Chapter 140: Summoning
Chapter 140: Summoning
Sitting on the Flame Jade Bed, a warm and scorching sensation rose from below.
The sweltering heat of summer had passed, and autumn was approaching, yet sitting on the Flame Jade Bed, it felt like the peak of summer, especially in the enclosed meditation chamber, where the heat was even more intense.
But Chen Mu's physique had long reached a state of immunity to the elements, so the heat from the Flame Jade Bed, or even a bath in boiling water, or a quick dip in a sizzling hot oil pot, would have little effect on him.
He soon calmed his mind and focused his spirit.
He carefully contemplated the Fire Departure Intention.
If the Water Conduit Diagram revealed a river of stars falling from the heavens, then the Fire Departure Intention manifested as a blazing heavenly fire. Merely touching upon this intention, one could feel as if their body was about to be consumed by flames.
Especially when sitting on the Flame Jade Bed, this feeling became even more intense. As Chen Mu gradually immersed himself in the Fire Departure Intention, faint flames gradually appeared above the bed, visible to the naked eye. These were not real flames but rather a strange phenomenon triggered by his attempt to connect with the intention, causing a change in the environment.
Cultivating intentions is a process of trying to connect with the forces of nature.
Regardless of the intention, be it Yin-Yang Fusion, Blood Slaughter, or Celestial Sword, the essence lies in using the intention to connect with, manipulate, and even control the forces of nature.
In the environment where the Flame Jade Bed was located, it was undoubtedly the Fire Departure that was most vibrant. Here, it was naturally easier to connect with the Fire Departure aspect of nature. Even though Chen Mu was only trying to comprehend the Fire Departure Intention and had not truly grasped it, he still managed to evoke some peculiar phenomena.
"Fire Departure..."
Chen Mu murmured to himself, immersed in his understanding of the Fire Departure Intention.
Wind blows, fire ignites.
Thunder strikes, fire ignites.
The generation of Fire Departure is closely related to Wind and Thunder.
Although the Fire Departure Intention depicted in this diagram was not as profound as the Water Conduit Diagram, Chen Mu, in his calm and contemplative state, still felt as if he had parted the clouds to see the clear sky. At least in terms of understanding, he hardly felt any stagnation.
After some time, Chen Mu gradually returned from his contemplation.
It was just a single attempt to understand the Fire Departure Intention, and without the system's assistance, he still felt that he had gotten closer to grasping the Fire Departure Intention. This was a solid step forward.
"With the understanding of Wind and Thunder Intent, I might be able to comprehend the Fire Departure Intention even without the system's help, but it would take much longer. The system panel is indeed more efficient."
Chen Mu spoke to himself.
Indeed, perhaps without the system panel, he could still comprehend these intentions, but the panel merely accelerated his progress, and the improvements were not baseless. They were either accumulated medicinal power or the result of diligent cultivation, not much different from his own hard work.
The difference between humans and beasts lies in the use of tools.
Chen Mu summoned the system panel.
Soon, he found another new set of words.
【Martial Dao: Fire Departure Intention (Not Yet Understood)】
【Experience: 100】
【Deduction Attempts: 0】
"So much? I wonder how long it's been."
Chen Mu was slightly startled. He had been immersed in his contemplation for a long time, and it had been a while since he last checked the time. He stood up and walked out of the meditation chamber to look at the sun.
The sun was setting in the west, indicating that he had been contemplating for about three hours.
"One hundred points of experience in three hours? Is that so fast?"
Chen Mu made a rough calculation and couldn't help but be surprised.
When he contemplated the high-quality Water Conduit Diagram, he estimated that it would yield around 150 points of experience in three hours. Although there was some progress gap when contemplating the Fire Departure Intention, it wasn't as significant as before, and he was almost able to keep up.
He had anticipated that cultivating the Fire Departure Intention on the Flame Jade Bed would be faster than cultivating the Thunder Quake Intention, but he hadn't expected it to be this much faster, almost comparable to contemplating a high-quality Water Conduit Diagram.
