Heaven and Earth

The person in black turned red-faced and smirked, refusing to speak.

Mu Yunxuan understood in his heart that he wouldn't get any information from this person. His stunning and furious face radiated with thunderous anger. His eyes were deep and icy, and he forcefully threw the person in black, sending them crashing onto the pile of black insect corpses on the ground. The man struggled for a moment but soon stopped moving.

Mu Yunxuan watched as Huo Yin and the black demonic beast engaged in a fierce battle. He wanted to remove the barrier and let Su Zimo and the others come out. However, before he could act, an overwhelming number of snakes swiftly approached them from all directions.

"Father, be careful. All of them are poisonous snakes, and someone is controlling them."

Su Qi grew more anxious.

Su Zimo looked at the colorful snakes and felt a wave of dizziness. She closed her eyes abruptly, cold sweat dripping from her body.

"Don't be afraid, Mother. Father will protect us, and Qi'er will protect you too. Mother, don't be afraid."

Su Qi's soft and gentle voice comforted Su Zimo.

Su Zimo opened her eyes abruptly and looked at her son. She realized how useless she was as a mother. She shouldn't be running away; she should overcome these things. If she didn't confront them, she would always be afraid.

Su Qi saw the multitude of snakes on the ground, his face still calm and composed. He was an alchemist and often dealt with such creatures. Su Zimo, on the other hand, was also an alchemist but was reluctant to advance to the Dan-level.

Seeing this, Mu Yunxuan's face turned ashen, his eyes deep and daunting. A golden light shield emerged around him, and the powerful and unstoppable golden radiance struck at the rapidly approaching snakes, instantly tearing a large gap in their ranks.

"Mu Yunxuan, let me and Qi'er out," Su Zimo made up her mind. With her cultivation at the Gold Profound Stage, dealing with these snakes would be no problem.

"Meng'er, it's not possible," Mu Yunxuan disagreed. These snakes were even more venomous than the black insects, and Su Zimo was afraid of snakes. How could he let her take such a risk?

"Mu Yunxuan, look at the snakes coming from all directions. You alone won't be able to kill them all. Me and Qi'er will soon be surrounded. It will be even harder for you to save us!" Su Zimo was filled with anxiety.

Suddenly, a cluster of tight flute sounds came from the forest. As soon as Su Zimo heard it, her pupils shrank, and her heart trembled violently.

"Quick, let me out. This is the Snake Taming Formation of the Witch Clan. If we kill the Snake Tamer, these snakes will scatter."

Before Su Zimo finished speaking, the tail of the black demonic beast swung heavily towards Mu Yunxuan.

Mu Yunxuan swiftly retreated and realized the presence of people in the forest. His eyes became deep and frightening.

The faster the flute melody, the faster the snakes moved. They were several times faster than the ones Mu Yunxuan had repelled earlier, surging from all directions. He couldn't protect every area, such as Su Zimo's rear.

Mu Yunxuan also noticed this problem and pressed his lips together, knowing they couldn't stay here for long. After repelling another wave of attacking snakes, Mu Yunxuan quickly turned around, abruptly embracing Su Zimo's waist, and with Su Qi, he summoned the Nine-winged Golden Dragon. The three of them sat firmly on the dragon's back.

Su Zimo was slightly stunned but immediately felt herself being tightly embraced by Mu Yunxuan. It was a feeling of fear of losing her. Did Mu Yunxuan fear losing her that much?

Looking down at the ground, she saw that the place they were just standing was already filled with snakes. The snakes, unable to find their target, were roaming aimlessly.

"Father, take care of Mother. Qi'er will help Huo Yin kill the black snake demonic beasts."

Su Qi said without waiting for Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan's response. His small figure had already flown out.

"Qi'er, be careful," Su Zimo suddenly felt that she was a burden at this moment. She wasn't strong enough, and if things continued like this, no matter how much money she had, she would lose her life.

The two looked towards Huo Yin and saw a dazzling white light surrounding him.

"Huo Yin is definitely not an ordinary snake," Mu Yunxuan spoke up.

"Even if he's not ordinary, he's still a snake," Su Zimo replied.

"In the future, you must not do something like this," Mu Yunxuan said with a distressed expression, gently wiping away the bloodstains from the corner of her lips.

"It's alright. Do I always look like this when I'm nervous?" Su Zimo couldn't resist his tenderness and dared not meet Mu Yunxuan's gaze directly.

"With me by your side, you have nothing to fear!"

His gentle assurance deeply touched Su Zimo's heart. With him by her side, she had nothing to fear. Such words surpassed any vows and promises. Su Zimo didn't dare to ask for too much. She only wished for a man who could shoulder responsibilities and protect her. In a daze, it seemed like she had found just that.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss...!"

The snakes on the ground couldn't find their target, becoming increasingly restless. They piled up on top of each other.

Su Zimo lowered her gaze, trying hard to stay calm. But the image of the snakes she had hidden in her hand when she opened the closet still horrified her. The sound of friction grew louder as the snakes piled up, entwining and twisting together. Their white bellies continuously flipped, their numbers astonishing. The scene was horrifying, and even Su Zimo, who considered herself cold-blooded and ruthless, couldn't help but feel a chill. The flute melody gradually ceased.

