Da Xuan Martial Saint

"Be careful!"

Meng Danyun was the first to notice Han Guang's movements and immediately voiced out a warning, spitting out bubbles as she quickly wielded the Silver Water Sword, drawing together the nearby currents in an attempt to help Chen Mu fend off Han Guang's strike.

But the three Stewards of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion reacted swiftly as well, almost simultaneously launching attacks from various directions, converging on Meng Danyun.

"These three..."

Meng Danyun's eyes turned icy, feeling that the three Stewards from the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion were detestable for their impeccable timing, forcing her to first defend herself and unable to immediately assist Chen Mu. After all, each of these Stewards from the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion was powerful in their own right; a combined strike from them was nothing to scoff at, especially with an assassin from the Blood Hidden Pavilion also requiring her vigilance.

For the moment, she could only hope that Chen Mu could withstand Han Guang's attack.

However.

Just as Meng Danyun was defending against the Stewards of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion with her sword, she felt the water flow on her right backside explode in an instant, a terrifying and surging force of wind and thunder detonated within the water.

When she looked over in shock, she saw Chen Mu floating coolly in the water, his long blade wrapped with visible purple thunderbolts. With just a single clash of his blade, he had sent Han Guang's Bamboo Stick flying, completely dispersing the Warm Spring and Midsummer Artistic Conceptions imbued in the stick, followed by a thunderous expanse spreading out that turned into a horrifying weave of Thunder Arcs, completely engulfing the area where Han Guang stood!

The entire venue was astonished!

"Impossible!"

A Steward of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion revealed shock in his eyes.

The people present were all significant figures, solidly within the Five Viscera Realm, their vision and insight superior. They could naturally recognize that the strength of Chen Mu's blade, enveloped in wind and thunder, was not a mere Artistic Conception of the first phase.

Xun Wind Artistic Conception, second phase!

Thunderclap Artistic Conception, second phase!

This person was not merely a new entrant to the Five Viscera Realm, but had, at some unknown point, cultivated the wind and thunder Artistic Conceptions to the second phase—this was utterly inconceivable!

It's known that the second phase of any Artistic Conception is an entirely different concept compared to the first phase, and many within the Five Viscera Realm may never realize the second phase throughout their lives. Yu Jiujiang had only managed to grasp the second phase of the Kan Water Artistic Conception in his waning years.

Chen Mu?

By estimating the time, he might have only recently stepped into the Five Viscera Realm. To have already mastered the second phase of both Xun Wind and Thunderclap Artistic Conceptions was frighteningly talented!

At that moment, not only the three Stewards of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion were shocked, but even the assassin from the Blood Hidden Pavilion, with his concealed eyes beneath the black robe, also showed a hint of shock, and even Meng Danyun flickered with a trace of astonishment.

She knew of Chen Mu's aptitude.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She never doubted that Chen Mu could comprehend the second phase of an Artistic Conception.

But...

Just three or four months earlier, Chen Mu's Xun Wind Artistic Conception was only at the preliminary stage of comprehension. Though he had made rapid progress under her guidance, to have crossed to the second phase already was still incredibly unbelievable.

And now the Thunderclap Artistic Conception had reached the second phase as well. Even the True Disciple from the Great Sect's Great Profound Peak could not cultivate an Artistic Conception as exaggeratedly as Chen Mu did, like eating or drinking water; in just a few months, he advanced an Artistic Conception to the second phase.

"Hiss."

Han Guang, presently immersed in the interweaving Thunder Arcs within the water, found himself in great trouble. Even though he immediately activated his Yuan Gang True Essence to form a protective layer of Gang Qi around his body to withstand the relentless might of the thunder, it was still not a comfortable situation; his hair frizzed up completely.

Chen Mu, on the other hand, wasted no words. He used the water course to unleash the might of thunder, restricting Han Guang's movements, and in an instant drew close and brought his blade slashing down upon him.

As the blade was raised, only the powers of wind and thunder mingled on its edge; however, upon descent, the Xun Wind Artistic Conception suddenly created a void in the water, and on the edge shimmering with specks of red light, a wisp of blazing flame burst forth, resembling a fire dragon blooming in the water, swirling around the blade, as a mighty strike fell.

"Separating Fire!"

Han Guang's face changed drastically.

The sudden revelation of both the Xun Wind and Thunderclap Artistic Conceptions had already shocked him. Now, using the Xun Wind Artistic Conception to forcibly create a void in the water and unleash the might of the Separating Fire, the overlapping power of the three elements—wind, thunder, and fire—caused even the water veins within the underground cavern to violently oscillate, throwing the nearby Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power into chaos.

The first blade, wrapped with the power of wind and thunder, had only pushed him back, but this second strike with the combined might of Xun Wind, Thunderclap, and Separating Fire alerted the astonished Han Guang that Chen Mu was indeed intent on killing him!

The first blade used the water course to deploy the might of thunder, restraining his movements, seemingly just to push him back and limit him. But this second blade was where true killing intent was revealed, and even the Yuan Gang force on the blade was significantly more exaggerated than the first strike!

This is bad.

Cheng Houhua likely didn't just fail his ambush; he must have died by this person's hand!

