Chapter 381: Invitation from Zhongzhou

Chapter 381: Invitation from Zhongzhou

"Southern Bright Flame? Protector Xia really managed to obtain it."

Chen Mu opened his hand slightly, and the flame quietly flew towards him, landing in his palm. It hovered above his palm, flickering with a serene and peaceful light, as if the intense heat it had just unleashed was merely an illusion.

Su Qianqian couldn't help but glance at the flame in Chen Mu's palm with lingering fear. No wonder Xia Yue'e had instructed her to only retrieve the Southern Bright Flame in Chen Mu's presence, as her abilities were not sufficient to control this spiritual fire.

After all, she was the current true disciple of the Joyful Union Sect, having entered the Five Viscera Realm and transcended the mundane. Yet, this Southern Bright Flame was still so dangerous, possibly the finest among its kind.

Su Qianqian's guess was correct.

With just a cursory glance, Chen Mu determined that this Southern Bright Flame was of the highest quality, surpassing the Mystical Black Rock and Divine Heaven Stone he had obtained.

Even among the same type of spiritual treasures, there are differences in quality. The Mystical Black Rock he acquired was barely close to medium quality in size and quality, though it was still rare. However, in terms of value, it couldn't compare to this top-grade Southern Bright Flame.

The higher the quality, the rarer it is! To gather the finest treasures of the Eight Aspects of Heaven-Earth, one needs not only strength and ability but also luck and opportunity. Just like the 'Imperial Seal of the Divine Emperor' crafted by the Great Xuan Emperor in the legends, not all eight materials were of the finest quality, leaving room for improvement. Otherwise, the Imperial Seal would have claimed the top spot in the Spiritual Armament Rankings instead of being ranked seventh.

Currently, the treasures in Chen Mu's possession, including the Mystical Black Rock and Divine Heaven Stone, varied in quality, with some being medium and others being low-grade. This Southern Bright Flame was the only high-grade item, but regardless, it was a good thing for him.

To forge a Heaven-Earth Spiritual Armament, the more high-grade materials, the more powerful the resulting armament would be.

"What does Protector Xia need?"

Chen Mu contained the Southern Bright Flame in his palm and briefly examined it before turning his gaze towards Su Qianqian.

If it were just a low-grade Southern Bright Flame, it wouldn't be a big deal, but a high-grade one was worth hundreds of times more. He would accept it but also wanted to see what Xia Yue'e desired in return.

Su Qianqian blinked at Chen Mu and said in a coy voice, "Protector Xia mentioned that you only need to accept it, and there's no need for anything else. She hopes that if you can achieve greatness and dominate the world in the future, you would offer some protection to us pitiful sisters."

Indeed, a high-grade Southern Bright Flame was a treasure even for a large sect like the Joyful Union Sect. With just this top-grade flame as the main material, they could forge a spiritual armament no less powerful than the Mystic Heaven Sword Chart. Such high-grade armaments were rare even for many Grandmasters, making them difficult to come by.

To wager such a precious item on Chen Mu's future seemed reasonable to her, as he was the youngest Grandmaster in the present era and had the best chance of becoming the second 'World Shattering Martial Saint' in a thousand years!

After listening to Su Qianqian's words, Chen Mu contemplated briefly before replying, "If I dominate the world in the future, I can ensure the Joyful Union Sect's lineage continues, but on the condition that the sect does not bring chaos to the world, commit evil deeds, or break the rules."

At this point in time, a high-grade Southern Bright Flame could indeed buy him a favor, but it didn't mean he would turn a blind eye to all the sect's actions in the future. While the brothel's flesh trade, conflicts in the jianghu, and the practice of absorbing yang and replenishing yin were all part of the jianghu, he wouldn't ignore it if the sect deliberately caused harm and terrorized the four directions, becoming a feared evil sect.

