Chapter 270 - Zhang Mu, The Narcissist, Would Commit Fratricide to Steal his Brother's Wife!
In the heart of the Azure Phoenix Tower, the air was thick with miasma, and at the center of it all lay the Blood Crystal Pool, a gorey cauldron where the flesh and blood of demons were melded into one. The pool, more a bloody ocean than a pond, was shrouded in a bloody mist. Haunting wails of countless tormented spirits danced in the air, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who dared to approach.
Yun Xiao and the Sword Warden descended gracefully upon this eerie scene, landing near the ominous pool. The disciples and elders of the Sword Ruins, having gathered enough Sword Merits, came here to exchange them for Blood Crystal Sword Rings, adding new might to their Sword Souls.
The Sword Cultivators bowed deeply in respect as the Sword Warden and Yun Xiao approached.
"Bring forth Zhang Mu," the Sword Warden commanded.
A middle-aged scholar, dressed in a black and white sword robe, emerged from the pool. He was the very picture of elegance and freedom, with an air of scholarly refinement about him that felt like a breath of fresh spring air.
"This is Zhang Mu, the guardian of the Blood Crystal Pool, my son-in-law's little brother and one of the youngest Overseers in the Sword Ruins," the Sword Warden introduced.
The Sword Warden's son-in-law could only refer to Mu Dalong's husband. Since Zhang Mu was the little brother of the son-in-law, that meant he was family as well.
"Greetings, Exile Yun," Zhang Mu said with a bow. "Your fame precedes you. I really thought I'd witnessed an Immortal descend when I laid eyes upon you! Your appearance and demeanor are unmatched, unseen in the whole of the Nine Hells!"
Zhang Mu, in his youth, was famed as a handsome figure in the Eternal Sword Prison. Now, he was meeting someone who made him realize there were always higher mountains to climb, more extraordinary people to meet.
Yun Xiao, having heard enough praise about his looks, simply smiled without a word.
The Sword Warden, knowing Yun Xiao's penchant for getting straight to the point, addressed the scholar directly, "I remember the Blood Crystal Pool has seven Hell Demon Sword Rings, correct? Fetch them; Exile Yun needs them."
"The Hell Demon Sword Rings?" Zhang Mu hesitated
"Hmm? What's the problem?" The Sword Warden's brows furrowed coldly. He'd anticipated this reaction. He knew the Hell Demon Sword Rings were priceless treasures of the Sword Ruins. However, he'd already made a promise to Yun Xiao; he had no patience for dithering.
"Sword Warden, it's not that I'm unwilling, but..." Zhang Mu's face was a portrait of frustration.
"Out with it!"
"When Exile Ling made the Eternal Sword hum nine times, the Withered Bone Keeper came here himself to retrieve those seven Hell Demon Sword Rings. I was just worrying about how to report this to you," Zhang Mu said with a tinge of regret.
At this, both the Sword Warden and Yun Xiao fell silent. Their opponents had moved faster than they anticipated.
Yun Xiao thought he had been swift in his journey, but Ling Chen had been quicker. It seemed the Withered Bone Keeper was more cunning than the Sword Warden.
"My apologies, Exile Yun. I didn't expect them to be so shameless," the Sword Warden said helplessly.
"You don't need to apologize; this was truly unexpected." Yun Xiao was initially irked but then shrugged it off. Sword Rings were just a bonus, easily replaced. "Consider them a loan to Exile Ling, for now," he said calmly, accepting the situation. There was no point in direct confrontation now.
"We still have many Quasi-Hell Demon Sword Rings in the Blood Crystal Pool. They're nearly as powerful. What do you think?" the Sword Warden asked.
"If they're not the best, they're of no interest to me," Yun Xiao replied, hinting that he still had his eyes on the Sword Rings taken by Ling Chen.
Zhang Mu caught the undercurrent of rivalry in the conversation and kept silent, slightly taken aback.
