Da Xuan Martial Saint

...

Leaving the County Government of Frost North.

Chen Mu quickly arrived at the Prefectural Government of Frost County.

"He's here."

Within a Hall Office of the Prefectural Government, Shi Zhenyong was observing a military map of Ice State, while Feng Hongsheng, standing beside him holding a Spirit Weapon Military Formation disk, suddenly spoke up.

Shi Zhenyong's movements paused slightly as he said, "He's here?"

He directed his gaze outside, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He was naturally aware of whom Feng Hongsheng spoke, but Feng Hongsheng had deduced Chen Mu's arrival through the Military Formation disk and Formation Chess, whereas he was completely unable to sense Chen Mu's presence.

Previously, during the march through Frost County, he hadn't paid too much attention to it, but now it seemed that Chen Mu's skill in concealing his presence had reached its pinnacle, eluding even a Grandmaster's detection... However, it was only by refining these skills to such an extent that one could master the Three Feet Forbidden Domain within the Six Viscera Realm, and face three Seventh Rank Demon Venerables alone with one's own strength.

And in the next moment.

The figure of Chen Mu appeared outside the courtyard, walking over with a composed expression.

"Protector Chen truly is a legendary talent, seen only once in a century. A year ago in Yu County, your struggle to kill Situ Shu was somewhat strenuous, which I found incredibly fast progress in Martial Arts, unthinkable. Yet in just one short year, you have reached this point, able to stand on equal footing with us old fellows," Feng Hongsheng said, looking at Chen Mu with a hint of emotion, and greeted him proactively.

Every ten years Zhou Hao, every hundred years Chen Mu, these words are truly not false. The Seven Profound Sect had Zhou Hao ten years ago, and it took a hundred years before they had Chen Mu... No, even looking back a hundred years, there is no one in the Seven Profound Sect who could compare to Chen Mu in the same generation.

It's not yet certain what heights Chen Mu will reach in the future, but at the very least, in the entire Cold North Path, even throughout the Da Xuan Dynasty, he likely deserves the description 'unequaled in his generation,' who else has ascended to the top three of the Wind Cloud List in their early forties?

"Senior Feng flatters me, your extensive experience traversing the world in Martial Arts is far beyond what I can compare to. How could my modest achievements be mentioned in the same breath as yours?"

Chen Mu responded to Feng Hongsheng with a composed expression.

He stepped into the Hall Office and then saw, besides Shi Zhenyong and Feng Hongsheng, there was a third person present, a graceful young matron in a purple chiffon dress, just standing there, the world seemingly splitting into distinct yin and yang halves with her at the center.

"This must be Senior Xia from the Hehuan Sect?"

With just one glance, Chen Mu had guessed the identity of the other party.

Second on the Wind Cloud List,

Hehuan Sect's Xia Yu'r.

If Hua Nongyue and Hua Nongying had come to Ice State, then it was quite normal for Xia Yu'r to appear here as well. As the esteemed second on the Wind Cloud List, she naturally qualified as a guest of honor for people like Shi Zhenyong.

Xia Yu'r scrutinized Chen Mu closely, but she couldn't sense any aura from him, realizing that Chen Mu's control over his aura had indeed reached a pinnacle, with not a trace being emitted. Hence she smiled lightly and said:

"In Martial Arts, the accomplished lead the way. Protector Chen is the third on the Wind Cloud List, I feel somewhat unworthy of this honorific 'senior.'"

"The name of Protector Xia is also well-known to me," Chen Mu responded smoothly.

Xia Yu'r from the Hehuan Sect was different from the Hehuan twins, she wasn't from the same generation, but separated by several generations. However, judging by her appearance, she did not look much different from a matron in her late twenties.

It seemed the women of the Hehuan Sect all practiced the Youth Preserving Technique from a young age. Like Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue, they were only slightly younger than him, but they looked very youthful, almost like seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls. However, being from the Hehuan Sect, that was to be expected.

After exchanging a few pleasantries.

The discussion soon turned to the topic at hand, the aftermath of the war in Ice State.

Xia Yu'r seemed not overly concerned with the affairs of the Ice State, her attention more focused on Chen Mu. After observing him covertly a couple of times, she couldn't help but inwardly exclaim—Hua Nongying was right, Chen Mu was indeed no ordinary person. Although he was only just over thirty years old, his demeanor now bore little difference from that of a true Grandmaster.

