Da Xuan Martial Saint

Sitting atop the Flame Jade Bed, a warm and scorching sensation rose from below.

Now that the height of summer had passed and autumn was approaching, the heat that once was had subsided, but sitting on the Flame Jade Bed felt like returning to the peak of summer, particularly in the somewhat enclosed Silent Chamber, which was even more sweltering.

However, Chen Mu's constitution had long reached the point where he remained unaffected by the cold or heat, not to mention the dry heat from the Flame Jade Bed. Even if he were to soak in boiling water, or even roll around in a cauldron of boiling oil, it wouldn't have much effect on him.

He quickly calmed his mind and focused his spirit.

He began to carefully sense the essence of the Separating Fire Map.

If the Kan Water Diagram was akin to a silver river falling from the heavens, then the vision presented by the Separating Fire Map was that of a fiery inferno. Just barely touching upon the Artistic Conception of it brought about a sensation of being on the verge of combustion.

Particularly when sitting on the Flame Jade Bed, this feeling was even more intense. As Chen Mu gradually immersed himself in the Separating Fire Artistic Conception, visible flames slowly began to appear above the Flame Jade Bed. These were not real flames, but rather an extraordinary phenomenon produced by the interaction with the Artistic Conception during the attempt to connect with it.

To cultivate Artistic Conception is a process of attempting to touch upon the Power of Heaven and Earth.

No matter what kind of Artistic Conception it was, be it Yin Yang, Blood Fiend, Heavenly Sword, in essence, it's about using Artistic Conception to connect with, manipulate, and even harness the Power of Heaven and Earth.

In the environment where the Flame Jade Bed was situated, there was no doubt that Separating Fire was the most vigorous. Here, it was naturally easier to touch upon that part of Heaven and Earth which belonged to Separating Fire.

Therefore, even though Chen Mu was just trying to sense the Separating Fire Artistic Conception and hadn't truly comprehended anything yet, he could still cause some extraordinary phenomena.

"Separating Fire..."

Chen Mu mumbled to himself, lost in the sensation of the Separating Fire Map.

The wind fans the flames.

The thunder gives birth to fire.

The genesis of Separating Fire is closely related to wind and thunder.

Though the Artistic Conception contained within the Separating Fire Map was not as profound as that of the superior-grade Kan Water Diagram, Chen Mu still felt, under his tranquil focus, as if he was parting the clouds to see the clear sky. At least in terms of perception, he hardly felt any hindrance.

After a while,

Chen Mu slowly returned from his contemplation.

It was just a single session of delving into the Separating Fire Map without the aid of the system, but he could still feel that he had neared the Separating Fire Artistic Conception. Indeed, he had taken a concrete step forward.

"With the foundation of the Wind Thunder Artistic Conception, I fear that even without using the system, I could still comprehend the Separating Fire Artistic Conception. It's just that it will probably take much longer without the system's panel, which is faster."

Chen Mu mused to himself.

Hmm, perhaps even without the system panel, he could have comprehended all these Artistic Conceptions on his own. The system panel simply sped up his progress, and the improvements it brought weren't without a basis—they either came from accumulated Medicinal Power or memories of arduous cultivation, not much different from his own hard work in cultivation.

The difference between humans and beasts lies in the use of tools.

Chen Mu summoned the system panel.

He quickly found a new segment of text that had appeared.

[Martial Arts: Separating Fire Artistic Conception (Unmastered)]

[Experience: 105 points]

[Number of Deductions Available: 0 times]

"That much? I wonder how much time has passed."

Chen Mu was slightly startled. He had been immersed in comprehending for quite some time and had lost track of the duration, so he stood up and stepped outside the Silent Chamber to gauge the position of the sun.

He saw that the sun was setting, indicating it was nearly dusk. He estimated that he had been contemplating for about three hours.

"Three hours for a hundred experience points, is it really that fast?"

Chen Mu quickly calculated and couldn't help but be surprised.

Because by contemplating the superior-grade Kan Water Diagram for three hours, he'd probably earn around one hundred fifty experience points. Whereas, even though there was some gap in the progress of contemplating the Separating Fire Map, it wasn't as significant, and he could almost keep pace.

