Chapter 4001: As Long as I’m Here (Sixth Update)
Chapter 4001: Chapter 4001: As Long as I’m Here (Sixth Update)
Ye Chen saw at a distance, one evil creature after another being bred from the lake, their power even more formidable and dangerous than those Ye Chen had previously slain.
However, in this lake, Ye Chen couldn’t possibly outlast these creatures in battle. No matter how strong his power, it couldn’t compare to the vastness of the Moon Evil Lake.
The evil energy of Moon Evil Lake was so intense that these creatures were endless. If entangled with them, it would only lead to exhausting one’s power and dying in the lake.
Moreover, the location where Xiao Bai and Xia Ruoxue encountered the black vortex was also deep within Moon Evil Lake. Since the black vortex couldn’t be found here, there was no need to waste time.
Facing the evil creatures, roaring ferociously with blood-red eyes, radiating murderous intent, Ye Chen directly wielded the Slaughter Sword and slew his way forward, quickly reaching the lake’s bottom.
Meanwhile, outside Moon Evil Lake, within Bright Moon Valley, Hou Tian suddenly opened his eyes, looking towards the location of Moon Evil Lake.
"Buzz..."
At this moment, the sky above Moon Evil Lake was already shrouded in boundless spiritual pressure, turning into complete darkness.
And Hou Tian also keenly perceived that the spell seal he had set was broken, someone had entered Moon Evil Lake.
"That kid again!"
Hou Tian’s pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes filled with endless murderous intent.
Hou Tian was well aware of one thing, Ye Chen had a good relationship with Xiao Bai, and Xiao Bai was captured by people from Bright Moon Valley because Xiao Bai and another human ventured into Moon Evil Lake, a forbidden area of Bright Moon Valley.
And Ye Chen appearing here to save Xiao Bai likely intended to also rescue that human sucked into the black vortex of Moon Evil Lake.
"Hmph, trying to save someone? You should save yourself first. I’ll see where you escape to this time!"
Hou Tian’s aura suddenly erupted. Last time, he was awoken by the Yue Hun Witch’s Moon Soul Sky Concealing phenomenons, allowing Ye Chen to escape, leaving him deeply humiliated.
This time, Hou Tian not only repaired his burnt-out Freedom Heaven but also specifically found a magic treasure that could protect his mind, ensuring he would no longer be influenced by Ye Chen’s mysterious techniques.
Therefore, Hou Tian was determined to kill Ye Chen, and at this moment, he rose into the sky, summoning the ten elders of Bright Moon Valley to join him in Moon Evil Lake, to apprehend Ye Chen and that Xiao Bai who dared to offend the dignity of Bright Moon Valley by trespassing its forbidden area.
Ye Chen and Xiao Bai continued to advance in Moon Evil Lake, both swiftly depleting their spiritual energy, as they got closer to the lake bottom, the evil creatures around them increasingly powerful, imposing, like emotionless killing machines.
Facing such evil creatures, Ye Chen could still easily handle them but couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Bai, asking, "Did you and Ruoxue encounter these evil creatures when you came to this place?"
Ye Chen frowned, doubting a bit, even if Xiao Bai and Xia Ruoxue’s strength had increased rapidly, they shouldn’t surpass him.
And for Ye Chen to slay these evil creatures and reach the lake bottom required considerable effort. How did Xia Ruoxue and Xiao Bai do it?
"Didn’t encounter any."
At this moment, Xiao Bai shook her head in bewilderment, stating that when she and Xia Ruoxue entered Moon Evil Lake, not only did they not encounter these terrifying evil creatures, but even the spiritual pressure avoided them.
"This..."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen narrowed his eyes, conjecturing that the reason the evil energy avoided Xia Ruoxue and Xiao Bai, without forming evil creatures, might be because of the Bright Moon Heavenly Book in Xia Ruoxue’s possession.
This Moon Evil Lake was said to be the place where the First Generation Valley Master of Bright Moon Valley comprehended the Bright Moon Heavenly Book. Thus, the aura of the Bright Moon Heavenly Book in Moon Evil Lake should be considered familiar, so there wouldn’t be any danger.
At this moment, Ye Chen and Xiao Bai had reached the bottom of Moon Evil Lake, stepping on the soft yet sharp black sand, which piqued Ye Chen’s interest. He then bent down and grabbed a handful of sand.
When holding this sand, Ye Chen could feel the weight of a mountain, indicating the sand’s high quality and its extreme sharpness, gleaming with a cold light.
"It’s actually Star Sand nourished by spiritual pressure, turned into this form."
Ye Chen’s eyes flashed with admiration. Star Sand wasn’t regarded as a particularly precious forging material, but the Star Sand on the bottom of Moon Evil Lake, nourished by spiritual pressure, had turned into supreme-grade quality.
"This Moon Evil Lake is really extraordinary."
Ye Chen’s eyes sparkled. If the Bright Moon Heavenly Book was treated favorably in Moon Evil Lake, then Xia Ruoxue being absorbed into a black vortex might not be dangerous and could even be a possible opportunity.
Although there was this possibility, Ye Chen was still quite concerned about Xia Ruoxue’s safety. At this moment, with Xiao Bai, he started searching for the trace of the black vortex at the bottom of Moon Evil Lake.
