Chapter 302: Journey to the West
Chapter 302: Journey to the West
As Chen Mu watched the two sisters, Hua Nongying and Hua Ningying, leave, he remained seated in his chair, a contemplative look on his face.
Regardless of the Harmony Joy Sect's intentions, whether the sisters were sincere or merely transactional, he genuinely needed someone to gather information about the Supreme Clear Qi, the Southern Bright Flame, and the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.
Now that he had reached the Grandmaster realm, he truly needed a suitable Spirit Armament. Even the Evil Exorcising Thunder Spear, a near-top-grade Spirit Armament, had limited effect on him, with barely any significant enhancement.
If he could obtain a complete Spirit Armament, it would be like a martial artist harnessing the advantage of heaven and earth, and as their cultivation improved, the power they could borrow from the environment would increase. A perfectly compatible Spirit Armament would bring about a similar effect, and its enhancement would grow as the martial artist's cultivation progressed.
Especially at the Grandmaster level, after cultivating the Martial Body, a suitable Spirit Armament could achieve a near 'weapon-body unity.' This would be a significant difference, and it could at least increase his strength by several levels from his current foundation.
On one hand, he needed to continue comprehending Conceptual Realms, and on the other, he needed to focus on searching for Spirit Armament materials. Once he obtained a suitable Heaven and Earth Mystic Armament, the enhancement it brought might even surpass a level of his Martial Body cultivation.
The arrival of the sisters, Hua Nongying and Hua Ningying, was indeed timely.
Due to the Seven Mysteries Sect's seclusion, their influence outside of Jade Province was limited, and their intelligence network was confined within the province. Even when they first entered Frost Province, they sought cooperation from Yan Jingqing. However, outside of Jade Province and in the other regions of Great Xuan, the Harmony Joy Sect's information channels were far more extensive than those of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
He didn't expect the sisters to actually obtain what he needed, but if they could gather some intelligence, it would still be valuable. At least he wouldn't have to search blindly without any leads.
"The Harmony Joy Sect can indeed be used."
Chen Mu picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.
At his current level, there were few things he needed to be cautious about. If something was usable, he would use it. Even if it meant getting involved with the Harmony Joy Sect, he had the ability to handle it.
Speaking of the Demoness, she truly lived up to her name. Her words about connecting hearts and feelings stirred a spark of interest in him. If she wasn't deceiving him, this situation should involve the 'Heart-Soul' aspect.
In the Martial Path, the Heart-Soul was rarely mentioned. It was known that as one comprehended the Conceptual Realm, the Heart-Soul would gradually grow stronger, and the strength of the Martial Will was also related to the Heart-Soul. After Bone Marrow Washing, the Heart-Soul and the body would completely merge.
According to rumors, Hua Nongying and Hua Ningying were twins and conjoined. Perhaps not only their bodies were connected, but also a part of their Heart-Souls. Even after being separated by a medical master, their Heart-Souls remained linked, allowing them to communicate through feelings and cultivate the Yin-Yang Conceptual Realm.
Hmm.
When he had time later, he would carefully consider these matters.
Chen Mu put down his teacup, feeling a slight interest in the Yin-Yang Conceptual Realm. After all, it was one of the closest Conceptual Realms to Heaven and Earth, evolving from Yin and Yang or encompassing them.
At the beginning of Primordial Chaos, only Yin and Yang existed between heaven and earth. At that time, Yin and Yang were the ultimate ends, but later, from two came three, and from three came many. Now, Yin and Yang belong to the past, and Heaven and Earth are the present.
"It's time to visit the Provincial Government."
Chen Mu gathered his thoughts and stood up, leaving the courtyard.
Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng had specifically sent someone to invite him a few days ago, and he didn't mind paying them a visit. Although his strength far surpassed theirs, he was never arrogant. Feng Hongsheng had even helped him block Fu Jingyuan in Frost Province.
However, as he stepped out of the courtyard, he encountered Meng Danyun.
Meng Danyun seemed to have just arrived, and when she saw Chen Mu leaving the courtyard, she looked him up and down with a peculiar expression, saying, "The Harmony Joy Demoness has left?"
"Mhm."
Chen Mu nodded slightly and said, "Senior Sister Meng, what..."
"That Harmony Joy Demoness is shameless and reckless. I was worried they would set a trap for you, so I came to check on you. I didn't expect you to send them away so quickly." Meng Danyun spoke without hesitation.
Hearing this, Chen Mu could only smile wryly. He knew that Meng Danyun and Hua Ningying had been fellow disciples and had clashed several times, but this wasn't something he should get involved in.
