Chapter 87: Breakthrough! Primordial Second Layer!

Is the patron Li Xiangyang's cousin?

"So you killed me to avenge him?" Chen Mu frowned.

Li Xiangyang died under a flurry of blades; the one who defeated him was "Guan Tong."

If you want revenge, you should be going after "Guan Tong"…

"Wait!"

Chen Mu's gaze shifted, and a possibility occurred to him.

"'Guan Tong' is always in seclusion, so Li Qiancheng set his sights on the subordinate abbots—and among the five abbots, I'm the youngest, least experienced, easiest to take down?"

Chen Mu's lips twitched.

This was truly terrible luck.

He'd been "chosen" by Li Qiancheng.

Fortunately, Li Qiancheng's status and strength were both mediocre—he could be dealt with easily.

Thinking of this,

Chen Mu exhaled, steadying his mind.

Then he flipped through the other ledgers, especially those with lists.

This time, he actually found a special list—those who had joined the Longsheng Cult!

Within Nanyun Prefecture, among all major factions, anyone who joined the Longsheng Cult was recorded in this register.

Gao Zhengyang of the Gao Clan, Tang Wuyang of the Three Perfections Valley, Xie Chenglin of the Iron Spear Gate…

All were on the list!

But Liu Qinghu of the Iron Spear Gate was not.

That Elder Liu must truly have not defected to the Longsheng Cult.

Chen Mu quickly finished reading the list, took the ledger, and found Zhao Fuzhou.

"My lord, the list of new members who joined the Longsheng Cult."

Chen Mu handed over the ledger and said, "Everyone in Nanyun Prefecture who has defected to the Longsheng Cult is on here."

"Good." Zhao Fuzhou took it, flipped through two pages, and nodded in satisfaction.

"There's also the list of patrons who hired assassins," Chen Mu added. "Does the 'Heilong Society' keep such lists privately?"

"No," Zhao Fuzhou shook his head. "This list was personally kept by Tang Bi—the old bastard wanted to control Nanyun and become its underground king."

"Wants immortality and also wants to be king?" Chen Mu couldn't help laughing.

"Normal," Zhao Fuzhou smiled. "Few can resist temptation, let alone the lure of immortality."

Chen Mu fell silent.

"But Tang Bi's recorded lists happen to make my job easier," Zhao Fuzhou's lips curled upward.

Chen Mu understood perfectly.

Knowing the Longsheng Cult's membership list makes post-operation cleanup convenient.

The members killed last night were the core forces.

Many others scattered outside, who happened to be away, remain at large.

These people, once tracked down by the list, won't escape.

Correspondingly, those imprisoned—Liu Qinghu and others—can be released.

Of course, how to handle them still depends on Zhao Fuzhou.

But the patron list is even more important!

It's ironclad evidence proving Tang Bi broke the rules—he deserves to die.

The "Heilong Society" has existed for centuries; though the Zhenwu Bureau isn't afraid of it, it doesn't want to be ambushed on the road.

With this list, after this annihilation of the Dead Man Valley, the "Heilong Society" has no choice but to accept it.

Tang Bi brought this upon himself—who can he blame?

…

…

Worked through the night.

The Zhenwu Bureau's personnel began their return journey.

The Nanyun Prefecture army stayed behind for final cleanup—like digging graves and burying corpses.

Hundreds of corpses piled together would breed plague if left unattended.

Chen Mu followed the Zhenwu Bureau's group back to Wulong Fucheng, and immediately used merit points to exchange for what he wanted.

A true spirit bow!

Wo Hu Bow!

The bowstring extended from the tiger's jaws at both ends; the bow's surface bore clear patterns resembling a tiger's body.

Pulling the string felt like a tiger's low growl; drawn fully taut, it remained utterly silent.

When the arrow shot out, it made no sound at first, no sound during flight—only upon striking its target did it unleash a tiger's roar, generating sonic-wave attacks!

Effectively, one arrow carried two forms of power!

Without the sonic-wave attack, Chen Mu wouldn't have cared.

Silent archers are the norm.

Who ever goes around exploding with deafening roars?

But if that roar comes with a second layer of lethal power, it's an entirely different matter.

This Wo Hu Bow is mid-grade spirit weapon.

When Chen Mu exchanged items, he also exchanged for a hundred matching arrows.

These arrows weren't as precious as the Divine Arm Arrows, but they were still decent, and there were plenty of substitutes.

Unlike the Divine Arm Arrows, the Town Martial Office had only one sack.

Chen Mu used them all up in the Valley of the Dead, and Nan Yun Prefecture never restocked them.

The Divine Arm Bow will have to be put away for now.

……

Holding the Reclining Tiger Bow, he returned home.

Huang Feiyang wasn't there; Chen Mu informed Miao Xiuxiu, then went to his room to inventory the spoils.

He already controlled several Qi Cards; the remaining powerful cards numbered sixteen, physique-strengthening cards one, cultivation cards nineteen, memory cards four, skill cards thirteen, and experience cards two.

