The Holy Light Clan Arrives First

“I have no idea. I don’t know this person.” Xia Jiang shook his head.

“You were able to conclude that the Battlefield of the Gods is nearby based on just that one piece of information? You’re quite clever.”

Xu Mu opened the door and gestured for Xia Jiang to come in.

It was already daylight, and the shop assistants downstairs were busy cleaning and tidying up.

Xu Mu was worried that someone might overhear them. There was no need to let more people enter the ruins, as that could easily lead to unnecessary risks.

Xia Jiang walked in and smiled as he sat down on the bench. “Of course, that one piece of information alone isn’t enough to be certain. But I have another piece of news.”

Xu Mu sat across from him and motioned for him to continue.

“For some unknown reason, the Black Moon Clan and the Nine Nether Clan seem to have started fighting. They’re currently gathering their experts. According to the information we have, a ninth-rank expert appeared at the Black Moon Clan’s branch not far from ours, and has since returned to the Black Moon Clan’s headquarters.”

Xia Jiang smiled. “That Black Moon Clan branch not far from us has nothing there. It isn’t even a strategically important location. Why would they send a ninth-rank expert to guard it? And then you just happened to appear here.”

A smile appeared on Xu Mu’s face. It seemed his previous plan had gone perfectly.

After learning about the Battlefield of the Gods from Shui Shu, Xu Mu had not exposed his true identity. She still had no idea who he really was.

As for the trip to the Battlefield of the Gods, the Nine Nether Clan had completely stolen the spotlight from Xu Mu.

“Senior, you really are clever. Your guess is correct—the Battlefield of the Gods is indeed in that place.”

Xu Mu felt that things might be easier this time. With the ninth-rank expert having returned to headquarters, the situation was definitely favorable for him.

As for Ye Chen, Xu Mu did not take him seriously at all.

However, Ye Chen’s Destiny level was extremely high. If Xu Mu failed to deal with him, there was a good chance that Ye Chen would obtain some treasure.

If Ye Chen really appeared there, Xu Mu’s best choice would undoubtedly be to follow him.

“Our experts will be here soon.”

Xia Jiang looked at Xu Mu. “Would you like to go with us?”

“No need. I’ve already achieved my objective. As long as some other experts are willing to charge in first, we can take advantage of the chaos to enter.”

Xu Mu smiled and shrugged. “Consider this information a free gift.”

“Very well.”

Xia Jiang had never intended to go there together with Xu Mu and the others.

As for whether they could find any treasures, everyone would have to rely on their own abilities.

If Xu Mu and the others found a treasure at the same time as them, the experts sent by the Celestial Clan would definitely try to seize it.

But Xia Jiang was also unwilling to provoke Xu Mu, this monstrous young man.

Judging from the previous ruins, this young man was unfathomably deep. No one knew how much strength he was still hiding.

Xu Mu immediately called Chen Xuan and Li Hongdou over and prepared to set out.

“Brother Mu, aren’t we going with the Celestial Clan?”

Chen Xuan asked in confusion.

“No need. I’ve received word that people from the Holy Light Clan may also be heading there.”

Xu Mu explained, “All we need is for someone to go in first and clear the way for us.”

Chen Xuan and Li Hongdou nodded.

The destination was only about three hours away. They put on black robes and hurried there without stopping.

They traveled entirely through the mountains and did not encounter anyone along the way. After roughly two and a half hours, they spotted a town ahead.

Xu Mu sensed the area and found that it was similar to the town around the previous Battlefield of the Gods.

Everyone living there was a member of the Black Moon Clan.

Some were playing cards, while others were chatting. They had no idea what was about to happen.

“Brother Mu, what should we do?”

Chen Xuan asked from the side.

Xu Mu stroked his chin thoughtfully, then smiled. “Wait. With so many members of the Black Moon Clan gathered here, I refuse to believe they’ll show any mercy.”

After saying that, Xu Mu led the other two to a hillside not far outside the town. They broke open a cavern there, and to prevent themselves from being discovered, Xu Mu also carved out a concealment formation.

He then took out his phone and began recording the distant town.

A moment later, he shook his head lightly. “Even a tri-fold phone isn’t good enough. We’re too far away, so the recording isn’t clear.”

“Use mine.”

Li Hongdou took out a thick black phone. “The Sanitation Office issued this to us. It uses the most advanced technology in the Dragon Kingdom. It’s built to withstand falls, has long battery life, and an excellent camera. It can even be charged with solar power. It also has interference-resistant wireless communication. Even in the Inner Realm, it can make calls within a ten-kilometer range.”

“What? They have something like this?”

Xu Mu took Li Hongdou’s phone and opened the recording function. He immediately noticed the difference.

Even from this distance, the image was crystal clear. It felt as though he were standing right beside the town and filming it.

Chen Xuan also looked at the screen and could not help saying, “This is way better than my Redmi. Senior Hongdou, can I apply for one of these?”

“Of course. When we get back this time, I’ll give each of you one.”

Li Hongdou nodded. “When members of the Sanitation Office carry out missions in the Inner Realm, most of them rely on this phone to communicate. There’s no signal here, so we can only use wireless radio. The phone doubles as a walkie-talkie.”

Xu Mu switched off the phone. “For now, all we have to do is wait.”

As he spoke, he took several packs of dried meat and some yogurt out of his storage space and handed them to the other two.

The three of them sat there eating and chatting, as though they were out on a picnic.

They waited until noon. Xu Mu immediately turned to the other two. “They’re here.”

By now, his perception could spread across a range of four kilometers. He detected a group of black-robed figures in the distant forest.

His perception could peel away layer after layer of concealment. Those black robes were completely useless against him.

Sure enough, one of the young men was Ye Chen.

The other person was Dorothea.

As for the two eighth-rank experts, Xu Mu did not recognize either of them.

One was a man and the other a woman. The man appeared slightly older, around fifty years old. Of course, judging by the Holy Light Clan’s actual age, that number would have to be at least doubled.

The woman looked somewhat younger, perhaps around forty.

She had long blond hair and typically Western features. Judging by her apparent age, she looked older than Shui Shu.

Dorothea turned to Ye Chen and smiled. “Ye Chen, is there really a Battlefield of the Gods here?”

“If you don’t believe me, you can go back.”

Ye Chen’s tone was flat. “I can go in by myself.”

A trace of displeasure appeared between Dorothea’s brows, but it soon faded. “Since we’re already here, we might as well go in and take a look. But our operation needs to remain a secret. You know what to do, right?”

“Don’t worry!”

The instant Ye Chen finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of golden light and flew toward the distant town.

Boom!

His figure landed in the center of the town. He pressed his palms together, and brilliant golden light erupted from his body.

“Stone Sword!”

Rumble!

The buildings in every direction began to split apart. Countless chunks of stone were drawn together by the golden qi, eventually forming a gigantic stone sword surrounded by flickering golden light.

The many members of the Black Moon Clan living in the town sensed that someone had broken in and emerged from their buildings one after another.

“Who are you?”

“The man who’s going to kill you.”

Ye Chen gripped the enormous sword with both hands and swung it forcefully in a circle.

Whoosh!

A golden, circular sword aura accompanied by a storm instantly spread outward.

The area, nearly as large as an entire village, was cleaved in half by a single strike. Buildings, trees, and people alike were almost all cut cleanly in two.

Fewer than ten people, lucky enough to evade the attack, survived.

Some of those in the lower realms happened to be lying down at the time.

Others, powerful enough to break through the boundary, burst out of the collapsing buildings and shot toward the sky.

Buzz!

Just then, several enormous golden crosses descended from the heavens.