In truth, Feng Qing'er and Mu Qingluan had no idea that Mu Chen had already slain a Dou Zong (Martial Ancestor) expert from the Gold-Eating Rat Clan. As for Mu Chen's strength, Clan Leader Jin Shi had assessed him to be a Battle Venerate of multiple revolutions, or even a peak-level Battle Saint. Faced with such a powerhouse, how could Clan Leader Jin Shi not make concessions?
Boom!
A thunderous roar suddenly echoed from the clouds in the sky.
The sudden appearance of the thunderous figure caused everyone at the crater to look up. The multicolored energy tide in the sky had already begun to spread. A massive vortex appeared above the crater.
The energy of heaven and earth began to be mysteriously drawn, pouring down toward the crater at the summit of Tianshan.
The Tianshan Blood Pool, which was about seven to eight zhang in size, was soon completely filled. The red liquid inside was thick and bright, resembling a true pool of blood. A dense, blood-red energy slowly emanated from it, like smoke.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mu Chen observed the two women beside him.
Mu Qingluan, dressed in green robes, had a pair of large, sparkling eyes that were exceptionally adorable. Her charming face still carried a hint of innocence and naivety, making her seem out of place in this life-and-death atmosphere.
Feng Qing'er, clad in colorful attire, exuded an air of undeniable nobility from a distance, beautiful and holy. Such a woman would only ignite a man's desire to conquer her.
Whether it was Mu Qingluan or Feng Qing'er, due to the influence of Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, the two were destined to eventually stand on the opposite side of Mu Chen, becoming his enemies.
Would Mu Chen really have to cruelly destroy such beauty?
Mu Chen's heart was conflicted.
The love for beauty is something everyone possesses. The desire for beauty is human nature!
If possible, Mu Chen hoped to claim both of them for himself. One was lofty and noble, while the other was like a teenage girl. Whether it was the former or the latter, Mu Chen harbored the desire to conquer them.
Feng Qing'er and Mu Qingluan noticed Mu Chen's gaze lingering on them, and their hearts couldn't help but leap into their throats. Mu Chen's cultivation far surpassed theirs, even exceeding that of their respective sect leaders. If Mu Chen were to demand that they leave this place, they... would likely have no choice but to comply.
Forget it, let fate decide. I refuse to believe that I have no connection with these two!
In the end, Mu Chen did not take action against Feng Qing'er and Mu Qingluan. The two women noticed Mu Chen's gaze shifting away from them and simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
"As expected of a miraculous place that can help one break through bottlenecks. Such an astonishing gathering of energy is truly the first time I've ever seen it," Ruo Lin exclaimed in awe.
"So that's how it is," Mu Chen muttered, his eyes transforming into the Rinnegan as he observed the surroundings for a moment.
"Did you notice it too?" Bibi Dong asked.
"Yes," Mu Chen nodded.
"Notice what?" Ruo Lin asked curiously.
"Actually, this is a massive formation," Bibi Dong replied.
"A formation?" Ruo Lin frowned, unable to detect any traces of a formation.
"Yes. This formation uses the surrounding mountains and rivers as its lines, and it will activate spontaneously after a certain amount of time. The volcanic crater we're standing on right now is the eye of the formation," Mu Chen explained.
"It's amazing how nature can create such intricate craftsmanship," Ruo Lin marveled.
Mu Chen glanced at Ruo Lin. Whether this was a natural occurrence or not, he couldn't be certain. With his current level of cultivation, creating such a massive formation artificially was within his capabilities.
"Let's begin," Mu Chen instructed.
"Alright."
Ruo Lin, Xiao Yu, Bibi Dong, and Xue Ni nodded in agreement.
"The entrance to the Heavenly Mountain isn't the best place for cultivation. The bottom of the Blood Pool is the most optimal spot. Over countless years, the energy there has condensed to a remarkable level," Mu Chen reminded them.
The Golden Stone Clan leader gave Mu Chen a surprised look, his lips twitching, but he ultimately said nothing.
"Let's go together," Xiao Yu suggested.
"No, you go ahead. The Blood Pool is of no use to me. I'll wait for you up here," Mu Chen replied.
Ruo Lin, Xiao Yu, Bibi Dong, and Xue Ni nodded. Once the four of them had jumped into the Blood Pool, Mu Chen took out the Enlightenment Futon.
As Mu Chen sat on the Enlightenment Futon, a colorful and strange world appeared before him. The colors were divided into red, yellow, black, silver, green, blue, and white, each representing a different elemental law. For example, red symbolized fire, black represented darkness, and yellow stood for earth.
Mu Chen had already mastered the law of fire, which caused the fiery glow around him to dim significantly.
"I hope to comprehend the law of water this time."
Without hesitation, Mu Chen's consciousness entered the blue gate, which represented water. Recently, he had been focusing on understanding the law of water.
As Mu Chen's consciousness entered the blue vortex gate, it disappeared.
Mu Chen was no longer alone but found himself in a world of darkness. There was nothing but darkness all around him.
Suddenly, Mu Chen felt a pull and began to move slowly upward. He emerged from the darkness and realized he had been buried in the soil. The sun had risen, bringing him out from beneath the ground.
Mu Chen transformed into a wisp of water vapor, rising higher and higher. Around him were many similar companions, but he couldn't speak or communicate with them.
When Mu Chen reached a certain height, he stopped ascending. His companions gathered together, forming a cloud. The cloud grew thicker and thicker, eventually forming separate kingdoms, each existing independently yet separated by a distance.
Boom!
Finally, when the cloud expanded to a certain point, a battle began. Countless companions collided, unleashing silver lightning. As one of them, Mu Chen was inevitably drawn into the conflict.
Mu Chen perished in the battle, transforming into a drop of water that fell from a height of ten thousand meters. He wasn't alone; countless companions turned into rain, pouring down from the sky in a torrential downpour.
When Mu Chen landed on the ground, he fell into a river. He and his companions converged into a small stream. As more and more companions joined, the stream grew into a river, its scale continuing to expand. Eventually, together with his companions, they surged forward with unstoppable force.
A flash flood had erupted.
Countless lives were destroyed in the flood. Before long, the flood subsided, and Mu Chen transformed into a drop of water, absorbed by a small sapling. He then became part of the sapling. As more companions were absorbed by the sapling, it grew day by day. One day, under the sunlight, Mu Chen left the sapling once again, turning into a wisp of water vapor, rising steadily into the sky.
Thus, the cycle repeated.
What Mu Chen needed to do was to comprehend the hidden mysteries of the universe within this cycle. The function of the Enlightenment Futon was to increase the success rate of the practitioner in understanding the profound truths of the universe. It allowed the practitioner to become one with nature, to draw closer to it, and thus to comprehend its essence.
"I understand."
A flash of insight struck Mu Chen's mind, and he finally grasped the hidden mysteries of the universe.
(End of Chapter)