"Defeated... defeated."
Ye Que spoke intermittently, his eyes dim with fear. He had just wanted to say he wasn't defeated, but the aura of death emanating from the blade was too terrifying. It felt as if Xu Mu would kill him with a single strike if he insisted he hadn't lost.
"Release Young Master Ye quickly!" From the Lin family's direction, countless powerful figures rose to their feet, shouting at Xu Mu to release Ye Que. The four-stage guard accompanying Ye Que, Elder Di, descended directly onto the battle platform, staring menacingly at Xu Mu.
"Young man, release him quickly, and I'll spare your life," Elder Di said, his voice hoarse, fixing his gaze on Xu Mu.
Xu Mu looked at the old man, his hand tightening the blade's hold against Ye Que's neck, drawing fresh blood.
"Who do you think you are?"
"If you don't want him to die, then get a hundred paces away!"
The old man's face contorted, and he retreated as Xu Mu spoke.
"Ye Que is a genius of the Ye clan. If you kill him, you will face the Ye family's mad retaliation. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, the Ye clan will find and kill you."
Elder Di's face was grim. In fact, it was more than just that; Ye Que's father held a very high position within the Ye clan. If Ye Que died, he would likely have to accompany him to his grave!
"Why would I kill him?" Xu Mu asked calmly, a smile playing on his lips. "We were in a competition, and you lost but refused to admit it, didn't you?"
As he spoke, Xu Mu's grip on the blade tightened slightly. Ye Que's eyes widened further in terror, and he quickly blurted out,
"I admit it, I admit it!"
"I lost to you, and this match, you have won!"
"Then before, you lost to my demonic beast friend. Do you admit this, or not?" Xu Mu pressed.
"I admit it. It's your demonic beast; I was mistaken before!" Ye Que felt a pang of despair. At this point, he completely believed it was Xu Mu's beast. After all, even though he had consumed a forbidden pill to temporarily reach the fourth stage and unleashed his strongest ability, the Shattering Hand Seal, it had been shattered by Xu Mu's single blade.
The latter's strength had clearly touched the edge of the fifth stage. He was no match for Xu Mu, so it wasn't strange that Xu Mu could command such a beast.
"Since you lost, hand over your things," Xu Mu said mildly.
"You are too greedy. This is Ye family territory!" Elder Di was furious, making a move as if to attack Xu Mu. But he stopped himself as the blade drew a torrent of blood.
"Don't, don't move!" Ye Que cried out in panic. He was already soaked in his own blood, the blade having cut into his neck!
"Spatial storage bag, hand it over," Xu Mu urged again, his voice chilling. Ye Que had lost all courage to resist and obediently handed over the spatial storage bag.
Xu Mu took it with one hand and forcefully broke the seal with his divine sense. He briefly scanned the contents and found not only the Dragon Seeking Pool but also many rare treasures and spirit stones. Even the sixth-stage divine weapon sword auctioned by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was there.
"As punishment for your continuous and unlawful provocations, everything inside belongs to me. Do you have any objections?" Xu Mu asked with a smile.
"No, no," Ye Que replied, his eyes filled with terror. All he wanted now was to survive.
"Good, then you can scram." Xu Mu grabbed Ye Que by the collar and then unleashed a powerful palm strike. Ye Que was sent flying towards a sharp rock a hundred paces away. Elder Di gritted his teeth and had no choice but to abandon attacking Xu Mu, soaring to rescue Ye Que.
"Scoundrel, die!"
Seeing Ye Que unharmed, three young geniuses from the Heavenly Ride Sect, sitting in the Lin family's stands, roared and charged down. Bai Yu wielded his Swift Wind blade, Liu Han summoned his gray toad, and Zhang Qian brandished his fearsome halberd, launching a ferocious assault.
Facing them, Xu Mu merely snorted. Terrifying statues materialized around him, and under the glint of his blade, the three were sent flying backward, embedding themselves into the stone wall.
*Bang!*
Then, Xu Mu leaped into the air and kicked the enormous gray toad dozens of meters away. After a violent tumble, it crashed into the mine wall, causing a resounding tremor.