The reason he could accept the Joyful Union Sect's actions up until now was that, despite being considered a demonic sect and despised by orthodox sects, the sect's disciples were mostly abandoned infant girls with no family to return to. They didn't cause chaos in the secular world, and even when they took action, their targets were bandits like Yan Wan Si or people in the jianghu.

He didn't expect the sect to follow the laws of the court, but at least they should adhere to the rules of the jianghu and not act recklessly. Within these boundaries, he wouldn't mind allowing the sect's existence in the future.

Upon hearing Chen Mu's words, Su Qianqian smiled sweetly, her smile exuding a charming innocence with a hint of shyness. Her voice was like honey as she said, "We sisters are born with the most miserable fate. As long as others don't bully us, we're content. Where would we find the ability to bring chaos to the world? We stick together to protect ourselves. If you can dominate the world in the future and are willing to protect us, I believe none of us sisters would object to serving you, Peak Master."

As she spoke the last sentence, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, a perfect blend of a girl's shyness and a hint of embarrassment. Despite her timidity, she seemed to muster up the courage to look directly at Chen Mu.

The girl didn't intentionally release any seductive aura, as she wouldn't dare be impolite or presumptuous before Chen Mu. Thus, her demeanor was almost half real and half a result of her cultivation instincts. Even without any allure, it was enough to captivate ordinary jianghu experts, and those at the Five Viscera Realm or even the Six Organ Realm might not remain unaffected.

However, Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged.

At this point, his mental state had reached the realm of still water without ripples, where all emotions of greed, anger, stupidity, and love were born and extinguished in his heart, under his control. Even the most tempting allure, like that of the Holy Maiden Matriarch of the Joyful Union Sect, couldn't shake his mental state. The existence of desires was entirely within his control.

"Your Joyful Union Sect's skills are quite impressive. Hua Nongying is slightly inferior to you, and Hua Nongyue is likely a bit weaker."

Chen Mu calmly evaluated her abilities.

There are talents in the world, and Su Qianqian's skills were slightly better than Hua Nongying's, with the potential to rank among the top five, or even the top three, on the New Talent List in the future. If there were no contemporaries like Zuo Qianqiu, she might even have a chance to claim the top spot.

However, for Chen Mu at this point, the New Talent List was something he viewed from the perspective of an experienced martial artist looking at the younger generation. In the past, before he had cultivated the Heaven-Earth Way, Su Qianqian would have been a peerless talent he couldn't match. But now, with a mere glance, he could see through her cultivation and martial body, leaving almost nothing hidden from his eyes.

Su Qianqian could feel Chen Mu's gaze sweeping over her, as if he had seen through her inside and out, from her diligently practiced external skills to her cultivated mental state. Her pretty face flushed slightly, but she didn't shy away.

"Sister Ying and Sister Yue each cultivated half of the Yin and Yang, and when they join forces, they can manifest the Yin-Yang Cycle. I'm afraid I might never surpass them in this aspect." Su Qianqian said with a charming voice.

Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue were the previous generation's true disciples and her senior sisters. She had received their care on numerous occasions, and she never had the thought of competing with them. However, upon hearing Chen Mu mention Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue, she couldn't help but recall the stories that circulated within the sect, stories from long ago. Her eyes flickered as she looked at Chen Mu.

Back then...

When Hua Nongying went to Yu Prefecture, it was said that Chen Mu hadn't even cultivated to the Five Viscera Realm. He was merely a lowly official in that small place, and when she heard about this, she was astonished for a long time.

Who could have imagined that a small official from that little place would, in less than a decade, become the number one Grandmaster in the Cold North, renowned throughout the world? Even Hua Nongying, who was one of the first to know Chen Mu, probably couldn't have predicted this. When she heard this news in the Outer Sea, she would likely be shocked for a long time.

"Their unique advantage lies in their ability to jointly manifest Yin and Yang, which is difficult to replicate... Well, is there anything else?"

Chen Mu turned to Su Qianqian and asked.

