Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

At that moment, a carriage engraved with the character "Xuan" pulled up to the gates of Luofeng City. With a whinny from the horses, it came to a halt. The curtain was lifted, and a young man and woman stepped out. The young woman was as beautiful as a celestial fairy, her looks capable of toppling cities. She exuded an aura of pure, white-lotus-like elegance. She wore a blue silk dress, her hair tied up high with a blue ribbon, leaving two long strands to cascade down the sides of her face like waterfalls. A faint smile graced her stunning face as she gazed intently at the young man who had just alighted, her eyes filled with tenderness.

The young man was dressed in robes whiter than snow. His slender figure stood perfectly straight. While he didn’t appear particularly strong, he possessed a dashing and suave air. What drew the most attention were his long, ice-blue hair and the enormous black case on his back. Seeing this picture-perfect pair, like a golden boy and a jade maiden, all the citizens of Luofeng City couldn’t help but stop in their tracks to stare.

Looking at the familiar yet strange faces around him, Mu Chen suddenly felt a pang of nervousness. Feeling both so close and yet so far from home, he took a deep breath and couldn’t help but say, "Luofeng City, the family reject of old has returned."

After the maid left, Mu Lei entered shortly after. His face was already wrapped in bandages. "My Lord!" Mu Lei said respectfully.

Mu Gu Tian waved his hand and said, "You’re injured again. You’ve worked hard enough these past years over Chen’Er’s matters. From now on, stop searching. Just stay with the family."

A flash of excitement appeared in Mu Lei’s eyes before vanishing. To be honest, three years of constant searching had left him weary of the outside world. As a man with a wife and son, his longing for home was even stronger than that of the other guards. However, he was the captain of the Mu Family guards, and he had to obey the family’s orders.

Mu Gu Tian took a white Jade Pendant and a Medicine Bottle from his long sleeve and said, "This is my personal token. Go to the Medicine Pavilion and get some elixirs for your injuries. Also, here is a Profound Nine Pill. I’m bestowing it upon you."

Mu Lei took the Profound Nine Pill with trembling hands and said loudly, "Thank you, My Lord."

The Profound Nine Pill was a Yellow Peak Elixir, infinitely close to the Profound Tier and equivalent to a Third Grade Elixir. An elixir of this quality was a rare sight even in their family. Receiving such a reward, Mu Lei was already more than satisfied. After Mu Gu Tian waved his hand, Mu Lei bowed and retreated.

Not long after Mu Lei left, three elders in black robes walked in through the main entrance. Mu Gu Tian glanced up, recognized them as the three Elders of the Mu Family, greeted each of them, and gestured for them to sit.

Grand Elder Mu Guangyi pondered for a moment before speaking. "Gutian, can our Mu Family gain anything from the Emperor’s Relics discovered by the Wang Family this time?"

Mu Gu Tian shook his head. "It will be difficult to gain anything, but even if we can’t, we still have to try. The Mu Family’s current situation is simply too dire."

Second Elder Mu Zheng snorted coldly. "You have the nerve to say that? If you hadn’t sent a third of the Mu Family guards away two years ago to search for that reject, how could the Chen Family have found the chance to seize one-fifth of our market district?"

Faced with Mu Zheng’s accusation, Mu Gu Tian had no retort. ’It had indeed been a mistake, but even if they hadn’t lost that one-fifth of the market district, the Mu Family’s circumstances wouldn’t be much different today.’

"Alright, stop harping on about it. Even with that one-fifth of the market district, our Mu Family’s situation wouldn’t be much better than it is now." Third Elder Mu Yeqiu shot Mu Zheng a glare, then said, "Right now, our focus needs to be on the newly discovered Emperor’s Relics. Whether we succeed or fail is up to fate, but if we don’t try, I’m afraid the Mu Family will no longer have a place in Luofeng City." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Second Elder Mu Zheng naturally didn’t press the issue and simply closed his eyes. Over the past three years, the three Elders’ strengths had become inversely proportional to their titles. The Third Elder was the strongest, having reached the Peak of Nine-Ring Great Martial Master. The Second Elder was only a Nine-Ring Great Martial Master. As for the Grand Elder, he was also a Nine-Ring Great Martial Master. Only Mu Gu Tian had one foot in the Martial Spirit Realm, but he had never been able to fully break through.

"Our only choice is to pin all our hopes on these Emperor’s Relics. If we can find a single Fifth Grade Elixir or a weapon of Profound Tier or higher inside, it will be enough for the Mu Family to weather this crisis for a short time." A look of determination appeared in Mu Gu Tian’s eyes. "It all comes down to this."

Mu Yeqiu nodded. "Yes, that’s our only option. In that case, Gutian, you should try to break through to the Martial Spirit Realm again in the next few days. As long as our Mu Family has a Martial Spirit, we can survive this phase even if we gain nothing from the Emperor’s Relics. Likewise, if you succeed in breaking through to the Martial Spirit Realm, our chances of gaining something from the relics will be much higher. Is that boy Feng’Er still drinking all day?"

Mu Gu Tian gave a bitter smile and nodded. "Sigh... Chen’Er’s departure was too great a blow for Feng’Er. After three years, his initial hope has turned to despair, and he has become completely demoralized. Otherwise, his cultivation wouldn’t have remained stalled at the Peak of Nine-Ring Great Martial Master. Chen’Er is his bottleneck. If we don’t find Chen’Er, Feng’Er will never be able to reach the Martial Spirit realm in his lifetime. If Feng’Er could break through, why would an old man like me have to bear so much pressure?"

