https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-387-The-Master-of-Mystic-Mechanism-Pavilion/13026682/
Chapter 388: The Invitation from Tide-Listening Cliff
Chapter 388: The Invitation from Tide-Listening Cliff
The vast ocean.
Huge waves crashed against the sky, creating a tumultuous sea where even the sturdiest ships would struggle to stay afloat.
However, as one ventured deeper into the ocean, the raging currents gradually subsided. At a depth of a hundred zhang, the dark tides calmed, revealing a deep blue expanse teeming with fish and abundant marine life.
Amid this serene underwater world, a figure silently glided through the water, moving at a speed far surpassing the fish. In an instant, they covered a hundred zhang, leaving a clear white trail in their wake.
This figure was none other than Chen Mu.
He wore a simple cloth garment, yet as he traversed the ocean depths, his clothes remained dry. The seawater seemed to envelop him, but in reality, it maintained a barely perceptible distance, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.
As Chen Mu continued his journey, a pair of crimson eyes suddenly opened deep within the dark abyss below, silently fixating on him before quickly disappearing into the darkness.
Chen Mu's expression remained calm, as if he hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Suddenly, the underwater currents surged, and a colossal fish demon, several zhang in size, burst forth from the shadows. It opened its massive maw, ready to swallow Chen Mu whole.
The fish demon's aura was terrifying, exuding the pressure of a sixth-tier great demon. Nearby fish froze momentarily before frantically fleeing, leaving a lifeless void within hundreds of zhang.
Bang!
Chen Mu's gaze remained unchanged as he faced the charging demon. With a simple lift of his right hand and a forward-pointing finger, a burst of true energy shot out, piercing the sea currents and directly impaling the demon's skull!
Blood instantly stained the surrounding waters, but Chen Mu merely flicked his sleeve, and the demon's corpse, along with its crimson blood, was swept away by the currents into the abyss below.
"Impressive."
Just as Chen Mu had dispatched the demon with a snap of his fingers, a voice echoed from nearby.
Chen Mu turned his gaze and saw a figure standing in the currents not far away, gazing at him. The person was dressed in exquisite silk, with a graceful figure—a woman, exuding an air of composure and surprise.
"Your control over true energy is exquisite, as if it's a part of you. You must be an extraordinary figure among grandmasters, able to conceal your aura so perfectly. I am Yan Hong, from the Central State of Great Xuan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Yan Hong gracefully bowed to Chen Mu, introducing herself.
Yan Hong.
From the Central State?
Chen Mu glanced at her, taking in her appearance, but he didn't recognize the name. It wasn't a concern, though, as he only had a vague impression of the top-ranked grandmasters on the Heavenly Realm Grandmaster Rankings. The Central State was the heart of the world, vast and densely populated, with numerous grandmasters, making it impossible to know them all.
Moreover, Yan Hong's claim might not be entirely truthful. Like himself, she could be using breath control and disguise techniques to alter her appearance. While his breath control might not match that of the Lord of Blood Concealment Tower, it was still highly effective. Unless he revealed his Heaven-Earth power, even skilled blood exchange experts would struggle to see through his disguise. Only a Celestial Realm expert might have a chance to discern his true identity.
"I am Mu Chen. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yan."
Chen Mu politely returned Yan Hong's bow.
Seeing Chen Mu's courteous response, Yan Hong smiled and said, "I noticed you heading towards Dragonwood Island, perhaps also in response to the Dragonwood Island Master's invitation? I'm also on my way there but am unfamiliar with this outer sea region. If it's not too much trouble, could you guide me?"
Dragonwood Island Master.
Chen Mu was familiar with this name from the intelligence provided by Xia Yueruo. The Dragonwood Island Master was one of the three major powers in the outer sea, a Supreme Elder of Tide-Listening Cliff, who resided on Dragonwood Island and was thus respectfully referred to as the Dragonwood Island Master. Although he hadn't reached the Celestial Realm, he was one of the strongest blood exchange experts in the outer sea, second only to a few Celestial Realm experts.
The information about the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl that Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue had discovered came from the Dragonwood Island Master, who was rumored to possess a superior-grade Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. The sisters were still investigating the veracity of this information in the Dragonwood Sea.
Chen Mu's journey was also related to the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.
However.
His knowledge ended there, and he had no idea about any invitation from the Dragonwood Island Master.
"An invitation from the Dragonwood Island Master?"
Chen Mu didn't hide his ignorance and openly replied, "To be honest, I'm not from the outer sea. I come from a remote region in Great Xuan, and I'm also unfamiliar with these waters. I've never heard of any invitation from the Dragonwood Island Master."
Upon hearing Chen Mu's words, Yan Hong was slightly taken aback and gave him a surprised look.
The way Chen Mu had effortlessly defeated the fish demon with a simple gesture, a skill any grandmaster could achieve, was remarkable. The ease with which he had done it, the precision of his true energy, and the lack of any leakage indicated that he was at least an exceptionally powerful grandmaster, perhaps even a top-tier one.
