The next morning, as the sun began to rise.
Mu Yun sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, completely motionless like a sculpture. Within him, qi and blood surged like raging rivers, flushing through his limbs and bones. A faint golden luster shimmered beneath his skin, resembling flowing glazed glass. The appearance of "Copper Skin and Iron Bones" from the middle stage of Body Tempering had already manifested on him.
Among mortals, reaching the middle stage of Body Tempering could already be considered a master, enough to suppress a region.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing and quickly vanishing from his pupils. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
...
"Since you've finished your cultivation, come to the main hall," Elder Zhu's faint voice came from outside the window.
Mu Yun stood up and walked inside, his gaze falling upon the wooden table.
On it lay a broken, ancient longsword, its blade mottled, and beside it was a small green pouch, faintly glowing. These were precisely the belongings of the green-robed cultivator surnamed Leng from yesterday.
Elder Zhu's expression was deep, his gaze fixed on the two items on the table, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, he slowly said, "Yun'er, recount in detail what you saw in the forest yesterday".
Mu Yun nodded, then calmly and unhurriedly recounted the events of the previous night.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Elder Zhu nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "You did well in this matter. But you should also understand that this world is perilous, and human hearts are unfathomable. On the path of cultivation, good intentions are indispensable, yet one must have a sharp edge for protection to stand firm".
Having spoken, his gaze slightly condensed, and his voice deepened: "Since you have already entered the middle stage of Body Tempering, starting tomorrow, you need not go to chop purple bamboo anymore. I have other arrangements".
With that, he waved his hand.
Mu Yun quietly looked at Elder Zhu, knowing that the other party had already made a decision, so he said no more, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave. He walked alone towards his room, his steps seemingly calm, but his heart churned like a stormy sea, stirring up countless questions and anxieties.
He had not confessed to Elder Zhu—that the death of the cultivator surnamed Leng was caused by his own hand. Yet, he himself wasn't entirely sure what had happened.
Just after waking up not long ago, fragments of both strange and familiar memories suddenly appeared in his mind. The moment the cultivator surnamed Leng attacked, it was as if an unfamiliar "self" suddenly awakened, taking over his body and controlling his every movement. Even though his consciousness remained, he could clearly feel what he was doing.
"Why is this happening? What exactly am I doing?" Mu Yun muttered softly, his gaze slightly unfocused.
In his mind, fragmented scenes flashed:
"Nuclear arc reactor system... plasma light wave."
"Antimatter is spiritual energy, and the special genetic factors are spirit roots."
"Antimatter world."
"Earth..."
Strange words gently spilled from his lips, chaotic fragments tumbling in his mind, surging like a tide, yet blurring like a mist.
"Could it be... I've been possessed?" he whispered to himself, his expression growing more solemn.
But then, his heart trembled, and an even stranger thought quietly emerged.
"No... or rather, this was originally mine?"
Mu Yun's steps paused slightly. He slowly extended his hand. In his mind, he silently chanted: "Plasma light wave... launch!"
However, nothing happened. In the empty room, only his own breathing echoed.
Mu Yun smiled bitterly... and shook his head.
Mu Yun departed, and silence filled the room.
Elder Zhu remained silent for a moment, then slowly reached out and gently clasped the broken ancient sword. His fingertips slowly traced the blade, his movements gentle, as if caressing an old friend he hadn't seen for years.
"Blazing Sun Sword... Huayang Sect..." he murmured softly, his eyes deep as an abyss.
This sword was an artifact of the Huayang Sect, only to be wielded by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Yet now, its wielder had died by Yun'er's hand! What kind of bizarre truth was hidden within this?
Elder Zhu's gaze deepened, pondering for a long time, then finally let out a soft sigh, slowly putting down the broken sword in his hand. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked up at the void, as if he could see through the dust of time to the distant and ancient past.
"Never mind... if this is fate, then I, this old man, will follow fate and go crazy once!"
His voice was low, carrying a rare hint of sharpness and determination.
...
The next day, as the sky began to lighten.
Mu Yun was still in light sleep when he heard a steady call: "Yun'er, wake up".
He quickly washed up and went to Elder Zhu's room.
