Chapter 655 - 355: Nine Chimes of the Azure Bell, the Era of Gongyang Jue!

Su Mu took a deep breath, coldness surging in his eyes. Months ago, he had a chance against Gongyang Jue, an old figure extremely close to Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, but it wasn’t high.

The time, place, and people in the Bai Jiao Mountain battle were hard to replicate. The cunning Gongyang Jue was unlike Tao Jidong.

But now...

Even though a First-Grade Realm still separated them, which was a gulf even the likes of Guo Zhen and Song Jingyuan, once considered the four great talents of Donglai County, found difficult to span, let alone Gongyang Jue who is not an easy opponent.

Yet, in Su Mu’s eyes, the third figure of the Cyan Fish Gang, after advancing to Fifth Grade and forging Glazed Bone, completing ten Dragon Tendon transformations, was nothing special.

"I should have been in seclusion for more than twenty days; Second Sister should be coming soon."

Su Mu opened the mechanism from within, taking advantage of the remaining time without wasting it. After exhaling lightly, he re-entered the cultivation state. The inference talent split a small shadow to focus primarily on the refining of Glazed Bone and ten Dragon Tendons, Three Profound Forging Lungs Technique, and Flood Dragon Shocking Skill.

Deep into the night, Second Sister Baili Hongtang arrived.

"Third Brother, congratulations on coming out of seclusion. You are even harder to read now; it seems your strength has significantly improved during this period!"

Upon seeing Su Mu, Baili Hongtang’s beautiful eyes shone. The third brother’s aura was restrained like that of a common mortal, an influence from the Profound Breath Technique she gifted, but that alone couldn’t achieve this effect.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, keenly observing the swirling black mist enveloping Su Mu which was more terrifying. The whole person seemed transformed, with vague contours forming in the black mist containing a powerful unknown force of three-colored and profound white hues.

The various energies made the heart palpitate, delivering an oppression rivaling that of facing her brother who had received Little Yellow Court training.

The transformation was akin to a rebirth, indicating that Su Mu’s strength had soared unexpectedly in these short twenty-odd days.

Baili Hongtang was sincerely pleased for Su Mu, and amid the shock, she sighed with relief. With Third Brother’s strength improving so markedly, the upcoming matters had a better chance.

Initially, Baili Hongtang had some apprehensions, intending to inquire about this retreat’s gains, but now it seemed unnecessary.

"How many Yin Sha from the fountain springs did Third Brother absorb during this period?"

Though it’s imprudent to ask, she couldn’t suppress her curiosity. Their growing closeness enabled such queries.

In impacting Fifth Grade, Baili Hongtang had also used fountain spring Yin Sha, which was extremely pure but hard to tame. Cyan Fish Gang’s elite disciples typically spent a month to absorb a single fountain spring Yin Sha, enough for refining six organs to advance to Fifth Grade.

Yet during her one-month Fifth Grade breakthrough, Baili Hongtang consumed four fountain spring Yin Sha, quadruple the amount for elite disciples, drawing internal attention then.

"I consumed roughly six... thankfully, with the resources provided by the Great Elder and Cyan Fish Gang, I’ve been able to make progress in recent days."

Su Mu expressed gratitude, having always responded well to kindness. Good to him were duly noted from his Big Brother and Second Sister.

"That’s good!"

Hearing it directly from Su Mu, Baili Hongtang was surprised that she still underestimated her Third Brother.

That was the difference between genius and ordinary people.

No, it should be the gap between monstrous prodigies and geniuses, sometimes even wider than that between geniuses and ordinary people, leaving one feeling defeated.

Given same resources and conditions, her Third Brother reached an unimaginable level!

After brief pleasantries, as they left the arena, Baili Hongtang’s expression turned solemn, "Just this morning, Gongyang Jue garnered support from four Hall Masters of the five leading halls, according to Cyan Fish Gang’s rules, can convene all Hall Masters for an interim gang conference slated three days hence."

"During this period, Gongyang Jue’s faction openly feasted those previously neutral in the gang’s mid-to-high levels. Unexpectedly, at the conference, Gongyang Jue plans to move against my father, depriving him of the Gang Leader title, pushing for his appointment as the new Gang Leader!"

"So soon?"

Su Mu’s eyes flickered, slightly surprised. Even with Qiu Mountain, a Great Cultivator around, Gongyang Jue is so brazen to deposing Baili Hong for his rise suggests former claims by the Great Elder and Second Sister were accurate.

He is backed by major powers outside Cyan Fish Gang, at least with one Great Cultivator supporting!

As they conversed walking, Su Mu learned from Second Sister about the gang’s situation during his seclusion. He paused slightly upon knowing Baili Hong’s death was already circulated but noticed Second Sister had prepared for it.

"How’s Big Brother faring?"

Su Mu inquired about Baili Feng’s situation, crucial to the upcoming events where Su Mu can only act against Gongyang Jue at the gang conference, while behind Gongyang Jue stands for his brother and Great Elder to face.

However, during his retreat, Sun Family Ancestor awakened, which was good news for Su Mu, providing some self-protection by using Life-Attracting Technique if situations change.

"Don’t worry, Big Brother’s martial arts are highly compatible with Second Grandpa’s; his progress is smooth, having completed the seal of one of the Three Burners, only needing a bit more time."