In the absolute core of the Spirit Gathering Sacred Ground, there stood an extremely tall mountain peak. From afar, it resembled a slender needle, with clouds and mist coiling around its midsection, its summit piercing the heavens.
Thus, it was named Sky Dome Peak.
Below Sky Dome Peak, Xu Mu and his companions gathered.
They had just arrived here via a spatial teleportation array.
Despite the tight deadline, with less than two days remaining, Xu Mu did not seek out Ye Gong. This was because unimaginable and fierce battles were currently raging on Sky Dome Peak.
The group stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the towering peak that pierced the clouds. The mountain path was rugged and wound upwards. It should have been a magnificent vista, but at this moment, the mountain continuously emitted earth-shattering tremors.
Or rather, these were the sounds of battle, of casualties, of the ongoing conflict between ability users.
Qian Qian looked up at the peak and said with a grave expression, "To create such a commotion, there must be at least five thousand ability users on Sky Dome Peak."
Xu Mu shook his head, his brow furrowed. "No, five thousand isn't enough. It must be at least ten thousand."
Qi Lan couldn't help but ask, "Are you saying there are ten thousand contestants on Sky Dome Peak, currently engaged in battle?"
Xu Mu and Qian Qian nodded silently.
"Then what's the point? Let's just leave!" Qi Lan's facial muscles twitched, and he made the suggestion.
He had never imagined that a single Sky Dome Peak could accommodate so many ability users, a full ten thousand of them. After all, the total number of contestants was three hundred and twenty thousand!
Xu Mu gazed silently at the mountain before him and said, "Ten thousand isn't actually that many. Spread out across places like Shou Ding Mountain or Di Ling Spring, it wouldn't even fill the outermost areas."
"But given Sky Dome Peak's shape, the available spaces for rest and encampment are extremely limited, so fighting is inevitable if you want to stay here."
Qian Qian nodded and then asked Xu Mu, "So... what do you plan to do?"
"I believe that although there are many people here and the fighting is fierce, the strength of each faction might not be that great. Our alliance has a thousand members, so at least in the initial stages, no faction should dare provoke us."
Xu Mu also nodded and said, "Yes, that's what I think too."
"Although there are many people here and a great battle is unfolding, they are not all part of a single faction. We don't need to worry about threats, at least not in the first half."
"What about the latter half?" someone from the alliance couldn't help but ask. They had followed Xu Mu to repay his kindness, but they also didn't want to lose their lives for nothing.
"As for the latter half, we'll have to see," Xu Mu said with a faint smile, pointing at the clouds that obscured the waist of Sky Dome Peak. "First, we need to reach there."
"Everyone, let's set off together."
As Xu Mu spoke, he stepped towards Sky Dome Peak. He walked at the forefront of the alliance, followed by over a thousand talented ability users. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they reached the foot of Sky Dome Peak.
Gazing at the winding and rugged mountain path before them, Xu Mu was the first to step onto it. Instantly, his points began to tick upwards. In a short while, it was equivalent to him having killed a Rank Two demon.
Xu Mu ignored these changes and simply led the team upwards. The sounds of chaotic combat grew increasingly distinct until he saw two teams locked in fierce battle before him, at which point Xu Mu paused.
But pausing was only for a brief moment.
He soon continued forward, seemingly unconcerned by the battle ahead.
"Stop, who are you!"
The two teams engaged in combat, seeing a third party intervene, wisely ceased their fighting. From the left-side team, a tall, stout man with dark skin loudly questioned Xu Mu.
"My name is Mu Xu. I have no intention of participating in your conflict. Please allow us passage," Xu Mu said as he continued to walk forward.
"Passage?" The dark-skinned fatty sneered and then said, "Hmph, boy, you have a good idea."
"There is only one way to ascend Sky Dome Peak, and that is to fight your way up layer by layer. Only the strong can occupy the positions above and obtain the most points. If you wish to ascend, you must first get past us!"
After the dark-skinned fatty finished speaking, the leader of the opposing faction also spoke:
"Yes, boy. Didn't you see we're fighting fiercely over this territory? If you want to go up, you must demonstrate your team's strength. It's impossible for us to simply let you pass!"
Xu Mu, hearing this, remained silent. He merely continued to walk forward, getting closer and closer to both teams, approaching within fifty meters.
The dark-skinned fatty's expression turned cold. He gripped his crimson-gold axe, about to utter some harsh words, when he noticed the people behind Xu Mu.
"So... so many people."
