Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Intimidation

Mu He gritted his teeth, "They're treading a path to their own doom. Two assaults have already consumed about half of the Star Energy that the grand array has accumulated over years. Initially, the Star Capturing Array might have lasted a year. Now, I estimate it will only last five to six months."

In reality, the two attacks had used up only a third of the energy, but Mu He exaggerated deliberately.

Mu He had always believed that while Mu Chen and Ye Shi might be a match for Lou Qing and his ilk, they were no match for him.

He intended to toy with them like a cat with a mouse, only to realize that the mice he underestimated had delivered such a significant setback.

Xia Cheng and Li Ruo met a tragic end. Two of the three people he had recruited were dead, making their alliance a joke. His credibility diminished, and to top it off, those two youngsters had gravely injured him.

Mu He, a well-established name, was someone even elite warriors dared not cross. It had been a long time since he faced such a humiliation.

"Half of it gone? Does this mean that, if they wanted, they could launch such an attack again?" Gu Miao Yu asked in shock.

Mu He coldly glared at Gu Miao Yu. She lowered her head, feeling embarrassed, but her anxiety lingered.

If those two young troublemakers continued their onslaught, who might be the next victim? Three have already perished; a precedent has been set.

"It's the desperate struggle of trapped beasts. Once the array's energy is exhausted, it will collapse on its own. I don't believe they'll keep attacking," Mu He stated coldly.

"Should we continue with the Star Capturing Array?" Ning Huai asked, recalling the previous attack and shivering at the thought.

"Of course we should. Do you suggest we give up just because of a minor setback?" Mu He responded darkly.

Gu Miao Yu bowed her head, thinking that with the way things were progressing, she genuinely wanted to abandon the cause.

Every time she believed she had the upper hand, Mu Chen and Ye Shi always found a way to dash her hopes to the wind.

After all this time, she was indeed weary, yet she couldn't bring herself to simply give up.

...

“Where have Mu He and the others gone?” Xiong Wei couldn't help but murmur.

Ji Feiyan shrugged, remarking, “Probably spooked by yesterday's incident. I heard three royal-grade masters perished.”

Adding to the prior death of Lin Muyuan, Mu Chen and Ye Shi have already eliminated four martial emperors.

The outer hall was once in turmoil, but now the crowd seemed much calmer.

Ji Feiyan clenched her teeth. When she was at the beginning stage of Martial King, martial emperors were akin to gods to her. Now, even as a nine-star Martial King, she still lags behind them. Yet, Mu Chen and Ye Shi are...

Xiong Wei, hands behind his back, muttered, “Impressive! Really impressive! Had I known these two were this formidable, I wouldn't have bothered disrupting the grand formation!”

Ji Feiyan sighed gently, saying, “Perhaps these two had no choice. I heard yesterday’s assaults drained half of the formation’s stored star energy. If the Star Seizing Formation is set, the formation's duration would be halved, if not more.”

Xiong Wei frowned, contemplating: three Martial Kings dead, the formation’s duration halved.

For a moment, Xiong Wei couldn't determine whether Mu Chen’s venture was a gain or a loss.

“How could these two launch such attacks?” Xiong Wei exclaimed with astonishment.

Ji Feiyan shrugged, “I heard both are now level-six formation masters, achieving it through their formation prowess.”

Xiong Wei lamented, “Both at level-six already? These two are truly defying the heavens.”

...

“Mu Chen, I can’t find Mu He and the others,” Ye Shi said, scanning the shadow wall multiple times without spotting them.

Mu Chen nodded, replying, “Yes, they’re gone.”

Ye Shi stroked his chin, eyes gleaming with pride, “Could they have been frightened away?”

Mu Chen gave a wry smile, “It’s not that simple. Perhaps Mu He foresaw our surveillance and decided to conduct his business elsewhere.”

Ye Shi's eyes sparkled, “I heard three were killed in an explosion yesterday.”

As for which three, he wasn't quite sure.

Mu Chen nodded in agreement, “Yes.”

Suddenly recalling something, Ye Shi asked with a hopeful tone, “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Zhuang Yu and Lu Yao. Were they also blown up?”

Mu Chen rolled his eyes, thinking: Zhuang Yu is the protagonist; he isn’t so easily killed.

“Lu Xingfeng already sent Zhuang Yu and Lu Yao away,” Mu Chen responded casually.

Ye Shi exclaimed in surprise, “Did he?”

Mu Chen nodded, replying, “Yes, he did.”

Ye Shi bit his lip, disappointment evident, “Such a pity.”

“Patience,” Mu Chen said softly.

The treasures in this inner chamber belonged to Lu Yao and Zhuang Yu, but now that he had taken them, Lu Yao's path probably wouldn’t be smooth.

Ye Shi nodded in agreement, thinking: Opposing Zhuang Yu, the resilient troublemaker, means I need to be prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Hundreds of Sky-devouring Bees flew towards the two. Seeing them, Ye Shi gritted his teeth, “Mu Chen, these creatures are getting greedier by the day.”

Mu Chen nodded, agreeing, “Indeed.”

The Sky-devouring Bees Mu Chen raised had grown to hundreds. Their daily consumption of elemental stones was becoming burdensome for Ye Shi, and now for Mu Chen as well.

