Chapter 546: Return to Nan Yun

With a thought, this newly formed Wu Jing crystallized from his consciousness space and perfectly fused with Chen Mu's body and spirit.

Hum—

From Chen Mu's body as the center, an odd, visible, semi-transparent domain appeared, its interior subtly shifting through scenes of the four seasons.

The domain initially spanned only ten meters in diameter, but immediately began expanding rapidly.

Twenty meters, fifty meters, one hundred meters, three hundred meters, five hundred meters…

Eventually, it stopped expanding at roughly seven hundred meters in radius.

Within the domain, the forces of the four seasons' rules were clearly perceptible.

Chen Mu could control seasonal changes, temperature fluctuations, and the flow of vitality within this region to a certain degree.

Though far inferior to a true Wan Xiang realm Wu Zun, who could alter heaven and earth with a thought and manipulate rules as easily as extending an arm, this was undeniably his own unique Four Seasons Wu Domain!

Though merely in its infancy, limited in scope and far from peak power, this step carried extraordinary significance.

It meant Chen Mu had already touched the threshold of the Wan Xiang realm's "Wu Domain" while still in the Tiangong realm, laying an exceptionally solid foundation that would greatly reduce the obstacles to his future breakthrough into the Wan Xiang realm.

With the Four Seasons Wu Domain activated, a Tiangong realm cultivator now fears no one!

Even a Wan Xiang realm powerhouse, Chen Mu now had the strength to fight.

Wu Domain against Wu Domain!

As for the lifespan consumed…

Chen Mu carefully sensed and estimated—roughly eleven hundred years had been deducted.

Within acceptable limits!

Only he, possessing a Lifespan Card, could endure this.

Anyone else—even a Wan Xiang realm cultivator—would dare not swallow it.

They would die of old age before even completing the assimilation!

…

Ceasing further familiarity and insight into the Four Seasons Wu Domain, Chen Mu rose, and the mysterious aura of the four seasons around him receded; the seven-hundred-meter domain quietly dissolved, vanishing from sight.

"Young Master Chen is awake!"

"Senior Brother Chen!"

Zhu Qing Daoren and Ning Zhixi, who had been waiting below in the palace and monitoring the movements above, immediately flew up to the roof and arrived beside Chen Mu.

"Young Master Chen, have you noticed anything?"

Zhu Qing Daoren's face bore a trace of confusion and Solemn, "This space seems to have changed. Though the energy in heaven and earth remains dense, it feels stagnant? The ever-cycling, evolving Dao rhythm appears much thinner. I can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong."

Ning Zhixi nodded in agreement: "I feel the same. The resonance among the four tokens seems slightly weaker than before. Could this be a sign the secret treasure is about to close?"

Chen Mu naturally understood the truth.

It was because he had swallowed and fused the core essence of the "Four Seasons Wu Jing," drastically weakening—or even "plundering"—the source of the Four Seasons rule-force that sustained this secret treasure's space.

Without its most vital support, this space, though not collapsing immediately, would gradually decay, its energy leaking away and its Dao rhythm fading.

Yet he would not reveal this.

"Perhaps the opening of the secret treasure consumed accumulated energy, or perhaps we took too many spiritual items, disrupting the balance here."

Chen Mu casually offered an excuse, then asked, "Did you both gather what you needed? Are you satisfied with your findings? If so, let's leave."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qing Daoren and Ning Zhixi were indeed distracted.

Both wore smiles, especially Zhu Qing Daoren—her primary goal for this journey had been to collect rare spiritual herbs for Tianxin Guan, and her harvest far exceeded expectations.

"Thanks to Young Master Chen, our gains have been abundant!"

Zhu Qing Daoren smiled, "I've found most of what I needed. Miss Ning has also acquired many spiritual items to enhance her cultivation and strengthen her foundation. Though this place is excellent, it remains a secret realm—unsuitable for prolonged stay. We may leave at any time."

Ning Zhixi also nodded: "I'm ready too. Senior Brother Chen, did you gain any insights just now?"

She couldn't help asking.

The Four Seasons Dao rhythm that had flowed around Chen Mu, and the invisible pressure that had made her heart tremble, were anything but ordinary.

"I gained a little."

Chen Mu brushed it off lightly, unwilling to elaborate, "Since all is settled, let's go."

Without further delay, the three followed their path back to the spatial node where they had entered.

Perhaps due to the fusion of the Four Seasons Wu Jing, the exit passage no longer required a specific timing as the entrance had. Chen Mu sensed briefly, located a weak point in the space, shattered a fissure with his true energy, and led the two through.

Light and shadow shifted, and the three reappeared in the secluded valley surrounded by circular cliffs.

The valley's scenery remained unchanged; the altar stood silent, the four tokens still embedded in their slots, though their luster had dimmed, as if drained of power.

Chen Mu stepped forward, removed the Four Seasons Key, and returned it to Ning Zhixi.

Ning Zhixi carefully stored it away; she knew these four keys might have lost their function to open this place, but as mementos and tokens of trust, they remained profoundly meaningful.

The three left the valley, passed through the natural secret array's life gate, and returned to the deep, damp, dimly lit primeval forest of the Changlong Mountains.

Only after exiting the mountain range's outer edge and feeling the sunlight outside did they feel the solid reassurance of returning to the human world.

At a mountain pass, the three halted.

"Young Master Chen, Miss Ning, I am deeply grateful for your assistance during this Four Seasons Secret Treasure journey."

Zhu Qing Daoren bowed deeply, "I must return immediately to Tianxin Guan to report urgent matters. Should you ever have leisure in the future, please visit Tianxin Guan—I shall do my utmost as host."

Ning Zhixi also bowed respectfully: "I shall forever remember your aid, Daochang. I shall surely pay a visit in the future."

Chen Mu gave a slight nod: "Daochang, take care."

The three exchanged farewells and parted ways.

Zhu Qing Daoren transformed into a streak of blue light and flew southwest toward Tianxin Guan.

Ning Zhixi also bid farewell to Chen Mu; she planned to first find a safe place to assimilate her gains before deciding her next move.

Watching the two women's figures vanish into the horizon, Chen Mu finally lowered his gaze.

Of this secret treasure expedition, he gained the most, successfully consolidating the Four Seasons Martial Domain, taking a crucial step toward the Myriad Phenomena Realm.

But this matter is of great importance, one of his greatest trump cards, and naturally he would not speak of it to outsiders.

After confirming the direction, he leapt into the air, transforming into a faint, nearly invisible emerald rainbow, racing toward the northwestern Hannan Dao.

During flight, Chen Mu's thoughts shifted.

Prompted by the old scholar he had met earlier, Chen Mu now suspected the meaning of the phrase: "Where the heart thinks, there the soul resides."

Nan Yun Prefecture!

The place where Duan Tianhe, the Sword Sovereign, passed away, is where the "Sword Soul" is hidden.

Chen Mu had once left Nan Yun; now, returning to Nan Yun, it was like revisiting an old place.

……

Just after leaving the Chang Long Mountains and entering the hilly borderlands of Hannan Dao, Chen Mu, high in the sky, sharply sensed through his spiritual awareness the clashing clang of weapons and the ripples of colliding energy below.

One of the voices, wild and ringing with sword-song, sounded strangely familiar to his ears.