Chapter 170: Dispersing Smoke and Clouds
Chapter 170: Dispersing Smoke and Clouds
Chen Mu strolled forward with his hands clasped behind his back, approaching the ancient tree where Lai Long was embedded. He gazed at the figure within the tree trunk.
"Even though he's only at the Five Viscera Realm, he still has some unique abilities."
Chen Mu shook his head slightly.
Although he didn't want to get involved with the sinister methods of the Sky Corpse Sect, he directly unleashed his thunder and fire, instantly killing two vengeful corpses and completely defeating Lai Long. This was not just because his current strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Five Viscera Realm cultivator.
If it had been anyone else, even if Yu Jiujiang had been here, they might not have been able to capture Lai Long alive.
The Sky Corpse Sect's cultivation methods were indeed unorthodox and deviated from the right path, but they were still a type of body tempering technique. The difference was that they tempered corpses, refining their essence and blood outside of their own bodies, channeling it into the refined corpses and the skull jade used to control them.
Lai Long, among the remnants of the Sky Corpse Sect, was likely not among the weakest. Controlling three vengeful corpses, if it had been night when the vengeful aura was at its strongest, and with the advantage of heaven and earth, he could even hold his own against a true legacy disciple of a major sect.
But unfortunately for him, he encountered Chen Mu.
Even at night, when it would have been slightly more challenging, there was still no chance. Not only did Chen Mu's thunder and fire have an absolute advantage over the corpse's vengeful aura, but his current strength was also extraordinary.
The power of a Five Viscera Realm cultivator, without considering factors like heaven and earth, was quite distinct. After entering this realm, Chen Mu had a clearer understanding of this level.
Take Yu Jiujiang, for example.
If his second step in the Water Hexagram Intention was considered as one unit of power, then his own Primordial Energy True Force was also around the same level, making it a total of two units.
As for Meng Danyun, a true legacy disciple, although she hadn't reached the second step in either the Whistling Wind or Water Hexagram Intention, her Five Viscera Realm had been tempered at least six or seven times. Just her Primordial Energy alone was equivalent to two units, and with the addition of her two perfectly executed intentions, she was stronger than Yu Jiujiang but not overwhelmingly so.
As for Chen Mu, with his Jade Bone Realm and entry into the Five Viscera Realm, his dense and rich essence and blood far surpassed that of ordinary people. Even without tempering his internal organs, the Primordial Energy True Force he possessed from the start was nearly two units. Moreover, with his advancement to the second step in three intentions—Wind, Thunder, and Fire—he had a total of five units!
This was twice the power of Meng Danyun, and it wasn't just a matter of numbers. Even if five or six cultivators as powerful as Meng Danyun joined forces, they would still struggle to match him!
As for intentions like Heart Sword and Blood Fury, reaching the second step would grant power equivalent to two to three units, unless it was a top-tier intention like Yin-Yang or Celestial Sword.
At the first step, it was often around half a unit.
The three vengeful corpses controlled by Lai Long struggled to display even one unit of power under the blazing sun. However, at night, when the yin energy was at its heaviest, they could unleash over one unit, or even one and a half units, of strength.
In his final desperate struggle, Lai Long expended all his accumulated essence, blood, and vengeful energy, striking out with the Corpse Malevolence Seal. This attack had a power of just over two units.
It might be sufficient against an ordinary Five Viscera Realm cultivator, but it was far from enough against Chen Mu.
Crack!
Chen Mu waved his hand, snapping the upper half of the ancient tree and sending it flying. He then uprooted the tree stump with Lai Long's withered body embedded within and carried it back to its original spot.
Xu Hongyu seemed to have regained her composure as she watched Xu Yichuan's corpse with complex emotions. When Chen Mu returned, she turned her gaze to Lai Long.
"Is there anything you want to ask?" Chen Mu asked gently as he came to stand beside Xu Hongyu.
