Chapter 125: Shaking
Chapter 125: Shaking
In the 1427th year of the Great Proclamation Era, June.
A severe drought and demon disturbances plagued Yu Prefecture in Jade Province, lasting for half a month.
...
Amidst the darkness, a warm and gentle breeze caressed the surroundings, akin to a spring breeze.
Suddenly, a lamp was lit, dispelling the nearby darkness, and a jade-like hand placed the lamp to the side.
"So big..."
Xu Hongyu was slightly dazed.
In the cellar before her eyes, a massive Flame Jade was placed, approximately seven feet long, three feet wide, and nearly a foot thick.
Even though she was from the direct line of the Yu Clan, cherished since birth and exposed to numerous rare treasures, this was the first time she had seen such a colossal piece of high-grade Flame Jade. Even if it were divided and sold slowly, its value would still exceed several hundred thousand taels.
"Hmm, that's about it. Now, how do you think we can secretly transport it into Yu City?" Chen Mu asked, standing beside her.
Regarding the affairs of the He Clan, there was no need to hide too much from Xu Hongyu. After all, when the He Clan discovers the disappearance of He Guangzong, He Mingzhen, and others, it will undoubtedly stir up a storm. Furthermore, with the events surrounding the earthquake and mountain collapse in the Western Prairie, Xu Hongyu will eventually guess that Chen Mu is responsible.
The most crucial issue is that Chen Mu managed to secretly bring this Flame Jade back to Yu Prefecture, but he has no way to quietly smuggle such a large piece of jade into the city. After all, even with his exceptional skills, he cannot yet carry such a heavy object while also scaling walls and leaping across rooftops.
That's not martial arts; that's immortal techniques.
"Let me think..."
After a brief moment of distraction, Xu Hongyu quickly regained her composure and began to ponder silently. Soon, she had an idea and said to Chen Mu, "I have a plan. All we need to do is this... and then this... and it will be done."
Chen Mu nodded slightly after hearing her.
He couldn't handle this matter, but Xu Hongyu could. After all, she was from the direct line of the Yu Clan, and she even had more than one method to secretly transport the jade into the city. This had nothing to do with martial arts; it was about the power she held in her hands.
After speaking, Xu Hongyu continued to ponder, "However, it's not possible right now. The demon disturbance hasn't ended, and the security in Yu City is high, with patrols everywhere at night. We can only keep it in Anyu County for a while, and then transport it back. I do have a safe place to keep it if you trust me."
Chen Mu chuckled and said, "Is there even a question of trust between us? Moreover, as the young mistress of the prestigious Yu Clan, you wouldn't covet a small piece of Flame Jade."
Although this piece of Flame Jade was worth at least several hundred thousand taels, an enormous sum for Chen Mu, it was only of moderate significance to the Yu Clan, one of the four great families in Yu City, who governed millions of people in Yu Prefecture.
"Hmm."
Xu Hongyu nodded lightly and said, "But this time, you revealed the Whistling Wind Intent in Yu Prefecture, which may cause some ripples. Before, you hadn't directly caught the attention of the highest echelons of the other families. This time, whether it's the He Clan or the Xue Clan and Xie Clan, their gazes will fall upon you, and they will take an interest in you."
"It's inevitable that people will find out."
Chen Mu shook his head slightly and then looked at Xu Hongyu, saying, "After this, the Demon Slayer Bureau might promote me to the White Guard. However, I still want to use your merit points to exchange for Bone Forging Pills first. It's another favor I need from you."
Although there was a high probability of becoming a White Guard, his presence in the intelligence of various families would still attract attention. In their information, he had recently broken through the Sinew Transformation Realm, so it was best to maintain that perception. Having Xu Hongyu, who had perfected the Sinew Transformation Realm, exchange the Bone Forging Pills would be flawless.
"Is there even a question of helping or not..."
Xu Hongyu spoke softly, suddenly feeling that her words echoed Chen Mu's earlier statement. For a moment, a peculiar sensation rose within her, causing her to avert her gaze.
