"I remember you too."
Amidst the thunder in the Heavenly Palace, a calm voice emanated, as if responding to Ji Chang.
"You can't defeat him. Haven't you heard? He even knows the Emperor."
Xu Mu clasped his hands behind his neck, gazing at the retreating figure of the young man, his expression suddenly solemn.
This person didn't even show respect to the Elder of Tree Dwelling. Being remembered by such a powerful being, he wondered if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
"If you say so, I shall seek a fight with him tonight."
The voice continued to echo from the Heavenly Palace, accompanied by the rumbling of thunder.
Xu Mu felt a headache coming on and paid no further attention.
"You're quite bold to have stopped him like that."
"If it were seven years ago, I would have been beaten into the infirmary by him."
Nangong Mao Guan stepped forward, patting Xu Mu's shoulder with emotion.
Back then, Ji Chang was invincible, his arrogance boundless.
Among his most famous and arrogant pronouncements was during that grand debate, facing the prodigies from the Great Zhou and the hundred clans. He had uttered four words.
"Those who block me die."
These four words meant exactly what they said.
Whether on the path of cultivation or in a literal sense, Ji Chang never allowed any obstacle to stand before him.
After uttering those four words, he had fought his way from the foot of Jie Mountain to its peak, leaving a trail of blood. Those who stood in his way had almost all perished.
"You are here, aren't you? Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to stop him."
Xu Mu shook his head. If Nangong Mao Guan hadn't accompanied him to Buluo City, he wouldn't have dared to jump out and engage Wang Jue in a death match.
His only hope for revenge was to rely on Yin Zhongxiu, or to assassinate him from the shadows.
"You brat..." Nangong Mao Guan shook his head, then looked up at the sun.
"It's time." The elder turned to the white-robed woman beside him and asked, "Shall we?"
The woman nodded, her eyes no longer clear, but rather fierce.
"Let's go, we depart immediately."
"Once I return to the clan, I will go into seclusion!"
A blush still lingered on Nangong Xue's pale neck, clearly indicating recent anger.
From the day she awakened her abilities, she had been groomed as the Nangong family's reserve saintess, the only genius in recent generations with the potential to surpass her brother. To be mocked by someone now, how could she accept it?
Even if that person was Ji Chang, the truly invincible of the past, she didn't believe it.
She had to cultivate diligently and break through to the next realm as soon as possible!
"There's really no need to get worked up over him."
Nangong Mao Guan put away his smile, his expression solemn.
"The Great Dao lies ahead. There will always be those born to walk faster. We cannot change this. Adjusting one's mindset is the primary task."
"Most importantly, don't forget about your brother's matter."
His eyes, weathered like the sea, were deep.
Ji Chang's abilities had always been a mystery in the cultivation world. His words seemed to possess a strange magic, capable of evoking intensely negative emotions and hatred in people with just a few sentences.
Otherwise, the proud prodigy of their Nangong family wouldn't have become a madman after his defeat.
Therefore, he was very concerned about his young lady.
"I..."
The elder's words were like refreshing spring water, washing away the dust from her Dao heart. In her daze, she suddenly awoke, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Thank you, Grand Elder."
Nangong realized her mistake and quickly bowed respectfully to the elder.
"It's alright, as long as you can notice it yourself."
"Frankly, even when I speak with Ji Chang, I feel a flicker of anger rising within me."
Nangong Mao Guan clasped his hands behind his back, somewhat perplexed. Could it be that such a malevolent ability truly existed in this world?
To provoke anger and absorb hatred, did it bring him any benefit?
"There is something strange about this person. I sense a trace of... a kindred aura on him."
Charles cautiously crawled out of Xu Mu's body, stepping onto Nangong Mao Guan's head, and said with a solemn expression.
Xu Mu blinked.
"Your kind? Does he also possess technology from Earth?"
Charles shook his head.
"It is technology, but not from Earth."
"That kind of fluctuation, I've never seen it before. And its mechanical nature is stronger than mine. It might be from a different civilization."
Xu Mu was somewhat surprised.
"If you can sense him, doesn't that mean he has also discovered you?"
"Not necessarily. I am well hidden. But it seems he didn't expect to be discovered, so it continues to emit fluctuations."
"The magnetic field of this space makes one feel angry."
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow slightly. It seemed Ji Chang's actions were deliberate. But what was the purpose of doing so?
"I think I'm starting to understand my brother a little."
The young woman's heart churned. She had only met Ji Chang briefly and was already affected. How profound must have been the humiliation her peerless prodigy brother endured after his defeat?
"Seven emotions and six desires are unavoidable for anyone," a snow-white cloud appeared beneath the old man's feet, slowly lifting them. "Using emotions properly can be very beneficial, but blind indulgence will lead one to chase phantoms like a dreamer, causing their Dao heart to collapse."
"If you cannot cultivate the Five Thunders True Method successfully, do not worry. The doors of the Nangong family are always open to you."
"As long as I pass down the Five Thunders True Method to the next generation, if you truly wish to learn, I might make an exception and give you an opportunity."
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Xu Mu scratched his head with a strange expression.
He did want to learn, and he truly didn't know how.
But in the Heavenly Palace, the one who was actively seeking to learn thunder techniques seemed to be already tempering himself with heavenly lightning.
