Chapter 151

Obviously.

True Essence cards are more effective than True Qi cards.

Unfortunately, True Essence cards are harder to obtain.

Only when a cultivator of the Earth Altar Realm or higher dies is there a chance to pick one up.

Beings of this level, Chen Mu could only rely on luck to stumble upon their corpses.

……

Swish~

The equipment card sealing the Sacred Spirit Pearl was withdrawn, and the seal was lifted.

The Sacred Spirit Pearl immediately appeared.

Chen Mu held it in his hand, feeling the vast vitality emanating from within the pearl, and felt an urge to swallow it whole.

This thing has the weakest effect when eaten raw, and causes indigestion.

Spirit Milk is generally used for bathing or soaking.

The Sacred Spirit Pearl works the same way—place it in water, soak for a while, and it transforms ordinary water into powerful Spirit Water.

When applied to a newborn infant, the effect of this Spirit Water is undoubtedly strongest.

Chen Mu used it anyway, and the effect was mediocre.

The Second Cauldron Body Art, in terms of physical strength and foundational solidity, cannot be matched even by an Innate Realm cultivator, let alone an Earth Altar Realm one.

"Calculating the time, my sister-in-law should be giving birth soon, or perhaps already has?"

Chen Mu pondered, tucked away the Sacred Spirit Pearl into his palm space.

Although he hadn't yet broken through to the Earth Altar Realm, he could still head to "Shenshan" ahead of time!

……

Decision made.

Chen Mu stepped out of his home, preparing to bid farewell to Lu Tang.

This time leaving Tai'an Fucheng, he likely wouldn't return.

Therefore, before leaving, he needed to inform Lu Tang.

Strolling toward the alley where Lu Tang usually lived, he had just crossed a bustling street when a child, about five or six years old, with a topknot, suddenly stumbled over and grabbed his leg, lifting his small face and holding out a crumpled letter.

"Big brother, an uncle told me to give this to you." The child's voice was soft; after speaking, he let go and darted into the crowd like a startled rabbit.

Chen Mu paused slightly, picking up the letter.

The envelope bore no signature; the paper was ordinary.

A flicker of suspicion rose in his mind as he opened the letter, revealing a single line of familiar handwriting.

"Brother Chen, upon reading this, hurry to Luoxia Manor thirty li outside the city for a meeting—I have urgent matters to discuss. Come alone, without fail."

—Lu Tang

It was undoubtedly Lu Tang's handwriting, but… why such secrecy?

And why go thirty li outside the city to a manor?

And why insist on coming alone?

Chen Mu frowned slightly; his intuition told him something was off.

Lu Tang was not a man who played games—even if he had urgent matters, he could easily arrange a meeting in a common place within the city.

After a moment of thought, he decided to go and see for himself.

Whether it was a trap or not, he needed to find out.

……

Leaving Wulong Fucheng, following the letter's directions, Chen Mu soon arrived at the "Luoxia Manor" nestled at the mountain's foot.

The manor looked old, its gates deserted, as if long abandoned.

As Chen Mu neared the manor's main gate and used his "Listen to the Wind" skill to probe inside, a muffled, hateful conversation drifted clearly on the wind—

"Brother Congtang, will Chen Mu really come?" asked a slightly hoarse voice.

"Don't worry! Lu Tang is closest to Chen Mu in the Tai'an Fucheng Garrison Office—he forged his handwriting to send this letter; that little bastard Chen Mu will definitely come!" came another venomous voice.

"Brother Xu, today we repay the death of your son Yibai! Once he arrives, we'll tear Chen Mu into a thousand pieces to appease Yibai's spirit!" a third voice added, flatteringly cruel.

Brother Xu? Xu Congtang?

Son Yibai? Xu Yibai?

Who are these two?

Chen Mu had never heard the names "Xu Yibai" or "Xu Congtang" before.

Though new to him, he could guess.

That "Xu Yibai" was either a subordinate of Fang Yuanfu or Wei Dongliang.

