Daoist Mu

Hekou Town, Daoist Mu's residence.

"Did you find it?" Daoist Mu sat in his chair, staring at the subordinate rushing towards him.

Several subordinates carried several large boxes in and reported, "Replying to Elder, my two teams searched Elder Xiangyang's residence all night. As per your instructions, all books suspected of containing Daoist Magic cultivation methods have been moved here."

Daoist Mu nodded and waved his hand. The books in the large boxes floated into the air and turned their pages automatically.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle~"

The books flipped rapidly, while Daoist Mu closed his eyes and remained silent.

After a while, Daoist Mu slowly opened his eyes.

"Nothing? It seems the incomplete Thunderclap Art wasn't hidden in the residence but was carried by Daoist Xiangyang himself."

"Did you find Elder Xiangyang's body?"

"This..." The subordinate hesitated. "We found it, but when I went to search, Elder Heifeng's people got there first."

"Hmph! A bunch of useless people!" Daoist Mu waved his hand. "Get out."

"Yes." The subordinates quickly withdrew.

"Daoist Xiangyang obtained the Thunderclap Art from the Nine Nether Ruins. I heard he practiced it diligently for years but couldn't cultivate the first level. He often showed off in front of me... Now that he's dead, I don't know if the government searched him or if Heifeng got there first."

Daoist Mu shook his head with some regret.

"Hmm?" Just as Daoist Mu was lamenting this matter, a subordinate entered from outside the door to report.

"Elder, Elder Cang is here. He's outside the Manor."

"Who? Cang Hai, the Young Master's teacher?"

"Precisely."

Daoist Mu was stunned and immediately remembered that the Li Family's Young Master, Li Ming, had two teachers: one Qi Cultivation True Person and one Xiantian Martial Artist.

That Qi Cultivation True Person's whereabouts were always secretive, but Cang Hai was always by Li Ming's side.

Why would he come here?

"Quickly invite him in... No, I'll go and greet him!" Daoist Mu dared not be careless and quickly led his subordinates to welcome him.

As he walked, Daoist Mu was also somewhat puzzled.

"Why is Cang Hai coming? Could it be that the Family Head is worried about changes at the Branch Shrine and sent a Xiantian Martial Artist to help me?"

Outside the manor, Shen Zhui, shrouded in a black robe, felt uneasy. Rong Zimo, standing beside him, also had sweaty palms.

"Shen Zhui, how confident are you? Why don't we just break in?"

"Be patient," Shen Zhui, whose appearance and physique were indistinguishable from Cang Hai's, instructed. "Once he falls for the trap, follow my command and directly borrow Divine Power to go all out."

"Understood," Rong Zimo nodded.

"I hope we can lure Daoist Mu out," Shen Zhui thought hopefully.

This was a plan he had discussed with Han Mao and others that morning. Currently, only Rong Zimo and he among the five could borrow Divine Power.

With just the two of them, if they directly forced their way in by borrowing Divine Power...

Firstly, they would have difficulty confirming the location of the Branch Shrine.

Secondly, after the previous Daoist Xiangyang's Branch Shrine was destroyed, he was still incredibly powerful with the help of the great formation. Daoist Mu likely had some trump cards, and it wouldn't be so easy to kill him within the manor.

Moreover, in Daoist Mu's lair, there were at least a dozen Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm, and even peak Martial Artists. If they charged in and couldn't complete the mission within the duration of borrowing Divine Power, they might not even be able to retreat.

Therefore, Shen Zhui had no choice but to come up with this plan to try and lure Daoist Mu out.

Once outside the manor, Shen Zhui would be much more confident.

"According to Captain Wang, this Cang Hai is Li Ming's martial arts teacher and has always been by Li Ming's side. His status must be high. Having Daoist Mu come out to greet him should have a high probability of success."

"Unless Daoist Mu immediately contacts others to verify upon hearing my news. But Cang Hai is a Xiantian Martial Artist, and his movements are not something that can be easily revealed. Unless they directly ask the Family Head of the Li Family, a person of that level of authority."

Shen Zhui was also taking a gamble.

He was gambling that Daoist Mu would come out to confirm for himself first.

