Chapter 69: Charming and Talented

The sky rained flowers, creating an extraordinarily beautiful scene. Amidst the colorful petals, a beautiful woman stepped forth, descending diagonally from the air. The vibrant petals fluttered down, and one landed in front of Qin Mu, making a jingling sound.

He reached out, but the petal melted away like a snowflake.

"Formed by vital qi?"

Qin Mu was stunned. He saw the beautiful woman's face as she descended from the sky, and his heart suddenly pounded violently.

He had learned painting and calligraphy from the Deaf Elder, who possessed unparalleled brushwork, capable of capturing all the beauty in the world. Yet, even the Deaf Elder's brush would likely struggle to portray this beautiful woman's face and aura.

Upon seeing her, Qin Mu finally understood what true unparalleled elegance meant. He involuntarily recalled an ancient rhapsody the Deaf Elder had taught him.

Her movements were like light clouds veiling the moon, fluttering like swirling snow in a flowing wind.

Her appearance was perfectly proportioned, neither too plump nor too slender. Her shoulders were exquisitely shaped, her waist slender as if bound. Her neck was long and graceful, her fair skin revealed. She needed no fragrance or makeup. Her cloud-like hair was piled high, her eyebrows delicate and continuous. Her red lips shone brightly, her white teeth gleamed within, and her bright eyes were full of charm, dimples adorning her cheeks. Her beautiful posture was refined and elegant, her demeanor quiet and poised. Her gentle charm surpassed mere words.

Her attire was extraordinary, unmatched in the world, her figure perfectly fitting the description. She wore glistening silk robes, adorned with jade and emerald earrings. Golden and kingfisher-feather ornaments graced her head, and bright pearls shimmered on her body. She stepped in patterned traveling shoes, her light, misty-silk skirt trailing behind her.

It seemed only this ancient rhapsody could describe her bearing and beauty.

This woman was indescribably beautiful; no painting could capture her face, let alone her ethereal grace and charm.

Was she really Grandma Si?

"Did Grandma kill such a beautiful woman and wear her skin?" Qin Mu shivered, an unpleasant thought crossing his mind.

"Hey! Herdboy!"

Suddenly, a girl's voice came from behind him. Qin Mu turned, saw no one, then looked up. He spotted a girl sitting on the eaves of a temple, her skirt reaching her ankles, revealing fair, delicate skin.

Her feet nearly dangled over Qin Mu's head, her toes playfully wiggling and swaying.

The girl's eyes curved into crescent moons. "Herdboy," she said, "come up here. You can see far and clearly from here."

Qin Mu leapt onto the temple eaves and sat beside her. He noticed a familiar scent emanating from the girl, which puzzled him.

The girl had two strands of hair styled to frame her face, making it appear somewhat like a sunflower seed. With bright eyes and white teeth, her eyes curved into crescent moons when she smiled. "Am I fat?" she asked, grinning.

Qin Mu nodded, truthfully replying, "You comb your hair on both sides to make your face look slimmer, but if you push the hair back, it still appears chubby."

Annoyed, the girl kicked him with her bare foot. Her shoes were placed beside her. "My face is naturally chubby," she huffed, "I can't help it!"

Both dangled their feet from the eaves. Qin Mu braced himself with his hands on the eaves, feeling that the girl beside him was somewhat familiar, and her scent even more so. He wondered why.

Ahead and to the side, the gates of Dragon-Setting City Lord's Manor suddenly swung wide open. A grand procession of over a hundred people emerged, each radiating powerful aura, looking imposing and extraordinary. They were all renowned divine practitioners from Dragon-Setting City, creating an impressive spectacle!

The leading man was tall and robust, with tiger-like eyes and a bear-like physique. He walked with the powerful stride of a dragon and a tiger, exuding a daunting aura. His beard grew wildly outwards on both sides of his face. While not handsome, he possessed a certain masculine charm.

Faintly, behind him, a phantom of a god or demon appeared—an eight-armed deity holding eight different artifacts, seemingly a manifestation of vital qi, radiating extraordinary power.

"The Cult Master's wife stole the Heavenly Devil Cult's foundational scripture, the Grand Devil Cultivation Sutra, evaded the pursuit of the cult's Sacred Elders and Sacred Grand Ancestors, and entered the Great Ruins, vanishing without a trace."

The Dragon-Setting City Lord laughed heartily. "I've been worried sick about your safety, constantly thinking of you," he said. "I didn't expect you to be safe and sound, which greatly relieves me. You've been hidden for over forty years; I imagine you've thoroughly studied the Grand Devil Cultivation Sutra. Now that you've re-emerged, you must no longer fear the Heavenly Devil Cult's elders and patriarchs, right?"

The Heavenly Devil Cult Master's wife smiled pleasantly, chatting and laughing with the Dragon-Setting City Lord as if they were old friends.

The Dragon-Setting City Lord, however, dared not approach closely. He invited, "Madam, my humble abode happens to be hosting a banquet for distinguished guests. I rushed here upon hearing of your esteemed arrival; it wouldn't do to keep our esteemed guests waiting. Perhaps you would grace my humble home with your presence for a chat?"

The beautiful woman chuckled softly. "Very well. I also wish to meet the City Lord's esteemed guests. I'll impose then."

"Madam, you jest! Please come in!"

"That's the Dragon-Setting City Lord's Eight-Phase Heavenly God Technique, a very formidable martial art."

Beside Qin Mu, the girl whispered, "They say Dragon-Setting City Lord Fu Yundi has cultivated to the Life-Death Realm, successfully breaking through the Life-Death Divine Treasure. He's one of the few masters in the Great Ruins!"

