Chapter 173: Farewell and Seclusion

Chapter 173: Farewell and Seclusion

"Mo Yu, spare him!"

As the urgent shout echoed, a black long blade came flying towards Mo Yu, carrying with it a strong and fierce force.

Sensing the sharp wind and powerful energy coming from his right, Mo Yu furrowed his brows. He couldn't tell if the newcomer was an enemy or an ally, but the strength of the attack suggested that they were likely a Dou Ling-level expert.

Glancing at the Little Beast King, Mo Yu's eyes flashed with cold indifference. Even if he didn't kill the opponent, the terrifying lightning energy from his Thunderbolt Flash that now lingered in the Little Beast King's mind would cause him immense pain for the rest of his life, possibly even preventing him from advancing in his cultivation.

With that thought, Mo Yu's killing intent slightly diminished. He swiftly spun his spear, redirecting it towards the incoming blade on his right.

The spear and blade collided with a sharp, metallic clang. Although the newcomer was a Dou Ling, they hadn't used their full strength. After being pushed back five or six steps by the powerful force from the blade, Mo Yu finally stabilized himself.

With quick, precise movements, he dispelled the lingering force on his spear and then turned to see a middle-aged man in black armor approaching from the depths of the street.

As the man appeared, hundreds of fully armed elite soldiers emerged from the nearby dark city walls, quickly surrounding the area. Their sharp spears glinted menacingly under the sunlight.

"It's Lord Fei Xiang, the City Lord, and the city guards. The Lord himself has arrived."

"This Mo Yu actually tried to kill the Little Beast King. The City Lord will surely capture him, right?"

"That's not certain. Didn't you notice that Mo Yu is wearing the purple robe of a blacksmith? That means he's associated with the Blacksmith Association, which gives him a strong background. Besides, Lord Fei Xiang has connections too—his sister is the Emperor's concubine. Considering the relationship between the Empire and Mulan Valley, the City Lord might not help Mulan Valley."

As the surrounding onlookers murmured among themselves, Mo Yu glanced at the middle-aged man, realizing that this was the City Lord of Beast Wilderness City.

His Thunderbolt Eyes narrowed slightly, and Mo Yu instantly discerned that Lord Fei was indeed a true three-star Dou Ling. This made him far more formidable than the Little Beast King and his companions, who had only managed a half-baked Dou Ling status through the Three Beasts Desolate Technique.

No matter how extraordinary Mo Yu was, defeating a genuine three-star Dou Ling would be nearly impossible without using his soul power. However, after hearing about the City Lord's background and the fact that he had only intervened now, Mo Yu figured that he might not need to fight his way out after all.

"Fei Xiang, quickly order your men to capture this little bastard. Mulan Valley will reward you generously!"

The Little Beast King, still reeling from the damage caused by Mo Yu's Thunderbolt Flash, had his Three Beasts Desolate Technique forcibly dispelled. The tiger-headed youth beside him, shocked by Mo Yu's strength, urgently pleaded with the black-armored middle-aged man.

Upon hearing this, the man's brows furrowed slightly. As the City Lord of Beast Wilderness City, he was displeased by the youth's tone and the fact that the young man had dared to command him, completely disregarding the Empire's authority. However, knowing the growing power of Mulan Valley and the decline of the royal family, he sighed inwardly.

"Your name is Mo Yu, correct? Don't worry. You're a member of the Blacksmith Association, so the Empire remains neutral in your conflict with Mulan Valley. You may leave, but you cannot kill the Little Beast King," the middle-aged man said, his gaze lingering on Mo Yu.

He had been watching the fight from the shadows for some time. As a supporter of the royal family, he was pleased to see someone challenge Mulan Valley's arrogance. However, even he hadn't expected Mo Yu to defeat the Little Beast King and his companions, who had achieved half-step Dou Ling strength. The fact that Mo Yu, so young, could achieve such a feat hinted at immense potential for the future.

Allowing Mo Yu to leave was a way of establishing goodwill. However, the Little Beast King couldn't die—not on his watch. As the grandson of one of the Mulan Valley Elders, the Lion-headed Elder, his death in Fei Xiang's territory would be disastrous, even for someone with ties to the Emperor.

