Chapter Eighty-Two: The Slaughter Within the Bright Moon Blade Sect

Chen Mu did not trust these people, fearing that if they encountered disciples of the Bright Moon Blade Sect and could not discern the difference in strength, they would turn on him and expose his identity. Yet, he had no reliable way to control them, so he asked Rou'er, within the Spirit Beast Bracelet, if she had any methods to govern another's life and death, compelling obedience.

Rou'er immediately replied, "Yes, I possess a secret art called the Soul Restraint Seal. By using this technique, you can bind a fragment of another's soul and store it in your own consciousness. Should the other party harbor any thought of betrayal, you can annihilate their soul through this fragment. However, your soul must be at least at the Core Formation level. Of course, with your soul having been repeatedly strengthened, you have already reached that threshold."

After Rou'er imparted the Soul Restraint Seal to him, Chen Mu quickly understood its operation. The technique was simple and he mastered it with ease.

Seeing Chen Mu deep in thought and silent, the others dared not make a sound, afraid of provoking his anger. When Chen Mu finally came to himself and looked at them with an unsettling smile, they realized he was plotting something unpleasant.

Chen Mu spoke: "I do not trust you, so I will employ a secret art called the Soul Restraint Seal to detain a fragment of your soul in my consciousness. Should you betray me, I can extinguish your soul through this fragment. If you wish to live, you must accept this technique; otherwise, you have only death."

At these words, everyone's faces fell. Some among them had indeed considered reporting Chen Mu to the sect upon reaching the Bright Moon Blade Sect in hopes of absolving themselves.

But now, with Chen Mu's measure, such thoughts were entirely dispelled.

Refusing the technique meant certain death. Reluctantly, for the sake of survival, they let Chen Mu extract a fragment of their soul. Though there was no pain, they could clearly sense that any defiance would lead to unthinkable consequences.

With this group under his control, the Yan family’s caravan continued toward the Bright Moon Blade Sect.

When they arrived at the sect’s mountain gate, two disciples on duty called out, "Halt! You must be this quarter’s tribute delivery. Which city are you from? Let us inspect your goods first."

Yan Bing replied obsequiously, "I represent the Yan family of Chuanli City, here to pay tribute. Sirs, please inspect the goods as you wish."

Seeing that Yan Bing was sensible, the two disciples nodded and rummaged through the goods, pocketing any items that caught their fancy. They did not take much nor anything overly valuable, merely skimming a little off the top.

After a perfunctory inspection, they said, "Very well, these are proper tribute goods. Move them up the mountain gate. Once you’re registered, you may go."

When the two disciples activated the sect’s grand array and allowed them inside, Yan Bing finally breathed a sigh of relief and thanked them profusely, "Thank you, sirs, thank you!"

But as Chen Mu passed the two disciples, he abruptly struck and killed them. The Yan family’s entourage broke into a cold sweat—killing sect disciples on the Bright Moon Blade Sect’s own ground? Did Chen Mu have a death wish?

Chen Mu glanced at them. "You may leave now."

With that, he started up the mountain, but Yan Bing and the others, flustered, quickly called out, "Senior! Our soul fragments... could you return them to us?"

Chen Mu gave them a look. In his haste to ascend, he had forgotten about this matter. He tapped his forehead, and over twenty soul fragments dispersed, dissipating slowly into the air.

He could not be bothered to return them one by one; the dispersal would, at most, cause minor damage to their souls, which would heal in time. So he did not go out of his way to return each fragment.

Chen Mu said, "I've discarded your soul fragments. I can no longer place restrictions on your souls. The disappearance of the fragments will only cause temporary damage, and you will recover soon enough. You may go now."

At first, seeing their soul fragments vanish unsettled them. But upon hearing Chen Mu’s explanation, they were reassured.

None wished to linger for fear of being implicated. The entire group, abandoning their caravan, fled in haste.

Chen Mu was taken aback—were they truly leaving everything behind? He was not interested in the supplies, but the disciples of Starlit Valley still depended on such resources. He selected some important items to store in his ring and left the rest behind.

At last, Chen Mu had penetrated the heart of the Bright Moon Blade Sect. As he ascended, the disciples he encountered eyed him suspiciously, intending to question him, but were all struck down one by one.

Perhaps the commotion grew too great, for soon the elders realized someone was slaughtering their disciples within the sect, and they mobilized.

"Who are you? How did you breach our sect’s grand array?" one elder demanded of Chen Mu.

Clad in plain clothes and with a bamboo hat obscuring his face, Chen Mu’s identity was hidden. None recognized him as the very enemy they wished to eliminate.

Chen Mu wasted no words. He released the Gallant Eagle Beast, Red Flame, and Yuan Shan. The formidable aura of these three demon beasts left all breathless and on high alert.

Grinning, Chen Mu said, "Annihilate them all."

