253: Chapter 253 Mu Chen's Path

Mandala stayed in the Imperial City for three days.

During these three days, under the arrangement of Hun Qian, she toured every part of the Spirit Hall—from the Martial Arena to the Pill Hall, and from the Scripture Pavilion to the Volcanic Secret Realm.

She observed carefully and asked detailed questions. Occasionally, she would pause for a long time before certain spirit array nodes, and a sharp glint would flicker in her deep purple eyes, enough to make any cultivator below the level of Heavenly Supreme shudder.

Yet, no one found it out of place, as her petite figure, patrolling with hands clasped behind her back, formed a contrast with her twelve-or-thirteen-year-old appearance that was quite amusing.

On the evening of the third day, Mu Chen and Luo Li were packing their belongings in the side hall.

In truth, there wasn't much to pack—a few changes of clothes, some bottles of pills that Xiao Yi Xian had stuffed into their hands, and various small trinkets they had accumulated over the past half-year.

Luo Li carefully wrapped the azure jade slip and placed it into her storage bracelet; the surface of the jade slip had been polished smooth and warm from constant handling.

Mu Chen slung the heavenly emperor sword onto his back and stood by the window, looking out at the familiar volcanic range and the black-flame battle flag snapping in the wind atop the city tower, remaining silent for quite a while.

"Reluctant to leave?" Luo Li walked to his side.

"A little." Mu Chen did not deny it.

He turned around and reached out to straighten the slightly crooked scabbard hook at her waist, his knuckles inadvertently brushing against the fabric of her waist.

Luo Li's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she said nothing.

"Let's go. It's time to bid farewell to Master."

When the two arrived at the study, Hun Feng was sitting behind the desk, reviewing documents.

Xue Wei stood to the side grinding ink, her movements so practiced that even the rustling sound of the ink stick turning was perfectly rhythmic.

Hearing footsteps, she lifted her eyelids briefly before lowering them again.

"Master." Mu Chen cupped his hands in salute.

Hun Feng set down his brush and leaned back in his chair, looking at the two disciples before him who were about to set off on a long journey.

Mu Chen had grown half a knuckle taller than he was half a year ago, his shoulders were broader, and with the heavenly emperor sword on his back, he already possessed the bearing of a young Territory Lord.

Luo Li remained as cool and composed as ever, though there was a newfound steadiness between her brows—something that could only be settled after experiencing major events.

"Is everything packed?" Hun Feng asked.

"It is. We will depart with Territory Lord Mandala tomorrow morning."

Hun Feng nodded and walked out from behind the desk to stand before them.

He first looked at Luo Li, his gaze lingering for a moment on the sword at her waist: "Which level of the Luoshen Clan's inheritance have you comprehended?"

"The sixth level," Luo Li said. "I have mastered the parts in the ancestor's annotations regarding the fusion of the Law of Time and sword techniques; the remaining three levels require practical combat to refine."

"There will be plenty of opportunities for practical combat once you reach the Great Luo Territory." Hun Feng said, then turned to Mu Chen. "And you? To what extent have you mastered the Primordial Celestial Body?"

Mu Chen raised his hand, and a faint golden light appeared in his palm—a blurry human silhouette the size of a palm. Although it was not solid, it faintly exuded an ancient and vast aura.

Hun Feng glanced at it and nodded slightly: "The prototype is stable; continue refining it once you reach the Great Luo Territory. But remember, the Celestial Body is the Celestial Body, and your foundation is your foundation—do not sacrifice the root for the branches."

"Disciple will keep that in mind."

Hun Feng was silent for a moment, then changed the subject: "Mu Chen, since you are going to the Great Luo Territory to succeed as Territory Lord, I originally intended to assign a team of elite Spirit Hall disciples to accompany you. Additionally, Soul Mie Sheng could transfer two Spirit Grade Heavenly Supreme branch hall masters to help you suppress various factions. The Great Luo Territory is filled with entrenched powers, and as a newcomer, having people from the Spirit Hall by your side would make things much smoother."

Mu Chen was silent for a while, then looked up at Hun Feng: "Master, I wish to go alone."

Hun Feng raised an eyebrow.

"Master has already paved the road wide enough. The heavenly emperor sword, the Primordial Celestial Body, the Law of Space, One Qi Transforming into Three Purities—any one of these things is enough to make a faction mobilize its entire force to seize. If I go to the Great Luo Territory and still have to rely on the banner of the Spirit Hall to stand firm, then I'm not going there to be a Territory Lord, but a figurehead."

