Mu Chen held his indifferent expression as he appeared before Bai Dong in a flash. His fingers twitched and a cyan longsword appeared. Without a momentâs hesitation, the blade became shrouded with Spiritual Energy that burned black and aimed towards Bai Dongâs throat.
Bai Dongâs facial expression changed at Mu Chenâs sudden action; but fortunately for him, he wasnât weak. Even though he hadnât reached the Heavenly Transform Stage yet, he was a Heavenly Fusion Stage Late Phase and had the strength to back it up. He snarled with fury and punched as his Spiritual Energy soared.
âSky Crumbling Demonic Dragon Fist!â
His Spiritual Energy surged as his fist travelled forward like a massive black demonic dragon uncoiling its body. The force of the movement seemed as if it could turn the sky to dust. It was clear that Bai Dongâs Spiritual Energy wasnât an ordinary one.
The chill in Mu Chenâs eyes grew even colder as he switched from blade to fist. Six Limitless Death Seals formed in an instant, causing the natural Spiritual Energy around them to roil violently. Like six rays of dark of light, they streaked through the air and met Bai Dongâs Demonic Dragon Fist in a hard collision.
Boom!
The sound of the collision thundered as the violent spiritual ripples spread out. For a moment, Bai Dongâs face had turned ghostly pale, but then a dark red flush smeared across his face. He coughed up a mouthful of blood as he flew backwards.
Mu Chenâs six Limitless Death Seals at full force could even withstand an attack from the grey-robed elder â a Heavenly Transform Stage Initial Phase. Bai Dong wanted to defeat it with his Heavenly Fusion Late Phase cultivation? Simply a fantasy.
âYou said want to kill me? Iâm afraid youâre not capable of that!â
Mu Chen coldly smiled with a sharp edge to it. In a flash, heâd burst forward and appeared before Bai Dong again, and the cyan longsword in his hands ruthlessly stabbed towards the latterâs throat.
Cries of surprise rose from everyone watching the scene from around the rim of the black basin. How could this youth be so ruthless? He even dared to kill Bai Dong? Didnât he fear the wrath of White Dragon City?
The grey-robed elderâs face took on a drastically different expression. âYou dare!?â
But there was too much distance between them. He couldnât assist in time.
Mu Chen ignored him as he looked down on Bai Dong, who was watching the sword bear down on him with a face full of shock.
This was a guy whoâd always fulfilled his grudges. Itâd be better for Mu Chen to eliminate him early and avoid any future twists and turns.
Shuuuu!
Mu Chenâs sword edge was sharp; heâd reached Bai Dong in only an instant. However, just before he could land the killing blow, an exquisitely fine light burst from within the group white-robed White Dragon City experts.
Ding!
A violent gale tore through the sky and clashed against Mu Chenâs blade with astonishing swiftness. Mu Chenâs blade trembled under the galeâs strength and he even retreated two steps.
âWho?!â
He swept his eyes over the white robes with an annoyed and dangerous chill in his eyes. Suddenly, his eyes pinpointed the source and he laughed loudly. âSo itâs the City Lord of White Dragon City! Since youâre here, why donât you show yourself? Why run and hide? Were you trying to take advantage of our distraction and steal the Sovereign Spirit Treasury?â
His voice, wrapped in Spiritual Energy, resounded throughout the heavens and earth. The booming quality of it shocked many of those present at the site and they widened their eyes in disbelief. Especially those from the Earthen Way Set and Heavenly Dipper Sword Faction. The City Lord had personally shown up?
The grey-robed elderâs expression changed at Mu Chenâs challenge. Was this kid trying to provoke Bai Dong?
Numerous pairs of eyes scrutinised the crowd of white robes, and under their watchful gazes, a single figure stepped forward. He removed his white robe to reveal the face of a middle-aged man â it really was the City Lord of White Dragon City, Bai Xuan!
Bai Xuan lightly smiled. âWhat a deep scheming youth.â
His eyes were filled with a cold light as he stared back at Mu Chen. Heâd originally intended to hide himself â he never expected to be forced out by a kid like this.
Mu Chen glared back. âIt looks like your White Dragon City is determined to obtain this Sovereign Spirit Treasury.â
Mu Chen could sense a tyrannical Spiritual Energy rippling from this man. He must be a Heavenly Transform Stage Middle Phase at the very least â no doubt extremely powerful.
Bai Xuan smiled as if it was a given. âOf course, we must do our best to win such fantastic treasures.â He shook his head. âSince youâve forced me to show myself, I must show you my appreciation.â
The moment his words landed, the glint in Bai Xuanâs eyes turned sharp and an astonishingly powerful surge of Spiritual Energy burst like a gale from his body. He stepped forward, his movements were like that of a ghost, and headed straight for Mu Chen.
Mu Chenâs expression changed as he retreated.
âCan you even escape?â
Bai Xuan coldly smiled. In a flash, heâd caught up to Mu Chen and threw out a palm. The Spiritual Energy surged like a tidal wave, stretching continuously in a multitude of directions. There was a never-ending chorus of explosions.
Mu Chen backed off, too cautious to go head-to-head against such power. With a will of his intent, the Stone Guardian appeared before him, stepped forward, and pounded its fist down on Bai Xuan.
Dong!
Mu Chen could feel the reverberations from the collisions as the Stone Guardian was sent sailing backwards.
Mu Chenâs expression turned grave at that. Bai Xuan was truly powerful â no wonder he was the City Lord of White Dragon City. The Stone Guardian was forced to retreat after taking only one of his fists.
