Chapter 283: Taking Action

Due to Lin Mo's success, they all understood that to break free from this mysterious suction force, they needed to rely on the starry sky above them. They stopped exerting effort and began to observe their surroundings.

After leaving the grand hall, Lin Mo found himself in a long corridor. The corridor stretched for a hundred meters, with neatly arranged rooms on one side and lifelike murals on the other.

The murals seemed to be spontaneously created and the work of multiple artists. Lin Mo didn't find much in the rooms on the side, as any herbs or materials had long turned to dust due to their age. With nothing substantial to discover, Lin Mo turned his attention to the murals.

The paintings depicted various chaotic scenes, seemingly depicting factions or forces competing for something. At the end of one mural was a cliff, and on that cliff, there was a small humanoid-shaped spirit herb.

Upon closer inspection, Lin Mo's pupils contracted. "Isn't this the Eternal Sunflower?" he exclaimed.

The Eternal Sunflower was a seventh-grade divine herb known for its miraculous effect. It could extend a person's life by a month, even when they were critically injured or on the brink of death. It was considered a divine treasure among healing herbs.

"Judging by its appearance, it seems to be," Nine Lives replied, "but we don't know if it's really here."

"If it's here, it would be fantastic. Having a divine herb like that is like having an extra life," Lin Mo exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah, let's remember this location and search for it later," Nine Lives agreed enthusiastically.

As Lin Mo and Nine Lives were lost in excitement, a sharp and blade-like force suddenly attacked from behind, directed at Lin Mo. In an instant, Lin Mo felt a dangerous presence.

With quick reflexes, Lin Mo swiftly moved to the side, dodging the attack. However, the assailant's strike still grazed his right arm.

Although it was just a graze, the attack left a gash on Lin Mo's arm, causing a trickle of blood to flow. What was more concerning was the black smoke that emanated from the wound. Lin Mo felt a searing, burning sensation on his arm, as if it were about to be incinerated.

"What is this?" Lin Mo exclaimed in surprise.

"Haha, I finally got the chance. You've fallen into my teacher's Ancient Smoldering Smoke. Get ready to be turned to ashes," a triumphant voice sounded, and the attacker revealed himself – it was none other than Steward Ouyang, also known as Liu Shengbai.

Liu Shengbai was laughing maniacally, seemingly eager to release all the humiliation he had suffered onto Lin Mo.

"Your teacher? Ancient Smoldering Smoke?" Lin Mo questioned.

From Liu Shengbai's words, Lin Mo discerned that his teacher was his greatest trump card.

Liu Shengbai continued to laugh madly, almost bordering on insanity. "Hmph, your strength and tactics mean nothing now. In a moment, you'll be reduced to ashes."

However, Lin Mo shook his head. His right arm housed the enigmatic Dark Sword Spirit, and that was not something easily dealt with. To burn his arm to ashes, Liu Shengbai's power would have to surpass that of the Dark Sword Spirit itself.

As expected, moments later, Lin Mo's right arm erupted with a torrent of black energy that devoured Liu Shengbai's terrifying Ancient Smoldering Smoke.

"Do I look like someone who has been affected by your so-called Ancient Smoldering Smoke?" Lin Mo sneered.

Liu Shengbai's face turned stiff. "You've become even stronger than before?"

Without wasting any time on discussion, Lin Mo's aura erupted. His power surged like a mountain torrent, terrifyingly potent.

"Caught in my Ancient Smoldering Smoke, your struggle is futile!" Liu Shengbai roared with his teacher's voice, but he didn't dare to engage Lin Mo head-on. Instead, he quickly retreated, evading Lin Mo's punch.

"You've fallen into my teacher's Ancient Smoldering Smoke. Now, prepare to turn into ashes," Liu Shengbai taunted.

Lin Mo paid no heed to Liu Shengbai's taunts and pressed forward. In an instant, he closed the distance between them.

"Now is not the time to discuss this. Surrender your body to me," the old man's anxious voice resounded in Liu Shengbai's mind. "You alone cannot contend with his strength, especially with his formidable Spirit of War."

Upon hearing the old man's urgency, Liu Shengbai didn't hesitate. He yielded control of his body to his teacher.

The moment the old man took over, Liu Shengbai's demeanor changed completely. His eyes, once clear and sharp, turned cloudy. A chilling aura enveloped him, giving the impression of an ancient and distant entity.

"Young man, it seems you possess remarkable skills to dispel my Ancient Smoldering Smoke," the old man said in Liu Shengbai's body.

"What Ancient Smoldering Smoke? I've never heard of it," Lin Mo replied casually.

Ignoring Lin Mo's words, the old man continued, "Hmph, you may have formidable strength and tactics, but you will not escape my grasp. Prepare to turn to ashes."

With that, the old man in Liu Shengbai's body unleashed his power. He didn't dare to engage Lin Mo directly but used long-range attacks to keep him at bay.

"Hmm, it seems like you have some tricks up your sleeve," Lin Mo remarked, unfazed.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Mo's aura surged, and with a sudden push off his legs, he darted towards Liu Shengbai with the speed of lightning.

At the same time, his Dragonic Qi erupted, unleashing a powerful force. Lin Mo threw a punch, and a torrent of violent energy rushed toward Liu Shengbai like a roaring flood.

Liu Shengbai sneered, "Hah, you've activated my teacher's Ancient Smoldering Smoke, and now you're desperately resisting. But it's all in vain!"

However, instead of facing Lin Mo head-on, Liu Shengbai evaded Lin Mo's punch in a rather pathetic manner.