https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-458-The-Heavenly-Visit-to-the-Mountain/13027879/
Chapter 457: Reactions
Chapter 457: Reactions
"Central Region..."
Xu Hongyu's eyes held a fleeting look of serenity.
Cold North was located in the far north of Great Xuan, and although it wasn't the most remote among the nine regions, it was still better than the Western Border Region. However, compared to the Capital Region, it was far less prosperous, and Jade State was even less developed than Central Region.
Central Region was the seat of the Great Xuan court and the center of the most flourishing and prosperous Martial Dao. Once a martial artist reached a certain level, they would inevitably want to visit Central Region to witness its bustling martial world.
However.
After a brief moment of longing, Xu Hongyu quickly shook her head slightly, "Going to Central Region now would only cause trouble for you, my dear."
As she spoke, she looked at Chen Mu, her eyes carrying a hint of worry, "Although you've cultivated to the Blood Replacement Realm, there are few opponents in the world who can match you. But Central Region is the court's territory, and although Mystic Pavilion and Blood Concealment Tower have only recently relocated there, their combined strength with the court's foundation might prove to be a formidable challenge. If you plan to take action against them, be cautious of their traps."
Chen Mu had once fought seven Blood Replacement experts in the outer sea, defeating them all while in the Marrow Washing Realm. Xu Hongyu had no doubts about Chen Mu's strength, and if Mystic Pavilion were still in Cold North, Chen Mu alone might have been able to uproot their entire sect.
But Central Region was different.
Not only was it the center of the most flourishing and prosperous Martial Dao, but it was also the seat of the Great Xuan court, with the Imperial Ji Clan's thousand-year foundation. Now that Prince Hanzhao had ascended the throne as Emperor, the Mystic Pavilion's Master Cheng Zu had risen from a commoner to a cabinet position, becoming a trusted confidant of the Emperor. His status was even comparable to that of the Grand Secretary, holding immense power.
Blood Concealment Tower had also transformed. It had once been a demonic sect, but now it was officially incorporated by the court and established as a new bureau called the Eastern Prosecution Bureau. The Blood Concealment Tower's master became the head of the Eastern Prosecution Bureau, rivaling the Censorate, one of the court's three main bureaus. Due to the Emperor's trust, the Eastern Prosecution Bureau's power even surpassed that of the Censorate! The Censorate needed to go through a joint trial and cabinet review to arrest high-ranking officials, and the final decision rested with the Emperor. However, the Eastern Prosecution Bureau, founded by the Blood Concealment Tower, could arrest any official directly without the need for multiple reviews.
This was especially true after the division of the realm into nine regions.
The Eastern Prosecution Bureau became the Emperor's executioner, cleansing the court and the country of any remaining influences of Prince Jin, Prince Chu, or their associated spies. They were arrested and executed without question.
Within a few short months, the court was in turmoil, and blood flowed like a river, causing fear among the officials.
"There's no need to worry, my dear. They are but petty nuisances, not worth our concern."
Chen Mu smiled calmly.
His strength had already surpassed the limits of what this era's Heaven and Earth could bear. He could say that the only thing that could restrain him was the Heaven and Earth itself, and everything else was insignificant. The Great Xuan court and the Imperial Ji Clan, despite their thousand-year foundation, were still just a foundation. Unless Prince Hanzhao or Ji Hao were to be resurrected, they might barely last two exchanges with him.
As for the likes of the Mystic Pavilion's master or the Blood Concealment Tower's master, if they hid themselves, it would be fine. But if they dared to show themselves before Chen Mu, there was no chance of escape, especially the Blood Concealment Tower's master, who had already attacked Chen Mu twice and fled from him twice. It was a matter of the third time being the charm.
"I've heard that Central Region is not only the court's territory but also a sacred land for the Martial Dao. In just one state, there are ten major sects, each comparable to the Seven Mysteries Sect, and the Martial Dao is extremely prosperous and flourishing, forming its own martial world."
"There's no need to rush."
Chen Mu reached out and touched the little head of Chen Yao, who was nestled in Xu Hongyu's embrace. He spoke calmly, "The news of my return probably hasn't spread completely yet. Let's wait a few more days until it reaches everyone, so we can gather them all in one place and resolve things at once. That way, we won't need to make multiple trips."
At this moment, he wasn't concerned about any traps set by the Mystic Pavilion Master or Prince Hanzhao in the Central Region. Instead, he didn't want to see them all hiding in some remote place. After all, the Great Xuan's ninety-nine states were vast, and it would be challenging to find a high-level expert like the Mystic Pavilion Master or the Blood Concealment Tower Master if they chose to hide in some secluded location.
