Chapter 84: Mu Chen, I Was Wrong

In a daze, Mu Chen felt he was lying on something soft. The comfortable sensation made him instinctively roll over, but he realized he had grabbed something.

Subconsciously, Mu Chen squeezed it. The object was springy, like a balloon!

A balloon?

Mu Chen's heart raced, and he couldn't help but open his eyes.

**Soul Power +332** 

**Soul Power +333** 

**Soul Power +360** 

"Uh!"

Mu Chen was momentarily stunned.

As he pondered how he could gain soul power even while sleeping, the realization finally hit him.

He was resting his head on Zhu Zhuqing's abdomen, and his hand was... 

Mu Chen's mind went blank, unable to comprehend the scene before him.

Zhu Zhuqing was also lying on the ground, her eyes wide as she looked down at Mu Chen. Their gazes met, and the atmosphere turned slightly ambiguous.

"Are you going to let go of me?" 

Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed as she glanced at Mu Chen's hand.

Mu Chen awkwardly smiled and stood up from the ground. Looking around, he noticed that not only he but all his companions were lying on the ground as well. They were on a high platform.

Before long, Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong, Meng Yiran, and Xiao Wu began to wake up.

"Brother, where are we?" Xiao Wu asked.

"This should be the starting point of the Hellish Path," Mu Chen replied.

In front of Mu Chen and Xiao Wu was a seemingly endless bridge leading toward a vast lake filled with red Yellow Spring Dew.

"Yellow Spring Dew?" 

Tang San frowned. "There's so much Yellow Spring Dew here; it's a vast lake. This must be the accumulation of the soul power and blood of those who failed in the City of Slaughter over the years."

Dai Mubai pondered, "It seems the Hellish Path is the core of the City of Slaughter. Or rather, it is the source of the City of Slaughter."

Tang San nodded in agreement. "If we were to destroy it, it would deal a significant blow to the entire City of Slaughter. This place, a hell on earth, shouldn't exist."

Mu Chen's heart stirred.

In the original storyline, Tang San had thrown a snow-white swan kiss into this lake during his journey through the Hellish Path, turning the chronic poison in the Yellow Spring Dew into an acute poison that could not be cured.

In his previous life, Tang San lived among the Tang Sect and had no experience with the world's malice. He had a simplistic view of good and evil, like an innocent child.

In this life, Tang San remained naive, still holding onto such simplistic notions.

Forgive him; after all, his mindset was still that of a child!

However, Tang San was unaware that after he destroyed the City of Slaughter and the Spirit Hall, it led to the chaos of evil soul masters plaguing the continent. Now that Mu Chen had come to Douluo Continent, he was determined to overturn these erroneous storylines.

Mu Chen chastised, "Tang San, you're mistaken. If we were to act on your logic, wouldn't that mean all evildoers should be wiped out? Even prisons in the outside world would have no reason to exist?"

Tang San was taken aback, unable to refute Mu Chen's words.

Mu Chen continued, "Where there is light, there will also be darkness. You cannot eliminate the existence of bad people; you can only guide them toward goodness. Even those who have erred should be given a chance for redemption. The City of Slaughter serves as a prison, offering these bad people a final glimmer of hope. Without the City of Slaughter to contain and restrain evil soul masters, the impact on the outside world would be catastrophic. Do you understand?"

Tang San nodded in agreement. Not daring to oppose Mu Chen, he clasped his fists and said, "Yes, Boss Mu, I understand."

"Eh?"

Xiao Wu suddenly looked at Zhu Zhuqing and asked, "Zhuqing, why is your face so red?"

Xiao Wu's comment only made Zhu Zhuqing's face turn even redder. Zhu Zhuqing's gaze inadvertently darted toward Mu Chen, the source of her embarrassment.

"Brother?"

Xiao Wu's tone was surprised as she looked at Mu Chen. Her instincts told her that something significant had happened between Zhu Zhuqing and Mu Chen while she was unconscious.

As for Mu Chen, he acted like a proud general, smiling at his hands. His demeanor made Zhu Zhuqing even more embarrassed, wishing she could slap him.

"Mu Chen, thank you."

Meng Yiran expressed her gratitude, "Without you, I wouldn't have won a hundred matches in the Hellish Arena."

Mu Chen smiled and said, "It's too early to thank me now. Let's talk after I lead you through the Hellish Path."

"Which way should we go?" Meng Yiran asked.

"Downward," Mu Chen replied.

"Downward?" 

Tang San protested, "The Yellow Spring Dew below is poisonous. If we head down, we'll likely have to cross a path submerged in Yellow Spring Dew. I suggest we go upward."

"Boss Mu, I also suggest going upward."

"Yes, Boss Mu, only by going upward can we stay away from the poisonous Yellow Spring below."

"Boss Mu, I agree with their suggestions. We came in going downward, so we should exit by going upward."

Tang San's suggestion received unanimous agreement. Even Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong nodded in agreement.

Mu Chen looked at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu smiled, "I'll go wherever my brother goes."

Mu Chen smiled slightly, patting Xiao Wu's head. He knew the storylines of Douluo well and understood that regardless of whether they went up or down, they would ultimately need to traverse a path submerged in the Yellow Spring. Moreover, the exit of the Hellish Path wasn't simply a matter of going upward.

But with his companions so firmly set in their beliefs, Mu Chen chuckled and said, "Alright, we'll do as you say."

As they continued onward, even while moving upward, the heat around them grew increasingly intense.

"What's going on? Why are we getting hotter even though we're going upward?" 

"Could it be that we're getting closer to the Yellow Spring below?"

"That doesn't make sense; we're clearly moving upward. How could we be getting closer to the Yellow Spring?"

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others were puzzled, glancing at Mu Chen.

It was Tang San who speculated, "If I'm correct, while it appears we're going upward, we're actually on a slight downhill slope. The gradient is so small that it's not obvious to the naked eye."

"So, Boss Mu wasn't wrong after all. Regardless of whether we go up or down, we're ultimately moving downward." Dai Mubai looked at Mu Chen in surprise. Mu Chen remained calm, showing no signs of shock.

"Boss Mu, I was wrong." 

Ma Hongjun was the first to concede, saying, "From now on, I won't question any of your commands or decisions."

Mu Chen smiled and didn't take it to heart.

As they walked, they noticed an increasing number of bones littering the ground, remnants of those who had failed their trials.

Eventually, the Shrek Nine encountered their first challenge on the Hellish Path.

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