Chapter 237: A Mighty Wind Rises, Clouds Soar Across the Sky, Where Shall Heroes Roam?
Boom!!
A violent surge of energy exploded, cyan waves roiling and crashing like a stormy sea. A terrifying ripple of power radiated outward, shaking the heavens and earth.
Why target Mu Gu and not Zhai Xing Old Ghost? Naturally, it was because Mu Gu was an eighth tier alchemist he had the most wealth!
Pfft!
A black silhouette stumbled out of the energy storm, blood spewing from his mouth as he staggered and swayed like a lone boat battered by fierce winds and waves, on the verge of capsizing.
Yet Mu Gu, despite his grievous injuries, was still a Dou Zun level powerhouse. He barely managed to stabilize himself, avoiding a fatal fall. However, his condition was tragic beyond words. The unrefined half of his vulnerable body had been utterly destroyed by Lu Bu, leaving mangled flesh and shattered bones exposed. His aura was weak and dispirited.
"Damn it…" Mu Gu's face was grim, his trembling right hand instinctively retrieving a medicinal pill to pop into his mouth. At the same time, his soul energy surged forth, forming a protective barrier in front of him.
Swish!
But at that moment, a gust of wind swept past. Before Mu Gu could react, a flash of dark gold light streaked across his vision. In the next instant, a cold sensation spread from his shoulder. His entire right arm had been severed and was now clutched in Lu Bu's hand.
"You… Impossible! How did you bypass my soul barrier?" Mu Gu roared in disbelief. A magical beast might have a powerful body, but its greatest weakness was the soul. How could this happen?
"Die!"
Lu Bu ignored his question. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes as he sneered, tossing the severed arm into his storage ring. He clasped his hands together, preparing another attack.
Just then, a dark gray beam of light silently shot toward Mu Gu, carrying a chilling aura of destruction. It headed straight for his head.
It was Xiao Xun'er. She had joined the fight and was now targeting Mu Gu's greatest weakness.
Sensing the aura of death approaching, Mu Gu froze momentarily before bursting into crazed laughter.
"Ha… Ha… You think I'll die so easily?!"
Suddenly, Mu Gu's weak aura began to surge violently. His eyes bulged, blood vessels bursting across the whites, as his body started to swell grotesquely.
"He's going to self destruct!" shouted Elder Guan and Elder Lin, who were battling Zhai Xing Old Ghost. They immediately realized what Mu Gu was attempting.
"Ha… Ha… Die with me!" Mu Gu's deranged laughter echoed as his body expanded rapidly. He kicked off the ground and charged toward the two Ancient Clan Dou Zuns.
"Damn it!" The two elders cursed, quickly retreating and preparing defensive techniques.
"No! He's covering for Zhai Xing Old Ghost to escape!" Lu Bu's eyes widened as he realized the truth. He let out a long shout to alert the others.
Who had the most value here?
From Mu Gu's perspective, Lu Bu, being a Taixu Ancient Dragon, was the most valuable target. If he were killed, it would surely escalate tensions between the Ancient Clan and the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan, benefiting the Soul Hall immensely.
Second in value were the Black Abyss Army soldiers, representing the younger generation of the Ancient Clan. Any harm to them would deeply hurt the Ancient Clan.
The two Ancient Clan Dou Zuns, however, were the least valuable. They only bore silver clan marks, far less significant. Yet Mu Gu was self destructing toward them instead, a clear indication of a ploy.
Unfortunately, Lu Bu's warning came too late. Elder Guan and Elder Lin were already focused on defense and couldn't switch to attacking in time.
Boom !!
A storm of energy erupted, far more violent than Lu Bu's earlier Emperor Seal Technique. The shockwave roared and surged like a hurricane, blasting through everything in its path.
Lu Bu's expression changed drastically. With a single step, he activated spatial ripples beneath his feet, retreating several hundred meters to avoid the blast radius.
He refrained from using the Three Thousand Lightning Movement or his Heavenly Demon Phoenix Wings. With both Mu Gu and Zhai Xing Old Ghost still alive, revealing those trump cards would undo all his efforts.
The energy storm raged for twenty to thirty breaths before finally subsiding. When the dust settled, both Mu Gu and Zhai Xing Old Ghost had disappeared without a trace. They had successfully escaped.
"Damn it, they got away!" Elder Lin cursed, his frustration evident.
"What a waste! We fought so hard for nothing and gained nothing. Damn it!" Elder Guan gritted his teeth in fury. They had been so close to capturing the two.
Several hundred meters away, Lu Bu finally stopped retreating. Hearing the elders' complaints, a faint, meaningful smile appeared on his face. With a flick of his finger, a black storage ring appeared in his palm.
Gained nothing? Who said that?
"Heh…" Lu Bu's expression remained composed, but his eyes gleamed with a mischievous light.
…
Far to the east of the Western Continent, in a place called the Tianqing Mountain Range.
