Chapter 258: The Harvest
Chapter 258: The Harvest
In the middle of a swamp, two figures were entangled in a fierce battle. One of them, slightly aged, wore bright red official robes and wielded a scarlet broadsword. With each swing of the blade, fiery flames surged, revealing the identity of the figure as Meng Tianzhang, the head of the Demon Slayer Bureau).
Meng Tianzhang, who usually remained stationed in Yucheng, rarely ventured out. Even during demon disasters, he would stay within the city. However, with the changing situation in Lang Prefecture, not only were there several officials from the Seven Mysteries Sect in Yucheng, but there were also guardians like Yan Jingqing, a renowned warrior on the Gale Wind Rankings. This made Meng Tianzhang's movements more restricted than before.
"Your Fire Intention is indeed extraordinary, Meng. But in this swamp, without the advantage of terrain, it's still challenging to match me. Hand over the 'Obsidian Bone Wood'!"
Meng Tianzhang's opponent was an official from the Riverside Pavilion, wielding a longsword. With each swing, they created trails of water marks that crisscrossed in the air, rising from the swamp and entangling Meng Tianzhang, making it difficult for him to escape.
Meng Tianzhang showed no signs of panic. He carried a two-foot-long, pitch-black staff that appeared both decayed and sturdy. He tried to break free by attacking from all sides, but now he could only defend his position, barely managing to block the attacks.
Obsidian Bone Wood, a spiritual object born deep within the swamp, was highly valuable for medicinal purposes.
"Hmph!" Meng Tianzhang coldly snorted, swinging his broadsword to break through the water marks and unleashing a scorching flame that tore through the air, creating a path for his escape.
However, his Fire Intention was not as effective in this environment. He managed to move only a dozen zhang before getting entangled again.
Meng Tianzhang remained calm, continuing to strike horizontally with his sword while saying, "Even with the advantage of terrain, it won't be easy for you alone to handle me."
Guo Wen, the Riverside Pavilion official, smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, I alone cannot handle you, Meng. But can you handle two of us?"
As he finished speaking, another figure appeared in the distance, quickly closing the gap. It was another official from the Riverside Pavilion, and it was unclear how they had communicated to coordinate their actions.
With the additional opponent, Meng Tianzhang's pressure and delicacy, ensuring the safety of the Obsidian Bone Wood. If they were outside the swamp, even two opponents might not be able to stop him.
Meng Tianzhang was secretly annoyed. In a place unaffected by the swamp, he would not fear facing two opponents. But the current situation was perilous. He had obtained the Obsidian Bone Wood with great difficulty and was reluctant to give it up easily. However, the situation was stronger than he was, and neither Guo Wen nor the other official intended to kill him. One reason was to prevent the destruction of the Obsidian Bone Wood, and the other was to avoid a deadly confrontation.
Meng Tianzhang scanned the area, wondering why there were no other officials from the Seven Mysteries Sect nearby.
As the situation turned unfavorable, Guo Wen and the other official's attacks became increasingly fierce. Meng Tianzhang silently shook his head, ready to give up, when a voice suddenly reached him from a short distance away.
"Senior Chen, your body is still as robust as ever!"
With the voice, the water marks created by Guo Wen and the other official suddenly dispersed in midair, turning into fragments and then a mist of water.
Both Guo Wen and his companion were startled and took a step back, looking towards the source of the voice.
Two figures were walking towards them on the swamp, still about 20 to 30 zhang away. However, the Primordial Power in the surrounding area seemed to surge and churn as if responding to their presence.
"An old man like you doesn't deserve to be called Senior Chen, the guardian of the Demon Slayer Bureau," Meng Tianzhang said, lowering his broadsword and ignoring Guo Wen and the other official. Instead, he smiled and looked at the approaching figures, his eyes filled with deep admiration.
Although they were still some distance away, Meng Tianzhang recognized the voice instantly. After all, Chen Mu had once been a subordinate in the Demon Slayer Bureau, where he had a close relationship with Meng Danyun. Meng Tianzhang had paid close attention to Chen Mu's progress.
