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墨書 Inktalez
None of the people present were fools; both Mu Bai's words and Master Mu's actions made it clear that there was something fishy about this matter.
Liu Qingyun and Iron Wusuan both had disciples who were injured by forbidden techniques, and Master Mu had just used a technique that had long been lost. It was worth noting that they had previously sought help from several masters for their disciples, but all had been helpless.
At that moment, the sun shone brightly, but Master Mu's heart felt icy. The appearance of Mu Bai meant little, but the impact of his words was devastating. If he had known how well Mu Bai understood the Substitution technique, he would never have shown up here!
"Do you not trust my character, Master Mu?" Although anxious inside, Master Mu still put on a facade of calm. "Substitution is a forbidden technique; its practitioners are enemies of Miao Cheng. Do you think I am arrogant enough to stand against the entire realm?"
Master Mu's words somewhat swayed the two. Though they were Level Creators, they truly lacked the courage to oppose all of Miao Cheng.
Not just those two, even the other masters couldn't help but nod in agreement. To stand against all of Miao Cheng was something only a madman would do.
"Master Mu makes a valid point, but I wonder if your four acupoints—Pen, Chengman, Wailing, and Qichong—ache subtly every full moon?"
Mu Bai's words struck like thunder in Master Mu's ears.
"How do you know?" Master Mu's voice trembled as he stared wide-eyed at Mu Bai in disbelief.
At this moment, Mu Bai finally confirmed that everything he believed was correct. He glanced at Zuo Dao, who appeared unfazed beside him.
It was this Cultivator who had pulled him back from the brink of death and had also shared some insights. If he hadn't confirmed that Mu Yuan was already a disciple of the other party, he wouldn't have dared to take such a risk.
Though Level Creators were not terrifying to him now, he had to treat the thousands of lives lost at Solemn Temple with caution.
"Master Mu, you better clarify things. What did the Master of the Curtain mean? Have you practiced Substitution or not?" Liu Qingyun murmured before locking his gaze onto Master Mu.
"Liu Qingyun, what do you mean by that? We are all of equal status; do you think I fear you?" Master Mu knew he could not admit anything at this moment.
"Master Mu, perhaps you should explain; it would save face for everyone," Iron Wusuan chimed in.
"Iron Wusuan, is your face more important than mine? Am I less worthy than you?" Master Mu felt anger rising within him. If it weren't for the many people present, he would have killed them right then and there.
The remaining few who had been silent until now could no longer remain quiet.
"Three of you, can we talk this out? We're not children anymore; we can't let a few words from outsiders stir up conflict!" The speaker was a cultivator who appeared to be in his forties.
"Tian Buguang, this has nothing to do with you. Do you really understand the situation?" Liu Qingyun's temper was notoriously fiery, and he spoke without holding back.
"Master Liu, what have I done? Even if there is an issue, it shouldn't be discussed in front of these juniors." Tian Buguang's expression darkened. He meant well; given their status, speaking in front of juniors was akin to disregarding their image.
The sudden internal strife among the big shots was unexpected. Mu Bai had stirred things up with just a few words, and now he stood quietly to the side, as if everything happening had nothing to do with him.
"Master of the Curtain, we need you to come with us. I won't feel right until we clear this up," Iron Wusuan said after some consideration, addressing Mu Bai.
"Iron Master, this has nothing to do with me. You all can sort it out yourselves." Mu Bai was unwilling to get involved in this matter. Although it had been triggered by him, he felt no obligation to clean up afterward.
"Mu Bai, you should come with us just once." Master Mu would not let the opportunity slip by; Iron Wusuan's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.
"What if I refuse?" Mu Bai looked directly at Master Mu.
"If you refuse, then please explain your previous remarks," Master Mu replied coldly, casting a sharp glance at the people from Solemn Temple present.
"Do you really want me to?" Mu Bai was no fool; he understood the implications behind Master Mu's actions.
