Da Xuan Martial Saint

After much deliberation,

Chen Mu still felt there was no need.

Although relying on the Qiankun Lock Dragon Formation to refine his body could greatly enhance the efficiency of his cultivation of the Qiankun Martial Body, the Seven Profound Sect was currently facing internal strife and external threats. It was uncertain if there were any issues within, and sects such as the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion were eyeing it with covetous intent.

Especially if the fact that he had become a Qiankun Grandmaster were to be exposed at this time, it would probably not just shake the Cold North Eleven States, but the entire Da Xuan Dynasty would be astounded. By then, the attention turned towards the Seven Profound Sect would not only come from the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion!

Even if the Seven Profound Sect was powerful, even if it had a Blood Exchange Realm Supreme Elder, and had a foundation like the Qiankun Lock Dragon Formation, if it truly caused a shift in the entire world's structure and attracted the threat of more than one Blood Exchange Realm powerhouse, the situation would become very dire.

The biggest problem was,

he himself still lacked the ability to face a Blood Exchange Realm existence alone.

Having not yet comprehended his Domain, the Qiankun Martial Body was only at its initial stage; he could currently match some unparalleled grandmasters, but in front of those top-tier Blood Exchange Realm fighters of this world, he was still weak, still lacking the power to truly protect himself.

If he could refine the Qiankun Domain, when facing a Blood Exchange Realm, he would possess the power to retreat unscathed. Then, even if he revealed his Realm, it would not be a concern. By that time, he would truly be able to go anywhere under the heavens, and even if he attracted the attention of the world, he could simply flee. He would leave the Seven Profound Sect if needed and go to another state, or the Outer Sea. Who could do anything to him then?!

No matter how numerous the enemies, he would have nothing to fear.

However,

at this moment in time, he still needed to lay low and avoid drawing the attention of the Blood Exchange Realm, stirring up world-shaking upheaval.

Considering this, Chen Mu suppressed the longing in his heart, steadied his mood, and continued to maintain the state where his Inner Breath was connected to the Qiankun Lock Dragon Formation, using it to comprehend the heavens and earth, and to meditate on the Qiankun Artistic Conception.

Just like this,

time flew by swiftly, and six or seven days passed in a blink of an eye.

Chen Mu stood erect at the back cliff of Spirit Profound Peak, leaning against the rock beside him, silently gazing up at the sky as if quietly meditating on the natural world. He appeared like a lifelike stone sculpture, motionless.

Finally,

perhaps sensing some change, Chen Mu, who had maintained his posture for six or seven days, finally moved slightly. He took his hand off the rock and slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, and he calmly summoned the system interface to take a look.

[Martial Arts: Qiankun Artistic Conception (Step Two)]

[Experience: 3328 points]

[Number of Deductions Available: 0 times]
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In just seven days, his Qiankun Artistic Conception had surged by nearly two thousand experience points. This was almost in line with his previous estimation that in at most a month, he would complete the eighth refinement of the Qiankun Artistic Conception.

At this time, he rather hoped that the Seven Profound Sect would not instigate any battles for the moment, that Qin Mengjun would retreat and meditate for a longer period, allowing him to deduce the Qiankun Artistic Conception at this formation point for a few more months and perfect the Qiankun Domain.

But what was bound to come would eventually arrive.

"Protector Chen, come to the Great Profound Hall."

A quiet voice, solidified into a thread, transmitted from a distant and unknown place, inexplicably resounding beside Chen Mu's ear.

Chen Mu's expression remained calm, his gaze showed no ripples, and he stood firm on the back cliff before stepping forward. His entire body leapt directly from the summit of Spirit Profound Peak, light as a feather in the void, gliding gracefully towards Great Profound Peak in the distance.

Without a sound,

he once again ascended the main peak of the Seven Profound Sect, Great Profound Peak, and arrived in front of the towering Great Profound Peak's main hall. He looked up at the main hall and then stepped inside.

