Chapter 547 - 497: A Clue

Chapter 547: Chapter 497: A Clue

"Celestial Star Alliance, Nine Heavens Sect, Celestial Demon Sect..."

Chu Mu pressed his lips together. In his mind, countless thoughts and ideas swirled around the web of influence he had just pieced together.

Although all of this seemed to have little connection to him, it was obvious that as long as he was in the Vast Sea, in Great Chu, none of it could be entirely unrelated to him—even without his identity as the Ninth True Inheritor of Longevity.

After all, looking across the entire Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, how many Golden Core Cultivators could there possibly be?

Back then, at the Demon Suppression Islands—a place where he had faced a life-and-death struggle—only a few hundred Golden Core Cultivators had gathered.

Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul...

In Immortal Dao Cultivation, each realm was like a ladder to the heavens, with a world of difference between them.

This meant that Low Tier Cultivators were as numerous as hairs on an ox, simply beyond count.

High Tier Cultivators, however, were as rare as a phoenix’s feather, a seldom-seen sight.

Having made a name for himself with Pills and Artifacts, he was never truly a loner. Living in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, he was bound to cross paths with its Golden Core Level Cultivators. And in the Great Chu Cultivation World, he was just as certain to have dealings with its Golden Core Cultivators.

Because of these connections, everything that was happening now was inevitably tied to him.

In the past, he might have focused on how to keep to himself. But now, that was only a minor consideration.

After all, with his current Cultivation Realm and skill in both Pill and Artifact Creation, as long as he wasn’t a true hermit, he was bound to get entangled with the local Cultivation Immortal Realm, no matter where he was...

...be it Great Chu, the Vast Sea, the Southwest Countries, the Xingluo Grassland, or even the distant Great Heng.

’In the current situation, the Overlord Saber Alliance’s best option is...’

Chu Mu mused to himself. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked toward the gate. He saw a stranger standing there, triggering the gate’s Array Prohibition.

The Illusion God Mask was his own creation, so any disguise it produced was, to him, completely transparent.

A look of joy appeared on Chu Mu’s face. With a single leap, he drifted down from the upper floor of the pavilion.

The courtyard gate opened. After Xu Changqing stepped inside and the gate closed behind him, he finally dispelled the Illusion God Mask’s disguise.

"Fortunately, I have not failed you."

Xu Changqing swiped a hand, and a Red Copper Iron Box materialized, hovering over his palm. With a gentle push, the Red Copper Iron Box floated in front of Chu Mu.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Chu Mu suppressed the excitement in his heart. After a brief scan with his Divine Sense, he placed the Red Copper Iron Box containing the Nine Heavens Profound Gold into his Storage Space.

Then, he looked at Xu Changqing and asked, "Is your father still in discussions with the Overlord Saber True Master?"

"I believe so."

Xu Changqing nodded. "It’s not just my father. The Nascent Soul Ancestors from all the major powers—the Righteous Alliance, the Nine Heavens Sect, the Profound Nether Alliance, the Chen Family... they’re probably all at the Overlord Saber Alliance’s headquarters right now..."

"The Overlord Saber Alliance has really become a hot commodity."

Chu Mu chuckled. "If the Overlord Saber Ancestor is greedy, there’s no telling how much he could gain from this one event!"

"I don’t know."

Xu Changqing shook his head. "My father says this Overlord Saber Ancestor is a very difficult character. Father tried to negotiate with him several times before, but he was always evasive. He probably won’t take a side so easily."

As he spoke, Xu Changqing seemed to hesitate for a moment. "But I have a feeling something isn’t quite right."

Chu Mu was slightly taken aback and asked in confusion, "What’s not right?"

"Don’t you think this Overlord Saber Ancestor is being a bit too ostentatious, Fellow Daoist?"

Xu Changqing frowned and spoke slowly, "The Nine Heavens Sect, the Profound Nether Alliance... these newly risen powers also have Nascent Soul Ancestors backing them, but none have made such a grand spectacle as the Overlord Saber Ancestor."

"This millennial celebration is so ostentatious. He’s got two whole Cultivation Immortal Worlds, Great Chu and the Vast Sea, stirred up over him."

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow. "A Tier Four True Cultivator of Sword Intent should be special, shouldn’t he?"

