Chương 208: Chapter 97: Before the Azure Jade Palace, Suspicions Among the Crowd

In the vast, sprawling square before the Azure Jade Palace of the Mu Family, Mu Yunshen, the Head of the Mu Family, sat upon the principal seat with his back toward the majestic hall doors. Flanking him on either side were twelve wide, grand armchairs crafted from aged sandalwood interwoven with dark purple-gold filigree. Seated upon them were twelve formidable figures—some resting with eyes closed in silent meditation, others displaying regal authority, and some exuding a gentle demeanor.

Yet from every single one of these twelve individuals radiated an overwhelming aura; astonishingly, every single one of them possessed a cultivation base at or above the Golden Core stage! Directly facing the grand hall, an immense spell formation spanning several zhang in diameter was etched deeply into the bluestone ground. Its ancient patterns were intricately woven, continually emanating obscure, rhythmic waves of spatial fluctuations that pulsed through the ambient air.

To the left of the teleportation array stood a dense crowd of over a hundred young cultivators—all belonging to the Mu Family's younger generation. Dressed in uniform wood-green robes, despite their youth, every individual possessed a remarkably potent aura that placed them at the very pinnacle among peers of their age. Though their expressions appeared serene, an unmistakable hint of arrogance quietly lingered between their brows and eyes.

Standing on the right side were thirty-odd cultivators—those who had crushed their Trial Stones to escape the Trial Realm prematurely. At this moment, most of them were pale-faced, and several even suffered from missing limbs or grievous physical wounds. It was abundantly clear that they had survived brutal, life-and-death struggles within the realm! Ling You'er was among this right-hand group. However, she had suffered no physical injuries during her time inside the Trial Realm.

Aside from a severe depletion of spiritual energy and a minor wound to her Primordial Soul caused by the dreaded Yin-Yang Joy Powder, several days of quiet recuperation had already restored her to full health. Right now, her eyes burned with anxious longing as she stared fixedly at the massive spell formation.

"I wonder how Senior Brother is doing?" Having experienced the Trial Realm firsthand, the young girl understood all too well how perilous that realm truly was. Had she not been fortunate enough to meet Reyn, who rescued her from the brink of tragedy, she would have long fallen into the depraved hands of those three Yin-Yang Joy Sect scoundrels, suffering endless degradation before perishing miserably.

"And Big Brother Reyn... the Trial Realm is so dangerous. If I had known, I should have urged him to leave with me back then. Even though his cultivation is slightly stronger than mine, he definitely can't match Senior Brother. I was so foolish back then—why didn't I think of leaving a message for Senior Brother? That way, if Senior Brother met him, he could have protected him."

As Ling You'er thought of this, her mind involuntarily drifted back to the intimate scenes inside the cave that day, causing a delicate blush to creep across her beautiful cheeks.

"Aiya, what time is it now? How can I be letting my mind wander like this!" The young girl tightly bit her lower lip, forcing her eyes back to clarity as she focused on the teleportation array, her heart swelling with deep worry. Just moments ago, three lifeless corpses of cultivators had been abruptly ejected from the array. The horrifying, gaping holes in their chests—translucent from front to back—were injuries severe enough to instantly kill any cultivator!

But what chilled everyone to the bone was the fact that these three had clearly crushed their Trial Stones, yet were still slain in a split second before they could escape. Just how terrifyingly high was the cultivation of the person who struck them down? From this gruesome sight alone, one could easily deduce what kind of horrifying, blood-soaked battle was currently unfolding at the exit of the Trial Realm near One-Line Gorge! Buzz!

At that very moment, the teleportation array, which had been flickering with a subtle glow, suddenly erupted with a brilliant, blinding curtain of white light, completely blocking everyone's searching gazes. The onlookers were no strangers to this phenomenon—it was the unmistakable sign that a cultivator was about to step through. The young girl instantly stretched her slender, elegant neck, her eyes wide with intense anticipation...

Mu Yunshen, the Head of the Mu Family, along with the twelve Mu Family elders, simultaneously turned their heavy gazes toward the glowing array, their expressions turning grave. After all, whoever emerged first from this teleportation array was bound to be the biggest winner of this Trial Realm expedition, hailed as the undisputed number one genius among the younger generation of the Zhao Kingdom!

