Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chapter 177 – 153 Meng Danyun

Chen Mu quickly returned to the Yu Family residence.

Putting aside his jumbled thoughts for a moment, he said to Chen Yue and Yu Ru, “You go back first and let Hongyu know you’re safe. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be joining you.”

Once he was at the Yu Family residence, there was no longer a problem. He now had to make a trip to the Inspectorate.

Yu Ru obediently acknowledged with a nod, while Chen Yue looked at Chen Mu with some concern. She still worried about Chen Mu being involved in the dangerous affairs of the Hehuan Sect, but she knew she couldn’t help much; not causing trouble was the best help she could offer.

After arranging for the Yu Family’s Protector to send Chen Yue and Yu Ru back, Chen Mu quietly left the Yu Family residence alone and headed to the Prefectural Government, soon reaching the Inspectorate and making his way to the sixth floor.

Yan Jingqing was still there reading a book.

“Lord Yan, I have something to report,” Chen Mu said.

After his salute, he stepped forward and spoke softly about the intentions of the Hehuan Sect.

Yan Jingqing listened and then fell into deep thought.

The current plan of the Seven Profound Sect was indeed to let the four sects deal with the Heavenly Corpse Sect, but after that was handled, the situation in Yu County would inevitably become chaotic. The Seven Profound Sect could not remain unaffected and would surely be drawn into conflicts over resources, leading to both temporary alliances and fierce confrontations.

But these were matters for the future. The Seven Profound Sect entrusted the affairs of Yu County to him because he was better at dealing with conflicts between different forces than those from the sects, having risen to the position of Inspector from the State Government Office.

The active good will from the Hehuan Sect certainly warranted further consideration.

However, the trustworthiness of this Demon Sect was nominal; it was all too common to forge an alliance one moment and fall into a trap the next. From this perspective, Heavenly Sword Sect and Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion were indeed more suitable for cooperation.

But those of the Heavenly Sword Sect pursued the ultimate in Sword Dao and Sword Intent, notoriously straightforward, lacking in subtlety. Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion, although appearing to be a Righteous Sect, acted in strange and unpredictable ways, making their intentions hard to discern.

“All right, I’m aware of this now. You may go,” Yan Jingqing finally said, signaling that Chen Mu could leave without providing any definitive response.

Wanting to keep himself out of it, Chen Mu saluted quietly and retreated. Instead of returning to the Yu Family, he turned at the Prefectural Government and headed to the Demon-Slaying Office.

Currently, there were four Metropolitan Commanders at the Demon-Slaying Office, but only one Bureau Head, by the name of Meng Tianzhang, a clean-blooded disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, who was externally assigned to Yu County to take charge of the Demon-Slaying Office after several promotions.

He was mainly responsible for controlling the resources of the Demon-Slaying Office, essentially ensuring that Xue Huaikong did not falsify the various resources contributed to the Seven Profound Sect each year, as well as managing some of the resources the Seven Profound Sect allocated to Yu County.

Soon.

Chen Mu arrived at the Demon-Suppression Tower at the heart of the Demon-Slaying Office.

“Lord Bureau Head, I wish to study the Xun Wind Artistic Conception Map,” he said.

Upon seeing Meng Tianzhang, Chen Mu gave a salute and directly stated his purpose.

Meng Tianzhang, an elderly man looking to be in his sixties or seventies, merely nodded slightly at Chen Mu’s arrival, contemplating for a moment before saying, “The Artistic Conception Map is in the Silent Chamber below; you may go down and study it yourself.”

His demeanor was very calm and even spared discussing the expenditure of Merit. After another salute, Chen Mu descended the floors of the tower while pondering.

It seemed that his role as a Metropolitan Commander in the Demon-Slaying Office was indeed different; Meng Tianzhang’s attitude could either be due to Yan Jingqing’s influence or perhaps because his concurrent role as the Inspectorate’s Metropolitan Commander made him directly affiliated with the Seven Profound Sect, much closer to the Sect than others and not so different from disciples of the Seven Profound Sect.

Soon.

Chen Mu reached the Silent Chamber beneath the Demon-Suppression Tower, where eight rooms were arranged according to the Qiankun directions. The rooms representing Qian Heaven and Kun Earth were empty, while the other six rooms each held an Artistic Conception Map.

