"Senior Brother, what's the meaning of this? I'm only an outer disciple and haven't learned any powerful sect techniques. I can't even withdraw from the sect now?"
Dai Xingluo's face was expressionless.
"You can withdraw, but not now. The Heavenly Sword Sect just decided to admit you to the inner sect, and you choose to quit—doesn't that slap us in the face?" the long-faced man barked.
Dai Xingluo's gaze turned cold. "If I'm not mistaken, Zhao Gang sent you, didn't he?"
"This has nothing to do with Zhao Gang. These are the elders' orders," the long-faced man said calmly, though a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"You can go back and report that we'll go to them in a few days," Xu Mu said, stepping forward to shield Dai Xingluo.
From what she'd said, she hadn't returned to the sect for years. She'd only run into Zhao Gang at the recent relic site. Now the sect suddenly wanted her as an inner disciple—no need to guess whose handiwork that was.
"And what are you supposed to be? You dare meddle in the Heavenly Sword Sect's affairs?" the long-faced man sneered.
"What is the Heavenly Sword Sect to me? The Righteous Demon Sect can flatten you," Xu Mu shot back, pointing at him. "I said we'll come in person later. Leave now, or don't blame me for being rude!"
The long-faced middle-aged man started to say something, then held his tongue. He was just a regular inner-sect member; if it came to a fight, he might not even be a match for Dai Xingluo.
Everyone at Qingmu Mountain knew Dai Xingluo had been barred from the inner sect because she offended Zhao Gang. Her real strength surpassed most inner disciples.
"Dai Xingluo, I'll report today's matter exactly as it happened," the long-faced man said. He glanced at his companion, and the two of them left.
Once they were gone, Dai Xingluo slipped her arm through Xu Mu's. "Brother, you were so manly just now."
[Favorability +15]
"I was acting," Xu Mu said, then asked, "What's the relationship between your Heavenly Sword Sect and the Demon Sword Sect?"
He remembered that at the relic site, right after he used the Illusionary Sword, Zhao Gang tried to attack him.
"They're enemies. When we first became outer disciples, we were taught that the Demon Sword Sect and we are irreconcilable," Dai Xingluo explained.
"In that case, there's trouble," Xu Mu murmured, rubbing his chin.
"What happened?" she asked, puzzled.
Xu Mu didn't hide anything and told her about running into Zhao Gang at the relic site.
Li Zizai, who was wiping a porcelain piece, looked up. "Then you'd better not go to the Heavenly Sword Sect. If you show up, Zhao Gang will embellish everything. The elders—or even the sect master—might move against you."
Dai Xingluo nodded. "He's right, Brother. Maybe you shouldn't go. I'll go alone."
"No. If you go alone, you might not come back. I won't let you walk into danger," Xu Mu said, looking at her. "I'll think of a plan in the next few days."
[Favorability +10]
Dai Xingluo gazed at him, full of emotion. "Brother~"
"Enough with the mushy stuff. Don't go anywhere for now—focus on cultivation," Xu Mu said, taking out two Qi Sea Pills. "These are my last two. Take them both and see if you can break into the Mystic Art Realm soon."
Dai Xingluo and Li Zizai were stunned. Was Xu Mu running a pill wholesale business? Even so, Grade-7 pills should be rare—and he'd given her so many already.
[Favorability +20]
"Brother, you should keep them," Dai Xingluo said, eyeing the pills. She wanted them, but she didn't want to be greedy.
"Take them," Xu Mu said, closing her hand around the pills before turning to leave. The Heavenly Sword Sect was still a major sect—not easy to deal with. The stronger Dai Xingluo became, the safer she'd be. He needed a foolproof plan.
Looking down at the pills in her palm, then at Xu Mu's back, Dai Xingluo whispered, "Brother, you're so domineering—I love it."
[Favorability +20]
—
Leaving the Antique Market, Xu Mu headed back toward Jiang City. Saying he only had two Qi Sea Pills left had been a lie. He'd drawn a Qi Sea Pill gift box earlier and hadn't even opened it yet.
Thinking of gift boxes reminded him he still had a ten-draw unused. He pulled over and opened his system.
New location, new luck—maybe something good.
He tapped the wheel and it began to spin.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained 30 cultivation points]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained 20 attribute points]
Leaning back, Xu Mu chuckled—same double minimum guarantees to start. Honestly, he was hoping they'd all be minimums so he could rank up again.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained a Grade-3 Heavenly Material & Earthly Treasure Gift Box]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained a Heaven-Grade cultivation art: Demon's Aegis]
…What the—?
Was the system doing this on purpose? He'd just risked his neck at the relic site to get a Heaven-Grade art, and now the draw gave him one.
Still, there was an upside: the drawn art was directly mastered—no cultivation time needed.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained 30 cultivation points]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained a Grade-2 Heavenly Material & Earthly Treasure Gift Box]
…
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained 20 attribute points]
It ended on minimum guarantees. He'd finally drawn a Heaven-Grade art, but he already had one. Even so, not bad overall: 120 cultivation points and 80 attribute points this round.
He dumped all the points into his body.
Suddenly, he felt himself break through another barrier. Qi surged wildly through his meridians.
After a long while, black text flashed before his eyes:
[Congratulations, Host has entered Late Mystic Art Realm]
Xu Mu clenched his fist; countless red light-dots erupted from the pores on the back of his hand, almost merging into a single sheet of light and covering his hand completely.
He pulled up his status panel:
Name: Xu Mu
Role: Holy-Body Villain; HR Manager, Xu Group
Realm: Late Mystic Art Realm
Physique: 1015
Spirit: 1015
Cultivation Points: 10 (max 800)
Power of Fate: 1142
Very nice. At this pace, it wouldn't be long before he entered the Grandmaster Realm.
He started the car to head back to Jiang City—only to notice an electric scooter parked nearby. Its rider was Jiang Huihui.
Xu Mu opened the door and smiled. "Huihui—what a coincidence, running into you here."
"I'm tracking a wanted target. I saw your car on surveillance, so I came to check," Jiang Huihui said, looking a bit worn out.