Next, we misunderstood you. Truly, we are so sorry," the two sisters said simultaneously, looking at Ji Changkong with embarrassment, stammering their apologies.

"No matter," Ji Changkong grinned, shrugging with casual elegance.

The two sisters gazed deeply at Ji Changkong, their eyes suddenly brightening, as if seeing him for the first time.

These two sisters had seemed utterly repulsed by Ji Changkong from the start, peppering him with constant sarcasm and veiled insults throughout the journey, as if terrified he would drag them down. Yet, at this most critical juncture, it was Ji Changkong who stepped forward to resolve the crisis for everyone. The sisters immediately realized they had profoundly underestimated him and rushed to apologize.

Ji Changkong had never given these two sisters much thought, naturally paying no mind to their jibes and ridicule. Therefore, he received their apologies with remarkable indifference.

The two sisters, for their part, did not press the issue with excessive familiarity. After apologizing, they stepped back to the side with a cool demeanor, exchanging quiet words between themselves.

Near Lei Jia, the rest of the group, having been calmed by Ji Changkong’s guidance, gradually shed their fear of the "Tian Lu" Soul Hunting Group. One by one, their confidence was restored.

Of course, none of them forgot who had just saved them. They all hastened to express their gratitude and apologies to Ji Changkong. He accepted their sentiments calmly, nodding with a composed smile, neither arrogant nor overly humble.

Once these expressions of thanks were complete, Lei Jia finally gave a relieved laugh and nodded deeply toward Ji Changkong. "I knew you possessed extraordinary capabilities. As expected, having the young brother with us this time has been our good fortune."

"Enough with the pleasantries," Ji Changkong said, fixing his gaze on Lei Jia. He hesitated slightly, lowering his voice. "Didn't you say I owed you a favor before? If that even counts as a favor, then I consider it settled."

Lei Jia paused, then shot a subtle glance at Yu Ziling, displaying a unique, knowing smirk that only men truly understood. He chuckled. "The young brother is indeed a man of feeling. Well, after this ordeal, you certainly don't owe me anything. However, the road ahead is fraught with peril. Since we travel together, we will undoubtedly need your assistance in certain places."

"I will do my best, but don't hold out too much hope. Both Meng Gang and the Soul Hunting Group are troublesome foes. If I can barely look after myself, I certainly won't be worrying about others' lives," Ji Changkong stated plainly.

Lei Jia expressed understanding. "I comprehend. As long as you can lend a hand when you are able, that is sufficient."

"Alright, can we move along now?" Yu Ziling urged Lei Jia, complaining, "None of you apologized to me! I was the most wronged just now, scolded relentlessly by you uninformed people!"

Hearing this, Lei Jia felt quite embarrassed and openly apologized to Yu Ziling. Following Lei Jia's lead, those who had previously spoken ill of Yu Ziling also sheepishly offered their apologies, and even the two sisters murmured quiet apologies.

Yu Ziling was finally satisfied.

Following this episode, a subtle shift occurred in the relationships within the group; they began to feel a genuine sense of companionship.

The party resumed their march. Under Lei Jia’s guidance, they moved together, speaking in low voices as they continued toward the Moon Heart. This time, the journey proceeded smoothly, encountering no further unexpected trouble.

Finally, when Lei Jia gave a soft whistle, signaling everyone to focus their attention, an incredibly dense essence of moonlight suddenly permeated from the very front of the formation. The group, deep underground, felt their spirits instantly lift, and excitement surged through them. "We're here! Everyone, maintain maximum vigilance. Within the Moon Heart, we might encounter enemies like Meng Gang and the Soul Hunting Group, but we will inevitably also meet the Moon Demons who dwell there. No matter who we face, we must be cautious and meticulous!" Lei Jia cautioned everyone while slowly guiding them into the Moon Heart.

As if merging into a river condensed from the essence of the moon, Lei Jia's body gradually dissolved into the thick moonlight ahead.

"Go!" Yu Ziling lightly tugged Ji Changkong, suddenly accelerating her pace to follow close behind the others, shooting directly into the dense moonlight before them.

The moment Ji Changkong’s body entered the thick moonlight, he felt his spirit seemingly submerged in a river of lunar radiance. With a gentle exertion, the moonlight essence slowly nourished and cleansed his spirit, bringing a cool, comfortable sensation that felt almost transcendent.

