When the ancient pagoda descended, it had sealed the surrounding space. Thus, the massive Golden Phoenix Condor was enveloped by it.

Waving his hand, the crystal pagoda slightly shook before it returned to his palm. At the same time, he had also executed the Eight Divisional Pagoda to suppress Fang Jing.

But just when he was about to make a move, his eyes squinted. He noticed an intense vibration from the pagoda. After that, a streak of crimson light flew out from the pagoda.

“Mhm?!” Mu Chen exclaimed in surprise as he raised his head. Space of a few myriad feet away tore apart and a Golden Phoenix Condor flew out, which was naturally Fang Jing.

However, one of the latter’s wings was utterly broken with blood dripping down, staining the emerald ocean.

“Wing Breaking Art?” Mu Chen narrowed his eyes and laughed shortly after. This Fang Jing was truly decisive and had chosen to cripple himself so that he wouldn’t be suppressed.

Fang Jing was a Golden Phoenix Condor, and Supreme Divine Beasts like him were extremely fast to begin with. Thus, they could tear space apart at the cost of a wing, and they could escape most seals.

However, the price was extremely high. Although Heavenly Sovereigns could regenerate, the physique of Supreme Divine Beasts was their fighting capability, especially when there were countless blood essences in their flesh and blood. So if they ignited it, they would also suffer substantial injuries. So it was safe to say that if Fang Jing wanted to restore his wing, it would take at least a hundred years.

“Aarghhhhh! Mu Chen, I definitely won’t let you off so easily!” Fang Jing fled without turning back as he hollered while feeling an ache in his heart, since he knew what price he had paid.

However, Mu Chen wasn’t bothered by his roars. He waved his hand and stored the crystal pagoda. He could easily suppress Fang Jing, so the latter wasn’t threatening to him now that he had lost a wing.

After he stored the pagoda, Mu Chen suddenly raised his head with an indifferent gaze. He could sense that he was being watched, and it should be those watching outside the Deification Pool.

However, he did not overthink it. He returned to Nine Nether’s side and waited.

...

At the same time, everyone was flabbergasted outside the Deification Pool, with the entire region in silence.

After a long time, they gradually recovered from the shock and smacked their lips with fear in their eyes.

Who could’ve imagined that Fang Jing would be so weak before Mu Chen, and was easily dealt by the latter? In the end, he even had to break one of his wings to escape.

“That Mu Chen is really ferocious.”

“He’s just a Middle Phase Spirit Heavenly Sovereign. Isn’t his fighting capability a little too outrageous?”

“He’s not simple. It’s no wonder why he could flip the entire Ancient Buddha Clan upside down. That brat is a monster!”

“Looks like only someone like Huang Xuanzhi could subdue him.”

“......”

All sorts of discussions echoed. Everyone has heard about Mu Chen’s achievements in the Ancient Buddha Clan, but none of them witnessed it for themselves. So when they witnessed Mu Chen’s strength, they realised how terrifying that young man was.

On the mountain closest to the Deification Pool, Huang Jin looked at the mirror and squinted his eyes. “That brat truly deserves his reputation as Qing Yanjing’s son.”

An Elder of the Phoenix Clan behind him chuckled, “That brat is powerful, but he’s inferior when compared to the Young Patriarch.”

Although Fang Jing wasn’t weak, he didn’t even dare to fight Huang Xuanzhi. So there wasn’t any threat to Huang Xuanzhi, even if Mu Chen could defeat Fang Jing.

“That’s for sure.” Huang Jin proudly smiled. Huang Xuanzhi’s talent was the best within the last tens of thousands of years. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to cultivate the Nine Circulation Saint Art. Although Mu Chen could be considered as a genius, he was somewhat inferior to Huang Xuanzhi.

When he fights with Huang Xuanzhi, he would know the gap between the two of them.

...

Nine Nether absorbed the Peak Blood Essence for roughly half an incense’s’ time before she stopped. When she absorbed the last strand of aura, the black egg behind her grew darker with an ancient aura permeating, as if it was nurturing something.

Opening her eyes, the purple flames in her eyes gradually turned black.

Breathing out a mist from her mouth, Nine Nether sensed the surging bloodline coursing through her veins with joy on her face.

Evidently, this Peak Blood Essence, which was comparable to a Saint Heavenly Sovereign, was great nourishment to her.

“What a pity. I still require a lot of Peak Blood Essences if I want to evolve my bloodline.” But shortly after, Nine Nether bitterly smiled, since she could feel that she still required a massive amount of bloodline energy.

“Take it slowly. There are still many Peak Blood Essences out there, and they will be able to satisfy you.” Mu Chen showed a gratified smile.

Nodding her head, Nine Nether suddenly, anxiously looked around after thinking of a matter. But when she couldn’t find Fang Jing, she asked in puzzlement, “Where’s that fellow?”

“He escaped after breaking a wing.” Mu Chen smiled.

