Chapter 175: Identity Exposed, The Destruction of Elder Yan

Chapter 175: Identity Exposed, The Destruction of Elder Yan

Three days later, in a secluded forest outside Black Beast City, a tall figure in a purple robe slowly emerged. The figure lifted their head, observing the occasional passerby on the road. After determining the correct direction, they began walking westward along the road.

The purple-robed figure moved at a leisurely pace, but if someone were to observe closely, they would notice something strange: with each step, the figure seemed to teleport a meter ahead, almost as if performing short-range spatial teleportation.

The person emerging from the forest was none other than Mo Yu, who had spent the last three days resting in Black Beast City.

During these three days of leisure, the young man not only fully recovered from the fatigue of two months of seclusion but also gathered a wealth of valuable information from the conversations of various passersby.

"This road leads directly to the Jia Ma Empire, but along the way, there's a military fortress. It's said that this fortress is garrisoned by forty thousand elite troops. I heard from merchants in Black Beast City that stationed there is also an elder from the royal family. Elder Yan, a four-star Dou Emperor, is the only Dou Emperor in the royal family and one of the ten strongest in the Mulan Empire. He's the pillar that supports the royal family's continued rule over the empire. I didn't expect the Mulan Empire to be so powerful, even commanding such a royal expert to act personally," Mo Yu mused, his steps light as he moved along the road, seemingly teleporting through space.

With the Void Flashing Thunder having reached its second growth stage, and Mo Yu's body significantly strengthened, he could now use the power of the mysterious thunder to move freely within a three-meter radius.

Although it was only three meters, it was a significant improvement for Mo Yu.

"Now, it's almost impossible for me to move freely in the Mulan Empire. And since I've been heading west, Mulan Valley will likely guess that I'm trying to escape to the Jia Ma Empire. Therefore, this final border checkpoint is something Mulan Valley will undoubtedly focus on heavily. Elder Yan... It seems that leaving through there won't be easy," Mo Yu thought, his face hidden in the shadows, his brow furrowing as he considered the challenges ahead.

"The kind of border fortress, with walls as high as small mountains, must be filled with countless expert archers and specialized sensing energy shields, designed to prevent anyone from escaping by flying over. Thinking of the rumors about Shanhe Pass, Mo Yu pondered deeply.

"In most of the Northwestern Empire nations, there's a strict military order that prohibits anyone from flying over these crucial border fortresses. If caught, one would likely face overwhelming, destructive force. After all, with so many empires in the Northwestern Continent, the relationships between nations are often hostile. If an enemy were to launch a surprise attack, the border defenses could be easily overwhelmed, so they must be extremely vigilant against any flying threats.

"I can only take it one step at a time. If all else fails, I'll have to rely on Uncle Snake to break through," Mo Yu thought, shaking his head to clear his mind and focusing all his attention on reaching his destination.

The journey from Black Beast City to the Mulan Empire's border wasn't short, but it wasn't overly long either. For an ordinary person, it would take at least ten days to cover the distance, but even with Mo Yu's speed and the occasional use of his Purple Cloud Wings to fly, it still took him three days to reach the border.

As he approached the border, Mo Yu's mood didn't lighten. He knew the real challenge was still ahead.

To leave the Mulan Empire and enter the Jia Ma Empire, he would have to pass through the massive fortress known as 'Shanhe Pass.'

As a military fortress designed to deter foreign forces, its defenses were nearly impregnable. With forty thousand elite troops stationed there, it was a fortress of iron and blood.

And now, it was guarded by a four-star Dou Emperor—a formidable challenge for Mo Yu.

This fortress was the final barrier standing between Mo Yu and the Jia Ma Empire.

"Back when I first entered the Mulan Empire, everything went smoothly. But now, as I try to leave, Mulan Valley has made it nearly impossible, making me feel like a hunted animal. I won't forget this grudge," Mo Yu muttered, recalling how he had planned to acquire the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame and how the Little Beast King had walked right into his trap, leading to Mulan Valley's and the Black Scaled Serpent King's conflict.

Now, with Mulan Valley hunting him relentlessly, Mo Yu knew he would have to be ruthless in the future.