Moon Evil Lake was vast, and the bottom was even more massive, simultaneously dark. Ye Chen and Xiao Bai walked in this darkness, sensing the fluctuation of the black vortex, continuing their search.
Meanwhile, above Moon Evil Lake, figures with a grand presence and intense murderous aura appeared, all glaring sinisterly at the lake below.
The Moon Evil Lake at this moment was completely different from its usual calmness, as if it were boiling. The constant vibrations from within the lake, filled with terrifying power collisions, made the lake tremble endlessly and further hardened the ruthless gaze of Hou Tian and the elders.
"That brat is down there, we’ve got to find him this time and capture him!"
At this moment, Hou Tian spoke coldly, "That kid, daring to repeatedly provoke my Bright Moon Valley, and intruding into our forbidden area with the Taiyin Jade Rabbit. If we can’t capture him, it will be a disgrace to Bright Moon Valley."
Upon hearing Hou Tian’s words, the faces of the Ten Elders became solemn, and in the next moment, they rushed into Moon Evil Lake. For the dignity of Bright Moon Valley, they had to apprehend Ye Chen and Xiao Bai.
As a forbidden area, they were well aware of the black vortex in the lake, the most dangerous place but also rumored to contain great fates.
The people of Bright Moon Valley dared not enter the black vortex, nor would they allow anyone else to enter.
Now that Xia Ruoxue had entered the black vortex, even if they believed Xia Ruoxue was bound to die within, they would not permit anyone else to enter again.
Especially Ye Chen, the people of Bright Moon Valley were highly wary of him due to his heaven-defying spiritual root, and they dared not let Ye Chen enter the black vortex.
Ultimately, they did not know what fortune lay within the vortex, and if Ye Chen benefited from it, his combat strength might soar, bringing misfortune to Bright Moon Valley.
As the Ten Elders charged into Moon Evil Lake, spiritual energy within Hou Tian roared and trembled, his lips curled into a sinister smile as he plunged into the lake like a cannonball.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Above, the continuous sounds of clashes between martial artists and spiritual pressure monsters echoed. Ye Chen and Xiao Bai exchanged glances, both showing a trace of heaviness in their eyes.
Clearly, the power wielded by those above was the kind from Bright Moon Valley, and more so, this Moon Evil Lake was a forbidden area of Bright Moon Valley, inaccessible to ordinary people.
"Judging by their fluctuations, they’re probably elders from Bright Moon Valley. But with elders here, Hou Tian, who wants me dead, how could he not come!"
A cold gleam flashed in Ye Chen’s eyes, and the next moment felt an ocean-deep, vast aura flooding into the lake, clearly the presence of a Mid-stage Qiankun Realm—it was Hou Tian’s arrival.
"I knew it."
Ye Chen spoke coolly, then quickened their exploration speed at the lake’s bottom with Xiao Bai. They weren’t a match for Hou Tian and the elders.
Since the opposing side had discovered their presence, they’d spare no effort to capture them. Their only chance of escape now was to find the black vortex!
At this moment, Ye Chen and Xiao Bai searched everywhere at the lake’s bottom, like streams of light, probing every corner of Moon Evil Lake, but still failed to locate the black vortex.
"No, last time, as soon as we reached the bottom, the black vortex suddenly appeared. Why isn’t it showing up now?"
Unable to find the black vortex, Xiao Bai grew anxious, sensing the approaching aura from behind and couldn’t help but shout.
"Perhaps last time the black vortex appeared because of the Bright Moon Heavenly Book Xia Ruoxue controlled."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen’s eyes flashed, guessing in his heart.
Meanwhile, the elders of Bright Moon Valley, following Ye Chen and Xiao Bai’s emitted aura, relentlessly pursued.
After all, it was Bright Moon Valley’s turf; even if Ye Chen and Xiao Bai concealed their aura, they could hardly avoid their pursuit.
Thus, Ye Chen didn’t bother hiding himself and instead openly searched for the black vortex within the lake’s bottom—even if he hadn’t found it yet, the Bright Moon Valley elders caught up.
Seeing the two black dots ahead, Bright Moon Valley’s sage-like old man grinned with satisfaction, "Where do you arrogant ones think you’re escaping to? This Moon Evil Lake is Bright Moon Valley’s forbidden area, our territory. By entering here, you’ve chosen death!"
"Daring to challenge Bright Moon Valley’s prestige, you must pay with your life. Stop, and I’ll grant you swift death. Otherwise, if caught, I’ll see you torn limb from limb and tortured to death!"
At this moment, a torrent of angry shouts rang from behind. Xiao Bai listened and couldn’t help but tremble, the ferocity in their words instilling fear.
Yet Ye Chen was completely dismissive of it, calmly patting Xiao Bai’s hand, fleeing with her as he spoke, "Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, they can’t harm you."
Though Ye Chen spoke assuredly, his heart was still heavy. He wasn’t afraid of the elders’ strength; even in terms of speed, they couldn’t catch him. But Hou Tian had also entered Moon Evil Lake.
Exposed before the Bright Moon Valley elders, Hou Tian would surely receive news and rush over, making their situation perilous.
Just as Ye Chen worried about Hou Tian, the next moment he heard the sinister, dark laughter of his arrival.