Chapter 281 – Bald Old Man
Lightning Territory Eighth Level
Behind the lightning river screen, a light image, along with the roar of a dragon as it flashed out, appeared on the horizon.
Huuu
The light dissipated as Mu Chen couldn't help heavily breathe out a lump of air. His eyes were filled with a grave light. The lightning river screen was, indeed, powerful and the impact was way too horrifying.
However, fortunately, he had the Dragon Soaring Art. Adding the fact that when he was in the Northern Spiritual Academy initially, he received some teachings from Teacher Mo and underwent similar training. Although this lightning river screen was several folds more fearsome, Mu Chen was able to charge through the lightning river screen with his speed after having some experience.
"I wonder how Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong made their way here, through speed or force?" Mu Chen mumbled to himself. Although Mu Chen's method was a little cheap, speed was also an embodiment of one's strength.
Mu Chen shook his head, thereafter, he raised his head and looked at the Eighth Level of the Lightning Territory, an area meant for outstanding students in the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. But prior to Mu Chen's expectations, there wasn't any darkness in the horizon, nor was there any dark thundercloud groups. On the contrary, the sky was clear.
The entire space was quiet and peaceful.
Mu Chen was a little startled as he looked at the scene before him. Clearly, he never expected the Eighth Level to be so quiet.
"Why isn't there any thunderclouds?" Mu Chen frowned. He also didn't feel any tyrannical lightning energy in this space. Just what was going on?
"Fly towards the left for a hundred miles." The Nine Netherbird's solemn voice suddenly resounded from his heart. The Nine Netherbird's senses were clearly way more powerful than Mu Chen's. And towards the left, it sensed some ripples.
Mu Chen nodded as his figure moved, flying towards the direction that was pointed out by the Nine Netherbird. A few minutes later, his figure slowly came to a stop as he looked at the scene before him, and he became dumbfounded.
It was a vast plain and on the plain, flowed a huge river. This river wasn't any ordinary river, but a river made from silvery lightning water. Furthermore, the flow of this lightning river did not come in contact with the ground, but was flowing to a certain distance above the ground, floating. It wiggled slowly, with a slow pace as it flowed towards the distance.
It’s appearance was like a huge silver dragon that was moving about.
Hissssss
Mu Chen couldn't help inhaling a deep breath of cold air. He never imagine in his wildest imaginations that the Eighth Level would be so fearsome that the lightning energy had actually condensed and form a lightning river…
In the Seventh Level, Mu Chen attracted more than ten thunderclouds before a small lightning river was formed. But from the looks of this lightning river, it was beyond comparison to the one he formed. And clearly, this wasn't the only lightning river in the Eighth Level.
"It's indeed worthy of being the Eighth Level of the Lightning Territory."
Mu Chen sighed. No wonder the requirements were so harsh to enter the Eighth Level. If one didn't possess the sufficient strength, it would be hard for them to get any results from cultivating here.
"Let's begin refining the Divine Lightning Beads." Mu Chen spoke in his heart. Clearly, the task of refining the Divine Lightning Beads was up to the Nine Netherbird. Otherwise, with his strength, god knows how long it would take for him to refine the Divine Lightning Beads that were worth over 2,000,000 Spiritual Value Points.
"Okay, leave it to me!" the Nine Netherbird was overjoyed. When Mu Chen was done talking, black flames flew out of his body and formed into a small sparrow made of black flames.
"Huuu!"
The Nine Netherbird's mouth widened as black flames swept out in surges, forming into a huge tornado that was ablaze with black flames. As the wind was violently whipped up, the flowing lightning river started to stir.
Rumble!
As the calm lightning river turned violent, the berzerking lightning energy was like an electric current as it flowed into the black tornado. The deep roar of thunder sounded out.
As the black flames circulated, it rapidly gathered the lightning energy with that astonishing method as beads of the Divine Lighting Beads containing pure lightning energy were made.
Mu Chen looked at that spectacular scene before him and couldn't help smacking his lips. He immediately sat down with his legs crossed. From the looks of it, the Nine Netherbird would require some time to refine and there wasn't that many students that could make their way into the Eighth Level. Henceforth, he wasn't worried that this scene would be caught by anyone.