The most important internal force cards: one hundred and five!

So many internal force cards set a new record. Each card contained half a month to seven months of internal force.

Combined, the total internal force amounted to just over ten years!

Ten years of internal force—this quantity was absolutely sufficient.

Chen Mu decisively gathered all the internal force cards together and silently commanded them to be used entirely.

Shhh-shhh-shhh~

Hum! Hum!

His body trembled as a torrent of energy suddenly surged within him.

All the energy merged, and under Chen Mu's control, propelled the cultivation method, rapidly condensing and refining.

Chit-chit~

Qi streamed outward through his open pores.

Wisps of mist rose from Chen Mu's head, and sweat flowed across his skin.

His skin, flesh, tendons, and bones all subtly swelled and throbbed.

The simultaneous influx of ten years of internal force drove the cultivation method, delivering intense stimulation to his physique.

Fortunately, Chen Mu's Cross-Refined One-Ding Body could withstand it.

Under the operation of the method, the external internal force transformed into his own true qi.

When the ten years of internal force were fully consumed, Chen Mu gained one year's worth of true qi cultivation.

Ten to one?

This ratio was still quite good.

Of course, this was the conversion efficiency of the Azure Yuan Qi Technique; if he cultivated a higher-level method, the ratio could be lowered further.

For now, it was enough.

Even if it weren't, there were no better options.

In this great battle, many Innate experts died, but not a single skill card recording Innate martial arts or internal cultivation method for Breakthrough Realm was recovered.

Two auxiliary techniques were found.

The Cloud-Stepping Technique and the Ghost Python Breath Art.

The former was a lightness skill, allowing short-range explosive dashes and high-altitude movement.

But it was incomplete—the internal cultivation component was missing; those who trained it reached only the Level of Mastery. Chen Mu used it directly and acquired the skill, but future improvements would require Battle Simulation Cards to deduce and complete it.

Even so, the Level of Mastery Cloud-Stepping Technique could unleash a dash of ten zhang per step!

Just like Zhao Fuzhou had done that night—each step covering dozens of meters.

Chen Mu had envied it then, never imagining he'd obtain it now.

The Cloud-Stepping Technique could also briefly tread the air, with a maximum height of ten zhang.

That meant Chen Mu could briefly walk in midair, over thirty meters above ground!

As for the Ghost Python Breath Art…

This technique arrived at the perfect moment!

It perfectly replaced the Dispelling Cloud Technique.

Indeed, the Ghost Python Breath Art's effect was to suppress qi and conceal one's cultivation level!

Chen Mu used it directly, mastering it instantly at the Level of Proficiency.

At this level, it could conceal three sub-realm levels.

For example, if Chen Mu entered the Fourth Stage of Heaven, he could disguise himself as a First Stage Innate!

The several Return-to-Origin Pills Zhao Fuzhou gave him could now be put away.

……

"Huu~"

He exhaled a qi arrow that shot out over ten meters and lingered in the air for a long time.

Chen Mu cultivated to adapt to his new true qi cultivation level.

The next instant, he took out three Qi Cards and used them one by one; more refined energy arose within him, driving the Azure Yuan Qi Technique to condense and transform into his own true qi.

Again and again, circle after circle.

Around Chen Mu's head and body, his qi formed swirling vortices as the method operated, faintly flowing.

When all the Qi Cards were used, the external true qi had not yet been exhausted—Chen Mu's body suddenly shuddered.

In the next instant, spiritual light surged across his skin, forming in an instant a visible, pale green membrane.

True Qi Shield!

This was precisely the hallmark of the Second Stage of Heaven.

Successfully broke through...

Innate Second Stage of Heaven: gliding distance increases, aerial duration extends.

The five senses also strengthen; Chen Mu closed his eyes, without activating the "Listen to the Wind" skill, and still heard faint movements two hundred meters away.

Hearing was like this; smell and vision, no doubt, were no worse.

His premonition of danger became even more acute.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he adapted to his new realm for a moment, then ceased cultivation, took out his Experience Cards, and used them one by one, further increasing his combat experience.

Then came the Body Strengthening Cards, used the same way, continuing to refine his body toward the Second Cauldron Hardening.

After his body was reinforced, he rested again for a while.

Chen Mu took out his Memory Cards and used them one by one.

Three of them offered little value: one was a soldier of the Nan Yun Prefecture Army, one a Death Seeker of the Longsheng Sect, one an insider of the Black Dragon Society—no useful clues.

But the final Memory Card surprised Chen Mu.

Tang Wuyang!

This elder, who had annihilated the entire Sanjue Valley and joined the Longsheng Sect, died beneath Zhao Fuzhou's sword, leaving not even a ripple.

Chen Mu read his memories from the last three years of his life, and finally understood why Tang Wuyang betrayed Sanjue Valley.

Joining the Longsheng Sect to extend his lifespan was only one reason.

The second factor was that Tang Wuyang had quarreled with the leader of Sanjue Valley.

Of course, it was a secret quarrel.

