When Monica ran back with a happy face and showed him a butterfly that had rested on her finger and was very common in the jungle, Ji Chen finally couldn't help but ask:

"Monica, haven't you seen a place like this before?"

Monica shook her head gently, moved her fingers, let the butterfly fly away, put her hand behind her back, looked around, and looked a little lonely, "I have lived in the court since I was a child, and I need to learn etiquette and various skills to learn, and I am well protected by my father, and I have hardly left the court." ”

"The only thing I can see every day is the garden outside the window, and the walls that are so high that I can't climb them."

"So I'm always behind the windows on the top floor of the castle, tiptoeing to see what the outside looks like..."

"Later, when I grew up, I had the opportunity to go out into the outside world, but there was no one except when I was sleeping and picking flowers

In addition, I was always surrounded by guards and maids, like a mountain around me. ”

"Until now...", the loneliness on Monica's face suddenly swept away, and she winked playfully, "I can relax a little." ”

Ji Chen looked at the girl who suddenly changed her face, was slightly stunned, and then smiled.

"Then you have to cherish this hard-won time."

Monica smiled and pointed to the depths of the island, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Your Excellency Ji Chen, I want to continue to go deeper, oh yes! At your castle I saw a towering mountain and the waterfall there was so beautiful! ”

"There, according to the legend that has been passed down here, there used to be a dragon living on the mountain..."

In the next two days, Ji Chen accompanied the daughter of the Grand Duke to visit the island's large and small classics, at first Ji Chen still adhered to the idea of passing time, but later in the contact between the two, he couldn't help but be infected by Monica's liveliness and cheerfulness, and his senses also changed a lot, and he knew more about her.

This outwardly strong-looking and mature girl, during the few days she unexpectedly stayed in the Crescent Islands, released her nature a little, leaving her laughter in many places.

But the so-called banquet that is indispersible in the world, with the arrival of a piece of news, the departure of Monica and others is on the agenda.

Lord's house.

Hall.

"According to the information from the patrol force, it seems that the pursuers have given up on the idea of searching for you, and have withdrawn from the outside of the stormy sea yesterday afternoon, leaving in a northwesterly direction."

"That way, you can leave at any time."

Hearing this, Monica and their faces showed a touch of joy, it had been five or six days since they stayed in the Crescent Islands, counting the time required for the return trip, this time it was delayed for at least half a month, and the time was quite urgent.

Monica and the captain and the others exchanged glances and nodded, and Monica took a step forward.

"Your Excellency Ji Chen, we don't know what the situation in the principality is now, and it will be more dangerous if we are a day late, so if we can, we want to leave in the afternoon."

Ji Chen nodded, "I understand your current mood very well, and I am also happy to fulfill our previous promise." ”

"There is already a ship loading and unloading the supplies you need along the way, and it is expected to leave on time in the afternoon."

"In addition to this, I will also send another warship and a convoy to help escort you back to the Duchy of Reinhardt."

Monica raised her eyebrows and clasped her hands together.

"That would be great, I'm afraid my father is waiting for us now!"

The captain and the captain of the guard also saluted in unison.

"Thank you for your help to us, although there was some unpleasantness between us before, the Duchy of Reinhardt will not forget your courage to lend a helping hand when we were in trouble, and under the witness of the gods, we have built a bridge of friendship between us."

"That's nature, and hopefully the friendship between the crown of the seas and the Duchy of Reinhardt will last forever."

...

Afternoon.

in the harbor.

The supplies were successfully loaded onto the ship, and the battleship was ready to go.

The group began to board the ship.

Monica looked at the sailors and guards whose faces were full of joy because they could return to the Duchy, and when it came time to return, she found that her heart did not seem to be as happy as she had imagined.

Instead, there is a faint sense of loss.

Is it because you can't afford to live such a free life?

In the few days here, Monica is like loosening all the restraints on her body, she doesn't have to worry about etiquette all the time, and she doesn't have to be surprised by people's eyes, for fear of losing the face of the principality and her father.

Like a canary flying out of its cage, it flutters its wings and flies freely in the sky.

This period of time is one of the happiest times in her life so far.

Monica took a deep breath, but that was the end of it, as a woman of the Valencian family, she had to leave something behind and take on heavy responsibilities as she might inherit the position of Grand Duke in the future.

"What's the matter, are you reluctant to be here?"

Ji Chen's voice with a little smile interrupted the emotions brewing in her heart.

