Chapter 489

One pure white as snow, one pitch black as ink.

Two streams of light and shadow flowed, intertwined, and merged along the blade's surface, gradually forming a complete Taiji diagram.

Yin contained Yang, Yang contained Yin; the black and white were sharply distinct yet perfectly fused.

The Two Instruments Sword Qi!

This supreme art had always been a crippled version; even after Chen Mu deduced and completed it, he could not unleash its full power, its true might.

Because the complete Two Instruments Sword Qi requires the empowerment of Heaven and Earth's force!

Until today, Chen Mu finally possessed the power to control Heaven and Earth's force.

And now, the time had come.

He closed his eyes; his true qi surged wildly, the covenant force in his middle dantian exploded violently, perfectly merging with the surrounding Heaven and Earth's force.

Heaven and Earth's force, as if answering a call, surged wildly from all directions, pouring frenziedly into the Xian Long Sword!

The Two Instruments Sword Qi could exist without a weapon, releasing the formless Yin Sword or Yang Sword.

But true, full-scale eruption, the ultimate expression of its might, still required the weapon's enhancement!

The Xian Long Sword perfectly met the requirement.

Thus, the black and white colors on the blade grew brighter, more intense, gradually solidifying into substance.

The left half of the blade was pure white as snow, the right half pitch black as ink; at the tip, black and white intertwined, spinning into a tiny vortex.

The vortex appeared small, yet seemed to contain power sufficient to devour all.

The Blood Shadow Guardian's expression changed.

He instinctively sensed danger; an unprecedented fear rose from his heart.

He wanted to flee, but found his body locked by the swordlight; the surrounding Heaven and Earth's force had been drained, leaving him unable to summon even a fraction.

"How is this possible—!"

He shrieked fiercely, forcing his cultivation to surge; mist around him burned violently, transforming into a streak of bloodlight, attempting to escape.

But it was too late.

Chen Mu opened his eyes; black and white flashed briefly within them.

Shhh!

He thrust one sword.

No earth-shattering spectacle, no dazzling brilliance.

The black and white swordlight merely flickered once, then vanished into the void.

The next instant, the swordlight appeared before the Blood Shadow Guardian.

Silent and unseen, it first shredded the blood vortex, then pierced through all his defenses, finally piercing his chest, tearing his heart, and annihilating his essence into nothingness.

The Blood Shadow Guardian's body froze midair; he looked down at the fist-sized, hollow blood wound in his chest.

No blood flowed from the wound—only black and white light slowly spun, consuming his remaining life force.

"You… you…"

The Blood Shadow Guardian's lips trembled, trying to speak, but only spat out a few blood bubbles.

The next moment, his corpse plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ruined forest below, kicking up a cloud of dust.

All vitality gone.

The dark clouds dispersed; moonlight returned, bathing the figure suspended in midair.

Chen Mu sheathed his sword and slowly descended to the ground.

Far away, the remaining Long Life Cultists were terrified out of their wits, trying to flee.

Shhh~ Shhh~ Shhh!

Dense, formless sword qi instantly shot out through the air, covering the fleeing Long Life Cultists.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

Amid a series of muffled sounds, all remaining personnel were killed.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

……

Cards acquired; rapid inspection.

Most were True Qi cards, Cultivation cards, Power cards, Soul-Enhancing cards; the Blood Shadow Guardian's was a Memory card!

Without immediately reading the memory, Chen Mu stored the cards and caught up with Shen Ge, Xue Xue Ranran, and the others.

……

Night deepened; moonlight filtered through gaps in the forest, illuminating a figure approaching from afar.

Chen Mu had returned.

He walked slowly, his steps still steady, his blue cotton robe spotless of blood.

Xue Xue Ranran saw him first; she opened her mouth but could not speak.

She simply stood frozen, eyes wide, face filled with shock and awe.

The other disciples gradually spotted the figure; each stood rooted in place, as if petrified.

No one spoke.

Even Shen Ge fell silent.

He stood there, staring at Chen Mu, lips moving, unsure what to say.

They had all witnessed that battle.

The terrifying force that stirred Heaven and Earth's energy over dozens of li, the cataclysmic residual energy, the final sword that pierced the Mo Sect's Guardian—

Every scene was deeply etched into their minds, impossible to shake off.

And the man who had slain the Heavenly Palace guardian single-handedly was now walking toward them, his steps calm, as if he had merely taken a stroll.

How could they possibly speak?

Chen Mu stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over them; seeing them all frozen like statues, he said nothing, only nodded slightly.

Xu Qingyin was the first to regain her composure.

She took a deep breath, straightened her robes, then stepped forward, clasping her fists together and bowing deeply to Chen Mu.

This bow was bent extremely low, observing the solemn etiquette between peers.

"Xu Qingyin, surviving disciple of Daiyaoyue Sect, thanks Young Master for saving my life."

Her voice was solemn and sincere, each word born from the depths of her heart.

Chen Mu raised his hand slightly, his tone indifferent: "Elder Xu, no need for such formalities—it was nothing."

Nothing?

These four words made everyone present twitch their lips.

Slaying a Heavenly Palace guardian is nothing?

But thinking of Chen Mu's strength, they felt it might not be wrong after all.

Shen Ge finally came to his senses, stepped forward quickly, and likewise clasped his fists in salute: "Brother Chen, your great kindness cannot be repaid in words—I, Shen—"

He paused, suddenly at a loss for what to say next.

Chen Mu looked at him and suddenly smiled: "What, slapped once and now you can't even speak?"

Shen Ge froze, then let out a bitter laugh.

He touched his still-throbbing cheek; the conversation from that night before the Mountain God Temple surfaced again in his mind.

That slap had awakened him, and made him truly see this "Brother Chen," who was even younger than himself.

He took a deep breath and suddenly asked: "When did it happen?"

The question came out of nowhere, but Chen Mu understood.

"Last month," Chen Mu said coolly.

Shen Ge's pupils shrank slightly.

Last month?

That meant Chen Mu had been fighting all along during their journey, using only Earth Altar realm power.

Only today, when forced by the Heavenly Palace guardian, had they learned the truth.

Xue Xue Ranran couldn't help exclaiming: "Last month?! Brother Chen, you only broke through to Heavenly Palace realm last month?!"

The other disciples all drew sharp breaths.

Though their cultivation was low, as Yaoyue Sect disciples, they still understood basic common sense.

The elite among Earth Altar realm cultivators appear on the "Master List."

The elite among Heavenly Palace realm cultivators appear on the "Wu Wangbang."

The Wu Wangbang updates every five years, listing only the top thirty-six names.

Every name on it is a universally recognized powerhouse.

And Chen Mu, who only joined the Master List two years ago, has already broken through to Heavenly Palace realm?

"Brother Chen will surely enter the Wu Wangbang within three years!"

A young disciple couldn't help saying.

Another countered, dissatisfied.

"Three years? I say one year is enough!"