Da Ming: I Swear in the Name of Sea God Tang San!

In the distance, the herb farmers who were performing their daily weeding in the plantation paused at the sound of the massive boom, looking up toward the horizon.

They saw a colossal explosion cloud rising slowly into the sky, where orange-red flames intertwined with thick, charcoal-gray smoke, appearing exceptionally terrifying against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds.

"W-what is that?!"

A farmer's voice trembled. Before he could recover from the shock, he saw three streaks of light cut across the sky.

Two streaks were in front, followed by one, all rushing toward the airspace above the explosion site at an astonishing speed.

The first two to arrive were middle-aged men, one burly and the other composed.

Behind them was an elderly man with white hair and beard, his face gaunt and his hunched frame seated in an exquisite wheelchair.

It was Mu En.

Mu En raised a withered hand and swept it downward.

Golden soul power surged out like a tide, sweeping away the rolling dust and flames below to reveal the full extent of the crater.

The entire crater was nearly a hundred meters in diameter and over thirty meters deep, its edges scorched by high heat until they turned to glass, reflecting a faint luster.

Mu En's gaze swept across the crater, and he quickly confirmed one thing.

No one was injured.

No one was dead.

Likewise, there were no clues to determine what had happened here.

The entity that caused the explosion was exceptionally skilled, having erased every trace that could be tracked.

Mu En's expression grew slightly solemn, and then his gaze shifted to the two figures at the edge of the crater, his eyes turning a bit more serious.

"I was unaware that the Grand Sect Master and the Second Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect had come to Shrek City."

His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of wariness.

Although the relationship between Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect had been good ten thousand years ago, the Clear Sky Sect had remained in seclusion for millennia, and that bond had long since faded.

Now, with an explosion occurring so close to Shrek City and the two Clear Sky Sect masters happening to be present, how could one not suspect a connection?

Da Ming looked into Mu En's cloudy yet sharp eyes and spoke calmly:

"It is indeed a lack of courtesy on my part not to have informed you in advance, but we are merely here to stay in Shrek City for a short time due to some matters."

Da Ming paused, then spoke quite decisively: "I can swear in the name of the Sea God Tang San that my brother and I have brought no malice to Shrek City. Once our business is concluded, we will leave immediately."

Mu En was taken aback.

Why had he sworn directly in the name of the Sea God Tang San?

This left Mu En somewhat at a loss.

He had only rushed over to investigate after suddenly sensing an extremely powerful energy fluctuation erupting near Shrek City.

Seeing Da Ming and Er Ming rushing toward the same spot on his way, he had inevitably felt a sense of vigilance, which led to his previous question.

Yet, who would have thought the other party would give him no chance to press further and simply swear an oath...

Mu En was silent for a moment, ultimately deciding not to pursue the matter.

After all, everyone knew that the Sea God Tang San possessed twin martial souls; aside from the Blue Silver Grass, the other was the Clear Sky Hammer, and he had even nearly become the Clear Sky Sect Master back in the day.

Since the other party had sworn by the Sea God Tang San, it was clearly a gesture of sincerity, and it would be impolite to press further.

Shaking his head, Mu En prepared to ask if they had discovered anything.

But the next moment, A suffocating, powerful aura descended abruptly!

Almost at the same instant, the expressions of Mu En, Da Ming, and Er Ming changed simultaneously.

Their postures shifted from relaxed to guarded, soul power surging rapidly within their bodies, ready to strike at any moment.

Not far away, the space tore open like shredded fabric, revealing a pitch-black rift.

A figure stepped directly out from within.

He wore a black robe embroidered with gilded dragon patterns; his build was burly, his face cold and majestic, and his pair of golden vertical pupils swept indifferently over everyone present.

Mu En's expression grew slightly grave:

"Di Tian..."

Di Tian glanced at Mu En indifferently, offering no response.

His golden vertical pupils lingered on the three of them for a moment before turning toward the massive crater below.

Raising his hand, Di Tian grabbed sharply at the void.

A wisp of golden energy, so faint it was nearly dissipated, was instantly drawn out from the depths of the crater. Like a tiny golden snake, it twisted and struggled at his fingertips before finally falling still.

In the distance, Mu En, Da Ming, and Er Ming recognized the nature of this energy simultaneously, with Mu En being the first to reach a conclusion.

This was at least an ultimate-level Light attribute, and it carried a powerful aura of sanctity and purification that far surpassed the level he occupied!

Di Tian lowered his eyes to look at the wisp of gold on his fingertip, then raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three of them in turn before finally landing on Mu En, pausing to scrutinize him before pulling away.

The reason he had come to this place was simple.

He had sensed the aura of the Gold of Life.

Years ago, a hundred-thousand-year Golden Hawksbill had disguised itself as a ten-thousand-year spirit beast, entered the Lake of Life, and stolen a piece of the Gold of Life right under his nose.

He had searched for years, but had always come up empty-handed.

Yet today, he had suddenly sensed the aura belonging to the Gold of Life erupting at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He had assumed he had finally found that cunning Golden Hawksbill, but who would have thought it seemed to be a stranger instead?

Furthermore, this stranger was extremely cautious; all traces had been wiped clean by this power of ultimate light.

Di Tian's fingertip flickered, and the wisp of golden energy dissipated into the air.

He raised his head, his golden vertical pupils locking onto the people present, his tone indifferent and majestic.

"Do you know what happened here?"

His voice carried a note of interrogation.

Er Ming frowned immediately, opening his mouth to speak, seemingly wanting to tell Di Tian to get lost.

However, before he could, Da Ming reached out to stop him, then spoke in a neither humble nor pushy manner.

"Lord Di Tian, we only arrived after sensing the explosion; we haven't discovered anything yet."

Di Tian did not respond.

His gaze fell upon Da Ming and Er Ming, sensing the power belonging to the divine level hidden deep within the bodies of these so-called "kin," and he fell into a brief silence.

Without another word, Di Tian turned and stepped directly into a spatial rift, his figure vanishing completely.

Since there was nothing to be gained, there was no need to linger.

One had to know that ever since The Master had suddenly awakened recently, she had solemnly warned them to avoid Shrek City as much as possible, and not to even go near certain areas on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

If not for the sudden sensing of the Gold of Life's aura, he never would have come here.

Feeling that suffocating dragon might vanish completely, the expressions of gravity on the faces of those present eased slightly.

Da Ming turned to look at Mu En and said slowly:

"Since there's nothing to be found, my brother and I will take our leave."

He paused, then added in a calm tone:

"If Pavilion Master Mu truly cannot set his mind at ease regarding my brother and me and wishes to have a talk, then come to the new blacksmith shop at the end of Blue Silver Street in Shrek City. My brother and I will welcome you."