Chapter 184

Chapter 184: News Spreads

"Brother Jing, your disciple is something else!" Hua Shu exclaimed.

At first, hearing of Mu Chen and Ye Shi's disappearance, he thought they met their end. But now...

Jing Chiyang chuckled with a touch of resignation, "Being alive and well is the real achievement these days."

"True," Hua Shu agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

Rumor had it that the duo hid within a grand formation, with powerhouses outside drooling to get in and skin them alive. It must be terrifying for them to even try and rest inside.

"Ah, those two are too audacious," Jing Chiyang sighed with mild exasperation.

Hua Shu gave a wry smile, "Mu Chen and Ye Shi have made too many enemies, many of whom rival our headmaster in strength. Even if our headmaster intervenes, it might be futile. Such fearlessness... it's astonishing."

"I hope the two have enough luck to survive this ordeal," Hua Shu wished.

Jing Chiyang's eyes narrowed in thought, "If Mu Chen and Ye Shi pull through this, their futures are boundless."

"Elder Jing." Upon returning to his residence, Jing Chiyang found a guest waiting.

"Master Mu, what brings you here?" Jing Chiyang inquired, seeing Mu Yuanfeng.

Mu Yuanfeng looked troubled, "Elder Jing, I heard you plan on entering the Martial Ancestor secret realm?"

Jing Chiyang confirmed, "That's right."

Mu Yuanfeng frowned, "May I join you?"

Jing Chiyang sighed deeply, "Mu Chen and Ye Shi have stirred up massive trouble. Do you know someone planned to kidnap you to threaten Mu Chen? They only held back out of respect for Saint Star Academy."

Lowering his head, Mu Yuanfeng's face bore a bitter smile. As a father, he felt he had become a burden.

"If that's the case, I entrust Mu Chen to your care," Mu Yuanfeng respectfully requested.

Jing Chiyang solemnly replied, "If I go, I'll do my best to assist them."

"With your word, Elder Jing, I'm truly grateful," Mu Yuanfeng expressed sincerely.

Jing Chiyang sighed inwardly. With the chaos Mu Chen and Ye Shi had created, even a notable figure like Elder Xiong Wei had to disguise himself. Going there might not make much difference.

"Master Mu, don't fret. Mu Chen and the young master will be alright," Chen Da consoled as Mu Yuanfeng entered.

Mu Yuanfeng shook his head, "How can I not worry with things in such a state?"

"The patriarch has already intervened. There might still be hope," Chen Da offered.

Hearing this, the tension on Mu Yuanfeng's face eased slightly.

...

"Ye Rong, did you hear? Mu Chen and Ye Shi discovered a relic and have become Martial Kings," Lou Ruoyi exclaimed admiringly.

Ye Rong nodded, "I've heard."

Not long ago, everyone believed Ye Shi had met his demise, and she even celebrated for quite a while. But not only did Ye Shi survive, he also stumbled upon great fortune. Hearing this, Ye Rong was so infuriated that she almost gritted her teeth to pieces.

"To say he's become a Martial King sounds a bit exaggerated!" Ye Rong remarked with a furrowed brow.

It was only a little over a year ago that Ye Shi became a Martial Spirit. How could he ascend to Martial King so swiftly?

How many Martial Kings does the Saint Star Academy have? The Martial Kings of the Xuanfeng Empire are renowned figures!

Lou Ruoyi shrugged, commenting, "That's what everyone is saying, so it must be true, right?"

"I heard that Mu Chen and Ye Shi collaborated to kill a Martial Emperor," Mi Xue said with reverence.

"Perhaps it's just a game of broken telephone. Even if they did become Martial Kings, there's no way they could defeat a Martial Emperor!" Ye Rong couldn't help but exclaim.

Bai Le pondered for a moment, then added, "There's no smoke without fire. From what I've heard, they didn't face the Martial Emperor head-on. They used a trap."

Clenching her fists, Mi Xue stated, "Regardless of the means, defeating a Martial Emperor is truly a monumental feat."

A Martial Emperor! Such a figure remains beyond their reach.

"Mu Chen and Ye Shi truly lead an eventful life," Lou Ruoyi couldn't help but remark.

"Indeed, they have come across great opportunities, but word is that their current situation is precarious. One wrong move could spell their doom," Bai Le shared.

Nodding, Mi Xue commented, "I've heard too. Rumor has it that a group of Martial Emperors is eyeing them. If their protective formation breaks, they'll be brutally torn apart. It's chilling to even think about. I wonder how they sleep at night."

"From what I've heard, even the Academy Head is hesitant to intervene directly on their behalf," Bai Le said with a sigh.

...

Fu Yuanbao scanned the message in his hand, his eyes flickering incessantly.

Fortune favors the bold. Just like Mu Chen and Ye Shi, great rewards come with great risks.

Considering his minor endeavors, he wondered how many years it'd take to reach the likes of Mu Chen and Ye Shi.

"Fatty, do you think Mu Chen and Ye Shi are in danger?" Xin Rugao asked Fu Yuanbao.

With a wry smile, Fu Yuanbao responded, "Sister Xin, you're giving me too much credit. How would I know?"

"Aren't you touted as the 'All-Knowing'?" Xin Rugao snapped.

