Chapter 142: Re-fight Tang Zhenke!

It was no longer an upward path, but a vast natural valley embedded within the mountain.

Inside the valley, the scene was strange.

Countless gray-white stone pillars, about one zhang tall, stood densely packed like a stone forest stretching endlessly.

Each pillar was carved with faint ancient runes, emitting a subtle energy fluctuation.

Chen Mu noticed that the same flight-prohibiting array force hung over the Shi Lin.

"This Shi Lin is suspicious—stay alert," Shen Ge said, stepping into the Shi Lin.

Chen Mu, Pang Yunrui, and Qin Liangjing followed closely behind.

The moment the four entered, the runes on the nearest pillars glowed faintly, then, with a low rumbling, the pillars began moving on their own!

Not only did the pillars shift, but the ground beneath their feet also slid apart in blocks of stone.

"Watch out—don't get separated," Shen Ge warned.

But it was too late.

Boom—

All the stone pillars within view continuously changed positions, passages opening and closing unpredictably; the spot where Chen Mu and the others stood was instantly cut off.

The entire area instantly became a vast, impossibly complex labyrinth, constantly shifting!

"Shen Ge? Pang Ge? Qin Ge?" Chen Mu shouted quickly.

"I'm over here!"

Pang Yunrui's voice came from the right.

"I'm here," Qin Liangjing's voice came from ahead.

"I haven't moved," Shen Ge's voice came from behind.

"The Shi Lin has become a maze—I suggest we don't look for each other, just push straight through and meet at the exit," Qin Liangjing's voice shifted to the left.

"Good!" Shen Ge replied decisively, his voice now coming from ahead.

"Alright."

Chen Mu answered, "See you at the exit."

"See you at the exit!"

Pang Yunrui's voice came from behind.

Boom—

The pillars moved.

Chen Mu took a deep breath, trying to memorize the path he'd taken, but found it useless—the surrounding pillars all looked nearly identical, and their movements held no pattern.

He calmed his mind, activated his "Listen to the Wind" skill, sensed the direction of air currents, and chose a path forward.

Along the way, he saw many warriors who had entered earlier trapped in place, pacing frantically or desperately attacking the pillars, leaving only faint white marks—unable to damage them at all.

After advancing deeper into the Shi Lin, Chen Mu suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Ahead, one stone pillar had stopped moving—and it was utterly different from the gray-white ones: its entire body glowed a dark red, as if soaked in blood and then forged by fire, its surface even bearing patterns like flowing lava, radiating not a faint array energy, but a scorching, violent aura.

"Purgatory Stone?"

Chen Mu recalled a rare stone.

Ancient array cores or special stone materials, after centuries of energy infusion, could undergo transformation and become a rare stone called "Purgatory Stone."

Within Purgatory Stone, there was a high probability of nurturing a heavenly material called "Stone Soul."

Stone Soul contained earth essence and violent fire primordial energy—an elite material for tempering the body and strengthening the physique, priceless to cross-cultivation warriors, and immensely beneficial even for Earth Altar experts consolidating their foundation and reinforcing their bodies.

"So there really is a treasure…"

Chen Mu smiled.

The next moment, as he prepared to approach and carefully examine the stone for any possible Stone Soul, a powerful pressure suddenly surged from behind and to the side!

Boom—

From behind a moving pillar emerged a figure.

Tall and thin, with a sinister face, clad in a dark blue robe, his aura surged like ocean and river—vast and obscure—undeniably an Earth Altar expert!

It was Guan Shanhai, one of the four Earth Altar experts who had entered the ancient ruins.

Guan Shanhai immediately spotted the conspicuous Purgatory Stone; his eyes flickered with delight, then turned to Chen Mu, carrying a cold warning.

Swish—

Chen Mu's heart tightened; without hesitation, he retreated instantly, vanishing into another passage opened by the shifting pillars.

To fight a fully prepared Earth Altar expert over a treasure not yet in hand was not wise.

Even if the opportunity was good, one must have the life to claim it.

"Hmph~"

Seeing Chen Mu's prudence, Guan Shanhai gave a light chuckle and nodded in satisfaction.

He did not pursue, but stepped forward slowly to study the Purgatory Stone.

…

Chen Mu moved swiftly through the shifting Shi Lin maze, encountering twice warriors from different factions fighting fiercely over discovered Purgatory Stones—he avoided them all, staying clear of pointless battles.

Along the way, he picked up six Inner Strength Cards, one True Qi Card, and two Skill Cards.

He stored the cards away.

Listening to the flow of wind, Chen Mu continued through passage after passage, heading for the exit.

Suddenly.

Ahead came fierce combat sounds—and a familiar roar.

"Tang Zhenke, you think killing young master is that easy!" It was Pang Yunrui's shout, sounding frantic and furious.

"Old rascal! Die!" Shen Ge's clear cry echoed as well, though his breath was slightly disordered.

Tang Zhenke?

Chen Mu's eyes turned cold; his body accelerated, leaping swiftly through several shifting corridors.

Ahead, between a slightly more open cluster of Shi Zhu pillars, Pang Yunrui and Shen Ge stood back-to-back, struggling to fend off Tang Zhenke's ferocious assault.

Pang Yunrui's lips were streaked with blood; his twin halberds moved sluggishly. Shen Ge's swordlight no longer danced as nimbly as before, and his robes were torn in multiple places.

Tang Zhenke's face twisted with malice, his attacks ruthless—he clearly intended to avenge the humiliation of that day and seize the Infernal Stone the two had just discovered.

"Die!"

Chen Mu did not hesitate; the Solitary Star Sword flashed from its sheath.

"Clang!"

The sword's clear ring rang out; the fierce momentum of the Battle Heaven Sword Art erupted—brilliant swordlight, like a meteor from beyond the heavens, stabbed straight for Tang Zhenke's vital lower back, forcing him to whirl around in defense.

"Brat! It's you again!" Tang Zhenke flickered aside, parrying Chen Mu's strike. Seeing his attacker, old grudges and new rage surged in his heart, his fury burning hotter.

"Brother Chen!"

"Young Brother Chen!"

Pang Yunrui and Shen Ge, seeing reinforcements, perked up with renewed spirit.

Chen Mu landed before them, his gaze icy as he stared at Tang Zhenke. "Looks like my last lesson wasn't enough."

"Arrogant fool! Today, all of you brats will die together!" Tang Zhenke roared, unleashing his full Earth Altar Realm cultivation—his true qi surged like a tidal wave toward the three.

"Whoosh!"

Chen Mu said nothing; the Solitary Star Sword unfurled, the Battle Heaven Sword Art pushed to its utmost limit, meeting the tide head-on.

Swordlight surged like a tidal wave, carrying an unyielding, fatal resolve!

Pang Yunrui roared, swallowed a healing pill, forcibly suppressing his injuries, and swung his twin halberds like a frenzied wild ox, smashing again at Tang Zhenke.

Shen Ge changed his sword technique; his sword qi became a wind everywhere—wrapping, slowing, hindering Tang Zhenke's movements, creating openings for the other two.

"Last time, I gave you a chance—I held back."

"This time, you have no chance."