"You insisted on fighting, and then refused to admit defeat. What a joke." Xu Mu leaped back onto the Yu family's viewing platform, hands behind his back, his calm voice filled with mockery.
"Heavenly Ride Sect, nothing more."
"Xu Mu is too strong!" In the arena, countless eyes were fixed on Xu Mu in shock. That blade seemed capable of cleaving through everything in existence. Ye Que was no match, and the other prodigies of the Heavenly Ride Sect were even less so.
"Lin family, it's time to hand over the beast mine," Xu Mu said, turning his gaze to the Lin family's direction. Others also reacted; Xu Mu's battle with Ye Que was the final match. Now that the Lin family had lost, they had to hand over all their beast mines!
"Beast mine? Heh heh, you've repeatedly injured several prodigies of the Heavenly Ride Sect and plundered the spatial storage bag of a member of the Ye clan. Your crimes deserve death!" From the Lin family's direction, several powerful auras pressed towards them, all seeking to indict Xu Mu.
"Twisting facts. If it weren't for your repeated violations of the rules, we wouldn't have reached this point," Xu Mu retorted with a cold snort.
"Kill him, kill him for me!" Ye Que, who had been rescued and was recuperating on the battle platform, pointed at Xu Mu and screamed in terror, his expression bordering on madness.
That blade and the Dragon Seeking Ruler were the fundamental reasons he had come to Black Horn City. Helping the Lin family was merely a secondary matter. Now that both items were taken by Xu Mu, he couldn't imagine the punishment he would face upon returning to his clan!
"You've gone too far. Since you don't abide by the rules, what is the point of holding this beast mine competition?" The head of the She family spoke, asking in a deep voice.
"Abide by what? Hurry up and hand over Xu Mu, and I'll spare your lives for this matter!" Ye Que shouted maniacally, while all the powerful figures from the Lin family also arrived by air, including two high-stage Lords, all intending to kill Xu Mu.
"Lin family, you're overstepping." The powerful figures from the Zhong and She families also stepped forward, blocking the approaching group. The two sides hovered in the air, facing each other silently.
"Are you trying to make enemies of the Heavenly Ride Sect and the Ye clan?" Lin Che's face was grim as he invoked the names of the Heavenly Ride Sect and the Ye clan, causing the expressions of many powerful figures from the She and Yu families to stiffen slightly.
"If you don't want to die, get out of the way quickly!" Elder Di also hovered in the air, his eyes narrowed as he spoke.
"Since when could one Ye Que represent the entire Heavenly Ride Sect and the Ye clan?" Xu Mu's expression was calm, showing no sign of panic. "I'll ask again: Will your Lin family hand over the beast mine, or not?"
"That's impossible!" Lin Che declared firmly.
"Good. Then Yu family, She family, Zhong family, do you want the beast mine, or not?" Xu Mu asked again.
"We want it. It belongs to us, why wouldn't we want it?" The heads of the She and Zhong families spoke in unison, stating their stance.
They knew in their hearts that things had reached this point, and there was no room for retreat. Regardless of whether they wanted it or not, the Lin family wouldn't let them off easily. Their only chance was this mysterious Xu Mu. They had to seize this sole opportunity!
"And the Yu family?" Xu Mu turned to look at Yu Lin.
"Forget it, the Yu family will not participate in this matter." Yu Lin shook his head and withdrew his group of powerful figures from the area.
Unlike the She and Zhong families, the Yu family had Yu Xue practicing in the Heavenly Ride Sect, and Yang Xiao might marry Yu Le Yao. The Heavenly Ride Sect wouldn't attack them. Even if the Ye clan held them accountable, the Yu family had not participated in any actions against Ye Que and wouldn't be purged. There was no need to risk their lives alongside Xu Mu.
"Alright, then the Lin family's beast mine will have no share for the Yu family," Xu Mu nodded and said mildly.
"We've come this far, and you're still thinking about the beast mine? I think you're deliberately seeking death!" Elder Di could no longer tolerate it. He unleashed a powerful aura and attacked Xu Mu from afar with a claw strike. The people from the Lin and Shang families also seized the opportunity to launch their attacks, engaging in battle with the She and Zhong families.
