Chapter 469 - 430: Chixia Named Chu, True Understanding Expands

Chapter 469: Chapter 430: Chixia Named Chu, True Understanding Expands

"The Chen Family has issued a decree. Those who achieve outstanding merit in this war may be granted land to establish a foundation..."

Xu Yuan said slowly, his expression clearly apprehensive.

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow. "You want to establish... a clan?"

Xu Yuan glanced at Xu Jinhua, who stood to the side, and chuckled. "This kid of mine is rather unaccomplished. Following me out into the world will be a good chance to temper him."

Chu Mu briefly glanced at the brocade-robed Xu Jinhua, his gaze flickering. He seemed to understand Xu Yuan’s intentions.

’Unaccomplished... that description certainly fits.’

Perhaps because of the protection and reliance afforded by his own existence, the caution and reverence Chu Mu had hoped to see were largely absent in this nephew of his.

While not malicious, the boy was indeed in dire need of tempering.

After all, his brother had suffered a cruel fate. He was meant to be blessed with many children, but under the chaos of Great Chu, they had fallen one after another, leaving only this single son.

Now that Xu Yuan had advanced to Bloodline Foundation Establishment, if Xia Yu did not do the same, the difference in their life levels and fundamental vitality meant their chances of having more children were practically zero.

"Alright. If you run into any trouble you can’t handle, let me know immediately."

Chu Mu nodded and said no more. After a few more pleasantries, Xu Yuan led Xia Yu and their son away.

The hall was empty, the clamor had dissipated, and silence had returned.

Chu Mu slowly rose and walked to the window, gazing out at the city scene. His eyes were distant, his thoughts unknown.

A moment later, the faint sound of crisp footsteps echoed. Chu Mu turned to see a figure in red appear—a graceful young woman approaching with elegant steps.

"Hongyi congratulates Brother Chu on coalescing an Immortal Golden Core and becoming a True Master."

The young woman’s eyes were like limpid pools. She curtsied slightly, her graceful figure on full display.

"Miss Hongyi, your congratulations are a little late."

Chu Mu chuckled, teasing her.

"I came today for two reasons, Brother Chu. First, to congratulate you on your successful Core Formation. Second, to bid you farewell."

The young woman’s voice was even. She picked up a wine pot, poured two cups of Spirit Wine, and then walked gracefully to Chu Mu’s side, offering him a cup.

"Farewell?"

Chu Mu took the cup, unable to hide his surprise.

"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion has met with disaster."

Her expression was sorrowful, making her look all the more pitiable.

Chu Mu asked, "What disaster has befallen the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?"

"The Hundred Treasures True Master was killed on the Nanshan battlefield by a Golden Core from the Righteous Alliance."

Chu Mu’s voice was flat, the surprise in his eyes gone. "So, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion has been annexed?"

The young woman nodded silently, the sorrow on her face only growing deeper.

Chu Mu took a sip of the Spirit Wine, his expression showing no fluctuation whatsoever.

’In a world where the strong are revered, the order is, paradoxically, the most rigid.’

’The amount of benefit you can swallow is directly proportional to your strength.’

’When your strength is insufficient, you must obediently spit out what you’ve taken.’

’There is no room for even the slightest transgression.’

’With the Hundred Treasures True Master’s fall, the decline of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was a foregone conclusion.’

’But... what did this have to do with Chang Hongyi, a mere branch shopkeeper?’

At this, Chu Mu suddenly recalled that enchanting woman he had seen in Dubhe City years ago. Chang Hongyi’s aunt?

Chu Mu drained his cup. The young woman stepped forward slightly, took the pot, and refilled his cup with Spirit Wine.

"Your aunt is the one who truly holds power in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, isn’t she?"

Chu Mu’s voice was unhurried, his expression neither sad nor happy.

"So, she’s not willing to accept this? She wants to latch onto a new, powerful backer and needs you to be part of some transaction?"

The young woman’s delicate frame trembled, and a glimmer of tears flickered in her eyes.

Chu Mu acted as if he hadn’t seen it, his gaze shifting back out the window to the bizarre and dazzling Chixia City.

He vaguely recalled the shock of his first arrival in this city and the many schemes he had devised to gain a foothold in Chixia.

Many of his ideas had never been implemented. Now, having reached the Golden Core realm, he looked back and realized that all his former problems were clearly problems no longer.

He no longer needed any schemes to establish himself in Chixia.

He was no longer the one who needed to scheme; it was the various powers in the city, large and small.

Once today’s banquet concluded, this Chixia City would henceforth be inscribed with the name... "Chu."

"The True Understanding Pavilion needs to expand, and I dislike dealing with trivial matters."

Having said this, Chu Mu paused briefly before continuing, "Miss Hongyi, since you are now a free woman, I will have to trouble you to manage the affairs of the True Understanding Pavilion."

