Da Xuan Martial Saint

"Who are you?!"

Ling Huan glared at Chen Mu, his tone sharp.

Not only did Ling Huan's expression change, but so did those of Yan Hong, Yan Zhengyang, Hou Cheng, and many other Grandmasters, all showing shock.

They had witnessed with their own eyes how Ling Huan, holding that branch-like Spirit Weapon, had swept away the gathered Power of the Earth Fiend as if it were made of paper, crushing and tearing it apart, delivering a strike towards Chen Mu that seemed unstoppable—Chen Mu should have been obliterated on the spot just like Zhou Zheng.

But.

Chen Mu had blocked it!

Not only did he block it, but his light flick with two fingers in retaliation even caused the Spirit Branch to tremble violently, forcing Ling Huan to retreat forcefully!

Although Ling Huan had forcefully torn through the Power of the Earth Fiend, consuming some of his power and reducing the momentum of the strike, the Solidifying Refinement of force within it was still extremely terrifying. Someone like Zhou Zheng who faced it head-on would have been annihilated on the spot without any chance of resistance!

Even if Chen Mu was a top Grandmaster, far stronger than Zhou Zheng, facing that move, he could at most hope for a slim chance of survival by giving his all. It was simply impossible for him to counter-attack head-on, let alone force Ling Huan to retreat!

This was simply not something a top Grandmaster could achieve!

Even.

In the eyes of Yan Hong and Yan Zhengyang and others, even those peerless Grandmasters ranked in the top ten of the Grandmaster list would find it incredible to withstand that move from Ling Huan head-on, let alone make the opponent retreat—it was impossible!

Among everyone present, the only one who did not show a surprised expression was Liu Qingyan. She looked intently at Chen Mu, her eyes twinkling with amazement. This was the once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the Da Xuan Dynasty, the number one person in the Marrow Cleansing Realm!

"Chen Mu, I have learned much."

With one move, Chen Mu had repelled Ling Huan and stood alone in the center of the ring. He calmly addressed Ling Huan.

Having exchanged blows with Ling Huan, the Spiritual Ancestor of the Spirit People Race, he inevitably had to reveal the Qiankun Power. His name was now resounding throughout the Da Xuan Dynasty. Just with the move he just performed, there was no way anyone present could fail to recognize his identity.

Moreover, being in Xunmu Cave Heaven, there was no longer any need to conceal his identity. He could move unimpeded in this Xunmu Cave Heaven, and only the Spiritual Ancestor of the Spirit People Race before him warranted some of his serious attention.

"So the outsiders who have entered this time are not all useless after all, even I have misjudged," said Ling Huan.

After his expression changed briefly, Ling Huan's gaze became indifferent once more. A glimpse of profound cold light flickered in his aged eyes as he once again stepped forward, raising the Xunmu Heart Branch in his hand and sweeping towards Chen Mu's neck!

Chen Mu's expression remained calm as he raised his right hand and made a horizontal block, intercepting the incoming Xunmu Heart Branch. His left hand then extended the index and middle fingers, as he performed the Two Dragons Snatch the Pearl technique, aiming directly at Ling Huan's eyes.

Bang!

Ling Huan raised his right hand to intercept the two fingers pointed by Chen Mu. His left hand's fingers curled as the Xunmu Heart Branch, which he had been holding between them, slipped out of his grip. It spun around his forearm and, with the tip, stabbed towards Chen Mu's throat.

Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged as he withdrew both hands simultaneously, one sweeping up and the other down, creating an invisible barrier in front of him that blocked the thrust of the Xunmu Heart Branch. Then he pushed both palms forward.

The more Ling Huan fought, the graver his gaze became, and a hint of incredulity emerged in his eyes. Now facing Chen Mu's strike, he did not dare to be careless. He also performed a Palm Imprint, with small patterns weaving together in his palm.

Boom!!!

A thunderous roar sounded.

Both men were forced to retreat several steps.

The exchange between the two was only a few moves, and the techniques did not seem to wield a grand momentum. It was as if they were common fighters in a street brawl, but the collision that seemed so casual and effortless was tearing apart the Void!

With each collision, the space for several feet around appeared to shatter like a mirror, forming white fissures. Especially with the last strike, it tore open a rift stretching several yards, spreading like a spider web!

The interior space of Xunmu Cave Heaven was not weaker than the space of the Da Xuan World. Otherwise, it wouldn't be necessary to wait a hundred years for the Void Tide to create a passageway from the Outer Sea that pierces through the weak point into the Xunmu Cave Heaven.

Being able to tear a spatial rift in Xunmu Cave Heaven was undoubtedly the power of the Blood Exchange Realm!

And.

