Chapter 154: Two Months
Chapter 154: Two Months
Within the empty Demon Slaying Bureau Subterranean Chamber, a series of clapping sounds echoed.
Chen Mu and Meng Danyun stood just a few feet apart, their fingers and palms clashed in a continuous exchange. Whether it was Chen Mu's stabbing sword fingers or Meng Danyun's retaliating palm fingers, each strike was accompanied by strands of condensed wind blades.
Despite it being just a clash between fingers and palms, the impact produced a series of crisp sounds. Finally, when Chen Mu's right hand formed a sword-like strike towards Meng Danyun, the edge of his palm gathered a forceful wind, condensing into a visible wind blade. This palm strike was almost like a genuine blade descending.
Meng Danyun's slender right palm also formed a palm-sword, rising to meet Chen Mu's hand-sword. The two palms didn't collide but stopped about an inch apart, yet the wind blades at the edges of their palms fiercely clashed, producing sounds akin to the clash of real swords. In the end, they exploded apart.
After this strike, Chen Mu didn't make another move.
Meng Danyun stood still, momentarily stunned as she looked at Chen Mu. Finally, she shook her head and said, "With your level of insight and talent, you should be cultivating at the Seven Mysteries Sect. After you've taken the second step in your conceptual understanding and entered the Organ Realms, it would be more appropriate to go out and gain experience."
Meng Danyun, a true lineage disciple of the Seven Mysteries Sect, had cultivated her conceptual understanding at the age of 23 and entered the Organ Realms at 27. She was considered a genius among the younger generation in Jade Province, and at this moment, she was astonished by Chen Mu's exceptional insight.
In just two months, Chen Mu's Gentle Wind Perception had progressed significantly, almost catching up to her.
At present, when they sparred solely based on Gentle Wind Perception, Chen Mu could hold his own, and in a short time, he wouldn't even lose. Such remarkable progress was even more impressive than Meng Danyun's own experience.
It had taken Meng Danyun at least a year to advance her Gentle Wind Perception from the initial stage to Chen Mu's current level. In contrast, Chen Mu had achieved this in just two months, and now there was little left that Meng Danyun could teach him.
"I'm still a bit behind compared to Senior Sister Meng," Chen Mu said, touching the edge of his palm and smiling modestly.
He wasn't boasting; in these two months, he had utilized his accumulated experience to deduce the Gentle Wind Perception once. Although he had made significant progress, he hadn't reached Meng Danyun's level, where he was just a hair's breadth away from the second step.
To advance from the initial stage to the second step in a conceptual understanding, one needed to deduce it twice. The first deduction could only cover most of the distance, and the second deduction would allow one to fully cross that boundary.
"You surpassing me is just a matter of time," Meng Danyun said, shaking her head. "With your level of insight, in one or two months at most, your understanding of Gentle Wind Perception won't be inferior to mine. If you had the opportunity to study in the sect for a year or two, you would definitely be able to take the second step."
Chen Mu's exceptional insight was rare even within the Seven Mysteries Sect. Additionally, his Body Tempering Technique was also quite proficient. Some disciples with high insight but inadequate physical qualities struggled with the Body Tempering Technique, and even with the sect's resources, they barely managed to surpass the Bone Forging Realm. In the end, they often stalled at the Organ Realms.
True geniuses, those who could become true lineage disciples, possessed both insight and natural talent. Meng Danyun entering the Organ Realms at 27 was already considered a bit slow. The true lineage disciple from Ultimate Mysterious Peak had cultivated his conceptual understanding at 22 and entered the Organ Realms at 24, three years younger than Meng Danyun but far superior in strength.
However, even this disciple had been defeated by Zuo Qian Qiu of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
It could be said that even among geniuses, there were noticeable differences, some even visible to the naked eye.
In Meng Danyun's eyes, Chen Mu was undoubtedly a prodigy with even higher talent than herself. Being stuck in a small place like Yu Prefecture was a waste of his potential, and she wondered what the sect's recruitment personnel were doing, missing out on such talent.
"Right, Senior Sister, I also wanted to ask about the cultivation path after entering the Organ Realms," Chen Mu said, not dwelling on Meng Danyun's mention of months or years, but instead shifting the topic to the path beyond the Organ Realms.
Currently, he was just a step away from the Bone Forging Realm's limit, which he could achieve in a couple of days. As for the Gentle Wind Perception, he was also just a step away from completing it, and he could then proceed to cultivate the Water Hexagram Concept. Regarding the Organ Realms, his understanding was based on some books and what he had learned from Yu Jiujiang.
Although Yu Jiujiang was in the Organ Realms and had extensive knowledge due to his age, he might not be as knowledgeable about certain unique aspects as Meng Danyun, a true lineage disciple. After all, Yu Jiujiang had stopped at the Organ Realms, while Meng Danyun was expected to enter the Six Viscera Realm and even challenge higher levels.
"The Organ Realms..." Meng Danyun contemplated for a moment. "There's actually no crucial point. Try not to rely on heavenly materials and treasures that can refine inner energy and establish the five visceral cycle. Although it makes entering the Organ Realms easier, it also consumes your potential, making it difficult to advance to the Six Viscera Realm in the future."
