The surroundings became completely dark, and Aiden felt like falling into a deep pit. He tried to shout for help but was terrified to realize that no sound was coming out of his mouth. He could not speak at all for some reason.
Fortunately, a few seconds later, Aiden felt his feet touching the ground. Light returned to his eyes, and he found himself standing in a place surrounded by many tall mountains.
This was the Black Mountain Ridge.
The Black Mountain Ridge was a continuous mountain range with rugged terrain. In this place, there was an unending, black-colored land that looked as if it had been washed with ink. Thus, it was called the Black Mountain Ridge.
This mountain range was actually not far away from the border of the Valley of Death.
Just like the Valley of Death, there was once a legend about this place.
It is said that the Black Mountain Ridge used to be an ancient battlefield where humans fought a bloody battle against other races to defend this place.
In the end, a river of blood flowed for tens of years at this place without change. A few years later, the river of blood gradually hid itself beneath the ground and became the Black Mountain Ridge of today.
It is said that there are many dangers in this mountain range. If anyone comes to this place, they have to stay very careful.
As for Aiden, he was teleported here by the Golden Dragon Pearl for some reason.
In fact, Aiden could still sense his connection to the small paradise. He has a feeling that as long as he wants, he can enter that place anytime.
Aiden breathed deeply and did not think of going back to the small paradise for the time being. That place is too dangerous. It is better to understand this new world first.
After a while, Aiden stepped forward, and with each step, he felt as though he was walking deeper into an abyss of darkness.
It wasn't that there was no light in this place.
In fact, the surroundings were bright, just like any ordinary day. But the sensation of darkness was creeping from within his heart. He couldn't comprehend why he was feeling this way.
A cold wind blew through his hair, sending chills down his spine.
Currently, Aiden was carrying only a single bag. It was the one he had taken with him when leaving the Gray Mansion. He didn't even have a weapon.
Yet, despite everything, his expression remained calm. He continued to stride forward without hesitation.
Aiden knew nothing about this land, nor of the legend that surrounded this mountain or the lurking dangers. To him, it felt like any other mountain range that is ordinary and unthreatening.
The environment here was a bit harsh, but this kind of harsh environment did not affect him. Aiden discovered that the road ahead became wider and wider as he walked, and a dense green forest gradually appeared in his line of sight.
This forest was far-reaching and seemed to be encompassed by the entire mountain range.
Aiden curiously stepped in step by step. The shadows of the trees covered the sky and overlapped with each other, making it impossible for even the sun and moon to shine in.
He stepped into the shade of a tree, almost as if he had stepped into a deep abyss.
Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps came from behind him, causing him to prick up his ears in vigilance.
Very soon, a group of people walked in.
All of them were armed with swords and blades.
They had indifferent expressions on their faces.
This group consisted of about seven to ten people, and each one wore different clothes. There were both men and women, and the weakest of them was a Level 3 Third-tier Star Warrior.
They bumped into Aiden, but after a quick glance, they anxiously rushed to leave.
Aiden saw those people anxiously leaving and frowned. Although he was puzzled, he didn't say anything.
But right at this moment, as if the group of people thought of something, they stopped. One of the middle-aged men, a Level 7 Third-tier Star Warrior, turned and stared at Aiden curiously. Then he asked: "Brat, did you come here alone?"
Aiden was quiet for a moment, then nodded and said: "Yes!"
"Hehehe!"
"You really are brave, aren't you? Or could it be that you have no idea what this mountain ridge is famous for?"
That middle-aged man was tall and sturdy. He held a scabbard in his hand and did not bother to conceal his mockery.
Aiden immediately shut his mouth. His heart started becoming anxious, but then, as if a cold sensation ran through his body, he calmed down immediately.
"Heh, little brother, you entered the Black Mountain Ridge and even came to this forest, but you didn't bring any weapon with you. Are you not afraid of being robbed or killed by someone here?"
A tall woman in red stepped forward in high heels. She wore a long and short skirt, revealing her snow-white thighs, and two lumps of flesh on her chest were nearly sticking out of her clothes. Her smile and every movement she made exuded an extreme temptation.
Aiden's expression was as calm as before. He didn't want to say another word to these people. It is unknown why, but he did not feel good in presence of these people. He wanted them to leave him alone.
"Mora, why are you wasting your time on him? Let's see if he has anything valuable. if he has any, we will just take it away." A tall and skinny youth with a dark expression and a knife scar on the left side of his face stepped forward and spoke indifferently.
This caused Aiden to become alert, and he took a few steps back.
Aiden has never encountered a dangerous situation before this, and he had never fought. But he did hear of many adventurous stories from his mother.
His mother even told him stories where a person stabbed another in the back. Some of the stories were about how a person could betray their own kin just for the sake of profit.
Here, Aiden and these people were strangers.
How could Aiden not be cautious?
The skinny man quickly walked up to Aiden and, without a word, snatched Aiden's bag. Then he dumped its contents onto the ground, revealing only a pile of wet clothes and some biscuits that had crumbled into flour due to the moisture.
"Hmph!"
The skinny youth sneered, glaring at Aiden with disdain. "Pathetic. So, you are just a beggar. Didn't your mother teach you to carry some money when you go out? That way, at least you'd have something useful upon running in trouble."
Aiden remained still, but a cold glint flickered in his eyes. The youth's words cut deep because he had mentioned his mother in such a disrespectful way.
The one thing Aiden could never tolerate in this world was anyone insulting his mother.
Though she is no longer alive, it doesn't mean he would stand by and let people speak ill of her.
"Tsk tsk, it seems it isn't easy for this little brother to come here. Dara, take those wet clothes away. Let's leave him with his life." The red-clothed female spoke. She showed clear disgust for Aiden, and told the skinny man named Dora to leave Aiden with his life as if her actions were natural. In her eyes, sparing Aiden's life was a kind and benevolent act.
Aiden didn't say anything, he didn't even try to argue. He simply allowed the skinny youth named Dora to casually pick up his only belongings and return to the group of people.
After that, Aiden crouched down and calmly picked up his things one by one. He carefully put them back into his bag and carried them on his shoulder.
"Haha, what an obedient and pitiful dog!" The crowd burst into laughter. This group of people was extremely cold and detached.
After going through a bloody battle a few hours ago, their eyes were only filled with the word 'gain'. The woman in red was currently in the arms of the skinny young man, laughing as she covered her mouth.
No one noticed that a ball of cold intent was converging within Aiden's gaze.
He slowly stood up.
No one cared about him. After all, he was only a Level 2 Third-tier Star Warrior. To these people, he was just a piece of trash.
"BOOM!"
Aiden suddenly flew forward.
His target was the skinny tall youth.
His body was like the wind, and he seemed to be instantly teleported in front of Dora.
Everything was so sudden.
It was as if the time itself had stopped for a moment, and no one saw how Aiden moved.
"Yaa!"
Aiden clenched his teeth and punched the tall skinny youth hard.
At that moment, his strength of Third-tier Star Warrior Level 2 exploded, and the terrifying energy waves produced by his fist swept across. His power was not weaker than a Third-tier Level 3 Star Warrior.