Without waiting for the young woman’s response, Chu Mu sent out a voice transmission. Chang Er hurried in.

"Elder, Fairy."

Chang Er bowed deeply.

"From now on, all matters of the True Understanding Pavilion are to be handled by Miss Hongyi."

"This one understands."

Chang Er was stunned for a moment, but seeing Chu Mu’s indisputable gaze, his heart trembled and he quickly assented.

"Take this fire seed and nurture it within you."

"In one year’s time, it will be able to suppress the impurities in your meridians."

"At that point, refine this Earth Tier Lower Grade Bloodline. It will guarantee your advancement to Bloodline Foundation Establishment."

Chu Mu flicked his wrist, and two Jade Boxes shot out, hovering in front of Chang Er.

"This lowly one kowtows in thanks, Elder!"

Overjoyed, Chang Er dropped to his knees and kowtowed.

"You may leave."

Chu Mu waved his hand, and an invisible force swept Chang Er up and tossed him downstairs.

"The True Understanding Pavilion will surely have many trivial matters to attend to soon. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to put some thought into it, Miss Hongyi."

The young woman was rather quiet. She nodded silently, though the sorrow in her eyes had clearly dissipated a great deal.

In the silence, the young woman refilled Chu Mu’s cup again and asked in a low voice, "Brother Chu, how do you wish for the True Understanding Pavilion to expand?"

"However it would normally, that’s fine."

Chu Mu waved his hand, not particularly concerned.

’In this world where immense power is concentrated in individuals, the core of any faction is not the organization itself, but the powerhouse at its apex.’

’Take the Longevity Sect for example. No matter how vast its power, without the support of the Nascent Soul True Masters at the very top, it would instantly crumble into dust.’

’Even if the Longevity Sect were to be destroyed, as long as those Nascent Soul True Masters at the top still existed, the Longevity Sect could be re-established at any time and its legacy would continue.’

’The True Understanding Pavilion is, naturally, the same.’

’The True Understanding Pavilion exists because it relies on him, not the other way around.’

’No matter how the True Understanding Pavilion developed, what its structure became, or how convoluted its membership, as long as the fact that it existed by relying on him remained unchanged, it could never escape his control.’

’The art of balance, the methods of managing people—all those secular tricks were utterly meaningless in the Cultivation Immortal Realm.’

"What is the current situation in Great Chu?"

Chu Mu took a sip of Spirit Wine, seamlessly changing the subject.

The young woman frowned and began to explain slowly.

"Originally, both the Righteous Alliance and the Longevity Sect were exercising restraint. But with the recent turmoil in the Vast Sea, Great Chu has also descended into chaos."

"Over the past few years, the two sides have been fighting fiercely. In the previous battle at Nanshan, the Righteous Alliance suffered a major defeat. It’s said that even a Nascent Soul fell, and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s Hundred Treasures True Master died in that very battle."

"The situation in Great Chu should be somewhat clearer now."

"The Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World is too preoccupied to interfere, so the Longevity Sect has the upper hand. The Righteous Alliance has been divided by the Longevity Sect, making it difficult for them to join forces. From Nanshan to the Northwest Gobi, in just a few short years, the Righteous Alliance has already suffered two consecutive major defeats, each no less severe than the one at Jingmen years ago. Their situation is likely not optimistic."

"If this continues, the Righteous Alliance will likely cease to exist within a few decades at most."

Chu Mu remained silent, listening to the young woman’s account, clearly lost in thought.

In the past, the direction of the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World’s situation would have had nothing to do with him.

But with the bestowment of the Ninth True Inheritance Order from that Sword Dao Nascent Soul, although he still roamed outside the Longevity Sect, he was now clearly and undoubtedly connected to it.

This connection, though it had little effect on him, was undeniably firmly established.

Thus, the situation in the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World was now naturally related to him as well.

He’d been saddled with the title of Longevity True Inheritor for no good reason, and he had yet to enjoy any of the associated benefits.

He had been coveting the Longevity Sect’s Scripture Pavilion for a long time.

Chu Mu asked again, curious, "Have you ever heard news of the Longevity Sect appointing a new True Inheritor?"

"Brother Chu, are you talking about the Longevity Sect’s mysterious... Ninth True Inheritor?"

"That Ninth True Inheritor is a complete mystery. Although the Longevity Sect held a formal investiture ceremony for the True Inheritor, that person didn’t attend. The Longevity Sect didn’t even reveal their name..."

"After all these years, there has been no news of the Ninth True Inheritor of Longevity. It’s as if that person doesn’t even exist."

"Even within the Longevity Sect itself, no one has ever heard of anyone seeing this Ninth True Inheritor..."

The corner of Chu Mu’s mouth twitched. He was rendered utterly speechless.

He had originally thought this so-called Ninth True Inheritor was just a whim of that Sword Dao Nascent Soul.

He never would have imagined that there had actually been a formal investiture ceremony, and that the news had been spread far and wide...