Chapter 76: The Butler Sun

Saying so, Li Mu shifted his foot away from Pan Wenbo's head!

Ignoring Pan Wenbo's frantic struggles, his large hand gripped their hair tightly and then slammed them down onto the ground.

During this process, Pan Wenbo kept wildly resisting and struggling!

But his actual cultivation was only a third‑grade Concentration Realm, and because he was an Alchemist, his physical strength was feeble.

Moreover, his true Qi was sealed by the great formation of Cangbaoge.

Pan Wenbo's struggle, in Li Mu's eyes, was no different from the feeble, laughable wailing of a chick!

Dong!

Dong!!

Dong!!!

Three loud kowtowing thuds echoed through the vast auction hall, resonating in everyone's hearts.

All Inner Peak disciples, at this moment, couldn't help but add an uncontrollable fear to their gaze toward Li Mu!

As for Pan Wenbo, who was being pressed on the back of the head by Li Mu and forced to kowtow three times before everyone present,

now he was in utter disarray, yet the raging fire in his chest kept him from fainting!

He clenched both hands into fists, and even his blunt nails piercing his flesh seemed unnoticed.

Pan Wenbo lowered their head, curling their body into a ball, while their eyes turned frighteningly red.

If it were possible!

They now truly wanted to kill Li Mu immediately!

But now, they were well aware that even killing Li Mu was out of the question!

If Li Mu saw the hatred and venomous expression on their face right now, an even harsher humiliation would await them!

So Pan Wenbo could only curl their body into a ball.

Trying as much as possible not to let Li Mu see the anger on their face.

"Li Mu!"

"I've recorded today's account!"

"As soon as I get out of here, I'll definitely kill you!"

"I swear!"

"I will definitely kill you!"

Just as Pan Wenbo's mind was filled with thoughts of what crazy methods they would use to revenge Li Mu after leaving Cangbaoge,

Suddenly!

Li Mu's hand on the back of their skull suddenly surged with force, slamming them hard onto the auction platform!

Boom!

On the auction platform, rolling dust rose, and shards of stone splintered!

Under the two forces, Pan Wenbo's head was hammered deep into the platform.

They instantly lost consciousness!

Their body became rigid, from torso to feet almost forming a straight line.

At a glance,

it looked as striking as a pillar stuck in the ground.

Seeing this scene,

the few onlookers who had been making teasing jokes and light laughter vanished at this moment.

The huge auction hall fell silent, deadly quiet!

It was so clear that one could hear each person's breathing and the thudding heartbeat sounds!

Seeing this scene,

those who had been worried about Li Mu's safety and wanted to intervene now felt their throats dry, including Qian Wenyi.

The other Inner Peak disciples present in the auction hall were stiff, staring in disbelief at the black‑clad youth.

They glanced again at the horribly blood‑splattered, pitiful Pan Wenbo, shivered violently, and silently memorized Li Mu's appearance.

Indeed, the later waves of the Yangtze push the earlier ones—each generation more ruthless than the last!

It seems that in the future, encountering a Named Disciple in Inner Peak cannot be taken lightly!

Especially when facing this Wolfbane, one must keep a far distance!

Can't provoke, better to hide and stay safe!

Li Mu let out a long sigh.

He surveyed the Pan Wenbo stuck in the ground, and a satisfied smile appeared on the handsome, fair face.

Obviously, he was pleased with the masterpiece he had created!

Moreover, what pleased Li Mu even more was that the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll in the Sea of Knowledge finally bore Pan Wenbo's golden name!

Li Mu patted the upright pillar before him and thought, "Tell me, why didn't you develop a murderous intent toward me earlier?"

"You've kept me here, this hassle has lasted half a day."

"I wonder if Butler Sun will think this is an over‑defense later."

Pat, pat, pat…

Just as Li Mu was pondering, a burst of applause rang out.

But Butler Sun clapped while stepping forward, looking at Li Mu with a sigh‑filled face.

"Truly worthy of Elder Zhao's appraisal as a Heaven's Proud Son whose future potential can rival the Ziyang Saint Son."

"Seeing you today, indeed you are extraordinary!"

Amid the crowd's stunned expressions, Steward Sun walked slowly to the auction podium, closed the rosewood box, lifted it, and then smiled as he handed it to Li Mu.

Li Mu raised an eyebrow, did not reach out, and said, "Steward Sun, what does this mean?"

Steward Sun laughed heartily, "Li Mu, young friend, no need to be nervous. This old man has no other intention; I simply wish, through this item, to forge a good bond with you."

"Steward Sun, you are too courteous!"

"The Thunder Tiger Inner Core costs whatever price it is worth, that much."

Li Mu still shook his head in refusal.

"Li Mu, young friend, where does that come from?"

"We've already called it a good bond; how could this old man still have the nerve to take your money?"

"Otherwise, if this spreads, this old man would have no face left to stay in the Ziyang Sect."

Li Mu touched his nose and said, "One should not accept rewards without merit; this doesn't feel right…"

He heard the words.

Steward Sun, however, laughed again, "Li Mu, young friend."

"If I act this way and you still decline, wouldn't that leave me unable to step down from the stage?"

Seeing Steward Sun had gone this far, Li Mu smiled and, simply, did not refuse any longer.

He directly tucked the rosewood box into his bosom, bowed to Steward Sun, and said, "Then I thank you, Steward Sun, for your generosity!"

In the auction hall, the other Inner Peak disciples were dumbfounded, mouths agape, their chins nearly hitting the floor!

They never expected that Steward Sun of Cangbaoge would not only watch Li Mu wreak havoc in the auction hall, let alone beat up Pan Wenbo's party.