What he could do next was nothing but wait for the Nine Netherbird to finish.
However, there some things weren't as simple as Mu Chen had thought.
While the Nine Netherbird was refining the Divine Lightning Beads at a large quantity, there was some movements in the depths of the Lightning Territory.
In the depths, there was a dusky space. In the space, there was a huge black-coloured lightning river floating in the air as countless black-coloured water flowed down. It was like a huge dragon that was flying along with the violent lightning.
"This fluctuation…it’s the Nine Netherflame? Why is someone from the Nine Netherbird's Clan here…?"
In the darkness, it was as though the twittering of birds was sorrowfully sounding out.
Rumble!
Mu Chen stared at the huge commotion of the lightning river. He couldn't help stretching his body. The Nine Netherbird had already been refining the Divine Lightning Bead for roughly half an hour. But, clearly, the amount of beads that the Nine Netherbird had refined was still insufficient.
"It seems like it will require a few days of time to get enough Divine Lightning Beads to be worth over 2,000,000 Spiritual Value Points, even if I have the Nine Netherbird doing the task…" Mu Chen helplessly shook his head. Thereafter, he decided to close his eyes and cultivate.
Just when Mu Chen was about to close his eyes and start cultivating, he suddenly sensed something wrong. Shortly after, he curiously turned his head over. Not too far away, there seemed to be a figure on a huge rock.
A human figure?!
Mu Chen was startled as he immediately stood up and directed his eyes over to that direction. Only then did he clearly see that the figure that was sitting on the rock was a bald old man, donning a tattered black robe. The old man appeared to be as thin as a matchstick with muddy eyes. From his appearance, it seemed as though he would soon step into his coffin. Right at this moment, the bald old man was holding a crutch in his arms as he blankly stared at Mu Chen.
Mu Chen felt his scalp tingling from this weird scene. That old man seemed to have been sitting on that spot for a long time. However, Mu Chen didn't sense him at all. Just what strength was required to accomplish such a feat?
The Nine Netherbird also sensed something wrong as it immediately withdrew the black flamed tornado, Within the tornado, a flow of a silvery current flew over. This was all of the Divine Lightning Beads that the Nine Netherbird had spent half a day's time to bitterly refine.
Shhhhhhuu!
However, just as the Nine Netherbird was about to take those Divine Lightning Beads, the bald old man suddenly made a movement with his hand and all of the beads were instantly separated from the Nine Netherbird's control, and were spiraling around the latter.
Mu Chen and the Nine Netherbird's eyes changed. The Nine Netherbird inwardly clenched it’s teeth, but did not take any action as it’s intuition told it that the weird bald old man before them was extremely frightening.
"Be cautious, this old man is very formidable!" the Nine Netherbird's voice was extremely grave as it's voice resounded within Mu Chen's heart.
Mu Chen bitterly smiled, isn't that obvious? He easily startled them, how could he be simple?
"This old man…" Mu Chen summoned his courage and said with his hands cupped together.
"The Lightning Territory is for students to refine their bodies. You made use to the Nine Netherbird's power to refine the Divine Lightning Beads, this is considered a foul." the bald old man said as he raised his muddy eyes.
Mu Chen's face flushed red as he could not explain himself. This method was indeed, similar to cheating.
The small black sparrow that the Nine Netherbird formed stood on Mu Chen's shoulders. Its eyes flickered with light and on it’s small body, black flames rose. In that instant, it had made the decision to grab Nie Li and flee the instant it felt something wasn't right.
"You's a small Nine Nether that had just reached adulthood. Don't try to employ any means before me, unless you're one of those old monsters in your Nine Netherbird's Clan…" the bald old man stared at the Nine Netherbird as he smiled.
The Nine Netherbird's gaze changed.
"However, you've indeed aroused my curiosity. With the pride of you Nine Netherbirds, you would actually form a Bloodline Bond with a human, not to mention such a weak human. If this fact was made known to those old monsters in your Clan, I'm afraid that you'd suffer." the bald old man said as he took a glance at Mu Chen and the Nine Netherbird. His speech was slow and his voice gave others a feeling of helplessness. However, the words he spoke out made Mu Chen and the Nine Netherbird's scalps tingle.
