After dealing with the Dwarf Monster, Wang Linchi began to observe the entire underground palace.

The palace was quite spacious and enormous. Wang Linchi estimated its area was about the same as South Ridge Village.

Were these Dwarf Monsters responsible for hollowing out such a large palace in these mountains?

The palace was filled with numerous pillars, each engraved with indecipherable patterns. Similar patterns were also found on the floor and ceiling.

A large array?

Wang Linchi quickly noticed that these patterns were somewhat similar to those of the Sealing Demon Formation. Unfortunately, he couldn't decipher their exact purpose.

Soon, the Mage's remains were discovered near the center of the palace. They were now just a pile of withered bones, and seemed to have been demonized?

[Demonized Demon Suppressing Sorcerer's Bone LV30, ???]

Wang Linchi was flabbergasted. How is this thing Level 30? It doesn't even count as an Elite Monster, but this level is just preposterous!

As people approached, the Demon Suppressing Sorcerer's Bone began to move. These Demonized Creatures and Abyssal Demons seemed to have a specific detection range. If a human didn't enter this range, even dancing around wouldn't alert them. However, if one entered this range, they would be detected, even if they were silent.

"M-Mage, your ancestor... it moved!" The village head's son felt as if all the fear he was meant to experience in his entire life was being condensed into this single day.

"Can you even speak properly? What do you mean, 'ancestor moved'? That's called 'coming home for a visit'!" Wang Linchi retorted.

As for this Demon Suppressing Sorcerer's Bone, Wang Linchi paid it no heed. It's only Level 30. If it had a BOSS template, I would have turned tail and run, but unfortunately, it doesn't. Don't mind the question marks for its Health; that's simply because my level isn't high enough to see it.

The Saint Master appeared, and a single punch shattered the opponent's skull.

However, this did not stop the Demon Suppressing Sorcerer's Bone. It seemed to have retained some techniques or abilities from when it was alive. It started to cast spells immediately upon engagement, albeit much slower, possibly because it was dead.

The Saint Master naturally wouldn't just stand by and watch it channel. It directly tore the skeleton in half—not horizontally, but vertically.

This attack caused its spellcasting to fail. It also seemed to suffer a backlash, as both halves of its body exploded, scattering bones everywhere.

Wang Linchi had initially assumed this thing would have tenacious vitality, surviving even if reduced to mere bone fragments. However, its body was too fragmented, and it died directly; he even received an experience notification.

Meanwhile, the Saint Master came over with a book. The cover had no title; it was a diary. It was clearly written by the Demon Suppressing Sorcerer when he was alive. Wang Linchi just didn't know how much of the diary was true; after all, most proper people don't write diaries.

He opened the diary and began to read, while the Saint Master stood guard. Wang Linchi scanned through it, ten lines at a glance. After reading it, his expression was one of utter disbelief.

Damn it! The strategy guide on the forum was completely wrong!

The Demon Suppressing Sorcerer had come to South Ridge Village and even helped suppress the Evil Demon, but that was all a ruse. His real goal was to seize the power of the Abyssal Demon and become a True Magician.

There are two types of mages. One is a Demon Suppressing Sorcerer, who genuinely exorcises demons. The other is a True Magician, who abandons their human body, transforms into an Abyssal Demon, and enjoys immortality, overpowering strength, and so forth.

This palace was the Demonification Array of a True Magician. The reason *he* (the diary's author) knew all this was because the Demonification Array had been constructed by his master. His master was far more skilled in demon-suppressing techniques than he was, and had even enslaved a portion of the Dwarf Monsters.

The person who transformed himself into an Abyssal Demon in the palace using the Demonification Array was actually his master. And *he* (the diary's author) had come here to kill his master and seize his power.

That's right, the Evil Demon beneath South Ridge Village was the Demon Suppressing Sorcerer's master—the True Magician who had successfully transformed into an Abyssal Demon.

But that doesn't add up. He said he arrived a step too late, his master had already successfully transformed. So how did this Demon Suppressing Sorcerer die? He mentioned he succeeded. Next, he just needed to drain his master's power and transform himself into a True Magician. Everything seemed to be going so smoothly, so how could he have died?

The doubt that floated in his mind was answered in an instant.

"There's something else in the palace!"

Wang Linchi's words startled everyone. They then looked around the entire palace and peered up at the ceiling. A creature resembling a large, flayed rat was silently chewing on a person—one of the able-bodied men who had followed him into the palace.

