Chapter 132: Heart Sword
Chapter 132: Heart Sword
The dual cultivation technique of the Harmony Sect...
If there's a chance to obtain it in the future, it's not impossible to give it a try.
Chen Mu pondered silently in his heart. Although he didn't know every detail about his own Xu Hongyu, he was very clear about her temperament. It wasn't unusual for her to occasionally say astonishing things with a casual attitude. If there was indeed a cultivation method that could benefit both of them, he wouldn't mind sacrificing a little face to try it with Xu Hongyu.
After all, with Xu Hongyu's talent, she would definitely succeed in Bone Forging, but it would be difficult to reach the Five Viscera Realm, and even more challenging to go further. He was destined not to stay at this level. If there was a cultivation method that could benefit Xu Hongyu, well, he wouldn't mind sacrificing a little for her sake.
"The cultivation methods of the Harmony Sect are generally not passed outside the sect. Among the four major sects, in my opinion, the Sky Sword Sect is a suitable choice for the younger generation of the Yu Clan to try. As for the Blood Concealment Harmony Sect, let's forget about it."
Chen Mu shook his head as he spoke.
Nowadays, with the four major sects in Yu Prefecture, the young talents of Yu Prefecture who used to compete fiercely to enter the Seven Mysteries Sect now have more options.
Even the Sky Sword Sect, which doesn't discriminate based on wealth or poverty, accepts all who meet the standard after testing their talent. This is unlike the past when the Seven Mysteries Sect dominated, and the majority of poor families in Yu Prefecture had no chance to enter.
"Actually, the Seven Mysteries Sect has also changed its entry requirements now."
Xiao He smiled slightly and said, "In the past, when the Seven Mysteries Sect recruited disciples, they would send down only one Overseer, and all matters were basically handled by Chancellor Xue on their behalf, delegated layer by layer. When it reached the lower levels, those who wanted to participate in the Seven Mysteries Sect's entrance examination had to pay at least ten silver ingots. Most families couldn't afford that."
Chen Mu cut a piece of the fruit he had peeled and put it in his mouth to taste. It was quite sour, but to avoid being impolite, he swallowed it without changing his expression and put the rest aside. Then he said, "Times have changed. In the past, the Seven Mysteries Sect dominated, but now with the competition among the four sects, it can be said that sometimes strife is detrimental to stability, but at other times, it promotes development."
In fact, Xiao He's point was something Chen Mu deeply understood. Compared to Xiao He, he was the one who truly came from the lower class. Just as Xiao He said, he had also experienced the Seven Mysteries Sect's recruitment every two years in various prefectures. However, as Xiao He mentioned, the governance of Yu City was corrupt, and as it trickled down, by the time it reached the lower levels, just testing one's talent cost ten silver ingots!
Ordinary families, even if they knew that entering the Seven Mysteries Sect would be a great opportunity, could hardly afford ten silver ingots. Moreover, even if they could come up with the money, it was still a very slim chance. If they weren't selected, the ten silver ingots would be as good as thrown into the water, ending up in someone's pocket.
In the past, his father had wanted him to try, but in the end, considering how many years it would take to save up ten silver ingots for such a tiny chance, it was deemed meaningless, and he gave up. That night, his father cooked a meat meal for him and Chen Yue.
As for now...
The Seven Mysteries Sect no longer has such entry requirements.
All young people under the age of sixteen can go to the various branches under the Outer City Surveillance Office to have their talent and bone constitution tested. Once they meet the standard, they can directly join the Seven Mysteries Sect.
However, unless they have exceptionally high talent, they will be sent to the mountain gate of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Most will remain in Yu Prefecture, serving as law enforcers under the Surveillance Office while cultivating.
The Surveillance Office established in Yu City is basically no different from a branch of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
"Hmm."
Xu Hongyu sat beside Chen Mu, her eyes like black jade with a hint of sparkle, feeling that everything Chen Mu said made sense, directly pointing out the essence of the situation. She almost forgot that Chen Mu was actually a little younger than her.
She picked up a fruit of the same kind that Chen Mu had just eaten, and with a flick of her small knife, the peel flew onto the table, forming a pile. She took a bite and said with relish, "Actually, in Yu Prefecture, all our Sinew Transformation and Bone Forging warriors can be considered disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect."
"That's indeed the case."
Chen Mu nodded.
Almost all the Sinew Transformation Pills and Bone Forging Pills circulating in Yu City nowadays originate from the Seven Mysteries Sect. In other words, without the Seven Mysteries Sect, Yu City wouldn't have produced so many Sinew Transformation and Bone Forging cultivators.
Moreover, Yu Prefecture has always been under the governance of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Therefore, essentially, all the Sinew Transformation and Bone Forging cultivators in Yu Prefecture are considered 'off-mountain' disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Although they don't enjoy some of the benefits of the sect, they also aren't restricted by the sect's rules, making them a more free type of disciple.
"Hongyu, how's your progress with the Water Conduit Diagram?"
Chen Mu thought for a moment and asked Xu Hongyu.
Xu Hongyu shook her head and said, "I feel that it's infinitely profound, but for the past month, it's always been like groping in the mist, unable to see clearly."
Xiao He spoke softly from the side, "I've heard that some people who meditate on Intentional Images will sit in front of the chart for years without understanding it. Miss, why don't you combine stillness with movement? Since you've been meditating for a month, so why not go out for a walk today?"
"Hmm..."
Xu Hongyu hesitated slightly and looked at Chen Mu beside her.
Chen Mu smiled, stood up, and said, "Then let's take a walk while it's still early."
In his opinion, if one were to meditate on the Water Conduit Diagram, it would be best to take the chart and meditate while traveling, observing the rivers and streams in the world, which would surely help in understanding it. But unfortunately, that's not possible.
