CHAPTER 730: ORIGINAL TEXT: CHAPTER 729 MANTIS STALKING THE CICADA, UNAWARE OF THE ORIOLE BEHIND (5)

Sacred Dao Mountain, ever since the Holy King was killed by the Ice Ancestor, has fallen drastically in standing. Although Sacred Dao Mountain boasts many individuals of considerable strength, the true peak powerhouses were the likes of the Holy King, and beneath him, either ancestors from the Half Nihility Fourth Layer Heaven or elders whose strength approximated that of the Holy King’s Ninth Layer Heaven.

However, backings exist behind Sacred Dao Mountain, but nobody knows whether there are actually powerful figures supporting it; people can only speculate.

Mu Chen had just arrived and instantly entered inside Sacred Dao Mountain.

The rise of Sacred Dao Mountain occurred within a few hundred years, initially causing many to wonder how it ascended so rapidly. Nevertheless, owing to its formidable strength, many could only speculate. But now with the fall of the Holy King, it’s uncertain whether others, like Mu Chen, are eyeing Sacred Dao Mountain.

"A familiar aura." Mu Chen had just arrived, and his expression changed as he sensed the presence of an acquaintance.

Soon, Mu Chen noticed three figures who stealthily made their way into Sacred Dao Mountain—the first was the Wine God Dionysus, the second was the Wisdom Goddess Athena, and the third was Love God Aphrodite. Upon arriving, they zeroed in on Sacred Dao Mountain.

"The ban has been lifted. They dare to come here; are there powerful beings outside, or do they have some reliance themselves?" Mu Chen’s eyes shifted as he pondered.

"Whatever the case, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Just trail them," said Mu Chen, instantly catching up to the trio.

Soon, the three of them entered deep into Sacred Dao Mountain. This place was a mountain, albeit not an enormous one, roughly a few hundred meters tall. Surrounded by verdant trees, flowers, and birds, the scenery was indeed pleasant.

At this moment, beneath this summit, the trio blinked and were about to enter further but were immediately repelled by a terrifying force.

"Who is there?" From within the mountain, someone sensed something amiss and appeared in a blink, securing their attention on the trio.

The newcomers, four in total, all clad in Sacred Dao Mountain attire and visibly old, were obviously powerful figures from Sacred Dao Mountain.

"The remnants of a defeated army, hand over the Immortal Pond, or your deaths will be ugly," the trio stated lightly.

"The Immortal Pond? Was that the thing called the Immortal Pond? No, what is the Immortal Pond?" Mu Chen was perplexed.

"Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Although the Holy King of Sacred Dao Mountain is dead, our master is still alive. Disturbing Sacred Dao Mountain is akin to committing suicide. Understand?"

"Are you talking about Devouring Heaven and Earth?" The trio smiled.

"So, it’s them. But how did they come by such intricate information?" Mu Chen was shocked by the trio’s knowledge.

"How did you know?"

"If you wish to keep a secret, do nothing disgraceful," the trio sneered.

"We surrender, but we don’t possess the Immortal Pond; it was always with the Holy King, we merely received some benefits."

"The Immortal Pond, to put it unpleasantly, is a force cultivated by gathering and compressing the Holy Energy of heaven and Earth, the core essence of the Earth—formed through an Array. You didn’t know this?"

"We did not know," the group shook their heads.

"Feigning innocence in the face of death, you are just beasts—die," the trio roared and ferociously attacked.

"Calling us beasts doesn’t make you any better—retreat!" The group yelled and swiftly entered deeper into the mountain.

"Dammit," the trio frowned as they saw the group enter further.

"What should we do, Athena?" two of them asked Athena.

"The Main God cannot act rashly. We must handle this ourselves, getting this item is crucial for recovery," Athena spoke lightly.

"Is this thing really that miraculous?" the Wine God pondered.

"The Main God mentioned that this is an object from beyond, belonging to the powers of the Heaven and Earth Net, perhaps it can be used to research something even more formidable," Athena explained mildly.

"We must acquire it. In this predatory world, only by becoming strong can we control the future," Athena said as a terrifying energy surged from her, her eyes rapidly transforming.

Athena, the Wisdom Goddess, to put it simply, had grasped a bit of the Secret Technique of Time. But even this power was exceedingly formidable.

In an instant, Athena gathered at least the strength of the Fifth Layer Heaven, breaking through the Energy Layer and immediately entering the mountain.

The other two didn’t hesitate and blinked their way inside.

At this moment, Mu Chen was confused; he initially intended to secretly explore but didn’t expect things to turn out this way. What Immortal Pond, what Earth Essence, calling them beasts—these things sounded as though they were talking about some kind of evil entity.

Of course, this piqued Mu Chen’s curiosity, but what shocked him most was Athena’s strength, which she had always concealed, turning out to be terrifyingly formidable.

"Forget it, let’s go in and see," Mu Chen said without hesitation and also entered.

Upon entering, Mu Chen’s gaze changed dramatically. This cave was vast, extending in all directions like a labyrinth. Apart from being astonished, Mu Chen was also stunned by the dense Holy Energy here, extremely potent.

However, the trio proceeded very straightforwardly and brutally, consolidating their power and ruthlessly destroying the surrounding caves, relentlessly demolishing everything in their path.

"Set up the Array." Suddenly, no less than fifty people appeared, surrounding the trio, their hands moving swiftly to draft and set up an Array, enveloping the trio.

In a flash, dozens of energy streams surged forth, eventually converging into one point and interconnecting to form an Energy Shield, encapsulating the trio.

"An Array?" The trio’s faces changed, worried.

"Today, you’ll find no escape even if you had wings," the group shouted.

"Relying on you few weaklings, you think you can stand against me?" Athena scoffed, gathering the Power of Time.

"Utterly arrogant—kill!" The group shouted, amassing power, and launched a fierce attack on the trio.

Three streams of power, black as thunder, striking like lightning, targeted the trio.

"The Power of Time," Athena scoffed, rallied her power, and resisted the lightning-like forces in a ferocious collision.

The Wine God did likewise, gathering a yellow-hued Divine Power, confronting the Array’s power. This was the Wine God’s Divine Power, a rather simple, natural force realized by immersing himself in understanding the forces of heaven and Earth, giving rise to the Power of Wine God.

"The Power of Love God," Love God roared, amassing a red-hued Divine Power, blocking everything.

For a time, the Array’s power clashed violently with the trio’s forces, causing intense vibrations. It was uncertain what the outcome would be.

Mu Chen smiled; the more fiercely they fought, the happier he was, hoping for both sides to suffer, making the situation more interesting.