The torrential rain over the Endless Swamp temporarily halted Mu Qingge’s stride of chance.

She sat cross-legged in the room within her space, meditating to recover her spiritual power.

Once she finished her cultivation, she sensed the outside world and realized that the rain had stopped.

"The rain stopped? Looks like it’s time to head out." Mu Qingge murmured softly, preparing to exit the space. With a flash of her figure, she appeared over the Endless Swamp.

Beneath her feet was a sled, and in her hand, she held a pole.

Just as she was about to move forward, she suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind.

Mu Qingge slightly furrowed her brows, changed direction, and slipped to a dark, obscure place beside her to hide her figure. She even concealed all her aura, making her seem to disappear entirely.

She was confident in her ability to conceal her aura, not for any reason other than the fact that it was Si Mo who taught her!

The teachings of the strongest man on this continent should not be lacking!

Just as Mu Qingge concealed herself, she caught sight of a dozen or so blurry shadows appearing under the moonlight.

As they got closer, she could finally see that these dozen or so blurry shadows were uniquely shaped flatboats. And on each flatboat stood numerous people.

Overall, there seemed to be about a hundred people!

They wore raincoats, appearing to have been drenched by the heavy rain, making it difficult for Mu Qingge to recognize their identities initially.

It wasn’t until a familiar face came into her view that her clear eyes suddenly contracted, recognizing their identities. ’Refining Tower? They are truly persistent, chasing me all the way to the Endless Swamp!’ Mu Qingge’s gaze turned slightly cold when looking at Ding Mao, and a murderous intent arose in her heart.

"Stop." Feng Kunhai raised his hand in a gesture, and the moving flatboats slowly came to a halt.

Jin Gui, who was seated on the third flatboat, frowned impatiently and said, "Why are we stopping again?"

Feng Kunhai didn’t originally want to answer him, but he held back his temper and said, "I need to confirm our position."

Upon hearing this, Jin Gui fell silent and could only wait.

Feng Kunhai took out the compass, looked at it carefully, and only after deciding on the direction did he order to continue forward.

Hiding in the dark, Mu Qingge found it a bit strange because she felt these people didn’t seem to be after her.

If they’re not after her, then what are they after?

Thinking it over, Mu Qingge decided to stealthily follow them to see what it was!

The Refining Tower’s fleet moved forward again for a while. Jin Gui could no longer bear it and shouted at Feng Kunhai, "Where is the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame after all? Why have we gone so long without a trace?"

’Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame! They’re after the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame?’ Mu Qingge, following in secret, felt her heart leap at Jin Gui’s words.

This news was truly unexpected, she hadn’t thought the people of the Refining Tower would also be after the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame.

Looking at their elaborate setup and preparation, it doesn’t seem like they entered rashly; they surely knew about the existence of the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame in the Endless Swamp long ago and entered to search after careful planning.

The Refining Tower’s target being the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame suddenly ignited a will to fight within Mu Qingge.

Because she knew, she couldn’t give up on the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame, and the people from the Refining Tower were even less likely to give it to her. It seemed a fierce battle was inevitable!

Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved into a cold smile.

In her opinion, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The people of the Refining Tower clearly knew more about the whereabouts of the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame than she did. All she had to do was follow them in secret, and by then, whether it be the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame or Ding Mao, she could resolve them both!

Having made up her mind, Mu Qingge became even more cautious in concealing her presence, quietly following behind the Refining Tower’s group.

With the people of the Refining Tower ahead serving as a guide, it was certainly better than wandering aimlessly like a headless fly in the Endless Swamp!

Mu Qingge laughed heartily inside, feeling quite smug. It felt like having a pillow handed to her just when she was about to sleep!

The people from the Refining Tower were completely unaware of the little tail following behind them; their minds were solely focused on finding the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame before the people of the Myriad Beasts Sect.

Even Ding Mao, who was filled with hatred and would skin and dismember Mu Qingge if he could, never imagined that the person on his mind was right behind him, within less than a hundred feet.

Feng Kunhai indeed had some skill; using the strange compass in his hand, he never got lost in the Endless Swamp.

