The lotus withered, and the green domain collapsed with it.
Yin Zhongxiu stood silently on the plaza, unable to quite comprehend what was happening.
One moment, Elder Shuju was drawing his sword, intent on killing Xu Mu. The next, he had become his servant?
Anyone would need time to process such a turn of events, unless they were Charles.
"That's great! You won't have to worry about being hunted anymore, a Lord realm servant!"
Charles shrieked excitedly, giving Xu Mu a headache.
Impatiently, he shifted his gaze from the scope. A wisp of white smoke slowly rose from the AWM's dark barrel, a testament to its recent heat.
The young man softly exhaled.
From this moment on, the enmity between the Wang family and him had reached a temporary conclusion. He wondered, however, if more trouble would arise in the future.
"Damn it, it's because of this!"
Elder Shuju glared at the sniper rifle in Xu Mu's hands with a distorted expression. It was this weapon that caused Wang Jue to lose the duel!
If Wang Jue had won, he wouldn't have had to intervene. Otherwise, why would he have ended up as the servant of a junior?
"Hmm?"
Xu Mu's eyebrows slightly raised. He could sense Elder Shuju's emotions, a palpable dissatisfaction directed at him?
He turned his head, his gaze icy. He intended to mete out a punishment.
As Xu Mu's anger flared, a colossal wave immediately surged within his vast, boundless sea of consciousness.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The cage carrying Elder Shuju's soul shook violently, battered by the furious waves. It was tossed into the air, crashed against reefs, and plunged into the depths.
Innumerable spiritual forces pierced the elder's soul, causing excruciating, bone-deep pain.
"Ah!!!"
Suddenly, Elder Shuju clutched his head, his eyes squeezed shut in agony. He screamed madly, the effect no less horrifying than the lingering death inflicted by the Imperial Court's Ministry of Punishments. His shrill cries echoed throughout the Sun Never Sets Plaza, chilling the hearts of all who heard them.
With a thought from Xu Mu, the sea of consciousness instantly returned to its calm state.
"Don't look at things you shouldn't, and do less of it in the future," Xu Mu said with a detached expression. He merely intended to teach Elder Shuju a lesson. "Following me isn't exactly mistreating you."
"Yes!"
The pain in the elder's soul vanished. Elder Shuju was soaked in sweat, his limbs trembling involuntarily. His eyes were bloodshot, clearly on the verge of collapse.
Pain in the soul truly emanated from the marrow. Had he known Xu Mu would be so ruthless, he would never have dared to harbor such thoughts!
"There's no need for the Wang family's blood coral. I can help you with your illness."
After a harsh reprimand, Xu Mu offered a comforting gesture. He looked at the elder, whom he had tormented considerably, and could no longer bear to speak harshly. He gently patted the old man's shoulder.
It was merely a deficiency of origin, and he had plenty of methods.
When he first began to study medicine, he worried that Wu Kui would age too quickly. Thus, he had specifically asked Charles to teach him a prescription called the Six Flavors Rehmannia Pill. Composed of many potent tonics, it had the effect of prolonging life and replenishing essence and blood, making it perfect for Elder Shuju.
Well, even if it wasn't suitable, the person in the Heavenly Palace would likely find a way to cure him. After all, he was a fourth-stage laborer, and it would be a waste not to utilize him. He wouldn't be polite about it.
Elder Shuju dismissed Xu Mu's words as empty promises and paid them no mind.
However, when Xu Mu patted his shoulder, the elder flinched in alarm.
"Please, no!" he stammered, trembling, but dared not move rashly. "I am too dirty. What if I soil your hands..."
Xu Mu's hand remained suspended in mid-air. He smiled enigmatically. It seemed the old man was truly terrified of him.
"It's alright. You don't need to be so nervous. As long as you don't betray me, we can continue to interact as friends."
At these words, Elder Shuju mistook Xu Mu's statement as a test of his ambition. He immediately knelt on the ground without hesitation and cupped his hands, saying,
"Your humble servant dares not!"
"From now on, your word is law. Even if Master Zhang commanded me to scale mountains of knives or descend into seas of fire, your humble servant would die without regret!"
With that, he kowtowed without hesitation, abandoning all dignity.
Xu Mu scratched his head with a strange expression. He hadn't expected the old man's attitude to change so rapidly. However, seeing his persistence, he didn't say much more. Yet, he found the word "master" somewhat awkward.
So, he frowned and said, "Don't call me Master anymore. Call me Young Master."
"You are not a woman, and the title 'Master' sounds rather strange."
