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Chapter 368: Chen Mu Takes Action
Chapter 368: Chen Mu Takes Action
"Qiuanzong Liu Tong!"
"Don't even think about it!"
As Liu Tong made his move, many other Grandmasters in the vicinity also reacted.
Although they had been a step slower earlier, failing to intercept Hai Qian Yuan and Kong Ji, when it was Liu Tong's turn to act, several Grandmasters had already made their moves. In an instant, numerous attacks from various directions were aimed at Liu Tong.
Among them were condensed palm imprints, finger imprints, and even the glow of blades and swords.
Despite these techniques being far inferior to Jiang Changsheng and the others, not reaching the level of top-tier Grandmasters, the Grandmasters present were no pushovers. Liu Tong could withstand or ignore one or two attacks, but with so many coming at once, even he couldn't afford to ignore them.
Facing the onslaught of attacks from all sides, Liu Tong's expression turned solemn. He was cautious of Jiang Changsheng, but everyone present was formidable. Even if he found an opportunity, no one would let him succeed easily.
"Infinite Primordial Energy!"
Liu Tong's voice was low and stern. Instantly, the Heavenly Power surrounding his entire body transformed into a ring of Heavenly Origin True Energy, forming a protective barrier around him. After colliding with several finger imprints and palm forces, he broke through them and continued to charge forward.
However, more attacks came from all directions, each one striking with force. Although Liu Tong moved swiftly, within a short time, he had already reached the vicinity of the three rare artifacts. Facing the onslaught of over ten Grandmasters, he finally decided against withstanding the attacks and was forced to parry and retreat, falling into the pit below the collapsed Stone Vein Heaven.
"Let's go!"
Luan Qiumei, seeing the situation, brightened and took action.
With Jiang Changsheng and Hai Qian Yuan restraining each other, and Liu Tong being attacked by the crowd, this was the perfect opportunity. She and Xia Yuye seized the chance and leaped towards the three artifacts.
However, they weren't the only ones waiting for this chance. As Liu Tong was struck down and the opportunity presented itself, at least seven or eight figures rushed out simultaneously, all heading towards the three rare artifacts.
"Get out of my way!"
One person shouted coldly, slashing towards Luan Qiumei with a sword as they charged forward.
"Delusional!"
Another person spoke with a sinister tone, waving a feather fan, creating a strange, pitch-black whirlwind. Accompanying this was an indescribable sense of malevolent energy directed at Xia Yuye, who was beside Luan Qiumei.
Luan Qiumei and Xia Yuye's eyes darkened slightly. Although they faced obstacles, their strength was not to be underestimated. Without fear, they each took action, clashing with the incoming attacks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
For a moment, the area was filled with resounding booms. Blades of light crisscrossed, and fists, palms, and imprints collided and tore at each other. Dozens of Grandmasters from various factions clashed, each trying to seize the initiative.
The situation quickly descended into chaos.
Amidst this chaos, a faint shadow, almost imperceptible, seemed to melt into the void, silently slipping past the battling Grandmasters and approaching the three rare artifacts born from the destruction of the Stone Vein Heaven.
This person seemed hidden beneath a mysterious, invisible veil, making it hard to discern their appearance or sense their aura. But if one were to tear away this veil, they would see a figure in a black robe, wearing a crimson mask.
Xueyin Tower, Tianyin!
As a master of stealth and assassination, the Grandmaster of Xueyin Tower always kept his identity hidden, never appearing in any Grandmaster rankings. However, Xueyin Tower had its signature style; all Grandmasters were ranked with the character 'Tian'. Among them, four were particularly notorious, known for the demise of countless Grandmasters at their hands.
Tian Sha, Tian Yin, Tian Can, and Tian Can were the top four, with Tian Yin, the second in rank, possessing formidable strength among Grandmasters. Crucially, he excelled in stealth, making it challenging even for top-tier Grandmasters to detect his hidden aura.
In the midst of this chaotic battlefield, Tian Yin silently advanced, already reaching the vicinity of the three artifacts.
"I've got them!"
Tian Yin's eyes flashed with determination.
As a Grandmaster of Xueyin Tower, he was well aware of the value of these three rare artifacts. If he acquired them, it would be a significant advantage. Moreover, unlike others, once these artifacts were in his possession, even with Jiang Changsheng or Tuoba Xi nearby, he was confident in his ability to retreat safely, for he specialized in stealth and evasion!
Just as Tian Yin reached the center, about to grasp the artifacts, his expression changed slightly, and his eyes narrowed sharply.
Because, at that very moment, a figure appeared, as if arriving later but somehow reaching the artifacts first.
This person's demeanor was calm and composed, as if they had bypassed the chaos or had been there long before, observing the battle behind them with indifference.