On the third day that Mu Qingge followed them, Feng Kunhai led the people of the Refining Tower to a vast, smooth area of the swamp.

The swamp here is as black as ink, smooth like a mirror, unlike the surrounding marshes that are full of pits and bubbles.

The tranquility here carries a strange aura.

"We’ve arrived." Feng Kunhai carefully put away the compass, as finding the exact location of the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame would still rely on it.

"Arrived? Where?" Jin Gui looked around but couldn’t see anything different.

Feng Kunhai pointed to the swamp ahead, smooth as a mirror, and said, "The Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame is inside it."

’The Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame is hidden in the swamp?’ Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed, also looking at that somewhat special swamp, feeling a bit suspicious.

Fortunately, she was not the only one with doubts.

Jin Gui frowned impatiently and said, "Are you kidding? How could the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame be here? I don’t feel any heat at all, do you?"

He looked at the other disciples of the Refining Tower, each of whom naturally shook their heads blankly.

"It’s well known that places with Abnormal Fire are much hotter than their surroundings. The temperature here is exactly the same as outside; how could there be Abnormal Fire?" Jin Gui stated his objection.

What he said was common sense, yet very convincing.

Another elder from the Refining Tower coughed lightly and stood up to speak to Feng Kunhai: "Elder Feng, the matter of the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame has always been under your and the dean’s control. Now, we are here by the dean’s order to bring the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame back to our Refining Tower. If there’s anything you haven’t explained yet, you might as well speak out, to prevent us from unknowingly affecting the overall situation."

His words were tactful, but they also conveyed his stance.

Seeing someone on his side, Jin Gui’s arrogance grew.

He looked at Feng Kunhai and snorted coldly, arrogantly saying, "What? Is Elder Feng hiding something that might be detrimental to us?"

These words were truly a stab at the heart.

Feng Kunhai’s disciple couldn’t bear it any longer, drew his sword.

As soon as he drew his sword, Ding Mao didn’t hesitate either, calling the Refining Tower disciples who usually followed him to draw theirs as well and point them at Feng Kunhai’s group.

"Everyone stop." At this point, Feng Kunhai spoke.

His eagle-like eyes were full of darkness. He looked at Jin Gui with obvious disgust.

However, Jin Gui ignored him, only sneered coldly.

Feng Kunhai said to his disciples, "Put your swords away."

Several disciples were somewhat unwilling, but they could not defy their master, so they reluctantly sheathed their swords.

With movement on Feng Kunhai’s side, Jin Gui also arrogantly instructed Ding Mao, "Put the sword away."

"Yes, Master!" Ding Mao shouted loudly, looking as pleased as a rooster that had just won a fight.

The tense atmosphere between the two sides eased slightly.

In the midst of everyone’s wait, Feng Kunhai finally spoke: "The Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame is indeed here. You can’t feel it now for two reasons: first, it’s in its initial state and very weak. Secondly, the time hasn’t come."

’What does it mean that the time hasn’t come?’ Mu Qingge frowned and pondered.

"What do you mean by the time hasn’t come?" Jin Gui asked, coincidentally voicing Mu Qingge’s doubt.

Feng Kunhai lifted his head, looked at the night as black as ink, and remained silent.

His deliberately enigmatic demeanor made Jin Gui very displeased, and he raised his hand to strike. A light that was both blue and purple shot from his palm, carrying immense power, blowing the nearby disciples backward.

’Almost at the Purple Realm. No wonder Ding Mao acts so arrogantly; with such a master in a second-class country, he truly has reason to be arrogant.’ Mu Qingge narrowed her eyes, thinking inwardly.

Jin Gui’s sudden attack caught everyone off guard.

The blue and purple light shot straight toward Feng Kunhai, and if hit, he would likely be blown back and seriously injured.

"Master—!"

Feng Kunhai’s disciples exclaimed in shock.

However, Feng Kunhai was not flustered, unconcerned about the approaching force.

Just as Jin Gui’s attack was about to reach him, Feng Kunhai deftly flipped his right hand, and a shield resembling a turtle shell appeared in his hand. He gripped the ’turtle shell’ with five fingers, and a gleaming glow rippled from the shell, quickly expanding outwards to form a transparent protective barrier, securely shielding Feng Kunhai.

