Chapter 138: Reaction
Chapter 138: Reaction
Hao Family.
The main courtyard located at the very center of the compound.
In the luxurious hall adorned with jade, gold, and silver, Hao Zhengya leaned on his cane, watching Hao Guangxun enter, and asked slowly, "What's the situation with Blood Veil Tower?"
Nine hundred thousand taels of silver was no small sum, and Blood Veil Tower's sudden halt to the mission, along with their demand for an additional thirty million taels to continue, was an unbearable burden for the Hao family.
Although the Hao family was one of the four great clans of Yu Prefecture, governing millions of commoners in the region, and with nearly a hundred years of development, their wealth exceeded a hundred million taels of silver. However, most of their silver was tied up in various industries, such as large estates outside the prefecture and various businesses. Additionally, they had cultivated over a thousand elite guards and some elite sword masters in the Sinew Transformation Realm.
It was practically impossible to produce thirty million taels of silver at once.
Moreover, the most critical issue was why Chen Mu was worth thirty million taels of silver. Even the initial ninety thousand taels seemed a bit expensive to Hao Zhengya, and if it weren't for Blood Veil Tower's reputation, he would rather have sent one of his own people to attempt the mission.
Hao Guangxun entered the hall with a grim expression.
"Blood Veil Tower claims that the intelligence regarding Chen Mu is worth ninety thousand taels of silver. If we want to know the reason, they won't return the previous silver... I believe Blood Veil Tower's reputation, so I took it upon myself to exchange silver for the intelligence."
Upon hearing this, Hao Zhengya's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said, "So, what's so unusual about this matter?"
Hao Guangxun took a deep breath, and a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes as he spoke in a low voice, "Father, we have all underestimated Chen Mu. We thought he had only comprehended the Whistling Wind Intent during the Demon Turmoil, but in fact, he possesses not just one intent, but also the Thunder Intent. He might have even comprehended it earlier than the Whistling Wind Intent."
"Thunder Intent?"
Hao Zhengya's expression froze.
In the past, Chen Mu's name hadn't even entered his eyes, but since Chen Mu had displayed his intent during the Demon Turmoil, the Hao family had gathered all kinds of intelligence about Chen Mu and delivered it to him. Chen Mu's past was easy to investigate as he was from a lowly background, and it seemed he had stumbled upon a sword technique and cultivated a sword style, which had caught Xu Hongyu's attention.
Furthermore, the sword techniques Chen Mu had demonstrated were all from the Whistling Wind lineage. If he had comprehended the Whistling Wind Intent in the Yu Clan, it wouldn't be surprising for someone with high insight and talent to achieve the Whistling Wind Intent. But where did the Thunder Intent come from?
"Not only that, but according to the current situation, it's likely that Ming Xuan was killed by this person. At that time, Chen Mu had already cultivated his Sinew Transformation to near perfection, and now he has even entered the Bone Forging Realm!"
Hao Guangxun's expression turned extremely grim.
Hao Zhengya's face also changed upon hearing this, and he said, "Bone Forging? Are you sure?"
"Blood Veil Tower's intelligence is unlikely to be false."
Hao Guangxun's voice was a bit hoarse.
Comprehending both the Wind and Thunder Intents could only mean that Chen Mu had exceptionally high insight. However, Chen Mu started cultivating the Body Tempering Technique quite late, and now, at nearly twenty-six years old, if he had entered the Sinew Transformation Realm not long ago, then there was a good chance he could reach the perfection of Sinew Transformation and break through to Bone Forging by the age of thirty. But to advance to the Organ Realms, his age might become a limiting factor, and it was unlikely to succeed.
A Bone Forging expert with two intents was indeed powerful and could pose a challenge to the Hao family, but it wouldn't overturn the fundamental situation between the Hao and Yu clans.
But now...
Chen Mu had already entered the Bone Forging Realm!
Judging from Chen Mu's past cultivation time, it was likely that he hadn't practiced the Body Tempering Technique for more than four years. To cross the Skin Tempering, Muscle Cultivation, and Sinew Transformation realms and enter Bone Forging in such a short time was a terrifying pace!
Although there were some people born with naturally tough bodies, Chen Mu was not yet twenty-six years old, and entering the Bone Forging Realm at this age was extraordinary. With his Iron Body and abundant qi and blood, the possibility of him advancing to the Organ Realms was extremely high.
