Chapter 301: Doing Things on Your Behalf
Chapter 301: Doing Things on Your Behalf
Moments later, Chen Mu returned to the county government office.
"Elder Chen, you're back," said County Magistrate Lin Yong, who was busy with work, as he hurriedly greeted Chen Mu with a respectful salute. Without inquiring about Chen Mu's whereabouts for the past half a month, he quickly briefed Chen Mu on the situation over the past half month.
Since the three Demon Venerables of the Celestial Demon Sect were slain by Chen Mu, their retaliation had not arrived. Or, to be precise, the Celestial Demon Sect alone was not yet qualified to openly challenge the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Given the current situation in Frost Province, Chen Mu, Shi Zhenyong, and Feng Hongsheng each had the ability to slay one or even multiple Seventh Stage Demon Venerables. Moreover, with Mu Ran and the others unafraid of Demon Venerables, unless there was a large-scale attack on Frost Province, the situation in Frost Province had already stabilized.
Currently, the Heavenly Corpse Sect was actively gathering resources in various counties and prefectures in Ice Province, refining corpses to build an army, and expanding their influence. The outlying tribes were also doing their utmost to plunder, showing no interest in joining the Celestial Demon Sect in attacking Frost Province.
In fact, both the outlying tribes and the Heavenly Corpse Sect were hoping that the Celestial Demon Sect and the Seven Mysteries Sect would engage in a major battle, pinning the Seven Mysteries Sect in Frost Province, allowing them to act more freely in other counties and prefectures of Ice Province.
After roughly understanding the developments in Frost Province over the past half month, Chen Mu contemplated for a moment and set it aside for the time being. He then returned to his newly changed residence, but just as he left the county government office, he encountered Meng Danyun.
"Where have you been for the past half month?" Meng Danyun, unlike Lin Yong, was not as restrained. She asked with a hint of curiosity but spoke casually, saying, "The provincial government received a message a few days ago looking for you. It was Elder Shi, and he probably wants to discuss the next move with you, but since you weren't at the county government, he left."
As she spoke, a hint of strangeness flashed in her eyes. After the previous battle, Chen Mu's reputation had spread throughout Ice Province, bringing not only fame but also a noticeable change in status. The most direct consequence was that Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng would now proactively seek out Chen Mu to discuss the next plan of action.
Although Chen Mu and Mu Ran were present during the previous discussions, in reality, they mostly offered suggestions and allocated tasks, while Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng remained the decision-makers, commanding the actions of the group.
However, things were different now.
Even though Chen Mu's current position was still only that of a Guardian of Spirit Profound Peak, having slain three Seventh Stage Demon Venerables and ranking third on the Gale Wind Rankings, even Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng would not take advantage of their higher positions to directly issue orders to Chen Mu. Instead, they would proactively send people to consult with Chen Mu, a level of respect that even Mu Ran had not yet reached.
In fact, after the news of Chen Mu slaying the three Demon Venerables spread, his status within the Seven Mysteries Sect had truly become comparable to that of the peak masters and elders. Even Shi Zhenyong, Feng Hongsheng, and others would no longer underestimate him, treating him as an equal.
After all, in terms of strength alone, although Chen Mu might not be on par with them, he was undoubtedly in the same league, having truly reached their level. Furthermore, unlike the ordinary figures on the Gale Wind Rankings, Chen Mu, who had just turned thirty, had already achieved such heights even before mastering the Heaven-Earth Domain. He still had significant room for improvement in the future.
"Okay, I'll go to the provincial government shortly," Chen Mu said, nodding slightly in response to Meng Danyun's words. He was already accustomed to the subtle changes in status.
Meng Danyun looked at Chen Mu, as if she had thought of something, hesitating slightly before finally saying, "Also, the people from the Harmony Joy Sect have come to Frost Northern County. Their purpose is unclear, so you should be cautious."
"The Harmony Joy Sect?" Chen Mu's eyes flashed with surprise, but he didn't pay it much mind.
The current Chen Mu was no longer the low-level martial artist from Yu Province who had been extremely cautious of the Harmony Joy Sect. Now, as a Heaven and Earth Master, he was one of the top experts in the world. At this point, whether it was the Harmony Joy Sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect, or even the Great Proclamation Court, none could make him as cautious and wary as before.
The Harmony Joy Sect's arrival in Frost Province might be an attempt to intervene in the chaos in Ice Province, seeking profit or some other scheme, but it no longer mattered to Chen Mu. Although he couldn't say that he had completely jumped out of the world's chessboard, he was no longer a mere pawn. No power could easily manipulate him, not even a major sect like the Harmony Joy Sect.
After parting ways with Meng Danyun, Chen Mu temporarily returned to his new residence.
As if aware of his actions, shortly after he settled in, a maid's soft voice came from outside the door, "Sir, there are visitors outside who wish to pay their respects. They claim to be from the Harmony Joy Sect."
At that moment, Chen Mu was sitting upright in the main hall, on a chair made of yellow pear wood, gently tapping the tabletop with his fingers, his eyes closed in thought. Hearing the report from outside, he calmly replied, "Let them in."