He paused, his tone calm yet firm. "Territory Lord Mandala has entrusted the position of Territory Lord to me, and everyone in the Great Luo Territory is watching—watching to see how much weight this young man who holds the heavenly emperor sword really carries. If I have to rely on Master's help just to subdue the various factions, even if I sit in the position of Territory Lord, the people below will not truly submit to me."

Luo Li nodded slightly at his side.

Hun Feng looked at Mu Chen, remaining silent for quite a while. Then, he chuckled softly.

"Fine. Since you've said so, then go alone. But remember this—the Spirit Hall is not your backer; it is your home. Your family may not help you fight, but if you are bullied outside, remember to come back and tell me. I'll go and settle the score for you."

Mu Chen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his cupped hands trembled a little: "Disciple will remember that."

"There is one more thing. Regarding your mother—" Hun Feng's tone softened significantly compared to before. "Over the past half-year, I have sent people to scout out the defense and rotation patterns of the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan's Forbidden Hall. Budu Xuan leaves the ancestral grounds once every three years to attend the Elder Council at the Great Thousand Palace, taking away at least half of the Heavenly Supreme guards. Mu Chen, establish yourself in the Great Luo Territory as quickly as possible. Once you truly control the Great Luo Territory and have your own team of Heavenly Supremes, you can take people to smash the gates of the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan. If you really can't take it down by then, I will step in."

Mu Chen's breathing hitched slightly. For the past half-year, he had never proactively asked about his mother, not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't dare. Now he realized that his master had never forgotten about this matter—not only had he not forgotten, but he had even tracked Budu Xuan's movements and the rotation patterns of the Forbidden Hall. His lips moved several times, but in the end, he only managed to say two words: "Thank you."

Hun Feng waved his hand: "Alright, go back and rest. You have a journey ahead of you tomorrow."

The next morning, outside the main gate of the Imperial City.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the volcanic ash from the Burning Heaven Mountain Range was whipped up by the morning breeze, dancing in the sky like fine golden dust falling in the morning light.

Mandala stood by the mountain path, still wearing the same black ink robe, her dark green hair swaying slightly in the wind, and the two dark golden Mandala flower ornaments on her head exuded a matte luster in the morning light. She watched as Mu Chen and Luo Li walked out of the city gate, not urging them.

There weren't many people here to see them off, but everyone who should have come had come.

Zi Yan vaulted down from the city tower and landed in front of Mu Chen, stuffing a package wrapped tightly in oil paper into his arms: "Dragon Phoenix dried fruit, I dried them myself. If anyone refuses to submit to you when you get there, if you can't beat them, just use my name—although I've never been to the Tianluo Continent, it will definitely work."

Mu Chen took the package of dried fruit, which was still slightly warm, his throat tightening slightly: "Thank you, Aunt Zi Yan."

"Call me sister!" Zi Yan stood on her tiptoes and tapped his forehead, then stepped back two paces to yield the spot to Yao Yao, who had been waiting for quite a while.

Yao Yao stepped forward, her peach-blossom eyes sweeping over the two from head to toe, before she fished out two bone-carved protective talismans from her bosom and pressed them into their hands. The talismans were only the size of a thumb, their surfaces carved with blood-colored patterns, feeling warm and smooth like jade to the touch. "Blood Bone Talismans, I refined them with my own blood. Wearing them can block one fatal blow. If you use them, tell me."

She spoke lightly, but Mu Chen knew the weight of these two talismans—given Yao Yao's current cultivation as an Immortal Grade Heavenly Supreme, protective talismans refined with her own essence blood were treasures that one could hardly find in the entire Great Thousand World that were more precious than these.

"Auntie Yao Yao, this is too precious—"

"Take it if I give it to you." Yao Yao interrupted him, glancing at Luo Li, a hint of mischief rising in her peach-blossom eyes. "Especially you, Luo Li, keep an eye on this blockhead. He doesn't care for his life when he fights, so you need to pull him back a bit."

Luo Li's lips curved: "I will."

Gu Xun'er stepped forward to straighten the silver hair on Luo Li's shoulders that had been mussed by the wind, then took a gilded sachet from her sleeve and tied it to her waist, patting the back of her hand before stepping back two paces.

Cai Lin stood on the city tower and did not come down, merely watching the group at the city gate quietly. When Mu Chen looked up, she nodded slightly. That single nod was worth more than a thousand words from others.