The blue and purple light arrived, crashing hard against the transparent shield.

Ripples spread across the light shield, as the blue and purple light dissipated on it.

’What a treasure!’ Mu Qingge’s eyes lit up as she looked at the turtle shell, feeling a bit of excitement in her heart.

Most of the weapons she forged were mainly focused on attack.

Because she always believed that the best defense is a good offense. However, seeing Feng Kunhai’s turtle shell today gave her a lot of inspiration.

Perhaps, in the future, the weapons she forges could also incorporate both defense capabilities and defensive transformations.

Jin Gui saw his attack being easily neutralized by Feng Kunhai, his gaze turned fierce as he was about to launch another move.

Noticing his movement, the other elders who had been observing stepped forward immediately, positioning themselves between the two to prevent them from fighting.

"Elder Jin, let’s talk this over."

"Elder Feng, please don’t be angry!"

The two elders from the Refining Tower addressed the two of them separately.

Jin Gui’s eyes flashed with viciousness, and after a moment, he snorted coldly and placed his hands behind him.

Seeing him pulling back, the elders mediating the situation sighed in relief and turned their gaze to the silent Feng Kunhai. The latter also put away his ’turtle shell,’ indicating his stance.

Their truce eased the tense atmosphere.

One of the elders asked Feng Kunhai, "Elder Feng, what do you mean by saying the time hasn’t come? We don’t have many antidote elixirs. If we keep spending time here, returning might become an issue."

Feng Kunhai frowned. He didn’t want to enter so early, but wasn’t it the sudden appearance of people from the Myriad Beasts Sect that led to the current situation?

He glanced around and saw doubt and suspicion in most people’s eyes.

If he continued to remain silent, they might begin to kill each other before the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame appeared.

"The Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame is indeed below us, but we can’t enter now. We must wait until the third quarter of the hour of the tiger. At that time, the passage to where the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame is hidden will open, and we will be able to enter."

’So that’s how it is.’ Mu Qingge suddenly understood.

Quietly calculating the time in her heart, there was still over an hour left until the third quarter of the hour of the tiger.

In that case, she decided to return to her space to wait.

After making the decision, Mu Qingge’s figure flashed, and she entered the space.

As soon as she stepped into the space, she called out, "Mengmeng."

The chubby little girl bounced out in front of her. Her big eyes blinked innocently as she asked, "Master, what do you command?"

Mu Qingge touched her chin, narrowing her eyes, and said, "Is there any way for me to sit in the space and still see what’s happening outside?"

Mengmeng scratched her head, snapped her fingers and said, "Yes!"

"Tell me!" This answer made Mu Qingge’s eyes light up as if they were stars in the sky.

Mengmeng did not speak but instead bowed her head, her little hands rummaging in the pocket of her apron.

Mu Qingge watched in amazement as Mengmeng pulled out all sorts of inexplicable things from a palm-sized pocket on her apron, quickly piling them into a small mountain in front of her, covering half of Mengmeng’s body.

"Is this... Doraemon’s magical pocket?" Mu Qingge muttered dumbfoundedly.

"Found it!" As Mu Qingge was in shock, Mengmeng had already taken out a very simple mirror.

It was indeed simple, as Mu Qingge couldn’t find a more fitting word to describe it.

Because this round mirror only had a wooden frame, with no decorations or engravings.

"Master, here." Mengmeng handed over the mirror with both hands, looking as if she was presenting a treasure.

Mu Qingge took it and examined it closely.

In the meantime, Mengmeng had already started putting those items back into the pocket.

After she finished packing, Mu Qingge asked, "How do I use this?"

Mengmeng said, "Master just needs to inject spiritual power into it, thinking about the person or place you want to see."

"I won’t be discovered, right?" Mu Qingge asked skeptically.

Mengmeng put her hands on her hips angrily, "Master, you can’t doubt me!"

"Okay, okay, I’ll try." Mu Qingge concentrated and calmed herself, injecting spiritual energy into the mirror.

Instantly, purple spiritual energy enveloped the mirror, bouncing out of Mu Qingge’s hand and hanging in the air.