Though such a young cultivator might currently lack their absolute strength, they possessed talent worthy of being treated with utmost seriousness. The dozens of Mu Family cultivators also revealed solemn, vigilant expressions. Anyone capable of crushing the elites of various provincial sects and emerging first from the Trial Realm could never be a weakling! As for the cultivators from various sects who had exited earlier, their eyes widened in unison.

After all, whoever secured more than half of the Mu Jade Swords would win the supreme opportunity to cultivate alongside the Mu Family's Nascent Soul ancestor for three whole years. Such a fortune was enough to make anyone burn with raw envy. As time ticked by, the spatial fluctuations above the teleportation array grew increasingly violent and wild. When the radiance reached its dazzling peak, a tall, slender figure slowly materialized from within the light.

As the disorienting dizziness of teleportation faded, Reyn slightly narrowed his eyes, looking up at the blazing sun hanging high in the sky. He let out a silent sigh of relief—he had finally emerged from the Trial Realm. But in the very next instant, his body subtly stiffened. Yet, in a flash, his frame relaxed, returning to normal. Pausing for a mere fraction of a breath, he strode forward with steady, measured steps. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The moment his figure pierced through the veil of white light, countless piercing gazes locked onto him from all directions!

"Hmm? Who is this guy? Why have I never seen or heard of him before?" whispered the proud, high-and-mighty young cultivators of the Mu Family.

"How can it be him?!" gasped the sect cultivators who had exited early, their faces filled with shock.

"Big Brother Reyn?!" cried Ling You'er, her voice a mix of overwhelming joy and stunned disbelief! Reyn's brows knitted slightly. He had not anticipated encountering such an imposing, grand scene the very instant he emerged from the spatial boundaries of the Trial Realm. Yet, as his cultivation realm had deepened, his composure had grown bedrock-firm and completely unshakeable.

Acknowledging Ling You'er's startled gasp with a subtle, calm nod, he shifted his gait, walking at a brisk, measured pace toward the Family Head of the Mu Clan and the line of formidable elders standing beside him.

"Reyn of the Xuanxiao Sect pays respects to Venerable Mu and all senior elders!" Having personally witnessed the terrifying, world-shaking grandeur of Nascent Soul True Monarchs on two separate occasions, standing before Golden Core cultivators posed little intimidation to him. Though his posture carried immaculate respect, his spine remained unbowed, radiating an effortless, casual poise.

Naturally, this profound confidence stemmed directly from his monstrous underlying strength; with his current battle capacity matching that of a Golden Core expert, he knew the ultimate truth of the cultivation realm: power alone dictates respect. Mu Yunshen's eyes flickered, a faint glint of surprise surfacing within his dark irises.

To his left and right, the twelve elders of the Mu Family simultaneously locked their burning gazes onto Reyn, their sharp eyes gleaming like polished blades as if attempting to pierce through his very soul and read every secret in his dantian. Yet, mere moments later, subtle frowns creased the brows of the gathered elders.

Though they had intentionally refrained from unleashing their cultivation pressure, the gazes of high-tier cultivators inherently possessed the crushing weight of Divine Sense and Primordial Soul force. To ordinary lower-level cultivators, such intense inspection felt like an invisible mountain pressing down on their shoulders. Yet Reyn stood before them completely unbothered, his expression smooth and unperturbed, as if he couldn't feel the suffocating mental pressure at all.

A slight ripple passed through Mu Yunshen's mind. He raised a hand in a gentle gesture, speaking in a warm, resonant voice: "Little friend Reyn, step to the side for a moment and rest while we await the emergence of the other young contenders." Reyn offered a respectful bow, turned smoothly on his heel, and took up a calm stance at the edge of the stone platform.

"Cousin, didn't you claim that the very first cultivator to emerge from the realm would definitely be the single most powerful genius among all the eight provinces' sects?" whispered a youth standing in the front row of the Mu Family disciples, his voice suppressed but clearly audible.

