A long cry echoed from a distance, drawing nearer. A voice, slightly aged, carried across the air. “Brother Shenlong, summoning us with the Source Call—what urgent matter requires our presence?” Before the voice even finished, a figure had already arrived, hovering directly before Shenlong.
He Yiming’s brow lifted slightly. Judging by the man's bearing and mannerisms, he could instantly tell this was a powerhouse of the Pseudo-God realm.
Among the Divine Path cultivators, there were distinct tiers. The status of a Pseudo-God was clearly far superior to that of a Virtual God. This newly arrived human Divine Path expert could address Shenlong as an equal brother, whereas Mu Zilong, a Virtual God, had to respectfully address Shenlong as 'Lord Shenlong.'
This clearly demonstrated that formidable strength was coveted everywhere, regardless of the setting.
Shenlong, whose eyes had remained tightly shut, finally opened them. Whether it was He Yiming’s illusion or not, he noticed Shenlong’s eyes seemed significantly dimmer now.
He muttered inwardly, realizing that the dragon's roar must have truly drained Shenlong considerably; otherwise, the difference between before and now couldn't possibly be so stark.
“Brother He, this is Brother Liu Mu, another Divine Path expert who forged the Thunderbolt Spear,” Mu Zilong lowered his voice. “Here, he might be your only reliable backing.”
He Yiming froze slightly, regarding the newcomer with a look of suspicion.
Mu Zilong blinked his large, bell-like eyes. “He is a Divine Elder from the Northwest Heavenly Pool lineage.”
He Yiming’s eyes immediately lit up. Since entering this desolate place, every Divine Path expert he had encountered, especially those in the Pseudo-God realm, had either been hostile or desired the divine artifact he possessed. The presence of an ally like Liu Mu was undoubtedly the best news he could receive.
Shenlong opened his eyes fully. “Liu Mu, how many Thunderbolt Spears do you possess?”
Liu Mu was momentarily taken aback. He never expected that Shenlong would expend his Source power to summon him merely to ask about that specific item.
After a moment of contemplation, he replied, “I should have over twenty thousand in my possession. If Brother Shenlong has use for them, I, Liu, am willing to offer half.”
He Yiming secretly gasped upon hearing this. This old gentleman possessed over twenty thousand Thunderbolt Spears—an incredibly vast quantity.
Mu Zilong’s lips curved slightly, and he whispered, “He has at least thirty thousand Thunderbolt Spears, perhaps more.”
He Yiming’s head spun slightly. Although he had managed to collect over a thousand Thunderbolt Spears in these brief months, this arduous method of combat was unsustainable in the long run. Furthermore, according to Mu Zilong, the increase in Golden Monsters now was due to approaching a century mark; they seemed endless. Yet, under normal circumstances, even within their lair, one might not encounter a single Golden Monster in a month, let alone a mutated variant.
Therefore, for Liu Mu to have amassed thirty thousand Thunderbolt Spears was unquestionably a staggering number.
“I have no need for your Thunderbolt Spears,” Shenlong shook his massive head. “We divine beasts would rather use our claws and teeth than employ the divine weapons of your human race.”
Liu Mu offered a wry smile. “Brother Shenlong, you are too stubborn. With such a formidable enemy before us, any method that allows us to slay these damned Death Creatures more effectively and in greater numbers is justifiable.” As he spoke, he lowered his head slightly and nodded toward the two figures on the ground. “Brother Mu is here as well.”
Mu Zilong bowed deeply. “Brother Liu, long time no see.”
Liu Mu chuckled heartily. “I am quite well. You returned so early; have you already gathered a large supply of mandibles, waiting for me to open the furnace and begin forging?”
Mu Zilong’s old face flushed slightly. “Brother Liu, the reason Lord Shenlong called everyone together this time is actually related to the Thunderbolt Spears.”
Liu Mu was startled. “Related to the Thunderbolt Spears? What do you mean, Brother Mu?”
Shenlong’s voice slowly resonated. “Liu Mu, did you not just say that any method is permissible as long as it allows us to better and more thoroughly eliminate the Death Creatures?”
Liu Mu felt a faint premonition stirring, but his expression remained composed. “Indeed. Brother Shenlong is correct.”
“In that case,” Shenlong stated slowly, “hand over all your Thunderbolt Spears to him.”
Although Shenlong did not name anyone specifically, Liu Mu knew perfectly well that ‘him’ certainly did not refer to Mu Zilong.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Liu Mu said coldly, “The fluctuations of World Power have been erratic recently; there must be newcomers who have broken the seal and entered this place, subsequently advancing to the Divine Path.” He chuckled darkly. “May I ask this young brother’s name, and what qualifications he possesses to claim all the Thunderbolt Spears in my possession?”
Even when facing Shenlong, Liu Mu maintained an air of self-possession, neither subservient nor overbearing. The confidence and power of a Pseudo-God were truly incomparable to that of a Virtual God.
He Yiming stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and called out loudly, “He Yiming, disciple of the Northwest Heavenly Pool lineage, pays respects to the Grand Ancestor.”
“The Northwest Heavenly Pool?” Liu Mu stiffened, his figure shifting instantly as he flew down from the high altitude to stand before He Yiming. He grabbed He Yiming up roughly and demanded sternly, “You are from the Heavenly Pool sect?”
