Chapter 113: Response

In the mountains and forests.

As a ray of dawn rose from the east, illuminating the secluded mountains and forests once more, Chen Mu and the other three had already reached the edge of the Qiu Lin Mountain Range. Stepping out of the last dense forest, they saw a range of hills in the distance.

Amidst the hills, some farmland could be seen, and in the far distance, there were some villages and hamlets.

"So, the rubbing of that Thunder Diagram ultimately fell into your hands."

Xu Hongyu turned her head to look at Chen Mu, and said somewhat dazedly, "Perhaps this is fate?"

Coming out of the Qiu Lin Mountain Range, there were many questions in her heart. The biggest confusion was still how Chen Mu had comprehended the Thunder Artistic Conception. Chen Mu did not hide anything from her and directly told her the origin of the Thunder Diagram.

With his current strength and realm, it was enough for him to hold a rubbing version of the Thunder Diagram. Even if it was made public, there would be nothing wrong with it. Compared with comprehending the Thunder Artistic Conception out of thin air, it was much more reasonable to have a Thunder Diagram to comprehend.

"You mean?"

Chen Mu looked at Xu Hongyu.

At this time, the ray of dawn at the end of the horizon shone on her cheek, dyeing half of her side face with a touch of golden red. A trace of daze flickered in her willow-leaf eyes, which diluted her usual coldness and added a bit of loveliness.

"At that time, Tang Quan disguised himself as a servant and infiltrated the Yu family. He hid for several years. Later, he got a chance and stole that Thunder Diagram from the Yu family. He escaped to the outer city, and I went to pursue him after receiving the news…After that, he died at your hands, but the Thunder Diagram was not on his person, and my men did not find it at his hideout either."

"And Tang Quan was from the West City, and he vaguely seemed to have connections with the Evil Gang. But firstly, I had no evidence, and secondly, I couldn’t control the West City. This diagram ultimately fell into the hands of Zhang Kai of the Evil Gang, and after many turns, it still fell into your hands."

Xu Hongyu shook her head.

If the diagram was on Tang Quan at that time, then Chen Mu would not have been able to obtain it under any circumstances. With Chen Mu’s abilities at that time, he would not have been able to keep it either. Even if she had seen it, she would have taken it back and would not have given it to Chen Mu, who was still a Yamen Runner at that time.

But after a year passed in a flash, Chen Mu infiltrated the West City and killed Zhang Kai. Chen Mu took the Thunder Diagram from Zhang Kai. At that time, Chen Mu already had the ability to possess this diagram. Of course, what made her feel a little dazed was that it had not even been a year since Chen Mu obtained the Thunder Diagram from Zhang Kai, and he had already managed to comprehend the Thunder Artistic Conception.

She often comprehended the Kan Water Map in the Yu family, and so far, she had only managed to train two types of Sword Momentum. The third Sword Momentum was still a bit lacking.

Even though Chen Mu had already had the foundation of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception before, the Thunder Artistic Conception was, after all, a different Artistic Conception with different foundations. It was still shocking that he could comprehend it in such a short year.

If Chen Mu’s family had not been poor back then, and if he had had the chance to test his talent and aptitude, he would probably have already entered the Seven Profound Sect by now, passed the inner gate, and become a Direct Lineage disciple. He would not have grown up step by step in Yu City like this.

Xu Hongyu could not help but speculate.

If that had been the case, perhaps when Chen Mu returned to Yu City one day, he would descend as a Direct Lineage disciple of the Seven Profound Sect. At that time, all four families in the inner city would have to welcome him with solemnity, and she might only be able to take a distant glance at him instead of being able to participate with him all the way like she is now.

After all, the status of a Direct Lineage of the Seven Profound Sect was equivalent to a deacon of the sect, which was comparable to a figure like City Lord Xue Huaikong.

Of course.

Because Chen Mu came from a poor family, and he only came into contact with blade techniques for the first time when he was over twenty years old, he had wasted too much time. Even though the talent he showed now was like a demon, it was difficult for him to catch up with a figure like the Direct Lineage of the Seven Profound Sect.

After all, those Seven Profound Direct Lineage disciples, about whom she had only heard some news, were the best among countless heroes in the entire Yuzhou. Either their talent was high like demons, or they had killed their way out of the inner sect.

At this thought.

Xu Hongyu’s gaze towards Chen Mu could not help but show a hint of regret.

But even so, with Chen Mu’s peerless talent, even if he could not reach the world above a prefecture, he would at least be able to move freely and dominate in this prefecture sooner or later.

"I see."

Chen Mu revealed a trace of realization.

Xu Hongyu had not given him too many explanations about Tang Quan’s matter back then. It turned out that it involved an Artistic Conception Diagram, which indeed was not something he was fit to touch at the time. However, this diagram, after many turns, still fell into his hands and helped him train the Thunder Artistic Conception.

Without this diagram, he would probably only have mastered one Xun Wind Artistic Conception now, and his actions would not be as free as they were now.

Xiao He giggled from the side, and said, "So, it can be said that you have your current realm because of an inseparable relationship with Miss."

However, Xu Hongyu, who was lowering her head and didn’t know what she was thinking, shook her head after hearing Xiao He’s words. She said, "With that kind of talent, it is only a matter of time before he reaches this point once he comes into contact with martial arts. Whether I influence him or not, it won’t have much impact. He comprehended the Xun Wind Artistic Conception and broke through the Tendon Transformation Realm by relying on his own ability."

Chen Mu listened to the conversation between this maid and miss. He found it rather interesting for a while. The little smarty, Xiao He, had already begun to try all means to claim credit for Xu Hongyu in front of him. Xu Hongyu, on the other hand, was still her usual cold self, but occasionally when she looked at him, her gaze was not as clear as before, and was tinged with something else.

