As the array light flickered, the brilliance of the great array on the mountain top wavered, and only then did Mo Lin leap out from the array on the summit.

This person appeared older than Mo Lin, looking to be in his early fifties. However, with Mutated Beings, age couldn't be discerned from appearances, so there was no way to determine who was truly older.

Unlike Qin Yuan, Mo Lin belonged to the Life and Death System, with the power of life and death swirling around him.

"Which one of you is Grand Elder Xiao?"

Mo Lin's gaze swept past Xiao Mu, clearly seeing Xiao Mu but deliberately pretending not to see him, intentionally asking Qin Yuan instead.

"Old Mo, mind your manners. This is Grand Elder Xiao Mu from the Headquarters. Hurry up and pay your respects."

Qin Yuan's face darkened, reprimanding Mo Lin loudly.

"Grand Elder Xiao, please forgive me, my old eyes missed you." Mo Lin laughed as he apologized and bowed to Xiao Mu.

Yet, his demeanor clearly showed a lack of respect for Xiao Mu.

Facing this person, Xiao Mu felt it inappropriate to lose his temper immediately. He simply nodded, "Forget it!"

"May I ask, Grand Elder Xiao, can the Headquarters still protect us?"

Mo Lin seemed to ponder for a moment before suddenly questioning Xiao Mu.

"Old Mo, shut up!" Qin Yuan shouted, his complexion changing. Mo Lin's words were almost a provocation, a challenge to the Headquarters.

Evidently, neither he nor Mo Lin could withstand such a challenge.

"Am I not speaking the truth?"

This time, Mo Lin was not silenced by Qin Yuan's words. He stuck his neck out, meeting Qin Yuan's gaze with a hardened stance, "If the Headquarters can't protect us, I think we should plan accordingly as soon as possible."

Xiao Mu grew a bit irritated, not waiting for Qin Yuan to speak before coldly staring at Mo Lin, "What kind of plan are you thinking of making as soon as possible?"

Seeing Xiao Mu angry, Mo Lin dared not provoke further. With a dry laugh, he replied, appearing weak yet truly strong, "Naturally, to make plans for survival, Grand Elder Xiao. If the Headquarters abandons us, we must find a way to survive, mustn't we?"

There was an underlying implication in his words, and Xiao Mu suspected that Mo Lin was subtly suggesting that, if not protected by the Headquarters, they might consider defecting to the Heavenly Court.

Hearing this, he snorted angrily but implied, "Loyalty to the human world means it will strive to protect you. But if you become enemies of the human world, you should carefully consider your future status and outcome."

"Haha!"

Mo Lin laughed, displaying cunning. Aware of Xiao Mu's anger, he didn't confront directly, "Of course, we are loyal to the Headquarters, but if loyalty leads only to death, wouldn't loyalists to the Headquarters become fewer and fewer? To be slain by the Heavenly Court?"

The reasoning he finally gave was redundant, and Xiao Mu could hear the hidden implication of betrayal but knew Mo Lin dared not utter the word.

"Rest assured, your life is of great importance. With me around, the Heavenly Court cannot take you down."

Xiao Mu's gaze swept over Mo Lin, with a hint of threat in his eyes.

"Let's hope so!" Mo Lin laughed heartily again, "If that's truly the case, then I can be at ease."

Xiao Mu didn't continue entangling with him and said, "I have just arrived in the northern part of the Eastern Desolation and am not very familiar with the situation here. Recently, I won't be able to manage it. I hope Elder Qin and Elder Mo can continue to take responsibility and organize the work arrangements for the Eastern Desolation."

"Rest assured, Grand Elder Xiao, Qin Yuan will certainly organize the Eastern Desolation's work arrangements properly."

Qin Yuan expressed promptly.

