Chapter 167: Lu Bu's Betrayal
"Damn it..." Mo Tianxing muttered through gritted teeth as he stared at the massive pillar of light shooting into the sky from the spatial barrier. The deafening noise, loud enough to wake the dead, made him tremble with fury.
"Damn it, damn it… now even ghosts will know there's something going on here!" Mo Tianxing's teeth ground together audibly as he unleashed a torrent of curses.
Why had he spent months painstakingly exploring the weak points in the barrier? Wasn't it to monopolize whatever treasures lay within?
And now? The lowlifes of the Black Corner Region, those money hungry scoundrels, would swarm this place like madmen. What was all his hard work over the past months even for?
Mo Tianxing's face darkened, and he wanted nothing more than to curse the ancestors of whoever had set up this barrier eighteen generations back.
"Sect Master," Elder Feng said, his expression as dark as storm clouds. "At this point, words are meaningless..."
"I know!" Mo Tianxing took a deep breath, suppressing the fire raging in his chest. With a flash of light, he produced a jade token from his hand and crushed it with a sharp snap.
"Elder Qishan will bring the Imperial Guards," Mo Tianxing said grimly. "We know more than they do. For now… the advantage is still ours!"
"And besides… this spatial barrier hasn't completely broken yet!" Mo Tianxing cast a glance at the trembling barrier, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. If anyone thought they could snatch his prize, they were sorely mistaken.
Just then, the sharp sound of rushing wind echoed across the sky. Against the sapphire blue expanse, black dots began to appear one after another.
Mo Tianxing's face twisted in disgust. The sight of those distant figures made him nauseous.
Before he could vent his anger, however, several familiar auras entered his perception. Mo Tianxing's expression shifted slightly, and his eye twitched. Taking a deep breath, he plastered a polite smile onto his face, his earlier fury seemingly erased.
A true leader, after all, should not let their emotions show. They should remain composed, unshaken even if the heavens themselves collapsed.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Dozens of figures appeared almost simultaneously before the spatial barrier.
"Well, if it isn't Sect Master Mo… greetings to Sect Master Mo," said three elderly figures, their expressions shifting slightly as they bowed respectfully.
"So it's Elder Fang Yan of the Demon flame Valley... Ah, and the Second and Third Elders as well." Mo Tianxing nodded faintly, his gaze sweeping over the two elders behind Fang Yan.
"Heh, Mo Tianxing, you've certainly been quick to act this time..." A flash of gray light streaked across the sky, and a middle aged man dressed in a gray robe with gold threaded hems appeared, his chin tilted up.
"You were the first to arrive, so tell us what exactly is going on here?"
"Greetings, Elder Gongheng!" Fang Yan and the other two from Demon flame Valley hurriedly bowed.
Though this man had not established any faction within the Black Corner Region, his strength had reached the Dou Zong level. If not for his presence, Fang Yan and his companions might not have dared to remain here, fearing Mo Tianxing might strike them down.
"Elder Fang Yan, it's been a while," Gongheng said, nodding slightly. "Send my regards to your old ancestor… he's still alive, I presume?"
"Hmph… so you've shown up too." Mo Tianxing's expression flickered with a hint of malice before his tone turned indifferent. "And who are you to demand answers from me? Do you think I'll speak just because you told me to?"
Gongheng grinned, unbothered by Mo Tianxing's venomous words. While he was indeed slightly weaker than Mo Tianxing, the current situation made it unlikely Mo Tianxing would risk a life and death struggle.
However, Gongheng failed to notice the fleeting gleam of smug satisfaction in Mo Tianxing's eyes.
"Elder Gongheng jests," Demon flame Valley's Second Elder said with a stiff smile. "Our ancestor remains as formidable as ever. He broke through to six star Dou Zong two decades ago and is now nearing the seventh star level."
At these words, both Gongheng and Mo Tianxing's expressions froze.
Troublesome these three couldn't be touched. Provoking that old monster would only invite disaster.
While the three factions exchanged words, another four figures arrived in a flash. Su Qian, Lu Bu, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yan appeared before the barrier.
"The Inner Academy…" Gongheng nodded slightly. Su Qian's strength matched his own, and there was no animosity between them, so acknowledging his presence cost him nothing.
The three from Demon flame Valley nodded briefly as well before losing interest.
In the original story, Demon flame Valley only became enemies with the Inner Academy because of Xiao Yan's creation of the Xiao Gate. The rapid expansion of Xiao Gate encroached on Demon flame Valley's interests, leading to open conflict.
Outmatched, Xiao Gate sought aid from the Inner Academy, which then intervened to repel Demon flame Valley. The cycle of grudges escalated from there.
So in a way, Xiao Yan really was a trouble magnet.
That said, even without Xiao Yan's involvement, the Inner Academy and Demon flame Valley wouldn't have gotten along. The enmity between the Inner Academy's Elder Bai and Demon flame Valley's old demon was well known. Though it was an old feud, it still prevented the two sides from growing too close.
At this point, however, relations hadn't yet deteriorated to the point of outright hostility. For now, a simple greeting sufficed.