At the pinnacle of the Great Xuan, the top-ranked Grandmasters were more or less renowned, and she was familiar with most of them. That's why she instantly recognized Chen Mu as someone from the Outer Sea, but she never expected him to be from the Great Xuan as well.
However, Yan Hong's surprise was short-lived.
After all, the Great Xuan was vast, with its ninety-nine states spanning the entire realm. It was normal for her not to know every notable figure from some remote region. Moreover, Chen Mu's current display might not even be his true strength; he could be hiding his identity, which wouldn't be surprising.
"So, Brother Chen is also from the Great Xuan. It seems I was presumptuous."
Yan Hong didn't delve into Chen Mu's identity further. She smiled and said, "The Dragonwood Island Master is one of the Supreme Elders of Tide Listening Cliff. His martial arts cultivation has reached the ultimate realm, making him one of the strongest under the Celestial Beings. He possesses a vast treasury and collects countless rare treasures from the world."
Chen Mu was familiar with what Yan Hong was describing, but he didn't interrupt and waited for her to continue.
After a brief pause, Yan Hong went on, "The Dragonwood Island Master's invitation is, in fact, an invitation from the Tide Listening Cliff. Every hundred years, the Tide Listening Cliff invites Grandmasters from all directions to gather and explore the 'Seekwood Heavenly Realm' together."
"The Seekwood Heavenly Realm?"
Chen Mu had heard of this place. He knew that the Outer Sea was characterized by the existence of Heavenly Realms, which were vastly different from the Stone Vein Heavenly Realm he encountered in the Earth Abyss. These were true large-scale Heavenly Realms with immense internal spaces, akin to small worlds.
Yan Hong nodded and said, "Indeed. The Seekwood Heavenly Realm can only be entered during the hundred-year period when the heavens and earth undergo changes. Its internal world is quite unique—it's a giant ancient tree, said to be as vast as an entire landmass. The heart of this Seekwood ancient tree contains the Wood Seeking Spirit Liquid, one of the world's rare treasures with numerous uses."
After listening to Yan Hong, Chen Mu's expression became pensive. "If that's the case, why does the Tide Listening Cliff invite Grandmasters from all directions to explore it together? With their massive sect power, they could just monopolize it."
Yan Hong shook her head. "Brother Chen, there's something you don't know. The Seekwood Heavenly Realm is so vast that it's comparable to an entire state of the Great Xuan. Aside from the Seekwood ancient tree, there's also a unique race living within, known as the Spirit People. This Spirit People race isn't inherently strong, but the special environment of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm enhances their power. Once martial artists temper their Battle Blood and reach the Blood Replacement Realm, they won't be able to enter, as they'll be violently rejected by the internal environment. Even Grandmasters who have trained their battle bodies will face suppression and resistance, but they can barely manage to enter."
"This Spirit People race, although not boasting many experts, has an ancestor comparable to the Blood Replacement Realm, with an extremely long lifespan. It's said that this ancestor has lived for several hundred years and may still be alive. Such a figure is far beyond what a few Grandmasters can contend with."
As Chen Mu listened to Yan Hong's words, he began to understand.
The Seekwood Heavenly Realm was even larger than he had anticipated, comparable to an entire state. Its internal environment could nurture experts on par with the Blood Replacement Realm, yet it strongly rejected martial artists from the Great Xuan, preventing those in the Blood Replacement Realm from entering. Only Bone Marrow Washing Grandmasters could forcibly enter, making it a challenge even for large sect powers like the Tide Listening Cliff.
For instance, several top-ranked Grandmasters could join forces to rival a World-Class Master, and four or five World-Class Masters could barely stand against a figure like the Sky Demon Ancestor. However, this didn't mean that a dozen or so top-ranked Grandmasters could defeat the Sky Demon Ancestor.
The reason multiple World-Class Masters could challenge the Sky Demon Ancestor was that their strength wouldn't be instantly crushed by Yuwen Hao. They could barely withstand a few moves, which provided an opportunity for a joint effort. But in the face of a powerhouse like Yuwen Hao, top-ranked Grandmasters couldn't even take a single move.
Therefore, even if a dozen of them joined forces, they would still be defeated one by one.
The Spirit People within the Seekwood Heavenly Realm had an ancestor comparable to the Blood Replacement Realm, making them a formidable opponent for a large sect like the Tide Listening Cliff. Even with their immense power, far surpassing many sects in the Great Xuan, with dozens of Grandmasters under its command, a typical Grandmaster would be instantly killed with a mere flick of the Spirit People Ancestor's finger. Unless they formed a battle formation, it would be pointless.
However, forming a battle formation wasn't easy. The strength of military formations lay in the fact that every soldier, from the lowest to the highest rank, cultivated the same technique and intent, unifying their energy and movements.
Obviously, the various Grandmasters of a large sect like the Tide Listening Cliff couldn't all cultivate the same intent and technique. Even if they managed to form some battle formations, they wouldn't be as cohesive as a military formation, and facing the Blood Replacement Realm would still be extremely risky.
Take Chen Mu, for example.
Even if dozens of ordinary Grandmasters could loosely form some battle formations, he could easily break through them one by one, moving freely. Defeating them all was merely a matter of time.
