Chapter 274: The Xuemo Sect

Di Chunlei felt warmth at his friend's concern, but he did not reveal that Ren Dongxing had been slain by Chen Mu; instead, he vaguely said, "Lucky for me—Ren Dongxing let his guard down, and I found an opening to escape."

He then stepped aside and introduced Chen Mu to the two, "Both of you, let me introduce—this is Chen Mu, Brother Chen, whom I happened to meet on my way back!"

He turned to Chen Mu and added, "Brother Chen, these are my friends, Zhang Shaochong and Shi Yilan."

"Chen Mu?"

Zhang Shaochong and Shi Yilan froze for a moment, the name sounding familiar; then they suddenly recalled the prodigy who had climbed the Dragon's Nest List, and their expressions instantly turned to shock, their gazes locking onto Chen Mu.

Only after seeing Chen Mu's youthful yet composed face and sensing the faintly unsettling aura radiating from him did their shock transform into delight and admiration.

"Are you the Chen Mu from the Zhenwu Bureau, ranked thirtieth on the Dragon's Nest List?" Zhang Shaochong quickly bowed, his voice tinged with excitement.

"That's me—greetings, Brother Zhang, Miss Shi!" Chen Mu returned the bow, his demeanor calm.

Shi Yilan swiftly curtseyed, her beautiful eyes sparkling with awe, "I've long heard of your great name, Brother Chen—today meeting you proves it's all true!"

For those under thirty, Dragon's Nest List prodigies were figures to look up to.

"Just empty titles," Chen Mu smiled faintly.

"Being on the Dragon's Nest List isn't empty," Zhang Shaochong shook his head.

This warm introduction and chatter drew mocking laughter from the Liu brothers inside the Mechanical Tiger.

Sharp, derisive voices echoed again through the amplification device, thick with contempt.

"Hah! Chen Mu? Dragon's Nest List prodigy? What a grand name! But so what? When Ren Dongxing returns, no matter if you're a dragon or a worm, you'll beg on your knees! Showing off now only makes you a laughingstock!"

Clearly, they didn't believe Di Chunlei had escaped Ren Dongxing—they assumed Di had merely stumbled away, and now dragged along this so-called Dragon's Nest List ally to bluff his way out; when Ren Dongxing returned, it would be their Doomsday.

Shhh~

When Zhang Shaochong heard the Liu brothers mention Ren Dongxing, his expression changed, a flicker of worry crossing his eyes.

Ren Dongxing's Earth Altar Realm, Divine Bridge cultivation was like a boulder pressing on his heart—if he truly returned, all of them would have to flee again.

Seeing this, Di Chunlei merely waved his hand calmly, signaling them to stay calm, his face showing no fear.

At that moment, Chen Mu suddenly turned his gaze to the dense forest to his right, his brow slightly furrowed, and asked, "Brother Zhang, Brother Di—besides us and the two from Tianqi Men, do you have any other companions here?"

Zhang Shaochong blinked in surprise and answered instinctively, "No—this place is secret; only we few know of it."

He followed Chen Mu's gaze toward the dark forest—beyond the rustling of wind through leaves, there was nothing unusual.

Di Chunlei and Shi Yilan also looked puzzled; they had sensed no abnormal aura either.

"Hahahaha!"

Inside the Mechanical Tiger, Liu Xianbo's shrill laughter rang out again, "Faking supernatural powers! Who's there? You haven't even entered the ancient ruins yet, and you're already terrified, scaring yourselves? How ridiculous!"

"… " Chen Mu ignored the Liu brothers' mockery; his gaze sharpened like a sword, locked firmly on the dense forest, his voice clear and resonant as it carried across:

"You've been here all along—why hide? Come out and show yourself."

At his words, the valley entrance fell silent.

Only the mournful whisper of wind through the treetops and the faint "click-click" of mechanical beast joints remained.

Zhang Shaochong, Di Chunlei, and Shi Yilan exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts filled with doubt.

Liu Xianbo and Liu Xiankang were preparing to sneer again.

Just as the Liu brothers opened their mouths—

"Jiejieje…"

A chilling, bone-chilling laugh, like the cry of a night owl, suddenly erupted from the dense forest Chen Mu had pointed to.

Immediately after, a figure emerged slowly from the shadows of the trees, floating into midair.

He wore a dark red robe, as if soaked in blood, tall and gaunt, his face hidden beneath the shadow of his hood—only a pair of eyes glinting with cruel red light visible.

Around him swirled visible crimson demonic energy and blood aura; the moment he appeared, the air filled with a thick, cloying stench of blood.

Seeing this figure, especially sensing the suffocating pressure of blood-demonic might, Zhang Shaochong's pupils shrank to pinpoints, his face turning instantly as pale as paper, and he screamed aloud.

"Bu… Bu Nantian!"

"He's 'Blood Hand Floating Pagoda' Bu Nantian! The sixth-ranked expert who only dropped off the Dragon's Nest List last year! Core true disciple of the Xuemo Sect!"

"What? 'Blood Hand Floating Pagoda' Bu Nantian?!" Di Chunlei and Shi Yilan gasped in unison, their faces instantly blank with horror.

This was the ruthless killer who once ranked sixth on the Dragon's Nest List—cruel, murderous, his strength far beyond that of Ren Dongxing and others!

Even Liu Xianbo and Liu Xiankang, hidden inside the Mechanical Tiger and previously arrogant, were jolted by the name "Bu Nantian."

The next instant, five massive Mechanical Tigers and over a hundred Mechanical Wolves, like a startled herd, emitted synchronized metallic grinding sounds—"click-clack, click-clack"—retreating more than ten meters, adopting full defensive stances, daring not to move again.

Only Chen Mu, facing this suddenly appeared, infamous foe, remained calm as ever—his gaze solemn.

"'Blood Hand Floating Pagoda' Bu Nantian…"

Chen Mu silently repeated the name in his mind.

He knew this man well—compared to "Blood Shadow Blade Madman" Nie Renchou, Bu Nantian was vastly stronger; even while still in the Innate Realm, he had killed experts of the Earth Altar Realm, Divine Bridge.

He dropped off the list last year because he broke through to the Earth Altar Realm; now, over half a year later, his strength could only be greater.

But Chen Mu was no longer the man he had been a few months ago!

Along his journey, Chen Mu's strength had undergone a revolutionary transformation.

Amid the stunned gazes of all, Bu Nantian's hidden lips seemed to curl into a cruel smile; his chilling laugh echoed again.

"Jiejie… Chen Mu?"

"I heard you defeated Chu Xiaotian and secured a top-ten spot on the Dragon's Nest List? Good, good…"

"A genius like you must have abundant, pure blood qi—a hundred times stronger than ordinary martial artists!"

He extended his crimson tongue, licking his cracked lips, his red eyes blazing brighter, "Let me taste—what does the essence of a top-ten Dragon's Nest prodigy truly taste like?"

"Boom!"

As he spoke, Bu Nantian's blood aura erupted violently—he transformed into a crimson blood-shadow that tore through the sky, carrying a pungent stench of blood and terrifying demonic pressure, moving faster than the eye could follow, as if teleporting, straight toward Chen Mu!