Releasing his spirit outward, Ji Changkong suddenly realized this place truly resembled a deep pool formed purely from condensed lunar essence. The surrounding dense moonlight spirit hovered like a light veil, emitting a dazzling yet soft glow.

The earth underfoot was white as jade, also shining with a gentle halo. Rich lunar spirit energy permeated upward, lending the entire area a magical, dreamlike quality. Opening his mind, Ji Changkong found himself exceptionally relaxed here; he was certain that cultivating in this place would be many times faster than cultivating on the moon's surface.

Yu Ziling clearly perceived Ji Changkong’s thoughts. She chuckled and explained, "Every time the passage opens, it draws many people to the Moon Heart. Aside from the various wonders within, there is one fundamental reason: the concentration of moon essence here far surpasses that on the lunar surface. Cultivating here can speed up progress by more than ten times compared to cultivating on the moon itself. In the Moon Heart, even if you gain nothing else, spending time cultivating here can profoundly benefit your realm. Now do you understand why so many people, knowing the dangers that lurk within, rush here without hesitation?"

Ji Changkong nodded. "I understand. The Moon Heart holds an irresistible temptation for those Eight Trigram Celestial Masters who can only cultivate on the moon!"

"Everyone stay close, do not scatter! Danger increases with every step from now on. We have already offended Meng Gang and the Soul Hunting Group, so absolutely no solo actions," Lei Jia led the way slowly, explaining. "Perhaps you are not first-timers to the Moon Heart, but I believe my knowledge of this place surpasses yours. Therefore, if you follow me, I guarantee I can lead you to the areas most likely to harbor rare treasures, fulfilling your objectives."

The others clearly placed more trust in Lei Jia. After his assurance, they sharpened their focus and stuck closely to him.

Lei Jia seemed genuinely at home here; upon arrival, he transformed, becoming energized and constantly observing their surroundings. Following him, Ji Changkong quietly surveyed the environment. He noted that while the light spirit essence perpetually veiled the surroundings, once he released his spiritual sense, he found that this moonlight essence posed no obstruction whatsoever to his perception.

In other words, the reach of his spiritual sense was completely unimpeded, unlike in the Big Dipper Star Domain where his spirit faced constant resistance.

Observing the situation around him, Ji Changkong initially found nothing resembling the flora or treasures Yu Ziling mentioned. When he expanded his spiritual sense, the area seemed empty, with little abnormality beyond the intensified moonlight essence.

This changed abruptly when, under Lei Jia’s guidance, they encountered a genuine pool.

This pool was small, about one mu in size, filled with milky-white water that resembled fresh milk. Growing just above the surface were several small, plain white flowers. These blossoms were pure white, like refined jade, seemingly drawing in the very essence of heaven and earth; the moonlight essence radiating from them was overpowering.

"Moon Orchid Flowers!" Number Five cheered, and along with her sister, they swiftly darted above the pool, unceremoniously beginning to pluck the small white flowers.

Naturally, Yu Ziling was not far behind. Almost simultaneously with the two sisters, she dashed above the pool and, with lightning speed, snatched two blossoms.

There were only seven small white flowers on the pool in total, and in an instant, they were claimed by Yu Ziling and the two sisters. The three women looked overjoyed, their spiritual hands clutching the flowers tightly, beaming with delight.

"The Moon Orchid Flower is a rare bloom of the Moon Heart. While it holds little appeal for men, it is frequently a prized treasure for women who enter the Moon Heart," Lei Jia explained with a smile, standing beside Ji Changkong. "This is because the Moon Orchid Flower can grant a woman's skin a luster like the moon’s radiance. Just one flower can maintain that ethereal sheen for ten years!"

Ji Changkong nodded slightly, then chuckled wryly. "No wonder. For women, things that enhance their beauty can sometimes be more precious than spiritual treasures that make them powerful."

"Heh heh, looks like the old brother has some experience then; you’re not completely clueless," Lei Jia teased.

"Let's go. The Moon Orchid Flowers are of no use to us. Let's move forward," Number Nine urged Lei Jia.

"Mmm," Lei Jia agreed, then addressed the trio: "Three young ladies, time waits for no one. Since you have obtained your Moon Orchid Flowers, shouldn't we continue?"

The three women, having secured what they desired, were all in excellent spirits. Hearing this, they nodded, not delaying further, and quickly rejoined Lei Jia and the others.