After waiting anxiously outside the high walls for a long time, just as Shen Zhui was about to give up, a figure suddenly appeared on the city wall.

"They're here," Shen Zhui's heart tightened.

Daoist Mu was also cautious, only landing on the city wall to observe the two of them.

After a while, Daoist Mu spoke, "So it's Elder Cang. Forgive my lack of proper welcome."

Shen Zhui saw hidden soldiers with bows and arrows around them, and the faint glow of a formation flowing on the high wall.

The other party was fully prepared, as if facing a great enemy. Moreover, they only greeted him from the city wall and didn't come closer. Shen Zhui cursed this person for being overly cautious and cowardly.

"Elder Mu," Shen Zhui lowered his black robe, revealing his face. "Elder Mu is exceptionally intelligent. Can you see anything different about me?"

"Hmm?" Daoist Mu's brow twitched. From a distance, he could see that although Shen Zhui had Cang Hai's appearance, his aura was that of an ordinary person with no spiritual energy fluctuations. His instinct told him it was a trap, so he didn't approach at all.

But he didn't expect the other party to speak first and reveal his own weakness.

"This... could it be that the Family Head used some special method to hide his strength and specifically sent him to ambush this Branch Shrine?" Daoist Mu hesitated. The downside of being cautious was that he tended to overthink.

As he hesitated, Rong Zimo beside him suddenly shouted, "You scoundrel Mu Haishan, how dare you be so disrespectful to Cang Lao! Who gave you the guts?"

Seeing a Ninth Stage Houtian Martial Artist next to the other party dare to scold him, Daoist Mu's face immediately turned red.

Such arrogance, he really is like someone by the Young Master's side. The thought flashed through his mind, but he still remained silent.

"Fine!" Shen Zhui said calmly. "Since Elder Mu is unwilling to disperse the magic array, then we shall take our leave. If anything happens and the Family Head blames us, it will have nothing to do with us."

"Let's go." Shen Zhui gave Rong Zimo a look and turned to retreat without hesitation.

Seeing Shen Zhui and the other man retreat a thousand meters in the blink of an eye, about to disappear around the street corner without any lingering hesitation, Daoist Mu became anxious.

I sent a message to the Family Head for confirmation as soon as I received the news, but he's been slow to reply. Could this really be true?

Young Master Li is known for holding grudges and being incredibly arrogant. I offended his teacher. Once he emerges from seclusion in the Ancestral Hall, I'm afraid I won't fare well.

After much deliberation, Daoist Mu gritted his teeth, quickly flew down from the city wall, and sped towards Shen Zhui and the other man.

"Cang Lao, Cang Lao, please wait!" Daoist Mu flew very fast, and in the blink of an eye, he was within a hundred meters of Shen Zhui and the other man.

Seeing Shen Zhui and the other man stop, Daoist Mu breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly put on a smile, cupped his hands, and walked over.

"Please don't be offended, Cang Lao. It's just that things have been unsettled these past few days. Elder Xiangyang's incident happened just yesterday, so we didn't dare to be careless. We didn't mean to offend you, Cang Lao."

Shen Zhui turned around, snorted coldly, and paced closer, feigning displeasure. "We came with important matters. If we delay them, can you bear the responsibility?"

"Yes, Cang Lao, you are right to admonish me." Daoist Mu said with a fawning smile. "May I ask what brings you here, Cang Lao..."

Before he could finish speaking, a token in Daoist Mu's embrace moved slightly, and at the same time, a transmitted message made his blood run cold.

The Family Head's message: Cang Hai is in seclusion at the Li residence!

"Of course, I'm here to kill you!" Seeing the drastic change in Daoist Mu's expression, Shen Zhui knew his identity had been exposed. He immediately drew his saber, and Vital Energy surged within him.

The stealth effect of the Flowing Gold Mask vanished, revealing Shen Zhui's true face.

"I-it's you!" Daoist Mu turned to run. At this moment, he recognized this man as the official who had beheaded Daoist Xiangyang with a single saber strike earlier!

"Kill!" Shen Zhui slashed horizontally with his steel saber, his speed instantly increasing, and he swung at Daoist Mu.

Rong Zimo, standing beside him, also erupted in golden light, his Divine Power surging as he ferociously lunged forward.

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