Qin Mu looked at Dragon-Setting City Lord Fu Yundi. Fu Yundi's Eight-Phase Heavenly God Technique was indeed extraordinary. He imagined that if unleashed, it would manifest as eight heavenly gods, granting insight into all directions and allowing attacks on enemies from every side. He praised, "It is indeed a formidable technique."

The girl became interested. "Herdboy," she said, "you're also very powerful. What technique do you cultivate?"

"Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique."

Qin Mu said, "My name is Qin Mu. What's yours?"

The girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "My name is Yu Xiu."

Qin Mu asked, "Yu Xiu, as in 'endowed with the beauty of nature'?"

The girl looked surprised. "How did you know my surname is Ling?"

"Ling Yu Xiu? That's a beautiful name."

Qin Mu complimented her, then added, "If your face were a bit slimmer, it would perfectly match that name."

Ling Yu Xiu, annoyed, kicked him again, put on her shoes, and jumped off the temple eaves. "I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Her feet landed on the ground. After taking two steps, she turned back, puzzled. "Why aren't you following?"

Qin Mu, bewildered, replied, "You said you weren't talking to me anymore, so why should I follow?"

"How petty!"

Ling Yu Xiu waved, grinning. "I have a way to get into the City Lord's Manor. It's bustling in there right now, so let's go have some fun! Don't you want to see what the big figures of the Great Ruins are doing and saying?"

Qin Mu's heart stirred. He jumped off the eaves and quickly followed her, asking curiously, "How will you get into the City Lord's Manor?"

"By walking in openly, of course!"

Ling Yu Xiu led the way directly to the gates of the City Lord's Manor. Four divine practitioners guarded the entrance, but upon seeing them, they didn't question them and allowed them to enter.

Qin Mu was surprised and whispered, "Sister, are you the Dragon-Setting City Lord's daughter?"

"He wishes!"

Ling Yu Xiu spat. "My father's background is much grander than his! I can enter and leave Dragon-Setting City Lord's Manor whenever I please. Ahead is Zhenjiang Tower, where Fu Yundi is hosting his guests."

Qin Mu looked ahead. First, a large lake came into view, its waters clear and green. Luminous pearls, the size of baskets, were placed in the water, emitting a soft glow that reflected on the surface. Many maidservants holding lanterns stood motionless along the shore, illuminating the manor's lake until it was translucent with light.

Zhenjiang Tower was built halfway up a hill beside the lake, shaped like a soaring swan. From a distance, the building glittered with gold and jade, exuding the aura of sudden wealth. The Dragon-Setting City Lord seemed to want to cover every inch of Zhenjiang Tower with gold leaf; it was truly extravagant!

Inside Zhenjiang Tower, several dancers gracefully performed in the center, their sleeves swirling, their scented skirts swaying to the beautiful sounds of strings, flutes, and drums.

In the center of the lake, there was also a platform, square and broad, a hundred zhang wide, supported by an incredibly thick pillar beneath. Over a dozen ghostly lanterns floated in the sky, illuminating the platform as brightly as day.

Explosive sounds echoed from the platform in the middle of the lake. Two young men were sparring there. Qin Mu paused to watch, his expression revealing surprise. Both youths were exceptionally strong and incredibly skilled.

One of the youths was the same one who had just been brought into the manor from the street by the City Lord's middle-aged man, with a hundred dragon coins, to compete. He appeared to be a White Tiger Spirit Physique; his White Tiger vital qi actually manifested in a golden-bronze state. His body shimmered with both golden and ancient bronze colors, the gold dazzling, the bronze a deep reddish-brown.

When his opponent struck him, the impact created a metallic clanging sound, like a moving bronze Buddha, even sparking a shower of light!

Refining one's body to this extent using White Tiger vital qi was extremely advanced, no wonder he dared to enter the City Lord's Manor for a challenge.

His opponent was also young, similar in age to Qin Mu, around fourteen or fifteen. However, his attacks were exceptionally ruthless. He used eight swords, wielding one in each of his "hands."

These weren't actual hands but manifestations of his vital qi, which he used to control eight sharp swords simultaneously.

"Eight-Phase Heavenly God Technique?" Qin Mu murmured.

The Eight-Phase Heavenly God Technique demonstrated by this youth differed from that of Dragon-Setting City Lord Fu Yundi. Fu Yundi had already cultivated illusions, with eight phases of heavenly gods standing behind him.

This youth's Eight-Phase Heavenly God Technique was far from reaching that level, but his vital qi manipulation technique was clearly inherited from Fu Yundi.

Ling Yu Xiu said, "He's Fu Yundi's son, named Tingyue. He's quite a pitiable person, having lost his mother when he was young. Fu Yundi raised him personally..."

*Splurt!*

Fu Tingyue's two swords plunged into his opponent's eyes. Then, he forcefully twisted them, pulverizing the other's eyes.

Despite his opponent's powerful White Tiger vital qi, which had refined his body to be as hard as steel, his eyes had not been strengthened. After being blinded, he let out a shrill scream. Fu Tingyue, however, did not kill his opponent immediately nor did he stop. Instead, he continued to hack at the blinded youth, severing his fingers one by one, a look of excitement in his eyes.

Qin Mu frowned, turning his head to ask Ling Yu Xiu, "He's the pitiable person who lost his mother?"

Ling Yu Xiu was also startled. She quickly pulled his hand and walked towards Zhenjiang Tower, smiling. "I'm a bit hungry. Let's go eat some good food! I'm just a guest here too, so I can't interfere too much..."