Da Xuan Martial Saint

"It's as if an Immortal is crafting a boat to ferry the masses!"

Unlike the surging emotions of the many villagers, Chen Mu's mind was quite calm at this moment. Using the Xun Wind Artistic Conception to pilot the boat, he was faster than the martial artists like Yu Jun piloting dugout canoes. Crossing the flood-stricken area took less than half an hour.

In this way, it would only take half a day to ferry all those villagers back.

He considered it a duty fulfilled.

However.

As Chen Mu was lost in thought, he suddenly shifted his gaze in the direction of something in the distance.

He saw at the upper reaches of the roaring flood, at the end of his line of sight, a dark shadow had appeared at some point, following the current downstream—a log that was neither thick nor thin, only about half a foot wide.

But on such a log stood several figures, all in identical garments, riding the log downstream. There seemed to be strands of Sword Intent intertwining, slicing through the water.

Heavenly Sword Sect!

When Chen Mu caught sight of them from a distance, several members of the Heavenly Sword Sect also noticed Chen Mu ferrying people on the boat. Their gazes converged from afar, crossing each other over the vast water surface.

But Chen Mu just glanced over before withdrawing his gaze, continuing to stand firmly at the bow, ferrying the villagers across the river.

"...It's him!"

Several people from the Heavenly Sword Sect, looking from a distance, immediately recognized Chen Mu.

Chen Mu was no longer an unknown figure in Yu County; even disciples from the Four Great Sects could recognize him at a glance. They all knew that this Inspectorate's Metropolitan Commander was not just a favorite subordinate of Yan Jingqing but also possessed the talent and aptitude to vie for the position of inheritor of the Great Sect's true teachings, far from being ordinary.

However, the people from the Heavenly Sword Sect who were riding the log and exploring the Qingping River were also out of the ordinary.

The person standing at the very front of the log was not particularly tall, merely five feet, noticeably shorter than the other Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, but there was a faint sword light flickering in his eyes. The costume he wore from the Heavenly Sword Sect was slightly different at the lapel; a layer of golden thread enveloped the embroidered sword-shaped patterns.

It was Gu Hong, who had once met Chen Mu briefly—a true disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"It's the second step of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception!"

A person standing behind Gu Hong spoke in a deep voice, his eyes showing a hint of surprise as he looked at Chen Mu.

In such rapid currents, to be able to pilot a boat this size, carrying hundreds of people through the waves, clearly wasn't something ordinary means could achieve. The gusts of wind controlling the boat, without a doubt, were not of the first step of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception but had already entered the second step!

"This person is truly formidable."

Lv Yuan behind also couldn't help but squint his eyes.

He had once gone to the flower district to listen to music and encountered Chen Mu as well. Although both were wearing headgear and Chen Mu did not recognize him, he later knew that the man had to be Chen Mu without a doubt. At that time, Chen Mu seemed not to have mastered the second step of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception yet, but now, in just half a year's time, he had reached this realm!

There's a gigantic chasm between the Bone Tempering Realm and the Five Viscera Realm. The only thing that can bridge this chasm is the second step of Artistic Conception.

Now that Chen Mu has grasped the second step of Artistic Conception, he could be said to be nearly unbeatable among the inner sect disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect; only a true disciple who has stepped into the Five Viscera Realm could surpass Chen Mu.

"I heard that he entered the Bone Tempering Realm just one or two years ago. Could it be that he grasped the second step of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception while still in the Bone Tempering Realm? Such talent is even greater than Meng Danyun's."

Another person next to Lv Yuan spoke in a deep voice.

Meng Danyun, a true disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, had mastered the Xun Wind and the Kan Water Artistic Conceptions to the first step's epitome and was proficient in various techniques but had yet to step into the second phase. Chen Mu, however, managed to lead by mastering it first, demonstrating an exceptional level of comprehension.