With a roar, the three demon beasts charged at the disciples of the Bright Moon Blade Sect, and the massacre began.

Cries of terror and agony echoed across the mountain. The sect’s many Core Formation elders tried desperately to restrain the three demon beasts but were outmatched.

The sect master, Liu Zhongdao, burst from the main hall, beholding the hellish carnage of his sect and corpses strewn everywhere. Grief and rage consumed him, and he bellowed, "Who dares commit such slaughter in my Bright Moon Blade Sect?"

Chen Mu removed his bamboo hat and strode forward. "Old dog Liu, do you not recognize me?"

Liu Zhongdao’s eyes narrowed in horror. "Chen Mu? You’re still alive? Where is that fox?"

Chen Mu replied lazily, "There’s no need for Rou’er to deal with the likes of you."

Liu Zhongdao’s expression darkened. Glancing around and confirming the fox was indeed absent, and that instead three unfamiliar demon beasts were laying waste to his sect, he felt both relieved and anxious.

Relieved, because without the fox—whom even Gu Daozhen, head of the Azure Skies Dao Sect, and the other Nascent Soul cultivators could not defeat—he still had a chance to fight back. How could a small sect like theirs hope to contend with such a monster?

But anxious, because two of the three demon beasts were still his equal in strength.

His eyes darted shrewdly. He resolved to capture the ringleader first—once Chen Mu was in his grasp, the rest would be easier to deal with.

Chen Mu seemed to perceive Liu Zhongdao’s intentions and responded with a provocative grin, not fleeing but instead beckoning him closer.

Liu Zhongdao sneered. At this point, Chen Mu still dared provoke him? Once he was captured, he would make Chen Mu pay dearly.

As Liu Zhongdao lunged at Chen Mu with blinding speed, Chen Mu’s aura surged. The secret art Burning Blood Transformation activated, and Yang Essence gathered in his fist. He launched a punch at Liu Zhongdao’s outstretched hand.

A violent surge of energy collided with Liu Zhongdao’s hand, shattering his arm and slamming into his body, sending him hurtling back in shock and pain.

After flying dozens of meters, Liu Zhongdao finally managed to halt his momentum mid-air, staring at Chen Mu in disbelief. "How can your strength be so great? You’re only at late Foundation Establishment..."

Chen Mu grinned. "Just a minor secret art. No need for such surprise."

Liu Zhongdao was speechless. A minor secret art? One that could raise someone two realms in power?

What he didn’t know was that this technique raised Chen Mu by three minor realms, and Chen Mu already possessed the ability to battle across major realms.

Liu Zhongdao realized he had underestimated his foe. He immediately drew his treasured saber, the finest weapon in the sect, and unleashed the supreme Bright Moon Blade Technique at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu dared not meet a Nascent Soul-level weapon head-on, as his body had not yet reached that stage. He dodged using the Nine Nether Shadow Steps, occasionally launching attacks with the Fiendish Essence Orbs to wound Liu Zhongdao.

The orbs tore Liu Zhongdao’s flesh, leaving him bloody and battered. Though he was at the early Nascent Soul stage, he could not withstand the onslaught from Chen Mu, whose power had reached the mid-Nascent Soul level.

Still, Liu Zhongdao knew Chen Mu’s secret art was temporary. If he could just hold out until its effect wore off, he could seize Chen Mu and use him as leverage to force the demon beasts to stop.

But Chen Mu saw through his plan and resolved to kill him before time ran out.

A barrage of Fiendish Essence Orbs left Liu Zhongdao with no room to dodge. He was forced to unleash his ultimate killing technique.

With a roar of "Heaven-Sundering Blade," a silvery blade aura erupted from his treasured saber and swept toward Chen Mu.

The blade aura shattered all the orbs and slashed at Chen Mu. Chen Mu’s pupils contracted as he hastily activated the Flood Dragon Scale Feather Cloak. Knowing he could not dodge, he stepped forward, Yang Essence gathering at his front, and charged headlong at Liu Zhongdao.

The blade aura struck, making Liu Zhongdao laugh in triumph. But as the dust settled and Chen Mu emerged, his laughter died.

Chen Mu, undeterred, continued his assault, intent on crippling Liu Zhongdao. Only then did Liu realize that Chen Mu was not unscathed, but merely lightly wounded. The blade aura had pierced his Yang Essence defense, shattered the Flood Dragon Scale Feather Cloak, but was partly neutralized by the treasure armor Chen Mu had acquired from the Nine Nether Sacred Land before finally striking his body.

The injury was nothing—a shallow gash easily closed by Chen Mu’s body-forging art, summoning blood energy to rapidly heal his flesh.

Like a comet, Chen Mu slammed into Liu Zhongdao, nearly shattering his body, leaving him with multiple fractures and his flesh torn and bloody.