“Buzz buzz buzz!”
The unique sound of the Spirit-Devouring Bees echoed back and forth across the cliff face, making people’s hair stand on end, especially as the black cloud before them twisted violently under the desperate struggles of the three high-level spirit beasts.
The three high-level spirit beasts, possessing formidable strength, resisted frantically, covering the ground with the corpses of Spirit-Devouring Bees. However, the countless swarm showed no signs of retreating; their bloodshot eyes locked onto the three fierce prey in front of them, continuously surging forward like massive waves crashing into them.
The black torrent suddenly transformed into a black vortex. That vortex swept fiercely past, leaving behind scattered white bones on the ground.
The two groups of people hiding in the mountain crevices all felt numb at the sight. Whichever side was caught in that black vortex would surely share the same fate as the three powerful high-level spirit beasts.
Mu Chen also hid carefully in the mountain crevice, his gaze fixed intently outwards. The Spirit Insect Flute and that strange black liquid bottle were both carefully stored in his Spatial Bracelet, not daring to be held in his hands. What if they attracted those Spirit-Devouring Bees? Truly, there would be no escape from this place, neither by sky nor by land!
The vortex swirled for about 10 minutes, and the violent spiritual energy fluctuations gradually weakened and then completely ceased.
When the three spiritual energy fluctuations disappeared, everyone who witnessed it understood clearly that the three high-level spirit beasts had completely perished due to the savage attack of those seemingly weak Spirit-Devouring Bees. Mu Feng’s group held their breath, shivering involuntarily. A single Spirit-Devouring Bee was nothing to fear, but when they gathered into a swarm, they became one of the overlords of the Dark Nether Abyss.
After neatly dealing with their prey, the cloud of Spirit-Devouring Bees still swirled in the air for a while, before slowly departing along their original path, carrying their ear-splitting "buzz buzz" sound.
Waiting until the swarm of Spirit-Devouring Bees had completely vanished, Mu Feng’s group only then dared to step out of the mountain crevice, looking at the patch of ground on the mountainside where earlier two powerful experts had clashed with three majestic spirit beasts. There were only scattered white bones left, with occasional traces of blood still clinging to the bones—a truly gruesome sight.
Mu Chen, however, leisurely and unhurriedly walked over, rummaging around to find the three skull bones of the three spirit beasts, and without the slightest politeness, dug out three extremely dazzling spirit essences and put them into his Spatial Bracelet.
High-level spirit beast essences! Their value far surpassed the items he had previously obtained in the Northern Spiritual Realm. Spirit essences of this level made quite a few experts of the Divine Soul Stage green with envy.
After he was done, Mu Chen only then raised his head to look at the high cliff face and said with a smile, “Do you still have any tricks up your sleeves? Or perhaps bring a few more spirit beasts? I’ll just call those Spirit-Devouring Bees back to harvest their high-level spirit essences!”
On the rocky cliff, Liu Territory’s people all had ugly, contorted expressions. Liu Jing Tian also glared fiercely at Mu Chen, his expression filled with disbelief: “Were the Spirit-Devouring Bees brought by you?”
Mu Chen’s smile gradually turned sinister. “If not me, then who? You? I think you should all quickly get out of the Dark Nether Abyss. Otherwise, the next time the Spirit-Devouring Bees appear, your fate won’t be much different from these things.”
Liu Territory’s subordinates were suddenly startled and thrown into disarray upon hearing this. Liu Zong and Liu Ming’s group also turned pale with fright. They had personally witnessed how formidable the Spirit-Devouring Bees were; if they themselves got caught in it, they truly wouldn’t even be enough to pick the bees’ teeth.
“You unweaned brat, daring to bark nonsense. You want to threaten me? You’re still too green!”
Liu Jing Tian was furious, but he maintained a cold demeanor, smiling faintly.
"Perhaps you truly led the Spirit-Devouring Bees here, but you couldn't control them. That black mist of yours just now, was it what drove the Spirit-Devouring Bees to furiously attack those three high-level spirit beasts?"
Mu Chen smiled, but inwardly he was astonished. Liu Jing Tian's gaze was sharp; none of his previous actions had escaped the man's notice.
"Mu Feng, you have quite an interesting son!"
Liu Jing Tian stared coldly at Mu Feng. He had originally planned to severely deplete the Mu Territory's vitality today, but in the end, a mere youth had thwarted him. A belly full of ill will had accumulated within him.
Mu Feng replied with a polite laugh.
"Hahaha, you flatter me, you flatter me. Liu Jing Tian, do you have any more tricks up your sleeve? Or perhaps you'd like to make a move yourself? It's been a long time since I've had the chance to experience your prowess; let's have a match here?"
Liu Jing Tian's face was grim. Although furious, he understood that now was not the time to contend with the Mu Territory. Even if he won, the damage would be too great, making it impossible to continue capturing the Nine Nether Bird.
"Let's see how long you can remain so pleased with yourselves!"
Liu Jing Tian snarled each word coldly. Without another sound, he waved his hand, leading the Liu Territory's people to swiftly delve deeper into the Black Underworld Abyss. There was no point in wasting time trying to stop Mu Feng now.
"Go, stick close to them!"
Seeing the Liu Territory move, Mu Feng also gave a soft command. His body shot forward, leading the Mu Territory's people to follow a short distance behind Liu Jing Tian. If the Liu Territory's plan failed, they would undoubtedly become prey for the Mu Territory to hunt.
The two groups, one in front and one behind, quickly traversed the Black Underworld Abyss. At this point, Liu Jing Tian's group had become much more subdued, no longer leaving any schemes to harass those behind them, pressing forward in haste.
Both groups moved quickly but cautiously, careful not to disturb the spirit beasts living there.
About half an hour later, the dark abyss gradually vanished, and the vast, open land became a boundless plain.
Mu Feng led his team out of the rocky area, emerging onto a high mound. He gazed forward, his expression suddenly turning serious.
Ahead lay a vast, dark valley. The ground appeared to be volcanic sediment, with trees burnt black. But what truly made Mu Feng's expression change was the white bones scattered everywhere.
Judging by their size, these skeletons must have belonged to spirit beasts. Their postures suggested they had been frantically fleeing from something terrifying, unable to control their fear.
Mu Chen stared intently at the ground covered in white bones, also nervously drawing a cold breath. What had happened here? Why were so many spirit beasts dead en masse...?
Gazing further, a dark volcanic crater appeared in the center of the valley. At the peak, a deep, pitch-black depression formed, resembling a demon's gaping maw, ready to devour heaven and earth.
"This place..."
Mu Chen's expression also turned serious, just like his father's. The scene before him seemed quite familiar. He suddenly realized that this was precisely the scene that had appeared on that mysterious bronze fragment, not different in the slightest!
Mu Chen turned his head, meeting Mu Feng's eyes, and clearly saw a terrifying joy in his father's thoughts.
Evidently, this was the territory of the Nine Nether Bird!