The southern region of the mountain range was bustling and lively, as it housed a spatial wormhole connecting to Zhongzhou. In contrast, the northern part was a desolate expanse of dense, primeval forest. Towering trees blocked out the sun, and venomous creatures lurked in the shadows, waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey.
Swish!
A streak of black light tore through the forest, vanishing into the darkness of the trees.
Thud!
A bloodied old man collapsed in the center of a dark hall, wheezing heavily. His hoarse voice broke the silence:
"I am Zhai Xing… a Heavenly Sovereign. I encountered the Black Abyss Army during a mission and was gravely injured. Report to headquarters immediately!"
With those words, he fell unconscious, unable to rise again.
A shadow flickered within the hall, and a sinister looking Dou Zun appeared beside Zhai Xing Old Ghost, inspecting his injuries with a grave expression.
"What kind of Black Abyss Army unit could injure a Heavenly Sovereign this badly?"
Zhai Xing's right arm was severed at the elbow, his organs were ruptured and displaced, and he was hanging on by a thread. Even with a Dou Zun's vitality, his condition could only be described as critical.
At that moment, another figure floated out from Zhai Xing Old Ghost's body. It was Mu Gu, his form now reduced to a soul. Sighing as he observed Zhai Xing's injuries, he muttered,
"I'm Mu Gu… an eighth tier alchemist. Bring me the medicinal supplies; I'll handle his treatment."
Though Zhai Xing looked worse off, Mu Gu's own situation was far direr. His physical body had been obliterated. If not for his alchemical skills, he would have shared the fate of captured souls having his soul origin extracted by the Soul Hall.
The hall's elder, shocked by the state of the two, immediately sent word to Zhongzhou headquarters.
While treating Zhai Xing's injuries, Mu Gu recounted the events of the battle. The elder recorded everything in a jade slip, which soon made its way to Soul Hall's main branch.
At the same time, in the vicinity of the Pill Region, Second Heavenly Sovereign Gu You frowned deeply after receiving the report. He had found no leads on the perpetrator, and now this disaster with Zhai Xing and Mu Gu had come from the Western Continent.
The Black Abyss Army was a formidable opponent. Retaliation was out of the question. Striking them would only provoke the Ancient Clan into sending stronger reinforcements.
After a moment of hesitation, Gu You sent the jade slip to the Soul Hall's leaders, leaving the decision to them.
Within the Soul Hall's Tian Gang Hall, the vice hall master and the hall master, Hun Miesheng, reviewed the report.
"The Black Abyss Army… this complicates things," the vice hall master murmured.
"Send word back to the clan. We're washing our hands of this. If they want revenge on the Black Abyss Army, they can handle it themselves. Don't bother us with it," Hun Miesheng said dismissively, tossing the jade slip aside.
"Understood!"
"Additionally, send word to Gu You. He must quickly identify who attacked our branch hall. Begin the search within the Zhongzhou forces, then extend it to the Spirit Tribe. They roam everywhere and are quite suspicious." The Soul Hall Master's eyes flickered with an unfathomable emotion as he added, "This matter isn't simple. I have a feeling... it's too sudden, too strange. Proceed with caution."
As for the Western Continent, Soul Miesheng ignored it entirely. To him, that place was nothing but a pile of garbage completely unimportant.
"Understood!" The Soul Hall Vice Master nodded in response.
…
In the forests of the Western Continent.
Several wooden cabins rose from the ground, standing quietly amidst the forest. A handful of Black Abyss Army soldiers were stationed outside, keeping watch, while the rest were inside the cabins, meditating to recover from the battle's exhaustion.
Inside one of the cabins, Lu Bu sat cross legged. Although his energy consumption during the fight had been significant, the Devouring Ancient Symbol quickly helped him recover. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he flicked his finger, summoning a black storage ring into his palm.
"Heh heh... Let's see what treasures are hidden inside!" Lu Bu grinned expectantly, rubbing his hands together before releasing a surge of soul energy to probe the ring.
But as soon as his soul energy touched the ring, it was repelled by a powerful defensive barrier.
"Hmph… Child's play!" Lu Bu sneered. Black threads burst from beneath his skin and drilled viciously into the storage ring.
In mere moments, the barrier within the ring was obliterated. The black storage ring was no longer a secret to Lu Bu.
"Heh heh heh…"
…
A thousand miles away, within the Soul Hall.
Boom!
A deep yellow flame in a cauldron flickered violently before extinguishing entirely, turning the medicinal liquid within to ash.
"Damn those Black Abyss Army dogs! Damn that Taixu Ancient Dragon!" Mu Gu slammed his palm on the cauldron, tipping it over with a loud crash.
"What happened?" Zhai Xing Old Ghost asked, taking slow, deliberate breaths. Seeing Mu Gu in such a state, he couldn't help but inquire.
"My storage ring! The soul imprint I placed on it has been destroyed!" Mu Gu's bloodshot eyes burned with fury as he roared, "My entire fortune, gone!"