Lei Jia ceased moving in a straight line, constantly changing direction. Under his guidance, the group gradually became confused. The Moon Heart was vast, seemingly boundless; even with his spiritual sense fully extended, Ji Changkong could not sense its end.

As they penetrated deeper, even Ji Changkong felt a touch of disorientation. If not for Lei Jia remaining excited, the others might have suspected he was leading them astray. After traveling a while longer, Ji Changkong frowned suddenly. "There's movement ahead!"

"Where exactly?" Lei Jia responded instantly, his expression grave. "Number Twenty-four, point out the direction. Try to sense it—see if the source of that activity belongs to Celestial Masters like us?"

After the previous incident, everyone understood that the one with the most agile spiritual perception wasn't Yu Ziling, but Ji Changkong, who was stepping onto the moon for the first time. Since he had proven his power, no one dared to look down on him, even in the Moon Heart.

Not only Lei Jia but all the companions nearby immediately halted, turning their attention to Ji Changkong.

Facing forward, Ji Changkong concentrated on sensing the area for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise. "Besides Celestial Masters like us, there is... there is a strange life form. Their souls seem to be purely condensed from the Moon Heart’s essence. They are distinctly different from us!"

"It's the Moon Demons!" Lei Jia immediately confirmed their identity. After a brief hesitation, he added, "Number Twenty-four, are those Moon Demons and the Celestial Masters over there... are they fighting?"

"Correct! They are engaged in combat, and it appears... the Moon Demons have the upper hand," Ji Changkong reported after sensing further.

"How many Moon Demons?"

"Three."

"And how many Celestial Masters like us?"

"Eight."

"They are in danger," Lei Jia said solemnly, glancing at his companions. He suddenly stated, "The direction we need to go is that way. Should we pause temporarily, or should we rush over to assist the people ahead? If we don't go now, the Moon Demons might kill them and leave the area. But it’s also possible they are operating in that specific region, and we might encounter those three Moon Demons anyway."

After a moment of deliberation, Lei Jia continued, "I am not entirely clear on the exact situation of those Moon Demons, so I cannot make the correct judgment. Let's vote: should we avoid the area temporarily, or should we charge in and join those eight to fight the three Moon Demons?"

"Charge in!" Ji Changkong was the first to declare his position.

Yu Ziling also agreed they should hurry over. Since they had to pass through that path anyway, waiting until the eight were killed might mean the Moon Demons would remain entrenched there, forcing them to face the same threat later.

Of course, some people argued for holding back, suggesting they shouldn't care about the fate of the eight ahead. They speculated that if the eight were slain, the Moon Demons, finding no one else nearby, would move elsewhere, allowing their group to bypass a fight entirely. After all, conflict meant casualties, which should be avoided if possible.

"I also think we should charge in!" Lei Jia announced. "Those Moon Demons are extremely difficult to deal with. Those eight fellows are doing well just handling two. Facing three, they are certainly doomed. But if we rush over, with our combined strength, even if we cannot annihilate the three Moon Demons, we can at least ensure that we and the other eight pass through the area safely."

As Lei Jia spoke, his gaze swept over everyone, then he nodded slightly. "The majority agrees to charge forward."

The others stopped hesitating. At Lei Jia's sharp command, they immediately increased their speed and surged forward. Soon, three strange, crystalline, shimmering creatures appeared within their line of sight. These beings seemed entirely composed of crystal, gleaming brightly, resembling the strange solitary wolves of the Five Elements Continent, yet these creatures possessed two large wings as white as jade. They had eyes shining with brilliant light, their entire bodies sparkling with crystal energy, constantly emitting powerful energy fluctuations.

The Moon Demons appeared capable of merging with all surrounding objects, disappearing into the ground when tumbling or maneuvering across the white terrain, much like Celestial Masters cultivating the Five Elements Earth Power on the Five Elements Continent. The Moon Demons held sharp moonlight within their forms; whenever they opened their mouths or flapped their wings, streaks of sharp crescent-moon light would flash out—light possessing the power to destroy souls.

The eight Celestial Masters fled in disarray, showing great fear of the moonlight emitted by the Moon Demons. They were grouped in threes, threes, and twos to face the three Moon Demons, but they were clearly overmatched and struggling to cope.

The moment Ji Changkong arrived, he sensed the faint dissipation of spiritual energy nearby. He immediately understood that some Celestial Masters had already been killed by the Moon Demons; the lingering remnants of their souls proved it. After careful sensing, he realized that at least four Eight Trigram Celestial Masters had already perished here at the hands of the Moon Demons.

