Chapter 498: He Shall Surely Tread the Heavenly Palace One Day!

Guo Wuqiu could hardly believe it.

At barely twenty, he not only possessed the cultivation of Seeing the Divine, Unbreakable, but also wielded Fourth Heaven Sword Intent!

What does that even mean?

Countless sword masters spent their entire lives without ever touching the threshold of Fourth Heaven.

Chen Mu did not answer, but swung his sword again.

The True Martial Cleansing Demon Sword Art!

This strike held no flourish, only the purest sword intent, the sharpest sword momentum.

The Xian Long Sword became a crimson streak, slicing with the might to cleave all things, straight toward Guo Wuqiu!

Guo Wuqiu desperately channeled his Iron Blood True Art, unleashing both fists to block this sword.

Sword light and fist shadows clashed again.

This time, Guo Wuqiu's fist shadows shattered.

The crimson sword light pierced through layers of fist shadows, pierced the blood giant's defense, and drove straight into Guo Wuqiu's lower abdomen!

"Puch—"

Sword qi emerged from his back, carrying a spray of blood.

Guo Wuqiu stiffened, looked down at his abdomen, eyes filled with disbelief.

"You… you…"

His lips trembled, trying to speak, but only spat out bubbles of blood.

The next instant, his true energy leaked out like a deflated balloon, the blood giant collapsed, dissolving into specks of crimson light that vanished into the air.

"My… dantian…"

Guo Wuqiu murmured, his voice growing lower, weaker.

His dantian was shattered!

Chen Mu withdrew his sword and stepped back.

Guo Wuqiu's body plummeted from the sky, crashing hard onto the ruins below, kicking up a cloud of dust.

He lay among the rubble, eyes vacant, staring at the sky, muttering to himself, though no one could make out his words.

His dantian was shattered.

Seventy years of cultivation, ruined.

Above and below the city wall, silence reigned.

Everyone stared dazedly at the figure in the sky, unable to speak for a long while.

Moments later, thunderous cheers erupted.

"He won!"

"Chen Xuncha Shi won!"

"Fourth Heaven Sword Intent! He has Fourth Heaven Sword Intent!"

"Twenty-two years old, Fourth Heaven Sword Intent—what kind of monster is this?"

"…"

In the Xiao residence courtyard, Xiao Jingxing stood with his mouth wide open, unable to close it.

"Father… he… Fourth Heaven Sword Intent?"

Xiao Yuanshan slowly nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"More than that."

Xiao Yuanshan whispered, "He deliberately started from Second Heaven."

Xiao Jingxing froze: "Deliberately?"

"He's using Guo Wuqiu to practice his sword."

Xiao Yuanshan's lips curled slightly, "From Second Heaven to Fourth Heaven, each strike was a test, each strike an advancement. Guo Wuqiu isn't his opponent—he's the whetstone for sharpening his blade."

Xiao Jingxing sucked in a sharp breath.

Using a Heaven Soul Altar cultivator as a whetstone?

This…

In the sky, Chen Mu gripped Guo Wuqiu, stepped through the air, and slowly descended back into the Xiao residence courtyard.

Everyone rushed forward, offering congratulations in overlapping voices.

"Chen Xuncha Shi's divine might!"

"Fourth Heaven Sword Intent—truly admirable."

"That scoundrel Guo Wuqiu has finally been caught."

"…"

Chen Mu returned each greeting calmly, his expression serene, as if he had merely done something trivial.

Xiao Yuanshan stepped forward, bowing solemnly, "Chen Xuncha Shi, Xiao has witnessed something extraordinary today. At twenty-two, Fourth Heaven Sword Intent—you shall surely tread the Heavenly Palace one day!"

Chen Mu smiled faintly: "You flatter me, Lord Xiao."

…

Chen Mu did not linger in the Xiao residence.

After thanking them, he retrieved the evidence.

