In the secluded small valley, the clang of metal striking metal never ceased. Luo Hao and Zhao Xin, along with two others, had encircled Mu Yudie in the center, desperately fending off the relentless barrage from the intruders of the "Dark Nether."

The tall, thin man in grey, whose shoulder bore the embroidered insignia of a silver moon, commanded his eight subordinates. The eyes behind his pale mask were chillingly sinister, and they brandished sharp weapons, effectively boxing in Luo Hao and his companions.

"Miss Mu, I strongly advise you to return with us to see the Nether Lord. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for us to account for ourselves," the leader, the tall, thin figure in grey, coldly advised while directing his subordinates to attack.

Mu Yudie's delicate features were etched with disgust. She shook her head resolutely. "Even if I die here, I will never go back with you!"

"Since Miss Mu is so uncooperative, then there is no choice but to capture you and hand you over." The leader paused for a beat, then suddenly barked, "Luo Hao! You should know the might of our 'Dark Nether'! To oppose us is surely seeking your own doom!"

"Hahahaha!" Luo Hao boomed with unrestrained laughter, his voice like a great bell. "I am accustomed to walking alone. If your 'Dark Nether' wants to kill me, you will have to pay a heavy price. As a Nether Moon Emissary of the 'Dark Nether,' your cultivation at the Second Heaven of Hundred Tribulations is indeed worthy enough to be buried alongside me!"

"You are not yet worthy of accompanying me to the grave," the Nether Moon Emissary replied, shaking his head as his body flickered like a phantom.

The next instant, he materialized three meters in front of Luo Hao, extending his left hand. His five fingers were like iron hooks, and tendrils of cold, green light wafted out from them. This green light, like silken ribbons, suddenly snaked toward Luo Hao.

"Nether God's Green Claw!" Luo Hao's expression shifted slightly as he roared, "Zhao Xin, you three protect Little Die!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The frequency of Luo Hao's heartbeats suddenly accelerated several times! Centered on him, gravity instantly surged tenfold!

All the Dark Nether Nether Star Emissaries standing near Luo Hao, under the influence of the gravity, felt as if an iron mountain had been placed upon them. Their knees buckled sharply, and they nearly crashed to the ground.

Even the Nether Moon Emissary was affected; his body suddenly trembled before he sneered, "Luo Hao, I hadn't expected your 'Gravity Martial Soul' to advance to the point of exceeding tenfold gravity. No wonder you seem so fearless."

"Hahaha, without some skill, how would I dare invite you for company in death?" Luo Hao laughed loudly, his face still holding that indifferent smile. But the broadsword resting on his shoulder suddenly erupted with brilliant blue light, and a mountain-like aura surged forth from him.

Luo Hao laughed heartily, swinging his broadsword, stepping forward to shield Mu Yudie, directly intercepting the Nether Moon Emissary.

When the Nether Moon Emissary unleashed his "Nether God's Green Claw," the tendrils of eerie green light seemed hampered by the tenfold gravity. The Emissary's control became slightly sluggish, forcing him to bend his fingers and meet the attack head-on, surrounding Luo Hao along with the three Nether Star Emissaries.

"Zhao Xin, take Little Die and go!" Luo Hao shouted, his presence magnificent. The broadsword in his hand blazed with pulsing blue light, and with every sweep, it resembled meteors streaking across the heavens, successfully holding back the other Nether Star Emissaries as well.

Fifty meters behind the Dark Nether envoys, at an ancient tree, Shi Yan abruptly stopped. Behind the trunk, he watched the unfolding scene with a grim expression, bright pinpricks of light flickering in his dark eyes.

Any single Nether Star Emissary of the "Dark Nether" possessed the cultivation of the Innate Realm. The Nether Moon Emissary with the silver moon insignia on his shoulder commanded the power of the Second Heaven of Hundred Tribulations. This group was far too powerful; if he intervened rashly, he might be easily dealt with by the Dark Nether forces before he could even reach Mu Yudie and the others.

Frowning, a string of thoughts rapidly crossed his mind as Shi Yan searched for a viable solution.

Five seconds later, his eyes lit up. He quietly slipped off the backpack from his shoulders, retrieved the "Bone-Corroding Powder" wrapped in soft cloth, and clenched it tightly in his palm. Bending low, he silently scaled the ancient tree.

On the long, slender branches of the old tree, Shi Yan slowly shifted his body, inching closer to the clash.

The "Bone-Corroding Powder" was a poison concocted by Karu, an alchemist with too much free time. It could induce numbness and weakness in the bones and joints, drastically reducing physical strength, and its effects lasted for three hours—enough time to change the tide of battle.

"Zhao Xin! You all go!" Luo Hao roared, his broadsword glowing with brilliant blue light, holding back nearly ten "Dark Nether" envoys by himself.

"Miss Mu!" Zhao Xin was equally anxious, stamping his foot. "Hurry and leave!"

Mu Yudie's expression was serene, but her gaze was fiercely resolute. She spoke calmly, "I am not leaving. If you all stay and fight, there's still a chance of victory. If all three of you leave, Uncle Luo will surely be unable to escape his long entrapment. Without Uncle Luo, it will be nearly impossible for us to resist the 'Dark Nether,' and the final outcome will be the same."

"Fine! Then we fight to the death!" Zhao Xin was a quick study. Hearing her words, he finally made up his mind and shouted, "Di Yalan! Hu Long! Let's go!"

