What Should We Do When Cannon Fodder Gains Self-Awareness?

Black Nether Abyss!

Located in the southern part of the Northern Spirit Territory, it was remote and occupied by countless Spirit Beasts. Normally, almost no one came here.

Whoosh, whoosh—

Two sharp gusts howled through the air as two figures darted across the distant horizon, swiftly approaching the outskirts of Black Nether Abyss.

Not long after,

Qing Luo and Xu Mu, clad in black robes, appeared at the outskirts of Black Nether Abyss.

They landed beside a black swamp.

Black Nether Abyss was shrouded in Deadly Miasma all year round, with thick fog blanketing the entire region.

Just gazing down at the abyss before him,

Qing Luo felt a chill run down his spine, as though something dangerous was watching him.

After returning yesterday,

Qing Luo had set out for Black Nether Abyss with Xu Mu. They first used a Teleportation Array to reach the Flame Region south of the Northern Spirit Territory.

Then they rode swift horses.

When they reached an area several dozen miles from Black Nether Abyss, the horses refused to move any farther, so they could only rely on movement techniques while riding to rush the rest of the way.

Even so, it had taken them a full day and night to arrive.

"Young Master, Black Nether Abyss lies ahead. There's a passage there that leads inside, one the Liu Region people haven't discovered yet."

"Judging by the dense fog ahead, tomorrow will be the best time to enter!"

Xu Mu pointed at the Primeval Forest shrouded in thick mist ahead.

"Fine. Let's rest first. The Mu Region people should be here soon."

Qing Luo nodded.

The two of them then found a place to settle down and rest for the time being.

While they waited,

Qing Luo did not idle about. He silently memorized the Route Map Xu Mu had drawn during his previous exploration of Black Nether Abyss.

Aside from the several known entrances into Black Nether Abyss in the outer region,

the greatest value of this Route Map was the secret paths it recorded after entering the abyss.

Compared to the Route Maps available in the Northern Spirit Territory,

the Route Map Xu Mu had produced could get them into the depths of Black Nether Abyss a full day sooner.

Of course,

the routes marked on the map were also extremely dangerous. There were four recorded locations inhabited by High Grade Spirit Beasts alone.

After so many years,

Qing Luo could not guarantee how many Spirit Beasts might be lurking along this route.

The following evening,

"Young Master, the Liu Region people have already entered Black Nether Abyss, but the Mu Region people still haven't arrived. Could something have happened?"

Xu Mu relayed the information he had gathered to Qing Luo.

While waiting, Qing Luo had been consolidating his cultivation and memorizing the Route Map.

Meanwhile, Xu Mu had been secretly monitoring every move made by the Liu Region!

Seeing no sign of Mu Region experts on the horizon, Qing Luo could not help frowning deeply.

Given the relationship between the Mu Region and the Liu Region,

Mu Feng was no fool. He would never sit back and let the Liu Region grow stronger.

Not to mention the temptation of the Nine Nether Sparrow...

Yet the Mu Region people still had not appeared. Had something gone wrong?!

"How many people did the Liu Region bring?"

Qing Luo asked.

"All three of the Liu Region's leaders have mobilized. Aside from them, there are over ten Spirit Wheel Realm Experts and several dozen Spirit Movement Stage experts!"

Xu Mu reported.

"With such a lineup, the Liu Region has practically mobilized everything they have. They really spared no expense..."

Qing Luo said indifferently. "We're done waiting!"

"We ran into some trouble on the road. I hope Young Master Qing Luo will forgive us!"

Just as Qing Luo was preparing to enter Black Nether Abyss,

a deep voice echoed through the area.

Screech—

As a piercing eagle cry rang out, a massive Dragon Flame Eagle appeared in sight.

Whoosh, whoosh—

Ferocious winds blasted toward them.

In an instant, the Flame Dragon Eagle landed not far in front of Qing Luo.

When Qing Luo saw the figures standing on the Flame Dragon Eagle's back,

especially Mu Chen standing beside Mu Feng, his expression immediately darkened.

The Liu Region people were not much trouble in this plan to seize the Nine Nether Sparrow.

The only real trouble was the Mu Region.

More precisely, Mu Chen!

In the original story, Mu Chen had relied on his immense fortune to be chosen by the Nine Nether Sparrow after its failed evolution.

To keep Mu Chen from interfering at a critical moment,

Qing Luo had sought cooperation with the Mu Region not only to use their people as cannon fodder, but also to cut off Mu Chen's chance to come to Black Nether Abyss.

No other experts were to be brought. Only Divine Soul Realm cultivators would explore Black Nether Abyss. That had been one of Qing Luo's conditions for cooperation.

