Chapter 69: Hidden Gem

Amidst the air, celestial blossoms descended in a chaotic shower, a tapestry of brocade and embroidery woven from light. Within the vibrant rain of petals, a peerless beauty stepped forth, gracefully descending from the heavens as if treading upon the very flowers. The colorful petals, light as down, fluttered and fell, one landing before Qin Mu with a soft, bell-like chime.

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

"Vital energy transformed?"

Qin Mu was momentarily stunned. His gaze fixed upon the face of the descending beauty, and his heart began to pound violently.

He had learned painting and calligraphy from the Deaf, whose brushwork was unparalleled, capable of capturing all the beauty of the world. Yet, even the Deaf's brush would likely struggle to depict the countenance and charm of this woman.

Gazing upon her, Qin Mu finally understood the meaning of peerless elegance. Unbidden, a piece of ancient *fu* the Deaf had taught him sprang to mind:

Her movements, like light clouds covering the moon, fluttering as if the flowing wind returning snow.

Her appearance, plump and slender just right, tall and short in perfect measure. Shoulders as if carved, waist like bound silk. Extended neck and beautiful nape, a bright quality revealing itself. Fragrant essence without addition, neither lead nor powder applied. Cloud chignon towering, fine eyebrows connected. Red lips outside bright, white teeth inside fresh, bright eyes skilled at glancing, dimples assisting her authority. Precious posture gorgeous and elegant, demeanor quiet and body idle. Soft feelings and graceful state, charming in language.

Her clothing, strange raiment vast as the world, bone structure matching her form. Draped in Luo cloth of splendor, adorned with Yao Bi of resplendent jewels. Wearing gold and emerald head ornaments, stringing bright pearls to illuminate her body. Stepping on far travel's patterned shoes, trailing mist silk of a light skirt.

It seemed only this ancient *fu* could adequately describe her demeanor and appearance.

This woman was too beautiful, beyond compare. Taking up a pen to paint her was fundamentally impossible to capture such an appearance, let alone her charm and elegance.

Could she truly be Granny Si?

"Could it be that Granny Si killed this incredibly beautiful woman and is wearing her skin?" Qin Mu shivered involuntarily, a disturbing thought taking root.

"Hey! Cow herder!"

Suddenly, a girl's voice called from behind him. Qin Mu turned his head to look but saw no one. He lifted his gaze, and there, perched upon a temple eave, sat a girl. Her skirt hem reached her ankles, revealing a sliver of fair skin, delicate and soft.

Her feet almost dangled down to Qin Mu's head, her toes playfully curling and bending, swaying back and forth.

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

Qin Mu leaped onto the temple eave, settling beside her. He caught a faint, familiar fragrance emanating from her, and a sense of puzzlement bloomed in his heart.

The girl had two strands of fine hair combed down her cheeks, making her face appear somewhat like a sunflower seed. Her eyes were bright, her teeth white, and when she smiled, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons. She grinned and said, "Am I fat?"

Qin Mu nodded, honestly stating, "The hair combed down the sides of your face is meant to make it look slimmer, but even pushing the hair aside, it still appears chubby."

The girl was annoyed. She kicked him once with her bare foot – her shoes lay beside her – and declared indignantly, "My face being fat is innate! I can't help it!"

The two of them let their feet hang beneath the temple eave. Qin Mu, with both hands supporting the eave, couldn't shake the feeling that the girl beside him was somewhat familiar, and that fragrance was even more so. His confusion deepened.

Diagonally in front, the gates of Inlaid Dragon City's city lord mansion suddenly swung open, and a grand procession of over a hundred people emerged. Each person possessed a strong and imposing aura, their bearing extraordinary. They were all renowned divine abilities practitioners from Inlaid Dragon City, their momentum formidable!

The leading man was tall and sturdy, with tiger eyes, a bear-like waist, and a dragon's stride, a presence that made one's heart tremble. His beard exploded outwards on either side of his face, and while not handsome, he possessed a certain manly spirit.

Behind him, the faint shadow of a god or demon shimmered – an eight-armed god demon holding eight kinds of magic tools. This was clearly a manifestation of vital energy, and its momentum was extraordinary.

"The cult leader's wife seized the Heavenly Demon Cult's foundational holy scripture, the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Scripture, and escaped the pursuit of the Heavenly Demon Cult's holy elders and grand ancestor masters, disappearing into the Great Ruins," Inlaid Dragon City Lord chuckled heartily. "I was worried about my wife's safety, thinking of her day and night. I never expected her to be safe and sound, which greatly relieves me. My wife has endured for forty years without appearing; she must have thoroughly researched the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Scripture. Coming out this time, she shouldn't fear the Heavenly Demon Cult elders and ancestor masters, right?"

The Heavenly Demon Cult Leader's wife smiled gently, chatting and laughing with the Inlaid Dragon City Lord as if they were old friends of many years.

Yet, the Inlaid Dragon City Lord dared not approach. He invited, "Wife, a banquet has just been prepared at my humble abode to entertain distinguished guests. I heard of wife's great arrival and rushed out. It's not good to keep the distinguished guests waiting. How about wife graces us with your presence at my humble abode for a chat?"

The beautiful woman laughed lightly, "That is also good. I also wish to see the city lord's distinguished guests. Then I shall impose."

"Wife is jesting, please!"

"That is the Inlaid Dragon City Lord's Eight Phases Heavenly God Skill, a very powerful technique," the girl beside Qin Mu murmured. "Reportedly, Inlaid Dragon City Lord Fu Yun Di has already cultivated to the Life and Death Realm, successfully breaching the Life and Death God Repository. He is a rare expert within the Great Ruins!"