Hun Feng was the last to step forward. He stood before Mu Chen and reached out to straighten the hilt of the heavenly emperor sword on Mu Chen's back, then pushed the Blood Bone Talisman at Luo Li's waist slightly inward. His hands were very steady, and every movement was slow, as if he were packing the belongings for a child about to go on a long journey.

"Just one sentence—you are disciples who went out from the Spirit Hall; no matter where you go, do not lose face for the Spirit Hall. And do not lose your own face." He took two steps back and cupped his fists at Mandala, "Domain Master Mandala, safe travels."

Mandala nodded in return and raised her hand to form a hand seal. A dark green spatial passage slowly tore open in the void. Within the passage, one could vaguely see distant, undulating mountain ranges and vast plains—that was the direction of the Tianluo Continent.

"Let's go," she said.

Mu Chen and Luo Li turned around and bowed deeply to the people of the Imperial City. Then, Mu Chen straightened up, tightened his grip on the heavenly emperor sword, and stepped into the spatial passage side-by-side with Luo Li, following behind Mandala. The dark green light receded, and the figures of the three vanished into the morning light.

Hun Feng stood at the city gate, his hands behind his back, watching the closing spatial passage, not moving for a long time. Cai Lin came down from the city tower, walked to his side, and reached out to hold his wrist. Her hand was not warm, but her grip was steady. Hun Feng turned his hand to clasp hers in his palm, holding it for a good while before letting go.

"Let's go. There is still a pile of documents to approve today."

Tianluo Continent, headquarters of the Great Luo Territory.

The spatial passage unfolded over a vast stone plaza. Mu Chen stepped out of the passage and looked up to see a towering black palace—the Great Luo Hall. The palace was built from solid obsidian, its gates standing dozens of zhang high, with nine stone pillars standing on either side, their surfaces carved with reliefs of the ancient war. Hundreds of disciples were already lined up in the plaza, and upon seeing Mandala, they knelt on one knee in unison.

"Welcome back, Domain Master!"

Mandala raised her hand slightly to signal everyone to rise, then stepped aside, revealing Mu Chen and Luo Li behind her to the crowd.

"From today on, I am no longer the Domain Master of the Great Luo Territory. This person—Mu Chen, the new master of the Ancient Heavenly Palace's heavenly emperor sword and the successor of the Primordial Celestial Body, is the new Domain Master of the Great Luo Territory. Starting from today, I, Mandala, will step back to become the Deputy Domain Master, and I will do my utmost to assist the new Domain Master."

The plaza was deathly silent. Hundreds of eyes fell upon Mu Chen—scrutiny, curiosity, suspicion, awe; various emotions fermented silently among the crowd. The golden sword patterns of the heavenly emperor sword flickered behind him, and the aura of the Primordial Celestial Body faintly emanated. These descendants of the Ancient Heavenly Palace's former troops knew better than anyone what that sword and that aura meant.

The silence lasted only a few breaths before someone in the crowd shouted, "Greetings to Domain Master Mu!" Immediately, hundreds of people knelt again in unison, their voices causing the stone slabs of the plaza to tremble slightly.

Mu Chen stood beside Mandala, watching the disciples kneeling before him, his palms slightly sweating. He turned his head to look at Luo Li; Luo Li was also looking at him. There was no nervousness in her blue eyes, only a quiet trust. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, rested one hand on his sword, and swept his gaze across the crowd.

"Everyone, rise," he said, his voice steady. "Thanks to Domain Master Mandala's trust, she has entrusted this foundation to me. I know many of you are thinking—this kid from the outside, why should he be the Domain Master? I will not answer this question now. Because the answer is not something to be spoken with the mouth." He paused, "Starting from tomorrow, I will cultivate with you and fight alongside you. You will see for yourselves what kind of person I am."

The plaza was quiet for a moment, and then a shout, louder than before, soared into the sky: "Greetings to Domain Master Mu!"

Mandala looked at Mu Chen's profile, a complex and indescribable emotion flashing in her deep purple eyes. She didn't say much, just turned and led Mu Chen and Luo Li into the Great Luo Hall.

"I will tell you the situation inside the Heaven Territory in detail on the way," Mandala said as she walked. "Currently, there are nine Sovereigns under my command, with strengths ranging from Earth Supreme to Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign. The three strongest among them—Sovereign Tianjiu, Sleep Sovereign, and Sovereign Spirit Eye—are all Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereigns. Sovereign Tianjiu is the most senior, controlling nearly one-third of the Heaven Territory's military strength. Sleep Sovereign does not compete or fight on ordinary days, but his strength is unfathomable. Sovereign Spirit Eye is the youngest, with a fiery personality, and is the most dazzling genius in the Heaven Territory in three hundred years. Among these nine Sovereigns, some genuinely support the Heavenly Palace's inheritance, while others harbor secret intentions. You are a newcomer, and your foundation is not yet stable, so there is no need to rush to consolidate power."