Once Chen Mu reached the Organ Realms, the situation between the Hao and Yu clans would truly be overturned!
At that time, it wouldn't be the Hao family waiting for the Yu Clan's elder to reach old age and die; instead, it would be the Yu Clan's turn to wait for their elder to wither away slowly. Moreover, the most outstanding of the four generations of the Hao family, He Mingzhen, had died in the Huangran Mountains.
With this thought in mind, Hao Zhengya's face grew even more somber. "Wind and Thunder Intents, Bone Forging Realm, and an Iron Body... It's likely that Mingzhen was also killed by him. Most likely, an earth tremor in the Huangran Mountains revealed a treasure, and they fought over it, not knowing each other's strength, and he was killed unexpectedly."
Hao Guangxun clenched his fist tightly and said, "We have all underestimated this person. His talent is likely even greater than Xu Yichuan's, and he is cunning and deceitful. At such a young age, he can be so patient and hidden. In the future, he will undoubtedly be a great threat to our family and must be eliminated as soon as possible."
"It's difficult," Hao Zhengya said with a dark expression. "This person has already established himself, and ordinary means may not be enough to eliminate him. Blood Veil Tower's demand is too high—thirty million taels of silver. Even if we can produce the silver, it will inevitably damage our foundation, harming ourselves by eight hundred. Moreover, such a large sum of money cannot be moved without alerting the Yu Clan's spies. If the Inspector General gets involved, the situation will become even more complicated if the Inspector General gets involved."
Bone Forging Realm, Iron Body, and Wind and Thunder Intents.
With all these factors combined, there was almost no one in the Bone Forging Realm who could defeat Chen Mu. Only someone in the Organ Realms could take him on.
"Then..."
Hao Guangxun looked at Hao Zhengya, not speaking, but Hao Zhengya understood his meaning.
Hao Zhengya sighed. "Although I don't want to disturb the old man, this matter should indeed be reported. The decision on how to handle it can only be made by him. It's no longer something I can decide on my own."
...
Yu Clan.
This place, located at the easternmost part of the Yu Clan's compound, was a very quiet area with a large area but no tall buildings, only small houses scattered throughout.
The courtyard had artificial hills and a pond, almost like an enlarged version of Xu Hongyu's courtyard, but without the girlish atmosphere. Instead, it exuded a sense of tranquility and elegance.
By the pond.
An old man with white hair and beard was sitting there.
Although he looked to be at least seventy or eighty years old, his face was free of wrinkles, and his complexion was rosy, resembling the immortal with 'Crane Hair and Child's Face' from the tales of the strange and wondrous.
He was the previous head of the Yu Clan and the oldest surviving member of the clan, having once served as an Overseer of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Yu Jiujiang.
He appeared to be fishing, but the end of the line had a straight hook without any bait, and yet the fish in the pond still swam around the hook without any food, as if they were intimately close to it.
The entire person seemed to merge with the pond, and even the straight hook, the fishing line, and the entire rod seemed to be part of the pond's water, making the clear spring water that extended from it.
Suddenly.
Someone arrived in the courtyard, walked respectfully behind Yu Jiujiang, stopped about ten feet away, and then whispered a few words before bowing and retreating.
Silently, a ripple appeared in the pond, and the hanging fishing line swayed gently in the water.
Splash!
The fishing rod flicked, pulling up the fishing line and hook, and it turned out that there was no fish on the straight hook, but a clear pond water merged with the entire hook, and as the water flowed, it transformed into the shape of a koi, struggling for a few moments before plopping back into the pond, merging with the water again, and returning to a pool of ordinary clear water.
Yu Jiujiang slowly reeled in the fishing rod, looking at the pond's surface, and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.
"Chen Mu..."
"Wind and Thunder Intent, Iron Body Bone Forging..."
"After Yichuan, I thought the Yu Clan would never have another opportunity. I never imagined that even though you are no longer here, the red jade girl you left behind is still the Yu Clan's blessing. Before I return to the Gu Hong, there is finally hope again."
The Ancient Academy is usually not disturbed.
In a 1619 book bar, there is no wrong version!
General affairs are not usually reported to him.
However, Xu Hongyu's marriage was reported to him not long ago, along with some information about Chen Mu. At that time, he felt that Xu Hongyu was indeed a good match for Chen Mu, but now, it's no longer just a good match.