"...Next to Frost County, besides Ice State's central Ice County, there is Snow County to the north and Han Prefecture to the west. Snow County is sparsely populated, but it seems that the Main Altar of the Heavenly Corpse Sect is located there."

"Han Prefecture, bordering our Yu State's Sha Prefecture, turns out to be one of the wealthiest Prefectural Governments in Ice State. Nowadays, both the Sky Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect are active there. The most severe issue though, is the raids from the foreign tribes beyond the border."

Everyone in the Hall Office had a discussion.

Now that the Seven Profound Sect has taken over Frost County, the next choice is either to defend this county, consolidating its resources without concerning themselves with the turmoil in other county governments, or to advance north, west, or into Ice County.

However, neither Shi Zhenyong nor Feng Hongsheng, or even the Seven Profound Sect authorities, planned to enter Ice County at this time, as it is the domain of Ice Extreme Palace and the seat of the State Government Office of Ice State, as well as the main stage for the chaos caused by the foreign races.

Of the remaining two counties, Snow County has more frequent activity from the Heavenly Corpse Sect, while Han Prefecture has more frequent activity from the foreign races.

And whether it's the views of Shi Zhenyong, Feng Hongsheng, or the Seven Profound Sect, everyone is more focused on Han Prefecture.

One reason is that Han Prefecture itself is much more important than Snow County, and secondly, since the Seven Profound Sect has entered Frost County, both the Heavenly Corpse and the Sky Demon Sects have intended to retaliate; while wreaking havoc in Han Prefecture, they have also started to strike at the borders of Sha Prefecture.

Chen Mu had just learned that Yunlu Pass, which Xiahou Yan was defending, had been attacked not long ago by the Sky Demon Sect. Even the northern border of Sha Prefecture had suffered some raids from foreign tribes beyond the border.

This was naturally not within the tolerance of the Seven Profound Sect.

In fact, the northern border of Sha Prefecture had long been fortified by the Seven Profound Sect's arrangements for further defense; otherwise, the foreign races would have attempted to raid Sha Prefecture long ago, only the conflicts had become more frequent recently.

The discussion did not last long among the group, and a result was soon reached.

A moment later.
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Chen Mu walked out of the Hall Office, his expression contemplative.

"Han Prefecture, hm..."

Unlike Frost County, Han Prefecture was not only ravaged by the Heavenly Corpse and Sky Demon Sects but also suffered frequent raids from foreign tribes. The chaos there was even more severe and intelligence was particularly scarce. Hence, even if the Seven Profound Sect decided to take action in Han Prefecture, they would not do so recklessly.

With Shi Zhenyong stationed in Frost County and Xia Yu'r also assisting in its defense, it would be up to him and Feng Hongsheng to separately infiltrate Han Prefecture first and roughly assess the current situation there.

"Protector Chen, in Han Prefecture, prioritize stability and caution above all else. There are Grandmaster-level figures among the foreign races. Although their techniques might not be as extensive as ours, at the Grandmaster level, not many are weak. Although an average Grandmaster might not be your match, if you are careless and get trapped in their encirclement, it would be difficult to escape," said Feng Hongsheng, walking beside Chen Mu, offering him a reminder.

Now ranked third on the Wind Cloud List, Chen Mu's strength was beyond question. Among the many Grandmasters in the Seven Profound Sect, at least half were no match for him.

But a Grandmaster is still a Grandmaster. Except for those who have just advanced recently and have not yet realized their Domain, as long as one has been immersed in the Marrow Cleansing Realm for a while, even if they cannot match his level, they can still put up some resistance and not be easily defeated.

With the ongoing turmoil in Han Prefecture, and it being the stronghold of both Heavenly Corpse and Sky Demon Sects, if some Grandmaster-level martial artists entangled him, preventing a quick escape and trapping him in an ambush, or if it attracted the attention of the top Grandmasters among the foreign races, even he could potentially lose his life.

Compared with acting in Frost County, one had to be extra cautious in Han Prefecture.

He was worried that Chen Mu, in his youth and vigor, would encounter a Grandmaster from the foreign races and stubbornly attempt to prove who was superior.

"I'll be careful," replied Chen Mu, nodding slightly to Feng Hongsheng, then both left the County Government together, heading westward from Frost County. Before long, they had crossed the border of Frost County and stepped into the territory of Han Prefecture.