Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chen Mu gazed coldly at the black-clothed person who had collapsed in the distance.

Without hesitation, his figure flashed and he quickly reached the side of the crying Yu Yao. He bent down to check on her and found no wounds on her body, nor had the black-clothed person done anything to her. The crying was loud and powerful, which somewhat set his mind at ease.

In the distance,

Several trails of firelight approached rapidly.

Chen Mu glanced in the direction of the firelight, thought briefly, then took a step back. He gently set down the still-crying Yu Yao and quickly vanished into the darkness.

…

The next day.

Early morning.

A series of knocking sounds echoed.

Soon, a servant came to report in the inner courtyard that many people from the Yu Family patrol had arrived.

Chen Mu yawned as he got out of bed, threw on a robe simply, and went outside, only to see many people dressed in Yu Family patrol uniforms gathering his servants in the yard, questioning them one by one about any disturbances they heard during the previous night.

Furthermore,

Chen Mu also saw a familiar face—it was Xiao He, who he hadn't seen for several days.

Xiao He quickly walked up to Chen Mu and whispered, "Last night, thieves broke into your neighbor Yu Zhen's house and kidnapped his month-old daughter, but the thief is now dead and Yu Yao has been rescued. Everything is alright now. Speaking of which... did you just get up?"

"Yeah, slept in a bit,"

Chen Mu said with a smile.

Xiao He blinked and examined Chen Mu closely, expressing her suspicion, "With your personality, you're usually so diligent. How could you suddenly sleep so late? There must be something."

As she spoke, she tilted her head and said, "Let me guess, hmm... it's because you've had a breakthrough in your realm, and you've achieved Tendon Changing!"

At this point,

She beamed a smile at Chen Mu, "How did I guess?"

Chen Mu gave Xiao He a glance.

He thought she had guessed something significant.

"What do you think?"

Chen Mu responded with a question.

Seeing Chen Mu's reaction, Xiao He was even more convinced and said, "Definitely, it has been almost four months. You must have had a breakthrough. With two Tendon Changing Pills and if all the medicinal power was absorbed, you'd be close to Minor Achievement."

Seeing Xiao He's smug look, Chen Mu finally let out a chuckle.

"Fine, let's say you guessed right."

He indeed had a breakthrough in his realm, only it wasn't to Tendon Changing Minor Achievement, but rather to Tendon Changing Perfection, and it wouldn't be long before he would reach the limits of Tendon Changing.

"That's great!"

Xiao He's face lit up with joy, "I knew you could do it!"

Although she had also stepped into the Tendon Changing Realm, Chen Mu was different from her. Not only did he have exceptional talent and a Horizontally Trained Body, but he also mastered at least Triple Blade Momentum. Once he entered the Tendon Changing Realm, it would be a massive qualitative change.

She was well aware that even though they were both in the Tendon Changing Realm, it was almost impossible for three or five individuals like her to defeat Chen Mu together. Even someone with Major Achievement in Tendon Changing would likely not fare well against him.

Furthermore,

As long as Chen Mu successfully entered the Tendon Changing Realm, given his age, he would eventually be able to reach Tendon Changing Perfection. Coupled with his comprehension in martial arts, he would at least be on par with a Bone Tempering expert in the future.

Bone Tempering Realm.

Even just reaching Minor Achievement, one would be a notable figure in the entire Yu Family. If Chen Mu's strength was on par, then being considered as having Bone Tempering Minor Achievement wouldn't be a problem.

It could be said that as Xu Hongyu had mentioned, if Chen Mu was interested in marriage, the collateral female members of the Yu Family were essentially at his pick, and even direct members like Yu Ru and others would not be a problem.

Even for Xu Hongyu, Chen Mu now could take more than just a look. Despite her different status and her talents ranking her high among the Yu Family's four generations, as long as she was willing, the opposition from the Yu Family wouldn't be substantial.

Whether one could step into Tendon Changing,

Was a huge watershed for the Yu Family.

"Looking at how happy you are, anyone would think you've achieved Major Achievement in Tendon Changing,"

Chen Mu said with a shaken head and a chuckle, observing Xiao He's joy.

Xiao He smiled radiantly, blinking and saying, "You are so calm because you are confident, but we are all watching. Tendon Changing and Body Refinement are completely different levels... Alright, since you've entered Tendon Changing, the young miss's plan can also begin, and you have a part in it too."

"Plan?"

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Chen Mu asked Xiao He curiously.

Xiao He smiled softly, saying, "The young miss will be able to reach Tendon Changing Perfection after at most one more month of quiet cultivation. Then, she is going to take up a post at the Demon-Slaying Office, and I will join the Demon-Slaying Office to assist her."

"The Demon-Slaying Office, huh..."

Chen Mu nodded slightly.

In fact, he had previously speculated that Xu Hongyu would likely go to the Demon-Slaying Office after resigning her position as the Chief Constable of the South City District, as a person of her caliber would not be suitable for the Salt Affairs Bureau, which was essentially a place for the older generation of the Yu Family to retire.

The other government offices had little interference from the Yu Family, and Xu Hongyu probably didn't want to engage in those bureaucratic struggles anymore.

Therefore, after all considerations, there were only four must-compete-for places, and the Demon-Slaying Office was the most suitable destination for Xu Hongyu.

Looking at it now.

Xu Hongyu was not only planning to go to the Demon-Slaying Office herself, but she had also planned for him to join her there when he was asked to step down from his position.

"That sounds quite good."

In Chen Mu's view, the Demon-Slaying Office was indeed a good destination, including for himself.

