Battle Through the Heavens: Marry Cao Ying, Reward is Devouring Ancestral Symbol

Chapter 272 Me, the Mouse! I Really Sent It!The Gold-Devouring Rat clan is entrenched deep within the Tianmu Mountain Range, and it is said they know every blade of grass and every tree in these mountains like the back of their hand.

If they could be subdued, perhaps some clues about the secrets of the Energy Tide could be pried from their mouths.

Shen Wen delayed no longer; with a flicker of his body, he sped toward the deeper parts of the mountain range.

The clouds and mist parted automatically before him, and the violent energy fluctuations were kept at bay by the invisible Space Power surrounding his body.

His speed was extremely fast, and in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had already ventured hundreds of miles deep.

Below, the mountains became increasingly steep and the vegetation more dense; occasionally, a few hidden and powerful auras could be sensed.

Those were Demonic Beasts entrenched here, at the very least at the Dou Huang level.

Shen Wen did not disturb them, merely restraining his aura and silently gliding over their territories.

Another incense stick’s time passed.

Suddenly, a distinct area appeared ahead.

It was no longer a series of continuous peaks, but a relatively flat valley.

Trees were sparse in the valley, and giant rocks and crisscrossing fissures could be seen everywhere on the ground.

Deep within the fissures, golden light flickered faintly.

Shen Wen came to a halt, his gaze falling upon the valley.

His Soul power sensed countless faint life signatures, densely packed and spread throughout the entire underground of the valley.

The Gold-Devouring Rat clan truly hid deep; almost no clues could be seen on the surface, but within a hundred meters underground, they had long since dug out a labyrinth extending in all directions.

”They certainly know how to find a place.”

Shen Wen’s lips curled slightly; with a movement, he descended toward the center of the valley.

At the very instant his feet were about to touch the valley floor—

”Boom!”

A golden shadow suddenly lunged out from underground, rushing straight for Shen Wen’s face with a sharp whistling sound!

It was a massive golden rat, the size of a calf, covered in hair as hard as metal. A pair of blood-red eyes stared intently at Shen Wen, and its sharp claws glinted coldly in the sunlight.

Peak Dou Huang.

Shen Wen didn’t even look, casually waving his hand.

”Bang!”

The giant golden rat was sent flying back even faster than it had come, as if struck by an invisible mountain, smashing into the ground and creating a crater over ten feet deep.

It struggled to get up, only to find it couldn’t move at all, as if pinned to the ground by a giant invisible hand.

”Squeak, squeak, squeak—”

Sharp rat cries rang out from all directions underground.

Immediately after, countless golden shadows lunged out from the fissures in the ground, densely packed and blotting out the sky!

There were Dou Huangs, Dou Wangs, and even more small rats that were only Dou Ling or even lower ranks.

But their numbers were simply too great; as far as the eye could see, the entire valley floor was covered in gold, as if a golden ocean were surging.

Shen Wen stood in the center of this golden ocean with a calm expression, even feeling a bit amused.

These rats were quite united.

”Stop!”

An old and majestic voice suddenly came from deep underground.

Those giant golden rats, which had been about to move, stopped in unison as if receiving an order and prostrated themselves on the ground.

A huge crack opened in the ground, and a figure slowly rose up.

It was an old man.

He was thin and small, with a hunched back, wearing a set of earthy yellow coarse cloth robes. His face was covered in wrinkles, yet his small eyes sparkled with a shrewdness and vigilance that belied his appearance.

His aura was far stronger than those giant golden rats.

Six-Star Dou Zong.

Gold-Devouring Rat Clan Chief, Jin Shi.

Jin Shi’s small eyes stared fixedly at Shen Wen. His gaze lingered for a moment on Shen Wen’s excessively young face, then swept over his black robes, which gave no hint of his depth, causing the vigilance in his eyes to intensify.

”Who is Your Excellency? Why have you trespassed into my Gold-Devouring Rat clan’s territory and injured my clansmen?”

