Chapter 447: A Handsome Figure

Although these girls had practiced some Western Earth spells and knew of a place called True Heaven Palace, they didn't know its exact location. Western Earth was vast, not significantly smaller than Yankang or the Great Ruins. Most people living in the Great Ruins knew of the Dao Sect, but the majority didn't know its location. The same was true for the people of Western Earth.

Qin Mu regretted killing that True Heaven Palace female disciple.

Ahead, a magnificent city came into view. The girls on the box were heading to this city for the market. The city was called Fangxiu City, and it was filled with blooming flowers. Green vines climbed the city walls, where large flowers blossomed, and the city towers were also adorned with vibrant, dazzling blooms. As they approached, they saw that the flowers seemed like sprites. From each bloom emerged a graceful girl, softly chanting incomprehensible songs. These were the spirits within the flowers, awakened by the city dwellers' magic, becoming part of Fangxiu City's vibrant scenery.

Other "Pothos Maidens" wore green dresses, and "Begonia Maidens" carried bright red flowers, weaving through the tall buildings and grand mansions. Giants made of stone beat large drums, while unnamed flowers floated in the air. Flower spirits stood within these blossoms, playing flutes and pipas, flying around the stone giants and accompanying their music.

Qin Mu entered the city like a country bumpkin. He saw enormous beings walking through the streets—house-giants that had grown legs. Girls and boys stood by the window frames, looking out at the surrounding scenery, their clear laughter ringing out. Long, flowing ribbons also fluttered, flying from one house-giant's window to another, forming bridges. Girls in various festive attire stepped onto these ribbons, walking from one house to another to meet their lovers.

"It's the Flower Mountain Festival!" Xiong Qi'er exclaimed excitedly. "My mother took me there before! True Heaven Palace's Flower Mountain Festival is even livelier than this!"

Qin Mu picked up Xiong Qi'er and bid farewell to the girls on the box. The Dragon Qilin carried them through the magnificent and wondrous streets. Western Earth's prosperity was unimaginable, vastly different from Yankang, and possessed an extraordinary charm.

As he walked through this city brimming with exotic charm, many girls threw sachets at him. One bold girl even came over on a ribbon, taking his hand, and wanted to fly back into a building-giant for a tryst. Qin Mu released the girl's hand, and she gracefully flew back into the building like a fairy gliding on waves, then went to seek out other handsome men.

When he first arrived in Western Earth, the True Heaven Palace female disciples he encountered were fierce, leaving him with a poor impression of Western Earth women. However, upon reaching Fangxiu City, he found himself captivated by its unique customs and local charm. The annual Flower Mountain Festival was extraordinarily lively.

Qin Mu moved through the crowds, the building-giants, and the house-giants, eventually reaching the city center. It was much quieter here, unlike the bustling areas he had just passed through.

"The people living here must be the landlords and influential figures of Fangxiu City," he thought. "I should be able to get news about True Heaven Palace from them."

Just then, a green vine rapidly grew, floating in front of Qin Mu. At its tip was a large flower that gracefully bloomed, and from it emerged a woman in pink. She smiled sweetly and asked, "Are you Young Master Qin?"

Qin Mu nodded.

The woman stepped out of the flower, still connected by stamens behind her, and smiled. "Young Master, my master requests your presence. Please follow me."

"Someone here recognizes me?" Qin Mu was surprised. He jumped off the Dragon Qilin's back and said, "Please lead the way, Miss."

The woman also landed on the ground and led him to a grand mansion. The residence was magnificent, like a manor. At the entrance, two stone lions stood up, turned their heads to glance at Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin, and then squatted back down on their stone platforms.

Qin Mu followed the flower-woman into the mansion. Inside, many young men and women bustled about, creating a lively atmosphere. Most of them were formed from flowers, plants, trees, and jade, while others were made of profound gold and profound copper.

"This manor isn't in the Western Earth style; it's more like Yankang's... Wait, these profound gold and profound copper..."