"It's you..." Mo Tianxing's face darkened as his gaze fell on Lu Bu. His anger flared briefly, but with more and more people arriving some of whom even rivaled his strength he suppressed his rage and decided to bide his time.
Once inside, he'd deal with that little bastard.
For now… breaking through this barrier took precedence.
"Oh?" Gongheng and the others raised their eyebrows. It seemed Mo Tianxing and the Inner Academy had some bad blood.
Su Qian frowned. Mo Tianxing wasn't an opponent to be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's eyes glinted with curiosity. Lu Bu clearly knew something… but he decided not to ask. He didn't want to give Lu Bu an opening to extort him.
Lu Bu, on the other hand, was observing Mo Tianxing with interest. The man likely didn't yet know his son had been killed. While Mo Tianxing knew the Seven Colored Swallowing Python had slain Mo Ya and was aware that Medusa was the python's human form, he didn't know the connection between Medusa and Lu Bu.
Interesting… let's see if I can make him spill something, Lu Bu thought, smirking inwardly.
"Ahem... everyone," Mo Tianxing began, rising higher into the air. "I am Mo Tianxing, and as you can see, behind me lies this vast spatial barrier."
"Those of you who know me are aware that I have some skill with spatial energy. By chance, I was the first to arrive here and witness this phenomenon."
"Based on my observations, this is the weakest point of the barrier. If we concentrate our efforts, we can breach it and see what lies beyond."
"How about we work together to break through and uncover its secrets?"
The gathered crowd exchanged uncertain glances. Many had been drawn here by the earlier phenomenon, hoping for treasures, only to find an unexplored and potentially dangerous region instead.
Just then, another group arrived, led by a red faced elder and a middle aged man in blue robes, followed by six or seven Dou Wang experts.
Mo Tianxing's eyes lit up with delight. His reinforcements had arrived.
Gongheng, Su Qian, and the others didn't oppose the suggestion. They too were curious about what lay beyond the barrier.
"Very well, since no one objects... shall we join forces to break through?" Mo Tianxing suggested with a smile.
As Gongheng and the others prepared to act, a mocking voice interrupted.
"Sect Master Mo claims he knows nothing about this place? Surely not."
Lu Bu's voice was tinged with ridicule as he continued, "Your dead son certainly didn't say that. According to him, you've been investigating this area for months."
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. Mo Tianxing's face twisted into a mask of rage.
"Damn brat!"
Exposed by Lu Bu on the spot, Mo Tianxing could no longer suppress his fury. With a furious flick of his sleeve, a sharp silver beam shot forth, tearing through the air and exploding with a deafening roar as it barreled toward Lu Bu.
Bang!
Su Qian stepped forward, intercepting the attack with a palm strike that shattered Mo Tianxing's offensive in an instant.
"Hehehe… Sect Master Mo, resorting to murder over a mere argument? Isn't that a bit too ruthless?" Su Qian sneered coldly.
Lu Bu's presence ensured that the Inner Academy and the Black Emperor Sect would never see eye to eye. Since this was inevitable, Su Qian had no qualms about taking a firm stance.
Though Su Qian didn't particularly like Lu Bu, Mo Tianxing? That guy wasn't even worth comparing. Besides, it was Mo Tianxing who had leaked the existence of the Inner Academy's Fallen Heart Flame to Han Feng. Su Qian hadn't forgotten this debt.
"Stop it, stop it! Don't fight!" Gongheng yelled as he tried to mediate the conflict while simultaneously retreating to a safer distance.
Mo Tianxing's son had been his precious treasure, and anyone who meddled in this grudge was bound to earn Mo Tianxing's eternal wrath. Gongheng was only willing to talk; he had no intention of actually getting involved.
Meanwhile, Eagle Mountain Elder and the three elders from Demon flame Valley stood by silently, watching with faint smirks. Now that Mo Tianxing's secrets had been revealed, no one was inclined to trust his suggestion to break through the spatial barrier together.
As Su Qian made his move, Mo Tianxing's face darkened further. Su Qian, the renowned Grand Elder of the Inner Academy, was already a force to be reckoned with, and Lu Bu's formidable strength had left him nursing injuries after their last encounter. Taking down either of them would be no small feat.
That palm strike from Lu Bu last time still haunted his memories its sheer power and precision were unforgettable.
Just wait until I get my hands on the treasures inside… I'll make sure to kill you, you bastard! Mo Tianxing seethed inwardly.
Still, he wasn't about to reveal Lu Bu's strength to the others. Let these fools Gongheng, Eagle Mountain Elder, and the like clash with Lu Bu themselves. Ideally, they'd all weaken each other in a fight.
As Mo Tianxing reluctantly calmed himself, Lu Bu smiled and said slyly, "Sect Master Mo, let's get back to the topic at hand. You've been exploring this area for months, haven't you? Surely you've uncovered secrets the rest of us don't know. Why not share your knowledge with everyone?"
Zi Yan chuckled mischievously as she stared at Elder Feng, her gaze dripping with meaning. Wasn't this the guy whose brother chased me? Let's settle that debt later.
