After Mu Jinyu subdued the Barbarian Demon Sect, making them lower their heads and stop thinking about avenging Hou Xin,
he traveled around the area, visiting the Galaxy Sword Sect in Wei Kingdom, Xuanyuan Sect in the Primordial Kingdom, Demon Sword Sect in the Yin Kingdom, and...
In short, Mu Jinyu visited each and every sect of those otherworldly prodigies who died at his hand in the Yan Kingdom Royal City.
Most followed the example of the Barbarian Demon Sect, wisely refraining from mentioning the death of their prodigies, not daring to think of avenging Mu Jinyu.
However, a few bone-headed ones refused to bow even if it meant death, even thinking of perishing together with Mu Jinyu!
Mu Jinyu had no choice but to deal with these obstinate ones, and seeing Mu Jinyu seemingly enraged, truly about to annihilate their sects, their sect masters and elders trembled in fear and bowed their heads.
Ten days later.
Mu Jinyu finally settled the matter, ensuring they dared not target the Heavenly Sword Faction.
He then took Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan on a journey to the Dayan Dynasty.
With more than a month until the Hidden Dragon Conference, Mu Jinyu wasn't in a hurry to reach the Dayan Dynasty, taking time to leisurely witness the local customs on the way.
Half a month later.
Traveling with Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, Mu Jinyu arrived at a city within the Great Yuan Kingdom.
Demon Slaying City!
This was a medium-sized city within the Great Yuan Kingdom.
Numerous cultivators commuted here.
The reason being, the city was adjacent to a mountain range of demon beasts.
The name "Demon Slaying City" derived from this.
"Let's see if there's any local delicacies here."
Mu Jinyu and his companions carried large bags of local snacks, some of which were purchased in previous towns and hadn't been finished yet. The flavors were so delightful that Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan were reluctant to throw them away, choosing to carry them along.
After spending hours on the snack street, they spent quite a bit of silver purchasing countless snacks, and if they didn't like the taste, they would give them to beggars on the roadside.
Due to its proximity to the demon beast mountain range, everyday countless cultivators slay demon beasts and, unable to carry all the beast materials, choose to sell them right within Demon Slaying City.
Thus, there were many demon beast snacks here that couldn't be found in other cities.
Such snacks couldn't be bought with silver or gold, but with Spirit Stones instead.
However, Mu Jinyu now lacked no Spirit Stones, willing to use them to buy snacks—a luxury others couldn't afford, he indulged in.
As long as Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan wanted to taste them, he bought them without hesitation, satisfying their appetites.
After feasting heartily, they stored the delicacies in their storage bags, and as night fell, they prepared to find an inn to stay in.
They casually chose an inn that appeared decent, and Mu Jinyu soaked leisurely in a bathtub, enjoying a comfortable bath.
The path of cultivation, although emphasizing moving against the tide, forgoing progress leads to regression, yet sometimes it's important to relax. Constant tension could lead to breakdowns.
Having traveled and played all this way, Mu Jinyu didn't specifically focus on cultivation, yet his state of mind improved significantly. He felt he could enter the Fourth Layer of the Fanxu Realm anytime he wished.
However, he preferred to hold off and let the breakthrough happen naturally.
After all, the Hidden Dragon Conference hadn't started, and he felt no pressure to force a breakthrough!
Half an hour later.
After finishing his bath and drying off, Mu Jinyu went to find Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, then took them downstairs to see what was happening.
Listening for any interesting stories in Demon Slaying City,
before they even found a seat, they overheard an intriguing conversation.
"Have you heard? Recently in Yan Kingdom, a peerless prodigy emerged, around twenty years old, and ascended to first on the National Guard List!"
"I heard about it. They say that half a month ago, he slayed several prodigies from other countries, like those from the Barbarian Demon Sect, Xuanyuan Sect, Galaxy Sword Sect, Green Feather Sect, Heavenly Mist Sect, Dragon Abyss Valley… After killing these prodigy disciples, he wasn't satisfied and went straight to their sects, smashed their plaques, and forced them to lower their heads!"
"Truly terrifying, and they say his name is Mu Jinyu, right? Despite being in his early twenties, already at the Third Layer of the Fanxu Realm, that's not all; he has grasped three layers of special domains. What a monstrous prodigy!"
"Compared to him, reaching the Ninth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm at eighty makes me feel like I've lived to a ripe old age for nothing!"
"Then at ninety-seven, should I just go die since I'm only at the Eighth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm?"
"..."
Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou turned to look at Mu Jinyu with amused smiles when they heard this conversation.
Tales of Mu Jinyu single-handedly subduing dozens of great sects had spread across the countries around the Kunlun Ruins, and none of them, including the Barbarian Demon Sect, could stop it.
During the past half month, they initially didn't hear much of Mu Jinyu's exploits, but soon as news spread, they overheard such conversations in nearly every city they passed through.
Mu Jinyu, noticing Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou looking at him, could only shrug helplessly, indicating that bringing them down was not to hear others praise him.
He really wasn't interested in listening to others sing his praises all day; if he were, he would have long ago openly declared himself as Mu Jinyu.
In doing so, many people would come to flatter him, and he could hear whatever sycophantic words he wanted?
Understanding this, Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan's teasing glances were just to poke fun at Mu Jinyu.
At this moment, the conversation in the room suddenly shifted.
"Hey, do you guys think that with Mu Jinyu being so powerful, how high he'll rank on the Hidden Dragon List during the upcoming Hidden Dragon Conference? Could he take first place?"
"First place, you're really thinking too much!"
"Indeed! I admit that Mu Jinyu is formidable, and getting into the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List shouldn't be a problem. But first place is impossible! You have no idea how many prodigies will emerge to participate when the Hidden Dragon Conference begins!"
"Yes, indeed, I recently heard that the heir of the Dragon Elephant Sect, who had been in seclusion, has emerged. It's said that the Dragon Elephant Sect's heir, not yet fifty, has already reached the Seventh Layer of the Fanxu Realm—perhaps slightly less talented than Mu Jinyu! But he's cultivated thirty years longer!"
"Ah, the Dragon Elephant Sect's heir has emerged too?"
"Yes, apparently he crushed a Great Demon King barehanded as soon as he appeared, which is equivalent to the peak of the Ninth Layer of the Fanxu Realm for humans!"
"That terrifying?"
"Indeed, it's rumored that his pure physical strength has reached the true Dragon Elephant Power, capable of killing a True Dragon with his force. Though possibly exaggerated, if not the True Dragon Force, surely the Flood Dragon's Power holds!"
"Flood Dragon's Power? Isn't that equivalent to a punch of a hundred thousand pounds? Is that even human? He's practically a humanoid dragon!"
"Yes, such a monstrous talent is truly a strong contender for first place on the Hidden Dragon List!"
"I've also heard of the prodigy from the Xuanyuan Clan, emerging with the Ancient Divine Sword Xuanyuan Sword, slaying a Great Demon King with one swing…"
"These are the real contenders for the top position on the Hidden Dragon List!"
"Compared to them, Mu Jinyu's talent is no less impressive. Although he was simply born decades later, otherwise he would indeed have a chance at vying for first on the Hidden Dragon List!"