Monica turned around in surprise and couldn't help but smile when she saw Ji Chen walking towards her.

"Your Excellency Ji Chen, you scared me!"

Even she didn't feel it, and she was a little coquettish when she spoke.

"Haha, it's over, if you let Grand Duke Reinhardt know that I scared her precious daughter, wouldn't you want to settle accounts with me?" Ji Chen suddenly pretended to be scared.

This made Monica laugh and cover her mouth.

"Your Excellency, if you say that, I'm going to be angry!"

After some laughter, Ji Chen looked at the battleship that had been prepared and smiled.

"Alright, it's almost time, Monica, it's time for you to get on the boat."

Monica also knew that it was time to leave, looking at the tall and handsome Ji Chen in front of her, a trace of emotion flashed in her eyes, but she quickly hid it deep in her heart, bowed her head and curtsied.

"Your Excellency, if we survive this time, then you are welcome to visit the Duchy of Reinhardt, and we will definitely receive you as a guest of honor."

Ji Chen didn't say much, just nodded and said, "If I have time, I will consider going." ”

As the battleship slowly sailed out of the port, Monica's figure waving goodbye to Ji Chen at the stern of the ship gradually became farther away until it disappeared on the sea level.

After standing on the harbor for a moment, he shook his head and returned to the Lord's Palace.

At this time, Alice and Anina, who had disappeared for several days, as well as Rush Erba and Darrow, and other heroes, were standing in the middle of the hall.

"How's the situation with the Mystical Crystal?"

"Report to my lord, now the secret realm crystal is temporarily stable, but there is still a risk of being forcibly opened."

Hearing this, his expression also became a little more solemn.

Since he led his army to kill the invading skeleton army and skeleton heroes from inside the gate two months ago, and closed the door of the secret realm in time, the secret realm crystal has not moved.

It wasn't until the day after Monica and her party came to the Crescent Islands that the secret realm crystal suddenly fluctuated violently.

There are various indications that at the other end of the secret realm gate that it opened, the skeleton secret realm, there is an attempt to open the secret realm door again.

As expected, it should be the masterpiece of Skeletron in the secret realm.

Skeletron is not dead yet in the ambition of another invasion.

Still, if he had been two months ago, he might have been afraid.

But today, the crown of the sea, whether it is the quality of the army or the hero, is no longer the same.

How much stronger than tenfold?

At that time, he was able to lead hundreds of units of troops to beat the skeleton army, and now it is no exception.

Since Skeletron is so ignorant, then he just needs to solve this problem once and for all!

As soon as he thought of this, Ji Chen's expression also became serious, and he said with a straight face.

"Monica and her group have left, and we don't have to hide it."

"Pass my order, the whole army will start to prepare, I will attack and conquer that secret realm!"

"Yes!"

Order.

The entire crown of the ocean is in motion again.

The army was assembled, and various supplies were sent to the front.

The warship departs the harbor and anchors around the island where the Mystic Crystal is located, ready to provide fire support after the Mystery Gate is opened.

Ji Chen came to the troop recruitment camp and recruited all the troop types accumulated in the past two weeks.

After this recruitment, the number of classes jumped again, and the number was as follows:

Naga Berserker 202→482, 4th Order 5 stars.

There are 207→487 dragonblood fishmen, and 3 stars of the fourth order.

There are 224→518 elemental sea elves, 3 stars of the fourth order.

Lobster Rider 210→490, 4th Order 1 star.

There are 266→350 fish-man swimmers, and the third order is 5 stars.

350→1400 self-detonating water spiders, 3-star third-order

270 elite pirates, 4 stars of the second order.

There are 20→40 deep-sea swimmers, and 1 star of the fourth order.

There are 3→5 tidal sea spirits, and 1 star of the fourth order.

There are 10 → 20 giant squid, and 8 stars of the fourth order.

There are 780 ruin guards, and the third order is 8 stars.

Ocean Guardian 2020, 9 stars of the third order.

There are 40 Sky Guards, 8 stars at the fourth order

A total of 6902 units.

This is a lot of them, but according to Ji Chen's guess, it is very likely that there is a lack of water in the Skeleton Secret Realm.

All of them were able to go out this time, only a few of them.

Scheduled to be Naga Berserkers, Dragonblood Fishmen, Elemental Sea Elves, Detonators, and Fish-Men.