In the chamber with the Xun Wind Artistic Conception Map, he noticed another person inside. This person was not clad in official attire but wore a simple gray robe. With an androgynous face but long hair and a feminine figure, she appeared to be about thirty years old.

Noticing Chen Mu’s arrival, the woman turned and glanced at him, quickly evaluating and asking:

“Are you Chen Mu, the Inspectorate’s Metropolitan Commander?”

“I have seen the True Disciple,” Chen Mu greeted the woman with a slight bow. Although it was their first meeting, he recognized her identity at once—True Disciple of the Mysterious Heavenly Sect from Spirit Profound Peak, Meng Danyun.

It was unexpected that the Seven Profound Sect had quietly sent a True Disciple to Yu County, and considering her surname, Meng, she might also be related to the Demon-Slaying Office’s Bureau Head, Meng Tianzhang.

“When did the True Disciple come to Yu County?” Chen Mu inquired.

If he were to follow the rules of the sect, he would have to call her Senior Sister, but he was not currently a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect, and Meng Danyun held no official title, so addressing her as Madam wasn’t quite appropriate either.

Meng Danyun looked at Chen Mu and shook her head slightly, saying, “Since you work with Yan Jingqing at the Inspectorate, it would be better if you called me Senior Sister. Please don’t let others know about my being in Yu County for now.”

Chen Mu acknowledged.

Yan Jingqing’s presence in Yu County signified that the Seven Profound Sect still intended to control this prefecture, so it wasn’t surprising for other figures from the Seven Profound Sect to come here.

The arrival of Meng Danyun quietly was quite normal, and the fact that Meng Tianzhang let her come down likely due to his role as the Inspectorate’s Metropolitan Commander made clear she was considered one of Yan Jingqing’s subordinates and affiliated with the Seven Profound Sect; hence, encountering Meng Danyun was inconsequential.

“I heard you mastered both the Xun Wind and Thunderbolt Artistic Conceptions in just a few years?”

Meng Danyun at this time was somewhat curious as she sized up Chen Mu, saying, “With your talent, entering Seven Profound Sect for two years and reaching the Five Viscera Realm, you would have been qualified to compete for a position as a true disciple of the Seven Peaks. Why didn’t Yan Jingqing let you directly join the Seven Profound Sect? Hmm… It’s because of your age, isn’t it?

But with your sufficient talent and aptitude, it wouldn’t be impossible to make an exception.”

There weren’t many people in Yu County that left an impression on her. Not to mention Meng Tianzhang and Yan Jingqing, the City Lord Xue Huaikong was one, and then there was Chen Mu, who was recently promoted by Yan Jingqing to the Metropolitan Commander of the Inspectorate.

“Perhaps Lord Yan has other considerations.”

Chen Mu responded.

Meng Danyun shook her head, saying, “That man is really odd… If you want to join the Seven Profound Sect, wait until I finish my business this time and return to the sect. I can speak to the master on your behalf and have you come to Spirit Profound Peak to cultivate.”

Go to Seven Profound Sect?

Chen Mu hadn’t expected to suddenly encounter this option here, but considering there were still many issues to be handled in Yu County, it wasn’t suitable for him to go to the State Government Office yet.

“Thank you, Senior Sister Meng, for your high regard, but there’s much happening in Yu County at the moment. Let’s consider it once things settle down a bit more.”

“Well, it’s up to you.”

Meng Danyun nodded, then looked at Chen Mu again and suddenly asked, “What realm have you reached in your comprehension of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception?”

Chen Mu honestly replied, “Just the initial comprehension.”

“Come, let me see.”

Meng Danyun stretched out her right hand towards Chen Mu, palm facing him.

Seeing that Meng Danyun seemed to be offering some guidance, Chen Mu didn’t hold back either; he too raised his right hand, exerting a gentle breeze with his falling palm leisurely rising.

Leaving aside Thunderclap and Separating Fire for now, his grasp on the Xun Wind Artistic Conception was indeed the most shallow, and he indeed did not harness the details of the conception effectively, given he had always cultivated on his own.

