Chapter 538 - 489: Blood Kill, Sword Pill

Chapter 538: Chapter 489: Blood Kill, Sword Pill

"Senior, if you need anything else, please just say the word. I am at your service."

After arranging everything to satisfaction, the man bowed respectfully to Chu Mu once more.

"Alright. You may go."

Chu Mu gave a slight nod.

"As you command."

The man respectfully withdrew.

Chu Mu surveyed the residence before him with great interest. The estate spanned dozens of acres, and its overall style was a departure from the ruggedness common in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World. Instead, it possessed more of the delicacy and artistic elegance of the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World.

Landscaped gardens and exquisite pavilions adorned the estate. The garden he was in spanned more than ten acres by itself, yet it held only a single gazebo, a pavilion, and a covered walkway, with the rest of the space embellished by natural scenery of hills, water, and trees.

After glancing around and pondering for a moment, Chu Mu took a step and led Wangcai out of the estate.

There were now only a few days left before the Overlord Saber Alliance’s millennium celebration.

With factions from all over converging, the streets were bustling with crowds and filled with a clamorous energy.

People from all over the world, with their different attire, varying Magical Power auras, and even distinct Cultivation Systems, could be seen everywhere on the streets.

Even Golden Core Cultivators, normally a rare sight, seemed to be quite numerous on these streets.

’The Longevity Sect, the Chen Family, the Celestial Star Alliance, the Celestial Demon Sect... Is the Righteous Alliance also here to join the fun?’

After a stroll around the city, Chu Mu couldn’t help but be taken aback. Bazhou City was even more bustling than he had imagined.

For some reason, Chu Mu couldn’t help but let his imagination wander.

’If one day, I am also fortunate enough to break my Core to form an Infant, an event in my name should also be a rare and spectacular sight...’

’I’m still a long way off...’

Finally, Chu Mu gave a self-deprecating smile.

He was only at the Early Stage of Golden Core Cultivation. Breaking the Core to Form the Infant was still a long way off.

"Hm?"

Just as his thoughts were wandering, a scene glimpsed from the corner of his eye made Chu Mu freeze.

He whipped his head around to look, and the sight that met his eyes instantly filled him with suspicion.

At the far end of the street, a low-profile building sat in a corner. It was unremarkable, but unlike the neighboring buildings, which had their doors either wide open or tightly shut.

This humble building’s door was half-ajar. To the naked eye, the interior appeared dark and gloomy, but to him, it was clearly not so simple.

Though the traces of an Array Prohibition on the seemingly ordinary wooden door were well-hidden, with his skill in the Array Dao, it wasn’t hard for him to spot them.

If that were all, it would still be considered normal in a place like Bazhou City. But...

Chu Mu’s Divine Sense swept into his Storage Space. Inside, besides a mountain of Spiritual Materials and Objects, there were several thousand Upper Grade Spirit Stones of various Attributes obtained from the Demon Suppression Islands, along with hundreds of thousands of Middle and Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

In a corner by the pile of Spirit Stones were neat stacks of Jade Scrolls and books. Beside them, among some miscellaneous items, several Tokens he had sealed away long ago were still clearly visible.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Chu Mu retrieved several Tokens from his Storage Space and let them hover in his palm. A faint connection emanated from each of them.

"Blood Killing Pavilion..."

Chu Mu gazed at the Tokens, a trace of a daze in his eyes.

That name felt like it belonged to a distant past.

The Blood Killing Pavilion... He remembered it from his time in Jade Emperor Valley, when he had just set foot on the Immortal Path...

It was because of the Blood Killing Pavilion, because of that Blood Killing Order, that he had truly escaped his fate of languishing day after day.

Otherwise, given his circumstances back then, he likely would have languished for many more years.

However, as far as he knew, after the civil unrest in Great Chu, amidst the fierce battles between the Righteous Alliance and the Longevity Sect—a cycle of slaughter and destruction—the presence of the Blood Killing Pavilion had seemed to fade into obscurity.

Later, after the incident at Jingmen, he had traveled to the Northwest and then the Northern Border, and he had seen virtually no trace of the Blood Killing Pavilion.

From what he had gathered, before the chaos in Great Chu, the Blood Killing Pavilion’s influence had spread across the entire Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World. Rooted in the Black Markets scattered throughout the realm, it had woven a sprawling, intricate web in the shadows.

Combined with its unique rule of recognizing the order, not the person, and its impartial platform that never questioned one’s background, its power was terrifying.

Naturally, he had made many inquiries about such an organization back in the day.

There were rumors that the Blood Killing Pavilion was a hidden asset of the Longevity Sect, or a contingency plan for the Righteous Alliance, or even the vanguard for the Xingluo Grassland forces infiltrating the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World...

The rumors about the Blood Killing Pavilion were many and varied, and he had never been able to determine the truth.

But judging from the situation after the chaos in Great Chu, it was clear the Blood Killing Pavilion had no connection to either the Longevity Sect or the Righteous Alliance.

He had never seen any sign of the Blood Killing Pavilion in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, and it obviously had no connection to the Chen Family either.

And now, here in Bazhou City, he had stumbled upon the Blood Killing Pavilion once more...

Chu Mu looked again at the humble building, his suspicion growing. The connection between the Blood Killing Orders in his palm and the building was crystal clear.

All the signs pointed to one conclusion: he wasn’t mistaken.

