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"Thank you for the information, Director Zhao. Su Changkong still has things to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now. No need to see me off." With that thought, Su Changkong spoke to Zhao Feng and turned to leave.
Zhao Feng watched Su Changkong’s departing figure, his heart filled with hope: "I hope he makes it in time..."
The reason Zhao Feng informed Su Changkong of this matter was naturally because he believed that Su Changkong would take an interest. Although Duanmu Tao was powerful and had a Divine Weapon in hand, Elder-level Monster Warriors from the Life Extinguishing Association were no ordinary characters.
If Su Changkong was interested in striking against the Life Extinguishing Association’s Elders, this would make things much easier for Duanmu Tao and the others.
However, Zhao Feng had no assurance. It had been two days since Duanmu Tao and the others left and by his calculations, they were nearly at Ambush Elephant Mountain. And even if Su Changkong really went to Ambush Elephant Mountain, he might not make it in time!
"I’ll go have a look at Ambush Elephant Mountain!"
Leaving the Demon Suppressing Department, Su Changkong exited the Imperial City. With a leap, a white crane phantom appeared underfoot, and he sat on the back of the white crane phantom, heading towards the direction of Ambush Elephant Mountain.
Given the distance between Central State and Great Flood State, even for an Innate Martial Artist traveling at full speed, it would take two to three days.
But for Su Changkong, who had mastered ’White Crane Escapes’ and was capable of flight, it was less than half a day’s journey. That was the advantage of being able to fly—he had the vast expanse of the earth at his disposal!
Ambush Elephant Mountain in Great Flood State was shaped like a crouching giant elephant and was thus named.
"We’ve arrived."
Leading the Martial Artists of the Demon Suppressing Department, including Lian Tianlu, they reached the exterior of Ambush Elephant Mountain.
"Hum, hum, hum!"
The iron case on Duanmu Tao’s back shuddered incessantly, which made the expressions on everyone’s faces even more grave.
"Purple Soul is reacting so strongly; it looks like He Yuchen hasn’t left yet," Lian Tianlu said in a deep voice, with everyone’s face turning solemn.
They knew how dreadful Elder-level Monster Warriors from the Life Extinguishing Association could be, and It might not be just He Yuchen alone.
"Let’s go... be careful!"
Duanmu Tao reminded everyone and took the lead.
Inside Ambush Elephant Mountain, it was quiet, eerily so, with not even the sound of insects or birds.
The trembling of the iron case on Duanmu Tao’s back led them through twists and turns.
"There’s a barrier formed by nature’s spiritual energy ahead!"
As they ventured deeper into Ambush Elephant Mountain, Duanmu Tao stopped in his tracks. His face turned stern as he felt an invisible barrier ahead of them. Without a doubt, this barrier concealed the whereabouts of the Life Extinguishing Association Elder, He Yuchen!
With little hesitation, Duanmu Tao briefly sensed it and then resolutely gathered his Blade Intent to deliver a Palm Blade Slash.
"Hiss!"
The barrier formed by nature’s spiritual energy in front of them was torn open.
At the moment the barrier was torn open, everyone’s complexion changed drastically, as they felt an abyss-like terrifying aura gushing crazily from the rift, plunging them into a sense that they were in Asura Hell, even their souls sinking.
"Boom!"
The abyss-like terrifying aura, following the tear in the barrier, swept through like a dam’s breach, shredding the entire barrier formed by nature’s spiritual energy.
"Splash!"
Vast amounts of pitch-black fog surged out like a flood, spreading in all directions, and Duanmu Tao and the others retreated repeatedly.
The dark fog enveloped much of Ambush Elephant Mountain. Trees and plants within the mountain withered and dissolved under the desiccating, destructive breath.
"Is this... Monster Qi? How is it possible... for there to be such boundless Monster Qi?"
Duanmu Tao and Lian Tianlu’s pupils contracted with a tingling sensation on their scalps; they were not unfamiliar with this aura—it was the unique Monster Qi of Monster Warriors. However, for it to be so vast that it covered an entire mountain and made all its vegetation wither, it was something beyond any Monster Warrior they’d ever encountered!
"Hmm? I didn’t kill them off last time, and now more annoying creatures have come!"
At that moment, from not too far within the black fog of Monster Qi, an icy voice rang out, causing everyone to focus their attention.
It was a man dressed in luxurious brocade, handsome and demonic-looking, with eyes void of emotion, coldly watching Duanmu Tao and the others.
"He Yuchen..." Lian Tianlu recognized the identity of this brocade-clad demonic man; it was indeed He Yuchen.
He Yuchen had once been a genius Martial Artist of a first-rate Warrior Sect, rising rapidly. Later, he chose to join the Life Extinguishing Association and advanced through its ranks, eliminating many enemies of the Association. After becoming a member of the Elder Council of the Life Extinguishing Association, he rarely showed himself.
"Old He, don’t be so angry, ah. Having two more snacks could be a good thing," another voice sounded. Next to He Yuchen was a man with shoulder-length black hair, ordinary-looking but with one black and one white eye, making him appear very bizarre and demonic. He said with a smile. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
"Not just one Elder from the Life Extinguishing Association!" This alarmed the Martial Artists of the Demon Suppressing Department. Although they did not know this person’s identity, from the way he addressed He Yuchen, it was obvious that he was an equal, likely another Elder of the Life Extinguishing Association!
"What’s that... over there?"
But Duanmu Tao and Lian Tianlu’s focus wasn’t on them but rather on something horrifying behind the two men—a small mound.
The small mound, only thirty feet tall, was pitch black, as if made of crystal. It exuded an extreme concentration of Monster Qi and was, moreover, the source of the Monster Qi that covered the whole of Ambush Elephant Mountain!
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