Thinking about the people at the Refining Tower outside, the mirror soon showed a blurry scene, which gradually became clear, revealing not only the situation in the Endless Swamp but also the disciples from the Refining Tower, even their facial expressions were visible.

The feeling was as if Mu Qingge was standing right in front of them.

’How magical!’ Mu Qingge marveled in her heart.

Without needing to ask, this treasure was undoubtedly from the space.

The more she understood about this space, the more she felt it was simply a treasure trove!

Trading her previous storage space for this tiny world was indeed a huge gain!

The mirror acted like Mu Qingge’s eyes, adjusting angles freely with the turn of her pupils to see different places.

After sweeping her gaze around, Mu Qingge noticed something.

"Why can’t I hear any sound?"

Mengmeng said, "That’s normal. The purpose of this magical treasure is to see. If Master is not satisfied, you can reforge it after promoting to a Divine Level Refiner and grant it eavesdropping abilities."

Divine Level!

Mu Qingge twitched a corner of her mouth.

Currently, she could only forge Initial Rank treasure weapons. When could she advance to Divine Level Refiner?

Seemingly hearing her thoughts, Mengmeng pouted disdainfully, "Master is just too distract... If you could focus on artifact refining for a year, you’d surely rise to become a Divine Level Refiner."

"Yes! I indeed have too many matters to attend to." Mu Qingge sighed.

She needs to elevate her spiritual power cultivation, enhance her capabilities continuously, and in five years, she aims to enter the Middle Ancient Realm to find the Le Family and eliminate this hidden threat, as well as help Feng Yufei find her Mu Yi, and moreover...

Mu Qingge’s gaze turned solemn.

She also has to find the Sang Family to uncover the truth behind her mother’s disappearance back then!

Seeing Mu Qingge fall silent, Mengmeng hurriedly said, "Master, don’t rush. With your talent, becoming a Divine Level Refiner is no trouble! Good girl!" saying this, she playfully raised her hand to pat Mu Qingge’s head.

Mu Qingge’s face turned dark as she swatted away her little hand, "Is your skin itching?"

Observing her sharply raised eyebrows, Mengmeng stiffened and said to Mu Qingge, "Master, do you want to check out other places!"

"Other places?" Mu Qingge asked in confusion.

Mengmeng nodded heavily, "As long as you switch your thoughts, this God-piercing Mirror can show you any place you want to see, unrestricted by distance!"

"So impressive!" Mu Qingge exclaimed in surprise.

Although she held a few reservations about Mengmeng’s words, she nevertheless mentally shifted her thoughts, thinking of the Mu Mansion in Qin Country.

Soon, the image in the God-piercing Mirror flickered and switched to the scene of Mu Mansion.

Mu Xiong was still tending to the flowers and plants, a relaxed and comfortable expression on his face. Behind him seemed to be someone familiar to Mu Qingge.

Looking closely, Mu Qingge blinked.

It was Lou Chuanbai!

Before departing from Mu City, Zhao Nanxing had mentioned that Lou Chuanbai might go to the Mu Mansion in Qin Country.

Unexpectedly, the old man really went there.

Judging by how the two old men interacted, they seemed to get along very well.

A faint smile uncontrollably appeared on the corner of Mu Qingge’s mouth. Her grandfather Mu Xiong had reached the Purple Realm, and Lou Chuanbai was an Advanced Alchemist. With the two of them together, basically no one in a Third-class Country could harm them. It allowed her some peace of mind while being outside.

The scene at the Mu Mansion put Mu Qingge at ease.

Then she recalled her friends still in the Holy Yuan Empire; the scene in the God-piercing Mirror switched again, immediately showing Mei Zizhong, Zhao Nanxing, and Zhu Ling’s figures.

Only, Jing Tian was also present among them.

They seem to be in a standoff; Zhu Ling’s face still carries traces of anger. Mei Zizhong, usually unperturbed, has an icy expression, and Zhao Nanxing’s expression is cold and stern.

Mu Qingge frowned; the scene shifted to Jing Tian. His demeanor remained prideful, but there was less vigor and more gloom around his brows.

Unfortunately, Mu Qingge couldn’t hear what they were saying; she could only guess from their expressions that a conflict had arisen.

