Chapter 128: The Universe
Chapter 128: The Universe
Outside Yu City, in a vast wilderness, Chen Mu followed his memories, passing through a familiar graveyard and arriving at a slightly more level area in the forest.
His gaze swept across the surroundings, taking in the numerous small graves, and soon he found a relatively larger tomb.
It was the burial site of his father and mother, Liu Ping.
Originally, the two graves were not together. Liu Ping was buried in another location, and at that time, Chen Mu's father, being a law enforcement officer, had arranged for a proper burial. But when Chen Mu's father passed away, he was hastily buried in a simple grave.
It wasn't until Chen Mu was promoted to the Wutongli Law Enforcement Supervisor that he finally found some time to relocate and bury his parents together, erecting a tombstone in his own name.
Although both his parents had already passed away when he arrived in this world, and in a sense, he didn't have much of a parental bond with them, he still felt a sense of causality, living as Chen Mu.
Carrying wine, Chen Mu walked up to the new grave and paid his respects.
Xu Hongyu followed him silently, and after the ceremony, she looked at the grave and whispered, "Now you're so different from before. Do you want to move them to a better place?"
Chen Mu shook his head and sighed softly, "Let's leave it be. No need to disturb them again."
In these turbulent times, what's the point of repairing a mausoleum? It might even attract tomb raiders. It's better to leave them buried here; at least they're together and won't be disturbed.
Xu Hongyu nodded slightly and followed Chen Mu out of the forest.
Looking ahead, they could see the towering walls of Yu City. Chen Mu stood and gazed at it, feeling a bit sentimental. In the past, when he was a law enforcement officer transporting corpses, he often entered and exited Yu City, marveling at the height of its walls, which surpassed some of the ancient imperial cities he had seen in his previous life. Now, looking at these towering walls, he no longer felt the same sense of awe.
Xiao He and the others waited outside, and when they saw Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu, they quickly followed them. The group soon entered the city through the South Gate and made their way into the inner city, arriving at the Yu Clan residence.
Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu temporarily parted ways. Xu Hongyu headed towards the main courtyard in the east, while Chen Mu went north, soon arriving at the small courtyard where he had previously lived.
The servants along the way seemed to have already heard of his deeds in Anyu County, and their gazes towards him were filled with increased respect.
"Big brother is back."
In the courtyard, Chen Yue was practicing her sword when she suddenly saw Chen Mu approaching. Her face lit up with joy, and she sheathed her sword and ran towards him.
Chen Mu smiled slightly, about to say something, when Chen Yue suddenly leaped and hung onto him like she used to when she was younger. However, she was already a young lady, and it had been two years since she had done such a thing.
"Behave like a young lady," Chen Mu gently put her down and scolded her playfully.
Chen Yue giggled, "There's no one here to see... Oh, and I've entered the Muscle Training Realm too."
"Good, very good," Chen Mu nodded slightly. No wonder when she jumped on him earlier, her touch felt more solid than before.
Crossing the Skin-Toughening Realm and entering the Muscle Training Realm in just over two years was relatively fast among martial artists, especially since she was at the Yu Clan Martial Academy with abundant resources and was his sister, often taking precious tonic soups.
If she could reach the perfection of the first level of Muscle Training within two years and then enter the Sinew Transformation Realm within a year, her progress would be almost on par with Xu Hongyu's, although her sword skills were still slower.
After all, although Chen Yue started practicing the Body Tempering Technique around the age of fifteen, similar to the young masters of wealthy families, Xu Hongyu had been practicing the sword since childhood, while Chen Yue practiced the Body Tempering Technique alongside her martial arts training.
"Did you cause any trouble while I was away?" Chen Mu asked as he walked into the house, glancing at Chen Yue.
Chen Yue blinked and said, "Well... I made Yu Yun cry before."
Chen Mu quickly remembered who Yu Yun was and shook his head with a smile. He knew that Chen Yue wasn't the type to cause trouble, even though she had grown up a bit and become more lively than before. Like him, she understood the importance of propriety, having come from a poor background and knowing the value of every grain of rice.
He mainly wanted to know if Chen Yue had been bullied at the Yu Clan residence. It seemed like she was doing well, so he didn't need to worry too much. Moreover, after this incident, probably no one in the Yu Clan would dare to bully Chen Yue again.
After catching up with Chen Yue about what had happened during his absence in the inner city...
Xiao He arrived at the courtyard.
"Big Sister Ning."
Chen Yue ran out of the house, greeting Xiao He with a giggle. When Chen Mu first brought her to the Yu Clan, she knew nothing, and it was Xiao He who introduced her to Yu Ru and took care of her ever since.
Xiao He gently pinched Chen Yue's cheeks and then nodded slightly to Chen Mu, saying, "The Clan Head is inviting you in."
"Yue'er, I'll go ahead."
Chen Mu spoke calmly and headed towards the courtyard with Xiao He. On the way, he asked Xiao He about Xu Hongyu, only to learn that she had already left the Yu Clan to go to the Demon Slayer Bureau to tally her merits. In reality, she was going to exchange for Bone Forging Pills, taking advantage of the relatively stable situation in Yu Prefecture.