"Exactly! With your 10,001 layers of Sword Aura, you have the upper hand in the Immortal Sword Rankings, even without the support of demon magic. In fact, it'll be more impressive when you win without the Sword Rings!" the Sword Warden said, recognizing Yun Xiao's intentions and smiling approvingly.
"Zhang Mu, next time, be bolder. If you're asked for something, delay if you can. I'll back you up if there's trouble," the Sword Warden advised the middle-aged scholar.
Zhang Mu chuckled wryly. "Back then, who could have predicted that Sword Ruins would produce a second Exiled Sword Immortal?"
"Indeed." The Sword Warden made no trouble for Zhang Mu. Instead, he simply gestured to Yun Xiao with a courteous "Please."
"Let's go!" Yun Xiao said.
One old and one young, both decisive in their movements, suddenly took into the sky with their Sovereign Swords, soaring into the clouds and vanishing from sight.
Zhang Mu watched them go, his eyes lingering on their disappearing figures. About half a quarter of an hour later, he too mounted his Sovereign Sword and took to the skies. However, his destination was not the Sword Ruins, but rather in the opposite direction.
Soon, Zhang Mu gracefully descended before a somber, black palace—the Exile Palace. At its entrance, a young boy knelt, his face as pale as a corpse, carrying the burden of a sword casket, living yet numb.
Inside the Exile Palace, the continuous, heart-wrenching sobs of a woman echoed, unceasing and mournful.
"Exile Ling, truly has a heart," Zhang Mu murmured with a hint of emotion, as he moved to the side.
There, under a pavilion, sat three Overseers sipping tea—Ku Xuan, Feng Buhui, and Yun Xinghe. Shuang Jiang, naturally, was busy safeguarding Ling Chen. Given that Bai Qingxue was currently stronger than him, someone needed to keep a close watch on her; a job certainly not fit for a man.
In the pavilion, the three Overseers enjoyed their tea, a silent acknowledgment that they were one short.
Zhang Mu, familiar with the ritual, took the vacant seat. From his Pouch of Holding, he produced a bundle of cloth, placing it beside Ku Xuan's teacup.
"What's in here?" Ku Xuan asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked up at Zhang Mu.
"Seven Hell Demon Sword Rings," Zhang Mu replied, a self-satisfied smile playing on his lips. "The Sword Warden came to the Blood Crystal Pool with Exile Yun, to ask for them, but I told him that Exile Ling had already taken them."
"Oh?" The other three Overseers exchanged glances, a smile slowly forming on their lips.
"Zhang Mu, you've done well," Ku Xuan praised, then turning to Feng Buhui and Yun Xinghe, he added, "Didn't I tell you? With Zhang Mu around, Exile Ling, need not bother going to the Blood Crystal Pool. He can just enjoy his blessings right here."
"Brilliant!" Feng Buhui and Yun Xinghe couldn't help but laugh, their eyes gleaming with delight.
"The finest Sword Rings, paired with the strongest Sword Soul, are like a hero matched with a beauty," Zhang Mu said with a meaningful smile.
"True enough." Ku Xuan gently patted his shoulder, "You've done us a great service. We'll speak highly of you to Exile Ling."
"Thank you!" Zhang Mu stood up, bowing in gratitude.
"No need for thanks," Ku Xuan sighed thoughtfully, then earnestly added, "Rest assured, you've made the right choice. No one will ever know how your brother really died."
"And my sister-in-law...?" Zhang Mu raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, she's yours!" Ku Xuan chuckled, amused.
Feng Buhui and Yun Xinghe, understanding the implication, burst into laughter.
Perhaps prompted by the laughter, the doors of the Exile Palace suddenly opened. Ling Chen, dressed impeccably, and Shuang Jiang, blushing faintly, emerged from the hall. Inside, Bai Qingxue was disheveled and distraught, her eyes vacant.
