Chapter Twenty-Six: The Young Gentleman

The first move of the Brahma Star Sword Technique was unleashed in the manner of the Setting Sun Form—a sword drawn horizontally, a surge of force resounding through the air. The crimson blade aura was almost entirely neutralized, leaving Hu Fang’s face growing even darker with rage.

Once again, several slashes of blade energy swept forth, but Chen Mu did not advance; instead, he retreated, still employing that single move blended with the Setting Sun Form. A thunderous collision shook the arena, forcing the onlookers to cover their ears against the noise.

Sima Guan’s expression shifted between gloom and uncertainty. He had never expected Chen Mu to possess such ability—matching Hu Fang, a practitioner of the Origin Meridian Realm, blow for blow. Moreover, what was this sword technique? How could it produce such overwhelming power? Sima Guan began to regret his decision to align himself with the Bright Moon Blade Sect. If even one disciple of the Astral Observation Valley at the Foundation Realm had such strength, who knew how many monsters were lurking within that sect?

After several more exchanges, Hu Fang, finally unable to endure the humiliation, shouted, “Are you mocking me? Is that the only move you know?”

He was not wrong—Chen Mu really only knew that one move. He was aware of the other two, but could not yet blend them with the Setting Sun Form to achieve such effect. If Hu Fang were to learn this, he would surely vomit blood from sheer frustration.

Chen Mu swung the same move again and again, each stroke repeating the first sword of the Brahma Star Sword Technique. The more he fought, the more courageous he became, gradually losing himself in the process. It was as if he had grasped some fleeting insight, though he could not yet articulate it.

Hu Fang roared, furious, unwilling, resentful, hacking wildly as blade energy ravaged the arena—only to be neutralized, one after another, by Chen Mu’s relentless sword form.

At that moment, Hu Fang could no longer care about appearances. He drew out a blood-red pill—the Fury Origin Pill. Swallowing it, a violent and chaotic aura erupted from within him. This pill could ignite and amplify the flow of his internal energy for a short time, granting him a surge of strength.

Upon witnessing this, Lü Shi shouted, “Despicable! Brother Chen, beware! That pill is the Fury Origin Pill—it boosts strength for a short while!”

Hu Fang sneered, “Boy, I underestimated you before. Let’s see how long you can last now!”

As he spoke, berserk blade energy crisscrossed the arena, its color darkening from crimson to deep red, growing ever more menacing.

Chen Mu could have dodged, could have evaded, but he knew that if he did, the thread of insight he was grasping would scatter like the wind. Thus, he braced himself, determined to comprehend that sword form through battle.

Once more, Chen Mu unleashed that golden sword light, but this time, he was clearly struggling. The blade energy tore his clothes to shreds and left deep gashes on his body.

The tide of battle had turned. Hu Fang burst out laughing, “What’s the matter? Weren’t you so formidable? So arrogant? Why don’t you neutralize my blade energy now?”

Chen Mu remained silent, mechanically wielding that same sword, paying no mind to his injuries.

He was nearly exhausted; his reserves of energy were already inferior to his opponent’s, and now, expending so much, his face had gone pale. Was this truly where he would fall?

As Hu Fang prepared to deliver a final, overwhelming blow, the sword in Chen Mu’s hand began to tremble. Pushed to the absolute limit, he entered a strange state—an unfathomable sensation surged through his mind. A flash of pure, fierce intent passed by; fleeting as it was, Chen Mu seized it.

He shouted, “Setting Sun Sword!”

One sword stroke—success. The Setting Sun Sword was born. This stroke was straightforward and unadorned, yet it radiated an overwhelming sense of threat. Waves of heat swept outward, and what happened next sent chills through all who witnessed it.

There was no expected explosion, not even a noise. It was as if sound itself had been erased, as though the very air was warped by heat, obscuring Chen Mu’s movements from sight.

“What’s going on? Why is it so hot all of a sudden? What just happened?”

