Chapter 405: Chen Mu's Tribulation
Chapter 405: Chen Mu's Tribulation
Abyss Sea.
On the undulating sea, waves occasionally surged and crashed.
The Dragonwood Island Lord stood alone, gazing at the vast ocean. Suddenly, a giant wave rose from the depths, revealing a colossal fish demon with a body spanning over ten zhang. It opened its enormous mouth, filled with sharp teeth like a mountain of knives, and lunged towards the island lord.
The abyss-like maw was lined with teeth resembling a sharp blade mountain, creating a terrifying and heart-pounding sight. The demon's aura had reached the seventh level, making it a Demon King!
This Demon King had been eyeing the man on the sea for a long time. Although its intelligence, comparable to humans, warned it that the man was not to be trifled with, its instincts urged it to consume him, believing it would gain immense benefits and possibly even transform into a dragon on the spot. After lurking for a long time, it finally couldn't resist attacking.
However, the Dragonwood Island Lord didn't even shift his gaze. With a casual lift of his right hand, he pointed into the air, and an invisible surge of essence energy descended, piercing the fish demon's head and body with a 'puchi' sound.
The Demon King couldn't even let out a miserable scream. Its massive body fell into the sea with a splash, creating a spray of water, and its blood gushed out, staining the nearby sea red.
With just a single finger, the fish demon was slain.
The Dragonwood Island Lord slowly lowered his hand and turned his gaze to a distant direction, speaking in a detached tone, "My friend, since you've come, why not show yourself?"
As his voice fell, the previously calm sea in the distance distorted, and a figure emerged, strolling through the waves. Dressed in a dark robe, the figure did not conceal his aura, which was concentrated and profound. It felt like a human-shaped mountain range, suppressing the nearby waves and making them seem calmer.
"Brother, your demeanor remains as impressive as ever."
The dark-robed figure bowed slightly towards the Dragonwood Island Lord.
The island lord turned around and looked at the dark-robed figure, nodding slightly. "I thought it was someone else, but it's Brother Cheng. What brings you here, Brother Cheng?"
The visitor was none other than the Mystic Pavilion Master,
Cheng Zu!
As a Blood Exchange Realm expert standing at the pinnacle of martial arts in this era, the Mystic Pavilion Master's reputation was not only renowned in Great Proclamation but also well-known in the remote Outer Sea. Although information from Great Proclamation was limited in the Outer Sea, the Blood Exchange Realm experts were still well-known.
Moreover, Cheng Zu had explored the Outer Sea several times in his early years and had met the Dragonwood Island Lord, but they didn't have a close relationship.
"I've come for the Seekwood Heavenly Realm..."
Cheng Zu spoke to the Dragonwood Island Lord.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Dragonwood Island Lord's gaze slightly darkened. The Seekwood Heavenly Realm was a secret realm controlled by Tide Cliff. It might not be entirely accurate to say it was under control, as the Spirit Race was an enemy that couldn't be eradicated. However, Tide Cliff would never allow anyone else to interfere with the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, as the Seekwood Spirit Liquid was extremely valuable, sought after by cultivators from the Quintessence Realm to the Marrow Washing Realm.
They allowed a small portion of the Seekwood Spirit Liquid to circulate outside, but they didn't permit others to encroach on its benefits.
"The Seekwood Heavenly Realm is a secret realm under my Tide Cliff's control. Brother Cheng, are you here to break the rules?"
The Dragonwood Island Lord spoke calmly.
He then turned his gaze towards the distance, his eyes revealing a hint of displeasure.
He was the Dragonwood Island Lord, Ling Huan, a master of the 'Vast Sea Ultimate Technique', having reached the pinnacle of its cultivation. His Vast Sea Concept had also peaked, just a step away from the third level. In the Outer Sea, he possessed an absolute advantage in terms of time and location.
Although he was still one step away from the Heaven Person Realm, he didn't fear Heaven Person experts in the Outer Sea, confident in his ability to handle any situation. Even if Cheng Zu hadn't come alone, he wasn't intimidated.
Moreover, the Outer Sea was the domain of their three major sects!
If he were in Great Proclamation, or in the Earth Abyss or the Great Wilderness, he would be cautious. But here, he feared no power from Great Proclamation. Tide Cliff also had Heaven Person experts, and their control over the Outer Sea made them the top existence in this era.
As the Dragonwood Island Lord spoke, the turbulent sea nearby gradually calmed, becoming serene. However, this serenity was accompanied by a strong sense of suppression, enough to make any Grandmaster feel suffocated.
"Brother, you misunderstand."
Cheng Zu, sensing the changes in the environment, smiled and said, "I have no intention of taking the Seekwood Spirit Liquid by force. If I had come for that purpose, I wouldn't have chosen this time."
