Chương 235: Chapter 124: Dominant Force, Retreating Unscathed

Ever since he successfully attained the Nascent Soul realm, Mu Daguang had never lost control of his temper so completely, nor had he ever experienced such a violent, bloodthirsty urge to kill! Consider his venerable status: he was the majestic ancestor of the Mu Family, a mighty grand-transcendent cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage. Yet today, directly in front of countless junior disciples hailing from sects across various provinces, his official residence had been smashed to smithereens!

This insult was no different from receiving a resounding, stingingly cruel slap directly across his face in broad daylight. If he could not extract the culprit's soul, refine their spirit through torturous flames, and hack their carcass into ten thousand agonizing pieces, where could he possibly hide his face ever again?

Therefore, deep down within the subterranean depths, the instant he sensed that the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities had been shattered into rubble, an uncontrollable surge of humiliation, rage, and tyrannical killing intent swept through him. His eyes burned blood-red, and he rushed toward the surface like a madman! He was determined to make this brazen aggressor pay a horrific, absolute price for their boundless foolishness!

However, the moment he drew near enough to clearly behold his adversary, his expression could not help but shift dramatically. He had never anticipated that the attacker unleashing such a ruthless assault upon the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities would turn out to be a mere magic treasure—and a treasure whose suffocating pressure clearly belonged to the magnificent Dao-grade! A sharp knot of apprehension immediately welled up from the depths of his heart.

If the entity behind this attack was likewise a Nascent Soul expert wielding a Dao-grade artifact, then matters would instantly become exceedingly thorny and dangerous.

"Dammit! My Mu Family hasn't incurred any new mortal enemies recently—how could we possibly have provoked such a troublesome and formidable presence?" Though his inner thoughts were filled with rising dread, Mu Daguang maintained a face as cold as ice, betraying not even the slightest flicker of fear on the surface.

"Since Fellow Daoist has already arrived, you might as well reveal yourself immediately! Relying solely on a single Dao Artifact will never be enough to overcome this old master." As he spoke, Mu Daguang unleashed his formidable Divine Sense. It burst forth from his body like an invisible tidal wave, instantly encompassing the entire sprawling estate of the Mu Family. Should his unseen foe make even the subtlest movement, they would never escape his refined perception.

Yet, what truly unsettled him was that the mysterious enemy showed not the slightest intention of showing their face.

"If Fellow Daoist continues to refuse to appear, then do not blame this old master for taking action to subdue and claim this Dao Artifact first!" Mu Daguang let out a cold, venomous snort. His cultivation had already reached the absolute peak of the Early Nascent Soul stage. If he were to exert his full, unbridled power, then even if this Dao Artifact possessed staggering and destructive prowess, it would undoubtedly fall before him!

Up in the mid-air sky, a clamorous, outrageously arrogant voice echoed directly out of the colossal golden brick: "Old Ghost Mu, has your rotten brain turned entirely to mush? This glorious deity clearly told you just a moment ago to hurry up and release my master! What on earth are you still howling and screeching about over there? Besides, this glorious deity merely altered its appearance slightly—don't tell me you fail to recognize me now, Old Ghost Mu?"

Upon hearing these outrageous insults, Mu Daguang's expression turned exceedingly hideous. Ever since he had attained the Great Dao and achieved the Nascent Soul stage, this was the absolute first time anyone had dared to address him in such an utterly insolent manner—let alone a mere magic treasure! Yet, as the words registered in his mind, his countenance suddenly underwent a drastic shift.

When he had initially felt the aura radiating from this treasure, a faint sensation of familiarity had stirred within his heart, though he had not given it much thought at the time. Now, having been explicitly reminded, a look of profound shock and suspicion surged within his eyes.

"What's the matter? Have you still not recognized this glorious deity? Fine then, allow me to change my appearance for you once more!" As the cocky voice rang out, the shape of the massive brick began to shift rapidly. Within a mere few breaths of time, it metamorphosed into a majestic, towering cyan palace several dozen zhang tall, radiating an imposing, boundless, and supreme aura of ancient dignity!

"The Azure Jade Palace!" Spotting the majestic structure, the Mu Family Ancestor's eyes filled with utterly staggering disbelief, and he could not refrain from crying out in lost composure! In the very next moment, connecting this sight with how the artifact spirit had repeatedly demanded the release of its master, a realization struck his heart like thunder: Reyn had not lied to him at all back then! That wretched brat had truly become the master of the legendary Azure Jade Palace!

