MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 186
Apelo soared through the sky, his keen eyes scanning the vast expanse below. Though he didn't know the precise location of the Nanxiang Gathering Place, his aerial vantage point allowed him to cover a wide area quickly.
Soon, he spotted his target—the desolate ruins of an ancient city.
He descended, landing amidst the crumbling structures, searching for any sign of life. But the once bustling settlement was now eerily silent, devoid of any human presence.
Apelo stood in stunned silence for a long moment, his heart sinking with each passing second.
Then, a guttural roar erupted from his throat.
"Search!" he commanded his followers. "Find them!!"
"Even if they've fled to the ends of the earth, you must bring them back to me!!"
Apelo's outburst was understandable.
Everything had started with this Nanxiang Gathering Place.
The Black Feather Tribe's knowledge of its existence had led them to send troops, ultimately provoking the Blood Flesh Mother Tree. The Mother Tree, in turn, had traced their actions back to Black Feather Mountain, resulting in the annihilation of Apelo's entire tribe.
He had initially believed that with the Giant Clan's support, he could exact revenge.
But fate had a cruel twist in store. His allies and his greatest enemy had formed an alliance.
This series of events had undoubtedly taken a toll on Apelo's emotional state.
He was a man plagued by misfortune.
And now, just as he thought he had a chance to seize an opportunity, it had vanished before his very eyes.
His pent-up rage exploded.
"I'm not just after the Heavenly Stairs qualifications!" he roared. "I want vengeance!"
"When I find you, I'll tear you to shreds and appease the hatred in my heart!"
If Lu Ming had been present, he would have likely retorted, "Brother, you brought this upon yourself. If you had been honest and upfront, you wouldn't be facing these problems."
But Apelo was incapable of such introspection.
In the Black Mist Zone, might made right. The strong preyed on the weak, and Apelo saw nothing wrong with that.
Soon, his subordinates discovered traces left behind by the Nanxiang people during their relocation.
Apelo analyzed the evidence, a grim determination settling on his face.
"They've fled into the Hundred Thousand Mountains!"
With a decisive wave of his hand, he issued his command.
"Chase after them!"
Beside him, an elderly member of the Black Feather Tribe spoke softly, attempting to reason with his impassioned leader.
"Chief," he ventured cautiously, "as the saying goes, don't chase after a desperate enemy. We're still serving in the military. If we waste too much time on these tribulation transcenders, I fear we won't be able to justify our actions to Hao Lie."
Apelo's response was swift and sharp, his voice booming with anger. "Are you teaching me how to do things?!"
"Hao Lie and I are sworn brothers!" he thundered. "So what if I disobey a military order?!"
It was clear that Apelo's obsession with revenge had clouded his judgment.
His subordinate, recognizing the futility of further persuasion, fell silent and obeyed his chief's command. Together, they soared towards the Hundred Thousand Mountains, their pursuit relentless.
On the same day, in Archean City...
The recent news of the Flame Clan ruins had injected a surge of energy into the city.
A multitude of low-level explorers flocked to the Hundred Thousand Mountains, their hearts filled with dreams of overnight riches.
But the upper echelons of Archean City remained largely unaffected by the buzz surrounding the ruins.
They knew it was merely a smokescreen created by the Heaven Saber Gang, its truth shrouded in uncertainty.
Moreover, a matter of far greater importance occupied their minds.
The position of the City Lord of Archean City was up for grabs.
As the sole gateway to the outside world for the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the city's control represented immense power and influence.
However, due to various factors, the city's governance was in disarray.
Archean City wasn't affiliated with any single tribe; it was a melting pot where numerous races coexisted.
The ones who held sway over Archean City were two gangs and one individual.
The two gangs were the Heaven Saber Gang and the Divine Dao Gang, each boasting a Level Nine Physique Realm expert as their strongest member.
And the individual was the former City Lord of Archean City, Roda.
Roda's origins were shrouded in mystery. It was said that he had risen from humble beginnings, seizing opportunities within the Hundred Thousand Mountains to ascend to the Spirit Realm.
In this remote corner of the world, a Spirit Realm expert was akin to a prehistoric behemoth.
