Chapter 541: Shaking the World!!!

As Chen Mu, Ning Zhixi, and Zhu Qing Daoren concealed their tracks and raced eastward toward the Changlong Mountains at the border of Hannan and Jiannan Dao.

A public opinion storm, sweeping across the entire Da Zhou realm and even the overseas regions, was spreading and fermenting at an unprecedented speed.

The epicenter of this storm was the name "Chen Mu."

The original source of the news was lost to time, but the most widely accepted account claimed that surviving Jiuyou Sect disciples, still shaken from their ordeal, leaked what they had witnessed in Luohun Gorge.

Then the news spread like wings, racing through secret agents, messengers, merchant guilds, and tools like concentric bamboo slips to every corner of the land.

The first to erupt were gathering places brimming with martial artists and well-informed rumors, such as Yingxiong Tower.

Dafeng City, Yingxiong Tower.

Three stories tall, carved beams and painted rafters, it was now noon, and the hall buzzed with noise.

Inside the first-floor atrium, dozens of martial artists with formidable qi signatures sat or stood, shouting loudly, spittle flying.

The central topic, without exception, was "Chen Mu."

"... Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How long has it been since Chen Mu broke through to Earth Altar realm? Fine if he climbed fast on the Dragon Pool and Master Rankings—but how could he have entered Tiangong realm so soon? What joke is this! Why not say he's on the Wu Wangbang now?"

A burly, fierce-looking swordsman slammed his fist on the table, making wine bowls leap, his face stamped with "disbelief."

A young man dressed as a scholar, fanning himself slowly, said, "Brother Liu, you can't say that. The Wu Wangbang hasn't been updated yet, and Chen Mu's name isn't on it—but on the Master Rankings, Chen Mu's name has vanished."

"So what if it's vanished? Maybe he's dead—or replaced by someone else?"

Another countered, "Tiangong realm! That's someone who has opened their Life Palace—a major power! Chen Mu is only twenty-three, right? Twenty-three and already Tiangong? Do you even grasp what that means?"

"Lu Chen, the so-called 'Immortal Among Mortals,' a once-in-a-millennium genius, only just broke through to Earth Altar and condensed Five Qi in Unity three months ago—and he's already hailed as the top young cultivator! Is Chen Mu even more monstrous? I don't believe it!"

"I don't believe it either—it's definitely a lie spread by the Mo Sect to confuse our righteous factions."

"Hey, don't be so quick to dismiss it." From the corner, an old man with a goatee, who seemed better informed, stroked his beard and lowered his voice, "This rumor first leaked from Jiuyou Sect. Xuemo Sect and Xuelian Sect have remained silent—no denial at all."

"Think about it—if this were a lie, with the arrogant nature of those two sects, how could they let someone slander them by claiming they lost a Tiangong elder? They'd have already stormed out and killed everyone! But they haven't uttered a single word—what does that prove?"

The atrium fell silent.

What did it prove?

It proved the news was likely true!

Xuelian Sect and Xuemo Sect had each lost a Tiangong elder to Chen Mu's hands.

And he had slain them both—one against two, face-to-face!

"One against two, slaying two Tiangong demon elders…" someone murmured, voice dry with awe.

After a brief silence, the hall exploded.

"If this is true…"

"Twenty-three and Tiangong! And he slew two peers of the same realm! This… this isn't genius—it's a monster! A monster who might not appear even once in ten thousand years!"

"Good! Kill them well!" A grizzled old man, sword at his waist, clearly a retired soldier, slammed his fist on the table, face flushed with excitement. "Since the righteous-demon war began, how many comrades have died at the hands of the demonic? These demons all deserve death! As soon as Chen Xunchaoshi broke through, he slew two Tiangong demon elders—truly heartening! A massive boost to our righteous faction's prestige!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Doesn't matter if he's twenty-three or how he broke through—as long as he kills demons, he's our model!"

"From now on, Chen Xunchaoshi is my idol!"

"Our Da Zhou righteous faction has gained another pillar of heaven!"

"..."

From the Jiangnan water towns to the northern frontier, from the shores of the East Sea to the western deserts, whether in bustling prefectures at Yingxiong Tower or Lunwu Hall, or in remote village taverns and teahouses, everyone was talking about "Chen Mu."

Shock, doubt, horror, elation, reverence, envy…

These emotions surged through countless martial artists as the news spread.

The news even crossed the inland sea, reaching overseas islands and the distant Nine Outer Realms, sparking uproar.

A Tiangong cultivator at twenty-three—no matter the era or region—was enough to shake the world; the title "Top Young Martial Artist" was now unquestioned.

…

Jiangnan Dao, Zhenzhou, Zhenwu Office.

Zhao Fuzhou sat alone in his study, holding a newly arrived urgent letter from a secret channel.

The letter detailed the rumors of the battle in Luohun Gorge and the reactions from all sides.

Zhao Fuzhou's face showed little expression, still calm and composed.

But his eyes darted rapidly across the text; deep in his pupils flickered astonishment, disbelief, daze, finally settling into a complex sigh.

"Tiangong realm… one against two, slaying the Tiangong elders of Xuelian and Xuemo…"

He murmured softly, his voice clear in the silent study.

He still clearly remembered that several years ago, Chen Mu had been nothing but a post-heaven martial artist.

In just a few short years, from post-heaven to earth-altar, then from earth-altar to heaven-palace…

This advancement speed was dizzying, almost unreal.

Yet he himself, after decades of cultivation, had only reached the peak of Earth Altar realm—"Three Flowers Converging"—still far from "Five Qi in Unity," let alone the distant Tiangong realm.

"This kid…"

Zhao Fuzhou shook his head, a faint smile—neither wholly relieved nor wholly bitter—curving his lips.

"Does he have to be this monstrous…"

He set down the letter and gazed out the window at the gloomy sky.

The dark clouds of the righteous-demon war still loomed, but Chen Mu's sudden emergence had torn open a brilliant ray of light.

Yet the brighter the light, the more eyes would fixate on it—and the greater the malice and schemes likely to follow.

"Don't stumble now…"

Zhao Fuzhou muttered to himself, his gaze returning to the mountain of Juan Sect documents piled on his desk.

He believed that if Chen Mu had reached this point, he had his own way of surviving.

…

Bai Yun City.

Hua Mansion.

In the back garden, Su Donglai walked with Hua Baobao, who was several months pregnant, her belly slightly swollen.

Hua Baobao's face radiated the gentle glow of impending motherhood; Su Donglai supported her carefully, his eyes and brows filled with tenderness.

A trusted subordinate hurried over, presented a sealed letter, whispered a few words, then quickly withdrew.

Su Donglai opened the letter, scanned its contents, and the tenderness on his face froze instantly; his fingers gripping the paper trembled faintly, almost imperceptibly.