"Exile Ling!" Everyone except Ku Xuan stood up, offering their seats to Ling Chen.
Ling Chen took his seat as Shuang Jiang hurriedly poured tea, attending to him meticulously.
"What's the happy occasion? I heard laughter," Ling Chen asked, always behaving courteously in their presence. He lowered himself more than Yun Xiao would ever deign to.
"Indeed, a joyous matter," Feng Buhui smiled.
"A celebration for us, and a setback for the others," Yun Xinghe added.
"Oh? Do tell," Ling Chen noticed a Bag of Holding on the stone table and smiled lightly.
Ku Xuan, aware that Ling Chen needed some good news after his recent troubles at the Azure Phoenix Tower, introduced Zhang Mu and then recounted the story of the Hell Demon Sword Rings.
Hearing this, Ling smiled knowingly and said to Zhang Mu, "Senior Zhang, you killed your own brother to try and steal his wife. You really are no saint."
Zhang Mu's heart skipped a beat. He quickly knelt, pleading, "This lowly one committed a grave mistake during his youthful brashness. I beg for your mercy, Exile Ling!"
"A grave mistake?" Ling chuckled softly, gesturing for Zhang Mu to rise. "Great deeds often require overlooking the trivial. The path of cultivation appears to be a journey of clarity, free of desire. But in truth, desire is the root of seeking power. The strongest Immortals who lose their passions become hollow, caught by the Heavens, mere puppets in the control of the world. You follow your heart, doing what you wish, yearning for what you desire. You are a true seeker of the dao!"
"Hmm?" Zhang Mu was momentarily stunned, looking at Ling Chen, with a dazed expression.
"My side always welcomes those with ideas who dare to break the norms," Ling Chen said earnestly.
Zhang Mu's eyes burned with fervor, his voice deep and resonant, "I, Zhang Mu, would lay down my life for Exile Ling!"
The other Overseers couldn't help but admire the young man's devotion. Ling Chen's maturity and unrestrained character were not typical of someone his age.
"So, they rushed to the Blood Crystal Pool for these seven Hell Demon Sword Rings, and you fooled them, only to turn around and bring these treasures to me?" Ling Chen's gaze fell on the Bag of Holding, his expression a mix of subtlety and delight.
"Please, Exile Ling," Zhang Mu urged.
"If that's the case, then I shall accept it." Ling Chen picked up the Bag of Holding, reaching inside to grab one of the Sword Rings, effortlessly pulling it out. The Blood Crystal, no bigger than a soybean, suddenly ignited with a blue flame as it appeared in the air.
WHOOSH! A fiery azure phoenix, wreathed in raging flames, soared out of the crystal! With a loud explosion, the flames surged, even setting the pavilion ablaze!
"This is a true Azure Phoenix! Its demon magic, Azure Heaven Blaze, is like a vortex, scorching the heavens and earth with astonishing power!"
Just one of these Blood Crystal Sword Rings was enough to make others green with envy. Even Ku Xuan couldn't claim a Hell Demon Sword Ring without sufficient reason and achievements, let alone seven at once!
With an air of ease, Ling Chen attached the Sword Ring to the blue segment of his nine-colored Sword Soul, a perfect fit.
"This is what it means to have a hero's sword paired with a beauty's ring," Ku Xuan remarked, eyes shining with admiration.
Ling Chen, hearing this, smiled, thinking to himself, More like a low level hero matched with a village girl. I'll use it and toss it aside when I'm done with it. He kept these thoughts to himself, aware that these were treasures coveted by the Overseers of the Sword Ruins. Even Yun Xiao wanted them. But to the Divine Sky Sword Emperor, they were mere trinkets.
"Exile Ling, I wonder how many Sword Rings your Sword Soul can accommodate?"
The question of the Sword Soul grade piqued everyone's curiosity. As the Overseers awaited the unveiling of a miracle, a sense of anticipation mixed with tension filled the air.
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