Chapter 6: Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique (Part 1).
Mu Chen didn't hesitate in the slightest. "I believe you. Why wouldn't I?"
Hearing Mu Chen's resolute tone, the Profound Old Ghost vaguely saw the image of that figure who once faced the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation head-on, defying death itself. He boomed, "Good! The path to becoming strong is fraught with hardship and danger. As you grow, you may face countless perils and could even perish at any moment. You... are you determined?"
Mu Chen laughed and retorted, "Would a man who has already looked past life and death fear his own demise?"
"Haha! Excellent. Acknowledge me as your master," the Profound Old Ghost said with a great laugh.
Mu Chen paused for a moment, then struggled to his feet before suddenly dropping to his knees. "Master!"
'Even though I can't see what the Profound Old Ghost looks like, this title of Master and this bow come from the bottom of my heart. It's a genuine expression of my feelings. He gave me a chance to be reborn. He... is worthy of this gesture.'
"Good! Good! Good! My good disciple, rise. One hundred thousand years... After one hundred thousand years, I, Old Xuan, finally have a disciple! HAHAHAHA..." The Profound Old Ghost laughed freely and without restraint. A violent Barbaric Aura swept out from the center of Mu Chen's room like a tidal wave.
...
In the main hall of the Mu Family estate, a middle-aged-looking man with resolute features and a sharp gaze was seated on the central master's seat. He watched the five people below him and said faintly, "Feng'Er, what happened?"
This man was the current Patriarch of the Mu Family, Mu Gu Tian. He was also Mufeng's father and Mu Chen's biological grandfather. Although he looked middle-aged, his true age was already past sixty.
"Father, Chen'Er just had suicidal thoughts. He lost too much blood and almost..." Mufeng said in a low, respectful voice.
"What? What kind of father are you? How could you not know that Chen'Er was having suicidal thoughts?" Mu Gu Tian, on the master's seat, was instantly enraged.
Mufeng's face filled with shame, and his tone became even more respectful. "I was indeed at fault in this matter, but it didn't happen without reason."
Mu Gu Tian paused, his cold gaze sweeping over the people below. "What exactly happened?" he asked.
Mufeng said in a low voice, "Actually, it was because Rongxuan first insulted Chen'Er, then ordered Mu Hu to humiliate him in public."
"You—Mufeng! Don't you dare make baseless accusations!" shouted a gloomy-looking man a few years older than Mufeng. This man, who bore a strong resemblance to Mufeng, was none other than Mu Rongxuan's father, Mu Yufan. Behind him, Mu Rongxuan stared at his own nose, the very picture of someone with no connection to the matter.
Seeing Mu Rongxuan's attitude, Mufeng's expression instantly darkened.
Mu Gu Tian's eyes were like lightning, his expression turning cold in an instant. Looking at Mu Rongxuan, he asked, "Rongxuan, is this true?"
Mu Rongxuan quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Grandfather, it wasn't like that. Actually, I hadn't seen Fourth Brother all winter, so I just wanted to joke with him. Who knew that Fourth Brother would be so fragile as to develop suicidal thoughts? If I had known, I certainly wouldn't have joked with him. As for Mu Hu, I would never let him bully Fourth Brother."
Mufeng was furious. "Nonsense! Chen'Er has always been strong-willed. How could he attempt suicide over a simple joke? You must have humiliated him!"
Below, Mu Yufan was about to speak in Mu Rongxuan's defense, but just then, three old men in black robes emerged from the side. Each wore an arrogant expression. The one in the middle, an old man with a wrinkled face and a red mark by the corner of his eye, said flatly, "Patriarch, now is not the time to discuss such trivial matters."
Hearing this, Mu Gu Tian frowned slightly. "Grand Elder, this is not a trivial matter. After all, Chen'Er is a descendant of the Mu Family..."
"Enough. He's the trash of our Mu Family, what is there to talk about? Even if someone humiliated him, he deserved it. In this world, if you don't want to be humiliated, you need sufficient strength. If you can't even endure a little humiliation, you're just a disgrace." Another old man with a white beard angrily cut off Mu Gu Tian's words, flicking his sleeves as he sat down in the second seat to Mu Gu Tian's left.
"Second Elder, Chen'Er is my grandson, and what's more, a descendant of the Mu Family's Direct Lineage. Aren't your words a bit too harsh?" At this, Mu Gu Tian's expression changed, and he spoke in a dark tone.
Below, Mufeng was seething with uncontrollable rage. Mu Chen was his son, yet this Second Elder had just called Mu Chen a disgrace right in front of him and his father.
The last elder, a black-haired man, tried to smooth things over. "Let's just drop this matter. Although that child Mu Chen is unable to engage in Cultivation, he is, after all, a descendant of the Mu Family's Direct Lineage. How about this: in a little while, Feng'Er can go to the Medicine Pavilion and fetch some good medicinal herbs to help Mu Chen recover."
"Mufeng, just do as the Third Elder says. It's also Mu Chen's fault for being too fragile." Seeing the three Mu Family Elders intervene, Mu Gu Tian, though displeased, did not dare to defy them.
Mufeng's face was filled with anger. 'If this had happened to Mu Rongxuan, it wouldn't have been brushed off with just a few medicinal herbs. In the end, they still look down on my Chen'Er.' Gritting his teeth, Mufeng suddenly let out a long sigh and stepped to the side, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
Mu Yufan let out a smug chuckle and said no more.
"Since everyone is here, I'll take this opportunity to make an announcement. There are still six months until the Xuanling Imperial Academy's enrollment. Rongxuan, Xiao Tian, step forward." Mu Gu Tian glanced at everyone, then saw Mufeng standing below with a dark expression. He could only laugh bitterly to himself.
The Xuanling Imperial Academy was the best Martial Artist Academy in the Xuanling Empire. It gathered the most talented young Martial Artists from hundreds of towns and cities across the Empire. Therefore, any Martial Artist who managed to enter the Imperial Academy was guaranteed to become a powerful figure after graduation, earning respect throughout the Xuanling Empire. If their performance was outstanding enough to join the Empire's official ranks, their family's status would soar, rising like a phoenix on the winds.