The next day, Mo Yu finally caught sight of the massive fortress, which stood like a primordial beast guarding the empire's border.

Standing on a hill, Mo Yu gazed at the towering walls that seemed to stretch endlessly, listening to the distant sound of disciplined drills. He exhaled slowly.

In the Dou Qi Continent, while strength is revered, a Dou Emperor might be able to rival an army of ten thousand. However, the power of numbers should not be underestimated.

The combined aura of tens of thousands of troops was formidable, comparable to some sects' battle formations.

A Dou Emperor, combined with tens of thousands of troops, presented a daunting challenge. The fortress stood like a fierce tiger, blocking Mo Yu's path to freedom.

Even if he tried to leave the Mulan Empire from another route, there would likely be other experts from Mulan Valley stationed there. Unless he hid within the empire forever until he reached the Dou Emperor level, he wouldn't be able to escape.

But without the resources for further cultivation, even with the Vermilion Bird Flame's energy, it was uncertain how long it would take Mo Yu to reach the Dou Emperor level.

After considering his options, Mo Yu decided to break through Shanhe Pass and head for the Jia Ma Empire.

"Flying over the fortress would be too risky. It looks like I'll have to try sneaking in. If that doesn't work, I'll rely on Uncle Snake," Mo Yu muttered.

As soon as he finished speaking, Uncle Snake's hoarse and cold voice echoed in Mo Yu's mind, "Don't worry, kid. If it's just a four-star Dou Emperor and an army of forty thousand, I can ensure your escape from the Mulan Empire."

Hearing this, Mo Yu felt a bit more at ease. He scanned the road below, watching the passing caravans and troops. After a moment's hesitation, he retreated into the forest.

On the dirt road, a caravan of about a hundred people was making its way towards the massive fortress at the horizon, raising clouds of dust. Judging by their uniform attire, they seemed to be part of the same mercenary group. Such a group, with around a hundred members, would be considered medium-sized in the Mulan Empire.

Because Shanhe Pass was close to the border, its chaotic atmosphere attracted certain mercenary groups. They didn't enjoy the stable life of hunting magical beasts but preferred the more lucrative but dangerous role of a war mercenary, aiding one side in a conflict for substantial rewards.

Although these rewards were considerable, the risks were equally high. On the battlefield, a misstep could lead to the total annihilation of a group, no matter how large.

"So, this is Shanhe Pass…" Mo Yu muttered, his voice low as he gazed at the towering fortress that loomed larger as he approached.

This person was indeed Mo Yu. At this moment, he had taken off the purple robe that identified him as a weapon refiner and had put on an ordinary mercenary outfit, intending to blend in with this mercenary group to see if he could slip through this final fortress of the empire.

The group moved closer to the towering city walls, and as they neared the massive gate, Mo Yu narrowed his eyes, glancing up at the space above the walls. There, he noticed faint, almost imperceptible energy fluctuations. Clearly, these energy fluctuations were meant to detect objects flying in the sky. If anything were to be sensed by these energies, it would immediately become a target for the soldiers, who would shoot it down with specially crafted crossbows made by weapon refiners.

As the group approached the gate, Mo Yu's gaze fell on the towering entrance. Seeing the almost impenetrable defense at the gate, his brows furrowed tightly.

When they were still about a hundred meters away from the wall, the large group finally slowed to a halt. Two men emerged from the front of the mercenary group and walked towards the gate, leading the way.

These two seemed to be the leaders of the mercenary group. From the way they were laughing and chatting with the guards, it was clear that they were quite familiar with each other. This was likely not their first time at Shanhe Pass.

After talking with the guards for a while, one of the guards, who had a cold expression, moved his hand slightly as if the mercenary leader had slipped him something. The guard hesitated for a moment, then nodded and made a hand gesture, signaling for the heavy barricades blocking the gate to be removed.

"Oh?"

Seeing that the guards didn't search the group, Mo Yu's eyebrows raised slightly. Even with a royal expert stationed here, corruption still ran deep. Did they not fear Mulan Valley's wrath?

