Chapter 86: Pretending to Be Captured

Chen Mu teased, "What are those looks on your faces? Are you only capable of staring coldly? I've already killed your people, yet none of you dare to attack? Aren't you all completely useless?"

Originally, the disciples of the Azurefall Dao Sect were pondering whether Chen Mu had some hidden reliance that emboldened him to act so recklessly. But when his brazen mockery rang in their ears, rage finally eclipsed their reason.

These disciples, all at the Foundation Realm, saw that Chen Mu's cultivation was not much different from their own and thus did not take him seriously. They planned to strike together and kill him at the first opportunity.

Several magical attacks surged toward Chen Mu, but he simply stood still, letting them land. The disciples of the Azurefall Dao Sect were instantly delighted, thinking Chen Mu was nothing special after all.

Yet when the smoke cleared and they saw Chen Mu utterly unharmed before them, disbelief swept through the crowd. Attacks of that caliber would have left an ordinary Foundation Realm cultivator dead or severely wounded.

But Chen Mu was no ordinary Foundation Realm cultivator. He had trained in both external and internal arts, and could fight above his level.

Dark Element Orbs shot out one after another, completely destroying and collapsing the merchant guild. The scene was utter chaos.

Countless disciples of the Azurefall Dao Sect lay dead or wounded. Some fled, others frantically sent out distress signals. Seeing this, Chen Mu did not pursue, as his purpose was already accomplished.

Nevertheless, this stirred up a bit of trouble—his rampant destruction of Azurefall Dao Sect property attracted the attention of the City Lord’s Mansion. The City Lord himself arrived and engaged Chen Mu in combat.

Chen Mu was careful not to reveal too much of his strength; if he killed the City Lord, who was at the Core Formation Realm, it might frighten off the two Azurefall Dao Sect elders who were rushing over to aid him.

So he simply held out against the City Lord, biding his time until the elders arrived.

In the span of a cup of tea, two piercing sounds split the sky as the two elders of the Azurefall Dao Sect arrived. Seeing Chen Mu evenly matched with the City Lord, both elders felt a heavy sense of gravity.

But when they saw Chen Mu’s face clearly, they were instantly overjoyed. His portrait was well-known among the senior ranks of Azurefall Dao Sect, for it concerned the secret of the Vitality Pill’s life force. The Sect Master had ensured all the elders had seen it.

Now that Chen Mu was before them, the clue to the source of the life force was finally within reach. Capturing Chen Mu would be a monumental achievement—so, with a howl, they joined the battle.

Very soon, Chen Mu feigned defeat and allowed himself to be captured by the two elders.

The City Lord, seeing Chen Mu taken, breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his fists toward the two elders. "Thank you, Elder Qiao and Elder Chu, for your assistance. This man was utterly reckless, relying on his strength to destroy your sect’s guild. Shall I deal with him, or will you…?"

Elders Qiao and Chu immediately declined, "Since he dared to destroy our Azurefall Dao Sect’s guild, naturally we must imprison him in our sect and let the Sect Master deal with him personally. There’s no need for you to worry, City Lord."

The City Lord considered, then nodded in agreement. After all, Chen Mu had killed Azurefall Dao Sect members and only destroyed their own property. Giving the sect face seemed prudent. Soon, the two elders escorted Chen Mu back to the Azurefall Dao Sect.

Inside the grand hall of the Azurefall Dao Sect.

Chen Mu, shackled hand and foot, was brought into the hall. The wounded Sect Master, Gu Daozhen, his brother—the Vice Sect Master, Gu Daoyan—and all the elders were gathered.

Gu Daozhen, exuding an aura of authority, spoke slowly, "Chen Mu, I had thought you’d died at the hands of Liu Zhongdao. I never expected you to escape disaster and, instead of hiding away, dare to come here and slaughter my sect’s disciples. Should I call you bold or simply insane? Enough idle talk. Tell me—who exactly is this Wood Daoist? What is the secret of the Vitality Pill’s life force? If you speak, I’ll promise to release you. By the way, your elder brother is also imprisoned here. If you talk, I’ll let both of you go!"

Chen Mu’s face appeared conflicted as he asked, "If I tell you, you’ll release both me and my brother?"

Seeing his intent to confess, Gu Daozhen was pleased. "Of course. My word is my bond."

"Very well. Let me see my brother first. I need to know he’s all right. If anything’s happened to him, what meaning would there be in telling you these secrets? As long as he’s alive, I promise to tell you what you wish to know—but only you may hear it."

Gu Daozhen frowned but relented, comforted by the promise. He ordered Chen Feng brought up from the dungeons. Chen Feng, his body covered in wounds from days of torture, had his cultivation base shattered, falling back to the Meridian Opening Realm.

Seeing his brother on the verge of death, unconscious and barely breathing, Chen Mu’s eyes burned with fury. "How dare you treat my brother like this!?"

