Chương 126: Chapter 17: The Mu Clan of Huizhou

"I have shattered his Dantian and scoured the memories of the last decade from his mind," Dan Chenzi sighed, his voice carrying a trace of weary resignation.

"From this day forth, he shall live as a mere mortal, far removed from the storms of the cultivation world. Let him find peace in a life of insignificance." With a flick of his sleeve, he hoisted the limp form of Duan Zhonghua and vanished into a streak of light, disappearing toward the horizon. Qingxiaozi's gaze lingered on Reyn, a flicker of genuine approval dancing in his eyes.

He reached out, clapping Reyn firmly on the shoulder before his own figure blurred, dissolving into a flash of light that trailed after Dan Chenzi. Reyn stood alone for a moment, lost in thought. A wry, bitter smile touched his lips as he shook his head. Perhaps his heart was still too soft, but at least Duan Zhonghua was no longer a threat. He walked slowly toward the cooling remains of Tiandaozi.

Under the watchful, reverent eyes of the surrounding disciples, Reyn knelt and retrieved the storage bag and other artifacts from the corpse.

"Though we were sworn enemies in life, you were a Golden Core expert," Reyn murmured, his voice carrying a weight of feigned solemnity that echoed through the clearing.

"I shall see you properly interred. Rest now." The Xuanxiao Sect disciples watched him, their eyes brimming with newfound respect. As Reyn waved his hand to store the body and departed, whispers broke out among the ranks.

"Elder Reyn is truly a man of profound honor and righteousness..." Yet, within the privacy of his own flight, Reyn's expression shifted. The mask of solemnity crumbled, replaced by a glint of cold, calculating excitement.

"A Golden Core corpse," he hissed under his breath.

"The final, most difficult ingredient for the Demon Corpse Puppet is finally in my hands." Three months passed in the blink of an eye. In the Spirit Medicine Pavilion of the Xuanxiao Sect, the tremors caused by the annihilation of the Qingyan Sect—an event that had rocked the foundations of the North Yue State—were finally beginning to subside. During this period, a constant stream of sects, both great and small, had arrived at their gates.

They came bearing gifts and tributes, their leaders bowing low in a desperate show of submission and awe. The strength of the Xuanxiao Sect had ballooned at an unprecedented rate. By absorbing several rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators and consolidating the resources of their fallen rival, they had become the undisputed hegemon of the North Yue State.

With the Earth Spirit and Earth Fiend Sects choosing to seal their mountain gates in a bid for survival, the prestige of the Xuanxiao Sect reached heights never before seen in its history. As the strongest of the younger generation and a genius of terrifying potential, Reyn found himself the center of a relentless storm of adulation. After paying their respects to Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi, every visiting Sect Leader made a point of stopping by Reyn's residence to curry favor.

Eventually, the constant interruptions became unbearable. It was only after Reyn officially declared a period of secluded cultivation that the doors finally stopped rattling.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Reyn!"

"Disciple pays respects to Martial Uncle Reyn." As he walked through the sect grounds, every disciple he encountered stopped in their tracks, their faces alight with hero-worship as they bowed deeply. Reyn maintained a polite, distant smile, nodding to each of them as he made his way toward the restricted areas of the back mountains. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

At the entrance to the grotto, the two guarding disciples spotted him from a distance and hurried forward.

"Disciple greets Elder Reyn." Reyn chuckled, looking at the yellow-robed youth who had once tried to bar his path.

"You've got a sharper eye this time. You're not going to stop me again, are you?" The young guard turned a bright shade of crimson, scratching his head with an embarrassed, shy grin. Reyn simply shook his head with a laugh and stepped into the cool darkness of the cavern.

"Disciple Reyn pays respects to the Sect Master and my honored Master." Inside the stone chamber, Reyn looked at the two old men sitting cross-legged on their prayer mats. Seeing their knowing smiles, his heart skipped a beat. A surge of anticipation began to boil in his chest. Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi were shrewd old foxes; they read his excitement instantly. Qingxiaozi cleared his throat, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of gravity.

"Regarding your Foundation Establishment... we may have finally found a solution." Though Reyn had suspected as much, hearing the confirmation made his pulse race. He took several deep breaths to steady his nerves before bowing low.

"I await the Sect Master's instructions." Qingxiaozi nodded, leaning forward slightly.

"Tell me, Reyn, have you ever heard of the Mu Clan of Huizhou?" Reyn paused, searching his memory. Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock.

"Do you mean... the only clan in the Eight States of Zhao that possesses a Nascent Soul ancestor?"

"The very same," Qingxiaozi replied, his gaze drifting upward as if contemplating a power far beyond his own.

"The Mu Clan is the premier cultivation family of the Zhao State. Their foundations are unfathomable. Not only is their ancestor, Mu Daguang, a Nascent Soul powerhouse, but the Clan Head and the various elders—no fewer than fifteen of them—are all Golden Core experts."

"A single bloodline producing so many high-level cultivators... it is staggering," Reyn whispered.

"They are the apex of the Zhao State's cultivation world," Qingxiaozi continued.

"If they weren't so indifferent to worldly disputes, the entirety of Zhao would have been unified under their banner centuries ago." A Nascent Soul ancestor and over a dozen Golden Cores. The sheer weight of that power was enough to make any cultivator tremble. Reyn regained his composure after a long moment, his mind working quickly.

"Does my Foundation Establishment involve this clan?"

"Exactly!" Qingxiaozi smiled. He went on to explain that despite their isolation, the Mu Clan bestowed a 'grace' upon the various states every century. They allowed a handful of exceptional disciples from the Eight States of Zhao to enter their ancestral lands to cultivate for three years. Historically, every disciple who emerged from the Mu Clan after those three years had gained immense benefits.

"By the usual cycle, the next invitation shouldn't have arrived for another twenty years," Qingxiaozi said, stroking his beard with a touch of pride.

"But for reasons unknown, they have moved the date forward. The gathering begins in one month."

"Our North Yue State has always been considered the weakest in terms of cultivation," Qingxiaozi admitted.

"If it weren't for our sect now boasting two Golden Core masters and the total eradication of the Qingyan Sect, we wouldn't have even been invited. We have been granted a single slot. Pack your things; you leave for Huizhou tomorrow. With the Mu Clan's resources, your breakthrough is all but guaranteed."

"Yes, Sect Master. This disciple understands!" Reyn's eyes burned with a fierce light.

"Reyn, my disciple," Dan Chenzi interrupted, his voice laced with uncharacteristic worry.

"While most return from the Mu Clan with great fortune, there are always those whose luck fails them—those who vanish or perish within those three years without explanation. Be cautious. If the path becomes too treacherous, do not force it. Do you understand?" Reyn bowed deeply to his master.

"Rest easy, Master. I will tread carefully."

"My junior brother is simply over-cautious," Qingxiaozi laughed, shaking his head.

"We cultivators walk a path that defies the Heavens themselves, searching for that one sliver of life amidst a sea of death. If one lacks the courage to face a little risk, then no matter how great the talent, they will never achieve greatness."

"Perhaps you are right, Brother. I am merely being sentimental," Dan Chenzi sighed with a wry smile.

"Reyn, go and prepare yourself. You are permitted to return to your family tomorrow to settle your affairs before you depart for Huizhou."

"Thank you for your grace, Master!" Reyn thought of his family. He would be gone for three years; it was only right to ensure everything was in order before he left.

"Go then," Dan Chenzi waved a hand.

"Dismissed."