Xuanling Empire, Luofeng City.
In the early morning, as Mu Chen returned from his morning training on the back mountain, he happened to see a familiar figure standing before the gate to his courtyard. With a faint smile, he pushed off the ground and appeared before the figure in an instant.
"Xiao Tian, you were looking for me?"
The figure was none other than Prince Yanlong, Long Xiaotian, who had been residing at the Mu Mansion for the past half-month. Long Xiaotian’s expression was somewhat serious. He nodded and said, "I was, actually. Mu Chen, the day Holy Tomb Mountain opens is fast approaching. It’ll take some time to get there from here, and every new member is required to arrive half a month early. Otherwise, they’re considered to have forfeited their eligibility. I came to discuss with you whether we should set off for Holy Tomb Mountain immediately."
Originally, Long Xiaotian had been used to calling Mu Chen "Boss Mu Chen." However, at Mu Chen’s insistence, Long Xiaotian had changed how he addressed him.
Mu Chen didn’t hesitate much upon hearing this. He nodded and said, "Mm, it is about time we left. I’m so used to cultivation that these idle days actually feel strange. I feel like my body is getting rusty."
"Heh," Long Xiaotian chuckled, then said, "In that case, I’ll go back to my room and pack. We’ll try to leave the Xuanling Empire tonight. We still have a long road ahead of us."
"Mm..."
...
That night, after having dinner with his parents, Mu Chen slung the Profound Jade Box onto his back and went with Mu Bingling to the plaza of the Mu Royal Mansion. Countless Mu Clan Members and Elders were already gathered there. Standing before them were ten men and women, each with a distinct and formidable expression. They were all dressed in identical, neat black combat attire that blended perfectly with the night, exuding an aura of slaughter that the surrounding Mu Clan Members could feel.
Mu Chen, in contrast, wore a simple, unadorned white robe that still carried an air of elegance. The jet-black Profound Jade Box was slung horizontally across his back, emitting a sense of profound weight. His blue ponytail fluttered in the wind as he stood with his eyes closed, giving off an impression of serene detachment. He glanced back at Mufeng and Bi Wan, who had been staring at him, and mulled for a moment. Then, his expression hardened, and he called out in a low voice, "We leave now!"
It was just three words, but the ten of them reacted the instant Mu Chen spoke, moving with a uniformity that seemed born from countless drills!
SWOOSH!
The crowd’s vision blurred, and in a flash, Mu Chen and the ten people who had just been standing in the Mu Mansion’s plaza vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there at all.
Watching the spot where Mu Chen and Mu Bingling had disappeared, Bi Wan sighed. "As the children grow up, our family spends more time apart than together. You don’t want them to leave, yet you hope they can make a name for themselves. Humans... we’re such contradictory beings."
Mufeng chuckled. Besides reluctance to see him go, his eyes held even more pride. Although he was easygoing and calm by nature, able to maintain a level head about everything, it didn’t mean he wasn’t proud to watch his child climb to ever greater heights.
"Look at you. You only ever react to Chen’Er’s path as a Martial Artist. Why don’t you ever show some concern for his love life?"
Bi Wan rolled her eyes in exasperation, causing Mufeng to break out in a cold sweat. But then, thinking of the Ninth Princess of the Empire and Mu Bingling, Mufeng grinned slyly. "Ah, Wan’Er, you don’t need to worry about his romantic affairs. You’ll find out later that our Chen’Er is hardly the apathetic type."
Bi Wan was slightly surprised. Seeing the faint smirk on Mufeng’s lips, she secretly decided that she would have to get a clear answer out of him that night...
...
「Meanwhile, at Holy Tomb Mountain」
While Mu Chen’s group was rushing toward Holy Tomb Mountain, a tense atmosphere had descended upon the normally peaceful Outer Mountain. The reason was simple: Grand Elder Dilaka, who never appeared in the Outer Mountain, had suddenly summoned all the students there, seemingly to announce something.
"Is he giving us a mission?"
As everyone was murmuring and looking around, a voice was heard muttering from the crowd. Hearing it, Dilaka nodded slightly and said, "I imagine you are all very surprised why I have suddenly come to the Outer Mountain today."
"..." Dilaka’s voice quickly drew the students’ attention back from the muttering student, and they all looked at him with confusion.
Dilaka smiled faintly. "There is a reason, of course. In fact, that student was right. I came from the Inner Mountain this time to give you all a mission. Or rather... an opportunity! An opportunity to go straight from the Outer Mountain into the Inner Mountain!"
An uproar erupted!!
"Straight into the Inner Mountain? Did I hear that right?!"
"Is there really a mission like that? Maybe we have to hunt a High-level Magical Beast?"
"No, no, no, I bet it’s assassinating the leader of some powerful faction."
"..."
Dilaka’s words had instantly sent the crowd below into an uproar of discussion! It was no wonder these Outer Mountain students were so shocked. In any dynasty or kingdom in the Outer Realm, they could have become famous and distinguished figures.
But at Holy Tomb Mountain! In this place, barely the size of an Imperial Capital, they were nothing more than ordinary members. Here, everyone was a genius, an elite of the same caliber! Your once heaven-defying talent meant starting from zero here!
And that wasn’t all! Only after arriving at Holy Tomb Mountain did you discover what it meant that there was always someone better, always a higher mountain to climb! Here, there were countless experts, geniuses, elites, and even... monsters who were far, far stronger than you! Those people were towering figures, forever beyond their reach.
The place where these towering figures resided was called... the Inner Mountain. The Inner Holy Tomb Mountain!
"I’m sure you all know the conditions for entering the Inner Mountain. Not only must your Martial Artist Realm reach a predetermined rank within a specific age limit, but you must also hold the champion’s title in the Outer Mountain Grand Competition for five consecutive years. This means that among the several hundred of you students standing before me, only one student can possibly enter the Inner Mountain every five years! In fact, due to these restrictions, there have been times when no one could step through the gates to the Inner Mountain for a whole decade! Now, tell me, is this not an opportunity I’m giving you?"
"IT IS!!"
The voices of several hundred students, filled with immense momentum, shot straight to the heavens! A mission! As long as they completed that mission, they could go straight into the Inner Holy Tomb Mountain! It was like a carp transforming into a dragon! How could they not be excited?!
"Heh... Settle down, little ones. I haven’t even told you the mission’s details yet. Are you so certain you can complete it?" Dilaka scanned the hundreds of eager faces and gave a wry, internal smile. ’The strength of the Outer Mountain students may be far inferior to those in the Inner Mountain, but they are still not someone Mu Chen’s group can handle. Let alone several hundred of them... Sigh. If it comes to it, I’ll have to help them out...’
"Your mission is this! All of you are to mobilize and intercept the new members arriving at the mountain!"