《The Supreme Divine Concubine》 Chapter 1 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Inside the Mu family residence within the Holy Yuan Empire, the Imperial Capital, Tian Ling. It was twilight, and the surroundings were gradually getting darker. All was quiet. However, the council hall, which was usually only opened when there were important matters to be discussed, was still brightly lit. The Mu family elders were all sitting inside the council hall at this moment, and all of them had serious looks on their faces. ¡°Mu Linghan has caused huge trouble this time, and he can¡¯t be forgiven so easily!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! He¡¯s already so ruthless at such a young age, he¡¯ll definitely be a disaster in the future! We can¡¯t allow him to live anymore!¡± ¡°Second Elder, that¡¯s too much, isn¡¯t it? How can a thirteen-year-old be considered ruthless? After all, he¡¯s still a genius of the Mu family who¡¯s only born once every hundred years¡­¡± ¡°A genius? Third Elder, have you forgotten that Mu Linghan has exhausted all the Yuan energy in his body, and even his meridians have been destroyed. He¡¯s completely reduced to trash! Even a regular family wouldn¡¯t leave such trash alive, let alone let them cause such trouble! He was expelled after killing someone cruelly in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm! Perhaps you are able to bear this shame, Third Elder, but the Mu family cannot!¡± ¡°But, Second Elder, don¡¯t forget that only a top-tier genius is able to enter a place like the Zhongyuan Secret Realm. Forget about the Mu family, even in the entire Holy Yuan Empire, there hasn¡¯t been another genius produced in almost a decade! Moreover, both his parents were killed not long ago while on the frontlines, and they have done a great service to our Mu family. What¡¯s more, his twin sister perished in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm! How could we, the Mu family, lay a hand on this child at this juncture in time?!¡± ¡°Hmph, he¡¯s to blame for his own evil intentions! He needs to be punished severely! In my opinion, beheading him is not over the line!¡± The group of elders was divided into their own groups of opinion, and they exchanged fierce arguments. After a long time, the old man who was seated at the main seat finally cleared his throat. It was just a slight sound, but the room quieted down right away, and everyone present looked over to the old man. He was the Mu family¡¯s patriarch, Mu Zhongtian. ¡°Feng¡¯er and Xuan¡¯er have already lost their lives. Lan¡¯er was killed in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, and not even a body could be found. The only one left to carry on this family¡¯s lineage is Linghan. Even though he made a tremendous mistake, his crime is not one that calls for death. So, let¡¯s send him to the branch family. Whether he lives or dies after that, it all depends on his own destiny.¡± Once he finished speaking, Mu Zhongtian seemed to age ten years. Receiving news of his son and daughter-in-law¡¯s death over the past few days one after another had already dealt a heavy blow to the old man. He never expected that something serious would also have happened on this end. Everyone present was silent. Mu Zhongtian¡¯s position in the Mu family was highly respected, and although not everyone was satisfied with the verdict, they felt it was not unjust. ¡°We obey the orders of the patriarch!¡± After that day, everyone knew about what had happened to the twins from the Mu family who were known to be extremely gifted. One had died in the secret realm, while the other was deemed to be trash and expelled from the clan. The one revered and enviable genius had fallen from grace, and it was a sad fate. *** Three months later, Luo Xi City, Mu Mansion. On the huge martial arts training ground, there were many young boys and girls gathered there, their faces filled with unconcealed nervous excitement. Their eyes were all trained in the middle of the martial arts training ground. A tall, middle-aged man stood there, his hands clasped behind his back with a white stone table beside him. ¡°In half a month, there will be a family trial. I heard that if you can make it to the top five in the trial, you can enter the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion to select a cultivation manual!¡± ¡°Seriously? Then, maybe I¡¯ll have to give it my best! Who knows, maybe I can do it too!¡± ¡°You? Hah! You¡¯re not even a Novice, how can you make it to the top five? Don¡¯t even dream about it! That¡¯s something only a true genius can do!¡± When he heard that, the youth who had been jabbed became upset. Then, he thought of something and sneered. ¡°A genius? Hehe, that Mu Linghan was a ¡®genius¡¯ too, but now he can¡¯t even take one punch from me without falling over!¡± Hearing the words ¡°Mu Linghan¡±, the group abruptly fell silent, then looked in a direction all together. A slim young man in black clothes was standing alone, and it looked as though it was soon going to be his turn to take the test. ¡°Haha! I almost forgot about him! In that case, I¡¯m still stronger than that ¡®genius¡¯!¡± ¡°So what if he¡¯s a genius? Now that his meridians are all destroyed, he¡¯s just trash of the trash!¡± ¡°I heard that the patriarch of the clan personally ordered for him to be chased out of the main clan, and in the previous test, he was in the ninth rank, and in the last one he had been brought down to the seventh rank. This time, I wonder if he¡¯ll ¡®advance¡¯ further? Haha!¡± Mocking comments and laughter continued to echo through the crowd, and many people looked over in glee, wanting to see the humiliated and embarrassed look on the young man¡¯s face. However, it seemed as though the young man had not heard any of the words. He was somewhat thin, but that did nothing to hide his handsome features which were calm and unruffled. He looked as though he was completely unconcerned about everything happening around him. He slowly reached out his hand to press it on top of the white stone table. ¡°Hmph, putting up an act.¡± Many people snickered secretly as they watched. Above the stone table, lines of red slowly appeared¡­ ¡°Yuan Energy, Rank 5!¡± After a moment of silence, the crowd burst into laughter! This guy¡¯s cultivation level had really dropped again! It had only been three months, and he had dropped from Rank 9 to Rank 7, and then down to Rank 5 now! What a fantastic story! It didn¡¯t matter if he wasn¡¯t talented in cultivating and was slow to advance, but this guy was going backward! Haha! The young man seemed deaf to the world around him as he looked at the words hanging in the air. In fact, he had already expected this result in his heart. This was the result of his meridians being destroyed. The loss of Yuan Energy was quick because of that, and he already knew this would happen. He turned around and slowly raised his head. The noise and chatter around him died down instantly. There were some people who had innate aura, and just by standing there in a simple black garb and a pair of indifferent, pitch-black eyes was enough to garner unconscious reverence from the people around them. This was the case with Mu Linghan. He didn¡¯t say a single word, and he lifted his feet to leave. The crowd automatically parted a path for him to walk. ¡°Hmph, he¡¯s just a Rank 5, yet he still dares to be so arrogant! Does he really think he¡¯s still the brilliant genius of the Mu family?¡± A mocking voice suddenly came and the words spoken were filled with disdain and contempt. Mu Linghan paused in his steps, and he looked up to see who it was. Not far in front of him, a youth stood with his arms crossed over his chest, a look of contempt on his face. Mu Ye. Seeing it was him, there was a hint of anticipation on the crowd¡¯s faces who were watching. Mu Ye was fourteen years old this year, but he was already in Rank 9 in terms of Yuan Energy levels. He was only one step away from breaking through and becoming a Novice. In this Mu Mansion, Mu Ye was also considered to be one of the top few geniuses and was deeply valued. So, it was natural that he was also a proud person. Mu Ye was already displeased with Mu Linghan from early on. What kind of bullsh*t brilliant genius was he? He was just a Rank 5! Mu Yu could crush him with one finger! That Mu Linghan was still in his dream, and that was why he was so arrogant, looking as though no one could compare to him! He didn¡¯t even think about how little value he had now! Mu Linghan narrowed his eyes slightly. Ever since waking up from his coma, Mu Linghan had heard these kinds of words countless times in the past three months. But, this was the first time someone had spoken and cursed at him so publicly. Seriously, this guy was just¡­ Bored of his life, wasn¡¯t he? Even though Mu Linghan¡¯s meridians were completely ruined, this youth in front of him who was not even a Novice yet was not significant in his eyes! The corners of Mu Linghan¡¯s lips curled upwards in a smirk, but there was no glee in his eyes as he said calmly, ¡°At least I was once a genius. As for you¡­ well, you¡¯ll never even be one in this lifetime.¡± ¡°You!¡± The entire area was dead silent, and everyone looked at Mu Linghan in shock. They obviously had not expected such piercing words to come out from him when he opened his mouth! But, seriously? Mu Ye was one step away from becoming a Novice, and once he participated in the family trial, he would be able to become even stronger. It was also possible that he would one day take charge of Mu Mansion. Mu Linghan¡¯s meridians were destroyed, yet he still dared to challenge Mu Yu like this?! Even if Mu Linghan was the patriarch¡¯s grandson, he had been expelled from the main clan a long time ago, so why was he acting in such an unreasonable manner?! Mu Ye¡¯s face was unsightly to look at as it had twisted into a hideous expression. ¡°Who do you think you are? With the way you are right now, you¡¯re not even worthy to lick my shoes!¡± Mu Ye berated Mu Linghan loudly, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°If you dare, then come and fight me!¡± A Rank 9 fighting against a Rank 5, wasn¡¯t the result obvious? Many people snickered secretly. When Mu Linghan had been a Rank 9 this Mu Ye didn¡¯t have the guts to shout these words. Now, Mu Ye was suddenly bold and confident. However, in this world, the strong were respected. Who cared about whether your appearance was beautiful or not? Whoever had the stronger fist was justified. But, did Mu Linghan dare to accept this challenge? Perhaps he would be crippled by just a single punch from Mu Ye¡­ ¡°Enough! No fighting on the day of the test!¡± A firm, deep voice rang out, and the crowd shuddered, turning around to see who it was. It turned out to be the man who was standing next to the white stone table who had spoken. The man was Mu Chuan, a genuine Rank 9 Novice! Seeing how intimidating he looked, the crowd was instantly as quiet as mice. Even Mu Ye trembled slightly, and swallowed the rest of his words back. ¡°In half a month, the family trial will be held. Those who can stand out then will be the most outstanding people in the Mu family! The better results one gets, the better resources they will receive. Do you all understand?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A group of boys and girls instantly became excited after they heard Mu Chuan¡¯s words, and their eyes were all bright and glowing with excitement. A hint of fire flashed in Mu Ye¡¯s eyes. This time, he would place first! As for Mu Linghan¡­ Mu Ye turned to look over at Mu Linghan who had a calm look on his face, and Mu Ye sneered coldly at him. Then, Mu Ye raised his thumb and abruptly flipped it downward! ¡°Just wait until the family trial!¡± Mu Ye mouthed silently, but the shape of his mouth and words were clearly visible. Any man would feel humiliated by this kind of provocation, Mu Ye didn¡¯t believe that Mu Linghan would be able to endure it! When the time comes, Mu Linghan would be at his mercy! No one would have imagined that Mu Linghan would merely laugh and reply in the same silent manner, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Then, he turned around and left! It was like hitting cotton, there was no effect at all, and Mu Ye¡¯s heart burned even hotter with rage instead! He didn¡¯t believe that when he beat Mu Linghan to the ground that Mu Linghan could still pretend to be relaxed! Putting on an act like that! On the other hand, Mu Linghan had already left the complicated gazes of the crowd and had returned to his own residence, which was a small, shabby cabin in a remote corner that almost no one cared about. The surroundings fell into silence. Mu Linghan sat crossed-legged and held his breath with rapt attention. A teasing, lazy voice suddenly rang out in his ears, ¡°Girl, your speed is too slow. How have you not reached Rank 1 yet?¡± Mu Linghan snapped open his eyes, a brilliant light flashing in them suddenly! Chapter 2 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Linghan didn¡¯t seem surprised at all and replied in an equally lazy manner, ¡°Others are going upwards in their breakthroughs, and I¡¯m the only one falling downwards instead. In only three months, I¡¯ve fallen from Rank 9 to Rank 5. If it was anyone else, they¡¯d probably have died from embarrassment, yet you¡¯re still complaining that it¡¯s too slow?¡± If anyone else were to hear this conversation, their jaws would drop in shock. Normal people would be complaining about not being able to breakthrough to climb to higher peaks, when would someone complain about not being able to get weaker?! ¡°That¡¯s why they¡¯re not you, nor will they be able to become you.¡± The voice that spoke was slightly distorted, and it was hard to tell how near or far it was, or whether it was male or female. But, the voice itself was very alluring, and it made the mind intoxicated when one heard it. ¡°As long as you reach Rank 1 and start over, forget about a small city like Luo Xi here, even in the entire Holy Yuan Empire, there are not many who can be stronger than you.¡± Mu Linghan raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°My meridians was destroyed, and even the energy in my sea of consciousness has been depleted. I almost died, and I was also expelled from the Mu family. Yet, according to you, this was all a great opportunity?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The voice seemed to be laughing with an unconcealed arrogance underneath its tone. ¡°Countless people in the continent have fought for it, and many top-tier cultivators have lost their lives yet still failed to obtain this thing. As for you, you only had your meridians destroyed and were able to obtain it with little effort, so naturally it¡¯s a great chance bestowed to you by the heavens. Girl, you really are fortunate.¡± ¡°Fortunate? I¡¯ll only be fortunate if I have a life to enjoy.¡± If she hadn¡¯t fought to death to escape, probably even her soul would have been scattered into nothing right now. How could she be considered to be fortunate? ¡°As for the Mu family¡­ Those old men have not seen anything, so they deserve to lose out! There¡¯ll be plenty of time for them to beg you when the time comes!¡± Mu Linghan thought about it silently for a moment, then shook her head and smiled. ¡°The three elders are still alright in the end, and as for the patriarch¡­ if it weren¡¯t for him, I¡¯m afraid that I might have been beheaded while I was still in a coma.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he just get you to take your brother¡¯s place and name? He didn¡¯t even think about how you would live here in this little branch.¡± Apart from Mu Zhongtian, no one knew that the one who had died in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm back then was not Mu Qinglan, but Mu Linghan instead! In order to save her life, the old man had not hesitated to hide this fact from the world! Mu Qinglan was deep in thought, seemingly caught up in some memories, then she said, ¡°My brother and I have long since been one, so it doesn¡¯t matter what I¡¯m called. ¡± Since he was dead, she would live his part too. In her previous life, she had been a lonely bounty hunter who had always been caught up in fights. And in this life, she managed to get a family after going through much difficulty, only to have it shattered overnight. Mu Qinglan shook her head, pushing the memories away as she looked into her sea of consciousness. ¡°But, what exactly is this thing?¡± Within her sea of consciousness that seemed to be all but depleted, a broken black jade tablet lay there quietly. The end of the jade seemed to have been burned by something before, and there was some distortion on it. One could vaguely see some ancient and complicated patterns on it, but it was impossible to make out what it was. And within the gap of the jade tablet, there were traces of blood which looked to be from a long time ago and had dried up into a dark hue of red. ¡°And you, who have been hiding inside this jade tablet since I woke up, who are you again?¡± The voice came from the traces of blood on the jade. When Mu Qinglan woke up from her coma, she found that her Yuan Energy had suffered great damage, and that her meridians had all been destroyed. Then, there was a voice that rang in her ears, but when she pressed for answers, the voice had not replied to her. Today was the second time it spoke up, and Mu Qinglan still wanted to know the answer. After all, with such a bizarre thing left in one¡¯s body, anyone would feel uneasy with it. ¡°You¡¯ll naturally find out my identity at a later date.¡± Mu Qinglan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? Perhaps you¡¯re some powerful person¡¯s primordial spirit?¡± ¡°You¡¯re half right, yet also half wrong about that.¡± ¡°Perhaps you have an identity that you can¡¯t tell anyone else? If I recall correctly, a powerful person who can cultivate a primordial spirit can be resurrected from the dead, and you look a little like that. But, even primordial spirits should be able to manifest their original appearances, right? You only showed your voice and not your face, maybe it¡¯s because¡­ you¡¯re too ugly?¡± At that, the voice raised slightly and said, ¡°Ugly?! This¡­ How can I be ugly?! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s ugly, girl!¡± A dark look crossed Mu Qinglan¡¯s face. This¡­ ? What title was the voice about to use before it cut itself off? But then the voice had stopped, then snorted lightly. ¡°You were trying to bait me? You¡¯re still too young to get the better of me, girl.¡± Since the voice didn¡¯t want to say it, Mu Qinglan also did not continue to press and just stared at the jade. Her Yuan Core had also been destroyed, and it seemed that her meridians had been burnt by something as it was curled and shrunken, it was terrifying to look at! In this condition, she really was no different than a cripple! However, she had already accustomed herself to looking at it over the past three months, and now she didn¡¯t really mind it at all. ¡®Don¡¯t worry. This jade tablet may be overbearing to the extreme and wants to devour all the Yuan Energy in your body before you can start cultivating, but when the time comes, you won¡¯t even be able to compare your past self to your current self.¡± When Mu Qinglan heard this, she was moved. Although she didn¡¯t know if it was true or not, this jade tablet was indeed extremely overbearing. Generally, when people cultivate, they rely on their meridians to absorb the Yuan Energy from their lower dantian, which would then turn it into their own power and enhance their cultivation. But, since she exited the Zhongyuan Secret Realm and found this thing inside her body, it was difficult for her to absorb the Yuan Energy as it was hard for her meridians to reach her dantian. The majority of Yuan Energy was directly devoured by this jade tablet instead! It was like throwing it into a bottomless pit, quietly sweeping away all the Yuan Energy in one breath! This was also the reason why in a short period of time, she had fallen from the Primary Yuan Realm down to Rank 5, along with her broken Yuan Core! ¡°If this thing is so powerful, why don¡¯t you cultivate it yourself?¡± Mu Qinglan asked casually. The voice stalled for what seemed like half a day before it seemed to say with some shame, ¡°Can¡¯t you tell that I¡¯m also trapped here?!¡± If it wasn¡¯t for its powerful strength, the voice would have already been killed a long time ago! Mu Qinglan shrugged her shoulders exasperatedly. ¡°Then, you should have a name at least, right?¡± After a long while, the voice finally slowly replied with a hint of laziness, ¡°Xue You.¡± She didn¡¯t know if it was an illusion, but when Mu Qinglan heard the voice speak its name, it felt as though there was a strong and unparalleled pressure for that moment, coming from a far away space! ¡°This is the place! Search it thoroughly! I want to see how bold this kid is to actually steal Brother Mu Ye¡¯s things!¡± Suddenly, voices came from outside and a scramble of footsteps followed. Mu Qinglan raised her head abruptly, but the person had already kicked in the door! A youth stood in front of her and sneered disdainfully once he took in the shabby room. Then, he waved his hand with a snort and said, ¡°Search the place!¡± Bang, bang, bang! Numerous things were viciously thrown to the ground! Chapter 3 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan knew this person. It was Mu Hu, a youth that always followed behind Mu Ye. Mu Hu was always attentive towards Mu Ye and wanted to please him all the time. He had also done quite a few dirty things for Mu Ye. Now, it looks like Mu Hu had actually come to bother her instead. It seemed that Mu Ye couldn¡¯t even wait half a month and had sent someone to cause trouble for her! Mu Qinglan sneered. ¡°Here I was, thinking who came knocking. Turns out it¡¯s just Mu Ye¡¯s dog.¡± Once she said that, Mu Hu¡¯s face twisted into an ugly expression. ¡°You¡¯re digging your own grave!¡± Before he finished speaking, Mu Hu had already let loose a punch! Mu Hu was still a Rank 7 in Yuan Energy, so he thought that dealing with a Rank 5 Mu Linghan would be as easy as a walk in the park! The strong fist flew forward, but Mu Qinglan merely smiled suddenly, and also raised her hand to let out a punch! It was a direct confrontation! The rest of them looked at each other, all with the same thoughts running in their minds. Mu Linghan was crazy! He used to be great and powerful, but his strength level was just average now, yet he dared to meet fist with fist at this time? Bang! A loud impact sounded out, and the two fists collided! ¡°Brother Mu Hu must have beaten that Mu Linghan to the ground!¡± ¡°That¡¯s eight! This kind of trash has no need for Brother Mu Ye to personally take action. We can just deal with him with a single punch¡­¡± The man who was talking arrogantly trailed off, his eyes widening as he looked ahead. Shock was obvious in his eyes, as though he had seen something incredible. In the small room, Mu Linghan, who was supposedly easy to take down with one punch, was still standing upright, looking none the worse for wear. Meanwhile, Mu Hu¡¯s face was red, and his body was also faintly trembling. The two had confronted each other, but Mu Linghan was the one with the upper hand! Mu Qinglan really had nothing to say about the intelligence of these few people here. Even though her Yuan Energy had been damaged greatly, and her realm had regressed, how could they even compare to her physical body strength in the first place? Besides, she hadn¡¯t been slacking off in the past three months. Trying to find satisfaction in beating someone down like her was simply a stupid thing to do! ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± The first thing that Mu Hu felt was shock, and then an abrupt realization that regardless of Mu Linghan¡¯s current state, he was once a powerful person at Primary Yuan Realm! Even without Yuan Energy, it was easy enough for Mu Linghan to deal with Mu Hu! When he thought of this, Mu Hu immediately broke out in cold sweat and looked at Mu Linghan, who was calm and indifferent. Surprise and dissatisfaction welled up in Mu Hu¡¯s heart. This guy was obviously a cripple already, so how could he still be so strong?! He definitely needed to teach Mu Linghan a lesson today! However, just as he was about to move, Mu Linghan suddenly smirked. Mu Hu¡¯s heart sank in dread when he saw the smirk, an uneasy feeling creeping into him! In the next moment, Mu Linghan opened his fist into a palm and directly gripped Mu Hu¡¯s wrist, bending it backwards ruthlessly! Crack! A crisp crack sounded out. Mu Qinglan had actually broken Mu Hu¡¯s wrist! The pain was intense and suddenly, and Mu Hu paled immediately. ¡°M-My hand!¡± The rest of the people were rooted to the spot in shock, and when they heard the harsh scream, they started to crowd around Mu Hu in panic. ¡°Brother Mu Hu, are you alright?!¡± Mu Hu wanted to slap the person who had asked him that. His wrist was broken! How could he be alright?! ¡°Beat him! Beat the sh*t out of him! That ungrateful punk who caused the death of his own parents¡­¡± Mu Hu glared at Mu Qinglan viciously, and was just about to finish his curse when Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold and she took a step forward. The few others who were about to rush forward actually trembled and stopped in their tracks when they saw the aura seeping out from Mu Qinglan, and none of them dared to move. Even Mu Hu was so shocked that he didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Then, as though he thought of something, he said angrily, ¡°How dare you damage my wrist today! Just wait, I¡¯ll deal with you at the family trial!¡± Mu Qinglan had an indifferent expression on her face, bringing down her foot viciously¡­ ¡­ right onto Mu Hu¡¯s ankle! This move was a hundred times more painful than before! Mu Hu almost passed out from the pain, and he looked at the youth in front of him who was looking down on Mu Hu like a god of death. Finally, terror filled Mu Hu¡¯s heart, and his face twisted into a horrified expression. ¡°Today I¡¯ve only crippled one of your hand and leg, and this is already considered showing courtesy to Mu Ye. Go back and tell him that I thank him for this¡­ ¡®care¡¯ of his. As for the family trial, I have also prepared a generous gift to return to him.¡± With that, Mu Qinglan looked at the few people in her small room who were all dumbfounded and raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± As if they had gotten permission to be released, several of them hastily lifted Mu Hu up and left without looking back. The news spread quickly. Many people were shocked. They didn¡¯t expect Mu Hu, who was a Rank 7 in Yuan Energy to lose at the hands of Mu Linghan, and had even broken one hand and leg! In these three months, there were many rumors about Mu Linghan, and many people wanted to know whether he was really crippled or not. The results of him dropping to Rank 5 had given many people confidence that Mu Linghan must have fallen into ruins and would only continue to fall. There were also many who wanted to test their strength against Mu Linghan. After all, getting a victory over a once brilliant genius was also enough to give some people inexplicable pleasure. However, no matter how it was, Mu Linghan was still the patriarch¡¯s grandson, and even Mu Yu, who had been holding back for a long time, was the first person who had sent people to test him. He didn¡¯t expect to be slapped hard on the face by Mu Linghan! ¡°Mu Linghan, how dare you?!¡± Looking at the miserable and pitiful state Mu Hu was in front of him, Mu Ye¡¯s heart lit on fire, and he wanted to skin Mu Linghan immediately! Those words that Mu Linghan spoke had been full of provocation! ¡°Big Brother, now is not a good time yet! That Mu Linghan still has his status, so you can¡¯t do anything to him in Mu Mansion!¡± Even if Mu Ye was quite talented, those elders from the Mu family would not let him off if Mu Ye were to kill Mu Linghan in Mu Mansion. However¡­ ¡°Hmph, of course I know that. Instead, I hope that Mu Linghan will be able to pass the family trial smoothly¡­¡± Mu Ye clenched his fist rightly, killing intent rolling in his eyes. As for the crowd who wanted to watch a good show, they waited for a long time but Mu Ye still did not make any move. When they carefully thought about it, they too understood. It seems that the family trial this time would be very interesting¡­ On the other hand, Mu Qinglan was not bothered by any of those things at all. She stayed in her own room and hardly ever went out. The reason was that she needed to wait for the jade tablet to devour the remaining Yuan Energy in her body. Mu Mansion was quiet, but everyone knew that underneath the calm, there was a storm brewing, just waiting for the right moment to burst out into the open! Fifteen days passed in a flash. The large training ground was filled with people today, and it was very lively. Everyone¡¯s face was filled with unconcealed excitement, and those were the young boys and girls who were going to participate in the family trial today. Every year, only those who emerged from the trials would be able to obtain the best resources and step onto the path of the strong! In front of the platform of the training grounds, the head of Mu Mansion, Mu Yan, stood with a few other elders. Mu Yan had always been a serious man, but this time, he was wearing a smile on his face as he watched the eager youngsters below. Among these people, the future pillar of the Mu Mansion may very well be amongst them. If there were any outstanding geniuses, that would be even better. ¡°Today is the day of the Mu family¡¯s family trial! You are all the hope and future of the Mu family! The trial is simple. The elders will take you into the Nine Foot Mountain Range, but they will not interfere with anything else. After three days, whoever brings back the most cores from the primordial beast will be first!¡± Luo Xi City was located at the foot of Nine Foot Mountain Range, and the Mu family would also conduct their family trial at the edge of the mountain range every year. ¡°However, bear in mind that you must not go into the depths of the mountain range, otherwise your lives will be in danger, and even the elders may not be able to save you. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone replied in unison. The group of people was in high spirits, and very soon, they arrived at the edge of Nine Foot Mountain Range. Mu Qinglan looked up at the huge mountain which looked like a huge beast on its own, lying quietly in wait. The dense trees spread as far as the eye could see, and the surroundings gave off a mysterious aura which was deep and immeasurable. ¡°How about we team up?¡± Mu Qinglan turned her head to see Mu Ye with a sincere smile on his face, but there was a hint of something sinister underneath it. Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrow, then smiled brightly and replied, ¡°I couldn¡¯t have asked for more..¡± Chapter 4 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Linghan actually agreed? Wasn¡¯t he afraid that after entering Nine Foot Mountain Range, that he would never leave it ever again? Looking at Mu Linghan, whose face held a look of anticipation, Mu Ye¡¯s heart screamed out a warning to him. Although Mu Hu was just a Rank 7 in Yuan Energy, he still surpassed Mu Linghan¡¯s realm, but Mu Hu was the one who had broken a hand and a leg by this trash! With that, Mu Ye didn¡¯t really believe the rumors of Mu Linghan being a completely useless trash. ¡°You¡¯re really looking for death.¡± Mu Ye lowered his head and spat out those words after a cold snort. There were many people looking in their direction. After all, it was an open secret that these two did not get along at all. Hearing that Mu Linghan actually agreed to team up with Mu Ye, many people were taken aback. Mu Linghan was seriously not afraid of death! But then, most of the people were focused on the Nine Foot Mountain Range in front of them, their eyes filled with eagerness to just move forward! To them, the family trial was the most important thing right now! In what seemed like an instant, many people entered the mountain range. Except for a few people who were confident in their own strength, many of the others chose to form a group. After all, although they were only going to be going through the trial at the edge of Nine Foot Mountain Range, if a Tier 1 beast were to appear, it would still take a great deal of effort to deal with it. If one was unlucky enough to encounter a Tier 2 primordial beast, it would be even more dangerous. The reason was because only a Novice would be able to deal with it. Mu Qinglan tilted her head and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going?¡± Mu Ye gritted his teeth. This kid, just wait till they entered the Nine Foot Mountain Range, then he would be able to let loose! ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Mu Ye waved his hand, and a few other people came along. Mu Qinglan passed a glance over them, and it looked to be the usual few underlings that followed Mu Ye around. It seemed that Mu Ye really was planning to deal with her. Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled upwards into a smile. ¡®Well, let¡¯s see who gets the last laugh, then!¡¯ *** The Nine Foot Mountain Range was a vast area, and it didn¡¯t take long for the team to split off and go their own way. Mu Qinglan and Mu Ye¡¯s group also entered deeper into the mountain range. Mu Qinglan was in front, and she didn¡¯t seem to be worried about the few people behind her making a move against her. The people around them looked at Mu Ye with questioning glances, and Mu Yu shook his head with a gloomy look on his face. This was just the beginning of the trial, and everyone knew that they were grouped with Mu Linghan. If something were to happen to Mu Linghan now, Mu Ye would be the first to get suspected. So, they needed to find a good time¡­ Nine Foot Mountain Range was a dangerous place after all, and if Mu Linghan was ¡°accidentally¡± mauled by a primordial beast¡­ Well, that wouldn¡¯t be their fault then, would it? On the other hand, Mu Qinglan was looking around the forest with a trace of excitement on her features. She had really felt suffocated to death over the past three months, and today was a rare day for her to stretch her muscles! Just as she thought about this, Mu Qinglan seemed to feel something and suddenly stopped, looking further into the distance from where she stood. Mu Ye furrowed his brow, and when he heard the crunching of leaves, he also looked over. Swoosh! A white shadow leapt down from the tree as fast as lightning, landing right in front of the group and blocking off their path! Some of them in the group looked up to see that it was a muscular-looking white tiger. There were two brown stripes on its forehead, and its cold, yellow eyes were fixed on these people. ¡°It¡¯s a Tier 2 primordial beast, a Brown Striped White Tiger!¡± The people behind Mu Ye were astonished. They never expected that the first primordial beast they encountered would be a Tier 2. Mu Ye was not afraid on the inside. He had already managed to advance and became a Novice a few days ago, so it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to deal with this beast. But¡­ Mu Ye glanced at Mu Linghan, then smiled coldly and said, ¡°Mu Linghan, I¡¯ll leave you to deal with this Brown Striped White Tiger!¡± A Tier 2 primordial beast like this, even its physical strength was stronger than an average cultivator! Even if Mu Linghan didn¡¯t die, he would still be severely injured! Who would have thought that once Mu Ye said this, Mu Linghan, who was originally in the forefront of the group, quietly took a few steps back and shrugged at them. ¡°I¡¯m just ¡®trash¡¯ right now, so when it comes to dealing with primordial beast and all, it will obviously fall to you.¡± Everyone present was dumbfounded. Even Mu Ye was stunned. Looking at Mu Linghan¡¯s unperturbed face, Mu Ye was suddenly furious. That guy was doing this on purpose! He was about to curse, but then he saw Mu Linghan with a smile on his face, as if assigning the duties to them was a natural thing for him to do and said, ¡°By the way, just a reminder that the strength of a Brown Striped White Tiger is slightly stronger than an average Tier 2 primordial beast. If you don¡¯t take action, I don¡¯t really care. But, all these brothers of yours will probably need to be buried together after.¡± Naturally, Mu Ye knew this! That¡¯s the reason he wanted Mu Linghan to fight first! Who would have expected this guy to be so cheeky?! Just as he was about to say something in response, one of the juniors immediately exclaimed, ¡°Big Brother, watch out!¡± Mu Ye was shocked at the yell, then felt a strong wind at his back and immediately turned around. The white tiger had leaped forward at some point while they had been talking! He didn¡¯t have time to think so much, and instantly threw his fist forward! ¡°Eight Wind Fist!¡± Yuan Energy surged into his fist, and a strong gust of wind blew! Bam! He smashed his fist directly on the Brown Striped White Tiger¡¯s body! The beast roared in pain, then swiped out a claw viciously! By the time Mu Ye reacted, the white tiger was already extremely close to him, so when it swung its claw, Mu Yu realized that he wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge it! He gritted his teeth, then forcefully threw out his other fist! Riiiiip! Something tore. Bam! The two met each other in a strong hit, and the fight concluded with one hit! Mu Ye looked down and saw that the front of his shirt had been torn, and there was blood! This Tier 2 Brown Striped White Tiger was really strong! After Mu Ye had advanced and became a Novice, his physical strength had increased by a lot. But, he had only narrowly dealt with the Brown Striped White Tiger, and it had even drawn blood from him! The white tiger was breathing heavily, and its eyes were red. A man and a beast had actually come to a draw! ¡°Tsk. I thought you¡¯d be more powerful once you advanced to Novice, but it turned out to be nothing more than that,¡± Mu Qinglan said lazily. Mu Ye shot her an angry look, only to find the other playing leisurely with a thin branch in hand after saying that. Then, she plucked a leaf and placed it on her lips¡­ A clear whistle sound cut through the air instantly! ¡°You!¡± Mu Ye¡¯s anger shot through the roof. He hadn¡¯t even finished what he set out to do, yet he was already injured. On the contrary, Mu Linghan still had the leisure to blow a leaf whistle! After Mu Qinglan had finished with the leaf whistle, she placed the leaf between her lips and chewed on it slowly. A clear, fresh fragrance burst onto her tongue, and she raised her chin and said, ¡°You¡¯d better watch out for your own life first!¡± Swish! The Brown Striped White Tiger pounced fiercely one again! ¡°What are you all in a daze for? Attack it!¡± Mu Ye shouted sternly, and those few dumbfounded juniors instantly reacted and rushed forward! Several of the juniors moved in tandem, and the beast, who initially had the upper hand, was now at a disadvantage. Finally, Mu Ye lashed out with a heavy kick, landing it on the white tiger¡¯s abdomen before forming a sword out of Yuan Energy and cutting it down quickly! Roar! The Brown Striped White Tiger went down right away after being stabbed, and it wasn¡¯t long before it died. Mu Ye stepped forward and cut open its head, and a white Yuan Core fell into his hand. On the surface, two shallow lines were clear visible. ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯re really amazing! I can¡¯t believe you can already turn your Yuan Energy into a sword!¡± ¡°I heard that ordinary Novices are unable to do that, yet Big Brother can actually kill this Tier 2 primordial beast with a single sword. That¡¯s really impressive!¡± Mu Ye¡¯s felt a little better with compliments the juniors were showering on him. With just this Tier 2 beast core, he would be able to gain an advantage in the family trial! Just then, he turned his head to see Mu Linghan, who looked comfortable and unharmed compared to how wretched Mu Ye looked! Mu Qinglan raised an eyebrow and smiled with what actually looked like a hint of sympathy in her eyes. ¡°I know you want to deal with me, but before that, it¡¯s better if you think about how to get out of here first.¡± Mu Ye snorted coldly. ¡°Stop playing the fool here! This time, you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°B-Big Brother¡­¡± Someone choked out, trembling as he did, a strong fear in his voice. ¡°What is it now?!¡± Mu Ye turned to look impatiently, but was also immediately frozen to the spot. Somehow at some unknown point in time, a Brown Striped White Tiger, one that was bigger than the previous one, had appeared next to the dead Brown Striped White Tiger! Roar! A hissing sound that was filled with sorrow and anger filled the air immediately, and a furious aura burst out from the beast! It made Mu Ye and everyone else feel shocked all the way to their core. However, that was not even the most frightening thing happening. ¡°Big Brother, o-over there!¡± Mu Ye looked over right away, and saw another few Brown Striped White Tigers approaching from their left as well! He hurriedly looked around, and his blood froze instantly. They had been surrounded by a group of Brown Striped White Tigers without them knowing! All of them were Tier 2 primordial beast! It was already extremely difficult to deal with one, and now there were so many of them surrounding Mu Ye and his group¡­ They¡­ were definitely going to die here! Mu Qinglan picked up another leaf and said lazily, ¡°By the way, I forgot to tell you one more thing. These Brown Striped White Tigers¡­ ¡°Tend to move in packs¡­¡± Chapter 5 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Ye and his group turned pale drastically. With so many Brown Striped White Tigers, even if the elders of the clan came, they might not be able to deal with them! They were trapped here, and it looked like there was only death left for them! Mu Ye was still clutching the Yuan Core in his hand. A moment ago, this had been enough to fill him with pride, but at this moment, he was only filled with endless regret! He wanted to throw it as far as possible immediately! However, even if he did that, it was unlikely that this group of Brown Striped White Tigers would spare him! ¡°Big Brother, w-what do we do?!¡± Mu Ye looked over abruptly. How the hell was he supposed to know? Then, as if he thought of something, he turned his head to look up at Mu Qinglan and said in disdain, ¡°You¡¯re the one who did this!¡± Every year, the Mu family would conduct their family trial at the edge of Nine Foot Mountain Range, but the targets in this area usually comprised Tier 1 primordial beast, and it was rare that anyone would end up like them, encountering a Tier 2 beast on their first fight! Mu Ye and his group had little experience, so they didn¡¯t know that Brown Striped White Tigers moved and lived in packs! To kill one meant to provoke their entire colony! In retrospect, Mu Linghan had been the one at the front of their group since the beginning of the trial, so it was him that had led Mu Ye and his group into such a dangerous place! Mu Qinglan was a little surprised at Mu Ye¡¯s accusation. ¡°Huh, it seems like you do have some brains after all.¡± Mu Ye was this close to spitting out blood in his rage. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re together with us, and there are so many Brown Striped White Tigers surrounding us, so you can¡¯t escape either! If we¡¯re going to die¡­ We¡¯ll die together!¡± Mu Ye exclaimed in a fierce manner, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Mu Qinglan. He didn¡¯t believe that Mu Linghan wanted to die here! Roar! During their exchange, the Brown Striped White Tiger had been completely overwhelmed by grief and anger, and with a deafening roar, it pounced towards Mu Ye and the others! Damn these people! Damn them all! Mu Ye and the others were so shocked, they could only move in panic! However, as soon as one white tiger moved, the rest of them also followed immediately! ¡°Ahhh!¡± In a matter of seconds, one of the youths had been bitten on his thigh and he let out a scream of misery! Swish! Mu Ye condensed his spiritual powers into a sword and ruthlessly swung it, parrying the Brown Striped White Tiger in front of him with difficulty, then turned his eyes to Mu Linghan immediately. However, Mu Linghan, whom Mu Ye had expected to have been torn apart, was leaning against the tree with a leisurely look on his face, watching the scene in front of him like some great show! Not a single Brown Striped White Tiger had gone after him! Mu Ye was shaken by this, and looked at his own people and suddenly thought of something. ¡°Big Brother, save me!¡± The youth who had been bitten cried out to Mu Ye with terror on his face. He was actually already a Rank 8 in Yuan Energy, and was considered to be one of the better fighters in Mu Mansion, but at the mercy of the Tier 2 primordial beast, there was nothing he could do! ¡°Save me! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± The youth clearly knew that he was on the verge of life and death, so naturally he was desperate and called out for help, wanting to live. He sent out a blast of Yuan Energy, but it had little effect! Mu Ye¡¯s eyes flashed, then he took two quick steps forward and stabbed his sword towards the white tiger that was tearing the youth apart! Swish! Crack! The Brown Striped White Tiger was forced to retreat, but before it did, it immediately bit down on the youth¡¯s thigh, tearing it from him! The youth almost fainted from the pain and could only look at his bloodied thigh through tears and sobs. However, he also knew that preserving his life was already a good thing, so he turned to Mu Ye with gratitude. ¡°T-Thank you, Big Brother. I¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, he saw a flicker of viciousness in Mu Ye¡¯s eyes, and an uneasiness spread through him. In the next moment, Mu Ye suddenly pulled him up with one hand, then threw him out fiercely! And the direction the youth was thrown at was the place with the most Brown Striped White Tigers! The youth had been used as a shield, or rather, a sacrificial lamb! The youth¡¯s face was filled with terror, but before he could say anything, he was instantly surrounded by a group of red-eyed Brown Striped White Tigers! In the blink of an eye, he was completely torn apart, and there was nothing human left behind! Seeing this scene, the few people left on the field felt a chill in their hearts, and they couldn¡¯t help but tremble¡­ Mu Ye had actually thrown that person into the group of white tigers in order to save himself! He was actually¡­ so cruel! When Mu Qinglan saw this, she also raised her eyebrows slightly. Under such circumstances, there was two things to note about Mu Ye, One was that he wasn¡¯t stupid, and that action of his of throwing the youth out to save himself was enough to see how cruel he was. However, Mu Qinglan wondered what Mu Ye¡¯s reaction would be if he knew that she had deliberately attracted all the Brown Striped White Tigers that were here right now? Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up slightly, and she once again plucked a leaf, turning over the tender green in between her white, slender fingers. As for the others, the number of Brown Striped White Tiger were just too many, and in less than a blink of an eye, they pounced once more! Mu Ye gritted his teeth and retreated! The few others who saw this naturally also turned to escape, but their legs were weak from fear, and their speed was inferior to Mu Ye¡¯s. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Soon, two more people were dragged into the group of tigers and instantly torn apart. Mu Qinglan had lost interest by now, as there was something more important that she had to do. With this in mind, she turned around and placed that last leaf in between her lips and blew gently¡­ A bright, dazzling sound echoed through the forest! Mu Ye turned his head back abruptly, but found that the thin and slender figure had gradually gone further away! ¡°Have a good time, guys!¡± A voice that seemed to be laughing came from afar. Damn it! Swish! A strong gust of wind blew! Mu Ye didn¡¯t care about anything else and hurriedly turned around and swung his sword to cut down whatever it was! At this rate, he would die for sure! His bloodshot eyes slowly looked at the few remaining people who were wounded¡­ *** ¡°Girl, you have a lot of tricks up your sleeve,¡± Xue You¡¯s voice suddenly rang out. Mu Qinglan said breezily, ¡°It¡¯s not necessary for me to personally take any action to deal with these kinds of people.¡± She would respect those who respected her, and if someone offended her an inch, she would cut the problem down at the root! This was a principle she practiced in her past and present life, and it was also the reason she had survived at the edge of life and death countless times! ¡°Heh, this nature is very likable.¡± Xue You pondered silently for a moment before making an approving noise. To become strong and live freely, one must have a heart and attitude like this. Otherwise, one would probably end up with a miserable death! ¡°You¡¯ll fall into Rank 1 of Yuan Energy soon enough, and then it will be simple enough for the jade tablet to intertwine with your true bloodline. Once you absorb it into your body, it will change your meridians, and you¡¯ll be able to start really cultivating. The commotion from this will not be small, so now that you¡¯re in Nine Foot Mountain Range, the most important thing is to complete this step!¡± Mu Qinglan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you when the time comes, of course, so you don¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡± ¡°Naturally, I will¡­¡± Mu Qinglan hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when suddenly felt an overwhelming aura coming violently in her direction! Her face was solemn, and she snapped her head up in a certain direction immediately! Xue You also sensed something, and said with some shock, ¡°There¡¯s actually such a strong person here!¡± Mu Qinglan was on high alert. This aura she felt was stronger than anyone she had ever seen before! This person emitting the aura also seemed to sense her presence as it rushed towards her right away! A white figure that looked like a ghost came flying right at her! Mu Qinglan felt her heart almost stop beating, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. This was a very strong person, if this person were to make a move against her¡­ Then, she would not give him a good time either! Yet as it got closer, Mu Qinglan was shocked to realize that it was actually two people! ¡°Who¡¯s sneaking around there?!¡± A loud shout rang out, followed by an overwhelming pressure! Mu Qinglan held her breath and slipped a dagger quietly into her palm, then stabbed outwards ruthlessly¡ª ¡°Mo Yu, stop,¡± a cold voice suddenly spoke. The strong gust of wind and pressure abruptly came to a halt. Mu Qinglan also paused, her dagger still in hand. A trace of doubt seeped into her heart, but when she saw a white figure walk out from behind the other figure, she was taken aback. It was a teenager. The figure was tall and clothed in white robes and a jade belt. The material of the robes was pure white and smooth, and the cuffs and neckline were embroidered with auspicious golden clouds. Long, dark hair spilled onto his back and glowed with a faint luster, as though the strands had soaked in moonlight. He had a pair of dashing eyebrows on his face, and the color of his eyes was jet black, and his slender eyelashes casted a shadow beneath his eyes. The bridge of his nose was straight and sharp, like the endless peaks of beautiful mountains, while the lines on his cheeks were a perfect arc like spirits dancing under the moonlight as it reflected the moonlight and the shadow of dusk. The only bright color on his face was his scarlet lips which were a little warmer, vaguely reminiscent of petals that have almost faded in the late spring. Although the color of it was pale, it brought forth a more ambiguous feeling when one looked at it. The heavens seemed to have gathered all the charm in the world in the body of this teenager, and his eyebrows were raised slightly. His eyes were swirling in what seemed like a storm of snowflakes with flickers of colors. Then, all of a sudden, the colors disappeared and only a pair of bright, clear eyes remained, one that anyone should not gaze into. He was dressed in quite a simple attire, and just by standing there was enough to make the scenery around him fade in an instant. The mottled sunlight fell on his magnificent face, and his inky eyes were deep like an abyss which was hard to escape from. For a moment, he stared at Mu Qinglan, and it felt like there was coldness emanating from him. ¡°Mu Linghan? ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead?¡± Chapter 6 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan smiled and also sent the dagger in her hand flying. It had just been a few months since they¡¯ve seen each other, yet this kid was still like this! ¡°Heh, here I was thinking who could it be, and it turns out to be you.¡± Mu Qinglan raised an eyebrow and smiled, then kept away the bitter aura that emanated from her body. She was not an idiot. Although this kid spoke with words that made others want to beat him up, it was obvious from that little display just now just how tyrannical his strength was. Even that subordinate of his was already way stronger than Mu Zhongtian. It was likely that this kid wasn¡¯t any ordinary person. Even though Mu Qinglan already felt that this guy surely had an extraordinary background when they had met in Zhongyuan Secret Realm, it seemed that he was actually more powerful and mysterious than she had imagined. However, in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, all the young geniuses selected by the various empires were selected regardless of their background, and each one of them had their power suppressed down to the Primary Yuan Realm, so they hadn¡¯t needed to worry about the different power levels back then, but now¡­ In the half year they had spent in the secret realm, Mu Qinglan and her brother had set up all kinds of traps for this guy before. Listening to the hint of coldness underneath his voice when he spoke, Mu Qinglan felt a chill run up her spine, and thought that it was better to be cautious. ¡°Yun Yi, no matter how it is, my¡­ My sister once saved your life. Being able to meet like this is also considered fate, so why the attitude? Don¡¯t you also think the same?¡± Although Mu Qinglan had said ¡°saved his life¡±, the situation was actually a little complicated¡­ Well, it was better not to mention it at all. The moment she brought this up, the hint of coldness on his face suddenly chilled further, and it felt as cold as a winter¡¯s harsh wind that bit all the way to one¡¯s bones! Mu Qinglan even felt the air around them to suddenly be stifling¡­ *** Yun Yi looked at the youth in front of him who had frankly said that just because his sister had saved Yun Yi¡¯s life, he wanted to worm his way into Yun Yi¡¯s good graces based on that matter. His fist that was under the white sleeved robe with golden trimmings slowly clenched into a fist. If it weren¡¯t for the youth¡¯s excellent cultivation, Yun Yi would have just made his move right away! This guy was still the same as before, just as willful and unrestrained as ever. To put it more bluntly, he was unable to differentiate good from bad and always behaved unscrupulously! Seeing how the aura around his master had changed, Mo Yu, who was standing to the side, was a little surprised. Without a sound, his eyes swept to look at the person opposite them. The person was a slim young man with a warm smile on his face. Though it seemed as though he was trying to work his way into Yun Yi¡¯s good graces, the youth¡¯s eyes were unexpectedly clear and calm, as though he really wasn¡¯t afraid of Yun Yi¡¯s strength. Even though Mo Yu¡¯s master, Yun Yi, had an extremely calm temperament, to the point even those stubborn elders in the clan were not able to wring out such mood swings from him, this youth in front of him had¡­ Hearing the words that the youth had spoken just now, it sounded as though Yun Yi had met him in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm previously? However, if they had really saved Yun Yi, then why was he reacting this way? As though¡­ Yun Yi was trying to hold back something? *** Mu Qinglan was waiting for Yun Yi to get angry, but she didn¡¯t expect him to hesitate after that momentary cold outburst. A few moments later, Yun Yi closed his eyes, shoving down all the emotions that were running through him. When he opened his eyes again, there were no more ripples in them, and he merely opened his mouth to coldly say, ¡°It seems that the incident with your sister did not affect you much.¡± Mu Qinglan froze before she understood the meaning of Yun Yi¡¯s words and reacted. Yun Yi thought she was Mu Linghan. With Yun Yi saying what he did, he meant to say that ¡°his¡± sister had died tragically, yet ¡°he¡± did not seem to be acting any more different than usual? Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes went cold. Although she was not Mu Linghan, she had still lost a sibling. Even though Yun Yi had misidentified her, the words he spoke were still piercing. Like a fine needle that dug deep into her heart, and a single movement from it pierced deeply all the way to the bones. On the surface, a trace of inexplicable self-deprecation crossed her face. ¡°I¡¯m just a crippled trash anyway, what¡¯s there to think about?¡± Although her voice was extremely soft, Yun Yi could still hear it clearly, and was immediately startled by her words. He furrowed his brows slightly as he studied Mu Qinglan carefully. Mu Linghan was¡­ crippled? Yun Yi had not been paying attention before this, but now he realized that Mu Linghan¡¯s level¡­ Was only at Rank 1 of Yuan Energy! Was it caused by that disaster back then? Yun Yi was unsure of what he was feeling right now, but the previous wave of emotions that had welled up in him had suddenly dissipated. Back in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, it was every man for themselves. The entire place was a danger zone, and he was alone, so it was natural he encountered many dangers. However, none of them were fatal to him. Until he met a pair of siblings. It was not the first time Yun Yi had met a genius with great talent, nor was it the first time he had seen a pair of brother and sister who were so close to each other. Yet, those two had managed to leave a deep impression on him. Great rapport, unrestrained, confident and at ease, genius, extraordinary, and happy. Those were the words that came to mind when he had first met the siblings. Later, they proved themselves to be that and more. They were also cunning, crafty, complicated, schemers, fearless and impudent! Especially that girl who always had a seemingly small smile on her face¡­ She had actually dared to¡­ Mu Qinglan looked at Yun Yi who seemed outwardly calm, but there were a myriad of emotions churning in his eyes. She studied him for a while and inadvertently glanced to the side to see that for some reason, his ears were actually slightly red! Even the white snow on the highest peaks of the mountains was not comparable to how fair and clear Yun Yi¡¯s face was, but this spot of red made him feel a little more¡­ human? ¡°Hey, Yun Yi?¡± The atmosphere was a bit odd, and Mu Qinglan remembered that there were still important matters to attend to. Although she didn¡¯t want to provoke this god-like person, she couldn¡¯t help but clear her throat and spoke. Yun Yi¡¯s eyes shifted as though he had woken up from a deep thought, then looked at Mu Qinglan subconsciously. ¡°Um¡­ If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going first, okay?¡± Mu Qinglan raised her finger and pointed it in a direction, indicating that she wanted to leave. Yun Yu stared at her as though he was looking at a complicated puzzle, and Mu Qinglan was starting to become uncomfortable by his gaze when he said in a cold and concise manner, ¡°If you want to recover your strength, I can help you.¡± What? Yun Yi wanted to help her?! Mu Qinglan widened her eyes. Was he serious? Mu Qinglan and her brother had bullied Yun Yi so much before this, and the words she had spoken just now had not all been good ones either. How could he possibly want to help her now? Or perhaps it was that she had fallen to this level in his eyes, and he was using this matter to satisfy his own superior mentality? Mu Qinglan snapped out of her thoughts and immediately shook her head without hesitation. ¡°My thanks, but my meridians have been greatly damaged, and there is no way to recover them. So¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s just damage to your meridians. A Level 5 Star Formation Master will be able to help you recover,¡± Yun Yi said indifferently, as though he was talking about something as simple as the weather. In fact, to him, it was really just as simple as saying it. Mu Qinglan was taken aback. A Level 5 Star Formation Master? In the entire Holy Yuan Empire, there was no such strong person, okay? Yun Yi seemed to come from a really strong background, for him to take this matter and talk about it so lightly¡­ Mo Yu, who was still standing at the side, nearly failed to control his breathing when he heard what Yun Yi had said. His mind was running quickly¡­ His master had actually taken the initiative to offer help to someone?! His master, who was known to kill and cut down others without mercy, would also have a day where he showed mercy?! This Mu Linghan, who the heck was he, really?! Mu Qinglan was stunned. ¡°I¡­ You don¡¯t have to help me so much¡­ I was only joking just now¡­¡± ¡°I never joke.¡± Yun Yi spoke calmly, but his words were unquestionable. How could Mu Qinglan agree to that? She was here today to deal with the black jade tablet! Swish! Before she could say anything else, the sound of a harsh wind blowing came from the distance in the forest. Mu Qinglan and Yun Yi both turned their heads to look in that direction at the same time, only to hear a dark, grating laughter. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I was thinking why you would come all the way here. It turns out that you¡¯re here to meet your paramour!¡± A figure appeared in front of Mu Qinglan and the others in a flash! At the same time, several powerful aura burst out from the surrounding area! They had been ambushed without knowing it! Yun Yi¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Mo Yingtian! You¡¯ve really got guts!¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to be out of that sh*tty place, so I naturally needed to seize the opportunity. Today, you will die here!¡± That person had actually come after her first! Mu Qinglan cursed immediately, ¡°You¡¯re f*cking blind! Who¡¯s that brat¡¯s paramour?¡± Yun Yi and Mo Yingtian seemed to glare daggers at each other the next moment, and lunged forward in her direction instantly! Chapter 7 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The next instant, Mu Qinglan felt a child around her neck, as though there was a cold snake slithering across it. An extremely dangerous aura immediately engulfed her and trapped her inside. Although Mu Qinglan had spoken in a nonchalant way, she had cleanly wiped away the aura that emanated from her body at this moment. She had already felt that Yun Yi and the other guy were extremely strong just now, and it was absolutely impossible for her to deal with them in her current state. With just a simple thought, she might even be crushed easily by any one of them. At this moment, Mu Qinglan was afraid that any fluctuation of Yuan Energy would turn their attention towards and instantly strike her down! The other person was clearly here for Yun Yi, Mu Qinglan had no intentions of getting involved in this! ¡°Heh, so, it¡¯s a man.¡± In just the blink of an eye, that person was already holding Mu Qinglan hostage. His extraordinarily long and even somewhat pale hand gripped Mu Qinglan¡¯s next as she spat out those cold words. A hint of forbidding laughter could be heard underneath his words, and anyone who was listening to him speak wouldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in their heart. Then, that person seemed to study Mu Qinglan a little closer, and then he snickered. ¡°But, with an appearance like this, you¡¯re really more attractive than most women¡­¡± Also he had said these words with no particular intention, those who heard the words would interpret it in their own manner. Mu Qinglan¡¯s face sank immediately. Yun Yi¡¯s eyes flashed slightly from where he was standing in front of her, and he couldn¡¯t help but look closer at her face. At this time, the sun was in the right position so that the dense trees of the forest were overcast, and the light and shadows were intertwined. The boy who was held hostage was thin, and although his complexion was a little pale, his face looked as smooth and flawless as jade. There was even a slight luminous shine to it, and it looked as though his face would break apart just by applying a little force. What more, his face was as pretty as a picture, which was clear and handsome. Between the lines of his eyebrows, there was actually a trace of extreme confusion that was obvious. It was no wonder Mo Yingtian had mistaken him for a woman. The thought only flashed through Yun Yi¡¯s mind for a moment before it was interrupted by a voice ringing out in front of him. ¡°I say, it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯ve got the wrong guy, and I don¡¯t care who you want to kill. But, please, I don¡¯t even know this person at all. If you want to use me as a bargaining chip, I¡¯m afraid it will be useless.¡± The moment Mu Qinglan opened her mouth, it was the clarify that there was nothing between Yun Yi and her. Yun Yi¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Oh?¡± The person standing behind Mu Qinglan hummed, as though he was slightly interested in what she had said. ¡°I heard it clearly just now, that Yun Yi actually wanted to have a Level 5 Star Formation Master help you. Don¡¯t you know that he¡¯s known as a ruthless killer, who doesn¡¯t even blink when he kills someone? If there was nothing between the two of you, why would he help you, hm?¡± Mu Qinglan laughed awkwardly. ¡°How do you know he isn¡¯t trying to help me recover my meridians, then cripple me again just for the sake of torturing me?¡± Yun Yi was now starting to think that he must have had a moment of madness before this, otherwise, why would he have thought of helping someone like this?! ¡°Mo Yingtian, you¡¯ve been lurking about in the shadows for so long all in order to kill me. Now that you¡¯re in front of me, why are you afraid to make a move?¡± Yun Yi said coldly. Mu Qinglan finally felt the person standing behind her move away slightly, but the grip on her neck remained. ¡°Heh, who says I don¡¯t dare to make a move?¡± His voice was slightly hoarse, and there was still the hint of a foreboding smile in his words. Then, the hand that held Mu Qinglan¡¯s neck moved slowly from her neck to her shoulder. Mu Qinglan tensed up, fully alert! ¡°But, since this person has nothing to do with you, then¡­ there¡¯s no need to keep him alive either.¡± When Mo Yingtian said those words, it chilled her to the bone! Mu Qinglan¡¯s heart thumped once, then with swift movements, the dagger in her hand shot out! She moved extremely fast. Coupled with the lack of Yuan Energy fluctuations when she moved, and the fact that Mo Yingtian¡¯s attention was mostly on Yun Yi, Mo Yingtian didn¡¯t notice her actions at first! Ding! Mo Yingtian¡¯s Yuan Energy formed a green and black sword, appearing directly in front of his chest in an instant! Crack! The dagger in Mu Qinglan¡¯s hand was shattered by the violent impact! The next instant, the green and black sword was already flying towards Mu Qinglan with the intention to loop her head off! Mu Qinglan was not a person who was overzealous in fighting, and she threw out something from her long sleeves immediately. A cloud of white mist exploded in an instant, and it obscured Mo Yingtian¡¯s sight right away. Even so, Mu Qinglan did not look back and dashed straight in Yun Yi¡¯s direction. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you making a move yet?¡± she shouted out in a clear voice, appearing in front of Yun Yi by the time she finished speaking. Swish! The sword moved extremely fast, and even with Mu Qinglan grabbing a head start, it was impossible for her to fight against such a person in her state, so she had fled the moment she got in a hit. She hadn¡¯t planned to take down the enemy with that one hit, but just to escape! Screech! The swift and fierce Swordlight tore through the air, and Mu Qinglan could practically feel the great pressure in the air from it. And then, a sharp pain burned on her back! She had been cut by the Swordlight! Mo Yu glanced around their surroundings in high alert, and turned his head to look at Yun Yi when he heard the sounds. It seemed that his master really didn¡¯t intend to make any move at all¡­ This was also a normal situation. For Yun Yi not to kill anyone was already a blessing, let alone saving someone? However, even so, then there was nothing left but for Mu Linghan to die under Mo Yingtian¡¯s blade¡­ ¡°Yun Yi!¡± Feeling the terrifying Swordlight approaching once more, Mu Qinglan screamed out in a clear voice once again. She raised her head, and her eyes immediately met with Yun Yi¡¯s ink-like eyes. The depths of his eyes were as deep as the sea, and it looked enigmatic and impossible to read. Clang! Just as Mu Qinglan thought that Yun Yi wouldn¡¯t make a move and that she would die under Mo Yingtian¡¯s blade, a silver, white streak suddenly cut through the sky! It sped through the air quickly, ruthlessly clashing with the green and black sword! Mu Qinglan finally felt relieved, then turned her body suddenly so that her slender waist was almost parallel to the ground so that she could avoid the fierce energy clash in front of her! Then, a silver streak of Yuan Energy scattered around her and formed a barrier, covering Mu Qinglan. Mu Qinglan moved fast and in the next instant, she was already next to Yun Yi. ¡°Ugh!¡± Having finally escaped from danger, Mu Qinglan relaxed slightly. Then, she staggered in her steps and spat out a mouthful of blood. The bloodstains at the corner of her mouth added a little touch of terrifying beauty to her already pale face. ¡°Your Yuan Energy is ruined, but you¡¯re still as cunning as ever,¡± Yun Yi said. Regardless of how calm he looked at her, the words he said were filled with criticism. ¡°You brat¡­¡± Mu Qinglan tried to calm her erratic breathing, then reached up to wipe away the blood at the corner of her lips before raising her head to look at Yun Yi with what seemed like fire in her eyes. Before she could finish her sentence, a gust of wind blew past, and Yun Yi¡¯s figure disappeared from sight! Bang! A violent energy shock burst out suddenly! It was Yun Yi and Mo Yingtian who had met head-on! The two of them were extremely powerful, and with just a single blow, the mighty force swept across the area, and the trees around them fell one after another! Bam! The green and black Yuan Energy clashed with silver Yuan Energy, and an ear-splitting roar erupted! Mu Qinglan turned her head to look, but it was all a blur to her. She could faintly see the figure of Mo Yingtian, who looked to be only about twenty years old. He wore a blood-red brocade robe, and even with just a glance, it was possible to feel the dense fury that emanated from him! ¡°It seems that Yun Yi had quite a few deadly enemies¡­¡± She coughed a few times and did her best to suppress the disorderly energy in her body as she muttered slowly to herself. Mo Yu was still standing at the side, but he was clearly in shock. His master had actually made a move! That Mu Linghan had just screamed at his master, and then his master had actually¡­ Now was clearly not yet the time to fight! Rumble! A loud rumbling sound suddenly came from a distance! Mu Qinglan turned abruptly to look in the direction, only to find that the sound had come from deep within the Nine Foot Mountain Range! Such a commotion¡­ When Yun Yi heard the sound, he lashed out and delivered a fierce blow, forcing Mo Yingtian back a few steps before he raised his eyes to also look in the direction where the noise had come from. Roar! An almighty roar suddenly rang out! Mu Qinglan was startled, and suddenly heard Xue You¡¯s surprised voice, ¡°A high-level primordial beast has actually been born!¡± Chapter 8 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A high-level primordial beast? Mu Qinglan was slightly shocked, as only primordial beasts at Tier 6 or above were considered to be high-level primordial beasts! The Nine Foot Mountain Range was a vast area that stretched for thousands of miles, and there were countless primordial beasts that lived in it, so there were usually many people who entered the area for exploration purposes. However, Mu Qinglan had never heard of high-level primordial beasts residing in the mountain range. Actually, not just Luo Xi City, even in the Imperial Capital, high-level primordial beasts were a very rare and precious existence. In the Mu family, Mu Zhongtian¡¯s contractual primordial beast was a Tier 6 primordial beast, and was also the reason why Mu Zhongtian could lead the family and had a high status in the Imperial Capital. Tier 7 primordial beasts were even rarer, and Mu Qinglan only had vague knowledge that there was a contractual Tier 7 beast in the Holy Yuan Empire somewhere. That was how rare they were! Even those at the lowest of Tier 6 primordial beast had the strength that was comparable to a powerhouse at Void Realm! No wonder it had caused such a commotion¡­ Yun Yi looked in the direction and felt strong fluctuations in the air, and he made a decision in his heart. Looking at Yun Yi¡¯s expression, Mo Yingtian also paused, then slowly narrowed his eyes. Yun Yi, however, had turned his head by then, his ink-black eyes flashing. ¡°If you want to kill me, you have to catch up to me first!¡± The white silhouette had already started to retreat before the last words left his lips! Mo Yingtian had already sensed something was up the moment Yun Yi opened his mouth, and he immediately sneered and lashed out with his green and black Yuan Energy! ¡°You want to run? That won¡¯t be easy!¡± The majestic Yuan Energy formed countless sharp swords in the air, and all of them flew towards Yun Yi! In an instant, it seemed as though the white figure was instantly engulfed! ¡°Thousand Swords To Heart!¡± Mo Yingtian shouted, and a wave of Yuan Energy gushed out! The green-black sword vibrated loudly, and for a time, it felt as though it was darkening the sky! Mu Qinglan looked up to see that the white figure was almost impossible to see now. Her heart trembled, but it wasn¡¯t because of worry. She turned to look around the area. There were about a dozen people in the surroundings, all who seemed to have followed Mo Yingtian here. They also looked to be very strong. In the entire field, she was undoubtedly the weakest one, and it was even possible that the impact from the Yuan Energy exchange in front of her also posed a threat to her survival. Being in this kind of situation was seriously annoying¡­ However, it wasn¡¯t like it was impossible for her to leave this place¡­ Mu Qinglan made a lightning-quick decision, and just as she was about to make her move, she heard Xue You¡¯s voice coming from the bottom of her heart. ¡°Girl, go and look for that primordial beast!¡± Mu Qinglan was shocked. ¡°What?!¡± That was a high-level primordial beast he was talking about! With her current strength levels, she was going into her death if she were to go look for it! Perhaps Xue You wanted her to make a contract with that primordial beast? She might die a little earlier if she did that. Xue You couldn¡¯t help but snort lightly. ¡°What are you thinking about? Although it¡¯s a high-level primordial beast, as far as I can tell, it should only be a Tier 6. What are you afraid of? Besides, if you want to contract with that level of primordial beast, it¡¯s insignificant to me!¡± Mu Qinglan had just managed to suppress the disorderly aura in her body, and now it was once again in turmoil. ¡°I¡¯m a cripple right now!¡± Mu Qinglan couldn¡¯t help but grit her teeth as she reminded Xue You. ¡°Of course I know that,¡± Xue You said uncaringly and continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, with that roar, it should be a Tier 6 Fire Spirit Lion. Although it¡¯s only of average ranking, there are still some benefits to it.¡± ¡°What has that got to do with me?¡± Mu Qinglan asked, though she was slightly tempted after listening to his words. ¡°Every time a Tier 6 Fire Spirit Lion gives birth to a cub, it will produce a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal. This crystal contains extremely powerful energy. Not only will it be able to replenish Yuan Energy, but it can also help one breakthrough to achieve higher levels. It can also circulate a person¡¯s meridians, which would be very useful for you right now.¡± So, that¡¯s how it was. ¡°I didn¡¯t talk about this before because it wasn¡¯t within your grasp, but now it¡¯s right in front of your eyes, so we have to naturally make good use of the chance.¡± Mu Qinglan looked up at the fierce and violent battle happening in mid-air, and her eyebrows rose higher. It looked as though Yun Yi had also been running towards that thing too, so was she going to fight him for it? Moreover, that Mu Yingtian looked like someone difficult to deal with¡­ Bam! High in the air, that air that was filled with green-black swords suddenly exploded outwards! Then, the white figure emerged once more, looking completely unscathed! Mo Yingtian¡¯s face darkened. Countless swords flew out and scattered in all directions! Mu Qinglan still had Yun Yi¡¯s barrier around her, so she wasn¡¯t affected by the falling blades. ¡°If that¡¯s all the tricks you have, it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t come out and embarrass yourself.¡± Yun Yi¡¯s voice was extremely calm, but the calmer he was, the stronger the fire within Mo Yingtian burned! Boom! Yun Yi waved his hands and his long sleeves fluttered along with it, a large amount of Yuan Energy condensing at an astonishing momentum on his fair, distinct knuckles! When he had looked to be in trouble and engulfed just now, it was all just an act! ¡°Heaven Shattering Palm!¡± A silver palm print suddenly appeared! It first came slowly, then shot towards Mo Yingtian at an extremely fast speed! Mo Yingtian swung his sword instantly! However, after a few moments of clashing, the green-black sword shattered! Mo Yingtian¡¯s breath stuttered, then the Yuan Energy that was circulating around his chest and abdomen suddenly collapsed! The powerful Yuan Energy fluctuations in the air were enough to suppress one¡¯s movements, not allowing them to move an inch! Then, all of them started to throw up blood, their breaths coming in short as they found it hard to breathe. Yun Yi had managed to thoroughly crush his opponent with his own strength! Mo Yingtian¡¯s expression was dark. Yun Yi¡­ was already this strong?! Mu Qinglan watched the area closely, then suddenly felt a strong force lift her up, moving her quickly in a certain direction! Yun Yi had actually brought her along with him. It seemed that this kid still knew how to repay a favor, and he knew how to clean up after his own mess. If Mu Qinglan had been left there alone, she would probably have needed to expend a lot of effort to escape. Mu Qinglan looked back to see that Mo Yingtian had a thunderous expression on his face, seemingly about to come after them, but then Mo Yu suddenly blocked his path. ¡°Lord Yingtian, why don¡¯t we spar for a round?¡± Mo Yu waved his hand, and several even stronger auras burst forth and attacked! Both sides clashed in a fight! Mu Qinglan turned away from the scene. It seems that Yun Yi had actually come prepared. That Mo Yingtian thought he had come in pursuit to kill Yun Yi, and only now did he understand that Yun Yi was the one who had deliberately led him here instead¡­ But right now, with Yun Yi like this, this situation was actually in her favor and quite convenient for her¡­ Yun Yi traveled at a fast speed, and in just a few minutes, the two of them were already far away from the fight! In the blink of an eye, the two of them landed in front of a certain hill. Mu Qinglan straightened up and looked around, only to find that they had actually reached the depths of the Nine Foot Mountain Range. Roar! As for the thundering roar of the primordial beast, it was actually very close to them! A humongous figure of fiery red suddenly appeared! It was burning with bright red flames, and everywhere it went, it left behind a barren field! Like a sharp blade, Yun Yi sprung and was gone instantly! Seemingly sensing a threat, the Fire Spirit Lion immediately looked over and rose up in the air to face Yun Yi from afar! Mu Qinglan watched this happening closely, and Xue You¡¯s voice said, ¡°This is a good chance! That Fire Spirit Lion has just finished giving birth, and the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal is in the cave behind it!¡± Chapter 9 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan kept her eyes on the sky above where Yun Yi and the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s attention were on each other at this time. The distance between her and the cave was close, and it would only take a little time for her to reach it. Although her Yuan Energy was now all but exhausted, she still had knowledge from her past life and muscle memory. So, if she wanted to sneak in and take the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, it wouldn¡¯t be a difficult task for her. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Mu Qinglan thought about it for just a moment before she made her decision, then quickly concealed herself behind the mountain rocks and headed towards the cave! This was the depths of the Nine Foot Mountain Range, which was surrounded by dense, shady trees and filled with mountain peaks. So, it was quite convenient for her to move around unseen. Up in the sky, Yun Yi stared at the Fire Spirit Lion with indifference in his jet black eyes. ¡°You should know what I want. Hand it over now, and I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± The Tier 6 primordial beast was an intelligent one, and when it heard Yun Yi¡¯s words, it immediately let out a deafening roar! The anger in the roar was obvious, and the powerful pressure from it scattered into the surroundings, causing all the primordial beasts within a hundred miles to tremble as they watched this scene in horror. ¡°It seems that you disagree. In that case¡­¡± Yun Yi was not surprised by the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s choice, and so with that said, he slowly raised his hand. The majestic Yuan Energy gathered quickly in his palm then transformed into a dazzling long silver sword! The Swordlight from it was extremely sharp, and it was even possible to see the abundance of Yuan Energy that lingered on it! Using his right hand to hold the sword, Yun Yi then slowly raised it up. Even though it was midday and the sun was shining brightly in the sky, the blinding silver sword was impossible to ignore when it was pointed up in the sky! Screech! A stern look flashed in Yun Yi¡¯s eyes as he brought down the sword to cut straight down! A beam of rainbow light cut through the air, falling down from the sky! Before the silver sword finished it¡¯s slicing motion, the sharp Swordlight had already cut down countless trees around them! The rainbow light passed through the area and left only complete disorder behind it! As those countless trees fell, the rainbow light also reached the Fire Spirit Lion in the blink of an eye! Shock flashed in the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eyes. Obviously, Yun Yi¡¯s strength had far exceeded its expectation! However, it was not afraid, and the flames burning all around its body instantly exploded outwards! The fiery flames condensed immediately, then shot out straight towards the beam of silver rainbow light! Boom! The two forces collided harshly! A strong shock sent vibrations all over the sky and earth! The Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, then it opened its bloodied mouth to spit out a ball of fire! The color of the fireball was blinding and intense, and the power it carried within was also a hundred times stronger than a normal fireball! The fireball shot through the sky quickly, and with the intense heat it left behind in its wake, countless trees started burning! In some places, even the earth had been scorched, so it was obvious to the naked eye just how strong the force of it was! The fireball reflected in Yun Yi¡¯s eyes, and the reflection glistened brightly. However, he didn¡¯t panic at all. He held the silver sword in his hand, but did not strike again. He merely raised his eyes and stared at the rainbow light that had wrapped around the fireball. Then, with just a thought of his mind, he said in a low voice¡­ ¡°Explode!¡± Boom! A shocking explosion immediately burst out in the air! The fireball exploded violently into specks of flame., scattering everywhere! It rained onto the earth, which cause countless trees to burst into flames. It had only been the blink of an eye, yet a 10-mile radius around the man and beast had already left behind such devastation! Seeing this scene unfold in front of it, the Fire Spirit Lion finally realized how strong the other party was. Although the Fire Spirit Lion was already at the peak of Tier 6, it still couldn¡¯t stop the other party¡¯s attack! However, everything was not over yet! After the countless specks of flame had scattered, the Fire Spirit Lion looked fiercely at the silver rainbow light, which was actually coming straight towards it! The momentum the silver rainbow light had was not at all diminished by destroying the fireball! Swish! The fireball was cut in half down in the middle in an instant! The Fire Spirit Lion roared in anger, but it¡¯s strength had obviously been weakened a lot. With that one blow, it had obviously caused a severe injury on it. Yun Yi spoked up calmly, ¡°With the state you¡¯re in, you¡¯re not capable of stopping me. So, it¡¯s better if you just hand it over¡ª¡± Before Yun Yi could finish his sentence, his eyes darted to behind the Fire Spirit Lion, where a slim figure had flashed past. The Fire Spirit Lion also seemed to sense something amiss, and immediately turned back to look. Although it did not see anything, the cave was still its chassis, and with the aura it had left behind, it could very well feel when a person had intruded in the place. Roar! The Fire Spirit Lion roared in rage, the flames on its body burning even more intensely and brightly than ever. Its bloodshot eyes became even more red as its anger shot through the roof! Someone had dared to sneak into its cave while it was away! They were seeking death! A powerful force shot out from behind the Fire Spirit Lion, and it turned around abruptly and swung out with a vicious claw! Riiip! It¡¯s claws tore through the silver rainbow light instantly, causing its claws to be badly mangled and be drenched in blood! But at this time, the Fire Spirit Lion could care less about this, and turned around right away to head back to the entrance of its cave! It must tear up the person who dared to sneak into its cave today! Yun Yi watched on coldly, then subconsciously turned to look to the side of the mountain peak. There was no one there. As expected, it had been him! Mu Linghan was really gutsy and ambitious, he dared to sneak into the cave while Yun Yi had been fighting with the Fire Spirit Lion! Sure enough, a leopard never changes its spots! ¡®Even if Mu Linghan were to die here, he only has himself to blame!¡¯ Yun Yi thought to himself indifferently, but then a young girl¡¯s smiling face floated into his mind all of a sudden. The girl had an easy and distracted smile on her face, as though she didn¡¯t care for anything around her. Her eyes were curved as she was smiling, and it was as bright as a full moon in the sky. However, Yun Yi knew just how much cunning she was hiding underneath that smile of hers. ¡°Good things are never obtained by those who are fated to have them, but those who put their mind to obtain it instead. With the exhausted state you¡¯re in right now and your Yuan Energy depleted, you should also be no match for me, huh?¡± Yun Yi had always known that he had an excellent temperament, but somehow, that girl got under his skin and made him angry time and time again. However, his power levels had been brought down to that of Primary Yuan Realm back then, and his opponents were a pair of siblings. It was obvious that he would suffer a lot of losses when going against them. Finally, that girl patted him on the shoulder, then smiled and said, ¡°Brother Yun, you¡¯re seriously generous! To refuse this would be disrespectful of me.¡± The two siblings were really alike, however¡­ The bright smile and curved eyes were ones that he would never see again. Yun Yi dispersed the Yuan Energy in his palm and watched as the Fire Spirit Lion rapidly approached its cave. Mu Linghan was currently at Rank 1 Yuan Energy, perhaps just a single hit from the Fire Spirit Lion would be enough to directly kill him. Since he had dug his own grave, his death would be well deserved. Yun Yi watched on with indifference. The Fire Spirit Lion let out a fierce cry and rushed into the cave! Yun Yi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. On the other hand, Mu Qinglan had already entered the cave. The alarming, thunderous noises continued on the outside, and just by the sounds it was easy to tell how intense the fight was. Even the cave shook slightly, looking as though it could collapse at any given moment. Mu Qinglan knew that she didn¡¯t have much time, so she headed inside quickly. Soon, she reached the deepest part of the cave, where there was a particularly conspicuous red glow. Mu Qinglan perked up and rushed over immediately. There was a pile of fire-red transparent crystals that were quietly piled up there, and as she inched closer, she could feel the burning heat that emanated from it. Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! And there were actually so many of them! Mu Qinglan was slightly surprised at the sight of the crystals. Each of these Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal was the size of a fist, and the surface was as rough as a rock. With just a rough glance, she estimated that there were at least a hundred crystals in this pile. She quickly reached out to grab it¡­ Boom! The cave suddenly trembled violently! She turned around hastily just in time to see a fiery red figure rapidly approaching her! The terrible pressure that came from it made it impossible for her to move! Mu Qinglan was shocked and immediately rushed forward, taking advantage of the momentum to directly throw herself onto the pile of crystals! She clenched the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal that was in her hand tightly and was about to leave right away, but then a long flame whip suddenly struck at her! It would reach her and burn her neck in the next moment! Chapter 10 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Boom! Mu Qinglan¡¯s body was like a ghost as she immediately dodged it, the flame whip narrowly missing her! The flame whip hit the pile of Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals, scattering it all over the ground immediately. The fiery glow lit up almost half the cave, and also reflected the glare in Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes! It was a Tier 6 Fire Spirit Lion, she was definitely not a match for it, but since she had already decided to come to steal the things, it was only natural to have come prepared! Did it think it would be caught under its claws so embarrassingly like that? Dream on! The dangers she had encountered in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm were much more dangerous than this, and she had breezed past all of them. This situation was hence not even close to making her panic. She dropped to the ground and rolled away to avoid the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s attack as her mind worked furiously. Roar! At this time, the Fire Spirit Lion had also arrived at the cave! The temperature in the cave instantly climbed higher, and Mu Qinglan could even feel the blazing heat that completely surrounded her! She suddenly thought of something, and once again turned to look at the pile of Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals that had been scattered to the ground, and a thought flashed in her mind. Xue You had said that the Fire Spirit Lion would produce Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals after it gave birth, and right now, there were so many crystals in place, but something was not right¡­ The Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s cub was not here! That¡¯s right, that¡¯s it! When Mu Qinglan had first seen the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals, she had been a little surprised and felt that something was wrong, but because the situation had been urgent, she didn¡¯t have time to think much about it. But now, there was an understanding that dawned on her! She was now in the deepest part of the cave, and the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals were all here, but the cub was not! So, where would it be? The thought flashed quickly through her mind, and Mu Qinglan seemed to feel something, and abruptly turned her head¡­ A pair of huge scarlet eyes were gradually approaching in the dark, red, enclosed cave! It looked like two lanterns in the darkness, only, it was more of a terrifying scarlet light that would lead you to the path of death! The huge figure of the Fire Spirit Lion slowly emerged. Its eyes were deadly fixed on Mu Qinglan, filled with anger and killing intent. The primordial beast never had any good feelings towards humans, especially when it was standing so boldly in its chassis! This vile and shameless human had dared to come to steal something right under its nose! The Fire Spirit Lion growled lowly in its throat, and the whole cave started to shake! Mu Qinglan could see the cracks spreading silently but quickly through the cave walls! Her body tensed, and she leaned her back against the cave wall. The wounds she had gotten from Mo Yingtian¡¯s Yuan Energy sword sent stinging bursts of pain through her back when she did that. Adding on the attack from the Fire Spirit Lion just now, although it didn¡¯t completely hit her, it felt as though her intestines were on fire because of the energy fluctuations from it! Without having to look, Mu Qinglan knew that her entire back must be mangled and covered in blood at this point. She placed one of her hands behind her and pressed it against the cave wall, sticky blood trickling down. Mu Qinglan endured the pain while thinking about how to get out of this place and cursed secretly on the inside. That brat, Yun Yi, actually hadn¡¯t stopped the Fire Spirit Lion! If he had made a little more effort, she wouldn¡¯t have needed to suffer through this trouble right now! The Fire Spirit Lion was already getting closer! Its gigantic frame had completely blocked off the exit, which was Mu Qinglan¡¯s way out! One beast and one human, one small and one big, one weak and one strong. There was no need to guess what the results would be! Screech! The Fire Spirit Lion suddenly raised its claws, slashing towards Mu Qinglan! It had to tear this human to pieces! A violent, overwhelming burst of power came forth! Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes were fixed on its claws, but her back was pressed harshly against the wall behind her, and all the muscles in her body were completely tensed up¡ª Swish! Just as the claws that were burning with flames almost reached to tear her head off, Mu Qinglan moved! The distance between the two was extremely close, so she took a light step forward and was in front of the Fire Spirit Lion in a matter of moments! She was right in front of its eyes! Mu Qinglan quickly struck out! Howl! The Fire Spirit Lion only felt a sudden flash in front of its eyes, and then there was a sharp pain! The violent burst of energy that shot out towards Mu Qinglan hit the wall behind her fiercely! Several more cracks appeared in the walls! At this time, Mu Qinglan had actually stabbed a dagger harshly into the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eye! A Tier 6 primordial beast had enormous physical strength, so this was the only place she could attack effectively! And, she only had one chance to do it! So, she had been gathering her strength until the last minute just now, she had used all of her remaining Yuan Energy to deliver this attack! She didn¡¯t hesitate at all, putting all her strength into this one stab, and the dagger almost completely pierced through the beast¡¯s eye! The Fire Spirit Lion howled in pain and looked as though it was going crazy! It shook its body, wanting to shake Mu Qinglan off! However, Mu Qinglan followed its momentum and flipped her wrist, plunging the dagger heavily down once more into the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eye! Blood and bits of flesh immediately splashed all over her! This was the scene Yun Yi arrived at. That slim young man that looked like a gust of wind could crush him easily now had a dagger in the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eye as the beast swayed violently from side to side, trying to shake him off. His body followed the swaying momentum, like a boat on waves. Although it was rocking violently, it remained centered and extremely firm. The face that usually had a smile on was now indifferent, and his usually relaxed eyes were now filled with decisive killing intent. The young man clearly had no chance of winning, but he still carried a strong intent of killing everything around him! There were a few drops of blood splattered on the boy¡¯s jade-like face, which just increased the killing aura around him. He looked like a god of death that had just walked out from hell, and it made one¡¯s heart and soul tremble when looking at him. Something dark flashed in Yun Yi¡¯s eyes, and he moved his sleeves slightly. A small cloud of silver Yuan Energy slowly dissipated at his actions. Boom! The Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s body shook wildly, and finally managed to dislodge Mu Qinglan from it! Mu Qinglan fell to the ground and rolled a few times, her body covered in dust and blood. There were also some burn marks, and she looked absolutely wretched. However, her hand still clutched the dagger tightly. At the tip of the dagger, there was actually a huge bloody broken eye on it! It was the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eyeball! She gasped for air, feeling as though all her internal organs had been squeezed together and would explode in the next moment! Even at the peak of her powers, she was no match against a Tier 6 Fire Spirit Lion, what more now? However¡­ ¡°If you want my life, you¡¯re still not there yet!¡± Mu Qinglan laughed coldly as she spat out, not afraid of boasting unabashedly even now. The Fire Spirit Lion was in a crazed state because of the pain in its eye, and when it heard Mu Qinglan¡¯s words, it went even crazier and directly charged towards Mu Qinglan to ram into her! Mu Qinglan would undoubtedly be crushed and turned into pulp if she was hit! Crack! The sound of something breaking and shattering suddenly rang! Mu Qinglan seemed to have sensed it and immediately turned her head to look at what it was, only to see that the cave wall behind her was breaking apart! Rumble! Boom! Perhaps it was because of the attack from the Fire Spirit Lion, the cave wall seemed to collapse at a faster speed than usual! An entrance that led deeper inside the cave suddenly appeared! Mu Qinglan stared at the hole, and her breath hitched suddenly. An incomparably deep hole had suddenly appeared in front of her eyes! Chapter 11 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Almost without hesitation, Mu Qinglan jumped down the hole! Both front and back were dead ends, so it was better to just gamble on this! Seeing how her figure disappeared in an instant, the Fire Spirit Lion went more frenzied. The flames on its body crackled violently as it lunged forward and downwards in a chase! Yun Yi¡¯s eyes swept over the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals that were scattered all over the ground, then looked at the dark cave entrance with a slightly raised eyebrow. It seemed that Mu Linghan had originally come for the Yuan Soul-Fire Spirit, but he also sensed that something was wrong, so he used the power of the Fire Spirit Lion to break through the cave wall to escape. It was for the same reason that he didn¡¯t linger in the cave and went down the hole without hesitation. Although his strength had fallen, Mu Linghan¡¯s nature still remained the same. Yun Yi didn¡¯t hesitate any longer, and with a flash, he too gave chase down the hole! The cave which had been shaken to the core, fell into a dead silence instantly. *** Mu Qinglan¡¯s body fell rapidly through the air, and at this time she was severely injured and exhausted. She was already at the limit of her strength, and she was currently only still awake and moving by sheer willpower. The bottom of this hole seemed to be hollowed out as the space turned wider the further she fell. Mu Qinglan could only rely on the small amount of light around her to observe the situation, but she couldn¡¯t clearly see anything at all. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take long before she faintly saw what she deemed to be the end of the hole. Just as she was about to hit the bottom, she immediately plunged her dagger into the wall of rocks next to her, slowing her speed down forcefully and finally landed safely. Mu Qinglan suffered another blow from the impact, and she spat out a mouthful of blood immediately. Slowly wiping away the blood that dripped at the corner of her mouth, Mu Qinglan sat on the ground with one hand propping her body up. She struggled to her feet and chuckled. ¡°If I don¡¯t find anything good during this trip, then I would have really suffered for nothing.¡± After saying that, she raised her head and looked forward. With one look, she was frozen on the spot. It was a huge underground space, and although the entrance had been small, the place below was huge. However, what caught Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes was the huge stone bed in the middle of it. The stone bed was a transparent crystal, emitting a red glow. Even from where she stood, she could feel the hot temperature emanating from it. Surprisingly, it was made wholly from Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals! Even Xue You seemed to feel something from this place, as he spoke in a slightly surprised tone, ¡°The Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s entire life savings are here, isn¡¯t it?¡± Mu Qinglan fixed her gaze on the place, then slowly walked over. It was quiet within the entire cave, and only Mu Qinglan¡¯s footsteps could be heard clearly. The closer she got to the bed, the more obvious the blazing heat that came from it. So, it was obvious to see how high the purity of these Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals were! Mu Qinglan suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring at the place above the stone bed. She slowly raised her eyebrows and smiled. There on the bed, was a small, red figure that was lying on it. It looks like the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s cub! She didn¡¯t imagine the primordial beast to be so wise to hide its cub so well! If the cub were in her hands, there wouldn¡¯t be any need to fear the Fire Spirit Lion anymore¡­ With that in mind, Mu Qinglan took another step forward¡ª Crack! Within the quiet of the cave, the sound of something breaking suddenly rang out! Mu Qinglan furrowed her brows and stopped moving immediately. The sixth sense she had nurtured by hovering a long time between life and death immediately gave her a sense of foreboding crisis! Without hesitation, she backed away instantly! Looking around, she noticed that the pile of Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal was cracking! However, there weren¡¯t any hints of movement at all just now, so how could something cause these crystals to split all of a sudden?! ¡°There¡¯s something weird going on here!¡± Mu Qinglan clutched the dagger in hand tightly and looked around the place closely. Immediately after, another Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal shattered open! As for the little Fire Spirit Lion on top of the stone bed, it also seemed to feel something, and its little body moved. It suddenly raised its head, and turned to look over. Although this little tyke had just been born, its strength definitely far exceeded what Mu Qinglan was at right now! But, this little guy didn¡¯t seem to realize what was going on as it blinks its eyes and looked at Mu Qinglan, then lowered its head to lick at its paws. At this moment, there were already several shattered Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals! ¡°I¡¯m afraid that there¡¯s something under the bed.¡± Mu Qinglan stared at the stone bed that was a mass of red, knowing that something was obviously wrong, but she couldn¡¯t see anything. Roar! Just at this tense moment, the roar of the Fire Spirit Lion could be heard! However, the Fire Spirit Lion, who had been overwhelmed by fury, suddenly widened its eyes when it saw what was happening below, and sped up fiercely! The attack that it had aimed towards Mu Qinglan was also withdrawn, and it headed straight for the stone bed instead! Mu Qinglan felt even more suspicious about that. The Fire Spirit Lion ignored her completely, its body becoming almost like a bolt of red lightning with how fast it was moving! The little Fire Spirit Lion cub also didn¡¯t seem to notice anything, but only showed a joyful look and even stood up when it saw the Fire Spirit Lion, wanting to rush to it. A hint of deep fear actually flashed in the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s eyes! Mu Qinglan saw this, and turned her head abruptly to look at the bed as though she suddenly realized something. Just now, she had felt that the energy contained in the stone bed was dense and majestic, and she thought it was because of the excessive amount of Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals that were there, but now, it didn¡¯t seem to be that case. This was clearly the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s Territory, and even the stone bed had been forged with its own Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals, but it looked terrified¡­ Between the thoughts running through her mind, the sounds from the stone bed got louder and louder. With a loud cracking sound, a huge crack suddenly came from inside it! The crack spread from the inside instantly, like a spider web crawling all over! The Fire Spirit Lion finally arrived at its destination, picked up the little cub and retreated quickly! The way it was moving, it seemed that something terrible was about to happen! Mu Qinglan had a sense that something was about to go very wrong, and also turned to retreat! The moment she turned around, she suddenly saw a white figure swiftly passing her by! Yun Yi? Mu Qinglan stared at Yun Yi, who came in from the outside and didn¡¯t look like he was about to stop as he went straight towards the stone bed! He was running towards that stuff! Mu Qinglan suddenly realized that it was no wonder, with Yun Yi being able to talk about easily inviting a Level 5 Star Formation Master, why would he bother with a mere Tier 6 primordial beast? Recalling Mo Yingtian¡¯s words, it seemed that Yun Yi had come from a far-off place, and she was only afraid that it meant¡­ Boom! The stone bed finally broke apart! A wave of powerful energy suddenly swept outwards! A dazzling red light suddenly exploded from the broken stone bed! The light was like the sun in the middle of the sky, brilliant and glorious! She was literally blinded by the bright light! As for Yun Yi, he stood in the air, staring straight into the light. His jade-like face was hard and cold, and he was surrounded by a domineering aura! Mu Qinglan was confused, but suddenly, she felt the black jade tablet in her sea of consciousness suddenly tremble! Xue You¡¯s voice seemed to hold a hint of interest as he said, ¡°Girl, you¡¯re really lucky. It¡¯s the birth of a Tier 9 primordial beast!¡± Mu Qinglan was dumbfounded. A Tier 9 primordial beast?! Chapter 12 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t have time to react yet when the stone bed was finally completely shattered! The violent burst of energy in the air scattered in all directions, almost bringing down the entire cave with its impact! Mu Qinglan felt her heart constrict uncomfortably as she was overwhelmed by the energy. If it weren¡¯t for the last shred of willpower that she was holding onto, she would have fainted a long time ago. ¡°What do you mean, lucky? I can¡¯t even deal with a Tier 6 primordial beast, let alone a Tier 9 one!¡± Although it seemed that Yun Yi had come for this, who knew how the situation would play out! She didn¡¯t want to be buried here! When Xue You heard this, he chuckled lightly. Mu Qinglan froze at that, and suddenly had a fierce realization. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on doing something with that Tier 9 beast, are you?¡± Xue You replied lazily, ¡°Tier 9 primordial beasts are also considered to be rare, and if you can contract it, your power will naturally increase by a lot.¡± Mu Qinglan obviously knew what it meant to contract with a Tier 9 primordial beast, but that was only if she even had the power to do it in the first place! ¡°This primordial beast has just been born, so you still do have a chance.¡± Xue You said it so easily, and Mu Qinglan was so exasperated, she didn¡¯t even bother to roll her eyes at him. When she had stolen from Yun Yi a few times in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, it was because both their strengths had been suppressed downwards to the Primary Yuan Realm. But now? She¡¯d better make sure she was able to get out of this place alive first. Mu Qinglan had retreated on time, and wasn¡¯t greatly affected by the burst of energy. But the Fire Spirit Lion had not been able to dodge it, and was instantly hit harshly by the burst of energy! The red light was extremely dazzling, and although the stone bed made from Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal had also been red, it was far less blinding than the light that was shining right now. And the power contained within it was naturally also very strong. Bang! The Fire Spirit Lion was knocked to the ground heavily, and blood stained the rough ground as it slid a few dozen meters away. Mu Qinglan held her breath and watched the event with unblinking eyes. Although the Fire Spirit Lion was severely injured, it had tried to protect its child and a big chunk of flesh had been sliced off its body. The white of the bones inside was vaguely visible, but the cub was safe and sound. At this time, the little cub seemed to also realize that something was wrong, and started wailing in the arms of the Fire Spirit Lion. The Fire Spirit Lion reluctantly raised its head and glanced at the middle of the room where the brilliant bright red light was shining, its eyes filled with awe and fear. Its body trembled, and blood continued to trickle down from its wounds. The ground was soon stained with more red. The attack had been so powerful that it swept away the last bit of courage and strength from the Fire Spirit Lion. The Fire Spirit Lion was a Tier 6 primordial beast! Suddenly, chirping sounds came from the dazzling red light! Mu Qingland jerked her head upwards! This sound¡­ ¡°It really is one of the Vermillion Bird clans¡­¡± Xue You calmly said, not a hint of surprise in his voice. ¡°But, the Vermillion Bird clans have always been extremely chatty, and they also place a huge significance on blood lines. This place is remote and desolated, how can they stay here?¡± Mu Qinglan heard it all clearly. In addition to being surprised at a Tier 9 Vermillion Bird making an appearance here, she also paid attention to the doubt in Xue You¡¯s voice. It looks like Xue You knew a lot about primordial beasts, but she still didn¡¯t know where he came from. In the room, Yun Yi stood in the air and he gathered Yuan Energy to form a silver sword in his hand which glowed radiantly. The pressure emanating from the blade pressed on the people who were in the vicinity. He raised his hand slowly, pointing the silver sword directly at the red fire. ¡°Are you going to come on your own, or¡­ you want me to take you forcefully away?¡± His jet black eyes held indifference, and only his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if the primordial beast was not a top-tier existence, but just an ordinary opponent. And the words he spoke were as though he already knew the Vermillion Bird was not a match for him, and was just waiting for it to give itself up and submit. A dark look flashed in Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes. It seems that Yun Yi¡¯s strength was far stronger than what he had shown so far. When Yun Yi¡¯s words fell, the red brilliant glow seemed to suddenly become even more dazzling! Feeling the blazing heat from the surge of energy, Mu Qinglan felt as though her skin was burning up! Screech! A clear cry suddenly sounded out! Hearing the sound, the Fire Spirit Lion, who was already on its last leg, suddenly shriveled up even more! Its body which shook slightly fell down with a bang to its knees! It looked up to the place where the screech had come from, endless fear and regret in its eyes! The pressure coming from the Vermillion Bird made it powerless to fight back! The Fire Spirit Lion let out a soft whimper, but then it suddenly plucked its cub from its arms and placed it behind itself, using its own body to block in front of the cub. Then, it prostrated on the ground slowly, displaying an extremely humble attitude. Mu Qinglan raised an eyebrow. ¡°The Fire Spirit Lion must have not known that it was actually a Vermillion Bird that was sealed under here, right?¡± Xue You said from within Mu Qinglan¡¯s heart, and she asked with some doubt, ¡°What do you mean? ¡°This Vermillion Bird, for some reason, fell here, and was even sealed at the bottom of this mountain and had not come out to the world before. So, naturally there hadn¡¯t been any movement, which is why no one has discovered its existence even after so long.¡± Otherwise, the Nine Foot Mountain Range would have been overturned a long time ago! ¡°However, although it had not yet been born, it is still after all a bloodline of the noble Vermillion Bird, and it naturally contained energy that is extremely strong. The Fire Spirit Lion must have found something, and made this place its nest. By borrowing this power, the Fire Spirit Lion naturally enhanced its strength very quickly. But, it was also very greedy. By placing its cub on top of the sealed stone bed, it must have wanted to rely on that power to make its cub even stronger.¡± Xue You snorted. ¡°It never thought that below the sealed stone bed would be an existence that it couldn¡¯t afford to offend! It wanted to use the power of the Vermillion Bird? The Fire Spirit Lion really isn¡¯t afraid of death.¡± Mu Qinglan nodded with understanding. So, that was what happened. The Fire Spirit Lion was smart, but it had become a victim of its own ingenuity. The Vermillion Bird seemed to have made an appearance in order to settle this debt, and the blow just now was a lesson to the Fire Spirit Lion. The Fire Spirit Lion knew that it had made a mistake, and was afraid it would die here today, so it offered its own life to protect its cub. Just as she was thinking about this, Mu Qinglan suddenly saw that the red ball of light suddenly shone and started to change! She could vaguely make out a shadowy figure on the inside, and it looked like¡­ Wings? Following which, Mu Qinglan could see the wing suddenly moving! A beam of red light shot out fiercely and enveloped the Fire Spirit Lion! This attack was made with the intention to kill! As a Tier 9 primordial beast, how could the Vermillion Bird tolerate being used like this? The red light only enveloped the Fire Spirit Lion for a moment, and the lion fell to the ground once more in pain, emitting a miserable hissing sound. When the Fire Spirit Lion cub saw this, it also seemed to realize something, and turned around abruptly and tried to escape! However, the red light quickly split out another beam and smacked directly into its head! The small body of the lion cub froze, then fell to the ground limply. When the Fire Spirit Lion saw this, it let out an agonizing wail and was about to rush over, but its life was already at its end, and it rolled a few times on the ground before it stopped, completely still. The entire cave fell into an eerie silence. Yun Yi had been coldly watching the scene unfold, and it was only now that the light on the tip of his silver sword shone brightly! ¡°The matter here is over. Follow me.¡± The light gradually faded away, revealing the appearance of the Vermillion Bird to clearly be seen, and a pair of crimson wings appeared. However, just as Yun Yi¡¯s words fell, the Vermillion Bird suddenly raised its eyes, as if there was a trace of smugness in it. Then, its gaze shot towards Mu Qinglan, who was standing to the side! Yun Yi seemed to realize something and he let out a stern shout, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Swoosh! The Vermillion Bird flapped its wings, and like a shooting star, it launched itself towards Mu Qinglan! Mu Qinglan only saw a red shadow flash before her eyes, then a sudden flare of pain on her palm before it felt like something had crashed into her body! Her entire body tensed up, frozen. But, in the depths of her consciousness, an uncontrollable scorching heat started to burn her from the insides! That was¡­ The Vermillion Bird! Chapter 13 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan felt like she had fallen into a dream and was slow to wake up from it. In the dream, she seemed to be surrounded by endless flames that were scorching hot, the red tongues of flame constantly licking at her as if trying to devour her. She was unable to move, as if she had been imprisoned by something, and could only watch as the flames inched closer and closer. Soon, the flames were so near her, the terrifying heat seemed to spread along all the surface of her skin at once! The pain was so intense, she almost fainted! However, she couldn¡¯t make a sound, and could do nothing but let the flames engulf her! She could even feel her blood and bones all gradually melting from the high temperature around her! Her consciousness was also getting lighter, and she felt drowsy. Yun Yi frowned slightly, looking at Mu Linghan, who was passed out on the ground. His face was red, and his forehead was constantly dripping with sweat, yet the liquid was quickly evaporated by the high temperature of his body, which showed just how terrifying the temperature of his body was at the same time. The fact that the Vermillion Bird had forcefully entered his body, and that Mu Linghan had not ended up in flames was already a great mercy. However, if this situation continues, Yun Yi didn¡¯t dare to guarantee that Mu Linghan would survive this. He had heard news that a Vermillion Bird was sealed within the Nine Foot Mountain Range, and it seemed to be related to the fierce battle that had happened many years ago, which was why he had come all the way here to look for it. When he saw the Tier 6 Fire Spirit Lion, Yun Yi was already confident that the news was real. Because there was a trace of the Vermillion Bird¡¯s aura within the Fire Spirit Lion¡¯s powers! Although it was extremely weak, to Yun Yi, it was enough to determine many things. Sure enough, the Vermillion Bird was sealed under this mountain! Even though it was a Tier 9 primordial beast, this Vermillion Bird had just been born, so it wouldn¡¯t be a difficult task for him to capture it. But unexpectedly, the Vermillion Bird had directly forced itself into Mu Linghan¡¯s body! Mu Linghan had exhausted all of his Yuan Energy at this time, and he simply would not be able to withstand the Vermillion Bird¡¯s powers! The final result would only end up with Mu Linghan bursting into flames and burning to death! And the longer the time passed, the Vermillion Bird¡¯s energy would only continue to grow. When the time comes to deal with it again, it would just become very troublesome. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like there wasn¡¯t an easy way to deal with this. As long as he killed off Mu Linghan fast enough, the Vermillion Bird would naturally have nowhere to hide. However¡­ Yun Yi stared at Mu Linghan, who was lying on the ground. The young man¡¯s thin body was now curled up, and he looked as though he wouldn¡¯t be able to ensure a single hit. His jade-like face was not flushed red, and he looked like a hot iron. His brows were tightly knitted together, and he looked to be holding back. It must be extremely painful for him right now. The silver sword in Yun Yi¡¯s hand shone brightly, but he didn¡¯t make any more. Bang! Mu Qinglan seemed to have lost all reasoning in the pain she was feeling and curled up on the ground. Her hands clenched tightly and gripped the rough, bloodstained ground with both hands! The slender, white hands had already become bruised and battered from the action! Everything in her body was on fire, and even her blood felt like it was boiling. Naturally, it was a pain that ordinary people would not be able to endure. However, Mu Qinglan was nothing if not determined to finish something that had started. She didn¡¯t let out a single groan at the pain she felt, and not even a scream. This was also a terrifying picture to look at, and one would tremble if they were to watch her right now. A fleeting frown crossed Yun Yi¡¯s face. For some reason, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind¡­ Perhaps Mu Linghan would not die here. Forget about how Mu Linghan was only at Rank 1 Yuan Energy right now, even at the peak of his power, he mostly still wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the Vermillion Bird¡¯s power, but¡­ Looking at the young man who was clearly in pain, clutching at the rough ground and leaving streaks of blood behind, yet still refusing to make any sound, Yun Yi suddenly felt that something unexpected would happen, though it wouldn¡¯t necessarily be true. He suddenly had a strange feeling that Mu Linghan would live. In the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, even Yun Yi had gone through a lot of danger and tethered between life and death before. The pair of siblings had of course also gone through a lot of danger, but they had persisted, what if in the end¡­ His eyes moved slightly, and he suddenly reached out his hand to press on Mu Linghan¡¯s wrist. ¡°This is the last time I¡¯ll save you, we¡¯re¡­ even now.¡± A low murmuring sound rang out, and it was unclear who it was spoken to. A surge of dense Yuan Energy instantly entered Mu Qinglan¡¯s body! ¡°What pure Yuan Energy!¡± Xue You said in surprise. Mu Qinglan naturally felt this movement, and her brain finally cleared up a little. This wave of energy was extremely familiar to her. It was Yun Yi. He had actually helped her? But, Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t have the luxury of time to think about this too much. Even a fool knew that she was in a critically dangerous moment right now! Xue You still wanted her to entertain the idea he had for the Tier 9 Vermillion Bird. Forget about how her body wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand such a strong power. Even if the contract really succeeded, she simply did not have the excess energy to subdue the Vermillion Bird! Xue You naturally knew what was in her mind, and he suddenly snorted. ¡°Girl, even if you want to die, it isn¡¯t an easy matter. This Vermillion Bird wants to dominate your body so that it can buy time to grow its strength. Heh, what an idiot.¡± His lazy, hoarse voice seemed to come slowly from a bottomless abyss, which made one¡¯s heart and soul tremble when one heard it. It also seemed to come from the distant skies, with a heavy pressure behind his words! ¡°Does it think that this place is one that it can come and go as it pleases?!¡± Just as the words were said, Mu Qinglan felt a sudden jerk from the black jade tablet in her consciousness! A faint glow suddenly appeared on that dull, pitch black surface! ¡°Girl, a chance!¡± Xue You let out a sharp cry, and Mu Qinglan¡¯s head was completely clear and snapped her eyes opened! Inside her body, where her Qi seemed to have all but dried up in her dantian, suddenly trembled! A momentum that seemed to rock the earth and heavens broke out! Mu Qinglan gritted her teeth. She was actually going to fall below Rank 1 Yuan Energy at such a moment?! Yun Yi could immediately perceive the movement within Mu Qinglan, and cast her a doubtful glance, only to find the originally passed out young man to have suddenly opened his eyes! That usually bright and clear eyes now had faint traces of blood red color in it! At the same time, a powerful and boundless wave of energy suddenly erupted from Mu Qinglan¡¯s body, which instantly engulfed her entire body! Yun Yi felt a dense, overwhelming force suddenly come forth, instantly expelling his Yaun Energy from Mu Linghan¡¯s body! Sensing that something was wrong, his face turned grave as he immediately retreated! Boom! The moment he left, a black blast of Yuan Energy immediately slammed into where he had just been standing seconds ago! Several huge cracks appeared on the ground from the impact! Yun Yi moved instantly, the glow from the silver sword in his hand growing brighter as he placed it in front of his body, keeping his eyes fixed on Mu Qinglan. And then, he watched as the bloodied youth in front of him slowly climbed up from the ground and sat down with his legs crossed, hands folded in front of his body. He had actually got in a position that people generally used to cultivate! It was also at this time that Yun Yu clearly saw in the depths of the youth¡¯s pupils, an indescribably dense tendrils of black started to spread outwards! It was as though there were starbursts exploding into bright sparks! Inside Mu Qinglan¡¯s body, the glow from the broken black jade tablet had scattered like stars, and formed a black pentagram formation that one could see from afar! A mysterious, terrifying power suddenly erupted from it! The Vermillion Bird had just entered Mu Qinglan¡¯s sea of consciousness at this point, and also finally sensed that something was wrong! It immediately wanted to leave! However, at this point, the Vermillion Bird was already enveloped by the bright light from that formation! Screech! The Vermillion Bird was suddenly struck by a sense of deadly crisis, and immediately flapped its wings with the intention to leave! However, the bright star formation ruthlessly held it down! Traces of blood immediately appeared on the Vermillion Bird¡¯s body! The overwhelming force smothered its own powers! Inside Mu Qinglan¡¯s body, the black and red fire blended with each other even as they fought fiercely! Then, it merged into her blood vessels and bones! Under the refinement of the two forces, her veins and bones were reborn, becoming incredibly tough and stronger than ever! Between life and death, all the bones in her body had been reformed! The Vermillion Bird raised its head and looked at the black pentagram formation, a trace of deep-rooted fear finally flashing in its eyes! Mu Qinglan looked at it and said indifferently, ¡°Submit¡­ or die!¡± Chapter 14 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The pentagram formation floated silently in the air, easily suppressing the Vermillion Bird underneath it which was unable to move a single muscle. Hearing Mu Qinglan¡¯s voice, a new wave of struggle flashed through the Vermillion Bird¡¯s eyes. As a Tier 9 primordial beast, the arrogance ingrained in its blood and bones made it not easy to submit, especially to a human who was not even at the level of a Novice! The Vermillion Bird had waited for so long to get the opportunity to come out of the world, but it never expected to meet Yun Yi. It thought it could escape that disaster by relying on this human, but it never imagined that this human would be even more difficult to deal with! It wanted to live, but¡­ The Vermillion Bird raised its head to look at the pentagram formation that enveloped it, and thought about the attack it had suffered from the formation. It couldn¡¯t help but cower for a moment, and it was also unable to hide the deep fear in its eyes. ¡°Pfft.¡± A soft laugh suddenly rang out. The Vermillion Bird immediately looked around suspiciously, and finally found that the sound had come from the broken black tablet that was beneath the pentagram formation. That¡­ The pentagram formation had actually come from that jade tablet! ¡°The Vermillion Bird clan has always been of such virtue. They think themselves to be invincible, always arrogant to the fault and never wanting to submit. They think themselves to be highly noble and all-powerful.¡± When the Vermillion Bird heard that, the crimson feathers on its body immediately stood up as it bristled! It looked at the black jade tablet with fury in its eyes! Who was this person? How dare they speak with such an arrogant tone! Xue You was not bothered to bicker with the insignificant bird, and said to Mu Qinglan in a lazy tone, ¡°It seems that it doesn¡¯t want to submit. It¡¯s not a problem, since this thing has already fused with your flesh and blood. You can disperse its soul with just a single thought, and just get rid of this eyesore.¡± When Mu Qinglan heard this, she glanced at the Vermillion Bird once again. With just a fleeting thought, the black jade tablet seem to respond to her thoughts, and the pentagram formation trembled slightly. Screeeeech! Just that faint fluctuation caused the Vermillion Bird to suddenly let out a mournful wail! Then, it fell to the ground in pain! The power in its body seemed to be drained away by the pentagram formation above it! In just a few moments, half its energy had been drained! Now, the Vermillion Bird has finally panicked. It wailed and hissed miserably, and finally opened its beak to speak, ¡°Wait!¡± That overwhelming crazy energy finally stopped. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m willing to¡­ enter into a contract with you¡­¡± The Vermillion Bird¡¯s breath shriveled as it spoke. It didn¡¯t expect to encounter such a situation as soon as it emerged into the world, but there was no other way right now. It could only go along with it for now. ¡°Who said I wanted to enter into a contract with you?¡± The Vermillion Bird froze. This human had been tormenting it for so long, yet it was not for a contract? ¡°What I said¡­ was for you to submit. Do you understand?¡± The Vermillion Bird stared incredulously at Mu Qinglan. This person¡­ this person! ¡°From today on, we have a master-servant relationship. You have to follow my orders down to the last word, and not disobey it at any time, do you understand?¡± The Vermillion Bird trembled, feeling humiliation wash over it. ¡°I am one of the Vermillion Birds, born to be a Tier 9 primordial beast. I am able to do many things that many would not, and I am a noble being. You¡­ You would have me be your servant?!¡± Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows. ¡°There is a saying, to be the meat on someone¡¯s chopping board, which means you are at my mercy right now. I don¡¯t have much patience right now, so if you can¡¯t do it¡­¡± As she spoke, the pentagram formation started to press down once more! Panic flashed in the Vermillion Bird¡¯s eyes, and the struggle in its heart was obvious before it finally closed its eyes and hissed out, ¡°I agree!¡± Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if it had agreed early on? However, this was the actual nature of a Vermillion Bird. They were arrogant and proud, so it was better to knock them down a peg first. Mu Qinglan smiled, and with a fleeting thought, a powerful suction force came from the black jade tablet and swallowed the Vermillion Bird instantly! ¡°You girl, have simplified matters clearly, but you never even asked if I was willing to share a space with the Vermillion Bird.¡± Though Xue You¡¯s words were such, there was no bite in his tone. Rather, it sounded more teasing in nature. ¡°You¡¯re in a good mood, so you naturally wouldn¡¯t have cared about these things.¡± Xue You laughed. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m in a good mood?¡± Mu Qinglan said, ¡°You¡¯ve waited for so long for this day. Though there were many troubles along the way, the black jade tablet fused with me in the end and you¡¯ve achieved your purpose. So, you¡¯re obviously in a good mood right now.¡± ¡°Girl, you¡¯re really like an imp as usual.¡± It was unknown how long Xue You had been inside the black jade tablet in its endless darkness, and he had almost lost confidence in everything when he had met Mu Qinglan. Because of that, he finally had the opportunity to see the light again, and even take steady steps towards his goal. Naturally, his mood was good now. ¡°Although there were many accidents on the way, your bloodline has benefited from the refinement from both the black jade tablet and the Vermillion Bird¡¯s fire. Your blood and bones have grown to an extremely strong degree, and it¡¯s definitely stronger than many people. Adding on the fact that your previously damaged meridians have now been reformed, cultivating in the future for you will be advantageous. You¡¯re the envy of countless people on this continent right now.¡± Mu Qinglan shook her head and smiled. ¡°To become strong, this is only the first step.¡± Then, her primordial spirit condensed, and the pentagram formation gradually dissipated. Her sea of consciousness returned to its calm state. But, compared to before, that broken black jade tablet looked even more eye-catching right now. In the center of the tablet, there was constantly black Yuan Energy gathering around it. Even though it was an extremely thin layer right now, Mu Qinglan was already able to feel how overwhelming the power was! When her body finally fully recovered, the strange color in her pupils also slowly faded. Her eyes gradually cleared up and brightened. Then, she saw something white in the corner of her eyes. Mu Qinglan froze, then followed the item upwards. It was Yun Yi¡¯s white robes, and he was standing quietly in front of her, observing her with his deep, soulful eyes. Everything just now¡­ had he seen everything? That was the thought that flashed in Mu Qinglan¡¯s mind, when Yun Yi¡¯s clear, cold voice suddenly rang out from above her head. ¡°How do you plan to pay me back for the thing you¡¯ve stolen from me?¡± *** In the dense forest, two figures walked, one in front and one at the back. The one walking in front was a youth wearing white robes. He looked elegant and aloof, with not a hint of dirt on his clothes. His features were gorgeous, but he had a hard look on his face, and the aura emanating from him was chillingly cold, which made it hard for others to approach him. As for the person behind him, he had a slender, thin body. Although he was walking with a straight back, there were messy bloodstains on his clothes, he didn¡¯t cut a sorry figure. Instead, there was a light smile on his lips, which made his handsome face look beautiful. After walking for a while, the young man who was at the back finally couldn¡¯t help but rub his brow and said exasperatedly, ¡°Yun Yi, we don¡¯t have any deep grudge between us. We¡¯re even considered to be close friends by now, right? Can¡¯t you just give me a little face? I didn¡¯t deliberately steal that Vermillion Bird from you, really. It ran over to me on its own. It¡¯s a Tier 9 primordial beast, how could I have done anything about it? It¡¯s in a contract with me already now, and if you want it, you¡¯d have to kill me or take me along with you.¡± Yun Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around and fixed his eyes on Mu Qinglan. Mu Qinglan¡¯s heart jumped in her chest at the sudden movement. This kid, could he have seen something through her? She continued, ¡°By the way, you can¡¯t take me away either. I¡¯m still in the middle of participating in my family trial! The three days are up now, and if I don¡¯t go back, I¡¯m afraid there will be trouble. I¡¯m running for first place in this trial after all.¡± Yun Yi¡¯s eyes flickered slightly for a moment before he turned around. ¡°The two of you who almost got first place in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm¡­ Nowadays, you¡¯re even interested in a mere trial like this?¡± The corners of Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up, and she seemed to give him an easy smile, but there was sharpness in her eyes as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve always been interested in being number one, but I¡¯m more interested in people who want to go against me.¡± She suddenly took a step forward to pat Yun Yi¡¯s shoulder, who immediately took a step back to avoid her hand. Mu Qinglan was not bothered. She raised an eyebrow and smiled at him again. ¡°If you really want to solve this matter regarding the Vermillion Bird, how about waiting until I¡¯ve gone back to take care of some matters first?¡± Yun Yi looked at the easy smile on her face, and the arch of her dashing brows before he unknowingly opened his mouth to reply. ¡°Fine..¡± Chapter 15 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Mu family¡¯s family trial was held every year at the Nine Foot Mountain Range, but there were some minor problems this year. Initially, they held the trial at the edge of the mountain range, where only Tier 1 primordial beasts could be found, and maybe an occasional Tier 2, which only those at the level of Novice would be able to deal with. And it was also relying on the number of Yuan Cores that those who participated were able to gather and the level of the cores to determine the ranking in the trial. But this year, for some reason, when the Mu family people entered Nine Foot Mountain Range, something strange happened. There were an unusual amount of primordial beasts at the edge of the mountain range, and as they went slightly further in, they even encountered Tier 3 and Tier 4 beasts! This not only shocked the fledglings from the Mu family, but also those adventurers who wandered around the Nine Foot Mountain Range all year round! Luo Xi City was a small place after all, and there weren¡¯t many strong people here. If they encountered primordial beasts of this tier, it was obvious they would lose. If one were to compare the trial and one¡¯s life, the latter was more important. Although the people were more scattered, once the three-day trial time was up, basically everyone came back safely. The head of the Mu Mansion, Mu Yan, and several elders who were waiting also breathed a sigh of relief once they saw this situation. ¡°What happened at the Nine Foot Mountain Range? Something has caused all the primordial beasts to flee.