Though his tone was severe, the sheer delight in his voice was obvious even to a fool.
“This disciple is indeed from the Northwest Heavenly Pool lineage,” He Yiming stated solemnly. “Eight people entered this Ice Island in total; two of them belong to our Heavenly Pool sect. Besides this disciple, the Sect Master has also arrived.”
Liu Mu’s body trembled slightly. This was the first time in five hundred years he had encountered descendants of his own lineage; the excitement he felt was immeasurable.
He took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “Why did you both have to enter? One person would have sufficed.”
He Yiming forced a bitter smile. “Grand Ancestor, the external world currently suffers from a scarcity of World Power. All cultivators can, at most, only reach the peak of the Human Path. To advance further, entering this place is the only option.”
Liu Mu’s expression shifted subtly. He murmured, “So that is the reason.” He shook his head deeply and asked, “Your name is Yiming, correct? Is the Heavenly Pool lineage thriving now?”
He Yiming stated gravely, “The Heavenly Pool lineage governs the Northwest; it is counted among the foremost, renowned sects in the world.”
“Good.” A trace of relief flickered in Liu Mu’s eyes. He seemed to shed a heavy burden, saying with emotion, “Yiming, the prosperity of the Heavenly Pool lineage—it truly took hard work from you all.”
He Yiming inwardly broke into a cold sweat. To be truthful, although he was a disciple of the Heavenly Pool lineage, he had contributed nothing to its current flourishing.
It wasn't that he refused to serve the sect, but rather that he never possessed the time or the opportunity. The architects of the Heavenly Pool lineage’s enduring strength in the Northwest were Di Shitian and the Divine Calculator; he had no part in it.
Shenlong’s voice broke in with a touch of impatience. “Liu Mu, are you finished reminiscing? You can give him the Thunderbolt Spears now.”
Liu Mu shot an irritated glare toward the creature above him. Without a word, he removed a bracelet from his body and placed it into He Yiming’s hand. “Yiming, this is the forty thousand Thunderbolt Spears I accumulated over the past century. You and… the other person from the sect should split them. In times of grave danger, never be stingy. Remember this, always.”
Mu Zilong’s eyelids twitched violently. He cursed inwardly: this old rascal claimed to have only twenty thousand spears but actually hoarded forty thousand—truly cunning.
He Yiming felt a warmth spread through him. He took a deep breath. “This disciple absolutely cannot accept the belongings of the Grand Ancestor.”
Liu Mu waved his large sleeve dismissively. “Nonsense! Don’t you know that a gift from an elder must not be refused? The Death Creatures here are incredibly powerful. They don't seem overwhelming now, but when the appointed time comes, they will swarm the mountains and fields. With your strength, having just advanced to the Divine Path, how can you protect yourselves without the Thunderbolt Spears?”
His tone grew increasingly stern, yet his concern was undeniably evident.
He Yiming lowered his head. “Grand Ancestor, if you give all your Thunderbolt Spears to us, what will you have left?”
Liu Mu let out a sudden laugh. He stated proudly, “You need not worry. I have long advanced to the Pseudo-God realm; am I afraid of a few mere monsters?”
He Yiming felt a surge of emotion. He knew, of course, that Liu Mu was merely trying to reassure him. If the Thunderbolt Spears were truly useless to him, he wouldn't have collected them with such fervor. A collection exceeding forty thousand spears represented an immense amount of dedication.
“Brother Liu, you misunderstand,” Mu Zilong coughed lightly. “Brother He didn’t summon you here for your Thunderbolt Spears, but rather to modify the ones you possess.”
Liu Mu was momentarily confused, then asked coldly, “Modify them? How?”
He Yiming flipped his wrist, retrieving a mutated Thunderbolt Spear. “Grand Ancestor, this is a Thunderbolt Spear refined by my own hand, without any outside help. Please test it.”
Liu Mu looked at He Yiming with a mixture of surprise and joy. He took the mutated spear, sensed it closely, and his expression immediately underwent a subtle change.
Mu Zilong chuckled and waved his hand; the corpse of a silver-white monster suddenly appeared on the ground. He made a gesture toward the corpse. “Brother Liu, please.”
Liu Mu’s eyes flickered. Divine power surged from his hand, and the mutated Thunderbolt Spear transformed into a streak of electrical light, piercing deeply into the monster’s corpse.
With a deafening roar, the entire strange tree exploded into countless fragments. The scattering flesh and blood acted like cannonballs, riddling the surroundings with holes.
A look of shock crossed Liu Mu’s face. Such destructive power far exceeded his wildest expectations. Even if he had been struck by such an attack without warning, he doubted he could escape unscathed.
“Brother Liu, we have tested this multiple times. The power contained within these shattered fragments is immense. Within a ten-step radius, even a Golden Monster cannot withstand it. Heh heh, imagine if we were to launch this spear when those legions descend upon us…”
A fierce light flashed in Mu Zilong’s eyes, leaving infinite possibilities to the imagination. Liu Mu’s gaze was equally bright, seemingly visualizing that incomparably brilliant and dazzling scene.
Ps: Ugh… I misread the time, thought it was just past seven, but it’s already past eight. A bit late, please forgive me.
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