Qin Mu looked at the other two. One was a man and the other a woman, both with outstanding bearing. Wang Muran had once said that there were few people in Small Jade Capital his age. These two must have grown up with Wang Muran, though they were slightly older than him.
The girl was seventeen or eighteen, already blooming into a delicate beauty, serene and ethereal. Her green-blue robe had blue embroidered cuffs and lapels, and the sash trailing behind her was half green and half white. A string of jadeite beads adorned her forehead, one end hanging before her brows, the other tied to her hair bun.
She probably favored jade, for even her hair accessories were decorated with it.
Whether it was the mountain breeze or her qi, her sash fluttered behind her, the green and white ribbons long and sinuous, moving like spirit snakes.
"A bit thin, but not as pretty as Ling Yuxiu. Yuxiu's chest is much fuller than hers."
Qin Mu shifted his gaze to the other man. This man was more mature than the jadeite girl, his attire and grooming less elaborate—a long robe with a jade pendant at his waist, yet still exuding an air of immortal elegance.
His eyes were lively, sometimes sparkling like starlight, other times blazing like a scorching sun, radiating fire.
"Small Jade Capital is the foremost sacred ground under heaven. The techniques they cultivate all seem different, none inferior to the Great Thunderclap Monastery or the Dao Gate," Qin Mu thought.
"Senior Brother Qin."
When Wang Muran saw him, a spark of light flashed in his dark eyes—he clearly remembered Qin Mu—only to dim again, for Qin Mu had reminded him of his master, Zhen Sanren.
Back then, he and Zhen Sanren had come to the State of Yankang to block the State Preceptor of Yankang from heading south to suppress a rebellion, and it was during that time they had met Qin Mu.
Qin Mu, Shen Wanyun, Yue Qinghong, and Yun Que were all around his age, so although their meeting had been brief, it had left a deep impression.
After Zhen Sanren was killed by the State Preceptor of Yankang, Wang Muran had taken his master's body back to Small Jade Capital, and they had not met since.
"Brother Muran."
Qin Mu greeted him. "And these two are?"
"This is Senior Sister Mu Qingdai, and this is my senior brother Long Yu," Wang Muran said. "Senior Sister Mu is a disciple of Ding Qian Sanren, and Long Yu is a disciple of Tianyun Shanren."
Qin Mu's heart stirred. Small Jade Capital had many lineages; he feared they could produce a dozen techniques on par with the Great Thunderclap Monastery's Tathagata Mahayana Sutra or the Dao Gate's Innate Grand Mystery Art.
The so-called immortals of Small Jade Capital each mastered one or more techniques, but was there a supreme art within Small Jade Capital that surpassed them all?
If not, even if they had the highest-tier techniques, a person's energy was limited—no one could refine every technique to its pinnacle. After all, not everyone was a Tyrant Body like him.
Suddenly, Qingyou Shanren's voice came: "Xu Shenghua is extraordinary. Mu Qingdai was defeated by him in twenty-seven moves, Long Yu in twenty-four, and Wang Muran in twenty-three. But don't think Wang Muran is weak—in fact, among the three, Muran is the strongest. However, when facing Xu Shenghua, the stronger you are, the faster you lose."
Qin Mu was slightly startled and looked down. Qingyou Shanren was indeed no longer at the bottom of the pit.
At this moment, Qingyou Shanren stood beside the Village Chief, looking perfectly fine—not a single wound on his body, not a speck of dirt or wrinkle on his clothes, as if Qin Mu had not just beaten him.
"The old immortal is truly remarkable. Your speed was incredible," Qin Mu praised. "I didn't even see when you stood up or tidied your clothes."
Qingyou Shanren's face turned slightly green. Qin Mu then asked, "Why did Fairy Qingyou say that the stronger you are, the faster you lose against Xu Shenghua?"
Qingyou Shanren glanced at Wang Muran. "Muran, you explain."
Wang Muran nodded. "Xu Shenghua's technique is peculiar—it grows stronger against stronger opponents. His divine abilities are also strange, belonging to the reactive type. Many of his abilities seem to be improvised, created on the spot. The stronger his opponent, the stronger he becomes; the more exquisite the opponent's abilities, the more exquisite his own."
Qin Mu's expression grew solemn. "He has already stepped beyond the realm of technique and entered the realm of principle?"
Wang Muran said, "I can't tell. It might be due to his technique, or it might be that he has truly entered this realm."
Qin Mu was lost in thought. If such a technique existed, it would indeed be fascinating. Techniques that stimulated creativity were rare. Before, his incomplete Tyrant Body Triple Elixir Art had required him to develop and create, and the Woodcutter's Transmission was also a method of fostering creativity.
But this was only because the complete Tyrant Body Triple Elixir Art had been preserved in the Qin family of the Land of Carefree. Once Qin Mu received the full technique from his father Qin Hanzhen, this was no longer necessary.
If Xu Shenghua's technique could truly foster creativity, it would represent another level of martial arts.
Facing such a person, how many moves would it take to decide the winner?
One move?
Or dozens, even hundreds?
"Truly a terrifying opponent. As expected of a counterfeit Tyrant Body," Qin Mu murmured.
Qingyou Shanren's face stiffened. He turned to the Village Chief and whispered, "Brother, a Tyrant Body is one thing, but where does a counterfeit Tyrant Body come from?"
The Village Chief's face darkened. "Hmph, your knowledge is shallow. Don't ask any more."
Qingyou Shanren snorted, then addressed Wang Muran and the other two: "The Human Emperor Qin is both the Heavenly Sage Cult Master and the Human Emperor, bearing two great lineages. His techniques and abilities are extremely unusual, and his mana is vast. When fighting him, do not clash directly in mana, or you will be overwhelmed."