Three or four years ago, Chen Mu was a junior official under Meng Tianzhang's command in the Demon Slayer Bureau. Later, he was promoted to the capital by Yan Jingqing and although he was still a junior, he had not yet reached the Organ Realms.
But now, in just a few short years, Chen Mu had not only surpassed Meng Tianzhang but had also entered the Six Viscera Realm, becoming a guardian of the Seven Mysteries Sect and ranking on the Gale Wind Rankings alongside Yan Jingqing. In terms of strength and status, he had surpassed Meng Tianzhang by far!
Recalling the past, he remembered the young man who had come to the Demon Slayer Bureau, respectfully seeking guidance and borrowing the Gusting Wind Diagram. In the blink of an eye, Meng Danyun, the talented youth of the Meng family, had been left far behind. Chen Mu could now stand on equal footing with Yan Jingqing, and the world seemed like a dream.
On one side, Chen Mu held Chen Yue's hand, walking effortlessly on the swamp as if it were solid ground, while on the other, Guo Wen and the other Riverside Pavilion official reacted with shock, their faces changing simultaneously.
Without hesitation, the two officials turned and attempted to escape.
However, Chen Mu remained calm, raising his hand towards them and saying, "Why the rush?"
The swamp beneath them suddenly erupted, and muddy water shot into the air, churning violently. From the center, it split into two, resembling two mud dragons rushing towards Guo Wen and his companion. In an instant, they were engulfed, and the power of the Primordial Energy and the Earth Pulse they had gathered was crushed like dry wood and dead grass.
Feeling the irresistible force, both Guo Wen and Chen Mu were startled, though they had never met before and Chen Mu wasn't wearing the Seven Mysteries Sect's attire. But with such a powerful presence, combined with Meng Tianzhang's mention of 'Chen Huofa', it was hard not to guess Chen Mu's identity.
Slosh!
The mud surged, enveloping the two and dragging them back, then with a surge, it cast them into the swamp, leaving only their heads above the surface.
Chen Yue looked at Guo Wen and Chen Mu, both of whom she had heard of by name. They were officials of the Riverside Pavilion, but in front of Chen Mu, they couldn't escape even from a distance of twenty to thirty zhang. They were like chicks being picked up.
"Director Meng."
Quickly approaching Meng Tianzhang, Chen Yue respectfully bowed towards him.
Regardless of Chen Mu's current identity and status, she was still a junior in front of Meng Tianzhang. Moreover, after joining the Demon Slayer Bureau, Meng Tianzhang had taken good care of her and treated her with kindness.
Meng Tianzhang smiled and waved his hand, indicating that Chen Yue didn't need to be so formal. Then, he chatted with Chen Mu for a while.
After that.
Chen Mu turned her gaze towards Guo Wen and the other man.
At this moment, both of them were so nervous they dared not breathe. Seeing Chen Mu looking at them, Guo Wen finally spoke with trembling: "Chen... Huofa, we didn't harm Director Meng..."
In the martial world, it was common to fight over treasures. But when encountering a powerful figure from an opposing force, one could only admit defeat. Fortunately, the two had only intended to seize the treasure and didn't dare to act against Meng Tianzhang.
Chen Mu glanced at Guo Wen and the other man, saying indifferently, "Each of you, hand over a treasure."
"Yes, yes."
Guo Wen and the other man hurriedly responded. At this moment, they finally felt the restraints loosen, and they struggled out of the swamp. Then, each of them took out a treasure. Guo Wen produced a Water Essence Pearl, while the other man, with a bitter face, handed over his sword, which emanated strands of water intent. He didn't have many treasures on him, and the only valuable item was his top-quality treasure weapon, the 'Emerald Water Sword'. But at this moment, he didn't dare to hold back.
Seeing that both of them were sensible, Chen Mu looked at Meng Tianzhang and asked, "What about you, Director Meng?"
Meng Tianzhang shook his head slightly. He and Guo Wen didn't have any grudges.
Guo Wen and the other man, seeing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief. After seeing Chen Mu wave her hand, they bowed cautiously towards her and quickly retreated into the distance, disappearing from sight.