Chen Mu observed Xu Hongyu in the dimly lit cellar, the lamp reflecting off the Flame Jade allowed him to clearly see her face. He was surprised to discover that on Xu Hongyu's face, which was as pure as white jade, there seemed to be a hint of faint redness so subtle that it was almost imperceptible. If not for his senses being several times sharper than ordinary people, he might not have noticed it at all.
Amidst his surprise, a smile crept onto his face.
Previously, he had always felt that Xu Hongyu's name didn't quite fit her, as her cold demeanor resembled a piece of white jade. Now, he suddenly realized that the 'Hong' in her name, meaning 'red,' was indeed appropriate. However, the jade color was still too faint. He wondered if he would ever see a more vibrant shade of jade in the future.
...
The drought gradually subsided, and the demon disturbances came to an end.
Reports and intelligence from various counties, towns, and villages in Yu Prefecture poured into the central Yu Prefecture City like snowflakes, each finding its way into the hands of the numerous families within the inner city. Finally, when the news from Anyu County spread, it caused a stir.
He Clan.
In the luxurious and opulent hall adorned with jade, gold, and silver, intricate and exquisite patterns were carved into the doors and windows made from precious golden silk wood.
He Guangxun, the deputy commander of the Refining Corps, stood respectfully at the side, while seated in the grandmaster's chair was an elder with gray beard, holding a purple dragon wood staff. He appeared to be in his fifties or sixties.
He was the current head of the He Clan, the second-generation leader,
Clan Head He Zhengya! He was also the father of He Guangxun, He Guangzong, and others. Although he looked to be in his fifties or sixties, he was actually nearing seventy. He had consumed an extremely precious spiritual treasure that preserved vital energy and blood, and his cultivation had reached the perfection of the Bone Forging Realm. He cultivated the Mountain Intent, standing firm and unmoving, which allowed him to maintain his realm until now.
It had only been a few years since He Zhengya stepped down, primarily due to the fact that none of his sons, including He Guangxun and He Guangzong, were capable of taking over the helm of the He family. This was the reason for his delay in retirement.
"Hmph, the Yu family is indeed lucky!"
He Zhengya leaned on his cane and tapped it on the bluestone bricks, producing a sound akin to metal clashing.
Standing by his side, He Guangxun spoke softly, "It's not uncommon for a person to have a moment of clarity before death. It's just luck that Xu Hongyu was able to find such a person outside the city. Initially, He Mingxuan underestimated him, and I didn't pay much attention to him either. I never expected that this person would be able to cultivate the Whistling Wind Intent and become such a remarkable figure."
He Zhengya replied indifferently, "Who in this world can claim to foresee everything? If you had known about his abilities earlier, you could have stopped him. Then, who else but you could have taken on the role of the next patriarch of the He family?"
Hearing He Zhengya's words, He Guangxun couldn't help but lower his head, "It's due to my insufficient abilities."
He Zhengya sighed as he looked at He Guangxun's bowed head, "You do have the ability, but it's not enough. Even with your current age and the use of numerous spiritual treasures, it's impossible to achieve Bone Forging Perfection. As for the concept, you've always been just one step away from it... Martial arts and body tempering are mutually reinforcing. Once you reach a higher level of body tempering, your vital energy will be abundant, leading to enhanced senses and wisdom. This, in turn, will allow you to gain insights and make progress in martial arts."
Very few people in the Sinew Transformation Realm could comprehend concepts.
There were slightly more in the Bone Forging Small Accomplishment stage, and even more in the Bone Forging Great Accomplishment stage. In Bone Forging Perfection, half of them could comprehend concepts, and those in the Five Viscera Realm naturally didn't need to be mentioned, as concepts were already their foundation.
"Father, I want to..."
A flash of determination suddenly appeared in He Guangxun's eyes.
He Zhengya leaned on his cane again and tapped the ground, speaking in a deep voice, "Chen Mu has already made a name for himself. It won't be easy to kill him now. This is an extraordinary time, and we must avoid causing a commotion."