This was a terrifying statistic.

Twelve Eight Trigram Celestial Masters against three Moon Demons—the Moon Demons suffered no damage, yet four Celestial Masters were killed, clearly demonstrating the Demons' formidable nature.

The Moon Demons moved agilely and held the advantage of terrain, frequently burrowing into the earth. Each time they emerged, they brought forth stronger moonlight to attack the Celestial Masters. Furthermore, the Demons continuously tried to close the distance with the eight individuals, their movements clearly indicating an intent to close in and slay them outright.

Before arriving, Ji Changkong had learned from Yu Ziling that these Moon Demons could not only weaponize the moonlight but their crystalline bodies also possessed a terrifying destructive force against souls. Once these Moon Demons got close, their peculiar bodies released lightning-like energy. This energy was devastating to the soul, capable of fracturing and disintegrating it, leading to the Celestial Master's complete annihilation.

The three Moon Demons continued to move rapidly, gradually managing to encircle the eight Celestial Masters in the center. The Demons held the absolute advantage; every crescent-moon attack they unleashed forced the eight Masters into clumsy dodges. If struck by one of these crescent-shaped attacks, the Eight Trigram Celestial Masters’ souls would violently shudder and warp.

Ji Changkong knew that the warping of their souls meant their spiritual structures were becoming disordered under this force. Once the distortion reached a certain degree, their souls would shatter, just like the previous victims, resulting in their complete dissipation.

At this critical juncture, the eight Eight Trigram Celestial Masters being hunted by the Moon Demons had reached their most perilous moment. Without external aid, they faced certain death.

Seeing their plight, the eight appeared nearly driven to despair. It was evident they were contemplating a mutual destruction, judging by the constant shifting of their positions as they searched for the perfect angle—they were clearly preparing to commit everything to a final, devastating strike against the Moon Demons. Such a final gambit would likely consume all their spiritual power, plunging them into an irreversible abyss.

"Quick!" Lei Jia shouted, charging forward first. "Friends ahead, hold on! We are here to help!"

Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling's group quickly followed, arriving swiftly beside Lei Jia. Wasting no time on further words, they immediately launched their combined attack against the three Moon Demons.

These peculiar Moon Demon life forms were exceptionally difficult to damage. Only by concentrating soul power into extremely fine, highly destructive spiritual strikes could their essence be harmed. Ordinary soul attacks impacting their bodies or perceived souls had little effect.

Fortunately, in this company, they had an anomaly in Ji Changkong. As a master of the Nebula Soul Refining Art, his most fundamental secret technique, the Soul Ray, seemed like the perfect antidote for these Moon Demons. As soon as he began to highly condense his spiritual power, shaping it into the finest Soul Rays, the three Moon Demons appeared to instantly recognize the threat and actively began to evade Ji Changkong.

These Moon Demons seemed to possess high intelligence. In the Moon Heart, they not only utilized geographical advantages but also demonstrated incredible sensory awareness. Ji Changkong, having just condensed the Soul Rays and preparing to unleash them, suddenly found he had lost track of the three Demons.

Looking around, he saw the three Moon Demons had already retreated far from him, operating in corners where he found it difficult to launch an attack.

Ji Changkong paused, inwardly praising the cunning of the Moon Demons. However, he was not without a countermeasure. Although the Demons retreated, once Ji Changkong condensed his power to its absolute limit and infused the Soul Rays with a thread of his own spiritual intent, the rays seemed to gain a life of their own. No matter where the Moon Demons hid, the Soul Rays pursued relentlessly, latching onto the three creatures.

The speed of the Soul Rays increased abruptly. The fastest few beams were impossible to defend against. Before the Moon Demons could react, the Soul Rays laced with a sliver of Ji Changkong’s own spirit consciousness pierced into the bodies of the three Moon Demons.

The highly condensed Soul Rays, finer than the smallest needle by more than ten times, specialized in striking the soul directly. Upon contact with the Moon Demons' bodies, the concentrated minute energy crashed into the souls of the three creatures. The three Moon Demons immediately leaped up, writhing in apparent agony.

However, the Moon Demons possessed astonishing vitality. Even under the assault of several soul-light beams, the Moon Demons merely hopped and skipped, far from losing their ability to fight back or being completely demoralized.