"Sigh..." The Third Elder looked up at the sky outside the door, his expression melancholic. "Have the heavens truly abandoned our Mu Family?"

The main gate of the Mu Family estate was just as it had been three years ago. Mu Chen looked up at the large character for "Mu" on the golden plaque, a warmth spreading through his heart. He couldn’t help himself; he stepped right through the Mu Family’s main gate.

"Who are you?" several guards immediately blocked Mu Chen’s path, asking with indifferent expressions.

Mu Chen froze, suddenly at a loss for how to answer. He turned helplessly to look at Mu Bingling, who was smiling broadly. Mu Bingling pursed her lips into a smile and said, "Uncle guards, don’t you even remember me?"

When the guards saw Mu Bingling, they were first taken aback, then their eyes filled with respect as they said, "Miss Bingling!" They then looked at Mu Chen and asked, "And this is?"

Mu Bingling smiled faintly and said with a straight face, "This is a friend of mine, here to visit."

The guard paused for a moment, then gave Mu Chen a wary look. Then he said, "Since you’re a friend of Miss Bingling, you may go in."

He waved his hand at the guards behind him, signaling them to let the pair pass. Mu Chen gave a helpless smile and walked quickly inside. The surroundings were just as they had been three years ago, without the slightest change. Mu Chen had left in the summer three years ago, and now, in the summer three years later, he had returned. It all felt as illusory as a flower in a mirror or the moon on the water. Looking at the familiar sights, Mu Chen’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably with excitement.

Mu Bingling sensed the fluctuation in Mu Chen’s emotions. She gently took his hand and said, "Nothing at home has changed at all. Where do you want to go first?"

Exhaling deeply, Mu Chen’s emotions instantly calmed. "Home first."

"I knew you’d say that."

The courtyards were unchanged, and the memories were crystal clear. Walking on the path to Bifeng Garden, Mu Chen felt as if he had just walked it yesterday. He remembered the frail youth who had stood alone on this very path, looking up at the sky and questioning where his chance at life was.

At the entrance to Bifeng Garden, the fragrant grasses were neatly trimmed. The sweet scent they occasionally released was refreshing to the soul. Inhaling the sweet fragrance, Mu Chen became lost in his memories. Mu Bingling stood behind him without disturbing him. She knew that he held too many longings from the past three years. As if having made some kind of decision, Mu Chen strode forward and pushed open the gates to Bifeng Garden with a firm shove.

"CREAAAK..."

The moment the gate opened, the scene within the courtyard came into clear view. It was just like in his dreams. The only difference was that by the bamboo grove in the courtyard, a disheveled man was sitting at a stone table. His clothes were neat enough, but his long hair was unkempt and hung down on both sides, and a beard obscured half his face. There was nothing on the table except for wine. The man, with a dazed expression, was holding a wine jug and pouring its contents into his mouth. He muttered something as he drank, seemingly completely unaware that the gate had been opened.

The moment he saw the man, Mu Chen’s heart gave a violent lurch. A sourness filled his nose, and tears began to stream from the corners of his eyes. "Dad..."

At the soft call, the man who was pouring wine into his mouth suddenly paused. Then, he shook his head with a vacant gaze and murmured, "Another illusion. Chen’Er... It’s been three years. Three years! Where in the world are you..." With that, the man tilted his head back and downed the rest of the wine. A single, glistening tear slid down his cheek, mixing with the wine that trickled from the corner of his mouth...

This man was none other than Mu Chen’s father, whom he hadn’t seen in three years, Mufeng. The longing and worry, day and night, had gradually reduced Mufeng to a state of despondence. The once resolute and tenacious Third Master of the Mu Family had fallen into such a state. Seeing his father like this, Mu Chen’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Feeling his own throat go dry, Mu Chen dropped forcefully to his knees not far from the stone table with a heavy THUD. The ground caved in under the impact of his knees. The sound was sudden yet muffled. "Dad! Your unfilial son, Mu Chen, has returned..."

"CRASH!"

This time, Mufeng finally reacted. He turned his head and saw Mu Chen kneeling beside him. Stunned, the wine jug slipped from his hand. It fell heavily to the ground, scattering shards everywhere.

In his clouded vision, a youth in white knelt before him, his eyes filled with tears. Although the youth’s hair was blue, although he was now quite a bit taller than him, although his face looked so unfamiliar, Mufeng still recognized his son in a single glance. That was his, Mufeng’s, most precious child in this lifetime.

"Chen... Chen’Er...?" His voice was incredibly hoarse, as if he were a man who hadn’t spoken in years...

"Dad!"

That heavy cry instantly cleared Mufeng’s previously clouded eyes. WHOOSH. Mufeng shot up from the stone bench and rushed to Mu Chen’s side. He reached out a coarse palm and gently stroked Mu Chen’s hair. His voice trembling with excitement, he said, "Chen’Er, it’s really Chen’Er! Chen’Er is back! Wan’Er! Wan’Er, come out quick! Chen’Er is back! Haha, our Chen’Er has returned!"

"THUMP THUMP THUMP..."

The sound of hurried footsteps came from inside the room. Faintly, it seemed there was also the sound of a table and chair being knocked over. "Chen’Er? Where is Chen’Er?"