“These few hundred are all at level four. Even a Martial King would meet their doom upon encountering them,” Mu Chen said darkly.

If these Sky-devouring Bees reached level five, even martial emperors would have to flee from them.

Ye Shi scratched his head, pondering, “If they're this insatiable at level four, what happens when they reach level five?”

They’d probably devour us whole! Had he known raising these creatures would be such a drain, he wouldn't have bothered.

Although these Sky-devouring Bees ate anything and everything, their favorite was elemental stones. Their level four upgrade severely drained his assets.

“They might eat a lot, but they're strong. They’ll be useful in the future,” Mu Chen reasoned.

Ye Shi clenched his teeth, replying, “Fine.” If not for their potential, he would’ve cooked and eaten them by now.

“Mu Chen, you've become a three-star Martial King,” Ye Shi observed.

After advancing to the rank of Martial King, Ye Shi felt his cultivation progress had significantly slowed. However, Mu Chen, who had only recently reached the Martial King level, experienced an astonishing increase in power. His rate of advancement was even faster than when he was in the Martial Spirit realm, leaving Ye Shi struggling to keep up.

Mu Chen stretched out his hand, and a cyan flame flew out from his palm.

"All thanks to Qiu Feng. The quality of his Fire-Eating Worms is indeed remarkable. My Azure Abyssal Flame has now reached Rank Six," Mu Chen remarked, his strength greatly enhanced by the flame's progression.

"Qiu Feng, he's really something!" Ye Shi exclaimed with a chuckle.

"Isn't he just!" Mu Chen agreed wholeheartedly. "I believe he nurtured those Fire-Eating Worm leaders with a unique kind of flame."

"Oh, he's genuinely a great man," Ye Shi said, nodding in agreement.

...

Ye Shi, feeling utterly bored, took a stroll around the grand array. Possibly due to yesterday's conflict in which he and Mu Chen had unleashed powerful attacks leading to casualties, the outer temple seemed somewhat desolate.

Previously, the area outside the grand array was always bustling with activity. Now, it was eerily quiet.

Ye Shi casually scanned his surroundings, hands behind his back.

Usually, when he emerged, he would be met with stares of greed, jealousy, and pity. But now, he could sense a hint of fear in many eyes.

Ye Shi held his head high, a hint of pride swelling within him.

While wandering, he unexpectedly spotted Gu Miaoyu outside the grand array.

"Huh, you're still alive?" Ye Shi asked in genuine surprise.

Gu Miaoyu's face darkened, "Did you think I was dead?"

Tilting his head, Ye Shi said, "I heard three Martial Emperors perished the day before."

With narrowed eyes, Gu Miaoyu responded, "Indeed, three did. But I wasn't among them."

"Ah, I initially thought you were on the weaker side. Turns out others were weaker than you. Three died, yet you survived. Seems you're quite formidable after all!" Ye Shi murmured.

Gu Miaoyu was fuming, wondering how Ye Shi perceived her.

Ye Shi blinked curiously, "Who were the three?"

"Qiu Feng, Xia Chengmo, and Li Ruo," Gu Miaoyu replied tersely.

Scratching his head, Ye Shi inquired, "Qiu Feng? The one who released those worms to burn the array?"

Gu Miaoyu nodded, "Yes, him."

Ye Shi sighed softly, "I never thought he'd die."

Gu Miaoyu observed the regret on Ye Shi's face, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Such a good man! I was hoping he'd raise more worms to burn the array. Thanks to him, Mu Chen's flame advanced to Rank Six, and his strength rose to the Three-Star Martial King level," Ye Shi lamented.

Gu Miaoyu thought to herself: It's a good thing Qiu Feng is dead. Had he heard what Ye Shi just said, he might've died of rage.

"You seem rather carefree," Gu Miaoyu commented coldly.

Ye Shi nodded, "It's alright, though I'm running out of meat to eat."

Slightly annoyed, Gu Miaoyu retorted, "So what if you run out of meat? Can't you eat ginseng?"

Shrugging, Ye Shi replied, "Ginseng doesn't taste great."

Almost angered to the point of injury, Gu Miaoyu thought: Millennia-old ginseng! It's something even Martial Emperors crave, yet this Ye Shi nonchalantly consumes it and even complains about its taste!

"If you're craving meat, why not come out?" Gu Miaoyu said with a sarcastic smile.

Ye Shi's expression turned cautious as he gazed at Gu Miaoyu, solemnly saying, "When I become a Martial Emperor, I will."

With a derisive laugh, Gu Miaoyu queried, "You still wish to ascend to Martial Emperor?"

Baffled, Ye Shi remarked, "You seem different today."

In a cold tone, Gu Miaoyu asked, "How so?"

"You haven't scolded me today. Ah! Have you become afraid of me?" Ye Shi inquired, his eyes widening in surprise.

Fuming, Gu Miaoyu snapped, "You little brat, are you courting death?"

Ye Shi shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, now it feels the same."

Gazing at Ye Shi's annoyingly smug expression, Gu Miaoyu felt an indescribable emotion. Though she hated to admit it, the present Ye Shi and Mu Chen indeed exerted considerable pressure on her.