Mo Lin, meanwhile, playfully remarked, "I will certainly follow Grand Elder Xiao's arrangements. However, there is one thing that Grand Elder Xiao might not be aware of. Recently, in the northern part of the Eastern Desolation, due to the threat from the Heavenly Court, a large number of people have already relocated. In a while, if the threat isn't dealt with, even if I wanted to continue organizing efforts in the Eastern Desolation, there might be no one left to arrange."

"This matter doesn't need your concern, I will handle it."

Xiao Mu sensed Mo Lin's difficult nature but wasn't easily intimidated by mere words.

"In that case, I comply with your orders."

Mo Lin bowed slightly, refraining from further argument with Xiao Mu, to avoid provoking him.

Yet soon, he spoke again, "Lately, I've been unwell and still injured from a previous great war with Heavenly Court forces. I need a gradual recovery, so I won't accompany you, Grand Elder Xiao. Old Qin, please attend to Grand Elder Xiao on my behalf."

Hearing this, Xiao Mu couldn't help but glance at Mo Lin.

With his Spiritual Eye, he clearly saw Mo Lin's condition.

First, regarding injuries, Mo Lin wasn't lying; he indeed had injuries. However, they were far less serious than he claimed.

His injuries were clearly not to the extent requiring recuperation.

Yet at present, his words seemed deliberately slacking off.

And Xiao Mu could choose to force him to stay or even expose him, but upon consideration, he deemed such actions meaningless.

If the threat of the Heavenly Court cannot be addressed, keeping him forcibly changes nothing.

At that moment, he simply waved Mo Lin off, letting him go, and said no more.

"Thank you, Grand Elder Xiao!"

Mo Lin laughed heartily again, then returned to his mansion.

"Grand Elder Xiao, Old Mo indeed needs recuperation after being injured. He wasn't like this before. It was only due to the previous great war with Heavenly Court forces that he was affected. Please, Grand Elder Xiao, don't take it to heart."

After Mo Lin left, Qin Yuan immediately spoke on his behalf, fearing Xiao Mu might take offense, leading to issues.

Xiao Mu waved his hand, dismissing it, and looked around before asking Qin Yuan again, "Elder Qin, do any inhabited areas remain in the northern part of the Eastern Desolation?"

"This..."

Qin Yuan wondered why Xiao Mu asked but quickly responded, "Reporting to Grand Elder Xiao, although many have fled the northern part of the Eastern Desolation, quite a few remain unable to leave for various reasons. They are primarily found in..."

He then pulled out an electronic map, explaining to Xiao Mu the locations in the northern Eastern Desolation where people still remained.

After listening, Xiao Mu memorized these locations, then asked Qin Yuan to send him an electronic map.

Upon receiving it, he immediately cloud-surfed toward the north.

"Grand Elder Xiao, Grand Elder Xiao."

Qin Yuan was caught off guard by Xiao Mu's sudden departure and hurriedly chased after him to call out.

However, Xiao Mu's flying speed was swift, soon leaving Qin Yuan behind as he ventured north alone.

"This..."

Qin Yuan stood dumbfounded, muttering softly after a while, "Hopefully, this Grand Elder Xiao won't run into any trouble."

From Xiao Mu's actions, he speculated that Xiao Mu was indeed headed north to check inhabited areas and perhaps also to confront Heavenly Court forces.

Consequently, Qin Yuan grew worried for Xiao Mu, fearing that if Xiao Mu encountered Heavenly Court forces and was not their match, he might fall here just upon arrival.

His speculations about Xiao Mu were uncannily close to reality.

Xiao Mu did leave with the intention of understanding the northern Eastern Desolation's situation and also to see if he might encounter Heavenly Court experts.

Tasked to defend the Eastern Desolation, he naturally needed to grasp what his duties entailed and what formidable foes he might face.

After departing, Xiao Mu continued flying, witnessing many Eastern Desolation inhabitants, both ordinary humans and Mutated Beings, who hadn't managed or couldn't flee.

Yet his primary purpose remained the search for Heavenly Court forces.

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