As He Zhengya spoke, He Guangxun was momentarily stunned. Although they were indeed facing a great drought and demon disturbances, it was still not enough to make He Zhengya mention such an extraordinary time with such gravity.
He Zhengya noticed the confusion in He Guangxun's eyes.
Looking at He Guangxun with deep gaze, He Zhengya slowly said, "You probably don't know that not long ago, the true disciples of the Four Sects—Heaven Sword Harmony, Blood Concealment Mystic, and the other two—went to pay respects at the Seven Mysteries Sect. The Seven True Disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect accepted the challenge, but they lost all four battles!"
"This..."
Upon hearing this, He Guangxun was dumbfounded.
He knew that there were differences in strength among true disciples. In the Seven Mysteries Sect, the Grand Mysterious Peak was the leader, and its true disciple was the first among the Seven True Disciples. According to He Guangxun's knowledge, this person was like a star in the sky, an unparalleled figure. Yet, he had been defeated by an outsider.
"When the true disciples of the four sects pay their respects, they send their most outstanding disciples. Although it's not surprising for the true disciples of the other peaks to lose, I never expected the Grand Mysterious True Disciple to be defeated by the Heaven Sword Disciple..."
He Zhengya slowly shook his head, his eyes also carrying a hint of strangeness, "Left Qianqiu, the Heaven Sword Disciple, is like a bright moon in the sky. Compared to him, Chen Mu is just an ant. Even the Yu family would be like an ant before him."
He Guangxun's heart surged with emotions, but soon he showed a hint of confusion.
Indeed, in front of such a figure, the He family and the Yu family were insignificant. But what did this have to do with them?
Just then, He Zhengya spoke in a calm tone, "This battle between the four families' true disciples is a condition for the four sects to enter Jade Province. The winner can enter Jade Province and has made an agreement with the Seven Mysteries Sect to limit their influence to Yu Prefecture among the seven counties of Jade Province!"
Finally, a look of shock appeared in He Guangxun's eyes. No wonder you're so serious, father. If the four major sects intervene in Yu Prefecture, the entire prefecture will be turned upside down! With the four sects entering Yu Prefecture, the Seven Mysteries Sect will surely increase their control over the prefecture. This means that Yu Prefecture may become the frontline of the struggle between the major sects!
At this moment, it was indeed not the time to act recklessly.
After all, compared to the Seven Mysteries Sect and the Heaven Sword Sect, the four families of Yu Prefecture were insignificant. If they misread the situation, they might be crushed into powder.
"Therefore, starting from today, all matters related to the He family and the Yu family will be put on hold. Do you understand?"
He Zhengya slowly turned to look at He Guangxun.
"I understand," He Guangxun nodded with utmost seriousness.
Indeed, at this critical moment, even if the He family and the Yu family had deep-rooted grudges, it was not the time to act rashly. Regardless of the circumstances, they must first observe the situation and avoid being drawn into the conflict between the sects.
(End)
He Zhengya frowned and said, "Why wasn't this reported earlier? Send someone to investigate immediately."
"Yes, sir."
He Guangxun responded and left.
Leaning on his cane, He Zhengya watched He Guangxun's departing figure with a furrowed brow. It was troublesome for something like this to happen at this time, and on top of that, he had even more troublesome matters to deal with. He needed to quickly clear up some traces.
And under no circumstances could he come into contact with people from the Heavenly Corpse Sect in the short term.
...
Yu Prefecture City, South.
Xue Huai Kong stood atop the city wall, his gray robe unassuming, gazing into the distance.
Suddenly, one of his subordinates approached and whispered a report.
"Chen Mu?"
Xue Huai Kong was slightly taken aback, then quickly recalled a name from his memory. He muttered under his breath, "This person has such understanding, perhaps I should have competed with the Yu Clan for him back then?"
