Chapter 15: Dismembered

As the Grand Elder of the Mu Family, Mu Deyu had almost watched Mu Xian grow up and knew his physical condition all too well. Ever since the day Mu Xian was diagnosed with Inherently Blocked Veins, he had been given a death sentence. Even though Mu Yuanshan later stole the Dragon Whisker Icefire Fruit from the Xuanmen Palace, it still failed to solve Mu Xian’s meridian problem. This made Mu Deyu completely unable to believe the power Mu Xian had just displayed.

“It’s just that you’re trash yourself. A so-called Condensed Essence Realm Great Perfection cultivator can’t even defeat a Flesh Body Realm cultivator like me. Yet you’re still shouting and making a scene there. Do you even want that old face of yours anymore?” Mu Xian lightly took a step forward. His whole body shot out like a swimming fish. The broken sword in his hand drew a beautiful arc in mid-air, instantly blooming into countless sword flowers that covered all the vital points on Mu Deyu’s body.

Mu Deyu was still struggling to eliminate the strange force inside his body. Seeing Mu Xian not giving him any chance to catch his breath and counterattacking directly, his face changed drastically.

Having experienced the strangeness of the force on Mu Xian’s sword, Mu Deyu did not dare to clash with Mu Xian’s sword again. Instead, he panicked and retreated repeatedly.

Seeing Mu Deyu charging fiercely at Mu Xian, only to be forced into constant retreat after one move, everyone in the courtyard was stunned. Hearing the conversation between Mu Deyu and Mu Xian, they even doubted their own ears. Mu Xian could actually overpower the Grand Elder? How was this possible?

“Old dog, if I were you, I’d just find a hole to crawl into and hide, rather than clinging to life in this world.” Seeing Mu Deyu relying on his profound cultivation to easily dodge his attacks, Mu Xian frowned slightly, then chuckled lightly.

Mu Deyu had already noticed the strange looks from everyone in the courtyard. After hearing Mu Xian’s words, his old face burned with shame.

“You little thief, I originally didn’t want to take you seriously out of respect for your mother. Since you insist on seeking death, I’ll grant your wish.” Mu Deyu roared in shame and anger. The long sword in his hand issued an ear-piercing, deafening sound of tearing wind. It transformed into countless sword shadows, finally condensing into a crimson serpent that twisted and coiled towards Mu Xian.

“Dragon Snake Transformation! It’s the third-grade Supreme-Grade Technique, Dragon Snake Transformation! A technique only cultivators of the True Essence Realm can cultivate. I never thought the Grand Elder could actually perform it. Mu Xian is definitely dead now.”

“That waste Mu Xian must have taken some Spiritual Medicine, overdrafting his life potential, which caught the Grand Elder off guard and made him suffer a loss. Now that the Grand Elder is getting serious, Mu Xian is definitely no match for him.”

“A waste is a waste, and his intelligence is also a problem. No matter how powerful a Flesh Body Realm cultivator is, he cannot contend against the Condensed Essence Realm Great Perfection. Mu Xian is seeking his own death!”

“…”

Earlier, when they saw Mu Deyu being beaten back step by step by Mu Xian, the people around Mu Deyu were terrified, fearing that Mu Deyu would be killed by Mu Xian like Mu Deguang and Mu Siping. They were extremely anxious. Now, seeing Mu Deyu’s aura suddenly surge and even perform the Mu family’s inherited secret skill, Dragon Snake Transformation, a weight lifted from their hearts, and relaxed smiles appeared on their faces.

Hearing Mu Deyu and the surrounding discussions clearly, Mu Xian sneered inwardly. He had no interest in continuing to trade words with Mu Deyu. Instead, his body suddenly accelerated. His feet reversed the Sword Step, and his whole figure became agile like a swimming dragon as he thrust a sword towards Mu Deyu.

A sharp killing intent roared out from the broken sword in Mu Xian’s hand like a waterfall. In an instant, it tore through the crimson serpent. The gleaming sword light was instantly reflected in Mu Deyu’s gaze.

Mu Xian’s sudden thrust caused the smile on Mu Deyu’s face to freeze instantly, and also caused the surrounding discussions and jeers to come to an abrupt halt.

It was also at this moment that Mu Deyu realized that although Mu Xian’s cultivation was ordinary, his swordsmanship was extremely sharp, as if it could tear through the very heavens and earth before him.

In that instant, Mu Deyu caught a whiff of an extremely thick smell of blood. Looking at Mu Xian’s cold gaze, Mu Deyu felt an inexplicable chill in his heart.

“Kid, do you know what the biggest advantage of a Condensed Essence Realm cultivator is compared to a Flesh Body Realm cultivator?” Mu Deyu suddenly grinned ferociously. The long sword in his hand abruptly dropped to the ground. Then, his hands formed claws as he fiercely grabbed towards the broken sword in Mu Xian’s hand. At the same time, an invisible force rapidly condensed at Mu Deyu’s fingertips, emitting a terrifying aura.

Flesh Body Realm cultivators could only fight relying on their formidable physical strength. But Condensed Essence Realm cultivators could communicate with the innate natural forces, releasing immense power using their bodies as a medium. Seeing that his swordsmanship was no match for Mu Xian, Mu Deyu had no choice but to use the sole advantage of a Condensed Essence Realm cultivator to turn the tide.

A sharp killing intent suddenly appeared on Mu Deyu’s face. His hands instantly closed together, clamping onto the broken sword in Mu Xian’s hand.

The next moment, intense pain shot from the palms of Mu Deyu’s hands. Mu Deyu felt as if countless sharp needles had pierced his palms, tearing at his heart and lungs. At the same time, a long-lost feeling of death spread through Mu Deyu’s heart.