Zhai Xing pressed his lips together, wisely choosing to remain silent. He understood that complaining would only invite trouble. Mu Gu had already lost his physical body, and now his storage ring was gone too. It was better not to provoke him further.
…
Back in the wooden cabin, Lu Bu sat with his eyes half closed, a faint glow emanating from the black storage ring in his palm.
Swish!
A jade bottle appeared before him, filled with a vibrant green liquid that swirled lazily within.
"Is this… Spirit Essence Elixir?" Lu Bu's eyes lit up as he instinctively shook the bottle, marveling at its contents. "What a treasure!"
Having already obtained Heavenly Serpent Stone Essence, Lu Bu now only needed Earth Spirit Marrow to break through to the Spirit Realm in soul strength. To his surprise, Mu Gu's storage ring contained such a precious item.
"Heh heh... I've struck gold!" Lu Bu's grin widened. The ring didn't just hold the Spirit Essence Elixir. As expected of an eighth tier alchemist, Mu Gu's storage ring was a veritable treasure trove. It held mountains of jade boxes filled with rare medicinal herbs, countless pill recipes, cultivation techniques, combat skills, secret techniques, and a massive reserve of pills Mu Gu had accumulated over the years.
This was a jackpot of unprecedented proportions!
The only disappointment? There weren't any Heaven tier cultivation techniques. Ever since witnessing Xiao Xun'er unleash one during her fight, Lu Bu had been itching to get his hands on such a technique. Unfortunately, Mu Gu's wealth didn't extend that far.
"No rush. I'll take my time sorting through it later. For now… improving my strength comes first!" Lu Bu chuckled as he clenched his fist, summoning a jade bottle containing a single golden pill.
The Imperial Extreme Pill!
This pill could help Dou Kings increase their strength by one or two stars or none at all, depending on their luck.
This particular pill was the finest Lu Bu had ever refined, one he had saved for himself. Now, it was time to use it.
"Let's hope my luck doesn't disappoint," Lu Bu muttered, tilting his head back and swallowing the pill.
The moment it entered his mouth, the pill dissolved into a flood of medicinal energy, surging through his meridians. Lu Bu didn't dare waste a moment and immediately focused on refining its power.
…
By the next day, Yang Hao and his ten Black Abyss soldiers had fully recovered and joined the others on guard duty outside the cabins.
"Ahem… Brothers, do me a favor and don't mention me getting beaten up, alright?" Yang Hao cleared his throat awkwardly, addressing his men.
"Uh… Commander?" The soldiers exchanged puzzled glances. To them, losing a battle wasn't something to be ashamed of after all, the Black Abyss Army existed to sharpen its members' skills. Everyone had lost a fight before.
"Look, I'm saying this isn't fair!" Yang Hao said through gritted teeth, touching his bruised face. "Ling Quan, Lin Xiu, Gu Zhen, Gu Yao… they all need to get smacked around too, or it won't feel right!"
"Ohhh~ Got it, Commander!" The soldiers nodded in unison, finally understanding his logic. After all, why should their commander bear the humiliation alone? If their lady commander got hit, it was only fair for the other commanders to suffer as well!
Just then, the sound of rushing wind filled the air. A dozen Black Abyss soldiers riding four winged unicorns approached swiftly.
"Third Commander, we heard you ran into some trouble... huh?" Ling Quan dismounted his unicorn, but his gaze was immediately drawn to one of the cabins.
From within, a powerful aura surged, accompanied by a flickering cyan flame. The scorching heat forced everyone to turn their attention toward the cabin.
Ling Quan's pupils contracted in shock as he turned to Yang Hao. "Third Commander, who is that…?"
"Ahem… My brothers!" Yang Hao rose to his feet, clearing his throat as he addressed Ling Quan and the new arrivals.
"Look over there. That's our newest comrade, the newly appointed Eighth Commander, Lu Bu!"
Eighth Commander?
Ling Quan arched an eyebrow in confusion. Since when did the Black Abyss Army have an Eighth Commander?
The soldiers Ling Quan had brought along were equally baffled. An Eighth Commander? They'd never heard of such a thing.
"Ahem… Brothers, let me just say this: The winds rise, clouds soar, and heroes roam the earth! The Soul Hall must be destroyed!" Yang Hao declared loudly.
"Why, you ask? Imagine leaving the Ancient Realm on a mission, only to be ambushed and beaten by the Soul Hall! Unacceptable!"
"Let me introduce Lu Bu. He's incredibly powerful and single handedly held off two Soul Hall elders, giving our leaders the upper hand. He's a hero among us!"
Swish!
A flash of cyan light, and Lu Bu stepped out of the cabin, his expression twitching as he stared at Yang Hao.
Yang Hao, is it? What's with the drama? Are you still holding a grudge because I beat you up?
Ling Quan arched an eyebrow, giving Lu Bu a subtle look of challenge. A three star Dou King, huh? Let's see if you're as impressive as they say.
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