"Yes, sir," the maid outside respectfully acknowledged and retreated. Soon, two figures entered the courtyard.
Several maidservants hid at a distance, secretly observing the scene. The reputation of the Harmony Joy Sect outside was not particularly good, categorized as part of the Demon Sect. However, this time, they came to visit Chen Mu with no hint of overstepping boundaries. They followed the rules, first delivering a business card outside, and even their clothing and appearance were that of normal, respectable women. This surprised the maids and concubines in the courtyard, wondering if these visitors were indeed from the Harmony Joy Sect.
Upon reflection, it seemed reasonable. After all, in this not-so-spacious courtyard lived a figure ranked in the top three of the Gale Wind Rankings, a person of such high status that it was beyond their imagination. Given the Harmony Joy Sect's cautious nature, it was understandable that they would be so well-behaved.
...
In the main hall, two young women, dressed in light yellow skirts, almost identical in appearance and seemingly around seventeen or eighteen years old, entered with quiet steps. They were well-mannered, their auras restrained, without a hint of coquetry or seduction. After entering, they bowed politely to Chen Mu.
"Your humble servant greets Lord Chen," they said in unison, their voices like pleasant-sounding bells, almost indistinguishable from each other.
Chen Mu sat before them, observing the two girls as they bowed politely, their manners impeccable. He picked up his teacup and took a sip, asking, "What tricks are you playing this time?"
He was very familiar with these visitors. They were none other than the former true transmitters of the Harmony Joy Sect, Hua Ningying and Moonshadow, now both in the Six Viscera Realm and serving as defenders of the sect.
He vaguely recalled the first time he met Moonshadow. The Harmony Joy Sect had detained Chen Yue and Yu Ru, forcing him to personally visit their headquarters in the inner city to retrieve the two girls. Since then, Moonshadow and Ningying had either shown up uninvited or acted freely and flirtatiously in his presence, fully displaying their allure. But this time, they had changed their approach.
Not only did they deliver their business card through the main entrance, but they also wore proper clothing and conducted themselves with utmost restraint in his presence, containing all their charm. Their manners were impeccable, and they exuded no hint of their inner energy.
This was not the style of the Harmony Joy Sect.
Perhaps they thought he would appreciate this style, so they deliberately presented themselves this way. However, the current Chen Mu, with his changed mindset and elevated status, remained unaffected by their behavior. His gaze remained calm and unperturbed, regardless of their actions.
Although Chen Mu, Moonshadow, and Ningying were of the same generation, after he broke through the Mystic Gate and became a Grandmaster, he experienced a shift in his mindset. When he looked at Moonshadow and Ningying, who had not yet entered the Bone Marrow Washing Realm, he felt as if he were observing younger generations, no longer considering them as peers.
"Lord Chen, with your status as one of the top three in the Gale Wind Rankings, your identity is already comparable to a Grandmaster. How dare we play tricks in your presence?" Moonshadow raised her head and spoke sweetly to Chen Mu.
Her voice was indeed pleasant and charming, but it held no hint of seduction, and her manners were restrained.
After a long time, Moonshadow met Chen Mu again, and a complex expression flashed through her beautiful eyes. When they first met in Ice Prefecture, Chen Mu had not yet reached the Organ Realms. Although he had cultivated the second step of the Conceptual Realm, in her eyes, he was just a slightly exceptional 'inner sect disciple.' She had paid some attention then, but it didn't last.
Soon after, Chen Mu displayed his remarkable talent, defeating the true transmitter of the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, vanquishing Dharmahong of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and later comprehending the Heavenly Firmament Realm. He took control of the Heaven and Earth Mystic Armament, ascended Cloud Mist Heavenly Peak, and defeated Zuo Qiuqiu, the top figure of their generation... Up to this day, with his own strength, he crushed three seventh-stage Demon Sovereigns, ranking among the top three in the Gale Wind Rankings.
Even though Moonshadow had also entered the Six Viscera Realm, when it came to body-cultivation realm and strength, there was a vast difference between her and Chen Mu. Even if she combined forces with her sister, Ningying, to unleash the power of Yin and Yang, they couldn't even reach the bottom of the Gale Wind Rankings.
Some elders of the Harmony Joy Sect, including Xia Yu Eo, were still observing Chen Mu. But Moonshadow, who had interacted with him in Ice Prefecture, had a vague feeling deep within her heart. If there was someone in this chaotic world who embodied the Heavenly Mandate, it might very well be Chen Mu. Even though he had only entered the Six Viscera Realm a few years ago and had once been schemed against by the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, she still believed... that nothing could stop Chen Mu's rise.
This was the nature of those who embodied the Heavenly Mandate.
Although the Harmony Joy Sect differed from the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, they also valued the Heavenly Mandate and reading the times. This was one of their survival strategies, and it was why they could survive in the world, even during the most prosperous periods of the Great Wilderness Dynasty, despite being labeled as a Demon Sect by the court.
However, the Heavenly Mandate was challenging to grasp, and who could truly understand the fate of the world? Even the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion couldn't predict it. In the Cold Northern Path, there was Chen Mu, a once-in-a-century Heaven and Earth Warrior, and there were others in the other paths and the Central Plains.