"Who would have thought that after being frustrated in the arena, Jing Tian could still act with impunity? It seems his background is quite extraordinary!" Mu Qingge pondered with her head lowered.

As she pondered, the God-piercing Mirror seemed unable to locate a target; the scene turned to a blank white, like the afterimage of a fast-moving scene.

When Mu Qingge raised her head, the scene suddenly paused, revealing an exquisite palace.

The palace seemed placed among the clouds, floating in the air, surrounded by mountains enveloped in white mist, a mix of illusion and reality. The palace exuded a supreme aura of nobility, compelling submission.

Mu Qingge blinked her eyes, completely unsure of where this place was.

Suddenly, the scene flickered as if it had entered the palace.

High on the stairs, a tall, slender figure lay resting on a couch.

When Mu Qingge, filled with doubt, clearly saw the person’s appearance, her pupils suddenly contracted in shock: "How could it be him!"

In that instant, Mu Qingge felt her mind go blank.

She had no idea why Si Mo appeared in the God-piercing Mirror; she was sure she hadn’t thought of Si Mo, so why did he appear in the mirror?

This feeling of peeking made Mu Qingge quite panic-stricken, with a sense of helplessness.

Suddenly, the figure in the mirror seemed to sense something and softly murmured, "Hmm?" as he slowly opened his eyes...

Under those thick long lashes, as those eyes slowly opened, the light within them quietly transformed. In that moment, only the brilliance of those dark jade and amber hues remained, instantly captivating heaven, earth, and all beings in the three realms.

He met Mu Qingge’s astonished gaze, as if probing deep into her heart, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

When Mu Qingge snapped back to consciousness, she frantically resisted the thought. The input Spiritual Power was withdrawn, and the God-piercing Mirror fell before her, becoming an ordinary mirror.

In the distant Piaomiao Palace, Si Mo’s eyes narrowed slightly, his stunning appearance seemed to encompass all the beauty of the world.

In his deep eyes, there appeared a distant, mysterious starlight. He seemed to be pondering something.

That feeling of being watched disappeared.

Who could possibly spy on him?

In the depths of Si Mo’s eyes, a subtle chill emerged. Hidden in that chill seemed to be endless slaughter.

...

Mu Qingge took several deep breaths before calming her emotions.

The recent scene kept reappearing in her mind.

"Where is this? Is it where he lives? It feels quiet there..." Mu Qingge shook her head, trying to discard the images from her mind.

She told herself, "Since I’ve decided not to be together, I should not let there be any entanglement!"

Indeed, she had already decided. The affection Si Mo held for her, she could not accept. Because she didn’t know how to accept a relationship, let alone explain to Si Mo something like being together or separating.

If she dared to tell Si Mo theories about marriage and divorce from her previous life, she guaranteed she’d be slapped to death by him!

She didn’t know how to love someone, so she shouldn’t indulge further.

In her heart, love was a kind of unhesitating dedication for each other. But she couldn’t promise or be sure she could achieve that kind of dedication.

Mu Qingge sighed, looked at Mengmeng, and cursed: "Mengmeng, is your mirror malfunctioning!" Why did it show things not meant to be seen!

That last sentence, she did not speak out loud.

In fact, she was just venting the uncomfortable feeling in her heart on Mengmeng.

Mengmeng blinked pitifully: "The God-piercing Mirror can always search for targets based on the most genuine feelings. This usually occurs when guidance is lost. How could the baby know the owner’s heart was thinking of that Great Demon King! Hmph~"

Mu Qingge froze.

Was she thinking of him in her heart?

Mengmeng’s explanation made her realize that the God-piercing Mirror wasn’t malfunctioning; while she was pondering the events at the Medicine Tower Headquarters, the mirror lost its viewing target and reflected the person her subconscious wanted to see.

She ignored what Mengmeng meant by the Great Demon King and disregarded Mengmeng’s current displeasure. She was immersed in the fact that she had been revealed by the God-piercing Mirror.

She seemed unable to deny anymore that Si Mo had never been a trivial stranger to her.

But, what can that change?

Mu Qingge exhaled, deciding not to think about the matter anymore.

