Da Xuan Martial Saint

Purple Mist Mountains.

Outer Perimeter.

Yan Jingqing stood atop a hillside, a Scholar's Sword strapped to his back. His gaze swept across the fog-enshrouded peaks ahead, a blend of purple and green. His eyes were steady, deep in thought, who knows what he was contemplating.

The toxic miasma of the Purple Mist Mountain range gathered densely, the area for a thousand miles deserted and uninhabited. To seal off all paths and exterminate the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect holed up here would require the full cooperation of the Four Great Sects.

But that was clearly impossible.

For now, as far as he knew, the Heavenly Sword Sect had encountered conflicts even within the inner reaches of the Purple Mist Mountains, clashing with the Hehuan Sect and Blood Hidden Pavilion.

The remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect had left behind many rare items. They had occupied these uninhabited mountains for years, harvesting plenty of rare spiritual medicines and such, while Corpse Refinement often did not require many of them, making their resources extremely abundant.

So much so, that currently inside the inner area was in a chaotic mess, every sect looting the resources of the Heavenly Corpse Sect remnants after breaking through their Main Altar. As for the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect fleeing in all directions, they were often just casually dealt with along the way, without any proactive pursuit to exterminate them. Stay connected through empire

Only he, leading the Inspectorate and the Demon-Slaying Office along with many other forces, near the Yu County side of the Purple Mist Mountains, blocked many paths, either killing or entangling, preventing the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect from easily escaping into the territory of Yu County.

But in fact, up until now, many had still escaped.

The natural advantages of the Purple Mist Mountains greatly favored the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect; their refined corpses weren't afraid of the poison fog at all. Moreover, they knew the mountain range inside out, when and where the fog might thin, shift, or dissipate, moving about unpredictably, capable of showing up anywhere.

"Heavenly Sword Sect, Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion…"

Yan Jingqing shook his head.

It was expected that the various sects would scramble for resources. He could only do his best to block the Heavenly Corpse remnants, but regardless, the disaster in Yu County was inevitable.

Just as he pondered, a figure materialized behind him as if formed from the mist itself.

"Lord Yan, a large number of Heavenly Corpse remnants have escaped from the direction of the Three Passes."

"Hmm?"

Yan Jingqing slightly furrowed his brow and said, "Weren't the He Family forces guarding there? Why didn't they report earlier?"

The person behind him reported in a low voice, "All of the He Family's people have disappeared."

"…"

Yan Jingqing's furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and he said indifferently, "I see. Go and call up a reserve force to guard the pathway in the direction of the Three Passes. We will deal with the He Family's matter later."

A moment passed.

A black-clothed scout from the Inspectorate hurried over.

"Lord Yan, something has happened in Yu City."

"Hmm, as expected. What's the situation now?"

"It's like this…"

The black-clothed scout quickly reported the situation in Yu City.

After listening, Yan Jingqing said lightly, "The Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion, they really couldn't hold back in the end."

As a distinguished Inspector, the maneuvers of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion naturally couldn't escape his eyes. The actions of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Hehuan Sect, and others in Yu County were mostly about plundering resources.

Only the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion was covertly cultivating forces, making contact with the Inner City families, seemingly also seeking development. But Yan Jingqing faintly felt that perhaps the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion was aiming to take over the governance of the entire Yu County!

In plain terms, the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion wanted to become the Seven Profound Sect, turning all the Yamen and official bureaus of Yu County into their own, changing the allegiance of Yu County from 'Yu State's Yu County' to 'Xuan State's Yu County'.

However.

Chen Mu really did have extraordinary methods; Yan Jingqing's high regard wasn't misplaced. Without even needing the backup he had secretly prepared, Chen Mu directly broke through the He Family's rebellion, blocking the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion's opportunistic chaos this time.

As for completely taking down the He Family, though slightly drastic, the situation had already come to this, and it was indeed time to cut the chaos with a swift blade. The He Family could no longer stay; it must be completely uprooted.

As for He Wuyou and his troops…

A hint of coldness flashed in Yan Jingqing's eyes.

Did they really think they could simply vanish under his watch and defect to the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion?!

"Alright, I understand."

Yan Jingqing's expression quickly returned to calm as he spoke casually.

The black-clothed scout bowed respectfully and then withdrew.

Unconsciously.

Yan Jingqing sighed softly.

If there were no such conflicts, if there were only one voice in the world, the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect would not have had the chance to flee the Purple Mist Mountains and disturb Yu County. Who knows how much longer this chaotic world would have to last before there was a chance to settle it.

After all, he was powerless. What he could do only extended to Yu County within thousands of miles. He couldn't manage the matters of the entire state that spanned tens of thousands of miles, let alone those of the State Government Offices in the Cold North Path.

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...

He Family residence.

In the back.

Some soldiers from the City Defense Division were stationed here, clearing up bodies.

In the desolate courtyard, Chen Mu entered alone, striding toward a room located in the center.

The room was empty except for a few straw cushions. The first thing that caught the eye was a painting hanging in the center of the room. It was a mountain painting, depicting a mountain range soaring into the clouds. In the mist behind the peaks, one could vaguely make out countless extending mountains, presenting a sense of majestic grandeur.

"This is the Gen Mountain Diagram of the He Family."

Chen Mu looked up at the grandiose mountain painting and murmured softly.