With a brief glance at the artifacts, they waved their sleeve, collecting the closest one, the 'Heaven-Patching Stone', and then reached for the Void Crystal.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, the Grandmasters in the vicinity realized what was happening and turned their attention to the central figure, each revealing a surprised expression.
"Is it him?"
"How did he get there?"
Amidst the chaos, an unexpected figure stood out in the open space where the Heaven Core had collapsed. Unnoticed by all, Chen Mu had somehow reached the side of the three rare artifacts and was the first to pocket the Heaven-Mending Stone.
The ongoing battles in various directions abruptly halted as everyone's attention turned to Chen Mu. After all, they were fighting for these treasures, and now that someone had successfully claimed one, there was no point in continuing the meaningless conflicts. Instead, all eyes narrowed with ill intent towards Chen Mu.
"As expected of a cultivator of the Heaven-Earth Path, his concealment techniques are extraordinary..."
Xia Yuye gazed at Chen Mu from afar, a faint gleam in her eyes. She had been closely monitoring the three artifacts throughout, but even she hadn't noticed Chen Mu's approach. However, given that Chen Mu cultivated the Heaven-Earth lineage, it wasn't surprising that he found an opportunity amidst the chaos.
But as Chen Mu reached for the Void Crystal after securing the Heaven-Mending Stone, showing no intention of retreating, Xia Yuye's eyebrows furrowed slightly. It wasn't the sight of the artifacts being taken that bothered her, but rather Chen Mu's greed!
Chen Mu had seized the opportunity to reach the center and claim an artifact while everyone was distracted. If he hadn't been so greedy and had immediately left with just one artifact, his chances of escaping unscathed would have been high. Others would have hesitated, unsure whether to pursue Chen Mu or continue fighting for the remaining two treasures.
However, Chen Mu's greed led him to attempt to take a second artifact, which was overly ambitious. In a situation where everyone was watching and enemies surrounded him, each additional move increased the danger. Trying to take another artifact might mean never escaping!
"Chen Mu..."
Liu Tong, observing the scene from a distance, also noticed the change in the situation.
Like the others, he hadn't seen how Chen Mu bypassed everyone to reach the artifacts first. Among the three treasures, the Void Crystal was undoubtedly the most valuable. The ideal strategy would have been to immediately grab the Void Crystal and flee without hesitation or throw the other two artifacts away to create chaos and facilitate escape.
However, Chen Mu seemed unaware of the artifacts' value and was even attempting to take two... Fortunately, Jiang Changsheng, the closest to Chen Mu, was still two or three miles away, giving him a chance to react! Liu Tong's nerves tensed up.
But...
Just as Chen Mu extended his hand towards the Void Crystal, about to touch it, an unexpected change occurred.
A cold, gray short blade suddenly materialized from the void behind Chen Mu, aiming straight for his back.
The attack came without warning, and when the blade appeared, it moved with deadly silence. The dull gray blade seemed to be entangled with endless gloom, as if carrying the weight of death itself!
"No Return Blade, it's Sky Shadow!"
Someone's expression changed drastically, their pupils constricting.
Sky Shadow, one of the top four masters of the Blood Concealment Tower, had quietly approached the artifacts unnoticed. He had been nearby for a long time, hidden from sight, and now he struck as Chen Mu reached for the Void Crystal, taking advantage of Chen Mu's momentary lapse in vigilance.
This scene left many in awe.
If they had been in Chen Mu's position, they would have been severely injured or even killed by such a silent and deadly attack.
Plop!
Sky Shadow's No Return Blade pierced Chen Mu's swollen robe.
However, instead of showing excitement after a successful strike, Sky Shadow's eyes widened in shock, as if witnessing something unbelievable.
Swish!
In the next instant, Sky Shadow released his blade and retreated.
But it was too late. Chen Mu's right hand had already grasped the Void Crystal, and without even glancing at Sky Shadow's face, he turned his head and casually struck with his left palm.
Bang!
Sky Shadow reacted swiftly, raising his hands to block the attack and escape. He gathered his turbid Primordial Essence True Force, harnessing the power of heaven and earth to resist Chen Mu's seemingly simple and unassuming palm strike.
But as Chen Mu's palm descended, it felt like the heavens were collapsing. With a light touch, he pressed into Sky Shadow's dull Primordial Essence True Force and struck his forehead with a powerful blow.
Crack!
Sky Shadow's movements abruptly stopped.
His expression and posture froze, and no one could see his face as he fell straight down like a stone spike, disappearing into the wild soil below.
The confrontation between Chen Mu and Sky Shadow was over in an instant, as swift as lightning. It happened so fast that no one could discern what had occurred; they only saw Sky Shadow being struck down by Chen Mu and falling into the deep pit below.
As Chen Mu's back was pierced by the No Return Blade, it gently shook with his robe, silently dislodging the blade and falling into his fingers, where he casually held it.