But now,

Mu Feng had unilaterally broken that agreement...

Not only had he brought many Mu Region experts, he had also brought the troublesome Mu Chen.

"Mu Region Lord, this doesn't seem to match our agreement."

Qing Luo asked calmly, looking at the Spirit Wheel Realm and peak Spirit Movement Stage cultivators behind Mu Feng.

"I heard that the Liu Region also brought many people this time. To be safe, I brought some of the Mu Region's finest. Young Master Qing Luo shouldn't mind, should you?"

Mu Feng asked with a faint smile.

"Mu Region Lord, what a bold move. Since you're not worried about them running into danger, naturally I have no objection."

Qing Luo sneered.

He could sense that Mu Feng's attitude toward him was more distant than it had been yesterday.

Although Mu Feng still wore a smile on the surface, the wariness beneath it was undisguised.

Combined with the hostility Mu Chen had shown him from the moment he appeared, Qing Luo roughly guessed that this was a consequence of taking out the Copper Token.

As expected!

Fortune's Children were the hardest to deal with.

No matter what plans he made in advance, things would somehow return to their original course.

However, Qing Luo had already broken through to the Divine Soul Realm. He had plenty of time and methods to slowly play with this Fortune's Child.

If the Mu Region knew what was good for them and did not oppose him, all would be well.

But if the Mu Region dared to attack him, Qing Luo would not mind letting them bleed a little in Black Nether Abyss!

As Qing Luo pondered,

Mu Feng took out several pills from his Mustard Seed Bracelet that could ward off the Deadly Miasma of Black Nether Abyss and handed them to the Mu Region experts behind him one by one.

"Young Master Qing Luo, these pills can ward off poisonous miasma. Would you like one as well?"

Mu Feng asked with a smile.

"No need. We brought our own."

Qing Luo took out the pills he had prepared beforehand and swallowed one.

Seeing this,

Mu Feng put away the pills and quietly said to Zhou Ye behind him,

"Once we enter Black Nether Abyss, keep a close eye on Qing Luo. Don't let him leave our sight."

"Alright!"

Zhou Ye nodded without changing his expression.

"In that case, Young Master Qing Luo, shall we set out and enter Black Nether Abyss?"

Mu Feng looked at Qing Luo and asked.

"Fine!"

Qing Luo replied.

Having reached an agreement, Qing Luo headed toward Black Nether Abyss in the distance together with the Mu Region people.

After entering Black Nether Abyss,

the surrounding temperature instantly turned icy. The Primeval Forest beneath the thick fog was filled with danger and the unknown at every turn.

Even though Qing Luo had already stepped into the Divine Soul Realm,

he remained completely focused after entering, without the slightest hint of carelessness.

Qing Luo and Xu Mu remained within the Mu Region's group, with no intention of leaving the team for now.

Qing Luo knew

that the hidden dangers in the outskirts of Black Nether Abyss were merely appetizers. Once they reached the depths of Black Nether Abyss, that would be when he began to act.

As they continued deeper,

their group encountered several dangers.

The people Mu Feng had brought were all seasoned experts. Qing Luo did not need to lift a finger before they resolved those threats.

However, the frequency of the dangers they encountered only continued to increase.

It was as though someone had set their sights on them.

In less than half an hour, they had already suffered five or six waves of Spirit Beast attacks.

Quite a few Mu Region experts had fallen...

Mu Feng, Zhou Ye, and the others looked extremely grim.

Clearly, Mu Feng had not expected such frequent attacks in only the outer region.

"There's something wrong with this route. This is only the outskirts of Black Nether Abyss, but we're being attacked far too often."

Xu Mu murmured into Qing Luo's ear.

"It's not abnormal. Someone has their eyes on us!"

Qing Luo's gaze shifted toward a spot ahead, faint light rippling through his eyes.

With the help of his Double Pupils, the dense fog of Black Nether Abyss posed no obstruction to Qing Luo.

He could see figures belonging to Liu Region experts moving not far ahead.

The Liu Region had moved quickly indeed...

They had not gone much farther,

when Mu Feng suddenly raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.

"So you noticed... As expected of a peak Divine Soul Realm expert. I thought I could have a little more fun."

Noticing Mu Feng's action, a trace of disappointment appeared on Qing Luo's face.

"Liu Qingtian, since when did you become so fond of hiding your head and showing your tail?"

Mu Feng shouted sharply.

"What..."

"There are Liu Region people here?!"

At his words,

everyone tensed up and hurriedly gripped their blades, scanning their surroundings.

"You Mu Region bastards, you injured my son. Die!"