Chapter 36: The Four Peaks Grand Competition Is Near

In the coming days.

Li Mu's daily life is indeed very disciplined.

At dawn he goes down the mountain to hunt demonic beasts for contribution points, honing the Seven Kill Grand Form!

At night he practices all night long!

The cycle repeats, emphasizing that Heaven rewards the diligent and hard work never cheats.

However…

The only flaw is that Xuan Yue Feng is unusually quiet!

Originally, Li Mu thought that Lin Zehong had already been recorded in the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll.

The last time, after Lin Zehong was suppressed by Yu Lao and thrown in front of him, he should have tried to retrieve the lost stage on his own.

But that kid has done nothing since then.

Even Li Mu's eighth and ninth mysterious arts feel like chives waiting to be cut, but there's nowhere to cut!

Bad review!

This uneventful stretch continued until the fourth morning, when Li Mu, as usual, stayed up all night, practicing cultivation!

By the next dawn, when the golden crow first rises.

The first ray of sunlight fell on Li Mu.

Li Mu instantly awoke from his deep practice, and his whole body emitted a "pitter‑patter" sound, like beans being fried.

Within these three days, Li Mu's organs have been strengthened to another level, reaching the peak of the Eighth‑Grade Qi Refining Realm, just one step away from the Ninth‑Grade Refining Qi Realm!

Give Li Mu a chance, and he can easily break through the barrier!

"Huh……"

Li Mu let out a long sigh and exhaled a breath of white mist.

The breath shot out like an arrow from the open window, dense and unspreading, reaching over ten meters away!

At last it turned into a cloud of white mist that slowly dissipated.

He then stood up and pushed the door open.

Today is already the last day!

The Four Peaks Grand Competition is about to commence!

Looking at the chaotic courtyard, Li Mu thought his training arena was almost repaired, and it was time to report the courtyard for repair!

He couldn't leave this dwelling for the junior brothers and sisters after he ascends to the inner peak, could he?

Otherwise Li Mu would be killed by his junior brothers and sisters!

Just as Li Mu was about to report the repair,

"Dong dong dong……"

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was knocked.

Li Mu's eyebrows lifted slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his face.

Even his own courtyard wall had collapsed halfway.

If someone really had business, they could just walk in; why knock?

Isn't that like pulling down one's pants to fart—completely unnecessary?

Moreover, Li Mu has only been at Longtan Feng for about ten days and hasn't met many people.

So normally no one would come to see him voluntarily.

Yet Li Mu didn't think much and went out, opening the courtyard gate.

"Junior brother Li, good morning!"

Yao Mengzhen stood outside the gate, smiling charmingly.

"Senior sister Yao?"

Li Mu was startled.

Hasn't Yao Mengzhen been in seclusion lately?

How could she have time to come find him—has she already broken through the Ten‑Grade Refining Qi Realm and reached great perfection?

"Isn't that surprising?"

Yao Mengzhen wore a violet robe, her peach‑blossom eyes rippling like autumn water.

As her eyes fluttered, even Li Mu couldn't help being dazzled.

He couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

His senior sister is so beautiful at such a young age—imagine her grown‑up self!

She'll probably be another beauty disaster!

She is called senior sister.

In fact, Yao Mengzhen is only a year or two older than Li Mu.

She seems to be about sixteen this year.

"Indeed, very surprising!"

"Senior sister, did you feel something in this exit? Did you come to spar with me?"

Li Mu asked straight to the point.

"Not at all!"

"Junior brother Li, won't you invite me in to sit?"

Yao Mengzhen shook her head, then looked behind Li Mu.

"Sorry."

"My apologies, please come in."

Li Mu hurriedly stepped aside.

Yao Mengzhen walked in.

Wherever his eyes fell, the courtyard of Li Mu's cave dwelling could no longer be described as a mess.

It was as if a tornado had ravaged it!

Not only was the water in the pond gone, but the spot that had been an artificial rock formation was now a ruin.

The little bridge and flowing water, the pavilions and towers had all vanished, and around there lay vast stretches of charred blackness.

"This…"

"Is this caused by junior brother Li's training?"

Yao Mengzhen looked around, finding it hard to find a passage.

What cultivation method has this junior brother been pondering lately?

To think it could cause such exaggerated destruction!

Though puzzled, when she thought of her purpose for this trip, Yao Mengzhen's pretty face couldn't help but show a hint of seriousness.

After emerging from the sect.

Yao Mengzhen learned at once that Li Mu had eliminated Zhao Jianfei at the Martial Debate Conference, taking the championship.

Including, after that, Lin Zehong led a group of Xuan Yue Feng disciples to the Gong Fa Dian to block Li Mu.

Especially now that the Four Peaks Grand Competition is imminent, Li Mu's current situation is extremely bad!

Thinking of this, Yao Mengzhen said bluntly, "The Four Peaks Grand Competition is about to begin!"

"This examination will be held in a secret realm opened by the Ziyang Sect, and everyone will be randomly teleported."

"I worry that people from Xuan Yue Feng might be hostile to you, so I prepared something for you."

"This item is called a Second-Grade Soldier-Release Talisman; as long as you infuse true Qi into the talisman, it will instantly transport you about twenty‑some li."

Saying that.

Yao Mengzhen lightly tapped the jade pendant at her waist with her jade hand.

A flash of light passed, and a talisman appeared in the palm of her fair, delicate hand.

