“Graoooow!”
A savage roar echoed from afar, making Mu Feng, Zhou Ye, and the experts of the Mu Territory turn pale. At this moment, they had been ambushed by the Liu Territory.
“Mu Feng, how about it? Do you like the grand gift I’ve prepared for you?”
Liu Qingtian looked down at the Mu Territory group from the cliff, letting out a mocking, gleeful laugh. “How long has our Liu Territory toiled and struggled to prepare for this Nine Netherbird plan? Do you really think that just because you heard a few rumors, you have the right to contend with us?”
“Since you’re already here, consider it a losing business deal, a bloody lesson learned.”
Mu Feng still stared coldly at Liu Qingtian, but he had no mind to argue with the old man. His eyes flickered, constantly thinking of ways to resolve the impending dilemma. The beast roar just now was clearly from a high-level spirit beast. If they were entangled and subdued by a group of high-level spirit beasts, even if they could resolve it, they would definitely be greatly depleted, and casualties might even occur. At that time, would Liu Qingtian and his group mercifully let such an opportunity slip by?
But if they retreated now, they would fall into the Liu Territory’s psychological trap. Then, with no one to hinder them, the Liu Territory would devote all their energy to hunting the Nine Netherbird. Once they captured the Nine Netherbird, the Mu Territory’s danger would only increase.
Their current situation was truly a dilemma.
“What should we do now?” Zhou Ye asked anxiously.
“We’ll adapt to the circumstances,” Mu Feng replied in a low voice, his face still pale.
Mu Chen, who was beside him, also frowned. The people of the Liu Territory were truly hateful, always tripping him up and trying to make him fall.
“Graoooow!”
The beast roar echoed through the cliffs once more, followed by the sound of fierce wind tearing through the air. Everyone quickly saw three streaks of light, like lightning, shooting out from the depths of the Dark Abyss, appearing on the surrounding cliffs.
“High-level spirit beasts, three of them!” Mu Feng gritted his teeth in anger upon seeing them.
The three streaks of light dissipated, revealing three massive figures with blood-red beast eyes filled with savagery and bloodlust.
On the cliff to the left was a colossal red lion with a pair of sharp purple wings on its back, exuding an imposing aura.
On the cliff to the right was a gigantic beast, black as velvet, looking as if it were forged from iron and steel. Sunlight shone upon its body, reflecting light like a deadly machine.
“A Purple-Winged Lion!”
“A Black Iron Beast!”
Duan Wei exclaimed in shock upon seeing the two colossal beasts. They were indeed high-level spirit beasts; these two formidable creatures already possessed the strength of the Initial Spirit Soul Realm.
“That is… a Water-Fire Crane!”
Mu Feng only glanced at the two high-level colossal beasts, but his focus was more on the last spirit beast, staring intently at it. It was an enormous black crane with very peculiar wings; one side was like water, blue in color, while the other blazed with dark red flames. When it flapped its wings, it seemed as if water and fire emanated from them, a truly magnificent sight.
However, that magnificence here carried an aura of death and terrifying power. The Water-Fire Crane was the strongest of the three spirit beasts, having reached the Mid Spirit Soul Realm!
“Mu Feng, it seems your luck is truly good; even the Water-Fire Crane has been attracted here. We’ll wait and watch an exciting and thrilling hunt unfold.”
Liu Qingtian, seeing the combat strength of both sides, laughed even more gleefully. Then, he waved his hand, pulling the Liu Territory group to hide behind the cliff. Currently, the spirit beasts were attracted by the prey below and wouldn't pay attention to them up here.
“You bastard!” Zhou Ye gnashed his teeth, filled with raging anger.
"Domain Lord, what do we do now? If we fight these three high-level spirit beasts, even if we manage to defeat them, the people of the Liu Domain will exploit the opening to launch a sneak attack."
Duan Wei asked, his face filled with worry.
Mu Feng remained silent. Those three high-level spirit beasts had already noticed them. If they didn't want to fight, they could only retreat. But having come all this way, to retreat without achieving anything, he was truly unwilling.
