Both sides filled in the blanks with their own assumptions.
Then, after confirming everything was in order, Elder Mo stepped aside and let them through.
As the saying went, better to tear down a temple than ruin a marriage.
Even if Chen Mu had no interest in the Great Wu Eldest Princess, he ought to let them meet.
As for Zhao Yuhao and his companions, suspicious though they were, Elder Mo had no evidence.
Their reasons were perfectly sound. Surely he could not forcibly bar them from entering?
Still, to guard against any surprises, he accompanied them.
Of course, he did not believe that Zhao Yuhao and the others, with their current cultivation, could contend with Chen Mu.
Even after an entire night, the shadow that earth-shattering sword strike had cast over Elder Mo's mind had not faded. Instead, it had grown worse, giving him nightmares all night.
He had dreamed that beneath that sword strike, not just his body but all three souls and seven spirits had evaporated!
If that was the case, why follow them?
The reason could not have been simpler: in Elder Mo's eyes, they were not worthy of making Chen Mu act.
If they showed even a trace of hostility, he could sweep away trash like this himself!
Before long.
News of the arrival of the Great Wu Dynasty and the Eastern Pole Holy Land spread among the disciples.
"He really is our young master! First there was Ye Qingcheng, the Saintess of the Sky Sword Sect, and now the eldest princess of the Great Wu Dynasty has come to propose a marriage alliance!"
"The Great Wu Eldest Princess—if I remember correctly, isn't she that foremost talented lady? Despite her youth, she already manages Great Wu's treasury and is deeply favored by the Martial Emperor. Her calligraphy and poetry have stunned the entire literary world!"
"That's right, it's her! The dream goddess of countless scholars and poets. Who would have thought she would soon become the young mistress of our Tianyuan Holy Land?"
"If she becomes the young mistress, what happens to Saintess Ye?"
"Principal wife or concubine—let their abilities decide."
"Wait! Rather than that, shouldn't we really be concerned about the Eastern Pole Holy Land?"
"They're just here to offer congratulations. What's there to worry about?"
"Could they possibly mean well? I don't believe it, anyway. A weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken!"
"They probably don't mean well, true. At worst, we'll fight them again. This time, we'll wipe them out!"
Not a single disciple showed any fear.
Meanwhile, aboard the dynasty's Flying Boat.
"Your Highness, we're almost there." The elderly eunuch knocked lightly on the door, then pushed it open and entered.
Seeing the eldest princess still staring intently at those pieces of brush calligraphy, the elderly eunuch could not help letting out a long sigh.
For those born into the imperial family, some things were not theirs to choose.
Although he had to admit that whoever had written "One slain every ten steps, no trace left over a thousand miles; the deed done, I brush off my robes and leave, concealing both my person and my name" and "Fearless though my bones be ground and body shattered, I would leave my purity in this world" was very talented.
But Great Cang was, after all, a world that revered martial strength. How could it be easy for the eldest princess to find a talented scholar worthy of a beauty like her?
Seeing that the eldest princess had no intention of answering, the elderly eunuch tactfully withdrew.
He would not disturb her, leaving her a little more time with those poems she had bought from someone else at a high price.
Even if it was only an illusory dream, there was no need to shatter it so soon.
Meanwhile.
Inside Qingyun Prefecture.
"Young master, this is for you."
Chen Mu had just finished breakfast and washed the crumbs from his mouth with a sip of flower tea when he saw Ye Qingcheng offering him a Spatial Ring with both hands.
He took it and infused it with spiritual energy to look inside. It contained a hundred thousand Supreme Spirit Stones.
"What's this?" Chen Mu asked, puzzled.
"Those pieces of calligraphy you wrote earlier—I felt that a good work needed someone who could appreciate it, so I took the liberty of bringing them to Auction City to be auctioned."
"These hundred thousand Supreme Spirit Stones are the proceeds."
After hearing Ye Qingcheng's explanation, Chen Mu was rather surprised. He had never expected something he had casually written for fun to be worth so much.
