Chapter 227: Heaven and Earth

Chapter 227: Heaven and Earth

Yunlu Pass, the Main Pass.

Chen Mu stood tall before the main pass, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where sandstorms raged like ocean waves, some swirling like tornadoes.

In the half-month since his arrival at Yunlu Pass, aside from the first day when he was dispatched to support and slay a Sand Phantom, he had only been called upon a handful of times in the following days, barely four or five occasions. This was partly due to the ample forces of Spirit Profound Peak, including strong warriors like Chu Jing Su, who could often arrive in time to suppress threats, rendering Chen Mu's presence unnecessary. Another reason was that sixth-stage demons were not commonly seen, and even during sand disasters, their numbers were limited.

As for seventh-stage demons,

They were even rarer.

Seventh-stage demons were often referred to as 'Demon Kings', possessing intelligence almost on par with humans. They rarely became agitated due to natural disasters and seldom initiated attacks on human strongholds. Especially in the current era, where the Great Proclamation unified the world, and all living beings bowed in submission, intelligent Demon Kings knew they were no match for humans. Most of them hid deep within the Earth Meridians, rarely emerging.

【Martial Dao: Heaven and Earth Concept (Second Step)】

【Experience: 3351 points】

【Available Simulations: 0 times】

Chen Mu gazed at the sandstorms on the horizon for a while before summoning the system interface for a quick glance.

In the half-month since his arrival at Yunlu Pass, his experience had increased by nearly three thousand points. This was indeed more than what he gained from studying the Mystic Intention Charts at Spirit Profound Peak. However, most of this experience came from comprehending the Mystic Earth Array.

After half a month, he had a good grasp of the Mystic Earth Array, understanding its intricacies. While he might not be able to set it up exactly as it was, this limitation was due to his insufficient control over the Earth Meridians, not a lack of knowledge.

In simple terms,

Chen Mu was now capable of overseeing the maintenance of the Yunlu Cliff to some extent.

This was the strength of the Heaven and Earth Concept, encompassing all aspects of heaven and earth. Regardless of what he studied, he could incorporate it into his cultivation. Others, even with mastery of the Earth Spirit Intention, would struggle to grasp the intricacies of the Mystic Earth Array without three to five years of effort.

However, having comprehended the Mystic Earth Array, Chen Mu's subsequent study of the array would yield little experience. Therefore, in his free time, he stood atop the city wall, sensing the sandstorm phenomenon.

"Chen Zhentran! Northern Twenty-Seventh Fortification needs assistance!"

A messenger rushed over, breathlessly reporting to Chen Mu.

"Hmm."

Chen Mu's gaze remained fixed on the sandstorms in the distance, but in the next moment, he vanished from his spot, taking a step that covered twenty to thirty zhang. In an instant, he was out of sight.

...

Northern Twenty-Seventh Fortification.

At the forefront of the fortification, on top of the Yunlu Cliff, numerous armored soldiers stood with spears in hand, with several Spirit Profound Peak disciples and two Sect Officials mixed among them, all with solemn expressions.

In front of them, a wave of dust approached, already close by, accompanied by a heart-palpitating, majestic heavenly might. Under such a heavenly phenomenon, even warriors became like ants, powerless to resist.

Within the dust,

Various demons could be vaguely seen, a motley crew.

"So many demons..."

Shen Lin held her sword, her gaze fixed on the sandstorm as she said, "There are at least two or three fifth-stage demons, and there might be more inside. This is quite troublesome."

Ling Hu Shang, standing nearby, whispered, "The request for assistance has been sent. We're not far from the Main Pass, and as long as the Protectors at the Main Pass aren't all out, they'll definitely make it in time."

"I hope so... Hmm?"

Before Shen Lin could finish her sentence, her peripheral vision caught a figure in the distance, approaching along the Yunlu Cliff. In an instant, the figure had traveled from afar to their proximity, and with another flash, they appeared before the group.

Ling Hu Shang reacted swiftly, immediately bowing to the newcomer, "Chen Shixiong!"

"Chen Shixiong."

Shen Lin also reacted quickly, her cheeks flushing as she bowed.

Chen Mu had arrived so quickly; could it be because he knew she was at the Northern Twenty-Seventh Fortification?

"In times of crisis, there's no need for formalities."