"The Ten Thousand Races Assembly will be held in the summer two years from now. At that time, the order of the hundred alliances will be re-sorted, and the prodigies of various races will engage in duels at Jie Mountain. If you have time, you can come and watch."
As the woman spoke, she tossed a token from the cloud.
"This is my Nangong family's identification token. Seeing it is like seeing me in person."
Xu Mu reached out and caught the ancient, dark token. He saw that it was inlaid with two characters of red jade, a display of extreme luxury:
"Huai Tian."
He murmured, "Is this your name?"
Xu Mu narrowed his eyes slightly and looked towards the sky.
The white clouds rose higher and higher, and as a breeze blew, the veil on the white-robed woman's face was lifted halfway.
She revealed half of her face.
And in that fleeting moment, Xu Mu saw a face as fair as jade, with rosy lips and white teeth, incredibly pure yet undeniably captivating.
"Indeed, she is very beautiful."
He marveled, a soft spot in his heart seemed to be instantly touched.
"With such looks, you are also qualified to mock me?"
From the Heavenly Palace, the voice continued. Xu Mu, however, was unconcerned.
Nangong Huai Tian, wasn't she much better looking than that tigress Yin Shui'er?
"Brat, keep this token safe, or you won't be able to enter my Nangong family's gates."
"Don't forget, you still owe me a favor!"
The elder's voice descended from high in the sky, stretched long. The wind and clouds stirred, and their figures vanished instantly, leaving only the echoing sounds.
Xu Mu gazed at the trail left by the white clouds for a long time before putting away the token with a peculiar expression.
Entering the Nangong family's gates... Why did that phrase sound so awkward? It was as if he was being asked to be a live-in son-in-law.
"The Ten Thousand Races Assembly, and the hundred races will be re-sorted? It does sound like a grand event," Xu Mu's eyes burned with anticipation. He had been cooped up in this mountain village for nearly twenty years, and he naturally yearned for this vast world.
However, in terms of strength alone, he was only at the second stage and lacked any abilities. He didn't know when he would be able to leave the Ghostly Night.
Or rather, whether he could leave the Ghostly Night wasn't up to him. At least, he had to wait until that fellow found the holy relic of the Ghostly Night.
...
"Governor Yin, what's happening?"
While everyone was still stunned, a call suddenly rang out from the outer perimeter of the plaza.
The rough voice was filled with worry. Everyone turned to look and saw dozens of ability users, like moles in a burrow, peeking over the wall with their eyes.
"This..." Wu Ye's expression was peculiar as he looked at the center of the plaza.
The Elder of Tree Dwelling, Yin Zhongxiu, Xu Mu... The three of them standing together, and yet unharmed?
The Elder of Tree Dwelling's domain had been activated twice. He had assumed a world-shattering battle was taking place here. It was only when the emerald green light disappeared for the last time that he dared to cautiously return.
Regardless of who won or lost, the outcome needed to be known.
But what was astonishingly unexpected was that the three of them were getting along so harmoniously?
"We've reached an agreement. Nothing is wrong. Everyone can disperse." Remembering Xu Mu's instructions, Yin Zhongxiu glanced at the Elder of Tree Dwelling and then replied.
"Reconciled?"
Yin Shui'er's eyes widened. The confrontation had been so intense just now, and now they had reconciled. What exactly had happened?
"If it's convenient..."
"It's not convenient."
Yin Zhongxiu shook his head, directly refusing all requests from these people.
He didn't understand what was going on either.
What were the identities of those two, what was Xu Mu's identity, what were their intentions, who was Xu Mu's master...
There were too many questions. He needed to quiet his mind and think.
But one thing Yin Zhongxiu was certain of was that Xu Mu harbored no ill intentions towards the Ghostly Night.
Therefore, he could make his own decisions on these matters.
The truth could be sought out slowly later.
"Everyone has left, and there's no need to continue the assembly. City Lord Wu, since the matter has been resolved perfectly, let's go too."
With that thought, Yin Zhongxiu patted Xu Mu's shoulder, then walked to Wu Ye's side without looking back, slinging his arms around Wu Ye and Liang Shanping's necks as he walked away, leaving everyone stunned.
"Strange, truly strange. But perhaps we should leave too."
Yin Jiao's brows were tightly knitted. He didn't know what had happened here, but Yin Zhongxiu certainly did, and since he was leaving, they couldn't stay.
"Wait."
Just as Yin Jiao and the others were about to turn and leave, the Elder of Tree Dwelling spoke.
"Great master of the Golden Silver Merchant House, Xu... Young Master's gambling debts, you have yet to settle them."
Xu Mu blinked. He hadn't expected the Elder of Tree Dwelling to bring this up.
Jin Jiao also blinked, staring at the center of the plaza in disbelief.
The Elder of Tree Dwelling, helping Xu Mu get his money?
"I... cannot settle that much at the moment. However, I have already promised Governor Yin that I will hand over the portion that Young Friend Xu is entitled to."
The Elder of Tree Dwelling nodded. He had simply wanted to do something for Xu Mu to make his future days more comfortable.
"Alright."
Xu Mu looked left and right, then scratched his head.
"Take me home?"
The Elder of Tree Dwelling nodded.
"Good."