Jiu Youque was taken aback, finding Mu Chen’s resolute reply unbelievable. She hadn’t even stated her conditions yet.
“I have no other choice right now. You don’t need to look so suspicious.” Mu Chen seemed to see through Jiu Youque’s thoughts, his voice remaining calm. “Even if refining you brings me unknown benefits, it’s not worth a fraction of my father’s life.”
Jiu Youque pondered again, feeling more genuine credibility in the human’s words. The time she had been trapped within his body had given her some insight into Mu Chen’s character.
“Hold off on your conditions for now. Let’s deal with this difficult situation first. How can we confront that old Spirit Heaven Stage ghost?”
“If I were at my peak, that fellow would be dead in one move. However, you know I’m weakened. Therefore, I can’t act personally; everything depends on you.”
“How can I be a match for that old ghost?” Mu Chen shook his head.
“I will temporarily lend you my power and manipulate your strength. But I must warn you, your scrawny body might not be able to withstand how much of my power it can take. So, if anything goes wrong, I’ll be powerless to help. Do you dare?” Jiu Youque slowly explained.
“Just lend it to me!” Mu Chen nodded without hesitation.
“With my power, you can temporarily reach the Spirit Heaven Stage. Remember, only temporarily. So, if you don’t kill that fellow within that temporary period, you’re finished.”
“Understood!” Mu Chen nodded again. No matter what, he couldn’t stand by and watch Mu Feng be killed right before his eyes!
“You control this flower cage to reduce the pressure on me, so I can transmit my power outwards.” Jiu Youque remained as calm as ever. “Of course, if you’re brave enough to trust me. If you’re afraid that reducing the pressure will allow me to seize the opportunity, then there’s no need to discuss it further.”
“I trust you.” Mu Chen replied with a smile.
“Huh?” Jiu Youque looked intrigued. “You trust me so easily? Are you too foolish or too naive? Have you forgotten what happened the other day when I acted during your advancement?”
“That was different… Besides, your pride is unlike that of humans. Since you’ve said so, you surely won’t tarnish it.” Mu Chen smiled.
Jiu Youque said nothing, declining to comment.
“No matter what, I will remember this favor in my heart.” Mu Chen took a deep breath, looking sincere. Currently, Jiu Youque was his only lifeline, and she was voluntarily lending him power at this crucial moment. Regardless of her intentions, Mu Chen was grateful.
“This is a transaction, not a favor.” Jiu Youque looked annoyed by such human complexities, huffing, “Get ready.”
Mu Chen smiled and nodded. His spirit left his Qi Sea, and his tightly shut eyes opened. Rumbling explosions echoed from the sky, and suffocating spiritual power pressed down on him like a thousand-pound boulder.
“Are you alright?” Tang Tian’er looked at him worriedly. Mu Chen had suddenly closed his eyes earlier and wouldn’t wake up no matter how much she shook him, making her think something had happened to him.
Mu Chen shook his head, looking at Tang Tian’er’s worried, furrowed brows, and smiled warmly. “Sister Tian’er, don’t worry. Trust me, that Liu Jingshan won’t be able to do anything.”
Tang Tian’er and Hong Ling were involuntarily surprised to hear him speak with such certainty, but his handsome face remained as calm as water. It seemed he wasn’t joking, which inexplicably put them at ease.
It felt like placing one's trust in a man of great stature, with immense talent and strategy, utterly dependable.
Although Tang Tian'er didn't know why he was so confident, she could only look at him and smile.
Zhou Ye, standing nearby, also heard. He secretly sighed to himself, this kid can only do so much, trying to reassure his friends. In such a chaotic situation, if he stubbornly refused to leave later, he would have to be knocked unconscious. It wouldn't matter if he died here, but Mu Chen was the Mu family's only bloodline; if he died, the Mu family would be finished.
Mu Chen looked up at the sky; the battle had reached a critical point. Mu Feng and the other domain lords seemed to have pushed their spiritual power to the limit. Their continuous, sharp attacks were more than enough to crush a Spirit Soul Realm expert, but they had little effect against Liu Jingshan. The old man's hands always harbored powerful spiritual energy; crimson fire and black wind roared wildly like two massive black and red whips, suppressing the domain lords and preventing them from getting close.