The entire Yu Clan's future may depend on Chen Mu, and his talent and aptitude are even higher than Xu Yichuan's were back then. If he joins the Seven Mysteries Sect, he may even have the qualifications to compete for the True Lineage. There's a high possibility that he'll enter the Five Viscera Realm in the future.
Nowadays, he sits by the pond.
Using the Tortoise Breathing Technique to guard his Essence Energy, preventing its loss.
But in the end, he is too old, having reached the twilight of his life at ninety years old. Even a Five Viscera Realm cultivator can't resist the turning of heaven and earth, and even if he does his best to minimize the loss of Essence Energy, using the Tortoise Breathing Technique to prolong his life, he can only maintain his strength for two or three more years at most. Once he can't hold on to his Essence Energy, he will quickly decline.
"It must be done quickly."
Yu Jiujiang murmured.
These two or three years of maintenance also depend on him not fighting anyone. In his current state, if he fights, the intense loss will make the time he can maintain his strength even shorter.
After these two or three years, he will only have some remaining deterrence.
With Chen Mu's talent and aptitude, he can probably reach the Bone Forging Realm in just a few years, and he will likely enter the Five Viscera Realm in the future. But two or three years is too short, and he doesn't know if he can catch up.
...
In the center of the inner city, behind the city lord's mansion, stands a brand-new towering pavilion.
Occasionally, people pass by, but no one dares to look up at the pavilion. Even if they glance at it with their peripheral vision, their eyes reveal deep reverence, and their fear is even greater than when they look at the city lord's mansion.
This is the Inspector Bureau.
An Inspector General from the prefectural government personally oversees it, and his authority surpasses all government offices in Yu Prefecture. He holds the highest position of 'Inspecting the Hundred Offices and Patrolling the Prefecture', and even City Lord Xue Huai Kong is now under his control.
However, after the establishment of the Inspector Bureau, it doesn't interfere too much with Yu City's original order. Most of its personnel are from the intelligence departments of various government offices in Yu Prefecture, and all intelligence information in the prefecture must first pass through the Inspector Bureau before being distributed to the various government offices.
This is originally within the Inspector Bureau's authority.
But in reality, everyone knows that the Inspector Bureau focuses more on monitoring the four major sects: Sky Sword Harmony Sect, Blood Concealment Mystic Pavilion, and Heaven Sword Sect.
At the top of the Inspector Bureau, there is a small pavilion. Outside the pavilion stands a young man in white, holding a book, looking like a scholar. He stands at the edge of the pavilion, overlooking the various government offices in the inner city.
The only person who can stand here with such composure is the Jade Province Inspector General, White Robe Scholar Yan Jingqing.
"Sir."
Suddenly, a voice comes from behind: "I have something to report."
Yan Jingqing stands calmly, listening to the report. After hearing the report, a slight ripple appears in his clear eyes, and he slowly turns around to look at his subordinate, revealing a thoughtful expression.
"Chen... Mu?"
"Yu Prefecture has such a talented person. The Seven Mysteries Sect's past selection process indeed had some issues. Such a talented person was overlooked, but since he's from the Yu Clan and works in the Demon Slayer Bureau, it's not exactly a loss. It's just that the He and Yu Clans..."
Yan Jingqing slightly shakes his head.
The He and Yu Clans have a conflict that dates back to the Seven Mysteries Sect, but he doesn't have much contact with either clan, so he's not interested in interfering. After all, compared to those more powerful and influential families in the prefectural government, some of which even have connections to the Seven Mysteries Sect's elders, the He and Yu Clans are just local powerhouses in Yu Prefecture and not worth mentioning in the entire Jade Province.
In any case, his trip to Yu Prefecture is to control the situation in the prefecture and restrain the four major sects, as well as to select talented individuals. Although Chen Mu's age is not suitable for joining the Seven Mysteries Sect, it doesn't matter whether he joins the Demon Slayer Bureau or the Inspector Bureau.
After all, in the entire Jade Province, from the Inspector General to the Governor, they all belong to the Seven Mysteries Sect.
It's just that sect disciples are more formal.
For example, Yan Jingqing himself is not a sect disciple but rose through the ranks of the Demon Slayer Bureau. However, his background is not as humble as Chen Mu's, and he didn't start from the very bottom as a lowly servant.
(End of Chapter)
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