His heart trembled, and the words at the tip of his tongue were forcefully swallowed back. He then took two steps back, trembling.
"Boss, what's wrong?" Someone beside the fatty noticed his abnormality and was about to step forward to ask, but then followed his gaze and looked behind Xu Mu.
Then, he also froze.
Because behind Xu Mu, there were many people. Due to the winding and rugged mountain path, most of them had initially been on the other side of the bend. It was only when Xu Mu moved forward that the true allied forces began to reveal themselves.
At first, there were only twenty to thirty people behind Xu Mu. Although the number was still increasing, neither the dark-skinned fatty nor his opponent paid much attention, as they had over a hundred people combined.
Then, the number of people behind Xu Mu became one to two hundred. At this point, everyone's expression grew solemn, because with such a large number, even if they were weak, they could still suppress them through sheer numbers.
But then, they watched with their own eyes as those one to two hundred people turned into three to five hundred, gradually filling the entire mountain path.
Thus, as Xu Mu moved forward, everyone else could only retreat. At the same time, they watched with their own eyes as the number of ability users behind Xu Mu continuously increased, until the last person revealed themselves, and only then did everyone fully realize the gravity of the situation.
This newly arrived team had a thousand people?
"Not only is the number of people large, but their strength is also formidable," the dark-skinned fatty said, his gaze sweeping over the thousand-member allied army before him, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
Several thousand people, and their overall strength was extremely formidable. A team like this would have no problem occupying the summit of Sky Dome Peak, let alone their lowly position at the bottom!
The other team was also trembling, as they recognized many familiar faces within Xu Mu's group. For instance, the young man in fine clothes with his hair tied up and a sword at his waist, or the disheveled man with a wine gourd hanging from his belt. These were all renowned prodigies from their respective regions, yet here they were, gathered in the group like ordinary people.
Then, what would be the strength of the young man leading them? Could he be comparable to Ye Gong?
"We apologize for any offense just now. Please do not take it to heart, my brothers," the leaders of both sides exchanged glances, and then simultaneously bowed to Xu Mu.
Xu Mu's expression was calm. He paid no attention to what was happening here, as his mind was focused on the summit of Sky Dome Peak. He was eager to know the current situation there.
"There is no need for you both to be polite. I did not take it to heart. I merely wish to ask you a question."
Xu Mu then asked the dark-skinned fatty, "May I ask where Ye Gong of the Ye Clan is currently located on Sky Dome Peak?"
The dark-skinned fatty was taken aback for a moment, then swallowed and replied, "At the summit, at the very top."
Xu Mu nodded, then continued, "And what about Jiang Taixu of the Jiang family? Did he not have any conflict with Ye Gong?"
The dark-skinned fatty nodded at this, "Not only did they have a conflict, but they also fought several rounds, with no clear winner."
Xu Mu was curious and asked, "Oh? Elaborate on the details. When did they engage, what were the results, and what is the current situation? Tell me everything."
The fatty nodded and said:
"From what I know, Jiang Taixu of the Jiang family arrived at Sky Dome Peak three days ago with his team. He formed an alliance with a mysterious person and led a thousand people to ascend to a high position on Sky Dome Peak. Afterward, conflicts arose with Ye Gong and his group at the summit. The battles were extremely fierce, but ultimately they ended inconclusively."
"This is because at the top of Sky Dome Peak, there is a sheer cliff face several hundred meters long, extremely hard and difficult to carve out protrusions. Therefore, the summit is naturally defensible. Jiang Taixu, leading a thousand people, launched a fierce assault but could not capture Ye Gong and Qi Ye's alliance of three hundred. Moreover, the latter did not use their full strength."
"And after that, Jiang Taixu attempted to unite with several other factions to jointly assault Ye Gong. However, without exception, no one agreed, as the price of victory would be too great."
After hearing the fatty's account, Xu Mu nodded thoughtfully. He then cupped his fists towards the fatty and said with a smile, "Thank you, brother, for the explanation."
"You two may continue. We are merely passing through."
As Xu Mu spoke, he led his group and majestically passed between the two sides.
The two factions originally fighting there, with their backs against the mountain cliff, watched the group with some tension, fearing they might suddenly attack and annihilate them all.
But fortunately, this did not happen. It was only after Xu Mu and his group had completely moved away that the dark-skinned fatty and the leader of the other side regained their senses and resumed their fight.
Meanwhile, as Xu Mu and his group ascended higher and the mountain path widened, they continuously encountered many other teams stationed or fighting there.