Elder Zhu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, then raised a hand to point at a piece of paper on the table and a bag of shimmering silver fragments. He spoke faintly, "Go to Qingchuan City, find the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, and bring back everything listed on that paper".
Mu Yun picked up the paper and glanced at it—ten catties of obsidian iron, three catties of solid copper, two taels of Qu stone.
His brows furrowed slightly. He looked up at Elder Zhu: "Grandpa, I've never heard of these things... what are they for?"
Elder Zhu's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm: "Their purpose, when the time comes, you will naturally know".
"Have you clearly remembered the items on the list?"
Mu Yun nodded.
At this moment, Elder Zhu took out a black stone tablet from his robe, about the size of a button, with two vigorous characters carved on it—one side "Zhu," and the other "Mu".
Elder Zhu handed the stone tablet to Mu Yun, his tone solemn: "This is a token. After you arrive at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, find an old man named Huang Zhuo, give this to him, and he will arrange the rest".
Mu Yun took the stone tablet. The moment his fingertips touched it, he faintly felt a strange ripple flowing from within, as if some power was sealed inside the tablet. He calmly put it away, took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "Yes, Grandpa".
Elder Zhu was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke slowly: "This trip to Qingchuan City, you must be careful on the way. Do not easily trust others, and even more, do not reveal your cultivation".
Mu Yun's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. He was still a mortal, and logically speaking, had no cultivation to speak of, yet Elder Zhu told him to hide it...
This old man, he must have noticed something long ago...
Thoughts surged in his mind, but his expression remained calm. He bowed slightly: "I understand".
Elder Zhu gave him a deep look, then waved his hand: "Go".
...
From Mu Yun's residence to Qingchuan City, one had to traverse a dense mountain forest before reaching the official road. At this moment, he had already stepped onto the official road. This official road was very wide, allowing two carriages to travel side by side. Although the road surface occasionally had protruding tree roots, it did not hinder pedestrians, and the overall path was still smooth.
It was noon, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky. Its intense rays, filtered through the branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees on both sides, cast mottled shadows.
Mu Yun leaned against a thick tree root, slightly out of breath. He wore a grayish-green short shirt, old but clean. His black hair was casually tied behind his head, appearing unrestrained and carefree. Had he not possessed a handsome and delicate face, his attire would make him difficult to notice in a crowd.
He reached up to wipe the sweat from his brow, but his gaze drifted into the distance, his thoughts wandering. The events of yesterday churned in his mind like a brand. The death of the cultivator surnamed Leng, that unfamiliar sensation within his body, and the strange materials Elder Zhu had mentioned... all of it felt like a slowly unfurling scroll, and he didn't know what lay at the end of the painting.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying a hint of coolness. Mu Yun took a deep breath, then raised his hand to remove the blade of grass from his mouth. He suddenly stamped his foot, instantly kicking up dust. His figure shot forward like a leopard, his steps light and swift as lightning. In moments, he had covered several
li.
...
Long after Mu Yun left, Elder Zhu still sat silently in the room. His expression was serene, and he gently fiddled with the pouch Mu Yun had brought back, his gaze slightly condensed, lost in thought.
"According to the family's artifact forging method, with my current cultivation, if I use this Blazing Sun Sword as the foundation, supplemented by extreme cold ice, obsidian iron, solid copper, Qu stone, weak water, blue floating stone, and dazzling wood, I might be able to forge a mid-grade spiritual artifact".
He murmured softly, his tone reflecting contemplation and consideration.
"A mid-grade spiritual artifact, for anyone below the Golden Core stage, is enough for self-preservation. For now, I will prepare a life-saving means for Yun'er".
His eyes flickered, and he reached out to caress the broken Blazing Sun Sword. Though the blade was damaged, its sharpness had not faded. Faintly, it still emitted a trace of scorching fluctuation.
"The deceased cultivator's storage bag contains the latter three materials , and obsidian iron, solid copper, and Qu stone, although rare in the mortal world, should be obtainable from that young scion Huang Zhuo".
"Only the extreme cold ice is extremely rare; it can only be found in the cold, dark places deep within the Great Qingchuan Mountain Range," Elder Zhu said, his eyes unfocused as he gazed into the distance.
"It seems the cultivation world, which I haven't entered for many years, will require a visit!"