His voice was hoarse, carrying a clear note of interrogation, yet he did not strike immediately.

Having lived for so many years, he had seen many people.

This young man before him dared to venture deep into the Tianmu Mountain Range alone and land so boldly in the center of his clan’s territory; if he wasn’t a fool, then he had absolute strength to rely on.

And someone who could sneak in here silently could never be a fool.

Shen Wen looked at him and suddenly smiled.

”Clan Chief Jin Shi, a Six-Star Dou Zong, the current spokesperson of the Gold-Devouring Rat clan. You have been entrenched in the Tianmu Mountain Range for centuries and know every blade of grass and every tree in these mountains like the back of your hand.”

His tone was flat, as if stating facts he had known for a long time. ”Am I correct?”

Jin Shi’s pupils constricted slightly.

The other party was so clear about his identity; his intentions were definitely not simple.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart, and said in a heavy voice, ”Who exactly is Your Excellency? Speak plainly.”

Shen Wen nodded and didn’t waste words: ”I need the Gold-Devouring Rat clan to work for me.”

Jin Shi was stunned, and his expression immediately became quite colorful.

”Work for you?”

He laughed coldly as if he had heard a massive joke. ”Your Excellency has quite the tone.”

The Gold-Devouring Rat clan is not skilled in combat, but we are not at anyone’s beck and call.

Just because of you alone, trespassing into my clan’s territory and injuring my clansmen, you want us to submit?”

He paused, cold light flickering in his eyes. ”Young man, I know you have some skill.”

But the fact that the Gold-Devouring Rat clan has been able to establish itself in the Tianmu Mountain Range for centuries is not due to luck.

If you retreat now, this old man can act as if nothing happened. But if you push your luck—”

Before he could finish, the aura surrounding him suddenly surged!

The pressure of a Six-Star Dou Zong was released without reservation, and the air in the entire valley seemed to solidify.

Sensing their Clan Chief’s might, the prostrate giant golden rats all raised their heads, their eyes gleaming with ferocity.

Shen Wen watched this scene, the smile on his face deepening.

”Clan Chief Jin Shi, you misunderstand.”

His tone remained flat, as if he couldn’t feel the overwhelming pressure at all. ”I’m not here to negotiate terms with you.”

Jin Shi frowned. ”Then what do you mean?”

Shen Wen raised his right hand.

In his palm, a speck of warm golden light quietly lit up.

”I am here to—”

That speck of golden light suddenly expanded, turning into a soft and grand tide of light that instantly enveloped the entire valley!

—inform you.”

The moment the last word fell, the golden light had completely submerged Jin Shi.

Jin Shi still had a cold smile and vigilance on his face, but in the next instant, that smile froze.

He felt an irresistible force rushing straight into the depths of his Soul!

That power was gentle, yet domineering to the extreme.

It gave him no chance to resist and brooked no reason, directly washing over his will, memories, and emotions—

”This is—”

He widened his eyes suddenly, wanting to struggle, but found his Soul seemingly gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, unable to move an inch!

”No—”

He opened his mouth, wanting to shout something, but could not make a sound.

In his eyes, vigilance, anger, fear, struggle... various emotions shifted rapidly like a revolving lantern.

Then, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

All emotions receded like the tide.

Jin Shi’s small eyes, which had originally sparkled with shrewdness, now held only a deep, pool-like calm.

He slowly lowered his head and looked at Shen Wen, his gaze extremely submissive.

”Greetings, Venerable One.”

Behind him, the giant golden rats that had been baring their teeth also had the ferocity fade from their eyes, and they all prostrated themselves on the ground as if in worship.

Shen Wen withdrew his hand and nodded slightly.

The effect of the Great Universal Salvation Technique on Demonic Beasts was smoother than on humans. Although these Gold-Devouring Rats were numerous, their Soul strength was generally not high; a single cast had directly covered the entire field.

Convenient.

”Rise.”