âSomething that weak wonât be able to protect your puny little life.â Bai Xuan explained with an expressionless face as he pressed forward again. His fingers formed a claw as he swiped downwards.
âHeaven Tearing Demonic Dragon Claw!â
Boom!
The five fingers raked through the sky, as if tearing the space down with it. Bai Xuanâs âHeaven Tearing Demonic Dragon Clawâ was far more powerful than the grey-robed elderâs.
Mu Chenâs cold expression concentrated on Bai Xuanâs ferocious attacks as he put his hands together in preparations to circulate his Spiritual Art. But before he could execute it, a torrent of spiritual light poured from behind him, shrouding his body in a sort of Spiritual Energy barrier.
Boom!
The razor-sharp claw slashed at the barrier with violent bursts of Spiritual Energy, but couldnât tear it down.
âWho?!â Bai Xuanâs gaze turned cold.
A sweet and gentle voice drifted from somewhere near the end of the crowd. âCity Lord of White Dragon City, you are someone who has great renown. Yet you dared to act so ruthlessly against a mere youth. Are you not afraid that others may say it is unbefitting of your station?â
Everyone turned their heads towards the voice to see three figures swiftly flying towards them â led by a charming and sweet-looking young woman in a white dress.
âSu Xuan,â Li Qing couldnât suppress the joy she felt upon seeing them. Su Xuan had finally caught up with them.
Bai Xuanâs indifferent expression was temporarily replaced with a sharp one as he looked over Su Xuan. He could sense that her Spiritual Energy wasnât any inferior than his. It seemed that this girl was the Rank 3 of the Heavenly Ranking in the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, Su Xuan.
The students nurtured by the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy were powerful indeed. They were so young, yet they could rival the best disciples of the Demonic Dragon Palace.
âThe Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy really does have its methods.â Bai Xuan applauded as he lightly smiled at Su Xuan.
She returned the smile with the words, âWe thank White Dragon City for your praises.â She raised a jade-like hand to disperse the protective barrier around Mu Chen and allowed him to join her.
âYouâre always causing trouble. Itâs barely been half a day, yet youâve already started a fight with White Dragon City.â Su Lingâer scolded as she glared her doe eyes at Mu Chen.
âTheyâre the ones who ambushed us last night.â Mu Chen said slowly. âTheyâre from the Demonic Dragon Palace.â
âWhat?!â
Su Lingâer and Guo Xiong looked startled. Even Su Xuan slightly narrowed her eyes. White Dragon City wasnât known for having a long history, but theyâd already ruled this area for over a decade. None of these young students had expected it to be just another chess piece for the Demonic Dragon Palace. It seemed this organisation was truly deep and unfathomable. No wonder the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy even held some fear and restraint towards them.
Even from a distance, Bai Xuan noticed the astonished expressions on their faces. It looked like theyâd just come to some realisation. He couldnât help the odd smile that crept over his face as he gave them one last meaningful glance before ducking back into the throng of White Dragon City experts. Now that Su Xuan had appeared, it wouldnât be easy to kill Mu Chen. Furthermore, there was a more pressing matter that required his attention.
As long as they obtained that item, it would be easy to kill those brats.
The unaffiliated experts around the basin warily eyed Bai Xuan as he rejoined his people â especially the Heavenly Dipper Sword Faction and the Earthen Way Sect. They exchanged glances amongst themselves and finally seemed to settle on some unspoken agreement. It was clear that they intended to combine their strengths to deal with the strongest White Dragon City.
Bai Xuanâs sharp attention hadnât lost that fact; however, he only afforded them a cold smile and seemingly wasnât bothered by them.
âCity Lord, it looks like that brat dragged us out into the spotlight,â The grey-robed elder reported with a grim expression.
Bai Xuan smiled nonchalantly. âTheyâre nothing more than annoying locusts. What are they capable of, anyways? Did they think that my White Dragon City was only capable of that much?â
By this point, Bai Dong had caught up as well, although he was still throwing vicious glances in Mu Chenâs direction. âFather, what do we need from this place?â
Bai Xuan knit his brows as he frowned. âIâve received orders to obtain the most precious object from the White Dragon Sovereignâs Spirit Treasury. As for the specifics, even Iâm not sure.â
âThe most precious object?â the grey-robed elder echoed as he turned his eyes towards the bottom of the black basin. âThen, it should be here, because this is the place where the White Dragon Sovereign died!â
Bai Dong seemed doubtful. âHowever, it doesnât look like thereâs a Spirit Treasury here.â
His father studied the basin for a moment, then slowly replied, âThatâs because the seal here is still intact. It looks like we only need to wait for the sun and moon to come together. When the natural Spiritual Energy turns chaotic, the seal will weaken. Then, all we need to do is destroy it and the the Spirit Treasury will appear.â
âRight nowâŠall we have to do is wait.â
He finished his words and closed his eyes with a silent finality.
Bai Xuan wasnât the only one who knew about that â that much was clear. Experts from other forces could also sense the abnormalities around the black basin, and chose to wait instead of act blindly.
The wait stretched for nearly half a day before the sky and land turned dark and the natural Spiritual Aura between the heavens and earth began to fluctuate.
Just as the Spiritual Aura between the heavens and earth fell into disorder, Mu Chenâs eyes caught something. Down in the black basin, the thousand-foot-tall mysterious black stone pillars started to faintly glow.
âThe Spirit Treasury appearing!â
Mu Chenâs heart trembled and his eyes blazed with passion.