Hearing Lu Bu's words, the onlookers couldn't help but silently give him a thumbs up. He was asking the right questions!
"That's right, Old Mo. Tell us!" Gongheng chimed in with a grin, fanning the flames.
"Sect Master Mo, I'm curious as well," Eagle Mountain Elder said, stroking his beard and finally revealing his stance after remaining silent for so long.
Su Qian, meanwhile, kept up his faint smile, his expression unchanging. He didn't need to say anything. If Mo Tianxing refused to share, they'd either wait him out or kill him to find out for themselves.
Mo Tianxing's face turned an ugly shade of green, but under the pressure of three equally strong opponents, he forced a stiff smile and nodded. "Fine. It's only right to share such information. I had planned to do so regardless of what that kid said."
The others openly sneered at his blatant lie, not bothering to hide their disdain.
The veins on Mo Tianxing's forehead bulged, but he swallowed his anger and continued, "Based on my research, this place is an ancient battlefield."
"Three thousand years ago, a massive battle took place here involving fighters at the Dou Zong, Dou Zun, and even Half Saint levels."
"An ancient battlefield…" Lu Bu muttered, rolling his eyes. His Green Lotus Core Flame had been forming for over a thousand years three thousand years didn't sound that impressive to him.
"Just a battlefield?" Gongheng asked skeptically.
"Hmph. If it were the burial ground of a Half Saint, would you dare enter?" Mo Tianxing scoffed disdainfully.
Unlike Gongheng, the others seemed somewhat reassured by this revelation. A battlefield meant relics of the combatants inheritances, techniques, or treasures might still be found.
"Enough talk. Let's get to work," Mo Tianxing snapped, glaring venomously at Lu Bu before motioning for everyone to begin breaking the barrier.
The crowd nodded in agreement. The anomaly's sudden appearance had attracted many of the Black Corner Region's most prominent figures, most of whom were high ranking Dou Wangs or stronger.
Ancient battlefields were best explored with numbers; waiting longer might only make things more complicated.
Without further delay, Mo Tianxing, Gongheng, Su Qian, and Eagle Mountain Elder led a group of over a dozen high ranking Dou Wangs to attack the weak point in the spatial barrier.
Lu Bu frowned slightly and quietly pulled Zi Yan back. "Let's step aside," he said. "I'm just a fragile alchemist. Better leave the heavy lifting to them."
As Lu Bu and Zi Yan retreated to the rear, the four Dou Zongs and the high level Dou Wangs unleashed their combined Dou Qi, sending a torrent of devastating attacks against the barrier.
The barrier rippled and trembled like a water filled balloon, creating shockwaves that spread endlessly into the horizon.
The sheer size of the spatial barrier became evident as even the combined might of these powerhouses couldn't immediately shatter it.
But what surprised Lu Bu most was the sheer number of strong individuals present in the Black Corner Region. He'd thought he'd already wiped out a significant portion of them between the Black Alliance and the Black Emperor Sect. Yet here were another dozen high ranking Dou Wangs and even a new Dou Zong, Gongheng, who hadn't appeared in the original story.
"It seems the Black Corner Region isn't as simple as it appeared in the original timeline…" Lu Bu murmured, his eyes gleaming with calculation.
As he pondered, the combined assault of the four Dou Zongs and over a dozen Dou Wangs reached its climax. A unified burst of energy struck a single point on the barrier.
Crack!
Lu Bu's eyes narrowed as a sharp sound echoed through the air. Without hesitation, he activated his Silver Light Wings and retreated rapidly with Zi Yan in tow.
Boom!
The barrier exploded, sending razor sharp fragments of space scattering in all directions.
Su Qian and the others widened their eyes in shock and quickly formed spatial shields to protect themselves.
The high ranking Dou Wangs cried out in alarm, unleashing their own techniques to defend against the deadly shards.
As the barrier shattered, an ancient, desolate aura seeped out, filling the air with a sense of age and foreboding.
Beyond the barrier lay a barren, yellowed landscape devoid of greenery. The ground was pockmarked with deep chasms, endless craters, and countless scattered bones. Some skeletons were as large as mountains, while others were no bigger than a human palm. None of them resembled anything human or beast like.
The Dark Race… Lu Bu thought, recalling Xiao Xun'er's warnings.
"So it really is an ancient battlefield," Lu Bu muttered, licking his lips. He realized that the plot armor from the original story wouldn't work here.
No matter. He still had Zi Yan.
"Little girl, I'll take you to the most exciting places," Lu Bu said, ruffling her hair with a grin.
"Huh?" Zi Yan blinked in confusion.
"Anything you like or anything you fear or hate we'll find it," Lu Bu said.
"Oh! I get it now," Zi Yan chirped, her face lighting up with excitement. "Leave it to me! I'm the best at treasure hunting!"
Before she could finish speaking, the spatial fragments fully dissipated, and the path ahead lay open.
Lu Bu held Zi Yan close, his figure vanishing in a flash as he darted into the battlefield.
(Chapter ends)
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