Qin Mu paused slightly, his gaze falling upon a walking cauldron. It contained food and ran to the head of a fire-man, where it cooked the food itself.

"This cauldron is a spirit weapon! Can spirit weapons also spiritualize?"

Qin Mu suddenly felt a burst of enlightenment and instinctively slowed his steps, lost in thought. He had perceived another path for reform! That was the idea of "all things have spirits and all things have gods," bringing it into Yankang to trigger another wave of reform! If the spirit weapons of Yankang's divine arts practitioners could also possess spirits, everyone's strength would be greatly enhanced! Furthermore, the combination of the two systems would give rise to more spells and divine arts, leading to greater versatility!

Previously, what Yankang's divine arts practitioners called "spirit weapons" were not truly so; they merely emerged from their divine treasures. However, if they absorbed Western Earth's concepts, they could create true spirit weapons!

"Yankang's magic focuses on offensive power, with various strange and wondrous techniques. Western Earth's magic is slightly less potent in attack and has fewer offensive methods. However, the 'all things have spirits' concept can transform spirit weapons into true spirit weapons! The two systems can complement each other! The current challenge is how to merge Western Earth's 'all things have spirits' magic with Yankang's cultivation techniques, enabling Yankang's divine arts practitioners to perceive and activate the spirits within their spirit weapons."

He diligently pondered how to integrate the concept of "all things have spirits" with Yankang's cultivation system. Suddenly, he heard a hearty laugh: "Sect Master Qin of Yankang has come from afar. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner!"

"It's a man!" Qin Mu was quite puzzled. Fangxiu City was clearly a very prosperous city in Western Earth, and logically, women should be in charge. How could there be a man holding a high position here?

He looked towards the sound and saw a handsome young man leading a group to welcome him. The young man gave him a vague sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before, though he knew he hadn't.

The Dragon Qilin suddenly became excited and whispered, "Sect Master, doesn't he look a bit like Grandmaster?"

Qin Mu was startled. He did indeed find a resemblance and couldn't help but feel a flicker of goodwill. He bowed and said, "Heavenly Saint Sect Master Qin Mu greets the master of this residence."

The young man returned the greeting, using Yankang's etiquette. "Sect Master Qin, Ge Ke extends his courtesy. A few days ago, your portrait was posted all over Western Earth, and your fame quickly caused a sensation. Many young talents intend to meet you. Sect Master Qin, please come this way."

Qin Mu's face darkened. He had brought Xiong Qi'er with him this time, intending for Yankang's Imperial Preceptor and Xiong Yuxi to lead the way. Those two were more famous—one was Yankang's renowned Imperial Preceptor, and the other was the former Palace Master of True Heaven Palace—and would naturally attract Western Earth's attention. This strategy was meant to ensure that he and Xiong Qi'er would go unnoticed and thus be safer. His purpose in coming here was to familiarize himself with Western Earth's geography and customs. In the future, Yankang would inevitably launch a campaign against Western Earth, incorporating it within its borders.

Yankang's Imperial Preceptor's goal was a top-down approach: first to secure True Heaven Palace, then have True Heaven Palace govern Western Earth. If True Heaven Palace submitted to Yankang, casualties could be minimized. Unexpectedly, that scoundrel Ban Gongcuo interfered, making Qin Mu's arrival in Western Earth widely known. Bounty posters with his image now covered every city and town across Western Earth.

"Brother Ge Ke, you are too kind," Qin Mu said as he followed him. He noticed that the men and women surrounding Ge Ke were all powerful cultivators, their abilities seemingly formidable. However, these individuals eyed him with hostility, eager to challenge him. Yet, with Ge Ke, their host, present, they held back from direct confrontation.

Qin Mu looked at Ge Ke, a flicker of suspicion in his heart. This young man's appearance bore a slight resemblance to the youthful Grandmaster, and the manor itself was in Yankang's style, not Western Earth's circular architecture. Ge Ke's etiquette was also Yankang's. Could he truly be the result of the youthful Grandmaster's "walking marriage" in Western Earth?

