https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-280-The-Eastern-Army-of-the-Yulin-Army/13026430/
Chapter 281: The Ice Province Situation
Chapter 281: The Ice Province Situation
"Actually, Brother Han's suggestion is something you can consider, Brother Chen."
After leaving the Eastern Army's headquarters, Zhao Zhenchuan glanced at Chen Mu beside him and said after a moment's thought.
Even if Chen Mu doesn't reach the Heaven and Earth Domain and ascend to the top of the Wind and Cloud Rankings in the future, he will only be slightly stronger than the Freedom Wanderer and others, at most on the level of Fu Jingyuan and Feng Hongsheng. He still won't be able to compare to Qin Mengjun.
However, if Chen Mu cultivates battle formations, with his talent and understanding in the Heaven and Earth Intention, it won't be too difficult for him to cultivate the Three Talents Formation. In the future, when he leads an army, even a top-notch Grandmaster like Jiang Changsheng will have to retreat.
Chen Mu didn't respond to Zhao Zhenchuan's words. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and swept his gaze over the Eastern Army's formation, sighing with emotion, "I wonder what kind of scene it would be if the Blood Transformation Martial Saint, relying solely on his own strength, charged through a formation of tens of thousands of soldiers as if they were non-existent."
At this moment, Zhao Zhenchuan's gaze also swept over the vast army, and he smiled, saying, "Although the Blood Transformation Realm has reached the pinnacle of the Martial Path, there have been instances in history where Blood Transformation cultivators were surrounded and killed. It still depends on the scale of the formation and whether the person can break through."
"Hmm."
Chen Mu nodded slightly.
If hundreds of thousands of soldiers were to besiege a Blood Transformation cultivator, and they couldn't break through or escape before exhausting their internal energy, they would still meet their demise. However, as long as they could break through and return to the environment of Heaven and Earth, they would only need a breath to recover to their peak state. Then, they could charge into the formation again. In this situation, the soldiers would face heavy casualties.
The power of an individual and the might of a formation also depend on which is stronger.
However, he didn't know that once he broke through to the Blood Transformation Realm in the future, with his formidable martial prowess honed to the limit in every realm, what scale of formation would be required to pose a threat to him.
After a few more words, Zhao Zhenchuan left the formation and proceeded along the Yulin Army's marching route to conduct investigations, while Chen Mu remained in the formation, sensing the profound connection between the individual and the collective, and between the self and the Heaven and Earth.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month had gone by, and the ten thousand-strong Yulin Army finally arrived at the capital of Jade Bell Prefecture! It was only because all the soldiers in the army were at the Meat Training Realm or above that they were able to achieve such a terrifying marching speed. If it weren't for the need to obtain supplies from counties along the way for logistics and other issues, their advance could have been even faster.
The Yulin Army did not enter the capital but instead set up camp outside the Jade Bell Prefecture.
Chen Mu, who was accompanying the army, and Zhao Zhenchuan had already arrived at the capital of Jade Bell Prefecture ahead of time.
...
Inside the capital of Jade Bell Prefecture.
Chen Mu met Chu Jingshuo, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, as well as Meng Danyun and others, and they exchanged brief greetings.
"Brother Chen."
Chu Jingshuo's right arm seemed to be injured, and he showed a slight inconvenience, but his entire person was in high spirits. He laughed heartily as he approached Chen Mu, saying, "Seeing that you're in good spirits, Brother Chen, I feel relieved."
Ever since he heard that Chen Mu had been ambushed, he had been shocked. He was even more concerned that Chen Mu might be discouraged and never recover. But to his surprise, Chen Mu immediately exposed the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion and even killed a Mystic Mechanism Pavilion Defender. Although his Martial Path was blocked, which might affect his Dao heart, he was relieved to see Chen Mu in good spirits after a long time.
In his opinion, with Chen Mu's exceptional talent, even if his Martial Path was blocked, he still had many options. In the future, if he cultivated the Heaven and Earth Domain, he could become a formidable expert, or if he cultivated the military formation lineage, he could command an army.
"Brother Chu..."