Mu Chen nodded. He knew that the real test was not the few shouts of "Greetings to Domain Master Mu" on the plaza just now, but his performance before the nine Sovereigns that was to follow. Those people were all powerhouses in their own right, with cultivation levels far exceeding his by more than one major stage; they would never be convinced by him just because of a heavenly emperor sword.

Inside the Great Luo Hall, seven of the nine Sovereigns had arrived. On the three chairs in the center sat the three with the strongest auras—Sovereign Tianjiu had gray hair and beard, a thin and gaunt figure, and a pair of dark brown eyes sharp as knives above his aquiline nose; Sleep Sovereign leaned back against the chair with his eyes narrowed, his wide white robe loosely wrapped around him, his chin slightly drooping, as if he would fall asleep at any moment; Sovereign Spirit Eye was the youngest, wearing a crimson battle robe, with red light faintly flowing in his eyes, standing straight with his arms crossed. The remaining four Sovereigns sat on both sides, some with calm expressions, others with flickering gazes.

Seven gazes fell simultaneously on Mu Chen as he stepped into the hall. Sovereign Tianjiu's gaze swept from the top of Mu Chen's head to his feet like a hawk, stopping for only a moment before moving away, revealing neither joy nor anger. Sleep Sovereign remained with his eyes narrowed, and one could not tell if he was truly sleeping or feigning slumber. Sovereign Spirit Eye's crimson eyes stared unreservedly at the heavenly emperor sword on Mu Chen's back, his lips moving slightly as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he held back.

Mu Chen walked to the center of the hall, facing the gazes of the nine Sovereigns with a steady pace.

Sovereign Tianjiu spoke first. His voice was old and calm, without any emotional fluctuations: "The change of Domain Master is a major event. Since Domain Master Mandala has handed the Great Luo Token to you, we shall naturally comply. However, the position of Domain Master cannot be held firmly by just a sword—do you understand this?"

"I understand." Mu Chen met his gaze, "The position of Domain Master relies on strength and responsibility, not on tokens. The junior is aware of this."

"It is good that you are aware." Sovereign Tianjiu nodded and stopped speaking.

Sleep Sovereign suddenly yawned at this moment and opened his eyes to look at Mu Chen. Those eyes were turbid and listless, but Mu Chen felt that when that gaze stayed on him for an instant, the heavenly emperor sword behind him actually trembled slightly. "Young man, you have spirit; that is a good thing." He finished speaking and closed his eyes again.

Sovereign Spirit Eye finally could not help but speak. He stood up, his crimson battle robe like a burning flame under the spiritual crystal light in the hall, his voice loud and direct: "Domain Master Mu, I, Spirit Eye, do not beat around the bush. You came with the heavenly emperor sword, and I acknowledge that. But your current cultivation, forgive my bluntness, is that of a Lower Earth Supreme. I am a Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign. If we have a disagreement on the battlefield in the future, do you listen to me, or do I listen to you?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly tightened. Several Sovereigns exchanged glances but did not speak—this question was too direct, but it struck at the crucial point. Whether Mu Chen could handle this question would directly affect his weight in the hearts of these Sovereigns.

Luo Li stood beside Mu Chen, her hand already unconsciously pressing on the hilt of her sword.

"On the battlefield, we listen to whoever is right." Mu Chen looked at Sovereign Spirit Eye with a calm expression, "But I will bear the decision of the Domain Master. If we win, the credit is everyone's. If we lose, the responsibility is mine."

Sovereign Spirit Eye was stunned for a moment, staring at Mu Chen for several breaths, then slowly sat back in his chair, the corners of his mouth curling into an arc that could not be distinguished as admiration or disapproval.

Mandala stood to the side, a very faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. She had seen it when this young man was in the Imperial City—he was not the kind of genius who was sharp and exposed, but there was something in him more precious than sharpness. He could keep his composure.

Mu Chen looked at the seven Sovereigns in the hall with their varied expressions, knowing clearly in his heart that he had barely passed this test today. But to truly win the hearts of these people, a few words were far from enough. He needed to prove himself on the battlefield, needed to use victory after victory to polish the edge of the heavenly emperor sword. This road was not short, but he was not in a hurry. Just as his master said—if you fall, get up yourself.