Mu Deyu shuddered violently and retreated like lightning.

Mu Xian gave a cold snort. Sticking to him like a clinging bone disease, he followed closely behind Mu Deyu. The broken sword in his hand shot out a sky full of sword shadows, completely enveloping Mu Deyu’s body.

“No!”

A cry of utter despair tore through the sky, quickly spreading from the Mu Family courtyard.

Simultaneously, streams of blood shot out from Mu Deyu’s body.

With that scream, the hearts of everyone in the courtyard also suddenly clenched.

When the sky full of sword shadows disappeared without a trace, Mu Deyu’s limbs had already been severed. A deep, bottomless black hole also appeared at his throat, from which blood gushed out. Mu Deyu’s eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness.

Not giving Mu Deyu any chance for regret or begging for mercy, Mu Xian cleanly and decisively ended Mu Deyu’s life.

A thick smell of blood spread through the courtyard. Everyone in the courtyard suddenly felt a chill run through their entire bodies. They involuntarily shivered.

Looking at the gruesome sight of Mu Deyu’s dead, unblinking eyes, and at Mu Xian’s calm face, the emotions of everyone in the courtyard felt like they were stirred by monstrous waves, unable to calm down for a long time.

Everything that happened today completely overturned everyone’s understanding of Mu Xian.

For over a decade, the image of Mu Xian as a waste had been deeply ingrained in everyone’s hearts. So much so that within the entire family, except for Mu Yuanshan and Tang Qiluo who still held a sliver of hope for Mu Xian, everyone else, including Ling Tian, felt pity and sympathy for Mu Xian. Some even developed a sense of disgust towards Mu Xian, feeling that Mu Xian’s existence not only caused him suffering but also dragged his parents and the family down with him.

It wasn’t until Mu Xian used absolute power and decisive actions to successively kill the three leading troublemaking family Elders—Mu Deguang, Mu Siping, and Mu Deyu—and turned the tide to resolve the family crisis, that everyone realized Mu Xian was not a waste, but a stunningly talented cultivation genius.

After killing Mu Deguang, Mu Siping, and Mu Deyu, Mu Xian only felt a sour ache wash over his entire body like a tide. At the same time, an intense feeling of weariness surged into his mind again.

Mu Xian’s killing of the three Elders just now seemed effortless and extremely easy. In fact, apart from the means of Spiritual Medicine, Mu Xian had pushed his physical strength and Spiritual Power to their limits.

The reason Mu Xian could challenge beyond his level with his Flesh Body Realm Great Perfection cultivation was not unrelated to his powerful Spiritual Sense. He constantly used his Spiritual Sense to lock onto his opponents’ attacks, capturing every subtle change in their expressions, even every tiny movement of their muscles, to judge their attack intentions and prepare in advance to dodge or meet them head-on.

Killing Mu Deguang was somewhat easier. Mu Deguang’s cultivation was ordinary, and his combat ability was extremely poor.

Mu Siping, however, cost Mu Xian a lot of energy. On one hand, it was because the Azure Dragon Sword was too sharp. On the other hand, Mu Siping had immersed himself in the art of assassination for many years. His swordsmanship was imbued with a sinister and ruthless strength everywhere, making it extremely taxing for Mu Xian to deal with.

As for Mu Deyu, he was even more troublesome. Because of the suppression from his higher cultivation level, Mu Xian felt like a small boat in stormy seas, at any moment in danger of being swallowed by Mu Deyu’s offensive, putting his life at risk.

The courtyard was still deathly silent. While everyone was immersed in the immense shock brought by Mu Xian, Mu Xian forcibly stabilized his body and said coldly, “A Chou, kill everyone in the courtyard who conspired with Mu Deyu and the other two.”

Ling Zhan, who had been watching Mu Xian’s swift and decisive killing from the side, was already burning with excitement. Hearing Mu Xian’s words, he let out an excited roar and brandished his heavy Long Halberd as he walked towards the powerless group of traitors.

“Young master, spare us! We were forced! It was the Grand Elder and the Sixth Elder who threatened the lives of our families, so we had no choice but to follow them! We didn’t want to fight for the Family Head position!”

“We’re wronged! We’re all innocent! We were completely forced by the Grand Elder and the Sixth Elder to rebel! We have no intention of fighting for the Family Head position! Please, Young Master Xian, see clearly!”

“…”

Seeing Mu Xian’s murderous aura and Ling Zhan’s even more excited face, the group of people who followed Mu Deyu in rebellion could no longer care about face. They scrambled on their hands and knees towards Mu Xian, begging for mercy. For a time, the Mu Family courtyard was filled with alternating cries, wails, and pleas for mercy.

Some people were already scared out of their wits by Mu Xian’s decisive slaughter. Not daring to beg Mu Xian directly, they sought help indirectly, kowtowing and begging for mercy from the well-liked Tang Qiluo.

Seeing that the leading rebel Elders had already been executed, and the remaining few dozen people indeed didn’t seem like the type to dare rebel, and that killing these people would also sharply reduce the family’s strength, Tang Qiluo opened her cherry lips, about to let these people go.

But before Tang Qiluo could even speak, her gaze unintentionally swept over Mu Xian’s hands behind his back, which were trembling violently. Even the webbing between his thumb and index finger was oozing traces of blood.

Seeing her son forcing himself to maintain a cold appearance, and remembering the various insults and scornful looks these people now kneeling and begging had previously directed at her son, Tang Qiluo’s heart ached. A flash of ruthlessness also passed through her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she said, “A Chou, do as your brother says. Don’t let a single traitor go!”