"Um, excuse me, I think I should go now."
I won't be attending your victory celebration! Enjoy your meal and drinks, and contact me if there's any emergency.
Chen Mu came to Suspended Sword Pass this time to see how the battle was going and to lend a hand if necessary. After all, a general like Wei Shuang, who was dedicated to the country and its people, was worth befriending.
In the past two days, he had investigated everything he needed to, and even caused some trouble for the Otherworldly Demon, thus completely achieving his goal.
There was no point in staying here, so he simply said goodbye to Wei Shuang.
"Huh? Chen Mu, you're the main character at this celebration banquet, how can you leave at this time?"
Wei Shuang's expression changed, and she looked unhappy.
" Wei Shuang, I appreciate your kind gesture! But I really have something to do, and I don't like crowded occasions. Please drink a few extra glasses for me then."
Chen Mu has his own plans for doing things and doesn't intend to consult with others. He pointed to the communication jade pendant at his waist and smiled.
"Just let me know if you need anything. That's all for now, goodbye!"
After Chen Mu finished speaking, his body gradually became ethereal, and then with a whoosh, he vanished into the void.
"Let's go then! It's getting late, and it's dangerous to stay here any longer."
After Chen Mu left, Wei Shuang remained expressionless and gestured for everyone to depart.
Although Wei Shuang appeared calm on the surface, the more composed she was, the more frightened the three generals became. They couldn't help but curse Chen Mu inwardly for being so ungrateful.
After Chen Mu and Wei Shuang parted ways, they did not immediately leave the territory of the Otherworldly Demon.
Instead, he circled the forest below a few times, caught a few zombies already infected with the T1 Virus, froze them, and put them into his spatial wrist.
These are excellent experimental samples. After bringing them back to Chen Xuejun, they will be very helpful in studying the variant strains of the virus. I believe that the T2 or T3 virus will be available soon.
Because viruses can mutate constantly, Chen Mu wasn't worried about exposing them at all. In any case, if he wanted to, the virus would mutate faster than they could come up with a solution.
The virus release was more effective than he had imagined. Although almost all the zombies in the Otherworldly Demon army were killed, many zombies still managed to escape.
If the Otherworldly Demon generals don't act quickly enough, they could cause them another big problem in a while. In that case, Suspended Sword Pass would probably be safe for a long time.
"Hmm! It's about time to the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion."
Chen Mu's determination to take action against the Otherworldly Demon stemmed from the danger faced by the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion. Therefore, he was determined to personally visit the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion before taking action.
Chen Mu had mixed feelings about the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion. He learned the knowledge he needed most there, but in the end, he was expelled because of some outdated dogmas.
Perhaps this is true of everything in the world: after prosperity comes decay, just as after a bountiful autumn, only decaying fallen leaves remain.
Beneath a towering, majestic mountain peak, there is a steep stone staircase that extends downwards for seven or eight kilometers before reaching the foot of the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain stands a massive stone gate, with three prominent characters carved in the center above it: Heaven-Questioning Pavilion.
Below the mountain gate, there is a stone staircase over a hundred meters long, leading to a vast open space.
The open space was large and extremely quiet at the moment, so quiet that not even a small animal or bird could be seen, making it seem somewhat eerie and unsettling.
Whoosh!
A frail-looking man in a blue robe stepped out of the void and appeared before the stone steps at the foot of the mountain gate.
Nine years have passed in the blink of an eye!
Chen Mu looked up at the familiar mountain gate above, and memories flashed through his mind, a smile appearing on his face.
He walked uphill step by step and soon arrived at the mountain gate.
"Master Long... Brother Long, we meet again!"
Why are you alone? Where are the other disciples?
A man dressed in white disciple robes stood quietly in front of the mountain gate. Chen Mu recognized him as Long Yin, the disciple who had been guarding the mountain gate for many years.
He subconsciously wanted to call him "Senior Brother," but then he remembered that he was no longer a disciple of the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion, so he changed his address.
"Heh, they're worried about the Otherworldly Demon attacking, so none of them are willing to guard this place, leaving me all alone."
Long Yin smiled, seemingly unperturbed by the situation.
"And you? Weren't you kicked out? Why are you back?"
Chen Mu and his group caused such a stir at the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion back then, they couldn't help but become famous. I bet there are still very few people in the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion who don't know him.
"Let's not talk about the past! I just came to see everyone."
Chen Mu shook his head and looked up at the stone steps in front of him.
"Hehe, let's go up!"
"There have been quite a few people like you lately, I'm too lazy to announce them all one by one."
Long Yin immediately stepped aside, gesturing for Chen Mu to enter.
Logically, when outsiders visit, the disciples guarding the mountain gate should report to the elders. Unexpectedly, Long Yin skipped this step, clearly showing that he completely trusted Chen Mu.
"Thanks!"
Chen Mu smiled and nodded, then strode towards the summit.
The Heaven-Questioning Pavilion is heavily guarded on the outside but loosely protected on the inside, with a powerful series of arrays protecting it. Even Chen Mu in his current state would have to put in some effort to sneak in silently, which is why he chose to go up from the mountain gate.
Perhaps because of the protective array, the path up the mountain remained unchanged, with lush greenery and abundant vegetation still lining both sides of the stone steps.
However, compared to before, this place was much quieter. Apart from Long Yin, Chen Mu did not encounter any other disciples along the way.
Chen Mu quickened his pace, and after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he finally reached the top of the front mountain.
The scene before him was quite different from the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion he had seen before.
The former Hall of Worship was magnificent with its carved beams and jade pillars, but now, the roof has several large holes, and bricks and beams are scattered all around, clearly indicating that a major battle has taken place inside.
In the distance, the misty mountain peaks had many empty spaces in between, and many of the iron chain bridges that connected these peaks were broken.
From a distance, they look like rows of thick-haired backs of heads with large holes dug out by razors, appearing comical and bizarre.
"What a pity."
Chen Mu shook his head and focused his gaze on the floating landmass in the distance.
That is the inner cabinet, the true center of the Heaven-Questioning Pavilion.
However, even there, the detached feeling of the past is gone. The landmass is full of craters, and some black smoke can be seen drifting. It is clear that the cabinet has not yet fully recovered.