[BOSS·Abyssal Demon·Mutated Dwarf Demon King LV20, Health: (1,000,000/1,000,000)]

"Holy shit, one million Health!!!" Wang Linchi couldn't help but curse. This thing was utterly absurd.

The skinless muscles on the Mutated Dwarf Demon King's back formed a grotesque face, which watched Wang Linchi with a cryptic, mirthless smile.

Wang Linchi felt a chill creep down his spine. Abyss Difficulty is truly something else. A Level 20 BOSS with one million Health... Just how strong is the True Magician who enslaved this Mutated Dwarf Demon King?

Health might not always directly correlate with Attack Power, but it definitely represents overall strength. He was sure that the face on the back of the Mutated Dwarf Demon King was that of the True Magician sealed beneath South Ridge Village; the True Magician could still control this Mutated Dwarf Demon King to some extent.

The Mutated Dwarf Demon King chewed up the man in its grasp in a few bites, then crawled onto the ceiling. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a blur and lunged towards another able-bodied man. It moved without making a sound, and its speed was extraordinary.

If not for the Saint Master, Wang Linchi wouldn't have even reacted in time.

The battle between the Saint Master and the Mutated Dwarf Demon King was incredibly fast. Wang Linchi could only see the Saint Master's health bar on a rollercoaster ride—dropping, then rising, then dropping again. The only good news was that this Mutated Dwarf Demon King's Defense and health regeneration seemed extremely poor, and its Attack Power wasn't high either.

Its attacks landing on the Saint Master reduced his health by at most 3% each time, not even reaching the 5% damage cap. However, its attack speed was incredibly high, even faster than the third phase of the previous boss he had faced. Moreover, the Mutated Dwarf Demon King didn't seem to have any skills. Perhaps it was constantly silenced and thus unable to use them.

Aside from high Health and fast attack speed, it doesn't really live up to its BOSS title, Wang Linchi murmured, then glanced back.

I was careless...

His attention had been completely drawn to the Mutated Dwarf Demon King. By the time he came to his senses and looked again, all the people who had followed him had turned into piles of bloody wax. The main thing was, they hadn't made a sound before, so Wang Linchi had gotten used to it. As a result, they hadn't even managed to call out his name before they died.

The blood wax was boiling, showing a tendency to melt further.

[Demonized Human Wax LV1, Health: (1/1)]

Wang Linchi casually cast Literary Warfare to destroy it. The Human Wax exploded instantly, releasing a peculiar odor—a mix of blood, a burnt smell, and a unique incense-like fragrance.

The smell spread, continuously permeating the air.

The Mutated Dwarf Demon King smelled it too. Its skinless muscles immediately began to writhe, and the face on its back contorted. If one looked closely, that face seemed to be inhaling the scent, revealing an expression of enjoyment.

Then, the Mutated Dwarf Demon King abandoned the Saint Master and lunged fiercely towards the area behind Wang Linchi. Its long, flexible tail, tipped with a bone blade, directly coiled around a puddle of Human Wax, stuffing it into its massive maw and swallowing it whole without chewing.

After it ate the puddle of Human Wax, Wang Linchi clearly saw a layer of fine fuzz begin to grow on its muscles.

Without hesitation, Wang Linchi cast Literary Warfare to destroy the remaining Human Wax. It was obvious to anyone that the Mutated Dwarf Demon King could improve its condition or even evolve further by consuming Human Wax. If it actually grew skin and fur, its original weaknesses—low Defense and weak attack—might be completely remedied.

"AH!" As the Human Wax was destroyed, the Mutated Dwarf Demon King whipped its head around and stared fiercely at Wang Linchi.

The next moment, it charged at him.

But the Saint Master appeared once more, blocking the Mutated Dwarf Demon King's path.

Wang Linchi wasn't idle either. He continuously used Scholar's skills to weaken the Mutated Dwarf Demon King and enhance the Saint Master, occasionally adding a cast of Literary Warfare. The damage was negligible, but every little bit helped.

It seems the previous player team wipe was because they didn't bring any cannon fodder; the players themselves were turned directly into Human Wax. NPC Human Wax was only Level 1. If Players were turned into Human Wax, they would be at least Level 20, since this was a Level 20 dungeon. If the Mutated Dwarf Demon King eats a pile of Level 20 Human Wax, it would probably grow a full coat of skin and fur instantly. If it eats more, not only would its weaknesses be fixed, but its overall strength might also increase. Besides, the Mutated Dwarf Demon King doesn't necessarily have to eat Human Wax; eating humans would likely have the same effect.