Chen Mu spoke calmly, unbothered by Shen Lin's reaction. He had lived at Spirit Profound Peak for a year and a half, and many of his junior sect sisters would blush or stutter when they saw him. He was quite used to it by now.

In the past, he was either an unknown figure from a small place or a high-ranking official who commanded respect wherever he went. But places like the Seven Mysteries Sect were different, leaning more towards the martial world. As a True Disciple, he possessed exceptional talent and a vibrant aura. It would be strange if there weren't a few admiring junior sect sisters.

"He's here!"

Just then, a Sect Official from Spirit Profound Peak spoke up nearby.

As his words fell, the dust storm approached the base of the Yunlu Cliff, soon engulfing the entire fortification in a sandstorm. Demons emerged with the sandstorm, climbing up the Yunlu Cliff.

The Yunlu Cliff stood about a hundred zhang tall, not a height one could easily leap to. Even with Chen Mu's full strength, he could only cover a distance of several dozen zhang, and that was in a straight line; leaping upward was even more challenging.

"Suppress!"

The commanding officer bellowed.

Rows of soldiers raised their spears, thrusting at the demons about to climb up.

Despite the formidable strength of the demons, including third and even fourth-stage ones, these soldiers were only at the Flesh Tempering Realm. Climbing the Yunlu Cliff was not only strenuous but also subjected them to the pressure of the Earth Meridian. Even if their bodies were tough enough to withstand a spear thrust, they would still struggle to continue and fall back down.

However, there were also some fourth-stage demons skilled in climbing. They leaped several times along the Cloudfoot Wall, forcing their way over. With a gaping maw, their thorny tongues lashed out, coiling towards the nearest female disciple.

"Hmm."

The nearest Lingxuan Peak official, Linghu Shang, let out a cold hmph. With a wave and a sweep of his sword light, he severed the tongue, rescuing the female disciple. Then, with another sword strike, he killed the fourth-stage demon beast.

The female disciple was momentarily stunned, her chest heaving violently. Just as she was about to thank the official, a deep, muffled roar came from below the Cloudfoot Wall beside her. A torrent of demonic energy surged, carrying a flow of quicksand towards her, ready to engulf her entirely.

"Watch out!"

Linghu Shang and Shen Lin, the closest to her, shouted in unison. Their swords slashed diagonally, barely blocking the flow of quicksand, and then they faced a fifth-stage demon lizard that had climbed the wall.

The female disciple, unsure of what to do, stumbled back two steps. Suddenly, from the swirling dust above, a sand eagle-like demon bird broke through, its massive body with wings spanning nearly ten feet. Its huge claws descended directly towards her, and the terrifying aura of a fifth-stage demon beast erupted, ready to snatch her away.

Having faced three consecutive life-threatening situations, Liu Ying was momentarily dazed, half from the awe of the demon's might and half from her inability to react. She couldn't even manage to draw her sword in resistance as the demon bird's claws were about to grasp her.

Vibrant!

An invisible pressure rippled out, causing the sandstorm within a radius of several zhang to suddenly freeze, including the massive demon eagle, which was suspended in mid-air. It remained motionless above Liu Ying, its giant claws less than a chi away from her!

Chen Mu appeared beside her, raising his hand and clenching it towards the sky. Heavenly Firmament power gathered and compressed, and with a bang, the demon eagle was crushed into a ball and casually tossed aside.

"What's wrong with you?"

Chen Mu glanced at Liu Ying.

Was this junior sister causing chaos in the heavens and harming the order of the earth? All the demons were targeting her alone.

"Chen... Chen Shixiong..."

Liu Ying remained standing there, dazed.

Chen Mu's eyebrows furrowed, and he suddenly reached out towards her, thrusting his hand into her embrace. He took out a jade bottle from her bosom, glanced at it, and then casually crushed it, tossing the shards below the Cloudfoot Wall.

In an instant, chaos erupted below the Cloudfoot Wall, accompanied by the roars of demons.

"Who told you to carry mint with you?"

Chen Mu retracted his previous words. This junior sister wasn't causing chaos in the heavens; she was just a bit foolish.

At this moment, he wasn't interested in dealing with her further. After throwing the jade bottle away, he continued along the Cloudfoot Wall, occasionally striking out with a palm to kill a fourth-stage demon that had climbed up or a fifth-stage demon beast.