Chen Mu looked at Chu Jingshuo's right arm, his gaze slightly paused.
Chu Jingshuo smiled and said, "I encountered a Celestial Demon Sect Venerable, but I managed to escape. This arm will recover after a month of rest, and it won't affect much. This battle has also given me some insights, and I'll have a better chance of breaking through the Gate Threshold after some time. Who knows, maybe this time..."
He stopped speaking at this point.
Indeed, it wasn't a good topic to bring up breaking through the Gate Threshold in front of Chen Mu, who had just revealed his exceptional talent and climbed the Wind and Cloud Rankings. Although he had wanted to cultivate to the Grandmaster Realm and directly surpass the Wind and Cloud Rankings, it wasn't appropriate to talk about it now that Chen Mu had encountered this setback.
Meng Danyun gave Chu Jingshuo a disapproving look and then turned to Chen Mu, saying, "Brother Chen, Elder Shi and Feng Hongsheng are discussing matters in the main hall. You should go there first."
"Okay."
Chen Mu nodded slightly and headed towards the main hall.
Meng Danyun watched Chen Mu's departing figure and couldn't help but sigh. She had said before that emotional attachments could affect the Martial Path... But it was also not entirely Chen Mu's fault. After all, he had Chen Yue and Chen Hongyu, and he was a man of strong emotions. Living in the secular world meant having attachments, and no one could be completely detached.
However, the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion's actions were truly sinister and vicious, unworthy of being a righteous sect.
"The Mystic Mechanism Pavilion..."
Chu Jingshuo also sighed softly beside him, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
He cultivated three concepts simultaneously, and if he could truly break through to the Grandmaster rank and cross that crucial threshold to cultivate his Martial Body, his future strength would be exceptional even among Grandmasters. If he could reach the perfection of the Martial Body and then master the Domains, even a renowned Grandmaster like Fu Jingyuan from the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion would not be a match for him. At that time, Chen Mu would have the chance to settle some scores with the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion for the grievances he endured.
Of course, this was all predicated on him achieving the Grandmaster rank.
But now, he was indeed much more confident than he had been in Shacheng. After his trials in Ice State, where he encountered the Celestial Demon Sect and the Corpse Tyrant Sect, not only had his Martial Dao Will become more refined, but he also fortuitously discovered an extraordinary Heaven and Earth Spirit Artifact. With this, he further tempered his Six Visceras, making him even stronger. His chances of breaking through the Inner Gate were now significantly higher.
For nearly a decade, no one in the Seven Mysteries Sect had achieved the Grandmaster rank. Perhaps, the next Bone Washing Grandmaster would be him.
...
Chen Mu was unaware of Chu Jingsu's thoughts, but currently, the 'Demon Qi Infestation' event arranged by the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion was indeed useful. After that incident, he had indeed gone a long time without encountering any troubles.
After passing through several corridors...
Chen Mu soon arrived at a solemn hall located within the county government complex.
Inside the hall, only a few people were present, and as soon as Chen Mu entered, several gazes immediately fell upon him.
Among those present, the two at the highest positions were Feng Hongsheng, whom Chen Mu had met once in Yuzhou, and it was Feng Hongsheng who had reported the situation to the Seven Mysteries Sect. The Seven Mysteries Sect then dispatched Feng Hongsheng to Yuzhou.
The other person was Shi Zhenyong, the Peak Master of the Lower Profound Peak and also an Elder of the Seven Mysteries Sect. His status was equivalent to Feng Hongsheng's, and they were both powerful Grandmasters renowned throughout the Cold Northern Path, their fame no less than Fu Jingyuan's. Among the numerous Grandmasters in the Seven Mysteries Sect, they held quite high positions.
"Elder Shi, Elder Feng, there's no need for such formality," Feng Hongsheng spoke first, his tone calm. "These people here, Chen Huafa should also be familiar with..."
Chen Mu directed his gaze towards the others in the hall, excluding Feng Hongsheng and Shi Zhenyong.
