Chapter 191: Represent the Zhenwu Office!

The instant Chen Mu spoke, he launched his attack—

Shocking Spike!

An invisible, intangible, razor-sharp mental spear shot forth and stabbed violently into Lin Kuan's unguarded mind!

"Ugh~ Ah—"

Lin Kuan, just stunned, let out a scream, clutching his head, hunching over and swaying side to side.

The wound that had pierced his right chest, stimulated by this, throbbed with even greater pain; the ointment-covered wound bled anew.

Though the agony felt like it was tearing his soul apart, this familiar pain told him who had struck.

Chen Mu!!

"Swoosh~~"

At the very moment Lin Kuan recognized Chen Mu, Chen Mu's form flickered, crossing over ten meters in an instant to appear before Lin Kuan.

Crack~ Crack~ Crack!

His movements were like lightning; fingers drawn into a blade, striking precisely at both hands and arms.

In the midst of his screams, Lin Kuan's limbs shattered instantly, and he collapsed to the ground.

"You…"

Boom~!

Chen Mu kicked Lin Kuan's head, knocking him unconscious.

The next moment, he crouched down, stripped off Lin Kuan's clothes, and found the "Wild Goose Feather Robe" still unactivated.

This seemingly ordinary white undergarment, whose holes had been torn open by Chen Mu's sword just days ago, had now healed completely!

Amazing material!

By rank, it must be at least Xuan-class.

Chen Mu swiftly stripped it off and stored it in his palm-space.

Including Lin Kuan's weapon—the top-grade spiritual blade, Azure War Blade—he likewise stored it in his palm-space.

Then, he put Lin Kuan's outer garments back on him, slung him over his shoulder, and flew swiftly toward the outskirts of Cang Mountain.

The "Sword Armor" greaves were secured; Sikong Sheng was dead.

Those so-called "Yin Mountain Four Ghosts" had even stepped forward to take the blame for him.

Chen Mu left Cang Mountain without worry.

If he didn't leave now, when Sikong Qinhu and Huang Batian launched a massive search of the mountain, it wouldn't be so easy to escape.

……

When he returned to Lincang Fucheng, night was deep.

Yet the Zhenwu Office was brightly lit.

On duty, Yang Xue, seeing Chen Mu return with Lin Kuan, exclaimed excitedly, "My lord, you really brought Lin Kuan back!"

"Mm."

Chen Mu nodded and handed Lin Kuan to her. "Lock him up. By the way, has anyone arrived from the province?"

"Yes."

Yang Xue lifted Lin Kuan and replied, "Han Zhidong, the Star-Controlling Clerk of the Provincial Zhenwu Office, came in person. We've already handed over the Juan Sect records."

"Also, a Judge from the Shannan Circuit Zhenwu Office Headquarters arrived this morning and said he wanted to meet you, my lord."

"Master Sikong?"

Chen Mu froze, thinking of Master Sikong Lei.

"Yes, the other man was indeed called Master Sikong," Yang Xue said in surprise. "My lord, do you know him?"

"I do."

Chen Mu nodded. "Where is Master Sikong?"

"Hah! Chen Mu, you've finally returned!" A hearty laugh rang out.

Master Sikong Lei's burly figure walked in from outside the gate.

Behind him followed a middle-aged man with fair skin, refined features, and an elegant demeanor.

"Hail, Master Sikong! Master Han!"

Yang Xue immediately set Lin Kuan down and bowed respectfully.

"Hail, Master Sikong! Master Han!"

Chen Mu followed suit.

"I've long heard that our Zhenwu Office produced a hidden dragon prodigy; today I see you with my own eyes—truly a peerless talent among men," Han Zhidong smiled, studying Chen Mu, though a flicker of unusual color quickly passed through his eyes.

"Master Han flatters me," Chen Mu replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

In the Zhenwu Office's martial officer hierarchy, the lowest rank is Lishi, followed by Siwei, divided into Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels.

Above them are Silis, divided into Star-Controlling, Moon-Controlling, and Sun-Controlling levels.

