"Why am I here?"
Granny Si emerged from the thatched hut, her voice choked with emotion. "I toiled so hard to raise you, and you, without a word, ran off with a fox spirit, leaving this old granny all alone. And you dare ask why I'm here? Your wings have grown hard! Now that you have a fox spirit, you no longer want your granny! Little fox spirit, how do you wish to die?"
Qin Mu quickly smiled and explained, "Granny, you misunderstand. I stumbled upon the fox spirit child and heard her mention the Surging River Dragon Palace, so I went to take a look. While comprehending the True Dragon within the Dragon Palace, I lost track of time and stayed there for a couple of extra days."
"Not two days, but four! Eh, you say you comprehended the True Dragon?" Granny Si was startled. "The little fox spirit didn't harvest and absorb your vital energy?"
The Fox Spirit Child, containing shyness and timidity mixed with a touch of fear, hid behind Qin Mu.
Qin Mu urged his vital energy and smiled, "Granny, please witness!"
A low dragon's roar resonated as Qin Mu's vital energy surged forth, transforming into a great dragon entwining his body. Its two dragon claws fused with his arms. As Qin Mu moved his body, he unleashed a fist, which exploded with a booming sound, a burst of thunder.
He struck again and again, each fist unleashing a thunderous roar that rolled back and forth through the valley, a ceaseless shaking!
"Azure Dragon vital energy!" Granny Si was utterly shocked. She knew that Grandpa Ma had not transmitted the Great Vehicle Sutra of Rulai to Qin Mu, nor any suitable skills for the Thunder Sound Eight Styles. No matter how thick Qin Mu's vital energy was, his attainment in the Thunder Sound Eight Styles should not be this high.
Yet now, Qin Mu was actually producing thunder with his fists, like galloping thunder, only lacking the ability to strike thunderbolts!
In the Spirit Embryo realm, without the corresponding mental method, to achieve this level was almost impossible!
But the most crucial aspect wasn't this; it was the Azure Dragon vital energy!
The Azure Dragon that had just encircled Qin Mu was precisely the Azure Dragon vital energy unique to the Azure Dragon spirit body among the four great spirit bodies!
This was already the third attribute that Qin Mu's Overlord Body vital energy possessed!
Qin Mu, through observing water and fire, had imbued his Overlord Body vital energy with water and fire attributes, corresponding to the Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird vital energy. And now, he also possessed the thunder attribute of the Azure Dragon vital energy!
"Could it be that Mu child harvested the little fox spirit and his cultivation greatly advanced? No, I didn't teach him any demonic path skills for harvesting... He just said he saw a True Dragon, what in the world is going on?" Granny Si was puzzled.
Qin Mu retracted his stance, his vital energy transforming back into the Azure Dragon and swiftly drilling into his body, from dragon head to dragon tail, vivid, just like a real divine dragon.
He was both surprised and joyful in his heart, not expecting that he could actually produce thunder!
When the little monk Ming Xin displayed the Thunder Sound Eight Styles and produced thunder, it filled him with envy. If Qin Mu used the Demonic God Mighty Power Seal, he could also produce thunder, but the Demonic God Mighty Power Seal consumed a great deal.
The Thunder Sound Eight Styles, however, consumed little. Coupled with the "Overlord Body Three Dan Skill," which was more suitable for cultivating during battle and elevating cultivation, it could be said that his vital energy was almost limitless in combat.
Producing thunder would allow his strength to achieve a significant breakthrough!
He recounted his experiences in the Dragon Palace, leaving Granny Si utterly spellbound. When he mentioned encountering the skeletons in official attire and the dried corpse, a glint flashed in Granny Si's eyes. "Two different ways of dying, something strange is at play. You must be careful when you enter."
When Qin Mu spoke of the young dragon sealed by the Dragon Pearl Profound Ice and Gu Li Nuan, Granny Si clapped her hand and smiled, "Gu Li Nuan, that old fellow, is indeed strange. Those skeletons in official attire were certainly killed by him, and he devoured them! People in officialdom always devour others without spitting out the bones. How did you trick him?"
The Fox Spirit Child listened with immense admiration. This old granny, without even being present, had reached the same conclusion as Qin Mu just by hearing the story. Could she also be a fox spirit?
Qin Mu then spoke a little about the Dan Heart Formula he had been taught and produced the Shao Bao Sword.
Granny Si took it to examine, praising it a little. "The Shao Bao Sword is indeed a rare treasure of the world. Yan Kang Country, with the might of the entire nation, forged sixteen first-grade scabbard swords, among them are the Shao Bao Sword, Tai Bao Sword, Tai Fu Sword, Shao Fu Sword, Tai Shi Sword, Shao Shi Sword, Three Departments Sword, Cavalry Sword, Successor King Sword, County King Sword, State Duke Sword, Tai Wei Sword, Si Kong Sword, and Tian Ce Sword. They were bestowed to the Crown Prince's Shao Bao, Tai Bao, Tai Fu, Crown Prince's Shao Fu, Tai Shi, Crown Prince's Shao Shi, Kai Fu Yi Tong San Si, Cavalry Great General, Successor King, County King, State Duke, Tai Wei, Si Kong, and Tian Ce Upper General respectively. Although the Shao Bao Sword is not a true first-grade sword, it is more than sufficient to serve as the foundational treasure of other sects."
