Chapter 121: The Team Loses Contact

While Kou Li and Guldos were busy ordering everyone to set up camp, Chen Mu, in addition to questioning the town mayor, Amda, about the Eastern Wasteland, also spent time periodically asking the townspeople for information. Like Amda, these people were ill-informed, and their accounts were essentially identical to what he had already heard.

A day later, once the camp was established, Kou Li and Guldos each dispatched several small teams into the Eastern Wasteland to scout. Naturally, this was not an immediate deep penetration, but rather a search of the shallower regions. They were instructed to return immediately upon exhausting their resources or encountering any issues or dangers; the goal was merely a preliminary probe of the Eastern Wasteland.

A week passed after these teams entered, yet not a single one returned. The expressions of Chen Mu and the others grew exceptionally grave. They had strictly instructed these men not to stay for more than a day and to return to camp if they felt they were in trouble. Yet now, not a single team had come back; there was no telling what they had experienced inside or if they were even still alive.

This being the very first wave of exploration, the fact that everyone had vanished without a trace cast a shadow over everyone’s hearts. The soldiers and sect disciples, knowing they would eventually have to step into this damned Eastern Wasteland themselves, felt their spirits sink.

Kou Li and Guldos, however, cared little for the lives of these men. They were determined to secure this secret realm. Resources in the Yellow Sand Empire were incredibly scarce; if they could obtain the treasures within this realm, they could further consolidate their power and influence. With such resources and time, it might even be possible to cultivate another Nascent Soul stage expert.

Thus, they were more cautious this time. Instead of sending so many teams, each side dispatched only one, once again commencing exploration. Another week passed, and again, no one returned. This left Kou Li and Guldos incredibly gloomy; they even began to doubt if the secret realm Chen Mu spoke of was real.

However, hindered by Chen Mu’s formidable strength, no one dared to voice such thoughts. Guldos could only force an awkward, ugly smile and respectfully ask, "Fellow Daoist, could you provide more detailed information about your esteemed father's experience entering and leaving the Eastern Wasteland? You see, not a single person we send in returns... this... this..."

Chen Mu was growing impatient and replied with displeasure, "What, are you suspecting that I am lying?"

Seeing Chen Mu’s sour mood, Guldos wiped away a cold sweat. "No, Fellow Daoist, I only wish to obtain more detailed intelligence. After all, your father successfully entered and exited this Eastern Wasteland safely. If we at least knew the details of his experience, we could better prepare these scouting teams. Perhaps those experiences might help them return?"

What Guldos said made sense. Chen Mu pondered for a moment and nodded. "Indeed, if we knew what happens inside, we could respond accordingly. But I do not know what my father experienced inside, as he never told me. That is why I asked the townspeople for information from the beginning, but it was all useless fluff."

Hearing this, everyone’s faces fell. Did this not mean they were completely ignorant of the Eastern Wasteland? How were they supposed to proceed with the exploration?

However, Chen Mu paused and continued, "It seems I must ask my father myself."

The crowd forced a bitter smile. You only just thought to ask him now? The Great Xia was so far from this Eastern Wasteland that a round trip would take at least a month or two. This was nothing but a pointless hassle.

Yet, they did not know that Chen Mu actually had his whole family with him. His father and elder brother were residing within the "Sleeping Immortal Abode," a magical treasure he carried on his person.

As everyone stood there, confused, Chen Mu rose and walked to an open space. To their astonished eyes, he tossed a pavilion-shaped treasure onto the ground, and the Sleeping Immortal Abode abruptly stood before them.

Everyone was shocked. They had never seen such a miraculous space-based magical treasure. The fact that an object as large as a building could shrink and expand was incredible enough, but even more surprising was that Chen Mu opened the door and entered. This was clearly meant for living in, meaning the artifact’s original size was that of a pavilion; it was unknown what means were used to shrink it to the size of a palm.

Kou Li and Guldos curiously peered inside the door. It was not a big deal from the outside, but one look within left them stunned. The space inside was clearly larger than the pavilion appeared. This was a treasure that utilized spatial manipulation. It was no wonder Kou Li and Guldos were so horrified; not only in their destitute Yellow Sand Empire but across the entire Yuan Yao Continent, where were there any artifacts of the Integration stage? Especially a rare mobile-residence type?

The Seven Star Pavilion had left this one behind in the distant past, and Chen Mu had been lucky enough to refine it. The eyes of the crowd burned with greed, but the moment they thought of the owner, they instantly extinguished such thoughts.

After all, as the saying went: Chen Mu is not to be trifled with, whoever messes with him meets with misfortune; if you want to live long, be a good lackey. Although such a saying did not officially exist, the meaning was exactly that. How many factions had Chen Mu ruined along his journey? Anyone who provoked him met a bad end. Therefore, Kou Li and Guldos dared not show even a hint of covetousness or greed toward Chen Mu’s treasure, lest he find out and wipe them off the map.

