Chapter 314: Qi Zhiyuan
Chapter 314: Qi Zhiyuan
After carefully sensing the profound mysteries hidden within the Mountain Gate Stele, Chen Mu finally took a step and walked past the stele, entering the Seven Mysteries Sect. Along the way, he ventured deeper into the sect, soon reaching the main peak.
This wasn't Chen Mu's first time visiting the main peak of the Seven Mysteries Sect. The sect's treasury was located within the mountain's belly, making it one of the sect's most important places. However, he had never climbed to the top of the main peak before.
As he continued his journey upwards, he passed by a few young disciples from the Great Profound Peak practicing their martial arts. Among them were many who appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, full of youthful vigor. Noticing Chen Mu, dressed in plain cloth, quietly ascending the mountain path, some of the newly initiated disciples paused, their curiosity drawing their gazes towards him.
At the same time, some senior and experienced inner sect disciples recognized Chen Mu and, after a moment of surprise, hurriedly paid their respects to him, stepping aside to let him pass as they watched him climb the peak.
Noticing the senior disciples' actions, a young and naive girl couldn't help but ask curiously, "Senior Brother Zhang, who is that senior brother? Is he also from our Great Profound Peak?"
High-level martial artists age slowly, and Chen Mu, despite being only in his thirties, had a vibrant and youthful appearance, looking like he was in his early twenties. He didn't seem much older than her.
"Him?"
Senior Brother Zhang turned around and, looking at the few junior disciples behind him, said, "He's not from the Great Profound Peak, but you should all know his name. He's Senior Brother Chen from Spirit Profound Peak."
As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of exclamations filled the air.
The curious young disciple from the Great Profound Peak, her face filled with astonishment, looked in the direction where Chen Mu had left and said, "Is he Senior Brother Chen?"
Chen Mu's journey in the Seven Mysteries Sect could be considered legendary. In Jade Province, anyone who was well-informed about the martial arts world would have heard of him. At just thirty years old, he was already ranked third on the Gale Wind Rankings. However, she had imagined Senior Brother Chen to be a tall and imposing figure, naturally exuding a sense of authority and solemnity. She hadn't expected him to look so young and have such an ordinary build.
He appeared only slightly more handsome than average, and aside from that, there was almost nothing special about him. He didn't emit any noticeable aura, and as he passed by the mountain path, he seemed like an ordinary person who didn't know martial arts.
'Returning to simplicity, the demeanor of a Grandmaster.'
These words floated into her mind.
As Chen Mu continued his journey to the peak, the atmosphere gradually became more solemn, but he still encountered no obstacles. It wasn't until he reached the summit that a guardian from the Great Profound Peak finally appeared.
Upon seeing Chen Mu, the guardian was taken aback but quickly cupped his hands in greeting.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Chen. May I ask what brings you here...?"
Chen Mu responded to the guardian.
Qi Zhiyuan currently serves as the acting leader of the Seven Mysteries Sect, a position equivalent to the sect leader. The current leader, a Grandmaster, is in his twilight years and has been in seclusion within the sect for many years, unseen for a long time. It is known that the old leader has not yet passed away, and once he does, Qi Zhiyuan will take over as the new leader.
This position was originally meant for Qin Mengjun, even after his failure to breakthrough the Blood Exchange Realm. As a top-tier Grandmaster, he should have become the new leader of the Seven Mysteries Sect. However, due to Qin Mengjun's fluctuating mental state, alternating between lucidity and confusion, he is unable to handle sect affairs, leading to Qi Zhiyuan taking on the role of acting leader.
"Indeed, Elder Qi is just behind. Senior Brother Chen, please follow me."
The guardian nodded slightly, not inquiring about the matter at hand. He politely led the way, guiding Chen Mu around the Central Great Hall of the Seven Mysteries Sect and towards a quiet courtyard at the back.
Encounter in the Courtyard
In the courtyard, Chen Mu finally met Qi Zhiyuan. Although Chen Mu had been in the sect for many years, this was his first time seeing the acting leader of the Seven Mysteries Sect. In terms of strength, Qi Zhiyuan was not as powerful as Qin Mengjun, but he was stronger than Shi Zhenyong, Feng Hongsheng, and others. Within the Seven Mysteries Sect, he was second only to the Supreme Elder, the old leader, and Qin Mengjun.
"Greetings, Elder Qi," Chen Mu said, cupping his hands in respect.
Even though Chen Mu could easily defeat three or five Qi Zhiyuans with one hand, as the acting leader of the Seven Mysteries Sect and a dedicated martial arts elder, he deserved Chen Mu's respect.
"Senior Brother Chen, there's no need for such formality," Qi Zhiyuan said, also dressed in a simple gray outfit, standing under a cypress tree in the courtyard. He smiled at Chen Mu, showing no airs of being the sect leader.
Chen Mu, currently ranked third on the Gale Wind Rankings, was truly on par with Grandmasters, even though he was younger by more than a generation. He would not display any airs of being the sect leader, as in the martial arts world, the capable take precedence.
Reaching this level meant he was qualified to serve as an elder of the Seven Mysteries Sect, standing on equal footing with Qi Zhiyuan.
