Chapter 294: You

Since Chen Mu ascended the Potential Dragon List, his strength has surged with every appearance, and each list update has raised his rank!

Now, he has directly crossed the abyss that countless martial artists cannot surpass in a lifetime, advancing to the Earth Altar Realm!

This rate of progress is simply astonishing.

…

Wudicheng.

Zhao Guangji, the external affairs manager, held the newly received message, froze for a moment, then slammed his thigh and burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

"I told you! That kid Chen Mu has an iron will! How could he possibly perish so easily?"

The two other senior figures of Wudicheng beside him came over to read the message, their faces filled with murmurs of amazement.

"Incredible! Truly incredible! How could he break into the Earth Altar Realm so soon? This youth is silent until he speaks—and when he does, the world trembles!"

"Yes, Old Zhao, I truly think you should've been harsher back then and forcibly kept him! Such raw jade is too precious to leave outside!"

Zhao Guangji's smile slightly faltered, then he helplessly shook his head. "Forcibly? Easy to say. A sun at the peak of an era like Chen Mu—his will is unyielding; no external force can twist it."

"Only his own will can compel him. To have forged even a good connection with him is already rare; forcing it would only spoil it."

The other two nodded thoughtfully.

"True enough. Having this bond is already enough."

…

Jiangnan Dao, Zhenzhou Town Martial Office.

Zhao Fuzhou sat behind his desk, reading the detailed secret report documenting Chen Mu's reappearance, breakthrough, and killing of Bu Nantian. The solemn expression on his face gradually melted, and he finally couldn't help laughing and scolding aloud.

"That kid!"

"Made such a huge commotion and didn't even send word earlier! Made so many people worry!"

Yu Shoujiang, standing beside him, smiled and added, "My lord, I suspect Chen Da Ren was just delayed by circumstances—or had no choice. Look, now that he's appeared, he's made an even bigger stir!"

"He was busy chasing down Bu Nantian!"

Zhao Fuzhou shook his head, but the smile on his face could not be hidden.

The stone that had weighed down his heart since Chen Mu's supposed demise was finally lifted.

…

Juling Sect.

Huang Feiyang carefully cradled a newborn, wrapped in a soft swaddling blanket, just out of a medicinal bath, its skin like carved jade, slowly pacing beneath the courtyard veranda, savoring rare quiet moments.

On the mountain path not far away, a figure sped toward them at incredible speed; even before arriving, an excited shout rang out.

"Huang Shi-di! Good news! Terrible good news!"

The figure swiftly approached—it was the tall disciple who had previously delivered news to Huang Feiyang.

He was about to shout loudly, but caught sight of the infant in Huang Feiyang's arms and instantly lowered his voice, though his joy overflowed, "Huang Shi-di! Chen Mu isn't dead—he's alive! And he's broken through to the Earth Altar Realm!"

"Huang Shi-di?"

Seeing Huang Feiyang's silence, the tall disciple called again.

Huang Feiyang stood frozen, as if petrified, his expression flickering rapidly like a revolving lantern—

First disbelief, as if he hadn't heard clearly.

Then utter disbelief.

Upon confirmation, uncontrollable joy and exhilaration surged—his arms holding the child trembled slightly.

Before he could fully recover, the door behind him creaked open, and Miao Xiuxiu stepped out, dressed in a simple, elegant gown, her demeanor gentle.

Her face bore the faint weariness of having just finished household chores; she looked puzzled at the two in the courtyard and asked softly, "Liu Shi-xiong, what did you just say… who's alive? Hu Zi… that's Chen Mu—what happened to him before?"

The Liu disciple of Juling Sect, seeing Miao Xiuxiu, immediately straightened his expression and swiftly recounted in concise terms: Chen Mu's prior pursuit by the Tiangong Realm, the false rumors of his death, his powerful return, his breakthrough to Earth Altar, and his killing of Bu Nantian.

Upon hearing it, Miao Xiuxiu's body suddenly went limp; she instinctively leaned against the doorframe, her face turning pale in an instant.

"Sister-in-law! Are you alright?" the Liu disciple gasped.

Huang Feiyang, finally snapping out of his emotional shock, rushed to the door with the child in his arms, one hand quickly supporting his wife, his voice trembling with relief and excitement.

"Xiuxiu…"

"I… I'm fine." Miao Xiuxiu leaned into her husband's strong arm, shaking her head, tears quickly welling in her eyes. She lifted her face, laughing through tears, "I'm… I'm happy… truly happy…"

Watching his wife like this, and thinking of Chen Mu, Huang Feiyang's heart swelled with mixed emotions, finally dissolving into a long exhale as he softly scolded.

"That's right. That bastard Hu Zi—next time I see him, I'll beat him senseless for making us worry so long!"

…

Dongnan Dao, Town Martial Office Headquarters.

In the solemn hall, Deputy Commander Zhao Wencen sat at the head, while Zhang Ri Si Li Yi Zheng stood respectfully beside him.

Chen Mu stood below, posture upright, his aura deeper and more grounded than when he had left.

Zhao Wencen's gaze lingered on Chen Mu for a moment; deep within those eyes that had witnessed countless storms, a faint trace of relief slipped through—yet his face remained as calm as still water. He spoke slowly, voice tinged with emotion.

"You're back."

Those four simple words seemed to hold all the worry of this time—and now, the release.

Zhao Wencen did not show much emotion, but Chen Mu clearly felt the weight behind his superior's words.

Zhao Wencen was indeed deeply satisfied.

The Town Martial Office losing a prodigy was a great misfortune—but a prodigy surviving trials, breaking through, and ascending to Earth Altar? That was the Office's fortune.

Yi Zheng, unable to contain his curiosity, stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Chen Xun Cha, your safe return is a miracle. But Gao Xingde is a Tiangong Realm powerhouse, infamous for his brutality—how did you escape him? Surely the process was terrifying?"

Chen Mu had already prepared his story; upon hearing this, he displayed a suitably haunted yet relieved expression, and replied calmly.

"Yi Da Ren speaks truly—this time, survival was mostly luck."

He paused slightly, as if recalling the scene, then continued, "That day, Gao Xingde chased me relentlessly, and I barely escaped death again and again—just as I was about to collapse, I happened to stumble upon one of Gao Xingde's old enemies."

"The two enemies met, their hatred flaring instantly—they clashed on the spot. I seized the chance during their fierce battle, when neither had attention to spare, and barely escaped."

Chen Mu spoke calmly, though he glossed over the details: "Even so, I was injured by the residual shockwaves from their clash; my internal Qi became chaotic, and I had to find a secluded place to heal first."

"Perhaps because I was at my lowest point, I gained some insight—and since I still hadn't used the Earth Essence Pill I'd obtained in Wudicheng, I attempted to break through the bottleneck."

"Perhaps heaven favored me—I succeeded at once and entered the Earth Altar Realm!"