"Huh?! Who's causing trouble here?"
Mu Jinyu heard the noise and knew that someone was trapped in the Misty Formation and couldn't get out, which is why they were shouting loudly over there.
"Not sure, should we go have a look?" San Liu asked.
Mu Jinyu shook her head and said, "Let's not bother with him for now. Let's go back and ask what the situation is."
"Okay," San Liu nodded, following behind Mu Jinyu as they made their way through the Misty Formation and returned to the outskirts of Yinlong Mountain.
Instead of going back to Secluded Valley to check on Gu Xiyan and the others, Mu Jinyu went to the newly built headquarters of Dragon King Hall at the outer peaks to find Mu Hongchen and ask about the situation.
"Thump thump!"
"Please come in."
Mu Hongchen, hearing the knock, turned her head and saw Mu Jinyu appear, said, "Dragon Master, you're back."
"Yes, what's the deal with that person outside?" Mu Jinyu didn't beat around the bush and asked directly.
Mu Hongchen's expression stiffened slightly, and she said somewhat awkwardly, "That man's name is Qiu Bai. He has recently defeated the person ranked tenth on the Divine Rankings, becoming the new number ten. He has come to challenge you!"
"I told him you had temporarily stepped out and hadn't returned yet, but he wouldn't listen. He's been making a ruckus because I'm not sure if there's a master supporting him, so I didn't dare to use the Nine Heavens Mysterious Kill Sword Formation to deal with him. I just trapped him with the Misty Formation for now!"
After hearing Mu Hongchen's explanation, Mu Jinyu also had some understanding of Qiu Bai and slightly nodded, "Ranked in the top ten of the Divine Rankings? Hmm, I do want to test my strength, to see if I can easily defeat Ye Wushuang. His arrival is quite timely!"
With that, Mu Jinyu looked up at Mu Hongchen and smiled, "Aunt Mu, you did well not to kill him directly. Although we might not necessarily fear whoever is behind him, having more troubles is not better than having fewer."
"Yes, that's what I thought too." Mu Hongchen's anxious expression faded upon hearing Mu Jinyu's praise.
Initially, she had been worried that Mu Jinyu, upon hearing her explanation, would be displeased, thinking that with the Mountain Protection Array of Dragon King Hall, why should they fear the challenge of someone ranked in the top ten of the Divine Rankings?
She felt that Qiu Bai's rapid rise to the new rank of the tenth on the Divine Rankings suggested he had powerful backing, and it wasn't necessary to kill him outright over such a trivial matter.
After all, Qiu Bai was just seeking defeat, not eyeing up Gu Xiyan and the others intending to abduct them to become his bandit's wife. In that case, without waiting for Mu Jinyu's say, she would've immediately crushed the guy!
San Liu, listening to their conversation, slightly frowned and said, "Dragon Master, not to belittle you, but based on the combat results you have shown so far, you'd rank around the thirtieth place on the Divine Rankings. Although your true strength is undoubtedly beyond that, the new number ten on the Divine Rankings doesn't know this, so why would he go out of his way to trouble you?"
"That's true, why would he come challenge me for no reason?"
Reminded by San Liu, Mu Jinyu also suddenly wondered why she, being so low-profile and not prone to attract trouble, would become the target for Qiu Bai instead of those ranked higher on the Divine Rankings, like Ye Wushuang or Zhuo Yue?
Mu Hongchen shook her head and said, "I'm not sure about that, maybe for the Tai Sui Stone? Or the Nine Heavens Mystical Murder Sword Formation Map?"
"Yeah, it might be…"
Mu Jinyu wasn't certain of the reason either but figured it was probably one of those two items that had drawn Qiu Bai in, as she had been seen publicly seeking those very things recently.
"Let it be, I'll go meet the guy first and then decide," Mu Jinyu said, shaking her head lightly before leaving Mu Hongchen's office without further discussion.
As for San Liu, naturally, he didn't follow to watch the excitement, knowing well that this Qiu Bai was no match for Mu Jinyu. Instead, he went to find Nameless to share his adventures in the Land of Creation and the fortune he had gained there.
…
Mu Jinyu entered the Misty Formation once more.
"Fuck, is anyone there? Roll out here for me!!"
"Ahhhh!!"
From a distance, came several near-breakdown, whimpering roars.
Mu Jinyu shook her head slightly and said, "What's all the shouting for, it's incredibly annoying!"
As she spoke.
The Misty Formation suddenly split to both sides, creating a path that led directly to where Qiu Bai was.
"Hmm? Who? Are you finally coming out?!"
A young man lying on the ground, looking up at the mist in the sky, instantly became alert upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words and looked in her direction!
This person was Qiu Bai, the newcomer to the Divine Rankings at number ten!
After being trapped in this Misty Formation for nearly two days, he was nearly at the brink of collapse. The sight of Mu Jinyu nearly brought him to tears, and he leapt up from the ground, shouting, "Dragon King? Do you finally dare to face me?"
"Bang bang!!"
As he spoke, he strode towards Mu Jinyu with determination!
He had truly had enough of this oppressive solitude, unable to communicate with anyone, not even hearing the sound of insects or birds!
These past two days of confinement had led him to question his life choices. Why did he even come here to suffer?
"Clang clang clang!!"
As Qiu Bai ran excitedly towards Mu Jinyu, she frowned slightly, pinched a sword technique with her left hand, and suddenly, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Kill Sword Formation was activated. A sky full of sword shadows covered the heavens and the earth, dispersing the dense fog, as waves of terrible Sword Qi crashed towards Qiu Bai like a landslide.
The momentum was suffocating.
"Tap tap..."
Qiu Bai, who was originally running towards Mu Jinyu, felt this terrifying change and unconsciously slowed down, eventually stopping in his tracks, with a look of horror and scalp tingling as he gazed towards the heavens.
Seeing Qiu Bai calm down again and start to question his life, Mu Jinyu inwardly chuckled and sternly asked, "Who are you? What do you want with me?"
Qiu Bai's throat moved nervously, swallowing his saliva. Although he really wanted to curse at Mu Jinyu, to put aside the formation and fight him fairly, the Dense Sword Qi made goosebumps rise all over his body, ultimately preventing him from voicing such a challenge.
"My name is Qiu Bai, the Divine Rankings' tenth..."
Just as Qiu Bai began to speak, Mu Jinyu interrupted, "Hmm? Not being honest, are you? I don't recall you being number ten on the Divine Rankings."
Qiu Bai wore a look of aggrieved frustration before taking a deep breath to clarify, "I've just successfully challenged that position and replaced him, becoming the new number ten on the Divine Rankings!"
"Oh, is that so? Please, continue..." Mu Jinyu responded indifferently with a nod.
Qiu Bai took a deep breath, speaking bitterly, "I came to find you with two purposes in mind. First, to challenge you; second, to ask you to refine an Elixir for me. I've heard that you've obtained the art of Alchemy and have learned it..."
"Oh? Is that the attitude with which you ask for Alchemy?" Upon hearing Qiu Bai's words, Mu Jinyu was somewhat surprised; this guy had not come for the Tai Sui Stone or the Sword Array Diagram but to seek Alchemy.
However, upon reflection, it made sense. The market for Alchemy was vast, and she seemed to be the only one capable of it. It was perfectly normal for Qiu Bai to come seeking her help in refining a specific type of Elixir.