Chapter 18: Steady, This Time It's Really Steady

Inside the Elders Hall of the Outer Peak at Longtan Peak.

"Sigh…"

"I have no idea what madness the people of Xuan Yue Peak are spreading this year."

"They actually want, under the pretext of exchange, to send people to my Longtan Peak to hold some kind of martial discussion conference before the Four Peaks Grand Competition?"

"Should I accept it, or decline?"

Inside the Elders Hall.

A Blue Robe Elder stared at the Jade Slip in his hand, continuously sighing and muttering, his white eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot.

In the past, such martial discussion conferences were not unheard of.

But usually these exchange‑focused gatherings instinctively excluded Longtan Peak, being held mainly among Xuan Yue, Xiao Tian, and Zi Gai peaks.

But this year, Xuan Yue Peak specifically named and demanded a martial debate with Longtan Peak!

If it were the usual case, Sun Qingwu would undoubtedly refuse without hesitation!

But this time, Xuan Yue Peak directly declared that, with the Four Peaks Grand Competition imminent, its four‑year Outer Peak disciples must close their sect for intensive training and will not attend this martial discussion conference.

Moreover, this time Xuan Yue Peak even made a massive concession!

They offered a Mysterious Tier Heart Method as a prize, rewarding it to the first place of this martial discussion conference.

This is indeed a Mysterious Tier Heart Method!

Even Sun Qingwu would drool over it; it's a precious treasure!

The key!

People need face, trees need bark.

Xuan Yue Peak openly stated that its four‑year Outer Peak disciples won't join this conference, yet they still present a Mysterious Tier Heart Method as a prize!

If they expect Longtan Peak to still not dare to accept the challenge, then they'll truly have no face to linger in Ziyang Sect.

As soon as they step out of the mountain gate, they'll be jabbed in the spine and have their faces trampled directly!

Meanwhile, Sun Qingwu was still fretting over whether to accept the conference or not.

But then,

Qiu Ning Shui, with an anxious face, rushed in from outside in a hurry.

Before he could speak, Sun Qingwu asked what was going on.

Qiu Ning Shui said something that shocked him so much his vision went black in both eyes, nearly rolling off his chair.

"Elder Sun, something terrible has happened!"

"Yao Mengzhen and Li Mu might be about to fight!"

Upon hearing Qiu Ning Shui say Yao Mengzhen and Li Mu were at it, Sun Qingwu felt the heavens were collapsing!

Within Longtan Peak, who doesn't know Yao Mengzhen's prowess?

First person of Outer Peak at Longtan Peak!

Eleventh seat of the Heaven's Pride Ranking!

Yao Family's young lady!

Just tossing out any of these titles, let alone anyone daring to trouble Yao Mengzhen; even trying to evade this young lady, they wouldn't be quick enough.

Thus, in this tiny patch of Longtan Peak, Sun Qingwu wasn't at all worried that anyone might irrationally provoke Yao Mengzhen, the Heaven's Pride Girl.

But, as luck would have it,

the other party involved turned out to be none other than Li Mu!

That situation truly becomes hard to explain!

This guy!

Although he has been in Ziyang Sect for less than a week in total.

Yet whatever he does, even taken alone, becomes a sensational event throughout Ziyang Sect!

Leaving aside other things!

At least since Ziyang Sect was founded,

no one has dared to, in front of the sect leader and elders, in the solemn Great Sky Peak Hall, strike another Personal Disciple.

But what others wouldn't dare, Li Mu dares to do!

After arriving at Longtan Peak, the kid Li Mu likewise doesn't settle down.

The next day, he sent Qian Wenyi and his party into the infirmary.

I thought that Li Mu, this troublemaker, after reforming his ways, would finally devote himself to cultivation at Longtan Peak, and that things here could finally be quiet for a couple of days.

But unexpectedly, the kid actually built up a big move and went straight to mess with Yao Mengzhen!

Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh!

If this really happens, Yao Mengzhen, after all, is at the Ninth‑Grade Qi Refining Realm Peak, so she can't possibly lose.

But Li Mu, he'll definitely eat his words.

If Yao Mengzhen can't control her power, she might even beat Li Mu into a mess.

Then not only this year's Four Peaks Grand Competition, we wouldn't need to participate.

For the next four years, Longtan Peak wouldn't have to join, alright!

After all,

Sun Qingwu could fully count on Yao Mengzhen entering the Inner Peak, while the Outer Peak would still have to rely on Li Mu to hold the scene.

Realizing the seriousness, Sun Qingwu immediately stood up, and in a deep voice asked, "How long has Li Mu been gone?"

"Not long, just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Qiu Ning Shui replied briskly.

"Just a incense‑stick's time?"

"Then they probably haven't started fighting yet!"

Saying so.

Sun Qingwu made a sweeping motion with his large sleeve and directly employed his body method to arrive at the back mountain.

But when they arrived at the back mountain, they saw a scene they would never forget in this life.

Just then.

At this moment, the back‑mountain training ground was nearly a wasteland, littered with stones and rubble.

The four walls that originally formed the training ground had now collapsed on two sides, and everywhere the eye could see were broken ruins.

Standing amid the ruins, the handsome, imposing youth's black armor was already stained crimson with blood.

He looked sharply.

It was as if a blood‑stained garment were draped over him, terrifyingly soaked.

Not far from the youth, a cold‑aura girl lay with her eyes tightly shut.

"This, this, this…"

Sun Qingwu felt his head explode with a "Buzz!"