Soon after walking into the Sleeping Immortal Abode, Chen Mu emerged, bringing two people with him: his father, Chen Haoran, and his elder brother, Chen Feng.

The crowd was shocked once more. Had these two been living inside all this time? They had originally assumed the treasure was like a storage ring—containing space but unable to hold living beings. They never expected that not only could the treasure expand to house people, but people could also live inside it while it was shrunk. This kind of spatial technology was unheard of; it was practically a self-contained paradise.

Ignoring their shock, Chen Mu said, "Everyone, this is my father."

Kou Li and Guldos, clearly still reeling from the shock, reflexively and respectfully said, "Greetings, Uncle."

Chen Haoran’s mouth twitched. Seeing himself addressed as "Uncle" by two high-level cultivators who were older than him was awkward. Had he not seen that their cultivation levels were far beyond his reach, he would have surely cursed these two old things for either feigning youth or implying that he looked old.

Although Chen Haoran wanted to retort, he whispered to Chen Mu, "Mu'er, who are these two?"

Chen Mu glanced at the two old men with contempt and said to Chen Haoran, "Father, these two are people I met on the road. One is the ancestor of the Yellow Sand Empire, Kou Li, and the other is the Sect Master of the Huochen Sect, Guldos."

Hearing their identities, Chen Haoran did not dare to be arrogant and cupped his hands. "Greetings to you both. Thank you for taking care of my Mu'er along the way."

Kou Li and the other turned red with embarrassment. Having called him "Uncle" earlier, they had inadvertently taken advantage of him. Reflecting on it, they realized it was inappropriate. After racking their brains and finding no suitable title, they decided to follow Chen Mu’s lead and addressed him as "Fellow Daoist." "Fellow Daoist, what are you saying? Fellow Daoist Chen Mu is a hegemon of this era; it is our honor to be able to do things for him."

Chen Haoran felt much more comfortable with this new form of address and felt a surge of pride seeing how respectful these people were toward his son.

Chen Mu had now reached a height Chen Haoran could never have imagined. Essentially all cultivators on the Yuan Yao Continent had to hold him in awe. After all, Chen Mu’s reputation for ruthlessness was well-known, and while he did not claim the title of Emperor, his every move influenced the rise and fall of the three empires. How could such powerful strength not command awe?

However, Chen Haoran worried that once Chen Mu left the Yuan Yao Continent, the outside world might not be as smooth sailing. After all, the outside world was teeming with powerful experts. He suspected that the Nascent Soul stage here was not equivalent to that of the outside world. Having learned of Chen Mu’s cultivation methods, he vaguely realized this. Moreover, the Nascent Soul stage likely wasn't the peak; there were many in the Primordial Spirit stage or even higher. It would be incredibly difficult to become a titan in such a world.

But thinking too much was useless. Future matters would be dealt with in the future; as long as his two sons remained safe, that was better than anything else.

Chen Haoran knew why Chen Mu had invited him out; it must have been to discuss the Eastern Wasteland. He looked around at the lifeless Eastern Wasteland, feeling a strange sense of lament—it had been over a decade since he had last been here.

Seeing that this was not the place for a discussion, Chen Haoran instructed Chen Mu to have Kou Li and Guldos enter the tent, where he would slowly recount what he had seen in the Eastern Wasteland.

Hearing that Chen Haoran was finally going to get to the point, the group was overjoyed and followed him into the tent to hear the vital intelligence regarding the interior of the Eastern Wasteland.

After everyone sat on the ground inside the tent, Chen Mu sighed and said to Chen Haoran, "Father, I took the matter of entering the Eastern Wasteland too lightly. I thought we would eventually find a way once we got inside. But after getting the help of these two to send people in to scout, I learned that even without exploring deep into the wasteland, merely entering for a short time and trying to return within a day results in everyone disappearing without a trace."

Hearing this, Chen Haoran’s expression turned solemn. He sighed as well. "Son, I did enter the interior of the Eastern Wasteland, but I did not get out on my own."

At these words, everyone knew the crux of the matter had arrived; they held their breath and focused on Chen Haoran.

Chen Haoran glanced at Kou Li and Guldos, then looked at Chen Mu, seeking his approval to reveal the detailed content, including the matter regarding his biological father. Chen Mu understood the look and nodded, signaling for Chen Haoran to continue.

Chen Haoran exhaled and continued, "The reason I was able to get out is something I once told you, Mu'er, though you may have forgotten. I was sent out by someone. That person who sent me out was your biological father, Chen Yuanzhou! After he entrusted you to me, he used some unknown means to send me out."