The root was a treasure left behind by the first-generation leader of Sanjue Valley.

Tang Wuyang, for this treasure, first discussed it with the Sanjue Valley leader, then argued, then drew his blade, and finally broke ties completely.

The Sanjue Valley leader probably never dreamed that Tang Wuyang, for the sake of the treasure, had poisoned and slaughtered everyone in Sanjue Valley!

The key was, after annihilating Sanjue Valley, Tang Wuyang searched the sect for half a day—and still could not find the treasure.

Something deemed a treasure by the first-generation Sanjue Valley leader could not be Mortal Grade.

This treasure was known only to each successive leader.

Tang Wuyang had never seen it.

Sanjue Valley was annihilated; Tang Wuyang was dead; the treasure was likely lost forever.

But Chen Mu wanted to try!

The three supreme arts of Sanjue Valley were each extremely powerful.

If it was valued by the first-generation Sanjue Valley leader, the treasure was certainly no trivial thing.

I'll go to Sanjue Valley's base in a few days!

Night fell.

Huang Feiyang returned home after a full day of work outside.

The two brothers drank wine, ate dishes, and chatted as usual.

When they had nearly finished eating, Chen Mu lowered his voice: "Brother, I had an unexpected gain on my trip—a Divine Strength Pill. If you take it, your strength will gradually increase until you master ten-thousand-jun Divine Strength."

"Puh~"

Huang Feiyang had just swallowed his last sip of wine; upon hearing this, he spat it out immediately—luckily, he turned his head slightly, and the wine splashed onto the ground.

"Cough, cough~"

After a bout of coughing, Huang Feiyang stared wide-eyed at Chen Mu, lowered his voice, and exclaimed in shock, "Real? Really exists such a divine pill?"

"It's real."

Chen Mu said seriously, "I plan to give you this pill..."

"No way!"

Huang Feiyang blurted out, waving his hand, "Hu Zi, are you crazy? Why would you not use such a divine pill yourself and give it to me? Does your master agree? Even if your master agrees, I won't!"

"..." Chen Mu paused a moment, then said calmly, "I've reached the Innate Realm."

"Even if you're Innate, you still shouldn't..."

Huang Feiyang fell silent mid-sentence, his eyes wide open, mouth agape, pupils filled with shock, disbelief, and astonishment; he stammered, "Y-you... you... Hu Zi... you're... really... Innate...?"

Chen Mu said nothing, only extended his palm, released true qi, and levitated a cup midair above his palm.

"Huff... huff..."

Huang Feiyang gasped heavily, heart pounding like a drum, eyes bulging, face slowly flushing red.

After a long while, he leaned back, drenched in sweat, exhaling deeply.

When he looked up at Chen Mu again, his eyes could not hide his excitement: "Good! Good job! No wonder you're my brother! Hahaha..."

Innate!

He had never dreamed he could reach this realm.

Even though Chen Mu was a genius, Huang Feiyang never imagined he'd break through so quickly.

In Huang Feiyang's mind, Chen Mu would be lucky to enter the Innate Realm next year or the year after.

Who would have thought...

"Sixteen-year-old genius, hehe~!"

Huang Feiyang laughed foolishly, "Hu Zi, this is amazing."

"So I don't need the Divine Strength Pill."

Chen Mu smiled and said, "This pill will achieve maximum effect if you take it. To me, it's merely icing on the cake—but for you, Brother, it's enough to change your fate!"

Huang Feiyang's martial arts talent was only passable. Relying on his own slow cultivation, even if Chen Mu provided ample Peiyuan Pills, breaking through to Innate would take at least ten years.

Ten years — too many variables.

Once the official title of Inspector came through, Chen Mu would leave South Cloud Prefecture.

Huang Feiyang needed to protect himself!

Taking the "Divine Strength Pill" was better than any other safeguard.

……

"But…" Huang Feiyang was still somewhat hesitant.

Of course, his heart was pounding fast.

"No buts, it's decided."

Chen Mu waved his hand to cut him off. "Come to my room later. I'll stand guard for you, bro. Taking the 'Divine Strength Pill' will be extremely painful — you'll need someone to help from the outside."

"This…"

"Enough." Chen Mu frowned, displeased. "If we're brothers, don't waste any more words."

"……" Huang Feiyang opened his mouth, then after a long pause, gritted his teeth and said, "Fine!"

"That's more like it." Chen Mu smiled.

……

After the meal.

The two rested for a moment.

Huang Feiyang followed Chen Mu to the room.

Chen Mu took out a "medicine pill" he had long prepared and handed it to Huang Feiyang.

The latter took it, popped it straight into his mouth, and sat cross-legged on the ground to digest it.

Chen Mu walked behind him, took out the Divine Strength Card, used it, and slapped a palm onto Huang Feiyang's back.

The Divine Strength Card transformed into a stream of light invisible to the naked eye and surged into Huang Feiyang's body.

Huang Feiyang, who had only smelled a medicinal fragrance, suddenly widened his eyes!