The Shaze Plains were already very close to the Da Qingshan Mountains. After flying for only a short while, a towering mountain range appeared before them—the nameless Primeval Mountains!
The mountain range stretched across the horizon. After passing several hills, the Da Qingshan Mountains came into view.
They had now entered Qingshan Town territory. Mu Yang flew for a while longer before descending from the sky and walking along the country road with April. Farmers busy with their work passed by from time to time, and when they saw Mu Yang, they all greeted him. But when they noticed the Little Blue Dragon following behind them, a flicker of fear crossed their faces.
April was greatly surprised. She found that ever since arriving here, everyone seemed to know the big brother beside her. Their friendly manner was just like that of the kind people who had helped her before, making them not frightening at all.
Of course, they seemed to be afraid of Little Ka. But Little Ka was obviously so cute!
Thump, thump, thump. Little Ka disliked crowded places, especially being watched by so many strange eyes. He hurried over to Mu Yang and April, poking his head forward and making April giggle.
"Oh my, Mu Yang, you're back. Huh? Who is this little girl?"
When they returned to the Tianxin Style grounds, Aisafu and his wife Alice, who had already received word from the villagers, came out to greet them. Seeing the little girl beside Mu Yang and the young blue dragon, both wore puzzled expressions.
"Master, Madam..." Mu Yang stepped forward with a smile and called out to them. Then they all entered the house together. The Little Blue Dragon was too large to fit through the door, so they had no choice but to let him stay in the courtyard for the time being.
Inside, Alice had already poured tea, and fruit was laid out on the coffee table. Mu Yang handed an apple to April, then slowly told Aisafu everything he knew about April and the Ophiuchus Legion.
After hearing it, Aisafu angrily slapped the table. "Those people from the Ophiuchus Legion are absolutely detestable."
Alice looked at the little girl before her, who was just over five years old, and felt a surge of sympathy. She gathered April into her arms and said tenderly, "Poor child, you've really suffered. You wandered outside alone for more than half a year."
April blankly let Alice hold her, apple in hand, and called helplessly toward Mu Yang, "Big brother..."
Mu Yang smiled at her. "She's my master's wife. Just think of her as your own mother."
"Yes, yes, just think of me as your mother." Alice was a kind woman. Looking at April's adorable appearance, she thought of her daughter Meixia, whom she had not seen in a long time and who was far away in the southern region.
"Oh, look at you. Come take a bath with me first. We still have some of Meixia's childhood clothes. We'll buy you some new ones at the next market."
"Mm." A trace of warmth flowed through April's heart, and she nodded so softly it was nearly inaudible.
And so, after Alice pulled the flustered April away to take a bath, only Mu Yang and his master Aisafu remained in the room.
A brief silence followed.
Looking at his disciple who had just returned, Aisafu broke the silence with a delighted smile. "Mu Yang, you performed very well at the tournament. You brought fame to our Tianxin Style."
Mu Yang smiled faintly. Seeing Aisafu's delighted expression, he said nothing.
"You have no idea. When Xis wrote to say that you had won the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament, I didn't dare believe it. How could I not know how capable my own disciple was? It was only after Xis returned and personally told us about the tournament that I believed it was all true."
"You rascal, you really knew how to hide your strength—even from your master! Without making a sound, you actually came back with a championship!" Thinking of the stir that Xis's return had caused throughout the Tianxin Style, Aisafu still felt excited.
"Master, it wasn't that I meant to hide it. It was just that I truly hadn't expected my strength to have reached such a level back then." Mu Yang chuckled. His victory had entirely depended on the older generation of martial artists not participating.
Aisafu waved his hand, indicating that he understood. "I understand. I underestimated how quickly you would grow."
"I heard from Xis that you have already fully mastered the release of Tianxin Ki?"
"Yes." Mu Yang nodded.
As he spoke, Mu Yang opened his palm and formed a sword gesture with two fingers. A dazzling blue light rose at his fingertips, forming an energy sphere the size of a glass marble.
Aisafu sucked in a breath, as though he had seen something unbelievable. His eyes widened round. "Your mastery of ki has actually reached such a proficient level!"
"This is the result of my training outside during this time." Mu Yang smiled faintly and waved his hand, dispersing the Ki Blast.
"Hahaha, good, good! It seems you've already surpassed me by far. Perhaps no one in the entire Tianxin Style is your match anymore." Aisafu's face flushed as though he had been drinking, and he shouted excitedly, "Quick, tell me how you spent the past half year and how your strength improved so much."
Mu Yang nodded and slowly began telling Aisafu about his experiences over the past half year.
When he spoke of training outside for a time before stopping by Superpower Academy to visit Meixia, longing appeared on Aisafu's face as well. Later, when Mu Yang mentioned seeing Meixia and then heading to the Karin Sacred Land to challenge Karin Tower, Aisafu finally showed a look of realization.
"So that's it. No wonder when I saw you just now, I felt I could no longer see through your every word and gesture. Every movement was clearly so casual, yet it seemed to contain profound meaning. So you had received Karin the Immortal's guidance." Aisafu sighed with emotion.
His disciple had actually successfully climbed Karin Tower and received Karin the Immortal's guidance. If word of this got out, how many people would envy him? It was far more shocking than winning the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament.
After all, the last person to climb Karin Tower had been Master Mutian, known as the God of Martial Arts!
"Karin the Immortal's guidance benefited me greatly. And he promised that as long as I reached a level he recognized, he would recommend me to train in an even more sacred place."
Mu Yang spoke honestly to his master.
At that moment, Aisafu's expression turned serious. He muttered, "An even more sacred place... could it be the Sacred Temple of the Heavenly Realm..."
"Master, you know about the Sacred Temple?" Mu Yang asked in surprise.
Aisafu nodded and said with feeling, "I do know a little. Speaking of which, it is a secret passed down within our Tianxin Style since ancient times. Aside from our Tianxin Style, I'm afraid no one else in the martial arts world knows that above Karin Tower, there is a legendary Sacred Temple."
Mu Yang was somewhat surprised to hear this.
Aisafu continued, "The Tianxin Style's heritage is actually far from simple. It is said that long ago, one of our predecessors lived in that legendary Sacred Temple. Unfortunately, a great disaster more than two hundred and fifty years ago nearly destroyed the entire martial arts world. Our Tianxin Style also suffered grievous losses and has yet to recover its former glory."
"But things are different now. I see hope in you." Aisafu looked at Mu Yang with deep emotion, growing ever more satisfied with his disciple.
Mu Yang was somewhat stunned after hearing this. From what his master said, a Tianxin Style predecessor had actually lived in the Sacred Temple. Could that person have been a former God, or perhaps a God's disciple? In any case, he must have been extraordinary.
As for the disaster more than two hundred and fifty years ago, Mu Yang guessed it had been the catastrophe caused when King Piccolo wreaked havoc upon the world.
No wonder Korin had regarded him so highly and had even wanted to recommend him for training at the Sacred Temple. If it was because predecessors of his school had once lived in the Sacred Temple or held the position of God, then he and Korin could be considered to have some old ties. It made sense for Korin to think more highly of him.
Could it be... that I'm benefiting from the Tianxin Style's predecessors?
The more Mu Yang thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Then, when he recalled how the Tianxin Style's martial arts shared the same underlying principles as the martial arts of Karin Tower, he understood at once. That inheritance had most likely been passed down from the Sacred Temple as well.
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