Although it looked like a stalemate, everyone could clearly see that Liu Jingshan was incredibly relaxed, obviously not using his full strength. In contrast, the five domain lords were starting to turn red and pant.
Spirit Soul Realm and Heaven Fusion Realm, the difference between these two realms was too great.
The spectators below watched Liu Jingshan casually fight against five Spirit Soul Realm experts who were ganging up on him, their hearts vaguely trembling with fear. Many sighed, thinking that perhaps this Northern Spirit Domain truly belonged to the Liu family.
The past balance would no longer be able to exist.
Liu Qingtian still smiled faintly, observing the sky with his hands clasped behind his back. The three remaining domain lords standing nearby also turned pale and green, forcing bitter smiles. A Heaven Fusion Realm expert was so terrifying; even if they joined the alliance, they might not gain anything good. They feared that in the future, not only would they have to kowtow, but their lifelong assets would also gradually be swallowed by the Liu Domain. Perhaps they should just accept their fate and hope that the Liu Domain wouldn't be too cruel.
"Haha, the three domain lords can rest assured. From now on, you are friends of my Liu Domain. The Liu Domain has always treated its friends with great warmth."
Liu Qingtian glanced at the three domain lords, immediately understanding their thoughts, and loudly laughed, trying to win them over.
The three men could only force smiles, not daring to say anything, their attitudes respectful and submissive.
"Hahahaha!"
Seeing these people who usually spoke loudly and were on par with him, now appearing so weak in front of him, Liu Qingtian laughed heartily, feeling smug and satisfied.
That laughter made the three domain lords feel indignant and bitter, but they still dared not show it.
"Hahaha, it seems the old man wants to make a real move now."
Liu Qingtian paid little attention to them anymore, looking up at the sky and speaking with a calm smile.
The three domain lords heard this, their hearts skipping a beat. They quickly looked up.
In the sky, the crimson fire and black wind in Liu Jingshan's hands dissipated. His indifferent face looked at Mu Feng, who was extremely vigilant.
"Had enough fun? If you've had enough, then let's end this. This old man is old and doesn't have the energy to keep playing with you all."
Liu Jingshan took a few steps forward. The spiritual energy in the heavens and earth fiercely gathered around him, surging like roaring ocean waves, creating a momentum that made others tremble before they even saw it.
"Myriad Waves Shattering Peaks Palm!"
With cold eyes, he suddenly struck out with one hand. Spiritual power swept forth, transforming into five palm prints with incredibly terrifying force.
As soon as the five palms appeared, they enveloped the sky, immediately attacking the five domain lords.
"Boom boom...!"
The air exploded as the palm strike landed, the scattering sound forcing those below to cover their ears in fright.
“Attack simultaneously!”
Mu Feng and the others clearly felt the suffocating spiritual energy pressure. They poured out all their spiritual power, their spirit beasts roaring fiercely behind them as five dazzling streams of spiritual energy shot out at once.
“Boom, boom, boom…!”
The two sides clashed head-on, terrifying energy waves surging out, the air turbulent, and strong winds rising.
“Whoosh, whoosh…”
The strong winds howled, and the five domain lords trembled, spitting blood, falling like ripe figs from the sky.
Mu Feng was about to hit the ground when his body stabilized violently. Wiping the blood from his face, he immediately turned to look at Zhou Ye and growled,
“Go!”
Then he roared,
“Mu Domain’s forces, kill for me!”
The Mu Domain soldiers, who had been lurking outside the main hall, immediately charged out to kill as soon as they heard Mu Feng’s roar, rushing into the main hall like a mad, death-defying tide.
“Stop them!”
Liu Qingtian sneered, waving his hand. From a certain direction, a crowd as numerous as ants surged forward, engaging in battle with the Mu Domain soldiers.
“Father!”
“Mother!”
Tang Tian’er and Hong Ling looked at the two figures on the stone tower, covered in blood, looking utterly miserable. Tang Shan and Hong Ling’s faces were ashen as they struggled to stand, their bodies swaying as if about to fall.
“Brother Zhou, please take them with you too!”
Tang Shan’s face was as white as paper as he turned to Zhou Ye and whispered.
Zhou Ye’s face was grim. The chaotic situation he had not wanted had arrived. He gritted his teeth fiercely, stretched out both hands to grab Tang Tian’er and Hong Ling, and shouted at Mu Chen,
“Little Mu, go!”
