Chapter 374: The Inevitable Path
Chapter 374: The Inevitable Path
An Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon, annihilated in the blink of an eye!
Meng Danyun and Zhao Zhenchuan were both stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. Although they were not grandmasters, they had their fair share of experiences. Even the top grandmasters from Frost North would find it impossible to eliminate an Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon so effortlessly. It would likely require the intervention of the Blood Exchange Patriarch.
"Chen... Brother Chen?"
For a moment, they couldn't quite believe their eyes as they stared at the approaching figure in plain clothes. Despite the familiar appearance and aura, there was an air of uncertainty about him.
When had Chen Mu gained the power to annihilate an Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon with a mere snap of his fingers?
"Senior Sister Meng, Senior Brother Zhao, please calm yourselves."
Chen Mu turned to Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan, his expression calm as he spoke, "I was about to return when I sensed this demon's aura in the Earth Abyss. I tracked it down and drove it into the abyss channel, but it shouldn't have caused any major disaster."
Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan exchanged glances upon hearing Chen Mu's words.
"Brother Chen..." Meng Danyu began, her eyes darting to the dissipating ancient demon aura in the air behind Chen Mu. She couldn't help but look back at him, at a loss for words.
Chen Mu, noticing their reactions, shook his head slightly, unbothered by the awe he had instilled in them. He continued walking forward, saying, "I need to return to Jade Province for a while. If you see Master, please relay my message. This Earth Abyss channel will likely close soon, so you two should be extra cautious while guarding this place."
With that, he strode off into the distance, his figure disappearing among the shattered mountains after a few steps.
Even after Chen Mu's figure vanished, Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan remained in a daze, still processing what had just transpired. They exchanged glances, and after a moment of silence, Zhao Zhenchuan spoke first, "Was that really Brother Chen just now?"
His eyes still reflected the turmoil within, as he struggled to calm down, replaying the scene in his mind.
Meng Danyu remained silent, turning her head to gaze in the direction Chen Mu had left. Her eyes, filled with awe, now held a hint of contemplation.
The person who had just appeared was undoubtedly Chen Mu. To be able to eliminate an ancient demon so effortlessly, even if Chen Mu had comprehended the Heaven-Earth Domain, she couldn't imagine him achieving such a feat. For Chen Mu to have accomplished this, his cultivation must have already...
In fact...
She had never doubted Chen Mu's ability to break through the Mystic Gate and attain the realm of a grandmaster. Every time Chen Mu made a cultivation breakthrough, it was awe-inspiring and extraordinary. Being a prodigy, reaching the level of a Heaven-Earth Grandmaster wouldn't be too surprising. However, she never expected this day to come so soon—it had only been a few short years since Chen Mu entered the Six Organ Realm!
She, Meng Danyu, had entered the Six Organ Realm earlier than Chen Mu, and only now had she barely perfected her cultivation in this realm. She had just begun to encounter the bottleneck of the Mystic Gate and gained the qualifications to attempt breaking through to the Marrow Washing Realm. Yet, she had no confidence in her ability to succeed.
Just as Meng Danyu's thoughts were swirling, another aura suddenly appeared, and a figure emerged from the Earth Abyss.
"Elder Fang."
"Greetings, Elder Fang."
Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan, gradually recovering from their initial shock, recognized the figure who had emerged from the abyss. After a brief pause, they both immediately bowed respectfully.
The newcomer was none other than Elder Fang Yuan of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
"Hmm... Lawkeeper Meng, Lawkeeper Zhao, are you two guarding this place?" Elder Fang, having emerged from the Earth Abyss rift, directed his gaze at Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan. After a brief pause, his eyes softened, and he calmly scanned the surroundings while asking, "What happened here? Did a demonic beast emerge from the channel?"
"Yes."
Zhao Zhenchuan, slowly regaining his composure, nodded and replied, "Just now, an Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon ascended. It corrupted a demonic creature and controlled its body..."
"An Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Fang's expression turned grave, his demeanor becoming solemn. His eyes swept the area as he inquired further, "Where did that demonic beast go? What is the current situation?"
An Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon was no ordinary foe; even top grandmasters might struggle to defeat it. Its appearance on land would be a significant disaster.
Zhao Zhenchuan hesitated slightly before reluctantly recounting the events, as Chen Mu hadn't mentioned the need for secrecy. Moreover, the situation with the Eighth-Rank Ancient Demon was too critical to be left unclear.
However...
They had expected Elder Fang to be shocked by the news, but to their surprise, he only paused briefly before exhaling in relief. "So that was Brother Chen leading the way. In that case, there's no need to worry."
Meng Danyu stared at Fang Yuan's reaction, momentarily stunned herself. After exchanging a glance with Zhao Zhenchuan, she cautiously asked, "Elder Fang, what exactly is this...?"
