Chapter 563: Tan Lang Star Lord

"Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield? The Beast God Organization?"

Chen Mu's gaze sharpened.

The Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield lies far south of the Da Zhou realm, beyond Tiannan Dao—a desolate land filled with malevolent qi, deathly energy, countless broken prohibitions, and perilous ruins from ancient times.

It is also one of the regions where the "Beast God" organization operates frequently.

The Beast God and the Star God are ancient enemies.

They have been engaged in open and covert struggles for countless ages.

Missions involving the Beast God organization typically carry higher risks, but also greater opportunities—including chances to confront the enemy, gather intelligence, or seize their resources.

"Five hundred star points as base pay is already generous. Moreover, reconnaissance missions don't require direct confrontation—they emphasize intelligence gathering and judgment," Chen Mu mused.

He urgently needed to strengthen his power in preparation for retrieving the "Sword Soul."

Star points could be exchanged for many precious resources within the Star Palace, including rare items capable of refining sword intent, bolstering the divine soul, or enabling escape and survival.

This mission seemed like a good opportunity.

"Recommendation: Star Palace Realm—requires at least two collaborators... Clearly, the danger level is high."

Chen Mu weighed whether to accept it—and if collaboration was needed, which Star God to choose.

As he deliberated, a voice came from behind.

"Wu Qu, are you interested in joining me for the Southern Wastelands matter?"

Hm?

Chen Mu turned to see a figure clad in dark red star robes, face obscured by a mask.

The figure was of average height, not imposing, yet standing there like a drawn blade soaked in countless bloods, radiating a condensed, ferocious aura capable of stirring the deepest killing intent within the heart.

Tan Lang!

This Tan Lang who had approached him directly—Chen Mu had no personal contact with him, only occasionally encountered his name in rumors and mission records.

He was said to complete missions with exceptional efficiency, employing ruthless methods, and had repeatedly demonstrated outstanding performance in related assignments.

His cultivation level was also Star Palace Realm, and his combat prowess was formidable.

He had clearly noticed the reconnaissance mission for the Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield and judged it suitable for teamwork—perhaps even already assessed its risks and rewards, deeming it worth pursuing.

After brief consideration, Chen Mu replied, "Fine. When do we depart?"

Tan Lang's reply was equally direct, "Three days from now. This time."

"No problem."

Chen Mu said decisively.

"Good."

Tan Lang's voice carried a hint of amusement.

The two immediately used their Star Talismans to officially accept the mission: "Investigate Anomalies in the Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield."

A confirmation feedback arrived, along with a more detailed mission brief and supplementary background materials on the Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield and the "Beast God" organization, all transmitted to their respective Star Talismans.

Chen Mu settled his mind and began carefully studying the mission brief and materials.

The brief noted that over the past two months, the core region of the Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield—the "Grave of Weapons Valley"—had exhibited abnormally active malevolent qi fluctuations.

Multiple unexplained powerful energy bursts had occurred, suspected of triggering ancient residual prohibitions, even causing localized celestial anomalies.

Warriors who had ventured into the outer fringes of the ancient battlefield claimed to have heard terrifying, inhuman roars from within the valley, seen blood-red pillars of light surging into the sky, and felt a heart-stopping, ancient ferocity pressing upon them.

Scattered intelligence also indicated that individuals suspected to be core members of the "Beast God" organization had been frequently spotted near the battlefield's periphery, acting with suspicious secrecy.

The Star Gods judged this anomaly extraordinary, possibly linked to a secret operation by the "Beast God" organization, and potentially touching upon forgotten ancient seals or relics deep within the battlefield.

Hence, the mission was issued: determine the source of the anomaly, assess potential threats, and acquire as much information as possible regarding the "Beast God" organization's specific objectives in this operation.

"Grave of Weapons Valley... Ancient seal... Beast God..."

Chen Mu noted down the key details.

This mission indeed sounded filled with unknowns and danger.

But it also likely concealed immense opportunities.

The relics lost in the ancient battlefield, ancient lineages, even whatever the "Beast God" organization might be seeking—all could yield astonishing rewards.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Tan Lang had been to the ancient battlefield before and left spatial markers there.

Thus, Chen Mu did not insist—he allowed Tan Lang to initiate the remote teleportation.

Light and shadow shifted; space twisted.

This teleportation was unusually long—even with the Star Talisman, an artifact of extraordinary power, Chen Mu felt a stronger spatial tug than usual.

Moments later, his feet touched solid ground.

A hot, dry wind, carrying a faint scent of sulfur and blood, slammed into his face.

Before him stretched a crimson wasteland, as if repeatedly scorched by fire, littered with jagged rocks and sparse, twisted vegetation.

The sky glowed an unnatural dark red, the low-hanging clouds like congealed clots of blood.

In the far distance, a vast shadowy region loomed, shrouded in denser, light-swallowing gray-black mist.

That was the boundary of the Southern Wastelands Ancient Battlefield.

Tan Lang gazed at the boundary, veiled in gray-black death mist, his voice cutting through the wind.

"The anomaly's origin is locked within the heart of the 'Grave of Weapons Valley.' But the reality will be even more treacherous than the brief describes."

Chen Mu listened in silence.

"The battlefield's malevolent qi generates 'Soul Tides'—vast in scope, disrupting geomagnetic fields and revealing hidden spatial rifts. More critically..."

Tan Lang paused, his tone turning Solemn, "At least three core members of the 'Beast God' organization have been confirmed active in the outer regions and vicinity of the Grave of Weapons Valley. Their qi signatures are all Star Palace Realm."

"Three Heavenly Palace Realm beast gods?" Chen Mu's gaze sharpened.

The Beast God Organization's members take names from ancient ferocious beasts; their combat power is strange and formidable, far surpassing ordinary warriors of the same realm.

The sudden appearance of three Heavenly Palace Realm beast gods, with a clear target aimed at the Grave Weapon Valley, means this operation by the Beast God Organization is of immense scale—not a minor skirmish.

"Correct. The mission requires investigating the source and assessing the threat."

Tanlang turned to Chen Mu. "Three Heavenly Palace beast gods stationed there—storming the Grave Weapon Valley directly is tantamount to open warfare. Even if we join forces, our chances of victory are less than thirty percent, and we risk alerting them, triggering unknown dangers prematurely. I have a strategy—perhaps a detour."

"Speak."

"Beneath the ancient battlefield, the ground is not solid. The primordial war tore apart the earth veins, creating countless intricate 'Earth Fiend Passages' and 'Ancient Battlefield Tunnels.' Some passages can bypass surface-level Beast God blockades, even leading directly beneath certain key locations."

Tanlang gazed toward the distance. "For instance, beneath that cliff over there lies a hidden entrance to an 'Earth Fiend Passage.' I discovered it by chance and explored a portion of it. Following this route, we might evade the main surveillance of those three beast gods and approach the core region of the Grave Weapon Valley from the flank or underground!"