At this moment, Lv Yuan's thoughts were flashing, and a trace of sharpness appeared in his eyes. Suddenly, he said in a deep voice to Gu Hong, "Elder Brother Gu, this person's comprehension is extraordinary. In the future, he might become a formidable enemy. We could... "

To chance upon each other on this vast expanse of the river, once the fight started, there would be no retreat, no escape, making it entirely possible to kill Chen Mu here and then. Although Heavenly Sword Sect had no particular enmity with Seven Profound Sect at the moment, their relationship was inherently hostile.

Moreover, in the Martial World, it is common for Sect disciples to spar and exchange blows, and if one perishes due to inferior skills, such is the rule of the martial community.

As long as it is not the older generation striking down the younger, breaking the rules of the Martial World, the Seven Profound Sect would not have much to say.

However.

As soon as Lv Yuan's words fell, he was met with a cold snort from Gu Hong.

"Hmph!"

This cold snort wasn't just filled with chilly intent, but also, in an instant, a Sword Intent born from the heart spread out, directly reaching into Lv Yuan's mind, making him groan and almost fall off the log into the river, with blood even spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, the other Inner Sect disciples also fell completely silent.

Merely with a cold snort and a thread of Heart Sword power, without even drawing a sword, Gu Hong was able to injure Lv Yuan!

Gu Hong looked coldly at Lv Yuan and said, "Just because he might become a great enemy in the future, you wish to strike him down while he is weak. Such despicable behavior, how can you expect to have a clear Sword Heart and reach the pinnacle of mastery... Are you trying to corrupt my Sword Heart?"

At this time, Lv Yuan's heart was shaken. Although he had not yet entered the Five Viscera Realm, he had also realized the existence of Artistic Conception. Just the diffusion of Gu Hong's Heart Sword power had wounded his spirit, such a terrifying might.

Could it be,

Gu Hong's Heart Sword has already entered the second step?!

At this thought, Lv Yuan was even more frightened and, without wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, immediately said in a low voice to Gu Hong, "Elder Brother Gu is right to instruct... But I hold no ill will towards you."

Gu Hong looked at Lv Yuan with a detached gaze and said indifferently, "If my Sword Heart is clear, if you had any intention to harm me, you wouldn't be standing here unharmed right now."

With that said,

he glanced once more at Chen Mu's figure, who had already passed by on the river and was gradually growing distant. He said calmly, "It's not bad that he has realized the second step of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception, but that's all there is to it."

"Among the five sects of Yu State, aside from Left Elder Brother, only Blood Hidden Pavilion's true heir Si Kouzhi, Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion's Jiang Yifei, Hehuan Sect's Hua Nongyue, and Seven Profound Sect's Zhou Hao can be called peerless talents, worthy of being considered as my future formidable enemies."

"You say this person is also a future formidable enemy of mine, isn't that... underestimating me?"

Withdrawing his gaze, Gu Hong looked indifferently at Lv Yuan.

Lv Yuan kept silent, not daring to respond, while the other Heavenly Sword Sect Inner Sect disciples echoed in agreement, "Indeed, aside from the heads of the sects, no one could pose a threat to Elder Brother Gu. It seems Lv Junior Brother has spoken out of turn."

"I don't think Lv Junior Brother belittles Elder Brother Gu. He's just intimidated by someone who emerged from a remote county. He spoke out of turn in shock, forgetting just who Elder Brother Gu is, not someone ordinary who can be compared just so."

"Lv Junior Brother, are you not going to apologize to Elder Brother Gu at once!"

Amidst the taunting and stern voices of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, Lv Yuan bowed low to Gu Hong once more.

But Gu Hong stopped him, saying "Enough, there's no need for further idle talk. We've come to Qingping River in search of rare treasures from Earth's Veins; let's not be distracted by trivial matters and forget our main purpose!"

"Yes."

"We will heed Elder Brother Gu's command."

Lv Yuan, along with several Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, responded respectfully.

The group continued to travel down the mighty river currents on their log, quickly disappearing from view at the water's edge.