“Boom!”
A resounding crash suddenly echoed beneath the sparse forest canopy. A wave of spiritual energy, like a raging storm, shattered everything trivial on the forest floor. Several large trees nearby trembled violently, leaves rustled down from the sky, and the two figures, locked in combat, both shook, staggering backward.
Mu Chen stomped his foot, quickly retreating over ten steps, and knelt on one knee to prevent himself from falling. His hands trembled slightly, the powerful recoil causing him to feel a dull ache.
However, despite the slight pain in his palms, he had forcefully withstood Liu Mubai’s fierce and vicious attack, undoubtedly thanks to the power displayed by the two Samsara Purple Seals.
Since cultivating the two Samsara Purple Seals, Mu Chen had not yet been able to truly unleash their full destructive power, because his previous two opponents, Ji Zong and Xue Tu, both possessed strength far surpassing his own. Even if he used the two black seals, it wouldn't compensate for the disparity. Only now did he truly feel the formidable power of the Samsara Purple Seals.
Although Liu Mubai also possessed the strength of the Spiritual Wheel Stage, he was only at the initial phase, still significantly stronger than Mu Chen, but not as overwhelmingly so as Xue Tu or Ji Zong, who had spiritual arrays assisting them.
It was also thanks to these many factors that the power of the Samsara Purple Seals could be clearly displayed.
Compared to Mu Chen, Liu Mubai’s face was ashen. He stared at his opponent, clearly finding it hard to believe and comprehend how a mere late-stage Spiritual Movement cultivator could be so tough. Even though he still had trump cards he hadn't used, he was, after all, a Spiritual Wheel Stage cultivator, significantly stronger than Mu Chen, yet he clearly couldn't gain the upper hand. It was truly hard to believe.
“What’s wrong? Do you see that I was right? You originally thought I was just a small fry you could trample whenever you pleased, but reality isn't as you imagined, is it?”
Mu Chen looked at Liu Mubai’s ashen face and couldn't help but mockingly laugh.
Liu Mubai gritted his teeth in anger, veins bulging on his forehead. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart. His eyes became unusually calm, and his voice carried a terrifying chill:
“You truly exceed my expectations, but to think you can be so smug and arrogant in front of me with just this much is far too soon.”
Crimson spiritual energy once again surged violently from Liu Mubai’s body, this time filled with ferocity and dense killing intent.
Evidently, Mu Chen had provoked Liu Mubai into revealing his true killing intent.
That guy had decided that today, no matter the cost, he would thoroughly deal with the person he utterly detested, right here.
Mu Chen saw this, his eyes narrowing dangerously, a cold smile playing on his lips. Although dealing with that guy now was a bit troublesome, if he had no intention of letting go, then there was no need to grant him a good outcome.
Under the tree's shadow, the two stared at each other, their gazes sharp and cold as blades. Leaves rustled down, and the atmosphere was incredibly tense.
“Snap snap.”
However, just as the atmosphere was taut as a fully drawn bow, a small sound echoed from within the forest, breaking their momentum and freezing both their hearts.
“Thump thump thump….”
The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer. Finally, over ten figures suddenly emerged from the direction of the sound in the forest, approaching from behind Liu Mubai.
“Young Master, we finally found you!”
Mu Chen looked at the newcomers, his brows furrowing. They were all people from the Liu Territory.
Liu Mubai, who had been worried, also breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Mu Chen and taunted:
"It seems your luck has run out."
"Not necessarily..." Mu Chen heard this, crossed his arms, and sneered. He glanced into the distance behind him, where he saw several familiar figures rapidly approaching – indeed, they were people from Duan Wei's group.
The forces of the Liu Territory and Duan Wei's group had clearly noticed the commotion from the battle here, and thus rushed over. Both groups changed expressions upon seeing each other, quickly surrounding their respective masters to protect them, their eyes wary and hostile as they observed their opponents.
Mu Chen shook his head, his tense body relaxing. Currently, both sides had a strong numerical advantage, eliminating any chance for a one-on-one fight. Moreover, if a conflict of this scale were to erupt, it would likely attract many fierce spirit beasts from the Black Underworld Abyss, and at that point, both sides would face great trouble.
Liu Mubai clearly understood this as well. Though unwilling, he had no choice but to accept it, and he curled his lip into a smile:
"You've picked up your little life again. Not bad luck."