Gu Daozhen frowned. He had not ordered anyone to torture Chen Feng, yet some disciples had taken matters into their own hands. This was troublesome. He said, "I did not expect my disciples to use private punishment. Rest assured, I will use all the sect’s resources to heal your brother—if you tell me your secret."

Luckily, Chen Feng still clung to life. Once they were out, Chen Mu could restore him with the power of vitality.

Chen Mu sneered inwardly—only a fool would trust him—but outwardly he suppressed his anger and said, "Fine. I’ll tell you, but only you alone. Let everyone else leave, and my brother and I will stay. Then I’ll speak."

Gu Daozhen hesitated, but decided that, with the boy shackled and his pet fox nowhere in sight, nothing could go wrong. He had no idea what a spirit beast bracelet was, nor that Chen Mu harbored several demon beasts on his person. If he had known, he would never have agreed to be alone with him.

He ordered everyone to leave the hall. Only then did he impatiently say, "Now will you speak?"

Chen Mu smiled. "Sect Master Gu, you only wish to know two things: the whereabouts of the Wood Daoist and the secret of the power of life, correct?"

Seeing that Chen Mu was finally cooperating, Gu Daozhen was delighted. "Exactly! So, where is the Wood Daoist?"

"Ha! There is no Wood Daoist. He was a fabrication—a false persona I invented for trading with others. In short, I was the Wood Daoist in disguise," Chen Mu said mockingly.

Gu Daozhen’s face darkened. "You dare deceive me? You promised that you’d tell me the whereabouts of the Wood Daoist. And now you expect me to believe such a lie?"

Chen Mu laughed coldly. "Are you truly so stupid, or just pretending? Every word I spoke is true. The so-called Wood Daoist was simply me and that fox by my side, altering our auras and disguising ourselves. Do you understand now?"

Gu Daozhen pondered grimly for a moment. If that was so, it made sense. Did this mean, then, that the power of life came from that fox?

Chen Mu, as if reading his thoughts, mocked him. "You must now think the secret of the Vitality Pill’s life force lies with my little fox, yes? Unfortunately, you’re wrong. That power comes from me."

Gu Daozhen was stunned, his eyes now gleaming with greed. With the source of the power before him, there was no need for courtesy.

Chen Mu burst into wild laughter. "Gu Daozhen, now that you know what you wanted, you can die! Yuanshan, protect my brother! Xiao Yu, Redfire—come, fight by my side!"

At these words, Gu Daozhen was shocked. Was there someone else here? But he dismissed the thought—if someone stronger than him were present, why would they obey a Foundation Realm brat?

Gu Daozhen sneered, "Playing tricks will do you no good. You can't escape."

But in the next instant, his confidence vanished. Chen Mu's bracelet suddenly opened a portal, and from it emerged three demon beasts: Brownfeather, Redfire, and Yuanshan.

Yuanshan bared his teeth and sent a mental message, "Boss, don’t worry, I’ll protect your brother. Leave it to me."

Seeing three demon beasts appear out of nowhere, Gu Daozhen shouted toward the door, "Get in here! Chen Mu is up to something!"

But as his shout rang out, Chen Mu had already unleashed his full power, activating the secret art "Blood Ignition Transformation," and, together with Brownfeather and Redfire, forcefully suppressed Gu Daozhen.

Gu Daozhen, still suffering from his injuries, was powerless to resist. By the time Gu Daoyan and the other elders burst into the hall, the scene that greeted them left them dumbfounded.

Chen Mu had one hand firmly gripping Gu Daozhen’s neck, ready to snap it at a moment’s notice. Three demon beasts stood inside the hall. Gu Daoyan and the others were furious—where had these demon beasts come from? None of them had sensed such powerful creatures enter the Azurefall Dao Sect.

"Chen Mu, what are you doing? Release my brother!" Gu Daoyan shouted.

Chen Mu laughed. "Release him? That’s not impossible. This is no place for fighting—let’s step outside and talk."

Under Chen Mu’s coercion, everyone left the hall and gathered in the main square of the Azurefall Dao Sect.

Numerous disciples had gathered outside, having heard that Chen Mu was captured and wanting to witness the spectacle. But when they saw him emerge gripping Gu Daozhen’s neck, they were dumbstruck.

This scene overturned everything they knew. How could Chen Mu possibly restrain their Sect Master? Even injured, the Sect Master should not fall into the hands of a mere Foundation Realm youth.

Though they’d heard from the ruins trial that Chen Mu possessed Core Formation-level combat strength, even a wounded Sect Master should still have the power of an early Nascent Soul cultivator. How could he be subdued by Chen Mu?

Yet the truth was right before their eyes, silently mocking them. They should never have brought Chen Mu into the Azurefall Dao Sect, but used Chen Feng as leverage instead.

But what use was there in saying so now? The Sect Master was firmly in Chen Mu’s grasp, and the slightest provocation would see his neck snapped.