Hearing his words, Nine Nether couldn’t help widening her eyes. Fang Jing was a Late Phase Spirit Heavenly Sovereign with a resounding reputation amongst the Divine Beast Clans. She never expected that while she was cultivating, Mu Chen had beaten him to flee while paying the hefty price of a wing.

‘Since when did this fellow become so powerful?’

“You’re a monster! It looks like I won’t even be able to catch your shadow if I don’t evolve faster.” Nine Nether sighed. In the past, she was Mu Chen’s greatest backing, and Mu Chen had also considered her his last support. But right now, that feeble youth had grown to a height that even she couldn’t reach.

It was a blow for someone like her that liked winning.

“I grew under your wings, so you should be proud.” Mu Chen teased.

Rolling her eyes, Nine Nether stood up and her slender figure looked extremely attractive. Sweeping her gaze around, she asked with expectation, “Where are we going next?”

“I have previously spread my senses out, but there’s no fluctuation of a Peak Blood Essence around.” Shaking his head, Mu Chen asked, “Do you know where the highest Peak Blood Essences are located?”

After a brief hesitation, Nine Nether pointed towards the depths of the bottomless ocean. “The deepest part of the Deification Pool has the most Peak Blood Essences. However, the geniuses of the Supreme Divine Beast Clans will also be there. So there will certainly be an intense battle that will await us.”

Generally speaking, Divine Beast Clans like them would stay around the middle area of the Deification Pool, since the best spots were all claimed by the Supreme Divine Beasts.

“Then, what are we waiting for?” Mu Chen smiled without fear in his eyes before he continued, “The road to the peak is one with battles, to begin with. If you only know how to cower, how will you succeed?”

Nine Nether was briefly shocked by his words before she nodded her head. She finally knew why Mu Chen’s strength could rise so swiftly. It was all due to the boundless courage that drove him forth, despite the many difficulties that he faced.

On the contrary, she had been hesitating ever since she evolved into a Divine Beast, which was the reason why her improvements were so slow.

“Let’s go!” Suddenly, the shackles in her heart broke and Nine Nether clenched her fist. Her smile had, once again, contained the wildness from before.

Sensing the changes in Nine Nether’s heart, Mu Chen couldn’t help smiling while nodding his head. His silhouette flashed out, turning into a streak of light, and flew towards the depths of the Deification Pool with Nine Nether following closely behind him.

...

Nine Nether wasn’t wrong; the frequency of Peak Blood Essences increased as they made their way deeper. As they swiftly flew down, they encountered at least ten Peak Blood Essences.

Every single Peak Blood Essence that they encountered was all absorbed by Nine Nether after they were beaten to their original state.

Along with that, cracks started to appear on the black egg behind her...

Sensing the changes, Nine Nether grew more excited while looking at those Peak Blood Essences with thirst in her eyes.

But just like Nine Nether had said. As they went deeper, more geniuses of the Supreme Divine Beast Clans appeared. So they had also encountered a genius from the Supreme Divine Beast Clan.

It was a genius from the Divine Roc Clan, whose strength wasn’t any weaker than Fang Jing. He was also famous amongst the Divine Beast Clans.

When Nine Nether encountered this person, she became nervous and she had her guard up.

But shockingly, that genius from the Divine Roc Clan only cast a glance at Mu Chen with brief hesitation before he retreated.

“Looks like they’re aware of Fang Jing’s outcome.” Looking at that genius from the Divine Roc Clan as he retreated, Mu Chen smiled.

With Fang Jing as the example, these geniuses from the Supreme Divine Beast Clans wouldn’t be foolish enough to provoke him.

Nine Nether also felt more relieved at this scene before they headed deep into the Deification Pool under Mu Chen’s lead to a search for traces of Peak Blood Essences.

In just an incense’s time, the two of them had a bountiful harvest with nearly 20 Peak Blood Essences that were all absorbed by Nine Nether. At the same time, more cracks appeared on the egg behind her...

“There’s another one!” After absorbing the last one, Nine Nether excitedly looked in a direction where there was a Peak Blood Essence.

Mu Chen had also cast a glance over, but he did not approach it. On the contrary, he pulled Nine Nether back with a cold light flickering in his eyes. “Since you guys are here, why are you guys still hiding?”

“Hehe, the Mu Abode’s Ruler has good senses.” When Mu Chen called out, the surrounding space fluctuated and three silhouettes stepped out.

When Nine Nether saw those three silhouettes, her eyes widened and her voice echoed out with shock.

“Nine-colored Peacock Clan, Kong Ling’er?

“Nine-headed Golden Condor Clan, Lin Cang?

“Heavenly Dragon Crane Clan, Xiao Tian?

At this moment, she couldn’t help feeling anxious, despite her confidence in Mu Chen. The three’s fame was just behind Huang Xuanzhi. ‘Are the three of them going to join hands together to deal with Mu Chen?’