Chapter 511: Ning Zhixi

"Do you know me?"

Chen Mu slightly raised his brow—he had never met this woman before.

Ning Zhixi nodded, her complexion regaining a hint of color, yet her hair disheveled and her clothes stained with blood, she still looked battered.

"Several years ago, when the Dragon Pool Rankings were updated, portraits of those on the list circulated widely among major sects. I once saw your portrait. Just now, when you moved, your bearing matched the portrait by seven-tenths—but…"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Mo Sect members slain instantly, and the two old men crushed to the ground by invisible force, their faces pressed into the soil, unable to utter a sound, her voice dropping lower.

"... but the True Person is far more imposing than the portrait suggested."

She bowed with clasped fists, "Thank you, Chen Patrol Inspector, for saving my life!"

"Merely a casual act—no need to thank me."

Chen Mu replied coolly, his gaze shifting to the two old men he had restrained.

He had no interest in interrogating them; from their use of the Soul-Sealing Gourd and their earlier words, their identity as demonic cultivators was undeniable.

Chen Mu raised his hand and clenched his fingers in the air.

"No…"

One of the old men seemed to sense the fatal danger, his throat squeezing out a half-choked plea.

But the next instant, both bodies stiffened violently, then collapsed like sacks with all bones removed, black blood seeping from all seven orifices, their breaths cut off instantly.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes."

A card appeared in hand—one True Qi card, one Memory card.

Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged as he stepped forward to leave.

"Chen Patrol Inspector, please wait!" Ning Zhixi cried out urgently.

Chen Mu halted and turned to look at her.

Ning Zhixi took a deep breath and spoke quickly: "These people are disciples of the Blood Refining Sect. They've been chasing me here—not by chance, but for something."

As she spoke, she reached into the bloodstained lining of her robe and pulled out an object, placing it open in her palm.

It was a token, about the size of a palm, neither metal nor wood, its color a weathered dark crimson-gold, edged with ancient cloud patterns.

On the front, an intricate, archaic character was deeply engraved.

Xia!

The character "Xia" had forceful strokes, as if radiating a scorching energy; merely gazing at it stirred a faint sense of heat.

Chen Mu's gaze instantly locked onto the character "Xia."

Xia?

His mind raced—he immediately recalled the incomplete map he possessed, the projected image of the palace, and the two characters beside it.

Qiu Sha!

One was "Xia," the other "Qiu."

Was there some connection between them?

Were they part of the same series, or fragments of a single ancient legacy?

"Where did this token come from?"

Chen Mu asked, his voice still calm, but his gaze now sharp with scrutiny.

"About half a month ago, while traveling through Huazhou, I found it accidentally in the ruins of a crumbling antique shop."

"At the time, I only felt it was ancient and carried an odd warmth, so I kept it. But soon after, the Blood Refining Sect noticed me—they seem to have a special method to sense this object, and they've pursued me relentlessly."

Ning Zhixi explained, her face filled with confusion and thought, "I checked my sect's records—there are almost no entries about such tokens, only that they may relate to ancient ruins or the lairs of powerful cultivators. They call them 'Secret Keys.'"

She paused, looking at Chen Mu with clear, earnest eyes: "Chen Patrol Inspector, I owe you my life and have no way to repay you. The trouble this token has drawn proves its significance."

"I alone lack the strength to investigate fully—and I may invite death again. If you're interested, shall we investigate together?"

Ning Zhixi extended the token toward Chen Mu, urging him to examine it, and continued: "The Blood Refining Sect appeared in Huazhou and tracked this object—this suggests the clue lies in Huazhou. Let us go there together, trace the origin of this token, and perhaps uncover more."

"If this truly involves treasure or ruins, I am willing to share the opportunity with you, Patrol Inspector, to repay your life-saving grace—and to end this nuisance."

Chen Mu stared at the "Xia" token, then recalled the "Qiu Sha" on the map.

One "Xia," one "Qiu"—was this merely coincidence?

The Blood Refining Sect's pursuit, the antique shop's origin, Huazhou…

These clues subtly pointed toward a secret buried by time.

Exploring the mountain range indicated by the incomplete map alone was indeed uncertain.

If this "Xia" token truly related to "Qiu Sha," it might corroborate it and open the way.

"Agreed."

Chen Mu paused briefly, then nodded in assent.

He took the token—it felt slightly warm, the "Xia" character seeming alive, its heat subtly pulsing.

Upon closer inspection, the back bore extremely fine, nearly indiscernible patterns—like a map, or runes.

"Keep this for now," Chen Mu returned the token.

An innocent man is not guilty for possessing jade—he would not covet such a trifle from her.

"Time is short. Since the Blood Refining Sect has targeted you, they may have reinforcements. Clean up the traces—we depart for Huazhou immediately."

Ning Zhixi's eyes flickered with delight as she carefully stowed the token: "Please wait a moment."

She swiftly tidied her disheveled hair and clothing, swallowed two of her sect's healing pills, and her complexion improved noticeably.

Chen Mu flicked his fingers, sending several threads of True Qi that reduced every corpse, bloodstain, and battle mark to ash; the mountain wind swept through, leaving no trace. He also summoned the demonic gourd through the air, pretending to tuck it into his pocket, but actually storing it in his palm-space.

"Let's go."

Chen Mu led the way, his steps appearing slow, yet covering several zhang with each stride.

Ning Zhixi hurriedly gathered her Qi and followed, their figures quickly vanishing at the northern mountain path's end, heading straight for Huazhou in the northwest.

……

Huazhou lies in the northwest of Jiannan Dao, bordering Hannan Dao; its land is mountainous, and its people are notably fierce.

Because it was affected relatively late by the Great War between Cultivators and Demons, this region has remained relatively peaceful, yet gate inspections have become noticeably stricter.

Chen Mu and Ning Zhixi did not enter the city; instead, relying on scattered information Ning Zhixi had gathered when obtaining the token, and the memories Chen Mu extracted from the slain Blood Refining Sect elder, the trail pointed to "Tieshan City," seventy li outside Huazhou.

Tieshan City was named after a nearby small iron mine; the most renowned martial family in the city is the Cai family.

The Cai family has operated iron-related businesses for generations, producing many martial cultivators; the current patriarch, Cai Cai Yongchang, is said to be a master at the Earth Altar Realm's "Perceive the Divine, Unbreakable" level, and is virtually a local tyrant within a hundred li.

The two paused briefly at a teahouse outside Tieshan City.

Ning Zhixi had changed into a clean, light blue martial outfit, veiled her face with thin gauze to conceal her striking beauty.

Chen Mu still wore his unremarkable blue cotton robe.

"The Cai family…"

Ning Zhixi lowered her voice, "The antique shop owner who gave me the token once, before the shop collapsed, drunkenly mentioned that his ancestors once served 'Lord Cai of Tieshan,' and some old artifacts were left over from that time."