"What good is a sharp tongue? Only when you can thoroughly crush me beneath your feet will it not be too late to boast," Mu Chen replied with a calm expression.
"That time will come. I eagerly await seeing your face then, to see if you can still maintain that expression."
Liu Mubai stared at Mu Chen for a moment, then, without further meaningless words, waved his hand and led the Liu Territory's group into the forest.
Duan Wei watched Liu Mubai's group depart into the distance, also breathing a sigh of relief. He turned to Mu Chen and asked:
"Young Master, are you alright?"
Mu Chen smiled and shook his head, his dark pupils tinged with a hint of coldness as he gazed at Liu Mubai's distant figure. A moment later, he turned his head and led everyone in the opposite direction.
"Let's go too. We need to quickly rendezvous with Father."
……………
A rather wide swamp, black as ink, lay before them, with a sticky, humid poisonous mist hovering above it. The poisonous mist here was particularly dense compared to other places; if anyone dared to charge in, even a Spirit Wheel Realm expert would likely struggle to endure for long.
On the surface of the swamp, air bubbles occasionally burst, releasing poisonous gas. The water's surface churned with black mud, and as the mud settled, pairs of savage, blood-red beast eyes scanned the surroundings.
Near the swamp, a group of people looked dejected and anxious. The one leading them was Mu Feng. He was currently frowning as he observed the endless black swamp before them.
"Territory Lord, this Black Poison Swamp is very difficult to cross. The air above is full of poisonous mist, making it impossible to pass through. But if we travel across the swamp's surface, few would likely survive the attacks of the Black Poison Alligators lurking within," a Mu Territory city lord beside Mu Feng lamented sorrowfully.
"Have you found another path to go deeper into the Black Underworld Abyss?" Zhou Ye asked with a frown.
"Perhaps, but that would require expanding our scouting range, and such a time-consuming effort would likely cause us to fall far behind the Liu Territory," a person replied.
"Those people were truly well-prepared!" Zhou Ye gritted his teeth. The Liu Territory had clearly investigated the terrain of the Black Underworld Abyss long ago. It was possible they weren't even taking this path now, but had found other, easier routes to continue deeper into the Black Underworld Abyss.
Mu Feng also sighed, then asked:
"Is there any news from Little Mu's group?"
"Not yet. Should I lead a search party?" Zhou Ye said.
Mu Feng pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, his expression subtly shifted, and he said with a smile:
"No need. As I said, that boy is hard to match."
After speaking, the old man looked towards a part of the forest. He saw the trees there rustle slightly, and then over a dozen figures, like rabbits, leaped out, heading towards them. Leading the group was a handsome young man, none other than Mu Chen.
"Dad!"
Mu Chen finally broke into a joyful smile upon seeing the group near the swamp. After all their hardships, they had reunited.
"Are you alright?"
Mu Feng happily asked his son.
Mu Chen shook his head, stepped closer, and gazed at the vast swamp, a teasing look on his face.
"Dad, it looks like you're in big trouble."
Anyone could clearly see that Mu Feng had no way to resolve this predicament.
Mu Feng glared angrily, but then let out a helpless sigh. He and Zhou Ye, with their Divine Soul Stage cultivation, could barely cross the swamp, but there was truly no way for the remaining attendants.
"If we just keep sitting here, I'm afraid the Nine Netherbird will be taken by the Liu Territory."
Zhou Ye also gave a bitter smile.
"Uncle Zhou, don't worry. I don't think the Nine Netherbird will be that easy to catch."
Mu Chen reassured him. Although he hadn't seen the Nine Netherbird yet, based on the meager information recorded by that skeleton, the Nine Netherbird was probably not simple.
"Moreover, crossing this black poisonous swamp isn't an impossible task."
Mu Chen slowly swept his gaze across the extremely poisonous swamp, then said with a calm smile.
"What are you talking about, kid?"
Hearing his arrogant words, Mu Feng, Zhou Ye, and the various city lords were all startled, their eyes filled with suspicion as they looked at Mu Chen. The young man merely casually brushed his hand, his demeanor relaxed.
"You have a solution?"
Mu Chen saw the group's anxious expressions, then nodded with a slight smirk. On the Spiritual Road, many areas were far more perilous than this black poisonous swamp...