Scratching his head, Fu Yuanbao said, "That's just what people randomly call me."

Rolling her eyes at Fu Yuanbao, Xin Rugao muttered, "Those two rascals, Mu Chen and Ye Shi, always stirring trouble. But indeed, they've reached the King level."

Fu Yuanbao nodded in confirmation, "Absolutely, both of them have indeed reached the King rank."

Xin Rugao paused for a moment, grinding her teeth, and then said, "Next time I see those two brats, I'll have to address them as seniors!"

Scratching his head again, Fu Yuanbao admitted, "I'm afraid so."

Xin Rugao shook her head and said poignantly, "It hasn't been that long, yet these two rascals have outgrown me."

Poor Xin Rugao had worked tirelessly for a year, only to advance one star rank, while these two somehow became Martial Kings.

"Does that secret realm contain many treasures?" Xin Rugao inquired.

Fu Yuanbao nodded seriously, "Certainly. Otherwise, why would so many be after it? I heard Ye Shi treated a thousand-year-old white jade ginseng like a carrot snack in that realm."

Xin Rugao gritted her teeth. What a waste!

If Ye Shi wanted to eat carrots, she could've given him a whole basket! Why consume precious ginseng? If they had surplus, they could've gifted it to their seniors. Their selfishness no doubt invited resentment.

"Such fortunate souls," Xin Rugao sighed.

Nodding, Fu Yuanbao said, "Indeed. But their luck is why so many are now after their lives."

...

The Mu Residence.

"Hong'er, you've returned," Mu Ke greeted Mu Hong with an affectionate look on his face.

"Yes, Grandfather," Mu Hong replied respectfully.

"Where's your second uncle? Didn't he come back with you?" Mu Ke inquired.

With the rise of one, the entire clan benefits. Over the years, the Mu family's influence had grown exponentially. However, Mu Yuanfeng and Mu Chen hadn't returned even once.

Frowning slightly, Mu Hong responded, "Second Uncle is now a mentor at the academy and doesn't have the time to come back."

Mu Ke let out a soft sigh, a hint of undisguised sorrow in his eyes. He realized he could no longer control his second son.

"I've heard your uncle has reached the rank of a Six-Star Martial Spirit?" Mu Ke inquired.

Mu Hong nodded, replying, "Indeed."

After advancing to Martial Spirit, Mu Yuanfeng's strength skyrocketed. Coupled with the ample elemental stones given by Mu Chen, and with his own natural talents, his growth was incredibly rapid.

The gap in strength between Mu Yuanhai and Mu Yuanfeng became evident. When it was small, it was chaseable. Now it felt insurmountable, leading Mu Yuanhai to gradually abandon any thoughts of rivalry.

Over the years, every holiday, Mu Yuanfeng would have someone send gifts back home. The gestures were never lacking, but Mu Ke always felt the absence of his physical presence. Perhaps it was his own bias towards his eldest son that stopped him from expecting too much from Mu Yuanfeng.

"Chen, any news yet?" asked Mu Ke.

Mu Hong shook his head, saying, "Not yet." There was news, but it was too strange to mention, and wouldn’t help to tell his father and grandfather.

Mu Hong looked down, reflecting on how the once naïve and frivolous Mu Chen had transformed into a cunning and ruthless prodigy. The change seemed almost unimaginable.

"Chen, without any news, your uncle must be quite worried!" Mu Ke couldn’t help but say.

……

Secret Realm.

"Mu Chen, what are you looking at?" Ye Shi entered, asking.

"Mu He has returned," Mu Chen replied, his tone cold as he observed the shadow wall.

A flicker of resentment passed through Ye Shi's eyes. "I wish he had encountered some accident and never returned."

Mu Chen managed a wry smile. Wishing for someone as powerful as Mu He to have an accident wasn't realistic.

"With that old guy back, he's bound to stir things up," Ye Shi commented with a furrowed brow.

Mu Chen nodded, "Exactly. Mu He is collaborating with a group of elite royals, planning to arrange the Stellar Seizing Array to divvy up the resources in the Secret Realm."

"Isn’t he afraid they'll betray him?" Ye Shi pondered.

Mu Chen shrugged, "They’ll collectively sign the Covenant Book."

Ye Shi nodded in understanding, "I see." It seemed the situation was about to get tricky.

"Speaking of which, Xiong Wei is also a Martial Emperor. Isn’t he among those invited?" Ye Shi suddenly recalled.

Mu Chen shook his head, "No."

Martial Emperors don't just pop out of nowhere. To avoid suspicion, Xiong Wei disguised himself as a Martial King, and thus wasn't among those invited to Mu He's discussion.

"He's not?" Ye Shi sounded disappointed. "I thought Xiong Wei would have infiltrated the enemy's ranks. He's perhaps too upright."

"It's not about being upright. Infiltrating isn't easy," Mu Chen replied calmly.

Ye Shi nodded, "Right. If Xiong Wei did sneak in and got caught, he might end up full of holes."

Mu Chen chuckled softly. Regardless of the situation, Xiong Wei, being a Martial Emperor, should be able to protect himself. It was Mu Chen and Ye Shi who might actually be in real danger!