Chapter 519: Flood of Approaches

Moments later, Chen Mu released his grip.

The withered old man collapsed to the ground, his breath faint, his eyes glazed—he was ruined.

Chen Mu frowned slightly; from the withered old man's memories, he obtained several key pieces of information.

1. The Blood Refining Sect's target was clear: they had not stumbled upon this place by chance, but were ordered by one of their sect's "Blood Nightmare Elder" to specifically search the Huazhou region for clues to the "Four Seasons Keys," with emphasis on the "Xia Yao."

They had long been watching the Cai family's trail, but Ning Ning Zhixi's accidental acquisition of the token and the resulting disturbances had led them to focus on Yan Zhuo Mountain.

2. More than one "key": The Blood Refining Sect was also searching for the other "seasonal" keys, seemingly possessing records of older origins, believing that collecting all "Four Seasons Keys" could open a hidden "Four Seasons Vault" tied to ancient secrets.

3. The "Opportunity" was near: From fragments of the withered old man's memories, Chen Mu learned that the Blood Refining Sect's higher-ups had apparently calculated that a certain "Opportunity" would soon emerge, possibly linked to the Bingwu celestial stem-branch cycle, at which point clues to the "Four Seasons Vault" would become clear.

That was why they had intensified their search.

4. Other factions: Besides the Blood Refining Sect, the Long Life Sect and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect had also sensed the "Four Seasons Vault," each sending operatives to operate in relevant regions.

The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect primarily operated in the north, but maintained outposts in the south as well.

5. Specific deployments: The withered old man was one of the Blood Refining Sect's overseers in the Huazhou region; his memories contained several secret outposts and contact methods nearby.

The information was substantial, and confirmed some of Chen Mu's suspicions.

The "Four Seasons Vault" was indeed tied to something vast—even the Mo Sect had stirred.

Chen Mu raised his hand, a thread of true energy swept through, ending the lives of the withered old man and the short, fat elder, once again gaining a True Energy Card and a Soul-Enhancing Card.

Ning Ning Zhixi had been holding her breath, guarding vigilantly beside him; now that Chen Mu had finished soul-searching, she stepped forward, her expression troubled.

"Senior Brother Chen, what did you find?"

"The Blood Refining Sect is after the 'Four Seasons Keys,' not just the 'Xia Yao.' They seem to know something—believe the 'Opportunity' for the Vault's opening is near. Also, the Long Life Sect and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect have gotten involved." Chen Mu spoke concisely, relaying the key information.

Ning Ning Zhixi drew in a sharp breath—were the Long Life Sect and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect also coveting it?

This pool of water was deeper than imagined.

She looked at Chen Mu: "Then what do we…?"

"Stick to the original plan: head to the 'Southern Li, Bingwu, Gathering Place of Fire Essences.'"

Chen Mu's gaze was calm, "The Mo Sect knows more—we must move faster. Before they react, find the next clue, or even the Vault's entrance directly."

He glanced at the bodies on the ground, flicked his fingers, and reduced them to ash, erasing all traces.

"This place is no longer safe. Let's go."

The two wasted no more time, swiftly leaving the cave, following the light-map on the stone fragment and the clue of the "Southern Li, Bingwu, Gathering Place of Fire Essences," heading deeper into the Yan Zhuo Mountains, toward a region even hotter and more mysteriously unknown.

…

Deep within the Yan Zhuo Mountains, heat rose in steams, crimson rock reflected blinding light, the air warped.

Chen Mu and Ning Ning Zhixi followed the stone fragment's guidance, advancing along an ancient path nearly obscured by sulfur vapor and heatwaves.

The terrain grew increasingly treacherous; the wild fire energy in the air nearly solidified. A common Xiantian cultivator here would be unable to take a single step—even with true energy shielding, they would need constant effort to resist the pervasive fire toxins.

Ning Ning Zhixi's forehead was beaded with fine sweat; her Yaowang Valley cultivation method was balanced and harmonious, excellent at repelling external evils, but under such extreme conditions, her consumption was heavy.

She periodically swallowed her sect's pills to replenish true energy and calm her spirit.

Chen Mu walked ahead, his steps unhurried; the searing heat and fire toxins that could melt gold and iron naturally parted and dissipated within three feet of his body, as if shielded by an invisible barrier.

Occasionally he paused, comparing the stone fragment's light-map in his mind with the terrain ahead, making slight directional adjustments.

"The map's marked 'Gathering Place of Fire Essences' should be close."

Chen Mu gazed toward a towering, entirely crimson peak in the distance, its summit flickering with faint dark-red light, "The pure, concentrated wave of fire energy originates from there."

Ning Ning Zhixi followed his gaze and sensed the uniquely intense heat—this mountain seemed like a single massive, burning fire essence.

Just as the two prepared to advance toward the crimson peak, Chen Mu suddenly halted, his gaze fixed on a cluster of jagged rocks ahead.

"Someone's there."

Chen Mu transmitted a true energy whisper to Ning Ning Zhixi, simultaneously suppressing his aura further, signaling concealment.

The two slipped soundlessly into a nearby rock fissure, baked dry by the heatwaves, and sealed all traces of their presence.

Chen Mu swiftly erected a barrier to block detection.

Moments later, five figures emerged from behind the jagged rocks.

These five dressed strangely—not like the Mo Sect's style, nor like ordinary orthodox cultivators.

They all wore tight-fitting garments of deep purple or dark blue, over which they draped hooded cloaks edged with silver patterns resembling ghostly, claw-like specters.

Their aura was chilling, utterly incongruous with the scorching environment of Yan Zhuo Mountain, yet strangely blended into the surrounding shadows and heat-distorted light—easy to overlook unless one carefully sensed.

The leader was tall and thin, his hood obscuring most of his face, revealing only a sharp, angular jaw and thin lips.

His aura was obscure—clearly at the Earth Altar realm, and remarkably stable, seemingly just one step away from "Perceiving the Divine, Unbreakable."

In his hand, he idly turned a deep blue pearl, fist-sized, emitting a faint chill; its surface shimmered with a ghostly light, subtly suppressing the surrounding heat.

The other four—three men and one woman—were all at the peak of Xiantian, equally chilling in aura, eyes sharp as hawks, movements silent and perfectly coordinated, clearly highly trained.

"Jiuyou Sect."

In the fissure, Ning Ning Zhixi whispered to Chen Mu via secret transmission, her tone solemn and tinged with revulsion, "They're here too?"

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow and replied.

"Observe first."

…

The tall, thin Jiuyou Sect leader halted, slightly raising the deep blue pearl in his hand; its surface flickered with a ghostly light, as if sensing something.

After a moment, his hoarse, icy voice rang out, jarringly loud in the scorching environment.

"The 'Ice Soul Pearl' confirms it—this place does have a 'Yin Extreme, Yang Born' node fluctuation. Though faint, it's unmistakable."

"Matches the records: 'The Four Seasons Turn, Yin and Yang Interroot'—at the peak of 'Summer,' the 'Winter' opportunity may lie hidden."

"Search this area thoroughly—especially where the earth-fire veins intersect with yin-evil fissures!"