Among the four big families, the Yu Family had the Kan Water Diagram, and the He Family possessed the Gen Mountain Diagram. These were the foundational resources that established both clans, brought to Yu County by the founding ancestors of the He and Yu families.

Without these two diagrams, neither the He nor Yu Family could have prospered for so many years. After the founding generation, several more Martial Artists of the Five Viscera Realm wouldn't have been born in succession, maintaining over a hundred years of prosperity and becoming one of the four great families that dominate Yu County.

Chen Mu had thought it would be difficult to see this diagram.

After all, once the He Family was in trouble, someone would surely first think of fleeing with the diagram, or even maliciously destroy it. But it seemed that in their eagerness to kill him, the He Family had completely exhausted their forces, even the guards of the Gen Mountain Diagram had been dispatched.

Thus, when he arrived here, the He Family hadn't had time to move the diagram.

Chen Mu carefully scrutinized it for a while.

Then he stepped forward, rolled up the entire Gen Mountain Diagram, and tucked it into his chest.

He then went to check the other rooms.

The arrangement here at the He Family was similar to the underground silent chambers of the Demon-Slaying Office, arranged in the positions of the Qiankun Eight Phases. But apart from the Gen Mountain Diagram, all other chambers contained only inferior copied versions of the diagrams.

The rooms of Qian Heaven and Kun Earth were also completely empty, which made Chen Mu feel somewhat regretful.

If he could have obtained either the Qian Heaven Diagram or the Kun Earth Diagram, he might not have needed to rush to the Seven Profound Sect. He could have stayed in Yu County to further improve his strength, and then consider going to the Seven Profound Sect to complete the collection of the Eight Phases Diagrams.

In the Five Viscera Realm, Body Refining itself is not key; what becomes crucial is the comprehension of Artistic Conceptions. The quality of Artistic Conception dictates the strength of one's realm. The difference between the first and second step is immense, and even between two varieties of the second step, there is a distance.

The quality of the Artistic Conception itself is also a key factor in strength.

For example, Zuo Qianqiu of the Heavenly Sword Sect has the esteemed Heavenly Sword Artistic Conception, acknowledged as the strongest in Sword Dao Artistic Conception, almost comparable to complete Yin Yang and Five Elements. Having reached the second step, it is no surprise that he possesses almost sweeping strength against other true inheritances.

"Qiankun…"

Chen Mu murmured to himself.

In the past, he only knew about the strong and weak Artistic Conceptions, without understanding many details. But after Meng Danyun's guidance, as well as what he had witnessed from the remnants of the ice scene after Yu Jiujiang and the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion's true inheritance fought, he had come to understand much.

Heavenly timing, geographical advantage,

These are critical factors for Artistic Conception.

During a great drought, even though Kan Water can suppress Separating Fire, it will still be overwhelmingly suppressed by Separating Fire during battle.

During a great tide, Kan Water could almost crush Separating Fire.

Thunderclap Artistic Conception, under normal weather conditions, is less powerful than Heart Sword or Prosperity and Decline, among others. But when thunderclouds fill the sky and Heavenly Thunder rumbles, it's not impossible to harness the Heavenly Thunder for added might and strike in all directions!

The reason Qiankun Artistic Conception is universally recognized as the strongest is not only because its power surpasses other Artistic Conceptions but also because once it is cultivated, one always stands at the pinnacle of heavenly timing and geographical advantage.

As long as one exists between heaven and earth,

Then one will always be able to have Qian Heaven and Kun Earth!

Regardless of any celestial phenomena or timing, regardless of any geographical advantage, all are within Qiankun and can be utilized. No longer will there be any need to distinguish between 'when it is strong' or 'when it is weak,' much less any difference between 'where it is strong' and 'where it is weak.'

Why does no one today really deserve the title of 'Martial Saint' in Yan Jingqing's eyes?

Even the strongest among them, who possess a complete understanding of the Five Elements Artistic Conception, are indeed powerful. However, if they happen to encounter a stormy weather phenomenon, those who merely control the dual aspects of wind and thunder, with the absolute advantage of heavenly timing, could still potentially fight them.

Those with Yin Yang Artistic Conception are nearly invincible in the world at the dawn and dusk, when the early sun has not risen, and just as the setting sun has disappeared, night has not yet fallen. The rumors even suggest that it is not inferior to Qiankun. But once these two critical moments pass, others may not be convinced.

At the highest realm of Blood Exchange, everyone has their own strongest geographical advantage, their own strongest heavenly timing.

Who would fear whom?

Chen Mu once heard Meng Danyun mention that there was a Blood Exchange existence who only mastered the Cold Winter Artistic Conception, unaffiliated with any forces. He roamed the world alone, offending many figures, yet no one seemed to be able to do anything about him.

The reason was that while he was not strong outside of the Cold Winter period, if he sensed something was wrong, he would retreat to the bitterly cold lands of the Extreme North, still occupying the advantage of timing and geography, capable of fighting anyone who approached.

Martial Artists start to experience such struggles over heavenly timing from the Five Viscera Realm.

"I'm not really interested in the struggle for heavenly timing and geographical advantage…"

Chen Mu silently mused to himself.

He only knew that as he had stepped into the Five Viscera Realm, he now had but one goal: to gather the Eight Phases and grasp Qiankun!

Once the Qiankun Artistic Conception was mastered, he would no longer need to worry about any heavenly timing or geographical advantage and would eternally stand at the apex!

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