"Sorry, everyone. I took too much for granted," Mu Chen apologized.
"It's all right. At least you offered another approach." Mu Feng ruffled Mu Chen's hair to comfort him.
"Are there any other ways?" a city lord from the Mu Domain asked from beside them.
"I have one." As he spoke, Su Qing walked to the edge of the swamp.
Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends: Command Birds, Gather Beasts!
The nearby Black Poison Crocodiles swam through the swamp to Su Qing's feet, one after another. Their murderous gazes turned docile.
The people of the Mu Domain watched, dumbstruck.
"Let's go. No time to waste. Don't stray too far from me. My cultivation limits this spell's range." With that, Su Qing stepped onto a Black Poison Crocodile.
Once everyone had taken their places, Su Qing tapped his foot lightly, and the Black Poison Crocodile beneath him led the others toward the opposite shore.
"The eldest young master has the powers of an immortal!"
One of the Mu Domain's skilled fighters murmured to the man beside him.
"Exactly. With someone like him leading us, how could the Mu Domain fail to prosper?"
Listening to his subordinates heap praise on Su Qing, Mu Feng felt deeply gratified.
Before long, everyone had crossed the swamp, and Su Qing sent the Black Poison Crocodiles back.
As Mu Feng and the others crossed the swamp and headed deeper into the Black Nether Abyss, several murderous gazes watched them from above, atop a distant cliff.
"Big Brother..."
Liu Ming stared in Mu Feng's direction, his face ashen, and hesitated to speak.
"No matter. Let them hop around a little longer."
Liu Qing spoke calmly, but the killing intent in his words sent a chill down the spine.
Liu Qing was somewhat surprised himself. He had not expected everyone from the Mu Domain to cross the swamp completely unscathed.
Then a savage smile spread across his face.
Mu Feng, oh, Mu Feng. Don't think your smooth sailing so far can compare to all the time our Liu Domain has spent preparing and scouting this place.
I have a grand gift waiting for you up ahead.
After crossing the swamp, the people of the Mu Domain pressed deeper into the Black Nether Abyss.
They grew increasingly cautious as they advanced. Many high-level Spirit Beasts inhabited the depths of the Black Nether Abyss, and disturbing even one or two would cause enormous trouble for their party.
Nor could they underestimate the threat from the Liu Domain. If a clash broke out, even victory would come with heavy casualties.
Several times, the party spotted Spirit Beasts ahead. Rather than attack, they detoured around them.
Only after a long while did they emerge from the forest.
Beyond the woods, a black mountain towered before them. Several enormous fissures spread across its slopes like a demon's smile, with shrill cries echoing out from time to time.
"This should be the central region of the Black Nether Abyss."
Mu Feng looked up at the mountain as he spoke.
"Many high-level Spirit Beasts live in there. Even the faintest scent of blood will bring trouble."
Su Qing and the others grew even more tense.
"Move out. Be careful." Mu Feng took a deep breath as he spoke.
With a wave of his hand, Mu Feng darted forward, taking the lead into the fissure.
Su Qing and the others followed cautiously behind him.
Inside the fissure, the lingering deathly miasma and the mountains blocking out the light on either side made it especially dark and damp. Black moss covered the surrounding rock walls, making them exceedingly slippery.
This forced Su Qing's party to tread even more carefully to avoid any mishaps.
They flitted through the shadows, avoiding every place that might harbor traces of Spirit Beasts. Mu Feng, Su Qing, and the others remained tense and poised to act, ready for any sudden turn of events.
Their cautious journey passed without incident, allowing some members of the party to breathe quiet sighs of relief.
Yet that smooth progress also brought a hint of unease. A journey that went too smoothly was like the last meal before an execution, with deadly danger lurking beneath it.
Su Qing frowned as well. Before long, he raised a hand to halt the party and told Mu Feng, "Something feels wrong. Stop here for a moment."
"I'll conceal myself and scout ahead. Be careful."