Su Qianqian slipped her small hand into her sleeve, gently lifted it, and took out a page of a letter, which she respectfully handed to Chen Mu, saying, "This is a letter from Protector Xia."

"Hmm."

Chen Mu didn't ask why Xia Yue'e didn't come in person. He merely reached out and took the letter.

At this moment, seeing that Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged as he looked at her, without any further change in his gaze, a hint of regret flashed in Su Qianqian's heart. Nevertheless, she respectfully bowed and said, "The letter and the items have been delivered. If there are no further instructions from the Peak Master, I'll take my leave."

When she came, Xia Yue'e had told her that if Chen Mu was interested, she shouldn't hesitate. Being able to serve by Chen Mu's side was a rare opportunity. Although there were already Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue, they were merely tasked with doing Chen Mu's bidding. Moreover, with Chen Mu's current status, having two generations of true disciples serve him wasn't unusual.

Chen Mu watched Su Qianqian leave, his heart unperturbed.

For him now, whether to indulge in desires was a matter of will, not ability. He was no longer the lowly official struggling for survival in Yu Prefecture. He had no reservations about the Joyful Union Sect, and he had never treated people as playthings, be it Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue, the Joyful Union Twins, or Su Qianqian, the young true disciple.

To put it bluntly, even a beggar on the street, a commoner in the lowest stratum, or an impoverished elder, was a living person in his eyes. Unlike most Grandmasters who viewed the common folk as mere cattle or grass, he had risen from the bottom, step by step, and this perspective would never change, no matter how high his status became.

One day in the future, he would undoubtedly go to the Central State to see the Great Xuan Dynasty, the ruler of the world's ninety-nine states, and determine if they could still govern the common people. If there was someone who understood the hardships of the people and had the ability to manage the affairs of the world, he might not need to redraw the map and recreate the world. After all, at his current status, he had become indifferent to everything, including the position of ruling over the world and being the sovereign of the ninety-nine states.

If it could be fixed, then it would be fixed.

If not, then it would be rebuilt from scratch.

Of course, thinking about this now was still a bit far-fetched. He hadn't taken that step yet; at least, he needed to truly reach the Blood Transformation Realm and no longer fear any powerful opponent in the world before considering these matters.

Chen Mu quickly gathered his thoughts and turned his attention to the letter in his hand. He opened it and skimmed through it briefly. The content was sparse, with only a few lines, but it contained intelligence and recent news about Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue in the Outer Sea.

After reading it, Chen Mu's expression became pensive. He moved his fingertip slightly, and the letter quietly vanished, turning into dust and scattering away.

"It's time to meet the people over there."

As Chen Mu regained his composure, his gaze gradually turned indifferent.

This didn't mean he was about to set off for the Outer Sea immediately. The message Qin Mengjun had sent him earlier wasn't about Su Qianqian's visit. A mere true disciple of the Joyful Union Sect meeting him wouldn't warrant a message from Qin Mengjun.

Qin Mengjun's message was about the arrival of another group of people at the Qiuan Sect.

They...

Were from the Great Xuan Dynasty!

Ever since Chen Mu came to this world and rose from the bottom to his current position, he had never truly interacted with the court. Although he had been an official in Yu Prefecture, in reality, Yu Prefecture and even the entire Jade State were under the rule of the Qiuan Sect and had long been detached from the court's appointments and governance.

His only remote connection with the court was through the encounter with Liu Wan Zheng and Yu Shou Xuan in the Earth Abyss.

He later informed Qin Mengjun about this matter, as it was her business. Even if she wanted to retaliate against the Liu family, it was up to her to decide, not him.

Qin Mengjun remained silent for a long time after hearing this, but she didn't choose to take action against the Liu family. This wasn't because she was kind-hearted, but because she intended to temporarily conceal from Chen Mu the fact that Liu Wan Zheng, Yu Shou Xuan, and the others had died at his hands.