"What’s stopping you?" Master Mu was confident that Mu Bai wouldn't dare clarify things on the spot. After all, they were within Solemn Temple; even if a fight broke out, the one who would suffer the most would be Mu Bai.
"Master Mu is indeed straightforward, but your Substitution technique is quite flawed. It seems you've absorbed too much from others' Dao fruits."
Boom.
As soon as Mu Bai's words fell, two powerful auras erupted simultaneously in the room.
“Mu Bai, is this really true?”
“Master of the Curtain, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
Liu Qingyun and Iron Wusuan spoke simultaneously.
“This was given to me by Master Mu; how could I dare deceive all of you masters?” Mu Bai replied seriously, looking directly at them.
“Master Mu, I need your explanation. Did you have anything to do with my Qing'er?” Iron Wusuan shouted angrily, pointing his sword at Master Mu.
“I also want to ask if what happened to my disciple Weak Light Dust was your doing,” Liu Qingyun said, his expression equally fierce.
Master Mu's face turned pale after Mu Bai finished speaking; he hadn’t expected the other party to dare confront him. What puzzled him even more was how Mu Bai knew he had practiced the Substitution technique and had pointed out his hidden dangers.
Not only Liu Qingyun and Iron Wusuan, but even the other Level Creators looked at him with hostility. It seemed that without a good explanation, these people would not let him off easily.
“Mu Bai, you’re spouting nonsense,” Master Mu retorted sharply.
“Why should I explain anything to you? Do you think it’s funny for me to explain something I didn’t do?”
“Master Mu, you can’t say that. Are you implying that I’m deceiving all the masters?” Mu Bai spoke each word clearly, following Zuo Dao’s earlier instructions. He admired how well he understood Master Mu's reactions and words.
“If you dare to let the masters examine you thoroughly, and if nothing is found, then I, Mu Bai, will die in apology. Moreover, I will have my son become your disciple,” Mu Bai's words caused the cultivators present to look at him in astonishment; this was an enormous statement.
It should be noted that within their circle, every cultivator must take responsibility for their words; once spoken, they cannot be taken back. At their realm, every word strikes at the heart. Perhaps it wasn’t apparent at the moment, but it would manifest in their future cultivation.
If Master Mu truly hadn’t practiced Substitution, then Mu Bai would have to die, and Mu Yuan would undoubtedly become Master Mu’s disciple.
However, Master Mu did not think this way. He chuckled and said, “Mu Bai, you really are calculating well. If it were you in my position, staying under the roof of your father’s murderer, what would you do?”
"You're right, I overlooked that. What do you think, Master Mu?" Mu Bai did not hide his awkwardness.
"What should I do? What are we supposed to do?" Master Mu sneered. At that moment, he wished for nothing more than for Mu Bai to simply disappear. However, if he didn't resolve the current situation, even if Mu Bai were to die, it would still have a significant impact on him. Liu Qingyun and Iron Wusuan would not let him off easily.
Whether this matter was true or false had already created a rift among the Nine Elders, especially between him and the other elders.
"Since Master Mu wants me, shall I proceed?" Mu Bai asked with a questioning look at Master Mu.
Master Mu frowned, unsure of what Mu Bai was plotting. But if he refused, it would only raise suspicions among others.
"Then go ahead," Master Mu decided after a brief consideration. He was also curious about the other party's intentions.
"Good, Master Mu is indeed a wise man." Mu Bai clasped his hands together. "What I mean is that you should just admit it yourself, to avoid losing face later."
"What?" Master Mu's anger flared. Even though he had practiced the Substitution Technique, he could not admit to what Mu Bai had just said.
"You brat, you're pushing your luck."
Not only Master Mu but even Liu Qingyun and the other elders felt that Mu Bai's words were going too far.
"I'll bully you as much as I want. What are you going to do about it?" Mu Bai sneered, his hair standing on end without any wind.
"You think just because you're a Level Creator you can do as you please? You think that because you've practiced forbidden techniques no one will notice? Do you think my Solemn Temple is easy to bully? Do you think my son Mu Bai will let you manipulate him?"
