Da Xuan Martial Saint

Bang!

A muffled sound echoed.

The metal plate caved inward, showing a distinct indent.

This was different from the past when Chen Mu would break steel bare-handedly, relying more on the strength of his muscles. This time, it was the strength of his finger bones that collided.

Chen Mu slowly set down the metal plate, stepped back two steps, and then rubbed his middle finger.

"Hmm, it still hurts a bit, that was careless."

One percent of the Bone Tempering strength, when compared with before he had entered the Bone Tempering Realm, indeed showed a significant change. However, it hadn't reached the level of iron bones and steel muscles—it was just harder. If it hadn't been for his abundant Qi-Blood protecting his finger bone during the strike, he might've been injured.

However.

Chen Mu soon put down his hand and revealed a smile.

According to the progress, his one day of Bone Tempering cultivation had improved his progress by one percent. That meant, in less than a month, his Bone Tempering could be completed to thirty percent!

Bone Tempering Realm and Tendon Changing Realm were similar—thirty percent was considered Minor Achievement, and this pace was even faster than he had anticipated!

"Bone Tempering Minor Achievement in one month, very good."

Chen Mu exhaled lightly, shook his hand, and then walked out of the Silent Chamber.

...

Time hurriedly passed by.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed.

As the four major families of the Inner City were all restraining themselves, the first change from Yu City finally arrived. It started with a significant figure from the State Government Office descending into Yu City.

City Lord Xue Huaikong personally went out to welcome the figure respectfully into the Inner City Lord's Mansion and quickly set up a new area among various offices in the Inner City, designated as the 'Inspectorate'.

The figure from the State Government Office was a Fourth Grade Inspector from the Yu State Government Office!

In the Da Xuan Dynasty's hierarchy, the highest official position, ranked at First Grade, held only three positions, known as the 'Three Dukes': Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Protector. The positions just below them, known as the 'Three Solitudes', were Junior Preceptor, Junior Tutor, Junior Protector.

All six positions were honorary titles and often held concurrently.

That is to say, the Second Grade was the pinnacle of officialdom during the peak of the Da Xuan Dynasty.

The Fourth Grade official position, the Yu State Inspector, in the past was indeed considered a real 'high official', one who could enter the Central Prefecture and meet the Emperor!

Of course.

Nowadays, as Yu State was governed and divided by the Seven Profound Sect, the Inspector was not from the Da Xuan Dynasty but was still a person of the Seven Profound Sect, however, holding a position higher than that of a Steward.

Without a doubt, this was a person sent by the Seven Profound Sect to control the situation in Yu County, by establishing an 'Inspectorate' there, its purpose quite clear—it was to oversee the four Sects soon to enter Yu County.

And just after the establishment of the Inspectorate.

The methods of the four Sects also immediately came into play.

In a deep alley located at the southeastern corner of the Inner City, there was once a pavilion selling Jade Ware. Overnight, it changed entirely. Black curtains were hung all around the pavilion, concealing its interior and making it impossible to see inside.

Its entrance also underwent a complete transformation from welcoming guests to exuding a sinister, blood-fiendish atmosphere. A plaque seemingly written in fresh blood was hung on the pavilion, each blood character seemingly containing a terrifying power that made one's heart palpitate.

Blood Hidden Pavilion!

Actually, in comparison with the other three sects, the Blood Hidden Pavilion is the most unique. Heavenly Sword Sect, Hehuan Sect, and Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion each hail from different State Government Offices, governing distinct territories. Yet no one knows where the main pavilion of the Blood Hidden Pavilion is.

It is only known to have branches in many State Government Offices and Prefecture Cities.

"Traceless Blood Concealment, heaven leaves no one..."

"A sect that specializes in assassination can so openly establish its presence."

In the elegant pavilion, Chen Mu held a red fruit in his hand and was gently peeling its skin with a small knife in his left hand, while shaking his head slightly. "With this move, who knows how much chaos it will cause."