Su Zimo turned her head to glance at Mu Yunxuan. "Let's go and find the Snake Tamer."

"Alright!" A trace of killing intent flashed in Mu Yunxuan's eyes. He wanted these people to know the consequences of offending him, Mu Yunxuan.

"Huo Yin, how long has it been? Why haven't you dealt with this black snake demonic beast yet?" Su Qi rode on Huo Yin's back, mockingly taunting.

"Do you think I don't want to? This black demonic beast is on par with my cultivation level. It's not easy to deal with," Huo Yin unwillingly replied.

While speaking, Huo Yin continued to attack the black snake demonic beast. The speed of its tail was extremely fast, but after several rounds, the black snake demonic beast still hadn't suffered any serious injuries.

"Do you want me to help?" Su Qi kindly asked, appearing carefree.

"No, I want to kill it with my own hands and advance to the Ninth Stage of the Holy Beast Realm," Huo Yin replied with determination.

"Alright! Hurry up and kill this black snake demonic beast. Afterward, we need to quickly go and help Father and Mother."

"Okay! Just wait," Huo Yin's speed became faster and faster.

"Yunxuan, look over there," Su Zimo pointed at a clearing in the forest where a woman in red stood.

Getting closer, Su Zimo could see the woman's face clearly. Her skin was pale, and she was quite beautiful.

Mu Yunxuan put away the Nine-winged Golden Dragon and flew with Su Zimo to the other side of the woman.

When the woman saw Mu Yunxuan and Su Zimo, she looked at them with a gloomy expression, her lips slightly moving.

She solemnly shouted at them, "Die!" As she raised her hand, hundreds of arrows appeared out of thin air and continued to multiply.

Mu Yunxuan held Su Zimo tightly and clung to a large tree. Little did they know, as soon as they let out a sigh of relief, the tree they were on was toppled by the woman in red with a single palm strike.

Mu Yunxuan swiftly carried Su Zimo to another large tree.

The woman raised her gaze and coldly surveyed her surroundings.

Her gaze shifted to the left, and Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan felt something moving above their heads. They looked up abruptly and saw that the tree leaves were covered with green ladybugs. Su Zimo knew that these were not ordinary ladybugs but ladybugs that had undergone gu evolution. Their destructive power was definitely not inferior to the snakes, and these smaller ladybugs were even more difficult to deal with.

Su Zimo thought to herself that they had set up a trap.

Without the visual impact of the venomous snakes and Huo Yin, Su Zimo seemed to have instantly transformed into a different person.

"Mu Yunxuan, we can't confront these Seven-Star Ladybugs head-on. It's too time-consuming," Su Zimo said as she took out some powder from her body and sprinkled it on the swarming ladybugs.

"Yunxuan, run!" Su Zimo commanded. This was a corrosive witchcraft poison that she happened to have in her Purple Spirit Space Ring. It was given to her by the witch after she saved him, and she didn't expect to use it now.

"Alright!" Mu Yunxuan used his golden aura to protect their bodies as they swiftly flew away from the tree.

As soon as they landed, another volley of arrows came rushing towards them. Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan ran forward side by side. Su Zimo manifested her Profound Ice Snow Whip, creating a protective barrier as they moved. The arrows continued to fall, occasionally landing on the protective barrier and bouncing off. Seeing the arrows diminishing, Su Zimo's expression turned joyful. However, a sudden change occurred.

Boom! The ground shook violently, and the trees toppled one after another. The woman in red behind them smirked, as if the entire mountain was trembling. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the trees above them swayed as leaves rained down.

"Not good! Yunxuan, that woman in red has control over everything here. We need to find a way to locate her," Su Zimo instantly thought of the woman in red behind them. And it was in that instant that she felt Mu Yunxuan's arm around her waist again, lifting them upwards.

Mu Yunxuan's speed was much faster than hers. With the golden aura protecting them, they didn't feel the chilling wind on both sides. The trees that came crashing towards them were swiftly deflected. Just as they caught a glimpse of a glimmer in the sky, a dark green Biying Demon Beast attacked them. The two sides were moving too fast, and the golden aura was shattered by the impact.

The face of the woman in red appeared on the Biying Demon Beast, a cold smile on her face.

The iron arm that Mu Yunxuan held around Su Zimo's waist tightened instantly, almost crushing her slender waist.

Su Zimo's expression tightened. "Yunxuan, don't hold me too tightly. I can hardly breathe."

"Mo'er, I'm sorry!" A deep and pleasant voice came from above, bringing a sense of comfort. The large hand gently loosened its grip.

Su Zimo breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the woman in red.

In that moment, a flash of struggle or something else flickered in the woman's eyes.

Su Zimo frowned slightly and asked coldly, "Who are you exactly?"

"Hmph! This place has been set up with a trap. You'll understand who did it once you're dead."

