"Are there many ordinary people like that on Forage Mountain?" Chase asked casually after passing by the two hikers."Not many, but there are a few. You encounter a few every year," Olaf quickly replied."Hmm. Once we reach the blessed spot, you know what to do, right?""Yes, honorable sir, I do," Olaf responded promptly, making his intentions clear.After another two hours of climbing, they were nearing the summit of Forage Mountain. The snowy landscape had disappeared, replaced by a dense forest. Chase knew this was due to the overwhelming concentration of spiritual energy in the area, which made the climate perpetually springlike.As they entered the forest, Chase began to sense the presence of many other cultivators."What are these people doing here?" Chase asked out of curiosity."Honorable sir, those who stay here are mostly martial artists who aren't qualified to enter the blessed spot for cultivation but still don't want to give up. Most are independent cultivators, t
As if in response to Stephen's words, several more figures appeared, each one emerging to stand behind him. They began questioning him one after another."Stephen, is what you just said true?""It's absolutely true. Otherwise, why would this old dog be here now? Clearly, he's trying to enter Holy Mountain to seek help."With Stephen's confirmation, the others felt reassured."In that case, we should join forces and kill this old dog, cutting off the last hope of the Trevors!"Someone suggested, and the others nodded in agreement."That's the right thing to do.""Yes, it's time for a change in the leadership of East Capital."It was clear that the Trevors' long-standing dominance in East Capital had bred resentment among many, especially in this place. As time passed, seven figures had gathered, all of them martial lords at the first or second stage.They surrounded not only Olaf but also Chase."Gentlemen, I'm just a passerby. I have nothing to do with your issues with the Tr
Unexpectedly, this group of fools had the audacity to provoke Chase.Olaf immediately realized that he was safe. If he had to face seven martial lords alone, even as a stage-three martial lord, he would have had no choice but to flee. Yet if Chase was willing to step in, the situation would undoubtedly turn in their favor.Chase remained unfazed by the crowd's mockery. Without a word, he unleashed his Slayer's Domain.Instantly, the trees, spiritual plants, and everything else in the forest that came into contact with the mist began to wither as if they were poisoned.Olaf had not expected the killing aura to be so aggressive against the flora as well. This scene made the seven opponents lose their smug expressions. As martial lords, they understood immediately that Chase was no ordinary person."Who are you?" Stephen asked, his face now tense and his tone cautious."Who am I?" Chase responded with a faint smile. "If you fear the Trevors, you should fear me even more."Stephen s
Upon hearing those words, the other six exchanged glances and quickly made their decision. Six martial lords' auras surged into the sky, accompanied by the manifestation of six distinct domains, each with its own color.Seeing the domains materialize, Chase's interest was piqued. He shoved Olaf aside."Get lost. Stay out of the way."Even before Olaf and Stephen began their clash, Chase had already released his Slayer's Domain.Although it had not fully expanded, it had still drawn the attention of everyone present. Now, with a mere thought, the red mist rapidly spread, engulfing Stephen and the six other martial lords.Handling seven martial lords at once was no small task, and even Chase felt the pressure. Though the mist surrounded them, the seven martial lords managed to use their own domains to shield themselves.This stalemate could not last.Chase pondered, considering the possibilities within his Slayer's Domain. If it truly lived up to its name, perhaps there were other
At that moment, Stephen finally realized he had provoked someone he could not afford to offend."Honorable sir, I've realized my mistake. If you wish to leave now, we won't stop you. We only want to prevent the Trevors from rising again. Since you're the one who destroyed the Trevors, surely you wouldn't want Olaf to report back to Holy Mountain."If you're willing to stay out of this, we're prepared to offer compensation. Whatever you desire, as long as it's within our power, we'll do our best to fulfill your request. How about it?"Stephen spoke earnestly, trying to tempt Chase with promises of benefits, hoping to persuade him to stay out of the conflict."Is that so?" Chase's voice came from within the red mist, though his figure was still unseen.Hearing Chase's response, Stephen felt a glimmer of hope, thinking there might be a way out.He quickly added, "Honorable sir, whatever you want, just name it. If it's within our power, we will make it happen."“Then…”Chase emerge
At this point, Chase was alone, so he patiently offered an explanation as he needed to be cautious."Don't worry, I'm not from Eastern Ocean. I only need to borrow your strength. You don't want to see the Trevors rise from the ashes, right? In that case, swallow the marks and join me in storming the blessed spot."Once this is over, you'll regain your freedom. As for my identity, it's better that you don't know."With Chase's assurance, the three men hesitated no longer and swallowed the marks. Initially, they thought they could try to secretly neutralize the marks after taking them, but they were caught off guard when the marks exploded with power the moment they entered their bodies.A force that filled them with dread surged through their veins. The Mystic Sun marks traveled along their meridians, heading straight for their hearts.By the time they realized what was happening, the marks had firmly embedded themselves in their hearts.From that moment, their lives were entirely
Chase and his group finally arrived at the summit of Forage Mountain.The peak was desolate, with nothing in sight except a massive, bottomless pit in the center. The surrounding area was completely barren, with no signs of the so-called blessed spot that had been mentioned.Chase surveyed the area but found no trace of the blessed spot. "Is this what you call Holy Mountain?" His displeasure was evident."Honorable sir, there's more to it. Look up!" Olaf quickly explained.Chase tilted his head back and noticed a faint glimmer above the large pit. It was so subtle that without someone pointing it out, it would have gone unnoticed.Chase had not seen it before, but now that he was focused, he realized it was not just a glimmer—it was a tiny spatial rift.It suddenly dawned on Chase. The so-called blessed spot was hidden within this rift. However, with the entire Forage Mountain covered by an anti-flight barrier and the rift situated at such a height, entering it seemed impossible.
"Stay here, you three. You, come with me," Chase instructed before descending into the volcanic crater with Olaf using the ethereal staircase.As they made their way down, the temperature rose dramatically. Before long, they reached the depths where molten lava bubbled beneath them, radiating intense heat.While Chase remained unaffected, Olaf was visibly struggling. He was drenched in sweat that evaporated almost instantly."Honorable sir, do we really need to go further?" Olaf asked. His voice was strained as he neared his limit. It was like his entire body was drenched and steaming.Chase glanced at Olaf's sorry state and decided it was unnecessary for him to continue. "You wait here. I'll go down alone."As he continued downward, Chase moved deeper into the crater. Perhaps due to his mastery of the Nine Heavens Mystic Sun Technique, Chase could endure the heat far beyond what was normal. While Olaf was barely holding on, Chase felt only a mild warmth with no significant discom