"It's that precious?" Qin Mu was startled. "How does this sword compare to Xi Qi Luo's Zen Staff?"
Granny Si replied, "Almost the same, not significantly higher. Xi Qi Luo's Zen Staff has Rulai's blessing, while the Shao Bao Sword, as a first-grade official sword, bears the destiny of Yan Kang Country. Its power is extremely formidable."
Qin Mu asked, "He said Yan Kang Country's sword art is the best in the world, but I didn't learn it. I only learned the sword art controlled by the Dan Heart Formula. Did I do the right thing?"
"Not learning it was the right decision. Yan Kang National Teacher's sword art is naturally good, but Gu Li Nuan was a member of our demonic path in those years. His sword art might not have reached the level of the Yan Kang National Teacher. Sword art depends on the person; no matter how good the sword art is, if the master doesn't teach it well, it will be full of flaws. Look at the little monk Ming Xin; he also cultivates the Thunder Sound Eight Styles, but his master didn't teach him well, leaving the throat as a flaw."
Granny Si spoke with a heavy heart, "Therefore, when learning sword art, you must choose the best master. You absolutely cannot settle for a half-baked master."
Qin Mu was puzzled. Gu Li Nuan was a first-grade official of Yan Kang Country, the Crown Prince's Shao Bao. Could he also be half-baked?
"Little fox spirit, I won't kill you." Granny Si smiled. "Mu child, let's go home. The villagers must be extremely worried, thinking you were devoured by a strange beast the first time you went out hunting. Only granny was smart and knew you were lured away by the little fox spirit, so I waited here. Right, little fox spirit, granny flipped through those ancient books you have and added annotations for you. Read them yourself, and they can help you avoid some detours."
The Fox Spirit Child felt ashamed and hung her head dejectedly, "I... I can't read..."
Granny Si was surprised and smiled, "Indeed, an honest fox spirit. Considering you didn't harm Mu child and even allowed him to gain some opportunities, it's fine. Granny won't deceive you. If you cultivate according to my annotations, you will certainly go mad and die a miserable death. Who told you to hook up with my child?"
The Fox Spirit Child shivered involuntarily, thinking to herself, "Young Master Mu was right, all the old men and women in their village are experts at deception and kidnapping! They're old fox spirits!"
Not long after, they arrived at Old Cripple Village. Qin Mu was slightly startled, for beside Old Cripple Village, another village had appeared out of nowhere!
This village was clearly newly built, much larger than Old Cripple Village, and magnificent, with buildings and pavilions, exuding a sense of luxury!
The houses in Old Cripple Village were all ordinary mud walls with thatched roofs, sometimes even leaking rain. On rainy days, Qin Mu often had to use basins to catch the rainwater leaking inside. Compared to this suddenly appearing neighboring village, Old Cripple Village appeared much shabbier.
Granny Si's face suddenly darkened. Without a word, she led Qin Mu towards Old Cripple Village.
And at the entrance of this new village, by the side of the road, one by one, strange figures emerged from the village, standing by the roadside. There were old and young, male and female.
As Granny Si passed each person, that person would bow low, and with great respect, say, "Madam."
Even elderly white-haired individuals would bend at the waist in greeting, respectfully calling out "Madam," their expressions and tones exceptionally humble.
Granny Si's face grew greener and greener. Without a single word, she held Qin Mu's hand and walked all the way to Old Cripple Village. As Qin Mu walked, he heard hundreds of "Madams," his heart filled with extreme surprise.
Upon reaching the village entrance, the Village Chief and the Apothecary were having tea. Opposite them sat a young man, also slowly sipping tea, with an old man standing beside him.
"Madam," the old man bowed and said.
The young man raised his head, his voice not yet fully developed, leisurely saying, "Young You, don't you greet Ancestor Master?"
Granny Si's body stiffened. She stopped and bowed respectfully, "Ancestor Master, greetings."
The Enforce Law Elder looked at Qin Mu, a smile spreading across his face, a smile that almost made his eyes disappear. He said, "Madam, is this your young master?"
Granny Si glared at him fiercely. "Speak nonsense again, and I'll tear your mouth to shreds! Mu child is someone I picked up, he's not my son!"
The Enforce Law Elder had a look of "I understand everything," which made Granny Si's teeth itch.
The Apothecary smiled slightly and said, "Granny, the good friends from the Heavenly Demon Cult have been here for several days. They simply refused to leave when they couldn't see you."
Granny Si's face darkened further. "Mu child, you go back to the village first."
"Granny, you go back too," the Village Chief said indifferently.
Granny Si furrowed her brow. The Village Chief said lightly, "Since you've entered the gates of my Old Cripple Village, then you are one of my Old Cripple Village's people. Your matter, the people of Old Cripple Village will bear it with you."
He sipped his tea opposite the young man and smiled slightly, "Dao brother is as domineering as ever. This matter concerns my cult's cult master, the cult master's madam, and the holy scripture. Old Cripple Village may want to bear it, but I fear they cannot."