"Courting death!" Mu Yunxuan extended his long arm, and powerful Profound Qi forcefully knocked the woman off the Biying Demon Beast. The black eyes that had suddenly turned fierce were filled with thunderous anger. Without any support, Mu Yunxuan quickly summoned the Nine-winged Golden Dragon and carried Su Zimo onto it.

Mu Yunxuan forcefully threw the woman in red to the ground.

Just as they were about to land, the rows of trees instantly shifted and crossed each other.

Mu Yunxuan and Su Zimo's eyes widened in surprise as the woman in red's figure disappeared.

"Yunxuan, the people of the witch race wouldn't dare to do this. This is a violation of the witch race's rules."

"It's Ling Qiushui's people!" Mu Yunxuan stated without hesitation.

"Ling Qiushui's people?" Su Zimo was astonished.

"Yes, with the help of Master Zixu, Ling Qiushui self-proclaimed as the leader and gathered some talented individuals. I suspect that they plan to rescue Ling Qiushui and her daughter during the attack on Yun City next month. It seems they are acting ahead of schedule."

The movement of the trees intensified, and the ground seemed as if it was about to collapse.

Mu Yunxuan glanced at the sky without any pause, and without a moment's delay, he carried Su Zimo upwards. His tall and sturdy body intertwined closely with Su Zimo's soft and delicate body. They could both feel each other's warmth and contours, but neither had the mood to think about these tender moments.

"Yunxuan, it won't work. Carrying me with you will only hold you back. This place is a polar barrier, and to escape this forest, we must kill the woman in red. She is the one who set up this barrier."

After speaking, Su Zimo decisively moved herself out of Mu Yunxuan's embrace.

Feeling the emptiness in his arms, Mu Yunxuan's eyes contracted. "Mo'er, is it safe?"

"Mu Yunxuan, trust me, I'll be fine. We should split up. You have to believe in me," Su Zimo smiled at him.

Mu Yunxuan hesitated for a moment before letting her go. A fleeting strangeness passed through his mind, and he could still smell the faint fragrance of her body on his nose.

Looking at her exquisite face and confident smile, Su Zimo, who should have been a delicate woman cherished by men, possessed a heart no less than that of a man—brave, intelligent, and strong.

Su Zimo slowly landed on the ground, while Mu Yunxuan's expression swiftly changed. His gaze turned dark, and he launched a fierce attack towards the Biying Demon Beast.

Just as Su Zimo touched the ground, her figure was concealed by the surrounding trees. She cautiously moved between the constantly shifting trees.

Suddenly, she caught sight of the woman in red and increased her pace.

The woman in red seemed to intentionally let Su Zimo catch up, constantly slowing her footsteps.

"Don't bother running anymore. There's no point in running further," Su Zimo stopped and even the trees around her seemed to freeze in place.

She coldly stared at the woman's back.

With a cold tone, she said, "From your eyes and actions, it's obvious that you wanted me to come over. You set up these traps just to take my life."

"Su Zimo, you're quite clever," the woman in red turned around and spoke with a harsh accent, similar to that of Haoyue Kingdom.

"How do you know me?" Su Zimo looked at the woman in red with a cold gaze. She was certain that she had never seen or offended this woman before.

"You followed me here alone. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you? You're only a mere fifth-stage Golden Profound Realm cultivator," the woman said, her eyes filled with derision, as if she wanted to torture Su Zimo to death.

"Hmph! So what if you're nine realms higher than me? It doesn't mean you're a match for me, Su Zimo."

Su Zimo glared at the woman, her face filled with arrogance. The thing that scared her wasn't snakes or darkness, but her own heart. As long as she overcame that hurdle, fear meant nothing.

The woman grew angrier at Su Zimo's arrogant words.

"Su Zimo, return Mu Yunxuan to me. He belongs to me." Her voice was piercing, as if it could steal one's breath away.

Su Zimo's throat tightened, feeling puzzled by these unfounded words. It caught her off guard, and she remained silent. Her gaze remained cold as she watched the woman's constantly changing expressions—struggling, fear, pain. Was this another twist in Mu Yunxuan's string of entangled relationships?

"What is your relationship with Mu Yunxuan?"

"Hehe! What relationship?" The woman in red sneered. "Su Zimo, don't pretend to be ignorant. You really don't know our relationship?"

The woman stared at Su Zimo with a mocking gaze. She was determined to obtain what she wanted, even if it meant death, she would drag Su Zimo down with her.

"If I knew, would I be asking you?" Su Zimo had countless question marks swirling in her mind but couldn't recall ever meeting this woman.

"You don't need to know who I am. Once you're dead, Mu Yunxuan will be mine," the woman said, consumed by jealousy when she thought of Mu Yunxuan looking at Su Zimo with tender eyes. If it weren't for Su Zimo's existence, that gentleness would have been hers.

"You'll find out soon enough! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"I'm not afraid of being impolite," Su Zimo sneered. She wanted to see how this woman would be impolite to her.

"You've already witnessed my strength earlier. I can command all the birds and beasts in the world. Su Zimo, you won't escape today, even if you sprout wings." The woman lifted her head arrogantly, as if she were a proud phoenix, and she glared maliciously at Su Zimo.

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