Fang Yuan glanced at Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan, then chuckled and said, "It seems he didn't tell you? Your fellow junior brother has entered the Bone Marrow Purification Realm, cultivated the Heaven-Earth Grandmaster, and is now likely the first on the Great Xuan Grandmaster List."
"Though I haven't witnessed it myself, I heard from Master Liu that in the shattered Cavern Heaven, he broke the Eternal Sword, destroyed the Absolute Blade, and even with the power of the Bone Marrow Washing Realm, he drove back the Sky Demon Ancestor Yuwen Hao!"
Speaking of this, even Fang Yuan's tone carried a hint of awe.
At just thirty-three years old, to enter the Grandmaster Realm, break the Eternal Sword, destroy the Absolute Blade, and repel the Sky Demon—what an awe-inspiring and extraordinary talent! In his youth, he was far from reaching such heights. Even if he stopped here and perished, he would still leave a mark in the history books. Why didn't he become his disciple back then?
But upon closer thought, within the Seven Mysteries Sect, Chen Mu could only be a perfect fit for Qin Mengjun's tutelage, as only Qin Mengjun has now entered the Blood Exchange Barrier and become one of the two Grandmasters of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
On the other side, upon hearing Fang Yuan's words filled with awe, Meng Danyu and Zhao Zhenchuan were both momentarily stunned, as if listening to an incomprehensible text, and were deeply shaken.
Break the Eternal Sword, destroy the Absolute Blade, and repel the Sky Demon?
The Eternal Sword and the Absolute Blade are wielded by extraordinary figures, top Grandmasters dominating the Frost North. Not to mention the Sky Demon Ancestor of the Sky Demon Sect, who is truly a supreme figure on par with the Blood Exchange Realm. Chen Mu even drove him back!
If they hadn't witnessed it themselves, seeing Chen Mu effortlessly annihilate an Eighth Rank Ancient Demon with a mere snap of his fingers, they might have found Fang Yuan's words incomprehensible. But even so, it was hard to imagine the awe-inspiring scene that had unfolded.
Especially for Meng Danyu, who felt slightly dazed for a moment.
She couldn't help but recall when she followed her master's orders to descend the mountain in search of opportunities. In the underground meditation room of the Demon-Slaying Division in Yu County, she first met Chen Mu. At that time, she only thought Chen Mu was a young, inexperienced, and somewhat talented youth. As she was stuck in a cultivation bottleneck and had nothing else to do, she guided Chen Mu in cultivating the Xun Wind Realm.
And now, in just a few short years, that youth who once struggled with controlling the power of the realm has truly entered the Grandmaster Realm and even reached the pinnacle, capable of battling the Sky Demon Ancestor!
Sometimes, life is indeed like a dream.
...
Jade Province.
Chen Estate.
In the spacious courtyard, a stream flowed gently.
Upstream, a wooden waterwheel turned endlessly, drawing water from the stream and channeling it along wooden paths to a distant flower garden, nourishing the lush growth of countless flower seedlings.
Xu Hongyu, dressed in a simple silk garment with her hair pinned up, stood in front of the waterwheel, gazing at its rotation and the trickling water, appearing lost in thought, immersed in the contemplation of some profound mystery.
Suddenly, her slightly dazed eyes lit up with focus, and she felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind. However, she didn't feel the slightest tension, as the visitor's aura was utterly familiar.
"Has my husband returned?"
Xu Hongyu turned to look at Chen Mu, a hint of joy on her lovely face.
Even as Chen Mu's primary wife, with her hair styled in a woman's bun, and as a Five Organ Realm martial arts expert, her youthful beauty remained unchanged from the past, and her joyful aura caused the flowers in the garden to pale in comparison.
"Mhm."
Chen Mu leaned close to Xu Hongyu's ear and whispered, "I've come to bid farewell to my wife."
Xu Hongyu was slightly startled by Chen Mu's words but wasn't entirely surprised. She looked into his eyes, leaned against him, and murmured softly, "Has that time you spoke of finally arrived?"
Before Chen Mu's journey to the Earth Abyss in Ice Province, he had told her that his return from the Earth Abyss might be the time for their next separation, and this separation would be the most crucial one in their lives, with no certainty of when he would return.
Upon his return, he would no longer bid her farewell.
"Mhm."
Chen Mu hugged the woman in his arms and responded softly.
Now, with his grand plan taking shape, he could rival the Sky Demon Ancestor, and in this vast world, he truly possessed some self-preservation power. However, for now, it was merely self-preservation. What was about to unfold would capture the attention of the entire world.