Xu Mu looked at the ancient hand lunging at him, his expression devoid of emotion as he stood calmly in place.
Then, in the next second, a figure darted out from beside him.
"Beast!" Elder Di sneered as the Qiongqi attacked him and roared, preparing to deal with the noble and mysterious tiger first.
But in the next second, he discovered that the tiger could breathe fire.
The fire was crimson red, and when it splashed onto his body, it was scorching hot and painful.
Elder Di's face contorted in terror. He tried to use his abilities to extinguish the fire but found himself unable to do so. Instead, the fire grew larger, and within seconds, he was burned to black ash, yet the fire continued to burn eerily.
Only after the ashes turned into invisible air and dissipated did the fire slowly subside. The Qiongqi then flew back to Xu Mu's side.
Elder Di was dead.
Not even ashes remained.
The members of various families ceased their attacks, stunned and speechless.
A peak fourth-stage Ye clan guard had been burned to death by a mere flame?
"What kind of fire is that!" Lin Che exclaimed in terror, retreating hundreds of steps, unwilling to be touched by even a trace.
"Perhaps the question should be, what kind of beast is that." Mu Long, from the viewing platform, suppressed his shock. Elder Di, as powerful as he was at the peak of the fourth stage, had been killed by that tiger in mere seconds. So, what was that tiger?
"I'll ask again: Lin family, are you handing over the beast mine?" Xu Mu stroked the Qiongqi's head. The two stood side by side, slowly drifting towards the Lin family's direction. The hundred powerful ability users simultaneously fled backward in panic.
"You killed a member of the Ye clan, and the Ye clan will not let you go!" Lin Che roared, his face filled with fear.
"We're at this point, and you're still playing these tricks." Xu Mu frowned, instantly darting out and striking Lin Che's chest with a palm. Lin Che narrowly defended himself, retreating a few steps. But at the same moment, Ye Que, who had been recovering nearby, fell into Xu Mu's hands once more.
"A member of the Ye family died helping you Lin family. Shouldn't you Lin family bear the responsibility?" Xu Mu said, tightening his grip on Ye Que's throat. Ye Que's legs flailed aimlessly in the air, his eyes wide.
"She family, Zhong family, quickly subdue them." Xu Mu commanded. Numerous powerful figures immediately surrounded the Lin family's direction. The Lin and Shang families attempted to flee, only to find that behind them, they were already surrounded by ability users led by the Qiongqi.
"Those who resist, die." Xu Mu's grip tightened. Ye Que was on the verge of death, terrifying an ancestor of the Lin family, a fourth-stage cultivator, who hurriedly called out, "We admit it, quickly bring out the beast mine transfer agreement, and we'll sign it!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Mu released Ye Que's neck.
"They hand over the beast mine, and you live. Do you agree?" Xu Mu asked Ye Que.
"I agree. I will take a Heavenly Oath and will never violate it!" Ye Que coughed violently, his posture disheveled.
"Lin family, did you hear that?" Xu Mu asked again.
"We heard." With the tide turning against them, the Lin and Shang families had already abandoned their resistance and surrendered their weapons.
"I will take Ye Que with me. I don't know when I will release him back to the Ye family; perhaps in three months, perhaps in three years."
"I will also continue to monitor the situation in Black Horn City. If I discover that your Lin family is secretly retaliating or not adhering to the agreement to hand over the beast mine, you will face the consequences."
As Xu Mu spoke, he bound Ye Que securely with ropes, sealed his meridians with his abilities, and threw him onto the back of the three-eyed Golden Lion.
"Give us a ride, how about it?"
The three-eyed Golden Lion endured the pain, turned its head to look at Xu Mu and the Qiongqi on its back, and nodded its head vigorously.
"Xu Mu, are you leaving?" Yu Le Yao had already woken up. She looked at Xu Mu, standing on the back of the three-eyed Golden Lion not far away, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
A young man she had casually saved had changed her fate, the fate of the Yu family, and even the fate of Black Horn City. And now, this young man was leaving.
