Chapter 356: The Audacity of a Lowly Rogue!

Chapter 356: The Audacity of a Lowly Rogue!

"Dragon Seeks Water, Earth Surges Lotus, no wonder it can nurture such a precious treasure as the Heaven-Earth Nourishing Dew."

Chen Mu's voice echoed from several hundred zhang away. He silently appeared, maintaining a distance of several hundred zhang, not intentionally approaching but instead fixing his gaze upon Liu Wanzheng. With a slow and steady tone, he said, "Among the elders in my sect, Elder Liu has the oldest seniority. Many of us thought you had passed away, never expecting you to still be alive and have found such a blessed land."

"However, Elder Liu, instead of sharing the news of this blessed land and treasure with our sect, has chosen to collaborate with outsiders. I don't understand the meaning behind this. These people here seem to be from the Great Xuan Court, but when did Elder Liu become so close to the royal family?"

As his words fell, Liu Wanzheng, upon seeing Chen Mu's appearance, furrowed his brows slightly.

The other grandmasters present had various expressions. Some glanced at Liu Wanzheng, while others looked at Chen Mu.

Fish Guardian, the leader of the group, after collecting the Heaven-Earth Nourishing Dew, narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Chen Mu. Suddenly, he spoke in a sharp, thin voice, "This eight-phase circulating energy must be from the Heaven and Earth Path. So, you must be Chen Feng, the Peak Master of the Qiuan Sect, the once-in-a-century genius of the Cold Northern Region. Even though I reside in the Central Plains, I've heard of your name, Chen Feng."

"It seems it really is you."

Chen Mu paid no attention to Fish Guardian but kept his eyes on Liu Wanzheng. Seeing his silence, Chen Mu sighed and said, "In other words, more than a decade ago, when my master was ambushed, it was your doing. I had always suspected the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion."

In truth, he wasn't entirely sure if it was Liu Wanzheng, and his tone was merely a test. However, Liu Wanzheng didn't seem to realize this and thought that Chen Mu had been secretly observing from the side and had already confirmed his identity, making any denial useless.

His furrowed brows and silence were as good as an admission.

Regarding Qin Mengjun's matter, Chen Mu had once considered all the elders and peak masters of the Qiuan Sect, including Liu Wanzheng, but ultimately ruled him out. On the one hand, Liu Wanzheng had retired from the martial world years ago to enjoy his retirement. On the other hand, Liu Wanzheng had no grudges with Qin Mengjun.

Moreover, Liu Wanzheng was one of the oldest in the entire Qiuan Sect, even older than the Supreme Elder Yin Heng. At his age, instead of peacefully enjoying his retirement, what purpose would he have in betraying the Qiuan Sect and ambushing Qin Mengjun? Chen Mu couldn't think of a reasonable explanation.

The only somewhat plausible reason was for longevity, to live longer. But such an act held no significance. The Liu family was one of the six great families in the provincial capital, deeply rooted and influential. Within the Qiuan Sect, they had countless disciples and officers.

After all, Liu Wanzheng was a respected grandmaster. If he had only sought personal longevity, joining the Heavenly Demon Sect or being tempted by other forces while disregarding the entire Liu family, would show a lack of integrity and resolve. In that case, he wouldn't have been able to cultivate to the grandmaster level in the first place.

"..."

Liu Wanzheng listened to Chen Mu's words and remained silent.

A faint light flashed in Fish Guardian's eyes, and he let out a chuckle. Raising his thin voice, he said, "Chen Feng, young as you are and dedicated to the martial path, may not be aware of many internal affairs. My master, Qin Mengjun, is from the Qin family, which, two hundred years ago, was a branch in the Central Plains. They violated the law and were exiled to this remote region of Jade Province."

"Even so, the Qin family still has a branch in the Central Plains, having changed their surname from 'Qin' to 'Zhao'. And that 'Zhao Consort' in the royal court is from this branch... Chen Feng may not know much about these old stories, but when it comes to Zhao Consort, you must have heard of the name 'Duke Princess Xuan Chu'."

Fish Guardian explained in detail.

Finally, Chen Mu shifted his gaze from Liu Wanzheng to Fish Guardian, his eyes calm as he said, "Even in the remote Cold North, the names of the eight princes of the Great Xuan Imperial Court are well known. So, Duke Princess Xuan Chu is the daughter of Zhao Consort?"

