Chapter Twenty-Three: Seeking Roots

Who was Liu Yunqin, that he could provoke Xiao Jueqing to such rage, forcing him to take action personally? Chen Mu felt his scalp tingle; he immediately activated the Turtle Shell Talisman and assumed a defensive posture.

A radiant shield etched with tortoise shell patterns collided with Xiao Jueqing’s palm, and in an instant, the shield rebounded Xiao Jueqing, sending him flying. Gu Xingyuan, who had been anxiously watching, was astonished by the spectacle. He quickly withdrew his attack, steadied himself, and breathed a sigh of relief. With displeasure, he said, “Enough! Xiao Jueqing, when Liu Yunqin dealt with Lü Shi, you did not object. The grievances of the younger generation should be settled among themselves; you have no right to use your seniority to bully them.”

“What a vicious little brat! You’re remarkable! What is this shield of yours? Senior Gu! I suspect this boy is a spy from another sect!” Xiao Jueqing said grimly.

“I dealt with Liu Yunqin as he dealt with my friend. When he severely wounded and humiliated Lü Shi, why didn’t you step in? Oh right, disciple Chen Mu acted recklessly; facing a powerful opponent, he used his full strength. I submit myself to the elders for punishment,” Chen Mu replied.

“You—!” Xiao Jueqing was about to strike again when an overwhelming, terrifying pressure swept through the hall. Gu Xingyuan was truly furious; his Nascent Soul cultivation surged forth, forcing Xiao Jueqing to calm down and filling him with dread.

“Xiao Jueqing! It seems you no longer regard me as the master of the valley. Are you planning a rebellion?” Gu Xingyuan’s voice thundered.

“Senior, I was momentarily impulsive. Please do not blame me. But this boy is ruthless—our sect cannot harbor him!” Xiao Jueqing protested.

“Ruthless? Why didn’t you say the same about Liu Yunqin to Lü Shi? Don’t think I don’t know—Liu Yunqin is the descendant of your old acquaintance in the capital, and you wish to take him as your disciple. I do not oppose that. Let the young settle their own scores, but if you use your seniority to bully them, do not expect any favors from me.”

“Yes, yes, Master, you are right. I was reckless; please forgive my anger. But that boy’s defense just now is highly suspect! How could a cultivator at the Meridian Realm withstand my attack?”

“You wish that Chen Mu had died by your hand, don’t you?” Gu Xingyuan’s gaze grew cold as he turned to Chen Mu, asking, “What was that shield just now?”

“It’s a Turtle Shell Talisman I acquired from the City Lord’s mansion, already fused into my body. It can defend against a full-force attack from a Core Formation cultivator,” Chen Mu reported truthfully.

“Very well. Xiao Jueqing, for your merits to the sect, I’ll let this go once. But you are not to trouble Chen Mu again. Disobey, and you will be stripped of your position as Punishment Elder.”

At that moment, Xiao Jueqing’s hatred for Chen Mu had sunk deep into his bones. He could not have imagined that a supposed wastrel would possess such power, that his master would value him so highly. Though he knew Chen Mu was the son of Gu Xingyuan’s old friend, the master had many such acquaintances and had never shown much interest in Chen Mu before. Who would have thought that for his sake, Gu Xingyuan would confront him so fiercely?

Seeing Chen Mu unharmed, Gu Xingyuan nodded meaningfully and said, “You were reckless. It’s not good to be so vengeful.”

“Disciple acknowledges his fault… Master, please heal my friend.”

“Your friend is already receiving treatment. Stand aside for now.”

The examination was halted. When Lü Shi awoke and learned that Chen Mu had risked his life, facing the threat of a fatal strike from the Punishment Elder to avenge him, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

Due to the unexpected incident, Gu Xingyuan decided that the top four candidates would all advance as inner disciples—satisfying Xiao Jueqing’s personal wishes and allowing Chen Mu and his friend to join the inner sect. Originally, Chen Mu intended to apprentice under Elder Qu Rou of the Pill Pavilion, but Gu Xingyuan directly took him as his personal disciple. As Chen Mu descended the mountain with the other outer disciples, those who had mocked him earlier were now silent, afraid to incur his displeasure.

After this ordeal, Chen Mu’s reputation spread not only in the outer sect but also within the inner sect. His name shook the entire Starwatching Valley; after all, resisting a strike from the Punishment Elder Xiao Jueqing was enough to cause a sensation.

Chen Mu finally returned to his dilapidated dwelling. Exhausted by all that had transpired, he succumbed to sleep.

...

When Chen Mu awoke, he moved his belongings into his new cave residence in the inner sect. After settling in, he was summoned to the sect’s grand hall.

