Chapter 612 - 294: Celestial List 36

The youth before him was handsome and sharp-featured, though his face was slightly dark from the blockage of Demonic Qi. He gave Situ Mu a truly stunning impression.

Not even the many True Disciples of the Great Dao Sect had ever given him such a feeling.

He had, of course, conducted a detailed investigation into Linji City and recognized Chen Cheng's identity at a glance.

He knew Chen Cheng's Martial Arts Talent was astonishingly brilliant, but because he was afflicted with the Demon Thought Cage, he had no hope of ever opening his Human Acupoints and advancing to the Innate Realm.

If an ordinary genius had suffered such a major setback, their mentality would have long since shattered, and they would have fallen into a listless depression.

But Chen Cheng remained calm and composed, as nonchalant as a light cloud in a gentle breeze. His performance could be described with a single phrase: a hidden dragon in the abyss.

'Every generation produces its own talents. This boy has the bearing of a hidden dragon; he is truly extraordinary!' Situ Mu thought to himself.

"Greetings, Lord Situ!"

As Situ Mu approached, everyone bowed respectfully.

"There is no need for such formalities."

Situ Mu smiled, nodded, and gave an easygoing wave of his hand. His gaze swept over the crowd before he clasped his fists in a salute toward Jiang Huaijin and the other two, smiling as he spoke.

"It has been nearly twenty years since we parted in Su State. I trust my three old friends are well?"

Jiang Huaijin, Qin Hongbin, and Shen Zhaoyi hastily returned the bow with respect.

In truth, back when they were serving as Daoist Sect Stewards, Situ Mu had just been an unknown nobody.

Searching their memories, the three of them could hardly recall where they had met Situ Mu or what interactions they had with him.

But now that Situ Mu had reached the Innate Realm and become a lofty, important figure, the fact that he still remembered them naturally filled the three with joy.

The eldest, Jiang Huaijin, replied with utmost respect, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Situ. We are all still in good health."

Situ Mu nodded slightly. "Mm, that is good to hear.

Back in Su State City, I was under the care of you three. For that, I am deeply grateful.

When I have the time, I will be sure to pay a formal visit."

The three men readily agreed.

Situ Mu exchanged a few more pleasantries with them before turning to Xiao Nianci. "Lord Xiao, while acting as Director, you have achieved illustrious Merit. The Sect Elders have instructed me to reward you accordingly."

Xiao Nianci said respectfully, "Thank you for your praise, Lord Situ. This is merely my duty."

"Mm." Situ Mu nodded slightly, then offered a few words of encouragement to the other officials, all of whom felt greatly inspired and readily agreed.

Only then did Situ Mu turn to Chen Cheng and say, "And this must be Lord Chen Cheng, the Vice Director of the Demon Suppression Department?"

"I am." Chen Cheng gave a slight nod and bowed.

Situ Mu nodded slightly, then studied Chen Cheng seriously, a hint of astonishment appearing in his eyes.

After a moment, he praised, "While at the Great Dao Sect, I heard that Lord Chen's Martial Arts Talent is astonishingly brilliant, a supreme genius rarely seen in a century.

Seeing you today, I find your reputation is well-deserved."

"Thank you for your praise, My Lord!" Chen Cheng bowed humbly.

"Mm, humble and polite, with a steady bearing. Truly extraordinary," Situ Mu praised again without reservation, then continued.

"Lord Chen, your Merit is outstanding. Effective immediately, you will concurrently serve as the Vice Director of the Linji Prefecture Inspection Department."

"Yes, sir." Chen Cheng bowed respectfully.

Situ Mu pondered for a moment, then walked to an open space in the middle of the area. "Lord Chen, if you would, please take a few steps forward."

"Yes, sir." Chen Cheng guessed that Situ Mu wanted to inspect the Demon Thought Cage on him, so he thought nothing of it and walked forward openly.

"Oh...?" Situ Mu let out another soft exclamation, visibly moved. "You've actually cultivated Vast Righteous Qi and condensed a Dharma Aspect!"

Chen Cheng answered truthfully, "This subordinate learned the Vast Righteous Qi Song and stumbled into condensing a Mind Power Dharma Aspect by accident."

"Oh?" Situ Mu's eyes flashed with a keen light as he spoke slowly.

"Quite an 'accident!' Do you have any idea how many people on Vast Peak can cultivate Vast Righteous Qi?"

Chen Cheng shook his head.

Literary Dao Realm Dharma Aspects vary wildly. Different people have different understandings of the Literary Dao, so the Dharma Aspects they condense are vastly different as well.

The Realm Dharma Aspect that Shen Zhiming cultivated, while also condensed from Telekinesis, was not Vast Righteous Qi.

Situ Mu said, "Over the past several hundred years, only a handful of people on Vast Peak have been able to cultivate Vast Righteous Qi.

And right now on Vast Peak, only the Peak Master and the Vast Peak True Disciple, Meng Jingtian, have cultivated it.