Although Xu Hongyu's merits were not as many as Chen Mu's, as the chief of a township, with the merits she had accumulated earlier and some remaining, it was enough to exchange for two Bone Forging Pills. After experiencing this Demon Disturbance, her Qi and blood had stabilized, and it wouldn't be long before she could attempt Bone Forging.
Soon, Chen Mu arrived at the main courtyard on the east side of the Yu Clan.
Xiao He gestured for Chen Mu to enter the courtyard and then quietly stood by his side.
Chen Mu walked into the courtyard with a composed expression and immediately saw a man standing there, his temples slightly white, wearing a green brocade robe. There was no need to introduce him; he was the current Clan Head of the Yu Clan, Yu Zuyi.
Yu Zuyi was not only Xu Hongyu's maternal grandfather but also the Director of the Salt Administration in Yu Prefecture, overseeing the salt trade in the entire prefecture. His position was equivalent to that of the Director of the Inner and Outer City Districts, and in his youth, he had also served as the Director of the Demon Slayer Bureau.
He was the most powerful figure in the Yu Clan, second only to the first ancestor, standing firmly at the peak of Bone Forging Perfection. He had mastered two Concepts, the Kan Water and the Water Hexagram, and was a well-known figure in the Inner City of Yu Prefecture.
"Clan Head Yu."
Chen Mu greeted Yu Zuyi with a bow, still addressing him by his official title.
Yu Zuyi had already turned around and was looking at Chen Mu. There was no hint of the Clan Head's authority in his eyes; instead, he had the amiable demeanor of an elderly man. "There's no need for formalities. Your sister is training in martial arts at our clan's Martial Academy, and you and Hongyu have been supporting each other like family. I'm aware of everything. As for your marriage with Hongyu, I, as the Clan Head, will take charge of the arrangements."
The Clan Head was indeed straightforward.
Chen Mu looked at Yu Zuyi, about to say something, when Yu Zuyi continued in a calm tone, "In this day and age, one's background is not as important as one's abilities. You've entered the Sinew Transformation Realm and comprehended a Concept, which is similar to Hongyu's father. You are already far above the millions of commoners in Yu City, holding great influence wherever you go. Therefore, when you marry Hongyu, there's no need to change your surname or become a son-in-law. Your descendants can also carry your surname."
Was this the treatment that Xu Hongyu's father received back then?
Chen Mu couldn't help but mutter to himself.
The reason why Xu Hongyu could keep her surname 'Xu' and still be considered the most core member of the Yu Clan was not solely because her mother was the legitimate daughter of Clan Head Yu Zuyi. The more critical factor was her father, Xu Yichuan's, talent and status within the Yu Clan.
Now, Chen Mu was receiving the same treatment.
At this moment, Chen Mu realized that Xu Hongyu probably hadn't told Yu Zuyi much about him. Otherwise, if Yu Zuyi knew that Chen Mu had not only comprehended a Concept but also cultivated the Wind and Thunder Hexagrams and had reached the stage before Bone Forging in Body Tempering, his attitude might have been even more different.
However, Chen Mu didn't have any intention to show off, so he didn't bring it up proactively.
"But..."
In a 1691 book, I read a version without mistakes!
Yu Zuyi's voice became slightly more serious as he continued, "You should already know that the Four Sects are about to establish themselves in Yu Prefecture during these extraordinary times. The Yu Clan should avoid drawing attention, so your marriage with Hongyu will not be a grand affair. This is for your sake, Hongyu's, and the Yu Clan's."
In the past, for a core member of the Yu Clan like Xu Hongyu, a grand wedding with numerous guests and a ten-mile-long red carpet would have been expected. But in these extraordinary times, any attention-drawing behavior was strictly prohibited.
Chen Mu shook his head slightly and said, "It's not a problem for me, but it might be a little unfair to Hongyu."
Upon hearing this, Yu Zuyi smiled and said, "The Yu Clan is indeed a well-known clan, but we also rose from humble beginnings. Our ancestors started from the martial world, and a hundred years ago, the first ancestor of our clan slept on the ground and used the sky as his bed. Later, he joined the Seven Mysteries Sect, gradually establishing our roots in Yu Prefecture. In reality, we are all from the martial world, and there's no need for such formalities. If you feel that it's unfair to Hongyu, just treat her well in the future."
At this point, Yu Zuyi paused and said, "I heard Hongyu mention that you need a Wind Hexagram Concept diagram. Unfortunately, our Yu Clan currently doesn't possess one. We only have a high-grade Kan Water diagram, along with imprinted diagrams of the Fire, Water, and Mountain Hexagrams. If you wish to continue improving in the Eight Aspects of Heaven and Earth, you can try the Fire Hexagram diagram. If that doesn't work, you can attempt the Kan Water diagram."
Chen Mu paused in thought upon hearing this.