After meditating for a while to eliminate distracting thoughts, Mu Qingge reopened her eyes. The time had already reached two quarter-hours after the Tiger hour, which wasn’t far from the three quarter-hours mentioned by Feng Kunhai.

Mu Qingge re-input Spiritual Power into the God-piercing Mirror, seeing the scene within the Endless Swamp.

Those from the Refining Tower seemed ready, waiting for the channel to open.

Mu Qingge was considering blending in and sneaking into the passage, looking for an opportunity to snatch the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame when suddenly, a few high-pitched beast roars came from behind them.

Of course, Mu Qingge couldn’t hear it. She merely saw figures suddenly appearing at a distance.

This not only caught Mu Qingge’s attention but also drew the attention of those in the Refining Tower.

They all turned, drawing their weapons and keeping an alert eye on the approaching group.

The situation changed.

Mu Qingge couldn’t continue staying in the space, because although she could see outside, she couldn’t hear; to seize control, she needed to understand the real situation outside.

After thinking it through, Mu Qingge left the space and appeared behind the Refining Tower group.

Upon her appearance, the last disciple of the Refining Tower immediately sensed something and turned to look.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t see clearly and was knocked out by Mu Qingge at once.

She quickly stripped off his raincoat and put it on herself; Mu Qingge released her hand, and the Refining Tower disciple sank into the Endless Swamp, swallowed by it, leaving no trace.

Was it cruel?

No, at this time, Mu Qingge and the Refining Tower were already destined not to be friends. Since they were enemies, cruelty wasn’t even a question.

If anything must be said, it’s just... this person was truly unlucky.

Donning the deep purple raincoat to cover her figure, Mu Qingge easily blended into the Refining Tower disciples. At this moment, everyone’s attention was focused on the suddenly appearing Myriad Beasts Sect disciples, entirely unaware of the switch among them!

"I didn’t expect people from the Myriad Beasts Sect to follow us!"

"It looks like the elders guessed right; they’re here for the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame as well."

Next to Mu Qingge, two Refining Tower disciples talked quietly in their tension. This greatly provided Mu Qingge with useful information.

’People from the Myriad Beasts Sect?’ Mu Qingge’s gaze flashed.

Indeed, she hadn’t imagined her journey to the Endless Swamp would involve the two major forces from Rong Country.

Even more unexpected was these two forces’ interest in the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame.

However, what she didn’t understand was, while the Refining Tower wanting the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame was understandable—after all, they needed fire for refining materials—what would the Myriad Beasts Sect want it for? Roasting Spirit Beasts?

"Will this result in a fierce battle later?"

"I think that’s highly likely."

"Those Myriad Beasts Sect disciples are hard to deal with; their Spirit Beasts aren’t pushovers."

"You should be content; those Spirit Beasts tamed by the Myriad Beasts Sect are somewhat easier to deal with than those untamed and are also slightly more docile."

"I... I... see Spirit Beasts and my legs go weak; how can I fight?"

These two disciples continued to talk, and their conversation sparked a plan in Mu Qingge’s heart.

Originally, if there was only the Refining Tower, she’d have difficulty maneuvering. But now with the Myriad Beasts Sect involved, it actually made things easier for her. She could wait until both parties fought and then reap the benefits!

Mu Qingge kept her head down, the wide brim of her hat concealed her features, and only a glimpse of her curved lips could be seen.

Soon, the people from the Myriad Beasts Sect appeared before the Refining Tower disciples. Seeing the Refining Tower forces, the Myriad Beasts Sect grew vigilant, too.

Hei Mu led, sitting on a Mystic Wolf, and squinted his eyes, saying: "So it’s the Refining Tower’s people."

As the team leader of the Refining Tower, Feng Kunhai stepped forward, alertly saying: "So it’s Hei Mu Elder of the Myriad Beasts Sect. Who knew we’d meet in this Endless Swamp; truly a coincidence."

"Coincidence? Not at all. Why are you here?" Taishi Gao rode out slowly from behind Hei Mu on a single-horned black panther, fanning himself with a folding fan, exuding an air of scholarly elegance.

His attitude towards the Refining Tower wasn’t particularly friendly, and his tone carried questioning.