"Since I gave those pieces to you to dispose of, you can keep the Spirit Stones yourself." Chen Mu tossed the Spatial Ring back.
[Successfully bestowed one hundred thousand Supreme Spirit Stones! Hundredfold rebate triggered. Congratulations, host, on obtaining ten million Supreme Spirit Stones!]
"Thank you, young master!" Ye Qingcheng was thrilled.
Chen Mu acknowledged her thanks, thinking, I'm the one who should be thanking you.
A hundred thousand Spirit Stones or ten million Spirit Stones—even a fool knew which to choose.
Of course, if Chen Mu chose to abandon all decency, he could immediately go back on his word and take both the ten million Spirit Stones and the hundred thousand!
But for him now, there was clearly no need.
After all, the hundredfold rebate had no restrictions. He could keep snowballing his wealth indefinitely.
As long as Chen Mu did not mind the trouble, even starting with a single Spirit Stone and farming rebates for a day would let him easily crush his elder sister, Chen Juexin, the richest person in Great Cang, in terms of wealth and influence.
If he had that much time, Chen Mu would rather unfold a lounge chair, find the sunniest spot, and lie down for a nap.
The classic Ge You slouch.
Sure enough, this was the most relaxing and comfortable way to live...
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the courtyard gate.
Ye Qingcheng quickly put down what she was doing and went to answer it.
"Elder Mo."
Ye Qingcheng tilted her head to look. Elder Mo had not come alone.
Behind him stood several young men and women whose clothing was utterly different in style from that of the Tianyuan Holy Land.
"Saintess Ye, sorry for the trouble, but please inform the young master that the Saint Son and Saintess of the Eastern Pole Holy Land have come to congratulate him on awakening dual talents," Elder Mo said politely.
The Eastern Pole Holy Land?!
So these people were from the Eastern Pole Holy Land!
Understanding dawned on Ye Qingcheng. No wonder every one of them carried themselves with such impressive bearing and extraordinary pride.
"Of course. Please wait a moment, Elder Mo. I'll inform him."
Ye Qingcheng had barely finished speaking when she heard Chen Mu say, "No need. Let them in."
They were so close that he could not have avoided hearing them even if he wanted to.
"Yes!" Ye Qingcheng answered, opening the courtyard gate fully and stepping aside.
This allowed Elder Mo, Zhao Yuhao, Zhao Yueling, and the others to enter Qingyun Prefecture.
"Zhao Yuhao, Eastern Pole Saint Son, pays his respects to the Tianyuan Young Master."
"Zhao Yueling, Eastern Pole Saintess, pays her respects to the Tianyuan Young Master."
They came before Chen Mu and spoke in unison, cupping their fists.
Chen Mu slowly sat up, swept his gaze over them, and said, "I accept your congratulatory gifts. Put them down, then go back where you came from."
The only reason he had let Zhao Yuhao and the others enter was that he did not want to spark a conflict between the two great holy lands over himself.
Wasn't it nice to enjoy peace and prosperity? Why insist on brandishing blades and spears, fighting and killing until blood flowed in rivers?
But he did not want to become too involved with these people, either.
"..." The words on the tip of Zhao Yuhao's tongue were stopped cold.
He had thought everything was going smoothly and planned to use this opportunity to ask Chen Mu for a sparring exchange so they could improve together.
That would allow him to probe the depth of Chen Mu's strength.
Unfortunately, Chen Mu was not giving him that chance at all.
Could he have seen through my intentions and be trying to avoid exposing his true cultivation, so...
Zhao Yuhao could hardly help drawing that conclusion.
With Elder Mo standing right there, he could not openly probe Chen Mu's cultivation realm, either.
"..."
Seeing Zhao Yuhao remain silent for so long, looking hesitant and indecisive, Chen Mu sighed, drew a breath, and was just about to question him.
It happened to complete a full breathing cycle.
[Warning! Host is about to break through to Grandmaster and must undergo the baptism of Heavenly Tribulation!]
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