The crowd was in an uproar, but at that moment, they saw that Hu Fang’s crimson blade had been severed in two, the break molten and fused. Hu Fang, terrified, staggered back.

True to its name, the Setting Sun Sword turned the dueling ground into a searing wasteland, as if the sun itself had fallen. Hu Fang’s weapon was split in two, and he was struck, sent flying with a deep gash across his chest. The wound was clear, yet no blood flowed; it had been seared black by the heat—a sight so uncanny it made one’s skin crawl.

Chen Mu, too, stared at the sword he had just unleashed. This move finally had a hint of true meaning. With newfound understanding, he murmured, “So this is the real way to use the Setting Sun Form—pure, fierce, domineering, burning everything in its path.”

When the disciples of the Bright Moon Blade Sect saw Hu Fang lying motionless like a dead dog, terror filled their hearts. They rushed to lift him up and administered a healing pill.

After digesting the insights from his sword, Chen Mu turned a cold gaze on Hu Fang. Seeing this, the two disciples cried out in fear, “What… what do you intend to do?”

“Have you forgotten? The loser leaves. These new disciples will be taken by the victor.”

They gritted their teeth but dared not utter a word, silently lifting Hu Fang and slinking out of Sima Manor.

The arena fell silent. No one could have imagined that Chen Mu would be the victor.

Sima Guan stepped forward, awkwardly cupping his fists. “Young friend Chen, your strength is indeed outstanding, a true leader among the younger generation. I have offended you; please forgive me.”

“Aren’t you the one who was eager for the Bright Moon Blade Sect to take your son? Didn’t you say my Astral Observation Valley’s inner sect had declined, that even a disciple like me at the Origin Meridian Realm was not worth having?” Chen Mu mocked.

Sima Guan’s face flushed red and green by turns. He hurriedly bowed, “I admit my fault. Please, young friend Chen, accept my son into Astral Observation Valley.”

Chen Mu glanced at him and said, “This mission was always about accepting these promising newcomers as outer disciples of Astral Observation Valley.”

At these words, Sima Guan showed a hint of joy, but before he could celebrate, Chen Mu continued, “However, I will report the incident to the sect as it happened. How they choose to handle it, I cannot say.”

Sima Guan’s face fell. He could only plead, “Young friend Chen, I know I was wrong. If Astral Observation Valley wishes to punish my Sima family, I will accept it, but please do not blame my son.”

“Hmph! Do you take Astral Observation Valley for such a place? We would never make things difficult for a child. Rest assured, if your son is talented, he will surely achieve great things.” Chen Mu replied, sounding much older than his years, though he was only fourteen—younger, in fact, than some of the new disciples.

“In that case, I thank you, young friend Chen.” Sima Guan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Your Sima family has two promising recruits, does it not? One is your son, and the other?”

“Ah… that boy is the son of a family servant, named Erbao. He happened to be present during the test, so we included him, and to our surprise, he also has talent for cultivation.”

Chen Mu nodded, then gathered the youths—seven in all. Each of the seven boys looked up at him with eyes full of admiration.

“Children, I am your guide, Chen Mu. You may call me Brother Chen. From now on, you are disciples of Astral Observation Valley. Isn’t that exciting?”

Seeing how shameless Chen Mu was, the boys grew bolder, losing their earlier restraint. They slung their arms around his shoulders, tugged at him, making Chen Mu rather embarrassed.

“Brother Chen, will we ever be as strong as you?” one naive youth asked.

“You will, if you are willing to work hard. Only through constant effort can you achieve results and become stronger.” Chen Mu replied as he played along with the boys.

Though Chen Mu’s strength already surpassed most at the Origin Meridian Realm, few realized he was just as young as these boys. Lü Shi watched this scene and couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the side.

When Chen Mu noticed Lü Shi snickering, he shouted, “Lü Shi, if you don’t come over to help, you’ll be sorry when we get back to the sect!”

At that, Lü Shi grinned and hurried over.