"It's probably not just because of the Flame Jade Bed. I now possess the Soothing Wind and Thunder Quake Intentions, which are similar to Fire Departure, and I've even taken the second step in Thunder Quake Intention. Looking down from above, the understanding of Fire Departure Intention is far easier than when I hadn't comprehended it before. The accumulated experience from the system panel might have taken all of this into account."
Chen Mu muttered to himself.
Soothing Wind and Thunder Quake Intentions are both similar to Fire Departure, and wind and thunder generate fire, complementing each other.
At this rate, he estimated that he would only need a little over a month and a half to master the Fire Departure Intention and less than half a year to advance the Fire Departure Intention to the second step!
"Excellent, then I'll focus on the Fire Departure Intention first."
Chen Mu decided on his cultivation path.
Currently, he had not yet entered the Organ Realms, and even with the Thunder Quake Intention at the second step, he might still be at a disadvantage against an Organ Realm cultivator. But if he could also step into the second step of the Fire Departure Intention, the enhancement would be significant!
At that moment, Chen Mu took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and decided to follow his previous plan to move to the Ancient Academy. Although he was no longer overly fearful of Organ Realm cultivators, it would still be more comfortable to cultivate under the watchful eye of Xu Hongyu's 'Great-Grandfather.' Moreover, his bedroom renovation was not yet complete.
As for the Flame Jade Bed, he could simply move it over. With the strength and talent he had displayed, possessing a Flame Jade Bed was not a big deal. Of course, it would be best to move it discreetly, which wouldn't be difficult.
He could discuss it with Xiao He tomorrow.
With this in mind, Chen Mu checked the progress of the bedroom renovation and then called for Wang Ni, asking her to prepare a meal. After the meal, he didn't return to the unfinished bedroom but went straight back to the meditation chamber and sat on the Flame Jade Bed, contemplating until it was time to rest.
The next day, Chen Mu stepped out of the meditation chamber.
As he was about to seek out Xiao He to discuss matters, he was surprised to find her approaching his courtyard.
"What's the matter?" Chen Mu asked, noticing Xiao He's solemn expression as she entered the courtyard.
Xiao He walked up to Chen Mu, not questioning why he hadn't moved to the Ancient Academy yet, but instead, with gravity, she said, "A high-ranking official wants to meet you."
"The Inspector General?"
"Yes."
Xiao He nodded, not surprised that Chen Mu had guessed who it was.
After all, in all of Yu City, the only ones considered high-ranking officials were the upper echelons of the Four Great Sects, who rarely appeared, and the Inspector General, Yan Jingqing, who governed the Inspector Bureau and held authority over Yu City.
"The White Robe Scholar, Yan Jingqing..." Chen Mu murmured to himself.
In a 1691 book, a mistake-free version!
Regarding this Inspector General, Chen Mu naturally couldn't be completely unaware of him. It was rumored that he wasn't a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, but rather a member of a small aristocratic family in the prefectural government. He had served in various offices, including the City Guard Office, the Music Bureau, the Demon Slayer Bureau, and the Inspector Bureau, gradually climbing the ranks until he became the Inspector General. His rise to power was somewhat similar to Chen Mu's, and the positions he held were even more diverse.
Of course.
Although he wasn't a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, he was now a formidable Six Viscera Realm cultivator, reportedly one of the top cultivators in the Jade Province's prefectural government. His visit to Yu Prefecture was purely due to the arrival of the Four Great Sects.
As for Yan Jingqing's allegiance, there was no doubt that he belonged to the Seven Profound Sect.
Although he followed the path of an official, nearly all high-ranking officials in the Jade Province were from the Seven Profound Sect, and many positions were even held by elders and leaders of the sect.
The Seven Profound Sect's control over the Jade Province wasn't just about absolute power but also complete authority. Even in Yu Prefecture, it was evident that the Four Great Families, if pressed, were also under the command of the Seven Profound Sect.