"How could this possibly be?! Our ancestral records clearly state that during the great cataclysmic war tens of thousands of years ago, our Mu Family's ancient ancestor extracted the artifact spirit of the Azure Jade Palace to perform a grand divine ability technique! Even if this Reyn happened to obtain the nine Mu Jade Swords through some stroke of ridiculous luck, how could he ever become its true master?!" Mu Daguang's mind descended into chaotic turmoil, a tangled mess of disbelief and dread.

But immediately afterward, another dreadful realization struck him, causing his heart to plummet straight into an abyss! This Dao Artifact had already acknowledged Reyn as its master. If it discovered that Reyn was dead, it would certainly never let the matter rest!

Although he possessed vast divine abilities and did not personally fear the weapon, if the Azure Jade Palace were truly to self-destruct as Reyn had previously warned, more than half of his Mu Family's descendants and disciples would be completely obliterated in the fallout!

"Hmph, hmph! Now that you've guessed this glorious deity's identity, why haven't you quickly brought my master out?! If any misfortune has befallen him, this glorious deity will immediately self-destruct on the spot and drag your entire Mu Family into the grave alongside him!" The Little Divine Hall was immensely gloating in its heart. Having absolute power was truly a glorious thing; now, it could point at the nose of a Nascent Soul cultivator and berate him to its heart's content!

What made it even more exhilarating was that this old ghost had no choice but to swallow his pride and swallow the insults! Thinking of this, the Little Divine Hall grew even more exhilarated. However, when it remembered that Reyn's life and death remained uncertain, this feeling of delight quickly waned.

"You knew full well that this glorious deity is a deeply emotional soul, so you played the loyalty card on me! Terminating the master-servant contract right before your death was directly targeting my weakness! It forced me to come duke it out with this old ghost the moment I fully merged with my original body. Ah, it seems this glorious deity is simply far too kindhearted for its own good." The arrogant spirit indulged in self-pity and grandiosity, feeling its own moral stature towering sky-high.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Hearing those brazen words, Mu Daguang's aged face twitched violently. What kind of nonsensical Dao Artifact was this?! Before even engaging in a proper dialogue, it immediately threatened self-destruction! Yet, its effect was undeniably devastating.

Although Mu Daguang wished nothing more than to grab the artifact spirit with his bare hands and snap it into seven or eight pieces to appease his wrath, he did not dare provoke it in the slightest at this delicate moment. If this artifact truly self-destructed, while the loss of some Mu Family disciples might still be tolerable, the ancient Spirit-Devouring Array hidden beneath the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities would beyond doubt be utterly destroyed!

Stripped of the fresh bloodline power required to sustain it, the ruin and downfall of his Mu Family would become a mere matter of time! In this matter, there could not be even the slightest sliver of carelessness!

"The master you speak of must be that young man, Reyn, correct?" Mu Daguang's eyes flickered slightly before a look of helpless resignation washed over his aged face.

"That boy is none other than this old master's beloved disciple! I have merely dispatched him to a secret realm to assist him in establishing his foundation. How could I ever harbor any harmful intentions toward my own pupil? I fear there has been a grave misunderstanding between us."

"Are your words true?" Hearing this, the Little Divine Hall's tone could not help but betray a hint of hesitation, and the violent, oppressive aura enveloping its grand structure subsided slightly. Observing this shift, Mu Daguang secretly rejoiced in his heart, thinking to himself that a magic treasure was ultimately just a magic treasure. No matter how immense its destructive power might be, its intellect remained far inferior to that of a seasoned cultivator.

"Naturally, every word is true! If you do not believe me, I can personally lead you to seek him out. Once you lay eyes upon my disciple Reyn, you will naturally discern the truth for yourself." Yet, the very instant his words fell, a voice carrying a cold, mocking sarcasm echoed out from amidst the ruined collapse of the rubble.

"Master, you truly remain as hypocritical as ever. Could it be that you intend to trick the Little Divine Hall into leaving the Mu Family grounds, only to make your move and subdue it once you are away?" The moment that voice reached his ears, Mu Daguang's body stiffened rigidly.

He snapped his head around with lightning speed, catching sight of a cyan-robed figure bursting out from beneath the shattered ruins of the Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities, landing steadily right before the majestic front of the Azure Jade Palace. This individual was, naturally, none other than Reyn, who had seized the perfect moment to break free from his subterranean trap!

"Heheh, this glorious deity knew a guy like you wouldn't die so easily! Well, how about it? This glorious deity didn't lie to you, did I? I told you long ago that I could definitely control the Azure Jade Palace, and now you finally believe me, right?!" Seeing Reyn emerge unscathed, boundless joy and relief erupted in the Little Divine Hall's spirit. But in the very next breath, it reverted back to its usual boastful self, gloating triumphantly.

