Chapter 81: All This Was Taught by the Boss

"Oh…"

"Boss, you're talking about this!"

"Our task for this Inner Peak assessment is to descend the mountain and subdue demons, but this time the ones we have to kill aren't ordinary common demon beasts!"

"Rather, they're a higher‑grade bloodline that can shapeshift into human form—the Demon Race!"

Upon hearing that, Qian Wenyi involuntarily swallowed, his face showing a hint of nervousness.

"Right now, we newly entered Inner Peak Named Disciples are undergoing the first stage of the assessment!"

"We must first endure the Demon Race's demonic aura intimidation!"

"If we can't even withstand the demonic aura, descending to subdue demons would be nothing but a death sentence!"

Hearing this, Li Mu's expression lit up with sudden realization!

Don't be fooled by demon beasts and the Demon Race; the difference is only a single character.

Yet their essential difference is as vast as heaven and earth!

No matter how strong a demon beast is, it's still just a beast, with limited spirit and intelligence!

Although in physical strength, defense, and many other aspects it surpasses cultivators of the same realm.

But a beast is still a beast; if you discern its weakness and employ Dao techniques or formations, you can still achieve a weak‑over‑strong victory!

But the Demon Race is an entirely different matter!

In essence, demon beasts and the Demon Race belong to the same category!

Yet the gap between them is as huge as that between humans and great apes—truly a world apart!

The lowest‑grade bloodlines within the Demon Race are all descendants of the Demon King!

In terms of lineage, they're far stronger than those wild demon beasts!

Such noble‑blooded Demon Race members not only possess intelligence and emotional intelligence on par with humans, but can also instantly shapeshift to disguise themselves as ordinary humans!

If a cultivator lacks a Demon-Detecting Mirror or similar artifact that can pierce illusion and verify authenticity,

even if a Demon Race passes right beside you, you might not be able to detect them!

Moreover, even if you know demons may be lurking nearby, you still likely can't locate them.

Therefore, for the overwhelming majority of cultivators!

They would rather face a demon beast stronger than themselves than confront a Demon Race weaker than them!

Furthermore, the Demon Race knows how to wield its own demonic aura to intimidate cultivators, induce hallucinations, and so on.

If one's mind is even a bit wavering, they may not have even clashed with the Demon Race before their own mind is already corroded by the demonic aura, being literally terrified to death!

Let alone those like a Demon Emperor, Demon Saint, or even more terrifying beings of the Demon Race!

They can also pass down their innate demonic arts to the next generation of the Demon Race—a terrifying method that rivals the divine abilities and formations of human cultivators!

"But, Boss, you don't need to worry!"

"I believe, with your strength, Boss, there's definitely no..."

Seeing Li Mu linger without responding, Qian Wenyi thought Li Mu was uneasy about facing the Demon Race in this Inner Peak assessment, and prepared to offer some comforting words.

But when he tried to speak, the words got stuck!

Because Li Mu hadn't concealed his aura.

Thus, Qian Wenyi could clearly feel that his brother's cultivation level was still the same as during the Four Peaks Grand Competition!

He's still stuck in the Ten Grade Refining Qi Realm?

I've advanced to the Ten Grade Refining Qi Realm during this period and have started preparing to break through the Concentration Realm, right?

If it weren't for yesterday, when I just saw Li Mu at the auction hall pinning Pan Wenbo onto the auction podium like a pillar.

That would even give me, Qian Wenyi, the illusion that I've finally caught up with Li Mu!

At this point, Qian Wenyi looked at Li Mu, puzzled, and said.

"Boss, haven't you taken the Gathering Spirit Pill my sister gave you?"

"I see you, still stuck in the Refining Qi Realm!"

"Oh…"

"You're talking about this!"

It's been almost a week since the Four Peaks Grand Competition ended.

If Li Mu wanted to break through the Concentration Realm, he could have done so anytime back in the Yunshan Secret Realm.

But after listening to that robed elder's hype and learning that there's an additional Forbidden Realm between the Refining Qi Realm and the Concentration Realm,

Li Mu then became unstoppable, racing daily along the path to clear the Forbidden Realm.