A total of 3237 units, which is almost half of the amount.

Although the number of skeleton monsters in the Skeleton Secret Realm was definitely much more, Ji Chen believed that these forces were enough to deal with them.

Two days later.

Ji Chen led the army and a group of heroes to the Secret Realm Crystal, and as time passed, the fluctuations in its energy became more and more violent, which meant that the Skeleton Secret Realm was trying to force it on.

This secret door is two-way, so after the crystal is repaired and opened instantly, as long as it is not damaged, the portal will always exist.

Therefore, he specially dispatched hundreds of ruin guards to station them here after they entered, to prevent scattered skeletons from escaping.

When everything is ready.

Ji Chen came to the secret realm crystal and began to repair it.

"Ding~ To repair the secret crystal, it takes 3000 units of crystal."

A mere 3,000 units is nothing to him now, so he didn't hesitate to invest in it.

The solid crystal gradually turned into a liquid state, blending into the secret crystal, and the broken surface began to be repaired visibly to the naked eye.

Half an hour later, all the crystals were absorbed, and the surface of the secret realm crystal became smooth and recognizable, and the interior was also transparent and flawless.

"Ding~ The restoration of the secret realm crystal is complete, and the door to the secret realm can be opened."

Seeing this, Ji Chen didn't waste time, stretched out his hand to caress it, and his heart moved.

The Secret Realm Crystal trembled suddenly, and the ground trembled slightly.

He took a few steps back.

A stream of red energy shot out from the Secret Realm Crystal, condensing into a slowly growing red vortex at a distance of tens of meters.

Perhaps because the Secret Realm Crystal had been completely restored, this red vortex was much larger than the previous one, with a diameter of fifty meters, and there was a faint flash of lightning on the surface, brewing a bit of terrifying energy.

"All march!"

The army that had already lined up the array bypassed the Secret Realm Crystal and walked towards the Gate of the Secret Realm in unison.

When it comes into contact with the red swirl, it disappears behind the door in a flash.

Ji Chen and a group of heroes were sandwiched in the middle of the entire team, and they also walked in without stopping.

I saw a flash of white light.

The environment in front of me has changed dramatically.

The black-red sky reveals a bit of weird color.

The red gravel was layered on top of each other, spreading from under foot to the distance, and there was not even a single stone.

There were still some dark leafless trees growing in the gravel, but the strange shape of the mad demon fluttering around made people feel a chill in their hearts.

With a slight sniff of his nose, he felt a strong smell of rust suddenly pour in, making people feel uncomfortable.

Gloomy, gloomy.

It's the first impression of this secret place.

Ji Chen sighed, it really deserves to be a secret realm where undead spirits like skeletons live, which is not suitable for human survival at all.

I looked left and right.

They were now on high ground and could easily observe the situation for kilometers around them.

However, at first glance, apart from the red gravel and distinctive trees, there was not a single skeleton in sight.

Doesn't it mean that Skeletron is trying to open the door to the secret realm?

It stands to reason that there must already be an army of skeletons standing behind the door that is ready to invade.

Ji Chen was confused for a while.

After a moment of thought, his mind flashed.

Could it be that the door to the secret realm opened by the outside world is randomly generated in the secret realm?

If that's the case, it gives them a chance to put things in order.

Their own troops were still coming out of the gate of the secret realm in a steady stream, and under the command of Ji Chen, they regrouped in a valley below the high ground.

Although the gate of the secret realm is not small, it will take a lot of time to pass through thousands of troops.

It took half an hour for more than 3,000 units of troops to pass.

All you have to do now is to find Skeletron.

Skeletons are a magical race with abilities similar to those of a hive.

The higher-level Skeleton Monster will dominate the Lower-level Skeleton Monster.

For example, a skeleton vanguard commands dozens of ordinary small skeletons.

A skeleton squad leader leads dozens of skeleton vanguards.

A skeleton captain leads dozens of skeleton captains.

And so on, so that control of all skeletons is concentrated in the hands of the highest-ranking Skeletron.

Therefore, as long as Skeletron is killed, most of the skeleton monsters below will lose control and become a plate of loose sand and vulnerable.

Ji Chen looked left and right, and there was an endless and identical red gravel all around.

Only the rocky mountains in the distance can attract some attention.

Just like the desert, running around like a fly on the house here is undoubtedly a waste of energy.

After thinking about it, he decided to go to the stone mountain to check on the situation first.

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