Each word dripped with fury.
"My Solemn Temple may not seem like much in your eyes, but today I want to tell everyone in Miao Cheng: those who dare to bully my Sole Ruler will die."
Boom.
The momentum of Mu Bai erupted completely, a shocking force spreading through the air.
"Golden Immortal!" the elders exclaimed in astonishment.
They knew that as Level Creators, they understood how difficult it was to cross this threshold. First, one had to cultivate to the Realm; without reaching Golden Immortal, one could not grasp its true essence and thus could not achieve the level.
Mu Bai was already a peak Creator at the Earth level. With his cultivation advancing, his Creation Realm would inevitably rise to the next level.
"Level Creator, congratulations, Mu Dao-you," the elders quickly stabilized their emotions despite their astonishment.
"Mu Bai, how dare you challenge me with such confidence? So you've advanced, but what does it matter if you're at this level? I will show you that even among equals, there are distinctions in strength. I will make you understand the price of insulting me." Master Mu began to shout, though his heart felt somewhat unsettled.
If Mu Bai were still an Earth-level True Immortal, then killing him would be straightforward. However, as a fellow Golden Immortal, unless the gap was vast, it would likely turn into a prolonged stalemate. Killing someone of the same level was not an easy task.
There were others present who felt even more uneasy. The three other Masters from Miao Cheng's Great Dao arena realized that Mu Bai, whom they had always looked down upon and considered mere prey, had actually advanced. This not only disrupted the balance of power in Miao Cheng but also signified that new rankings would emerge.
"Do you think you can still make a move?" Mu Bai mocked. "Your greatest greed should have been to absorb the fruits of the Wind path."
"What!" Master Mu's heart sank. He hadn't expected Mu Bai to see through his possession of Substitution and even discern what he had absorbed.
He couldn't let him live; absolutely not. Even if it meant going against all of Miao Cheng, he had to kill Mu Bai. Mu Bai's existence had become his greatest threat within Miao Cheng. The fact that Mu Bai could perceive these things sent chills down Master Mu's spine; he couldn't afford to gamble on whether the other party knew about Substitution's weaknesses.
What he practiced was merely a flawed version of Substitution; he had survived until now through sheer willpower and intelligence.
He couldn't take that risk.
"Want to kill me?" Mu Bai laughed at Master Mu's expression at that moment. "You should know there are Eight Vice Principals who are Golden Immortals here."
"Master Mu, did you really do this? Do you dare swear an oath before the Dao?" Liu Qingyun was now furious but still maintained a bit of clarity in his mind. It wasn't that he didn't believe Mu Bai; Master Mu's actions had made everything clear. Yet he still needed to ask one last question—this was simply his nature.
"Do you dare?" Iron Wusuan stepped forward, his voice sharp.
"Brother Yuan, what does it matter if you swear an oath when you haven't practiced it?" Tian Buguang and the others finally broke their silence, speaking up one after another.
"Do you all think the same? Are we to disregard our thousands of years of friendship based on someone's mere words?" Master Mu was still making a final effort.
"As long as you swear the Great Dao oath to prove your innocence, each of us will owe you a favor," said Xie Shi'an from among the Nine Elders. He had the best relationship with Master Mu, and this statement served as compensation for him. The weight of a favor from a Level Creator was significant, as seen in Miao Cheng.
"I never expected that I would fall into your hands. How did you figure it out?" At this point, Master Mu knew he absolutely could not swear the Great Dao oath. He resolved to fight back fiercely, even if it meant spilling blood and taking a few down with him.
With a whoosh, the Nine Elders who had been nearby instantly darted away, surrounding him like a formidable wall. The threat posed by a Golden Immortal Creator capable of using the Substitution life-and-death technique was evident from historical records.
Liu and Tie were eager for revenge but still managed to prioritize their actions.
"Actually, I didn't figure it out," Mu Bai said with a carefree smile.