Chen Mu's understanding of the Great Xuan royal family wasn't extensive, but at his level, he had heard of various degrees. At the very least, he knew the names of the eight princes, including Duke Princess Xuan Chu, in the Great Xuan Imperial Court.

To stand out among thousands of royal bloodlines and be bestowed the title of prince, each of these eight individuals was a grandmaster, and they were all top-ranked grandmasters on the Heavenly Grandmaster Rankings. Among them, Duke Princess Xuan Chu and Murong Yan were even in the top ten!

"That's right."

Fish Guardian nodded lightly and said, "Therefore, the Qin family and the Zhao family have always maintained a connection. When Qin Mengjun emerged with extraordinary talent, Duke Princess Xuan Chu intended to bring the two families together. He wanted to make Qin Mengjun a concubine, using this opportunity to extend his influence into the Qiuan Sect and bring it under his command, serving his interests."

Listening to Fish Guardian's explanation, Chen Mu gained some understanding of the past events. While he was aware of many matters concerning the Great Xuan Court, his knowledge was limited to a certain extent. Historical events from several decades or even a century ago were not as well-documented in the various records.

"So, to obstruct this, Elder Liu joined forces with outsiders and plotted against my master during his breakthrough to the Blood Replacement Realm... But I still don't understand. What benefit could Elder Liu gain from this?"

Chen Mu's gaze once again fell upon Liu Wanzheng, and he said calmly, "Even if the Qiuan Sect gradually leaned towards Duke Princess Xuan Chu due to the Qin family's connection, it might not necessarily be a bad thing for the sect. The Liu family could also benefit from it. I think that even if an outsider offered a longevity treasure like the Heaven-Earth Nourishing Dew, it wouldn't be enough to make Elder Liu betray his sect."

"..."

Liu Wanzheng, upon hearing this, looked at Chen Mu and finally spoke for the first time, his voice carrying age and decay, "In the struggle between factions, there is no right or wrong. I neither want Duke Princess Xuan Chu to interfere with the Qiuan Sect nor do I want the Qin family to submit to Duke Princess Xuan Chu's command."

Chen Mu sighed softly and said, "So that's how it is. I wonder which prince Elder Liu supports, other than the Jin Prince. When my master encountered trouble, Elder Yin should have thoroughly investigated, but they couldn't find any connection between the Liu family and the Central Plains."

"Of course they couldn't find anything because there wasn't any."

Yu Shouxuan looked at Chen Mu, his smile not reaching his eyes as he said, "Elder Liu is a Grandmaster who, nearly a hundred years ago, left a descendant while traveling in the outer seas. This descendant took the surname 'Wan' and gave birth to a talented offspring. This descendant became acquainted with the young Liang Prince and supported each other. Now, with the Liang Prince ascending to the throne and this descendant reaching the Grandmaster realm, their talent surpasses that of their predecessor."

As Yu Shouxuan spoke, Chen Mu's doubts were finally dispelled, and everything made sense.

Liu Wanzheng had left a descendant in the outer seas, perhaps without much thought. But he never expected that this descendant would give birth to a remarkably talented offspring who would rise to prominence, become acquainted with the young Liang Prince, and support each other until the Liang Prince was crowned king. Now, with the descendant surpassing their predecessor, Liu Wanzheng naturally supports the Liang Prince's lineage over the Seven Mystical Sect.

Liu Wanzheng may not have intended to harm the Seven Mystical Sect, but with the Qin family being close to the Jin Prince and the eight princes having conflicting relationships, he didn't want to see Qin Mengjun entering the Blood Replacement Realm, taking control of the Seven Mystical Sect, and leaning towards the Jin Prince's lineage. Therefore, it was reasonable for him to secretly plot against Qin Mengjun, who was only a Marrow Washing Grandmaster at the time. From his perspective, such an action would not affect his cultivation path.

As for the mysterious Blood Replacement Realm practitioner, it was likely someone brought by Liu Wanzheng from the Central Plains to support the Liang Prince's lineage. With a few deliberate concealments, it was normal for their background to remain unknown.

"The situation in Frost North is truly complex. I thought that the eleven provinces, being remote, would be free from court interference. But even in such a distant place, there are traces of the court's involvement."

Chen Mu spoke slowly.

He had anticipated court interference in Frost North, but he only guessed major events like the Northern Expedition, the actions of the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, and the war in Ice Province. However, it seems that even the six great families in the provincial capital are somehow connected. Now, it appears that even the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion might be backed by one of the eight princes, excluding the Jin and Liang princes. It's unlikely that there are any truly independent forces in Frost North.

