After completely annihilating all the enemies who ambushed and pursued him, Mu Jinyu intended to take a look at the Hanchi Tribe.
After all, it was nearby, and now that his life was no longer in danger, it wouldn't be too appropriate not to visit.
However, Mu Jinyu thought it over, and in the end, decided not to go.
Although there was no longer a life-threatening pursuit, he needed to check on Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, as well as the Heavenly Sword Faction's situation.
At that time, when he went to ambush the Divine Formation Sect, he found that he had been set up. The Heavenly Sword Faction was not actually besieged by the Divine Formation Sect. While fleeing, he felt more at ease about the Heavenly Sword Faction's situation.
But now, it had been several days since he ambushed the Divine Formation Sect. Who knows if, after being tricked at the Five Finger Peaks, the Divine Formation Sect had become furious and sent people to hunt him while formally attacking the Heavenly Sword Faction?
These matters needed to be dealt with promptly without delay.
Therefore, Mu Jinyu decided not to visit the Hanchi Tribe for now, perhaps he would drop by in the future when he has the time.
Half a day later, with the three men, Old Chen, Mu Jinyu successfully located the place where he had set up Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan to hide during the pursuit and found them.
"Little Mu, are you alright?"
Seeing Mu Jinyu coming to fetch her, Wen Rou's worried expression eased a lot, yet she still asked with concern.
At the same time, she glanced at the three elderly men behind Mu Jinyu. Although she hadn't seen them before, the aura of the Unity Realm Stage was distinctly felt by her.
'What's going on here?'
Initially, she was worried they were enemies chasing Mu Jinyu, but seeing how they were standing obediently behind Mu Jinyu with respectful expressions, she let go of her guard, yet remained somewhat puzzled.
Mu Jinyu comforted her and Jian Ruyan with a few words and then introduced the men and explained how he had subdued them.
"I am now in the Mid Hedao Realm, Wu Xiongfei and the others are all dead, and from now on, no one will dare to pursue us. Next, I will take you two to find the forces that hunted us before, and we will settle scores with them one by one."
Seeing the disheveled state of Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, Mu Jinyu realized they had been living in fear and distress all this while and spoke to them with empathy.
"You have reached the Mid Hedao Realm?"
Hearing Mu Jinyu's words, Jian Ruyan's eyes flickered with a touch of surprise, blended with hope, and a faint sense of relief.
Mu Jinyu noticed her peculiar expression, nodded while also guessing her reaction in his heart.
Jian Ruyan had never spoken about her experiences in the Heavenly Palace, nor the truth of the massacre of their family in their childhood. Apparently, it was because he was not strong enough, she was reluctant to speak, fearing that if she did, he might recklessly rush to the Heavenly Palace seeking justice, causing a disaster.
But now that he was in the Mid Hedao Realm, Jian Ruyan understood that he had the capability of challenging stronger enemies, thus initially having the ability to confront the Heavenly Palace.
So she reacted like this, didn't she?
Mu Jinyu had never forgotten the purpose of entering the Kunlun Ruins. One was to find a solution to the soul-seizing issue between Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou, the other was to help Xiang Mantang uncover the truth from back then!
Now, with his gradual strength improvement, both matters could accelerate their progress.
"That's good..." Jian Ruyan nodded, hesitated for a moment, but eventually didn't say more.
Mu Jinyu frowned slightly, intending to have her clarify, but after thinking it over, decided not to pressure her. He would investigate after resolving the current affairs.
Subsequently, Mu Jinyu, taking the two women, was in no hurry initially to deal with those sects and collect spoils, instead, he first returned to the Heavenly Sword Faction.
...
As Mu Jinyu was returning to the Heavenly Sword Faction.
The Kunlun Ruins experienced another earthquake, causing countless eyes to fall wide open.
People were uncertain about Mu Jinyu's fate after being pursued, whether he was dead or alive. However, they discovered that those super clans and hidden sects that sent forces to hunt Mu Jinyu, without exception, recalled their disciples and clansmen this morning, activating the Mountain Protection Array. They were panicking in a stance of guarding against powerful foes.
Soon after, news spread that Wu Xiongfei, Jing Haosi, and more than twenty Unity Realm Stage powerhouses had all died, with their life medallions shattering and soul lamps extinguished, signifying their demise.
Even the Fanxu Realm cultivators who followed on the pursuit met the same fate.
These sects and noble families were on guard against Mu Jinyu coming to settle the score for their pursuit of him!
People could hardly believe the rumor, yet the reactions of these families and sects clearly indicated they were bracing for an impending disaster, or they wouldn't have reacted so dramatically.
Thus, as people feared this earth-shattering change, they were also anticipating Mu Jinyu to conduct a major cleanse, hoping perhaps after that they might finally rise to the fore.
...
Heavenly Palace.
A group of men in black robes wearing masks that blocked Divine Sense probing were holding an emergency meeting.
They were the true upper echelon of the Heavenly Palace, all with strength at the peak of the Unity Realm Stage!
This was the real main force for the Heavenly Palace's dominance over the Kunlun Ruins!
"This era is nearly thrown into chaos by that kid. I think the Heavenly Palace can no longer remain silent. We must take action and kill that kid as a warning to others!"
A man in a black robe slammed the table, his voice cold and full of anger.
"Hehe, I don't really care; the more chaotic, the better. Hopefully, there will be a major reshuffle. Otherwise, this calm life is just too dull."
Another man in a black robe said with a grin, clearly not taking the first person's words seriously.
The others also spoke one after another, with the majority supporting the opinion of the first black-robed man, wanting to take action against Mu Jinyu!
A small group of black-robed men remained silent, watching coldly without joining the discussion.
Because they all understood each other's identities.
The black-robed men who spoke vehemently and insisted on killing Mu Jinyu to set things right were the same ones who, just recently during the Heavenly Palace meeting, advocated to kill Mu Jinyu while deliberating whether to remain neutral or help during the forces' pursuit list...
Their positions were never correct!
For before they fully abandoned their former identities and completely devoted themselves to the Heavenly Palace, they hailed from those super clans and hidden sects.
Yet, publicly, these men's identities were that of ancestors from various sects who had supposedly died due to various accidents.
People believed they had long since perished, even their relatives were unaware they were still alive, merely having completely entered the Heavenly Palace.
And those who behaved this aggressively nowadays were likely the ancestors of those sects such as the Wu Family, Divine Formation Sect, and Boundless Sect that suffered heavily at Mu Jinyu's hands!
Meanwhile, the black-robed man who found it amusing and carefree likely joined the Heavenly Palace under the identity of a loose cultivator and naturally didn't mind whether or not Mu Jinyu died, nor did he care about those forces being targeted by Mu Jinyu.
In fact, he was eager to see more excitement.
"The old rule, everyone votes!"
Amidst the noisy discussions, the sitting Palace Master of the Heavenly Palace spoke coldly.
With the Palace Master's words, everyone fell silent, looking at each other with eyes full of awe.
For in their trials, the power of this lord of the Heavenly Palace was truly unfathomable, likely an existence surpassing the Unity Realm Stage.