A cloaked figure walks in the ancient mottled cave corridor.

The cold breath swept over me like a knife, as if I was heading not to a cave, but to the intersection of hell.

From time to time, shrill screams could be heard coming from the depths of the cave, like the howling of evil spirits.

But the pace of this figure is still leisurely, as if it has been here countless times.

After walking for five or six minutes, the other party came to the end of the corridor. In front of him was a huge cave, which was dark and gloomy. Water droplets from nowhere fell from the top of the cave and dripped into the water in the holes on the ground.

This figure came to the center of the cave.

In the dim light, you can vaguely see the bronze ground beneath your feet, with ancient and complicated inscriptions engraved on it, like the lush branches of leaves, spreading throughout the cave.

The figure slowly stood still, and with a swipe of the blade in his robe, the palm of his hand was cut with a sneer, and iron-gray blood flowed out of the palm.

Immediately, the opponent knelt down on one knee and pressed his bloody palm on one of the leaf-shaped inscriptions under his feet.

There was a buzzing sound, as if some kind of switch had been activated. The buzzing sound spread everywhere, and the blades under the figure's hands suddenly bloomed with gray-black beams of light. Then, like a chain reaction, with this core blade as the center, all the surrounding inscriptions began to shine. .

It's like a giant ancient tree blooming, shining layer by layer. As these inscriptions shine, the entire cave seems like an ancient tree in full bloom, with lush branches and leaves spreading crazily towards the end.

However, this kind of blooming does not bring any grand atmosphere of life, but makes people feel extremely depressed.

Because of the blooming of this huge ancient tree, every leaf is gray-black, with a strong smell of decay. At first glance, people subconsciously associate it with various topics of death.

And if you look carefully, the texture of these so-called leaves is extremely strange, like a mixture of skeletons and pale nails. Coupled with the depressive aura exuding at this moment, you can't help but feel frightened, as if this is a plant that should be... The ancient tree that blooms in hell, each leaf represents a dead soul.

But its appearance coincides with the image of the World Tree in myths and legends. Except for the gray-black color, it may be a World Tree, but it is different from the image of the half-dead World Tree in Kassel. It is covered with a strange aura. This kind of decay is not true death, but is attached with other strange attributes.

Just like the zombies and other monsters described in movies, they seem to have lost their lives, but in fact they are another kind of terrifying mutation.

The image of this world tree shines in the dark cave, as if it can breathe, and it also looks like a giant monster that can swallow life at any time.

However, in this depressing and strange atmosphere, this figure remained unmoved. After doing all this, he stood up slowly and calmly, as if waiting for something.

One second, two seconds, one minute, ten minutes, half an hour...

Time passed by minute by second, and only the gray-black ancient trees were blooming and shining around, and there was no other movement.

However, this figure was not in a hurry, and the soles of his feet stepped on the bronze ground regularly.

Until an hour passed, a leaf of the ancient eucalyptus tree in full bloom in the cave shone fiercely, and then a humanoid figure dressed in an ancient black robe slowly appeared.

But it's not an entity, but something like an image.

As the other party appeared, two leaves shone around again, and two humanoid figures in black robes also appeared.

They were all wrapped in pitch-black robes and wore wide hoods. They couldn't see each other's appearance at all. If you stared carefully, you would have the depressing feeling of staring into the vortex of a black hole.

"It seems that you have already discussed the result."

The figure standing in the center of the cave said in a playful tone.

Immediately he took off his hood, revealing the face of a middle-aged man. If Chu Zihang were here, he would definitely recognize that this man was his father, Chu Tianjiao.

However, the man's face looked a bit ferocious, with gray-black texture shining on his face, which seemed to be exactly the same as these inscriptions.

"Chu Tianjiao, you have no right to deal with him."

The leader, a figure in black robe, said hoarsely. He seemed to have not spoken for a long time. His articulation seemed very awkward, and it did not belong to the language of any country. It was more like the language of ancient times. He could not even tell whether the other party was a man or a woman. Or you don't even know if there is a person in the robe.

But I could vaguely hear the hissing sound the other party made when he spoke, as if there was a snake head or tentacles in the hood.

“How interesting!”

Chu Tianjiao laughed.

Although these shadows were neither human nor ghost, they seemed to be his superiors. However, at this moment, Chu Tianjiao did not have any awareness of being a subordinate. His laughter went from a sneer at the beginning to a fit of laughter at the end.

"Have you laughed enough?"

A black-robed figure on the left made a ferocious sound, and even the image became distorted, obviously angry.