With Xu Hongyu's strength, traveling in some places in Yu Prefecture wouldn't be a problem, but carrying the Water Conduit Diagram is out of the question. That's the foundation of the Yu Clan, and not even Yu Zuyi, the head of the clan, could take it outside the clan's territory.
A group of three quickly arrived on the street.
"The Inner City looks pretty much the same on the surface," Chen Mu observed as he led the way, his gaze scanning the surroundings. The streets were still filled with well-dressed individuals, but it seemed a bit livelier than before, with more street vendors calling out to passersby.
Xu Hongyu gracefully followed beside Chen Mu, not particularly interested in the bustling atmosphere of the market. After nearly a month of secluded cultivation in the Yu Clan, as Xiao He had suggested, it was a welcome change to be out and about, especially with Chen Mu by her side.
They strolled along.
There were no incidents of bullies blocking their path.
After all, although the Four Sects had settled in Yu Prefecture, the Four Great Families kept a low profile. The Yu Clan was still a formidable force to ordinary people, and Xu Hongyu was well-known within the Inner City. Naturally, no one would dare offend them, especially on the main street of the Inner City in broad daylight.
"Miss, look at that!"
Xiao He was full of energy, running back and forth, pulling Xu Hongyu to see various things.
Chen Mu walked calmly beside them, his gaze focused on observing the changes and situation within the Inner City, contemplating the possible future developments. Suddenly, he spotted a group of people wearing neat gray-white robes walking towards them. He paused for a moment, his eyes resting on them.
These were young people in their twenties, each with a stern gaze, walking with purpose through the alley. On their gray-white robes, a sword-shaped pattern was embroidered on the chest.
The crowd along the way made way for them.
"Sky Sword Sect..."
Xiao He also pulled Xu Hongyu aside and carefully observed the passing group.
Suddenly, the leader of the group seemed to sense something and turned his head towards Chen Mu, meeting his gaze. A faint glint of sword light flashed through his eyes.
Chen Mu closed his eyes slightly.
The Sky Sword Sect disciple didn't say anything or make any further moves. He quickly retracted his gaze and continued forward with his fellow disciples.
After walking for a while, the one closest to Chen Mu whispered, "Senior Brother Gu, just now..."
In the 16th year of the Yongle reign, the first month, the 9th day, a mistake-free version!
"The Heart Sword occasionally has a feeling, but it should be an illusion."
Gu Hong shook his head slightly, his tone a bit odd.
He cultivated the 'Heart Sword' lineage of the Sky Sword Sect, and his intent was clear and perceptive, allowing him to sense the mysteries of heaven and earth. Sometimes, he didn't even need to see or hear things to perceive hidden dangers or unusual changes.
When Chen Mu's gaze fell upon him, although there was no sense of danger or killing intent, the feeling was different from everyone else on the street. So, he returned the gaze, and without any visible action, he used his Heart Sword intent to scan the other party. The other party was indeed extraordinary, at least possessing an intent, but it didn't seem to have reached the level of the Heart Sword demonstration. It was a bit strange.
He was a true lineage disciple of the Sky Sword Sect, albeit at the bottom of the list. In this generation, very few young people could catch his attention. In Jade Province, only the true lineage disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect could enter his field of vision. As for Yu Prefecture, even the so-called young generation leader 'Xue Lin' was just a laughingstock to him. Perhaps the Heart Sword had sensed something else, causing this illusion. Such situations occasionally happened and weren't worth overanalyzing.
...
In the distance.
Chen Mu closed his eyes slightly.
In the pitch-black darkness, a beam of sword light illuminated the way, but it was immediately struck by a beam of lightning, causing it to sway and then be swept away by a wild gust of wind, eventually disintegrating inch by inch.
When he opened his eyes again, the group of Sky Sword Sect disciples had already walked away.
"Is this the intent of the Sword Dao?"
Chen Mu muttered to himself.
Compared to the Eight Aspects of Heaven and Earth, that moment seemed to be an intent capable of attacking the heart. Although it was very faint, he had countered it with the Wind and Thunder Hexagrams.
He could clearly sense that the other party's intent, although profound, had not yet reached the second step.
"That person just now seemed to be one of the true lineage disciples of the Sky Sword Sect. Marquis, do you know him?"
At this moment, Xiao He suddenly spoke up, whispering. During Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu's cultivation, she had naturally learned a lot about the outside world, including information about the Sky Sword Sect.
For example, there were only four true lineage disciples under the Sky Sword Sect: Zuo Qianqiu as the leader, and Gu Hong as the last.
"I don't know him."
Chen Mu shook his head.
A true lineage disciple of the Sky Sword Sect... that made sense. This intent was obviously not something anyone could cultivate; it was a rare skill.
As far as he knew, among the various sects, only true lineage disciples at the Five Viscera Realm were qualified to walk freely outside. Regardless of who that person was, since they could move freely, they were undoubtedly at the Five Viscera Realm.
Furthermore, with this level of intent, most people, including Prefecture Head Xue Huai Kong, would struggle to gain an advantage against them. In the current Yu Prefecture, probably only the Inspector from the Prefecture could suppress such a person.
As he was thinking.
Along with the disappearance of the group of Sky Sword Sect disciples, the pedestrians on the street began to move again.
Suddenly, a voice came from the side.
"The Mystic Hall, the Profound Words of the Heavens... You all seem to have fate, would you like me to tell your fortunes?"
Chen Mu turned to look.
At some point, behind him and Xu Hongyu, a street stall had appeared. An old man with two missing front teeth, wearing a tattered Daoist robe, and a somewhat unkempt appearance was grinning at him while holding a stack of tortoise shells.
(End of Chapter)
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