Chen Mu's expression turned pensive, but he didn't ask further questions. Instead, he cupped his hands towards Meng Danyun and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. I still need to make a trip to the Inspectorate, so I'll take my leave now."
Meng Danyun nodded slightly and watched as Chen Mu departed.
...
Inspectorate.
Chen Mu followed his usual routine and headed to his Hall Office, where he began sorting through various pieces of intelligence.
The amount of information was overwhelming, especially regarding the remnants of the Celestial Corpse Sect. Thanks to the repeated actions of the Heavenly Sword Sect's disciples, the hiding places of the Celestial Corpse Sect's remnants had been mostly narrowed down to the Purple Mist Mountain Range.
The Purple Mist Mountain Range was located far from the Yu Prefecture's capital city, straddling the border between Jade Province and Spirit Province. It was known for the mysterious and turbid atmosphere that perpetually lingered, earning it its name. The area was desolate and uninhabited, and demons often roamed its treacherous terrain.
Among the four great sects.
The Heavenly Sword Sect was the most dedicated to eradicating the remnants of the Celestial Corpse Sect. In recent times, they had made it their primary focus, acting with their characteristic straightforwardness. Losing a few disciples in the process was not a significant concern for them, but the fact that the Celestial Corpse Sect's remnants were using their disciples for corpse refinement was something they could not tolerate.
Additionally, the Purple Mist Mountain Range's location at the border between Jade and Spirit Provinces meant that the remnants' presence there posed a potential threat to Spirit Province. If they could no longer operate in Jade Province, they might flee to Spirit Province.
It was rumored.
That the Heavenly Sword Sect had deployed far more forces in Spirit Province than in Yu Prefecture, effectively sealing off all routes leading from the Purple Mist Mountain Range to Spirit Province. Their stance seemed clear: any intrusion into Spirit Province would not be tolerated, and they would show no mercy.
"These sword practitioners can't stand the turbid atmosphere and intrigue. But if they launch a full-scale attack on the Purple Mist Mountain Range and the remnants of the Celestial Corpse Sect can't hold them off, they'll be scattered and flee into Yu Prefecture."
"No wonder Yan Jingqing and the others haven't made any significant moves. They probably discovered the hiding place of the Celestial Corpse Sect's remnants in the Purple Mist Mountain Range long ago and are waiting for the Heavenly Sword Sect to take the lead."
Chen Mu flipped through the intelligence reports, deep in thought.
The biggest concern at the moment was the unknown strength of this group of Celestial Corpse Sect remnants. The complex and ever-changing terrain of the Purple Mist Mountain Range made it unlikely that they could be completely eradicated in one fell swoop.
If they couldn't be surrounded and eliminated, and instead, the remnants were only driven to flee, they would scatter throughout Yu Prefecture, undoubtedly causing another wave of chaos. After all, according to the current intelligence, this group of remnants was not to be underestimated. While they might not be a match for the four great sects, including the Heavenly Sword Sect, they could still use the terrain to their advantage, employing various tactics to escape and cause trouble.
"If things go wrong, it could lead to a disaster comparable to a demon uprising, and the common people will suffer the most."
Chen Mu shook his head.
In reality, if the major sects could work together sincerely, a small group of Celestial Corpse Sect remnants wouldn't be able to cause much trouble. However, aside from the Heavenly Sword Sect's resolute attitude, the other sects, including the Seven Mysteries Sect, were all entangled in their own intrigues.
Yan Jingqing clearly still cared about the common folk of Yu Prefecture, as he had mobilized almost all his forces, including those of the four major families. If the Seven Mysteries Sect had taken the same approach, they might have completely ignored the situation and left it to the four sects to handle.
"In this world, there should only be one voice."
Chen Mu had this thought crossed his mind, but he quickly buried it deep within himself.
After organizing the intelligence reports on his desk, Chen Mu made his way up to the sixth floor, where he soon encountered Yan Jingqing standing by the window, gazing out at the city of Yu Prefecture.
"Sir."
Chen Mu respectfully bowed.
Yan Jingqing turned to Chen Mu and asked, "When do you think all this conflict in the world will come to an end?"
Chen Mu respectfully handed over the important intelligence he had organized and, after a moment's thought, replied, "Perhaps we need another Grand Proclamation Founding Ruler or an Epochal Martial Saint."
"Martial Saint..."
Yan Jingqing sighed.
It had been a long time since the world had seen a true Martial Saint, someone who could truly dominate the martial world, stand above all others, and be universally recognized as the pinnacle of martial prowess. In Yan Jingqing's opinion, reaching the Blood Rebirth Realm wasn't enough to earn the title of Martial Saint. Only those who could tower over their generation and be acknowledged as the foremost martial artist of their time deserved the title.
Since the Grand Proclamation era, there had been many who reached the pinnacle of martial arts and were called Martial Saints. But compared to the Founding Ruler, none could be considered their equal.
Martial artists,
Only those who surpass all others and stand unrivaled under heaven, earning the respect of all seas, are worthy of the title Martial Saint.
Yan Jingqing quickly waved his hand, indicating for Chen Mu to withdraw, leaving him alone to continue his gaze.
(End of Chapter)
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