Mu Jinyu injured the arrogant Yan Xuefei, but didn't think much of it.
He straightforwardly led Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, the two women, to the mansion of the Third Prince Yanran.
A very grand and luxurious courtyard appeared before them, with towering vermilion gates over a yard high, flanked by two majestic stone lions. A dozen guards at the fourth and fifth layers of the Divine Transformation Realm stood watch, making it seem even a mosquito couldn't sneak in.
When Mu Jinyu approached the mansion's gate with the two women Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan.
"Clang!"
The group of guards instantly focused their eyes, swiftly drawing their blades from their sheaths. The bright knife glint exuded a chilling murderous aura, engulfing Mu Jinyu and the two with an overwhelming force.
"Halt!"
"No unauthorized entry at the mansion gate!"
The Guard Commander's face was stern, akin to unmelting profound ice for thousands of years, issuing a thunderous warning.
The chilling murderous look in his eyes declared that if Mu Jinyu dared step forward even half a step, he would strike and kill them!
The Guard Commander could perceive that Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan's cultivation was just at the fourth layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, though he couldn't see through Mu Jinyu's cultivation. It seemed to be around the seventh or eighth layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, and causing trouble at the mansion gate would surely be fatal!
Seeing such a formation, Mu Jinyu's eyes showed no fear, but rather a faint expression of appreciation.
He didn't wish to stir up trouble without cause, so he obediently stopped a distance from the mansion and spoke up: "I am Mu Jinyu, your Third Prince invited me as a guest."
"Mu Jinyu? Third Prince?!"
Upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, the Guard Commander's expression subtly changed.
For an ordinary person, they might think Mu Jinyu was lying and impersonating the Mu Country Knight, but though he wasn't Yanran's personal guard, he remembered that Yanran indeed sought out Mu Jinyu, ranked third on the National Guard List, a month ago, returning only three days ago.
At that time, Yanran had instructed him that Mu Jinyu should soon visit, and he must carefully receive him without causing offense.
Because of this, he merely drew his blade in warning when Mu Jinyu approached the mansion, without intimidating too much, fearing an inadvertent clash with Mu Jinyu.
According to the timeline, the Mu Jinyu in front did seem likely to be real.
The Guard Commander's stern expression eased slightly, his tone relaxed a bit, murderous aura receding, "Mu Country Knight, please wait a moment, I will notify His Highness."
After speaking, he hurriedly walked into the mansion to inform the eagerly waiting Yanran.
The guards, hearing the Guard Commander's words, sheathed their blades but still gazed at Mu Jinyu warily.
Soon, rapid footsteps sounded from within the mansion.
Then Mu Jinyu saw Yanran, whom he had met not long ago, come out to greet him with a group of confidants.
"Mu Country Knight, you finally arrived."
Seeing the figure standing outside, recognizing it was indeed Mu Jinyu, a look of joy instantly appeared on Yanran's face, mixed with some relief.
"Hmm." Mu Jinyu lightly responded.
Yanran turned to the guards, who still bore some wary vigilance, and shouted: "Why haven't you stepped aside, truly intending to collide with Mu Country Knight?"
The guards, hearing Yanran's reproach, felt a chill in their hearts, quickly realized, and stepped aside, allowing Mu Jinyu to enter the mansion.
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu smiled and headed into the mansion with Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan.
Yanran's confidants, learning that this young man before them was the Mu Jinyu who recently shook Yan Kingdom, each wore flattering smiles, chatting with Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu casually conversed with them intermittently.
Then Yanran led them, turning into a dense garden.
Along a neatly paved path of pebbles, they passed by a variety of beautiful flowers whose names Mu Jinyu and the others couldn't recall.
Before long, they arrived at a small pavilion.
In the pavilion, there were several people brewing tea and chatting, each with an extraordinary presence, like dragons among men.
Mu Jinyu, upon arriving with Yanran, learned through their conversation that these individuals were mainly set to participate in the Hidden Dragon Conference, coincidentally passing through the Yan Kingdom, invited by the Third Prince to first visit the mansion, guests from other kingdoms of Heaven's Pride.
Each had strengths at the first or second layers of the Fanxu Realm!
They were not to be underestimated!
"Everyone, this is Mu Jinyu, recently renowned throughout Yan Kingdom as the third on the National Guard List, the youngest Heaven's Pride national knight of Yan Kingdom."
Yanran introduced with a loud voice as he led Mu Jinyu into the pavilion.
"Hmm?"
Long before Yanran led the group over, those in the pavilion, casually sipping and chatting over tea, had paused their activities, curiously looking towards Yanran.
As they heard Yanran's introduction, showcasing Mu Jinyu as the third on the National Guard List, each of their expressions unwittingly showed traces of surprise.
"Unbelievably him, so young!"
"His aura is indeed unusual, at least at the third layer of the Fanxu Realm!"
"But only at the third layer of the Fanxu Realm, reaching the third on the National Guard List? This indicates Yan Kingdom's overall strength is ultimately too weak."
These people, through various rumors, only knew that Mu Jinyu single-handedly vanquished two sects, subdued one, with his sect, the Heavenly Sword Faction, dominating Yan Kingdom.
Yet, they weren't very aware that the Great Elder slaughtered by Mu Jinyu possessed strength at the fourth layer of the Fanxu Realm.
Though he wasn't mentioned as the third on the National Guard List.
Even if some heard about it, they merely deemed it an exaggeration, not believing Mu Jinyu had such terrifying combat power to kill across realms.
Even for those at the Early Stage of Divine Transformation Realm, attempting to slay those at the Mid Stage of Divine Transformation Realm is extremely difficult, let alone the Fanxu Realm?
To them, Mu Jinyu killing the Great Elder of Blood Sword Sect, Zhou Yun, at the Early Fanxu Realm, was fundamentally impossible!
Zhou Yun was probably never at the fourth layer of the Fanxu Realm!
It's just an exaggeration by the people of Yan Kingdom.
But in truth, none were aware that on the day Mu Jinyu killed Zhou Yun, having consumed several Blood Demon Life-Reducing Pills, his strength reached the sixth layer of the Fanxu Realm.
Which was equivalent to the Peak Mid-Stage of the Fanxu Realm.
Though he only briefly achieved this state after consuming those Blood Demon Life-Reducing Pills, his combat strength unrealistically inflated, and generally, the fifth layer of the Fanxu Realm wouldn't be his match.
Because of this, Mu Jinyu didn't regard the experts and warriors of Yan Kingdom seriously at all!
Upon hearing these people speak openly about Yan Kingdom's weakness, Yanran's expression stiffened and became unpleasant.
Yet, he dared not reprimand them, as they were his hard-earned guests.
Then, a lean man, resembling a monkey, stood up, looking at Mu Jinyu with disdain, raising his hand in challenge:
"So you're Mu Jinyu, third on the National Guard List. My ears have grown callused hearing your name recently. Thought you were some mighty figure, but seeing you today, you're about the same as me. How about we try our hands?!"
"Hou Xin!"
Yanran, hearing the lean man's words, couldn't help but call out, his expression becoming even more difficult.
Yet, the man known as Hou Xin, upon hearing Yanran's call, didn't even glance at him, still staring at Mu Jinyu with a provocative look.
A gaze filled with intense challenge.
He accepted Yanran's invitation purely because he heard Mu Jinyu would be here, or else, as a master at the third layer of the Fanxu Realm, how could he look up to a weak prince?
Had he come to the Yan Kingdom as a guest, he should be at the Imperial Palace, Crown Prince's Mansion!