Chapter 88: Warrant for Arrest

Chen Mu strode magnificently into the city with Old Ape Demon Yuan Shan in tow, sending the nearby townsfolk scurrying into their homes in terror, none daring to step outside. Once again, Chen Mu’s audacious actions startled the city’s lord, who exclaimed in bewilderment, “Weren’t you captured and taken to the Celestial Azure Dao Sect? How are you back here now?”

Chen Mu replied coldly, his gaze frosty, “I’ve just fought my way out of the Celestial Azure Dao Sect. I’ll give you ten breaths to get out of my sight. Go about your business, whatever it may be. If not, I’ll kill you on the spot.”

The city lord, who had originally intended to act, caught sight of Yuan Shan by Chen Mu’s side and instantly quashed any thought of fighting. But to simply leave at Chen Mu’s command? Wasn’t that unbearably humiliating? He opened his mouth to protest, but Chen Mu merely raised a hand, firing a Sphere of Fiendish Essence at the ground before him, reducing an entire building to dust. “If you delay me any longer,” Chen Mu said, “your fate will be the same as that house.”

The city lord swallowed hard. The strength Chen Mu now displayed was worlds apart from when they had fought before. He realized that Chen Mu had held back on purpose during their earlier battle, feigning weakness so the Celestial Azure Dao Sect would capture him, only to later cause chaos within their ranks.

Given that Chen Mu had just claimed to have escaped from the Celestial Azure Dao Sect, the city lord was almost certain his guess was correct. Knowing he was no match for Chen Mu—indeed, likely no one within the Core Formation stage was—he chose to withdraw quietly, planning to report the matter to the imperial court. Let the higher-ups deal with this headache.

With the city lord out of the way, Chen Mu made his way to the residence Gu Xingyuan had purchased, knocked on the door, and waited for Gu Xingyuan to answer.

Hearing someone at the door, Gu Xingyuan opened it warily, but upon seeing Chen Mu, his face lit with joy. He had heard the news that Chen Mu had been captured by the Celestial Azure Dao Sect. Although Chen Mu had said he would allow himself to be caught on purpose, Gu Xingyuan had nonetheless been deeply worried. Now, seeing Chen Mu return unharmed, his heart finally settled.

At first, all his attention was on Chen Mu, but once his excitement had abated, he noticed the old ape demon behind him. His heart skipped a beat; this must be the beast Chen Mu had mentioned, the one that had sworn fealty to him.

His gaze shifted to the beast’s back, and Gu Xingyuan exclaimed in excitement, “You rescued your elder brother? If your father finds out, he’ll be overjoyed!”

“Let’s go inside before we talk,” Chen Mu replied with a nod.

Once inside the residence, the Chen family was finally reunited. Tears streamed down Chen Haoran’s face as he embraced his eldest son. The sight of those ghastly wounds made his heart ache; Chen Feng must have suffered terribly during his ordeal.

“Elder Brother’s situation is a bit complicated,” Chen Mu explained. “We escaped in haste and I haven’t yet had time to heal his injuries, but I’ve stabilized his condition. However, during his captivity at the Celestial Azure Dao Sect, his cultivation was forcibly scattered, dropping him back to the Meridian Opening stage. But this may be a blessing in disguise. The cultivation methods and understanding on Yuanyao Continent have many flaws. If he starts over with my method, his foundation will be all the sturdier. But let’s discuss that later; right now, our situation is dangerous. I thought we had enough strength to wipe out the Celestial Azure Dao Sect, but I hadn’t anticipated they had a hidden Nascent Soul stage cultivator in deep slumber. That cultivator wasn’t at full strength, and only because we exhausted every means did we manage to escape, both heavily wounded. Once I heal my brother, we must leave immediately.”

Though Chen Mu spoke of escaping a Nascent Soul cultivator as if it were nothing, both Gu Xingyuan and Chen Haoran were deeply shaken, their worry for Chen Mu plain on their faces.

Without further ado, Chen Mu set about healing Chen Feng. He channeled the life force from the black pearl within his sea of consciousness into his brother, and Chen Feng’s wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Watching from the side, Gu Xingyuan murmured, “So this is the power of life the Celestial Azure Dao Sect covets? To heal such grievous injuries in so short a time—truly unimaginable.”

Not only did Chen Mu heal Chen Feng’s external wounds, he also eradicated hidden internal injuries, ensuring that his brother’s future cultivation would be even more effective.

Once Chen Feng’s injuries were fully healed, he awoke, coughing violently, his body trembling. When he opened his eyes and saw Chen Mu, he burst into tears. “Xiao Mu! You’re alive? But weren’t you... Oh, of course—this must be the afterlife. I must be dead already. And Father is here too... Father must have been killed by the Celestial Azure Dao Sect as well... Curse that wretched sect!”

Chen Mu was momentarily at a loss for how to respond, but Chen Haoran stepped forward, laughing and crying as he cuffed Chen Feng on the head. “You brat! Who are you cursing? We’re all alive, thanks to your little brother, who risked everything to sneak into the Celestial Azure Dao Sect and rescue you. And you’re here cursing us for being dead?”

Chen Feng stopped sobbing, a confused look on his face. “What? I’m not dead? No one’s dead? Xiao Mu is alive too? Am I dreaming?”