Although he had anticipated that cultivating the Separating Fire Artistic Conception on the Flame Jade Bed might be quicker than training in Thunderclap, he hadn't expected it to be this much faster—almost comparable to contemplating the superior-grade Kan Water Diagram.

"It's probably not just because of the Flame Jade Bed. Not only have I mastered Artistic Conceptions close to Separating Fire, such as Xun Wind and Thunderclap, but I have also advanced to the second step with Thunderclap Artistic Conception. Comprehending from a higher vantage point is not the same as when one has yet to understand the Artistic Conceptions.

The system panel's accumulated experience perhaps takes all these factors into account."

Chen Mu muttered to himself.

Xun Wind and Thunderclap are closely related to Separating Fire; wind and thunder engender fire, complementing each other.

If he estimated based on this rate of progress, he would only need a little over a month and a half to master the Separating Fire Artistic Conception. In less than half a year, he could advance the Separating Fire Artistic Conception to the second step!

"Good, so I'll focus on training Separating Fire first."

Chen Mu made up his mind and decided on his next course of cultivation.

At present, he hadn't yet stepped into the Five Viscera Realm. Focusing only on advancing the Thunderclap Artistic Conception to the second step would still be somewhat unsubstantial against an opponent in the Five Viscera Realm. But if he could also bring the Separating Fire Artistic Conception into the second step, the enhancement wouldn't be trivial!

Right there and then,

Chen Mu took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and still decided to follow his original plan to move and cultivate in the Ancient Courtyard. Though he feared the Five Viscera Realm less now, cultivating under the watchful eye of Xu Hongyu's 'Grandfather' would be somewhat more comfortable. Besides, his bedroom was not fully renovated yet.

As for the Flame Jade Bed and such, he could just move it there. With the strength and aptitude he had demonstrated, acquiring a Flame Jade Bed suited his status. Of course, it was still best to move quietly, which wouldn't be difficult.

He would discuss with Xiao He tomorrow.

With this plan in mind,

Chen Mu checked on the progress of the bedroom renovations, then called over Wang Ni to order some meals. After dining, he didn't return to his unfinished bedroom but went straight to the Silent Chamber and sat on the Flame Jade Bed, continuing his contemplation until it was time to rest.

…

The next day.

Chen Mu walked out of the Silent Chamber.

Just as he planned to go find Xiao He to discuss matters, Xiao He actually took the initiative to come to his courtyard.

"What's happened?"

Chen Mu asked, looking at the solemn Xiao He who walked into the courtyard.

Xiao He walked up to Chen Mu and, without asking why Chen Mu had not yet moved to the Ancient Courtyard, said solemnly, "A big shot wants to see you."

"The Inspector?"

"Mhm."

Xiao He nodded, not surprised that Chen Mu guessed who it was right away.

After all, in the whole of Yu City, aside from the high-level figures of the Four Great Sects who had never shown themselves, there was only Yan Jingqing, the Inspector who sat in the Inspectorate and controlled Yu City!

"The white-clothed scholar Yan Jingqing..."

Chen Mu murmured to himself.

He naturally couldn't be completely ignorant about this Inspector. It was said that he was not a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, but from a minor noble family within the State Government Office. He had formerly held several positions such as Prefecture Chief of the City Defense Division, Steward of the Demon-Slaying Office, Bureau Head of the Inspectorate...

until he gradually climbed to the position of Inspector. His rise was somewhat similar to his own, and even the offices and duties he had held were more varied than his own.

Of course.

Though the man was not a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, he was now a formidable practitioner in the Six Viscera Realm. It was said he was among the top-notch experts, a big shot even within the State Government Office of Yu State, visiting Yu County purely because of the deployment of the Four Great Sects.

As for Yan Jingqing's standpoint, it was undoubtedly with the Seven Profound Sect.

Even though he had taken the path of official career advancement, it could be said that almost all the high officials in the upper echelons of Yu State came from the Seven Profound Sect, with many positions bluntly held concurrently by stewards, elders, and the like from the Sect.

The control of the Seven Profound Sect over Yu State was not just an absolute suppression in strength but a complete control in power and authority. In fact, this could also be seen in Yu County, where the four major families, put bluntly, were also under the command of the Seven Profound Sect.