Before entering the hall, he was already aware of the many extraordinary presences within the main hall. Nearly each aura was thick and solid, all belonging to Marrow Cleansing Realm grandmasters. There were close to a dozen such auras!

"Chen Mu has arrived."

As soon as Chen Mu entered the main hall, many eyes turned towards him.

Inside the main hall, more than ten figures—some with weathered faces and graying temples, others with burly statures emanating an unyielding aura—wearing a variety of different garments. Qi Zhiyuan sat at the highest position, while the others stood on both sides of the hall.

These people were the Peak Masters of the various peaks of the Seven Profound Sect, as well as the sect's Elders. Apart from Shi Zhenyong, Feng Hongsheng, Wu Changxi, and Qin Mengjun not being present, the rest were almost all in attendance. However, Chen Mu did not recognize half of them.

After all, he had not spent much time in the sect, and most of it was spent in cultivation, with his rise to prominence being short. As many of the Sect's Elders and grandmasters spent years outside, it was quite normal for him not to recognize everyone.

At this moment,

seeing Chen Mu enter, the many Elders and Peak Masters who were watching him displayed various expressions. Some had sharp glances, some observed him carefully, others attempted to sense Chen Mu's aura, but could only feel it as one with everything, unable to discern anything, their eyes revealing a hint of surprise.

"Nephew Chen need not be overly courteous. With your strength now comparable to us old fellows, you are well enough to sit on an equal footing with us. Indeed, the young excel the old."

The person closest to Chen Mu stroked his beard and said to Chen Mu with a smile.

Chen Mu gave a slight bow and said, "How could a junior like me compare with all the seniors here?"

"No need for modesty."

Qi Zhiyuan gave a slight nod to Chen Mu and said, "The path of Martial Arts has always favored the accomplished. With your current strength, who would dare underestimate you in the slightest? By the decree of the Supreme Order, effective immediately, you are now the Vice Peak Master of Spirit Profound Peak and have entered the Elders' Court."

If it were only being among the top ten on the Wind Cloud List, even if one's strength was on par with an average grandmaster, it would still be debatable whether one could become an elder of the Seven Profound Sect. However, being within the top three of the Wind Cloud List meant one could sit on an equal footing with a grandmaster and hold the position of an elder. Not to mention that Chen Mu had also slain Tuguhou; his strength might already be considered the first on the Wind Cloud List.

Nonetheless, admission to the Elders' Court had to be sanctioned by Yin Heng, the Supreme Elder, after all, once one became an elder of the Seven Profound Sect, they would have the qualification to participate in all external affairs of the Sect and have authority over various dispatches, and they could even make decisions on major Sect matters through discussion. It could be said that they held high power and status. Within the Sect, their status was second only to the Supreme Elder.

Even the Sect Master of the Seven Profound Sect had no right to directly order the elders around; such matters had to be discussed collectively in the Elders' Court. This also closely aligned with the nature of strength being held in the highest regard, after all, the Seven Profound Sect was not led by an elder of the Blood Exchange Realm. Even someone as strong as Qi Zhiyuan and those like Feng Hongsheng and Shi Zhenyong were ultimately on the same level, just slightly stronger.

They were all grandmasters of their generation, capable of traversing the land unopposed. Who would casually obey the orders of others?

Of course.

If Qin Mengjun were to take over as Sect Master, with her strength as a top-tier grandmaster, she would certainly be able to subdue many elder peak masters. There wouldn't be many who would dare to go against her wishes, but this presupposes she is in her prime, not in her current state.

Upon hearing Qi Zhiyuan's words, Chen Mu was not surprised at that moment. After he had demonstrated the strength to slay three Great Demon Venerables and risen to the third spot on the Wind Cloud List, it was only a matter of time before he would take his place in the Elders' Court of the Seven Profound Sect. Xia Yu'r, who was in the top three, and others like Lin Han, who had once been in the top three, held the position of elder in the Hehuan Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect respectively.