¡± ¡°The mountain range is huge, and if we want to find out the reason, I think it¡¯s impossible. The fact that we were able to save the lives of these children is already good enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it has always been safe enough, but this year, I don¡¯t know what happened. It¡¯s lucky that those primordial beasts had not gone mad and gone on a killing spree. Otherwise, all these fledglings would have died in the mountain range, and our Mu family would have suffered heavy losses!¡± Several elders whispered and chattered amongst themselves, curious about the situation, but thankful for how it had ended. Mu Yan sat at the head of the table. Naturally, he was also puzzled, but it wasn¡¯t something for people like them to poke their noses into even if something had really happened. Right now, the more important matter was still the fledglings of the family. Thinking of such, he looked at a man who was standing on the stage in front of him. ¡°Have you finished the headcount?¡± The man looked back and brought his fist together in a salute. ¡°Reporting to Master Mu Yan, I¡¯ve checked the numbers. A total of 239 people entered Nine Foot Mountain Range for the trial, and a total of 221 people have returned.¡± Mu Yan¡¯s face was solemn. ¡°18 people are missing?¡± The man nodded in response. The elders looked at each other. 18 missing from 200 over people who had participated. The numbers actually didn¡¯t differ too much from the previous years. Only¡­ they were all still youngsters in the end, and it was a pity that they ended up this way. Mu Yan nodded and said in a heavy voice, ¡°I understand. According to the rules, all of them will be given proper burials and compensation.¡± The man seemed to hesitate a little and didn¡¯t respond to that. ¡°What is it? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Mu Yan¡¯s voice was strict. The man hurriedly answered, ¡°Among these 18 people, we couldn¡¯t find 5 corpses, Master Mu Yan.¡± Mu Yan froze, then jumped to his feet abruptly. ¡°How can they not have been found? Who are they?¡± The atmosphere in the area suddenly froze when these words were spoken. Everyone looked over, especially those youths who had just gone through the family trial. They all looked towards the man anxiously as they held their breath. Who were the people who were so unlucky that even their corpses could not be found? ¡°Mu Lianhai, Mu Danchuan, Mu Tie, Mu Yang¡­¡± The man rattled off several names, and the faces of many people among the crowd changed slightly. Those were the names of the people who usually followed Mu Ye¡­ At this moment, everyone¡¯s gaze looked in a specific direction. There, Mu Ye, who was still injured, stood. His expression was cold and solemn, and when he felt the gaze of the crowd, he coldly snorted. Mu Yan also looked over and said in a heavy voice, ¡°Mu Ye, I remember that when the trial started, these few people all followed you into the Nine Foot Mountain Range, didn¡¯t they?¡± Mu Ye took a few steps forward and bowed. ¡°Yes, they did.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t their bodies be found? You all were moving as a small team, tell us what happened.¡± Mu Ye, however, looked at the man who had been reporting the headcount and asked, ¡°You said that there were a total of 5 corpses that were missing. So, who is the last person?¡± The man was stunned, and then looked as though he was struggling at the question. Mu Yan frowned. ¡°Who is the last person?¡± The man hesitated a while more before finally saying, ¡°Master Mu Yan, the last person is¡­ ¡°Mu Linghan.¡± The area plunged into dead silence. Mu Yan and the other elders were not expecting that, and their faces also sank. Mi Linghan was already a cripple in terms of power, and in the end, he was still the patriarch of the main clan¡¯s grandson. He had only been here a few months, and now, even his corpse could not be found? How were they going to explain this to the main clan? Although it was possible that the main clan would not be bothered with an invalid, but¡­ When Mu Ye heard this, he smiled wryly. ¡°Master Mu Yan, the answer to your question about why the bodies of the people in my team are missing, is Mu Linghan!¡± Mu Yan¡¯s heart thumped in his chest. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Mu Ye sneered. ¡°After we entered the Nine Foot Mountain Range, Mu Linghan was the one who unknowingly led us into the depths of the mountain range. It didn¡¯t take long for us to encounter a Tier 2 primordial beast, a Brown Striped White Tiger!¡± A few elders were shocked, and jumped to their feet. ¡°A Brown Striped White Tiger? How is that possible?!¡± Even though it was a Tier 2 primordial beast, it rarely frequented the edge of the mountain range at all because they moved in packs! How could their small team have provoked the Brown Striped White Tigers?! ¡°Master Mu Yan, Elders, the injuries on my body are the best proof!¡± Mu Ye said angrily. ¡°If there was only one Brown Striped White Tiger, we could have dealt with it fine. That Brown Striped White Tiger injured me seriously, and I was just about to get everyone to safety when Mu Linghan suddenly struck out to kill the beast! ¡°Elders, all of you must know that killing one Brown Striped White Tiger is equivalent to offending the entire pack! So, before we had time to escape, we were already surrounded!¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Once Mu Ye said those words, a low cry of alarm came from the crowd. They all looked at Mu Ye with fear and concern in their eyes. So, it wasn¡¯t difficult to understand how those few people had died after all. Mu Ye gritted his teeth, obviously filled with indignation. ¡°We were in a deadly situation, and none of us knew just how evil Mu Linghan was. To save himself, he actually secretly used the others as his shield! To buy time for his own escape, he even threw them to the Brown Striped White Tigers!¡± The whole courtyard was once again plunged into a deadly silence. How ruthless and vicious! That Mu Linghan was really repulsive and hateful! ¡°I wanted to save them, but I could barely save myself. I was already struggling to protect myself, and I could only watch before my eyes as they were bitten to death¡­¡± As Mu Ye spoke, his eyes reddened and his body trembled slightly, filled with grief and anger. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t already broken through to become a Novice, I¡¯m afraid it would have been difficult for me to escape death too. After I managed to get away with much difficulty, I went back once more to look again, and found that Mu Linghan had also been dragged into the pack of Brown Striped White Tigers¡­¡± The crowd sighed. If so, then Mu Linghan really deserved to die! It was only unfortunate for the few others who had been used as his meat shield all in order to save himself¡­ Mu Ye raised his head, his eyes filled with grief and anger, and suddenly knelt down on one knee and said in a heavy voice, ¡°I failed to protect the people in my team, and I failed to bring them back safely. I ask that you punish me, Master Mu Yan! But, since Mu Linghan has already died, I plead that you don¡¯t pursue and hold him accountable! I¡¯m willing to bear the burden instead!¡± The time limit for the family trial was up, and since Mu Linghan still had not return after so long, then he must be dead! It was only a pity that Mu Ye couldn¡¯t personally kill him to vent his anger! Mu Ye kept his eyes lowered, hiding the hint of viciousness in them. Clap, clap, clap! Suddenly, the sound of crisp clapping came, and a voice tinged with laughter rang out clearly, ¡°That was wonderful! Even I almost believed it!¡± Everyone present turned around, only to see a young man with an upright posture stepping forward! Chapter 16 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Mu Linghan!¡± Mu Ye instantly got up from the ground in shock, staring wide-eyed at the young man who was making his way towards them! Mu Linghan was alive? How was that possible?! Mu Yan and the elders were also surprised, and they watched as Mu Linghan came over in shock. The boy¡¯s clothes were torn badly, and full of bloodstains. By rights, he should look absolutely wretched with that appearance, but the state of his clothes did nothing to hide his handsome features and upright posture. Even so, a noble aura emanated from his body, which unconsciously intimidated the people around him. As the youth walked in, the crowd which filled the area, immediately scattered to part a way for him to walk. Mu Ye clenched his fist tightly, fixing a deadly glare on Mu Qinglan, looking as though he wanted to just rush up right at her face. Soon, Mu Qinglan reached Mu Ye. ¡°How can you still be alive?!¡± Mu Ye bellowed, finally unable to hold himself back. Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows, sizing up Mu Ye. She waited until she could see goosebumps appearing on his skin before she finally calmly said, ¡°What¡¯s this, are you surprised I¡¯m still alive?¡± Surprised? That wasn¡¯t the only thing he was feeling right now! Forget about Mu Ye, even Mu Yan and the elders were filled with doubts at this moment. Mu Yan leveled a stern look at Mu Qinglan, but inwardly, he felt relieved. In any case, Mu Linghan still had a status regardless of whether he was a cripple. The main clan would probably not ask after him in this lifetime, but if he really died, Mu Yan would still have a hard time giving the main clan an explanation. Mu Yan was also aware of the grudge between Mu Linghan and Mu Ye, but he hadn¡¯t placed any significance on it. In this world, those who were strong were the winners. Even if Mu Linghan was bullied endlessly, he only had himself to blame for being weak. But right now, the situation was clearly not as straightforward as everyone had thought. Mu Yan took a step forward, his eyes still on Mu Qinglan as he said in a deep voice, ¡°Linghan, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard everything Mu Ye said just now. Do you have anything to refute?¡± Mu Qinglan shrugged, her lips curling into a smile that didn¡¯t meet her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue about anything he said just now.¡± The moment she said these words, the onlooking crowd was secretly surprised, and even the elders¡¯ faces twisted a little at that. Mu Yan furrowed his brows. ¡°So, you¡¯re admitting what Mu Ye said was all true?¡± Mu Qinglan snorted, then said slowly, ¡°Everything he said was nothing more than bullsh*t. I don¡¯t have the time to argue with him about all of that.¡± A touch of annoyance immediately surfaced on Mu Ye¡¯s face. ¡°You!¡± Silence fell over the area. No one had expected Mu Qinglan to be so nonchalant when speaking, after all. Mu Yan was at a loss for words. Mu Linghan had already been reduced to being trash, but his attitude was still the same, as unrestrained and brazen as ever! ¡°In that case, you¡¯re not acknowledging anything he has said. Then, tell us what exactly happened in the Nine Foot Mountain Range. Mu Lianhai and the other three, why are their corpses missing?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a simple thing?¡± Mu Qinglan raised her chin, the corner of her lips tinged with a smile and a mocking light in her eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t this guy already give an account of what he did?¡± The crowd watched quietly as the scene unfolded in front of them. Mu Linghan and Mu Ye were accusing each other of killing their companions? Then, which of the two were telling the truth? When Mu Yan heard this, his face became even graver. ¡°Since the two of you are saying this, then show me evidence.¡± Evidence? Those people were already dead, and the two left alive were pointing fingers at each other, how could they have any evidence? Mu Ye was extremely frustrated, and he shot Mu Qinglan a fierce glare and said in a hateful voice, ¡°Mu Linghan is a cripple, and to save his own life, he naturally would do anything! Lianhai and the others were my brothers, and we were all very close! How could I kill them? On the contrary, Mu Linghan has been displeased with me for a long time, and we just didn¡¯t expect him to secretly plot to kill us in the family trial!¡± Mu Ye then turned to Mu Yan and said, ¡°Master Mu Yan, Mu Linghan has a vicious heart, and although I don¡¯t know how he survived, I think he must have used some dirty tricks. Such a person should not be left alive! I beg you, Master Mu Yan, please bring justice and avenge Lianhai and the rest!¡± A lot of people nodded in agreement at Mu Ye¡¯s statement. Since his team had encountered Tier 2 primordial beasts, the situation was naturally critical, and it didn¡¯t seem strange to them that Mu Linghan, who was a weakling, would have done any of those things. Mu Yan looked at Mu Qinglan. ¡°What do you have to say?¡± Mu Qinglan snorted. ¡°Just as Mu Ye has said, I¡¯m just a cripple right now. In that case, why was my first reaction when I encountered a Brown Striped White Tiger was to kill it, and not to run away from it?¡± The murmurs in the crowd quieted down abruptly at that. Mu Ye¡¯s expression also darkened, screaming inwardly that the situation was looking bad for him. ¡°What¡¯s even more strange is that I, a cripple and trash, not only killed the Brown Striped White Tiger, but also dragged several other people who were obviously stronger than me to be my scapegoat, and even managed to come back safely in the end¡­¡± Mu Qinglan blinked, a strange smile spreading on her lips. ¡°If that was the case, then I really am such powerful trash.¡± The moment Mu Qinglan opened her mouth. Mu Ye could already tell it wouldn¡¯t end well. He had forgotten that Mu Linghan was a very shameless person. He had claimed he was a cripple and had Mu Ye and the others deal with the beasts while he lazed around on the tree, after all! Now even in front of so many people, Mu Linghan could still easily admit that he was trash, and had reversed the entire situation at the drop of a hat! Everyone knew that Mu Linghan was only a Rank 7 Yuan Energy before this, and by saying what he did, no one would suspect anything! On the contrary, Mu Ye, who had said too much previously, now had his words thrown back in his face because of Mu Linghan¡¯s one sentence which said he was trash! After many people finally reacted, they all looked towards Mu Ye with unfathomable expressions on their faces. Mu Ye¡¯s palms were sweaty, and his heart was thumping wildly in his chest. This Mu Linghan really was a scourge! ¡°Master Mu Yan, you don¡¯t know this, but Mu Linghan has some sort of trick up his sleeves. He was the one who deliberately lured those Brown Striped White Tigers to us!¡± Sounds of displeasure immediately came from the crowd at his words. Even Mu Yan had twisted into an ugly expression, and he instantly rebuked Mu ye angrily, ¡°Mu Ye! Use your head properly before you speak! Linghan isn¡¯t even a Novice! How could he have lured those Brown Striped White Tigers over?!¡± Mu Ye was now panicked and anxious. ¡°Master Mu Yan! I¡¯m telling the truth! Mu Linghan is¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Mu Yan had enough of the nonsense dragging on. Only the two in front of him knew the entirety of what truly happened, and in this confrontation, both were insisting on their own version of truth. The others were dead, so there was no way to investigate it either. Further discussion would be meaningless here. ¡°We¡¯ll put aside this matter for the moment. Both of you, don¡¯t cause anymore trouble, or you will be severely punished. Understand?¡± The corner of Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°You are wise indeed, Master Mu Yan.¡± Mu Ye was filled with extreme hatred, but he had to suppress his anger and said reluctantly, ¡°As you say, Master Mu Yan.¡± ¡°Alright. Many unforeseen things have happened in this trial, but we¡¯ll put all those aside for now. Since everyone has returned, let¡¯s proceed with the judging!¡± One of the elders stepped forward and said in a loud voice, ¡°Whoever retrieves the highest grade and most number of Yuan Core will be first in this trial! Now, for those who have obtained a Tier 2 Yuan Core, step forward! Report your numbers!¡± Those who were able to obtain a Tier 2 Yuan Core were already considered to be good, and they would have the strength to fight to the top in the family. Among the crowd, some immediately stepped forward. Just by a rough glance, there were almost 30 of them. ¡°Mu Zhongbei, one Tier 2 basic grade Yuan Core!¡± ¡°Mu Ying, two Tier 2 intermediate grade Yuan Core!¡± ¡°Mu Sanyuan, three Tier 2 basic grade, and one Tier 2 intermediate grade Yuan Core!¡± The voices called out one after another, and there were others among the crowd who were envious, while some were disappointed. Being able to obtain a Tier 2 Yuan Core was already good, but the cores were also divided into three grades. The higher the grade, the better the result, naturally. The faces of the elders finally seem to improve as they listened to the results, which were not bad in their opinion. Soon, almost everyone was done reporting the Yuan Cores in their hands. However, no one had obtained a Tier 2 peak grade Yuan Core. Mu Yan and the elders had slight disappointment in their eyes, but they had more or less expected these results from the beginning. Those who could obtain Tier 2 peak grade Yuan Cores were geniuses that they valued the most, but it wasn¡¯t every year that they would get one. One of the elders looked at Mu Ye and suddenly recalled that Mu Ye had escaped from the Brown Stripe White Tigers. Although it was an extremely critical situation, perhaps he had amazing results¡­ ¡°Mu Ye, where is the Yuan Core that you obtained?¡± When the crowd heard the question, they all turned to look at Mu Ye. Mu Ye raised his chin slightly when he was addressed, and he clasped his hands together in a salute and said, ¡°I¡¯m not very talented. I only managed to obtain one Tier 2 peak grade Yuan Core.¡± The entire courtyard was in an uproar at that. Mu Yan and the elders also looked happy at the report. ¡°Really?¡± Mu Ye smiled and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the YUan Core of that Brown Striped White Tiger.¡± The crowd started their noisy chatter once again. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s getting first place for sure!¡± ¡°Yeah! A Tier 2 peak grade Yuan Core¡­ That¡¯s amazing!¡± Mu Ye, however, looked at Mu Qinglan, who had yet to move from his side and didn¡¯t look as though she had any intentions of doing so. So, Mu Ye asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your Yuan Core? Why don¡¯t you take it out?¡± Mu Qinglan shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have a Tier 2 Yuan Core.¡± As expected of trash! He didn¡¯t even get a Tier 2 Yuan Core! A smug glint flashed in Mu Ye¡¯s eyes, and the corners of his lips were just about to lift upwards when he heard Mu Qinglan continue calmly. ¡°I only have a Tier 6 Yuan Core..¡± Chapter 17 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The entire courtyard was plunged into a dead silence once again that day. When everyone heard those words, they were all frozen on the spot, and none of them looked like they could react. Mu Yan¡¯s expression changed, his heart skipping a beat. Then, he frowned and said in his deep voice, ¡°Linghan, although you and Mu Ye don¡¯t get along with each other, that¡¯s ultimately a private matter between the two of you. The family trial is not a place where you can thoughtlessly run your mouth off.¡± The meaning behind Mu Yan¡¯s words was clear, he obviously thought that Mu Qinglan¡¯s words were lies to poke back at Mu Ye. The other elders, who looked shocked, also calmed down after hearing that. That¡¯s right, Mu Linghan was just trash right now, how was it possible for him to have obtained a Tier 6 Yuan Core? Even for them, it was absolutely impossible! Mu Ye laughed coldly from the side. ¡°Mu Linghan, you didn¡¯t go crazy from getting all worked up, have you?¡± A Tier 6 Yuan Core? How extremely arrogant of him! Mu Linghan really did think he was some kind of big shot, didn¡¯t he? The surrounding people also gradually calmed down from their shock as they listened to the exchanged words, but the gazes on Mu Linghan had now changed. Some had sympathy in their eyes, while some had surprise, mockery, and also ridicule. Mu Qinglan¡¯s face didn¡¯t change, her eyes sweeping calmly towards Mu Ye. ¡°Just because you can¡¯t do it, it doesn¡¯t mean that others can¡¯t.¡± The mocking smile on Mu Ye¡¯s lips froze suddenly. Mu Qinglan turned to look at Mu Yan. ¡°It seems that Master Mu Yan and the elders don¡¯t believe me either. Well, seeing is believing, right?¡± Having said that, she turned her palm over to show a blood-red Yuan Core in her hand. A powerful pressure burst out at once! Mu Yan¡¯s face changed instantly! He immediately took a step backward, his gaze still fixed on the Yuan Core that was in Mu Qinglan¡¯s hand. The Yuan Core was the size of a dragon¡¯s eye, and it was a dazzling red color. The red was intense and rich, and with just a glance, everyone could feel the dense and majestic power that swirled on the inside! A fierce, bold aura continued to cover the entire area! Looking carefully, there were even faint lines on it, and Mu Yan¡¯s heart was almost in his throat as he held his breath to count it. One line, two line, three line¡­ Four, five¡­ Looking at the last faint line, Mu Yan couldn¡¯t stop his lips from trembling, and he was stunned silent on the spot! As though he had received a great blow! ¡°I-It¡¯s true! I-it¡¯s really a Tier 6 Yuan Core!¡± An elder immediately shouted out in a somewhat shrill voice. Moreover, with such an overwhelming aura leaking out, it could only be a Tier 6 peak grade Yuan Core! How was this possible?! Hearing those words, the crowd was once again plunged into another round of silence, and those mocking smiles on their faces were frozen, looking very ridiculous. Mu Ye was the first to react, and since he was standing close to Mu Qinglan, he naturally could also see the six lines on the Yuan Core too! ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Mu Ye immediately raised his hand to point at Mu Qinglan, his face red with anger. ¡°This must be fake! You must have used some underhanded means to get this!¡± Mu Ye¡¯s scream and anger was extraordinary, and it pierced through the entire courtyard. ¡°You¡¯re just trash, how could you possibly obtain a Tier 6 Yuan Core? You despicable¡ª¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or not, Master Mu Yan and the elders know at a glance,¡± Mu Qinglan replied calmly as she looked at Mu Yan with raised eyebrows. Mu Ye choked back the last of his words, shooting a look at Mu Yan, obviously not willing to give up on this matter. This must be fake! It had to be! All eyes fell on Mu Yan as they waited with bated breath. Mu Yan stared for a long time before he slowly straightened up, took a deep breath and said, ¡°This is a real Tier 6 Yuan Core.¡± Woosh! This single sentence sent everyone present into a boiling frenzy! Only someone like the patriarch of the main family was able to enter into a contract with a Tier 6 primordial beast. To everyone present here, that was already an unattainable feat for them! Who would have thought that Mu Linghan would actually return with a Tier 6 Yuan Core? Didn¡¯t that mean that he had killed a Tier 6 primordial beast?! This¡­ was that even possible?! Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Master Mu Yan has a good eye. This is a Tier 6 Yuan Core from the Fire Spirit Lion.¡± Mu Yan and several elders were stunned once more, and one of them couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°A Fire Spirit Lion?¡± Mu Qinglan nodded. ¡°In the beginning, I entered the Nine Foot Mountain Range with Mu Ye and everyone else. Not wanting to be besieged by the Brown Striped White Tigers, Mu Ye threw the others into the lot of them and ran to save his own life. Of course, I still value my own life, so I escaped the first chance I got. The others¡­ well, even their corpses were not left behind.¡± Mu Ye, who had a dark expression on his face since a while ago, had his fist clenched tightly. The veins were popping out on his clenched first, and if it wasn¡¯t for the last shred of logic in his mind, he would have reached out to tear Mu Linghan to pieces by now! ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but I lost my way after that. I don¡¯t know how long I walked, but I found deeper into the mountain, there was some commotion, and many primordial beats were fleeing. I hid carefully and eventually found a cave. I wanted to take a break in it, but after I went in, I found a dead Fire Spirit Lion inside. I went in and took its Yuan Core.¡± She raised her chin slightly, and all eyes fell on the blood-red Yuan Core that was still in her palm. The energy pulsing from the core only grew thicker as moments passed. ¡°And that¡¯s how I got this.¡± Her tone was light, and her expression was relaxed, as though it was just a simple, idle matter she was talking about. However, the others were not as relaxed as her. Many people gave her dumbfounded looks, and even Mu Yan the others were stunned. These days, one could even just randomly pick up a Tier 6 Yuan Core when they took a walk outside?! When did something like this become so easy to obtain?! Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t care what these people were thinking on the inside. She flipped her wrist and kept the Yuan Core away, then asked, ¡°So, can we now judge who got first?¡± All chatter disappeared immediately, and a terrifying silence descended in the courtyard again. What a joke! Having a Tier 6 Yuan Core, that was a secured first place! All those people who had gotten Tier 2 Yuan Core now seemed like a joke! Even Mu Ye¡¯s enviable Tier 2 peak grade Yuan Core seemed like a joke now! Mu Qinglan raised her eyes and looked at Mu Yan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Master Mu Yan? Is it hard to tell who¡¯s first place?¡± Mu Yan looked at Mu Qinglan, but only saw that this usually silent youngster now looked like a sharp sword that had been unsheathed and was sharp beyond comparison! It made one terrified of trying to test just how sharp the blade could be! His heart shook, and he finally regained his senses completely. ¡°The first place for this year¡¯s family trial is Mu Ling¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Mu Ye suddenly shouted out loud, interrupting Mu Yan¡¯s words. ¡°Master Mu Yan, I have a question for Mu Linghan!¡± Mu Yan looked over with a frown on his face, but eventually, he nodded his head. Mu Ye looked at Mu Qinglan, then smiled sinisterly and asked, ¡°You said that it was a dead Fire Spirit Lion?¡± Mu Qinglan nodded. However, Mu Ye burst out laughing and cursed, ¡°Mu Linghan! Who do you think you¡¯re fooling? In Luo Xi City, no one can kill a Tier 6 primordial beast! Moreover, even if you really lucked out and happened to find a dead Fire Spirit Lion, why would the person not take the Yuan Core, and leave it for someone else instead?¡± That was a Tier 6 Yuan Core! Mu Linghan¡¯s lie was ridiculously hilarious! Mu Yan and the others were also silent. They wanted to believe it, but this¡­ really was not credible¡­ But, that Yuan Core was indeed real! They really wanted to know what really had happened. Mu Qinglan looked at Mu Ye as though he was an idiot, and was just about to speak when a clear, cold voice rang out! ¡°Because I¡¯m not the least interested in that kind of thing..¡± Chapter 18 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan stared at the white-clad figure in slight puzzlement. Why was Yun Yi here? They had agreed to wait for her to solve the matter here before talking about the Vermilion Bird. Yun Yi had an obviously proud and indifferent personality, so he wouldn¡¯t be willing to get involved in messy matters like this. Why did he suddenly appear? Yun Yi¡¯s footsteps were light, but his movements were swift. In the blink of an eye, he had already arrived in front of Mu Qinglan. Everyone in the courtyard was puzzled, and they all looked at the strange boy in white who had appeared suddenly, but they all kept quiet. For some reason, the youth had an invisible aura around him that made everyone fearful when they looked at him. Mu Yan immediately took a step forward, his face grave as he spoke in a firm voice, ¡°Who are you?!¡± Yun Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, but he merely spared Mu Yan a faint glance. In Yun Yi¡¯s jet-black eyes, there was not a hint of emotion in them. It was as though he thought an ant like Mu Yan was not worth his time. Mu Qinglan asked curiously, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Yun Yi glanced at her, and Mu Qinglan broke out into cold sweat instantly, swallowing the rest of her words back down into her stomach. Immediately after, she heard Yun Yi¡¯s cold voice speak right next to her ear, ¡°How disgraceful.¡± He was obviously talking about her. Mu Qinglan was even more confused. Disgraceful? Who had she disgraced? Naturally, she wasn¡¯t aware that Yun Yi had watched the entire proceedings in the courtyard from afar. Yun Yi had once regarded this person as a strong opponent, yet now he had been reduced into being insulted by such worthless ants. Somehow, it made Yun Yi inexplicably angry on the inside. The fact that Mu Linghan always had a carefree look on his face that said he didn¡¯t care much also made Yun Yi feel even more irritated. At the end of the day, when Yun Yi said Mu Qinglan was disgraceful, he meant that she had disgraced Yun Yi. However, Yun Yi was obviously not bothered to explain this to her. Right now, he walked past Mu Qinglan and continued forward. Mu Yan furrowed his brows. Yun Yi¡¯s defiant attitude was really annoying! ¡°How dare you! This is the Mu family residence, do you think just anyone can waltz in and spout nonsense?!¡± This person was obviously Mu Linghan¡¯s helper, and Mu Ye was naturally hostile to him. At these words, Yun Yi paused in his steps, then turned his head to finally look at Mu Ye. Mu Qinglan silently said a prayer for Mu Ye. Even she didn¡¯t dare to talk that way to Yun Yi. Mu Ye really was tired of life, and wanted to find a different way to die, didn¡¯t he? Mu Ye shuddered when the pitch-black eyes landed on him, and uneasiness inexplicably welled up in his heart. ¡°What are you looking at?!¡± Mu Ye barely managed to shout out, but it came out slightly weaker than he expected. Yun Yi opened his mouth, and an ice-cold tone that pierced all the way to one¡¯s bones rang out, ¡°You should be glad that I¡¯m not interested in killing you, as that would only dirty my hands.¡± It was a soft voice, but the pressure behind it was as heavy as rocks! It was cumbersome and smashed right into a person¡¯s heart! A powerful, overwhelming pressure pressed down on the courtyard instantly! The faces of everyone in the courtyard changed immediately! This young man¡­ Mu Yan felt his chest tighten, then he stepped forward and waved his hand. A wave of powerful Yuan Energy burst forth, trying to dissipate the impact caused by Yun Yi¡¯s Yuan Energy, only to find that his efforts were equivalent to using an egg to hit a rock! Completely pointless! He even felt his internal organs squeezing together, suffocating him incredibly! How could he not understand this? The strength of this young man who had suddenly appeared was probably way above theirs! Mu Yan hurriedly said, ¡°Your Excellency, let¡¯s talk! Please don¡¯t hurt any of my Mu family members!¡± Yun Yi acted as though he had not heard anything. ¡°Blargh!¡± Someone immediately couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and coughed up blood! It was like turning on a switch, and a good number of people followed right after, throwing up blood and falling to the ground one after another! Mu Ye¡¯s situation was even more serious as his face turned purple, his eyes wide open. He looked as though he was being strangled, but he couldn¡¯t move freely at all! Mu Qinglan had no doubt that the people here would end up seriously injured or dead if this continued. ¡°Yun Yi.¡± Mu Qinglan called out. ¡°This is my business, I can handle it myself.¡± Yun Yi¡¯s gaze landed on her. ¡°You have the time to leisurely deal with this, but I don¡¯t.¡± Mu Qinglan startled for a moment, then snorted lightly. She just knew this kid wasn¡¯t the kind to reach out a helping hand. As expected, it was because Yun Yi wanted to settle the matter with the Vermillion Bird quickly. Yun Yi continued looking at Mu Yan, then spoke in a cold voice, ¡°Just a Tier 6 Yuan Core is nothing. But, as far as my understanding goes, taking first place with it is incontestable. Are you saying you can¡¯t even distinguish this fact?¡± With such a naturally condescending tone, Mu Yan didn¡¯t dare to refute Yun Yi¡¯s words at all, and could only nod his head. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency is right. That is indeed a Tier 6 Yuan Core, and since Linghan retrieved it, he will naturally be first in the family trial! With Your Excellency¡¯s testimonial, we naturally do not doubt it now. But, please, have mercy and stay your hand, Your Excellency. The others in the courtyard have not done anything wrong!¡± Yun Yi, however, was unmoved. Mu Yan then turned his head to beg Mu Qinglan, ¡°Linghan, you came in first this time, there is no dispute about it! You¡¯re also a member of the Mu family, do you really want to do this to your own family?¡± Then, seemingly realizing something, he hurriedly continued, ¡°The personal grudge between you and Mu Ye can be settled between yourselves, there is no need to involve everyone.¡± Mu Qinglan was amused inwardly, and wanted to give Mu Yan a few mocking words. But then, she thought about how pointless it would be, so she turned to Yun Yi. ¡°Yun Yi, thank you very much. I will solve the matter with Mu Ye myself. As for the others, they really aren¡¯t involved.¡± Yun Yi turned to look at Mu Qinglan, and their eyes met. After a moment, Yun Yi nodded and said, ¡°In that case, I have done more than required.¡± Having said that, he retracted his hand, and the terrifying, dense pressure finally dissipated! Some of the people¡¯s faces had turned pale, while some were still coughing up a fresh wave of blood. The entire courtyard was in a mess. Mu Ye was naturally in a more miserable state. There was blood seeping out from his body, his breathing was short and heavy, and he was obviously severely injured. However, no one dared to say a word about it. Everyone looked at the white-clad figure with shock and fear, terrified in their hearts. If the pressure had continued to press down on them, they didn¡¯t know if they would have survived it! This young man¡­ just who was he?! And how did Mu Linghan manage to enlist the help of such a powerful person?! Just as Mu Yan was going to step forward and ask, he felt worry creep over him, and he forced himself to stop in his tracks. Yun Yi had already stopped paying attention to his surroundings and turned to Mu Qinglan instead. Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes were curved as a bright smile was on her good-looking face. ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± It was unexpected that Yun Yi would be willing to help her, but Mu Qinglan would now have less trouble with him showing his face here. Yun Yi was about to say something, when his expression shifted slightly and he looked towards Nine Foot Mountain Range. ¡°I have to leave first. I will return in a few days to retrieve my things.¡± Just as he finished speaking, his figure flashed and he disappeared on the spot! Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows. She hadn¡¯t even promised to return it¡­ Mu Yan finally couldn¡¯t hold back as he opened his mouth to ask, ¡°Linghan, what exactly is your relationship with that person?!¡± Mu Linghan actually had such a person to help him? If so, how did Mu Linghan end up in such a pathetic situation in the first place? Mu Qinglan spoke lazily, ¡°My creditor.¡± Mu Yan wanted to ask further, but Mu Qinglan changed the topic and said, ¡°Master Mu Yan, can I have the reward for placing first in the family trial?¡± She turned her gaze to look at Mu Ye, who was still shriveled up at the side, and her lips curled up in a smile. ¡°Also, accounts should be settled, and debts should be repaid.. Now, everything should have been cleared up, right?¡± Chapter 19 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Ye¡¯s breath was coming in weak gasps, and blood spilled out from the corner of his mouth. He was obviously severely injured. Although Mu Linghan was trash, he seemed to be unscathed at this moment. If the two exchanged blows, Mu Linghan would probably have a higher chance of winning. Mu Ye was panicking and worried because of Yun Yi¡¯s identity and background. In addition, Mu Ye was injured. He knew that if Mu Linghan decided to make a move now, Mu Ye would only be able to accept it, and things wouldn¡¯t end well for him. He had no doubt that Mu Linghan would take this chance to end him! After all, that youth was arrogant and unrestrained to the extreme! There wasn¡¯t anything Mu Linghan couldn¡¯t do! Although Mu Ye felt fear and hatred coursing through him, he knew that there would still be hope as long as he lived. So, he gave a cold snort and said darkly, ¡°Mu Linghan, don¡¯t think that just because you have someone to back you up, that everyone else will give you face! This is the Mu family! You¡¯re part of the Mu family! What¡¯s so great about relying on an outsider to show off your authority in front of your own family members?¡± Mu Ye¡¯s words immediately caused many people to nod in agreement secretly. In Yun Yi¡¯s anger just now, everyone in the courtyard had been injured to some extent. But, due to Yun Yi¡¯s domineering nature, obviously no one dared to say anything. However, at this moment, all the anger they felt previously was now directed at Mu Qinglan. A number of people spoke up right away, echoing Mu Ye¡¯s sentiments. ¡°That¡¯s right! The Mu family has always been upright and fair, what¡¯s so great about relying on others?!¡± ¡°Mu Linghan, you shouldn¡¯t go too far!¡± ¡°Even though you¡¯ve gotten first place in the family trial, we refuse to accept this outcome! Right, brothers?¡± Someone shouted, and at once the crowd rose up together. ¡°Right!¡± Mu Ye sneered and said, ¡°If you really have the guts, then let¡¯s have a duel on the training grounds in three days! That is, if you dare to accept this challenge!¡± In three days¡¯ time, his injuries would basically have recovered, and dealing with someone insignificant like Mu Linghan would be a trivial matter! Once these words were spoken, the crowd quieted down and gave Mu Qinglan an indescribable look. Mu Ye was actually issuing a challenge to Mu Linghan?! Matters like these would be a one-on-one match once both parties agree, and no one would be able to interfere! If Mu Linghan was afraid and rejected it, he would be infamous from now on, and would be ridiculed and scorned. If he agreed, then when the time comes, Mu Ye would definitely beat the crap out of him! Would Mu Linghan¡­ agree to it? Mu Yan frowned deeply, but he didn¡¯t want to see this matter drag on and fester into something worse. When people in the family had a grudge, most of them would issue a direct challenge and agree to have a duel in the training grounds. If there was no other way to settle the grudge between Mu Ye and Mu Linghan, then he was afraid this was the only solution left to them. But, it was obvious that these two would do everything in their power to kill each other! If Mu Linghan won, that was fine. But, if he lost¡­ Mu Yan recalled the extremely noble white-clad youth just now. His techniques had been extraordinary, and if he was angry with the Mu family because of how they had failed Mu Linghan¡­ Mu Yan couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill at the bottom of his heart, and was about to veto this proposal without much thought when a clear voice rang out. ¡°Fine.¡± All eyes fell on Mu Linghan! He actually agreed?! The youth, who was still covered in bloodstains, was smiling faintly, with a completely eased look on his face! He was openly displaying his brash nature in silence! Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t bother to pay attention to what the people around her were thinking, and was even less sympathetic towards them. Most of these people had been sneering at her since she arrived here. Since Yun Yi had made a move to help her just now, she would just suffer this favor. Then, she looked at Mu Yan and said, ¡°Master Mu Yan, now, you should give me what rightfully belongs to me, right?¡± *** Mu Qinglan raised her head to observe the tall building in front of her. The Tibetan Scripture Pavilion. All the cultivation manuals in Mu Mansion were kept here. Even though Mu Mansion was only a branch family, some heritage was still kept here. Otherwise, Mu Qinglan wouldn¡¯t have been bothered to get first place in the trial. Because usually, disciples simply didn¡¯t have the qualifications to even come near this place. Only those who ranked first in the yearly family trial would be able to enter and choose a cultivation method. The front of the building was unguarded. However, Mu Qinglan could clearly feel the transparent boundary barrier that enveloped the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion and the area around it. Mu Yan stepped forward and waved his hand, sending a ripple of energy through the air. ¡°Go on in, then.¡± Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows, then walked forward as instructed. Mu Yan explained in a deep voice, ¡°Once you go in, you will have the time of one incense stick to choose the manual you want. If you still have not chosen by then, you will be forcibly expelled, understand?¡± Mu Qinglan nodded and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master Mu Yan. I have experience.¡± Mu Yan was stunned, but Mu Qinglan had already disappeared into the boundary. Experience? It took a while before Mu Yan was able to react. Mu Linghan was probably talking about the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion in the main family residence, right? No matter how he was now, Mu Linghan was once an outstanding genius of the Mu family, so naturally, he would have qualified to enter and freely select cultivation manuals in the main family. However, who could have imagined that such a dazzling genius would one day be reduced to the point of struggling for manual scrolls in a small city like Luo Xi City? Mu Yan stared at the direction in which the tall and thin figure had disappeared for a long time before he slowly let out a sigh. *** After Mu Qinglan went in, the scene in front of her changed abruptly. When her vision cleared, she could see two rows of neatly arranged and tall shelves had appeared in front of her. On top of the shelf, countless light clusters glittered. Some of the lights were glowing faintly, but some were as bright as ordinary lamps. Mu Qinglan walked forward, her eyes skimming through the books and scrolls on the shelf quickly. She didn¡¯t stop in her steps, heading straight into the innermost part of the place. These were all naturally cultivation manuals, and just based on the light on them, it was easy to tell their rank. Cultivation manuals were divided into three ranks¡ªHeaven, Earth, and Profound. Within those three circles, they were divided into three levels¡ªbasic, intermediate, and advanced. All the manuals here were probably around Profound basic to intermediate level. Mu Qinglan recalled that when she was a child, when she and her brother had entered the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion to choose manuals together, even the most inferior ones had been Profound advanced level manuals. However, she didn¡¯t care very much for it right now. It was only natural to start all over again in her situation, after all. ¡°Girl, is it worth wasting your time on these lower-grade things?¡± Xue You¡¯s voice suddenly rang out with undisguised disdain. Mu Qinglan continued to casually browse through the scrolls while asking, ¡°Oh? Do you have some upscale treasure you can give me?¡± Xue You¡¯s voice paused for a moment, before saying in a seemingly ashamed voice, ¡°Girl, the only thing I have left is this primordial spirit of mine. How could I have anything like that to give you?¡± Mu Qinglan gave a light snort, and just as she was about to say something, her gaze suddenly landed on the light cluster to her left. There was a faint trace of azure light within the light cluster that was easy to miss. Under Mu Qinglan¡¯s gaze, the gleam of light flashed lightly¡­ Just now, she clearly felt the Yuan Energy in her body pause for a moment! And the reason for that must have been this ball of azure light! She didn¡¯t hesitate, reaching out to immediately grab the ball of light in her hands! A roll of greenish-blue bamboo writing slips fell into her hands. ¡°Azure Primal Slash!¡± Chapter 20 - A Novice Once Again! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Azure Primal Slash¡­¡± Mu Qinglan studied the bamboo slips. Although it looked not much different from the others, she vaguely felt that it wasn¡¯t an ordinary one. The momentary pause in her Yuan Energy had definitely not been an illusion. Her Yuan Energy surged into the bamboo slips. ¡°A Profound intermediate level technique.¡± The pieces of information quickly swept into Mu Qinglan¡¯s mind. Profound intermediate level¡­ If this was in the past, Mu Qinglan wouldn¡¯t have placed any significance in it, but as she held onto the bamboo slips, it felt as though something was missing. ¡°Huh? This is actually an incomplete manual?¡± Xue You said in some surprise. Mu Qinglan nodded, she had also noticed this point. Although these azure-colored bamboo slips looked complete and undamaged, when he Yuan Energy reached into it, it was possible to feel a vague feeling of incompleteness. If not for the fact that she had seen thousands of manuals in the main family before, it naturally would have been impossible to detect this subtle difference. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± If a fragmented manual at Profound intermediate level was complete, she would definitely reap an unexpected harvest. ¡°Girl, you really have a good eye for this.¡± Xue You also laughed, and it was rare that he would say good things, and he didn¡¯t wait for Mu Qinglan to question him as he continued, ¡°Rest assured that once this manual is completed, it may even be able to reach Earth rank.¡± It was difficult to find something of this grade here in such a small city like Luo Xi City. However, it was also because no one could recognize that this manual was incomplete, as it was usually inconspicuous. Even Mu Yan and the others had not noticed it before. Mu Qinglan smiled, then turned around to leave. Mu Yan was waiting outside, and he didn¡¯t expect Mu Qinglan to come out so quickly, so he was surprised. ¡°Have you finished selecting one?¡± His eyes unconsciously fell onto Mu Qinglan¡¯s right hand. She didn¡¯t cover up the manual and merely waved the azure-colored bamboo slips in her hand openly. ¡°I¡¯ve selected one. Azure Primal Slash.¡± A trace of surprise crossed Mu Yan¡¯s eyes. He never expected Mu Qinglan would choose this one. ¡°The Azure Primal Slash was found by one of the elders of our Mu family a long time ago. Although it¡¯s considered to be a Profound intermediate level technique, there are more outstanding ones among our collection in the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion. Why not¡­¡± Mu Qinglan smiled and calmly rejected Mu Yan, ¡°Thank you, Master Mu Yan, but I think this Azure Primal Slash is quite suitable for me.¡± Mu Yan said no more on the topic. ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Mu Qinglan turned around and was about to leave. Mu Yan, however, frowned slightly, and hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to speak, ¡°Linghan, the duel between you and Mu Ye¡­¡± No matter how it was, Mu Linghan¡¯s identity was undeniable. If anything were to happen to him¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master Mu Yan. I have my own reasons for this matter, and no matter what the result is, I¡¯ll bear it on my own.¡± The corner of Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up, but there was no smile in her eyes. Having said her piece, she turned around and left. *** When she returned to her residence, Mu Qinglan sat down cross-legged and pulled open the azure-colored bamboo slips in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s really troublesome, not having a storage bracelet,¡± Mu Qinglan murmured. When she was expelled from the main family, she didn¡¯t have anything on her. She didn¡¯t even have a storage bracelet, which was really inconvenient. But, in this small remote place, only Mu Yan and a few other elders had one, so she didn¡¯t think too much about it either. However, if she did get a chance, she would find a way to procure one. Mu Qinglan shook her head and pushed away all those idle thoughts and instead focused on the manual in front of her right now. Yuan Energy converged, and within the sea of her consciousness, there suddenly more flashes of light. Mu Qinglan hurriedly looked towards it. ¡°Azure Primal Slash converts Yuan Energy to turn it into a sword which can break jade and cut through gold.¡± Mu Qinglan looked at it repeatedly, but she could only find this one sentence. Break jade and cut gold¡­ even if it was only a Profound basic level technique, it wouldn¡¯t be only at this level of power¡­ Mu Qinglan became even more doubtful, but no matter how much she studied it, there was no other movement in the light that came from the Azure Primal Slash. She opened her eyes, her gaze somewhat suspicious as she observed the Azure Primal Slash manual. She felt that the power of this technique was definitely more than this. However, she tried a lot of methods in a short period of time, but there were no other movements from it. Forget it, she would cultivate the technique first. To cultivate, it was necessary to first adjust her body and mind to the best state. In fact, she was also curious what exactly her body was like after the incident in the cave. At the very least, she needed to break through and become a Novice first. Otherwise, any treasure that she had would be meaningless to her. Mu Qinglan let out a deep breath as she prepared to gather Yuan Energy again. She closed her eyes, and began to feel the Yuan Energy around her¡­ She fell into a quiet state, and the surroundings were also calm. Soon, Yuan Energy started to surge towards Mu Qinglan¡¯s body! The energy came towards her like a surging tide that had no signs of stopping, surging incessantly! When the Yuan Energy from her surroundings came towards her, it was instantly absorbed into her meridians! At this time, her meridians were not the same as when it was previously damaged and shriveled up. Now, her meridians had a faint luster to them, and when Yuan Energy flowed through them, Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t know if it was an illusion or not, but she felt the glow become brighter. And within her sea of consciousness, although there was no movement from the broken black jade, there was a faint black mist around it, absorbing all of the Yuan Energy enthusiastically! Mu Qinglan could vaguely guess that the black jade tablet would suppress and devour Yuan Energy, but she didn¡¯t expect it to do so at such an alarming rate! It had actually absorbed so much Yuan Energy in the blink of an eye! The meridians in her body were much wider and tougher than even before it had been damaged, and the Yuan Energy she was absorbing now was many times more than what she used to cultivate every day, but it was still not able to fill the black jade tablet up! And Mu Qinglan, who was in the midst of this violent energy fluctuation, made no movement at all. It was as if she had settled down and was rooted to the spot that even her aura had become invisible. The only thing that remained was the tidal surge of madly rotating and surging Yuan Energy! Mu Qinglan actually stayed in this state for the entire night! Up until the next morning, when the sunlight sprinkled in and fell on her good-looking features which made her entire person lit up like white jade, looking exquisite and clear. Then, a subtle sound suddenly came from inside her body, and she abruptly opened her eyes! Her usually clear and bright eyes were now as deep as an abyss that was impossible to see the bottom! Within her sea of consciousness, a black Yuan Core spun slowly! She had unexpectedly, cultivated a Yuan Core in one night! She had become a Novice once again! Chapter 21 - Are You So Eager To Die? Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan slowly let out a breath. Her body felt comfortable, and she could clearly hear the cracking sounds that came from stretching her body. Strong Yuan Energy flowed through her body, and every inch and muscle seemed to be filled with infinite power. It had been a long time since she had felt like this. It had been nearly four months since the events in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, which sounded like it had been only a short time. But, for Mu Qinglan, her entire world had been turned upside down since then. She had lost her beloved family members, her supreme talents had been destroyed, and the Yuan Energy in her body had been shattered. From being the world¡¯s pride, she had been reduced to the state she was in right now. She had also gone through heaps of scorn and ridicule because of that. Mu Qinglan raised her head. Her eyes were clear and bright, reflecting the brilliant light that poured in from her window. Her gaze sharpened with determination. This time, she would definitely start over and take back everything that originally belonged to her! And this duel with Mu Ye was just the first of many battles she would face! *** On the other hand, Mu Ye was not idle either. He stayed inside his residence and had been trying his best to recover from his injuries. He had already suffered some severe injuries from his lucky escape from the Brown Stripe White Tigers in the mountain range. Then, that youth in white robes who appeared later had caused serious damage to Mu Ye¡¯s internal organs just by using the pressure that emanated from him! Feeling the extent of injuries on his body, Mu Ye¡¯s eyes darkened more. If the youth in white robes had made a move back then, Mu Ye probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to save his own neck! Mu Ye was a talented youth, and he was highly sought after in the Mu family. He never imagined that someone could crush him so easily if they wanted to! After suffering such humiliation, Mu Ye was scared and ashamed. So, he naturally threw all the blame on Mu Qinglan. Mu Ye was more than capable of dealing with trash like that! Thinking of this, he held out his hand, which held a white Yuan Core with two shallow stripes on it. It was the Yuan Core of the Brown Striped White Tiger! The Mu family would let the participants keep the Yuan Core that they had obtained in the family trial for themselves. Extremely powerful energy could be found inside the Yuan Core of a primordial beast. If one was lucky enough to get their hands on one and absorb the energy within it, their cultivation would improve tremendously! It took Mu Ye an entire day to regulate the chaotic energy in his body. He planned to use the Yuan Core to significantly improve his cultivation in the remaining time he had left! He was already a beginner-level Novice, and once he completely absorbed this Yuan Core, he would probably be able to advance directly to the intermediate level! Mu Ye didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and swallowed the Yuan Core immediately! Soon after, the Yuan Energy in his body began to flow rapidly! Almost instantly, Mu Ye¡¯s face turned red! It even looked slightly purple, and even the veins on his forehead popped out. It was a somewhat horrifying image. Mu Ye gritted his teeth and endured it stubbornly! The dense, majestic energy rushed through his body! On the day of the duel, Mu Yu swore to cut down Mu Linghan¡¯s head with his own hands! *** Mu Qinglan picked up the Azure Primal Slash manual once more. This time, she calmed her heart and concentrated on gathering Yuan Energy, then poured it all into the azure-colored bamboo slips! Soon, she felt the black Yuan Core inside her body beginning to spin quickly! A powerful wave of energy erupted from it and rushed through her entire body! There was finally some movement from the Azure Primal Slash manual! A line of faint gold letters gradually started to appear on the slips! ¡°Gather Yuan Energy at the core. Azure Primal Slash, one sword at full strength will cut gold and stone!¡± Mu Qinglan condensed her primordial spirit, and all the Yuan Energy in her body surged towards her Yuan Core! It was like a tidal wave hitting the reef repeatedly! In her mind, those words rang out over and over again, like the toll of a bell! Inside her body, all was quiet and calm. However, Mu Qinglan was not discouraged. Her breathing was steady, and she continued to absorb the Yuan Energy from her surroundings, sending it all towards her Yuan Core! Swoosh! Time passed slowly, and only the sounds similar to that of waves crashing could be heard as clear as day! Mu Qinglan sat cross-legged, her hands clasped tightly together in front of her. Her eyes were closed tightly, and her breath was coming in weaker as time passed. If anyone were to see her right now, they would think that she was asleep. However, if one were to walk closer, it was possible to feel the changes in her surroundings. Vaguely, there seemed to be an azure-colored wind blade that flashed past her. One swing at full strength of Azure Primal Slash would cut gold and stone! Cut gold and stone! Somewhere along the way, a great, azure-colored light burst out from within Mu Qinglan¡¯s consciousness! And then, as indescribable but sharp aura suddenly swept over her! Mu Qinglan was shocked, and she watched intently¡­ The azure-colored light slowly converged and finally formed into a long saber! Mu Qinglan studied the saber carefully. The hilt was black, and the blade had a light luster of green on it. It was about three feet long, and the edge was slightly wider in the middle by about an inch. Then, it became narrower near the head of the sword. The azure-colored light flickered gently on the surface of the blade, and it looked a little dazzling. The saber was shrouded in cold air, as though it had been frozen for thousands of years. The ice seemed to be able to chill a person to the bones. With just a glance at the saber, it seemed like its sharpness was going to cut someone down! Mu Qinglan was slightly shocked, but a wave of joy followed. It seemed that she had really picked up a treasure. This was just the appearance of the saber inside her consciousness, and in a real battle, it would require Yuan Energy to materialize the blade on the outside. With a thought, Mu Qinglan slowly reached out her hand and gently gripped the saber¡­ Powerful Yuan Energy flowed along her arm, gushing out! Then, it quickly converged in her palm and materialized! Mu Qinglan snapped open her eyes, and a bright light shone in front of her. An azure-colored saber had appeared in her hand! The cold aura that emanated from the saber made Mu Qinglan¡¯s hand feel cold, but there was an irresistible passion that burned in her heart that canceled out that feeling. She gently raised the sword and slashed downwards¡­ Crack! The old chair and table not far from her were suddenly cut down through the middle! And the cut was extremely clean! *** Three days passed in a flash. Though it was still early in the morning, the training ground was already packed with people. However, no one was practicing their martial arts today. Instead, they were standing in groups, looking at Mu Ye, who stood right in the middle of the grounds. He looked cold and arrogant, and seemed to be discussing something as different expressions crossed his face. Today was the duel between Mu Linghan and Mu Ye! ¡°Mu Ye¡¯s aura seems to be a bit stronger than before!¡± ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s broken through again? What a formidable talent¡­¡± ¡°Mu Linghan can¡¯t have been scared off, right? Why isn¡¯t he here yet? He¡¯s such a scaredy-cat, what a loser!¡± ¡°Hmph! No matter how great one is, they still need to walk the talk. After today, Brother Mu Ye will be done with this trash.¡± Everyone was of the same thought, that Mu Qinglan was seeking her own death with this duel. Mu Ye looked at the incense stick burning not far from where he stood, and he smiled coldly. ¡°In duels, there is no such thing as forfeiting¡­¡± If Mu Linghan didn¡¯t appear by the agreed time, Mu Ye would personally head over to him instead and slaughter him! ¡°Yeah! He¡¯s as cowardly as a mouse! Such a person is better off dead than alive!¡± ¡°Look at that, he really doesn¡¯t dare to come, does he? Hah!¡± The field gradually descended into chatter and unconcealed mockery. Mu Ye looked at one of the elders in charge of overseeing the duel, then snickered and said, ¡°Elder, if he doesn¡¯t dare to come, how about I personally go look for him?¡± Just as he said that, a clear voice rang out suddenly. ¡°Are you so eager to die?¡± Chapter 22 - Victory! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan¡¯s steps were light as she slowly approached the training ground. The surrounding crowd consciously parted a way for her, silently looking at the youth dressed in black. ¡°You actually dared to come?¡± Mu Ye¡¯s sneered, sizing up Mu Qinglan in what seemed to be a professional manner. Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t bother replying to him. She sauntered up and came to a stop in front of Mu Ye. The two stood facing each other at a respectable distance. Then. Mu Qinglan smiled brightly. ¡°There aren¡¯t many opportunities to beat you up openly like this, after all. So, of course, I wouldn¡¯t miss it!¡± ¡°You!¡± Mu Ye¡¯s face turned red with anger, and fire sprang up in his heart. Immediately, he forced himself to calm down and flicked his sleeves. ¡°Enough with the nonsense! Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s begin!¡± Once he finished speaking, his face turned solemn, and the aura around him changed! The crowd felt the change in his aura, and their eyes widened in shock. ¡°He really got stronger again!¡± ¡°Mu Linghan is dead this time!¡± ¡°I still remember that Mu Linghan¡¯s powers have been dropping continuously. It¡¯s not going to drop more now, right?¡± Many people were secretly peeking at Mu Linghan with undisguised mocking glee on their faces. Mu Qinglan acted as though she hadn¡¯t heard any of those words and went along with the flow. ¡°It seems that you don¡¯t have any last words to say. Then¡­ Let¡¯s begin!¡± Having said that, she shifted into position. She placed one hand behind her and stretched out her other hand with her fingers curled slightly inwards, as though beckoning him forward¡­ She was really so bold! This provocative action of hers instantly sent Mu Ye¡¯s anger through the roof! He shifted and quickly rushed forward! Mu Ye¡¯s speed was extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already reached Mu Qinglan! At this moment, he had gathered Yuen Energy in his right hand, which was clenched into a fist. The abundant Yuan Energy lingered around his hand, and he threw a punch out! The powerful aura immediately shook the crowd¡¯s spirit. Although Mu Ye had been outstanding when he was a beginner level Novice, this was a far cry from how he used to be! If this punch landed, Mu Linghan would be severely injured, if not dead! However, the crowd was astonished to find that Mu Linghan had not moved a single inch in the face of this assault. It even seemed that he had been scared witless and was unable to move! Mu Ye smiled coldly. Since Mu Linghan was so eager to die, Mu Ye would fulfill his wish! Mu Ye aimed his fist directly straight for Mu Qinglan¡¯s face! The pressure from the punch was so intense that even the hair around Mu Qinglan¡¯s face whipped upwards in disarray¡­ This was it, the crowd thought. This punch will surely smash Mu Qinglan¡¯s face in, flesh and bones and all when the black figure suddenly moved! Mu Qinglan raised her head slowly to look at Mu Ye. Mu Ye was startled when he met her eyes. Mu Qinglan¡¯s gaze was extremely indifferent, and he somehow felt a chill come from the bottom of his heart. It felt like an alarm blaring at him, telling him that danger was coming! Bam! A dull sound suddenly rang out. The crowd hurried to look, and was shocked to find that Mu Ye¡¯s fist had smashed right into Mu Linghan¡¯s palm! Mu Linghan had stopped Mu Ye¡¯s domineering punch with his palm! What was stranger was that there wasn¡¯t a single hint of strain on Mu Linghan¡¯s face, but Mu Ye¡­ was red in the face! Veins popped out on his head, and he looked like he was exerting all the strength in his body at this moment! Was it possible that Mu Linghan had managed to overcome Mu Ye¡¯s strength?! On the other hand, Mu Ye, who was in the middle of the grounds, didn¡¯t have the luxury of thinking too much. He was in profound shock right now! This Mu Linghan, how was he able to resist Mu Ye¡¯s attack?! He subconsciously raised his head to look at his opponent, but the eyes of the young man opposite him were¡­ Calm, indifferently, mysterious like an endless abyss, and chilling to the bone! This time, Mu Ye finally understood why he had always been disturbed when he looked into Mu Linghan¡¯s eyes. It was the disdainful look of someone when they faced someone inferior to them! It couldn¡¯t even be considered a contemptuous gaze, because the recipient of such gaze was never considered significant in the first place! Mu Ye¡¯s mind raced. He was tremendously dissatisfied, so he gathered more Yuan Energy in his other hand and swung out! The corner of Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up slightly. It was unnoticeable unless one was looking very closely. To deal with such an idiotic fool, she didn¡¯t even need to use her Novice powers. Her palm, which was still curled around Mu Ye¡¯s fist, flipped and instantly gripped his wrist. Then, she fiercely snapped it inwards! Crack! The crisp sound of bone breaking rang out clearly through the grounds! Mu Ye¡¯s attack halted almost immediately, his body trembling from the intense pain! The crowd held their breath at the scene that unfolded in front of them. In the first exchange of blows, Mu Linghan was actually the one with the upper hand! Mu Ye was unfettered. The intense pain from his wrist only served to remind him more of the humiliation he had just received! He wanted to kill Mu Linghan! Mu Ye¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and his entire demeanor resembled a mad man right now. He flipped his wrist, and a silver flying knife suddenly appeared! The blade glinted in the light as he instantly stabbed the knife towards Mu Qinglan¡¯s throat! ¡°That¡¯s from my leftovers, and you still have the nerve to take it out?¡± Mu Qinglan snorted lightly. She reached out gently with one hand and accurately clamped her fingers down on the knife while one of her long legs kicked out towards Mu Ye ruthlessly! Bang! A black shadow flickered, and a muffled sound rang out! The crowd clearly saw Mu Qinglan kicking Mu Ye out fiercely, with the latter flying out and sliding across the ground at least ten meters away! The crowds¡¯ eyes followed Mu Ye¡¯s fall hurriedly, and saw that his breath was coming in weak gasps. His face was pale, and he coughed, instantly vomiting mouthfuls of blood! And on his chest, there was a noticeable indent inwards! It was obvious his breastbone had shattered, and this blow from Mu Qinglan had probably damaged all his internal organs! That was such a merciless, hard kick! On the other side, Mu Qinglan¡¯s attention was on the flying knife in her hand. The flying knife was only about an inch long, and it was exceedingly sharp. A faint, glimmering blue light was shining on the surface of the blade. Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes darkened, and her lips curled upwards. ¡°I can¡¯t accept a gift like this. So, I¡¯ll return it to you!¡± She raised her hand and threw the knife lightly as she spoke the words. Even so, the flying knife flew towards Mu Ye with an incredible speed! Mu Ye was already on the verge of unconsciousness at this point. When he raised his head, he felt as though he was in a trance, seeing that bit of silvery light flying towards him! His eyes widened instantly, and he trembled violently! He wanted to escape, but he was unable to move! Squelch! The flying knife sank into the right side of Mu Ye¡¯s chest! Mu Ye¡¯s eyes widened even more if possible, then he fell to the ground, his body spasming fiercely. Black blood began to flow out from his mouth and nose, and the veins on his skin swelled up into a more prominent blue color, looking as though it was about to burst at any moment! His current appearance obviously was because there was poison on the flying knife. Judging by how deep the grudge between Mu Ye and Mu Linghan ran, it was predictable that Mu Ye would do something like this. However¡­ Thud. Thud. Thud. Mu Qinglan walked over slowly, her footsteps echoing loudly through the training ground. To the crowd, the sound of Mu Qinglan¡¯s steps was like a sign that death was approaching! Mu Qinglan walked over to Mu Ye¡¯s body and stopped. ¡°I stabbed the knife into the right side of your chest so that you wouldn¡¯t die immediately, and can enjoy the feeling of this poison of yours.¡± Her usually clear and bright voice was as cold as ice right now. When the crowd heard her, they couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the chill that went down their spines¡­ ¡°All your organs have shattered, and you will die from your flesh and blood bursting. What a fitting end. Not bad at all.¡± It was difficult to tell what Mu Qinglan was feeling right now, and the crowd was maintaining their silence in a united manner. A chilling aura swept through the entire training ground at this moment, and the source of this coldness was the black-clothed youth who stood in the middle of the training ground. He was dressed in all black, standing under the brilliant rays of sunlight at this moment.. However, he also seemed to be shrouded in an ice-cold aura, looking as though he had walked right out of hell and onto the earth! Chapter 23 - Auction? Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation News of Mu Linghan¡¯s victory over Mu Ye quickly spread throughout the Mu family. When Mu Yan and the other elders heard the news, they were surprised. ¡°Mu Linghan actually won?!¡± Mu Yan however, thought to himself, ¡®As expected.¡¯ When he saw Mu Linghan taking the Azure Primal Slash manual the other day, he vaguely felt something was off. Then, he suddenly recalled that the Azure Primal Slash was a technique that only someone at least the level of Novice could cultivate! Previously, Mu Linghan was only at Rank 7 Yuan Energy, so what use would he have with such a manual? Now, it seemed that perhaps¡­ An inexplicable excitement surged up in Mu Yan¡¯s heart. Could Mu Linghan have recovered?! But, it was only a fleeting thought in his mind that was quickly rejected. When Mu Linghan¡¯s Yuan Energy was depleted, his meridians were completely reduced to waste! Why would the main family expel him if there was even the slightest possibility of recovery? However, if that was the case, then how had Mu Linghan won the duel? ¡°Did he¡­ use his Novice¡¯s powers?¡± Mu Yan suddenly asked. The few elders beside him froze and looked at each other. They could already guess the reason for Mu Yan asking this question. But, how was that possible? In the capital city, even with the Mu family¡¯s powers, they were still unable to cure Mu Linghan. Mu Linghan had only been here for a short time, so how could he have already recovered? ¡°Master Mu Yan, I observed very carefully. Mu Linghan didn¡¯t use the powers that a Novice would have had.¡± Another elder pushed open the door and walked it as he said that. It was the elder that was responsible for overseeing the duel between Mu Ye and Mu Qinglan. The other elders in the room all looked over and were even more puzzled. ¡°Then, how did he win?¡± The elder that just came in sighed, a complicated look on his face. After a long while, he finally said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell if Mu Linghan is a Novice or not. But, I can be certain that he held back when he dealt with Mu Ye. That duel¡­ was completely one-sided!¡± Following his words, the elder described the entire flow of events once more. The people present in the room were silent for a long time. ¡°As expected, he¡¯s just like the rumors among the main family. He¡¯s ruthless in his methods¡­¡± An elder said slowly. ¡°You can¡¯t say it like that. This was a duel between the two of them, and there is no such thing as being ruthless. They have been at odds for a long time, and it¡¯s obvious that Mu Ye was the one with evil intentions first. He actually planned on poisoning Mu Linghan to his death! I would say that Mu Ye reaped what he sowed in this situation.¡± Mu Yan rapped his knuckles against the table lightly. The soft sound silenced everyone in the room instantly. ¡°At the end of the day, Mu Linghan is still a genius born into the Mu family. Even if his cultivation has been ruined, I¡¯m sure he still has his strengths.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Everyone responded respectfully. ¡°Right now, the most important matter is the Martial Assembly that¡¯s in one month.¡± All the elders present had a solemn look on their faces at these words. Mu Yan¡¯s expression, however, darkened. ¡°This year, we have to screen through the fledglings and make sure to send a few good ones to earn back the Mu Mansion¡¯s reputation! Otherwise, the situation in my Mu Mansion will become even more critical.¡± ¡°As you say, Master Mu Yan.¡± Suddenly, an elder asked, ¡°Time is of the essence, Master Mu Yan. Why don¡¯t we call Mu Liu¡¯er and the others back so that they can be fully prepared when the time comes?¡± Mu Yan was silent for a moment as he thought about it, then nodded. *** The atmosphere in the Mu Mansion over the two days was strange. Everyone was acting a little cautious for some unknown reason, especially when they looked in a specific direction. Although their gazes were a little vague and complicated, it was difficult to hide the hint of fear in them. It was as though if one didn¡¯t pay attention, something terrifying would appear from that direction. That direction was Mu Qinglan¡¯s residence. In the past, her residence was remote and simple. Few people set foot in that place, and after the duel, even more people avoided it. Most of them even walked around the area when they needed to pass it. Mu Qinglan was not concerned about it at all. After dealing with Mu Ye, she pushed that matter out of her mind and instead started to cultivate diligently. She had advanced into the Novice realm overnight. Although she had a strange little help from that black jade tablet, it resulted in her powers stabilizing very well. Moreover, she originally wanted to use the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal to help reshape her body, but she didn¡¯t expect the Vermillon Bird to step in first. In the end, although she dominated the Vermillon Bird and tempered its powers into the veins of her body, it still wasn¡¯t perfect. She benefited from it, but there was also a hint of hidden danger in that power. The Vermillion Bird¡¯s powers were too overbearing for her right now. If not for the fact that she had previously cultivated to Divine Psionic Realm, her body probably would be unable to withstand it. So, the most important thing for her now was to fuse the leftover powers in her body and transform them into her own Yuan Energy! After thinking about it, she didn¡¯t hesitate to dress up and walk out the door. She wore a black robe with wide sleeves that would cover her body¡¯s shape and a hood that covered her entire frame. Just in case, she also did something to her face. If one didn¡¯t look at her properly, it was impossible to recognize her. She had been in Luo Xi City for only a month or so, and apart from the people in the Mu Mansion, only a few people knew her. However, it was better to be careful in the end. After leaving the house, Mu Qinglan finally arrived at the only auction house in Luo Xi City, the Xia Shang Auction House, after a few turns. Although Luo Xi City was small, because of its proximity to Nine Foot Mountain Rage, there were usually many people who came to this city to obtain primordial beasts or Yuan Cores. There were even times where rare items could be found here, so Xia Shang Auction House¡¯s business has always been popular and good. Mu Qinglan raised her head and looked at the auction house in front of her. It had a wide, tall gilt door. Above it, there was a sign with the words ¡°Xia Shang Auction House¡± written in big, gold letters. It was shiny and also very dazzling. There was also an endless stream of lively exchanges at the entrance. On each side of the gate was a guard. Although there were only two guards, even a fool would be able to tell that their realms were absolutely extraordinary. Even though many people went in and out through the doors, they gave respectable looks to the two guards. It was apparent that these two guards were not people to be trifled with. Mu Qinglan ensured her hood was secured, then walked towards the entrance. As she was not the only one dressed like this, she didn¡¯t attract much attention. However, at the entrance, she stopped and walked towards the person on the right. ¡°Excuse me. I have something I want to auction, and I¡¯m wondering how I should get it appraised?¡± Mu Qinglan had lowered her voice and made it a little hoarse. She also deliberately dragged out her words a little to sound more like a middle-aged man. The guard who heard her was a little puzzled, but his expression relaxed when he heard that. It seemed that this was this person¡¯s first time here. But, was it really their first time here with the way they were dressed? The guard exchanged glances with the other guard on the opposite side for a few moments, and disdain flashed in their eyes. ¡°What do you want to auction?¡± It was most probably just some poor beggar who wanted to exchange some useless knick-knack for some money. ¡°Sigh. Let me tell you first that not everyone can enter this auction house, and not just anything can be auctioned in here.¡± The guard¡¯s words held some vague hints of impatience as he spoke. Unexpectedly, Mu Qinglan side suddenly raised her head slightly. Under the wide hood, an azure-colored beard stubble could be faintly be seen. She responded in the same lazy, hoarse voice, ¡°I wonder¡­ Will a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal be eligible to be auctioned here?¡± The guard¡¯s face, which initially had a disdainful expression, changed instantly at those words! Chapter 24 - Treasure Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal?! That was a treasure that would only appear when a Tier 6 primordial beast, the Fire Spirit Lion, gave birth to cubs! The man in front of them who looked so depressing actually had something like that? The two guards exchanged looks. Xia Shang Auction House was the largest auction house in the entire Holy Yuan Empire. Although the one in Luo Xi City was only a branch of it, it was still prestigious. Few people dared cause trouble here. Then, this person might really have¡­ ? With that, the guard immediately collected himself and schooled his features. However, it is evident that the guard was now had a more respectful attitude. He turned sideways and bowed slightly as he said, ¡°This way, please, sir.¡± The guard was actually leading Mu Qinglan personally! The many people who came and went to the entrance were curious after seeing this scene unfold in front of them. After all, a person who made the guard act this way must be someone important. Or, he might be someone who had some extraordinary treasure. No matter which was the reason, it still made everyone watching curious. Not far away, a youth who had just arrived, narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw this scene. ¡°Go. Find out who exactly that person is.¡± There were two old men behind this youth, and when they heard the youth¡¯s words, they nodded and left immediately. The youth fiddled with his fan, and a playful smile curled on his lips. He had initially come for ¡®that thing¡¯, but there would perhaps be some other windfall¡­ When the people around him saw him, their gazes held a hint of awe, but there were also flashes of unrestrained fear in them. The youth walked towards the entrance. The solemn look on the remaining guard¡¯s face lessened slightly when he caught sight of the youth, and his tone when he spoke was even more respectful than usual. ¡°Is there something special going on today? Even you¡¯ve come, Young Master Jiang.¡± Jiang Xuan snorted. ¡°You rarely have good things, so it¡¯s only natural that I would come to take a look personally.¡± The guard¡¯s eyes darkened, and displeasure flashed in his heart, but he didn¡¯t show any such feelings on the surface. He merely bowed his head and gave Jiang Xuan a polite smile, ¡°You jest, Young Master Jiang.¡± ¡°Jiang Xuan, your words were over the line.¡± A soft voice came from behind all of a sudden. Jiang Xuan¡¯s face changed, and he turned around in surprise. A woman dressed in bright yellow was walking slowly towards him with a graceful figure. ¡°Xia Shang Auction House is the largest auction house in the empire. How can you say nonsense like that?¡± Although it was apparent that her words were a rebuke, it made those who listened feel like it was a spring breeze instead because of how soft and gentle the woman¡¯s voice was. Even someone as proud and overbearing as Jiang Xuan couldn¡¯t bear to get angry at this woman with a gentle and delicate face. ¡°Yes, alright. You were right, Yurou. That¡¯s how I am, and my words may be grating to the ears. But, I mean no ill-will by it. Don¡¯t be angry, alright?¡± Ye Yurou smiled lightly. ¡°I would naturally not be angry with you, Young Master Jiang.¡± The way she said those words were a little clever. It felt as though it were words exchanged between people familiar with each other, yet it also drew a clear line between them. The entire Luo Xi City knew that the Jiang family¡¯s young master was interested in the Ye family¡¯s second lady. The second young lady of the Ye family was extraordinarily talented and beautiful, and many people liked her, obviously. But, Ye Yurou also had a good personality. Although she had no interest in returning Jiang Xuan¡¯s affections, she was always polite and gentle towards him. This made Jiang Xuan pursue her even harder. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t bother listening to Ye Yurou like this. Ye Yurou turned around and looked at the guard, whose face now looked better than before, and nodded lightly. ¡°I will head in first, then.¡± The guard smiled and invited her in. Then, he looked at Jiang Xuan and was about to say something when Jiang Xuan chased after Ye Yurou and also entered the place. ¡°Yurou, you seldom go out. What did you want to see today? As long as you like something, I¡¯ll bid on it all for you!¡± When Ye Yurou heard this, her red lips curled up slightly and she said softly, ¡°I¡¯m just browsing around. But, I¡¯m about to breakthrough, and I¡¯m short of something to replenish my Yuan Energy. So, I wanted to take a look and came here.¡± Jiang Xuan was shocked. ¡°You¡¯re about to breakthrough again?¡± Ye Yurou shyly nodded. Jiang Xuan crowed with praise secretly on the inside, but on the outside, he patted his chest and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely bid on it for you!¡± Ye Yurou¡¯s smile diminished slightly and said slowly, ¡°Young Master Jiang, although the Ye family is not as great as the Jiang family, we don¡¯t have to rely on someone else¡¯s charity in a trivial matter like this.¡± Having said that, Ye Yurou didn¡¯t bother to see Jiang Xuan¡¯s reactions and walked straight into the building. Jiang Xuan was frustrated. As he watched Ye Yurou¡¯s retreating back, he thought to himself, ¡®Who said it was charity? As long as it¡¯s something she wants, I will naturally give it to her! Nobody will be able to snatch it away!¡¯ *** On the other side, Mu Qinglan had followed the guard all the way inside and finally arrived at the innermost room. The guard went in first and reported before he came out again. ¡°Someone will appraise the item you have. Please go on in.¡± Once the guard finished speaking, he turned around respectfully and left. Mu Qinglan watched him leave, then stepped inside the room. The room was small and somewhat dark. When she entered it, she sat down on the only stool in the room. Suddenly, an old man appeared behind the table in front of her from nowhere. The light was too dim to see his appearance clearly. Mu Qinglan could only tell that it was an old man, and he had a hunched figure. ¡°I¡¯m the treasure appraiser for Xia Shang Auction House, Xia Yunshan.¡± The dry, old voice rang out beside Mu Qinglan¡¯s ears. ¡°You mentioned you want to auction off a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal?¡± Mu Qinglan nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Place the item on the table in front of you.¡± Mu Qinglan drew out a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal that was half the size of her palm and placed it in front of her. A withered-looking hand reached out and took the crystal, turning it over to carefully examine it. After a moment, the old man slowly let out a breath. He raised his eyes and looked intently at Mu Qinglan as he said, ¡°This is indeed a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal.¡± Although his tone was calm, waves of shock were crashing into his heart repeatedly! This was a crystal from a Tier 6 primordial beast! Forget about the small Luo Xi City, even in the whole empire, there were only a few people who could bring out an item like this! He had actually left the capital to come here because of ¡®that item¡¯. Who would have thought that he would also find something so precious here?! Xia Yunshan really didn¡¯t know if he should be glad that he had made this trip. Who in the world was this person in front of him? Even with the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal in his palm, he could already feel the scorching and terrifying power it emitted! What kind of person would auction off such a precious treasure?! ¡°Usually, most of the items in the auction house are divided into three grades. As for this, it¡¯s enough to be rated as a superior grade on its own above those three grades!¡± Looking at how the other party was unmoved, Xia Yunshan continued, ¡°From today onwards, you are a VIP of the entire Xia Shang Auction House. We will definitely get a satisfactory price for you!¡± Mu Qinglan stood and brought her hands together in a salute. ¡°Then, thank you very much.¡± *** The auction hall was vast, and a huge transparent crystal stood in the middle of it. Meanwhile, the surroundings were filled with seats. Mu Qinglan found an inconspicuous position and sat down. Several people looked over at her. However, she ignored them all and raised her head to look at the venue. More people were pouring in, and it even felt as though the place would overflow. But, even though there were many people, none of them caused a stir or kicked up a fuss. They all understood that this was not an ordinary place. Mu Qinglan swept her eyes across the hall and found that a few groups of people held the obvious advantage in this place. Hearing the way people addressed them, they were from prominent families within Luo Xi City. She looked around further and found Mu Yan somewhere in front of her. Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrow. What was in this auction that made several of the city¡¯s great families to be present today? Chapter 25 - Heavenly Meteor Matrix Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation While Mu Qinglan was thinking about it, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed. Then, a bright beam of light shone down on the crystal stage in the middle of the room. Mu Qinglan fixed her attention on the light. The entire auction hall quieted down at this. On the crystal stage, a figure suddenly appeared. When the crowd finally got a good look at the man, there were intakes of sharp breaths all around the room. ¡°It¡¯s him! It¡¯s actually him!¡± ¡°Xia Zhong is the top auctioneer here, and he only makes a handful of appearances a year! He will only come out when there are really rare treasures to personally auction them off! It seems that the news this time is real!¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s real? Aren¡¯t those few prominent families the only ones who can fight for it? We¡¯re just ordinary people, so we can only just dream about it!¡± Low murmurs came from all other the hall. Mu Qinglan finally had a good look at the person on the crystal stage. It was an old man. However, although the person¡¯s hair and beard were white, his face looked like a middle-aged person. His gaze was sharp and lively. Just standing on the stage, his entire body seemed to faintly exude a majestic aura. This was the top auctioneer here? Mu Qinglan narrowed her eyes. Xia Zhong looked at the crowd bursting with excitement under the stage, and he didn¡¯t feel surprised at the atmosphere at all. If he hadn¡¯t gotten his hands on that treasure, he naturally wouldn¡¯t have easily made an appearance. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I¡¯m Xia Zhong, and I will be the auctioneer today.¡± His voice was old yet strong. Even though he didn¡¯t speak very loudly, his voice carried all over the auction house easily. ¡°I won¡¯t waste time with any more words. I believe that all of you are here today because you have desires. So, let¡¯s start the auction!¡± As soon as he said that, he stretched out his right hand. A white jade column suddenly appeared slowly from his side. On it, a long black sword was placed. ¡°This is the first auction item today¡ªthe Seven Star Ancient Sword! It¡¯s a Profound intermediate level Yuan weapon, and it¡¯s extremely powerful and sharp. The starting bid is five thousand gold coins!¡± Even though cultivators could use their own Yuan Energy to manifest weapons, the required Yuan Energy and degree of control were extremely demanding and taxing on the user. If they had the help of a Yuan weapon, the cultivators would be able to perform powerful attacks with just a fraction of Yuan Energy required instead. However, the forging of Yuan weapons was a complicated process, so they were extremely expensive. Only the prominent families would have those weapons. Therefore, when the people in the hall caught sight of the first auction item, many straightened up in their seats and stared at the sword with fervor in their eyes. Although it was not a high-grade weapon, it was still quite a good one. At this moment, the people started calling out their bids. ¡°Five thousand five hundred gold coins!¡± ¡°Six thousand gold coins!¡± When Mu Qinglan heard this, she could only let out a small sigh. If it was her a few months ago, this kind of thing would naturally be insignificant in her eyes. The amount of money would also be considered nothing to her. But today, she was penniless and had less than a hundred gold coins on her, which made her feel overly upset. She could only wait until she had managed to auction off the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal to maintain her daily life¡­ Mu Qinglan was lost in thought for a moment, and the sword¡¯s bid had already gone up to seven thousand three hundred gold coins. She noticed that the few people from prominent families had not opened their mouths to bid on the item. It wasn¡¯t like they lacked weapons like this, so it was only natural they wouldn¡¯t bid on it. Finally, the auction item was sold for seven thousand five hundred gold coins, and it was a big, burly man who had won the bid. Mu Qinglan glanced over to see a hint of pain on the man¡¯s face, yet his lips were curled up slightly in a smile. Sometimes, the more simple a person, the easier it was to satisfy them. ¡°The second auction item is a Tier 2 peak grade Yuan Core! The starting bid is twenty thousand gold coins!