Thirty years ago, Roda had established his rule over Archean City through sheer power. His overwhelming strength forced everyone in the city to bow before him.
Fortunately for the Heaven Saber Gang and the Divine Dao Gang, Roda wasn't interested in power or wealth. After becoming City Lord, he delegated much of his authority to the two gangs.
He chose to focus on his own cultivation, repeatedly venturing into the Hundred Thousand Mountains in search of further breakthroughs. In other words, he was a martial arts fanatic.
He cared only for cultivation, nothing else.
In recent years, Roda had occasionally made appearances in Archean City, reminding everyone of his presence.
However, in the last decade, sightings of Roda had become increasingly rare.
In fact, for the past three years, no one in the city had seen any trace of him. Rumors whispered that he might have perished deep within the treacherous Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Due to Roda's immense power, the Heaven Saber Gang and the Divine Dao Gang had initially avoided discussing his absence.
However, three years had now passed.
The higher-ups of both gangs couldn't help but be tempted by the vacant position of City Lord.
Location: Headquarters of the Heaven Saber Gang
Gang leader Jing Yi was engaged in a game of chess with his son, Jing Cong.
But neither of them was truly focused on the board.
As the game concluded with a swift defeat for young Jing Cong, he finally voiced his frustration. "Father, I don't understand."
Jing Yi calmly inquired, "What don't you understand?"
"I don't understand why you fabricated the lie about the Flame Clan ruins, Father!"
"For these baseless Flame Clan ruins, our Heaven Saber Gang has expended a lot of time and effort. We even revealed our trump card, the Great Scarlet Flame Saber!"
The Great Scarlet Flame Saber was a Spirit Realm Origin Power Skill, a closely guarded secret of the Heaven Saber Gang.
Jing Cong's tone carried a hint of accusation, but Jing Yi remained unperturbed.
"How do you know the matter of the Flame Clan ruins is baseless?" he asked, his voice laced with a curious lilt.
Jing Cong opened his mouth, ready to explain how he had been tasked with various errands due to this fabricated news. However, Jing Yi simply smiled and waved his hand, silencing his son.
Jing Yi was a Level Nine Physique Realm expert, renowned for his cunning and strategic mind.
Since he had taken the helm, the Heaven Saber Gang had consistently outmaneuvered the Divine Dao Gang, solidifying their position as the dominant faction in Archean City under City Lord Roda's rule.
The atmosphere shifted, a pregnant silence filling the room.
Finally, Jing Yi broke the quiet. "How many people have likely entered the Hundred Thousand Mountains?" he inquired, his voice measured.
Jing Cong, still smarting from his earlier rebuke, replied in a subdued tone. "No less than a hundred thousand."
Jing Yi pondered this information for a moment. "In that case, it's probably enough..." he murmured, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
Seeing his son's bewildered expression, Jing Yi continued, "City Lord Roda has been missing for three years without a trace. This has created unrest within Archean City, and we've been in constant conflict with the Divine Dao Gang!"
"If I want to ascend to the City Lord's throne or break through to the Spirit Realm to suppress the Divine Dao Gang—the tribulation to reach the Spirit Realm is incredibly difficult!"
"So," he concluded, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes, "I can only seek an alternative. We'll forcibly drive the Divine Dao Gang out of Archean City using the strength of our faction!"
However, the two gangs were evenly matched...
Jing Cong listened intently as Jing Yi revealed his plan. "A few months ago, I encountered a merchant of the Undead Clan and purchased a secret technique from him."
"This technique can turn living creatures into zombies and make them obey my commands!"
Jing Cong's eyes widened in astonishment.
Jing Yi continued, his smile widening. "If our Heaven Saber Gang had an additional hundred thousand Undead Soldiers, wouldn't it be a breeze to go to war against the Divine Dao Gang?"
Upon hearing this, Jing Cong's admiration for his father surged.
"Father, you're truly a genius!" he exclaimed.
Jing Yi let out a hearty laugh and waved his hand.
"Go do your work."
As Jing Cong obediently left, Jing Yi watched his retreating figure with a faint smile, a different charm playing on his lips.