With that, Su Qing cast an invisibility spell, climbed onto the rock walls flanking them, and crept silently along the rocks.
Soon, a broad clearing between the mountains appeared ahead of him. It lay at the meeting point of three peaks, surrounded by sheer cliffs, with only a few fissures offering passage.
Su Qing crouched behind a rock. Clear light swirled in his eyes as he scanned his surroundings, and he sensed something amiss in one of the fissures.
He stared intently for a while before one of the Liu Domain's hired fighters betrayed his presence, allowing Su Qing to spot him.
So the Liu Domain's men are lying in ambush there.
Su Qing still had some recollection of this place. The Liu Domain's men should have prepared jars of blood, intending to lure high-level Spirit Beasts into attacking the Mu Domain.
Unfortunately for them, Mu Chen had resolved the danger by using the Spirit-Insect Flute and black liquid he found on the black tree to lure Spirit-Devouring Bees.
But Su Qing could not guarantee they would overcome the danger the same way this time. He had killed Liu Mubai, and there was no telling whether Liu Qing would go mad.
At that thought, Su Qing made up his mind and continued creeping forward.
Some time later, Su Qing reached the rock wall above the Liu Domain's party and took in everyone below.
Beside several of the Liu Domain's skilled fighters stood large earthenware jars, their mouths tightly sealed and their surfaces coated with wax. They presumably held the fresh blood meant to lure the Spirit Beasts.
A sinister smile tugged at Su Qing's lips as he looked at the jars, an idea forming in his mind.
How should I deal with this?
By turning their own methods against them!
"Wondrous true void, Lord Zhao of Divine Heaven."
"Drive thunder and lightning, send forth fire and wind."
"What god would not submit..."
Compendium of the Way of Magic-Divine Heaven Method.
A thunderbolt struck down from the highest heavens and exploded beside the earthenware jars.
The thunderbolt blasted a crater more than ten feet deep into the rock wall. Shattered stones, still trailing wisps of lightning, tore into the Liu Domain's party, sending severed limbs flying.
The flying stones also smashed the jars. Their blood mingled with the severed limbs of the Liu Domain's men, producing a thick, bloody stench.
Liu Qing's expression changed violently. His face turned livid, his eyes bulged, and blood flooded their whites.
With the fall of a single thunderbolt, his scheme had died in the womb. Now he was the one forced to swallow its bitter fruit.
Liu Qing swept his bloodshot eyes over the surroundings, trying to find the culprit, but found nothing.
The moment the thunderbolt struck, Su Qing had used his rudimentary Five Elements Escape Technique to conceal himself inside the rock wall and slowly make his way back.
"Heh... hahahaha!" Liu Qing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, the sound steeped in bitter defiance.
After all his planning, first the Copper Fragment had been snatched away, then his beloved son had been killed. This expedition had all but failed, and his men had suffered heavy losses.
Yet there was no way to judge who was right or wrong.
From opposing sides, what meaning did right and wrong have?
As the bloody scent spread, several roars rang out between the mountains. Judging by the spiritual energy rippling through those cries, several high-level Spirit Beasts were already on their way.
The sound of rushing air drew nearer, and two trails of dust rose in the distance.
By now, the Liu Domain's men had lost all heart.
"Big Brother." Liu Zong's face was deathly pale, but his voice carried grim resolve.
"Get out of here. I'll hold off these two vile beasts."
"Second Brother!" Liu Qing's heart truly bled now. There was no trace of a smile left on his face, nor even tears-only a terrifying expression.
"Go!" Liu Zong roared.
"Fine. We'll go," Liu Qing rasped. "Everyone, move!"
Then Liu Qing led the Liu Domain's men toward the deepest reaches of the Black Nether Abyss.
Liu Zong, the Liu Family's second master, stood between the two high-level Spirit Beasts and the Liu Domain's party.
Some time later, a tremendous explosion sounded behind the fleeing party. A clear tear trickled from the corner of Liu Qing's eye, only to be swept away by the wind rushing against his face.