The Scapegoat

"It's Mu Jiao. What is he doing here?"

While Jiang Yuan was still stunned, the Xuanshan Clan had already identified the visitor. It was none other than Mu Jiao, the son of Mu Longbo—a rare and exotic creature of heaven and earth who had tried to devour Jiang Yuan in the East Sea all those years ago.

"He's likely trying to fish for information about me through you."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Jiang Yuan guessed the purpose of Mu Jiao's visit to the Xuanshan Clan.

If he remembered correctly, Mu Jiao intended to raise him like an Exotic Fruit. Now that a century had passed, he had naturally come to check on the fruit's status—to see if it was ripe and ready for harvest.

"He's far too persistent. It's been a hundred years, and he still hasn't let it go."

The Xuanshan Clan said helplessly, as he also sensed that Mu Jiao's visit was aimed at Jiang Yuan.

"There are many opportunities to awaken the bloodline of the Innate Gods and Devils, but few chances to actually transform into one. It's quite possible to go an entire lifetime without encountering a single one."

"Now that Mu Jiao has been gifted such a stroke of fate, with the opportunity practically delivered to his doorstep without him lifting a finger, how could he possibly give it up?"

"To refuse what Heaven provides is to invite disaster. If he were to let me go, he would likely spend the rest of his life in unease, living in constant regret."

Jiang Yuan understood Mu Jiao's mindset well; it was like a drowning man clutching at a straw—how could he let go? He would exhaust every possibility to hold on.

"You've actually developed empathy for him. You speak as if you aren't the one he's targeting."

The Xuanshan Clan found it amusing; Jiang Yuan was quite good at putting himself in others' shoes.

"That's because I've targeted him as well, which makes it easy to step into his perspective." Jiang Yuan glanced excitedly toward the door and said to the Xuanshan Clan, "Ancestor, open the door and let him in."

"Since he wants to fish for information about me, I'll let him see for himself exactly what I've become."

Mu Jiao wanted to understand him, and he was just as eager to understand Mu Jiao. This was a mutual probing; only by gauging the opponent's strength could one seize the right moment to strike.

"Enter!"

The Xuanshan Clan did not believe Mu Jiao would have the audacity to attack Jiang Yuan within the Human Race, so he welcomed him in with open arms.

Mu Jiao had intended to exchange pleasantries with the Xuanshan Clan before beating around the bush to ask about Jiang Yuan. To his surprise, the moment he stepped inside, he saw the very figure he had been dreaming of.

"Little Highness, we meet again."

Jiang Yuan greeted him with a smile. With a single glance, he confirmed Mu Jiao's cultivation level: the sixth level of the Heavenly Immortal realm.

Compared to the stages before immortality, the classification of realms after ascending had changed significantly. It was no longer the traditional early, middle, and late stages, but rather each realm was divided into twelve levels.

For this reason, the three realms of Heavenly Immortal, Taiyi, and Daluo were collectively known as the Thirty-Six Heavens of the Great Dao.

The sixth level of the Heavenly Immortal realm. The gap is still quite large.

Jiang Yuan pondered silently. With his current foundation, although he had not yet ascended, immortals at the second or third level of the Heavenly Immortal realm were no longer his match.

Only those at the fourth level or higher could pose a threat to him. Unfortunately, Mu Jiao was at exactly that level.

If they were to fight to the death now, Jiang Yuan had no guarantee of victory; he could only ensure his own survival. Therefore, it was not yet the time to strike at Mu Jiao—at the very least, he had to wait until he had attained the Heavenly Immortal realm himself.

Void Refinement perfection?

What a terrifying cultivation speed!

But this is good. If it took him thousands of years to become an immortal, would I have to wait thousands of years for him?

Seeing Jiang Yuan's current cultivation, Mu Jiao was somewhat startled.

Fortunately, he was cautious enough to know the importance of checking on the "Exotic Fruit" periodically; otherwise, the fruit might have ripened without him even realizing it.

The Heavenly Immortal realm was the standard of maturity Mu Jiao had set. Whenever Jiang Yuan attained the Heavenly Immortal realm, that was when his "fruit" would be ripe.

Mu Jiao had originally assumed that even with Jiang Yuan's talent, it would take over a thousand years of bitter cultivation to reach the Heavenly Immortal realm, so he hadn't been in any rush.

He hadn't expected Jiang Yuan's talent to be this exceptional. In just over a hundred years, he had already reached the perfection of Void Refinement, just half a step away from immortality.

At this rate, in as little as fifty years or as long as a hundred, he would inevitably ascend.

This was both a blessing and a curse.

The blessing was that Mu Jiao wouldn't have to wait too long for the fruit to ripen.

The curse was that Jiang Yuan was progressing too quickly; if he didn't keep a close watch, things could easily spiral out of control. If that happened, all his efforts would be for nothing.

"So it is Daoist Yuan. I was just looking for you. I invited you to visit the Dragon Palace previously; why did I never see you?"

Mu Jiao kept a straight face, feigning reproach. He was genuinely sincere about his invitation for Jiang Yuan to visit the Dragon Palace.

Before the fruit ripened, a master must naturally care for it in every way to prevent accidents. That was the purpose of Mu Jiao's invitation.

He worried that Jiang Yuan wasn't valued enough within the Human Race and lacked cultivation resources, so he had intended to bring him to the Dragon Palace to provide aid and accelerate his maturation.

Alas, Mu Jiao's invitations had always fallen on deaf ears, never receiving a reply. If not for that, he wouldn't have made the trip himself.

"Ever since I returned from the East Sea, I have been in seclusion. I only just emerged recently; I truly did not intend to refuse your kindness, Highness."

Jiang Yuan said with an apologetic expression.

"So it was for the sake of cultivation. Then it is my fault for disturbing you." Upon hearing this, Mu Jiao apologized as well. But immediately, he changed the subject and extended the invitation once more:

"The past is the past, but since I have come to invite you in person this time, you must not refuse under any circumstances."

Mu Jiao felt he could wait no longer. Jiang Yuan was showing signs of slipping out of his control, and he had to trick him out of the Human Race as soon as possible. Once Jiang Yuan was away from his people, he would have plenty of ways to manipulate him.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. The Human Ancestors have issued a decree: until I reach the Heavenly Immortal realm, I am not permitted to leave the Human Race."

Jiang Yuan knew exactly what Mu Jiao was thinking. If he really followed him away, his fate would be uncertain, so he invoked Ancestor Sui to refuse him directly.

"I see!"

Seeing that Jiang Yuan had even brought up Ancestor Sui, Mu Jiao truly didn't know what to say. Yet, he was unwilling to give up just like that, so he continued to ask:

"What resources are you still lacking to reach the Heavenly Immortal realm? If I have them, I can lend them to you, and you can pay me back later."

That was how he phrased it, but Mu Jiao had already made up his mind. No matter what Jiang Yuan lacked, he would scour the Dragon Palace to gather it for him.

In truth, Mu Jiao wanted to give them as a gift, but he feared Jiang Yuan would grow suspicious, so he called it a loan instead.

"What a coincidence, Your Highness actually has the resources I need. If I wish to reach the Heavenly Immortal realm, I require the Nine Sons' Essence Blood—the more, the better."

"Could Your Highness assist me?"

"I have managed to save up a bit over the years; I won't let Your Highness go to all this trouble for nothing."

Before Mu Jiao's voice had even faded, Jiang Yuan perked up and spoke with immediate excitement.

How could he have forgotten about this sucker, Mu Jiao? After all, the person who wanted him to break through to the Heavenly Immortal realm more than anyone else wasn't himself—it was Mu Jiao.