The Divine Urban Physician Chapter 3550: Decayed Thunderbolt (Third Update)

"Alright." With a grin, Jun Mo replied, "Brother Ye Chen is truly direct."

At once, Ye Chen together with the Sky-covering Demon Emperor departed alongside Jun Mo and his ally. By the moment the map-bearing woman came back, Ye Chen had vanished from sight.

Situated to the southeast of Xing Han City lies the Nine Death Realm, and as they exited the city, a vast barren expanse stretched out before them.

Scattered across the barren land were innumerable bones of the fallen, while harsh cries from crows and vultures echoed overhead as they circled the group of four.

Quite the chatterbox, Jun Mo kept up light conversation with Ye Chen during their trek.

Yang Han, on the other hand, stayed aloof and quiet the whole way, coming off as rigid and reserved. Used to Yang Han's ways, Jun Mo assured Ye Chen and the Demon Emperor it was nothing personal, calling Yang Han a stickler for old habits.

Ye Chen paid no heed to Yang Han's silence; what intrigued him more was Jun Mo, whose blood essence carried a strange, timeless vibe, like something from the dawn of creation.

Nearing the Nine Death Realm, Ye Chen felt the decay growing stronger, and eerie flames flickered in the empty sockets of some bones littering the ground.

Right then, Jun Mo inquired, "Brother Ye Chen, are you two venturing into the Nine Death Realm for treasures?"

"Yes, I heard that the Nine Death Realm is where a mighty being met its end, turning it into a barren wasteland. Still, this wasteland hides the legacy of that mighty one. Claiming it brings unmatched power across the realm."

Ye Chen answered steadily, drawing from the details he'd collected prior to arriving in Xing Han City.

"Those tales can't be trusted." Jun Mo burst into laughter at Ye Chen's statement.

"Oh? Does Brother Jun Mo know the true story behind the Nine Death Realm?" Ye Chen lifted a brow, not well-versed in the Nine Death Realm himself, and welcomed Jun Mo's insights.

"Of course, I do."

Smiling, Jun Mo went on, "The Nine Death Realm was once a fierce battleground, but the clash was so devastating that myriad world-shaking experts fell, leaving it in ruins."

"Once the Nine Death Realm took shape, the grudges of the slain started seeping into the Outer Realm, on the verge of corrupting the whole world into a lifeless waste. That's when top experts stepped in, breaking apart the grudges to stop them from reforming and expanding further."

"There's such a story."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes, deeming Jun Mo's account far more believable than the hearsay he'd encountered.

Then Jun Mo added, "I've hunted for the Nine Death Realm countless times in the past, and that's how I crossed paths with Brother Yang Han by luck. We've stuck together since, but the gateway to the Nine Death Realm has eluded us."

"What are you getting at?" Ye Chen creased his forehead, doubtful since the Sky-covering Demon Emperor had mentioned Xuanyuan Moxie and Ye Luo tumbling into the Nine Death Realm. But here was Jun Mo saying he couldn't even spot the way in.

"Brother Ye Chen, you may not realize, but the gateway to the Nine Death Realm shifts unpredictably. Regular people struggle to find it, so they confuse this wasteland with the actual Nine Death Realm. Truth is, the Nine Death Realm is a profoundly enigmatic domain."

A spark of hope shone in Jun Mo's eyes, fueled by his pursuit of the Nine Death Realm over tens of thousands of years, yearning to uncover its secrets.

"The map I revealed to you before cost me dearly; that red dot shows exactly where the Nine Death Realm's entrance will manifest this round."

"Hmph, that's what you claimed before."

Before Ye Chen could respond, the usually mute Yang Han scoffed at Jun Mo, showing clear contempt.

"You stubborn fool, what would you understand? I was searching for the...?"

Jun Mo cut himself off short, hinting that the one he sought held a tangled status unfit for open talk.

Nearly letting the truth slip, Jun Mo drew in a steadying breath then pressed on, "Regardless, this spot is spot-on this time; it's without question the path into the Nine Death Realm."

Ye Chen's look grew grave at those words. The Nine Death Realm brimmed with enigmas, swirling doubts in his thoughts, yet probing Jun Mo outright wasn't wise. He resolved to tread warily and watch keenly.

"Ye Chen, this Jun Mo isn't ordinary; stay on guard with him."

Just then, the Sky-covering Demon Emperor's words rang in Ye Chen's head. Though he caught them, Ye Chen kept his face neutral, giving a faint nod.

Both Jun Mo and Yang Han exuded a regal presence, marking them as far from common folk. Plus, Jun Mo's words carried a veiled mystique, sharpening Ye Chen's caution.

After all, their bond was fresh; seeing the surface doesn't reveal the depths. Ye Chen refused to drop his defenses near Jun Mo and Yang Han.

The quartet pressed forward for a good while longer, drawing close to the red dot's location on Jun Mo's map.

The barren terrain shifted, revealing a massive peak that pierced the skies. Decay gathered over the peak, birthing a dense shroud of deathly mist, where pale gray lightning crackled faintly.

"This is Death Demon Mountain!"

Jun Mo's gaze flared with excitement, and he declared eagerly, "It's certain now. The source informed me that signs will emerge where the Nine Death Realm's gateway opens; it starts with this Death Demon Mountain, followed by the Death Ancient City. Crossing the Death Ancient City unlocks the Nine Death Realm!"

"Death Demon Mountain feels off."

Ye Chen studied Death Demon Mountain, his brows knitting as he detected a pulsing life force echoing from its core.

"Naturally, it's odd; Death Demon Mountain serves as the initial ordeal for accessing the Nine Death Realm. You must climb to its summit and claim the Death Flower to behold the Death Ancient City!"

Jun Mo's face beamed with zeal as he bolted toward Death Demon Mountain, "Come on, everyone. Let's seize the Death Flower."

"The usual rash move."

Yang Han grumbled from the rear, but he trailed right after, soaring alongside Jun Mo toward Death Demon Mountain.

Witnessing that, Ye Chen and the Sky-covering Demon Emperor shared a look before joining the pursuit.

Jun Mo climbed swiftly, intent on grabbing the Death Flower at Death Demon Mountain's crest. Yet, the deathly mists overhead churned violently.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar exploded, unleashing a devastating presence that stunned Ye Chen as the deathly mists roiled and ashen thunder crashed down from above, aimed straight at Jun Mo.

"Not good!"

The ashen thunderbolt mimicked a cataclysmic World Destructive Thunder Shock, radiating an unstoppable force, utterly fearsome. Jun Mo's expression twisted in alarm as he moved with haste.

"Blood Slaughter Heavenly Slash!"

Roaring in fury, Jun Mo unleashed boundless crimson glow from his form. This primordial crimson radiance appeared to span across eternal epochs, cloaking him entirely.

Swinging his arm, the boundless crimson glow morphed into a gleaming blood blade brimming with lethal intent, cleaving upward at the ashen thunderbolts.