"No, that's not right! He doesn't look old, perhaps only sixteen or seventeen. Although Grandmaster was a bit of a Casanova, he was already an old man sixteen or seventeen years ago; could he still have come to Western Earth for a 'walking marriage'? But then again, Grandmaster also maintains a youthful appearance. This Ge Ke most likely cultivated the Creation Technique from the Great Yu Demonic Scripture to achieve eternal youth."

Ge Ke led the group to a tall building. Surrounding them were the unique conveyances of those who had arrived, suggesting people of unusual status. Qin Mu even saw someone who had arrived on a cloud, which was now tethered to an ancient tree. There were also various rare and exotic beasts, and even a small hill! Presumably, all those able to enter this manor were important figures. They appeared young, likely attending the Flower Mountain Festival gathering, as no one at the festival would choose an elderly person as a partner.

Ge Ke invited everyone to take their seats. Qin Mu suppressed his doubts and sat down. Ge Ke clapped his hands, and a servant brought forth a scroll. Ge Ke unrolled the scroll, revealing Qin Mu's portrait. He laughed and said, "True Heaven Palace sent Sect Master Qin's portrait, labeling him a wanted criminal from the Great Ruins. I was wondering if this Sect Master Qin would be bold enough to enter my Fangxiu City, and unexpectedly, you've truly arrived. Sect Master, your skills are high and your courage is great, allowing you to meet the heroes of my Western Earth. This heroine is Yu Jinfang of my Fangxiu City; her family background is profound. Sister Yu's surname is Yu because her ancestor was a branch of Western Earth's Yu family. Sect Master Qin, you must know the Yu family, right?"

Qin Mu nodded and said, "The current Palace Master of True Heaven Palace is from the Yu family."

Ge Ke smiled, "Sister Yu owns vast tracts of land and eighteen mountain ranges. She is the successor of the Yu family, with a cultivation at the Seven Star Realm."

Qin Mu nodded to Yu Jinfang with a smile. Yu Jinfang smiled slightly.

Ge Ke continued, "Western Earth also has male-led sects. This is Yue Qingshan, the Young Master of Western Earth's Tianfu Sect. The Tianfu Sect is governed by men, and their cultivation path is somewhat similar to Yankang's, making them very renowned in Western Earth. Brother Yue Qingshan, what is your cultivation realm?"

Qin Mu paid his respects.

Yue Qingshan, rather conceitedly, said, "Although I am at this realm, the spells and divine arts of my Tianfu Sect have ancient origins; they were passed down by deities."

Qin Mu became interested and smiled, "I have seen many divine arts passed down by deities; they are indeed not bad."

Ge Ke continued, "This young lady is no ordinary person; she is not from my Fangxiu City, but from True Heaven Palace—Senior Sister Tingfang."

Qin Mu looked at the woman, who was dressed in elaborate attire and possessed an extraordinary bearing. He praised, " 'Flowers blooming full in the courtyard'—Senior Sister Tingfang, what a beautiful name."

Tingfang smiled. "Sect Master Qin, the palace elders wish to bring you to justice. It's not that I want to oppose you, so please forgive me."

Ge Ke then introduced the others, each of whom had a significant background. Qin Mu responded to each with a smile. Their cultivations varied but were quite impressive among the younger generation.

Once the introductions were complete, Qin Mu smiled. "Brother Ge Ke has introduced so many people; why not introduce yourself?"

Ge Ke laughed heartily. "I am merely the humble host of this place, and Fangxiu City is an inheritance from my parents; it's nothing worth mentioning. Sect Master Qin, these heroes have come to capture you. How will you respond?"

Qin Mu looked around, then said with utmost sincerity, "All these elder brothers and sisters are exceptionally talented individuals. Why would you insist on courting death?"