Xu Hongyu glanced at Lai Long, who was still barely breathing, and took a step forward. However, instead of asking any questions, she waved her hand, striking the tree stump. It collapsed with a loud bang, completely covering Lai Long, who was barely hanging on to life, and ending his suffering.
Chen Mu observed Xu Hongyu's actions without saying a word. He didn't rush to examine Lai Long but instead turned his attention to Xu Yichuan's corpse. The vengeful energy deep within his skull had been completely shattered by Chen Mu, and the entire body lay there, bathed in sunlight, continuously emitting wisps of black mist.
Xiao He also looked at Xu Yichuan's corpse with a complex expression.
When she was younger, Xu Yichuan had been a dazzling figure. Every day, she would hear Xu Hongyu talk about how wonderful her father was. He was not only a hero in Xu Hongyu's heart but also admired by many members of the Yu Family as someone who could shoulder the responsibilities of the family.
However, he had indeed fallen victim to the Sky Corpse Sect's remnants, becoming a vengeful corpse. If he hadn't already died and been turned into a puppet corpse, how could Xu Yichuan have abandoned Xu Hongyu and disappeared without a trace?
At that moment, Xu Hongyu walked over.
She stared at Xu Yichuan's corpse, her mind flooded with countless distant memories. Scenes from the past flashed through her mind—every time she ran to him with a smile, Xu Yichuan would tell her jokes and make her laugh.
Unlike the Yu Family's direct descendants, who had many children, Xu Yichuan, with only one daughter, cherished and valued her immensely.
In Xu Hongyu's eyes, Xu Yichuan was the best father in the world.
After years of painstaking investigation, although she had long suspected the truth, when she saw Xu Yichuan as a vengeful corpse earlier, the wall of ice in her heart shattered.
Xu Hongyu closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and looked at Chen Mu. In a soft voice, she said, "Let my father rest in peace."
Chen Mu nodded at her and then flicked his finger.
A flame flew out and landed on Xu Yichuan's corpse, quickly engulfing it in raging fire. The Departure Fire Intention unleashed its full power, burning away the black mist and consuming the flesh and bones until the entire corpse dissolved into ashes within the flames.
Xu Hongyu watched this scene, her eyes trembling slightly. The trembling became more and more uncontrollable, and finally, a crystal tear silently fell, accompanying the last of everything, turning to dust.
Chen Mu gently embraced Xu Hongyu's shoulder.
He looked at Xu Yichuan's corpse, slowly turning to ashes in the Departure Fire, and sighed softly in his heart. Xu Yichuan, who had been refined into a Fiendish Corpse, didn't even have the chance to return to his hometown and be buried like an ordinary person.
Although his feelings weren't as deep as Xu Hongyu's, if his own family member had fallen into such a state, becoming a puppet corpse and being manipulated and humiliated... Whether it was the remnants of the Sky Corpse Sect or the Sky Corpse Sect at its peak, he would make them all turn to dust.
Finally.
Everything vanished without a trace.
...
"Big Sister Hongyu."
In a courtyard of the county government office, Chen Yue approached with a lively demeanor and greeted Xu Hongyu.
In fact, she hadn't had much interaction with Xu Hongyu, but spending every day with Yu Ru, she often heard Yu Ru talk about Xu Hongyu, and was influenced by it. She regarded Xu Hongyu as her future sister-in-law, and there was nothing awkward about it in her heart.
Xu Hongyu nodded slightly at Chen Yue.
Chen Mu said, "Yue'er, your Big Sister Hongyu just got back, and she's a bit tired. Let her go and rest."
"Okay, okay."
Chen Yue blinked and glanced at Xu Hongyu and then at Xiao He, vaguely sensing something. She obediently replied and stood to the side, watching as Xu Hongyu and Xiao He entered the room arranged for them in the county government office.
She leaned closer to Chen Mu and whispered, "Brother, what's wrong?"
"Something happened, I'll tell you about it later."
Chen Mu looked at Chen Yue and only said this much. Chen Yue, being understanding, didn't ask further. She followed alongside, chatting about the things that happened after Chen Mu left. Chen Mu listened attentively as they made their way back to his room.