"Senior Brother Chen, your performance in the Frost Province battle has truly shaken the entire Cold North. I had thought it would take you a few more years to reach this level, but I never imagined that just two years after entering the Six Organ Realm, you would already be at this stage."
Qi Zhiyuan looked at Chen Mu, a hint of admiration in his tone.
As the acting leader of the Seven Mysteries Sect, Qi Zhiyuan had been paying attention to Chen Mu since he joined the sect. He was amazed by Chen Mu's continuous rise, but even so, he never expected Chen Mu to reach such heights in just a few years, now possessing strength comparable to Feng Hongsheng and others.
And now, Chen Mu stood before him, employing his unique perception technique to sense the world, yet he still couldn't discern Chen Mu's aura clearly. It felt as ethereal as clouds, undoubtedly a manifestation of his peerless technique and profound cultivation.
It's worth noting that just a few years ago, Chen Mu was merely a newly initiated true disciple of the Five Organ Realm.
"Reporting to Elder Qi, during our trip to Frost County, we discovered two locations."
Chen Mu noticed that the Guardian of Great Profound Peak had already left, leaving only Qi Zhiyuan and himself in the courtyard. Without further ado, Chen Mu reported the information obtained from Bone-Piercing Marquis: "Solitude Valley and Snow Maiden Mountain. These two places are related to the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect. They are either their headquarters or important branch locations."
Upon hearing Chen Mu's intelligence, Elder Qi's expression turned solemn, and he asked, "Is this true?"
"Not certain, but it's unlikely to be a deception..."
Chen Mu proceeded to briefly explain the circumstances of Bone-Piercing Marquis's death and the specific details he inquired about before passing away.
After listening intently...
In the 1619th chapter, a must-read!
A hint of surprise flashed in Elder Qi's eyes.
"You killed Bone-Piercing Marquis?"
Naturally, Chen Mu wouldn't exaggerate in such matters. If he said so, it must be true, which further astonished Elder Qi. He never expected Chen Mu to surpass Bone-Piercing Marquis of the Wumong Tribe, even slaying him!
Martial battles are influenced by various factors like timing and geography. Defeating Bone-Piercing Marquis wasn't extremely challenging. Someone like Feng Hongsheng or Shi Zhenyong, with a favorable advantage, could handle it relatively easily. However, while defeating him was manageable, killing him was difficult.
"He was too careless."
Chen Mu spoke calmly.
If Bone-Piercing Marquis intended to escape, he wouldn't have approached Chen Mu. With a slight proximity, he could have fled a thousand miles away. Even if his movement techniques were exceptional, a pursuit would have been troublesome. Despite eventually overcoming him, it would have required significant effort. After all, at Bone-Piercing Marquis's level, everyone is proficient in movement techniques without any apparent weaknesses.
"He dared to approach me, essentially signing his death warrant. And by taking the initiative to attack me, he forfeited his last chance at survival. Challenging me head-on is no different from seeking death."
"A figure like Bone-Piercing Marquis, if he underestimated you, it's likely your strength far exceeded his expectations. Your abilities are beyond the third rank on the Gale Wind Rankings."
Elder Qi exclaimed in awe.
If a Grandmaster like Bone-Piercing Marquis wanted to escape, even I, Elder Qi, wouldn't have absolute confidence in stopping him.
The fact that such a figure died at Chen Mu's hands, even if there was carelessness or poor judgment involved, undeniably proves Chen Mu's formidable strength. With this achievement, he could top the Gale Wind Rankings.
Indeed, in the entire Great Xuan Realm, Chen Mu is a once-in-a-century... no, a once-in-a-millennium peerless genius, unparalleled in the last millennium since the establishment of the Great Xuan Realm.
However, Elder Qi, as the acting leader of the Thousand Mystic Sect, quickly regained his composure and contemplated, "If what you say is true, then the credibility of this intelligence is indeed high. We can make arrangements based on this information. But we can't act rashly, even if these are their headquarters. We need to plan carefully."
The Heavenly Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect.
If they could launch a surprise attack and forcefully breach their headquarters, seizing the various resources they've accumulated over hundreds of years, it would be a significant gain for the Thousand Mystic Sect!
However, such a plan requires careful consideration. They need to decide whether the Thousand Mystic Sect will act alone or collaborate with the Ice Absolute Palace and the Heaven Sword Sect. They also need to consider the outlying tribes and their potential for mutual support.
"Mhm."
Chen Mu nodded slightly.
He wasn't too concerned about the Thousand Mystic Sect's decision-making process. After delivering the report, his task was complete. Although Chen Mu's current strength was sufficient, he couldn't single-handedly breach the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters. If the Thousand Mystic Sect took action, Chen Mu would follow suit. Let's see how Elder Qi, no, the Supreme Elder, would handle this...
Regarding attacking the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Sect or the Heavenly Corpse Sect, Elder Qi, as the acting leader, wouldn't have the authority to make such a decision. If they were to take action, it's likely that all the high-level members of the Thousand Mystic Sect, including the Supreme Elder of the Blood Exchange Realm, would be involved.
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(End)
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