"Forget it. At this moment, one person with a concept won't change anything. The future of Yu Prefecture depends entirely on the Seven Mysteries Sect and the four sects. Human calculations can never surpass heavenly fate, but fortunately, I've also made some preparations."
Xue Huai Kong sighed.
The Seven Mysteries Sect will likely send someone down in the next few days, and the four sects' presence won't be brief either. By then, his position as the city lord will become much more awkward than before.
However, he had no solution for this situation. He couldn't abandon the Xue Clan's influence in Yu Prefecture, so he could only silently observe the situation and go with the flow. After all, the Xue Clan had made prior arrangements, with bloodlines established in several other counties and many clan members within the Seven Mysteries Sect. Compared to the He and Xie Clans, their situation was much better.
...
Yu Clan Martial Academy.
Clang! Chen Yue's sword tip pointed diagonally, arcing through the air and intersecting with Yu Yun's sword. As sparks flew, Yu Yun's expression changed slightly, sensing something amiss, and she was forced to retreat.
But a glint flashed in Chen Yue's eyes, and her sword technique shifted, turning a slashing move into a feint. She deftly struck the side of Yu Yun's sword, causing it to fly out of her hand, and simultaneously lunged forward with her own sword, stopping just short of Yu Yun's throat.
"You..."
Yu Yun stared at Chen Yue, her face alternating between pale and flushed.
"Chen Yue wins," a senior female martial artist announced calmly.
Yu Yun, feeling aggrieved, glared at Chen Yue. "That doesn't count! You cheated!"
Chen Yue had used the same sword technique as her, and if they had continued fighting, they would likely have both been injured. Yu Yun had retreated, but Chen Yue had changed her move and pursued, displaying cunning.
"Chen Yue wins with her technique," the female martial artist said. "Yu Yun, when facing an enemy, do you also expect them to only fight with brute strength?"
The female martial artist spoke with a hint of sternness.
Yu Yun's sense of grievance surged as her teacher scolded her. Despite having a higher realm than Chen Yue, she had lost. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Chen Yue and said, "You country bumpkin, don't think you'll be this lucky next time..."
"Yu Yun," the female martial artist's tone became more serious. "Overestimating your abilities is a great taboo for martial artists. Even if you come from a prestigious family, has there been anyone in our Yu Clan in the past decade who can compare to Yichuan? Even Chen Yue, standing before you, her brother Chen Mu, not long ago, hunted down over a hundred demons in Anyu County. He has already entered the realm of concepts."
Upon hearing the first half of the female martial artist's words, Yu Yun kept her head down, feeling aggrieved. But when she heard the latter part, she froze, looking at the female martial artist in disbelief. "The realm of concepts?"
"My brother..." Chen Yue also looked at the female martial artist in surprise.
The female martial artist nodded slightly. "News just arrived."
After her initial surprise, Chen Yue's face lit up with joy and excitement. She was no longer a novice in martial arts. Although the realm of concepts was still far beyond her reach, it didn't prevent her from understanding the magnitude of such an achievement.
Looking at the entire Yu Clan, there weren't many experts who had comprehended the realm of concepts.
Even among those of the same generation as Chen Mu, or the entire fourth generation of the Yu Clan, including Xu Hongyu and others, not a single person had grasped the realm of concepts. This was a height far beyond those still striving to master sword techniques.
Yu Yun stood there, momentarily stunned, like a wooden chicken. Her brother was also an outstanding figure in the Yu Clan Martial Academy, although not among the most exceptional of the fourth-generation males. He had recently entered the Sinew Transformation Perfection realm, and his age was similar to Xu Hongyu's. However, he had only mastered two sword techniques so far, and the realm of concepts remained a distant goal.
A figure from her memory suddenly appeared—the silhouette she had seen in the South District that day, Chen Yue's brother. That person had already entered the realm of concepts? Could that seemingly ordinary-looking youth be such an extraordinary figure?
Not far away, Yu Ru was also frozen in place, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Chen Mu's brother... had entered the realm of concepts?
He was even more impressive than she had imagined.
(End of Chapter)
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