Tenfold Gravity

In the secluded mountain valley, the clang of metal rang without end. Luo Hao and Zhao Xin's group of three had surrounded Mu Yu Die, shielding her from the relentless assault of the Dark Nether attackers.

The tall, thin man in gray, with a silver moon embroidered on his shoulder, had cold, sinister eyes beneath his pale mask. He directed eight subordinates armed with sharp weapons as they hemmed Luo Hao and the others in.

"Miss Mu, I advise you to come back with us and meet the Nether Lord. Otherwise, we'll have a hard time explaining ourselves." The tall, thin man who appeared to be their leader coldly urged her on while directing his subordinates' attacks.

Mu Yu Die's pretty face was filled with revulsion. She shook her head and said firmly, "Even if I die here, I won't go back with you!"

"Since Miss Mu won't cooperate, I have no choice but to capture you and report back." The leader paused, then suddenly barked, "Luo Hao! You should know the strength of our Dark Nether! Opposing us is asking for death!"

"Haha!" Luo Hao laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell. "I've always been used to coming and going alone. If your Dark Nether wants to kill me, you'll have to pay a steep price. As a Nether Moon Envoy of the Dark Nether, with a cultivation at the Second Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations Realm, you're just qualified to be buried with me!"

"You're not worthy of taking me down with you." The Nether Moon Envoy shook his head, his body swaying like a ghostly shadow.

The next instant, he appeared three meters in front of Luo Hao. He thrust out his left hand, his five fingers hooked like iron claws. Strands of frigid green light seeped from his fingertips, ribboning through the air before suddenly curling toward Luo Hao.

"Nether God's Green Claw!" Luo Hao's expression shifted. He shouted, "Zhao Xin, the three of you protect Yu Die!"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Luo Hao's heart suddenly began pounding several times faster! Centered on him, gravity instantly surged to ten times its normal force!

Under the crushing weight, every Nether Star Envoy near Luo Hao felt as though an iron mountain had been dropped on their backs. Their knees buckled, and they nearly fell to the ground.

Even the Nether Moon Envoy was affected. His body shuddered, then he snorted. "Luo Hao, I didn't expect your Gravity Martial Soul to have advanced again, to the point where it can exert more than tenfold gravity. No wonder you're so confident."

"Haha, without a few tricks up my sleeve, how would I dare drag you down with me?" Luo Hao laughed. His carefree smile remained, but the greatsword on his shoulder suddenly blazed with blue light, and an aura as imposing as a mountain surged from him.

Luo Hao roared with laughter and swung his greatsword, stepping forward to shield Mu Yu Die. He directly blocked the Nether Moon Envoy.

The Nether Moon Envoy unleashed Nether God's Green Claw, but its sinister strands of green light were also weighed down by the tenfold gravity, leaving them sluggish under his control. He had no choice but to curl his fingers and meet Luo Hao head-on, surrounding him with three Nether Star Envoys.

"Zhao Xin, get Yu Die out of here!" Luo Hao bellowed, his aura surging like a rainbow. Blue light burst from his greatsword as he swung it, sending streaks across the sky like falling stars. He even held back the other Nether Star Envoys.

Fifty meters behind the Dark Nether envoys, Shi Yan abruptly stopped beside an ancient tree. He stood behind its trunk, face solemn as he watched the battle, points of light glimmering in his dark eyes.

Every Nether Star Envoy of the Dark Nether had a cultivation at the Innate Realm. The Nether Moon Envoy with the silver moon embroidered on his shoulder had even reached the Second Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations Realm. Their forces were far too strong. If Shi Yan rashly stepped in, he might be easily dealt with by the Dark Nether before he could even reach Mu Yu Die and the others.

Frowning, Shi Yan rapidly turned over one thought after another, searching for a sound plan.

Five seconds later, his eyes lit up. He carefully removed the pack from his back and took out the Bone-Corroding Powder wrapped in soft cloth, gripping it in his palm. Then he crouched low and silently climbed the ancient tree.

Clinging to the tree's long, sturdy branches, Shi Yan inched toward the battle.

The Bone-Corroding Powder was a poison made by Kalu, an alchemist who never took his work seriously. It left its victims' bones and muscles numb and weakened their strength. Its effects lasted for three hours—more than enough to turn the tide of a battle.

"Zhao Xin! Take them and go!" Luo Hao roared, his greatsword shining blue as he held back nearly ten Dark Nether envoys alone.

"Miss Mu!" Zhao Xin was frantic too. He stamped his foot. "Hurry, go!"

Mu Yu Die's expression was calm, but her gaze was resolute. "I'm not leaving. If you stay and fight, we might still win. If all three of you leave, Uncle Luo will be trapped and won't be able to escape. Without him, we'll never be able to stand against the Dark Nether. We'll end up the same way regardless."