Those who were present in this main hall were naturally no ordinary individuals. The two Elder Peak Masters, Feng Hongsheng and Shi Zhenyong, were figures of high status and authority in the Seven Mysteries Sect, and even the acting Sect Leader, Qi Zhiyuan, could not command them at will.
The other three in the room were also extraordinary. One of them was the person who, about three years ago, had displayed the Heaven and Earth Domain during a confrontation with a Grandmaster, ascending to the 13th position in the Gale Wind Rankings, surpassing the previous holder of that rank, Situ Zhuo.
Murong Yan, the Main Peak Defender of the Seven Mysteries Sect!
The Seven Mysteries Sect did not have the concept of a 'Grand Defender', but the status of the Main Peak Defender was higher than that of the Defenders of the other peaks. In fact, Chen Mu was also qualified to serve as the Main Peak Defender, but his strength spoke for itself, and whether or not he held that title was not of great importance.
Although he was still a Defender under the Spirit Profound Peak, within the Seven Mysteries Sect, everyone regarded his status as equivalent to that of the Main Peak Defender, placing him a level higher than ordinary Six Viscera Realm Defenders.
"Defender Murong." Chen Mu nodded slightly towards Murong Yan.
Murong Yan appeared to be around thirty years old, but her actual age was much older. She was not of the same generation as Chen Mu, but in the Martial Dao, skill took precedence over seniority.
"Defender Chen." Murong Yan responded to Chen Mu and simultaneously gave him a thorough once-over.
There was a 1619 book bar version!
This wasn't her first encounter with Chen Mu. Previously, when they had met in the Seven Mysteries Sect, Chen Mu was still cultivating in the Spirit Profound Peak and had not yet displayed his extraordinary talent. In Murong Yan's eyes, he was merely a slightly exceptional junior from the Spirit Profound Peak.
But what followed was beyond her imagination. Within a short span of one to two years, Chen Mu rose at an astonishing pace, cultivating the Heaven and Earth Concept, ascending to the Cloud Rainbow Celestial Rank, breaking into the Six Viscera Realm, and slaying the Cold Blade, Situ Zhuo, who was ranked 23rd. Each of these feats left her deeply impressed.
Although the Gale Wind Rankings had not been updated recently, Chen Mu's ability to defeat the 23rd-ranked Situ Zhuo made it clear to Murong Yan that Chen Mu's strength was by no means weaker than hers. They were of the same caliber, and she naturally would not view him as a junior anymore. Instead, she considered him a peer.
After all, the Cold Northern Path was in constant turmoil, and no one knew when peace would return. Chen Mu had already entered the Six Viscera Realm for some time, stepping into a period of stability. In the foreseeable future, they would likely be on the same path, fighting side by side and lending each other support.
"Defender Chen."
"Defender Chen."
The other two individuals, aside from Murong Yan, also greeted Chen Mu. However, their attitudes differed slightly, as they took the initiative to address Chen Mu, showing less restraint compared to Murong Yan.
(End of Chapter)
"Elder Qian, Elder Xu."
Chen Mu, recognizing the two, responded with a nod.
Qian Song and Xu Yang.
They were also two of the main peak defenders, but compared to Mu Ran Yan, they were far inferior. Neither of their individual strengths had ever been ranked on the Fengyun Experts list. They were probably on par with Duanmu Chun, stronger than the average Six Bowels Realm cultivator, but slightly weaker than the experts on the Fengyun Experts list.
"Elder Qian and Elder Xu currently hold our sect's upper-grade spirit armaments, the Mountain Splitting Mace and the Firecloud Sword."
Mu Ran Yan spoke up, offering this information.
Upon hearing this, Chen Mu understood.
Given Qian Song and Xu Yang's abilities, it would be difficult for them to make it onto the Fengyun Experts list. If the list were extended further, they would likely rank around forty to fifty, but with upper-grade spirit armaments in their hands, their strength would increase significantly, even rivaling that of Situ Shu.