The old man actually managed to see through the relationship between them with just a glance, just what frightening eyesight was that?
Mu Chen bitterly smiled. "Senior, it was out fault in this matter. We will not refine anymore Divine Lightning Beads and will make our leave now, will that do?"
From the tone of this bald old man, he should be a huge figure of authority in this Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. Therefore, as students of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, Mu Chen wasn't worried that their lives would be in danger.
As Mu Chen spoke, he slowly retreated. If the bald old man didn't say anything, then he would leave this place immediately.
"From the looks of the small Nine Netherbird, it’s evolution has failed, right? And right now, it needs the Northern Sea Dragon's Blood Essence and borrow it’s power to rush into the Divine Beast Record, right? You guys are now refining the Divine Lightning Beads without any restraint is to save up enough Spiritual Value Points to purchase it, correct?" just as Mu Chen was about to slowly move back, the bald old man slowly spoke.
Mu Chen bitterly smiled, it seemed that there wasn't anything that could be hidden from this old man.
"Do you want the sufficient amount of Divine Lightning Beads?" the bald old man smiled as he looked at Mu Chen with interest.
Mu Chen honestly nodded his head.
"It’s hard to encounter such an interesting younger generation fella…"
The bald old man placed the crutches on his knees and stared at Mu Chen, "If you manage to handle an attack from my clone, I will return these Divine Lightning Beads to you and will let you guys refine the sufficient amount of Divine Lightning Beads you both need. Furthermore… I will give this young fella some reward, what do you say?"
"Haha, after all of these years, there were only two people that could withstand an attack from this old man's clone among the young fellas in the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy."
"Two people?"
Mu Chen was blank as his gaze concentrated, "Was it Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong?"
The bald old man slightly nodded and smiled, "Those two young fellas do have some talent. However, you've astonished me, being able to get to the Eighth Level with just Quasi-Heavenly Transformation Stage cultivation."
"What now?"
Mu Chen slightly went silent. After a brief moment, both of his hands abruptly clenched. His black pupils surged with sharpness. Since Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong could accomplish it, then he refused to believe that he could be any worse than them.
"Okay, it's a deal!"
Chapter 282 – One Move
"We have a deal?" the bald old man with tattered black robe directed his muddy eyes towards Mu Chen.
"Yes!"
Mu Chen heavily nodded his head and, shortly after, he smiled, "Even if it's dangerous, I doubt that Senior would kill me in a move, right?"
"You won't die, at most, you would just lie on your bed for few months." the bald old man hoarsely smiled as he extended his skinny hands out and rubbed his bald head.
Mu Chen's smile stiffed. Shortly after, he helplessly inhaled a mouthful of air. No matter what, since he had accepted the terms, then even if he crossed mountains of daggers or seas of flames, he had to give it a try.
"Can you do it?" the Nine Netherbird secretly asked with concern in it’s eyes.
"I'll give it a try." Mu Chen also didn't have a huge amount of confidence. This bald old man that was before him was definitely the most fearsome person he had ever seen. It's to the point that he was even stronger than the White Dragon Sovereign.
"Later on, I will secretly help you." the Nine Netherbird said in Mu Chen's heart. After all, Mu Chen was helping the Nine Netherbird refine the Divine Lightning Bead and, henceforth, encountered this trouble.
When Mu Chen heard what the Nine Netherbird said, he did not reply. The bald old man hoarsely smiled as he swept his skinny hands and a streak of light flew out, shrouding the Nine Netherbird. No matter how much it tried to struggle, the Nine Netherbird couldn't break free.
"Small Nine Netherbird, watch from the side." the bald old man smiled while narrowing his eyes.
The Nine Netherbird struggled for a period of time, but seeing that it wasn't very effective, the Nine Netherbird could only stare at the bald old man viciously and said, "If anything happens to him, I definitely won't let you off. Even if I can't best you right now, that doesn't mean that I can’t in the future."
The bald old man smiled, "Nine Netherbird, you still have a long way to go. Even when you manage to successfully evolve and enter into the Divine Beast Record, you're still nothing."
"Are you prepared?"
When the old man finished speaking, he stared at Mu Chen.