He poured himself a cup of tea and took a few sips. Later in the evening, he got up and left the room, heading towards Xu Hongyu's room. Xiao He quietly opened the door for him and led him inside.
Xu Hongyu was sitting beside a desk, staring blankly at the teacup on the table. Seeing Chen Mu enter, she watched him approach until he was right in front of her, and for a moment, she couldn't help but avert her gaze. "Today... I must have looked too disheveled."
"Everyone goes through this," Chen Mu said, looking at her.
Xu Hongyu, with her head lowered, said, "Is that so? But I might not be... such a good person. Ever since I was young, I practiced the sword just to earn my father's praise. Later, I continued to practice the sword to investigate my father's matters. But when I finally discovered the truth, I didn't have the ability to avenge my father and grant him peace."
Chen Mu spoke with a calm tone, "Those who strive are no worse than those who achieve. They just lack the right timing and a bit of fortune. Those are aspects that cannot be defied by human effort."
As he spoke, Chen Mu lightly shook the teacup on the table, and a drop of crystal-clear tea spilled out, falling towards Xu Hongyu. But just then, it stopped in mid-air, three inches in front of Xu Hongyu, and hovered there.
"Look, you've comprehended the Water Hexagram Intention. You're no worse than anyone else. With a little more time, you could even surpass your father and accomplish those things. Your father, seeing your Intention, would also be proud of you."
"Is that so...?" Xu Hongyu stared at the drop of tea suspended in mid-air.
She turned to look at Chen Mu, and at that moment, the awe she felt towards Chen Mu for comprehending three Intentions and reaching the Six Viscera Realm in a short time was replaced by another emotion. "You... you must be tired as well, right?"
Even with exceptional understanding and talent, one's cultivation realm couldn't be achieved out of thin air. It must have been through indescribable hardships and tempering. Compared to Chen Mu's experiences, her own seemed insignificant. But Chen Mu had managed to climb step by step to where he was today, reaching such heights... She sometimes felt exhausted, so what about Chen Mu?
"A little," Chen Mu smiled.
In fact, compared to Xu Hongyu's efforts, his hardships were equally genuine. Before obtaining the System Panel, he lived each day with caution and humility.
And even after acquiring the System Panel and becoming stronger, when had he ever indulged himself? Aside from cultivating, he never visited the pleasure quarters or gave in to his desires. Every day, he contemplated his next move and the tasks that lay ahead, the matters he had to handle. Behind the limitless glory in the eyes of others, who knew of the toil he endured?
Xu Hongyu finally realized this.
He felt relieved.
A long time ago, Xu Hongyu didn't have any special feelings for him. Even after several years, she still saw him as just her superior. It wasn't until he dealt with the remnants of the Sky Corpse Sect and finally revealed the strength he had cultivated through hardships that she finally filled in the last piece of the puzzle in her eyes.
From being young, composed, calm, mature, understanding the big picture, having a keen sense of the overall situation, and possessing talent... to unknowingly becoming a figure taller than her, he gave her, for the first time, the same feeling of protection that her father, Xu Yichuan, had given her.
As for his feelings towards Xu Hongyu, they evolved from admiration to lust, and then, during her emotional turmoil, he took advantage of her vulnerability. Throughout their hunt for the demon, he repeatedly protected her, filling the void left by her father. Although he didn't mind playing the role of an almost omnipotent figure, if Xu Hongyu could just understand him a little and consider things from his perspective, he would have... no more demands.
Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu and suddenly spoke in a soft voice, "Are you... hiding a lot of things you want to say?"
Even she had countless things she wanted to say but never did. What about Chen Mu?
"What I want to say..." Chen Mu listened to Xu Hongyu's words, and a complex expression flashed in his eyes, filled with memories. Finally, he said, "Let's talk about it slowly later."
Now, Xu Hongyu could tell him anything, but many of the secrets in his heart might forever remain secrets.
(End of Chapter)
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