"Came to pick me up?"
Mu Jinyu, who was on alert, relaxed only slightly upon hearing their words.
However, seeing that they were only at the Sixth or Seventh Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, Mu Jinyu did not feel the need to immediately act to eliminate them.
Anyway, with their level of strength, should they dare to make a move, he could suppress them instantly!
"Yes, that's right..."
The leading person recognized Mu Jinyu's cautious stance. From the Elders' instructions, he knew it was Mu Jinyu's first time at the Blood Sword Sect and his first time through the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea, so he might not yet discern the difference between illusionary and real worlds.
He patiently explained, "There are five stages in total in the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea, and you've already passed them all, so the Elders specifically sent us to escort you."
"Is that so? Where did the other disciples go?" Mu Jinyu didn't immediately trust his words, though his expression softened slightly as he asked.
That person replied, "Some are still inside attempting the stages. Those who failed have already made their way in."
Seeing Mu Jinyu's heavy wariness, the person realized mere explanations wouldn't convince him. He thought of calling some Heavenly Sword Faction members to fetch him.
"Phew!"
At that moment, someone who had failed the stages emerged from the illusionary realm of the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea.
A flash of light revealed a figure.
Upon seeing her delicate appearance and graceful figure, everyone couldn't help but stare in awe.
The person who emerged was Jian Ruyan.
In the Blood Sword Sect, they had rarely seen such a beautiful woman. The female disciples in the sect were typically robust and fierce, and even the occasional female recruit would have a rugged physique.
Seeing Jian Ruyan appear thus left them spellbound for a moment.
Seeing Jian Ruyan appear before him, the scene from the third stage of the Sea of Fire flashed before Mu Jinyu's eyes. With a slight blush, he couldn't help but rub his nose, pushing down the awkwardness in his heart, and said, "Little Yanzi, you came out too? How many stages did you pass?"
"I was suppressed within the Sword Mountain and finally suffocated due to a lack of oxygen," Jian Ruyan said calmly. She showed no anger or unwillingness, only a faint sense of helplessness.
Her strength ultimately fell short. Otherwise, she could have slowly broken through the stone walls and escaped the Sword Mountain's suppression.
Seeing the familiarity between Mu Jinyu and Jian Ruyan, the disciples of the Blood Sword Sect felt their previously heated hearts instantly cool down.
Suppressing their improper thoughts, they forced a bitter smile and said, "Please follow us, the two of you."
"Hm?" Jian Ruyan responded softly, then turned to look at Mu Jinyu.
Seeing Jian Ruyan in her normal state, Mu Jinyu felt much more at ease and explained with a smile, "The Blood Sword Sect arranged for them to pick us up."
"Okay."
Jian Ruyan nodded and said nothing more.
Mu Jinyu then led Jian Ruyan, following the disciples of the Blood Sword Sect, towards a conference room.
As they reached the entrance, they could hear the Sect Leader's hearty laughter from afar:
"Hahaha! Within an hour, my disciple managed to break through all five stages of your Sword Mountain Fiery Sea. Zhou Taiping, do you accept this? Do you?"
"Damn it, it was your disciple, not you. What's there to be proud of? If you have the guts, why don't you try breaking through yourself?"
Zhou Taiping's extremely displeased voice rang out.
Xie Chenkun laughed triumphantly, "So what if it wasn't me? It at least proves that my disciple is better than yours, and I have better teaching skills than you. Get ready to lose tomorrow!"
Despite his boastful tone, Xie Chenkun secretly felt a bit regretful.
If he had known earlier that Mu Jinyu would perform so fiercely in the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea, he wouldn't have bet based on the results of the Four Sects Martial Meeting. He could have just bet on the results within the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea, wouldn't that have been better?
If that were the case, he would have already secured a month's cultivation time in the Blood Essence Pool by now.
Alas, he had thought Mu Jinyu, being a first-time challenger, wouldn't perform very well. Who knew it would turn out this way?
But regretting now was too late.
What a pity...
Walking at the back, Mu Jinyu listened to the Sect Leader's proud voice and couldn't help but find it odd.
When did he become the Sect Leader's disciple?
Still, he guessed that the Sect Leader was competing with the Blood Sword Sect's leader, with Dao Wuming, the number one on the Heaven's Pride list and a direct disciple of the Blood Sword Sect's leader, continually overshadowing the Sect Leader. Seeing Mu Jinyu's impressive performance, the Sect Leader claimed him as his disciple to suppress his rival's arrogance.
Thinking this, Mu Jinyu didn't mind the Sect Leader's public claim.
After all, it was just an empty title.
"Sect Leader, I've brought them."
At this moment, the guides reached the conference room entrance and respectfully announced.
The clamorous noise inside instantly fell silent.
An immediate hush.
It was as if everyone had held their breath.
Then, anxious and hurried footsteps echoed.
The Sect Leaders, Elders, and others from the various factions scrambled out, eager to be the first to glimpse Mu Jinyu.
They almost fought to see who would get to him first.
Eventually, they emerged in an orderly fashion.
Watching Mu Jinyu, their gazes were filled with intensity and peculiarity, as if they were looking at a marvel.
Their deep gazes seemed to imprint Mu Jinyu's appearance firmly in their minds.
Since the Blood Sword Sect rose to prominence from a major ancient site and became one of the Four Great Sects of the Yan Kingdom, no one had ever succeeded in breaking through the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea.
Not just the Divine Transformation Realm disciples, even their high-tier Fanxu Realm Elders frequently fell at the second stage of the Sea of Fire.
Yet Mu Jinyu, with the strength of the Divine Transformation Realm's Ninth Layer and on his first attempt, managed to break through all five stages. How could this not astonish them and make them see him as a great threat?
Some harbored dark thoughts, considering whether to eliminate Mu Jinyu early to prevent future threats to the Three Sects.
Of course, plotting remained plotting; they wouldn't act on it just yet.
Unaware of some people's malicious intents, Mu Jinyu felt chills from their odd gazes. He then looked towards the Sect Leader Xie Chenkun and frowned, "Sect Leader, what's this..."
Hearing Mu Jinyu, Xie Chenkun toned down his excitement and nodded approvingly, "Child, do you know that no one has ever succeeded in breaking all five stages of the Sword Mountain Fiery Sea at the Blood Sword Sect?!
Because of you, it no longer holds its invincible status. Your achievement is unprecedented, unrivaled—no one will surpass it! Now, you're famed across the Four Sects, outshining even Dao Wuming!"
After speaking, Xie Chenkun even winked at Mu Jinyu, the depths of his eyes showing a hint of pleading.
Mu Jinyu understood his implication, realizing he was hinting for Mu Jinyu to maintain the facade of being his disciple.
For the time being, he had to acknowledge the pretense of the master-disciple relationship.
Helpless, Mu Jinyu then glanced at the surrounding onlookers. Noting a few that looked disdainful and appeared unpleasant, he chuckled and said:
"Master, I haven't even been serious yet."