Chapter 162: True Lord
Chapter 162: True Lord
As soon as Mu Yuan’s divine sense entered, the first layer of restrictions within the Liujia Golden Light Wheel suddenly turned into overwhelming streams of golden light, descending all at once to envelop him.
Caught off guard, the divine sense Mu Yuan had sent in was struck head-on, and a large portion of it was destroyed on the spot. Frightened, Mu Yuan’s divine sense retreated like a receding tide, and his face turned pale.
When he looked up, Mu Yuan saw the young scholar behind Emperor Jianming in the distance staring at him, a faint smile in his brows, watching him with amusement.
“Hmph!”
Mu Yuan snorted coldly and suddenly understood something. He couldn’t help but feel a trace of contempt for the Tianyu royal family.
“If they were unwilling to part with it, they shouldn’t have held a competition. Besides, did they really think I couldn’t handle this wheel?”
Operating the Mysterious Heaven Dragon Ascension method with his divine sense, strands of razor-sharp divine sense penetrated the Liujia Golden Light Wheel and launched a fierce attack on the first layer of restrictions.
The rogue cultivator who had originally crafted the Liujia Golden Light Wheel was also at the Primordial Spirit cultivation level. Although the restrictions in this magical artifact could sever one’s divine sense, if one’s cultivation was strong enough, they could still break through.
However, refining a magical artifact required a cultivator’s day and night effort. The restrictions contained within far exceeded the creator’s own power. To break them by brute force, one’s cultivation had to be higher than the artifact’s creator.
Alternatively, Kunlun’s Five Directions Five Elements Breaking Restriction Technique could be used, but if this method was employed, the Liujia Golden Light Wheel would only be left as an empty shell, losing its wonderful ability to sever spirits and break souls.
The Dragon Clan’s Mysterious Heaven Dragon Ascension was a technique specifically designed to break cultivators’ Primordial Spirits, sharing a similar purpose with the Liujia Golden Light Wheel. Using it to break the restrictions was the right method, saving Mu Yuan a lot of effort.
In an instant, Mu Yuan melted three layers of restrictions in a row. He only met resistance at the fourth layer, where his momentum weakened.
But he knew that to fully utilize this magical artifact, he still needed to put in day and night effort himself; it wasn’t something that could be accomplished in one go.
Even so, after breaking three layers of restrictions, a circle of dazzling golden light immediately appeared on the Liujia Golden Light Wheel. The six sharp, thorny edges emitted blade-like energy beams, and an aura that shook the heart and stunned the spirit spread from the wheel.
Everyone around Mu Yuan was greatly surprised and couldn’t help but look at the golden wheel in his hand. Seeing this phenomenon, they were full of admiration.
The middle-aged scholar’s eyes also showed a trace of astonishment.
He had tried this Liujia Golden Light Wheel himself. With his diligently cultivated Zhenqi, he had only managed to break nine layers of restrictions. To go further, he would either need a sudden increase in his magical power or spend decades, even centuries, slowly breaking the remaining restrictions. But since it wasn’t worth the effort, he had given up.
Continuing like this would be less convenient than using it for cultivation or refining another magical artifact.
Originally, when he saw Mu Yuan obtain this golden wheel, he felt some schadenfreude. He was at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, having passed the thunder and fire calamities, with only the wind calamity left. Yet he had only broken nine layers. Mu Yuan was merely at the Refining Gang Realm, not yet having formed his elixir. He had wanted to see Mu Yuan make a fool of himself, but he didn’t expect Mu Yuan to break the restrictions so easily!
Looking at the dazzling golden light floating around the golden wheel, he could tell it was a magical artifact with three layers of restrictions broken. Though somewhat envious, he only sighed softly.
Even the monk showed a surprised expression towards Mu Yuan.
The reason was simple. When he put away the bone pellet relic, he discovered a golden talisman inside the relic that forcibly sealed it. The essence of the relic and the marrow of Buddhist teachings couldn’t be accessed at all before breaking the seal.
Aside from Mo Huan’s Shadowless Sword which was fine, the Starlight Bracelet Su Yun obtained was also entangled with a strand of demonic energy that polluted the bracelet itself. To truly refine the Starlight Bracelet would require a lot of effort.
“Amitabha Buddha!”
The monk sighed, put the relic into his Buddha Light, and showed a troubled expression on his face.
Mu Yuan also saw the expressions of the three and felt quite disdainful of the Tianyu royal family’s actions.
While lost in thought, Mo Yue walked over from the side. Her steps were light, her posture graceful, and she looked at Mu Yuan with a half-smile, not saying a word.
“Don’t even think about it. I won’t give you this Liujia Golden Light Wheel!”
Mu Yuan immediately understood Mo Yue’s intention and refused decisively.
Mo Yue suddenly showed a mocking smile. “Men are indeed harsh and ungrateful. I disregarded honor and shame, avoided no danger for you, yet you won’t even part with one magical artifact!”
“What are you talking about!”
Hearing Mo Yue’s serious tone, Mu Yuan narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
“Want to know? Give me the golden wheel!”
Mo Yue seemed confident of victory, a hint of triumph in her brows.
“Hmph!”
Mu Yuan snorted coldly, pulled Yun Xi over, and said with a laugh, “Yun Xi, I see your flying needles were destroyed. Since I don’t need this magical artifact, I’ll give it to you!”
Yun Xi smiled bitterly. Mu Yuan stared at him intensely, while Mo Yue’s gaze seemed like it could eat him alive.
“Brother Mu, this…”
“Take it!”
Yun Xi had been truly shocked by the power of the Liujia Golden Light Curse he saw last night and really liked this magical artifact. So he didn’t refuse.