Upon hearing this, the Dragonwood Island Lord's expression remained unchanged, but the oppressive atmosphere in the environment eased slightly. He said, "If you're not here for the Seekwood Spirit Liquid, then why have you come for the Seekwood Heavenly Realm?"
Cheng Zu was correct; if he had come to seize the Seekwood Spirit Liquid, he could have waited for three months until the Void Tide rose again and seized a large amount of spirit liquid when the team returned. His early arrival suggested a different purpose, but the Dragonwood Island Lord remained vigilant.
The area was not solely occupied by Cheng Zu, a Blood Exchange Realm expert. There were several others nearby, all of whom were formidable Blood Exchange Realm cultivators whose identities and origins were unknown for the time being.
No matter how powerful Cheng Zu was, he couldn't afford to let his guard down in the face of such a group.
"To enter the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, one must wait for the Void Tide. Only then can a passage be opened. Brother, when you sent people in a few days ago, did you notice anyone unusual among them?" asked Cheng Zu, not hiding anything.
The Dragonwood Island Lord immediately understood who Cheng Zu was referring to. Although he wasn't entirely clear about the intricate power struggles in Great Proclamation, as long as it wasn't a conflict in the Outer Sea, he naturally wouldn't interfere.
"Indeed, there was one person who stood out. His Primordial Essence Aura was extremely dense, far beyond what a typical Bone Marrow Purification Realm cultivator could achieve," replied the Dragonwood Island Lord.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Zu laughed and said, "We have some grudges with that person. Three months from now, during the Void Tide, when he returns from the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, I hope you won't interfere, Brother."
The Dragonwood Island Lord calmly responded, "Tide Listening Cliff has never interfered in the affairs of Great Proclamation."
Ever since Chen Mu entered the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, the Dragonwood Island Lord had suspected that Chen Mu's presence might bring unpredictability and conflict to the place. Now, it seemed his suspicions were correct.
Within just a few days of entering the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, multiple Blood Exchange Realm cultivators had already sought him out, and not just one. Such a formidable force targeting a Bone Marrow Purification Realm expert might have seemed like an overreaction in the past, but in Chen Mu's case, it was entirely reasonable.
After all, being able to rival Blood Exchange Realm experts while in the Bone Marrow Purification Realm was an extraordinary feat. Even with the centuries of inheritance in Tide Listening Cliff, throughout the eras of Great Zhou, the Hundred Kingdoms, and now Great Proclamation, there had only been one person capable of such a feat—Chen Mu himself. Even the Great Proclamation Martial Emperor of that time didn't possess such profound foundations.
Generations of talented individuals have emerged throughout history.
The path of martial arts has been passed down from generation to generation, and with each passing era, it has continued to evolve and transform. The accumulated wisdom of countless martial arts masters has ensured that the number of Bone Marrow Purification Realm and Blood Exchange Realm experts will only increase over time. In the future, there may even be a path to higher realms of martial arts. Therefore, it's not surprising that Chen Mu surpasses Ji Hao.
Both Chen Mu and Ji Hao are the most outstanding individuals of their respective eras. Ji Hao achieved perfection and became invincible, while Chen Mu's path is still uncertain.
"Entering the Seekwood Heavenly Realm might not be the right decision for you," the Dragonwood Island Lord muttered to himself.
He remained impartial regarding Chen Mu's success or failure. Objectively speaking, Chen Mu shouldn't have entered the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, and even if he did, he should have kept a lower profile. Now, with the Mystic Pavilion Master Cheng Zu seeking him out, this hurdle would be difficult to overcome.
During the next Void Tide in three months, the only way out of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm would still be a single passage. Moreover, according to Cheng Zu's perception, there were other Blood Exchange Realm experts in the area besides him!
Soon, Chen Mu might face the onslaught of multiple Blood Exchange Realm cultivators.
Even the Dragonwood Island Lord, with his formidable strength, would face a significant crisis in such a situation. How much more so for a Bone Marrow Purification Realm expert, no matter how rare and extraordinary his talents were. This tribulation would be extremely challenging to overcome without external aid and other variables. The Dragonwood Island Lord didn't believe Chen Mu could survive.
Unless Chen Mu chose to hide within the Seekwood Heavenly Realm for a hundred years, he would face continuous pursuit from the Spirit Folk.
A dilemma!
The Dragonwood Island Lord shook his head slightly.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. Should Tide Listening Cliff assist Chen Mu in his time of need? If they could help Chen Mu escape at his most desperate moment, Chen Mu might truly reach the pinnacle of martial arts in the future, the consequences of this decision could bring great benefits.
