Mu Jinyu decisively struck, killing everyone who had surrounded Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou.
The swift and clean execution sent chills down the spines of those who were a step slower and missed the opportunity to join in, making their hair stand on end.
Most of the Heaven's Pride at the Ninth Layer of the Fanxu Realm, who had not directly faced Mu Jinyu's killing methods, did not even regard him, thinking if age permitted, he wouldn't qualify as the Dragon Head Leader at the Hidden Dragon Conference.
But now, seeing Mu Jinyu in action, their expressions turned grave, and their eyes showed a hint of fear.
"So strong!"
"The ones who surrounded him were Ye Fan from the Central Domain's Ye Family, and Gu Yuan from the Southern Domain's Ten Thousand Sword Sect; both are unmatched talents who have been at the Ninth Layer of the Fanxu Realm for more than a decade, yet they couldn't withstand a single move from him?"
Representatives from various powers who were at the entrance of the Secret Realm, but had not yet entered, were all stunned by Mu Jinyu's decisive slaughter.
"Wasn't it said he battled with a Sixth Layer loose cultivator for half a day? How is it now so easy to kill those at the Ninth Layer of Fanxu Realm?"
"What do you know? He wanted to defeat opponents at their strongest domains, yet Ji Changxin at the Eighth Level of Fanxu Realm, whose strongest is domain tactics, was swiftly defeated, but the loose cultivator Li Zhexiong, who fiercely battled with him, has training in Intent Domain, which just so happens to be Mu Jinyu's weak point, hence they fought for so long!"
"Indeed, now that he doesn't need to abide by his rule of matching strength, he can use any means freely; ordinary Ninth Layer opponents naturally won't be his match!"
"Now, the Wu Family might find it difficult to deal with Mu Jinyu."
The crowd quickly understood this, looking at Mu Jinyu with eyes filled with more apprehension and unease.
Wu Zhiyuan naturally spotted Mu Jinyu's appearance; initially planning to act directly, upon hearing the crowd's discussions, his expression turned even grimmer.
However, as the heir apparent to the Wu Family's Family Head, his status didn't allow him to retreat. He arose, staring directly at Mu Jinyu, coldly saying, "You are Mu Jinyu, the Dragon Head Leader of this Hidden Dragon Conference, daring enough to kill my Wu Family's pearl, my cousin yesterday?!"
The scene was dead silent, everyone watching seriously, anticipating the fierce confrontation to come.
Unexpectedly.
Mu Jinyu didn't glance at Wu Zhiyuan, checked two keys for any issues, then casually tossed them behind him to Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, murmuring, "Just one more key left."
Originally, they had one key, which Zhuo Yue had painstakingly obtained.
Their initial plan was to have Mu Jinyu carry the key into the Secret Realm, pluck the Hedao Fruit, and if there were extras, they could give Zhuo Yue one.
But now, fearing being pursued by the Wu Family, Mu Jinyu wasn't comfortable leaving them outside, intending naturally to obtain more keys so the three of them could enter the Secret Realm.
With a glance, Mu Jinyu saw those who planned to surround him retreating; thus, it wasn't proper to continue a killing spree to seize others' keys.
Therefore, Mu Jinyu looked toward Wu Zhiyuan, who harbored the strongest hostility, calmly asking, "Do you have a key?"
"Of course!"
Wu Zhiyuan wasn't sure what Mu Jinyu intended but still proudly replied.
Mu Jinyu nodded, "Good, hand over the key, and I can spare your life."
"..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire scene fell into dead silence!
Including Wu Zhiyuan's Wu Family members, everyone could hardly believe Mu Jinyu dared speak to Wu Zhiyuan this way.
Did he not know he was already on the Wu Family's kill list?
His not fleeing Chu Kingdom in panic, still coming to the Secret Realm, was already beyond everyone's expectations.
Yet the crowd still didn't expect, facing Wu Zhiyuan's murderous glare, he would dare demand Wu Zhiyuan redeem his life with a key!
What arrogance and self-confidence!
He didn't seem to regard the Wu Family at all!
Didn't see Wu Zhiyuan as a rival!
"You..."
Wu Zhiyuan froze for a moment, then was angered, trembling all over, his Qi rampant, and white smoke flowed from all seven apertures.
This was being infuriated to the point of smoke pouring from seven apertures.
"You dare plot for the key in my hand!"
Wu Zhiyuan stared at Mu Jinyu, gritting his teeth.
Mu Jinyu replied indifferently, "You intend to kill me for revenge, why wouldn't I dare want your key? I merely consider it hard to cultivate, so I'm allowing you to submit the key and preserve your life."
"Hmph, do you think winning the Dragon Head Leader at the Hidden Dragon Conference means you're the strongest in the world?"
Wu Zhiyuan gazed at Mu Jinyu, his eyes filled with murder, haughtily saying, "My Wu Family has killed Dragon Head Leaders before!"
This remark caused everyone's breath to halt.
Wu Zhiyuan's words weren't lies; their Wu Family ancestors indeed killed a Dragon Head Leader previously.
The Dragon Head Leader back then was as prominent as Mu Jinyu, even more so, his arrogance and dominance incited fear and hatred among countless people.
Ultimately, for unknown reasons, he clashed with the Central Domain's Wu Family, proclaiming he'd flatten the Wu Family.
In the end, he was slain by a mysterious Wu Family member.
Elevating the Wu Family's supreme prestige!
Now, could it be Mu Jinyu would follow the path of that Dragon Head Leader and die at Wu Zhiyuan's hand?
In this dead silence.
Suddenly, Mu Jinyu chuckled, breaking the oppressive quiet.
"Why are you laughing?" Wu Zhiyuan was somewhat irritated.
Mu Jinyu shook his head in amusement, "Even if your ancestors killed a Dragon Head Leader, what of it? Do you think I'd be as weak as that Dragon Head Leader? Do you believe you're like your ancestors? A cowardly and inferior you, what makes you qualified to boast before me?"
"I'm cowardly and inferior?!" Wu Zhiyuan, hearing Mu Jinyu's words, was stupefied, his eyes showing disbelief.
He never expected Mu Jinyu would describe him like this!
Mu Jinyu casually said, "If you weren't inferior, why boast of your ancestor's glory? You should forge your reputation yourself!"
"If you weren't inferior, why ambush me at the entrance of the Secret Realm? You should enter and hunt me inside the Secret Realm, but you won't, because you know you can't beat me, you don't dare face me alone!"
"If you weren't inferior, after I appeared, you should lead your Wu Family to surround me, but again, you're uncertain, so you prolong the situation with words, waiting for your Wu Family's strong reinforcements, then use your Wu Family's power to attack me!"
"..."
Wu Zhiyuan was silent for a moment, as if Mu Jinyu had struck a chord with his thoughts, piercing his heart, he couldn't help but feign wrathful laughter to conceal his turmoil, angrily saying:
"Hahaha, fine, I intended for you to surrender willingly, so you could be buried intact, but I didn't expect you'd use it to attack my inferiority, since you seek death, I'll fulfill your wish!"
"Kill!"
With that, he unsheathed his sword forcefully, charging at Mu Jinyu!
And the guards behind him, hearing Mu Jinyu's prior words, without Wu Zhiyuan's command, hesitated, unsure whether to follow the Young Master in attacking Mu Jinyu together.