Such a change would be a challenge he could face with confidence, but for Xu Hongyu, Chen Yue, and the others, it was a threat. Just like the last time when Mystic Mechanism Pavilion's sinister scheme unfolded, there was a risk of malicious evildoers attempting to influence him through Xu Hongyu and the others.
Therefore, he had to leave.
The farther he was from them, the safer Xu Hongyu and the others would be. As long as he remained alive and roamed the world, not many would dare to harm Xu Hongyu and her companions. Any harm done to them would have no impact on him, and he would only bear unnecessary grudges.
On the contrary, staying by Xu Hongyu's side would only lead to various troubles affecting them, and there might even be attacks from powerful enemies in the Blood Replacement Realm. Xu Hongyu and the others' cultivation was ultimately too weak, and even the slightest involvement in the aftermath could be extremely dangerous.
However, the state capital of Jade Province was no longer safe enough.
He would personally escort Xu Hongyu and the others to the mountain gate of the Gate of Seven Sects and temporarily settle them at the foot of Spirit Profound Peak. As the peak master of Spirit Profound Peak, he naturally had this privilege, especially since the Gate of Seven Sects was now almost entirely under his and Qin Mengjun's control.
The day he returned would be the day he truly contended for supremacy in the world, no longer fearing any threats. Wherever he was would be the safest place in the world!
"We must not delay. Madam, Xiaohe, Yue'er, and the others should set off with me to the mountain gate of the Gate of Seven Sects."
Chen Mu didn't linger with Xu Hongyu for long. He gently caressed her cheek and said to her, "This is the most crucial hurdle in my life. Once I overcome it, the world will be my oyster."
"Mhm."
Xu Hongyu nodded lightly.
She understood everything.
She was no longer just a small official in charge of a county or an outer district of a city. She had entered the Five Organ Realm and, with Chen Mu's presence, held a certain status in the state capital of Jade Province. She was also well-informed about worldly affairs.
Chen Mu cultivated the Heaven and Earth Way, and at his age, he had entered the Bone Marrow Purification Realm. She knew that if this became known to the outside world, it would cause a huge stir and set off a storm of awe and terror.
But to pass that supreme and challenging Blood Exchange Barrier, one needed true insight into life and death, which could not be achieved through secluded cultivation alone.
This hurdle was an essential step on the path to the ultimate Martial Dao.
Especially for Chen Mu, it was unavoidable.
She believed that Chen Mu would surely overcome that barrier. She trusted that her husband was such an extraordinary figure, and she also knew that she must not become a burden to Chen Mu. She, Xiaohe, and Chen Yue and the others were all in the same boat.
"I'll go and tell Yue'er and the others."
Chen Mu lightly tapped Xu Hongyu's forehead and whispered something in her ear before releasing his arms and quietly disappearing from the courtyard. Xu Hongyu, meanwhile, briefly immersed herself in the embrace she had just experienced, then quickly snapped out of it and headed back to the house.
Chen Yue was not in the mansion, but Chen Mu soon found her.
Chen Mu had only mentioned the upcoming long journey to Xu Hongyu before, and he hadn't told Chen Yue about it. After hearing Chen Mu's explanation, Chen Yue's eyes first widened in shock, then she nodded vigorously at Chen Mu.
She,
like her sister Xu Hongyu,
would not become a burden to Chen Mu.
Even if it meant living in the mountain gate of the Gate of Seven Sects for years, confined to the foot of Spirit Profound Peak, she would endure the loneliness and patiently wait, listening to all news about Chen Mu and awaiting his return.
The family packed quickly.
There weren't many delicate items to pack, as they wouldn't need them at the mountain gate of the Gate of Seven Sects.
The distance from the state capital of Jade Province to the mountain gate of the Gate of Seven Sects was only a few hundred miles. Chen Mu personally escorted Xu Hongyu and the others, and they soon arrived at Seven Sects Town, then followed the mountain path to the mountain gate.
With his status as the peak master of Spirit Profound Peak, settling Xu Hongyu and the others at the peak was a simple matter. He gave a single instruction, and the attendants of Spirit Profound Peak took care of everything.
"Although Spirit Profound Peak is blessed with spiritual energy and elegance, it is ultimately a place for martial cultivation, and simplicity prevails everywhere. Living here for a while will be an opportunity to contemplate the martial concept and cultivate martial arts, perhaps leading to new insights and further progress in cultivation."
Chen Mu stood atop Spirit Profound Peak, near the main hall at the summit. There were several vacant bamboo houses here, which were indeed elegant but much simpler than the mansion in the state capital.
However, Xu Hongyu and the others were no ordinary people; they were martial cultivators who didn't mind where they lived. Moreover, as Chen Mu said, settling at Spirit Profound Peak for a while and focusing on cultivation might not be a bad thing.
(End of Chapter)
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