The building before him was a contact point for the Blood Killing Pavilion!

After a moment’s thought, Chu Mu returned the Blood Killing Orders to his Storage Ring.

’In the current climate, it’s best not to get needlessly entangled with a mysterious organization like the Blood Killing Pavilion.’

He then looked toward the nearby Longevity Sect base, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

Before they even entered the city, Wangcai had sensed the presence of that Sword Dao Nascent Soul.

That meant the Sword Dao Nascent Soul was clearly here in Bazhou City, at the Longevity Sect base right in front of him.

’As the Ninth True Inheritor of Longevity, now that I’ve arrived in Bazhou, there’s no way I can hide my presence from that Sword Dao Nascent Soul.’

After a moment of thought, Chu Mu made his decision.

He started walking again, still moving aimlessly through the city. As he weaved through its streets and alleys, his appearance and physique began to change.

By the time he finally stopped, he was standing before the gates of the Longevity Sect base. He had sent Wangcai back to the True Understanding Base.

"Who are you? This is the Longevity Sect base. Trespassers are forbidden."

Just as he reached the gate, two Longevity Sect disciples stepped out. Both had Foundation Establishment Cultivation. Seeing this unfamiliar Golden Core Cultivator, they were neither servile nor arrogant, their confidence apparent.

Chu Mu remained silent for a moment, discreetly glancing at the tallest pavilion in the Longevity Sect base before flicking his hand, sending a Token flying.

One of the Longevity Sect disciples caught the Token, and his expression changed dramatically with a single glance. When the other disciple saw the Token inscribed with the words "True Inheritor," his own casual demeanor vanished in an instant.

They exchanged a look, each seeing the disbelief in the other’s eyes. This was no time for deliberation. They hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

"Inner Sect Disciple Chang Bao and Inner Sect Disciple Wuxun greet the True Inheritor!"

"No need for such formalities."

With a flick of his sleeve, Chu Mu returned the True Inheritance Order to his Storage Space. He took a step forward, but before he could even enter the main gate, the two disciples rushed to his side to lead him respectfully. "This way, True Inheritor. The sect’s seniors are in the pavilion up ahead..."

"That’s enough. You may leave."

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from behind the gate. Xu Changqing emerged, a sword on his back. His aura was sharp and incisive, yet it also carried the slightly unstable and unmistakable scent of a newly formed Golden Core.

"We obey the True Inheritor’s command!"

The two quickly turned and bowed.

At this, Xu Changqing glanced at Chu Mu and added, "Furthermore, the identity of the Ninth True Inheritor is a top sect secret. You are not to reveal it to anyone."

"We understand."

The two bowed again and respectfully withdrew.

"Congratulations, friend, on forming an Immortal Golden Core."

Chu Mu said with a grin, and in a single step, he was beside Xu Changqing.

"I was just lucky. It’s only an Upper Grade Golden Core, nothing compared to yours, friend."

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow, his gaze on Xu Changqing filled with obvious surprise.

While it’s true that a Top Grade Golden Core is incredibly difficult to form, that difficulty is subjective.

For an ordinary Cultivator, it’s as hard as reaching the heavens.

He himself, for example, only learned about the different Golden Core Grades after his own Core Formation, and only then did he discover the method to form a Top Grade Golden Core.

But for someone like Xu Changqing, that "difficulty" was questionable.

His Spirit Root Talent was undoubtedly high—that was a fact.

Coupled with his status in the Longevity Sect and his personality...

’An Upper Grade Golden Core?’

Chu Mu found it a bit hard to believe.

Xu Changqing didn’t hide anything, instead explaining with complete candor, "The Cultivation Technique I practice is somewhat special. The Immortal Golden Core I formed isn’t an orthodox Golden Core, but a Sword Pill unique to Sword Cultivators, also known as a Sword Pill..."

Chu Mu was taken aback. "A Sword Pill..."

"This method is different from orthodox Golden Core Cultivation, and it’s not something I can explain in just a few words."

"Here, I’ll record a copy of the Sword Pill method for you later. Once you look it over, you’ll understand its intricacies."

"Then I’ll have to trouble you."

Chu Mu nodded and followed Xu Changqing. Once they stepped into the pavilion, his disguise dissipated, and he returned to his true form.

Xu Changqing exclaimed in admiration, "Your disguise is truly marvelous, friend. Even with my perception, I couldn’t spot anything unusual."

"Just a little something I tinkered with. It’s pretty fun."

Chu Mu smiled and with a wipe of his hand, he produced a mask from his Storage Space. It was as thin as a cicada’s wing and shimmered with a flowing light, as if countless faces were flickering and interweaving within it. Probing it with one’s Divine Sense felt like entering an Illusion Array, dizzying and disorienting.

The mask was an evolution of the first Magical Artifact he ever encountered, the Illusionary God Mask. As his Artifact Refining Skill improved, he had refined it time and again until it now ranked as a Top Grade Treasure.

Wearing it, even a Nascent Soul Great Power would likely be unable to see through the disguise!

Chu Mu raised his hand and passed the mask to Xu Changqing. "You’ve successfully formed your Core, friend, and I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you. Please, take this Illusion God Mask as my gift."

Xu Changqing was slightly startled and was about to say something, but before the words could leave his mouth, Chu Mu had already thrust the mask into his hand.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing smiled helplessly. He took the Illusion God Mask and led Chu Mu toward the top floor of the pavilion...

...