In a 6-9-1-9-1-9 book, there is no mistake!

When Chen Mu dealt with them, he did it thoroughly, leaving no traces or leaks. Disappearances in the Earth Abyss, where dangers lurked, were not uncommon, so the disappearance of Liu Wan Zheng, Yu Shou Xuan, and the other Grandmasters wouldn't raise suspicions.

However, if Qin Mengjun suddenly took drastic action against the Liu family in the prefecture, the court in the Central State, Yu Shou Xuan, and the person behind Liu Wan Zheng, the Liang Wang, would undoubtedly notice. Liu Wan Zheng and the others would either perish at her hands or be known to have died at Chen Mu's hands.

Currently, Chen Mu, the Great Xuan Dynasty, and the Eight Princes had not yet become mortal enemies.

Even though the Eight Princes and the court were extremely wary of Chen Mu's existence, the princes themselves were in a complex web of mutual antagonism. The old emperor was half-mad and had not attended to state affairs for over a decade. Even if Chen Mu's presence threatened them, it was unlikely that anyone would be the first to make a move against him, as they still maintained a sliver of restraint.

This sliver of restraint was so fragile that it could shatter at any moment, but as long as it lasted, it was better than nothing. Once the news leaked out, if the Liang Wang became enraged and no longer held back, he might take the initiative to confront Chen Mu, with the other eight princes following suit. At that time, Chen Mu would face the threat of all eight princes!

In reality...

According to Qin Mengjun's deduction, the current court likely has conflicting opinions about Chen Mu, especially among the Eight Princes.

It is naturally better to gain Chen Mu's support rather than trying to eliminate him, who has already risen to prominence. Making enemies is never preferable to forming alliances. Only when conflicts are completely irreconcilable would such a situation arise.

Currently, Chen Mu has never shown any intention to redraw the map of the world, and on the surface, there seems to be no direct conflict between him and the Eight Princes. Compared to being enemies with Chen Mu, the Eight Princes would naturally prefer to have him on their side.

Even if Chen Mu were to truly dominate the world, ascend to the pinnacle of martial arts, and make the entire world submit to his power, forcing the emperor to yield to him, what of it? As long as one can ascend the throne, what difference does it make to be bestowed the title of Supreme Tutor?

This world has always revered strength. People like Gong Yang Yu and Master Heavenly Tranquility, even during the Great Xuan Dynasty's heyday and times of unified peace, were still treated with utmost respect. This is the status of a peerless celestial being! One could even say that if Chen Mu has already reached the Blood Transformation Realm and stands at the peak of martial arts, invincible across the world, then the Eight Princes would compete to seek his support. After all, Chen Mu's will could determine who sits on the throne.

However, there are still variables at play. Currently, Chen Mu is not yet the invincible Martial Sage of the era; he still might be killed, or he might fall along the way. Furthermore, no one knows Chen Mu's true intentions—what he thinks of the court and the Eight Princes. Therefore, the possibilities become extremely numerous and complex, and the situation is as chaotic as it can be.

......

Great Mysterious Peak,

In the grand and majestic main hall of the Jade State Seven Profound Sects, several people sat down.

Leading them was a man with a clean-shaven face and no beard, exuding a gentle and feminine aura despite being male. He was clearly from the Central State's court, and the others were also dressed in official court attire, adorned with cloud and crane patterns.

Sitting beside them was the 14th Sect Leader of the Jade State Seven Profound Sects, Qi Zhiyuan. He held a teacup calmly, and as the current leader of the sect, he was in charge of the entire Jade Province, a vast area spanning thousands of miles. This wasn't his first time dealing with the court, so he remained composed and at ease.

However,

A hint of worry lurked in his heart because he knew that this court visit was aimed directly at Chen Mu.