Without exception, they all chose to make way for Xu Mu and his group. This was because the aura emanating from this group was simply too powerful, reminding them of the situation three days prior when Jiang Taixu led his team here.
Thus, Xu Mu and his group passed through clouds, navigated treacherous bends, and proceeded unimpeded, finally reaching the upper half of Sky Dome Peak.
The terrain here was clearly much larger than below. Sky Dome Peak was indented with numerous caves, providing space for people to rest.
And it was here that Xu Mu and his group finally saw the legendary several hundred-meter-long sheer cliff face, and also the very summit of Sky Dome Peak.
There seemed to be extremely powerful fluctuations emanating from above.
Just as Xu Mu and his group arrived and were being warily regarded by various factions, a team of only a few dozen people approached them head-on from the front.
"Qian Qian."
Among that team, the young man positioned in the center wore white, had his long hair tied up, and his face was like that of an immortal. He spoke Qian Qian's name in a calm voice.
"This is Jiang Taixu," Qian Qian whispered to Xu Mu, ignoring Jiang Taixu.
Xu Mu nodded, looking at Jiang Taixu with surprise. He hadn't expected to encounter him here.
"Perfect, saves me the trouble of looking for you."
Xu Mu stepped forward a few paces and said to Jiang Taixu with a smile, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Mu Xu. I am an outsider hired by your Jiang family to participate in the Myriad Clans Assembly. I've come here wanting to target Ye Gong."
"Targeting Ye Gong, is it?" Jiang Taixu glanced calmly at Xu Mu. After sensing the faintly surging blood energy, he nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Your physique is not bad, no wonder you can lead so many people."
As Jiang Taixu spoke, he seemed to recall something and raised an eyebrow with surprise, asking Xu Mu, "The person who killed the three ghost generals under Ye Gong, was that you?"
Xu Mu nodded, "Yes, it was me."
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Jiang Taixu's eyes showed a hint of admiration as he nodded, seemingly very pleased with Xu Mu, this "junior."
"His three subordinates were not weak. It seems your strength is indeed considerable."
"In that case, bring your people and follow me directly. We will act tonight. With your thousand people, my chances of capturing the summit of Sky Dome Peak will increase considerably."
"Capturing the summit of Sky Dome Peak tonight?" Xu Mu mused thoughtfully and then asked Jiang Taixu, "If I may be so bold, I've heard that the summit of Sky Dome Peak is difficult to attack and easy to defend. A few days ago, you led a thousand soldiers to attack forcefully, and Ye Gong defended with three hundred people, holding their ground without using their full strength.
"Today, with our additional thousand people, do you have the confidence to take them down? What is your tactic?"
"How dare you! If there's a tactic, there's a tactic. This is not a place for you to question!" someone beside Jiang Taixu pointed at Xu Mu and shouted, their aura extremely powerful.
"You'd best mind your tongue, lest it get torn out carelessly one day," Qi Lan said indifferently to the man, his arms crossed.
The two stared at each other, the space between them suddenly growing tense.
After a moment, Jiang Taixu broke the silence first. He spoke to Xu Mu,
"The tactic is very simple: use our numerical advantage to withstand Ye Gong's first wave of attacks, and then have the elite members prepared beforehand seize the opportunity to engage.
"This way, once our people charge in, they will no longer be able to defend at ease and will inevitably fall into chaos. At that point, with two thousand of us against three hundred, the advantage will be ours."
After Jiang Taixu finished speaking, before Xu Mu could reply, people from other factions stationed nearby chuckled.
"Heh, isn't this just cannon fodder? Good thing we didn't agree to the alliance earlier, otherwise... tsk tsk, the outcome would have been miserable!"
"Indeed, indeed. I knew this Jiang Taixu had no good intentions, trying to rope us in to fight Ye Gong, and even claiming rewards of so many points if we won. Looking at it now, even if we won, we wouldn't have the life to claim the reward!"
Hearing these words, the person beside Jiang Taixu couldn't help it and turned back to roar at them to shut up.
"Mind your own business!"
"However, it is true that your tactic is probably not feasible," Xu Mu said after some thought, shaking his head at Jiang Taixu. "I'm sorry, but I cannot accept your tactic."
"Perhaps we can study a new strategy together. We still have two days, and there's plenty of time."
Jiang Taixu looked at Xu Mu and shook his head lightly, then said in an unrefusably firm tone, "No."
...
(Yesterday's chapter was uploaded with a duplication error, resulting in chapter 108 containing the content of chapter 107. My apologies.)