"Fine! Then we'll fight to the death!" Zhao Xin was a clever man. Hearing her words, he finally made up his mind and shouted, "Di Ya Lan! Hu Long! Let's go!"

The three of them put Mu Yu Die in the middle. Their weapons suddenly shot through the air, hurtling viciously toward the Dark Nether envoys attacking Luo Hao.

"Four of you, go over there and take proper care of those three juniors," the Nether Moon Envoy ordered coldly, frowning. "Don't hurt Miss Mu. The Nether Lord has ordered that she be brought back alive. She mustn't suffer so much as a scratch."

"Yes!" Four Nether Star Envoys shouted, then charged toward Zhao Xin and the others.

Just then!

A faint sound suddenly came from overhead. Sensing danger, the Nether Moon Envoy jerked his head up and cried, "Not good! Dodge!"

Too late!

Gray powder drifted down like a fine shower, blanketing the entire area. The Dark Nether envoys, Luo Hao, Zhao Xin, and everyone else were covered. Not a single person escaped it.

The Nether Moon Envoy reacted in time and held his breath before quickly retreating, but plenty of the gray powder still clung to him. The powder had a strange ability to seep through the skin and into the body. His hands and feet went numb, and his heart sank. He hurriedly urged his essence to resist it.

The Nether Star Envoys weren't as vigilant. Many of them breathed in the Bone-Corroding Powder, and the poison in their lungs quickly took effect. In just a few seconds, their bodies went numb, their bones softened, and their strength drained away.

Luo Hao's expression changed sharply. He too had fallen victim to the powder and felt his strength ebbing. He rapidly circulated his essence through his body to resist the poison while glaring upward, cold light glinting in his eyes.

A lean figure suddenly emerged from the branches stretching over everyone's heads. His expression was indifferent as he dropped from the tree and landed beside the astonished Mu Yu Die. He casually handed her a medicine packet and said, "Breathe in the fragrance from the packet. It'll immediately neutralize the Bone-Corroding Powder."

"How could it be you?" Astonishment filled Mu Yu Die's beautiful face, bright as the moon. She had never imagined Shi Yan would be the one to descend from the sky.

She stared at him closely, even more surprised. Since their last meeting, Shi Yan had reached the Innate Realm. How many days had it been?

"Miss, you saved me twice—once unintentionally, once deliberately. I'll remember it." Shi Yan grinned. Seeing her take the packet, he added, "The Bone-Corroding Powder lasts for three hours. That's not long, but it's not short either. You should know what to do." A bone-chilling glint flashed through his dark eyes.

"I understand." Mu Yu Die caught his meaning. She wrinkled her delicate nose, inhaled deeply from the packet, then immediately handed it to Zhao Xin. "Quickly!"

The Nether Moon Envoy was circulating his essence to resist the poison. Seeing the situation turn against him, he barked coldly, "Attack! Seize the medicine packet! If Luo Hao and the others get rid of the poison, none of you will survive!"

After that cold command, he forcibly drove his essence through his body and charged at Luo Hao once more.

The Nether Star Envoys had also grasped the situation. Ignoring the poison, they hurried to encircle Zhao Xin and the others again, attacking sluggishly.

Zhao Xin hadn't even had time to take the medicine packet from Mu Yu Die when fierce attacks rained down from all sides.

His expression changed. He had no choice but to abandon the packet and focus all his attention on fending off the Nether Star Envoys' suicidal attacks.

Hu Long and Di Ya Lan were in the same predicament. Under the Nether Star Envoys' relentless assault, they couldn't even find time to breathe in the packet's fragrance.

Mu Yu Die held the medicine packet, but couldn't find an opening to pass it along. Anxiety slowly spread across her beautiful face, and for a moment she didn't know what to do.

With no other choice, Mu Yu Die turned to Shi Yan. The pleading look in her beautiful eyes grew more and more obvious.

Shi Yan's cultivation was not high, but with everyone poisoned by the Bone-Corroding Powder and Mu Yu Die unable to use even a trace of her essence, he suddenly became crucial.

Under Mu Yu Die's pleading gaze, Shi Yan smiled faintly and asked naturally, "I still don't know your name, miss."

"Mu Yu Die."

"That's a lovely name."

Shi Yan nodded and earnestly committed the name to memory. Under Mu Yu Die's gaze, he suddenly shot forward!

With a dagger in hand, Shi Yan plunged into the Nether Star Envoys. His face was cold as he slashed the dagger, sending out streak after streak of icy light.

One Nether Star Envoy, deeply affected by the Bone-Corroding Powder, instantly gained a deep gash across his throat and fell backward, staring up at the sky.

Shi Yan moved like a blade, darting through the Nether Star Envoys and leaving bloody gashes across their bodies.

"Uh..." Mu Yu Die tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, and her pretty face turned strange. "I only... I only wanted him to help pass the medicine packet."