The talisman was entirely bright yellow, engraved with profound and intricate inscriptions that exuded a faint mystical power.

"Second-Grade Soldier-Release Talisman?"

Li Mu looked rather surprised at the talisman in Yao Mengzhen's hand.

Its rarity was comparable to a pill, and being a Soldier-Release Talisman that can save one's life in a critical moment, its value even surpassed a Third-Grade Pill!

Even though Yao Mengzhen is a wealthy woman, this Second-Grade Soldier-Release Talisman was still a huge expense.

It was probably given to her by senior clan members for lifesaving.

Thinking this, Li Mu immediately returned the Soldier-Release Talisman.

"Senior sister, that's unnecessary!"

"Just keep the Soldier-Release Talisman for yourself."

"Give it to me, I don't need it either!"

"Whether you can use it or not, just take this Soldier-Release Talisman for me!"

Yao Mengzhen seemed to have anticipated Li Mu's refusal, and with a pretty face said, "Unless you don't consider me a friend!"

"This…"

Li Mu's face showed a wry smile.

Actually…

Li Mu now really wants to say!

Senior sister, instead of spending a fortune on a Soldier-Release Talisman for me, why not prepare more miraculous pills and Heavenly Treasures for me?

That way, perhaps before tomorrow's Four Peaks Grand Competition I could break through the Ninth-Grade Refining Qi Realm!

However…

In that case, Li Mu only thought it in his heart and naturally wouldn't voice it.

After a moment of hesitation, Li Mu reluctantly accepted the Soldier-Release Talisman.

Seeing Li Mu take the talisman, Yao Mengzhen squinted her peach‑blossom eyes and nodded approvingly.

Xuan Ji, she then explained in detail to Li Mu the Yunshan Secret Realm where this Four Peaks Grand Competition assessment takes place!

It serves as the Ziyang Sect's assessment venue for Outer Peak disciples.

In the Yunshan Secret Realm, there are three major zones: Outer Ring, Inner Ring, and Core Area.

The Outer Ring mainly contains First‑ to Fifth‑Grade Demon Soldiers, yielding lower hunting scores.

The Inner Ring mainly hosts Fifth‑ to Ninth‑Grade Demon Soldiers, granting higher hunting scores.

As for the Core Area, it is prepared for the top twenty prodigious demons from the Outer Peak's four‑year Storm Ranking, most of whom are Tenth‑Grade Demon Soldiers!

Moreover, there are even suspected Demon General‑level beasts!

Besides that.

The tower‑cannon segment that ultimately decides the Four Peaks Grand Competition rankings is only open to the Heavenly Champions who have entered the Core Area and rank within the top sixteen.

As for Yao Mengzhen's repeated emphasis on the beast classifications in the Yunshan Secret Realm, Li Mu wasn't particularly concerned…

No way!

In the past few days, Li Mu's life has been a straight line between descending the mountain and ascending it.

Every day, aside from hunting demons, he only cultivates.

So much so that Li Mu now feels a reaction in his stomach at the very mention of "demon beasts."

What truly piques Li Mu's interest is mainly the tower fight segment located in the core area of the Yunshan Secret Realm!

Only by engaging in cross-level battles and ruthlessly crushing cultivators stronger than himself can Li Mu gain greater benefits!

By then, breaking through to the Ninth-Grade Refining Qi Realm, raising the Eight Nine Mysterious Skill to lv: 10, and awakening divine abilities will be a given!

Furthermore, one's rank in the tower fight also determines how lavish the rewards for the final Four Peaks Grand Competition will be...

Thinking of this, Li Mu's eyes lit up instantly.

In other words!

As long as I sweep everyone from Profound Peak, Little Heaven Peak, and Purple Cover Three Peaks in the tower fight competition!

The cultivation resources at my disposal will become unimaginably abundant.

And by that time...

At the very least I can break through to the Ten-Grade Refining Qi Realm, reach the Qi Refining Realm's Great Perfection, and earn another Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing from the system!

This is truly something to look forward to!

Thinking of this, Li Mu clenched his hands slightly.

The next morning.

Li Mu ended his cultivation early and went straight to the Ziyang Daochang on Heaven Peak Ridge.

Although the sky wasn't fully light yet, the Ziyang Daochang was already packed with Four Peaks disciples, overflowing with people.

As far as the eye could see, heads churned—at least two or three thousand people!

This far surpasses the number of Outer Peak disciples Li Mu saw in the Heaven Peak Ridge hall last time.

"Although the Four Peaks Grand Competition hasn't begun, just looking at this crowd shows how fierce this year's competition will be!"

Li Mu thought to himself.

He then blended inconspicuously into the crowd.

Although Li Mu is now well-known, he's only been with the Ziyang Sect for about a month.

As a result, many have heard Li Mu's name but never seen what he looks like.

So Li Mu's appearance caused no stir.

"Li Mu..."

But just as Li Mu was looking for a quiet spot to wait for the Yunshan Secret Realm to open, someone suddenly called out to him from behind.

"Qian Wenyi?"

Li Mu turned around.

Only then did he realize that the person running toward him was Qian Wenyi!

"Who did I think it was?"

"Turns out it's this kid..."

A glint of deep cold light flashed in Li Mu's eyes.

Does this spoiled rich kid think the lesson I gave him last time wasn't deep enough?

This time he's trying to stir up some trouble again.