"How is it that the first one out is some obscure, completely unknown fellow?" Standing right beside him was a young man of seventeen or eighteen years, handsome as carved jade with a tall, slender posture. A faint, tranquil smile rested on his lips, and he naturally exuded a warm, humble aura that instinctively drew goodwill from anyone nearby. His gentle demeanor was infinitely more authentic and natural than the forced, calculating friendliness displayed by the likes of Wei Qubing.

Hearing his junior's query, the young man's brows creased slightly, though his refined features remained soft and relaxed. He pressed his thin lips together before replying softly, "I cannot say for certain. I once heard several elders mention that under normal circumstances, the strongest does indeed exit first. However, exceptions always exist. For instance, if a cultivator happened to spawn right next to the realm's exit and possessed no ambition to compete for the Mu Jade Sword, he might choose to leave early.

Of course, such occurrences are exceedingly rare. After all, even as a mere bystander, witnessing such a pinnacle clash of divine abilities is an opportunity few cultivators would willingly relinquish."

"In truth, I genuinely wished to enter the realm alongside them," the youth added with a soft sigh.

"It is truly a pity that whenever the Trial Realm opens, we members of the Mu Family are forbidden from taking part." Realization dawned upon the younger boy's face. He cast an arrogant, condescending glance sideways at Reyn and sneered under his breath, "So he's nothing more than a lucky coward! I knew a battered, utterly ordinary-looking brat couldn't possibly be the top young cultivator among the Zhao Kingdom's eight provinces.

I bet this fellow simply panicked when the real powerhouses started fighting and fled like a kicked dog!"

"Yet look at him, acting all unfathomable and profound!" The boy gritted his teeth, his face twisting with indignant frustration.

"If an opportunity presents itself in the future, I'll be sure to teach him a brutal lesson!" A strange glint flashed deep within the older youth's eyes. He let out a light laugh and remarked softly, "And yet, are you truly a match for him?"

"How could I possibly lose to him!" the boy snapped back indignantly. But under his cousin's calm, knowing gaze, his bravado quickly withered into an embarrassed flush. He mumbled under his breath, "Fine... even if I'm not his match right now, once I announce my identity, would he even dare raise a finger against me? I am a direct lineage descendant of the grand Mu Family!" The older youth let out a helpless chuckle, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Surrounding them, several other young Mu Family disciples chuckled in unison, their eyes brimming with haughty pride. As direct lineage descendants of the sovereign Mu Family, they indeed possessed every right to stand tall and look down on outsiders. Only the older youth remained quiet, his faint smile holding back further words. His gaze drifted across the plaza, landing solidly on Reyn. Deep within the depths of his dark pupils, an intense, burning flame of ambition suddenly flared up.

Although the conversation between the two had taken place in low whispers, every single person gathered upon the high plaza was a cultivator at or above the Foundation Establishment stage. Naturally, every word had reached their ears with crystal clarity. Bizarre expressions instantly washed over the faces of the sect leaders and elders, and the gazes directed toward Reyn turned noticeably cold and disdainful.

"So that's why he was the first to show up. It was all just a fluke."

"The brat likely caught the tail end of a battle shockwave while attempting to flee, which explains why he looks so battered and wretched."

"Daoist Wang speaks the truth. If the top position among our Zhao Kingdom's elite younger generation were truly claimed by an obscure nobody from a backwater region like the North Yue State, every single one of us would die of sheer humiliation!" The expressions of the gathered Mu Family elders darkened slightly upon hearing these mocking whispers. Only Mu Yunshen kept his gaze fixed intently on the young man who had spoken first, a thread of deep doubt flashing across his eyes.

Throughout it all, Reyn's face remained entirely impassive. Facing the malicious rumors, condescending whispers, and cold disdain of the crowd, his heart did not stir in the slightest. Only the weak and incompetent let the careless words of others dictate their emotions! A true powerhouse never wasted breath in useless arguments—because when absolute strength revealed itself, all petty mockery was silenced in an instant. Exactly like this very moment!

Barely a second after Reyn stepped aside, the Teleportation Array, which had lapsed into silence, suddenly exploded with a dazzling, blinding column of radiant light. Within the swirling light, a towering silhouette materialized, striding outward with heavy, thunderous steps!