However, Feng Kunhai from the Refining Tower did not get angry.

Because he knew Taishi Gao’s identity. "So the Young Sect Master is here as well," Feng Kunhai slightly bowed.

"What are you here for?" Taishi Gao ignored Feng Kunhai completely, loftily questioning.

Mu Qingge observed silently from behind, thinking: ’Is this the Young Sect Master of the Myriad Beasts Sect? That skinny old man they call Hei Mu seems to be the Myriad Beasts Sect’s Great Elder, his cultivation at the Purple Realm Peak, stronger than me. Not to mention the spirit beasts by his side.’

Mu Qingge’s gaze fell upon the profound wolf beneath Hei Mu, instantly recognizing it as a high-level spirit beast, its prowess also belonging to the human Purple Realm.

Just one profound wolf was already a high-level spirit beast, and it’s rumored that Hei Mu has three other spirit beasts, though their ranks are unknown.

Not only him, but even Taishi Gao’s single-horned black panther was a high-level spirit beast.

Additionally, the other members of the Myriad Beasts Sect doubled or tripled the combat strength compared to the Refining Tower’s side.

The only consolation was that the combat strength of these spirit beasts decreased upon being tamed. That meant, high-level spirit beasts could at most exert eighty percent of their normal power.

Middle rank spirit beasts and low rank spirit beasts were weakened even more.

This was a drawback of taming, but even if weakened, they remained spirit beasts.

These calculations happened in Mu Qingge’s mind in an instant.

Taishi Gao’s rude questioning made the disciples of Refining Tower highly dissatisfied. After all, they were usually arrogant and domineering and couldn’t tolerate others flaunting pride before them.

The one who couldn’t hold back the most was Ding Mao.

He jumped out and said to Taishi Gao, "Do you think this Endless Swamp belongs to your family? We can come as we please; do we need to report to your Myriad Beasts Sect?"

"Ding Mao, return," Jin Gui called Ding Mao back.

Before Taishi Gao and Hei Mu could get angry, Jin Gui clasped his fists in apology, "Forgive my disciple’s rudeness, Young Sect Master and Elder Hei Mu."

"Who are you?" Taishi Gao glanced at Jin Gui.

Speaking of himself, Jin Gui’s eyes revealed a layer of arrogance, "I am Jin Gui of the Refining Tower."

"So it’s Elder Jin," Hei Mu said lightly, ending what should have escalated into a conflict.

In truth, the strength of the Refining Tower and the Myriad Beasts Sect was evenly matched.

One excelled at artifact refining and possessed superior weapons. Like the Medicine Tower, when needed, a rally cry would summon countless experts eager to obtain weapons from the Refining Tower. As for the Myriad Beasts Sect, they could tame spirit beasts to enhance combat strength, undeniably formidable.

The two forces were on par.

Currently, the Refining Tower seemed inferior to the Myriad Beasts Sect solely because everyone aimed to seize treasures, and the latter had the advantage in beasts!

The disparity in combat strength was evident, and before the contested items emerged, nobody wished to act rashly.

Otherwise, if one were to truly die here, even if their sect avenged them later, what would be the point?

A tacit agreement emerged, leading only to verbal confrontations, avoiding physical confrontation.

Just then, the third quarter of the hour of Yin arrived.

Suddenly, star radiance scattered across the night sky, gathering without dispersing, falling onto the black swamp as smooth as a mirror.

The star radiance at the third quarter of the hour of Yin seemed to be the key to unlocking the swamp’s passage. After countless rays of star radiance fell, the peaceful, mirror-like swamp started to undulate gently.

Gradually, it transformed into a maelstrom, continuously rotating...

This anomaly interrupted the confrontation between the two sides.

When the maelstrom appeared, both Feng Kunhai and Hei Mu’s eyes gleamed simultaneously, a trace of anxious anticipation igniting in their depths.

Their expressions, observed by Mu Qingge, revealed to her that the maelstrom was indeed the key to the underground!

Soon, a hidden, seemingly bottomless entrance appeared beneath the maelstrom.

The entrance was pitch-black without a trace of light.

However, upon the entrance’s appearance, both Feng Kunhai and Hei Mu grew tense.