"So, the Tide Listening Cliff invited Grandmasters from all directions to explore the Seekwood Heavenly Realm together to gather manpower and assist them in their conflict with the Spirit People." Chen Mu thought for a moment and said.
Yan Hong smiled and said, "Brother Mu, you're right about that. However, the Listening Tide Cliff is one of the three major sects in the outer sea, standing tall for thousands of years, even longer than Great Xuan. Their treasury is filled with countless wondrous treasures of heaven and earth. Most of the things we desire can be found there. Even if they ask us to contribute our strength to obtain the Wood-Seeking Spirit Liquid and then exchange it for what we need, it's still worth it."
Chen Mu nodded slightly, "But with thousands of years of history, the Listening Tide Cliff should have had dealings with the Spirit People for just as long. Instead of asking us to gather various heavenly treasures at a great cost and inviting numerous grandmasters to join forces to attack the Spirit People, it would be better to directly trade with the Spirit People. That way, they wouldn't have to take on so much risk."
Yan Hong shook her head after hearing this. Her gaze became deep as she spoke, "I know about this. It's not that the Listening Tide Cliff doesn't want to, but they can't. There's been a thousand years of bloodshed between them and the Spirit People of Seekwood Heavenly Realm. Many grandmasters and protectors have died in Seekwood, and they've also killed numerous Spirit People. It's become an ancient grudge that can't be resolved."
Chen Mu remained silent.
He didn't feel any pity for the Spirit People. On one hand, they were of a different race, and their hearts were bound to be different. On the other, it was a matter of survival of the fittest, a natural law of heaven and earth.
If Great Xuan was just a heavenly realm within the world, and the Spirit People's Seekwood Heavenly Realm was a world hundreds of times larger, then what if the Spirit People invaded Great Xuan, burning, killing, and looting?
If even those of the same race couldn't coexist without scheming against each other, how much more so for different races?
Seeing Chen Mu's silence, Yan Hong paused briefly before speaking softly, "Just like us and the foreign tribes beyond the pass, our generations-old grudge can't be resolved. We are not divine beings, and all we can do is look after ourselves."
Chen Mu shook his head, "I'm not a narrow-minded person. The Spirit People occupy the Wood-Seeking Spirit Liquid, a heavenly treasure, but they are not strong enough to protect it. It's natural for others to covet it. I just suddenly thought, if we live in this world, aren't we just in a slightly larger 'heavenly realm'? One day, there might be aliens from a broader world invading this land. What would we do then?"
Upon hearing Chen Mu's words, Yan Hong was momentarily stunned.
She had never considered this perspective before, nor had she ever thought that the world they lived in might not be the center of the universe. After a brief moment of surprise, her eyes revealed a hint of astonishment. Living in Great Xuan, who wouldn't think that this world was the center of the universe?
Places like Seekwood Heavenly Realm were just minor heavenly realms attached to Great Xuan, or so she thought. But Chen Mu's thoughts surprised her; he considered the possibility that Great Xuan might also be a heavenly realm.
She instinctively wanted to refute this.
However, as a grandmaster, she was also aware of some secrets. Although she had never thought about it as Chen Mu did, his words left her unable to refute at the moment, as she couldn't deny the possibility.
But being a grandmaster, Yan Hong's martial arts will was firm. After a brief silence, she spoke slowly, "We cultivate martial arts to protect a pure land and cherish what we hold dear. If such a situation arises, we will follow the Spirit People's example and do our best to defend this world, even if it means shedding our blood and bones. It won't be in vain for our martial arts cultivation."
Chen Mu looked at her with newfound respect after hearing these words.
People cultivate martial arts for various reasons. Some seek to be revered for their sword skills, while others desire to dominate the world or achieve freedom and transcendence. But there are also those who cultivate to protect a pure land in their hearts.
Chen Mu's will was to make everything in the world follow his desires, shaped by his experiences. If he hadn't come from another world but was born in this one, perhaps his will and ideals would also be to protect the pure land around him.
This kind of will wasn't uncommon.
However, based on his brief interaction and observation of Yan Hong, Chen Mu judged that she was likely not only from Central State but also from a noble family, possibly even the royal family of Great Xuan. The subtle nuances in her behavior were unnoticeable to ordinary people but were most perceptible to him, a master of heaven and earth. It was slightly unusual for a royal family member to have such a martial arts will, and he wondered how it came to be.
Nevertheless, Chen Mu didn't delve deeper. He nodded slightly to Yan Hong and said, "What you said is right, Yan. If such a situation arises, we will fight for this land and sea."
Chen Mu continued, "I will most likely accept the Dragonwood Island Master's invitation, but before that, I have some minor matters to attend to near the Dragonwood Sea. It's convenient that we can travel together for a while."
"Okay."
Yan Hong calmed the ripples in her heart and nodded to Chen Mu. However, her gaze towards him still carried a hint of curiosity and astonishment, as she had never met anyone, regardless of their status or martial prowess, who didn't consider this world the center of the universe. Chen Mu's thoughts were truly surprising and unusual.
(End of Chapter)
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