers."
The White Dragon King grinned while Lucius rolled his eyes. The two Phoenix Matriarchs looked at the four men who were fending off Elvira's vines indifferently.
"Good!" The White Dragon King exclaimed. "I've been itching for a good fight!"
The four sprang into action. Flames and ice intertwined. Instead of repulsing each other, they actually mixed together to form an even deadlier attack.
The two men, even while being 4th classes, couldn't resist the onslaught of the two Phoenix Matriarchs working in tandem. Within ten minutes, only their charred and frozen corpses remained.
As for the White Dragon King, he went the pure physical strength route like Elvira. It seemed her display had invoked his competitive spirit. It was a comedic situation to Damien, but to his opponent, it was hell.
That 4th class was destined for death regardless, but somehow his death had become just as pitiful as the man Elvira was manhandling. The two of them didn't even have complete bodies by the time they died.
As for Lucius, his methods were far more elusive. Damien didn't understand exactly what he had done, but the corpse of the enemy he had taken on didn't have a single scratch on it.
'Even if he's at the entry-level of 4th class, that's only because his progress was stalled by the restrictions of the Primordial Undying Realm. It's obvious that the revenge-driven Lucius wouldn't allow such a setback to prevent him from getting stronger.' Damien realized.
'It seems I should stop looking down on him for being the weakest.'
What was supposed to be a riveting fight turned into a one-sided slaughter because of Damien's helpers. Those watching almost didn't believe their eyes, one could only imagine the shock Wang Chen received.
"Old fart, traitors like you have only a single fate waiting for you. Death without mercy. Whether it's you, your sons, the old ancestors of your clan, it doesn't matter. They'll all be wiped out the same way."
Wang Chen fell to the floor. Even until now, only his people and Damien knew what he meant when he kept calling them traitors. Damien didn't care to explain to insignificant people, so he never expanded on the topic.
But if he didn't use the power granted to him by the Nox, Wang Chen was well aware that he would die the same way his subordinates and son had.
'I don't want to die. Fuck the Wang Clan, fuck those so-called Lords who didn't even care to help me in such a dire situation. All that matters is that I live.'
To live even if it cost the lives of all he cared for. That was Wang Chen's resolve.
And as soon as he formed it, his body was coated in murky black mana.