Now.

On the stance of Yan Jingqing, if an order came down, the four major families had to comply in every respect.

Yan Jingqing wanting to meet him was not very surprising to Chen Mu. After all, the strength he had recently shown, although it had not yet spread throughout the entire Yu City, at least many high-level members of the Yu and He families should know of it.

If the high levels of the Yu and He families knew about it, then Yan Jingqing, the Inspector, certainly could not be unaware of it.

Cross training in Bone Tempering, two kinds of Artistic Conception.

Although this strength was nothing to Yan Jingqing, Chen Mu was, after all, not yet twenty-six years old. Moreover, his pace of cultivation was astoundingly fast. Even to a big shot like Yan Jingqing, he would be considered a glaring talent.

Being summoned by him was normal.

He just didn't know what Yan Jingqing would want him to do after meeting him, whether to have him join the Seven Profound Sect or to attach him to the Inspectorate... In fact, Chen Mu was quite interested in transferring to the Inspectorate.

Because the current Inspectorate could be said to be a direct force under the Seven Profound Sect's control, and it was established with the purpose of holding out against the Four Great Sects. In other words, once he could enter the Inspectorate, he would have a truly colossal entity as his backing in future confrontations with the Four Great Sects.

The Seven Profound Sect!

Although it was a bit embarrassing to say that the Seven Profound Sect had been defeated in all four of the True Disciple battles, a colossus that possesses a State's territory, its power is still unfathomable. It could be said that it was not inferior to any one of the Heavenly Sword Hehuan, Blood Concealment Mysterious Heavenly Sect.

"Since it's the Inspector Lord summoning me, there's no reason to refuse."

Chen Mu nodded and said, "Then I will set out now."

"Mhm."

Xiao He responded slowly.

A summon from the Inspector was naturally impossible to reject. Not to mention Chen Mu, even the head of the Xue family, City Lord Xue Huaikong, would have to go and visit at a word's notice. And in her view, Yan Jingqing summoning Chen Mu might not necessarily be a bad thing.

It's just that his status and position in Yu County are indeed too high, so high that upon hearing it, one feels an awe-inspiring sense, unable to relax.

Soon.

Chen Mu made some simple preparations, changed into the official uniform of the White-Clothed Guard of the Demon-Slaying Office, and left the Yu family residence.

The Yu family residence itself took up a large area in the Inner City. Following the street closest to the center out, it was not much further to the various Yamen where the Inner City's City Lord's Mansion was located, being separated only by three or four streets.

Because it was still early, the streets were empty and quiet. Moreover, being not far from the Yamen of the Inner City, the area was already secluded and profound, with high walls of blue stone stacked up, and few people frequented this area on regular days.

Chen Mu walked with a calm demeanor.

As he passed through a somewhat narrow alley, his footsteps paused imperceptibly, but then he continued forward as if nothing had happened and soon disappeared at the end of the alley.

Behind Chen Mu, on the opposite side of the blue stone wall, two figures had appeared at some unknown time, facing each other from a distance.

One of them, with white hair and a youthful face, holding a fishing rod, was none other than Yu Jiujiang, the great-grandfather of the Yu family.

At that moment, Yu Jiujiang had a peaceful expression, looking at the opposite figure and spoke lightly, "I didn't expect you to disregard the summons from Inspector Yan. Why the rush? My great-grandson-in-law may not even be able to step into the Five Viscera Realm."

"Hmph."

The figure opposite, wearing a conical hat and a straw raincoat, had an indistinct appearance. He let out a cold snort, his somewhat aged eyes looking deeply towards the direction where Chen Mu had left and eventually his figure retreated, disappearing from the spot.

Seeing this, Yu Jiujiang shook his head slightly.

The He family was really in a bit of a rush. They were trying to find an opportunity to make a move on Chen Mu even during Yan Jingqing's summons. Perhaps they thought that since it was the Inspector summoning him, the Yu family would not be prepared. But how could he let Chen Mu leave the Yu family residence alone now?

"Cough... cough..."

Yu Jiujiang suddenly coughed twice, and then disappeared from the spot as well.