Speaking of this, he felt somewhat ashamed—he had just tried to match Qin Mu in mana and had been completely crushed, unable to deploy any exquisite moves.
Wang Muran, Mu Qingdai, and Long Yu listened carefully, committing his words to memory.
"His offensive methods are diverse. His movement techniques and footwork are strange, and his speed is extremely fast. Don't let him entangle you, or it will be hard to escape."
Qingyou Shanren continued instructing the three: "His fist technique is the Eight Thunderclap Strikes from the Great Thunderclap Monastery—a fist technique of the Sakra Heaven realm with extremely high offensive power. Engaging him in a fist fight will be suppressed by his mana and strength, so be cautious. He has also cultivated the Spirit Family's Nine Dragons Emperor Art, making his divine abilities no weaker. Moreover, he has integrated artifact refining into combat—you must be wary of this!"
What troubled him most was this point. Qin Mu had uprooted a bronze pillar, wielded it like a spear, his attacks overbearing, even melting the bronze pillar with his qi to forge a sword from molten copper.
This single strike had completely defeated him.
And what Qin Mu had used was precisely the art of artifact refining.
Refining artifacts during battle, transforming artifact refinement into offensive power—this fighting style was something he had never encountered in his life!
Mu Qingdai looked troubled. "Granduncle, then how do we fight him?"
Qingyou Shanren was stunned, suddenly realizing the same question. This young Human Emperor was so fierce, with such vast mana, such unpredictable movement techniques, such speed, such powerful fists, such formidable divine abilities, and he integrated artifact refining into combat—so how were they supposed to fight him?
The three disciples of Small Jade Capital had no chance of winning!
"Swordsmanship can defeat him!" Long Yu said in a deep voice.
Qingyou Shanren glanced at the "Old Man's Staff" beside him. This "Old Man's Staff" was beaming, barely holding back laughter.
"Swordsmanship—Mu'er has already entered the realm of principle," the Village Chief reminded kindly, suppressing his laughter.
Qingyou Shanren ground his teeth, experiencing such a headache for the first time. When Xu Shenghua came to Small Jade Capital and specifically requested to see their techniques and abilities—essentially challenging them—Qingyou Shanren hadn't been this troubled.
Qin Mu was clearly a perfect humanoid combat weapon who excelled in every aspect, capable of crushing and devastating any challenger of the same realm at any moment in peak condition!
Moreover, this fellow's confidence was on a pathological level. He was supremely arrogant, believing himself to be some so-called "Tyrant Body," smugly convinced that no one could compare to him.
Such overwhelming confidence combined with such overwhelming strength indeed created a crushing situation.
"His stamina—how is it?"
Qingyou Shanren's eye twitched. "If his stamina is poor, we could use a drawn-out fight to exhaust his energy..."
But looking at Qin Mu's build, he was clearly a robust bull. After beating him, he'd even said he was just "stretching his muscles," his body brimming with vigor that was frankly absurd.
"His combat experience?"
Qingyou Shanren considered this, then shook his head. Qin Mu's combat experience was among the top of all divine practitioners. His fighting style was wild, and he could even integrate artifact refining into battle—he was clearly a battle maniac!
As a battle maniac, he naturally had rich fighting experience. In contrast, Small Jade Capital was removed from worldly affairs, so their disciples' combat experience was certainly inferior to Qin Mu's.
"Then his ability to adapt on the fly? If his adaptability is lacking, no matter how high his cultivation, he would still fail... Wait! This brat is so arrogant, yet he has never been beaten to death. His adaptability must also be top-tier!"
Qingyou Shanren looked at the "Old Man's Staff" again. The Old Man's Staff had completely emerged from the shadow of his shattered convictions, now wearing a proud smile, clearly ready to watch Small Jade Capital become a laughingstock.
Qingyou Shanren gritted his teeth and said to Wang Muran and the other two, "Adapt as you see fit!"
The three exchanged glances, thinking, "Granduncle said a lot, but it seems like he said nothing at all, and only gave us immense psychological pressure. He would have been better off saying nothing!"
Long Yu's eyes flashed. He stepped forward. "Little Human Emperor, I wish to compete with you in swordsmanship."
Qingyou Shanren nearly spat a mouthful of black blood, his teeth itching with hatred. Why did this brat Long Yu have to challenge Qin Mu to a sword duel of all things!
The "Old Man's Staff" beside him had just said that Qin Mu's swordsmanship had already reached the realm of principle. Reaching the realm of principle meant he had begun to create his own sword techniques, his understanding of the sword already at or near the grandmaster level.
Of course, if one's vision was low and one's starting point was poor, the techniques created might be mediocre. But the key was that Qin Mu's starting point in swordsmanship was definitely not low—in fact, it might even surpass Small Jade Capital's foundational swordsmanship!
Now that Long Yu had spoken, there was no way to stop him.
Qin Mu also looked surprised. "Senior Brother Long Yu, I have studied the Dao Sword. How does your Small Jade Capital's swordsmanship compare to the Dao Sword?"
Long Yu smiled faintly. "The fourteen chapters of the Dao Sword may not necessarily surpass our Small Jade Capital's swordsmanship."
Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief. If it wasn't worse than the Dao Sword, then competing in swordsmanship wouldn't result in him killing Long Yu in a single move.
"My sword is quite heavy, and I sometimes like to use the weight of my sword orb to catch opponents off guard. But since this is a swordsmanship duel, I won't use the weight of my sword orb against Senior Brother Long Yu."
Qin Mu offered this kind reminder. "Senior Brother, be careful."
Swish—
A rain of swords filled the sky. Eight thousand swords burst forth from the Gluttony Bag strapped to his back, piercing into every corner of this immortal mountain, their blades ringing.
"Please," Qin Mu said with a smile.