¡± Compared to Yuan weapons, Yuan Cores were able to boost a person¡¯s strength in a more direct and quick way, and it was naturally a more favored item. In the blink of an eye, the bidding price had doubled. Mu Qinglan had little interest in this. She had two Tier 6 Yuan Cores in her hands, and it was something that even Mu Zhongtian, the head of the Mu family, might never get in this lifetime. So, she didn¡¯t place any significance on these inferior items. The bidding was fierce, and at the end of it, the young master from the Jiang family won with the bid of 60,000 gold coins. The price he had paid was far more than the value of the Yuan Core. Mu Qinglan turned to see which foolish spendthrift had done this, only to catch sight of Jiang Xuan looking at Ye Yurou with a pleased look on his face. ¡°Yurou, although this Yuan Core¡¯s grade is average, it also contains a little of my sincerity. Do you like it?¡± The corner of Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up. So, it was to garner someone¡¯s favor, no wonder the guy put up such a dramatic act in public. Ye Yurou obviously didn¡¯t want his sincerity. Even though she was short on an item to replenish her Yuan Core and really wanted it, how could she accept it in front of so many people? This Jiang Xuan was really brainless! So, the second young lady of the Ye family once again politely refused the kindness of the Jiang family¡¯s young master. Mu Qinglan turned her attention back to the crystal stage. Time passed slowly, and the remaining auction items were gradually auctioned out. There was no shortage of items that caught the eyes of many, and people bid fiercely during this time. However, Mu Qinglan lounged lazily on her seat, leaning back against it. Those things were not the least important to her. Finally, Xia Zhong took a step forward and clasped his fist together in front of him as he looked around the room and smiled. ¡°Now, we have come to the two final auction items. Both of them are rated as first-class treasures!¡± Woosh! These words finally ignited the long-suppressed fervor and anticipation of the crowd! The eyes of numerous people were set ablaze as they sat up straighter in their seats, and many also leaned forward in hopes to get a look at the item first. They looked as though they wanted to rush over to the stage in the next instance. Mu Qinglan raised her head. Jade columns slowly rose from each of Xia Zhong¡¯s sides! On top of the columns, two black jade boxes were placed. The boxes were used to isolate energy fluctuations, and these were the only two auction items that were kept in these boxes in today¡¯s auction! A smile stretched across Xia Zhong¡¯s face, and he pointed to the right box as he said, ¡°This one is the second last auction item of the day¡ªHeavenly Meteor Matrix!¡± The hall fell into a dead silence, but the eyes of the crowd were burning with fire, displaying their passion and desire to get ahold of this item. Xia Zhong paused for a while before he raised his voice slightly to continue, ¡°After the Xia Shang Auction House appraised it, we have determined that this Heavenly Meteor Matrix is a true Tier 3 star matrix!¡± He looked around the room, then said in a deep voice, ¡°The starting bid is one million gold coins!¡± Chapter 26 - Just a Little Bit More Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When Mu Qinglan heard this, her eyes widened, and she felt shocked. Star matrices were special weapons that had been refined by Star Formation Masters and had more obvious benefits than an ordinary Yuan Weapon. A star matrix can not only attack an enemy, but it could also be used to restore energy and heal wounds! So, it¡¯s a very energy-consuming process for a Star Formation Master to refine a star matrix. A Star Formation Master was an extraordinary profession in the continent because of the high requirement for talent in all aspects. Among a hundred thousand people, it was possible that none would succeed in becoming a Star Formation Master. This was why Star Formation Masters were held in high regard, and the star matrix that any of them refined was considered very precious. It was also not surprising that these weapons would be highly-priced. After all, these star matrices were considered to be priceless in the market. Moreover, the auction house had confirmed it to be a Level 3 star matrix, which meant that it was refined by a Star Formation Master who was at minimum a Level 3! There were not more than five Star Formation Masters in the entire empire who could reach this level! Even in the Imperial Capital, a Level 3 star matrix would invite fierce competition, much less a small city like Luo Xi City! Interest flashed in Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes as she fixed her gaze on the black box sitting on the crystal stage. Xia Zhong had obviously expected the crowd¡¯s eager reaction, and he opened the box slowly with a faint smile on his face. A grayish silver orb that was the size of a fist sat quietly in the box, and there were three tiny starbursts on it. Sure enough, it was a Level 3 star matrix. However, this star matrix seemed to be a little old? In some places, there were even traces of rust on it. Apparently, many people also noticed this and looked a little confused. Xia Zhong chuckled. He didn¡¯t hide this fact and said bluntly, ¡°This star matrix which we obtained by chance has some obvious flaws. But, after our appraisal, it¡¯s only due to its age. It can still perform what a normal Level 3 star matrix can do. So, you can bid with peace of mind.¡± The fact that Xia Shang Auction House dared to put the item up for auction was already proof of the value of this item. At this moment, the doubts on everyone¡¯s face and heart dissipated instantly. Mu Qinglan pondered to herself. Her current cultivation realm was really too low. She wouldn¡¯t have enough power to fight back if she encountered danger. Mu Ye had only been a Novice, and her opponents would definitely be far beyond that level! If she could get her hands on this star matrix, it would help her a lot. Although the price was shocking, it still didn¡¯t stop the crowd from wanting to have it for themselves. For Mu Qinglan to get it, it would take her a lot of effort. As for the people from prominent families, their blood was already boiling with excitement. The information they received previously was true! Even if they had to fight with all their money, they would try their best to get their hands on that star matrix! With such a starting bid, ordinary people were naturally not even qualified to participate in the bid. Only a few families in the city were able to compete. At that moment, several of them started bidding loudly. ¡°1,050,000 gold coins!¡± Jiang Xuan was the first to call out, his face filled with determination to win. ¡°1,100,000 gold coins!¡± Mu Qinglan gave a faint glance to the person who had just called out. It was Mu Yan. ¡°1,200,000 gold coins!¡± Jiang Xuan shot Mu Yan a fierce glare, then immediately added one hundred thousand gold coins on top of Mu Yan¡¯s bid. The Jiang family came from a good background. They had dominated Luo Xi City for a long time, and Jiang Xuan was naturally proud and arrogant about it. Although the Mu family claimed to be a branch of the Imperial Capital¡¯s Mu family, a strong dragon would not be able to defeat a snake in its home ground. Because of this, Jiang Xuan had always looked down on the Mu family in his heart. Backed by the reputation of the Imperial Capital¡¯s Mu family, Mu Mansion had become one of the major powers in Luo Xi City. In fact, Mu Mansion even had the vague intention of becoming the most dominant power in Luo Xi City, and the Jiang family naturally couldn¡¯t tolerate that happening. The conflicting news of the two families has long since been surging underneath the surface. However, Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t think that Mu Mansion was worth placing any importance in his eyes. If the Imperial Capital¡¯s Mu family really placed any significance on Mu Mansion, how could their powers in Luo Xi City be so limited? Hmph, wasn¡¯t Mu Mansion just a neglectable ant, in this case? While Mu Yan didn¡¯t speak, his face had turned incredibly solemn. He already expected that the star matrix would cause several prominent families to compete with him, so he had been prepared for it. ¡°1,400,000 gold coins!¡± When Mu Yan called out his next bid, many people huffed secretly on the inside. He had added so much directly! That much money was probably worth half a year¡¯s income in Mu Mansion, right? Jiang Xuan snorted coldly. It looks like Mu Mansion was determined to go head first against the Jiang family! ¡°1,700,000 gold coins!¡± Many people balked at the amount. The amount of money being called out was seriously staggering when they heard it! Even if it was the Jiang family, one million and seven hundred thousand gold was not a tiny amount! Mu Yan¡¯s face remained unchanged, but he tightened his grip on the chair handle. Mu Mansion seemed impressive, but many situations were happening behind the scenes. On the surface, the noble Mu family in the Imperial Capital was Mu Mansion¡¯s backing. If others wanted to provoke Mu Mansion, they would have to consider if they could also afford to offend the Mu family in the Imperial Capital. However, only Mu Yan and the others knew that the Mu family was immense. In addition to the main family in the Imperial Capital, which was prosperous and filled with talent and strong people, there was no telling just how many branches they actually had throughout the continent. Mu Mansion was also just a neglected branch at the end of the day. Especially because Mu Mansion had not produced any outstanding talents in the past two years, which only served to make the situation worse. Mu Yan was afraid that the main family had long since forgotten about Mu Mansion. With a straight face, Mu Yan called out, ¡°1,800,000 gold coins!¡± Their Mu family would have another safeguard with this star matrix in hand! So, even if he needed to tear off this courteous mask he had with the Jiang family, he had to get it! Jiang Xuan sneered, but his face had darkened. ¡°It seems that Mu Mansion is determined to fight with the Jiang family for this star matrix?¡± Jiang Xuan said slowly, throwing a direct comment at Mu Yan. Mu Yan didn¡¯t rise to the bait and calmly said, ¡°Treasures will always go to those who are more capable of getting it.¡± Jiang Xuan coldly laughed when he heard that. ¡°Not bad, Master Mu. But unfortunately for you, no one had ever been able to snatch what my family wants once we set our sights on it!¡± ¡°2,500,000 gold coins!¡± Hiss! There was a series of sharp intakes of cold breath in the hall, and many people looked at Jiang Xuan as though he was crazy. As expected, the Jiang family never did things by half! Jiang Xuan was satisfied with the reaction of the people around him. Once he had enough of the admiring and marveling gazes on him, he turned to Mu Yan with a smile and said, ¡°If Master Mu can pay a higher price for this treasure, then it will naturally go to your family.¡± The other people may not know, but Jiang Xuan was aware that the Mu family might look strong on the surface, but they couldn¡¯t come up with so much money to bid on the star matrix! Mu Yan¡¯s face also sank gradually, his lips pressed tightly together. Veins were rippling obviously on his forehead, and fury was burning in his eyes faintly. Indeed, this price was one that the Mu family couldn¡¯t afford. Jiang Xuan smiled at him mockingly for a while before he turned to Xia Zhong. ¡°Lord Xia Zhong, does the star matrix belong to my family now?¡± Xia Zhong smiled. ¡°Is there anyone else who would like to bid? If there is none-¡° ¡°2,500,001 gold coins.¡± A languid, hoarse voice suddenly rang out.. Chapter 27 - Show Me the Money Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When the crowd heard those words, they were surprised and followed the direction of the voice. The person had only added one gold coin to the bid, was that a joke, or had the person done it deliberately? Jiang Xuan was furious. He raised angry eyes to see who it was, only to catch sight of the strange man in a cloak that he had seen earlier. If the strange man had added a sum on top of Jiang Xuan¡¯s bid, that was still fine. But, the strange man had actually added just one gold coin! He was deliberately making fun of Jiang Xuan, wasn¡¯t he?! Mu Yan and everyone else were also confused, but he shifted his gaze away after glancing at the man. Even though Mu Yan and the others didn¡¯t know who the person was, they were just happy that the man had caused some trouble for Jiang Xuan. ¡°2,550,000 gold coins!¡± Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t bother thinking about it and raised his bid again! Jian Xuan¡¯s attendant, who was sitting beside him, moved his lips but didn¡¯t open his mouth to speak. Mu Qinglan leaned back lazily in her chair and said casually, ¡°2,550,001 gold coins.¡± Pfft! After a short period of silence, someone finally couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and snorted lightly. But, they immediately stopped. However, that was enough for Jiang Xuan¡¯s face to twist into an uglier expression. ¡°Who the hell are you? How dare you try and snatch something that belongs to my family?!¡± Seeing how angry Jiang Xuan had become, the crowd anticipated that a good show was about to unfold. The man in the coat, however, laughed lightly at Jiang Xuan¡¯s words and said, ¡°This thing doesn¡¯t belong to your family yet, does it? ¡°You!¡± Jiang Xuan felt rage coursing through his veins. ¡°The rules of an auction can¡¯t be any simpler¡ªthe highest bidder wins. What¡¯s this, Young Master Jiang? You don¡¯t have money to bid, so you want to bully others and forcefully take the item from them?¡± Although the man spoke in a lazy tone, what he said made everyone present nod in agreement. And especially since they were in Xia Shang Auction House to boot! How could they not agree? ¡°Hmph! I want to see just how you¡¯ll be capable of competing with me!¡± Jiang Xuan let out a cold snort and said, ¡°2,700,000 gold coins!¡± Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t believe that this strange man had the capabilities to go higher than that! The crowd gasped. That amount was just staggering! Although the star matrix was a rare item, the price was already a little too much. Even for the Jiang family, it would be challenging to take out so much money at once. The attendant beside Jiang Xuan helplessly reminded in a whisper, ¡°Young Master, you should consider this properly. Even though the star matrix is rare, it¡¯s not worth that price!¡± Although all the prominent families had gotten the information earlier and had the intention to fight for it, they weren¡¯t stupid. How could they spend such a massive amount of money to bid for an old, worn-down Level 3 star matrix?! Jiang Xuan shot his attendant a fierce glare. ¡°Shut up!¡± Jiang Xuan had never suffered any losses before, and there was nothing he couldn¡¯t get once he set his sights on it! However, in the next moment, the same voice rang out lazily again, ¡°2,700,001 gold coins.¡± Jiang Xuan was about to implode from rage! This person was doing it deliberately! Mu Qinglan was too preoccupied to care about what Jiang Xuan felt inside. She needed something that would guarantee her life, and there was such a thing right in front of her eyes right now. Since it had practically fallen into her lap, she naturally needed to get her hands on it. ¡°You really think my family is afraid of you?!¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes were red with anger, and his face was unsightly. He immediately opened his mouth to raise the bid, but his attendant immediately reached up to pull him back and hurriedly said, ¡°Young Master! Even if the item is real, since it¡¯s already more than 2,550,000 gold coins, you shouldn¡¯t take it anymore!¡± It really wasn¡¯t worth it! Jiang Xuan was about to say something, but his attendant hurried to add, ¡°Young Master, this is the master¡¯s instructions! You can¡¯t disobey it!¡± Jiang Xuan hesitated, and his movements slowed down. However, his heart was still burning with anger. ¡°Young Master, even if that man gets the treasure, he still needs to be alive to use it, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s face immediately looked better at his attendant¡¯s words. That¡¯s right. This was Luo Xi City, which was the Jiang family¡¯s territory. What was the use even if a person won the bid on that treasure? With a bit of help, the Jiang family would be able to take it for themselves! Jiang Xuan smirked viciously, then leaned heavily back against his chair. Then, he glanced at Mu Qinglan and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been a scoundrel till now, and I won¡¯t bother fighting with you for it. But hopefully¡­ you can get out of Luo Xi City safely.¡± He had actually thrown out a threat in public. However, the Jiang family was powerful, and Jiang Xuan was overbearing. So, it wasn¡¯t surprising for him to do something like this at all. Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled upwards. ¡°You can just admit that you don¡¯t have any money. Why do you need to put up such grandeur to pretend?¡± With one sentence, Jiang Xuan¡¯s face puffed up and turned red with anger once more. If not for the sake of behaving properly in Xia Shang Auction House, Jiang Xuan really wanted to tear that person to pieces right now! Xia Zhong quietly watched the scene unfold in front of him. Once everything had settled down, he smiled and said, ¡°The bid is now at 2,700,001 gold coins. Is there anyone else?¡± The entire hall was silent. ¡°2,700,001 gold coins, going once!¡± ¡°2,700,001 gold coins, going twice!¡± ¡°2,700,001 gold coins, going thrice!¡± Bang! ¡°Sold!¡± Xia Zhong looked at Mu Qinglan, and the smile on his face became brightened. ¡°Congratulations.¡± Mu Qinglan nodded but didn¡¯t make any other sound. The faces of the crowd were complicated. None of them expected that this hot treasure would end up being snatched away by a person of unknown origins. ¡°Girl, you¡¯re really bold. You¡¯re penniless from head to toe, yet you still dared to offer such a price. I want to see what you¡¯re going to do when you have to pay for the item later.¡± Xue You¡¯s voice rang in her ear. Mu Qinglan smiled, and she shifted her gaze towards where several of the great families were seated. ¡°Obviously¡­ I¡¯ll make one of them help me to pay for it.¡± Xue You replied lazily, ¡°The Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal is no less precious than this Level 3 star matrix. Even so, wouldn¡¯t you be poor again after this?¡± The price of the star matrix was really a little too high, after all. Something flashed in Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes, and she chuckled lightly. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s inevitable that I¡¯ll get some of them to bleed for me¡­¡± At this time, the jade column on Xia Zhong¡¯s right side had slowly descended, leaving only the jade column on his left. Everyone present in the hall was filled with curiosity. Most had received the information that there would be a Level 3 star matrix up for auction today, and they thought it would be the finale. But, no one expected there would be another one. What kind of treasure would come after the bidding of the star matrix? Xia Zhong looked around and smiled. ¡°Ladies and gentleman, it¡¯s fine that you didn¡¯t win the bid on the previous treasure. This final one will definitely not disappoint any of you!¡± Having aroused the crowd¡¯s curiosity successfully, Xia Zhong became solemn. There was also undisguised pride in his eyes. ¡°Everyone, the last auction item is a Yuan Core from a Tier 6 Fire Spirit Lion!¡± What?! The moment Xia Zhong¡¯s words were uttered, the hall plunged into a deadly silence! The announcement was so shocking that everyone was frozen to the spot! Xia Zhong was pleased with the crowd¡¯s expressions, and he slowly opened the black jade box. A piece of fire-red crystal lay inside. It was clear and pure, blazing hot and burning! Those seated more front could even feel the fiery aura and intense energy that radiated from the crystal! ¡°What pure energy!¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in awe, their eyes filled with admiration and praise. ¡°I believe that I don¡¯t have to explain just how precious this Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal is, as I¡¯m sure everyone is well aware. The starting bid on this crystal is 1,500,000 gold coins!¡± ¡°Oh gosh, it¡¯s actually a real Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! No wonder the star matrix was auctioned off first!¡± ¡°That Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal looks to be very pure. If I can get it, I¡¯ll definitely be able to improve my realm greatly!¡± The crowd couldn¡¯t help but start to discuss and chatter about the Yuan Soul-Fire Cyrstal, and those from the prominent families were even more excited about it. Mu Yan¡¯s face twitched slightly, and he also leaned forward a little. Ye Yurou¡¯s eyes brightened, and she looked tempted. But, she didn¡¯t open her mouth to bid on it. Jiang Xuan clapped his hands. He hadn¡¯t managed to grab the star matrix just now, so he definitely needed to get this Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! ¡°I definitely want this! Two million-¡° ¡°3,000,000 gold coins!¡± Mu Qinglan spoke in a clear voice, and she raised her head to meet Jiang Xuan¡¯s dark, angry gaze with a radiant smile. The first thing she needed to do was make sure she got the money for the star matrix.. Chapter 28 - Thank You Very Much Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Xuan got up abruptly, then pointed at Mu Qinglan and cursed angrily, ¡°How dare you! Who do you think you are to fight with me for this?!¡± Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t even turn her head to look at him as she calmly replied, ¡°Even if I didn¡¯t dare to fight you for it, I already did it.¡± ¡°You!¡± Jiang Xuan was burning with anger, and Yuan Energy started gathering in his palm, ready to strike out! ¡°Young Master, you can¡¯t!¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant saw this and was immediately panicked and hurriedly moved to dissuade Jiang Xuan. It was fine for Jiang Xuan to do whatever he wanted if it was anywhere else, but this was the Xia Shang Auction House! It didn¡¯t matter if Jiang Xuan killed this person, but if he offended Xia Shang Auction House, that would be a significant loss to the Jiang family! The people in the hall also didn¡¯t expect Mu Qinglan to be so open about fighting against Jiang Xuan, and some of them even had a wait-and-see attitude. Some also couldn¡¯t wait to see what kind of fool Jiang Xuan and Mu Qinglan would make of themselves. Only a few others who wanted to get their hands on the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal had slight changes in their expression. Xia Zhong looked at Jiang Xuan, and the smile on the older man¡¯s face faded a little. ¡°What¡¯s this, Young Master Jiang? Are you going to make a move in front of me?¡± His voice was not loud, but it was definitely angry and powerful. While the auction was underway, Xia Zhong would absolutely make the Jiang family pay the price if Jiang Xuan dared to cause any trouble! The reputation of Xia Shang Auction House was not one that a small family like the Jiangs could destroy! As though someone had poured a pot of cold water over Jiang Xuan. He turned to see Xia Zhong¡¯s sharp eyes on him, and he finally sobered up. But, asking Jiang Xuan to swallow down his anger and let it go was impossible! Mu Qinglan lowered her eyes slightly, but it did nothing to conceal the sarcasm in her voice, ¡°Young Master Jiang, if you really don¡¯t have money, you shouldn¡¯t have come at all. Why do you have to puff up your cheeks in anger like that?¡± ¡°Who said I don¡¯t have money?!¡± Jiang Xuan was utterly enraged by Mu Qinglan¡¯s words. The anger rushed to his head, and he immediately said fiercely, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just 3,000,000 gold coins? What¡¯s the big deal? I¡¯ll bid 3,500,000 gold coins!¡± Many people balked privately. Even if a few prominent families pooled together, it would still be painful to pull out such an amount of money¡­ Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant again tried to dissuade him, but Jiang Xuan shot him a fierce glare. ¡°No matter what, I will win this bid today! Whoever tries to stop me means they don¡¯t want their life anymore!¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant was shocked and worried that the Jiang family patriarch would punish him once they returned home. So, he could only stammer out, ¡°Young Master, this Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal is indeed a treasure, but our budget is limited. If we spend too much and the master finds out¡­¡± ¡°If it¡¯s something I want, I won¡¯t listen to your nagging about it! I¡¯ll answer myself on the amount I spend!¡± Jiang Xuan was the only sapling of the family, and he had a noble status. He had always been pampered and valued, so he believed that they wouldn¡¯t do anything much to him. His attendant could only acquiesce with Jiang Xuan¡¯s words and not say anything else. Jiang Xuan shot Mu Qinglan a proud look. ¡°What¡¯s this? You don¡¯t dare to raise the bid anymore?¡± Mu Qinglan laughed inwardly. Since Jiang Xuan wanted to give his money away, she naturally had no reason to refuse. ¡°You¡¯re a so-called Young Master? You want to snatch something, but you only added that little bit of money. Don¡¯t you feel cheap?¡± After Mu Qinglan said that, everyone in the hall was filled with shock, to the point their jaws were about to fall off. Jiang Xuan had added 500,000 gold coins to the previous bid. Wasn¡¯t that already good enough?! How much power did this person have to place such little significance on a few hundred thousand gold coins?! Was 500,000 gold coins ¡°a little bit of money¡±?! Jiang Xuan barked out a harsh laugh, and he was about to say a few mocking words when he heard that awful voice call out again lazily, ¡°I¡¯ll add another million on top of Young Master Jiang¡¯s bid!¡± Hiss. The crowd was astonished. That meant the bid was now 4,500,000 gold coins! Even Xia Zhong was slightly surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected someone to raise the bid by one million directly! The highest bidding price in the history of Xia Shang Auction House in Luo Xi City had been 3,700,000 gold coins previously, and today¡¯s bid had broken that record! Xia Zhong was naturally happy to see this happening. Previously, Xia Yunshan had handed this crystal to him and told him to make sure it got auctioned off at a good price. Looking at how cautious Xia Yunshan had been, Xia Zhong knew that the person who brought this crystal must be extraordinary. Otherwise, with Xia Yunshan¡¯s status, he wouldn¡¯t have placed any significance on that person. ¡°The bid is now at 4,500,000 gold coins!¡± Xia Zhong couldn¡¯t help but pitch his voice higher, and it echoed throughout the vast auction hall. ¡°4,500,000 gold coins, going once!¡± Ye Yurou¡¯s shoulders sank slightly, and her eyes also drooped. There was a flash of restraint in her eyes. Only the slender fingers twisting together in her lap showed that her heart was not at all calm. She had initially come for the star matrix, but hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Xuan to step in and make a bid. Before she could even open her mouth, the price of the star matrix was already far beyond her expectations. Even though she really wanted it, she knew that the star matrix was not worth that price, so she had to give it up. She never expected that there would be a Tier 6 Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! She was now close to breaking through the peak of the Novice realm. If she could get help from this Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, she would be able to greatly increase her level! Perhaps she could even break through to the Divine Psionic Realm in one go! Ye Yurou was so excited inside, and it was difficult for her to control herself. But, no one expected that this mystery man would start the bid with 3,000,000 gold coins! At this price, Ye Yurou could still fight. But, she hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Xuan, that idiot, to actually add 500,000 gold coins directly on top of that! And then, that mysterious man was obviously doing this on purpose and directly increased the bid to 4,500,000 gold coins! Ye Yurou was well aware that the Ye family was inferior to the Jiang family, so it was impossible for her to bid against such an outrageous price. It was evident that Ye Yurou wouldn¡¯t be winning this bid. But, if Jiang Xuan were to obtain it, she could speak to him. It was possible that he would share some of it with her¡­ A calculating glint entered her eyes when she thought about it, and her lips suddenly spread into a soft smile. ¡°Brother Jiang Xuan, this Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal is good. But, this price is quite outrageous already. Perhaps it¡¯s better to let it go¡­¡± When Jiang Xuan heard this, the fire in his heart burned more furiously! How could he let the woman he loved see such a condescending side of him?! This crystal, he was definitely taking it! Fiercely gritting his teeth, Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes were red, and his expression was somewhat sinister. ¡°5,000,000 gold coins!¡± Five million! The hall was dead silent. Only Jiang Xuan¡¯s ragged breathing could clearly be heard. That was from anger, but also because he was too worked up. Mu Qinglan quietly thought to herself that these days, when people were being taken advantage of, their lung capacity was usually good. Otherwise, what would happen if she had taken on the debt in her moment of carelessness? Jiang Xuan gave Mu Qinglan a deadly glare. This strange man wanted to fight, didn¡¯t he? Then, Jiang Xuan would fight him to the end! The others in the hall were of the same mindset, so they all turned to look at Mu Qinglan. This mysterious man was adamant about grabbing this treasure, so how much would he raise the bid this time? For a while, even a pin drop could be heard in the hall. Mu Qinglan suddenly stood up and turned to the side slightly. She clasped her hand in front of her in a salute and said with a smile, ¡°Young Master Jiang, you¡¯re very generous. I¡¯m ashamed to say that I¡¯m inferior to you in this aspect.¡± W-what was that supposed to mean?! Hearing those words, many people immediately came to a realization. This person had done all of that on purpose! Jiang Xuan said in a sharp voice, ¡°You can¡¯t take out 4,500,000 gold coins at all, can you?!¡± Mu Qing smiled brightly. She was obviously in a good mood. ¡°You jest, Young Master Jiang. Forget about 4,500,000 gold coins. I can¡¯t even take out 450 gold coins right now.¡± Boom! Jiang Xuan just about exploded from rage.. Chapter 29 - Testing Her Sword Skill! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Sorry to have made you wait long.¡± Mu Qinglan turned around and was not surprised to see Xia Zhong in person. She merely nodded slightly and said, ¡°No harm done.¡± Xia Zhong walked into the room that only VIPs could enter while sizing up the mysterious figure before him without any trace of changes on his face. The mysterious figure had a wide rob that completely hid his body shape, and his face was not visible under the hood he had. Xia Zhong could only see a vague azure-colored chin. Adding on the hoarse voice, the figure was very strange. There was no such person in Luo Xi City, at least this much Xia Zhong knew. However, for this person to have pulled out a treasure like the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, he definitely wasn¡¯t an average person. Even though it was impossible to see his strength level, Xia Zhong didn¡¯t dare to tarry or be negligent in dealing with his mysterious figure. ¡°Here is your item.¡± Saying that, Xia Zhong came forward with a tray in hand. Inside this room, naturally, only the two of them were present. ¡°This is the auction item you¡¯ve won previously, the Heavenly Meteor Matrix, and this is your purple gold card. According to the rules, Xia Shang Auction House will take ten percent of the price your item has been auctioned off. Of course, the amount you¡¯ve bid on the Heavenly Meteor Matrix has also been deducted from it.¡± Mu Qinglan raised her eyes to study the purple-gold card half the size of her palm lying on the tray. Xia Shang Auction House was also quite the villain, to draw off 500,000 gold coins from her just like that! All in all, she was now only left with 1,800,000 gold coins. Of course, she grumbled about this on the inside, but Mu Qinglan¡¯s face didn¡¯t show the slightest hint of her feelings on the outside. Xia Zhong chuckled, then hurriedly said once he saw the Mu Qinglan shifting her gaze to look at him, ¡°We¡¯ve already placed your star matrix in this storage bracelet. According to the rules, you¡¯re already a purple gold VIP, so this bracelet is a gift from us. Please kindly accept it.¡± Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows slightly. Well, that was quite convenient. She didn¡¯t have room for many of her things anymore, after all. ¡°Many thanks.¡± Although her attitude was a little cold, Xia Zhong didn¡¯t feel disappointed. Xia Shang Auction House has earned a lot today, and the majority of it could be credited to this person. He had been shocked before this. To think that the person who bid on the star matrix actually turned out to be the original owner of the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! Because of that, he treated this person with the utmost respect. ¡°In the future, all the branches of Xia Shang Auction House in the empire will treat you as our VIP guest!¡± As he said that, Xia Zhong maintained the respectful expression on his face and bowed to Mu Qinglan. Mu Qinglan listened distractedly. A purple gold card¡­ She recalled that its requirement was five million gold coins, right? Although the card was indeed precious, it wasn¡¯t rare. She and her brother used to have a black gold card of their own, which only a handful of people in the empire had. After that incident, it was naturally also taken away. ¡°Is there anything else I can do for you?¡± Mu Qinglan put away the storage bracelet and purple gold card. Her wide sleeves even covered the entirety of her hands, and as Xia Zhong¡¯s gaze was lowered, he didn¡¯t see even the slightest hint of anything. ¡°No need.¡± The money was enough to tide her over for a while, and although she still had a few Yuan Soul-Fire Crystals in hand, she didn¡¯t intend to auction anymore off. These crystals were ones that possibly not even the main family would be able to get their hands on, after all. It would be better if she used it for herself. Xia Zhong was someone with good observation skills. Seeing that Mu Qinglan had no intentions of lingering and making small talk, he immediately turned sideways slightly and said, ¡°This way, please.¡± Mu Qinglan was about to leave when Xia Zhong suddenly thought of something. His eyebrows twitched slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°We will certainly keep your whereabouts a secret, of that you can be assured of.¡± Mu Qinglan paused in her steps, and her red lips hooked up. Xia Zhong was politely reminding her to be careful of Jiang Xuan. However, who would be the one having the last laugh? She continued walking, her black cloak fluttering up into an arc before disappearing completely. *** After Mu Qinglan left the auction house, she headed outside the city. She arrived at the edge of the Nine Foot Mountain Range not long after. She raised her eyes and looked at the dense forest, and couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh. ¡°This is a perfect place to kill someone and hide their corpse, don¡¯t you think?¡± The tone of her voice was light and easy, and it even carried a hint of teasing. ¡°Hmph! You have a lot of nerve!¡± An explosive voice suddenly rang out from behind her! Several strong gusts of wind blew, and shadowy figures flashed! They had blocked off Mu Qinglan¡¯s path forward and backward! Mu Qinglan was not the least surprised, and she turned around to see a face filled with malice. It was Jiang Xuan. ¡°You actually dared to come alone to the Nine Foot Mountain Range. It looks like you¡¯ve already thought about how you want to die!¡± Along with Jiang Xuan, there were two of his subordinates with him. At this moment, the three of them surrounded Mu Qinglan with a fierce, predatory glint in their eyes. Mu Qinglan sneered. ¡°You bully people just because you have money, but when you don¡¯t have enough money, you resort to forcefully taking it from them. You don¡¯t know how vast the world is and overestimate yourself, do you?¡± If this were in the Imperial Capital, a person with Jiang Xuan¡¯s attitude would have been killed countless times over! ¡°What did you say?!¡± Jiang Xuan was already filled with rage earlier on. Mu Qinglan had ruined his reputation and mocked him in front of many people, and he would probably become the joke of the entire Luo Xi City in less than a day! Five million gold coins! He had been impulsive. Although he had managed to get the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, he also knew that once news reached the Jiang family, even with his father¡¯s protection, the family elders would not forgive him! Jiang Xuan had regretted it after calling out the bid amount, but how could Xia Shang Auction House give one a chance to regret it? It was all because of this man! If it weren¡¯t for him, Jiang Xuan wouldn¡¯t have spent so much money! And become the laughing stock of everyone present! Jiang Xuan could only vent his anger by killing this man! At this moment, Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant was looking at Mu Qinglan with slightly furrowed brows. Then, he widened his eyes and exclaimed, ¡°Young Master! H-He! He¡¯s the mysterious man that the guard had brought into the auction house just now!¡± Although several people had dressed the same as this man before them, Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant had been asking after him for quite some time. Though he hadn¡¯t gotten any significant information about him, Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant remembered clearly what the mysterious cloaked figure had looked like. At this time, since they were all in close range of each other, Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendant could tell. Jiang Xuan was also shocked, and his mind spun quickly. He wasn¡¯t an idiot, and almost instantly, he figured out the real trick. His glare turned fiercer and deadlier as he looked at Mu Qinglan, his expression filled with disbelief. This man! This! Man! That Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal had belonged to him! Otherwise, the guard in front of Xia Shang Auction House wouldn¡¯t have looked at this mysterious man with such reverence! ¡°You! You¡¯re such a schemer!¡± If Jiang Xuan still didn¡¯t know what was going on, then he really didn¡¯t deserve to live anymore! This hateful person had deliberately raised the price to make Jiang Xuan buy the crystal at an outrageous price! Mu Qinglan laughed. ¡°You¡¯re welcome! Without your generosity, Young Master Jiang, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford the star matrix.¡± Jiang Xuan felt all the blood in his body rushing to his head, and his face turned purplish red, his veins rippling angrily on his skin! ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± With a furious roar, Jiang Xuan immediately rushed forward! Dense, powerful Yuan Energy gathered in his palms, the wind rippling violently in the air as he launched an attack in Mu Qinglan¡¯s face! In the next instant, Jiang Xuan saw a harsh glimmer flashing through Mu Qinglan¡¯s chillingly cold eyes! ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll just use you to test out this new move of mine.¡± In the flurry of movement, a clear voice rang out. ¡°Azure Primal Slash!¡± Chapter 30 - I Do What I Like Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation As soon as Mu Qinglan moved, Jiang Xuan sensed her realm and was immediately shocked. This person was only at Novice realm! Hah! Jiang Xuan wanted to burst out laughing at this moment. To be able to pull out a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal for auction in Xia Shang Auction House, being so reckless and bold, Jiang Xuan had thought this person would be invincible in terms of strength. But, he never imagined that the person would turn out to be strong on the surface, but weak on the inside! A Novice?! Jiang Xuan was already at the early stage of Primary Yuan Realm! His smile widened, and he pushed his feet against the ground once more, rushing in head-on! But, he didn¡¯t expect that the other party to also rush towards him directly! A flash of azure-colored light appeared in front of Jiang Xuan in the next instant! A sharp, piercing aura came flying at him! Jiang Xuan was slightly stunned. He gathered more Yuan Energy in his palms and let out a stern cry! ¡°You should feel honored to die by my hands today!¡± Having said that, a loud buzzing sound could be heard! A silver lance suddenly materialized in his hand! A cold glint flickered off its surface. Although it was only an illusion made from Yuan Energy, it was still filled with a biting cold aura! This was the Jiang family¡¯s ultimate move¡ªUltimate Dragon Lance! Although Jiang Xuan could only perform the second layer of this move, it was more than enough to deal with a Novice! With just one shot, he would be able to stab this Novice in the heart! Swish! He sent out the lance with one hand, and with a flash of silver light, the lance moved as though it was alive! Only a blurred shadow could be seen for a moment, and it was almost impossible to predict the line of attack! Mu Qinglan chuckled. She flipped her wrist, and the long green and black saber in her hand slashed down horizontally! Clang! The sound of the sharp weapons colliding together rang out, grating on the ears of those who heard it like nails on a chalkboard. Mu Qinglan¡¯s Azure Primal Slash had stopped Jiang Xuan¡¯s Ultimate Dragon Lance! Although both were illusions materialized from Yuan Energy, the stronger the energy, the stronger the strength of the materialized weapon. Obviously, the weapon powers would also be more potent if the strength was stronger. Mu Qinglan only intended to test the power of this Azure Primal Slash, so she only used 70% of the power. The two of them clashed fiercely, the violent swirl of energy bursting out as they exchanged blows! Jiang Xuan initially thought he would kill off his opponent quickly with one hit and didn¡¯t want to use any strong moves, but Mu Qinglan had actually managed to stay his lance! He was shocked and furious. His opponent was only a Novice, yet he still didn¡¯t have the upper hand in this head-on fight, so he naturally felt resentful of this fact! For Mu Qinglan to be able to resist his Ultimate Dragon Lance with such precision, she was probably not a weak person! ¡°Hmph! Just some little tricks!¡± Jiang Xuan shouted. He pushed more Yuan Energy into his arm, and the lance seemed to become even sharper than before! The lance inched closer in Mu Qinglan¡¯s direction! However, before Jiang Xuan had time to rejoice at his success, he heard a crisp, crackling sound¡­ Crack! He immediately looked down, and his eyes widened in shock instantly. H-how was this possible?! He thought that he had broken through his opponent¡¯s defense, but who would have thought¡­ A crack had appeared on his silver lance at some point in time! Jiang Xuan thought that he was hallucinating! That moment of inattentiveness was enough for Mu Qinglan to finish him off! She gripped the cold hilt of her saber and stepped back slightly, then she twisted her palm slightly, bringing the long green saber up in a strange arc! Her movements seemed to be slow, and Jiang Xuan could even see a cold glint glowing on the blade. When the saber slashed down, it was aimed at him! That horrible cold aura felt as though it could slit his throat in the next instant! Jiang Xuan instinctively felt a wave of terror, and he moved without hesitation, taking a step back to avoid the blade! However, it was too late! Just as he raised his toes to move, the green arc of light was already flying towards him! Goosebumps and cold sweat broke out on his body, and he tensed up. He was extremely anxious! He subconsciously brought up his lance to block the attack! However, he had forgotten that the Ultimate Dragon Lance already had a crack on it. The lance shattered with just this move as soon as the green arc of light touched it! Jiang Xuan started to panic all over again. ¡°Why are you guys in a daze?! Kill him!¡± Jiang Xuan called out in almost a high-pitched scream, backing down pitifully as he shouted at his two attendants. Those two attendants were in fact dumbfounded for a moment. None of them had expected this mysterious person, who was only a Novice, would be able to repel Jiang Xuan, who was already in Primary Yuan Realm, in one move! Jiang Xuan had a special, noble status and was extremely valued in the family. Naturally, his two attendants didn¡¯t dare to let anything happen to him, so they struck out in unison! ¡°You daring scoundrel! Stop!