Afterwards, he even voluntarily presented, with both hands, the Thunder Tiger Inner Core worth fifty thousand contribution points?

This…

What on earth is going on?

This named disciple…

Who on earth is he, truly?

Of course, among them were those who recognized Li Mu from Steward Sun's words!

They knew he was the legendary disciple who, not long ago, first killed Wu Feiyang and then slashed Lin Zehong in the Four Peaks Grand Competition, ascending the champion throne with an absolute king's bearing!

It had long been heard that Li Mu is ruthless and decisive in killing!

When the Four Peaks Grand Competition first began, Qin Zhixiang publicly threatened him, and Li Mu dared to draw his sword and cut off his head!

Later, even when faced with a death threat from Inner Peak Personal Disciple Lin Zecheng, he remained unflinching, confronting it head‑on!

Among the Inner Peak disciples present, many had heard of Li Mu's great reputation, yet they took no notice.

Some even thought it was a case of three men making a tiger, five men an elephant—things becoming ever more absurd.

But today, after they personally witnessed Li Mu's methods!

They finally realized deeply…

The rumors were not exaggerated at all; hearing about it was one thing, seeing it with one's own eyes is another!

Utterly shocking!

"We should go!"

Li Mu stepped forward.

He patted Qian Wenyi, who was still in shock and hadn't recovered for a long time.

"Ah? Ah… Ah!"

"Alright, big brother, let's go, let's go…"

Qian Wenyi was also jolted awake by Li Mu's slap.

Although he had been with Li Mu for so long, this wasn't the first time Qian Wenyi had seen Li Mu fight others!

But when he saw it with his own eyes!

Li Mu actually treated Pan Wenbo as if he were a stick, thrust into the auction podium for display, and still felt a sudden chill down his spine.

"It's okay, it's okay…"

"At that time, after leaving the medical hall, I didn't think of avenging big brother."

"Instead, I steadfastly chose to cling tightly to big brother's thigh!"

"Otherwise…"

"Now, the one being stuck on the podium would have to be me."

Qian Wenyi, while silently approving his own wise decision, hurriedly packed his things, hopping along, and followed Li Mu's steps out of the auction hall.

Seeing the two leave, the Inner Peak disciples in the auction hall each seemed to awaken from a dream, each taking a deep step then a shallow one, staggering, they also left the auction venue.

In an instant, the vast auction hall was left only with Steward Sun and the two guards.

One of the guards stepped forward, somewhat puzzled, and said, "Steward Sun, even if Li Mu is this year's Four Peaks Grand Competition Champion, First person of Outer Peak."

"But even so, that shouldn't allow you to flatter like this, should it?"

"Moreover…"

Speaking that, the guard glanced again at Pan Wenbo, who was stuck directly before him, twitched his mouth corner, and continued, "Even if Li Mu acted today, his purpose is self‑defense."

"But Steward Sun, look at Li Mu—where does this look like self‑defense to you?"

"I feel that this kid, from the moment he voluntarily proposed a wager with Pan Wenbo, has been constantly trying to set a trap for the other side."

"His aim is to deliberately provoke Pan Wenbo, use his momentum to pressure him, and force Pan Wenbo to strike him!"

"Thus, he can claim legitimate self‑defense?"

"Hehe…"

"I didn't expect you could see that layer?"

"Not bad, not bad!"

"You've made progress!"

Steward Sun adjusted his beard, glanced rather surprised at the guard beside him, and then said softly.

"Through the recent battle, I think you've already seen Li Mu that kid's strength!"

"Ten Grade Refining Qi Realm, yet possessing terrifying power that crushes Fifth Grade Concentration Realm!"

"That means this youngster has long entered the Forbidden Realm!"

"Based on my judgment, it's at least the Seventh Forbidden or the Eighth Forbidden!"

"Also…"

"If my prediction is not wrong!"

"Long before the auction, Li Mu had already taken a grudge against that Pan Wenbo!"

"If, knowing there is a feud, one does not act while Cangbaoge's great array that restrains true Qi provides assistance, taking advantage of the favorable terrain."

"Could it be that you let Li Mu wait until after exiting Cangbaoge's great array, seeing Pan Wenbo and several others' power restored to its peak before taking action?"

Speaking so, Steward Sun paused in tone, then let out a helpless laugh.

"The same!"

"Li Mu, at such a young age, can already display such deep and terrifying scheming, and on top of that, he entered the Seventh Forbidden, perhaps even the Eighth Forbidden, when reaching the Refining Qi Realm!"

"Such a monster, will surely become a great powerhouse in the future!"

"And me?"

"I'm just at Cangbaoge, merely a small steward."

"Do I have to wait until he truly matures before giving him an inner core?"

"Form a good bond?"

"Hmph!"

"When that time comes, I'm afraid I won't even have the right to chase after Li Mu's backside!"

"You two!"

"There are still many things to learn in the future!"

The two guards, hearing this, hurriedly took out their small notebooks, scribbling furiously while nodding repeatedly.

Then, the guard who had just spoken pointed at Pan Wenbo, who was pinned on the auction stage by Li Mu, and asked tentatively: "Steward Sun, what should we do with this Pan Wenbo?"

"Also, if Master Dongfang asks about it later, what should we say!"

"What should we say?"

Steward Sun gave the guard a glance and said: "Just tell the truth!"

"Back then, Elder Zhao, knowing that Lin Zecheng and Qin Siwu intended to harm Li Mu, just left without saying anything?"

"If Elder Zhao acted that way, we shall do the same!"

"Li Mu caused such a huge trouble for our auction today; it's time to give that kid a headache!"

After dropping that sentence,

Steward Sun crossed his arms behind his back, hummed a merry tune, and walked away from the auction hall with a light step.