Chapter 660 641: Return

Mulholland Drive forwent his imposing aura, and the formless, icy chill emanating from him grew even more piercing. It kicked up a frigid wind that shot straight for Wang Meng!

"Ice Red Chaotic World!" With a low cry, Mulholland Drive pointed a finger, using it as a sword. He attacked the space between Wang Meng's eyebrows with the Chaotic Ice Sword, layer upon layer of sword light stacking upon itself. In an instant, it was as if the entire bamboo forest had vanished, leaving only swirling ice and snow. Each snowflake was a glint of sword light!

Wang Meng smiled. His figure, which had been flickering continuously, suddenly stood perfectly still. In that moment, the thousands of swirling snowflakes condensed into a single point, stabbing toward him like a meteor from beyond the heavens!

TING!

A soft chime rang out!

Wang Meng also pointed a finger. In a flash, the bamboo forest reappeared, and Wang Meng shot back five steps!

Mulholland Drive retreated a single step, but his expression was one of surprise. 'My Sword Form... he actually broke it!'

"Good. Again! Brother Wang, be careful!"

Mulholland Drive traced a line with his finger, the motion dreamlike and illusory. "Ten Zhang Ice Seal!"

His True Essence surged. The formless cold aura around Mulholland Drive's body suddenly underwent a Transformation, coalescing into a giant ring of frost that expanded in all directions.

He pointed his sword-finger at Wang Meng. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi seemed to turn against Wang Meng, forming into streams of ice swords that shot toward him.

But this time, Wang Meng neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, he took a great stride forward. "Merak appears, Fire Cloud manifests! Sharp Flame, Rapid Flame, Earth Flame!"

The three flames merged into one. Wang Meng's aura transformed into that of a tiger, its majestic presence pressing down, fighting domain with domain!

The incoming ice swords exploded one by one. Wang Meng spun, and the fire cloud suddenly filled the entire sky. For a moment, it overwhelmed Mulholland Drive, leaving him unable to continue his assault and forcing him to retreat.

"Good, good, good!"

Though the exchange had seemed direct and brutish, Mulholland Drive's True Essence was at the seventh or eighth layer of the Earth Wheel Realm, while Wang Meng had shattered his techniques using only the power of an early-stage Earth Wheel Realm cultivator.

Despite saying "good" three times in a row, the expression on Mulholland Drive's face—even after having two of his techniques broken—was one of pleasant surprise. "The Merak Fire Cloud Technique truly lives up to its reputation! My third technique, Reversed Water Ice Cloud…"

Mulholland Drive flicked his fingers, and a suffocating aura surged from his body. Celestial Wheel Realm!

It was the first time Mulholland Drive had ever encountered such a situation. Wang Meng's oppressive power stirred his fighting spirit.

But just as the aura was about to fully unfold, Mulholland Drive suddenly stopped. He shook his head and smiled. "I have tested the past and the present with two techniques. As for this third technique of the future, let's test it in the future."

Wang Meng calmly retracted his technique. His opponent's third move completely surpassed what his current True Essence could withstand. If Mulholland Drive had truly unleashed it, Wang Meng would have had no choice but to play dirty himself.

'I have to admit, raw True Essence is what really matters,' Wang Meng thought. 'It's been a long time since I've felt this outmatched.'

"Very well."

Wang Meng nodded. It was no wonder Mulholland Drive could call the shots in Wang City. A Celestial Wheel Realm cultivator in his thirties was a force to be reckoned with not just in Wang City, but in the entire Great Zhou.

Mulholland Drive spoke again. "I believe you understand Little Yu's feelings for you. As her older brother, I have only one piece of advice: don't hurt her."

"Little Yu is a good person. She is my friend," Wang Meng replied. In truth, he knew exactly why Mulholland Drive had come.

Mulholland Drive sighed. "Honestly, you really could consider it."

Wang Meng gave a wry smile. "I will treat her as I would a little sister."

"Hmph. That's your loss!"

Mulholland Drive shot Wang Meng a cold look, then turned, leaped, and vanished.

Wang Meng shook his head slightly, then also turned and walked toward the Divine Artifact Pavilion.

「The Muhe Residence.」

Muhe Xiaoyu was very busy. Family affairs, deeper cooperation with the Bai Family, hunts, auctions—she found all sorts of things to do, reasons to keep herself busy.

"Little Yu! Don't worry about those mundane affairs today."

Jiang Biyao was very worried about Muhe Xiaoyu's state. She had already heard from Zhan Yingluo about Little Yu's vague confession to Wang Meng.

And that Wang Meng had actually rejected Muhe Xiaoyu so cleanly and decisively!

Jiang Biyao was shocked. It was only then she realized: 'Perhaps, from the very beginning, Wang Meng had no interest in me at all!' Honestly, Jiang Biyao was well aware that Muhe Xiaoyu was superior to her in every way, including her looks.

As they were in the same boat, Jiang Biyao felt a sense of kinship and pity for Muhe Xiaoyu. It pained her a little to see Little Yu trying to numb herself like this.

"Haha, it's fine. I'm fine. What? Are you afraid I'm going to do something drastic?" Muhe Xiaoyu smiled and put down the auction house ledger in her hands. She sighed softly in her heart. 'How could I possibly be fine… It's just that, even after being rejected, his shadow is still in my mind. Finding things to do isn't so much about numbing myself as it is about stopping my thoughts from running wild!'

"If you're really fine, then come shopping with me. Wang City has changed so much recently. It seems the Pill Immortal Alliance is planning a Pill auction. Let's go check it out together!" Jiang Biyao was still worried. No matter how she looked at it, Muhe Xiaoyu seemed a bit off, not at all like the energetic Little Yu of the past. Although… a new hint of maturity had made her even more beautiful and captivating.