"Thank you, Lord Fei," Mo Yu replied politely, recognizing that the City Lord meant no harm. He understood the man's position and didn't push the issue further. Although he hadn't killed the Little Beast King, the damage from the Thunderbolt Flash would cause him significant suffering. Mo Yu knew that as he continued to grow stronger, the Little Beast King would eventually be unable to keep up.

"There's no need to thank me; I'm just doing my duty. You should leave Mulan Valley as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the royal family intervenes…" Fei Xiang waved his hand dismissively, smiling wryly.

"Fei Xiang, what are you doing? Mo Yu is a wanted criminal in Mulan Valley, and you dare let him go? Aren't you afraid of offending Mulan Valley?" the tiger-headed youth shouted angrily.

Fei Xiang's expression darkened. "You say Mo Yu is a criminal in Mulan Valley, but he is not a criminal in the Empire. I only know that he is associated with the Blacksmith Association. Whatever Mulan Valley plans to do is not my concern."

With that, Fei Xiang signaled his soldiers to withdraw, and he himself began to walk away, his task of breaking up the fight now complete.

Seeing this, the tiger-headed and bear-headed youths exchanged frustrated glances. They looked at Mo Yu with a mix of anger and fear before hurriedly helping the still-agonized Little Beast King to retreat. Without Fei Xiang and the city guards' assistance, they knew they were no match for Mo Yu.

After the Little Beast King and his companions fled, the tense atmosphere gradually eased. The fierce battle had solidified Mo Yu's reputation, and it wouldn't be long before his name spread throughout the Mulan Empire. Those who sought to curry favor with Mulan Valley by capturing Mo Yu would now think twice about the consequences of crossing such a formidable talent.

Witnessing all this, Mu Qing's expression grew darker. He hadn't anticipated that even the future successors of the Mulan Elders couldn't handle Mo Yu. This young man was indeed a threat.

With one last resentful glance at Mo Yu, Mu Qing turned and left. He knew there was little he could do with Lan Yingying protecting Mo Yu, especially since, as a blacksmith, he wasn't particularly skilled in combat. A blacksmith like Mo Yu, capable of both craftsmanship and battle, was truly an anomaly.

As the battle concluded, the spectators remained abuzz with excitement, and news of the event began to spread rapidly throughout the city and beyond...

Lan Yingying had quietly approached Mo Yu's side at some point, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with a smile. "I didn't expect you to be so skilled, little junior brother. It's quite rare for someone of your age, especially a blacksmith, to have such strength and abilities."

Hearing Lan Yingying's compliment, Mo Yu simply smiled and replied, "You flatter me, Sister Lan. Although the Little Beast King and his companions are among the top of the younger generation in the Mulan Empire, they are merely mediocre when compared to the geniuses in Central Plains."

From what Mo Yu knew, in the Central Plains, all eight ancient clans, except the declining Xiao Clan, had young members who had long since broken through to the Dou Wang or Dou Huang levels. The Little Beast King was nothing compared to them—not even worthy of being a supporting character.

Seeing that Mo Yu remained humble and calm, Lan Yingying's eyes revealed a hint of surprise once again.

Talents were not uncommon. The vast and boundless Dou Qi continent saw countless geniuses emerge every year, and the Central Plains was a cradle for these talents. Many extraordinary individuals originated from the Central Plains.

However, for someone like Mo Yu, who grew up in a remote area yet possessed such a clear understanding of himself and remained steadfast on his path, was indeed rare.

If he continued to grow without falling, he might one day truly make a name for himself in the Central Plains.

"Mo Yu, stop chatting. There are several Dou Ling-level presences approaching from the left, likely people from Mulan Valley. Take this opportunity and slip away quickly." Just then, Snake Uncle's voice sounded in Mo Yu's mind.

Hearing this, Mo Yu was slightly taken aback. He shifted his silver eyes toward the left, where his powerful soul sense detected a few strong auras gradually approaching.

"Apologies, Sister Lan, but I must leave. If I don't go now, the people from Mulan Valley will catch up to me again," Mo Yu said with a wry smile, rubbing his nose.

Lan Yingying's eyes narrowed slightly as she seemed to sense the approaching danger from the left. She sighed softly, "Alas, most of our Blacksmith Guild's experts are concentrated in the Central Plains. In the Northwest Continent, we can't help you much. Take care of yourself, little brother. I'll be waiting for you in the Central Plains."

"Yes, Sister Lan. I will definitely go to the Central Plains."

