In the Dark Valley, a chilling breeze swept through, causing the skeletons to stir slightly, emitting eerie clattering sounds.
“This is the territory of the Jiu You Que!”
On the path leading into the valley, both groups stared intently at the majestic black volcano, their eyes filled with covetous desire.
Liu Jing Tian’s bright eyes involuntarily glanced at Mu Feng not far behind him. He smiled mysteriously, and a powerful spiritual energy erupted from him, his body shooting towards the volcano like an arrow released from a bow.
Immediately after, Liu Zong, Liu Ming, and Liu Mu Bai also followed suit.
“Charge!”
Mu Feng commanded with authority, and the abundant spiritual energy within his body also erupted, transforming into a gigantic fire bird. Its dragon wings flapped powerfully, soaring upwards like a blaze. Mu Feng stood on the back of the Yan Long Diao.
One man and one bird surged forward, their wild spiritual energy gushing out to form whirlwinds in mid-air.
“Hmph!”
Seeing Mu Feng rapidly closing in, Liu Jing Tian’s eyes turned cold as he let out a soft shout. Silver light burst from his body, and a colossal silver beast instantly appeared.
The colossal beast had the physique of a giant ape, its body covered in silver scales, as if lightning flashed across it. Its roar sounded like rumbling thunder.
“This is… a Lei Lin Beast?”
Mu Chen looked at the silver colossal beast behind Liu Jing Tian and cried out in alarm. The Lei Lin Beast, ranked 130 on the Earth Chart, was quite formidable. Although it hadn't reached the level of a Heavenly Beast, it was still a top-grade among high-level spirit beasts.
“Boom!”
The Lei Lin Beast sprang from the ground, charging out like a bolt of lightning, carrying Liu Jing Tian on its back to intercept Mu Feng and the Yan Long Diao.
“Haha, Liu Jing Tian, so you’ve finally decided to make a move? Then let’s see who has improved more over the past year!”
Mu Feng, upon seeing this, was not worried but instead showed delight. He let out a hearty laugh, and the Yan Long Diao emitted a clear cry. Its fiery red spiritual energy roared wildly as it charged towards Liu Jing Tian.
“Bang!”
The two colossal monsters fiercely collided in mid-air, powerful spiritual energy shockwaves radiating outwards, shattering many of the white bones on the ground into fragments.
The Mu Territory and Liu Territory officially began their war. With both territory lords having made their moves, the subordinates from both sides no longer held back. Their eyes filled with fierce glares, they roared savagely and charged into attack.
“Zhou Ye, come out here for me!”
The second master of the Liu Territory, Liu Zong, ferociously lunged towards Zhou Ye amidst the Mu Territory's people. Verdant light radiated profusely, and a colossal beast vaguely took shape.
It was a jade-green scorpion, its body emitting a foul, fishy odor, clearly possessing potent venom.
“The Bi Du Mo Xie, ranked 204 on the Myriad Beasts Record’s Earth Chart.”
Mu Chen looked at the gigantic green scorpion and rattled off its information with precision.
“Crash!”
The ground trembled. Zhou Ye roared, and the Shan Yue Ling Xi stomped its feet, shaking heaven and earth. Like a moving mountain, it rumbled forward to attack Liu Zong.
“Boom!”
The soldiers and generals of both sides finally clashed, engaging in a frenzied slaughter that shattered the tranquil space. Violent spiritual energy continuously erupted, and killing intent permeated the air.
Mu Chen, protected by Duan Wei, also joined the battle, encountering the Liu Territory's forces. However, he quickly bypassed them, not stopping at all, and swiftly dashed towards the black volcano.
“Mu Bai, stop him!”
Liu Ming, who was currently fighting Duan Wei, saw this and shouted loudly.
Upon hearing this, Liu Mu Bai nodded, abandoned his opponent, turned around, and pursued Mu Chen.
Mu Chen heard the wind behind him and briefly glanced back. He urged the spiritual energy within his body into his legs, accelerating even faster.
“Still trying to run?”