As they bounced, the Moon Demons relentlessly unleashed their power against Ji Changkong. One by one, crescent moons condensed from the essence of moonlight swiftly shot toward him. Even the earth beneath Ji Changkong’s feet transmitted violently intense soul attacks. Streams of moonlight, like arrows and falling stars, sped toward him.

Though these attacks also contained the essence of moonlight, the light emanating from those catalyzed by the Moon Demons was incomparably sharp, utterly devoid of gentleness. Ji Changkong understood that if struck by this lunar offensive, his divine soul would be unable to assimilate the moonlight essence; instead, it would be affected by the overwhelming force, forcing him to divert more spiritual energy to protect his soul.

In essence, his divine soul would be wounded.

Having grasped the situation, Ji Changkong naturally knew what to do. His soul drifted uncertainly, his body, purely manifested from the soul, twisted and shifted—one moment a speck of light, the next a long streak. It expanded one moment and contracted the next, like a rubber man being constantly stretched and manipulated, changing shape at will.

The attacks from the three Moon Demons landed in that area, but all were cleverly evaded by his myriad soul transformations. When evasion was truly impossible, he would split the portion of his soul about to be struck, only to reform after the attack passed. Utilizing the various esoteric techniques of the Star Nebula Soul Refining Art, Ji Changkong remained utterly unruffled, dodging the Moon Demons' assaults time and again.

Seizing this opportunity, Yu Ziling and Lei Jia, who had recovered their composure, unleashed their attacks upon the Moon Demons without hesitation. Layer upon layer of soul attacks burst forth from them, all hammering toward the Moon Demons. Although Lei Jia and the others possessed a kaleidoscope of soul attack techniques, each with its own specialization, their refinement and precision in condensing soul power lagged far behind Ji Changkong’s. Even when their attacks landed on the Moon Demons, the resulting damage was severely limited. The Moon Demons even deliberately endured their strikes to avoid Ji Changkong’s soul-light beams, putting them in a very awkward position.

Awkward as it was, these individuals still posed a threat to the Moon Demons, coupled with the terrifying destructive power of Ji Changkong’s soul light. Under the combined assault, within moments, the three Moon Demons seemed to sense something amiss. They showed no intention of lingering in that spot; seeing that the situation was unfavorable, they immediately began to nimbly burrow into the earth, vanishing instantly.

Ji Changkong released his divine soul and discovered the three Moon Demons retreating rapidly underground, truly showing no inclination to remain.

After sensing for a while longer, Ji Changkong gradually relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief. Slowly, he recalled the soul-light beams he had projected, separating the wisp of intent attached to each beam, reclaiming the soul aura that was originally his, bit by bit.

As he was gathering the unused soul-light back, Lei Jia and his group had already begun communicating with the others.

The eight were also a team adventuring in Moon Heart. They had entered Moonstone Valley from a different cluster of mountain passes and had actually entered Moon Heart slightly ahead of Meng Gang and his group. Unfortunately, these people had also met misfortune; not long after entering Moon Heart, they encountered Moon Demons and were chased by ten of them.

Their original team numbered several dozen, scattering in all directions while evading the Moon Demons' pursuit.

Their current party of twelve had been targeted by three Moon Demons. After fleeing to this location, four of their companions were killed by the demons, leaving the eight of them to survive by luck. They had expected to perish under the Moon Demons’ assault as well, but unexpectedly encountered Ji Changkong’s group arriving to rescue them, thus managing to keep their lives.

Naturally, these people felt immense gratitude toward Lei Jia and Ji Changkong’s group, especially toward Ji Changkong. They understood clearly that if Ji Changkong’s soul light had not been so effective just now, those three Moon Demons might well have stayed to continue attacking them until every last one was ground down.

Regarding their thanks, Ji Changkong remained composed, smilingly telling them not to concern themselves, before immediately conveying his thoughts to Lei Jia: "The Moon Demons are incredibly fierce. They seem capable of hiding everywhere. Within Moon Heart, the Moon Demons possess a natural advantage. If we can avoid these fiends, we should try to steer clear of them. Otherwise, before Meng Gang and the Divine Soul Hunting Corps can make a move, we'll be killed by these Moon Demons first."

"I certainly understand that. I know how terrifying these Moon Demons are. Unless it’s a path we absolutely must take, we will bypass any route where we might encounter the Moon Demons," Lei Jia affirmed.

"You… you have a feud with Meng Gang and the Divine Soul Hunting Corps?" one of the rescued eight suddenly inquired.

