Chapter 780: The Dark Tiger Clan's Hidden Schemes
Before the gray-white forest, the leader of the Earth Leopard Clan stared at Mo Yu's group, his eyes gleaming with blood-red light, sharp and predatory, as though he meant to pierce them through.
"Hehe, no need to be so tense, Brother Huang Qi," Han Yue said with an unconcerned smile. "They are friends of the Swallowing Python Clan and collaborators I personally invited for this expedition."
"Collaborators?"
The Earth Leopard expert named Huang Qi furrowed his brow and let out a cold laugh. "Han Yue, do you think the Treasure Beast's inheritance is infinite? Adding more rabid wolves to the feast weakens the share. I don't approve."
Han Yue's expression remained calm. "You may rest assured, Brother Huang Qi. Since they are my guests, whatever they gain will come from my portion, not yours."
Huang Qi's expression eased slightly, though his bloodshot eyes remained fixed on Mo Yu's party. His lips curled with disdain as his gaze swept over them.
Three seven-rank Supremes? That was all?
To venture into the Tomb of Ten Thousand Beasts with such meager strength—either greed had blinded them or stupidity had.
His contempt was open enough for Mo Yu's group to sense easily. Yet neither Mo Yu nor Cai Lin reacted; they simply remained calm, uninterested in gaining the Earth Leopard Clan's favor.
Mo Yu's eyes skimmed over the warriors behind Huang Qi. There were five in total, all seven-rank Supremes—stronger as a group than even the Ximo Clan's team.
Clearly, the Earth Leopard Clan had invested greatly in this endeavor.
Still, their number meant little to Mo Yu.
"Brother Huang Qi, what's the situation here?" Han Yue asked with a faint smile.
Huang Qi smirked. "The Dark Tiger Clan arrived half a day ago, but even they didn't dare to rush in. It appears the number of Beast Spirits inside has increased again."
"Their scouts reported close to twenty Beast Spirits of seven-rank Supreme strength guarding the site where the Treasure Beast fell."
Han Yue frowned. Twenty such beasts… Neither his faction nor any other could handle that alone.
"The Dark Tiger Clan proposed an alliance," Huang Qi continued, "to eliminate the Beast Spirits first, and only then compete for the treasures within."
"An alliance?" Han Yue repeated softly, giving no clear assent or refusal. Then he said, "Let's see for ourselves."
Without further hesitation, he led his group into the forest, heading swiftly toward the deeper regions.
Behind them, Huang Qi's eyes flickered darkly. With a wave of his hand, he followed with the Earth Leopard warriors close at his heels.
The forest was vast. After several minutes of rapid travel, the trees thinned to reveal a steep mountain slope. The trees here were blackened, their color corrupted by invasive death energy. From within came low, chilling roars—echoes of the restless dead.
"This," Han Yue said gravely, pointing toward a massive basin ahead, "is where the Treasure Beast fell."
Mo Yu looked closer. The air above the basin was thick with deathly mist, swirling into clouds of gray. The landscape below was barren—void of life.
As they were observing, streaks of dark light flashed across the distance, followed by the rush of wind. Han Yue instantly tensed, his vigilance rising.
A moment later, the figures revealed themselves: towering, muscular warriors whose mere presence exuded crushing pressure. Each bore a faint black "王" mark on the forehead—the sigil of the Dark Tiger Clan.
These were the Dark Tiger powerhouses.
The Ximo warriors' stance stiffened in response, energy thrumming as they glared across the space separating the two sides.
Han Yue's expression grew serious. His gaze locked onto the giant at the forefront—a mountain of a man whose skin emitted a faint black luminescence.
"Heisha… So your Dark Tiger Clan really sent you this time," Han Yue said grimly.
The massive man's lips twitched into a grin, baring white teeth sharp as blades. His oppressive energy pulsed outward as he laughed coldly. His eyes lingered briefly on Han Yue before moving toward Mo Yu's group.
"Han Yue," Heisha said, his tone mocking, "it seems you've gathered quite a few helpers to stand against my Dark Tiger Clan."
He laughed again, ignoring Mo Yu's apparent insignificance, and continued, "Our scouts have confirmed over a dozen Beast Spirits of seven-rank Supreme level within this zone. Combined with the smaller hordes, no single force can breach the area alone."
"The Earth Leopard Clan confirmed it too. If you doubt it, feel free to test again."
Huang Qi and his subordinates nodded smugly in agreement.
Han Yue looked toward the mist-shrouded basin, his brow furrowed. Even without scouting, he could feel it—strong, corrupted energies swarming within.
"Brother Mo, what do you think?" Han Yue asked after a moment of silence.
That question caught both Heisha and Huang Qi off guard. They exchanged brief, puzzled glances. Why consult a seven-rank early-stage Supreme before deciding?