Last night, after surviving nine near‑deaths beneath the waterfall, he barely managed to step into the Forbidden Realm: Nine Bans Flying Immortal.

Who has time to go eat that Gathering Spirit Pill now!

But just as Li Mu was about to make up some excuse to send that chubby Qian Wenyi away…

who would have thought.

Suddenly, a bizarre, yin‑yang snicker sounded beside him.

"Heh!"

"Qian Wenyi, you have the nerve to ask such tasteless questions?"

"He must have run out of talent!"

"Just... didn't expect!"

"Li Mu, the shelf life of your genius seems a bit short, doesn't it?"

"We just finished the Four Peaks Grand Competition, and your genius aura has already faded completely!"

Li Mu and Qian Wenyi looked toward the voice.

Just then, a square‑faced youth wearing a Dao robe from the Inner Peak of Xuan Yue Feng walked toward them with a look of utter contempt.

At the same time, the aura of the First‑tier Concentration Realm emanating from his body was unmistakable.

It was none other than Liu Guanyu, who had previously ranked fourth on the Heavenly Pride List!

Back then, in the Yunshan Secret Realm, a little Karami of Liu Guanyu's Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm Peak stature stood before Li Mu like a guard, not daring to even draw a breath.

At that time, Li Mu merely cast a sideways glance, and Liu Guanyu was so frightened that two streams of panic surged, causing him to flee in a hurry.

Now, after nearly a week, having broken through the Concentration Realm, he has become considerably more reckless!

He actually dared to shout nonsense right in front of Li Mu!

But before Li Mu could react, Qian Wenyi had already brandished his knife and charged forward.

"Liu Guanyu!"

"You better clean up your mouth!"

"He's my boss!"

Qian Wenyi stepped in front of Liu Guanyu, his anger flaring as he shouted loudly.

"Boss?"

"Hehe…"

"What, does he even know how to elbow strike?"

Liu Guanyu let out a mocking laugh, his laughter full of contempt.

"Clang!"

"Liu Guanyu!"

"I'll bite your mother!"

"Believe it or not, I'll slash you dead, you idiot!"

Enraged, Qian Wenyi drew the great sword at his waist, ready to fight Liu Guanyu to the death.

But Li Mu seized him by the neck and collar in one swift grab, and, like lifting a chick, hauled Qian Wenyi back from the front.

"Qian Wenyi, you've only been gone for one night."

"Kid, why has your temper suddenly grown so big?"

Li Mu said this while looking at Qian Wenyi with a puzzled expression, recalling that just this time yesterday Qian Wenyi had asked him why he was beating Pan Wenbo and others to death at the auction house.

Both in words and subtext, he hinted that he had been too heavy‑handed.

How is it that after just one night's absence, this chubby kid's temper has grown so much?

It was only a verbal spat, yet he wants to draw a knife and slash someone?

"Huh…"

Qian Wenyi scratched his head, sneering, "It's all because the boss taught me well!"

"I…"

"Taught well?"

Li Mu pointed at his own nose, wearing a puzzled panda‑like expression, "What did I teach you?"

"It's what you said yesterday, boss!"

Qian Wenyi pulled the small notebook titled "Li Mu's Quotations" from his chest and, his emotions stirred, said, "If he's bound to die sooner or later, why shouldn't I exercise my rights early?"

"Send him to meet the King of Hell!"

Li Mu: "…"

"You make a very reasonable point; I'm at a loss for words."

But, back then, I think, perhaps, maybe I didn't say it like that, right?

When did I ever say that?

At that moment, Li Mu, speechless, placed one hand on his forehead.

He felt for the first time that perhaps he had been too violent toward Qian Wenyi these past few times.

If words don't match, he either chops off heads or breaks limbs.

Such a brutally violent scene clearly taught the kid Qian Wenyi something abnormal.

To the point that, at Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm, he already started shouting to kill someone at First‑tier Concentration Realm?

Li Mu was truly worried.

If Qian Wenyi doesn't correct this flaw, he'll probably get sliced to death while wandering the jianghu!

Moreover, I've never been one to hold grudges.

After all, being scolded a couple of times won't make you lose a piece of flesh!

