Chapter 393 - 365: The Manor Master’s Plot

Chapter 393: Chapter 365: The Manor Master’s Plot

’Sacrificing the outer disciples and the weaker ones? To elevate the prized disciples? It seems there’s something very strange about this death trial!’

From the shadows, Nie Yun "listened" for a while. Although he hadn’t fully grasped how they planned to transfer potential or sacrifice the outer disciples, he knew for sure that this death trial was extremely odd.

’It looks like the Dieyi Manor Master conspired with the City Lord long ago to come up with this trial. Since that’s the case, heh heh, don’t blame me for what I’m about to do...’

An idea sparked in Nie Yun’s mind, and a brilliant plan secretly took shape.

’If I hadn’t overheard this, I would have been tricked without even knowing it. Since they’re so despicable, there’s no need for me to play the good guy.’

After listening a bit longer and hearing nothing new, Nie Yun stood up, quietly left the courtyard, and flitted back toward his own residence in Dieyi Manor.

His Celestial Eye Talent allowed him to foresee danger, so the journey back to the manor was uneventful.

’The most promising disciple... The most promising disciple of Dieyi Manor is probably that Mu Jie I saw during the day. Let’s see where he is first...’

Activating his Celestial Eye Talent, Nie Yun scanned the entire Dieyi Manor. He quickly located Mu Jie’s residence and, hidden in the darkness, swiftly made his way over.

........................

"Mu Jie, if that Mu Yun participates in the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition, I’m afraid it will be difficult for you to win!"

In a small courtyard in Dieyi Manor, Mu Yan looked at the young man before him and shook his head.

"He’s just an outer disciple. Who does he think he is, daring to compete with me? Don’t worry, Uncle Mu Yan, I’ll make sure he can’t even participate in the competition!"

Mu Jie clenched his fists, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

A genius since childhood whose strength had soared, he had developed an arrogant and domineering personality. Whenever a peer proved stronger than him, he would find a way to kill or expel them!

If not for this, he wouldn’t have tried to make Nie Yun his underling the moment he arrived.

"Make it so he can’t participate? You mean kill him? That is a good solution, but I can’t even see through his strength, let alone you!" Recalling how terrifying the young man was, Mu Yan couldn’t help but shake his head.

He forced Mu Qiaoxian, ranked fifth in Muaixia Manor, to his knees with a single move. His strength was beyond imagination. If he were that easy to kill, I wouldn’t have to worry.

"Don’t worry, Uncle Mu Yan!" Seemingly sensing Mu Yan’s concern, Mu Jie let out a sinister chuckle. "I have a bottle of the Demon Race’s most potent poison gas. It’s formless and colorless. In a little while, I’ll pretend to pay that outer disciple a visit and release this poison to kill him. No matter how strong he is, he’ll die instantly in this gas. There’s no room for negotiation!"

"Poison gas?" Mu Yan was startled.

Mu Jie’s face was savage, his teeth clenched. "That’s right. No mercy for my enemies. As long as I kill him, I’ll definitely take first place. Once I’m baptized by the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring, I might even break through to the Secret Realm Second Layer in one go! Whoever dares to block my path will die! I don’t care how strong they are!"

He didn’t have much experience in the world, but his methods were extremely ruthless.

It was no wonder. The Ancient City was filled with geniuses. To stand out among so many of them, it was impossible without some tricks up one’s sleeve!

"Actually, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. The Manor Master knew you would make a move and has already prepared for you. This competition is a death trial. When the time comes, the Manor Master will leave an aura imprint on that kid to suppress his power. Once he enters the Lingxi Celestial Palace, the imprint will erupt. He’ll be treated as an outsider by the Celestial Palace, and all sorts of Sealing Arrays will attack him. He’s sure to die!"

Mu Yan snorted coldly.

"The Manor Master prepared for me?" Mu Jie was a little incredulous.

"There’s no need to be. No matter how powerful this Mu Yun is, he’s just an outer disciple. He’s not one of us, from Dieyi Manor, in his bones. He has no sense of belonging. It’s better to kill him now than to deal with trouble later! This must be done in secret. Don’t let a word of it get out, or it will damage Dieyi Manor’s reputation!"

Mu Yan gravely explained the stakes.

"Don’t worry, Uncle Mu Yan, I won’t say a word!" Mu Jie started to laugh.

With the Manor Master’s support, he could almost see the scene of that arrogant youth kneeling before him, begging for mercy. The thought filled him with a surge of satisfaction, and an indescribable pleasure bloomed deep in his heart.

"What a fine plan. Is this how your Dieyi Manor treats its outer disciples? It’s been truly eye-opening!"

Just as Mu Yan was about to speak, a laugh suddenly echoed in the courtyard. The voice wasn’t loud, but in their ears, it sounded like a clap of thunder.

"Who’s there?" The two of them jumped, their faces changing.

Although this courtyard wasn’t a confidential area of the manor, they had set up a seal while they talked. When did this person arrive? How had neither of them noticed?

If this person had attacked them directly instead of speaking, they were certain they would have died without even knowing how!