Nodding, Mo Yu began to circulate the Dou Qi within his body. The purple wings on his back slightly trembled, and a pair of Dou Qi wings appeared behind him.

Since his identity had already been exposed, Mo Yu no longer hid his abilities. He directly activated his Purple Cloud Wings and flew toward the outskirts of the city.

Seeing the Dou Qi wings sprouting from Mo Yu's back, Lan Yingying and the surrounding spectators couldn't help but feel shocked once again. Although they had heard rumors about the boy having purple Dou Qi wings, witnessing it firsthand was still a breathtaking experience.

After all, Dou Qi wings were a technique reserved for Dou Wang and above.

"Sister Lan, we will meet again. Farewell for now."

With the activation of his Purple Cloud Wings, Mo Yu leaped into the sky, like a deity looking down upon the world. He glanced at Lan Yingying below and smiled before the purple wings behind him, crackling with red lightning, fluttered slightly. In an instant, he vanished from everyone's sight.

Watching Mo Yu's departing figure, Lan Yingying's eyes shimmered like water as she murmured softly, "Little brother, I'll be waiting for you in the Central Plains. By then, I'm sure you'll surprise everyone once more..."

With Mo Yu's departure, Beast Wilderness City gradually fell into silence. About ten minutes later, nearly ten figures shot out from a massive black eagle in the sky.

Several men wielding long swords surveyed the area with solemn expressions. Upon realizing that Mo Yu had already fled, one of them cursed in frustration, "We rushed here as quickly as possible after receiving the intelligence, but that guy still managed to escape!"

After a few grumbles, he looked in the direction where Mo Yu had fled and said coldly, "Inform the elders that Mo Yu is heading west, likely trying to escape to the Jia Ma Empire. We should station heavy troops at the Shanhe Pass to ensure he doesn't get through!"

Upon hearing this, a Mulan Valley disciple quickly responded. He then pulled out a carrier pigeon, wrote a message, and released it into the sky. The pigeon swiftly flew away, disappearing from view within moments.

Meanwhile, after leaving Beast Wilderness City, Mo Yu continued flying for half a day before stopping in a dense forest filled with towering trees.

In the quiet forest, the only sounds were the occasional distant roars of unknown magical beasts echoing through the dense foliage.

Suddenly, a bush trembled, and a dark figure shot out. Landing lightly on an exposed tree branch, he quickly ascended to a higher branch and surveyed the area with the sharp gaze of an eagle.

It was Mo Yu.

After leaving Beast Wilderness City, Mo Yu knew his whereabouts had been exposed. To avoid trouble, he took a detour through a small path and found himself in an unknown mountain range.

His trip to Beast Wilderness City had yielded important information, and he had obtained the Na Stones and gained valuable battle experience. Despite being pursued, Mo Yu wasn't in a hurry. He decided to find a place to go into seclusion and upgrade his Void Flashing Thunder to its second stage.

After scanning his surroundings once more and finding no suitable hiding spot, he frowned slightly and shook his head in resignation. His toes tapped the branch lightly, and he darted through the dense forest like a bat with wings spread wide, continuing his search for a good hiding place.

In a forest full of giant trees and magical beasts, finding an undisturbed hideout was challenging. However, Mo Yu was lucky enough to discover a good spot as the sky began to darken.

After passing through a large expanse of dense forest, a perilous gorge, about ten meters wide, came into Mo Yu's view.

He approached the spacious cave inside the gorge cautiously. Although the lingering stench made him wrinkle his nose, he couldn't afford to be picky while being hunted by Mulan Valley.

With a flick of his fingers, several moonstones shot out from his storage ring, embedding themselves in the crevices of the cave walls. The faint light they emitted soon illuminated the entire cave.

Satisfied with the bright interior, Mo Yu glanced at the darkening sky outside. After a moment of thought, he pushed a large rock over to block most of the cave entrance. This would prevent the illuminated cave from being too conspicuous in the dark.

With everything in place, Mo Yu finally breathed a long sigh of relief. The exhaustion from nearly a day of flying slowly crept in, making his eyelids feel heavy.

"It's not time to rest yet." He quickly forced his eyes open and smiled bitterly. Moving back a few steps, he found a clean stone platform and sat down cross-legged.

Once settled, Mo Yu pulled out two items from his storage ring.

They were the Na Stones and the Fire Pearl.

(End of Chapter)

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