Then, with Guo Wuqiu in tow, he left the city and headed north.

Guo Wuqiu's dantian was shattered, his true energy completely dispersed—he was now no stronger than an ordinary man.

His hands were bound by a specially crafted chain, the other end held in Chen Mu's grip, as he stumbled along behind him.

Leaving Yangzhou City, they took the official road northward, toward the capital of Jiannan Circuit.

The capital was over eight hundred li away; with Chen Mu's pace, it would take no more than one or two days.

Guo Wuqiu walked very slowly.

He was not unable to walk faster—he was deliberately slowing down.

"Chen Xuncha Shi."

Guo Wuqiu spoke, his voice hoarse, "Your Excellency… I know I was wrong."

Chen Mu did not turn back, continuing forward.

Guo Wuqiu quickened a few steps to catch up, then said, "I truly know I was wrong. For three years, I haven't slept a single night—I close my eyes and see those faces. I know my sins are deep, and death is not enough. But…"

He paused, his voice trembling with a hint of sobs: "But I was forced. The Longsheng Jiao came to me and threatened to kill my entire family. If I refused, they would murder my wife and children. I had no choice…"

Chen Mu still did not turn back.

Guo Wuqiu clenched his teeth and continued: "Chen Xuncha Shi, you're young but have such cultivation—your future is boundless. If you spare me, the Guo family has built its wealth over three generations in Yangzhou—I'll give it all to you. Ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand hectares of good land, and…"

"Shut up."

Chen Mu finally spoke, uttering only two words.

Guo Wuqiu choked and dared not say another word.

The two continued forward, walking in silence for more than ten li.

Guo Wuqiu couldn't hold back again.

"Chen Xuncha Shi, I know you despise such worldly goods."

His voice dropped low, tinged with flattery: "But have you considered that I am the chief official of the Zhenwu Si in this province? I've operated in Jiannan Circuit for thirty years—I know far more people and secrets than you imagine."

"If you spare me, I'll tell you everything I know—which officials have ties to the Mo Sect, which factions secretly support the Mo Sect, which places are Mo Sect strongholds…"

Chen Mu kept walking, merely saying calmly: "When we reach the circuit capital, the Zhenwu Si will interrogate you. Then you can tell them everything you know."

Guo Wuqiu's face stiffened, a flicker of malice flashing in his eyes, but he quickly replaced it with a look of bitter sorrow.

"Chen Xuncha Shi, are you really this heartless?"

Guo Wuqiu's voice began to shake, his eyes reddening: "I'm an old man, cultivated for over seventy years, and I've finally reached this point. My dantian is shattered, my cultivation ruined—I'm already a waste. Have pity on me, just spare me one more day of life?"

Real tears streamed down his face, falling into the dust.

"I have a ninety-year-old mother at home, and underage children. If I die, what will become of them? Chen Xuncha Shi, you have parents too—can you bear to leave them orphaned and helpless?"

Chen Mu stopped walking and turned to look at him.

A glimmer of hope flashed in Guo Wuqiu's eyes.

Chen Mu looked at him, then smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it sent a chill through Guo Wuqiu's heart.

"Guo Wuqiu," Chen Mu spoke slowly, "you just said you can't sleep at night—that every time you close your eyes, you see those faces?"

Guo Wuqiu nodded frantically: "Yes, it's true…"

"Then tell me."

Chen Mu's gaze turned cold: "When those people you delivered to the Longsheng Jiao were dying—did they beg for mercy? Did they cry? Did they think of their parents, wives, and children?"

Guo Wuqiu opened his mouth but could not speak.

Chen Mu turned and walked on.

"Three hundred lives. What can you offer to repay them? Ten thousand taels of gold? A thousand hectares of land?"

Chen Mu's voice came from ahead, calm and utterly without ripple: "Your life is not enough."

Guo Wuqiu stood frozen, his face pale and sallow.

Moments later, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

"Chen Mu!!"