And so it was.
Chen Nan, transforming into the form of an异魔 (Yi Mo), returned to Phoenix Ridge with Ji Wu.
"Did you gain anything?" Chi Ren asked.
Chen Nan replied, "Reporting to Brother Chi Ren, we discovered an array formation in the valley where the Phoenix Tribe tribesmen went missing. Through the cooperation of myself and Brother Ji Wu, we successfully activated the formation."
"Inside was an independent small world."
"Regrettably, no living souls were found."
"Instead, there were several human graves."
Chi Ren nodded slightly. "This outcome was within expectations. After all, ten thousand years have passed. How could those who escaped back then still be alive?"
It paused for a moment, then continued, "Did you find the Phoenix Tribe's Five禽扇 (Wu Qin Shan)?"
"Are you referring to this?" Chen Nan produced a fan made from the feathers of five different birds.
Of course.
It was a replica.
It looked identical to the genuine article.
And it was also a magical artifact.
Only its power was a hundred thousand miles inferior to the original.
The purpose was to deceive Chi Ren.
The genuine article was stored in his spatial artifact.
Chi Ren was overjoyed. After receiving the fan, he examined it carefully. "Good, good. This is indeed the Phoenix Tribe's ancestral treasure, the Five禽扇 (Wu Qin Shan). Although its aura is not as strong as before, it is understandable."
"Daddy, I'll keep this treasure for now. When the Commander returns, I will report this to him, and you will surely receive great rewards."
Speaking of which, he looked at Ji Wu and said sternly, "If the Commander asks, you will say that it was under Daddy's leadership that the whereabouts of the Phoenix Tribe were discovered. Understand?"
It wanted to claim all the credit for Chen Nan.
Ji Wu chuckled. "Brother Chi Ren, you don't need to give too many instructions. That's precisely how things happened!"
Chi Ren nodded in satisfaction. "Alright. The previous six individuals have cultivated near the Phoenix Grass. It's now your turn. Go cultivate there!"
"Okay."
Chen Nan calmly agreed, then called Ji Wu and flew towards where the Phoenix Grass grew.
His seemingly calm expression could not hide the excitement in his heart.
Finally, he could obtain the Phoenix Grass!
Once he obtained the Phoenix Grass, he could find a way to leave this place.
Then he would go to Niu Niu Cave, find the Nine-Headed Fire Lion, and have Xuan Qingniao consume the Phoenix Grass.
It would also serve as an explanation to that old geezer Xuan Ming!
"I'll guard the entrance, you go get the medicine!" The secondary soul controlled Ji Wu's body. Although it was Chen Nan's secondary soul, there was not a significant difference between it and the primary soul.
The only difference was its bloodthirst and irritability.
This was the result of refining an alien sacred object.
Chen Nan's true form approached the formation. He took out the Five禽扇 (Wu Qin Shan) and gently waved it.
A divine light of five colors flew out from the fan.
It was dazzling and brilliant.
As this divine light of five colors emerged.
The formation before Chen Nan's eyes trembled.
Then, a radiant light ascended into the sky, soaring towards the clouds.
The formation was broken.
But Chen Nan's face turned ashen.
He had absolutely not expected that breaking this formation would cause such a commotion.
Without time to think.
Chen Nan immediately harvested the Phoenix Grass, along with the divine herbs growing around it.
Although the level of those herbs was not as high as the Phoenix Grass, they could still enhance Chen Nan's strength.
At the same time.
Chen Nan felt the ground shake.
The 异魔 (Yi Mo) who had been stationed at Phoenix Ridge were all rushing over from all directions.
Chi Ren also quickly flew over with the others.
"Go!"
Chen Nan withdrew his secondary soul, then employed the Eight-Nine Xuan Gong, transforming into a mosquito and flying away.
"Brother Chi Ren, Ji Wu has been killed, and Daddy's whereabouts are unknown!" a human-shaped 异魔 (Yi Mo) said with a grave expression.
The other individuals were also so tense that they dared not speak.
Ji Wu was killed.
The Phoenix Grass had also vanished.
Even though they were 异魔 (Yi Mo), they could instantly infer that the murderer was 'Daddy'.
"If I'm not mistaken, that fellow named Daddy is likely a human disguised as one of us," a human-shaped 异魔 (Yi Mo) offered his opinion.
Boom!
Overwhelming malevolence erupted from Chi Ren's body.
Its eyes instantly turned blood red.
It had absolutely not expected.
That the individual it had taken a liking to was actually a human.
And had been playing it for a fool all along.
"He can't escape!"
"I will find him!"
"And carve him into a thousand pieces!"
Chi Ren let out a furious roar, and then a blood-red light shot out from its body.
The next moment.
A blood-red light appeared above Phoenix Ridge.
Simultaneously.
A Blood Demon Array was instantly activated.
Enveloping the entire Phoenix Ridge.
Even Chen Nan, transformed into a mosquito, was trapped within.
"Chi Ren, what happened?"
"A human infiltrated?" Hatu descended from the sky, hovering in mid-air.
"Commander, the Phoenix Grass has disappeared," Chi Ren said, full of trepidation, and recounted the events...
Hatu's face revealed a look of fury upon hearing this. "I truly did not expect that human to disguise himself as one of our kind and infiltrate our territory."
"And you, you scoundrel, for informing him of the Phoenix Tribe's whereabouts."
"Your subordinate is guilty!" Chi Ren trembled in fear, but still said, "Commander, the immediate priority is to use the Blood Demon Array to force out that human, reclaim the Phoenix Grass, kill him, and extinguish the last hope of humanity!"
"He will not escape," Hatu's eyes flashed with immense killing intent, and then a terrifying wave of blood energy erupted from his body, merging into the Blood Demon Array.
The other 异魔 (Yi Mo) also released their blood energy, integrating it with the Blood Demon Array.
The scene of hundreds of thousands of Divine Venerate realm 异魔 (Yi Mo) simultaneously sacrificing their blood energy was quite spectacular.
It was as if the entire sky had been dyed red with blood.
And the Blood Demon Array underwent a significant transformation.
It had originally resembled a transparent blood-colored light screen.
But now.
It had become a thick blood wall.
To the point where Chen Nan could not see what was happening outside the formation.
Not only that.
He also felt his blood becoming restless.
"Human, I know you are in Phoenix Ridge. Show yourself quickly, and I can give you a swift death!"
"Otherwise, I will ensure your soul is scattered to the winds!" Hatu's voice echoed throughout this small world.
The secondary soul spoke, "With your strength, it will be difficult to break through the Blood Demon Array. Let me control the body. With that sacred artifact, I have a fifty percent chance of breaking through the encirclement!"
The secondary soul had refined the sacred artifact of the 异魔 (Yi Mo), acquiring much knowledge about them.
It knew better than Chen Nan's primary soul how dire the current situation was.
Chen Nan asked, "If it were me alone, what is my chance of breaking out?"
Secondary soul: "Ten percent."
Chen Nan's eyes were filled with madness. "Although a ten percent chance is not high, it's enough!"
The secondary soul sighed, "Why do you have to take such a big risk? Is it worth it? Why can't you trust me once and let me control the body?"
Chen Nan: "If the 异魔 (Yi Mo) knew that their sacred artifact was in my possession, even if we escaped this place, they would surely hunt me down. At that time, do you think I would still have a way out?"
With that said.
Chen Nan resumed his human form and appeared eerily in the air.
Though alone.
He possessed an aura that could engulf mountains and rivers, an unstoppable momentum.