Chapter 102: Schemes

“Since you have business with me, I cannot let you just stand there. Come with me into the valley to talk. Although it’s a bit dilapidated inside, at least there are places to sit,” Chen Mu said. He knew that these two coming together must mean they had something to discuss. The purpose of Xiahou Longchen’s visit was already clear, but he did not know what Xuetian wanted to talk about, so he invited them into the valley where it was more suitable to converse.

As they stepped into the valley, Xuetian chuckled sinisterly, eyeing the surroundings. “Haha, to devise an ensnaring formation capable of dealing with Nascent Soul cultivators, along with defensive arrays—it’s quite an impressive feat for your modest Yuanyao Continent.”

Xuetian’s words immediately aroused Xiahou Longchen’s suspicion. He quickly examined the area but found nothing unusual.

Inwardly, Xiahou Longchen thought that perhaps those Nascent Soul cultivators sent by the Alliance had fallen victim to these formations. He sighed; he had come prepared to risk his life negotiating with Chen Mu. Since life and death no longer mattered, what reason was there to fear such a deadly formation?

Chen Mu was not surprised that Xuetian could discern the layout of the formation. After all, Xuetian’s power was unfathomable. Though merely a lingering soul fragment who had taken possession of a new body and resumed cultivation, his Nascent Soul remained extraordinarily strong.

Chen Mu led the two of them to a newly constructed building, where he had specially cleared a room for the three of them to discuss matters.

The room was very simple, with makeshift tables and chairs of unknown origin, but neither Xuetian nor Xiahou Longchen minded. Seeing Chen Mu take a seat without ceremony, they followed suit.

Chen Mu began, “My place is still under reconstruction, so it’s a bit crude. Please forgive any lack of hospitality.”

Xuetian feigned indifference, while Xiahou Longchen frankly said he did not dare to complain.

Chen Mu’s expression then grew serious as he broached the main topic. “Let’s discuss your reasons for coming. I already know the purpose of His Majesty’s visit. Xuetian, what brings you here? Didn’t we agree to keep to our own spheres during the trial grounds? Why come looking for me now?”

Xuetian let out a wicked laugh. “Although we keep to our own wells, that doesn’t prevent us from cooperating as friends. I’ve come for two reasons. First, I’ve been watching your recent actions, and I find your style quite to my liking. Though you are human, you possess a certain demonic nature. Therefore, I wish to invite you to join the ranks of my demon clan. If you allow the demon energy to infuse your body and transform you into a demonic life form, your cultivation will surely ascend to a higher level.”

Chen Mu regarded Xuetian coldly. He had no interest in this proposal. Why would he, a perfectly fine human, want to become a demon? His body had already been transformed into a hybrid of human and divine, intertwined with a fragment of demonic bloodline. This uniquely blessed constitution made it unnecessary to become some demon creature.

He immediately shook his head, rejecting the offer. Xuetian only chuckled and did not lose heart. Time was on his side; he believed that with persistent persuasion, Chen Mu would eventually join their faction.

Xiahou Longchen listened with a pounding heart. If Chen Mu truly allied with the demon clan, then the world would never know peace. Chen Mu’s revenge had already caused great upheaval, severely damaging the Great Xia Empire, leaving it riddled with wounds and drastically weakened.

If Chen Mu joined the demons, he would inevitably follow them to enslave and dominate this land. No one would be able to resist the demons or Chen Mu himself. The Yuanyao Continent would truly be doomed.

Fortunately, Chen Mu declined Xuetian’s invitation, remaining on the side of humanity. If the demons sought to enslave the continent, at least Chen Mu would stand in opposition.

However, Xiahou Longchen was perhaps overthinking things. Xuetian had no interest in this barren Yuanyao Continent. His true goal was to restore his strength quickly and return to the demonic domain, so that his true body could learn who had betrayed him and exact revenge.

Chen Mu himself would not linger on Yuanyao Continent either. He sought the so-called Immortal Mortal Path, a broader world where he could find his biological father. Thus, Yuanyao Continent was merely the starting point of his journey.

After refusing Xuetian’s first proposal, Chen Mu directly asked about the second matter.

Xuetian licked his lips. “The second matter is also important to you: dealing with that Nascent Soul cultivator from the Azure Void Dao Sect. I believe we can join forces. By coincidence, the Lord of the Great Xia is also present. I think this lord, who shares some blood ties with my physical body, will be interested in my proposal.”

Hearing Xuetian mention blood ties, Xiahou Longchen cast a cold glance his way. Yet he was genuinely interested in the proposal; after all, he too wished to eliminate the Azure Void Dao Sect, and nodded in agreement.