Chu Mu’s tone held a hint of uncertainty. After all, his understanding of the chaos in the Vast Sea was based purely on guesswork, like seeing things through a mist.

It wasn’t until he entered Bazhou City and received detailed intelligence from Xu Changqing that he had gained a general understanding of the current situation in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.

"A Tier Four True Cultivator of Sword Intent is special, but no matter how you look at it, there’s no need to be *this* special!"

Xu Changqing asked in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist, don’t you think the Overlord Saber Alliance is being far too conspicuous given the current situation?"

Chu Mu’s brow furrowed. It seemed they really were being a bit too ostentatious.

Or rather, there was no need for the Overlord Saber Alliance to be so flashy at all.

Just like the Nine Heavens Sect and the Profound Nether Alliance, they also had Nascent Soul Great Powers in their ranks, but they had never truly revealed them, preferring to get rich quietly.

It was like the historical battles for supremacy in his past life: "Amass grain, and be slow to claim the throne" was the best strategy. To not delay in claiming the throne meant facing the desperate, final struggle of a dying dynasty—basically, a path to certain death!

Given the current situation, even if the Chen Family’s control over the Vast Sea was nearly gone, the Vast Sea Chen Family and the Flood Dragon Chen Family still existed side by side. No matter how much control they lost, even if the Vast Sea Chen Family fell apart, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Once the Chen Family recovers from the pressure of the Profound Serpent Race and can focus their energy inward, they will inevitably deal with whoever is making the biggest commotion first!

Under these circumstances, for the Overlord Saber Alliance and the Overlord Saber Ancestor to be so ostentatious...

’This doesn’t seem to be in the Overlord Saber Ancestor’s best interest, does it?’

Chu Mu hesitated. He suddenly realized it was truly difficult to explain.

If it was to reap benefits by playing both sides, then getting rich quietly was undoubtedly the best choice.

If it was to pledge allegiance to one side and sell the Overlord Saber Alliance for a good price, then there was still no need to be so flashy. Acting low-key would be the superior strategy.

Chu Mu’s voice grew more uncertain. "Perhaps... the Overlord Saber Ancestor wants to use this opportunity to establish his dominance?"

"He wants to take this chance to consolidate the chaotic forces of the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World and contend with the Chen Family for supremacy?"

Xu Changqing fell silent, clearly unable to figure it out either.

The two were silent for a long while before Xu Changqing finally smiled. "Perhaps I’m just overthinking it. We’ll know what’s what once my father finishes his discussions."

Chu Mu nodded, not dwelling on it further either.

This millennial celebration has brought all the major powers together!

The Longevity Sect, the Righteous Alliance, the Nine Heavens Sect, the Celestial Star Alliance...

Nascent Soul Great Powers from all the major factions are here in person!

Even if the sky were to fall, with so many Nascent Soul Great Powers present, it’s impossible that...

Just then, Chu Mu seemed to sense something. His brow twitched, and he suddenly turned his head to look southeast.

Xu Changqing, puzzled, tentatively called out, "Fellow Daoist?"

Chu Mu’s brows were tightly furrowed, a look of shock and suspicion in his eyes.

"Wangcai, come here!"

But Chu Mu seemed not to have heard Xu Changqing’s question. He spun around and looked toward the side of the garden, where Wangcai was feasting heartily.

Hearing Chu Mu’s call, Wangcai looked up, then leaped and bounded over to Chu Mu’s side. It raised its head and let out two roars, as if asking why Chu Mu had called it.

Chu Mu’s expression was grave. He raised his right arm, and with a flick of his fingertips, faint, shimmering patterns appeared out of thin air. In just a few breaths, a phantasmal image of a Soldier Puppet materialized in the sky.

The phantasmal image was incredibly lifelike. Even the specific Spiritual Pressure of the Soldier Puppet, and even the Divine Soul Aura from its core, were projected from the image with extreme clarity.

At this moment, Xu Changqing, who had been confused, saw the phantasmal Soldier Puppet, and his expression instantly turned grave as well.

The phantasmal image was so lifelike that, given his status, it wasn’t hard for him to recognize that the image inscribed in the void... was the Chen Family’s Tier Four Soldier Puppet!

With a sweep of his sleeves, Chu Mu turned to Wangcai. "This Soldier Puppet, where is it now?"

...