Chen Haoran chuckled, “Why don’t you pinch yourself and see if it’s a dream?”

Taking his father’s advice, Chen Feng did just that and yelped in pain, his face contorted. “It’s not a dream? No one’s dead? Xiao Mu really rescued me!”

Chen Mu’s gaze softened as he gave his brother a bear hug. “Big Brother, it’s so good to have you back. Our family is together again—congratulations on escaping the jaws of death.”

“Thank you for saving me, Xiao Mu,” Chen Feng said, patting his brother on the back.

Their reunion was brief, for Chen Mu immediately composed himself and said, “We need to pack up and leave at once. The city lord already knows we’re here. If he leaks the news to the Celestial Azure Dao Sect and that Nascent Soul cultivator pursues us, we’ll be in grave danger.”

“Nascent Soul? What’s that about?” Chen Feng was bewildered. Though he’d been imprisoned by the Celestial Azure Dao Sect, he knew nothing of their hidden ancestor.

At his brother’s questioning, Chen Mu gave a brief account of the Dao Sect’s ancestor. Upon learning that Chen Mu had rescued him from the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator, Chen Feng was deeply moved.

Knowing they would soon be hunted, everyone hurried to pack their belongings and left the city without delay.

...

By now, the Great Xia Empire had learned of Chen Mu’s return. He had already been known to have survived the Trial Grounds, and now he was appearing within the empire’s borders—surely to seek vengeance. The destruction of the Bright Moon Blade Sect was attributed to him, and then the Celestial Azure Dao Sect was thrown into chaos. Intelligence reported that Chen Mu had feigned capture by the Dao Sect, infiltrated their ranks, and rescued his brother Chen Feng.

The Celestial Azure Dao Sect was the foremost sect in Great Xia. To fight his way out of their encirclement—what kind of strength was that? Of course, it wasn’t all Chen Mu’s doing; rumor had it he had a demon beast companion, likely that fox demon. Still, this was only the empire’s initial understanding—they hadn’t yet realized that Chen Mu had more than just Rou’er by his side. If they discovered he could tame the demon beasts of the Star-Ridge Mountains, they would surely go mad with envy.

After all, even the middle reaches of the Star-Ridge Mountains harbored demon beasts rivaling Nascent Soul cultivators, which had prevented any from exploring the mountain’s inner depths.

If one could communicate with those beasts, wouldn’t that mean free passage through the Star-Ridge Mountains?

A few days later, Chen Mu’s wanted posters appeared in all major cities of Great Xia. His charges included being bloodthirsty and murderous, slaughtering disciples of various sects at will—in short, painting him as a remorseless killer. Previously, the top bounty was on Blood Sky, but Chen Mu’s reward now rivaled or surpassed it. After all, Blood Sky targeted anyone to absorb blood essence, but Chen Mu was focused specifically on the three great sects and the empire itself—a much more direct threat.

At this time, the ancestor of the Celestial Azure Dao Sect, Zhong Tianyao, emerged from seclusion. He immediately followed the trail to the residence Gu Xingyuan had purchased, only to find it deserted—Chen Mu’s group had long since vanished.

Thus, the Celestial Azure Dao Sect also issued a warrant for Chen Mu and his companions. His reputation had soared, though it was all infamy.

...

Over a month passed, and Chen Mu’s group arrived at the lair of Giant Python Qing in the Star-Ridge Mountains. In this time, the disciples of Star-Gazing Valley’s Pill Pavilion had lived quietly in hiding, self-sufficient, bartering for necessities by refining pills from the mountain’s medicinal herbs.

When Qu Rou and the other disciples saw Chen Mu return with their valley master, Gu Xingyuan, they were moved to tears. With the valley master safe, the restoration of Star-Gazing Valley was now within reach.

But when Chen Mu explained the current situation—the emergence of an ancient Nascent Soul cultivator in the Celestial Azure Dao Sect—everyone’s hearts turned cold. How many years had it been since anyone had seen a Nascent Soul cultivator? Such a realm had long become the stuff of legends.

They listened with rapt attention as Chen Mu recounted his adventures: the destruction of the Bright Moon Blade Sect, the assault on the Celestial Azure Dao Sect, the escape from a Nascent Soul expert. These were feats they’d never even dared to dream of.

Some disciples who had previously harbored resentment toward Chen Mu now changed their view. The past grievances were not his doing, and no one had ever bothered to clear his name, for few cared. Now, though, Chen Mu had become the backbone of Star-Gazing Valley, prompting them to reflect on their previous judgments.

Upon returning to Qing’s lair, Chen Mu remembered something he had forgotten last time: to give Zhang Jiudan the cultivation method for opening the one hundred and eight meridians. Since his brother’s cultivation had also fallen to the Meridian Opening stage, he prepared a copy for Chen Feng as well. He handed these jade slips with the cultivation art to Zhang Jiudan and Chen Feng, and then explained to them the secrets behind the One Hundred and Eight Meridians of the Celestial Dipper and Terrestrial Fiends. The two listened with amazement.

During this time, Chen Mu resumed his alchemy lessons. All his recent days had been spent on the run and seeking vengeance, leaving no time for pill refinement. Now, he began to experiment with various first-tier pills. Having reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm in soul cultivation, his spiritual power was immense, making pill refinement easy, and the quality of his products was consistently high.