He could only keep pointing his hand back and forth over Li Mu and the cold girl, his mouth opening and closing, yet not managing a single complete sentence.

"Thud…"

"Elder Sun, you aren't mistaken."

Qiu Ning Shui swallowed a mouthful of saliva, looked at the girl on the ground and said hoarsely.

"The person lying on the ground is indeed Senior Sister Yao."

On his way here, Sun Qingwu had already imagined countless possibilities and countermeasures in his mind.

But even after racking his brain, he couldn't have imagined the ending would be like this…

Li Mu, a newcomer who had just pledged to Longtan Feng, somehow within a few days had completely overthrown Yao Mengzhen, who had dominated Longtan Feng for four years?

He felt himself in a chaotic gust of wind.

He could not find any appropriate word to describe his current feeling.

"Qiu Ning Shui!"

"This matter is of great importance; seal the news immediately."

"Especially, do not let the Yao Family or the people of the other three peaks know!"

"As for Yao Mengzhen, first send her back to her own residence."

"I'll fetch the doctor from the infirmary and have him come over!"

After completing these arrangements, Sun Qingwu looked back at Li Mu with eyes blazing.

Though unclear about the exact course of the battle.

It is an undeniable fact that Li Mu ultimately defeated Yao Mengzhen!

Originally, the elders of Longtan Feng, including Zi Yuan, all agreed that…

If Li Mu were given one to two years to hone at Outer Peak, he would surely shine in the Four Peaks Grand Competition and take first place.

But now it seems…

Sun Qingwu thought this was too conservative!

Too damn conservative!

Given Li Mu's demonic talent, there's no need for a blending period, right?

Just days after joining Ziyang Sect, he completely overthrew Yao Mengzhen, the First person of Outer Peak of Longtan Feng!

If we let him train for a few more years, I'm afraid the position of this Outer Peak elder would soon be his!

"Hahaha…"

Thinking of this, Sun Qingwu burst into laughter.

"Li Mu!"

"You kid, you're literally a monster!"

Just thinking that Longtan Feng produced a monster like Li Mu!

Sun Qingwu felt he laughed today more than he had in the past four years combined!

In five days, he toppled Yao Mengzhen, the Outer Peak's first and the Eleventh on the Tianjiao Ranking.

Then, at the upcoming Martial Debate Conference, are the people of Xuan Yue Feng still playing around?

Take it!

Must take it!

Even the Heavenly King himself came, but couldn't stop him!

"..."

Seeing Sun Qingwu and Qiu Ning Shui come to handle the aftermath, Li Mu was, of course, delighted and at ease.

After handing Yao Mengzhen over to them, he patted his own butt and headed back home.

Back at his residence, Li Mu first removed the blood‑stained garment from his body.

After a quick shower, Li Mu entered the quiet room and sat cross‑legged on a mat.

On the table before him lay the Broken Yuan Pill that Yao Mengzhen had used to atone.

The main effect of this Broken Yuan Pill is to help practitioners of the Refining Qi Realm break minor shackles.

Beyond that, it has no special qualities!

"Six Grade Lian Qi Realm!"

"Qi Refining Realm Great Completion!!"

"And can obtain another Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing reward!"

Li Mu's eyes filled with anticipation.

Li Mu has been looking forward to this moment for a long time!

After breaking the minor shackles of the Six Grade Lian Qi Realm and reaching the Great Completion stage.

He will once again receive a Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing reward!

"Huh…"

He exhales lightly.

Li Mu steadies his mind, dispels distractions, adjusts his condition, and then swallows the Breaking Origin Pill directly.

In no time at all.

The Breaking Origin Pill's wild, domineering medicinal force erupts wildly, spreading toward his limbs, bones, and the eight extraordinary meridians.

Like a massive wave, it assaults the meridians throughout his body, especially the dantian!

At this very moment.

Li Mu can clearly feel his eight extraordinary meridians, including his own dantian, beginning to swell under the onslaught of this domineering, wild medicinal force!

It seems that in the next second, he will be violently burst open alive!

Under normal circumstances,

For someone like Li Mu to recklessly swallow the Breaking Origin Pill without any preparation or protective guardian is nothing short of courting death!

As a pill used by cultivators to forcibly break minor shackles within the Refining Qi Realm, the Breaking Origin Pill's effect is naturally overwhelmingly domineering!

Precisely because the Breaking Origin Pill's effect is so domineering, a single slip can cause the eight extraordinary meridians and dantian within the body to be shattered by this massive, domineering medicinal force.

It could even result in a breakthrough failure, leading to a demonic fire!

This makes many cultivators prefer to accumulate strength patiently rather than risk a forced breakthrough!

But when the same risk is applied to Li Mu, rounding it off makes it essentially zero risk, right?

With the aid of the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll, Li Mu effortlessly absorbs the entire effect of the Breaking Origin Pill.

As for the pill's backlash,

It naturally remains unchanged and is returned to Qin Siwu, who is far away at Xuan Yue Feng.

Let that old Biding enjoy it all by himself!

Afterwards, about the length of one incense stick later,

Li Mu's whole body suddenly emitted a shimmering red light, his qi and true energy seemingly filled to the utmost peak.

At this moment, he became incredibly light, his skin translucent, as if reborn.

This is still the visible part

In the unseen areas, Li Mu's own meridians also completed a transformation, his entire body continuously radiating a jade‑like brilliance outward.

This inner‑to‑outer change caused Li Mu's aura to swell immensely, subtly exuding an extraordinary, ethereal sense.