Duan Wei saw Mu Feng frowning in thought and didn't dare disturb him. He could only carefully guard against the high-level spirit beasts menacingly hovering above, his palms already drenched in sweat.
Mu Chen also understood the current situation. Thoughts rapidly spun in his mind, and suddenly, he narrowed his eyes as a flash of insight sparked within him.
"Father!"
Mu Chen said softly.
"Hmm?"
Mu Feng replied uneasily, his eyes filled with vexation, truly having a headache.
"Father and Uncle Zhou, can you stop these three high-level spirit beasts?"
Mu Chen said.
Mu Feng looked at him, then nodded helplessly and said:
"But your Uncle Zhou and I will have to expend a lot of spiritual energy. At that time, Liu Qingtian will naturally make his move."
"You two don't need to kill them, just hold them off. And at the same time, don't let yourselves expend too much energy."
Mu Chen said.
"Just stalling like that won't do any good."
Mu Feng frowned and said:
"If we can't kill them, then we can only retreat."
"I have a way to deal with them."
Mu Chen said earnestly.
Mu Feng was slightly startled, looking at Mu Chen in surprise. Zhou Ye, beside him, even thought he had misheard.
Three high-level spirit beasts! Their strength was fully comparable to three experts of the Divine Soul Stage. Mu Chen was only at the late Spiritual Movement Stage; how could he possibly deal with them?
Mu Chen, seeing everyone's gazes, said with slight dissatisfaction:
"It's not necessarily about using fists to find a solution. There's a method called 'borrowing momentum.' I like that method the most; it saved my life many times in the Spiritual Road."
"Then tell us, what will you do?"
Mu Feng couldn't help but ask, though he didn't quite believe his son had a way to deal with Divine Soul Stage spirit beasts.
"There's no time to explain now. You two try to buy me some time to prepare."
Mu Chen, looking at the three spirit beasts that could attack at any moment, had no way to explain briefly and could only urge them.
Mu Feng and Zhou Ye both heard him, exchanged glances, then pursed their lips and nodded. Currently, Mu Chen had earned quite a bit of their trust, which truly reassured them greatly. If he was so confident, then they should entrust it to him.
"The battlefield ahead is yours."
Mu Chen didn't say more, immediately turned and ran back out.
"Someone's escaping."
Several subordinates of Liu Qingtian, who were still intently observing the situation below, saw Mu Chen flee and softly shouted a warning.
"It's Mu Chen. What does he want to do? Is he abandoning them and fleeing alone?"
Liu Mubai muttered in doubt. For some reason, seeing Mu Chen run away made him feel uneasy.
"Forget it, ignore him. A brat at the late Spiritual Movement Stage, without Mu Feng's protection, I'm afraid he won't even be able to leave the Black Underworld Abyss."
Liu Qingtian didn't pay much attention, because the true two pillars of the Mu Domain were Mu Feng and Zhou Ye. Mu Chen currently posed no threat.
Liu Mubai also nodded. He was very cautious of Mu Chen, but in this situation, he didn't believe that fellow could turn things around.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!"
As they spoke, the fierce spiritual energy from below erupted. Mu Feng and Zhou Ye led the charge towards the three high-level spiritual beasts waiting to attack.
Mu Feng moved to intercept the Water-Fire Crane and the Black Iron Beast. He was a late-stage Spirit Manifestation Realm expert, and even fighting two alone, he did not fall into a disadvantageous position.
Zhou Ye, however, was only an early-stage Spirit Manifestation Realm cultivator, and in his fight against the Purple-Winged Lion, neither side could claim superiority.
The astonishing battle suddenly created spiritual energy shockwaves that vibrated the surroundings; with every clash and collision, even the air trembled.
Liu Qingtian grinned widely, thoughtfully observing the battle unfolding below, his icy gaze filled with smug triumph.
— Mu Feng, fight to your heart's content. Since you're unwilling to retreat, then leave your corpse here!
As the great battle erupted in the mountains, Mu Chen quickly returned to the outside, leaving the rocky mountain area and re-entering the dense forest. Gazing into the gloomy forest, he flipped his hand, and a small flute with strange patterns appeared.
It was the item he had inadvertently acquired from the black tree: the Spirit Insect Flute!