Chapter Fifty-One: Battle Once More

Tu Xi's face shifted between expressions, his heart seething with anger. He had hoped that this battle would bring fame to Gu Rong and raise the reputation of the Dual Extremes Sect. Who could have known that their first bout would end in defeat, with no hope for a comeback?

“Go, Dual Extremes Pill!”

A jet-black medicine bottle shot forward.

Lady Wang was not particularly angry either; she flicked her wrist and sneered, “Heh, I thank you on behalf of my son, Steward Tu. In past years when I asked for medicine, you always insisted there was none.”

Tu Xi shuddered, his feet tingling with numbness. Indeed, Lady Wang had requested the Dual Extremes Pill before, but he had denied her, claiming he lacked the necessary materials.

“A disciple who is not a demon, yet cannot support the sect, and Mingyu Valley is pressing fiercely—Steward Tu, perhaps you should focus on sect affairs instead.” The sharp voice rang in Tu Xi’s ears, and sweat broke out across his forehead in an instant.

The contests continued, with the later rounds often outdoing the earlier, though many matches were uneven, leaving little impression.

After the first round concluded, numerous cultivators murmured among themselves, still discussing the battle between Li Mu and Gu Rong. Li Mu, having distinguished himself from the rest, had become the talk of Deyang City among cultivators.

Li Mu cared little for the opinions of others, save for one.

“Big brother, did you win?”

Just as he entered the Jade Wood Hall, an anxious Li Ying hurried over. Her large eyes stared intently at Li Mu, her face taut as if dreading a disappointing answer.

Sun Qi stood nearby, smiling and tactfully keeping silent.

Li Mu swept his little sister up in his arms, spinning her around, “I won!”

“Wonderful! I knew you could do it, big brother!” Li Ying beamed with joy, her twin braids swinging lightly. She clapped her delicate hands, which were flushed with excitement.

Li Mu fondly took his sister’s hand. “Big brother has won, but little sister seems to suffer instead. Ying’er, what reward will you give me?”

“Immor…” She began to mention cultivation, then faltered, smiling, “Big brother, can we go see the old master?”

Li Mu nodded, “I fear we may not see him. After the first time, each visit has met with closed doors.”

“Let’s try again,” Li Ying replied obediently.

Li Ying still held a sliver of hope for the white-browed elder she associated with her belongings, considering him an unfathomable figure.

“Sun Qi, you all may rest today; close the shop and do as you please.” Li Mu turned to Sun Qi.

Sun Qi shook his head, smiling, “That won’t do. Business has been excellent lately, and it’s bound to get even better after today. Brother Mu, you should focus on refining pills, especially the Pan Pill and Spirit Nourishing Pill, which are selling particularly well now.”

Li Mu nodded, gratified by Sun Qi’s earnestness in running the shop. “Pills are no trouble; prepare as many as you can. With enough herbs, we can make as many pills as needed. For now, take a break.”

For Li Mu, as long as he had herbs, making more pills was merely a matter of time and effort. He worried not about supply, only about sales.

“Oh yes, make sure to stock up on herbs—buy as much as you can, don’t fret about storage. And lower-grade spirit crystals, exchange for as many as possible; I’ll need them.” Li Mu added another reminder, uneasy that his sudden fame might bring unforeseen events. Preparation was key.

“Understood, Brother Mu.” Sun Qi nodded with conviction, trusting Li Mu’s decisions unconditionally.

Li Mu led Li Ying in a stroll.

The door to the old man’s shop remained tightly shut, the sign “Strange Studio” vanished as though it had never existed.

“So many mysteries,” Li Mu often mused, though powerless to change anything.

Upon entering the Secure Trading House, he saw the manager and assistant with tearful faces. They had lost more than two thousand mid-grade spirit crystals to Li Mu, most of which belonged to Li Ying.

Li Ying pouted happily, handing the spirit crystals to Li Mu, while the manager and assistant’s faces paled.

The second round would take place two days later.

After the first round, cultivators and those from the Jade Iron Sect drew lots to determine their next opponents.

Li Mu’s adversary was named Mu Kui, a rare physique cultivator. While body forging was a form of cultivation, it required much more time spent strengthening the body. These cultivators possessed formidable endurance and explosive power, soaking daily in medicinal baths made from refined herbs to temper their muscles and bones. Their constitution grew so strong that they could rival spirit beasts.

However, their spiritual power was weak, relying on martial skills rather than cultivation techniques.

Among physique cultivators, those in the Pre-Channeling Stage were especially strong—ordinary magical tools could not harm them. With just their bodies, they could overpower many Channeling Stage cultivators. Yet, upon reaching the Channeling Stage, advanced magical tools and techniques appeared, diminishing the advantage of raw strength. Techniques and tools constantly evolved, but the body could not withstand higher-grade medicinal baths for further tempering, and so physique cultivation stalled.

Still, among Channeling Stage cultivators, those with forged bodies were formidable; few others dared challenge them.

Li Mu had researched thoroughly and felt some concern. He had never faced such an opponent, and found them somewhat akin to the blood-refining heretic practitioners. Yet his heart was steady, albeit slightly troubled.

But Li Mie’s opponent was from the Jade Iron Sect, and the two knew each other well. The outcome was impossible to predict.

This time, Li Ying did not place bets. Secure Trading House, due to the previous round, had set Li Mu’s odds at three to one, and such sums—ha.

Li Mu arrived early at the arena.

Beneath the platform, crowds had already gathered.

Li Mu, now a rising star from the previous round, drew much attention. Yet many cultivators watched, hoping to see him fail.

“Never expected to meet Brother Mu—heh.”

“Relax, friend, you can bet on me this time. That strange fire of your mother’s? It won’t hurt me at all!” The speaker was Mu Kui.

His body was not as massive as some physique cultivators, barely reaching one meter eighty, but he radiated strength. His flesh seemed forged from iron, dark and glossy. Confidence shone from his yellowish face as he locked eyes with Li Mu on the platform, a sneering smile curling his lips.

“Indeed! Before the Channeling Stage, what’s the use? Even at the advanced stage, you might not scratch Brother Mu!”

“Enough talk—let’s settle it and drink together!”

Mu Kui crouched, then sprang upward, landing on the arena like a flying arrow.

The nearby cultivators were shocked—he had leapt onto the ten-meter platform without magic. Such strength!

Boom! When Mu Kui landed, the ground quaked, dust flying.

“I am Mu Kui—let me learn your best moves!”

Mu Kui gave a slight bow, then charged at Li Mu with a “rush.”

His huge fist, like a cannonball, erupted with explosive sounds across the arena.