As long as there is money, one could hire an assassin from the Blood Hidden Pavilion to kill, and the Blood Hidden Pavilion's principle is brazenly 'No one is unkillable.' Imagine if the He Yu Family and another family placed bounties on each other; then going out would become a major issue henceforth.

By comparison,

Heavenly Sword Sect was quite sensible. They didn't even enter Yu City but took over a place on the outskirts and established a branch of the Heavenly Sword Sect. They openly recruited talents, testing anyone under the age of sixteen. If they were found to have sufficient talent, they could join the sect.

Although they were openly competing for talents with the Seven Profound Sect, at least the impact wasn't too negative.

As for the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion, it also set up a branch in the Inner City, in contrast to the Blood Hidden Pavilion, known as 'Masters of the Mysterious Court, Wondrous Predictors of Mechanisms,' claiming to predict all matters under heaven.

It sounded like a street fortune teller's scam, but it was said that the divination methods of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion indeed contained some profound mysteries of the universe and were not unfounded.

Finally, the Hehuan Sect.

At first, there was no trace of them, as if they had not entered Yu City.

However, later Chen Mu heard rumors that among the largest Flower Pavilions in the floral street of the Inner City, 'Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion' and 'Red Sleeve Pavilion' had suddenly gained many extremely beautiful women who rivaled even the most famous courtesans, attracting countless gentlemen who frequented brothels to swarm there.

The other smaller Flower Pavilions, within a few days, became deserted, with scarcely a customer in sight.

Needless to say, this must have been the work of the Hehuan Sect. In Chen Mu's memory, the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion and the Red Sleeve Pavilion seemed to be properties of the Xie Family, but now it was hard to say if it still belonged to them.

"Yes, the sects like the Blood Hidden Pavilion are indeed a bit frightening. No one knows if they will suddenly become their assassination target. The Hehuan Sect is somewhat better, as I've heard that in the past few days, the area near Flower Street is bustling every evening."

Little Lotus stood next to him and suddenly whispered softly.

Chen Mu snorted softly, "Hehuan Sect and Blood Hidden Pavilion, both are from the Demon Sect. What's the difference? The cultivation techniques they practice involve absorbing people's primal yang and sucking out their Qi-Blood. How is that different from monsters eating people?"

He knew Little Lotus wanted to remind him, but he did not need her reminder. Even though he had been in seclusion practicing cultivation this past month and had not left his home, just hearing a sect's name like Hehuan Sect was enough to know what they were up to.

"So you know quite a lot."

Little Lotus looked at Chen Mu with a mischievous smile. She knew that Chen Mu had essentially not ventured out these days. News about the recent changes inside the Inner City was learned from her.

But at this moment, Xu Hongyu, who had been sitting beside and pondering, suddenly said, "Hehuan Sect... I heard that they have a unique dual cultivation method derived from the principles of Yin Yang that does not harm Qi-Blood... Hm, why are you looking at me like that?"

Xu Hongyu looked over in surprise as Chen Mu and Little Lotus suddenly eyed her oddly.

Little Lotus placed one small hand on her chin, seemingly contemplating how to respond. "Uh, well, nothing. It's just that the cultivation technique of the Hehuan Sect is probably impossible to pass on."

"Yes, that might be true."

Xu Hongyu said somewhat regretfully, "Such a technique is probably a cornerstone for the sect and cannot be imparted to outsiders."

Chen Mu silently looked at Xu Hongyu and asked, "Hongyu, do you know how that technique is practiced?"

"Yin Yang intercourse?"

Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu curiously. What was not to know? Hm, but it seemed not to be something to discuss casually, but since it was only her, Chen Mu, and Little Lotus around, it should be fine.

Chen Mu silently gave Little Lotus a glance, and she covered her face.

She really wanted to say that her young mistress was not unaware of matters of modesty and knew quite a bit about such things. Her knowledge in this area was not sparse at all; in fact, just a few days ago, she had been meticulously studying the Inner Palace Chart that she had given her.

But while studying those, she looked like she was reading an ordinary biography, completely unaffected, even calmly pulling her aside to ask, 'Is this all it takes?'

But these were really not things she could easily discuss with Chen Mu...