For now, he had no intention of cultivating multiple Intentional Images. According to his current understanding, even if he cultivated three different Intents, and even if they were all at the first step, their combined power would still fall short of a single Intent at the second step.
Therefore, for him at this stage, focusing on the Thunder Vibration Diagram and swiftly advancing the Wind and Thunder Intent to the second step was the best way to enhance his strength.
Of course.
He had also learned a lot about the Heaven Earth Intent recently.
For example, in the Heaven Earth Intent, Wind and Thunder Fire belonged to the 'Heavenly Firmament', while Mountains, Marshes, and Water belonged to the 'Earthly Foundation'. To cultivate the Heavenly Firmament Intent, one must cultivate the three aspects of Wind, Thunder, and Fire. Similarly, to cultivate the Earthly Foundation Intent, one must master the three aspects of Mountains, Marshes, and Water.
The reason for this was that in the Heaven and Earth Eight Aspects Diagram, neither the Heaven nor the Earth Diagram was a singular image. Instead, they were composed of a 'Heavenly Firmament Master Diagram' as the main image, combined with the Wind, Thunder, and Fire sub-diagrams, forming the complete Heavenly Firmament Diagram. The six aspects of Wind, Thunder, Fire, Mountains, Marshes, and Water were inherently part of the Heaven and Earth, belonging to the realms of Heaven and Earth.
In Yu Zuyi's opinion, since he had already grasped the Whistling Wind Intent, and the Whistling Wind was similar to the Fire of Separation, he suggested that Chen Mu try the Fire of Separation first. If he truly couldn't comprehend it due to the poor quality of the Fire of Separation Diagram, then he could attempt to comprehend the Water Conduit Diagram.
"I want to try and cultivate a single Intent to the second step..."
Chen Mu thought for a moment before responding.
Currently, he wanted to comprehend several of the Yu Clan's Intentional Image Charts, and he could do so at any time, so there was no need to rush.
"You have ambition."
Yu Zuyi smiled warmly, then sighed and said, "Cultivating multiple Intents does make it more difficult to reach the second step. In fact, many people are stuck at the threshold of the second step, unable to make any progress, and are forced to cultivate multiple Intents."
"However, for the truly exceptional geniuses, cultivating multiple Intents is also the path they take. In the end, they all converge on the Eight Aspects of Heaven and Earth, reaching the realm of touching upon Heaven and Earth... But this Grand Xuan Dynasty's most orthodox Heaven and Earth Eight Aspects is also the most challenging of all Intents. Even during the heyday of the Imperial Court, very few people could truly cultivate the Eight Aspects and master the Heaven Earth Intent. Even if one does master it, every step forward is equivalent to eight steps for others. It's said that each step is as difficult as ascending to the heavens, and very few can reach the pinnacle."
After perusing the Yu Clan's extensive collection of books, Chen Mu discovered that the Heaven and Earth Eight Aspects wasn't the only Martial Dao Intent in the world. It was simply the most widespread, official, and orthodox Intent, and also the undisputed strongest Intent.
However, this 'strongest' didn't refer to a single Intent but rather, one must at least cultivate the Heavenly Firmament or Earthly Foundation to suppress all directions. Only by cultivating the complete Heaven Earth Intent could one be considered the strongest in the Martial Dao.
It surpassed the 'Yin and Yang' and 'Five Elements' Intents!
Of course, the Yin and Yang and Five Elements Intents were also incredibly challenging, each divided into multiple parts. For example, the Five Elements Intent had five different aspects, and one had to cultivate all five to master the complete Five Elements. The Yin and Yang Intent also had numerous branches and extensions.
In the world, there were also those who specialized in the Sword Dao, like the Sky Sword Sect, which cultivated the 'Sword Dao Intent', with various branches like the Heart Sword and Heaven Sword. There were also those who focused on the Slaughter Dao, cultivating the 'Slaughter Intent', and so on.
However, these were mostly mastered by the various sects and never revealed to the world, unlike the Heaven Earth Eight Aspects Diagram, which, after a thousand years of dissemination, had been divided and subdivided, spreading to the common folk and giving rise to countless swordsmanship and swordsmanship techniques.
For Chen Mu at this point,
Cultivating a single Intent to a more advanced level would bring about a much greater improvement.
But once he had cultivated an Intent to its peak, reaching the third step, then the measure of strength among those at the third step would be the 'quality' of the Intent itself.
As for why the Heaven Earth Intent was recognized as the strongest in the Martial Dao, Chen Mu knew the reason. It was because the Grand Xuan Dynasty, which had unified the world, still stood strong!
The Grand Xuan Dynasty swept across the eight directions, pacified the four seas, and established a unified dynasty, even flourishing for nearly a thousand years, suppressing countless sects. Its origins lay with the founding ancestor, who cultivated the Heaven Earth Intent and reached the pinnacle of the Martial Dao!
But a thousand years had passed.
The Grand Xuan Dynasty of today no longer had such figures.
(End of Chapter)
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