To be promoted to Sili, the primary requirement is to enter the Earth Altar realm.

A Sili oversees the Zhenwu Office of an entire province.

Above the Sili is the Commandant, who oversees an entire circuit, and only those who have entered the Heavenly Palace realm may hold this post.

Han Zhidong's aura was similar to Ge Qingsong's—clearly Earth Altar realm, Divine Bridge cultivation.

Chen Mu was not afraid of this realm.

His respect was merely due to Han Zhidong's higher official rank.

……

"Yang Xue, take Lin Kuan down and lock him up."

Master Sikong Lei said, "Chen Mu, I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes, my lord!"

Yang Xue responded, took leave, and swiftly departed with Lin Kuan in tow.

In the main hall, only Chen Mu, Han Zhidong, and Master Sikong Lei remained.

"Master Sikong, is there a mission for me?" Chen Mu asked first.

"It's not a mission."

Master Sikong Lei smiled, "You've heard of Wudicheng, right?"

"Yes." Chen Mu nodded.

More than heard of.

Wudicheng, though merely a city, has a heritage spanning over a thousand years; like Lingwu City, it is not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, but operates as its own system, belonging to a top-tier power.

The current Wudicheng lord is even more renowned—a being of the Ten Thousand Phenomena realm.

The city is located on the shore of the Eastern Sea, one side bordered by the ocean; once, a sea monster, the Three-Headed Dragon Emperor, surged onto land and devoured over a hundred thousand lives.

The Wudicheng lord himself intervened, battling for a full day and night, then pursued the creature into the boundless sea and returned with the three heads of the Three-Headed Dragon.

Since that battle, for over a hundred years, no sea monster has dared set foot on the Eastern Sea coast.

…

"The reason I've called you here is related to Wudicheng's once-in-a-decade Dragon-Tiger Wind-and-Cloud Martial Gathering."

Master Sikong Lei explained, "In early spring, March, the new Dragon-Tiger Wind-and-Cloud Martial Gathering will begin. This decadal martial grand event is open only to martial geniuses under twenty years of age. Your age and strength are perfectly suited. Wudicheng has sent an invitation."

As he spoke, Master Sikong Lei pulled from his robe a gilded letter and handed it to Chen Mu.

"The Dragon-Tiger Wind-and-Cloud Martial Gathering was established by the second Wudicheng lord, aiming to encourage the new generation of martial geniuses to strive upward and reach the pinnacle of martial arts."

Han Zhidong interjected, "The second Wudicheng lord came from humble origins; his main purpose in hosting this gathering was to give poor-talent youths a chance—a platform to gain fame—and to offer resource rewards to those who rank among the top one hundred in the gathering."

"Peyuan Pills, Yangyuan Pills—those are basic. Xuanyuan Pills, Shenyuan Pills—nothing rare."

"The top three each receive a Diyuan Pill!"

A Diyuan Pill as a prize?

Surprise surged in Chen Mu's eyes.

Xuanyuan Pills were understandable—they aided the condensation of true qi and increased the chance of breakthroughs in minor realms.

But Diyuan Pills were rare.

Such a great pill could not only reshape one's foundation and drastically boost true qi cultivation, but also aid breakthroughs into the Earth Altar realm!

It could even, with some probability, repair a shattered dantian!

For Wudicheng to offer these as prizes—this was not merely generous; it was the kindness of a century's rarity.

…

"Do you two wish me to participate in the Dragon-Tiger Wind-and-Cloud Martial Gathering?"

Chen Mu took a deep breath, regained his composure, and asked, "Is there danger in this gathering?"

"More precisely, you are to represent the Zhenwu Bureau."

Master Sikong Lei's tone turned serious. "The Zhenwu Bureau has more than one name on the Potential Dragon List, but you are the only one under twenty."

"As for risk—yes, it exists."

"Beneath Wudicheng lies an ancient ruin, containing an independent space. One event of the gathering requires entering the ruin to slay monsters. Those monsters are at least as strong as Post-Heaven Seventh Stage. But rest assured..."

"I accept!"