However, such an action would go against Tide Listening Cliff's longstanding principle of non-interference in Great Proclamation's affairs. With Great Proclamation in turmoil, getting involved might not be beneficial. Moreover, taking that step would be far from easy. Everything was still uncertain, and further deliberation was required.
...
The world above in the treetops was even more intricate than the complex underground terrain, as it wasn't a flat plane but a three-dimensional maze where one could move in all directions. The colossal trees were a breathtaking wonder, and no one knew exactly how they had come into existence.
The entire team was moving swiftly, staying close to each other and maintaining a high level of vigilance as they scanned their surroundings.
At the front of the group was a young man with closed eyes, surrounded by a faint green aura. He was cultivating the Five Elements Wood Pulse, and his perception abilities far surpassed those of his companions.
After traveling in this manner for several dozen li, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked up.
"Above us, there's a settlement, but the Wood Pulse power there is quite strong. It must be a large settlement." Jiang Han spoke in a low voice.
The other Grandmasters nearby halted, listening intently. Their expressions shifted between hope and concern.
A large settlement!
The settlements in the treetops were entirely different from those underground. Only the elite of the Spirit Folk could live up here, as they were born with pure bloodlines, said to possess innate strength comparable to the Muscle-Refining Bone-Forging technique upon adulthood.
Moreover, the settlements in the treetops often utilized formations to harness the power of the Wood Pulse within the trees. While smaller settlements might be manageable, the power of the Wood Pulse formations in large settlements was no small matter, almost comparable to the strength of the Blood Replacement Realm!
However, these formations were still slightly inferior to the grand sect arrays of the Great Proclamation.
Not long ago, they had attacked a large settlement, relying on their numbers to slowly chip away at it. Eventually, they succeeded in destroying it, reaping significant rewards, leaving almost everyone satisfied.
But the problem was that not long after, a Spirit Folk Ancestor had launched stealthy attacks on them. Initially, their group had thirty Grandmasters, but the Spirit Folk Ancestor had killed three of them!
Although they could collectively resist the Spirit Folk Ancestor and even face them head-on, a Blood Replacement Realm expert hiding in the shadows and striking at opportune moments was a different matter. No matter how many Grandmasters gathered, they couldn't guarantee absolute safety. A single moment of vulnerability could mean life or death, and when those three Grandmasters fell, the others were powerless to help.
The presence of the Spirit Folk Ancestor cast a dark shadow over them all.
Everyone was well aware that the Spirit Folk Ancestor likely wasn't constantly watching their group, but after losing three members, they had become even more cautious, slowing their pace to avoid any mistakes. However, no one could guarantee that the Spirit Folk Ancestor wasn't nearby. If they attacked another large settlement and the Spirit Folk Ancestor suddenly appeared, the situation would undoubtedly become perilous.
They couldn't afford to lose any more members; if they did, they might not be able to withstand the Spirit Folk Ancestor's attacks.
But...
If they could conquer a large settlement of the Spirit Folk, the rewards would be immense. They had already gained a lot, and if they could take down another large settlement, many of them would be satisfied, even if they chose to retreat afterward. There was no need to continue taking risks.
Just as everyone was hesitating...
Jiang Han, the leader, suddenly exclaimed, "Someone's coming!"
The others quickly reacted, following Jiang Han's gaze.
Jiang Han focused his attention, sensing the aura of the newcomers. Soon, his expression relaxed slightly, and he said, "They're not from the Spirit Folk."
Upon hearing Jiang Han's words, the Grandmasters exchanged glances, their faces easing slightly.
They were in the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, and regardless of who these newcomers were, mutual slaughter was unlikely. After all, the Spirit Folk were their common enemy, a fact everyone understood. Even if there were personal grudges, they were all part of different teams, and no grudge would be acted upon here.
Soon, Jiang Han spotted the distant newcomers. After a brief moment of surprise, he led the group forward and greeted them from afar with a respectful bow, "Prince Yongning, it's good to see you unharmed."
He, too, was from the Great Proclamation, and while he had no relationship with Yan Hong, there was no enmity between them.
As he greeted Yan Hong's group, Jiang Han also observed their team. He quickly noticed that Yan Hong's forces had significantly diminished, with five or six fewer members than when they had first entered the Seekwood Heavenly Realm!
It seemed they had faced even greater challenges and suffered more losses than his own group.
This realization sparked a thought in Jiang Han's mind.
If they could join forces with Yan Hong's group, conquering the large settlement would be much safer. They wouldn't have to worry about the Spirit Folk Ancestor's stealth attacks, and with Yan Hong's team now reduced to just over ten members, they might not be able to withstand the Spirit Folk Ancestor on their own. Perhaps they were also seeking other teams to ally with. With this in mind, Jiang Han believed they could negotiate for more favorable terms.
(End of Chapter)
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