"I'd like to go too. A few of my True Essence Beasts are about to advance, and I need a Hundred Solutions Pill… Hmm, Biyao, could you go check it out for me? I still have things to do…"

"What could be so important?"

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out.

Muhe Xiaoyu's body trembled. She turned around in disbelief…

"Big Brother! Is it you? Is it really you?"

"Who else would it be? Silly girl."

Mulholland Drive smiled gently and glanced at Jiang Biyao. "Biyao, please tell Jiedao for me that I've brought back the Qusheng Pill he asked me to bid on in Haojing."

Jiang Biyao smiled. Mulholland Drive was tactfully asking her to leave so he could speak with his sister alone. She nodded and said, "My brother will be ecstatic to hear that news. I'll go tell him right away."

Using this as an excuse, Jiang Biyao again invited Muhe Xiaoyu to visit the Pill Immortal Alliance with her. After finally getting a positive reply, she took her leave.

Muhe Xiaoyu was very happy, otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to go with Jiang Biyao. She grabbed her brother's arm and asked repeatedly, "Big Brother, why are you back? Didn't you say you were about to break through to the Celestial Wheel Realm and wouldn't even come back for the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival?"

"How could I not come back when my little sister is going through such a major event?" Mulholland Drive said meaningfully.

Little Yu's expression changed. She turned her head away, pretending to ignore him.

"Haha, getting shy in front of me now?"

"Hmph! If you keep talking nonsense, Big Brother, I'll quit! Let's see how you can stay in Haojing with a clear conscience then!"

"How am I talking nonsense? I've met that Wang Meng."

Muhe Xiaoyu froze. A thought flashed through her mind like a shooting star: 'Knowing my brother's love for a good fight... "met" must mean they've already crossed hands.'

She immediately asked in a panic, "Big Brother! You… Is he okay?"

"Aren't you worried your big brother might have gotten hurt?" Mulholland Drive chuckled. It seemed his little sister was already in deep.

"Aren't you perfectly fine? Don't get the wrong idea. We're just friends."

That's what Muhe Xiaoyu said, but the anxiety in her eyes couldn't lie.

"Don't worry, he's completely fine. Don't you trust your own judgment?"

Hearing that Wang Meng was okay, Muhe Xiaoyu quickly changed the subject. "Big Brother, have you already advanced to the Celestial Wheel Realm?"

Mulholland Drive nodded, releasing and then retracting his aura. Though it was just for an instant, the pressure was undeniably the majesty of the Celestial Wheel Realm!

Muhe Xiaoyu felt a genuine sense of pride. "Congratulations, Big Brother! My heartfelt congratulations!"

"Mm. Actually, I came back this time to hand over the family affairs. From now on, I will become a follower of Miss Han. I can no longer be tied down by these worldly matters."

Muhe Xiaoyu faltered, a little heartbroken. "Big Brother, do you have to do this?"

"That one meeting, as precious as golden wind and jade-like dew, outshines a thousand mortal encounters. Thanks to you, I was able to meet Fairy Han. I have no regrets in this life. Little Yu, it is I who have let you down, making you bear the heavy burden of the clan."

Even a hero of his generation like Mulholland Drive would melt before Han Chuxue, like steel turned to softest silk.

Muhe Xiaoyu wasn't surprised, for no one could resist Han Chuxue's charm.

"Big Brother, we're family. I support you!"

The people of the Muhe Clan were all open-minded. Since Mulholland Drive had made his decision, she, as his sister, would definitely support him.

Although Mulholland Drive would no longer manage the clan's affairs, with his current Cultivation and his position by Han Chuxue's side, he had the potential to become an expert standing at the very pinnacle. No one would dare to move against the Muhe Clan.

Time flew by. Ten days later, the joint forces of the Wang and Zhan Families entered Wang City.

For the Wang Family, Wang City was beneficial to have, but its absence wouldn't affect their overall territory. The main benefit from Wang City came from the endless resources of the Taibai Mountain Range, the most important of which was the True Essence Beast trade. However, the Wang Family's core interest was their cooperation with the Divine Artifact Pavilion... This was also why the Spiritual Artifacts forged by Wang Meng were mistaken for inventory brought from the Wang Family. The Haojing Royal Family simply had that kind of foundation.

But for the Zhan Family, this was a good opportunity to expand their influence. The younger generation of the Zhan Family also needed training, and the increasingly large-scale and in-depth True Essence Beast hunts in the Taibai Mountain Range were an excellent choice.

Of course, all the great families placed great importance on this kind of training. After all, the younger generation could only mature through battle and become pillars of the family in the future. Otherwise, how could the family line continue?

The Zhan Family was very efficient. The hunting party rested in Wang City for only one ancient hour before setting off with a guide from the Muhe Family.

The Wang Family, on the other hand, found an inn and bought it outright, including the courtyard, for an astronomical sum that nearly made the owner faint with joy, turning it into the Wang Family's base of operations in Wang City.

The one leading the Wang Family was none other than Wang Rencai's fifth uncle, the family's current number one wastrel, Wang Shifeng.

As he rested in the inn until nightfall, Wang Shifeng's expression grew ugly. He had waited all afternoon, but that little bastard Wang Rencai still hadn't come to pay his respects!

'Was the commotion the Wang Family caused upon entering the city not big enough? Does that brat not want to return to Haojing anymore!'

Wang Shifeng was fuming. A few days ago, this whole Wang City affair had thrown the entire Wang Family into chaos. The addition of the ambitious Zhan Family into the mix had made things even more complicated…