At this thought, both Mu Jie and Mu Yan broke out in a cold sweat.

"Who’s there? Why, the very person you were plotting to harm!" Nie Yun said with a smile as he descended from the air.

Seeing the young man’s face, both of them clenched their fists.

They had just been discussing how to plot against this person, and now he had appeared right in front of them, having apparently overheard their conversation. Anyone in their position would be flustered.

"Mu Yun, what do you want? This is Dieyi Manor, not your outer Butterfly Manor! If I shout, the manor’s experts will come and kill you on the spot!"

The panic in his eyes vanished in a flash as Mu Yan composed himself. Since they had already dropped all pretense, there was no need to act pitiful.

"The manor’s experts? Heh, go on and shout then." Ignoring his threat, Nie Yun gave a faint smile.

Before arriving, he had used his powerful Soul Power to seal the entire courtyard to avoid detection. Even if an explosion or a fight broke out here, no one outside would notice.

The might of a Mid-Stage Spirit Level soul was on full display.

"In that case... you can die!"

Mu Yan knew the young man’s strength. He suddenly let out a long cry, stomped his feet, and launched himself at Nie Yun like a pouncing cheetah.

He didn’t just move; he intended to cut the young man down with a single strike.

’Fast, but not faster than Soul Power...’

As if he had known all along that Mu Yan would attack directly, Nie Yun didn’t dodge. With a faint smile, he thrust his hand forward in a grasping motion.

Though his hand wasn’t fast, in Mu Yan’s eyes, it was completely unavoidable. A sharp pain shot through his throat as his neck was seized. He was lifted into the air like a captured frog, or a salted fish.

"Keep shouting. Keep attacking. I don’t mind," Nie Yun said with a faint smile, looking at Mu Yan as if he were a toad being stepped on.

After more than a month of Cultivation, his soul and strength had integrated perfectly. His combat prowess was more than ten times greater than it had been in Guangming City. Although Mu Yan was not weak, he couldn’t even withstand half a move.

"You..." Hearing the youth’s slightly mocking tone, Mu Yan’s face flushed crimson. But he quickly calmed down and snorted coldly. "Let me go! I’m a Secret Realm Powerhouse! If I die, it will cause a huge uproar in the manor. The Manor Master and the others will definitely avenge me! When that happens, no matter how strong you are, you’ll die without a burial place!"

"A huge uproar in the manor?" Nie Yun laughed.

"That’s right! Uncle Mu Yan is a Steward of our manor. Many matters require his personal attention. If you dare to harm him, it’s the same as making an enemy of Dieyi Manor and offending the Ancient City! Not only will the Manor Master kill you, but your so-called sister and your entire Mu Lian branch will be implicated. Every single one of them will die!"

Seeing Mu Yan captured in a single move, Mu Jie’s face alternated between red and white. After a moment, realizing what was at stake, he took a step forward and roared.

’I can’t back down now. If I do, I’ll definitely die. If I act tough, there might be a chance to live.’

"I’ve always been the one who enjoys threatening others, not being threatened. Since you’re so useful... my apologies. You can die first!"

With a faint smile, Nie Yun looked at Mu Yan and squeezed his hand.

CRACK!

Mu Yan’s breathing stopped, and he was tossed to the ground as a corpse.

"You dared to do it? You..."

Mu Jie never imagined that the other party would act without even considering his words. Terrified, he stumbled back two steps, his eyes filled with horror.

He was a genius of Dieyi Manor, but he was no different from a flower raised in a greenhouse. He had rarely experienced a true life-or-death battle. Seeing Mu Yan die right before his eyes, his face turned pale, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to kill you! I need you to do something for me..."

With a laugh, Nie Yun’s pupils suddenly turned red. A blood-like light instantly enveloped Mu Jie.

Blood Pupil Master, Blood Pupil Talent!

The Blood Pupil Light released by a Blood Pupil Master could not only injure a person’s Spirit, but it could also alter their spiritual structure, hypnotizing them and making them completely obedient. Back then, the soul of the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse had used this very thing in an attempt to completely control Nie Yun and seize his body for rebirth.

Bathed in the blood-red light, a dazed look appeared in Mu Jie’s eyes. In moments, he had completely lost his sense of self, becoming a Puppet that only obeyed Nie Yun’s commands.

"You are now the outer disciple, Mu Yun. You are going to participate in the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition!"

Using the hypnotic effect of the Blood Pupil Master for the first time and seeing it work, Nie Yun rubbed his brow, let out a breath, and gave the order to the Mu Jie before him.

"Yes, I am Mu Yun, an outer disciple. I am going to participate in the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition!" Mu Jie replied in a trance.

"Since you are Mu Yun, let’s change your appearance!"

He extended a finger, and Disguise Qi from his body flowed into Mu Jie. With a series of soft, grating sounds, the latter’s appearance changed until he looked identical to the current Nie Yun, right down to the exact same soul aura.

The appearance was altered by Nie Yun’s Disguise Talent, empowered by his Mid-Stage Spirit Level soul. No one whose soul was weaker than his could possibly see through the disguise.