The moment the cold laugh and bloodthirst started from the grey-robed elder, several white-robed men darted out from behind him. With a quick flick of their hands, several black spears swung and created multiple spear images that were hurled towards Mu Chen.
The cyan longsword flashed and a pitch-black Spiritual Energy burst outwards from Mu Chenâs body. The sword flickered with black flames and blocked all of the spear images that rained down on him.
Claang! Claaang!
The sword collided with the spears and burned them away with its black flames. These white-robed individuals werenât as strong as the four from before â they should be somewhere in the Heavenly Fusion Stage Middle Phase. However, their actions were extremely well coordinated. Even a Heavenly Fusion Stage Late Phase might get killed in a fight against them.
Mu Chen looked up at the grey-robed elder, who was staring back at him with the eyes of a venomous snake. This Heavenly Transform Stage Initial Phase old bat was the one Mu Chen truly feared. Such power was quite overbearing with his current cultivation. This old man would be a great threat, if he decided to move against him.
Mu Chen had no backup, at present, and it was unlikely that heâd be able to carve an escape route out, like last time. His situation was especially un-reassuring.
Several others nearby had noticed the confrontation between Mu Chen and the members of White Dragon City. However, they only afforded a cursory glance, before they took the initiative to leave the area. It was clear that they didnât want to get themselves involved.
âI must find an opportunity to escape.â Mu Chen frowned. They should be within the vicinity of the Sovereign Spirit Treasury, so, if he started a fight with Bai Dong right now, there would be too many unstable factors. He couldnât tell if there were going to be more reinforcements from White Dragon City. On top of that, he had to stay wary of the others, who were eyeing him like tigers watching their prey.
âTrying to escape?â
Mu Chen flicked his eyes towards the grey-robed elder, who darkly smiled back at him. Then, something flashed in the elderâs eyes. He clenched his dried-up fists as a powerful Spiritual Energy surged into an arc of light and formed into a long spear. The Spiritual Energy of the arc throbbed and gave it an astonishing might.
âThe old fellow is about to act!â
Mu Chenâs face couldnât help to changed as he retreated.
The grey-robed elder stepped forward with a cold smile on his face. Then, his image turned fuzzy for a moment, as if it was formed from wisps of smoke. Within a few steps, heâd closed the empty space between himself and Mu Chen.
Mu Chen cheerlessly pushed his Shadowspirit Step as far as it could go; however, the old man still managed to catch up. Whatever Spiritual Art this old man practiced, it clearly surpassed the Shadowspirit Step.
âBlack Dragon Spear!â
The dark spear in the elderâs hand vibrated and exploded with a brilliant light as it lunged forward. The majestic Spiritual Energy moved like a black dragon and swiped at Mu Chen. A sharp bloodthirst whipped past him.
Mu Chen didnât dare to pause as the shocking gale blew past him. Instead, he raised his hand and the Nine-layered Pagoda materialised and swelled in size, becoming a pagoda-shield between them.
Baaaang!
The long spear smashed into the Nine-layered Pagoda, causing it to tremble with a metallic clash. The force of the impact flowed towards Mu Chen and made his blood and qi surge.
âHmm?â
The grey-robed elder made a sound of surprise. Not even a Heavenly Fusion Stage Late Phase should be able to withstand that attack; however, this youth had managed it with the help of this strange black pagoda.
âSeal this entire area. I want to see how long he can last.â That grey-robed elder coldly ordered. His eyes focused as he took another step forward. His majestic Spiritual Energy circulated as he released his Heavenly Transform Stage power in an explosive burst of strength. The black spear in his hands stabbed out with an air-ripping speed, causing waves on the surface of the magma lake.
Mu Chen mobilised his Shadowspirit Step to dodge the grey elderâs increasingly ferocious attacks. Once again, he sent the Nine-layered Pagoda out to withstood the attacks.
But if this goes on, heâd be thoroughly suppressed.
âElder Qiu, remember not to kill him. I donât want him dying so easily!â Bai Dong stood outside their range, savagely glaring at the disadvantaged Mu Chen.
âRest assured, Young City Lord. I wonât let him escape.â the grey-robed elder darkly smiled as a chill revealed itself in his eyes. His attacks intensified even further.
Mu Chen made a jolty retreat, with a gloomy expression on his face. The old manâs overbearing posture had provoked his anger.
Mu Chen felt pressured by the old manâs Heavenly Transform Stage Initial Phase strength, but he also knew that he would have to suffer the consequences of going all out.
âHey, old fart, if you want to play, then Iâll play with you!â
There was a murkiness in Mu Chenâs eyes as he started forming seals with both hands. The seals quickly came into being with a surge of frighteningly powerful Spiritual Energy ripples.