Chen Mu weighed the Emerald Water Sword in her hand, then tapped the sword's blade lightly with her finger, causing it to bend and then straighten again, creating ripples of water intent.
"Not bad."
She nodded slightly and handed the sword to Chen Yue beside her.
Indeed, the sword was of good quality, comparable to her Flowing Fire Blade. Although it didn't reach the level of a spiritual weapon, it was still a top-quality treasure weapon. For Chen Yue to use it now was a bit of a stretch, but once she entered the Bone Forging Realm and initially formed her intent, it would be more suitable.
Chen Yue happily took the Emerald Water Sword and, after trying it out, found it hard to put down. After all, the sword she had been using before was also of good quality, almost a treasure weapon, but it wasn't a true treasure weapon like this one. This was a top-quality treasure among treasure weapons, containing a hint of Trigram Water nature, which also matched her sword techniques.
Meng Tianzhang, having obtained the Black Bone Wood, had no intention of further exploration. After some more chatting, he headed towards the outskirts of the Huanglin Mountain Range, while Chen Mu continued deeper with Chen Yue.
Chen Yue followed Chen Mu obediently, knowing that this place was dangerous for her. Even a slight misstep could result in being trapped in the swamp. Despite having a Perfect Sinew Transformation cultivation, she might still drown in the swamp and be unable to escape. After all, a Sinew Transformation Warrior was still an ordinary person. But at this moment, following Chen Mu, it was as if they were walking on flat ground.
Whether it was the swamp or the water marsh, they advanced smoothly without hindrance.
Soon.
The two approached the very center of the water marsh.
The terrain here was even more bizarre, with a cracked fissure extending from the center of the swamp. Water continuously flowed into the crack, obviously caused by the rupture of the earth pulse due to the earthquake.
"Are you afraid?"
Chen Mu approached the edge of the crack and smiled at Chen Yue.
Chen Yue blinked and said, "With my brother here, of course I'm not afraid."
Chen Mu chuckled and, holding Chen Yue's hand, stepped out, directly entering the spreading crack and descending straight down. After falling for fifty to sixty zhang, they finally landed in a deep swamp.
Here, they could vaguely sense some surging auras in the deep swamp ahead, with people seemingly engaged in a fierce confrontation. Their strength was no weaker than Meng Danyun's level.
At this moment.
In a 619 book, a look, and a mistake, there was no wrong version!
Chen Mu didn't conceal her aura and, holding Chen Yue's hand, walked forward. With each step, her Heaven-Earth Concept expanded, causing the surrounding Primordial Power to surge and a powerful aura to spread in all directions.
The battling auras in the depths of the swamp, upon sensing Chen Mu's aura, all paused momentarily.
"Who?!"
"Heaven-Earth? Is it him?"
In an instant.
The aura closest to Chen Mu immediately restrained and disappeared, then swiftly fled into the distance. The surging auras along the swamp and earth pulse quickly subsided.
Even though the vast majority of people had never met Chen Mu, the overwhelming force of the Primordial Power, accompanied by the surging aura of the Heaven-Earth Concept, was evident throughout the Eleven States of Northern Cold Province. Very few had cultivated to this level, and the one most likely to be here was undoubtedly only one person.
The 27th-ranked Martial Hero of the Seven Mysteries Sect, Chen Mu!
Although the 27th-ranked Martial Hero was intentionally ranked higher than Chen Mu by many, it was likely to give him a higher position, after all, at that time, Chen Mu had only reached the Organ Realms. But now, with Chen Mu stepping into the Six Viscera Realm and becoming a Guardian of the Seven Mysteries Sect, the news had already spread. With this step, there was no doubt that he had secured his place on the Gale Wind Rankings, an existence comparable to a Grandmaster.
Even those from the Sky Sword Sect and Riverside Pavilion, who were in the Six Viscera Realm and not inferior to Chu Jingsuo, had no interest in meeting Chen Mu. They quickly retreated upon sensing his aura.
And so.
In Chen Yue's eyes, she witnessed Chen Mu effortlessly navigating the swamp, his path unobstructed as he ventured deep into the swamp. Along the way, although signs of battles could be seen, not a single person was in sight, as if they had all fled at the mere mention of Chen Mu's arrival.