Liu Mu Bai discovered this and roared, simultaneously increasing his speed, clinging relentlessly to the pursuit.
The two, one in front and one behind, quickly crossed the valley, approached the foot of the volcano, and climbed up the sheer cliff face like agile monkeys.
“Whoosh!”
While rapidly climbing, Mu Chen suddenly felt a powerful gust of wind carrying killing intent shoot up from below. He slammed both hands onto the cliff face in front of him, and his body leaped out into the air.
“Clang!”
The sound of metal striking rock echoed as a sharp dagger embedded itself into the spot Mu Chen had just occupied, piercing through the hard mountain rock.
“Whoosh, whoosh!”
Liu Mubai clenched his hands and launched another volley of daggers. At this moment, he was directly ambushing Mu Chen, clearly intending to force him back.
Mu Chen noticed the rapid tearing sounds in the air, his hand also clenched, and several spirit seals quickly appeared, shooting out and dissolving into the air.
Streaks of light, like silken ribbons, appeared, the air twisted, and spirit energy fluctuated ceaselessly, shooting out to block the incoming daggers.
After creating a small defensive spirit array, Mu Chen did not let Liu Mubai continue his assault. He leaped to a spot with abundant volcanic debris and kicked out like a whirlwind, sending a shower of debris to attack Liu Mubai.
“Thump, thump, thump!”
Liu Mubai, seeing the attack, threw out his fists, and fiery spirit energy carrying chaotic powerful winds shattered the debris.
Although he perfectly fended off the attack, Liu Mubai was momentarily stalled and lost speed. Seeing Mu Chen seize the opportunity to escape like a flash of lightning, he gnashed his teeth in anger and accelerated in pursuit.
As the two climbed the mountain, they alternated between offense and defense, utilizing anything they could to obstruct each other. The scene was one of fierce combat, but only the two of them truly understood the danger within. Neither held back in their attacks.
A few minutes later, Mu Chen reached the summit of the black volcano. Looking down into the volcanic crater, he saw only a patch of darkness, unclear what it contained.
“Boom!”
Just as Mu Chen glanced into the crater, a powerful fist wind swept towards him from behind. He hesitated for a moment, but then immediately pushed off with his feet and leaped into the pitch-black crater.
Liu Mubai pursued closely. Seeing Mu Chen jump into the dark abyss, he also hesitated instinctively, but then gritted his teeth and leaped in after him.
The two slid down the rocky slope, then pushed off and landed at the bottom of the abyss.
Inside the crater, the light was dim. Everywhere was hardened lava turned into black rock, and the air was also dark.
Mu Chen scanned his surroundings, but saw no trace of the Nine Netherbird, only scattered grayish-black boulders.
Having reached the bottom of the abyss, Liu Mubai did not immediately continue pursuing Mu Chen. He also looked around, clearly also wanting to search for traces of the Nine Netherbird.
The two exchanged glances, their eyes filled with doubt.
Mu Chen furrowed his brows tightly and cautiously took slow steps forward, his gaze constantly searching.
Liu Mubai glanced at Mu Chen and also retreated a little, clearly thinking along the same lines as Mu Chen.
The bottom of this crater was not very large, and both quickly completed a circuit, finding nothing, which made their eyes grow even more suspicious.
Could the scene depicted in that bronze piece be false?
Mu Chen's lips trembled slightly as he continued to observe his surroundings while walking, unconsciously reaching the center of the crater. In this area, there were very large rock formations eroded by the volcano.
He examined the giant rock, but saw nothing special, and sighed in disappointment. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly paused, his hand clenching, and the ancient bronze piece appeared in his grasp. At this moment, it was emitting a gradually rising heat.
"This bronze piece... could it possibly sense the Nine Netherbird?"
As Mu Chen thought this, he stood still, watching Liu Mu Bai search elsewhere, then quietly walked towards the central black rock boulder.
He ran his hand over each boulder. A moment later, he stopped before a massive stone, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at that boulder. At this spot, the bronze piece in his hand was the hottest.