Upon returning to the Alliance headquarters, Zhang Shi immediately assembled the Alliance's top mages and scholars into a dedicated research team to conduct in-depth studies of the Azure Orb. After weeks of tireless effort, they finally discovered the principles behind the evil magic contained within the Azure Orb and found a way to counter it. Simultaneously, based on their research findings, they also developed a new type of magical shield that could effectively resist the attacks of the lizardmen.

During this time, Zhang Shi and the others were not idle either; they continuously cultivated and improved their strength. During one training session, Zhang Shi unexpectedly broke through his bottleneck and entered a new realm. His power became even greater, his skills more refined, and the power of his Shadow Slash was even stronger than before. Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong also made significant progress. Zhao Feng wielded his battle axe with tremendous force, each attack containing immense power; Ge Dalong's magical skills also reached a new level, with significant improvements in the power of his ice magic and lightning spells.

With their strength increasing and their research into the lizardmen deepening, Zhang Shi decided to launch another attack to find the lizardmen's lair. They dispatched multiple reconnaissance teams to search various sea areas. After a long search, they finally discovered traces of the lizardmen in a mysterious sea area. This sea area was shrouded in dark clouds, filled with danger and mystery. Zhang Shi led the alliance's elite forces cautiously into this sea area.

In the harsh weather, they encountered numerous patrols of lizardmen, but Zhang Shi and his companions easily dealt with them all. After some exploration, they finally found the lizardmen's lair—a massive underwater palace. The palace walls were inlaid with various gems and crystals, emitting an eerie glow. The palace doors were tightly shut, and the surrounding area was filled with various defensive magic spells and traps.

Zhang Shi knew this would be a fierce and arduous battle, but he was fearless. He led the Alliance warriors, charging towards the palace gates. The lizardmen noticed the Alliance's attack and immediately dispatched a large number of soldiers and mages to resist. In an instant, magical flashes and the sounds of clashing weapons intertwined, making for an exceptionally intense battle.

Zhang Shi unleashed Shadow Slash, black sword energy raining down on the lizardmen, instantly slaying many. Zhao Feng wielded his battle axe, charging through the lizardmen, each swing claiming a group of lives. Ge Dalong, meanwhile, unleashed powerful magic, unleashing blizzards and lightning bolts at the palace's defensive magic and traps, attempting to break through the lizardmen's defenses.

During the battle, Zhang Shi discovered that the number of lizardmen was increasing, and their strength was also greater than before. Zhang Shi was secretly alarmed; he knew he couldn't continue like this. He had to find the lizardmen leader as soon as possible and defeat him to achieve victory. He used his Shadow Step technique, quickly passing through the lizardmen's defenses and rushing deeper into the palace.

Deep within the palace, Zhang Shi finally found the leader of this lizardman army—a tall lizardman shrouded in a long black robe. The lizardman leader looked at Zhang Shi and sneered, "Humans, do you think you can defeat me so easily? Today is your burial ground!" With that, he raised his wand and cast a powerful spell at Zhang Shi.

Zhang Shi quickly lifted Lao Duan to defend himself, but the lizardman chieftain's magical power was too strong, and he was forced to retreat repeatedly. Zhang Shi knew that to defeat the lizardman chieftain, he had to find his weakness. He carefully observed the lizardman chieftain's movements and discovered that he would pause briefly when casting magic. An idea struck Zhang Shi, and he unleashed Shadow Slash, thrusting it towards the lizardman chieftain's momentary pause.

The lizardman chieftain, caught off guard by Zhang Shi's sudden attack, hastily dodged but was still slashed by Zhang Shi's sword energy. The lizardman chieftain roared in fury, his attacks becoming even more frenzied. Zhang Shi, Zhao Feng, and Ge Dalong joined forces, engaging the lizardman chieftain in a desperate battle. During the fight, Zhang Shi discovered a weak point beneath the lizardman chieftain's robe. Seizing the opportunity, he unleashed all his strength, plunging his sword into the chieftain's vulnerable spot.

The lizardman chieftain roared in agony, his body swaying. Zhang Shi seized the opportunity to unleash another Shadow Slash, slashing towards the chieftain's neck. With a deafening crash, the chieftain's head was severed, and his body slowly collapsed. As the chieftain fell, the surrounding lizardmen descended into chaos. Zhang Shi shouted, "Don't linger! Quickly eliminate the lizardmen and seize the palace!"

The crowd responded enthusiastically and charged towards the lizardmen. With their combined efforts, the lizardmen were completely annihilated, and the palace was captured by the alliance. Zhang Shi, witnessing the victory, breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, the entire palace emitted a blinding light, so intense that Zhang Shi and the others couldn't even open their eyes and had to shield them with their hands.

A moment later, the light faded, and all the lizardmen who had been dead stood up. The black-robed leader looked at Zhang Shi with a half-smile and mocked him.

"This is a land blessed by the gods. Our warriors are immortal. What do you have to fight me with?"

Zhang Shi was greatly alarmed. He quickly looked around and saw that the eyes of the previously fallen lizardmen were flashing with an eerie red light, and their bodies were emanating a faint black mist. Clearly, they had been resurrected under the control of some evil force. However, Zhang Shi did not panic. He knew that he had to remain calm to find a solution.

"Don't panic! Listen to my command!" Zhang Shi shouted, his voice firm and powerful, trying to calm the alliance warriors. "Mages, use the newly developed magic shields to protect yourselves and your comrades. Melee fighters, focus on defense and don't attack rashly!"

The alliance's mages reacted swiftly, casting spells to activate their new magical shields. A pale blue light barrier formed in front of them, repelling the lizardmen's attacks. Zhang Shi, while fending off the lizardmen's assault, rapidly considered countermeasures in his mind.

“Since this is what they call a sacred land, it must have a core source of power,” Zhang Shi pondered to himself. He observed the layout of the palace and the magical fluctuations around it, and found that after the light dissipated, a huge black magic circle appeared in the center of the palace, with black light flashing within it, echoing the mist on the lizardmen’s bodies.

"Zhao Feng, Ge Dalong, let's rush towards that magic circle and destroy it! This might be the key to their survival," Zhang Shi shouted to the two beside him. Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong nodded, their eyes filled with determination.

The three unleashed their unique skills. Zhang Shi's Shadow Slash relentlessly slashed at the lizardmen blocking their path, Zhao Feng wielded his battle axe to repel the approaching lizardmen, while Ge Dalong used ice magic and lightning spells to restrain the other lizardmen, clearing a path for them to the magic circle.

In the fierce battle, they gradually approached the magic circle. However, the defensive forces surrounding the magic circle were extremely strong, and every attack was repelled by a layer of black light. Zhang Shi was extremely anxious; he knew that the longer the battle dragged on, the worse it would be for the alliance.