From the scale of the rifts torn by Chen Mu and Ling Huan's exchanges, the power they were exerting was most likely among the absolute best within the Blood Exchange Realm—perhaps even reaching the limit beneath the Celestial Human.

It is not surprising that the Spiritual Ancestor of the Spirit People Race possesses such strength, but 'Mu Chen'... no, Chen Mu's strength has also reached such a realm. His ability to enter the Xunmu Cave Heaven is undoubtedly within the Marrow Cleansing Realm. With the realm of a Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, yet capable of contending with such a terrifying Spiritual Ancestor, such strength is simply inconceivable!

"It really is him..."

In addition to her shock, Yan Hong couldn't help but mutter to herself.

She had not failed to speculate about 'Mu Chen's' identity, in fact, she had always harbored doubts, but mere suspicion did not necessitate investigation, especially since she and Chen Mu had no real conflict. Chen Mu wanted to enter the Xunmu Cave Heaven and he certainly did not need to join her team. Even if Chen Mu wished her ill, whether he joined her or not would not make any difference.

Furthermore, Chen Mu had previously demonstrated a masterful use of the Power of Taiyin that did not at all resemble an evolution of Qiankun Power. This led her to doubt her suspicions, thinking she might be overthinking it. After all, in the vast Nine States of the Da Xuan Dynasty, it wouldn't be strange for a top-notch Grandmaster of the Taiyin lineage to appear. However, after going full circle, her earliest suspicions hit the mark precisely!

In the arena,

Chen Mu's brief exchange with Ling Huan was nearly an equal match. He did not look toward Yan Hong and the others nearby nor did he call for their assistance. Instead, he focused his gaze on Ling Huan, betraying a hint of surprise.

"A Celestial Human?"

Yan Hong and the others, with their insufficient realms, could not discern the depth of Ling Huan's abilities. All the grandmasters who had entered the Xunmu Cave Heaven in the past were the same, unable to see due to the limitations of their realms. However, during his brief confrontation, he saw many things.

For example, Ling Huan's physique was very weak!

How weak?

It was almost inferior to Qin Mengjun, who had just made a breakthrough into the Blood Exchange Realm. It did not resemble that of a genuine expert within the Blood Exchange Realm but instead seemed like a very forced and extremely weak state!

But why could such a frail physique wield such terrifying power, almost reaching the limits just below that of a Celestial Human?

That's because Ling Huan... was a Celestial Human!

When he acted, it was not the Power of Heaven and Earth he mobilized, but with every move, the Power of Heaven and Earth naturally followed him. The initiative to mobilize the Power of Heaven and Earth and the Power of Heaven and Earth following naturally are two entirely different realms!

Only by uniting body and mind with Heaven and Earth, achieving Unity of Heaven and Man, could one reach such a level!

No wonder.

No wonder this group, despite engaging in activities that were least regarded underground and situated in the periphery, were found directly by the opponent, who precisely seized the time when they were acting separately.

This Spiritual Ancestor of the Spirit People Race was clearly a true Celestial Human, whose senses, harmonized with Heaven and Earth, extended far beyond what common Blood Exchange Realm individuals could perceive, probably catching even the slightest movements of grass and trees within hundreds of miles!

Such an immense range of perception naturally made his presence here no coincidence.

It's just that.

The opponent seemed to be restricted by the nature of this world as well, with a physique reaching the level comparable to the Blood Exchange Realm but restrained to an extremely weakened tier, greatly limiting their performance!

Even Chen Mu could vaguely feel that this world of the Xunmu Cave Heaven could not bear the existence of the Blood Exchange Realm. This Spiritual Ancestor reaching this point might have been through some extremely unorthodox methods.

However.

This situation was actually favorable for him.

If the Spiritual Ancestor were a Celestial Human in his prime, then even he would have to retreat and avoid confrontation... or to put it more aptly, it would be more like a scrambling escape.

But in this world, the opponent's physique is limited, and the power that can be exerted from their state of Unity of Heaven and Man is also confined, making them almost equal to his current self, although this was also within his expectations.

After all, if the Spiritual Ancestor were truly a Celestial Human in full power, all those grandmasters previously sent in would have been annihilated by now. Just one step difference in Martial Arts Realm signifies a world of difference!

"..."

Ling Huan looked at Chen Mu, his aged face growing much darker.

His actions might have been unexpected to Yan Hong and the others, but the existence of Chen Mu was equally beyond his expectations!

In the past thousand years, there were indeed extremely powerful grandmasters who had stepped into the Xunmu Cave Heaven, but no matter how strong those grandmasters were, they were at most only a bit stronger than Yan Zhengyang and the others, nowhere near Chen Mu's level.

Displaying strength capable of contending with him while in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, from what origin did this monstrosity emerge!