At the brink of life and death, Han Guang almost instantly realized this point. With his heart pounding in terror, he didn't hesitate at all; he exerted all his strength to raise the bamboo stick, bringing the Warm Spring and High Summer Artistic Conceptions he had cultivated to their limits. He mobilized the nearby water to transform into scorching torrents, surging upwards to meet the attack.

However.

When the bamboo stick collided with Chen Mu's Flowing Fire Blade, it only held firm for an instant before the mighty power of Warm Spring and High Summer Artistic Conceptions was shattered as easily as dried twigs.

Han Guang was not weak; although neither of his Artistic Conceptions had entered the second stage, his Yuan Gang True Essence was close to three portions, making his overall strength slightly greater than Cheng Houhua's. But Chen Mu's cultivation had also improved, and with the addition of the Flowing Fire Blade's might, even though Separating Fire was greatly constrained by the water veins, Thunderbolt could be easily leveraged. The gains and losses just offset each other, and the unleashed power of a full-force strike could reach six portions, nearly double that of Han Guang. Naturally, Han Guang could not ward it off.

The Flowing Fire Blade, entwined with thunder light, nearly snapped Han Guang's bamboo stick and pressed down unstoppable towards his head, looking as if it would split his skull at any moment.

But just then, Han Guang's Mysterious Robe suddenly split apart, revealing an ordinary-looking Jade Pendant from within his garment. A warm and gentle Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power spread out from the pendant, instantly solidifying into a hazy white barrier.

Boom!!

The residual force of Chen Mu's Flowing Fire Blade strike fell onto this hazy white barrier, and under the thunderous explosion of thunder and fire, the barrier, formed purely from spiritual power, cracked inch by inch until it shattered completely.

But thanks to this brief defiance, Han Guang narrowly escaped death, feeling cold sweat drench his entire back, mixing indistinguishably with the water around him. Without any hesitation, he immediately fled towards the nearest passage.

"..."

Chen Mu was not surprised.

Those from the Great Sects had various life-saving measures, and he could even identify the material of the Jade Pendant—it was an extraordinarily rare 'Yuan Spirit Stone', capable of holding the Power of Heaven and Earth, and thus could be fashioned into these life-preserving treasures that could unleash stored spiritual power to block a fatal blow in critical moments.

Seeing Han Guang escaping, Chen Mu did not intend to let him go. He darted through the water, chasing after Han Guang. As he pursued him into the passage, he hurled another strike back.

Boom!!!

The power of Xun Wind opened up the space as thunder and fire merged into a beam of blade light, striking towards the Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin.

The Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin, just about to vanish into darkness, became the target. His eyes widened in alarm, and without hesitation, he waved his Emei Piercer. A murderous intent spread out, confronting the incoming blade of thunder and fire.

Amidst the turbulent water veins exploding, his figure flew backwards with a muffled grunt.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Perceiving Chen Mu's move, Meng Danyun, as if by telepathy, reacted at the fastest speed. With a flick of his Silver Water Sword, a sword of flowing water suddenly appeared amidst the water veins. While the three Stewards of Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion were still in shock, unable to react in time, he swiftly thrust through, the blade piercing the waist of the Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin!

"Gurgle."

The Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered into the darkness, leaving behind a long trail of blood in the water, his fate unknown.

Having coordinated with Chen Mu's strike to grievously wound the Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin, Meng Danyun glanced at the three Stewards of Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion with a cold smile without a word. Then, in a blur, he vanished into the murky waterways of the underground cavern.

The three Stewards of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion looked at each other in dismay.

They all sensed that things were going badly.

With Meng Danyun breaking free, Han Guang being pursued by Chen Mu, and the Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin severely injured, they all knew very well how troublesome it would be if Meng Danyun, who mastered the Kan Water Artistic Conception, escaped their encirclement. Not only would the Blood Hidden Pavilion assassin struggle to break away, but the three of them would also be plunged into danger. The situation had been turned upside down by Chen Mu's intervention!

"Let's go."

The leading one spoke in a low voice.

It was uncertain whether Han Guang could escape from Chen Mu, and regardless of his escape, once Chen Mu turned back to attack, with Meng Danyun possibly lurking in the shadows, they feared that all three of them might perish in this underground cavern today!

Even now, none of them dared to take the passage where Chen Mu pursued Han Guang. If they were to run into Chen Mu returning, even their combined strength would not match up to Chen Mu alone, or rather, they were decidedly no match for him.

Xun Wind, Thunderclap, Separating Fire!

All three Artistic Conceptions had advanced to the second stage!

Even within the Five Viscera Realm, he was a rare adversary. Aside from top True Disciples like Zuo Qianqiu, Chen Mu could almost act without fear within the Five Viscera Realm. Ordinary Stewards like them, ten or even eight, posed no threat whatsoever!

Their previous assessment of Chen Mu was completely incorrect!

His talent and the extent of his threat were far above those of ordinary True Disciples. Having reached the Three Phases of Qiankun Eight Phases in the Five Viscera Realm at such a young age, he was very likely to achieve the level of top True Disciples like Hua Nongyue and Jiang Yifei in the future!

Moreover.

The fact that Cheng Houhua, Liu Su, and the others went to ambush Chen Mu and did not send anyone to report back his status suggested that their situation was definitely not good too. At worst, they were probably all dead at Chen Mu's hands!