"I'm sorry, I lost my composure. It's because you told me a joke as soon as you came up. I couldn't hold back. Hug, I'm sorry, hahaha, let me laugh for a while."

Chu Tianjiao was still apologizing seriously at first, but he couldn't restrain himself as he spoke.

In the end, I simply let myself go completely and laughed until I had enough.

The man's laughter is so contagious that if anyone doesn't know the situation, they may laugh along with the other person's rhythm.

If Chu Zihang were here, he would definitely feel a sense of confusion, because Chu Tianjiao at this time is just like the sloppy man before.

Nothing seems to have changed about this man. Whether he is facing his former boss, Odin, or these inhuman things now, his free and easy character still exists.

"That's enough."

The leading figure in black robe made a deep voice.

Although he couldn't hear the other party's emotions, the moment he spoke, the strange ancient tree in bloom in the cave began to shine in confusion.

"Okay, I promise not to laugh, but the prerequisite is that you don't tell me any more jokes, okay?"

Chu Tianjiao tried his best to restrain himself and couldn't help but say.

"We need a reason."

The leading shadow spoke again.

"Reason? Killing a person... Oh no, do you need a reason to kill a mad dog? If you have rabies, if it bites other people, it will be fatal." Chu Tianjiao said playfully.

"Even if it's a mad dog, that's the one we chose."

The third black figure spoke. It sounded like an old man, or like a person who was about to expire and was struggling to survive. There was not much time left and he might kick his legs in the next second.

"Really? But I just want to ask, isn't your original intention to choose a powerful mad dog to be your spokesperson? Since this mad dog was killed by me, it means that it is not strong enough and cannot be your spokesperson.

Oh no, endorsement dog."

"you can?"

"Of course I can. There is a little guy who has always said that I am suitable for being a dog for others, so I am not a prostitute selling melons."

"Who sells melons?" The third black shadow asked doubtfully.

Chu Tianjiao patted his forehead and said speechlessly: "There is an Eastern proverb, Wang Po sells melons and boasts of herself. I am not Wang Po, which means that I am not proud, but others always think that I am the right candidate. Oh no, suitable.

Dog Choice.”

"Are you qualified?"

"I'm telling jokes again. Since I'm standing here, I already represent everything. Of course, if you feel unconvincing, you can take a look at this."

Chu Tianjiao sneered.

His whole body burst with energy, and his black robe and cloak exploded, revealing his muscular upper body.

What's even more shocking is that the man's body seems to be branded with tattoos, and the tattoos are similar to the ancient trees in the cave, but the gray-black color looks deeper.

At the position of the spine of his back, a long joint-like thing can be vaguely seen, which has been fused with Chu Tianjiao's own spine, and is breathing regularly and squirming like expansion and contraction.

Gray-black energy flows burst out from countless joints, constantly baptizing and washing the man's body.

With every impact of this energy flow, Chu Tianjiao's ever-powerful aura can be felt.

In an instant, three black figures stared at him at the same time.

"Hey, hey, hey, you can't just look at it, otherwise it's just free prostitution. Do you understand? It's the kind of behavior that destroys people's motivation. If you continue like this, who will be willing to work hard for you?"

Chu Tianjiao said with a dissatisfied tone.

That gesture was like a hawker in a market who had suffered a loss of blood.

The three floating black figures looked at each other and seemed to be communicating with each other, but they could not hear these guys talking the whole time.

It wasn't until a moment later that the leading black figure nodded slowly.

"Chu Tianjiao, you are indeed qualified to be our spokesperson, but before that, you have to do one more thing to show your true position."

"Why, you still don't believe me?" Chu Tianjiao raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Who wants to believe a mad dog? You can bite Odin to death, but who knows if you will turn around and bite us." The black shadow who seemed to be about to die said faintly.

"Tell me, what's going on?" Chu Tianjiao said.

"kill."

"who?"

"Ange." The leader said.

"Ange..."

Hearing this name, Chu Tianjiao's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What, are you unwilling? Or are you saying you can't do it?"

The black shadow that showed anger before spoke coldly again, with a mocking tone.

"I haven't heard this name for a long time, I just feel a little emotional." Chu Tianjiao shrugged.

"What happens after the emotion?"

Chu Tianjiao looked unhappy and pointed at the angry black figure before, "So and so, you talk so much nonsense. Now that I have come to this point, I have already made up my mind to give up everything before. From now on, who will stop me from becoming stronger?
To be continued...