Shaking his head, Mo Yu decided not to dwell on it. If he could get out without causing a commotion, that would be ideal.

He quickly lowered his head, hiding his face, and followed the group toward the gate passage.

However, just as they were about to enter the gate, Mo Yu's eyes caught sight of something unusual above the gate. There was a small recess, and inside it, a fist-sized orb was nestled.

The orb appeared to be an ordinary pale white color, emitting a faint glow. It seemed unremarkable, but Mo Yu's instincts immediately sounded the alarm.

Sure enough, just as Mo Yu was about three to four meters from the gate, the pale white orb suddenly began to glow a bright red. The moment the red light appeared, it caught the attention of everyone nearby, including the soldiers.

"Damn it, it's a Detection Orb!"

Seeing the orb, Mo Yu cursed inwardly.

The Detection Orb was a fourth-grade weapon, not particularly high in quality, but it could detect a specific person's aura within a certain range, emitting a warning red light if detected.

Mulan Valley must have captured Mo Yu's aura during his battle with the Little Beast King and his group, using it to create this weapon. They then placed it at key border fortresses, specifically to catch Mo Yu.

No wonder the guards had been so lenient earlier—they had this deadly tool at their disposal.

The red light from the Detection Orb immediately alerted the fortress's guards. A bearded officer wearing red armor, likely a Da Dou Shi in rank, rode a tall unicorn horse to the scene, leading a group of elite soldiers.

"Don't move! Everyone, halt!" The officer's voice boomed like thunder, halting everyone, including Mo Yu's group.

Though the order caused some discontent among the people, no one dared to complain openly due to the empire's military might.

After stopping everyone, the bearded officer on his unicorn horse slowly surveyed the crowd with hawk-like eyes, holding a black curved blade.

When his gaze met Mo Yu's silver eyes, the officer's face froze. The image of the person with silver eyes from the wanted posters flashed through his mind like lightning.

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. Years of battle experience had honed his reflexes, and almost instinctively, he squeezed his legs against the horse, making a hasty retreat. As he did, he shouted in shock, "Seize him! He's Mo Yu!"

However, despite his sharp instincts, his strength was only that of a low-rank Da Dou Shi. As he began to retreat, Mo Yu sneered coldly.

With a blur of motion, Mo Yu seemed to teleport right up to the officer, his fist shooting out like a bear's paw, slamming into the officer's chest. Blood spurted from the officer's mouth as his face turned pale.

Although the blow didn't kill him, Mo Yu was about to deliver the finishing blow when the officer quickly steered his horse behind the soldiers.

"Swish! Swish!"

More than a dozen sharp spears, imbued with faint Dou Qi, were thrust at Mo Yu's head. The soldiers' strikes were open and forceful, filled with a lethal aura—a testament to their battlefield experience. Their presence was far more intimidating than that of ordinary soldiers.

Mo Yu twisted his head, dodging the spears, but his momentum was halted. Seeing more soldiers rapidly closing in, he frowned slightly and retreated a few steps.

At the gate, onlookers were left dumbfounded by the rapid developments. When they saw the officer guarding the gate get seriously injured in a single blow, their expressions turned to shock.

"Mo Yu?! Is that Mo Yu? The one who defeated the Little Beast King and his two companions?" Suddenly, someone in the mercenary group shouted, which drew a wave of heated stares. Judging by the tone, there was less greed in the voice and more of a hint of admiration.

As the shout echoed, the crowd erupted into a murmur. Eyes filled with various emotions locked onto Mo Yu. The most shocking event in the Mulan Empire recently had been none other than Mo Yu's exploits.

"Boy, don't get cocky! This is Shanhe Pass!"

As the crowd buzzed with excitement, a powerful and aged voice suddenly echoed from within the fortress.

With the voice's arrival, a yellow sphere of light appeared above the fortress. At the same time, a terrifying aura began to spread from within the light, causing a suffocating pressure to descend upon everyone present.

Even under the blazing sun, the yellow light sphere's brightness was not outshone.

As people squinted to see the figure within the yellow light, they gasped in shock.

"Elder Yan!"

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