Mu Chen deeply inhaled a mouthful of air as his figure moved and retreated. Thereafter, he stood on the horizon and said with a solemn voice, "Senior, please grant me your teachings!"
A majestic Spiritual Energy rippled out of his body as the pitch-black flames looked similar to black smoke, soared up into the horizon and could be seen clearly within a hundred miles.
"His Spiritual Energy has merged with the Nine Nether Flames?" the bald old man stared at the surrounding blazing Spiritual Energy as a trace of astonishment flashed though his eyes.
He waved his sleeve and his skinny hands extended out and lightly clenched.
Boom!
An indescribable pressure swept out from his body. Under this demeanor, the entire space looked as though it had trembled as a deep cry resounded.
Rumble!
A huge flowing lightning river was suddenly soaring over this plain and was absorbed by the bald old man. Thereafter, it looked similar to a silver dragon as it spiraled above his head.
Mu Chen's face slightly changed at the sight of this. His heart trembled, the fearsome lightning energy in the lightning river was sufficient to crush mountains. However, it was easily lifted by this bald old man. This strength was, indeed, indescribable.
"Boom!"
The bald old man's huge hand waved, the lightning river instantly soared into the horizon and, as it issued a rumbling sound, it rippled in this space. The lightning surged like an electric dragon, and with an unparalleled demeanor, it headed towards Mu Chen with an irresistible manner.
Mu Chen raised his head and traces of astonishment was shown within his eyes as he looked at the lightning river that was charging at him. He could clearly sense that the space around him was sealed at this moment.
There was no possibility that he could avoid this fearsome offense.
This bald old man was clearly not intending to go easy on Mu Chen.
Mu Chen clenched his teeth as both of his palms came together. The veins on his arm twitched and, shortly after, a vicious look appeared within his eyes. Since he couldn't escape, then he could only go all out!
Boom!
The violent Spiritual Energy instantly poured out of Mu Chen's body without any restraints. He suddenly sat down in the air and both of his hands were forming signs at lightning speed.
Onom!
There was the sound of an ancient bell ringing on this horizon. As the black lights came together, a huge Nine-layered Pagoda appeared and shrouded Mu Chen within.
Among all of Mu Chen's methods, the defense of the Nine-layered Pagoda was clearly the most fearsome. If he wanted to withstand the horrifying attack of the bald old man, the only thing he could do was to rely on the Nine-layered Pagoda.
"This is…"
The bald old man raised his head and stared at the huge Nine-layered Pagoda up in the sky. His brows slightly knitted together as his muddy eyes flashed as thoughts crossed his mind.
Boom!
The lightning river did not have the slightest pause when the Nine-layered Pagoda appeared. As the lightning river surged, in the next instant, it heavily clashed against the Nine-layered Pagoda with undeniable pressure.
Bang!
Faced with such a fearsome impact, the Nine-layered Pagoda instantly trembled violently. As the lightning river streaked past, fine tiny cracks appeared on the surface of the Nine-layered Pagoda.
The attack of the bald old man was, indeed, way too frightening.
As the Nine-layered Pagoda shrouded Mu Chen, his face instantly flashed with a of pale colour. He never thought that his strongest defense was actually so frail under an attack of the bald old man.
He raised his head as the cracks on the surface of the Nine-layered Pagoda slowly spread out. As the lightning river continued to emit a silvery light that was dripping down, it caused a deep thunderous roar that resound within the Nine-layered Pagoda.
The Nine-layered Pagoda was about to collapse.
The instant the Nine-layered Pagoda collapsed, Mu Chen would be completely revealed. With his physique, it was clearly impossible for him to resist such a frightening impact.
Would it be game over for him just like this?
Mu Chen bit his lips, a sweetness was spreading out from the corner of his mouth. Within his black pupils, a deep unresigned intent flashed across his black pupils. If he couldn't withstand this attack, doesn't that mean that he could not be compared to Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong?
If he couldn't even be compared to them, then on what basis does he have to tell Luo Li that he could become an unrivalled expert to guard her?!
Rumble!
The Nine-layered Pagoda was crumbling, layer after layer. The black-coloured Nine-layered Pagoda was constantly showing cracks as the lightning past through the Pagoda, and was shocking the body of the youth within the Pagoda. At this moment, the latter appeared frail.