Even if he were to soon step into the Heaven-Human Realm, he would still need to conduct a thorough search, one by one, like a carpet sweep. It would be more efficient to gather everyone in one place, just like the last time. But this time, no one would be able to slip through his fingers.
"Brother, what level of strength have you reached now? I heard that even before you underwent the Blood Transformation, you already possessed almost heavenly strength. Now that you've entered the Blood Transformation Realm, there are probably very few people in the world who can match you."
Chen Yue looked at Chen Mu, blinking her eyes, and a hint of admiration flashed in her gaze.
Even from Chen Mu's words, they could sense a demeanor that overlooked the world and looked down upon the heavens and earth. It was a state of mind that transcended the mundane, and given Chen Mu's usual prudent behavior, his current strength was likely at a level that ordinary people would find hard to fathom.
From his fame in the Jingzhou region to becoming the number one person in the Cold North, and then to becoming the top master in the world, Chen Mu's sister, Chen Yue, had also gained some glory along the way. After all these years, her admiration for Chen Mu hadn't diminished in the slightest.
"Perhaps."
Chen Mu smiled ambiguously and then turned to Chen Yue, saying, "Yue'er, your skills have improved a lot. In the coming days, I'll guide you in your martial arts... Mm, and there are some things I brought back from overseas that will be useful for you."
Chen Mu had previously set aside a small amount of Seekwood Spirit Elixir, not using it all up. This was specifically reserved for Chen Yue and Xu Hongyu.
The Seekwood Spirit Elixir was precious, and even for master-level experts, obtaining several pounds of it was no easy task. Yet, Chen Mu currently had dozens of pounds of it in his possession, which was enough to temper the physical foundation of Chen Yue, Xu Hongyu, and others.
Even for master-level experts, the Seekwood Spirit Elixir was an extremely valuable resource for tempering their martial bodies. Moreover, the immense life force contained within it could be used to refine longevity elixirs. Chen Mu's decision to use it for those who had not yet undergone Marrow Cleansing was indeed an extravagant act, and perhaps only Chen Mu would do something like this.
"Okay."
Chen Yue smiled brightly.
It had been nearly three years since she last received guidance from Chen Mu. Now, as she approached the major hurdle in her cultivation journey—the Marrow Cleansing Gate, which had trapped countless martial artists—having Chen Mu by her side gave her unwavering confidence and determination.
...
Time flew by, and a few short days passed in a flash.
The news of Chen Mu's return gradually spread beyond the Cold North, reaching every major power in the world. Countless gazes traversed tens of thousands of miles, focusing on the Seven Mysteries Sect in the Cold North.
In the Capital Region, the former Shang Yong Dao, now known as Jin Kingdom, located in the central region of Fuzhou, within a royal palace, Prince Jin, Ji Xuanchu, sat in a quiet room, meditating. His entire body floated in mid-air, with Yin and Yang auras circulating around him, constantly changing.
He seemed on the verge of breaking through a gateway, taking that step towards Blood Transformation, but in the end, he would always rein himself in. The overflowing aura slowly subsided, and he eventually opened his eyes.
"My mind is not quite there; it's still lacking by a hair's breadth."
Prince Jin, Ji Xuanchu, sighed softly.
Many years ago, he had already reached the pinnacle of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and all these years, he had been solidifying his foundation, almost to the point of perfection. He was well aware that what held him back from Blood Transformation was not his martial body but his mental state. From the moment he was born until now, his mind had been set on that supreme sovereign position—the Imperial Throne.
If he had ascended the throne and inherited the Great Heritage earlier, he would have had the confidence to cross the life-and-death boundary in one step, without relying on the Heaven and Earth Cauldron or the royal family's heritage.
However, fate was unpredictable, and the twists and turns of life had led to Prince Yong Zhao's disappearance, giving the other princes an opportunity. Prince Hanzhao had used unknown means to gain the acknowledgment of the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, usurping the throne that rightfully belonged to Prince Xuanchu. This had left a blemish on Prince Xuanchu's mental state, causing him to intuitively feel that his breakthrough attempts would fail each time.
In the 1691 version of the book, there was not a single mistake!
With a flaw in his mental state, it was indeed impossible for him to break through. Forcing his way through the life-and-death boundary could even lead to severe injury or backlash.
Shaking his head, Prince Jin calmed his mind and turned his gaze to the side. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he spotted a black paper crane on the windowsill of his cultivation chamber. This was a message from his intelligence gatherers, sent using the black paper crane to indicate an extremely important matter.
Without hesitation, Prince Jin reached out and drew the black paper crane into his hand, unfurling it. His expression turned grave as he read, and then it shifted, revealing a mix of emotions.
"He's back."
"So, his power has truly reached an unstoppable level?"