Lei Jia blinked, staring blankly at the eight people, "What? You’ve heard of Meng Gang and the Divine Soul Hunting Corps too?"

The man slowly nodded, "Meng Gang entered Moon Heart after us. Their team did not escape unscathed either; they were attacked by Moon Demons shortly after us, and Meng Gang’s team also suffered heavy losses. While we were fleeing in all directions, Meng Gang’s team was doing the same. After being attacked by those Moon Demons, Meng Gang’s team lost at least half their members. You don't need to worry too much about them."

At this point, the man sighed slightly, "You don't need to fret over Meng Gang’s threat, but you absolutely must be wary of those from the Divine Soul Hunting Corps. For some unknown reason, the members of the Divine Soul Hunting Corps who entered Moon Heart this time seem to have found a way to evade the Moon Demons. While we and Meng Gang’s people could not escape the Moon Demons and had to flee constantly, those from the Divine Soul Hunting Corps seemed utterly unharmed. The Moon Demons acted as if they couldn't sense them, simply ignoring them."

"What?" Lei Jia was stunned, his expression one of disbelief. "In Moon Heart, the greatest threat is the Moon Demons. If they can dodge the Moon Demons’ attacks, then the Divine Soul Hunting Corps members here will become the most terrifying hunters. Does this mean Moon Heart poses no danger to the Divine Soul Hunting Corps at all? If we run into them, the danger will be immense."

At these words, everyone on Ji Changkong’s side grew grim.

The Divine Soul Hunting Corps had always been brutal. Previously, the threat of the Moon Demons in Moon Heart kept them somewhat in check, preventing them from acting too recklessly. However, now, by some unknown method, their souls could evade the Moon Demons. This meant they would hold an absolute advantage within Moon Heart, and any other team encountering them would face even greater peril.

It was no wonder those members of the Divine Soul Hunting Corps had vowed to slaughter them all within Moon Heart; it seemed they possessed absolute confidence.

"You just saved our lives. Even if you are enemies with the Divine Soul Hunting Corps, we will stand together," the man declared with loyalty, then added, "Those guys from the Divine Soul Hunting Corps take pleasure in hunting souls; they wouldn’t spare us either if they found us. They are our sworn enemies regardless. We have a better chance standing with you."

"Yes, the Divine Soul Hunting Corps are enemies to everyone. Joining forces will only benefit us," Lei Jia Zhong nodded, his expression appearing heavy.

"If those Divine Soul Hunting Corps members can only evade the Moon Demons, that’s one thing. But what if—what if they can control their aura, deliberately expose it to lure the Moon Demons to the location of other teams, and then conceal their toxic aura to strike those being attacked by the Moon Demons? If that’s the case, the problem becomes much more complicated," Ji Changkong mused, suddenly saying.

The eight who had narrowly survived all paled upon hearing Ji Changkong’s speculation, their eyes slowly filling with terror as they glanced at each other.

His heart sinking, Ji Changkong looked at the eight with a wry smile, "Don't tell me I guessed correctly?"

The man who had spoken earlier nodded with a pained expression, "Now that you mention it, we realize something was wrong. Those Moon Demons that attacked us… came… came so suddenly. It was exactly as you described. They were intentionally lured. After the Moon Demons began their assault, the Divine Soul Hunting Corps members appeared without a sound, without anyone noticing. They didn't have to worry about the Moon Demon attacks and began dealing with us alongside the Moon Demons…"

As the man recounted this, everyone became somewhat panicked, looking lost as to what to do next.

Even Lei Zhong was somewhat disoriented, murmuring, "Those Divine Soul Hunting Corps members are terrifyingly powerful; this is difficult. I don’t know if we should continue operating in Moon Heart. Perhaps I should start looking for an exit now? It would be better for us to leave Moon Heart as soon as possible, don't you think?"

Unexpectedly, everyone agreed with Lei Jia’s proposal, nodding in unison, "Fine. If possible, leaving this place early wouldn’t be a bad idea."

"No!" Yu Ziling was the first to object. "We went through all this hardship to enter Moon Heart, are we just going to give up? It wasn't easy for us to get in here. Who knows when the passage to Moon Heart will open next? Every moment we spend in Moon Heart nourishes our divine souls. Here, I believe as long as Number Twenty-Four is present, we can evade those Moon Demons and even the Divine Soul Hunting Corps. As long as we avoid them, every second we stay here is a gain!"