"In this vast land, all is the Emperor's domain. All under heaven, none can escape the Emperor's rule."

Yu Shouxuan let out a sharp, thin laugh, his dead fish-like eyes staring at Chen Mu. "Chen Feng, don't assume that the chaos in the world is due to the court's incompetence. In truth, whether it's a chaotic or peaceful era, it all depends on the Emperor's will. People like Yuan Hong, who take advantage of the chaos to rebel and betray the court, are like mantises trying to block a chariot. They are foolish and overestimate their abilities."

"With your abilities, Chen Feng, you're ranked among the top three in the Frost North Wind and Cloud Rankings. If you can comprehend the Heaven-Earth Domain in time, you'll be able to rival the top Grandmasters on the Heavenly Grandmaster Rankings. If you're willing to serve the Liang Prince, when he ascends the throne and pacifies the realm, you'll be rewarded with land and your name will be passed down through the ages."

As Yu Shouxuan spoke, a slight curve formed at the corner of his pale face.

Chen Mu listened.

His usually calm expression finally showed a hint of disdain, and he coldly laughed, "Ascending the throne? Is he worthy?"

Merely fearing Qin Mengjun's talent and not wanting to see the Qin family ally with the Jin Prince's lineage, he cooperated with Liu Wanzheng's sinister schemes. Plotting against Qin Mengjun, who was only a Marrow Washing Grandmaster at the time, how dare they attempt to ascend the throne with such despicable means?

"My master is not someone to be trifled with. Even if you schemed against him, he could still rise above it and achieve the pinnacle of martial arts. You, with your petty schemes, are not worthy of having your names passed down through the ages."

Chen Mu's gaze swept across Yu Shouxuan and the others, his eyes filled with cold laughter.

Yu Shouxuan's face darkened upon hearing this, and he said coldly, "Qin Mengjun does have exceptional talent, but you're not worthy of boasting before me. If your master were here, it would be a different story. You're young and don't know your place!"

Bang!

As Yu Shouxuan's words fell, a sudden sound came from behind Chen Mu.

A figure appeared thirty zhang behind Chen Mu, emerging from the ground and blocking his retreat.

At the same time, the person standing beside Yu Shouxuan suddenly crumbled and turned into a pile of yellow soil, revealing that he was just a fake body, while the real person had already sneaked behind Chen Mu under Yu Shouxuan's deliberate cover!

With Chen Mu's retreat blocked, the crowd no longer concealed their intentions.

Yu Shouxuan looked at Chen Mu and slowly approached, his smile not reaching his eyes as he said, "Court secrets are not meant for everyone's ears. If you hear what you shouldn't, you'll have to leave your life here... What does Elder Liu think?"

Liu Wanzheng stood behind Yu Shouxuan, gazing indifferently at Chen Mu.

There was no real grudge between Liu Wanzheng and Chen Mu. Chen Mu, as the once-in-a-century genius of Frost North, could have been the hope for the revival of the Seven Mystical Sect. However, Chen Mu was ultimately a member of the Liang Prince's lineage, and as Qin Mengjun's disciple, he would naturally side with Qin Mengjun, even if he didn't support the Jin Prince. Moreover, after learning so many secrets, it was impossible for Liu Wanzheng to let Chen Mu leave.

Just then, Yu Shouxuan and Chen Mu had been narrating various court secrets to distract Chen Mu's attention and allow Tan Jingguang, an expert in Earth Evasion, to sneak up behind Chen Mu and block his escape route.

In the Earth Abyss, escaping through the earth was extremely difficult. Even Tan Jingguang, a Grandmaster, had to tread carefully along the surface of the barren soil to avoid detection by Chen Mu. Only after circling a wide area did he finally start to make his move.

However, Chen Mu paid no heed to Tan Jingguang, who had emerged from the ground behind him, blocking his path. He also ignored Yu Shuxuan, who was approaching slowly, and focused solely on Liu Wanzheng. In a calm tone, he said, "What a pity for the Liu family of Jade Province. They will suffer because of you."

"If you die here, no one will ever know about it," Liu Wanzheng replied indifferently.

Yu Shuxuan let out a 'hey' and took a few steps forward, stopping about thirty zhang in front of Chen Mu. He said, "Chen Fengzhu, do you really think you can escape to heaven? You should know that I, Yu Shuxuan, am also listed on the Grandmaster's Chart. In the Eleven Provinces of Frost North, aside from the Absolute Blade, Jade Flute Guest, and Eternal Sword, no one else can possibly defeat me."