Mu Chen remained motionless, only seeming to tremble slightly.
“Still want to run?”
Liu Qingtian, who had been watching Zhou Ye, sneered maliciously. With a flash, he transformed into a streak of light and shot forward, powerful spiritual energy condensing in his hand as he unleashed a surging palm strike.
Zhou Ye quickly appeared in front of Mu Chen, throwing a punch, directly confronting Liu Qingtian’s palm.
“Boom!”
With a powerful blow, Zhou Ye was pushed back more than ten steps, his blood and qi churning. After all, he was only an early-stage Spirit Soul Realm expert, while Liu Qingtian had long been a late-stage Spirit Soul Realm expert.
“Mu family brat, don’t even think about the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy anymore. Just rest peacefully in this Northern Spirit Realm!”
After pushing back Zhou Ye with one palm, Liu Qingtian moved like a ghost to Mu Chen’s side, smiling faintly as he delivered another palm strike. The sharp force and powerful spiritual energy showed no mercy as they slammed towards Mu Chen’s crown.
“Liu bastard, you want to die!”
Zhou Ye’s eyes turned red as he roared, charging madly at Liu Qingtian.
Mu Feng, nearby, also saw it, his eyes vacant as if his soul had left his body, his mind blank and distant.
“Haha, Mu Feng, your son will die by my hand!”
Liu Qingtian let out a ferocious sneer, his palm strike not stopping.
Suddenly, Mu Chen, who had been standing there in a daze, raised his head. Strange black flames appeared in his eyes, and the slight curve of his lips made Liu Qingtian suddenly feel a sense of danger.
“Bang!”
Mu Chen’s hand, like a flash of lightning, blocked Liu Qingtian’s attack, resisting it powerfully.
The spiritual energy impact shattered the stone floor beneath his feet, sending dust flying.
Surprise, disbelief, thinking he was seeing things… These were the expressions visible on Liu Qingtian’s face. Because that fierce blow, striking Mu Chen, was like striking a solid mountain rock, without the slightest damage.
“Impossible!”
Unbelievable! The sinister smile on the young man's face made him even more uneasy. Just as he was about to retreat, Mu Chen's palm transformed into a claw, sweeping down with an irresistible force. Liu Qingtian's body, like a log, was instantly slammed onto the hard stone ground, face-first into the dirt.
Mu Chen's eyes were cold. He fiercely stomped his foot on Liu Qingtian's back, pressing him deeper into the ground.
"Boom!"
Liu Qingtian vanished into the deep pit, his face buried in the earth. But if anyone could see him, they would clearly see his eyes filled with incredible horror. How could a mere late-stage Spirit Wheel Realm youth suddenly possess such terrifying power?
Of course, he wasn't the only one frightened. Even Zhou Ye, who was frantically charging forward, froze in his tracks, his face bewildered as he stared at the sudden turn of events.
Countless wide eyes were fixed on this spot. Tang Tian'er and Hong Ling instinctively covered their mouths. Liu Zong, Liu Mubai, Liu Ming, and the others from the Liu Domain stood dumbfounded, mouths agape.
"Child..."
Mu Feng awoke from his daze, his eyes stunned. The sudden turn of events was inconceivable.
"You little beast, are you tired of living?!"
Liu Jingshan roared in fury, his voice filled with murderous intent, utterly enraged at the sight of Mu Chen crushing Liu Qingtian.
Mu Chen seemed not to hear him. He lifted his foot and kicked Liu Qingtian in the chest, sending him flying out of the pit, tumbling hundreds of meters like a rolling stone.
The bewildered spectators quickly swallowed. What just happened?
After kicking Liu Qingtian away, Mu Chen slowly raised his head. Black flames burned in his eyes like a ferocious beast staring at its prey, Liu Jingshan. His angry voice echoed, word by word, through the air.
"Old furball, if you want to kill my father, you should ask me first!"
Mu Chen clenched his fists. Dark spiritual energy, like tangible flames, surged out from his body, filling the city with terrifying spiritual pressure.
Feeling the pressure emanating from him, Liu Jingshan and everyone else instantly changed color.
Because the intensity of that pressure had already reached the Heaven Fusion Realm!