"What?" Not only Master Mu but also several nearby Level Creators looked at him incredulously.
"Good, good, good." Master Mu laughed in anger; he hadn't expected such an answer. "I can't believe you started setting me up before this. Truly, the new waves push the old waves aside."
However, as Master Mu thought more carefully about it, he sensed something was off.
"You didn't figure it out?"
"I really didn't," Mu Bai replied, his own frustration matching that of Master Mu. What was going on? Zuo Dao had never even met Master Mu; how could he know about this?
"If you didn't figure it out, how did you know about the operation of Substitution?" Master Mu suddenly realized that if the other party knew these things, they might possess a complete Cultivation Method.
"I guessed," Mu Bai's words nearly made him spit blood again.
Even a few Level Creators rolled their eyes in unison.
"I had planned to achieve great mastery before making my mark, but I didn't expect to be thwarted by you," Master Mu's mood had completely settled.
"However, I must thank you for giving me a legitimate excuse to use Substitution. Now, let me show you its power. Even if the odds are against me, as long as I don't die, it will ultimately be Miao Cheng who suffers. What are we waiting for? Let's get started!"
As soon as Master Mu's words fell, an unexpected change occurred on the battlefield. First, the people from Water Screen and Blue River simultaneously attacked those from Flowing Iron Dojo and Solemn Temple.
The attack was sudden; the Flowing Iron Dojo members were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses. Meanwhile, under Luo Ao's signal, Solemn Temple had been on high alert and ended up taking the brunt of the damage.
No one expected that the forces from Mu and He would actually be Master Mu's allies. However, as Golden Immortals, their reactions were swift, and soon some rushed to retaliate.
"Pu brother, I'm here to help you."
Pu Yihuo, one of the Nine Elders and having a good relationship with Flowing Iron Dojo, would not stand idly by while his comrades were slaughtered. The moment the chaos erupted, he flew in to assist.
Just as he made his move, a voice came from behind him. Without turning around, he knew it was Zheng Zihua, another member of the Nine Elders. He wondered why Zheng chose to fight alongside him instead of guarding Master Mu when another voice rang out.
"Pu Master, watch out."
A warning shot through his mind just as he felt a powerful force strike at his unprotected back. Realizing there was no time to save himself, he gathered all his Essence to form a protective barrier.
Boom.
A loud explosion echoed as a gust of air erupted in the sky. Yet Pu Yihuo did not suffer the severe injury he had anticipated. When he turned back to look, he saw a strange Cultivator standing between him and Zheng Zihua.
If he remembered correctly, this Cultivator should have been part of the Solemn Temple faction earlier.
"Leave this to me; you go ahead," the figure said before Pu could even express his gratitude.
"Thank you!" Pu Yihuo said without pretense. Although Zheng Zihua's counterattack infuriated him, the situation at Flowing Iron Dojo was dire, and the priority was to save lives. East Flow Iron was already on the brink under the assaults of Water Screen and Blue River.
The sudden actions of Water Screen and Blue River had shocked everyone, and Zheng Zihua's subsequent move intensified the tension in the air. Now, everyone had to be wary not only of Master Mu but also of each other.
"Master Mu truly has remarkable skills; I admire you," Zuo Dao observed the stalemate on the field and realized that he could no longer remain passive.
As Zuo Dao clapped his hands, he stepped into the air.
"Don't worry, everyone. There are no more of his people here."
If Gan Hong were present, he would undoubtedly trust Zuo Dao's words. However, Zheng Zihua's counterattack had made the other Level Creators hesitant to trust anyone.
Zuo Dao shook his head.
"Master of the Curtain, it's your turn to act; I'll help you clear the field."
With that, he ignored everyone else and quietly watched Master Mu.
Zuo Dao's appearance made Master Mu alert once again. Coupled with Zuo Dao's words, he had already regarded him as his primary opponent, but at that moment, he could no longer focus on Zuo Dao.
Mu Bai charged forward with an endless blaze of fire.
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