At the Grandmaster level, winning is easy, but killing is difficult.

If no one had blocked Chen Mu's escape route, Yu Shuxuan wouldn't have been confident in stopping him. But Chen Mu, being young and careless, was now trapped. With a little obstruction, Chen Mu wouldn't be able to escape from Yu Shuxuan's sword!

Hiss!

Almost in the next moment, Yu Shuxuan's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he suddenly attacked.

Since he had already made his move, he unleashed his killing intent. The sharp and frigid Supreme Yin True Energy was condensed on the slender and delicate Yin Sword, which he swung towards Chen Mu.

Liu Wanzheng and Tan Jingguang watched intently as Yu Shuxuan's strength was not to be underestimated. This sword, under the circumstances of others' constraints, almost directly struck the Viper, a top-three ranked demon on the Wind and Cloud Rankings. Even the top three on the rankings wouldn't have been able to receive such a sword!

Supreme Yin Sword,

Yu Shuxuan!

One of the top Grandmasters in the world, ranked thirty-first!

However, facing Yu Shuxuan's sword, which contained cold true energy and sharp, piercing sword aura, Chen Mu's movements were surprisingly ordinary. He didn't even draw his own Spirit Armament; he merely raised his right hand and joined his two fingers together.

Ding!

The sword light that seemed to pierce through the nearby heavenly earth power and the pressure of the Earth Abyss was almost like a swimming snake, landing between Chen Mu's two fingers. Even Yu Shuxuan's Supreme Yin Sword was locked by Chen Mu's fingers.

The entire Supreme Yin Sword, which was brewing with cold intent and condensed into a sharp sword aura, was easily locked by Chen Mu's two fingers. With a light flick, the sword began to shatter inch by inch, unable to advance any further.

"Yu Shuxuan? Never heard of him," Chen Mu said indifferently, looking at Yu Shuxuan in front of him. After shattering Yu Shuxuan's sword attack with his two fingers, heavenly earth power suddenly surged, causing a brilliant light to appear on his fingers.

Yu Shuxuan had already felt a sense of shock when his sword was blocked by Chen Mu's two fingers. He was a top-ranked Grandmaster in the Middle Province, known for his formidable reputation. This sword attack was unleashed with full force, without holding back. Even Grandmasters in the top ten of the Grandmaster's Chart would not dare to be so bold when facing his sword.

But Chen Mu not only blocked the attack but did so with ease!

It was as if a Grandmaster was facing a junior's sword attack, easily flicking it away with a casual gesture. This was unbelievable! Aside from those in the Blood Replacement Realm, who else could do this?

Damn it!

Yu Shuxuan's heart was filled with shock as he felt the terrifying power suddenly burst from Chen Mu's fingertips. His heart skipped a beat, and he wanted to draw back his sword and retreat, but he couldn't pull it out. Chen Mu's fingers felt like they were cast in iron, and his Supreme Yin Sword seemed rooted in place, unmoving like a mountain. No matter how hard he tried to exert force, he couldn't retreat even a hair's breadth.

He was also one of the top Grandmasters, having faced countless life-and-death crises. At this moment, he made a quick decision without hesitation and released his hand, abandoning his Spirit Armament, intending to retreat quickly.

However, it was too late.

Just then, Chen Mu's fingertips gathered true energy and emitted a faint light. He then sent a calm gaze forward, pushing the Supreme Yin Sword back towards Yu Shuxuan. With a bang, the sword shot out.

Although Chen Mu only exerted force with his two fingers, the rebounding Supreme Yin Sword was even more fierce and urgent than the Spirit Armament bow and arrow, the Moon-Slaying Bow and the Breaking Arrow. Despite not sensing any energy within, this situation was even more terrifying, as the Primordial Essence True Energy and force were completely condensed into a single point, reaching an extreme state!

Yu Shuxuan had just withdrawn and retreated, and he couldn't avoid this attack. He could only bring his two hands, with their long, gray fingernails, together in front of him. He gathered his Supreme Yin True Energy in his palms, attempting to receive the attack.

"Ah!"

A painful cry was heard.

The Supreme Yin Sword, flying back, had its slender hilt collide with Yu Shuxuan's palm, shattering the Supreme Yin True Energy. It then pierced through the hilt, creating a large hole in his palm, and continued its momentum, piercing his chest and coming out from his back, spraying blood into the void.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end