Chapter 415: Chapter 384: Cutting Iron_1

“Where am I?”

Xu Mu found himself in a world filled with light, the golden radiance ebbed and flowed like tidal waves.

“Damn it! I was so close to getting it, why did I get sent here? This is such bad luck!”

Even though his surroundings suggested some kind of adventure, Xu Mu had always been nonchalant about such encounters. What he wanted more was to grab the Xuan Yang Holy Water and get the hell out of this secret place.

“You want this too?”

A somewhat sharp-pitched voice emanated from the endless golden light.

“Who’s there?”

Xu Mu jumped, clutching the Sky-splitting Halberd tightly, completely on guard.

The golden light contracted and morphed into a strange creature with the body of a human and the head of a bird, its body ablaze with golden flame. It slowly walked towards Xu Mu, its hand holding a ball of golden liquid—the Xuan Yang Holy Water.

The birdman’s presence was as formidable as a mountain, as vast as the sea. His golden-white eyes emitted an endless dignity that struck Xu Mu with the inability to muster any desire to fight.

It was like a man facing a god, only wishing to worship!

Xu Mu swallowed hard. His muscles strung tight, he felt as if he could be dispatched by a mere finger of his opponent.

“Junior Xu Mu! Respectfully greeting elder!”

Facing an opponent who was stronger and more powerful than imaginable, Xu Mu felt that being polite was the better option.

“I ask you, do you want this?” The birdman calmly asked.

“Yes!”

Xu Mu gritted his teeth and replied.

It seemed pointless to lie in front of this being, nor could he if he wanted to.

His eyes seemed capable of penetrating all the secrets Xu Mu held.

“The object can be yours, but in exchange, you must do something for me!”

While speaking, the Xuan Yang Holy Water from the birdman’s hand flew toward Xu Mu.

Xu Mu did not dare to accept it straight away but asked first: “Please do instruct, elder. As long as I am capable, I will do my best!”

Inwardly, he could not help but grumble, “Just as I thought!”

Why else would this creature mysteriously teleport him here, and what about the golden light? Perhaps, all was under its control, done purposely to lure him close to the Xuan Yang Holy Water.

Without closing in, he couldn’t have been transported. Thinking along these lines, the golden sun in the sky possibly was also under the birdman’s control and considering the surrounding golden light, there was little doubt about it.

If it could create things like the sun and control space, its power was immeasurable. He had zero room to resist.

What rotten luck!

It had been a long time since Xu Mu felt so helpless.

In this short time, countless thoughts flooded his mind, and his frustration grew.

He had thought this was just a regular adventure, but just when he thought he was done and ready to retreat, complications arose.

He could only hope that after all was said and done, the creature wouldn’t resort to killing him to keep him quiet.

“You certainly can do it!”

The birdman’s voice was placid but sounded beyond dispute.

Without waiting for Xu Mu’s reply, the endless golden light spread out, revealing a massive chain forged from what appeared to be ancient godly iron.

“Use the weapon in your hand and cut it!” The birdman ordered.

“…”

Xu Mu wasn’t sure who made this, or what material it was made from, or for what purpose, but it seemed like he had no other choice.

He had a foreboding feeling that if he cut the chain, something catastrophic would happen. However, if he didn’t cut it, he feared he might never leave this place alive.

He finally realized why the creature was eyeing him—it was because of the Sky-splitting Halberd.

Well, it made sense. Given its strength, apart from the Sky-splitting Halberd, there was probably nothing else of interest to it.

Xu Mu didn’t act immediately. He first tucked away the Xuan Yang Holy Water and then said, “Elder, I’m afraid my power might not be enough to break it, why don’t you do it?”

Xu Mu appeared willing to hand over the weapon respectfully.

Although handing over the Sky-splitting Halberd might mean losing it forever, for the sake of his own life, Xu Mu thought it was worth it.

If he lost the treasure, he could find another. But if he lost his life, then there would be nothing left.

This could also show his magnanimity and earn some brownie points.

“If I were capable, why would I need you? The moment the chain breaks, that’s when I’ll let you leave!”

Having said that, the golden birdman vanished.

“…”

Xu Mu was speechless and helpless, so he flew closer to the chain to examine it.

The chain was as thick as three or four grown men, of a dark golden color. The darkness could be its original color, whereas the gold might be the result of the long-lasting golden light. Apart from this, everything else seemed ordinary at first glance, nothing special about it.

However, if the chain was simple enough, the birdman wouldn’t have singled it out specifically. Nobody sensible would believe that.

Xu Mu inspected it for quite a while but found no useful information.

In the end, he stared at the Sky-splitting Halberd in his hand and decided to give it a try.

He lifted the Sky-splitting Halberd, aimed at the sturdy chain, and just grazed it lightly with one ten-thousandth of his strength.

Clang!

A crisp clash echoed.

The moment of the clash, Xu Mu saw an array of dense silver symbols appearing on the chain, which disappeared in a flash, most likely a reaction caused by the attack.

“I knew it wouldn’t be that simple!”

Xu Mu grimaced. The moment of the clash, he felt as if a current had been transmitted from the Sky-Splitting Halberd. His arm was still numb.

The only good news was that it seemed as though something had stimulated the activity of his body’s ‘Cataclysmic Physique’, allowing it to operate again.

“Let’s try with more force.”

He had no other choice at present. Everywhere he looked, there was only light.

As much as he wanted to leave this area, he found an invisible barrier confining him to this small range.

Perhaps this barrier is protecting me!

Should these golden lights prove to be anything but harmless, just imagining how it bathed him earlier, without this barrier, his soul might be torn apart instantly.

Meaning, apart from breaking the chain, he had no other way out.

As for outwitting the birdman, he felt utterly unsure.

The birdman’s strength was too far superior. For all he knew, it might be able to glean his thoughts.

Trying to outwit or outtalk it would be suicide.

So, let’s cut!

Clang!

This time, he applied a thousandth of his strength, numbing his entire arm.

Clang!

This time, he applied a hundredth of his strength. Half of his body was stimulated by the current, and the silver symbols on the chain became clearer.

Clang!

This time he committed a tenth of his strength. Xu Mu’s entire body shook violently, even more intensely than when he experienced the sonic waves of the Primordial Bell. The glow of the silver symbols had fully activated.

At this moment, Xu Mu’s face displayed a hint of pleasure. The ‘Cataclysmic Physique’ inside his body was now fully operational, further enhancing his physique.

“Who would have thought that chopping a chain could assist my training, and the effect isn’t much different from the sound wave!”

“But—”

Looking at the unharmed chain, Xu Mu didn’t know whether to be glad or upset.

If it didn’t work, the chain wouldn’t shatter, and none of the predicted catastrophes would occur. However, if he couldn’t break it, he might be stuck here forever.

“This time, I’ll use full strength!”

Xu Mu held the Sky-splitting Halberd with both hands, raised it high, his body’s spiritual power surging. Purple lightning surrounded him, all strength fully unleashed.

Clang!