There, he would be able to obtain various scarce resources, such as Bone Tempering Pills, and even the opportunity to comprehend more Artistic Conception Maps. The Thunderclap Diagram he held was, after all, only a very low-grade rubbings version. If he had the opportunity to comprehend a better middle-grade or even superior-grade diagram, the effects would certainly be much better than now.

Just like not long ago when he had accumulated enough experience points for a second deduction of Thunderclap Artistic Conception, but as he had expected, a single deduction was not enough to directly advance the Thunderclap Artistic Conception to the second step.

That deduction,

merely deepened his understanding of the Thunderclap Artistic Conception.

However, there were still some changes; for instance, when he now employed the Thunderclap Artistic Conception, the sparks of electricity were a bit more pronounced. Last night, when he killed the black-clothed man with a single blow, he had used only the Thunderclap Artistic Conception.

If it were the past, just using the sole Thunderclap Artistic Conception, and with the opponent fifty steps away and prepared in advance, there would still be a slim chance of evading it. But after a deeper understanding of the Thunderclap Artistic Conception, there were no such accidents.

"Let's go, we'll see the young miss."

Xiao He smiled and spoke, then she turned around and said to the Yu Family patrol team in the yard who were questioning the servants, "Alright, that's enough. You don't have to ask any more; let it be."

The Yu Family patrol team was just going through the motions, as they already knew all there was to Chen Mu's background; thus, they did not question Chen Mu at all but instead questioned the servants. Hearing now that Chen Mu had stepped into the Tendon Changing Realm, some looked at Chen Mu with different eyes, with a markedly more solemn attitude.

"It's settled then."

"The person was rescued last night, and the evildoer is dead. Indeed, there wasn't much; it was just a routine inquiry. I hope Brother Chen won't mind the slight disturbance," the leader greeted Chen Mu with a smile and then waved his hand, leading the people away.

Seeing this, Chen Mu shook his head slightly and instructed Wang Ni and the others, before following Xiao He out of the yard.

...

In the eastern part of the Yu Family.

Main courtyard.

In the quite spacious yard, where many exotic flowers and plants were growing, all trimmed to please the eye.

At this moment, in one area of the yard, a bamboo mat was laid out with a corpse on top, dressed in night clothes, with a penetrating wound in the chest—it was the black-clothed man who had committed the crime last night.

His mask had already been removed, revealing the face of a man who looked to be in his thirties, with a dark spot on his forehead.

At this time.

Several solemnly dressed figures surrounded the corpse, all appearing to be in their forties or fifties. They were both second and third generation members of the Yu Family, those currently wielding power within the clan.

At the forefront was a man dressed in a green brocade robe, the current patriarch of the Yu Family, Yu Zuyi!

He belonged to the second generation of the Yu Family and was the maternal grandfather of Xu Hongyu, having reached Perfection in the Bone Tempering Realm and mastered the Kan Water Artistic Conception. Aside from the old ancestor who had stepped into the Five Viscera Realm, he was a pillar of the Yu Family.

But now nearly sixty years old, he was gradually reaching the age where his Qi-Blood would decline, able to sustain only a few more years before he would have to relinquish the position of patriarch to the younger third generation.

Although the highest in the Body Refining Realm of the third generation had also reached Perfection in the Bone Tempering Realm, they had yet to comprehend the Kan Water Artistic Conception.

The people were all watching the corpse at this time.

In the midst of silence, suddenly, a graceful figure entered the yard—it was Xu Hongyu.

As Xu Hongyu approached, she glanced at the corpse, her expression slightly concentrated, but she quickly shifted her gaze to Yu Zuyi.

"Grandfather."

"Hongyu has come."

Yu Zuyi looked at Xu Hongyu, his eyes softening a bit.

This was the Yu Family's main courtyard. During discussions, even direct descendents of the Yu Family couldn't enter without permission, but Xu Hongyu was one of the few fourth-generation members who could participate.

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly and said, "Grandfather, I had considerable success in my demon-hunting this time. After four months of quiet cultivation, I am not far from reaching Tendon Changing Perfection. In another month or so, I should achieve it, after which I would like to take up a position at the Demon-Slaying Office."

"Hmm, Tendon Changing Perfection, the Demon-Slaying Office would indeed be suitable," Yu Zuyi nodded slightly.

A regular Yu Family youngster stepping into Tendon Changing Minor Achievement and going to the Demon-Slaying Office wouldn't be a problem, but he hoped Xu Hongyu could grow more steadily, so at the beginning of her breakthrough, he did not arrange for her to go to the Demon-Slaying Office but instead allowed her to serve in South City District as Chief Constable, which was also considered a way for her to temper and refine herself.

Xu Hongyu continued, "There's also Xiao He; I plan to have her accompany me to the Demon-Slaying Office as well. And Chen Mu has also achieved Tendon Changing; the two of them assisting me would be most appropriate."

"Oh, Chen Mu, yes, I remember you have mentioned him," mused Yu Zuyi, recalling what he knew about Chen Mu, "The young man stepping into Tendon Changing is indeed praiseworthy, and your judgment is good too. It seems his background is clean, so having him accompany you to the Demon-Slaying Office as an aide is good."

At that point,

Yu Zuyi nodded and said, "Alright, I have taken note of this matter. I will make arrangements in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Xu Hongyu also responded, then moved to the side.

At this moment, Yu Zuyi once again glanced at the corpse on the bamboo mat, then directed his gaze at the people present and said in a solemn voice, "Enough of you have arrived. Regarding the incident last night where 'Spot-faced' Tian Jifeng attempted to steal a Yu Family bloodline in the night and was killed by an unknown assailant outside the residence on North Street...

what are your thoughts on this matter?"