The only thing he lacked was his relatively young age and not having been a disciple of the Seven Profound Sect for long enough. But in a world where strength was revered, power could determine many things. If he had only slain the three Great Demon Venerables, perhaps his entry into the Elders' Court would have been postponed for a few more years, but with the death of Tuguhou at his hands, stepping into the role of an elder of the Seven Profound Sect was no surprise at all.

"Elder Chen might not yet be acquainted with the people present. Let me introduce them to you."

The person closest to Chen Mu smiled at Chen Mu and said, "I am Liu Tong, Peak Master of Shao Profound Peak. Although I am twenty years your senior, in terms of seniority, we are actually of the same generation..."

Peak Master of Shao Profound Peak, Liu Tong.

Qin Mengjun had told him about Liu Tong, who was also a grandmaster cultivating the Qian Heaven method, but compared to Qin Mengjun, Liu Tong had only mastered the Qiankun Martial Body and had not yet grasped the Qian Heaven Domain. Of course, this was also related to his age, as he was the youngest grandmaster of the Seven Profound Sect, having broken through the Mysterious Pass at the age of forty-three, and was now only fifty years old.

Even as the youngest, because of his training in the Qiankun Martial Body, his strength was still extremely formidable. Once he could perfect the Qiankun Martial Body in the future and cultivate the Qian Heaven Domain, he would become a top-tier grandmaster on par with Qin Mengjun.

Chen Mu gave a small bow to Liu Tong and said,

"Peak Master Liu."

He remembered when he first joined the Seven Profound Sect, Qin Mengjun had mentioned Liu Tong to him. But ultimately, he didn't become a disciple under Shao Profound Peak. Today, not only was he of the same generation as Liu Tong, but his status was also equal.

Liu Tong smiled, pointed at the elder who had spoken first, and said:

"This is Elder Fang Yuan..."

Fang Yuan.

Fang Family of the Yu State Government Office.

Chen Mu silently recalled the name, remembering that the backer of the Cuiyan Mountain Villa was the Fang Family, and that Elder Fang was the person behind it. Cuiyan Mountain Villa was involved with the Sky Demon Sect, might this Elder Fang be a problematic figure within the Seven Profound Sect?

Or could it be one of the others present?

Many thoughts flashed through Chen Mu's mind, but he remained composed on the surface, exchanged pleasantries with Fang Yuan, and then met with the rest of the peak masters and elders under the guidance of Liu Tong.

Having met the backers of the six major families of the Yu State Government Office, with the exception of the old ancestor from the Liu Family, who was very old and had withdrawn from participating in any Sect affairs many years ago, his acquaintances were now complete.

"Now that we are all acquainted with one another, let's not waste any more time with pleasantries."

"Decisions should be made swiftly; hesitation leads to complications."

After Chen Mu had met all the peak masters and elders present, Qi Zhiyuan stepped forward, took out a signal arrow, and spoke with a grave voice, "This is the Supreme Order from Yin Heng, although I presume you all are already aware."

"..."

Chen Mu stood silently in the corner, saying nothing.

It seemed that this decision had not been discussed in the Elders' Court but was a direct command from Yin Heng, the Supreme. The final order assembled the Seven Profound Sect's main forces to advance on Secluded Silent Valley!

This mission did not include the forces of Ice Extreme Palace and Heavenly Sword Sect. Whether Secluded Silent Valley was the Sky Demon Sect's Main Altar or merely an important stronghold, it was clear that Yin Heng and Qi Zhiyuan shared the same view: mobilizing the Sect's grandmaster forces to strike decisively. If the Sky Demon Sect's defenses in Secluded Silent Valley were weak, they would swallow it whole in one fell swoop!

The situation in Ice State was chaotic, which undoubtedly presented an opportunity!

Many overt strengths of the Sky Demon Sect were scattered across Ice State and also entangled with Ice Extreme Palace and Heavenly Sword Sect. It was unlikely that many were left guarding the Main Altar. If they could breach the Main Altar, the gains would be significant.

After all, even if the Sky Demon Sect was an Evil Path Sect, it had existed for hundreds of years, and its accumulation of various resources and heritage was certainly not trivial.