"Yes, Young Master Xu!"
Elder Shuju dared not refuse and agreed without the slightest hesitation.
...
...
"Did I not help you out considerably?"
Nangong Maoguan watched the scene unfold and smiled happily. He had not only repaid his debt of gratitude but had now, in turn, caused Xu Mu to thank him for acquiring a fourth-stage servant for free.
An anomaly of the Lord realm could be considered a core member of any faction, holding a significant position.
Moreover, he believed that Elder Shuju, severely injured as he was, would be considered a liability by others. However, for Xu Mu, this was not a difficult task at all.
He could easily heal his own injuries, so surely he could revitalize this fourth-stage Lord.
"You certainly did," Xu Mu chuckled. "Including that lightning magic, Senior has truly been a great help to me."
Nangong Maoguan laughed dismissively upon hearing this.
"Young brother, just follow this fellow diligently, and perhaps you will have to thank me in the future."
He laughed heartily and patted Elder Shuju's shoulder, his eyes filled with joy and praise.
His trip was not in vain. Although he hadn't found the holy relic, he had at least witnessed some of the oddities within the West Mountain, gaining experience for future explorations.
Most importantly, his injuries had healed. Even some of his long-standing ailments had improved under Xu Mu's acupuncture. He might even be able to achieve further progress on this trip.
Elder Shuju nodded repeatedly, not daring to object.
You are of higher cultivation, so you speak the truth.
"Oh, right, I still have eight hundred thousand taels of silver to collect. This is quite heavy to carry back."
Saying this, Nangong Maoguan chuckled. He raised his right hand, and from his loose sleeve, a lightning dragon suddenly emerged. It roared and lunged towards the pile of gold, swallowing nearly half of it in one gulp—precisely the eight hundred thousand taels he was owed.
He nodded in satisfaction before retracting the dragon into his sleeve.
Elder Shuju's hair stood on end. He was too terrified to move.
Fortunately, he had surrendered early. Otherwise, he would have surely been annihilated by such lightning magic, leaving not even dust behind!
"Governor Yin, General Ji Chang, I hope the two seniors will keep today's events a secret," Xu Mu suddenly said, clasping his hands together after recalling something.
"I do not wish to reveal my relationship with Elder Shuju yet. This can be considered one of my trump cards, and it will also facilitate negotiations with the Wang family."
"That is certainly not a problem," Yin Zhongxiu retracted his silver spear and then rubbed his temples with a hint of weariness.
The day's events had been too bizarre, and he needed some time to recover.
"Thank you."
Xu Mu bowed again and then turned to look at Ji Chang, who had remained silent.
He had always been curious. Other anomalies were eager to flee, unwilling to get involved in this conflict. Why had this mysterious young general chosen to stay?
"You... why are you here?"
The young general's voice was calm and somewhat hoarse. He removed his helmet, his long hair fluttering in the breeze. His face was unshaven, and his eyes looked at Nangong Maoguan with a complex gaze.
Ever since he had bet on Xu Mu to win, he had noticed this elder.
The lightning within the elder's body reminded him of someone.
That person was the strongest opponent he had ever encountered in his path of cultivation.
"I came with him," Nangong Maoguan said, pointing at Xu Mu.
He was leaving today, and these events were merely coincidental.
"I'm asking why you're in the domain of the Ghost Night. Are you here for revenge?"
Ji Chang held his helmet in his right hand, his tone somewhat cold.
Seven years had passed since that incident, yet he could not let go.
He could not let go, and therefore, he did not wish to see old faces or relive old events.
But this did not mean he wished to die. If Nangong Maoguan intended to kill him, it would not be easy.
"Revenge?" Nangong Maoguan smiled and shook his head. "That incident back then was not really my concern. Why would I seek revenge from you?"
"Besides, the price you've paid is more than enough."
The elder's words carried a deeper meaning.
He finally saw up close this genius who had once dominated an era.
After that incident, he had fallen from a position of prominence to the bottom, his family destroyed, and his cultivation greatly diminished.
The current Ji Chang's eyes had long lost the beast-like sharpness of the past, replaced by the exhaustion and vicissitudes of someone who had weathered great storms.
—Yet, his words remained as blunt as ever.
"What, you're unhappy to see me?"
"I just suspect you have other motives."
Nangong Maoguan shook his head.
"I came for the holy relic, but returned empty-handed... not entirely without gain."
As he spoke, Nangong Maoguan unconsciously looked at Xu Mu, who was beside him.
The latter was currently struggling to collect the pile of gold on the ground, busily occupied.