The meeting between Chen Mu and the court officials might very well determine the future relationship between the Jade State Seven Profound Sects and the court, and even the stability of the Jade Province for a long time to come! But even though he was now the rightful Sect Leader, having removed the 'Acting' title, he couldn't interfere. Chen Mu, though not yet officially a Supreme Elder, held a status equal to that of Yin Heng and the other Supreme Elders. He had no authority, nor the ability, to influence Chen Mu's intentions and thoughts.

Tap, tap,

Just as the main hall fell into silence, footsteps approached from outside, gradually getting closer.

Chen Mu, dressed in plain cloth, entered the hall like an ordinary commoner, devoid of any aura. But as soon as he appeared, Qi Zhiyuan, the court eunuch, and the officials all stood up almost simultaneously.

"Your humble servant Wei Sheng, greetings to the Inspector General," Wei Sheng said softly, bowing respectfully to Chen Mu. He addressed Chen Mu not as the 'Peak Lord' of the Jade State Seven Profound Sects but as the 'Inspector General' of the Jade Prefecture, a third-rank official position Chen Mu had been promoted to.

After all, the Cold North and the Jade Prefecture were too remote, and with the current turbulent times, the court's authority didn't extend that far. Official positions were merely empty titles, and martial arts realm and strength were what truly mattered. Compared to the Capital Circuit and the Central State, this was a pure world of martial artists.

The other officials also greeted Chen Mu with respect.

"What brings you all here?" Chen Mu asked directly, wasting no time on pleasantries.

Wei Sheng replied with a respectful tone, "Elder Chen is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush. We have come here at the behest of the higher-ups, hoping that Elder Chen will accept a transfer to the Central State and choose a position as a deputy in one of the three bureaus..."

The Inspection Bureau, the Demon Slaying Bureau, and the Judicial Bureau.

These were the three major bureaus of the Great Xuan Dynasty, aside from the Four Armies of the Azure Dragon and White Tiger, where martial artists were most concentrated. Within these bureaus, strength was revered, and the directors were all Blood Transformation Realm experts, among the strongest in the Great Xuan Dynasty.

The director's position was nominally a first-rank official, but in a court where even first-rank positions were empty titles, it was the highest achievable rank, making them highly influential. Even the Eight Princes had to show them respect and try to curry their favor.

The court's intention to transfer Chen Mu to the Central State had two main purposes. Firstly, they hoped that Chen Mu wouldn't oppose the Great Xuan Dynasty and would stand on the court's side. Even if he were to dominate the martial world in the future, as long as he didn't have the ambition to reshape the world, there wouldn't be any issues. The court couldn't possibly ban martial arts, and it's normal for invincible Martial Sages to emerge over centuries.

In the thousand years of history, there might not have been a second Great Xuan Martial Emperor, but there have been a few who approached invincibility. These individuals also commanded respect from the court, but once they reached that level, their ambitions often transcended the ordinary. They sought to explore the limits of martial arts and whether there was more beyond the end. Few would be interested in the court or the imperial throne.

The Founding Martial Emperor, who unified the world, lived during a time when the Nine Provinces and Ten States were filled with sects and kingdoms, with constant wars and chaos. The rise of such a Martial Sage was in line with the will of the world to unite.

Currently, the world is already unified, and the chaos is due to the disputes among the Eight Princes, causing a split in power. If a Martial Sage were to emerge, ending the chaos would be as easy as a snap of the fingers.

Secondly,

Regardless of Chen Mu's intentions, they wanted him in the Central State, under the court's watchful eye, instead of in the remote Cold North or Jade Province, where he could disappear at any time, like a sword hanging over their heads, making them feel completely uneasy.

"You want to transfer me to the Central State, but it's not a direct order from His Majesty, so it's neither His Majesty's intention nor the Eight Princes' plan."

Chen Mu said calmly, looking at Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng nodded in response, "Indeed, it's not the Emperor's order. It's the wish of the Cabinet's Chief Minister, Han, and a few of the bureau directors. It's not a cabinet order, but they asked me to convey this to you, Elder Chen."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end