Now, if Yan Jingqing were to give an order, the Four Great Families would have to comply in every way.
Chen Mu wasn't entirely surprised that Yan Jingqing wanted to meet him. After all, his displayed strength, though not yet widely known throughout Yu City, had likely reached the ears of many high-ranking members of the Yu and He families.
If the upper echelons of the Yu and He families knew, then it was impossible for the Inspector General Yan Jingqing not to be aware.
Iron Body Forging, Two Intention Realms.
Although his strength wasn't particularly impressive to Yan Jingqing, Chen Mu was still under 26 years old, and his cultivation progress was astonishingly rapid. Even in the eyes of a high-ranking official like Yan Jingqing, Chen Mu was a standout talent.
Being summoned by Yan Jingqing was normal.
What Chen Mu didn't understand was what Yan Jingqing would ask of him after their meeting. Would he be asked to join the Seven Profound Sect or to become a subordinate of the Inspector Bureau... Chen Mu actually hoped to be transferred to the Inspector Bureau.
The Inspector Bureau, as it stood, was essentially an extension of the Seven Profound Sect, established to counterbalance the Four Great Sects. In other words, if Chen Mu joined the Inspector Bureau, he would have the backing of a formidable force when dealing with the Four Great Sects in the future.
The Seven Profound Sect! Although the True Lineage Disciples' battle resulted in four losses, the sect's control over an entire province meant its power was still unfathomable. It could rival the Heaven Sword Sect, the Blood Concealment Mystic Mechanism, or any other sect.
"Since it's the Inspector General who summons me, there's no reason to refuse."
Chen Mu nodded and said, "Then I shall depart now."
"Yes."
Xiao He softly acknowledged.
Being summoned by the Inspector General was an offer one couldn't refuse. Not only Chen Mu, but even the Xue Family Patriarch and City Lord, Shuai Kong, would have to go and pay his respects at a single word from Yan Jingqing. Xiao He believed that Yan Jingqing's summons might not be a bad thing. However, Yan Jingqing's status and position in Yu Prefecture were too high, causing unease to anyone who heard it.
Soon, Chen Mu quickly packed, changed into the official uniform of the Demon Slayer Bureau's White Guard, and left the Yu Family Compound.
The Yu Family Compound was located in the inner city, and after walking down the nearest street leading out, he wasn't far from the various government offices where the City Lord's Mansion was located. There were only three or four streets separating them.
As the day was still early, the streets were deserted, and the area was originally quiet and deep, with high blue stone walls on either side.
Chen Mu walked with a calm demeanor.
As he passed through a narrow alley, his steps momentarily paused, but he continued walking as if nothing had happened, soon disappearing at the end of the alley.
Behind Chen Mu, on the other side of the blue stone wall, two figures appeared, standing opposite each other.
One of them, with crane hair and a youthful face, held a fishing rod and was none other than the Yu Family Patriarch.
Yu Jiujing! At this moment, Yu Jiujing's expression was peaceful as he looked at the person across from him and said, "I didn't expect you to disregard the Inspector General's summons. Why the rush? My great-granddaughter's husband might not even be able to step into the Five Viscera Realm."
"Hmph!"
The figure across from him wore a straw hat and raincoat, concealing their appearance. With cold eyes, they glanced at the direction Chen Mu had left, their aged gaze sharp. Finally, they turned and disappeared.
Yu Jiujing shook his head upon seeing this.
The He Family was indeed anxious. When Yan Jingqing summoned Chen Mu, they tried to find an opportunity to act against him, perhaps thinking that the Yu Family wouldn't be prepared due to the Inspector General's summons. But now, how could Yu Jiujing let Chen Mu leave the Yu Family Compound alone?
"Cough... Cough..."
Yu Jiujing suddenly coughed twice before disappearing as well.
(End of Chapter)
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