"Though don't go thinking I fell for this old ghost's lies! If he wants to fool this glorious deity, he's still a few thousand years too young! I was actually just plotting whether I should give him a devastating strike while he wasn't paying attention!" Hearing these words, Mu Daguang's entire body tensed up violently, and whatever subtle scheme had just begun to form in his mind was instantly crushed into utter nonexistence. Reyn paid no heed to the artifact's self-aggrandizing bluster.

He cast a faint, indifferent glance in its direction and sneered, "If not for my own immense fortune and tenacity, I would have died dozens of times over by now. Don't you think you've arrived a bit late?" Upon hearing this, the Little Divine Hall instantly deflated like a punctured ball. The soaring, arrogant aura it had been projecting was suppressed in an instant. It hung its head, ears drooping, and muttered a few incoherent words, though it lacked the audacity to continue its grandstanding.

It understood well enough that when Reyn had unilaterally severed their master-servant contract, he had undoubtedly been facing a situation of certain death. To have endured and survived until this very moment, one could only imagine the sheer magnitude of suffering he had endured.

"Hmph, hmph. This glorious deity is feeling slightly in the wrong this time, so I shall not lower myself to your level. But should you dare to speak to me in such a manner again, just wait and see how this glorious deity deals with you." As the Little Divine Hall contemplated this, it felt its spirits lift once more. Yet, at that precise moment, Reyn turned his head slightly to cast a cold, detached gaze upon it. Deep within his pupils, a trace of golden light, hidden with profound depth, flashed for an instant.

Under the weight of that gaze, the Little Divine Hall felt a sense of supreme, absolute majesty that caused its very spirit to tremble uncontrollably, instantly shattering the petty thoughts that had just begun to germinate within its consciousness. Seeing the look of awe and trepidation now etched upon the Little Divine Hall, Reyn nodded slightly, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his heart.

Only then did he slowly turn his body, fixing his gaze squarely upon the Mu Family Ancestor, whose face was currently a mask of livid, trembling fury.

"Ancestor, I know not by what means, but this Reyn's Primordial Soul cultivation has surged explosively. Just moments ago, I was caught off guard and wounded by him, which is how he managed to escape," Mu Yunshen said, his face deathly pale, a trace of blood still staining the corner of his mouth. He appeared within the escape light beside Mu Shen, his eyes fixed upon Reyn with a gaze brimming with venomous hatred. Mu Daguang's facial muscles twitched violently upon hearing this.

His gaze, dark and gloomy, remained locked onto Reyn as he spoke slowly: "How fares Tianxing now?" Although his voice was eerily calm, the rampant, murderous intent hidden beneath that tranquility was enough to grind any man into minced meat. The spiritual energy surrounding him began to churn and roil violently, manifesting into a multitude of pitch-black, cackling skulls that swirled and darted around him. Reyn showed no trace of fear at these words.

His gaze remained icy as he replied calmly, "You all intended to snuff out my life, and now I have snuffed out Tianxing's. How about that? Unexpected, isn't it? A pleasant surprise, perhaps? Hahaha." Mu Yunshen's expression went blank for a heartbeat, and then, in an instant, it twisted into a mask of utter, incredulous horror. Mu Daguang closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them again, and within them, only a cold, ruthless indifference remained.

"Today's events were indeed the most erroneous judgment this master has made in hundreds of years. Reyn, you are truly impressive!" Reyn remained expressionless, speaking with a detached air: "Today's events were entirely of your own making, Master; they were never the desire of this disciple." Mu Daguang shook his head slightly, choosing not to dwell on the matter any further.

"This Monarch swears by his Demon Heart: I shall let you depart safely today, and I shall never pursue or hunt you down in the future." Reyn's expression did not change in the slightest, clearly having anticipated this outcome long ago.

"Reyn swears by his Demon Heart: if the Ancestor keeps his word, I shall never reveal the events of this day to a third party." As the two spoke, their forms of address shifted, effectively severing the bond of master and disciple once and for all.

"Ancestor!" Mu Yunshen's face betrayed a flicker of resentment, but before he could continue, he was cut off by Mu Daguang.

"The matter of today shall be handled thus. You need say no more." Reyn's eyes flashed briefly. He then cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Since that is the case, Reyn shall take his leave first. Farewell!" With those words, a flash of cyan light erupted from his body, and he appeared atop the Little Divine Hall. He let out a low command: "Go!" Upon hearing this, the Little Divine Hall instantly transformed again.

The Azure Jade Palace shifted, manifesting into a heaven-shaking giant sword over ten zhang wide and more than three hundred zhang in length. Reyn stood precisely at the tip of the blade, appearing like an ancient sword immortal of legend, his presence overwhelming the heavens as he roared away into the distance! Within a single breath, he had vanished into the horizon, leaving nothing behind.