Da Xuan Martial Saint

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The true disciples from each Sect were actually no match for Chen Mu, who emerged from the remote land of Yu County.

He always felt Chen Mu was more suited, like himself, to grow step by step along the official ranks in Yu State, but now, it seems Chen Mu, even though he joined the Seven Profound Sect, could still stand head and shoulders above the other Sect disciples.

"It seems my judgment of people is not as good as Meng Danyun's."

Yan Jingqing couldn't help but sigh.

However, it can't be said that way, as he valued Chen Mu's ability to act and work, rather than his innate talent and martial strength, but what Meng Danyun valued was Chen Mu's talent and power. Indeed, Chen Mu's aptitude for Martial Arts, being both talented and capable, proved that he was not someone who should develop in the small land of Yu County. Staying here was but a dragon trapped in shallow waters.

Not far away.

Xue Huaikong was also standing there in a daze.

Mastering the Three Phases of wind, thunder, and fire, stepping into the Five Viscera Realm, slaying the Water Demon Feng Yi, repelling Hua Nongying, defeating Gu Hong, sweeping across the true disciples of various Sects... Were all these done by that Chen Mu?

For a moment, he felt as if he were listening to something as incredulous as heavenly scriptures. Wasn't Chen Mu just recently advanced into the Bone Tempering Realm? How had he so swiftly stepped into the Five Viscera Realm and even taken the second step in three different Artistic Conceptions? This must reflect an extraordinary level of comprehension and talent.

Possibly becoming a true disciple of a major Sect?

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This was a talent worthy of contending for the top position among the young generation of Yu State, to become the leader among a Sect's true disciples. In the future, he was to be a figure who would make a name for himself in Yu State, an existence that would dominate in all aspects, a great person whom he and the entire Xue Family would have to look up to.

Xue Huaikong felt a mix of emotions in his heart.

...

Yu County.

Heavenly Sword Sect's residence.

"Cough, cough cough..."

Gu Hong's robes were stained with blood spots, his breath was weak, and he walked into the courtyard with a somewhat soulless demeanor.

But then his steps halted abruptly.

His eyes, somewhat dim and lusterless, looked astonishedly toward the courtyard where, unbeknownst to him, a figure had appeared. The person, clad in a simple teal robe, was standing under a locust tree with hands clasped behind his back.

"Master... Master..."

After being astonished, Gu Hong knelt down before the man in teal, his face showing shame: "Master, why have you come?"

The man in the teal robe slowly turned around.

He revealed a face in his mid-thirties, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and an ethereal demeanor. Even Yan Jingqing would be astonished upon seeing this face; the man was Heavenly Sword Sect's youngest Grandmaster, who had been renowned across several States for the past decade. Explore more at empire

Jiang Changsheng glanced indifferently at Gu Hong and said, "I was investigating remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect and happened to pass by... But just because you've been defeated, why be so downcast and lose all composure?"

"Disciple is ashamed."

Gu Hong kneeled in the mud with his head lowered.

He had been defeated before, even within the Heavenly Sword Sect by other senior brothers, but mindset and state of mind were different, affecting one differently. This time, just as his Heart Sword Artistic Conception had reached Major Achievement, and he was about to dominate over the true disciples of various Sects, he was brought down by a single sword strike, causing the Sword Intent he had formed to almost shatter completely.

Jiang Changsheng slowly turned back, his gaze deep as he looked at the locust tree, and suddenly asked, "Your senior brother Zuo Qianqiu, the only one who has walked the path of Heavenly Sword in a hundred years, do you think he will surely surpass me in the future?"

"That..."

Gu Hong hesitated for a moment.

Zuo Qianqiu was indeed a peerless talent of the Heavenly Sword Sect once in a century, but Jiang Changsheng was himself an early achiever in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, a Grandmaster of the Sword Dao renowned across several States. Even if Zuo Qianqiu's path in the Sword Dao was stronger, who could say for sure that he would be able to surpass the Marrow Cleansing, advance into Blood Exchange, and reach the pinnacle of Sword Dao?

"Then, what about Chen Mu?"

Jiang Changsheng continued.

Gu Hong fell silent for a longer time, knowing Jiang Changsheng didn't wish to hear statements like 'how could a mere youngster be compared with my Master?' This was meant to be guidance for him.