Wherever he went, there was basically no opponent who could last a single exchange. With the power of the Heavenly Firmament sealing and suppressing, demons below the fifth stage couldn't even move in his presence, and even fifth-stage demons found it difficult to struggle. They were typically eliminated with a snap of his fingers.

"This is the Heavenly Firmament Concept..."

Shen Lin watched Chen Mu wherever he went, and whether it was a fourth-stage or fifth-stage demon, they were all dispatched with a palm strike, like squashing a pie. Her heart was filled with surging emotions. She had arrived late because she hadn't kept up with Chen Mu, but upon arriving, she had heard that he had already cultivated the Heavenly Firmament Concept. Although she hadn't witnessed it herself until now, she was still deeply impressed.

"I wonder who is stronger between Chen Shixiong and Zhou Shixiong now."

Shen Lin murmured to herself.

With Chen Mu's intervention, this pass was free from any crisis of the sand disaster. In less than a quarter of an hour, the demons in the winds and sand had been reduced to just two or three, and this was because Chen Mu hadn't targeted demons of too low a realm, intentionally leaving them for the Lingxuan Peak disciples to hone their skills. Otherwise, he could have slaughtered them even faster.

About half a shichen later, the winds and sand gradually subsided.

"I'll go check again. You all stay here and don't move."

As the winds and sand gradually calmed, Chen Mu instructed Linghu Shang and the others. Then, he stepped out, leaving the Cloudfoot Wall and heading into the winds and sand. The rolling sands beneath his feet condensed into blocks of sandstone, briefly supporting his steps before crumbling. After a few steps, he disappeared into the dust-filled sky.

Demons could borrow the power of the sand, and so could he. Without relying on external forces, he couldn't achieve aerial movement, not even by pushing the Gales Wind Concept to its limits. However, with the mastery of the Heavenly Firmament Concept, he could use the power of the winds and sand, along with the Mountain Stability Concept, to briefly suspend himself in the air.

This was a skill he had learned during these days of battle.

The numerous Lingxuan Peak disciples watched as Chen Mu stepped into the air, their faces filled with admiration.

"Chen Shixiong can actually control the air!"

"It's the power of the Heavenly Firmament and Mountain Stability, borrowing the momentum of the winds and sand."

Linghu Shang spoke up, and his eyes also held a hint of respect. He said, "Chen Shixiong has not only cultivated the Heavenly Firmament Concept but has also reached the second step of the Mountain Stability Concept."

Shen Lin watched Chen Mu's figure disappear, as if remembering something. She said, "The Talent List is issued once a year. With Chen Shixiong's cultivation of the Heavenly Firmament Concept, he'll likely enter the top ten next time."

Linghu Shang nodded and said, "Zhou Shixiong was ninth last time, so Chen Shixiong should be around that level now."

"Hmm."

Shen Lin turned her head again, looking in the direction where Chen Mu had disappeared.

...

Step, step, step...

Chen Mu stepped through the wind and sand, ascending into the air. In no time, he had reached a height even higher than the Yunlu Wall. Here, the dust and sand gradually thinned out, making it increasingly difficult for him to maintain his aerial stance. He paused, first glancing down at the area below, and then, through the dust and sand, he looked towards the depths of the distant desert.

Using the dust and sand, he could reach a height higher than the Yunlu Wall in a short time. Here, he was closer to the sky, able to overlook the Yunlu Wall and also sense the changes in the celestial phenomena more closely.

After a while...

The dust and sand gradually dispersed, and Chen Mu could no longer stay in the sky. He descended step by step back to the Yunlu Pass and headed towards the main pass.

"I wonder when I'll be able to truly fly," Chen Mu said with a hint of disappointment as he looked up at the sky.

A warrior's ability to fly was not an easy feat. Due to their powerful physical and spiritual strength, their bodies were naturally heavier, and with Chen Mu's current abilities, walking on water was not difficult, but flying was still beyond his reach.

To his knowledge, only a Martial Dao grandmaster who had mastered the advanced Gales Wind Concept could achieve a certain level of flight, but their speed was far slower than on the ground. Aside from showcasing the grandmaster's grandeur, it had little practical use.