You are only twenty-one, yet you have already condensed so much Telekinesis. If you were to join Vast Peak, you would surely be promoted to a True Disciple of Vast Peak."

Hearing this, everyone present was shocked, and Chen Cheng too was greatly surprised.

Each peak of the Great Dao Sect usually only has one spot for a True Disciple, who receives the most resources.

However, there are exceptions. If there is more than one disciple in the same generation with exceptionally outstanding Martial Arts Talent, it's possible for multiple True Disciples to be appointed.

And among these True Disciples, one is often chosen as the Chief True Disciple, who enjoys the greatest allocation of resources.

For example, the most powerful peak in the Great Dao Sect, Five Elements Peak, has three True Disciples, with one being the Chief.

And from among all the True Disciples in the Great Dao Sect, one is chosen as the Chief True Disciple of the Sect.

As a Guardian of Vast Peak, and knowing that Chen Cheng was afflicted with the Demon Thought Cage, for Situ Mu to say such a thing meant it was certainly not a lie.

If Chen Cheng chose to join Vast Peak, his promotion to True Disciple was already a sure thing!

Even Xiao Nianci and Xia Lingfeng were extremely surprised by this.

Chen Cheng's position as Vice Director of the Linji Prefecture Inspection Department already came with treatment equal to that of a Sect Steward.

Once he became a True Disciple, his status would naturally skyrocket, carrying even more weight than a Sect Steward.

"As for the Demon Thought Cage in your body, you need not worry. As long as you cultivate diligently for a few decades, once your Telekinesis is strong enough, it's entirely possible to break it open."

As Situ Mu spoke, he raised his hand slightly, his palm and fingers slowly tracing patterns in the air before him.

In an instant, ripples spread out, tracing the ethereal image of a profound and complex talisman in the void.

These talismans carried a tyrannical pressure, causing the void to tremble as Heaven and Earth Origin Qi surged forth and merged into them.

The talismans suddenly solidified, carrying a magnificent and vast aura as they enveloped Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng knew Situ Mu meant no harm, so he stood perfectly still, allowing the talisman's aura to surround him.

The talisman's aura precisely located the Demon Thought Cage and suddenly became as sharp as a blade, as if intending to slice the cage to pieces.

Sensing the threat, the Demon Thought Cage erupted on its own, transforming into the ethereal image of a cage that trembled violently, flinging the talisman's aura away!

The aura around Situ Mu suddenly surged. Streams of incomparably tyrannical Innate True Qi gushed out and merged with the talisman's aura.

The might of the talisman's aura grew even more tyrannical as it once again surged toward the ethereal cage.

Knowing it was outmatched, the ethereal cage suddenly rushed into the acupoints all over Chen Cheng's body, sealing them tightly and almost fusing with them.

If the talisman's aura were to forcibly break the Demon Thought Cage, it would inevitably damage Chen Cheng's Human Acupoints.

"Sigh..." Situ Mu let out a soft sigh and withdrew the talisman's aura. "The Demon Thought Cage is truly domineering. Once it locks down, even I cannot resolve it by combining my Innate True Qi with the Evil-breaking Talisman Technique."

"Thank you for your help, Lord Situ," Chen Cheng said with a respectful bow.

The might of Situ Mu's talismanic aura was far more tyrannical than a Second Layer Realm, probably close to a value of three thousand.

The Innate True Qi he unleashed was even more powerful, with a value of at least five thousand.

Moreover, it could perfectly merge with the talisman's aura, boosting its power to a value of over eight thousand. It was truly terrifying!

And Chen Cheng could sense that Situ Mu was just testing the waters and hadn't used his full strength.

This just showed how tyrannical the combat power of an Innate Realm Expert was!

Compared to them, a Perfect Martial Artist of the Organ Refining Realm was truly on a different level, like the difference between heaven and earth!

It was no exaggeration to say that one Innate Realm Expert could easily crush three to five Perfect Martial Artists of the Organ Refining Realm.

An Innate Realm Expert like Situ Mu, who was on the Celestial List, could probably eliminate eight or ten Perfect Martial Artists of the Organ Refining Realm with ease.

"Lord Chen, there is no need to be so formal."

Situ Mu waved his hand. "Although the Demon Thought Cage is domineering, it doesn't affect Body Refining Realm Cultivation.

You have only just entered the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. You still have a long way to go before reaching Organ Refining Realm Perfection. You don't need to worry too much about it."

"Understood." Chen Cheng nodded slightly, his expression calm.

"Mm, neither arrogant nor rash, calm in the face of change. You are teachable." Situ Mu nodded slightly, his appreciation for the young man growing even more.

He himself had studied arduously for decades before achieving fame overnight, relying on the great perseverance that comes from the principle of "where there's a will, there's a way."

While the astonishing Martial Arts Talent of the young man before him was certainly gratifying, it was this calm and composed temperament that was truly precious. It was quite reminiscent of his own style back in the day!

As long as he keeps his Dao Heart stable, his future will be limitless!