In the midst of this...
In the 1691st chapter of the novel, a mistake-free version!
Who could possibly cultivate and achieve such a feat?
And who, with hope, could break through that boundary and become the first Heaven-Earth Sage to be born in the Great Wilderness in over a thousand years?
No one could say for sure.
"Do you still have tricks up your sleeve?"
Chen Mu glanced at Hua Ningying, and suddenly a smile escaped his lips. Although this kind of etiquette and formality seemed somewhat contradictory, it was always a bit contradictory with the style of the Harmony Joy Sect.
Before Hua Ningying could respond, his gaze swept over the two women, and he casually said, "Speak frankly, what's the matter?"
Hua Ningyue had been quietly observing Chen Mu, and upon hearing his words, she exchanged a glance with her sister, Hua Ningying, and then softly spoke to Chen Mu, "We don't have any particular business. This sudden visit is just to hopefully do something for the sect leader."
"Do something for me?"
As Chen Mu listened to Hua Ningyue's words, a hint of strangeness flashed through his eyes.
Given the Harmony Joy Sect's style, if they wanted to build a closer relationship with him or gather intelligence from him, it would be quite normal for them to send some disciples to serve as maids and concubines by his side.
But Hua Ningyue and Hua Ningying were different. This pair of sisters were not ordinary disciples of the Harmony Joy Sect; they were the previous generation's true transmitters and the current defenders of the Spirit Profound Peak. They held a certain status within the sect and had the potential to one day challenge the Bone Marrow Washing Grandmaster realm. They cultivated the Supreme Yin and Supreme Yang Conceptual Realms, and once they achieved the Grandmaster realm, they would be among the top.
Furthermore, even their future potential for Blood Transformation was uncertain.
For two such top-tier Grandmaster-level talents to come to his side and offer their services was not an ordinary matter. After all, he wasn't like Yan Jing Qing; he was a proper defender of the Spirit Profound Peak under the Seven Mysteries Sect.
When this pair of sisters spoke these words, Chen Mu couldn't help but think that perhaps the Harmony Joy Sect wanted to seek cooperation with the Seven Mysteries Sect on some matter, or perhaps they wanted to participate in the Ice State war.
"Is this the will of the Harmony Joy Sect?"
Chen Mu asked, looking at Hua Ningyue.
Hua Ningyue shook her head but quickly nodded again.
Chen Mu turned his gaze to Hua Ningying.
Hua Ningying spoke softly, "The disciples of the Harmony Joy Sect have a lot of freedom. Everyone can choose different ways to serve the sect, so this is both the will of the sect and also just our sisters' idea."
Chen Mu calmly said, "Why do you want to do something for me?"
Hua Ningying looked at Chen Mu, her eyes clear as she met his gaze. "In times of chaos, there will always be those born with the Heavenly Mandate. We can do anything for you, and we only hope that one day, when you ascend to the Apex, you can be a little more lenient with the Harmony Joy Sect."
"So, this is your plan."
Chen Mu said indifferently, "I was ambushed by the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion and my body is invaded by demonic energy. Perhaps I won't even be able to take the next step of the Mystic Gate, let alone talk about the Heavenly Mandate or the Apex. You might just be doing things for me in vain, and in the end, it will all be for nothing."
Hua Ningying smiled and said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Moreover, with what you've said, I'm even more convinced that you'll be able to break through the Mystic Gate and become a Heaven and Earth Grandmaster within fifteen years."
Hua Ningyue also spoke softly, "You rose from humble beginnings, and you don't look down upon the humble... At least you won't be like those heartless people who would use and squeeze us dry, playing with us until we die. If that's the case, we accept it."
Chen Mu couldn't help but give her a disapproving look.
What did she mean by using and squeezing dry, playing until death? Isn't that the usual tactic of the Harmony Joy Sect? It seems like this pair of sisters from the Harmony Joy Sect haven't changed their ways after all.
"Doing something for me based on just words is not enough to earn my trust."
Chen Mu said calmly, looking at the two sisters.
Hua Ningying listened to Chen Mu and suddenly took the initiative to move closer to him, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she spoke softly, "My sister and I, as long as we are within a certain distance, will have a connection of hearts and minds, a link of feelings, and the closer we are, the clearer it becomes..."
Chen Mu gave her a disapproving look. What's this about a connection of hearts and minds?
"Go and find the 'Supreme Clear Qi', the 'Southern Bright Flame', and the 'Sea-Stabilizing Pearl' for me."
Chen Mu slowly spoke to Hua Ningying and Hua Ningyue.
With his current status, no one would stop him from taking the Divine Sky Stone from the Seven Mysteries Sect. Now, to forge the Heaven and Earth Mystic Armament, he only lacked these three things. With the help of this pair of sisters, the Harmony Joy Twins, in the search, he would be more likely to find them all.
As his words fell, in the quiet hall, only Hua Ningying blinked, and behind her, Hua Ningyue, with a hint of peach-red on her cheeks, also blinked.
(End of Chapter)
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