Yu Le Yao felt a pang of reluctance.
"Yes, I'm leaving." Xu Mu sheathed his blade and bowed respectfully to Yu Le Yao from afar. "Thank you again, Miss Le Yao, for saving my life."
Yu Le Yao's eyes welled up. She stood there for a long time, clutching the hem of her floral dress, then suddenly ran over and leaped onto the three-eyed Golden Lion's back, hugging Xu Mu.
"Thank you." The young girl's voice held a hint of grievance. If it weren't for Xu Mu, she might have been forced to marry Yang Xiao and would have faced an uncertain future.
"You're welcome." Xu Mu, sensing the warmth in his embrace, paused slightly and gently patted the girl's back.
Yu Xue Luo couldn't help but turn her head to look at Yang Xiao, who was standing there, clenching his fists, his face ashen.
"Will I meet you at the Myriad Races Assembly?" Chen Guo asked softly at this moment.
"Yes," Xu Mu replied with a smile. He still had to go to the White Cloud Daoist Temple and the Nangong family. Moreover, the Myriad Races Assembly was one of his goals in coming here, only now had the plan been forced to accelerate.
"Okay," Chen Guo nodded, a hidden fervor for battle glinting in his gentle eyes. He knew he was not Xu Mu's match yet, so he would cultivate even harder upon returning.
"You're just leaving like this. If the Ye clan comes, how will we explain?" Yu Le Yao's delicate body slowly moved away from Xu Mu's embrace, and she asked with some worry.
"Just tell them I'm from the Demon Extermination Division." Xu Mu took out a red wooden tablet from his embrace and handed it to the girl.
"Demon Extermination Division..." Yu Le Yao's eyes widened. She had speculated about Xu Mu's identity countless times, but she had never considered the Demon Extermination Division, as a force of that caliber was too distant for her.
The people from the Heavenly Ride Sect, as well as the Lin family and others, trembled when they saw the red wooden牌. No wonder Xu Mu didn't even regard their Heavenly Ride Sect or the Ye clan; the Demon Extermination Division was not only the foremost power in Great Xia but also the foremost in the entire Eastern Continent.
Even a colossus like the Ye clan was like an ant before the Demon Extermination Division.
"Oh, right. Yao Huo on the Realm Rankings is my superior. Tell the Ye clan that if they want revenge, they can find him," Xu Mu said with a smile to Yu Le Yao.
"Mhm." Yu Le Yao's eyes sparkled. She didn't yet understand what the Realm Rankings meant, but she nodded earnestly and cutely, "I will!"
"Good." Xu Mu acknowledged, stepping onto the three-eyed Golden Lion, and slowly disappeared into the horizon. Within the clouds, the Qiongqi transformed into its white tiger form, lying peacefully within its crystal-like fur, resting comfortably.
"Where are we going?" Ye Que lay awkwardly on its back, a sense of dread washing over him. He didn't know where Xu Mu intended to take him.
"Alfheim. You gave me the Dragon Seeking Ruler; it shouldn't go to waste." Xu Mu held a map in his hand, which he had found in Ye Que's spatial storage bag. It was a detailed map of the Hundred Clan Alliance. Alfheim was very close to Black Horn City, and they could reach it in at most ten days.
"You're insane, that's a forbidden land!" Ye Que's eyes widened in horror. Although he possessed the Dragon Seeking Ruler, he had never even considered going to Alfheim. The place was too terrifying, a place even Domain Lord realm cultivators couldn't easily venture into.
"We are going to the forbidden land," Xu Mu smiled, putting the map into his spatial ring. He said nothing more, merely taking out a pot of fine Osmanthus wine from his spatial storage.
Xu Mu tilted his head back and took a gulp, wetting his collar, and then let out a satisfied sigh.
Gazing at the white clouds below, the gradually shrinking and blurring Black Horn City, Xu Mu swayed his wine gourd slightly, then closed his eyes and lay down on the crystal-like fur, falling into a deep sleep.
Meeting too late, better to fade away into the rivers and lakes.
"Farewell."
Xu Mu's cheeks flushed slightly as he murmured.
...