Another layer crumbled as the youth abruptly raised his head. Within his black pupils, a look full of unswerving determination that couldn't be shaken could be seen.
"Ah!"
He clenched both of his palms as eyes became bloodshot. A sound that was filled with a deep fighting roar resounded from his throat.
His deep roar resounded within this tattered Nine-layered Pagoda. His unswerving determination made an impact with this Pagoda.
Onom! Onom!
As his roar resounded, the Pagoda suddenly trembled, as though it was resonating. Mu Chen's firm and determined roar seemed to have roused something.
An ancient and old light pattern started to appear on the walls of the Pagoda. Those patterns were like ancient lotus' as they filled the area with a vast light.
The Great Pagoda Art within Mu Chen's body seemed to have been circulating uncontrollably. In the depths of his body, the mysterious black light also burst forth with a dazzling luster.
The thing that seemed to have been sealed within the depths of his body had also been activated at this instant.
"Shhhhuuu!"
An ancient sound resounded within the Nine-layered Pagoda and Mu Chen's figure was shrouded by the black light. The originally collapsing Nine-layered Pagoda instantly burst forth with an ancient light.
As the light appeared, the collapsed part of the Nine-layered Pagoda started to restore itself, bit by bit.
The bald old man narrowed his eyes, looking at the majestic lightning river that was flowing against the unmovable Nine-layered Pagoda. Within the black-coloured Pagoda, there seemed to be something similar to an ancient black-coloured lotus. There were nine petals on the lotus flower and it was as though there was a heaven seizing power in every petal, emitting an endless profound intent.
It was as though an ancient and desolate sound was echoing between the heavens and earth.
"This…" the bald old man's face trembled a little as he muttered, "This is actually the Primordial Divine Pagoda? But if he's someone with the Primordial Divine Pagoda, how could he be here?"
A light flashed in the eyes of the bald old man, as though he had seen through the Pagoda that Mu Chen sitting in. Fresh blood was covering his entire body and wiggled to form into a blood lotus light pattern on the surface of his body. That blood lotus also had nine petals.
"Interesting. Just who exactly is he? To have parents who possess such a Primordial Bloodline…"
The bald old man's eyes flashed as the lightning river flowed away from the horizon and floated above the earth once again. And as the lighting river retreated, the huge Nine-layered Pagoda that was up in the sky turned into a black light and was dissipating, bit by bit.
As the Nine-layered Pagoda dissipated, a figure that was covered in blood instantly fell down from the sky.
When the bald old man saw it, his finger flicked and a silver light shot into Mu Chen's body. Thereafter, he swept his sleeves and a gale tossed Mu Chen into the lightning river.
"You!"
When the Nine Netherbird saw the scene, it’s face drastically changed. The lightning river contained frightening lightning energy. Even when Mu Chen wasn't conscious, he wouldn't dare to lightly enter the lightning river, not to mention that he's unconscious right now.
"Rest assured. I don't want him dead. I've previously mentioned a reward; so, naturally, I will keep my end of the deal." the bald old man lightly smiled. Shortly after, he looked towards the Nine Netherbird and two of his skinny fingers clenched. A feather that looked like it was made from metal appeared. As his fingers flickered, the feather shot into the body of the Nine Netherbird and the latter could not examine what it was.
"What are you doing?!" the Nine Netherbird was extremely angry. The bald old man was too hateful.
"I'm a bit friendly with an old monster from your Nine Netherbird Clan. Therefore, I've sent you a gift. Okay, you can continue to refine the Divine Lightning Beads, but don't disrupt that kid."
The bald old man did not make any explanations and showed a faint smile. Thereafter, he lazily stood up and slowly looked towards the far earth.
His pace appeared slow, but after a few steps, he had already appeared on the horizon and, thereafter, thoroughly disappeared.
The Nine Netherbird looked at the direction which he disappeared, but could only clench it’s teeth inwardly. It worriedly looked at Mu Chen, who was wrapped inside of the lightning river. Thereafter, the Nine Netherbird spurt out its black flames, filled the sky and started refining the Divine Lightning Beads.