The Northern Twenty-Seventh Fortification was not far from the main pass.

It was about thirty li away.

After a moment...

Chen Mu approached the main pass.

But his expression gradually became solemn as he walked along the city gate, gazing into the distant desert. The sky in the distance had turned dark, accompanied by a stifling sandstorm that seemed to be gradually swallowing up the surrounding wind and sand, slowly condensing into a powerful force.

As Chen Mu arrived at the main pass, he saw Xia Hou Yan, Chu Jingsu, Meng Danyun, and others had already gathered there.

"Chen Shidi," Xia Hou Yan said, his gaze fixed on Chen Mu. "The celestial phenomena are unusual. Within half a day, there will be a major disaster. We need to join forces to deal with it."

During the sand disaster, the wind and sand attacking the Yunlu Pass varied in strength. The weaker ones had few accompanying demon beasts and posed no threat, so they didn't need to be concerned about. The Yunlu Pass itself could withstand them.

But the strongest type of storm was so powerful that even many soldiers with the Muscle Tempering Realm struggled to stand on the city gate. Even warriors with the Sinew Transformation Realm found it challenging to stabilize their bodies, and there were often numerous demon beasts within these storms.

"If we can withstand this round, this sand disaster should be mostly over," Chu Jingsu said, standing to the side. "Afterwards, the Earth Meridian Power in the desert will weaken, and we can join forces to explore the desert outskirts. We might find many useful Heavenly-Earth Spirit Treasures."

Xia Hou Yan shook his head. "Forget about that. Let's prepare to deal with this round of the sand disaster first. Ordinary soldiers should take refuge inside the city gate. Only those with the Bone Forging Realm and above can be responsible for guarding. I've already gathered everyone here... All the Shidi should be careful. In this sandstorm, you might encounter more than two or three sixth-stage demon beasts. If the situation is unfavorable, temporarily retreat to the Yunlu Wall."

Xia Hou Yan spoke to the group.

The primary function of the Yunlu Wall was not to resist demon beasts but to block the onslaught of sandstorms, ensuring that the rear remained in a relatively stable environment.

Once in danger within the sandstorm, they could temporarily retreat to the rear of the Yunlu Wall. Even if the sandstorm ahead was fierce, the area beneath the Yunlu Wall remained a relatively peaceful zone. Demon beasts that managed to cross the Yunlu Wall would lose the advantage of the sandstorm's power and become easier to deal with.

"As long as there are no seventh-stage Demon Kings, sixth-stage Great Demons pose little threat to us," Chu Jingsu said calmly.

Among those present, Meng Danyun was slightly weaker, but she had also entered the Six Viscera Realm. Even facing two or three sixth-stage Great Demons, she might not win, but she had the ability to retreat. As for seventh-stage Demon Kings... They were rarely seen.

"If we encounter a seventh-stage Demon King, we'll temporarily retreat. They are highly intelligent and won't easily cross the Yunlu Pass," Xia Hou Yan said.

At this time, the main pass was visibly bustling with activity. Many soldiers were taking shelter in various buildings and passages under command, while those who had reached the Bone Forging Realm and above, including the inner sect disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect and numerous officials, had been dispatched here.

As the number of people gathered at the main pass gradually increased, with reinforcements arriving from various areas, the distant black clouds of dust surged like a tsunami, gradually forming a sandstorm that headed towards the main pass.

Before the sandstorm even hit, numerous dark shadows could be vaguely seen, all of them demon beasts.

Among them, there was an extremely large figure hidden in the rear of the sandstorm, its exact appearance obscured. The chaotic and surging demon power mixed with the mighty force of the sandstorm, creating an oppressive atmosphere even before reaching the main pass.

But at this moment, the hundred-zhang-tall Yunlu Pass stood firm like an unyielding mountain range, giving a strong sense of support, allowing them to withstand the mighty celestial force and counterbalance it.

Chen Mu, standing at the forefront, stared at the surging sandstorm, his mind seemingly immersed between heaven and earth.

Sandstorm.

Yunlu Pass.

As the overwhelming sandstorm approached, it was like a clash between Heaven and Earth. He stood at the center of this confrontation, feeling the mighty celestial force on one side and the heavy earth power on the other.

"This... is Heaven and Earth," he whispered to himself.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end