"Avoid the Moon Demons and the Divine Soul Hunting Corps?" One of the eight looked at Lei Jia with utter confusion. "What is going on?"

Lei Jia quickly explained the situation to the man. Upon hearing that Ji Changkong could detect the Divine Soul Hunting Corps members in advance outside and had managed to ambush and kill several of their experts, the eight were immediately shaken and looked astonished.

"Number Twenty-Four, you… you can really detect the Moon Demons and the Divine Soul Hunting Corps members in advance?" the man asked.

"I wouldn't claim a hundred percent certainty, perhaps ninety percent," Ji Changkong replied modestly.

"That’s excellent then." The man was decisive. "With such a high degree of certainty, why should we leave? It’s much better to forge ahead here."

His sentiment was shared by the majority, including Lei Jia and his people. Everyone rediscovered their resolve to stay. Not only were they no longer in a hurry to leave, but they urged Lei Jia to proceed forward faster.

Lei Jia happily agreed and led the group back on their journey.

After traveling for a while, a small, crystal-gleaming peak suddenly appeared ahead. The small peak was covered in strange, peculiar plants, emanating an extremely rich essence of moonlight. Even standing far in front of the small peak, everyone sensed their divine souls involuntarily beginning to inhale the marvelous moonlight essence originating from it. Their souls felt comfortable and soothed, rapidly cleansed by the moonlight essence, infusing their spirits with the power of the moon.

Yu Ziling and the others suddenly cheered, pointing at the small peak, "Moon Peak! Is this Moon Peak?" Lei Zhong nodded with a smile.

"Lei Jia, you truly are capable! Following you was the right choice. You actually managed to find Moon Peak, ha! You’re amazing!" Number Nine shouted excitedly.

Even the two cold sisters, Number Five and Number Six, looked incomparably excited. It seemed Moon Peak was indeed an extraordinarily wondrous place.

"Lei Jia, it’s you! It really is you! I knew you would eventually seek this place out. Among all the guides who entered Moon Heart, only you and I could accurately locate Moon Peak!" A domineering and arrogant soul thought suddenly boomed from the back of Moon Peak. Meng Gang’s figure slowly emerged from the rear of Moon Peak, his eyes blazing with murderous intent as he glared over, roaring wildly, "You wretches, follow Lei Jia to your deaths!"

Ji Changkong’s expression remained unchanged. He suddenly said, "Is there something strange about Moon Peak? At this close distance, I cannot sense the presence of Meng Gang and his group!"

Lei Jia nodded, "Correct. Moon Peak is a truly magical location within Moon Heart. Legend says Moon Peak is the very core of the moon. Here, the power of soul surveillance is completely obscured. It is natural that you cannot perceive Meng Gang opposite you; do not find it strange."

"So that's how it is…" Ji Changkong nodded, looking at Moon Peak ahead, a smile suddenly spreading across his face. "There are quite a few good things on this Moon Peak, after all."

"Of course. Legend states that wonderful plants and flowers sprout on Moon Peak periodically. Once harvested, when the passage to Moon Heart opens next time, the peak will be covered in strange treasures again. Even complete Divine Weapons that have previously appeared in Moon Heart were discovered on Moon Peak. In short, encountering Moon Peak upon entering Moon Heart is the luckiest thing possible, because Moon Peak holds the most precious treasures of Moon Heart. We struck it lucky!" Yu Ziling exclaimed excitedly.

"Haha, Lei Jia, you’re quite good. Finding Moon Peak, very good, very good," Ji Changkong smiled, then focused his gaze on the members of Meng Gang’s group emerging one by one from ahead, squinting and saying coldly, "Meng Gang and his group seem to have suffered significant losses under the assaults of the Moon Demons and the Divine Soul Hunting Corps. They are down to only half their original number now. Hmm, they are still capable of fighting."

Lei Jia’s courage surged, and staring at Meng Gang, he sneered, "Meng Gang, you boasted about being familiar with Moon Heart, claiming it was right to follow you. Look at you—half your entourage is dead! But I haven't lost anyone, and I've gained some new friends. Meng Gang, you are inferior to me! Your good luck has run out!"

"Haha, I’d like to see whose good luck has run out," Meng Gang charged forward, his soul like a tempest. "Everyone, kill these guys first, lest someone else tries to snatch the treasures on Moon Peak with you!"

Those accompanying Meng Gang, hearing this, made no reply but immediately charged ferociously alongside Meng Gang. (To be continued)