’Opportunity!’ Mu Qingge’s eyes flashed, and her fingers flicked, sending a concealed light towards the back of Ding Mao’s neck.

Ding Mao, hit, lost control and leaned forward, reflexively raising his sword, charging toward the Myriad Beasts Sect’s ranks.

This unexpected change instantly tensed the Refining Tower’s side.

The Myriad Beasts Sect’s side immediately grew agitated, and the battle was imminent!

"Ah!" Ding Mao’s pained cry, to both parties, sounded more like an encouragement for attack.

Taishi Gao’s eyes narrowed sharply, commanding, "Kill them!"

With the Young Sect Master’s order, disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect rushed forward, and seeing the incoming spirit beasts, Ding Mao was terrified, abandoning his sword to cover his head. Just as the spirit beasts were about to collide with him, Jin Gui swiftly struck, repelling the spirit beasts and pulling Ding Mao back.

Chaos ensued on both sides.

Feng Kunhai steeled his heart and ordered, "Kill!"

Simultaneously, he spoke to Hei Mu, "Since everyone desires that item, let’s rely on our respective skills!"

With these words, the Refining Tower and the Myriad Beasts Sect clashed violently.

Yet, no one noticed that a slender figure, distancing themselves from the battlefield, quietly approached the maelstrom and directly jumped toward the entrance.

"A disciple of the Refining Tower has entered!" shouted a sharp-eyed Myriad Beasts Sect disciple who saw Mu Qingge’s leap, immediately alerting others.

Feng Kunhai turned to look, but the person was already gone. Hearing that a disciple from his tower had seized the initiative, he rejoiced inwardly, pulling out the compass he had on him, tossing it into the maelstrom while shouting, "Follow the compass, find the treasure and bring it back, the Dean will surely credit you first!"

Descending rapidly, Mu Qingge only just landed on solid ground when something fell from above.

She instinctively reached out to grab it, feeling a cool sensation.

Soon after, she heard Feng Kunhai’s words.

"This misunderstanding..." Mu Qingge awkwardly touched her nose.

Looking down at the compass in her hand, Mu Qingge’s lips curled into a playful smile.

Holding the compass, Mu Qingge discovered it was somewhat special. Its pointer seemed to guide not towards north, south, east, or west, but to locate something specific.

Since Feng Kunhai had directed her to follow the compass, she decided to follow it.

Mu Qingge proceeded in the direction the compass indicated, moving deeper in.

After walking for a while, she realized that the underground of this Endless Swamp was essentially hiding a massive labyrinth.

This labyrinth wasn’t merely one layer, but multi-layered, interconnected, and intensely complex.

Without this compass, she estimated she would become lost within it.

Thinking this, Mu Qingge felt a twinge of gratitude towards Feng Kunhai; if not for his timely gesture, she truly would have had to exhaust great effort searching for the Mixed Element Heavenly Extreme Flame!

How fiercely the battle raged above the Endless Swamp was no concern of Mu Qingge.

Following the path the compass directed, she wandered within the subterranean labyrinth for who knows how long until, finally, her vision cleared, realizing she had walked out from a passage into a spacious room.

Flipping her palm, Mu Qingge took out a Luminous Pearl, illuminating the room.

This chamber wasn’t particularly large, but in contrast to the spider-web-like corridors outside, it felt expansive.

Most importantly, in the room’s center, on a raised platform above ground, sat two eggs!

Mu Qingge gasped silently, thinking, "Are these dinosaur eggs? They’re so large!"

Mu Qingge scrutinized the two eggs, discovering a hint of something unusual. There should originally be only one egg here, yet somehow another egg appeared from somewhere, slightly displacing the original egg from its position, turning one egg into two.

Mu Qingge frowned, musing: ’What kind of place is this really? Who constructed this labyrinth? And what are these two eggs?’

Another issue emerged... The compass had stopped moving upon arriving here!

Mu Qingge followed the pointer on the compass, noticing that its direction pointed exactly to the position of the two eggs.

The two eggs, one shrouded in chaotic dullness, the other with radiant sheen, exuding multicolored brilliance, did not appear ordinary.

"Should I take these two eggs with me?" Mu Qingge frowned, contemplating.