Chapter 667: Master...

Chapter 667: Chapter 537: Master…

Several days later, Xiao Mo finally arrived in the region of Nine Netherworld Mountain.

The once-towering Nine Netherworld Mountain had long since been leveled during a world-shaking battle.

Now, where Nine Netherworld Mountain once stood, a dark, bottomless abyss had taken its place.

Above the abyss, layers of black clouds were densely stacked, like heavy slabs of lead pressing down on the horizon.

These were no ordinary dark clouds, but rather a condensation of Spiritual Power so thick it was almost tangible.

Judging solely by the density of Spiritual Power, this place could indeed be considered a first-rate Blessed Land Grotto Heaven.

However, establishing a Blessed Land Grotto Heaven required more than just dense Spiritual Power.

Though the Spiritual Power here was dense, it was far too volatile, rampaging through the air like a savage beast imprisoned for millennia.

With every breath, Xiao Mo could clearly sense a scorching, fiery quality within the Spiritual Power, as if the very air were burning.

Xiao Mo approached the edge of the abyss and gazed down. The enormous, bottomless chasm seemed like a cold, merciless eye staring silently back at him, sending a chill down his spine.

This abyss was indeed sealed tight by an ancient Array.

‘To lay down a sealing Array of such grand scale and profound mystery,’ Xiao Mo mused, ‘would require the combined effort of at least ten Cultivators at the Ascension Realm or higher.’

But even so, through that ancient seal, Xiao Mo could still clearly feel the domineering aura of a bloodline overflowing from the abyss’s depths.

However, besides this potent bloodline aura, Xiao Mo faintly sensed that something else was mixed in with it.

Two completely different powers seemed to be entwined, wrestling with each other in the depths of the abyss.

But Xiao Mo knew his own knowledge was limited, and for the moment, he couldn’t guess what it might be.

“I wonder what you’ve noticed, Elder Xiao?”

Just as Xiao Mo was lost in his observation, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.

“Greetings, Senior Jin.” Xiao Mo turned and saw Chen Jue’s uncle—Jin’an.

Jin’an was the same Ten Thousand Demon Alliance Elder Xiao Mo had met when he reported back after his first scout mission.

“Hahaha… Elder Xiao, as dapper and dashing as ever.” Jin’an smiled, his tone casual and warm. “We are both Elders of the Ten Thousand Demon Alliance now, equals in rank. There’s no need for such pleasantries.”

“Senior Jin, you are over a thousand years my senior. This bit of courtesy is essential,” Xiao Mo said respectfully, though his words subtly maintained a distance between them.

As the two were exchanging pleasantries, Xin Xiao’er, Song Cultivator, and Chen Jue walked over together.

The moment Chen Jue saw Xiao Mo, he sneered inwardly.

In Chen Jue’s eyes, he was the only one merely at Golden Core Realm Perfection. The rest were all in the Nascent Soul Realm, with Jin’an and Song Cultivator having even reached Nascent Soul Realm Perfection.

‘I’d like to see if Xiao Mo, a Cultivator who just stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm and hasn’t even had time to solidify his foundation, can make it out of here alive this time!’

Besides Xiao Mo and his group, more and more Cultivators were flocking to the vicinity of the Nine Netherworld Abyss.

News about the Nine Netherworld Mountain Secret Realm had spread throughout almost the entire Demon Race’s World.

Thus, whether they were Cultivators from Sects, common Loose Cultivators who roamed the lands, or even many of the oppressed Human Race Cultivators, they all scrambled to this place, hoping to take a gamble on that illusory opportunity.

Before long, five more brilliant streaks of light shot across the sky, landing steadily on the vast plain.

These five were all from the Human Race—four men and one woman.

The four men were all around six hundred years of age, and their Cultivation had all reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

As for the woman, she was barely in her early twenties, yet the Daoist rhythm emanating from her body showed she had also already stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm.

Instantly, the gazes of the many Cultivators on the plain landed in unison on the woman from the Human Race.

Although the woman wore a thin veil that obscured her true features, she exuded an otherworldly and refined aura, as if she were a Fairy descended from a celestial palace to the Mortal World.

Moreover, even the simple and elegant Daoist Robe she wore could not hide her graceful and slender figure.

Especially the woman’s captivating eyes—

they were clearly the enchanting eyes of a fox, naturally carrying a soul-snatching charm, yet at this moment, they held the cold indifference and detachment of one “wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao.”

This blend of coldness and charm was, on the contrary, even more alluring, unconsciously stirring in others the desire to corrupt her.

“Sister Jun Meng, this time, you can just relax and stay behind us,” said the Human Race man named Ji Shaohuan, his tone carrying a deliberate intimacy and a desire to curry favor.

“That’s right, Sister Jun Meng. Although you’re a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator now, you only broke through less than a month ago. Your Realm isn’t fully stable yet, so you must remember not to push yourself,” another man holding a folding fan chimed in. His tone was gentle and refined, but his eyes hid an imperceptible fervor.

“Indeed, this Yuzhu Secret Realm is no small matter. We must be cautious and proceed with care.”

“No matter what, I will protect you, Sister Jun Meng, and ensure not a single hair on your head is harmed.”

One after another, the men vied to show off in front of the woman, all hoping to win her favor.

However, Gui Junmeng merely gave a slight nod, not saying much.

The woman’s eyes blinked as her gaze slowly swept across the vast plain, as if searching for something.

Finally, Gui Junmeng’s gaze quietly came to rest on a certain man.

At the same time, Xiao Mo’s gaze also happened to turn in Gui Junmeng’s direction.

Their gazes met unexpectedly.

Although Gui Junmeng wore a veil, how could Xiao Mo ever forget those eyes? They were nearly identical to Jing Ci’s.

Xiao Mo felt a flicker of surprise—he hadn’t expected her to be here as well.

Gui Junmeng gave Xiao Mo a slight nod, and Xiao Mo nodded in return before looking away, as if it were just a casual encounter.

“Sister Jun Meng, that man… you know him?” Zhou You had noticed the subtle interaction between Gui Junmeng and Xiao Mo and couldn’t help but ask, puzzled.

“Mhm,” Gui Junmeng replied faintly.

“Hmph! As a member of the Human Race, to associate with the Demon Race… he’s a disgrace to us all!” Ji Shaohuan snorted, his expression full of contempt and disdain.

“Brother Ji is right!” Xie Lingxiao quickly agreed, his tone even more vehement than Ji Shaohuan’s. “It’s one thing not to contribute to the great cause of the Human Race, but to go and sell his life for the Demon Race instead? People like him are more despicable than the Demons themselves!”

Gui Junmeng seemed not to hear their incessant chatter at all, her gaze remaining fixed in Xiao Mo’s direction, as calm as still water.

BOOM!

Just as Gui Junmeng was still looking at Xiao Mo, a world-shaking roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the Nine Netherworld Abyss!

A Yuzhu, formed entirely from black flames, shot up from the bottom of the abyss, its wings unfurling to blot out the sky and sun!

In an instant, a huge rift tore open in the ancient Array above the abyss!

At the same time, deep within Xiao Mo’s sea of consciousness, a phantom-like voice, as faint and ethereal as smoke, quietly sounded—

“Master…”