Meng Danyun's gaze made him feel a bit strange, as if she doubted that things could be resolved so quickly. This made Chen Mu feel helpless. When did he become the type to easily fall into the Harmony Joy Sect's traps?
"Senior Sister, rest assured. I know my limits. I'll visit the Provincial Government first."
Chen Mu finally spoke to Meng Danyun and quickly disappeared from the courtyard.
Meng Danyun watched Chen Mu's departing figure and shook her head slightly. She knew that Chen Mu had his limits, but he had already been affected by a woman once, and if it happened again, he might truly lose all hope of reaching the Grandmaster realm. As his senior sister, how could she not wish for him to overcome all obstacles on the Martial Path and aspire to the Heaven and Earth realm? Even if it was difficult and uncertain, it was still a glimmer of hope to pacify the chaotic world.
...
Chen Mu soon arrived at the Provincial Government of Frost Province.
"I'm here."
In the hall of the Provincial Government, Shi Zhenyong was studying a military map of Ice Province, while Feng Hongsheng stood beside him, holding the Spirit Armament military formation plate. Suddenly, he spoke.
Shi Zhenyong paused slightly and said, "You're here?"
He looked outside, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He knew who Feng Hongsheng was referring to, as Feng Hongsheng had identified Chen Mu's arrival through the formation plate and the military formation. However, Shi Zhenyong couldn't sense Chen Mu's aura at all.
Previously, when they were marching through Frost Province, they hadn't paid much attention to it. But now it seemed that Chen Mu's aura-concealing ability had reached an incredible level, even a Grandmaster like Shi Zhenyong couldn't sense it... Only by cultivating to such a level could one master the Three-Foot Forbidden Zone in the Six Viscera Realm and confront seven Seven-Stage Demon Venerables alone.
At that moment, Chen Mu's figure appeared outside the courtyard, walking towards them with a calm demeanor.
"Protector Chen, you truly possess a once-in-a-century talent. A year ago in Frost Province, when you fought Si Tu Shu, you still faced some difficulty. I already found your Martial progress unbelievable, and now, in just a short year, you've reached this level, able to rival us old folks."
Feng Hongsheng looked at Chen Mu, a hint of sentiment in his eyes. He took the initiative to greet Chen Mu.
"Ten years of Zhou Hao, a hundred years of Chen Mu, this is indeed true. The Seven Mysteries Sect had Zhou Hao ten years ago, and now, a hundred years later, they have Chen Mu..." Feng Hongsheng paused, "No, even looking back a hundred years, the Seven Mysteries Sect had no one who could compare to Chen Mu in their generation."
It was hard to predict how far Chen Mu would go in the future, but at least in the entire Cold Northern Path, or even in the entire Great Xuan Heaven, he could be described as 'unparalleled among his peers'. Who else could reach the top three of the Gale Wind Rankings before the age of thirty?
"Senior Feng, your words are too kind. You have traveled the world for many years, and your martial arts insights far surpass mine. My meager achievements are not worth mentioning in comparison to yours." Chen Mu responded calmly.
He took a step into the hall and saw that besides Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng, there was a third person—a graceful young woman, wearing a purple silk skirt. She stood there, and it seemed as if the world was divided into distinct yin and yang halves with her at the center.
"This must be Senior Xia from the Harmony Joy Sect?" Chen Mu guessed after a glance.
He had already guessed her identity with just one look.
The second on the Gale Wind Rankings,
Harmony Joy Sect,
Xia Yu Eo.
If Hua Ningying and Moonshadow were in Ice Province, it was normal for Xia Yu Eo to appear as well. As the second on the Gale Wind Rankings, she was qualified to be a guest of honor alongside Shi Zhenyong and the others.
Xia Yu Eo carefully examined Chen Mu, but she couldn't sense any aura from him. She felt that his control over his aura had reached the pinnacle, with no leakage. She smiled lightly and said, "In martial arts, the one who achieves it first is the master. You are the third on the Gale Wind Rankings, and I can't help but feel unworthy of the title of 'Senior'."
"I've also heard of the name Xia Huofa like thunder in my ears." Chen Mu responded without showing any emotion.
He had seen the version of the Gale Wind Rankings in the year 1969.
Xia Yu Eo was different from the Twin Blossoms; she wasn't from the same generation, and there were even several generations between them. However, from her appearance, she didn't look much different from a young woman in her late twenties.
It seemed that the women of the Harmony Joy Sect practiced youth-preserving techniques from a young age. Hua Ningying and Moonshadow were slightly younger than him, but they looked very youthful, like seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls. This was quite normal for the Harmony Joy Sect.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they quickly got to the main topic and began discussing the subsequent battles in Ice Province.