“If that’s the case, I’ll accept it!”
He happily took the Liujia Golden Light Wheel, stroking it with his fingers, seemingly unable to put it down.
“Hmph,” this time it was Mo Yue who snorted. “You don’t know what’s good for you. Even if you got the magical artifact, without the refining method, let’s see what you can do!”
Mu Yuan sneered and immediately taught Yun Xi the tricks, telling him not to break the fourth layer of restrictions first. If possible, wait until returning to Star Metal Mountain and ask True Lord Liuguang to break it, and use it for now.
Yun Xi was extremely clever. With a little practice, the golden light wheel, originally palm-sized, seeped into his palm like mercury. Yun Xi’s right palm became transparent, like flawless white jade.
But this scene only lasted a moment. In the blink of an eye, the flesh and blood on Yun Xi’s hand covered it again, and the Liujia Golden Light Wheel disappeared within, no longer visible to others.
Yun Xi tried moving his thoughts, and suddenly a blinding golden light erupted from his palm, revealing a delicate light wheel with six ferocious corners, slowly rotating. Waves of thread-like light spread out, looking incredibly divine.
Mo Yue stared at the Liujia Golden Light Wheel in Yun Xi’s palm, anger flickering in her eyes. She immediately turned and left in a huff.
Mu Yuan didn’t mind, but calculated in his heart, “What exactly happened to sister Mo Xue? Should I go to the Moon Palace to see?”
Then he shook his head. “Forget it. With my cultivation, what could I do even if I went?”
The crowd then dispersed. Mu Yuan, the monk, Mo Huan, and Su Yun stood out and naturally received much attention. At tomorrow’s state banquet, only these four would accompany the seat and join the alliance of various nations.
There was no lack of private earnest instructions. Emperor Jianming also issued decrees of appointment: Mu Yuan was titled Demon-Slaying True Lord, the monk as Pure Land Arhat, Mo Huan as Evil-Executing True Lord, and Su Yun as Ripple Fairy.
Robes and master seals were bestowed on the spot, along with official residences.
Mu Yuan didn’t mind, accepted the tally edict, and went directly to his newly granted mansion.
“It seems the Tianyu Kingdom really put in a lot of effort to win you guys over!”
Looking at the spacious and beautiful mansion before them, Yun Xi joked with a smile.
Mu Yuan shook his head with a smile and saw the horizontal plaque above the gate simply inscribed with three characters: “True Lord’s Mansion.” The whole thing was gilded, appearing rich and luxurious.
“What rank official is this True Lord of mine?”
There were also servants waiting at the gate. Mu Yuan showed the imperial edict and tally, and these people hurried forward to serve. Mu Yuan suddenly asked.
One clever-looking servant quickly replied, “Answering the master, it’s a second-rank official position.”
“Oh, second rank, that’s not low either.”
He thought of Chu Fei, who was so intent on becoming an official, wondering what rank he had achieved now.
Mu Yuan entered the mansion and asked around, learning that this mansion was newly built not long ago. It was originally built by several high-ranking officials in Fanming City, but they had recently been imprisoned for corruption and breaking the law. Their family wealth and properties were confiscated. A few days ago, in preparation for the alliance against demons, several of these mansions had their names changed to “True Lord’s Mansion.”
The scenery inside the mansion was quite nice, with fragrant flowers and plants, clear pond water, and buildings constructed in a distinctive style common in the Tianyu Kingdom, resembling temples and Buddhist halls but much more luxurious and beautiful.
Many servants came forward to serve. Mu Yuan, having finally found a place to settle, was in good spirits. He intentionally arranged some matters, selected a steward, and had a rather good meal in the evening.
After dinner, Yun Xi went to comprehend the wonders of the Liujia Golden Light Wheel. Mu Yuan had nothing to do, thought for a while, and then took out the Black Water Gourd, releasing both the Mountain Elf and Feng Luan from within.
The Mountain Elf had also reached great accomplishment in Refining Righteous Energy, so changing into human form wasn’t difficult. But if he wanted to advance further to Qi Refinement and Elixir Formation, mere diligent cultivation wouldn’t achieve it, so Mu Yuan didn’t bother him, letting him do as he pleased.
The Mountain Elf, having gained freedom, didn’t leave but simply found a room in the mansion and went off on his own.
Feng Luan, however, was very happy. It had practiced Spirit Refining techniques, making its whole body more magnificent, with colorful feathers. Its sharp claws could pierce through metal. Its eyes were especially bright and shining, with a brilliant divine light flowing through its body from head to tail and back again. When it looked around, it appeared arrogantly superior.
Since obtaining the Great Sun True Fire Art, Mu Yuan had also taught it to Feng Luan, but progress seemed slow. Feng Luan’s own black fire didn’t increase, and it only cultivated a small wisp of Great Sun True Fire. Instead, its divine sense became increasingly powerful, which surprised Mu Yuan.
After Feng Luan came out, it seemed very attached to Mu Yuan and didn’t go far, staying on the rockery in the mansion’s garden.
Its own aura spread out, making all the birds in the mansion tremble with fear. But Feng Luan calmly preened its feathers on the rockery, then inhaled and exhaled primordial qi, cultivating its spiritual consciousness.
After night fell, everything was quiet and silent. Mu Yuan’s divine sense rose like starlight, and he could hear the faint, rising and falling snores in the mansion, along with the soft chirping of insects. Two auras lingered in the backyard—one gentle as water, the other towering as a mountain—which were the Mountain Elf and Yun Xi.
Suddenly, his mind moved, and a man dressed entirely in white appeared above the mansion courtyard. His skin was like jade, and a ball of yellow light supported him beneath his feet as he descended there!