His son died at his hands; now the father came for revenge.

They kidnapped Lu Tang just to lure Chen Mu out of the city.

"After killing Chen Mu, we'll send this Lu fellow to join my son!" Xu Congtang's voice growled with malice.

Hearing this, Chen Mu's killing intent surged.

He listened carefully, confirmed Lu Tang was merely injured and restrained, with no immediate threat to his life, and that there were only three of them—

Xu Congtang, and two other accomplices with formidable strength: Huang Xiande and Dong Fu.

Forcing entry to rescue was not the best strategy; since they set a trap…

Then I'll turn their plan against them!

Chen Mu suppressed all his aura, like a leopard melting into shadow, silently circling to the rear side of the manor, finding a broken wall, and leaping lightly over it.

The courtyard within the manor was deep and secluded, with grass and trees wild and overgrown.

Chen Mu, using his "Listen to the Wind" skill, precisely caught the three men's breaths and subtle movements.

They had finalized their plan and were now dispersing to find the best ambush positions.

One of them, with lighter steps and a softer, yin-leaning breath, was approaching the side courtyard where Chen Mu hid, seemingly intending to conceal himself behind a rock garden.

It was none other than the accomplice known as "Huang Xiande!"

Opportunity!

Chen Mu held his breath, focusing his mind, hiding like a stone statue behind the shadow of a corridor pillar.

Huang Xiande sensed nothing; as he walked, he muttered curses under his breath about the weather and Chen Mu, reaching the rock garden and preparing to crouch.

Now!

A flash of cold light blazed in Chen Mu's eyes; invisible force gathered at his third eye.

Startling Spirit Spear!

An invisible, intangible yet razor-sharp spiritual spear instantly crossed space and drove deep into the core of Huang Xiande's soul!

"Ugh—!"

Huang Xiande's body stiffened violently; his eyes bulged wide, pupils dilating, unbearable agony erupting from the depths of his soul, robbing him of all awareness in an instant. His cry was reduced to a faint gasp; his entire body collapsed like bones had been pulled out.

Yet he never hit the ground.

In the very instant he froze from the strike, Chen Mu's figure darted out like a ghost from the shadows!

The Solitary Star Sword slipped from its sheath soundlessly; a cold blade-light carved a thin arc through the air.

Pfft~!

A head, frozen in utter agony and confusion, shot upward!

The headless corpse spewed blood from its neck, slowly toppling to the ground.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

From the attack to the kill, the entire process occurred in the blink of an eye—silent, clean, precise.

Chen Mu didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground; he flicked his wrist, shaking off the blood from his blade, and turned his gaze toward the main house.

Two left—

Xu Congtang! Dong Fu!

……

The sound of Huang Xiande's body hitting the ground was faint, but to a Ninth Stage Innate expert, it was clear enough.

"Trouble!"

"Brother Huang!"

Xu Congtang and Dong Fu, hiding near the main house, both paled instantly, cried out in alarm, and exploded forward at top speed—two gusts of wind racing toward the side courtyard's rock garden.

Yet they were fast—Chen Mu was faster!

In the very instant their bodies moved, Chen Mu struck first.

He raised his left hand; seven emerald-green streaks shot out like living things—seven willow-leaf daggers, thin as cicada wings, edges razor-sharp.

The daggers collided skillfully midair, their paths shifting, finally forming a sharp, spindle-like shape that tore through the air with a piercing shriek, aimed at Dong Fu's major acupoints.

This hidden weapon technique was cunning and ruthless, sealing every path forward or escape for Dong Fu, forcing him to roar in fury, halt his charge abruptly, and whirl his pair of Judge's Pens into an impenetrable wall of defense against the seven lethal flying spindles.

"Ding ding ding~"

Sparks flew; the clashing sounds never ceased.

Dong Fu was forcibly halted in place by this sudden, precise assault.

And at the exact instant the daggers were launched, Chen Mu's figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, directly meeting Xu Congtang, who led the charge.