Qin Mu gazed at Inlaid Dragon City Lord Fu Yun Di. Fu Yun Di's Eight Phases Heavenly God Skill was indeed extraordinary. He imagined that when displayed, it would manifest as heavenly gods in eight phases, encompassing all four sides and eight directions, capable of attacking enemies from every angle. He praised, "Indeed a powerful technique."

The girl's interest was piqued. She said, "Cow herder, you are also very powerful. What technique do you cultivate?"

"Overlord Body Three Dan Skill," Qin Mu replied. "My name is Qin Mu. What is your name?"

The girl tucked the strands of hair behind her ear and laughed, "My name is Yu Xiu."

Qin Mu said, "Yu Xiu, as in the bell spirit Yu Xiu?"

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

"Ling Yu Xiu? That's a beautiful name," Qin Mu complimented lightly. "If your face were a little slimmer, it would match the name perfectly."

Ling Yu Xiu was annoyed. She kicked him again, then put on her shoes and jumped down from the temple eave. "I'm not going to bother with you!"

She landed and walked a few steps, then turned back, looking puzzled. "Why aren't you following?"

Qin Mu was equally puzzled. "You said you weren't going to bother with me, so why should I follow?"

"Petty!"

Ling Yu Xiu waved a hand, smiling. "I have ways to enter the city lord mansion. It's very lively inside right now, let's go have some fun! Don't you want to see what the bigwigs of the Great Ruins are doing and saying?"

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly. He jumped down from the temple eave and quickly followed her, asking curiously, "How do you plan to enter the city lord mansion?"

"Openly walk in, of course!"

Ling Yu Xiu led the way, heading directly towards the city lord mansion gate. Four divine abilities practitioners stood guard at the entrance, but they didn't question the two of them, allowing them to pass into the mansion.

Qin Mu was surprised. He whispered, "Little sister, are you the daughter of Inlaid Dragon City Lord?"

"He wishes!" Ling Yu Xiu spat. "My dad has a much bigger background than him! I can enter and leave this Inlaid Dragon City lord mansion whenever I please. Zhenjiang Tower is up ahead; Fu Yun Di is banqueting guests there."

Qin Mu looked ahead. The first thing that met his eyes was a large lake, its green waters clear and rippling. Bucket-sized pearls were placed within the lake, emitting a soft light that reflected upon the surface. Along the lakeside, numerous maidservants stood motionless, holding lanterns that illuminated the mansion's lake brightly.

Zhenjiang Tower was built on the half-mountain beside the lake, shaped like a flying wild goose. From a distance, one could see the gold and jade splendor within the tower, revealing the unmistakable quality of newly acquired wealth. Inlaid Dragon City Lord seemed to have been tempted to cover the entire Zhenjiang Tower in gold foil – it was truly extravagant!

Inside Zhenjiang Tower, several dancing girls gracefully swayed in the center, their sleeves flowing, their fragrant skirts moving, accompanied by the melodious sounds of silk instruments, bamboo flutes, and drums, creating a truly wonderful scene.

In the center of the lake, a platform was built, perfectly square and a hundred *zhang* wide, supported below by an exceptionally thick pillar. More than ten death energy lanterns floated in the sky above, illuminating the platform as brightly as day.

Explosive sounds emanated from the lake platform, where two youths were engaged in combat. Qin Mu stopped to watch, a look of surprise on his face. Both youths possessed considerable strength and extraordinary abilities.

One of them was precisely the youth who had just been led into the mansion to fight by the city lord mansion's middle-aged man with the hundred dragon coins on the street. He appeared to be a White Tiger Spirit Body; his White Tiger vital energy had actually manifested in a golden and ancient copper state. His body surface shimmered with two colors, dazzling gold and deep brown ancient copper.

When his opponent struck him, the resulting explosions sounded like the clanging of moving copper Buddhas, even producing a shower of sparks!

He had utilized White Tiger vital energy to refine his body to such an extent, a truly skillful accomplishment. No wonder he dared to enter the city lord mansion to fight.

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

Those weren't actual hands, but rather his vital energy. He used vital energy to control the swords, simultaneously controlling eight sharp blades.

"Eight Phases Heavenly God Skill?" Qin Mu murmured.

The Eight Phases Heavenly God Skill displayed by this youth was different from that of Inlaid Dragon City Lord Fu Yun Di. Fu Yun Di had already cultivated the phenomenon, with the eight phases heavenly gods standing behind him.

This youth's Eight Phases Heavenly God Skill was still far from that level, but the method of utilizing vital energy was clearly from the same lineage as Fu Yun Di.

Ling Yu Xiu said, "He is Fu Yun Di's son, named Ting Yue. Truth be told, he's also a pitiable person, having lost his mother from a young age and being raised solely by Fu Yun Di..."

*Pu—*

Fu Ting Yue stabbed two swords into his opponent's eyes, then forcefully rotated them, grinding the opponent's eyes.

Although his opponent's White Tiger vital energy was extremely strong, refining his body like steel, it hadn't reached his eyes. After his eyes were blinded, he let out shrill screams. Fu Ting Yue didn't kill his opponent directly, nor did he stop. Instead, he continued to chop at the blinded youth with sword after sword, severing his fingers one by one, an excited glint in his eyes.

Qin Mu frowned. He turned his head and asked Ling Yu Xiu, "He's the pitiable person who lost his mother?"

Ling Yu Xiu also jumped in surprise. She quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him towards Zhenjiang Tower. Laughing, she said, "I'm a little hungry. Let's go eat some good things! I'm also a guest here, I can't interfere too much..."