Within the grand hall, Gu Xingyuan sat at the center, flanked by all the inner sect elders except Xiao Jueqing, who was absent. Those summoned included Chen Mu, Lü Shi, Liu Yunqin, and another robust young man named Li Wu, who had placed in the top four.

“You four are here for your rewards from the examination. Here are four storage bags; aside from Chen Mu, who receives one hundred low-grade spirit stones, each of you gets fifty. Inside, you’ll find a single Foundation-Boosting Pill, which is vital for establishing your cultivation base.”

The four were overjoyed. Chen Mu cared little for the storage bag, as he already possessed a storage ring; what he valued was the Foundation-Boosting Pill, essential for building his foundation.

Qu Rou, seated to the left, smiled and said, “Having received your rewards, shouldn’t you thank the master?”

At her words, the four snapped out of their excitement, clasped their hands, and bowed, “Thank you, Master, for your generosity.”

“No need. You must devote yourselves to cultivation and reach the Foundation Realm as soon as possible, so Starwatching Valley may grow stronger. Now, what weapon do you desire? You may request one item from Elder Hong Changtian, but only one, no more.”

Elder Hong flicked his sleeve, and eighteen types of weapons floated before Chen Mu and the others—blades, spears, swords, halberds, all manner of arms.

Chen Mu already possessed a weapon, so he requested to forgo the weapon in exchange for more spirit stones. Gu Xingyuan agreed, granting him another hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Lü Shi chose a blade-type magical weapon, replacing his ordinary iron blade, while the others selected their own weapons. All were thoroughly satisfied.

After expressing their gratitude, Gu Xingyuan dismissed the other three, leaving only Chen Mu.

“Do you know why I kept you behind?” Gu Xingyuan asked, gazing at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu replied warily, “I do not, Master.”

“Don’t be nervous. It’s nothing serious. Recently, someone reported to me that you selected a sword technique called ‘Brahma Star Sword Manual’. Is this true?”

After a moment of silence, Chen Mu answered, “It is true.”

“This sword technique originates from the sect I belonged to in the past,” Gu Xingyuan said, as if reminiscing.

“Master’s former sect?”

“Yes. I was not originally a cultivator of this continent. By circumstance, I drifted here and founded this sect out of necessity. That is all past now; there’s no need to dwell on it. I kept you behind to teach you the later parts of this sword technique and the accompanying cultivation method, ‘Brahma Star Celestial Art’. As my successor, I hope that one day you will find my original sect and family, and tell them Gu Xingyuan still lives. I am old now and have taken root here; I have no desire to roam any longer. When I promised your father, Chen Haoran, to take you as my disciple, I intended to make you my personal disciple. But because your cultivation was hindered and you hadn’t reached the inner sect, to take you as my direct disciple would have caused unrest. I tried many ways to cure your heat-cold disorder… but alas, nothing worked…”

“Master… well… I’ve already learned another cultivation method. Is it possible not to change?”

“What method have you learned? The techniques of this continent are nothing compared to the ‘Brahma Star Celestial Art’!” Gu Xingyuan said with quiet authority.

“It’s a family ancestral method. Thanks to it, my heat-cold disorder has slightly improved.”

“Is it the one taught by the so-called Wood Daoist? News from Fan City says you apprenticed under a Pill Master named Mu within the valley, but there is no Pill Master named Mu here. That must be how your disorder was cured, yes?” Gu Xingyuan teased.

“…” Chen Mu was startled, holding his breath and not daring to speak.

“You have your secrets, and as long as they don’t harm the sect, I won’t interfere. Ah… I won’t force you. Though you haven’t inherited my mantle, I will still fulfill my promise—from this moment, you are my personal disciple, even if only in name.”

“Yes, Master. If I have the chance, I will help you find your roots.”

“Good. My sect is called Brahma Star Sect. The Gu family is a prominent household in Hongyuan City, subordinate to Brahma Star Sect. I only know that Brahma Star Sect is located on the Azure Firmament Continent; beyond that, I know nothing.”

After a moment of silence, Gu Xingyuan said no more. He tossed a jade slip to Chen Mu, “This is the complete ‘Brahma Star Sword Manual’. Study it well.”

“The first three forms can be learned at the Meridian Realm, forms four to nine at the Foundation Realm, and forms ten to twelve at the Core Formation Realm. This is a backup jade slip; study it as needed, and come to me if there’s anything you don’t understand. Remember, you alone may study this technique. If anyone else attempts it, I will personally strip them of their cultivation and invoke sect rules.”

Chen Mu’s heart tightened as he respectfully replied, “Yes, Master. I will obey.”