âHmm?â The grey-robed elder sensed the Spiritual Energy ripples and focused on them. So, this brat really does have some tricks up his sleeve. No wonder he managed to kill the four Demonic Dragon Guards.
The moment before Mu Chen executed his Four Gods Constellation Scripture, he stole a glance at the boiling magma. A trace of shock suddenly flashed through his previously cold eyes.
Even though Mu Chenâs attention had been split, the speed at which he formed his seals didnât slow for even a moment.
âBrat, youâre reckless to split your attention while fighting me!â
The grey-robed elder had noticed the diversion of Mu Chenâs attention and he turned into a strand of fuzzy smoke that reappeared above Mu Chen with lightning speed. Waves of Spiritual Energy moved through the black spear as it cut downwards.
At the same time, the Nine-layered Pagoda appeared above Mu Chen and rapidly expanded.
Claaaang!
The elderâs fierce attack drove into the pagoda, which turned dull and quickly shrank, before it crashed into Mu Chen.
Mu Chen suffered from heavy blow and tumbled backwards into the magma with a âpfff!â
The waves of magma lapped upwards as Mu Chen disappeared beneath them.
The grey-robed elder stood in the sky, watching the magma lake in surprise. Could that brat really have died just like that?
Bai Dong quickly flew over to him with a wary expression. He clenched his fist and said, âThat brat wonât die so easily. Fish him out! Iâll grind his bones to dust!â
The grey-robed elder shook his head and replied, âYoung City Lord, this lake is filled with flame miasma. Even if one can withstood the magma itself with their Spiritual Energy, they will still be corroded away by the flame miasma. That brat fell in; his death is certain.
Bai Dongâs face twisted with refusal. He hated Mu Chen down to his bones and still had plans for ruthlessly torturing him. He didnât expect Mu Chen to simply die like that.
âWeâll stand guard here. If he does survive, heâs certain not to stay in there for long. The moment he reappears, weâll capture him.â The grey-robed elder replied as he swept an eye over the magma lake.
Bai Dong nodded and gritted his teeth. âLittle trash, you better not die so quickly!â
They took separate positions in the air as they probed the surface of the lake with their senses. However, they were ultimately left bewildered and empty-handed after guarding the area for a full ten minutes, without a sign of Mu Chen.
âThat brat definitely died in there,â the grey-robed elder solemnly declared. There was no way he couldâve survived after so long. Not to mention that the brat was still a Heavenly Fusion Stage Initial Phase.
Bai Dong whipped his sleeves around.
âYoung City Lord, let us reconvene with the City Lord. Obtaining the treasures left behind by the White Dragon Sovereign is still of utmost importance,â the elder said.
Bai Dong could only nod his head as he glanced at the magma lakeâs one last time, before reluctantly leaving.
Bai Dong left, clearly not knowing that Mu Chen â who he thought to be dead â was still hiding out in the depths of the magma lake. His body was shrouded in black flames. With the Nine Netherflame guarding him, the magma was no threat at all; the so-called flame miasma couldnât get through its guard.
Mu Chen swam around in the scarlet magma, constantly keeping an eye out for dangers. The Nine Nether Bird had reported that itâd discovered peculiar ripples coming from deeper down.
It was highly possible that those ripples were coming from the Fire Celestial Lotus!
Thatâs why Mu Chen had seized the opportunity to escape the grey-robed elder by diving into the magma lake. This way, he could spend his time searching for the Fire Celestial Lotus, instead.
âThat old fart. The next time we meet, Iâll give you a taste of my moves.â Mu Chen coldly snorted to himself. If there hadnât been other things holding him back, how could he have let himself be suppressed like that? If Mu Chen had gone all out, then that old fart would either be dead, or have had a layer of his hide scraped off. However, the exchange wouldâve been exhausting on Mu Chenâs part.
Mu Chen didnât slow his search as these thoughts circulated through his heart. The deeper he dived into the magma lake, the stronger the heat became. The temperature at this depth was even starting to penetrate the defenses of the Nine Netherflame.
If this went on, then Mu Chen wouldnât be able to continue, with or without the Nine Netherflameâs protection.
âTwo hundred meters down, on your right.â The Nine Nether Birdâs voice suddenly sounded.
Mu Chen acknowledged the voice with a change of expression and immediately headed towards the direction the Nine Nether Bird had indicated.In a few moments later, he looked up ahead with an expression of excitement on his face.
The scarlet magma was boiling harder over here. In the center of it all floated a rainbow-coloured lotus. Not even the magma could approach the brilliant rainbow colors that glowed from it.
A strange fragrance spread through the area and seemed to disperse the heat that had built up in Mu Chenâs body.
Mu Chen studied the rainbow lotus that was deep in the magma with an expression of exhilaration. This was the Fire Celestial Lotus that heâd been searching for!