"This..."
Many onlookers were shocked by this scene.
Tian Yin's assassination attempt from the Blood Concealment Tower had no effect, and he was even struck by Chen Mu's counterattack, leaving his life hanging in the balance!
How could this be?
Most of the grandmasters present knew Chen Mu, aware of his identity and his third-place ranking on the Wind and Cloud Rankings. Although he was no less impressive than many grandmasters, he was still only at the Six Organ Realm.
And what a formidable figure Tian Yin was!
A grandmaster proficient in stealthy assassination, even top-tier grandmasters would approach him with caution. If Chen Mu were a top-tier grandmaster, it would be understandable for him to counter Tian Yin's assassination attempt. When did the Wind and Cloud Rankings have such a skilled practitioner?
For a moment, several grandmasters who were closer and had intended to make a move on Chen Mu hesitated, each filled with uncertainty. After all, Tian Yin's assassination attempt had no effect, and they didn't believe their skills surpassed his.
Just as everyone was perplexed, Chen Mu remained calm, as if nothing had happened. He continued to observe the chaotic and turbid 'Chaos Essence', seemingly pondering how to collect it.
"Interesting."
Jiang Changsheng gazed at Chen Mu from afar, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes.
Chen Mu...
Many years ago, Jiang Changsheng had seen Chen Mu once in Yu Prefecture. He had heard that Chen Mu's disciple, Gu Hong, had his heart sword broken by someone from a remote region, and out of curiosity, he went to observe him.
At that time, he didn't notice anything extraordinary about Chen Mu. He seemed like an ordinary person, with a bit of opportunity and insight. He felt slightly disappointed that Gu Hong had lost to such an average opponent, his sword heart shattered.
Later, during the battle at Yunni Heavenly Peak, Chen Mu displayed his Heaven and Earth Concept, defeating Tian Jian's disciple, Zuo Qianqiu.
Jiang Changsheng watched the entire battle from the clouds above the peak, and for the first time, ripples stirred in his heart. However, it was not because of Chen Mu but because of Qin Mengjun.
Jiang Changsheng had clashed with Qin Mengjun multiple times before she was ambushed, and he had never won. Coincidentally, Chen Mu became Qin Mengjun's disciple at the Qiuan Sect. As a result, Gu Hong, Qin Mengjun's disciple, was defeated by Chen Mu, her other disciple, in a one-sided battle, losing without any dignity.
Even Zuo Qianqiu was defeated by Chen Mu.
Jiang Changsheng sighed inwardly.
Later, he occasionally heard about Chen Mu's fame, but he didn't pay much attention, even when Chen Mu rose to the Wind and Cloud Rankings. Since Chen Mu was Qin Mengjun's disciple, he considered him a junior and didn't give him much thought.
It was only when Chen Mu reached the top three of the rankings by defeating the three great demon lords of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Frost North that Jiang Changsheng's heart stirred for the second time. Ordinary practitioners on the rankings were nothing to him, easily swept away with a single sword.
But the top three were different.
Although they hadn't reached the level of top-tier grandmasters, they were genuinely close. They could hold their own against regular grandmasters and even attempt to challenge the top-tier ones without being crushed like ants.
In just a few short years, Chen Mu had reached this level, causing ripples in Jiang Changsheng's heart. However, these ripples soon subsided as he was a top-tier grandmaster of his generation, with a single goal: to surpass the Blood Exchange Barrier and reach the pinnacle of the sword path, making his 'Eternal Sword Dao' one of the fundamental sword paths of the Heaven Sword Sect.
This was the third time ripples formed in his heart.
Chen Mu effortlessly countered Tian Yin's assassination attempt from the Blood Concealment Tower with a casual palm strike, a skill that only a top-tier grandmaster could possess, handling it with such composure.
But how could Chen Mu possess the strength of a top-tier grandmaster?
Or, how could someone at the Six Organ Realm cultivate skills comparable to a top-tier grandmaster?
Indeed, some of the most talented individuals in the Six Organ Realm could challenge regular grandmasters, but top-tier grandmasters... They were all exceptionally talented and unparalleled.
The gap in realms was absolute, an unbridgeable chasm that couldn't be crossed.
Moreover, Chen Mu's previous technique didn't involve any external energy, nor did it draw upon the power of Heaven and Earth. He solely utilized his physical body and Primordial Energy, ruling out the possibility of the Heaven-Earth Domain.
Eliminating all other possibilities, only one explanation remained.
Chen Mu, who was just a Five Organ Realm practitioner a few years ago, had now surpassed the most challenging Mystic Gate, proving the Heaven and Earth Martial Art, and entered the Bone Marrow Purification Realm. He had reached the same height as Jiang Changsheng!
(End of Chapter)
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