¡± One of them let out a stern cry before the both of them surrounded Mu Qinglan from the sides! Mu Qinglan¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. These two attendants were at the peak of Primary Yuan Realm! If it was only one person, she might not be able to win even if she went all out. But now, it was one against three, so she naturally had no chance of winning at all. As her mind ran through her thoughts quickly, her body suddenly changed! Her speed was suddenly much faster! Mu Qinglan had been extremely gifted since the beginning. There were numerous divine techniques in the main family, yet she had chosen one that didn¡¯t require too much Yuan Energy to execute. While others focused on cultivating more offensive moves to be the best at them, Mu Qinglan was best at escaping. Many people felt that she liked to escape in a fight back then, and thought that she was extremely cunning. However, Mu Qinglan had relied on this move to survive countless times after that. Where there was life, there was hope, after all. Mu Qinglan had never done things in a hurry, and would always leave a way out for herself. Jiang Xuan watched as the mysterious man suddenly sped up his approach, and his heart sank. He immediately continued his retreat! But, how could his speed match up to Mu Qinglan? In the next moment, blackness was all he saw in front of him. Before he could strike out, he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder, followed by a sensation of something cold pressed against his neck! Then, the feeling of being suffocated! Jiang Xuan was greatly alarmed. He had been taken hostage! His opponent had somehow managed to grip his neck and was choking him in such a short period! The grip on his neck was tight, and Jiang Xuan had some difficulties breathing. His face was also beginning to turn red from the lack of air. He wanted to struggle, but found that his opponent¡¯s physical strength was several times stronger than him! Also, he couldn¡¯t exert any force in his body! Seeing this, Jiang Xuan¡¯s two attendants, who were about to strike out, halted instantly in their steps and shouted hurriedly, ¡°Stop that!¡± Mu Qinglan had already disabled Jiang Xuan¡¯s arm when she had approached him, and he dangled in her arms like a rag doll at this moment. ¡°Step back.¡± Her voice was low, and the two men hesitated. They exchanged glances, but didn¡¯t move an inch. Mu Qinglin suddenly exerted a lot more force on her grip on Jiang Xuan¡¯s neck. ¡°Ugh!¡± Jiang Xuan immediately screamed, but it came out weak and hoarse because of the lack of air. Even his face had turned gradually turned from red to purple. Black dots clouded his vision for a moment. Jiang Xuan was extremely panicked, and his eyes were even rolling back due to the lack of oxygen. ¡°W-why aren¡¯t you¡­ m-moving¡­ back¡­¡± When the two attendants saw that Mu Qinglan would directly kill Jiang Xuan if they didn¡¯t agree to her words, they were also frightened out of their wits and hurriedly said, ¡°Stop, stop! We¡¯ll back off! Let¡¯s discuss this, don¡¯t kill our young master!¡± ¡°If you want your young master to live, it¡¯s simple.¡± Mu Qinglan tightened her grip slowly, but her tone when she spoke was calm and collected, as though she was talking about something as simple as the weather. ¡°You have three seconds to cripple yourself. If you¡¯re late even one second, I¡¯ll cripple him instead.¡± Those words left the two attendants dumbfounded instantly. ¡°One!¡± Mu Qinglan called out in a low voice. Before the two men in front of her could react, she kicked Jiang Xuan¡¯s ankle fiercely! Crack! It was the sound of bones breaking! Jiang Xuan instantly turned pale and crumpled to the ground with a muffled grunt. ¡°Y-you! Didn¡¯t you say three seconds?!¡± The two attendants were so shocked, they stuttered. Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows slightly. The two of them suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness running down their spines. ¡°I. Do. What. I. Like..¡± Chapter 31 - It Was You Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan¡¯s tactics struck fear into the two attendant¡¯s hearts. They were afraid that Mu Qinglan would send Jiang Xuan to the afterlife just because ¡°she liked it¡±. The two of them were Jiang Xuan¡¯s attendants, but they were in fact also in charge of protecting him. They were both strong in terms of strength, and it was apparent that the Jiang family doted on their only seedling in the family. If something were to happen here, only death would await the two attendants when they returned! Therefore, when Mu Qinglan broke Jiang Xuan¡¯s ankle, the two of them panicked and quickly begged, ¡°Okay, alright! We¡¯ll cripple ourselves now! Don¡¯t hurt the young master anymore!¡± With that, they gritted their teeth and gathered Yuan Energy in their hands, bringing it down ruthlessly on their own legs! The sounds of bones breaking echoed out through the forest, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine! After the two men had broken their own legs, their already pale faces turned even whiter from the excruciating pain. However, they hardened their hearts and still raised their hands to fiercely hit the top of their arms! In just the blink of an eye, the two attendants were gasping for breath as though they were near death. Their bodies were stained with blood, and they looked absolutely wretched. ¡°P-please¡­ spare our young master¡­¡± Although they were strong cultivators at the peak of Primary Yuan Realm, their strength would still be greatly reduced with such damage to their bodies! If the two attendants didn¡¯t get treated in time, they would definitely end up with some form of disability in the future, and their cultivation would surely be impacted too. But, they had no choice but to do it! Because this mysterious person before them was even more merciless! His methods were so vicious! They didn¡¯t dare to play any tricks at all. Jiang Xuan¡¯s mind was already blank. The pain coming from his body was incomparably painful, but somehow, he couldn¡¯t pass out at all. He was relying on the last bit of his strength to gasp for breath, and it was excruciating! He was suffocating! Mu Qinglan relaxed her grip slightly. Jiang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief on the inside. ¡°You¡­ can let me go now, right?¡± Mu Qinglan spared a glance at him. ¡°Do you think everyone is stupid pigs like you are?¡± Jiang Xuan was furious! However, Mu Qinglan merely grabbed him by the collar and turned around, walking deeper into the forest! She dragged Jiang Xuan on the ground like a dirty rag, which made him feel insulted. ¡°You! What the hell are you planning to do?!¡± Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t even look back. She seemed to move slowly, but in the blink of an eye, she had disappeared into the middle of the lush forest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Killing you will only dirty my hands.¡± However, she still needed Jiang Xuan to buy her some time so she could leave without a trace. The two Jiang family attendants wanted to follow after Mu Qinglan, but it was difficult for them even to stand up right now. So, they could only watch as Mu Qinglan disappeared with Jiang Xuan without being able to do anything. *** Mu Qinglan quietly returned to Mu Mansion without attracting any attention. At this time, the people in Mu Mansion didn¡¯t pay any attention to her, since she was an unpleasant person to them after all. All of them were eagerly discussing the events that had happened at Xia Shang Auction House today. A Level 3 star matrix! A Tier 6 Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! What treasures! Usually, they wouldn¡¯t even dare think of such items, but they had actually appeared this time! Even if they would never get their hands on it, but just listening to the description of the items was enough to light their hearts up with passion! Become strong! Once one became strong, one could have anything and everything! It wasn¡¯t only Mu Mansion. The entire Luo Xi City was in a heated atmosphere. The auction of such precious items would naturally cause an uproar, and what happened in the auction house only added to the excitement. That mysterious black-robed person! ¡°Did you hear? Several prominent families initially wanted to bid for that star matrix! But, the Jiang family was still the most powerful. Jiang Xuan immediately bid a high price, which directly smothered all the other bidders! No one expected a mysterious person just suddenly to pop out! That person and Jiang Xuan just couldn¡¯t get along. Each time he bid, he only added one gold coin! In the end, Jiang Xuan was so angry until people swore they could hear him grinding his teeth, but he still didn¡¯t get it!¡± ¡°Who in the world is he? He¡¯s so daring to actually provoke the Jiang family!¡± ¡°Heh, he¡¯s certainly not some ordinary person, for sure! The final price of that star matrix was outrageous and way beyond its value, but that person still insisted on bidding for it! If it wasn¡¯t to dominate the Jiang family, why else would that mysterious person do that? Also, to be able to bring out that much money, he definitely isn¡¯t someone to be trifled with!¡± ¡°Who cares about his identity? The Jiang family likes throwing their weight around, and that Jiang Xuan is bossy and overbearing. The fact that he suffered a stifling loss is so satisfying!¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s not a big deal at all! Do you know what happened after was even more awesome? The starting bid for that Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal was 1,500,000 gold coins, but because of the excitement that mysterious person caused, Jiang Xuan was finally forced to cough out 5,000,000 gold coins!¡± Hiss. Everyone drew a sharp intake of breath at that. That Jiang Xuan, how generous of him! However, coming up with such a sum of money would be painful even for the Jiang family, right? *** In the Jiang family residence. ¡°Father! You have to get revenge for me!¡± The gnashing of teeth accompanied this cry, and it sounded extremely sad and pitiful. Jiang Feng, the patriarch of the Jiang family, looked at his son. Jiang Xuan¡¯s breathing was labored, and his face was full of blood and tears. There were bruises all over his face, and his fists were clenched tightly! When the Xia Shang Auction House incident was happening, Jiang Feng had gotten wind of it. He had gotten a bad feeling and had immediately sent someone out. However, he was a step too late. When his subordinate had arrived at Xia Shang Auction House, Jiang Xuan had already disappeared. He knew his son must be angry, and would follow the mysterious man to seek revenge. However, Jiang Feng already had a feeling that the mysterious man had a cunning mind, and even his power levels were unknown. If Jiang Xuan rushed in blindly, he would be the one to suffer at the end! As a result, it really ended up as Jiang Feng had expected! The bad feeling he had intensified, and Jiang Feng had immediately sent more men. Only when night fell did they finally find Jiang Xuan¡¯s two attendants who had been crippled in the Nine Foot Mountain Range. It took them longer to search around before they found Jiang Xuan, who had passed out. Fortunately, Jiang Xuan was still alive. Otherwise, Jiang Feng didn¡¯t know what he would have done! After Jiang Xuan woke up and saw Jiang Feng, the first thing he did was beg the older man to get revenge for him! ¡°Father! You don¡¯t know how that man has humiliated me! If you don¡¯t kill him by slicing his skin off a thousand times, I¡¯ll never be able to withstand this humiliation!¡± Jiang Feng¡¯s face was gloomy, and he finally let out a stern shout, ¡°You evidently don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done wrong!¡± Jiang Xuan was instantly confused. ¡°You actually spent 5,000,000 gold coins in the heat of a moment out of anger to bid on that Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! Where¡¯s your brain? Have dogs eaten it?!¡± Jiang Feng was just about to explode from anger. It wasn¡¯t that the Jiang family was unable to fork out that amount of money, but he knew he wasn¡¯t going to be in for a good time, explaining this to the family elders! He had really spoiled his son overly much! But, seeing how Jiang Xuan had been beaten to an inch of death, Jiang Feng could not speak more harsh words of punishment. This was the first time Jiang Xuan has seen his father so furious, and he cowered immediately. However, he was still reluctant to give in. ¡°Father, that person was the one who set me up! How can our Jiang family suffer this loss! We must take revenge! Also, that¡¯s the person who auctioned the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal in the first place! This is all his fault!¡± Jiang Feng was shocked. For the mysterious person to take out that kind of item to auction off, he was probably not an easy person to deal with¡­ Jiang Xuan could tell his father¡¯s thoughts immediately and said, ¡°Father, that man is just a Novice! Let¡¯s block all the city gates and search the entire Nine Foot Mountain Range! He definitely won¡¯t be able to escape!¡± Jiang Feng looked up sharply at those words. ¡°Are you sure?!¡± *** Mu Qinglan had just returned to her residence not long ago when someone came looking for her. She had already changed back into her usual attire, and had washed off the disguise on her face and looked at the sturdy figure standing at the doorway with some surprise. ¡°Master Mu Yan? Why are you here?¡± Mu Yan stared at the youth in the house with sunken eyes. The afterglow of sunset was reflected on his face, which made his handsome features more outstanding. That look of surprise on Mu Linghan¡¯s face also seemed to be sincere. After a while, Mu Yan finally spoke in a deep, low voice. ¡°That mysterious person¡­ was you..¡± Chapter 32 - Mu Liu’er Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan blinked. ¡°What are you talking about, Master Mu Yan?¡± Her voice was calm, and a hint of confusion could be heard underneath her tone. It was as if she didn¡¯t understand what Mu Yan was talking about at all. When Mu Yan had been at the auction hall, he didn¡¯t think anything of it at first. But, when he saw that the last item to be auctioned was a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, he suddenly had a thought in mind and became suspicious¡­ The Tier 6 Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal was definitely not something that could be obtained easily. At least in Luo Xi City, he was sure that not a single person could do it. However, if it had been any other Yuan crystal, he wouldn¡¯t have been bothered. But, it was a Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal! He clearly remembered that Mu Linghan had brought back a Tier 6 Yuan Core from the Nine Foot Mountain Range, and it had been from a Fire Spirit Lion. If someone were to tell him that these two matters were utterly unrelated, Mu Yan wouldn¡¯t believe them. But, after looking at the mysterious person¡¯s appearance, Mu Yan had a few more doubts. He really couldn¡¯t think of any reason to make Mu Linghan risk doing all that the mysterious person had done. A Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal was precious, and if it were anyone else, they wouldn¡¯t have auctioned it off. Not to mention, the mysterious person had been arrogant and reckless, deliberately provoking Jiang Xuan. Mu Yan really couldn¡¯t believe that Mu Linghan, who had fallen into such a desperate state, would do such a thing. ¡°That Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal¡­ No one else would have been able to pull one out, except for you.¡± Mu Yan¡¯s voice was heavy and low as he stared at Mu Linghan. Mu Qinglan seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, as though she had come to a sudden realization, she said incredulously, ¡°You think that I¡¯m¡­¡± Mu Qinglan shook her head. ¡°Master Mu Yan, you¡¯re really muddled-headed right now.¡± Mu Yan didn¡¯t respond to that. ¡°Even though I obtained a Yuan Core from the Fire Spirit Lion, that was just by chance. I¡¯m afraid I would be dead right now if not for luck. As for whatever Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, I¡¯ve never seen one before.¡± Her words were earnest, and her tone was calm. Mu Yan couldn¡¯t pick out the slightest flaw in her demeanor. ¡°What¡¯s more¡­¡± Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips curled up in a self-deprecating smile, which was vaguely meaningful, and said, ¡°With the situation I¡¯m in now, why would I seek my own death? ¡°I¡¯m the only one left in my father¡¯s lineage, so I naturally would value my life.¡± Mu Qinglan said those words so lightly, as though it was a breeze that blew past only for an instant. Mu Yan felt complicated on the inside. Looking at the teenager with a smile on his lips, Mu Yan suddenly felt a lonely and desolate aura from him. The youth¡¯s figure was half-hidden in the fading light, revealing an indescribable coldness. That¡¯s right¡­ In Mu Linghan¡¯s current state, how would he dare to do any of those extreme things? Not to mention, Mu Linghan¡¯s body shape and voice were completely different from the mysterious figure. Even if he really had that Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal, Mu Linghan would be aware of the sin of harboring it to himself. Many people were aware of the fact that Mu Linghan had a Tier 6 Yuan Core. The commotion caused that day was not small, after all. But, none of them had suspected the Yuan Soul-Fire Crystal that had been auctioned at Xia Shang Auction House had anything to do with Mu Linghan. This was because no one would associate the despondent youth who had been expelled from the main family with the extremely unrestrained mysterious man. Mu Qinglan slowly said, ¡°It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t overthink it. I¡¯m only afraid that¡­ that person¡­ will not be happy.¡± These words immediately caused Mu Yan to jolt up, and his mind cleared instantly! That person! Who else would it be? Obviously, it was the youth in a white robe with unfathomable strength who had appeared the other day! Perhaps¡­ it was that person¡¯s doing? If that was the case, then everything made sense. Mu Yan suddenly felt relieved. He looked at the simple youth before him and suddenly felt that his previous guess had been absurd. He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It was just a momentary misunderstanding on my part. You shouldn¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Mu Qinglan shook her head with a faint smile. ¡°Just¡­ I wonder what the identity of that person is? Linghan, you and him¡­¡± Mu Yan had wanted to ask for a long time, but only found a suitable opportunity at this moment. Mu Qinglan paused, then answered casually, ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is. I just met him at the Zhongyuan Secret Realm previously, and it was a coincidental encounter. He helped me because I¡­ and my sister once helped him in the secret realm. He¡¯s just returning the favor.¡± She spoke indifferently, as though she didn¡¯t want to talk about it much. Mu Yan pondered over Mu Qinglan¡¯s words for a while. It was no wonder¡­ At this age, he was already so unfathomable. The youth in white robes was also a young talent chosen to enter the secret realm, so his background definitely wasn¡¯t anyone simple. Even his potential seemed endless. Mu Yan suddenly thought about how the youth before him used to be the same, extremely talented, and the envy of countless people. If Mu Linghan had not met with that accident, he would probably be the same as the white-robed youth¡­ Mu Linghan wouldn¡¯t be here in this dilapidated room and ignored by everyone. But, there was still one last doubt in Mu Yan¡¯s heart. He lifted his gaze to meet the eyes of the lightly smiling youth before him. Then, he hesitated for a moment before shoving that doubt back down and merely said, ¡°You should rest early.¡± Having said that, Mu Yan turned around and left. Mu Qinglan stood there for a long time, and after an unknown amount of time had passed, she faintly heard a voice from far away. ¡°¡­ Mu Mansion will protect you till the end¡­¡± Mu Qinglan smiled lightly. *** These days, the atmosphere in Luo Xi City was tense. The Jiang family people had stationed people at the city gates who would strictly check anybody who passed through. Often, teams of Jiang family guards walked on the streets, seemingly looking for someone. Countless people had grievances and criticism for this. Still, because the Jiang family dominated Luo Xi City, no one dared to resist and could only silently endure. Some people were in the know, and there were private rumors going around that the Jiang family was searching for the mysterious man who had picked a fight with Jiang Xuan at Xia Shang Auction House the other day. ¡°I heard that Young Master Jiang tried to rob that person afterward, but he was instead severely taught a lesson by that other party, and is now lying on his deathbed!¡± ¡°What? Is that true?¡± A female voice suddenly rang out in a courtyard of Mu Mansion. ¡°Lady Liu¡¯er, even though it¡¯s just a rumor, looking how angry the Jiang family is, I think it should be quite accurate.¡± The person who replied bowed low at his waist, displaying an extremely respectful look. In this room, there were two boys and one girl. They were all dressed in the same green robes, but the girl was seated on an elevated platform, which obviously displayed her more revered status. The two youths were average in appearance, and only the girl looked delicate and bright. Her features were beautiful, and there was a hint of pride in how she carried herself. After listening to her subordinate¡¯s report, several of them started laughing. ¡°That Jiang Xuan is useless! He¡¯s used to throwing his weight around, so he deserved what he got! It seems that he won¡¯t be participating in the martial arts tournament that¡¯s coming up. It¡¯s no wonder the Jiang family is furious. Without Jiang Xuan, I¡¯m afraid they can¡¯t keep their previous status in the tournament.¡± ¡°The Jiang family has taken first place two years in a row, and if they had done the same this year, our family would only be in a more difficult position.¡± ¡°What are you afraid of? We¡¯ve all been training in the academy for the past two years, and we¡¯re finally free to come back this year. It¡¯s only natural we¡¯ll have to teach the Jiang family a good lesson!¡± The two youths took turns to speak, and then they glanced at the young girl with a proud look on her face and said with a smile, ¡°Moreover, Sister Liu¡¯er is back with us, so we¡¯ll definitely be taking first place this year!¡± The corner of Mu Liu¡¯er¡¯s lips curled up slightly because of the compliments. She looked towards one of them and said, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve just returned, but I haven¡¯t seen Little Ye yet. If he knows I¡¯m back, why hasn¡¯t he come to see me?¡± The subordinate she spoke to had a complicated look on his face. Mu Liu¡¯er furrowed her brows slightly and said in a stern voice, ¡°What the hell is wrong?!¡± ¡°Lady Liu¡¯er! I-it might be better if you see for yourself! Young Master Mu Ye is¡­ he might not hold out for long!¡± *** Bang! The sound of someone kicking the door open echoed loudly. Mu Qinglan slowly withdrew the Yuan Energy surrounding her body and turned towards the door. An arrogant female voice suddenly rang out. ¡°Mu Linghan! Get out here!¡± Chapter 33 - Good Luck When It Comes to Women Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Liu¡¯er¡¯s expression was cold, and her beautiful eyes were fixed on the shabby room door. After a moment, a figure slowly walked out. The sun was bright at this time, and the room behind the youth looked dim and narrow. He was dressed in all black, and he gave off a cold, lonely aura. The inside and outside of the house seemed to be two different worlds and that youth came out in a slow and calm manner. Mu Liu¡¯er furrowed her brows slightly. When she heard the news that Mu Ye had been injured and was dying, she was shocked and angry, and had immediately rushed over to see him. The poison that Mu Ye intended to use on Mu Linghan the other day was terrifying. Once poisoned, the person would not be able to die immediately and would be forced to suffer through a lot of pain. The torture would go on for a month before the person would finally be allowed to die. Mu Liu¡¯er saw Mu Ye¡¯s swollen and purple body, as well as the greenish-blue veins popping out. His features were completely distorted, and it was impossible to tell what he originally looked like. His voice was hoarse and weak when he spoke. ¡°Co¡­ Cousin¡­ Save me¡­¡± Mu Ye¡¯s eyes were almost sealed shut from the swelling and pus, and Mu Liu¡¯er could still feel the endless resentment that burned in them! So, without hesitation, she rushed over and kicked Mu Qinglan¡¯s door down. Mu Qinglan looked at the fallen door and couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh internally. It was better if she just forgot about how many times her door had been kicked down. How many times did this make? As she thought about this, she straightened up and crossed her arms. Then, she leaned against the doorway and raised her head slightly. Mu Liu¡¯er froze. She didn¡¯t expect such a handsome youth to step out from the house. Then, she saw the youth raise his dashing brows slightly and give her a passing glance. His lips curled up and he said with a smile, ¡°At least it¡¯s a pretty girl today.¡± His tone was teasing, and his smile was charming. Mu Liu¡¯er was stunned, then the fire in her heart burned even stronger instantly! Her face was red from anger, and she pointed a slender finger at Mu Qinglan. ¡°You dog, you¡¯ve got guts! How dare you? How dare you¡­¡± ¡®How dare you be so frivolous!¡¯ The way the youth looked at her was as if he was looking at some object in general! Mu Qinglan snorted. ¡°Hmm¡­ As expected, you¡¯re a sassy girl.¡± Mu Liu¡¯er trembled with rage. Since she was a child, she had always been the center of attention with her outstanding talent and beautiful appearance. Many people liked her, and treated her carefully to get into her good graces. No one had teased her so publicly before! The expressions of the two youths following behind Mu Liu¡¯er darkened, and the tall, thin youth came forward and reprimand Mu Qinglan. ¡°You¡¯re really reckless! How dare you treat Sister Liu¡¯er so casually!¡± The other youth sneered. ¡°Sister Liu¡¯er, just leave this kind of person to us. He¡¯d only dirty your hands!¡± They all liked Mu Liu¡¯er in their hearts. Mu Liu¡¯er was proud and haughty, and they never dared to treat her in such a way. Who would have thought this brat was actually looking for death?! Mu Qinglan ignored those two as she studied Mu Liu¡¯er from head to toe. The gaze was fleeting, but Mu Liu¡¯er felt as though she had been stripped naked, and she was standing before this youth with nothing on. The ambiguous smile on his face made it worse, and she felt extremely embarrassed and angry. ¡°Brothers and sister, if you want to kill someone, you should tell them the reason first.¡± Although Mu Qinglan phrased her question that way, she could already guess who this young woman before her was. Mu Qinglan had only been here for a few months and rarely interacted with others, but that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t know anything around here. On the contrary, she already knew Mu Mansion like the back of her hand. This young woman looked fifteen or sixteen years old, and she had pretty features. She also dared to barge into his house in such an aggressive manner, so she must be quite valued in Mu Mansion. The way she kicked down the door also displayed that she was quite strong. Among the people in Mu Mansion of the same age range, Mu Qinglan had not seen anyone more outstanding than the young woman in front of her. What¡¯s more, the young woman was wearing the uniform of Biluo Academy. The two youths standing behind her were also wearing the same green robes. So, it would seem that this young woman was Mu Liu¡¯er from Mu Mansion, who had been selected two years ago to be sent to Biluo Academy to study. Although the Imperial Capital¡¯s Mu family was flourishing, Mu Mansion in this remote Luo Xi City was in more dire straits. They had also not produced any outstanding talents in the past few years. Biluo Academy was one of the several major academies in the Holy Yuan Empire, and those who were chosen to enter naturally had extraordinary talents. The academy students were also proud of their status and confident in themselves. When Mu Qinglan had been in the main family, she didn¡¯t care much about this. She only vaguely knew that the Mu family would select people from the branches to enter these academies. The total number of people they chose usually came up to be about 200. The Holy Yuan Empire was massive, and the Mu family had many branches. Although 200 people seemed a lot, they were in fact all outstanding geniuses among the branches that were extremely valued. After Mu Liu¡¯er and a few others had been selected in the past two years, no one else had been chosen to enter the academies. Because of that, Mu Liu¡¯er was naturally more arrogant. ¡°Hmph, you still dare to ask? You and Mu Ye both belong to the same family! How could you be so vicious towards him?!¡± That tall, thin youth took a step forward, a righteous look on his face as he scolded Mu Qinglan. Mu Qinglan gave him a strange look. ¡°Mu Ye was the one who challenged me to a duel. Was I supposed to thank him for it and let him beat me?¡± The youth that spoke previously choked. The other youth frowned. ¡°You could have just won the duel. You didn¡¯t have to kill him!¡± Mu Qinglan smiled, but it was cold. ¡°Not only was Mu Ye unable to beat me, but he also tried to poison me. I simply gave him a taste of his own medicine, that¡¯s all! Since you¡¯re all so compassionate, will you praise me for doing a good job if I stab each of you once?¡± ¡°You!¡± The youth¡¯s face turned red with anger, and he seemed to want to argue further. ¡°Everyone in the mansion knows about this. Did you guys come here to avenge Mu Ye without knowing the whole story, and without being able to distinguish between right and wrong?¡± Her words were facts and unpleasant to hear, and the two youths who had spoken out before could not refute it. Mu Liu¡¯er also hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out this way. She was Mu Ye¡¯s cousin, and they shared a deep bond. Seeing him in that state, how could she think of asking questions? She had immediately rushed over without thinking about it. She hadn¡¯t expected Mu Qinglan to put her in a difficult position. ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t say that you didn¡¯t use any underhanded tricks when fighting against Mu Ye! What¡¯s more, Mu Ye didn¡¯t really hurt you, yet you made him suffer a fate worse than death! I¡¯ll teach you how to be a decent human being today!¡± Mu Liu¡¯er shouted, then disappeared from where she was standing! Mu Qinglan turned slightly sideways and said with a laugh, ¡°Are you so anxious to barge into a man¡¯s room?¡± Mu Liu¡¯er grew angrier. She had been using 50% of her powers, and in a flash, she increased it to 80%! The atmosphere in the area instantly became heavier! Mu Qinglan moved lightly on her feet and dashed out into the courtyard. She shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but I have little interest in you.¡± Snap! A long whip instantly lashed out! Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes were cold, and her smile deepened. Then, she suddenly moved! Mu Liu¡¯er couldn¡¯t see the figure anymore, and she knitted her brows. She abruptly turned around in the next moment and was just about to send her whip out when a powerful force landed on her hand! It felt like a deadly steel clamp on her wrist! At some point, Mu Qinglan had grabbed Mu Liu¡¯er¡¯s wrist from behind, causing Mu Liu¡¯er to be unable to move. Mu Qinglan stepped closer, and Mu Liu¡¯er could feel the warm breath on her cheeks. She felt embarrassed and humiliated on the inside! ¡°This whip suits you. It really¡­ shows that you don¡¯t know how to use things sparingly.¡± Others watching couldn¡¯t hear what Mu Qinglan said clearly, but it looked like she was hugging Mu Liu¡¯er from behind. They looked like a handsome couple, one affectionate while the other shy. They painted quite an ambiguous image. Once Mu Qinglan was done mocking Mu Liu¡¯er, she was about to back away. Suddenly, she heard a voice that reminded her of a stream on a snowy mountain hitting ice blocks, chilling to the extreme, speak. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that even though you¡¯ve become a cripple, your days are still so carefree.¡± Mu Qinglan felt her heart tremble slightly, and she twisted around to meet a pair of ink-colored eyes. Yun Yi was dressed in all white, and he looked extremely eye-catching. The expression on his magnificent face was icy, and his tone sounded like it had been mixed with ice sludge. ¡°Really, you have such good luck when it comes to women.¡± Mu Qinglan suddenly felt a chill running down her spine.. Chapter 34 - Your Meridians Have Recovered?! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When did this guy arrive?! Mu Qinglan was inexplicably embarrassed that Yun Yi had caught her in this position. The way Yun Yi was looking at her, it felt like she had done something terribly wrong. Yun Yi never had anything good to say about her, but this was the first time he had called her a cripple directly to her face. When Mu Liu¡¯er saw Yun Yi, she was also stunned. Yun Yi¡¯s face was really breathtaking. Mu Qinglan had long been accustomed to his features, and she immediately released Mu Liu¡¯er. Mu Qinglan shoved Mu Liu¡¯er forward with her elbow, and Mu Liur¡¯er lunged forward, regaining her balance after much difficulty. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s a misunderstand, just a misunderstanding!¡± Mu Qinglan couldn¡¯t afford to offend this guy right now. If she did, she would have no way to hide from him! Mu Liu¡¯er had also finally come back to her senses. She had been publicly teased, then heard some unpleasant words, and her face had already changed from white to red. She gritted her pearl white teeth and shot a deadly glare at Mu Qinglan. Yun Yi shifted his gaze slightly and noted that Mu Liu¡¯er¡¯s wrist was red and swollen. It was evident that Mu Qinglan had been ruthless when dealing with her just now. Looking at the youth who had let go of Mu Liu¡¯er standing there with a bright smile on his face, Yun Yi felt that irritable anger in his heart dissipated by a lot. Yun Yi felt slightly startled at that and frowned slightly. He had no relation with Mu Linghan, so why did he feel angry at the sight just now? He had lost control of himself for that instant¡­ At that moment, the youth who stood sideways with a smile on his face as he leaned it, he really looked like¡­ They were siblings, after all. Yun Yi closed his eyes and shoved those emotions down. When he opened his eyes, it had returned to its usual composure. Mu Qinglan looked at the several expressions that flashed across Yun Yi¡¯s face in a short period, and she was also confused. She really couldn¡¯t figure out what Yun Yi¡¯s intention was. Mu Qinglan thought for a moment, then pointed at Mu Liu¡¯er. ¡°Something like this¡­ really doesn¡¯t interest me.¡± Mu Liu¡¯er was embarrassed and indignant to the extreme. This Mu Linghan was clearly humiliating her on purpose! ¡°You¡¯re too much!¡± Just when Mu Qinglan thought the other young woman was about to lash out again, Mu Liu¡¯er suddenly stomped her foot fiercely on the ground, turned around, and ran away. Mu Qinglan was speechless. The two youths who had followed Mu Liu¡¯er here naturally felt their heart ache at the sight, and hurriedly chased after Mu Liu¡¯er. Before they left, they didn¡¯t forget to shoot one last fierce glare at Mu Qinglan. Those glares screamed, ¡°Just you wait!¡± Soon, the courtyard was empty once more, save for Mu Qinglan and Yun Yi. Mu Qinglan sighed. She had only made a few moves to test their strength, and Mu Liu¡¯er had been the one to provoke her in the first place. Now, Mu Qinglan had actually offended three people at once because of that. Life just wasn¡¯t easy for her. When she caught sight of the white robes in the corner of her eyes, Mu Qinglan felt a headache growing. Compared to Yun Yi, offending anyone else seemed to be a small thing. The atmosphere was a little awkward for a while, and also cold¡­ ¡°Why did you come back?¡± Mu Qinglan cleared her throat, making it sound as though her question was casually thrown out. Yun Yi was unfazed. ¡°There¡¯s still something you need to return to me. You wouldn¡¯t have forgotten, right?¡± It wasn¡¯t even a question. Mu Qinglan balked at the thought. ¡°But¡­. the Vermillion Bird has already¡­¡± ¡°Although I don¡¯t know how you¡¯re holding it inside you, did you think I wouldn¡¯t be able to tell that the two of you are not contracted?¡± Mu Qinglan froze. Yun Yi had suspected this before, but he hadn¡¯t thought about it carefully before this. After all, Mu Linghan would only have had a chance to survive if he had contracted the Vermillion Bird. But, no matter how much he thought about it, Yun Yi felt that the aura around Mu Linghan was wrong. So, he got suspicious. When he saw Mu Linghan¡¯s reaction to his words, Yun Yi knew immediately that his words had hit the mark. ¡°As expected, you still frequently use the same tactics,¡± Yun Yi said indifferently. Mu Qinglan knew that this was not a compliment from Yun Yi at all. ¡°Think however you want to. Either way, it¡¯s with me now. So, if you want it, then come get it.¡± Mu Qinglan said as she turned around to walk away. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I can give you this life of mine.¡± Her words were calm, but Yun Yi¡¯s heart thumped in his chest. Kill Mu Linghan? Of course, the matter couldn¡¯t be more straightforward. However¡­ Yun Yi subconsciously dismissed this option in his heart. Looking at Mu Linghan¡¯s retreating back and how confident he was, Yun Yi felt reluctant to do such a thing. ¡°I¡¯ve returned her favor by saving you before this, so we¡¯re even,¡± Yun Yi said suddenly. Over the past few months, he would occasionally recall things that had happened in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, but he had never mentioned that name. It was like a spell hovering and pressing over his heart. Every time he wanted to say it, he would hesitate over and over again, never able to say it out loud. Mu Qinglan paused in her steps. ¡°Yeah,¡± she answered after a few moments. ¡°If you really wanted to kill me, I won¡¯t have anything to say about it.¡± Yun Yi¡¯s hand clenched into fists under his sleeves. The Vermillion Bird was inside Mu Linghan¡¯s body. Even though Yun Yi didn¡¯t know how the bird could exist inside the youth without a contract, it would probably be a difficult task if he were to take it forcefully. But, if he didn¡¯t take it¡­ Mu Linghan would definitely not let go of this trump card so easily. ¡°I can exchange it for anything you want.¡± This was Yun Yi¡¯s biggest concession that he was willing to make. Mu Qinglan turned around, somewhat surprised. Although she had deliberately said all those things, she hadn¡¯t expected Yun Yi not to make a single move against her. When had his nature changed? In the Zhongyuan Secret Realm in the beginning, didn¡¯t he also fight against her so many times? Mu Qinglan thought about it for a moment, and decided that this solution was feasible too. Although the Vermillion Bird was powerful, she couldn¡¯t make a contract with it right now. It seemed that Xue You also just intended to imprison the bird inside the black jade tablet to make it obedient to her. It was like carrying a brilliant treasure but being unable to use it. If she were to exchange it for something she needed, perhaps she could also¡­ ¡°That¡¯s also possible¡­¡± Mu Qinglan muttered. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t you dare give me to that kid!¡± As she was thinking about it, a grumpy voice suddenly came from her sea of consciousness. The Vermillion Bird? ¡®It¡¯s not like you can do anything, and you¡¯re even making a fuss instead. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to exchange you for some other treasure?¡¯ There were no changes in Mu Qinglan¡¯s expression, but she replied to the bird on the inside. Although the Vermillion Bird was locked in the black jade tablet and its appearance couldn¡¯t be seen, the haughty arrogance in its voice was still apparent. It was easy for anyone who heard it to imagine it holding its head high, flames bursting out from its body. ¡®I am the Vermillion Bird! What do you think I am?! How can I be traded like some mere object?¡¯ The Vermillion Bird was such a noble creature, but now it had been reduced to an object of barter! How embarrassing! Embarrassing to the extreme! ¡®Of course you¡¯re a treasure. Otherwise, how can I exchange you for money?¡¯ Mu Qinglan replied inwardly matter-of-factly. The Vermillion Bird was about to combust in anger. ¡°Heh. Girl, just ignore it. Even if you wanted to let it go, it wouldn¡¯t go.¡± Xue You¡¯s tone was light, but he was very certain about it. His words also carried a hint of something else underneath it. The Vermillion Bird must have felt something unusual about the black jade tablet. Since it belonged to Mu Qinglan, she would definitely stand at the strongest peak when she developed and grew up! The Vermillion Bird naturally didn¡¯t want to give up such a great opportunity! After hearing Xue You¡¯s words, the Vermillion Bird immediately shouted, ¡°What do you know?¡± The Vermillion Bird¡¯s tone was also ambiguous. ¡®Heh.¡¯ Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes suddenly cleared, and she smiled at Yun Yi, who was still waiting for her answer. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible.¡± In the next instant, a blur appeared in front of her eyes. Suddenly, she couldn¡¯t move her body! An ice-cold aura rushed towards her! Mu Qinglan lashed out, converging all her Yuan Energy into her fist! There was no changes in Yun Yi¡¯s expression. He raised his hand and moved it forward¡­ Bang! Blocking Mu Qinglan¡¯s fist easily with a palm. Yun Yi felt a little surprised. Mu Linghan¡¯s fist seemed a little small¡­ The thought had yet to fully form when Yun Yi¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he glanced at Mu Linghan¡¯s face. ¡°Your meridians have recovered?!¡± Chapter 35 - I Want It! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Taking advantage of Yun Yi¡¯s distraction, Mu Qinglan retreated immediately. There was no panic in her eyes that her secret had been discovered, and she was instead very calm. She already knew that it was impossible to hide this fact from Yun Yi. Mu Qinglan was still weak right now, but it would still be difficult for someone to detect the changes in her body if they didn¡¯t use Yuan Energy to probe. But, what kind of person was Yun Yi? His gaze was piercing, and he could tell with a glance. She hadn¡¯t intended to hide this fact, but she also had no intentions of handing over the Vermillion Bird. Even the Mu family¡¯s patriarch only had a Tier 6 primordial beast. With the Vermillion Bird in her hand, it would be her biggest trump card in the future. Moreover, the Vermillion Bird had already surrendered to her, so she wouldn¡¯t let go of it so easily. However, the problem was how she would deal with Yun Yi¡­ ¡°So what if it has?¡± Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows slightly, and an absent-minded smile floated onto her clear, handsome face. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find a Level 5 Star Formation Master to help me restore my shattered meridians, but I still have my own ways.¡± Yun Yi pursed his lips. Mu Qinglan fixed her gaze on him and said slowly, ¡°I won¡¯t give you the Vermillion Bird. That¡¯s something I got after I fought desperately. If you want to take it from me, you can try!¡± ¡°Master Mu Yan, the Jiang family has crossed the line! They crashed our gathering at the south of the city! They brought so many people with them and practically beat our people to an inch of death! They claim that they were looking for someone, but in fact, they were just using that excuse to attack us! ¡°Master Mu Yan, if we continue to endure this treatment, I¡¯m afraid that the Jiang family will just step all over our heads!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Master Mu Yan! The Jiang family deliberately provoked us this time. If we put up with it repeatedly, won¡¯t that make them think that we¡¯re easy to bully?!¡± ¡°Who does the Jiang family think they are? They think they¡¯re all that because they won first in the last few martial arts tournament! Do they really think that our Mu family are nobodies?¡± Inside the council hall, the Mu family elders were hopping mad. Mu Yan, who was sitting on the platform, had a sullen look on his face. The Jiang family had searched the city extensively, stating that they were looking for someone. But in fact, they had laid their hands on the Mu family. Even a man made of clay had limits and temper. What more the Mu family? Especially at this juncture, when the annual martial arts tournament was about to begin. If they were to face the Jiang family head-on at this time, Mu Yan was afraid that there would only be a lot of trouble. ¡°Hmph, Liu¡¯er and the others have returned this year. I want to see just how long they can continue to run around rampant!¡± an elder suddenly said. Several other elders also calmed down slightly when they heard that. ¡°I heard that Liu¡¯er is also performing well in Biluo Academy. In this year¡¯s martial arts tournament, the Jiang family is being whimsical if they think they can drag us down.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. What¡¯s more, I heard that the incompetent one from the Jiang family picked a fight with someone at Xia Shang Auction House. Later, when he wanted to make some underhanded move towards that person, it backfired, and he¡¯s now still lying in bed, trying to recover!¡± Everyone present exchanged glances and started laughing. Mu Yan stood up, his hands clasped behind his back with a calm look on his face. But, the words he spoke made everyone present feel excited instantly. ¡°We¡¯ll put the Jiang family aside for now. The martial arts tournament will start soon, and they are also trying to get a feel of our strength. We will bide our time for now, and when the martial arts tournament starts, we¡¯ll make sure to kill them all off! Let them know the power of our Mu family!¡± *** Mu Liu¡¯er impatiently chased away the two people following behind her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She snorted coldly and started going through the motions of her sword techniques. She had returned this time for the sake of the entire Mu Mansion. How could she let a small-time scoundrel like that affect her mood? When she thought about it, she brought down the long sword in her hand violently! The white, gleaming sword danced in the wind, and her movement was graceful. The aura that she emitted was majestic, and the sharpness of her sword was unparalleled. Her practice soon drew others on the training field over to look. When they saw it was her, many of them were joyful. ¡°It¡¯s Lady Liu¡¯er!