After all, the Cold Extinction Spirit Blade couldn't be considered an upper-grade spirit armament. Among his possessions, only the Evil Exorcising Thunder Spear came close to that category. If it were in the hands of a martial artist specializing in the Thunder Dao, who had cultivated the True Thunder Domain, their displayed strength would undoubtedly be close to the top twenty on the Fengyun Experts list.
Upper-grade spirit armaments like these were a testament to the Seven Mysteries Sect's profound heritage. They were extremely rare in the entire Cold Northern Path, just like the Mystic Heaven Sword Diagram held by Zuo Qianqiu, which wouldn't be easily taken out.
In other words...
Currently, within this main hall, aside from the two grandmasters, Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng, there are three more experts ranked ten to twenty on the Fengyun Experts list, and their strength is comparable to that of a weaker grandmaster."
There might be other grandmasters operating in secret in Ice State, and outside the city, there are also ten thousand Yulin Army troops. They have driven the top grandmasters into hiding, not daring to confront them directly... Even so, the forces mobilized by the Seven Mysteries Sect probably only account for about a quarter of their total strength. This is the heritage and power of a major sect that controls an entire state!
"It seems the Seven Mysteries Sect is indeed taking this seriously. I wonder if they've finally made a decision or if the Ice Extinction Palace has agreed to some conditions with the Seven Mysteries Sect."
A thought flashed through Chen Mu's mind, and he couldn't help but feel a bit amazed.
Just a few years ago, he was a small-time martial artist in the Yu Prefecture, but now, after a few years, he was involved in large-scale state-level operations and held a pivotal position!
And this was just the strength he currently displayed on the surface.
The landscape at the top of this world was gradually unfolding before him.
"Alright, now that Elder Chen has arrived and the Yulin Army has reached Lang Prefecture, let's discuss the next steps..."
Shi Zhenyong glanced at Chen Mu and then focused his gaze on the table in the center of the main hall, where an intricately drawn map was laid out. "Lang Prefecture is located in the northern border of Jade Province, bordering Ice State's Frost Prefecture. Due to its geographical location, Frost Prefecture has suffered the least impact among the six prefectures of Ice State, with minimal incursions from the foreign tribes beyond the pass. Only the Celestial Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect are active there."
"In the past two months, our sect's disciples, along with the personnel from the Jade Province Surveillance Office and the Demon Slaying Bureau, have engaged in several confrontations with these two sects in Frost Prefecture, resulting in mutual casualties. Now that the Yulin Army has reached Lang Prefecture, it's time to sweep through Frost Prefecture."
Shi Zhenyong paused, his gaze sweeping over the people in the hall.
The Celestial Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect had been secretly developing for many years, and their displayed strength was not weak. However, the Seven Mysteries Sect was not afraid. The deployment of forces to Lang Prefecture aimed to take the lead in clearing out Frost Prefecture.
After all, Frost Prefecture was located within Ice State, not directly connected to the border, and incursions from the foreign tribes were rare. In Frost Prefecture, they only needed to deal with the Celestial Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect, which would significantly reduce the pressure.
"The Heaven Sword Sect is also providing us with assistance. I heard that the young Zuo Qianqiu has also gone to Frost Prefecture."
Feng Hongsheng suddenly interjected.
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Chen Mu, as he was the only one among the elders with a connection to Zuo Qianqiu.
Chen Mu didn't react to their gazes; he had no particular thoughts about Zuo Qianqiu. After all, he doesn't have a preference for men, and Zuo Qianqiu isn't a stunningly beautiful woman like Yu Hongyu. Even if she were a skilled swordswoman, he wouldn't be interested in her now.
However, speaking of the Heaven Sword Sect, they were indeed straightforward in their actions.
Ever since they suffered a loss at the hands of the Heavenly Corpse Sect and Zuo Qianqiu was ambushed by them, the Heaven Sword Sect had been relentlessly pursuing the Heavenly Corpse Sect. Even during the chaos in Ice State, when the Seven Mysteries Sect was observing the situation, some Heaven Sword Sect members crossed the border into Ice State. Even Jiang Changsheng was active there, relentlessly targeting the Heavenly Corpse Sect without any concern for the affairs of the Eleven States.
(End)
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