Da Xuan Martial Saint

"Shh."

Meng Danyun secretly gestured for Chen Mu to be quiet with a shushing hand motion.

Indeed, she had reached the second step in both the Xun Wind and Kan Water Artistic Conceptions, yet at this moment, she had no desire to make it known or show off. She simply wanted to conceal her strength like Chen Mu, waiting for the right time to strike unexpectedly and catch her opponent off guard.

"Junior Brother, have you gained anything from your recent retreat and cultivation?"

Meng Danyun changed the subject and asked.

Chen Mu couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. His situation was different from Meng Danyun's. While he had always kept a low profile, his opponents had already mentally placed him at a higher level, but in reality, he was two or three levels higher than that.

It wasn't the same for Meng Danyun. With both Xun Wind and Kan Water Artistic Conceptions reaching the limit of the first step, she was almost ready to breakthrough to the second step in the Kan Water during the battle in the Underground Water Vein. Also, having obtained the Earthly Green Lotus Seed with him, even if he didn't give one to Meng Danyun, she could have broken through to the second step of the Kan Water Artistic Conception on her own, something unthinkable for most sects.

Hence, Meng Danyun's secrecy was meaningless.

If someone were to target her again, they would surely do so with the knowledge that she had reached the second step in both Artistic Conceptions.

A gentleman hides his tools, waiting for the right moment to strike. If the tools concealed are too minor, or easily guessed, then they are of no significance. It has to be a substantial and shocking revelation to the likes of true disciples such as Meng Danyun and Hua Nongying to have an effect.

For example, the current him, having mastered the second step of the Gen Mountain Artistic Conception and the first step of the Kan Water Artistic Conception, were just 'minor tools.' The Evil-Breaking Thunder Spear was the real substantial tool he possessed, and it was unknown to anyone else. Not Meng Danyun, Chen Yue, nor Xu Hongyu were aware of it.

"There's some minor progress,"

Chen Mu said with a smile.

Meng Danyun looked at Chen Mu.

If this were a few months earlier, she might have taken Chen Mu's words about 'minor progress' seriously, but not now. She guessed that Chen Mu either managed to grasp another Artistic Conception or it was very likely that he had also reached the second step of the Gen Mountain Artistic Conception.

She looked at Chen Mu with a meaningful gaze, then said, "I have completed my seclusion and have some minor matters to handle, which should take a couple of days. What are your plans, Junior Brother?"

"I'll accompany Senior Sister,"

Chen Mu pondered briefly before responding.

A couple of days were indeed a bit hurried; he and Xu Hongyu had just gotten married, but after all, the future was long. He couldn't just languish in marital bliss; he had to forge ahead on the Martial Arts path. His ultimate will was to follow his heart's desires, but before that, he also needed the power to protect the peace of those around him.

The trip to Seven Profound Sect was extremely important for him, not only to start cultivating Qian Heaven and Kun Earth, reaching the complete Qiankun Artistic Conception but also to fill in the gaps in the various Artistic Conceptions and secret techniques he was missing.

In fact,

currently, without using the Evil-Breaking Thunder Spear, a true disciple of a sect who could wield the power of seven parts of Heaven and Earth could fully suppress him, even if he had the advantage of terrain, it wouldn't make much of a difference.

The reason was his lack of skill in utilizing Artistic Conceptions.

Like Xun Wind and Kan Water,

both he and Meng Danyun possessed the power of one part, but Meng Danyun could wield it more solidly and purely by deploying it through a special technique, much like two masses of the same weight — one of silt and the other of rocks — would differ in strength.

Previously, he had always pressed others with an absolute advantage in 'quantity,' which didn't show the gap in technique. However, this was only temporary; as his realm advanced and his power grew stronger, he would naturally encounter people with similar strengths, even those on the Wind Cloud List who had perfected the use of Artistic Conception power. That's when he would face a disadvantage.

The trip to Seven Profound Sect would completely erase these disadvantages.

"Is that too hasty?"

Meng Danyun looked at Chen Mu, then suddenly winked at him and said, "Should I wait a few more days for you?"

Seeing that hint of mischief in Meng Danyun's eyes, Chen Mu couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, and without indulging his Senior Sister, he said, "It's better to start earlier, to avoid keeping Senior Sister Meng waiting on her own."

Upon hearing this, Meng Danyun immediately shot Chen Mu a glare. Indeed, she had been on her own until now, but that was because she was engrossed in Martial Arts, having no interest in other matters. In her opinion, it would be better for Chen Mu to be solely focused on Martial Arts. With such talent, focusing on anything but Martial Arts cultivation, participating in the matters of men and women, was meaningless and a waste of time.

Fortunately,

it seemed that Chen Mu was not lost in such distractions, so she, his Senior Sister, didn't need to offer encouragement.

If Chen Mu were to suddenly immerse himself and fall behind in Martial Arts cultivation, then she would probably have to give him a serious talk. Such trivial matters were nothing compared to the joy of Martial Arts cultivation. She couldn't see why they were worth indulging in.

"Alright, I have some matters to attend to as well. I will not disturb you further and will come to find you in a few days."

Meng Danyun nodded at Chen Mu, then turned and left, her figure soon disappeared from the yard.

"Senior Sister Meng, take care,"

Chen Mu waved to Meng Danyun.