If he dared not claim that his senior brother Zuo Qianqiu would definitely become an existence surpassing Jiang Changsheng in the future, then all the less so for Chen Mu.

Jiang Changsheng said indifferently, "Ever since your senior brother Zuo started practicing martial arts, he has not tasted defeat. I was not as naturally talented as him in my youth, but I have stepped forward to this day to become a Grandmaster with the Heart Sword, dominating the Northern Land. And you... where have you reached so far?"

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As the sound of his voice faded away,

Jiang Changsheng's figure quietly disappeared, leaving only his last words echoing in the courtyard.

Gu Hong knelt dumbfounded in the mud, not knowing how much time had passed before he slowly stood up, took a deep breath, and gazed in the direction where Jiang Changsheng vanished, "Cough... Thank you for the master's teachings."

In a distant part of the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng's gaze swept over, quietly nodding at Gu Hong's figure.

"Chen Mu..."

Then he murmured again.

From what he had heard about Chen Mu, the man was indeed a standout of this generation in Yu State, but how far he could go in the future was unknown to anyone. Perhaps he could be surpassed by Gu Hong, who had reestablished his Sword Heart; perhaps he could be qualified to challenge Zuo Qianqiu to a duel. In any case, they were still the younger generation and not yet within his field of vision.

In the vast and populous Da Xuan Dynasty, there were innumerable heroes. Today, with the various Sects laying their claims, the world was becoming increasingly chaotic, yet it is precisely in times of chaos that heroes emerge and Martial Arts truly flourishes.

Once one stepped into the Marrow Cleansing Realm and achieved Grandmaster status, one's gaze was no longer limited to a single State, but extended to the whole of the Da Xuan Dynasty.

The younger generation had to be at least listed on the 'Wind Cloud List' to be worthy of his attention.

Even that was no easy task.

The Da Xuan Dynasty consisted of Ninety-Nine States, divided into nine Paths, with the eleven States to the far north, including Yu State, all belonging to the 'Cold North Path'. Only those with the topmost strength, just below a Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, in these eleven States of the Cold North Path could secure a place on the Wind Cloud List.

This list was established by the 'End of the World Sea Pavilion,' a major Sect centrally located in the Cold North Path's Song State, and it recorded only thirty names. A figure like Yan Jingqing also ranked at the bottom of the list.

Whether it was Gu Hong, Chen Mu, or Zuo Qianqiu, they were all still far from reaching this level.

In times of turmoil, amidst the Martial World, where the waves sift through the sand, it was uncertain how many among the true talents of this generation, like Chen Mu, Zuo Qianqiu, and Hua Nongyue, would manage to emerge from the rivers and become renowned under the heavens.

"It is said that besides the Wind Cloud List, the End of the World Sea Pavilion is planning to compile a roster of rising stars..."

Jiang Changsheng shook his head slightly.

Then his figure disappeared quietly into thin air.

...

Yu City.

In the Yu Family's territory, within the Ancient Courtyard,

A thick fog enshrouded everything, so dense that one could not see their own hand before them.

Yu Jiujiang, wearing a bamboo hat, still sat by the side of the water pool, where the misty fog condensed into droplets and silently fell around him.

"Great-grandfather, there's important news, good news!"

Suddenly, someone ran in.

Yu Jiujiang's bamboo hat tilted slightly, "What's the rush, what's so exciting?"

The young man quickly spoke a few words.

Yu Jiujiang fell silent for a short while, then said, "Alright, I got it, you can go."

The young man looked puzzled at the calm Yu Jiujiang but still respectfully withdrew.

It was only after his departure that Yu Jiujiang turned his gaze to the pond, and finally, a look of relief appeared on his face. He then began to laugh. His laughter was hearty, slowly spreading throughout the courtyard.

...

Da Xuan Calendar year one thousand four hundred twenty-eight, February twenty-seventh.

In Yu County, Yu State, the flooding disaster that had persisted for over half a month began to subside, with waterways slowly returning to calm.

At the same time,

News of Chen Mu entering the Five Viscera Realm, slaying demons, and defeating true disciples also began to spread in Yu County and gradually expanded to other counties, eventually reaching the Seven Profound Sect, causing a great stir!

Since he began practicing Martial Arts, a span of four years had now passed, and his reputation finally emerged from Yu County for the first time, gradually spreading across the ten thousand miles of Yu State and rising to prominence throughout the province.

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