Finally, Chen Mu led her to the deepest part of this underground swamp, where they finally encountered a human figure.
"Guardian Chen."
The figure was a Guardian of the Seven Mysteries Sect, Xu Zheng, standing at the edge of a muddy pond, turning to face Chen Mu with a smile, and saying, "There were quite a few people who wanted to test their skills in this muddy pond, but they all scattered when Guardian Chen arrived."
Xu Zheng smiled at Chen Yue, and she politely returned the greeting, saying, "Chen Yue greets Guardian Xu."
Xu Zheng smiled at Chen Yue and said, "I've told you before, there's no need for such formalities when you see me."
"One cannot abandon propriety, or else you'll develop a haughty attitude. Guardian Xu, don't spoil her too much."
Chen Mu responded with a relaxed tone, then took a few steps forward with Chen Yue, reaching the muddy pond.
"There's something beneath here, but it can't be retrieved."
Xu Zheng nodded at Chen Mu and said, "The Earth Pulse Power in this muddy pond is extremely turbulent. I can only dive down twenty to thirty zhang, far from reaching the bottom. Others are in a similar situation, no one can find anything."
They were already deep underground, eighty to ninety zhang below the surface, due to the broken Earth Pulse caused by the earthquake. Otherwise, even Six Viscera Realm cultivators would find it challenging to infiltrate such a deep underground area, and going further would be even more difficult.
Xu Zheng and the other Six Viscera Realm Guardians remained here, hoping to see if any cultivators of the 'Soil Spirit' or 'Earth Pulse' would arrive, giving them a chance to benefit from the opportunity.
However, they never expected.
Before any cultivators of the Earth Pulse arrived, Chen Mu, the Martial Hero from the Gale Wind Rankings, appeared. In an instant, everyone dispersed like birds and beasts, leaving only Chen Mu, a Grandmaster-level existence.
Chen Mu stood at the edge of the muddy pond, first sensing the situation within. Then, he took a step forward, his entire body sinking into the muddy pond, and began to dive deeper.
Just as Xu Zheng had said.
The deeper he went, the more chaotic the Earth Pulse Power became. Ordinary Six Viscera Realm experts could barely dive twenty zhang deep.
But Chen Mu, with his Primordial Energy almost comparable to a Grandmaster, and his Concept Power, which commanded the Heaven-Earth Concept, could utilize the Essence Energy of the muddy pond.
Twenty zhang,
Thirty zhang,
Forty zhang,
...
Chen Mu finally felt he had reached the bottom of the muddy pond. Although he could use his skills to continue deeper, there was no need. Just ahead, he sensed an extraordinary flow of Earth Pulse Power.
Taking a few steps forward, although the muddy pond obscured his vision, he could still discern what lay at the bottom of the pond.
"Is this... hmm, is this the object?"
Chen Mu slowly reached into the mud, pulling out a stone with a filthy hue from the depths of the pond.
As the stone left the mud, the previously turbulent flow of mud around it gradually stabilized, and the chaotic Earth Pulse Power began to show signs of solidification.
Chen Mu didn't pause for long.
With a slight push from his feet, he rose like a swimming fish, swiftly ascending to the surface.
"How was it?"
Xu Zheng looked at Chen Mu.
Chen Mu nodded slightly at Xu Zheng and said, "I've gained something."
"That's good."
Xu Zheng laughed and didn't inquire further. "If you hadn't come, this Earth Pulse Power would have sealed itself. It's your opportunity. Alright, I'll go and search elsewhere."
After saying this, Xu Zheng gave a slight bow to Chen Mu, and his figure disappeared into the underground cave.
Chen Yue, on the other hand, looked at Chen Mu with slight curiosity.
But she didn't ask Chen Mu what he had found.
Compared to Chen Mu's discovery, what surprised Chen Yue even more was how Chen Mu had infiltrated the muddy pond, and yet his clothes remained immaculate, just as they had been before.
"Alright, let's go."
Chen Mu nodded slightly at Chen Yue, then led her away, no longer exploring, and headed back to the surface.
(End of Chapter)
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