The three positioned themselves around Mu Yudie, and their sharp weapons suddenly shot through the air, fiercely targeting the "Dark Nether" envoys who were besieging Luo Hao.

"Four of you, go across and make sure you attend to those three juniors carefully," the Nether Moon Emissary frowned slightly and commanded coldly. "Do not harm Miss Mu. The Nether Lord has given orders: Miss Mu must be 'invited' back alive, without the slightest injury."

"Yes!" The four Nether Star Emissaries roared, suddenly charging toward Zhao Xin and his companions.

Just then!

A faint, unusual sound echoed from directly above them. The Nether Moon Emissary, alerted, snapped his head upward and cried out in alarm, "Not good! Move aside quickly!"

Too late!

Grey dust, like a fine drizzle, descended from the sky, enveloping the entire area. Whether "Dark Nether" personnel or Luo Hao and Zhao Xin’s group—everyone was covered by the grey powder; not a single person escaped.

The Nether Moon Emissary reacted swiftly, instinctively holding his breath and hastily retreating. However, a considerable amount of grey dust still clung to him. The dust possessed a strange penetrating power, seeping through his flesh into his body. The Emissary’s limbs felt numb, and his heart sank. He hurriedly channeled his essence to resist.

The "Dark Nether" Nether Star Emissaries were less vigilant than their leader. Many inhaled the "Bone-Corroding Powder." The toxin that reached their lungs and hearts rapidly affected their bodies. In just a few seconds, they felt pervasive numbness, and the bones in their limbs began to soften; their bodies could barely muster any strength.

Luo Hao's expression changed drastically. He was also a victim, feeling weakness throughout his body. While desperately circulating his vital essence to counteract the "Bone-Corroding Powder" toxin, his eyes shone with a cold glare as he looked menacingly upward.

A lean figure suddenly emerged from the branches extending from the ancient tree above them. The person’s expression was impassive as he leaped down from the trunk, landing next to a wide-eyed, astonished Mu Yudie. He casually handed her a small pouch of herbs, stating indifferently, "Inhale the fragrance from this pouch, and the toxin from the 'Bone-Corroding Powder' will dissipate immediately."

"How... how could it be you?" Mu Yudie’s moon-like beautiful face was filled with surprise and astonishment. She had never expected the one descending from the heavens to be Shi Yan.

Staring closely at him, Mu Yudie’s surprise deepened. In the time since their last meeting, Shi Yan had already reached the Innate Realm—how could this be after only a few days?

"Miss saved me twice, once unintentionally and once intentionally. I keep that in my heart," Shi Yan grinned. Seeing that she had taken the pouch, he added, "The effects of the 'Bone-Corroding Powder' last for three hours. Three hours is neither long nor short. Miss should know how to arrange things," a bone-chilling cold glint flashed across his dark eyes.

"I understand," Mu Yudie comprehended. She wrinkled her delicate nose and forcefully inhaled the fragrance from the pouch, immediately handing it to Zhao Xin beside her. "Hurry!"

The Nether Moon Emissary, struggling to channel his essence to resist the "Bone-Corroding Powder" toxin, saw the situation turning dire and immediately barked with a cold face, "Charge! Seize the pouch! If Luo Hao and the others manage to neutralize the toxin on their bodies, none of you will survive!"

After his sharp command, he forcibly propelled his vital essence and charged toward Luo Hao once more.

The Nether Star Emissaries also perceived the situation. Disregarding the poison affecting them, they rushed to re-surround Zhao Xin's group, launching their attacks with somewhat sluggish movements.

Zhao Xin hadn't even managed to take the pouch from Mu Yudie before the overwhelming, sharp assaults arrived.

His face changed, forcing him to abandon retrieving the pouch for Mu Yudie and concentrate all his mental energy to deal with the desperate attacks of the Nether Star Emissaries.

Hu Long and Di Yalan were in the same predicament; under the desperate offensive of the Nether Star Emissaries, they couldn't even snatch a moment to inhale the pouch's fragrance.

Mu Yudie held the pouch, yet found no opening to pass it to anyone, a hint of anxiousness slowly creeping onto her beautiful face. She was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

With no other recourse, Mu Yudie could only look toward Shi Yan, the plea in her beautiful eyes becoming increasingly obvious.

Shi Yan's cultivation wasn't high, but with everyone poisoned by the "Bone-Corroding Powder," and her own vital essence unable to move even a drop, he suddenly became critically important.

Under Mu Yudie's pleading gaze, Shi Yan smiled faintly and asked naturally, "May I inquire as to the young lady's name?"

"Mu Yudie."

"A fine name."

Shi Yan nodded, solemnly committing the name to memory. Under Mu Yudie’s watch, he suddenly shot forward!

Holding a dagger, Shi Yan plunged directly into the midst of the Nether Star Emissaries, his expression cold as he swung the blade, carving out trails of frigid light.

The Nether Star Emissary most deeply affected by the "Bone-Corroding Powder" instantly gained a deep gash across his neck before collapsing backward, staring at the sky.

Shi Yan was like a sharp weapon, constantly darting among the Nether Star Emissaries, leaving bloody trenches on their bodies.

"Ugh..." Mu Yudie touched a stray lock of hair near her ear, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes, her expression peculiar. "I only... only wanted him to help pass the pouch."

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