Chapter 112: The Poison Miasma Bead

Atop the high mountain stood an extraordinarily tall and magnificent palace, resplendent beyond measure.

Yet Li Hong did not enter the palace. Instead, he led Li Mu and Li Ge directly toward a stone chamber behind it.

“This palace serves as the main hall and is likely useless at present. Mu Long should be cultivating inside that small stone house, but many protective arrays surround it.”

Given it was his own cultivation spot, Mu Long would surely be cautious. Within several hundred meters around the stone chamber, faint mists drifted, and the spatial fluctuations were tinged with wariness, a balance of danger subtly revealed.

No need to speculate: if any of Mu Long’s disciples mistakenly stepped in, they would likely be compelled to feign weakness.

“The protective arrays here are exceptionally formidable.”

Li Mu’s expression grew slightly serious. Relying on his rudimentary knowledge of array formations, he discerned that multiple linked arrays were in place, all designed for cultivators at the Refining Pulse stage.

But when Li Ge stepped forward, Li Mu was almost taken aback. Though he had little study of arrays, Li Ge, despite being of the demonic clan, was well-versed in them! After a brief thought, he concluded the demonic clan generally disdained complexity and refinement, but this Li Ge was an exception?

Probably just overthinking!

The demonic clan revered physical strength above all; breaking arrays was effortless for them, nothing more.

Li Ge planted his feet firmly, unwavering as iron. With a loud shout, he clenched his fists and slowly unleashed his power.

Two beams of pure white light burst forth from his fists, rapidly expanding to about a meter in front of him. The radiant fists gleamed brightly, roaring like lions, their sound shaking the heavens.

His hands shimmered with radiant light, his black-yellow skin glowing faintly like stone or iron.

Li Mu was momentarily stunned. Even from a distance, he sensed the power of the light—it was demonic strength, infused with an utterly destructive force.

Yet despite the tangible brilliance, the stone chamber stood over a hundred meters away. What was Li Ge planning?

“Ha!”

With a mighty yell, the beams of light surged forward.

Once unleashed, the pure white force seemed to strike the surrounding air with tremendous impact, dispersing everything like waves radiating from a boat floating on water. The light quickly transformed into white mist-like clouds.

Two beams of light, two trails of mist, all headed directly toward the distant stone chamber without a trace left behind.

Boom!

The stone chamber shattered into drifting dust.

A gentle breeze scattered the dust; the chamber was gone without a trace, leaving only an earthen pit.

“Master, your power has greatly increased.”

Li Hong raised his head, looking at Li Ge with a hint of frenzy.

“Li Ge, you truly are profound.”

Li Mu expressed admiration. Such power rivaled that of a fourth-grade treasure artifact. Even the strongest protective arrays would be shattered by it. Among human cultivators with comparable body tempering, Li Ge’s strength was unfathomable. Demonic clan tempering far surpassed humanity’s, making him immensely powerful.

He nodded, satisfied by Li Ge’s display; this gave him confidence in handling Mu Long.

“Why is there no one inside?”

Looking up at the site, Li Ge blushed slightly at the human’s praise. He pointed ahead.

“Let’s take a look.” Li Mu hurried forward.

The protective arrays’ power was concentrated inside the stone chamber. Now that it was destroyed, the arrays were nullified.

The pit was several meters deep, revealing a half-meter-wide, pitch-black opening at the bottom.

“He must be beneath it.”

As Li Mu approached, he sensed a dense spiritual energy inside, as if within a spirit-gathering formation. After some thought, he realized Mu Long had dug a tunnel connected to a spiritual energy vein, sealing the entrance behind him to cultivate undisturbed.

Mu Long had set numerous protective arrays, hiding within the tunnel, confident no one would interfere—yet he did not expect Li Ge’s fist light to shatter the arrays and reveal the underground path.

“Bring him out!” Master’s power surged from Li Hong, clearly proud.

Li Mu shook his head slightly. “Slow down.”

Li Ge squatted, looking into the tunnel with a slight frown. “From the expert’s perspective, what should we do? The passage is very narrow; I doubt we can descend. Moreover, such a confined space is nearly impassable.”

Li Mu raised his hand, “I’ll take a look.”

Using spiritual perception, he examined the interior and understood the situation. The passage descended about fifty meters to a chamber several meters wide, surrounded by spiritual energy veins.

It resembled a long bottle.

Mu Long sat at the bottom, eyes closed, enveloped by a thick halo of light, resembling a statue.

Li Mu pondered for a moment, then said cautiously, “You all stand back.”

He held a Poison Miasma Pearl.

He had forged many of these within the stone mountain. Even one pearl could emit toxic miasma capable of suffocating cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage. What if a hundred were used? If all were thrown into that chamber several meters wide?

Li Mu shook his head, as if mourning Mu Long. “Mu Long, you’ve secluded yourself here, thinking you can hide—your arrogance will be your downfall!”

Without hesitation, he hurled a hundred Poison Miasma Pearls into the tunnel.

As the pearls entered, Li Mu controlled his true energy precisely to shatter them all. Violent waves of toxic miasma quickly spread, filling the entire underground passage.

Puff!

The Seal of Constancy was unleashed, growing larger in the air before slamming down like a mountain, fiercely sealing the tunnel entrance.

Li Ge and Li Hong watched Li Mu finish, exchanging doubtful glances. “Master, what is he doing?”

Li Mu’s face was grave. “Everyone, step back and prepare. If I’m not mistaken, Mu Long will soon emerge.”

He then retreated alone, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the Seal of Constancy.

Time passed slowly, each moment seeming endless.

After less than fifty breaths, Li Hong began to sweat. He had suppressed Mu Long for a long time; only now could he act freely, but he worried deeply about Mu Long’s power. The fear and inner pain were palpable.

Boom!

The Seal of Constancy exploded fiercely in the sky, shattering into countless fragments that rained down.

From the flying ashes, a humanoid figure burst forth, whiskers bristling, radiating immense presence. It roared fiercely, “Who dares to recklessly destroy my dwelling? All of you, die!”