And just now, facing that—who was it…

Thinking of this, Li Mu turned back to the square‑faced young man who was equally bewildered and looking this way, and asked, "Oh, right!"

"Friend of the Dao, what is your surname?"

"I, unchanged in name when I walk, unchanged in surname when I sit, am Liu Guanyu!"

Liu Guanyu's expression turned serious, still thinking Li Mu was about to strike him.

But unexpectedly, Li Mu simply waved his hand at him.

"Oh!"

"Alright, it's none of your business!"

"Got your name!"

Liu Guanyu: "???"

Li Mu withdrew his consciousness from the Heavenly Dao Scroll, then patted Qian Wenyi's shoulder.

In short, Qian Wenyi, from now on remember big brother's words.

Young man, don't let your hostility be so heavy!

Being kind to others is being kind to oneself.

If you can't get along with others, that's you not getting along with yourself.

The world kisses me with pain; I will answer with song.

Only tolerance can harvest love!

Li Mu's face was filled with compassionate benevolence!

This moment!

In Qian Wenyi's eyes, Li Mu seemed to radiate the brilliance of humanity from the inside out!

My own big brother!

He is truly the symbol of truth, goodness, and beauty in the world!

"Big brother..."

By the end, Qian Wenyi's eyes were slightly reddened, and his voice couldn't help but become a little hoarse.

"I was too extreme just now!"

"From now on I will reflect on my pain and resolve to become a person of noble character like you, big brother!"

"Fine!"

"It's enough that you understand my well‑meaning intentions; don't be too extreme."

Seeing Qian Wenyi, the little chubby, being coaxed back again, Li Mu nodded with satisfaction.

Then he led Qian Wenyi toward Inner Peak Plaza, preparing to undergo the first trial's assessment.

"Hmph!"

"Sure enough, Li Mu has become useless!"

"If it were the old days, Li Mu would have cut me down in a single slash; he wouldn't waste so much idle talk!"

Liu Guanyu couldn't help but snicker, having almost lost face by spamming just now.

Who would have thought that Li Mu could still tolerate that foul aura?

What a damn pretense of being kind!

In Liu Guanyu's eyes, that was clearly cowardice!

"Sigh..."

"To break through the Forbidden Realm: Ninth Forbidden, I've been training too harshly!"

"Just one night of training and I've already used up more than ten expendable bodies; I really need to be more careful in the future."

"Otherwise, before the new consumables are replenished, the old ones run out first, and I'd be left dumbfounded, right?"

Li Mu let his consciousness sink into the Sea of Awareness, glancing at the first page of the Heavenly Dao Scroll, noticing many names missing, and felt a quiet worry.

He followed Qian Wenyi to the assessment area of the Inner Peak Dojo.

At this moment in the Inner Peak Dojo, several rows of Named Disciples were already standing, awaiting the assessment.

Li Mu scanned with a glance.

He saw the Stewards of Xuan Yue, Longtan, Xiao Tian, and Zi Gai Four Peaks standing together, whispering, their faces bearing a hint of solemnity.

In front of them were over twenty youths, both boys and girls, wearing Inner Peak Named Disciple robes.

They each looked nervous, unable to sit or stand still, glancing around, as if anxiously awaiting something's arrival.

Behind those four Stewards, eleven or twelve Inner Peak Named Disciples stood, their expressions very calm and relaxed.

Some crossed their arms and stared at the opposite disciples, some rested their chins, pondering something, while others gathered in small groups, chatting.

But in Li Mu's eyes, among those dozen or so people, they all shared a common trait.

That is calmness and indifference.

Even deeper in their eyes lurked blood‑thirsty killing intent and ferocity, like a beast silently watching something.

Not far from those dozen Inner Peak disciples stood a towering, robust man, as if an iron tower, clad in a blue sturdy outfit.

At the instant he saw him, Li Mu couldn't help but show a flash of astonishment on his face!

Because the moment Li Mu saw this blue‑clad robust man, the Heavenly Dao Scroll in his Sea of Awareness suddenly changed!

A golden, shining name slowly emerged on the first page!

Song Haolin!