Seeing Xiahou Longchen’s nod, Xuetian grinned wickedly. “Since the three of us—two humans and one demon—wish to eliminate that Nascent Soul cultivator of the Azure Void Dao Sect, we should unite against him. Fortunately, your Yuanyao Continent cultivators are weak; Nascent Soul cultivators are fragile here. Otherwise, it would be difficult for Chen Mu and me to deal with that cultivator. I never expected your continent to produce such a formidable individual as Chen Mu. Your cultivation methods are flawed and incomplete. Although Chen Mu is a freak, the root problem lies in the weakness of your continent’s cultivators.”

Xiahou Longchen was shocked by these words. Xuetian’s statement contained much hidden meaning. Chen Mu was indeed extraordinary, but was the problem with Yuanyao Continent’s cultivation methods themselves? Was this why cultivators of the same level, even a realm higher, could not surpass Chen Mu?

Just as Xiahou Longchen wanted to inquire further into this mystery, Chen Mu urged Xuetian to get to the point. Reluctantly, Xiahou Longchen suppressed his curiosity and looked to Xuetian, waiting for him to continue.

“That Nascent Soul cultivator’s strength has waned over the years, down to perhaps fifty or sixty percent of his prime. After his recent grievous injury, his power has likely dropped another twenty percent. Now is the best time to strike. If we face him alone, we cannot prevail. But if we join forces, we might have a forty to sixty chance of victory. Add in that true-spirit fox, and with the two of us—a demon and a human—plus a demon and a fox allied, our chances might rise to sixty percent. Still, it’s unlikely we can kill that cultivator named Zhong.”

Xuetian analyzed their relative strengths aloud.

Chen Mu pondered, then said, “I have several demonic friends here. Though their strength is only at the level of tier-three demon beasts, two of them have reached the peak of tier three and possess power comparable to late Nascent Soul cultivators. With them, our odds could rise to seventy percent, right?”

Xuetian raised an eyebrow, unfamiliar with Chen Mu’s situation. He was curious why Chen Mu enjoyed such favor among demons.

Indeed, adding two tier-three peak demons could barely raise the victory odds to seventy percent. Still, killing Zhong Tianyao remained unlikely.

The two humans and one demon pondered how to slay this Nascent Soul cultivator. Three full Nascent Soul cultivators and three late Nascent Soul fighters only gave them a slim seventy percent chance against this heavily injured, half-strength Nascent Soul. The outlook was grim.

Chen Mu recalled the scene when Gongsun Qingyang and three other Nascent Soul cultivators fled from the pseudo-Nascent Soul ancestor of the Bright Moon Empire. Back then, Gongsun Qingyang had no such lineup; only he was a full Nascent Soul, while the others were mid or early stage. That was why they lost to the Bright Moon Empire’s ancestor.

Now Chen Mu’s forces were formidable but could only barely ensure a seventy percent chance to defeat Zhong Tianyao—killing him was out of reach, which troubled the trio greatly.

At that moment, Rou’er suddenly leapt from Chen Mu’s spirit beast bracelet. “I can help you create a momentary flaw in that old Zhong’s defense, but it will cost me greatly. Whether you can seize the opportunity depends on you.”

Xuetian contemplated. “A momentary flaw, huh? I can also stir his internal qi and blood to momentarily hinder his movements. If we combine our efforts, we might truly create a brief window to kill him.”

Xiahou Longchen listened, both startled and admiring. Though his cultivation was highest, he could not perform such feats—to slow a Nascent Soul cultivator’s actions and create an opening was exceedingly difficult. This confirmed his suspicion that the Great Xia was a backward place, no match for these outsiders.

“A brief opening? I have a trump card. If I unleash all my techniques, I can instantly elevate my power close to Nascent Soul level. But this method combines two lethal trump cards and I have never used it before. I don’t know if it will truly work as expected...” Chen Mu said after a moment’s silence.

Xiahou Longchen had thought that only the fox and demon Xuetian could impact a Nascent Soul cultivator, and that Chen Mu was still a step behind. Hearing Chen Mu’s words, however, he could no longer remain calm. What kind of mutants were these people? None had yet reached full Nascent Soul, yet their skills seemed endless and absurd—each more outrageous than the last. How could he, a legitimate full Nascent Soul, survive among them?

Rou’er showed little reaction. She knew Chen Mu spoke of the state after his Blood-Fire Transformation, wielding his final two lethal trump cards: the Thunder Dragon Phantom and the Sunset Technique’s Sunless Radiance.

Such a combo would drain all of Chen Mu’s vital energy and render him unconscious immediately—a near-suicidal gambit with too many drawbacks.

Xuetian grinned upon hearing Chen Mu’s words. He knew Chen Mu still concealed methods. Moreover, Xuetian knew of one more trick Chen Mu had not mentioned—the Soul Suppression Tower. Though it could not trap Zhong Tianyao’s Nascent Soul, it could briefly delay and impede him.

Thus, the conditions for killing Zhong Tianyao were effectively created. If they could strike during that brief opening, the Azure Void Dao Sect would pose no further threat.