Chapter 284: Chapter 253 Recognize_1
“Growing old with strength?”
Upon hearing the system’s prompt, Xu Mu couldn’t help but wear a dark expression.
Even the system thinks he’s old now?
Murmuring a complaint in his heart, Xu Mu left the room, took out his tools and pills, and urgently started his cultivation.
For him right now, every minute and second had to be cherished, only breaking through to the Nascent Soul would he be able to rest easy.
Over the next few days, with the assistance of Zhao Jingrou, Xu Mu smoothly assumed the position of Supreme Elder, while Zhao Yan became the Zhao Family Patriarch, inheriting the noble rank of the Zhao Family.
Due to the loss of the Xu Family’s residences, Xu Mu not only lost his family luck value, but also his unrivaled talent. Thus, after a year of hardships, Zhao Yan was able to conceive.
However, Xu Mu’s Secret Skill of Yin and Yang Harmony was still there, tidying up Zhao Yan, who was only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, was naturally a piece of cake.
Latter, Zhao Jingrou took him around to make connections with the people from the Chi Zhou Prefecture.
His strength was sufficient and he knew alchemy, naturally, everyone was willing to get to know him.
Time flew by and after a year, Zhao Jingrou passed away!
On this day, Xu Mu, as usual, was cultivating in the cave, with his tireless persistence, the bottleneck of the late Golden Pill Stage had begun to loosen slightly.
Just then, something came from outside.
“Husband, there’s a message from the Palm Immortal Office asking you to come over, saying they have important matters to discuss,” Zhao Yuan said somewhat shyly from outside the door.
Although the formation prevented her from entering, she knew Xu Mu could hear her.
Not long after, the formation opened from the inside, Xu Mu, dressed in a green robe, and with a short beard, slowly walked out from the cave.
Seeing Zhao Yan standing at the door, a faint smile appeared on his lips as he asked, “Do you know what it’s about?”
The Palm Immortal Office was powerful, in control of everything, and rarely directly sought them out, the family members.
“The messenger didn’t say, only that you need to get there as soon as you get the message!” Zhao Yan replied.
“Has there been a similar incident before?”
“There have been a few instances, but I wasn’t in a high enough position to know what happened!”
“I see!”
Xu Mu pondered for a moment, then stepped on his magic artifact and left the Zhao Family, flying towards the Palm Immortal Office’s dwelling.
The Palm Immortal Office’s base was located in the center of the city and consisted of three tall towers. Due to the gathering of the surrounding earthly veins, the spiritual energy inside was quite dense. The cultivators guarding the place wore iron armors, and carry steel blades, emitting a chilling aura. They didn’t resemble cultivators but looked more like mortal soldiers.
It is said that the martial methods practiced by the Palm Immortal Office were initially evolved from military formations. Not only is its lethal power astonishing, but it can also be linked together to form a powerful murder formation.
It is precisely because of this invincible killing formation that the Palm Immortal Office can deter the numerous cultivators in the entire Eastern Region.
The guards at the gate merely nodded slightly at Xu Mu, appearing very arrogant.
Xu Mu gave a slight smile and didn’t take it seriously. After the communication inside was completed, he stepped and walked in.
When he finally reached the main hall of the Palm Immortal Office, many people were already gathered there, mostly elders of various families who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
“Friend Xu, you’re here too!”
An elder with scattered hair and displaying a somewhat heroic demeanor walked over with a smile.
The elder’s name was Nangong Bo, the Supreme Elder of the Nangong Family. The Nangong Family and the Zhao Family had known each other for a long time, and their relationship was rather good.
“Friend Nangong!” Xu Mu gave a bow and asked,”Do you know why the people of the Palm Immortal Office have summoned us?”
“If I’m not mistaken, it should be because they need our assistance for some task. There have been similar instances before!”
Through Nangong Bo’s explanation, Xu Mu learned that some tasks required more manpower, and it would be troublesome to call people from outside, so the Palm Immortal Office would seek cooperation from the local powers.
“Do you know what the task is?”
“It should be to capture some renegade cultivators. I heard that a messenger from the Headquarters is coming, so I guess the renegades’ strength isn’t weak. Be careful when you take action!”
“Thank you for the reminder!”
The two of them stood to one side and whispered. Soon after, several others joined in, all of whom had a personal relationship with each other.
Everyone waited in the hall for about two hours. When most of the family elders from the Chi Zhou Prefecture arrived, the so-called messenger, accompanied by numerous high-ranking officials from the Palm Immortal Office, finally came in.
There were two in total, a young girl and an old man.
The aura of the young girl was like a refreshing orchid in a deep valley, elegant and otherworldly.
The old man, on the other hand, was like a decaying piece of wood, following the young girl at a calm and steady pace.
Upon seeing the two, Xu Mu’s pupils constricted and he narrowed his eyes, so as not to reveal too much.
The young girl led the old man to the top and then turned to survey the crowd. When her gaze fell on Xu Mu, she frowned slightly, but quickly moved on.
“I am here following the order of the Palm Immortal Office to pursue a group of renegade cultivators. These people are hidden extremely well, and we need the help of Fellow Daoists to find them!”
“Envoy, don’t be so formal. Since it’s an order from the Palm Immortal Office, we will, of course, cooperate fully!”
The crowd echoed from below.
Let alone the fact that the envoy’s cultivation and strength were far superior to theirs, even her identity as a representative of the Palm Immortal Office was something they wouldn’t dare to openly refuse.
“Then I’d like to thank you all in advance.”
Having said that, the woman took out a jade slip and allowed the people below to pass it around and examine it.
When it was Xu Mu’s turn, he was shocked after reading the content.
The jade slip recorded the images of more than a dozen renegade cultivators. Coincidentally, it was the group of people that he had killed.
Actually, it wasn’t a coincidence. With their strength and the fact that they had traced it to this place, apart from that group of people, there were no others.
This result gave Xu Mu a bit of a headache.
Initially, he wanted to take the opportunity to hand these people over to gain merit, but the identities of this young girl and the old man were extremely sensitive. If his origin was exposed, he could likely run into trouble.
After everyone had checked the jade slip, the young girl gave a few more orders. She then let everyone return to organize their subordinates to carefully investigate. If there was any relevant information, they were to inform her immediately.
Xu Mu also excused himself to leave. However, he suddenly stopped halfway. In the end, he stood still and waited for a moment.
“You two should show yourselves. Following me while hidden isn’t what a righteous person would do,” Xu Mu said with a bitter smile.
The figures of the young girl and the old man suddenly appeared.
“I didn’t expect to see you again after a year, it really seems like fate!”
A soft smile appeared on the girl’s face.
“Aren’t you afraid you’ve recognized the wrong person?”
“Coincidentally, I just happen to have a divine skill that can identify the aura. If it wasn’t for that skill, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize you!” the girl replied.
“The fairy is really talented. Even after I’ve changed so much, you can still recognize me, I really admire you!” said Xu Mu with a sigh.
The girl in front of him was none other than who he had encountered in Tianhe City – Fairy You Lan, with whom he had once traded.
And the old man beside her was still the Elder Jin who had followed her back then.
“In just a few decades, Friend Dao has already reached the mid-stage Golden Pill, I’m the one who should be admiring!”