Chen Mu did not respond to this topic, but looked at the distance and said, "We’ve already left the Qiu Lin Mountain Range, what do you think we should do next, Hongyu?"

Xiao He, upon hearing Chen Mu’s address to Xu Hongyu without her surname, could not help sticking out her tongue on the side, while Xu Hongyu did not feel anything strange. In her opinion, Chen Mu’s strength had far surpassed hers. Although his identity was still just a Blue Uniform Guard, the current world valued strength, and Chen Mu walking ahead of her was no longer her subordinate.

After a brief pondering, Xu Hongyu said, "Actually, I think this matter should not be a big deal. We should just go directly to the Yu family’s nearest stronghold and pass the information about the Heavenly Corpse Sect back. As for your matter…it’s best not to let more people know about it for now, including the Yu family. What do you think?"

She looked at Chen Mu, and in her cold willow-leaf eyes, there was a slight hint of strangeness at this time. If her father had always acted discreetly like Chen Mu, and not shown his hand, perhaps he wouldn’t have had an accident later.

With his current two Artistic Conceptions and his body tempering techniques, Chen Mu’s Perfection of Tendon Transformation realm, his strength was ranked among the best in a prefecture. But after all, there was still a certain distance between him and the Viscera Realm.

The gap between the Bone Forging Realm and the Viscera Realm was a huge chasm.

Just like the gap between Tendon Transformation and Flesh Training.

Skin Grinding and Flesh Training could be considered one level, Tendon Transformation and Bone Forging could be considered one level, and the Five Viscera and Six Bowels were a different level altogether.

There were still many figures in the Bone Forging Realm who had not mastered the Artistic Conception, and there were even a very few with poor comprehension who had not mastered the Artistic Conception even after reaching the Perfection of Bone Forging…But to enter the Viscera Realm, Artistic Conception was the foundation.

Therefore, even ten figures at the Perfection of Bone Forging who had trained Artistic Conception could not match a being who had crossed the Viscera Realm and condensed the Internal Breath of Primordial Astral Force.

The only possibility for someone at the Bone Forging Realm to compete with someone at the Viscera Realm was to walk the second step of the Artistic Conception, but that was equally extremely difficult. The difficulty was no less than refining the viscera and returning to the source. Often only those who had entered the Viscera Realm had the opportunity to touch the second step of Artistic Conception.

Chen Mu’s comprehension was heaven-sent and he concurrently practiced two Artistic Conceptions, but the second step of Artistic Conception was also likely a hurdle that could not be crossed in a short time. Therefore, before that, it was best to remain low-key and keep a low profile, just like in the past.

"…"

Xiao He stood on the side blinking her eyes, her gaze at Xu Hongyu was a little curious for a moment.

Xu Hongyu’s words just now were completely from Chen Mu’s point of view, and even the Yu family was temporarily put aside. She had never seen Xu Hongyu think like this in all these years.

Could it be that the Miss is using this method to show goodwill towards Chen Mu? But this looks too natural, without any flaws. Her Miss’s way of dealing with people shouldn’t have reached this height.

"Yes, that’s fine."

Chen Mu nodded slightly towards Xu Hongyu.

In fact, after revealing his strength, he had a complete plan. First of all, that remnant of the Heavenly Corpse Sect must die, and he could not let himself fall into the Heavenly Corpse Sect’s sight too early.

Secondly, regarding Xu Hongyu and Xiao He’s side, whether or not to explain his situation to the Yu family would not bring too many bad things to him. From the Yu family’s standpoint, if they knew of his situation, they would only try to win him over with greater effort.

The only thing was that the Yu family had many people and many eyes. If he chose to reveal some things, he would let Xu Hongyu tell the Yu family’s head directly and keep the matter among a few people. This way, he would probably be able to obtain more resources needed for cultivation from the Yu family.

As for the more terrible situation, he did not think about it and did not care about it.

With his current strength, he already had the ability to travel far to another prefecture, or find a remote valley to stay for a year or so, and then come out after he had improved the Thunder Artistic Conception to the second step. However, if he did that, then his body tempering method would have to be suspended for a while.

"What you need most now should be the Bone Forging Pill, right?"

Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu and said softly, "The control over Bone Forging Pills is very strict. Apart from the annual quota, only White Uniform Guards and above in the Demon Slaying Division can exchange for them, and there is a limit on how much each person can exchange. I just entered the Perfection of Tendon Transformation this year and still need to accumulate Qi and Blood for a year before attempting Bone Forging, and my share can be used by you first."

Chen Mu did need Bone Forging Pills right now, but using Xu Hongyu’s share… Come to think of it, there was nothing wrong with it. Xu Hongyu, who had just entered the Perfection of Tendon Transformation, indeed needed some time to consolidate, while he was now at the limit of Tendon Transformation and had already honed it to the peak and did not need to consolidate. Moreover, how could he not get something like Bone Forging Pills after he entered Bone Forging.

Moreover, Xu Hongyu had already said it like this.

Chen Mu looked at Xu Hongyu and suddenly chuckled, "I remember that before, you said that you would arrange a marriage for me in the Yu family, now it seems, who do you think is suitable?"

Xu Hongyu was slightly stunned, and for a moment she did not react to this abrupt change in topic. When she looked at Chen Mu again, she saw that Chen Mu had already turned and walked into the distance.

Suddenly, she felt a tickle in her waist.

She saw Xiao He was standing next to her, lightly poking her with her finger, her eyes seemed to be shining, and she whispered, "It’s already dawn, hurry up and follow Miss, don’t be in a daze."