¡± ¡°She¡¯s back from the academy? That¡¯s awesome! We¡¯ll definitely win this year!¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t seen her for two years, and she¡¯s only become more beautiful and outstanding in that time!¡± The lively chatter floated into her ears, and Mu Liu¡¯er had long been used to hearing such compliments. She hadn¡¯t bothered about it in the past and had taken all the praise as rightfully hers. But now, as she listened, the image of a handsome young man with a carefree smile on his face floated into mind. ¡°Something like this¡­ really doesn¡¯t interest me.¡± As if she had been caught in an evil spell, the more she didn¡¯t want to, the more those words and that person¡¯s smile appeared in her mind. It made her extremely frustrated and annoyed! Although Mu Liu¡¯er was haughty, she wasn¡¯t stupid, and she quickly concluded that Mu Ye had left out some parts in his story. Even though she had defended Mu Ye repeatedly back then, she already knew on the inside who was wrong and right in that situation. However, it was impossible for her to admit that she had misunderstood that person! Swoosh! When Mu Liu¡¯er brought down her sword, a stabbing pain flared up on her wrist. She could still see the red swelling on it after that incident. Looking at it served only to remind her of the warm breath from that person that had stood behind her¡­ Mu Liu¡¯er blushed, the anger in her eyes burning brighter. That nasty Mu Linghan! Clang! Shaken by her Yuan Energy, the sword in her hand actually shattered! The crowd watching this scene unfold in front of them were all shocked, then they started to shout in praise. ¡°Sister Liu¡¯er is really awesome!¡± Mu Liu¡¯er¡¯s face was cold, and she threw the now broken sword down to the ground. She abruptly turned to look at the youth who was looking at her with admiration in his eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mu Linghan a cripple now? How dare he still be so arrogant in our family?¡± The youth didn¡¯t expect that their goddess would speak to him, so he became excited and hastily replied, ¡°Sister Liu¡¯er, that¡¯s just the way he is. He¡¯s always been arrogant and never respected anyone. Who knows where he gets his guts from? What¡¯s wrong? Did he offend you, Sister Liu¡¯er?¡± When Mu Liu¡¯er heard this, she furrowed her brows slightly. Mu Linghan was well known among the entire Mu family, and even what happened after that caused him to fall from grace was naturally also known to everyone. But, a cripple¡­ She had only exchanged a few blows with him, and although neither of them had gotten overly serious about it, she felt that Mu Linghan was not as weak as she had imagined¡­ After a moment, she said coldly, ¡°He¡¯s not capable of offending me. The martial arts tournament is coming up, so you guys should hurry up and start training now.¡± *** Yun Yi and Mu Qinglan were still in their silent confrontation. After a moment, Yun Yi turned around. The edge of his white robes glowed faintly from the gold embroidered on it, and it gave off a slightly noble feeling. He felt it was meaningless to fight with Mu Linghan about this matter. Mu Qinglan blinked. ¡°You don¡¯t want it anymore?¡± Yun Yi didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°You better look out for yourself.¡± Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows, but she didn¡¯t bother to argue with him. She turned around¡­ A strong wind suddenly crashed down and enveloped her! Mu Qinglan felt the heavy pressure press down on her, and she could not move her body! The force was intense, to the point she felt like her flesh and bones were about to shatter into pieces! She was shaken badly, and she immediately gritted her teeth, looking up to find who it was. ¡°Who has the nerve to launch a sneak attack on me? Show yourself, right now!¡± Blood was already spilling out from the corner of her lips. A peal of gloomy laughter rang out. ¡°Hahaha! Yun Yi doesn¡¯t want it, but I do!¡± Chapter 36 - Show Them No Mercy! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation In the next moment, Mu Qinglan suddenly felt her body floating up and was forced to head in a particular direction! An overbearing force was suppressing the Yuan Energy in her body, and she had no choice but to let the other person control her body like this! She was extremely frustrated, and turned her head abruptly to look! A tall man wearing a cloak and emitting a strong, fierce aura entered her sight! Seemingly sensing her gaze, the man raised his head slightly. Mu Qinglan furrowed her brows. This man really looked like that Mu Yingtian that she had seen back in the forest the other day. That rich, bloodied aura that surrounded him was exactly the same. ¡°Heh, nothing good happens to those who dare look at me like that.¡± The man¡¯s lips were pulled back in a smile, but it was morbid and frightening to look at. He raised his hand and waved a pale palm lightly. Mu Qinglan felt a strong force converging! In the next instant, he reached out as though he was going to choke her! Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t hesitate. If she allowed him to grab her, she would be dead immediately! She clenched her teeth, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth. Her heart felt as though it was about to jump out of her ribcage! However, the Yuan Energy in her body was slowly and gradually starting to respond to her, after many forceful attempts! She flipped her wrist, converging all that Yuan Energy she could! Swoosh! The sound of something slicing through the air echoed out, and a strong wind blew past her ears! It was a sudden attack from a beam of silver light! At that moment, the man¡¯s hand was only an arm¡¯s length away from her neck! ¡°Tsk. Why did you come back again if you didn¡¯t want it?!¡± the man said to Yun Yi, then swiftly moved his body! He was still adamant about taking Mu Qinglan¡¯s life! At the same time, the man raised his other hand and waved. A beam shot out from his hand, clashing heavily against the silver light! The fierce energy collision immediately shattered a hole in the ground! As the dust flew up, Mu Qinglan felt a sense of critical danger coming towards her! She held her breath, and everything around her seemed silent. Even the surroundings in front of her became blur, except for that piercing killing aura, which was as clear as day! She tensed up, and even her internal organs felt as though they were all reeling! Just as the man¡¯s hand touched her neck, she suddenly moved! A long, greenish-black sword suddenly materialized in her hand! ¡°Azure Primal Slash!¡± She put all her strength into this strike! The blade gleamed with a cold color, striking down on the hand reaching for her! The man finally sensed something was wrong just as he was about to use his Yuan Energy to crush the long sword materialized from Yuan Energy. Instinctively feeling that something was wrong, his movements became a beat slower. He turned his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the saber! He was annoyed at that, and as he avoided the blade, he lashed out and landed a blow on Mu Qinglan! Mu Qinglan trembled from the huge impact which sent her flying fiercely towards the ground! When she was about to hit the ground, she suddenly felt a firm yet gentle force supporting her, pulling her forward¡­ Yun Yi had subconsciously stretched out his arm and pulled her back in time. Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t hesitate to grab onto him, but then she immediately coughed and spat out a mouthful of blood. A few drops of it landed on Yun Yi¡¯s robes. The red blood gradually stained the white sleeves, looking like a plum blossom blooming on a winter day. It was poignant to the extreme. Yun Yi looked down at the drops of red spreading on his white robes, and his eyes seemed to darken. The next moment, he spoke calmly, but his tone made those who listened tremble fiercely, a persistent feeling of terror surging up from the bottom of their heart, ¡°Mo Yuan. You¡¯re. Courting. Death.¡± Mu Qinglan felt her whole body tense up when she heard his words, and subconsciously let go of Yun Yi¡¯s arm. However, she was relieved in her heart, and she let herself fall to the ground. She tried her best to calm the turbulent energy flow in her body. Mo Yuan had appeared too suddenly, and he had lashed out intending to kill instantly. She had suffered some light internal injuries from his blows. Based on her vengeful nature, she was going to remember this. But this time, she wasn¡¯t in any rush to get her revenge. As though she thought of something, she turned her head to look and felt the chilling aura around Yun Yi. She smirked suddenly. Yun Yi was a clean freak, and Mu Qinglan was well aware of this fact. Now that Mo Yuan had made her cough blood onto Yun Yi¡¯s robes, it was impossible for Yun Yi to let him off so easily. As she thought about this, she saw Yun Yi raise his hand. As she was behind Yun Yi, she naturally could not see how deep Yun Yi¡¯s eyes were at this moment. It seemed as though there were surges of turbulent waves within his ink-colored eyes. Mu Qinglan suddenly felt the air all around her trembling! And it was actually heading towards Yun Yi! She looked up in shock. A single move from Yun Yi had managed to stir up all the energy between heaven and earth?! Just how strong was he?! Mo Yuan, who stood opposite, was also in shock. However, he was shocked at the fact that Yun Yi actually had such a killer move up his sleeves! Mo Yuan had fought against Yun Yi several times, but because they had been mindful of each other¡¯s backgrounds, they had never made any moves to kill each other. Even though they had planned for a long time, coming thousands of miles to assassinate Yun Yi, this was the first time Mo Yuan had seen the other so furious! Yun Yi was an unfathomable person, and they hadn¡¯t known how strong he was until now. However, once Yun Yi had displayed this move, Mo Yuan¡¯s face had already twisted into an ugly expression before it was executed fully! The last time Mo Yingtian had led an attack on Yun Yi, Mo Yuan recalled Mo Yingtian mentioning a strange youth. The relationship between Yun Yi and that youth had seemed a little strange. Mo Yuan had been curious, so he intended to probe about it a little more by coming here. As a result, he had heard the conversation between Yun Yi and Mu Qinglan. Although he didn¡¯t know what it was, since Yun Yi wanted it, it must be some extraordinary item. Mo Yuan had been so tempted that he made a move. Who would have thought that it would cause Yun Yi to become furious! Feeling the explosive energy surrounding the area and his body, a sense of deep uneasiness emerged in him. He definitely was no match for Yun Yi at this moment! Thinking of this, he immediately gritted his teeth and turned around to escape! Swish! As Mo Yuan made his move, Yun Yi swung his arm down! Endless waves of energy blasted downwards, directly crushing down on him! Blargh! The wave hit Mo Yuan directly, and he instantly coughed up blood from the heavy blow. Fearful and angry, Mo Yuan turned and said in a stern voice, ¡°Yun Yi, you dare kill me?!¡± To kill Mo Yuan would mean to oppose them openly completely! Yun Yi¡¯s thin lips curled up in a cold arc, and he raised his eyebrows slightly. The way he looked at Mo Yuan was like looking at a dead man. Mo Yuan felt his heart drop to the bottom of his stomach. ¡°I wanted to wait for all of you to come together and deal with you all at once¡­ but, unfortunately, you have to die today!¡± He moved his slender fingers as soon as he said that, and several silvery thin lines flew out! Whish, whish, whish! The silvery lines pierced Mo Yuan¡¯s body in a flash, splattering blood and flesh everywhere! Mo Yuan let out a sorrowful scream. The lines pierced a hole in his that in the next instant, and he could no longer make any sound. Mo Yuan¡¯s eyes widened, and he could only glare at Yun Yi with disbelief and fear in his eyes! ¡°I have arrived late. Please forgive my impertinence, Young Master!¡± A figure moved swiftly and landed on the ground, kneeling on one knee in front of Yun Yi. Mo Qinglan looked over and saw that it was Mo Yu from the other day. Mo Yu immediately saw Mo Yuan¡¯s miserable state and was shocked. He blurted out, ¡°Young Master, didn¡¯t you say¡­ you were going to kill them all at once?¡± Moreover, killing Mo Yuan now would probably only lead to more trouble! Yun Yi was unaffected by Mo Yu¡¯s words. His tone was clear as jade, but the words spoken were inexplicably cold and harsh, ¡°Pass on my orders. Kill all those from the Black Demon Sect whenever you see them.. Show them no mercy!¡± Chapter 37 - Proposal Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mo Yu felt his heart tremble and immediately replied, ¡°Understood, Young Master!¡± Yun Yi turned his fair, slender fingers lightly, and the countless silver threads that had already pierced into Mo Yuan¡¯s body tightened in unison! An explosive wave of energy surrounded Mo Yuan, and in an instant, his body suddenly burst into pieces! Bits of flesh and blood splattered everywhere! Mo Yu hung his head down. Even if he didn¡¯t look, he knew just how miserable Mo Yuan¡¯s death was. For Yun Yi to personally kill him was also Mo Yuan¡¯s honor. On the other side, Mu Qinglan, who had fallen to the ground, held one hand to her lips. She tried to hold back her cough, but her eyes were fixed on Yun Yi and Mo Yuan. When Mo Yuan¡¯s body instantly exploded into pieces, there was no hint of change on her face, but her eyes widened slightly. It wasn¡¯t that she was afraid of such a bloodied scene, but¡­ She knew better than anyone else how determined and ruthless Yun Yi was. Earlier when he had made that single move that stirred up the energy all around them, she finally knew how strong Yun Yi was now. Or perhaps, he had always been this strong. Back in the Zhongyuan Secret Realm, Mu Linghan and her had clashed with him and won a few times, but maybe because the Yuan Energy they could use had been limited. Also, she had wandered on the edge of life and death countless times in her previous life, so she was naturally at ease and had more advantages than Yun Yi. But, it was apparent now that Yun Yi¡¯s background and strength were definitely much stronger than she had ever imagined! Mo Yuan had so easily controlled her movements, and she had been powerless to fight back, while Yun Yi had dealt with him with just a single move. Mo Yuan didn¡¯t even have time to scream before his soul had left his body. The difference between her and Yun Yi was like day and night. As Mu Qinglan was deep in her thoughts and staring fixatedly at the scene in front of her, others would think that she had been frightened out of her mind. Mo Yu peeked at the youth who had fallen to the ground, and could only describe his current state as embarrassing. He had a wilted aura, and he even looked to be in deep shock. With such strength and disposition, how did this youth get chosen to enter the Zhongyuan Secret Realm in the first place? And why was Yun Yi willing to personally interfere for his sake? Mo Yu just didn¡¯t understand, but he didn¡¯t think any further. Yun Yi must have his own reasons for doing this. ¡°It seems that the Black Demon Sect can¡¯t endure it anymore,¡± Yun Yi said suddenly. Mo Yu replied hastily, ¡°The Black Demon Sect has been moving a lot lately. After you left this time, Young Master, in addition to Mo Yingtian and Mo Yu¡¯s people, there are still many who are secretly for an opportunity to kill you. Young Master, would you want to head back¡­¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re already here, we have to clean up this mess,¡± Yun Yi said lightly, as though he didn¡¯t take this seriously at all. After he said this, he finally turned around to look at Mu Qinglan. Mu Qinglan raised her hand to wipe away the blood on her lips and smiled at Yun Yi. ¡°Yun Yi, how should I ¡°thank¡± you? If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been dragged into this unwarranted disaster.¡± Mo Yu furrowed his brows when he heard this. How dare this person speak to Yun Yi in such a tone! Before he could speak his mind, he heard Yun Yi reply, ¡°I owe you one this time.¡± Mo Yu swallowed back the words in this throat. How could he have forgotten? Logical reasoning did not exist when it came to Yun Yi and this youth¡­ It was better if Mo Yu just stayed silent like a mouse¡­ Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows. Now that was what she wanted to hear! ¡°Linghan! Are you alright?¡± Sudden urgent shouting came from mid-air, and Mu Qinglan looked up in confusion, only to see that Mu Yan and several elders were there. When Mu Yan saw Mu Qinglan on the courtyard ground, still with blood on her body, his heart sank immediately. Then, when he saw the youth in white robes¡¯ hands, he was relieved. But it was followed immediately after by the feeling of nervousness. Earlier, he had felt an extreme fluctuation of energy within the mansion. Even the energy of heaven and earth had been stirred up. He had been shocked and had immediately rushed over. The direction of the fluctuations had clearly come from where Mu Linghan was staying! Mu Yan had been terribly worried, and he had rushed as quickly as he could over. Many possibilities were flashing through his mind, but none of them had prepared him for this scene. What more, the mysterious youth in white robes had made an appearance once more! Since that person was here, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger to Mu Linghan¡¯s life. But, when Mu Yan recalled the white-robed youth¡¯s strength from the other day, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. That was unconscious awe and reverence towards a strong person. As for the several other elders, they naturally sensed something wrong and followed Mu Yan over. Mu Yan strode towards Mu Qinglan quickly. ¡°Linghan, what is this¡­¡± Just as he was asking his question, he suddenly saw bits of flesh on the ground in the blood, and the corners of his eyes twitched violently! ¡°Has someone been killed here?!¡± one of the elders was the first to exclaim in shock, and his tone was also higher than usual. The faces of the other elders also abruptly changed when they realized this. Anyone could see that the person who had died had been chopped up into millions of pieces! Their body was so completely shattered that not even a single bone had been left intact! There was no way in hell one could tell that this had once been a human¡¯s corpse! However, that only sent a more chilling feeling down their spines when they thought about it! What kind of tactics was this? And what kind of deep hatred was needed to have done this to them? Mu Yan¡¯s felt his throat tighten. Mu Qinglan chuckled, then opened her mouth to reassure them, ¡°Master Mu Yan, Elders, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Someone wanted to kill me, but Yun Yi helped me to kill them. Everything¡¯s fine now. Everyone present was speechless. They weren¡¯t worried about that, okay?! You¡¯re sitting there in one piece and obviously fine, but that corpse had ended up in pieces of flesh, yet you¡¯re downplaying the entire thing?! But after hearing Mu Qinglan say that it was the white-robed youth who had done it, none of them dared to say another word. After a moment, Mu Yan said, ¡°It¡¯s good as long as you¡¯re safe. But, who is this person, and why would they want to take your life¡­¡± The corner of Mu Qinglan¡¯s lips pulled up slightly, and she slowly stood up. ¡°The city gates were on fire, that¡¯s all.¡± The saying goes, ¡°The city gates were on fire, so the fish in the pond were killed¡±. The city gates had caught fire, so the people used the water from the pond to put out the fire, which in turn killed the fish in the pond when the water ran out. In short, she was just collateral damage. Mu Yan and the others understood it instantly, and they were at a loss for words. Others had brought the disaster, but others had also solved it. Not to mention, with how strong the white-robed youth was, what right did Mu Yan and the others had to speak? ¡°This is the last time,¡± Yun Yi said suddenly. Mu Qinglan raised her head to look at him. ¡°Hm?¡± Yun Yi stared at her, his gaze profound. Yet, he didn¡¯t elaborate any further. His gaze discomfited Mu Qinglan, so she turned away to avoid his eyes after a moment. She waved her hand dismissively and said, ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s not a big deal since you¡¯ve already killed him anyway. I have nothing else to say about it. Don¡¯t you have something else to deal with? I won¡¯t keep you here any longer, then.¡± As she finished speaking, she turned around to return to her house without caring for anyone else thought. ¡°Who said I was leaving?¡± Yun Yi said suddenly. Everyone present was dumbfounded. Mu Qinglan turned around with wide eyes. ¡°Seriously? Yun Yi, you should know that I can¡¯t afford to get involved in your feud with this little life of mine¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯ll come again.¡± Yun Yi¡¯s hands were behind his back, and he rubbed his fingertips together inside his sleeves. The few drops of blood smudged slightly, and it was sticky. He met Mu Qinglan¡¯s clear, bright gaze and said calmly, ¡°So, I¡¯ll stay here for the time being..¡± Chapter 38 - Her Talents Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Mu Qinglan moved into the best room of Mu Mansion¡­ the room beside it, to be accurate. She never imagined that she would one day become neighbors with Yun Yi. When she thought about how Mu Yan and the elders had nodded hurriedly to Yun Yi¡¯s proposal, obviously feeling flattered, she gnashed her teeth in annoyance. Even considering that because Yun Yi was only acquainted with her in Mu Mansion, Mu Yan had arranged for them to live under the same roof¡­ Yun Yi had become a big shot in Mu Mansion overnight! Creak! The sound of the door opening and closing echoed out, and she caught sight of something white in the corner of her eyes. Bang! Mu Qinglan shifted her feet to close the door instantly. Fine, they were living together! So what? Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the one who¡¯s afraid! When Mo Yu heard the bang, he looked up at Yun Yi, who had stopped walking in front of him. His heart thumped wildly in his chest, and he thought to himself, ¡®Oh my gosh, that kid really has a lot of guts!¡¯ Who dared to show such a face to Yun Yi? This kid was the first in the entire world! Yun Yi quickly recovered to his usual self, seemingly not caring about what had just happened. ¡°Release news that I¡¯m here to draw out all the remaining members of the Black Demon Sect.¡± Mo Yu answered solemnly, ¡°Understood!¡± *** The majority of the people in Mu Mansion had already heard the news. The powerful white-robed youth from the other day had appeared once again! And, he was staying here this time! The people had split opinions. Those who had seen his mighty appearance were naturally frightened. They were afraid that he would turn his anger onto them once he was unhappy to vent. All of them were curious, but seeing how Mu Yan and the elders treated him so respectfully, none of them had the guts to ask about this matter. For a time, Mu Qinglan¡¯s residence was eerily quiet. Not even the shadow of another person could be seen. This was convenient for her. In her room, Mu Qinglan flipped her wrist and pulled out a gray-silver ball with three starbursts on it. The ball flickered quietly. It was the Heavenly Meteor Matrix that she had bid on the other day! Even though it looked a little worn, the surface was warm and cool to touch. The starbursts on it clearly highlighted its strength¡ªa Level 3 star matrix! As long as it was utilized properly, the most important thing about this star matrix was that it would withstand even a blow from an expert at the peak of Divine Psionic Realm! The fact that she had managed to obtain this item, regardless of its sky-high price, was not in vain. She closed her eyes and sank into her sea of consciousness, injecting Yuan Energy slowly into the star matrix. Nothing happened. Mu Qinglan opened her eyes and looked at the star matrix strangely. Was her Yuan Energy too weak to make it react? She increased the amount of Yuan Energy and poured it all into the star matrix! ¡°Girl, it can¡¯t be that you don¡¯t know how to use this star matrix, right?¡± Xue You¡¯s voice was surprised, with a hint of incredulity underneath it. Mu Qinglan cleared her throat. Even though she used to be extremely talented and had a high status in the main family, but it was because of this that she had never touched such things before. Star Formation Masters were already rare enough, much less a star matrix. In the eyes of many people, although a star matrix was powerful, it had a lot of limitations. So, it was best used as a last resort to protect one¡¯s life and not something one paid too much attention to. The Mu family invested all their energy and efforts to nurture Mu Qinglan and her brother, and she had not thought about other things apart from that. So, it was true that she didn¡¯t know how to use this item. Xue You was silent for a long time, to the point that Mu Qinglan felt the silence had become awkward, before he finally spoke. ¡°I thought you were a smart girl, but you don¡¯t even¡­ Then, why were you so desperately bidding on it?!¡± ¡°¡­ Because I value my life.¡± Xue You was speechless. ¡°Looking at your reaction, you seem to know how to use it?¡± Mu Qinglan naturally wouldn¡¯t let go of the chance she saw and immediately asked. Xue You gave a cold snort. ¡°The nature of a star matrix is never only to protect your life as a last resort!¡± Mu Qinglan was faintly surprised. ¡°A Level 3 star matrix isn¡¯t anything great. But, there are rumors that those more powerful Star Formation Masters or Grandmasters can refine star matrices that can raise the dead, move mountains and seas. With that power, they can even stand alone against armies of ten thousand! Even I don¡¯t know the extent of how powerful they can be!¡± This girl actually thought that a star matrix was only a life-saving device? Her understanding of the weapon was just too shallow! Mu Qinglan was stunned as she listened to Xue You¡¯s description, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel the emotions in her heart starting to stir. How graceful would a powerful person like that be? Moreover, listening to Xue You¡¯s words, he seemed to have a good understanding of Star Formation Masters¡­ ¡°Were you once a Star Formation Master?¡± Xue You snorted coldly. ¡°Impossible!¡± Mu Qinglan was speechless. She had got her hopes up for nothing. ¡°But, compared to you, my knowledge about Star Formation Master is considered to be a lot. Well, at least I know how to use this star matrix.¡± Mu Qinglan immediately sought Xue You¡¯s advice with an open mind. ¡°Hold the star matrix in your hand and insert your Yuan Energy through the three starbursts on it. Focus your energy there and see if you can get a reaction from it.¡± Mu Qinglan did as she was told. ¡°That¡¯s the core of the star matrix. If you want to activate it, you have to start from there. Then, you have to interact with its primordial spirit to get a reaction. The strength of this reaction varies from person to person. A Star Formation Master would garner a more fluent and smooth reaction and utilize a greater strength of the star matrix. As long as you can successfully activate it, you can do it too.¡± Mu Qinglan closed her eyes again and guided the flow of her Yuan Energy into the star matrix once more through the starbursts. The three silver starbursts flashed. Mu Qinglan slipped into her internal consciousness and found that she seemed to have entered a gray and boundless space. A layer of dense mist covered the area, and the area was vast and indistinct. ¡°Girl, your consciousness has already entered the star matrix. Go ahead and have a feel. What can you sense?¡± Mu Qinglan quietly waited in the space, and suddenly, a golden starburst appeared in front of her. Soon, another one appeared. Then, a third one appeared. Studying the three golden starbursts in front of her, Mu Qinglan could clearly feel the dense flow of power inside them. This must be where the power of the star matrix was contained in! She reached out, and the three golden starbursts flew towards her fingertips, sparkling brightly. The light coming from it was extraordinarily dazzling in the obscure space she was in. ¡°Now, how many starbursts can you see?¡± Mu Qinglan replied, ¡°Three.¡± Xue You was slightly astonished. This girl really was talented. She could actually sense all three of it? ¡°Then, how far away are you from them? Can you try to summon them or get closer to them?¡± Generally speaking, if one could summon the starbursts, it told of how easy one could use the star matrix. The closer the starbursts to one¡¯s consciousness, the smoother one could wield the weapon. Mu Qinglan looked at the starbursts floating around her fingertips and was a little hesitant. ¡°¡­ They¡¯re¡­ in my hands.¡± Xue You suddenly erupted in a loud cry, ¡°How is that even possible?!¡± Chapter 39 - The Martial Arts Tournament! Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Time passed quickly, and soon it was time for the martial arts tournament. Luo Xi City was lively during this time. The martial arts tournament was held once a year, and it was actually a competition between the young generation of several major families within the city. It was held in order to determine who was stronger. The winner would get the opportunity to receive the ¡°Heavenly Tide¡± Yuan Energy irrigation. ¡°Heavenly Tide?¡± When Mu Qinglan heard the two youths next to her in a heated discussion regarding the upcoming martial arts tournament, she muttered in confusion. Only then the two youths notice her, and their expressions changed instantly. There were hints of awe on their faces, and they hastily bowed their heads to greet her in panic. Mu Qinglan was stunned. She had stayed inside her own room for the past few days, so she naturally didn¡¯t know the rumors that had been circulating outside. Everyone in Mu Mansion talked about how she was extremely close to that mysterious white-robed expert, whom Mu Yan was extremely respectful to. So, her status had also naturally rose. ¡°What is the Heavenly Tide?¡± The two youths exchanged glances when they heard that, and spoke with some trepidation after a while, ¡°The Heavenly Tide is¡­¡± ¡°Every year at this time, then Yuan Energy in Mount Mengze will rise like a tidal wave. If you can intergrate the energy into your body, you will be able to increase your realm, and it would also be beneficial to your cultivation.¡± A female voice with a hint of arrogance rang out. Mu Qinglan turned her head to look and found that, as expected, it was Mu Liu¡¯er. Her chin was raised slightly, and she still had that haughty, proud look on her face. When she looked at Mu Qinglan, a flash of annoyance crossed her beautiful eyes, but it was quickly shoved down. When the two youths heard Mu Liu¡¯er explanation, they nodded in agreement. ¡°Oh?¡± Mu Qinglan nodded with understanding. ¡°There¡¯s still such a good place that I don¡¯t know about?¡± Mu Liu¡¯er snorted. ¡°No matter how good the place is, you¡¯re delusional if you think you can enter that place in your state!¡± When the Heavenly Tide happened, only one position was the best. It was also the spot that only the best would reach first to obtain its benefit. That¡¯s why, the prominent families competed each year to obtain this benefit. Mu Qinglan was unconcerned about Mu Liu¡¯er mocking words. Her lips curled up in a smile, and she said, ¡°Whether I¡¯m delusional or not, we¡¯ll have to try to know. But still, thanks for telling me this.¡± She turned head, sweeping her gaze across Mu Liu¡¯er, and continued with a lazy expression, ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell that a sassy girl like you would also have times when you¡¯re not just scolding others¡­¡± ¡°You! Shameless!¡± Mu Liu¡¯er had initially wanted to continue taunting him, but she didn¡¯t expect him to be completely unfazed and even spoke words that tempted her to give him a beating! Just as she was about to say something, she caught sight of the two youths behind Mu Qinglan gesturing at her with their eyes. She suddenly remembered that Mu Linghan currently seemed to have a strong backer behind him. She hated this fact deep in her heart, but she could only glare at Mu Qinglan and say, ¡°Hmph! What kind of man are you, relying on others?!¡± Having said that, she turned around and walked away quickly. Mu Qinglan blinked a few times before she finally understood Mu Liu¡¯er¡¯s words, and she couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. However, she wasn¡¯t interested in the martial arts tournament before this. But, it didn¡¯t sound like a bad idea to take a look at it now¡­ *** The martial arts tournament was held in the arena in the center of the city, and on this day, many from all over the city had crowded over. They were all full of anticipation to see the action. The chance of obtaining the Heavenly Tide was out of reach to ordinary people. It was a place where several major families jointly guarded, after all, and only those who qualified could compete for it. But, the result of this tournament also affected the distribution of powers in Luo Xi City. The Jiang family had taken first place in the past two years, and taking advantage of this momentum they gained, they had expanded their authority ruthlessly. Otherwise, Jiang Xuan would not have been so arrogant that he didn¡¯t even place much significance on Xia Shang Auction House. The Jiang family already had good momentum in dominating Luo Xi City, and if they placed first again this year, they would probably really gain a monopoly of the entire city. That¡¯s why, the martial arts tournament would attract a lively crowd every year when it was held. There was a wide, round platform in the middle in the huge circular arena. It was surrounded by steps that served as seats, and it was already full of people. The entire arena was filled with unceasing chatter, and the atmosphere was exuberant. In between the steps and platform, the Jiang, Ye, and Mu families each occupied one side of the long table, the north, south, and west, representing the side of the city they inhabited. The atmosphere between the three families was vastly different from the crowd, which was strange. Jiang Feng clasped his hands in front of him in salute and said to Mu Yan with a smile, ¡°Master Mu Yan, have you been well lately?¡± Had he been well? The Jiang family had messed with so many of the Mu family stalls, and had also taken many things from them! How could Mu Yan be well?! This was clearly a provocation that anyone with eyes could see. With the way the Jiang family had moved, the Mu family had done nothing but endure the treatment. It was difficult to tell if it was because the Mu family was holding back and waiting for something, or they were just plain good-for-nothings. Mu Yan stopped the elders behind him from saying anything with his eyes and replied with a smile, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Master Jiang Feng. Mu Mansion has been doing well lately, and perhaps a few will even be elected into the main family this year.¡± Jiang Feng¡¯s face stiffened. Who didn¡¯t know that Mu Mansion was a branch of the Mu family in the Imperial Capital? Even though Mu Mansion had declined in the last two years, they still had a backer in the end. If Mu Mansion really had some outstanding talents and managed to attract the main Mu family, the other prominent families in Luo Xi City would have no power to fight against them. Jiang Feng changed his line of thoughts, though there wasn¡¯t a hint of it on his face. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I hope that Mu Mansion will also have people who will enter the top three this year. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t look too good on you¡­¡± Mu Yan clenched his fist, then chuckled and said, ¡°Thank you for your kind words. I also wish your son a speedy recovery.¡± Jiang Feng¡¯s face instantly twisted into an ugly expression! The Jiang family had not suffered such humiliation in the past few years! They had been deceived. Forget about the massive sum of money that had been taken from them, even Jiang Feng¡¯s own son had been beaten up so severely. They had comb through the entire Luo Xi City, but they still couldn¡¯t find a single clue about that mysterious man! The more he thought about it now, the more he was filled with anger! ¡°Haha, let¡¯s stop chatting now. Can¡¯t you see that these children are becoming anxious from the wait?¡± As Jiang Feng and Mu Yan were going at each other with equal harshness, the patriarch of the Ye family, Ye Feiming, spoke up with a smile. Because the Ye family was in the middle, they rarely were involved in fierce battles. Also, Ye Feiming had always been a peacemaker. When he spoke, the other two had to show him some courtesy. ¡°The Heavenly Tide is about to begin, so we have to determine the winners soon,¡± Jiang Feng said, speaking as though the first place was already in the bag for him. Every family will send out ten people to compete, and the three families will compete against each other. The winners will enter the second round. The second round was one-on-one matches. These matches were no longer restricted, which meant that it was possible for one to draw the lot and go up against their own family member. The person who drew an empty lot would enter the next round without fighting. The last eight remaining participants will then enter the final competition. The referee stood in the middle of the field with the names of all the participants in his hand. He would be drawing the lots to determine each person¡¯s opponents in the first round. A loud voice echoed through the arena. ¡°The martial arts tournament will now begin!¡± The entire arena burst out in excitement! The referee also drew out the names of the first match and announced loudly, ¡°The first match is Jiang Xin versus Mu Linghan!¡± Chapter 40 - Which One Were You Referring To? Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When Mu Linghan¡¯s name was called out, a brief silence fell in the arena. ¡°Who¡¯s that? How come we¡¯ve never heard this name before?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s that trash from the Mu family who was expelled from the main family, right? I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re thinking. How could they let someone like that participate in the martial arts tournament?¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s him! Tch, it seems that the Mu family really doesn¡¯t have anyone else for them to send out such trash!¡± Luo Xi City was not huge, and the Mu family is one of the three prominent families. A few months ago, Mu Linghan¡¯s arrival had attracted quite a lot of attention. But, after some time had passed, the people didn¡¯t really remember much anymore. When they heard the name suddenly, all of them were surprised. There were looks of understanding on some of the people¡¯s faces, but some were also uncertain. Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t expect that she would be the first to compete. She raised her eyebrows, ignored the various gazes on her from the crowd, and walked towards the platform. She was somewhat interested in the Heavenly Tide, so when Mu Yan had asked her, she only needed to think for a moment before she agreed. As for the spot¡­ Well, it originally belonged to Mu Ye. Now, it had naturally fallen into her hands. No one in the Mu family dared to say anything about it. Outsiders didn¡¯t know the details, so they assumed that the Mu family didn¡¯t have any other talented people to send out, and that¡¯s why they sent out a cripple like Mu Linghan. The participant from the Jiang family was a masculine, burly man. He frowned after glancing at Mu Qinglan. Then, he coldly snorted and said in disgust, ¡°Bah! It¡¯s just my luck to get a cripple as my opponent!¡± The people next to him laughed. ¡°Jiang Xin, you¡¯ve saved a lot of effort! This match of yours is like advancing directly into the next round without even fighting!¡± Jiang Xin replied disdainfully, ¡°I can easily crush a weakling like him with just a finger!¡± With that, his aura flared fiercely, and he leaped up in the air, landing on the round stage in the arena. Although he was incredibly sturdy, he landed lightly on his feet. He seemed to have a flexible body that attracted the applause of many people when he appeared. Mu Qinglan walked unhurriedly up the steps at the side of the stage. Those who were watching her laughed in their hearts. To them, it looked like Mu Qinglan was scared witness. Did she think she could avoid the match if she walked slowly? Jiang Xin looked Mu Qinglan from head to toe. In his opinion, this black-clothed youth with a slim figure was not worthy of being his opponent. ¡°So, you¡¯re that cripple from the Mu family?¡± Jiang Xin said abruptly. His voice was naturally loud, and his words were easily heard by over half the people in the arena. Mu Qinglan stood still in the spot. When she heard those words, her lips curled up into a strange smile. Cripple? In the past few months, she had long since been accustomed to this name. But, that didn¡¯t mean that she would endure a scoundrel¡¯s provocation and insult! ¡°We¡¯ll see who the cripple really is here¡­¡± Jiang Xin¡¯s face darkened instantly! This brat had actually dared to call him cripple! The Jiang family had cultivated many young talents. Since there were only ten spots in the martial arts tournament, the competition to get these spots were fierce. The fact that Jiang Xin could stand in this arena was already a testament to his excellence! ¡°You¡¯re really courting death!¡± Jiang Xin bellowed and lashed out first! A majestic, dense yellow-colored Yuan Energy instantly wrapped around his fist and blasted out forceful! Everyone present was nervous as they watched the fight, except for the people from the Jiang family, who looked utterly relaxed and at ease. Seeing this, Jiang Feng nodded. ¡°He¡¯s already at peak Primary Yuan Realm. As long as he gets the chance, he can break through any time. Not bad.¡± He had heard rumors that Mu Linghan was not even a Novice, so he naturally wouldn¡¯t be a match for Jiang Xin. The crowd watched with rapt attention since it was only the first match. Moreover, both participants in this match were representatives of prominent families. It was a known fact that the Jiang and the Mu family didn¡¯t get along, so both families¡¯ reputations was in fact, hanging on the line. The winner would obviously get a good end, but the loser would probably drag their family¡¯s reputation down with them and also become ridiculed. Jiang Xin put all his strength into this punch. He was determined to defeat his opponent in one move! The intense sound of wind piercing the air rang out! Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she finally raised her head to look! Those eyes usually filled with a hint of laughter were now as cold as winter at this moment! Jiang Xin felt his heart tremble! For some reason, an unconscious fear suddenly surged up in his heart! Being fixed by such a look, Jiang Xin felt like someone had dragged a cold dagger across his throat! In the next instant, he gritted his teeth. Mu Linghan was just a cripple. How dare he look at Jiang Xin like that! ¡°I¡¯m going to gouge your eyes out!¡± Jiang Xin roared in rage. At the last moment, before his hand reached Mu Linghan, he suddenly stretched out two fingers and curved it into a hook, aiming it directly towards Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes! ¡°Ahhh!¡± Many people cried out in shock, not expecting Jiang Xin¡¯s first strike to be such a bloodied killer move! Squelch! His palm instantly seemed to go through the head of the person before him! However, there was no blood on his hands! Jiang Xin¡¯s heart sank. The Mu Linghan in front of him gradually dissipated into nothing! It was actually an afterimage! A chill ran up his spine, and Jiang Xin turned around without much thought! He swung his hooked fist out! Bang! Mu Qinglan raised her palm and actually faced his fist head-on with her own fist! Both fists collided fiercely against each other! Jiang Xin¡¯s face paled, an excruciating pain running up his arm instantly! Before he could react, Mu Qinglan flipped her fist into a palm and grabbed his wrist! Jiang Xin knew something terrible was about to happen, and immediately raised his leg to kick Mu Qinglan¡¯s stomach! A hint of mockery flashed in Mu Qinglan¡¯s eyes, and she swiftly kicked out first, landing a blow directly on Jiang Xin¡¯s knees! Crack! The sounds of bone breaking rang out, and Jiang Xin¡¯s mind went blank for a moment! Then, his leg went limp and he fell to the ground on his knees! ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± He was in extreme pain and fury, and beads of sweat broke out quickly on his forehead! The crowd was dumbfounded as they watched the match unfold in front of them. However, Mu Qinglan didn¡¯t give Jiang Xin a chance to catch his breath. She immediately raised her foot to kick him fiercely in his chest! Bang! When everyone thought that Jiang Xin would fly backward from the impact, they saw his body twist strangely instead. That black-clothed youth was still clutching Jiang Xin¡¯s wrist tightly, and he had not let go even after delivering that kick to Jiang Xin¡¯s chest! Instead, the youth took the chance to twist it forcefully! Jiang Xin had a burly figure, but at this moment, he was being tossed around like a piece of rag. He was tossed around a few more times before Mu Qinglan finally threw him out! Bam! Jiang Xin¡¯s body flew far out of the stage, horrible, scarlet lines lining the ground where his body had rolled over! The entire arena plunged into a deadly silence. Mu Qinglan slowly stepped forward. Jiang Xin¡¯s eyes were already bloodshot. A massive wave of fear washed over him when he vaguely saw the slender black figure approaching him! ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you could crush me with just a finger?¡± Mu Qinglan smiled lazily, but there was a chill in her eyes that could pierce one¡¯s bones. ¡°I wonder which finger you were referring to?¡± Her foot was already on top of Jiang Xin¡¯s right hand as she said that! She exerted more force as she pressed her foot downwards to crush his fingers!