Mo Yu and Cai Lin exchanged a brief look, then both nodded slightly.
Han Yue faced Heisha once more. "Very well. We can work together to clear out the Beast Spirits first. After we pass the trial, we'll discuss the division of the treasure."
Heisha shrugged indifferently. "Fine by us."
With that, the three factions coordinated their zones and estimated the number of Beast Spirits each would handle.
"Then let's begin," said Heisha, wasting no time. As soon as the distribution was complete, he led his warriors forward like thunderbolts.
Huang Qi smirked. "We'll move as well. We'll regroup once the path's clear."
Han Yue nodded. "Let's go."
The moment he spoke, he shot forward with brilliant light trailing behind. Mo Yu's team followed closely.
Taking up the rear, Mo Yu turned slightly, glancing in the directions the other two clans had gone. His black eyes narrowed, and he subtly gestured behind his back.
Be careful.
Mang Lie and his sister exchanged a swift, knowing look, silently nodding.
This battle for the Treasure Beast's inheritance was not going to be simple.
Within the deathly forest, the air grew heavier, soaked with gray mist.
Occasional roars of unseen beasts echoed from afar.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Several shadows flitted across the forest floor, landing lightly on branches and rock without stirring even a leaf. They were Mo Yu and his companions, advancing rapidly while cloaked in caution.
"We're approaching from the southwest," Han Yue's voice whispered through a sound transmission. "According to the plan, eight seven-rank Beast Spirits dwell nearby, along with over a hundred lesser ones."
Mo Yu nodded. With their combined power—especially his own—such numbers posed no real threat.
"Prepare yourselves. We're entering their territory," Han Yue warned suddenly.
Mo Yu looked ahead. The death energy here grew thick enough to distort vision. Within the haze, ghostlike shapes drifted — the Beast Spirits.
When Mo Yu's group stepped into range, those wandering apparitions turned their hollow eyes toward them. The next instant, monstrous roars erupted, shaking the forest.
Bang! Bang!
Dozens of spectral forms streaked forth from the shadows, wrapped in freezing darkness.
Han Yue, Cai Lin, and Mo Yu charged forward at the front, unleashing torrents of spiritual power that tore through the gloom like pillars of lightning.
Boom!
Countless gray skulls burst apart beneath their attacks as the party broke through the first wave, surging deeper through a rain of ash.
But the deeper they advanced, the stronger the oppressive aura became.
Mo Yu sensed they had entered the final zone. The approaching death energy was thicker, denser—signaling the presence of seven-rank Beast Spirits.
"Here they come," he muttered.
Almost immediately, eight hulking black forms emerged from the shadows ahead. Their bodies were armored in hardened flesh, pitch-black and metallic from centuries of decay.
The aura radiating from them was several times stronger than the previous horde.
"Eight seven-rank Beast Spirits…" Mo Yu's eyes narrowed. Then he frowned. Something felt off. "Careful!"
Boom!
The ground behind them burst open, and two more black figures crawled out, their bodies dripping with corrosive death energy.
Ten in total.
"I'll take four. Each of you take three. Hold them off—I'll join soon," Mo Yu said calmly.
Cai Lin and Han Yue nodded. Now was not the time for words. They sprang into motion, their energy exploding outward as they clashed with their respective foes.
Mo Yu charged ahead. Four of the Beast Spirits turned on him, their claws gleaming like blades.
Roaring, they slashed with enough force to rend space itself.
Clang!
Mo Yu's arm blocked the blow, sparks flying where claw met flesh — but not a drop of his blood spilled.
Boom!
His fist flared violet-gold as it punched forward. The blow shattered one Beast Spirit's chest completely, leaving a gaping hole.
Another lunged at his flank. With a swing of his arm, Mo Yu smashed its skull to dust.
Within moments, two fell. The remaining two didn't stand a chance — Mo Yu's movements were rapid, precise, merciless.
Within a minute, all four had been destroyed.
Cai Lin and Han Yue, seeing Mo Yu's progress, were reinvigorated. Once he finished, victory would be swift.
But before relief could set in, Han Yue felt the earth tremble violently beneath his feet. A distant rumble echoed — the sound of countless beasts breaking through the forest.
His heart sank.
Turning sharply, he saw massive waves of black mist surging from both left and right flanks — entire hordes of Beast Spirits. Among them moved dark, hulking shapes — seven-rank elites.
"They're coming from the sides!" a Ximo warrior shouted in alarm.
Boom!
Mo Yu's latest attack shattered another skull. But even he paused, gaze darkening as he glanced at the two directions of the incoming swarms.
Han Yue's expression turned grim, jaw tightening as realization struck.
"That direction… it's where the Earth Leopard and Dark Tiger clans went! Could it be—?"
His face twisted with fury.
"They've betrayed us!"
(END CHAPTER)
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