Xia Yu Eo didn't seem too concerned about the battles in Ice Province; her attention was more focused on Chen Mu. After repeatedly glancing at him, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart, agreeing with what Moonshadow had said. Chen Mu was indeed no ordinary person. Despite being only in his thirties, his demeanor was no different from that of a true Grandmaster.
"Currently, neighboring Frost Province are the central Ice County of Ice Province, the northern Snow Province, and the western Cold Province. The Snow Province is sparsely populated, but the main altar of the Heavenly Corpse Sect seems to be located there."
"The Cold Province borders our Jade Province's Sha Prefecture, and it is one of the wealthiest counties in Ice Province. However, the Celestial Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect are frequently active there, and the most severe situation is the plundering by the outlying tribes."
The group in the hall discussed.
Currently, the Seven Mysteries Sect had occupied Frost Province. The next step was either to defend this county, gather its resources, and ignore the turmoil in other counties, or to advance north, west, or enter Ice County.
Neither Shi Zhenyong, Feng Hongsheng, nor the Seven Mysteries Sect planned to enter Ice County at this time. It was the location of the Ice Absolute Palace's sect and the Ice Province government, and it was also the main battleground occupied by the outlying tribes.
In the remaining two counties, the Snow Province had more frequent activity from the Heavenly Corpse Sect, while the Cold Province had more activity from the outlying tribes.
Both Shi Zhenyong, Feng Hongsheng, and the Seven Mysteries Sect were more focused on the Cold Province.
Firstly, the Cold Province was much more important than the Snow Province. Secondly, ever since the Seven Mysteries Sect occupied Frost Province, the Heavenly Corpse Sect and the Celestial Demon Sect had been seeking revenge, ravaging the Cold Province while also attacking the borders of Sha Prefecture.
Even Chen Mu had just learned that the Cloud Pass defended by Xia Houyan had been attacked by the Celestial Demon Sect not long ago, and there were also a few places in the northern border region of Sha Prefecture that had been raided by the outlying tribes.
Such matters were naturally beyond the tolerance of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
The northern border of Sha Prefecture had already been fortified by the Seven Mysteries Sect to prevent the outlying tribes from raiding it. However, there had been more frequent conflicts in recent days.
The discussion among the group didn't last long, and they soon reached a conclusion.
A moment later, Chen Mu walked out of the hall, deep in thought.
"The Cold Province..."
Unlike Frost Province, the Cold Province not only had the ravaging of the Heavenly Corpse Sect and the Celestial Demon Sect but also the plundering of the outlying tribes, making the situation more chaotic and with a lack of intelligence. Therefore, even if the Seven Mysteries Sect decided to take action in the Cold Province, they would not act recklessly.
Shi Zhenyong would remain in Frost Province, and Xia Yu Eo would also assist in the defense. As for the Cold Province, Chen Mu and Feng Hongsheng would take the lead, splitting up to first get a general understanding of the current situation in the Cold Province.
"In the Cold Province, act with caution and be careful. The outlying tribes also have Grandmaster-level figures. Although their technique inheritance is not as extensive as ours, there are no weaklings among Grandmasters. While ordinary Grandmasters may not be your match, if you get entangled by them and trapped, it will be difficult to escape."
Feng Hongsheng walked beside Chen Mu and spoke to him.
Currently, Chen Mu was ranked third on the Gale Wind Rankings, and his strength was unquestionable. Among the numerous Grandmasters in the Seven Mysteries Sect, at least half of them were not Chen Mu's match.
However, a Grandmaster was still a Grandmaster. Except for those who had just broken through and hadn't comprehended their domain, as long as they had been in the Bone Marrow Washing Realm for some time, even if they couldn't defeat Chen Mu at his level, they could at least resist to some extent and wouldn't be easily defeated.
The Cold Province was currently in chaos, with the Heavenly Corpse Sect and the Celestial Demon Sect occupying it. If Chen Mu got entangled by some Grandmaster experts and couldn't quickly escape, or if he attracted the top Grandmasters from the outlying tribes, even he might be in danger.
Compared to Frost Province, he had to be extremely cautious in the Cold Province.
Feng Hongsheng was concerned that Chen Mu, being young and vigorous, might challenge the outlying tribes' Grandmasters to prove his strength.
Chen Mu nodded to Feng Hongsheng and then left the county government with him, heading west towards the border of Frost Province. Before long, they crossed the border and entered the region of the Cold Province.
(End of Chapter)
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