And right after Meng Danyun's departure, a small head peeked out timidly from behind a redwood pillar in the yard, sneakily watching him, and asked, "Was that sister just now the true disciple of Seven Profound Sect?"

"Yes, what are you guys hiding there for? You think she couldn't see you?"

Chen Mu glanced at the little head peeking out, which belonged to his younger sister, Chen Yue.

As his words trailed off, a little head that belonged to Chen Yue peeked out, and soon after, another little head appeared beneath it—it was Yu Ru. The two little heads lined up, one above the other, peeking in the direction Meng Danyun had left. They exchanged glances, and then both looked toward Chen Mu.

Chen Mu was amused by their actions. He approached the pillar, reached behind it, and pulled out one with each hand, saying, "Looking all sneaky, what kind of mischief are you plotting?" Continue reading at empire

"No, no mischief at all."

Chen Yue protested with wide eyes, "It's just that the true disciple Meng doesn't seem as fierce as the rumors suggest, quite amiable actually."

Chen Mu chuckled and said, "The outside world also says that I kill without blinking an eye, like a ghoul from the underworld."

Although he had saved many commoners from several disasters, he had also once given an order that turned the Inner City into a river of blood with countless heads rolling, exterminating the entire He Family down to the last, leaving not a single chicken or dog alive.

As a result, all sorts of rumors about him circulated throughout the thousand miles of Yu County.

"Maybe he was just being nice to Brother Mu?"

Yu Ru blinked innocently, her words slipping out unintentionally.

With a composed demeanor, Chen Mu glanced at the two girls and said, "Tell me, how many people within this thousand miles of Yu County would dare to speak to me rudely now? The purpose of martial arts is to make others speak to you with peace and politeness."

Yu Ru looked contemplative after hearing this, but Chen Yue couldn't help but snort with laughter.

Right at that moment,

Chen Mu suddenly looked at the two of them and asked, "Did you enjoy the noises from last night?"

At those words, Yu Ru's face turned crimson in an instant, and even Chen Yue blushed, saying,

"No, not at all."

The confidence in her voice was clearly lacking.

Facing Chen Mu's piercing eyes, Chen Yue and Yu Ru finally turned tail and ran.

Chen Mu watched their retreating figures, a fleeting smile crossing his calm face. He shook his head, walked to the front courtyard, inquired about some matters, dealt with a few trivial issues, and then returned to the back courtyard.

Xu Hongyu, upon learning that Chen Mu would be leaving in a few days, didn't show much change in her expression, but nodded affirmatively at Chen Mu. She understood that Yu County was too small for him; only the Seven Profound Sect in the expanse of ten thousand miles of Yu State could provide a fitting stage for Chen Mu. She naturally wouldn't hold him back.

Only Little Lotus looked at him with a pitiable expression.

Although she had known for a while that Chen Mu wouldn't stay long after their wedding, a few days of married life felt all too brief. Would she have to endure the pain of separation so soon?

Seeing Little Lotus' look, Chen Mu felt amused for a moment. He pinched her face and said, "What is meant to be yours will be yours, why the rush? I think I should let you eavesdrop for a couple more days, don't you agree, Hongyu?"

"Mm."

Xu Hongyu nodded.

"Miss…"

Little Lotus immediately felt like crying without tears. It was not that she was impatient; she was truly empathizing with Xu Hongyu, who had barely been a bride for a few days before having to face another separation.

Just then, Xu Hongyu herself seemed to lose herself in a daze.

Chen Mu carefully observed Xu Hongyu, and as he gazed into her eyes, he faintly understood what had just crossed her mind. He gently caressed her cheek and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll be back."

Mm.

It seemed he'd carelessly planted a flag... But no matter, he wasn't Xu Yichuan. The path he walked was to fulfill all his own desires, to have a world where everything conformed to his will, certainly the most difficult path, and he didn't care about anything else.

Xu Hongyu gradually recovered her senses, looked up at Chen Mu, then silently reached out her arms, pulling Chen Mu into an embrace, leaning against his chest, she 'hmm-ed' softly yet firmly.

...

Three days hurriedly passed by.

Chen Mu did not particularly "tease" Little Lotus. On the second day, he let her have her way. Xu Hongyu also took the chance to relax a bit from the hard work. As a Bone Tempering Realm martial artist, a bit of pain didn't count for much, and even the most difficult moves wouldn't exhaust her. But after being teased by Little Lotus and having to endure a whole night of noise, she harbored some mischievous thoughts and decided to see what it would be like for Little Lotus to lose her composure.

Little Lotus, with her cultivation only at the Tendon Changing Realm, naturally couldn't endure as much as Xu Hongyu. Even though reaching the Tendon Changing level meant her body was flexible and capable of anything, lacking the physical toughness of the Bone Tempering Realm, she couldn't help bringing a few more sobs into the mix of torments.

However, she didn't care at all about how she looked in front of Xu Hongyu when manipulated by Chen Mu. In her heart, she and Xu Hongyu were one. As long as she could be helpful to her Miss, she was happy with whatever role she played.

Of course,

There was a little bit of selfishness as well.

This bit of selfishness was gratified time and again during the spankings, and ultimately, she got her wish.

During the free moments of the day, Chen Mu pondered and arranged various matters he would leave behind upon his departure. He did his best to cover all bases. Finally, the time came for the fourth day.