The system panel merely enhanced his realm but didn’t provide experience in using artistic conception against enemies in battle; techniques like ’Gentle Wind Perception’ were something he had to realize on his own.

Hum!

Meng Danyun’s palm also manifested a gentle breeze, and the two palms stopped roughly three inches apart as the breezes intertwined, forming a visible whirlwind, which quickly dissolved into invisibility.

Meng Danyun withdrew her hand, slightly nodding and saying, “Hmm, it’s indeed just initial comprehension, but it’s quite good already. Judging from your level, you should have already realized some techniques of ’Gentle Wind Perception’?”

“Yes, Senior Sister sees clearly,” Chen Mu naturally had nothing to hide. Meng Danyun’s command of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception, while not yet at the second step, was indeed much deeper than his, and she certainly knew everything he knew.

Meng Danyun smiled, saying, “There’s nothing much to see, I am just a few years older than you, and I have been comprehending the Xun Wind Artistic Conception many years before you. Give it a few more years, and you’ll slowly comprehend to my level as well.”

She paused slightly before continuing, “However, the sensory and technical aspects of artistic conceptions are two different concepts. You seem quite unfamiliar with the execution of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception…

I cultivate both the Xun Wind and Kan Water Artistic Conceptions; I can’t guide you in Thunderclap Artistic Conception, but if you have any questions about the Xun Wind Artistic Conception, feel free to ask me during my stay here.”

“Then thank you very much, Senior Sister Meng.”

Chen Mu felt a slight stir in his heart.

Currently, his execution of artistic conceptions was indeed somewhat unfamiliar; the encounter with Hua Nongying had revealed his shortcomings in handling details, lacking a certain ease and spontaneity. After all, he had always lacked a suitable opponent for practice.

Yu Jiujiang was not suitable for sparring, others from the Yu Family were a bit weaker, and definitely not comparable to a true disciple like Meng Danyun.

If he could spar with Meng Danyun a few more times in artistic conceptions, then his execution would naturally become even more polished.

Meng Danyun spoke gently, “No need for thanks; you have great comprehension. With your simultaneous cultivation of Wind Thunder Artistic Conception, once you step into the Five Viscera Realm, perhaps you would soon surpass me.”

Chen Mu smiled and said, “Senior Sister Meng is too modest; just this Xun Wind Artistic Conception will require much contemplation.”

Meng Danyun nodded slightly, watching Chen Mu as he walked aside to contemplate the Xun Wind Diagram. She then also gazed at the Xun Wind Diagram hanging on the wall, but she did not focus too closely, instead staring absentmindedly.

Although there was no legendary ’Eight Phases Diagram’ in Seven Profound Sect, there were still higher-quality Xun Wind Diagrams available. However, despite her many years of contemplation, she had never mastered the second step of the Xun and Kan Water Artistic Conceptions; contemplating here was mostly better than nothing.

“The second step of the Artistic Conception…”

Meng Danyun murmured in her heart.

It was easy to comprehend the artistic conception, but difficult to reach the second step.

She had first stepped into Bone Tempering and comprehended the Xun Wind Artistic Conception at twenty-three, and the Kan Water Artistic Conception at twenty-four; afterward, she was ambitious to advance further, but six years had passed, and she had been in the Five Viscera Realm for three years, still one step away from the second step in both the Xun and Kan Water Artistic Conceptions.

If she could comprehend the second step of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception, then she must have been among the true disciples of Seven Profound Sect who had visited the mountains to join the battle when Heavenly Sword Hehuan, Blood Concealment Mysterious Heavenly Sect paid their respects. However, she probably still would not have won against those few.

Those few were indeed the leaders among the true disciples of the four sects, the most talented individuals of this generation in their sects, while she was ranked sixth among the true disciples of Seven Profound Sect, so some gap was unsurprising.

It was just that the second step of the artistic conception had troubled her too long; her master had said she wasn’t suitable for more seclusion and contemplation, and that perhaps she would have more breakthrough opportunities if she traveled. Yu County was the most complicated among the various counties of Yu State, and also had four sects stationed here.

So she had come to Yu County.

Hoping to encounter some opportunities here.