The information on the black paper crane was incredibly detailed. It not only mentioned Chen Mu's return to the Seven Mysteries Sect but also his visit to the Tide Listening Cliff and his discussion with Supreme Sage Cangming about the Heaven-Earth Dao.
Given the power of the Tide Listening Cliff, they dared not offend Chen Mu in the slightest, even with his entry into the sect.
However, Prince Jin found this perfectly normal.
Chen Mu had returned after undergoing the Blood Transformation, and his current strength was an unknown. The Tide Listening Cliff had no grudges with Chen Mu, so they wouldn't willingly provoke him or test his strength. Instead, it was more appropriate to befriend him.
Currently, the assessment of Chen Mu's strength in the world was mostly consistent. Even Prince Jin himself, Ji Xuanchu, could acknowledge that Chen Mu's current level was at least among the top three in the world, and he might even be the strongest.
However...
With the current division of the world into nine parts, Prince Jin couldn't discern whether Chen Mu's return was good or bad.
Nowadays, Prince Liangzhen, who had usurped the throne, had joined forces with Prince Liang. Together, they controlled the Mystic Pavilion, the Blood Concealment Tower, and other sect powers, manipulating the court's structure and ruling over the entire Central Region, including the Capital Region. Chen Mu held grudges against them all. Given his personality, he wouldn't ignore this situation. Even if Prince Liangzhen had ascended the throne, he might not be able to resolve the issue, and he would undoubtedly be the first to face the consequences.
But Prince Jin also worried that in this chaotic era of a divided world, Chen Mu might have the intention to purify the Eight Directions, reestablish Heaven and Earth, and take over the Ji Clan's empire. In the current situation, with the empire in turmoil and the world in flux, it was the perfect time for Chen Mu to make his move. If Chen Mu had ambitions of his own, then despite his hatred for Prince Liangzhen, he would have no choice but to ally with the various princes to protect the Ji Clan's empire. However, if Chen Mu merely sought revenge, then Prince Jin could simply sit back and watch the conflict between Chen Mu and Prince Liangzhen unfold.
"Prince Liangzhen isn't a fool to have ascended the throne. He has also entered the Blood Transformation Realm and gradually grasps the thousand years of foundation of our Ji Clan. Even if Chen Mu's strength is unparalleled now, he might not be able to do anything with just his own power."
Prince Jin reconsidered and decided to first observe the dragon and tiger struggle before making a decision.
After all, Chen Mu could cause significant trouble for Prince Liangzhen. If he could eliminate the Mystic Pavilion, the Blood Concealment Tower, and other forces, it would greatly weaken Prince Liangzhen's control over the court.
The only thing that left Prince Jin slightly regretful was his connection to his mother's lineage. Although they had maintained contact with the Qin family in Jade State, the line had been completely severed by the time it reached Qin Mengjun.
Prince Jin had tried to contact Qin Mengjun through the Qin family, but he only received a single response from her.
'Exiled for a hundred years, changing family lines, we are now strangers.'
The Qin family had once been exiled to the remote Cold North from the Central Region. After many years of development in Jade State, the remaining branch in the Central Region rose to prominence but offered no support to the Qin family. It was only after Prince Jin ascended the throne and sought to expand his influence that he reestablished contact with the Qin family. At that time, he had also considered recruiting the renowned Qin Mengjun from the Cold North.
However, after Qin Mengjun was ambushed while attempting to break through the Marrow Cleansing Gate, there was no further communication.
Qin Mengjun, who was once solely focused on the Martial Dao, had no interest in the distant branch in the Central Region, which was Prince Jin's mother's lineage. She had no interest in Prince Jin's hints, especially after the ambush. Prince Jin's lineage promptly reduced their contact with the Qin family, and she became even more indifferent.
Some members of the Qin family were interested in Prince Jin's power and sought to attach themselves to the royal clan, but Qin Mengjun, now a top-tier Martial Dao expert in the Blood Transformation Realm, had no concern for secular power, regardless of her past experiences.
Prince Jin wanted to use the Qin family to draw Chen Mu to his side, but he could only do so through Qin Mengjun. However, Qin Mengjun showed no interest, and now that she had entered the Blood Transformation Realm, her temperament was calm, and her pursuit was solely focused on the third step of the realm, the Heaven-Human Unity. Whether it was Prince Jin or the Qin family, in her eyes, they were all fleeting and unworthy of her attention.
Being unable to use Qin Mengjun to draw Chen Mu was Prince Jin's greatest regret.
In the end, it was due to his improper actions in the past.
When Qin Mengjun was ambushed and her Marrow Cleansing Gate was damaged, even though Prince Jin had abandoned the idea of further contact with the Qin family, if he had shown a little concern and sent a few Heaven-Earth Spirit Treasures for healing, Qin Mengjun might have been more receptive to him now.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
