Although it was supposed to be an investigation, no results had been found, and the people already decided to stop pursuing it.

Duan Ming could only promise that if there were still no results today, they would return home tomorrow.

Despite their helplessness, everyone could only agree to wait one more day.

On this day, by nightfall, arrangements remained the same as before: some patrolled, some cooked, and others started investigating, searching for clues.

Among those cooking, one from the Fourth Stage of Mortal Realm carried a bucket to the river, intending to fetch water to cook for everyone.

But as soon as he reached the riverbank and submerged the bucket in the water, a hand suddenly extended from the water and grabbed him directly.

The bucket was left floating on the river.

Xiao Mu felt a fluctuation in power and immediately shifted his divine sense over, but unfortunately, it was too late; the hand that extended in secret had already grabbed the person and left.

"Gather, gather!" Duan Ming realized something was wrong and urgently called people to gather.

Everyone started to converge, becoming tense and realizing something major was happening.

Duan Ming immediately sent out a rescue message.

But at this moment, sharp cries suddenly came from above, and clusters of black shadows fell from the sky, like a net, directly enveloping everyone.

In the midst of this black net, a hand followed closely behind, reaching out to grab the crowd.

Duan Ming and others were terrified; the strength of the attacker was too overwhelming, instantly suppressing them, leaving them without any ability to resist.

In waiting, Xiao Mu saw this and was filled with joy.

He immediately jumped towards the black shadow, targeting the hand behind it.

"Who?"

The hand within the black shadow sensed Xiao Mu's presence and, startled, jumped directly out of the river.

Seizing the moment, Xiao Mu released a ray of Ruyi Spiritual Light, locking onto the figure.

Boom!

The Ruyi Spiritual Light collided with the divine light, and the power of the True God Realm clashed in mid-air.

Xiao Mu's silhouette collided and quickly separated from the hidden figure.

"Master!"

Duan Ming saw Xiao Mu's figure, surprised yet simultaneously pleased.

Only then did he realize that his extemporary master had such extraordinary power to engage in aerial battle with the Heavenly Court's warrior, which must be at least a level of the True God Realm?

"Who are you?"

Qiu Yuan appeared, looking fearfully at Xiao Mu.

With just a single clash, he realized he was far from a match for Xiao Mu.

Thus, he was fearful.

Unfazed, Xiao Mu looked at Qiu Yuan, leisurely saying, "Heavenly Court warrior? Were you behind the three recent disappearances?"

Qiu Yuan's expression changed, realizing he had been targeted, and he immediately turned to fly away.

The Retribution Cloud appeared beneath his feet, speedily flying away like a Retribution Light.

"Having shown yourself, do you still want to escape?" Xiao Mu chased after, stepping on the Five Elements Cloud; his speed significantly exceeded Qiu Yuan's, despite the latter's initial escape; he quickly caught up.

Ruyi Spiritual Light manifested, and Xiao Mu aimed at Qiu Yuan again, launching an attack from above.

Boom!

In fear, Qiu Yuan fought back, clashing his True God Realm with Xiao Mu's, while Xiao Mu took the opportunity to use the Creation Divine Axe; an embryonic form with blades, ultimately heavily struck Qiu Yuan's True God Realm.

The axe's blade cut into Qiu Yuan's realm like a knife slicing through watermelon.

Qiu Yuan's strength was already inferior to Xiao Mu's; with an early-stage True God fighting a mid-stage, he had no chance of resistance, unable to withstand Xiao Mu's realm combined with the axe's might.

Consequently, Qiu Yuan's realm, sliced open by Xiao Mu's axe, shattered like a watermelon split in two.

"I'll fight to the death!" In desperation, Qiu Yuan turned to battle Xiao Mu.

"You're not capable!"

Xiao Mu unleashed his Ruyi Spiritual Light, directly overpowering the opponent, combining it with the Domain Suppression Platform to tightly suppress them.

"What exactly are you doing?"

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Mu questioned, trying to force out the other's scheme.

However, Qiu Yuan's face revealed a strange smile, and danger suddenly surged in Xiao Mu's heart.

Suddenly, a temple descended from the sky, aiming directly to suppress Xiao Mu.

Startled, Xiao Mu recognized the temple's conjurer was a powerful late-stage True God.

Without hesitation, Xiao Mu deployed his realm, condensing the Domain Suppression Platform with its force, simultaneously launching the Creation Divine Axe and Ruyi Spiritual Light upwards against the temple.

Boom!

The temple and Xiao Mu clashed, forcing him to retreat.

From behind the temple, a giant hand emerged, swiftly grabbing Qiu Yuan, intending to fly away.

"How dare you!"

Xiao Mu shouted, abruptly channeling the power of the Eastern domain and invoking the Palace Lord's Hand, enhancing his realm's strength, causing the temple to tremble and be lifted.

At this moment, Xiao Mu struck again, swinging the Ruyi Spiritual Light, slicing towards Qiu Yuan.

With a squelch, Qiu Yuan's body was cut in two, falling in separate directions.

Power +30.

"Damn it!"

A curse hissed from behind the giant hand, followed by the temple and hand both disappearing, unexpectedly ceasing their assault on Xiao Mu.

The formidable presence behind the hand appeared dejected, unable to rescue Qiu Yuan, but inexplicably withdrew without further dueling Xiao Mu.

Xiao Mu felt puzzled yet acknowledged the opponent's strength and refrained from further pursuit.

The Heavenly Court indeed had formidable warriors; the one who intervened in rescuing Qiu Yuan was at least a powerful late-stage True God, possibly even at the peak.

Reaching out, Xiao Mu picked up Qiu Yuan's corpse, heading swiftly to the central area of the Eastern Desolation.

While flying, he relayed messages to Duan Ming and others, instructing them to return.

"Xiao Grand Elder, who was that?"

Halfway, Xiao Mu encountered Zhu Ke and Wang Yuan, who came for support; Zhu Ke was stunned seeing Xiao Mu holding Qiu Yuan.

Right after the battle started, Xiao Mu sent the scene to Zhu Ke and Wang Yuan, who immediately came to assist, meeting him mid-flight.

"Can either of you recognize this person?"

Xiao Mu threw Qiu Yuan to the ground.

Zhu Ke stepped forward, carefully identifying, finally recognizing Qiu Yuan and exclaimed in shock, "So it's Qiu Yuan, another Retribution System true god from the Heavenly Court, an early-stage strong True God, and Xiao Grand Elder actually killed him?"

"This person is Qiu Yuan?"

Unfamiliar with Qiu Yuan, Xiao Mu was more worried about the late-stage True God who fought him. Despite the brief clash, without deep combat, he felt cautious towards the unknown formidable opponent, "The Heavenly Court has descended; during my battle with Qiu Yuan, someone suddenly ambushed me, releasing a temple, a late-stage True God at least."

"Late-stage True God?"

"A late-stage True God with a temple!"

Zhu Ke and Wang Yuan were equally shocked, aware of the threat posed by such a presence, growing cautious and apprehensive.

Zhu Ke commented, "A late-stage True God appearing in the north of the Eastern Desolation signals trouble ahead."

"Xiao Grand Elder, from today, we pledge to guard the Eastern Desolation's north alongside you."

"Indeed, we must unite to defend the north; a late-stage True God can't be handled alone, only together do we stand a chance."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.