"The Ghost Night is not a suitable place for cultivation. How about you return to the Nangong family with me?"
Hearing this, Ji Chang sneered.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Don't think I don't know that your Nangong family was also involved in that incident back then!"
Two piercing glints suddenly erupted from the young general's eyes.
In an instant, a mountain-like, sea-like killing intent surged forth, causing Xu Mu, who was standing nearby, to abruptly stop his work.
"There is such an existence within the Ghost Night."
A calm exclamation came from the Heavenly Palace. Xu Mu couldn't help but be moved. When he looked at Ji Chang again, his eyes held a trace of solemnity and vigilance.
"While we were involved, the elder who took action has been confined to the forbidden area for several years, his cultivation crippled. If you are willing to come to my Nangong family, I guarantee no one will trouble you."
Nangong Maoguan persuaded patiently, very much wanting Ji Chang.
Although his meridians were damaged and he had wasted seven years of cultivation time, his potential was still immeasurable. Once he left the Ghost Night, becoming a Lord was a certainty.
And if he could overcome his inner demons, there was still a slim chance of him advancing to the Domain Lord realm. More importantly, he truly wanted to rekindle the hope of the one in the Nangong family's forbidden area, allowing them to be reborn like a phoenix!
"That is their just deserts," Ji Chang said coldly. That incident had ruined his family, so how could he follow the Nangong family home?
"So, you being here now is also your just deserts."
At some point, the white-robed woman from the Nangong family slowly appeared beside them.
She looked at Ji Chang and spoke in an unfriendly tone.
"This is the chosen Saintess of our Nangong family for this generation."
Ji Chang heard her words, turned his head, and met her gaze through her veil, his expression indifferent.
"Saintess? If I'm not mistaken, she's only at the second stage," the young general said, casually placing his helmet on his head, his tone filled with mockery. "A mere pawn like this wants to be a Saintess? Has the Nangong family declined so much after that fellow's defeat?"
"It's easier to change mountains and rivers than a person's nature," the woman calmly uttered these eight words upon hearing this, not showing any anger.
Nangong Maoguan also threw his hands up in helplessness, shaking his head repeatedly.
He had initially thought that after experiencing so much, Ji Chang's temper might have changed, which was why he had considered recruiting him.
He hadn't expected that after seven years, he would still be as volatile as ever.
"No one can change me, not even the Summer Emperor," Ji Chang said coldly.
"Of course, you don't have to change, and therefore, you can only stay here for the rest of your life," the woman retorted. "My cultivation level is related to my techniques. When the Ten Thousand Races Assembly opens, I will naturally break through to become a third-stage anomaly."
At this point, the beautiful eyes of the white-robed woman suddenly became stern.
"Once I officially become the Saintess of the Nangong clan and learn divine techniques, I will come for you, and then avenge my elder brother!"
Ji Chang raised his eyebrows upon hearing this and waved his hand, having lost the desire to converse further.
"Whether you are a Saintess or not, whether you know divine techniques or not, it's all irrelevant. I no longer care about these things. If you want to fight, then fight."
"However, I had no enmity with your elder brother. He merely lost a duel to me. I never expected him to go mad like this."
The young general spoke calmly, like an outsider.
"Since you are not here for me, then I will take my leave. The army has a pile of matters waiting for me to handle."
With that, Ji Chang was about to turn and leave. The Nangong duo did not stop him.
However, Xu Mu quickly extended an arm and smilingly blocked him.
"Hey!"
"Senior, you haven't agreed to my request yet. You must keep Elder Shuju's matter a secret for me."
The young man blocked the man with a playful smile, his expression somewhat anxious.
This was a formidable individual who dared to confront his young lady directly in front of Nangong Maoguan. The being in the Heavenly Palace had said he was strong. If such a person went mad, Elder Shuju might not even be able to save him.
But it was unavoidable. He had to ensure that the day's events were not leaked.
In the martial world, the most important thing was one's trump cards. Elder Shuju was undoubtedly his strongest trump card at the moment.
If the Wang family knew his trump card beforehand, those who came to trouble him would directly escalate to a level he could not bear, such as a Domain Lord.
Ji Chang did not stop walking but merely looked up, staring coldly at Xu Mu before him.
"Move aside."
The latter's smile froze on his face. Seeing the armor about to collide with him, Xu Mu grudgingly cleared the path.
"I don't have time to concern myself with your affairs. Whatever the Wang family or anyone else, just don't bother me."
"Your name is Xu Mu, isn't it? I'll remember you."
...