Chapter 204
Chapter 204: Setting Out
Vermilion Bird Bone?
Li Mu Sheng instantly recalled the Qilin blood and Azure Dragon Qi from earlier. All these things had something in common—they originated from legendary divine beasts. Furthermore, they each carried a unique power distinctly different from ordinary Heaven-and-Earth Qi, possessing extraordinary effects.
Li Mu Sheng’s expression turned thoughtful. More importantly, unlike common martial treasures or mystical pills, these rare items were genuinely useful to him.
Li Mu Sheng’s gaze swept casually up and down Murong Xiao Ya’s figure, suddenly commenting: “Murong young lady does indeed have quite a nice figure.”
As soon as these words left his lips, Murong Xiao Ya’s delicate face flushed red as blood. Instinctively, she tightened her robe around herself, biting her lip lightly as she met Li Mu Sheng’s eyes, softly asking: “Your Highness, why haven’t you taken action yet?”
At her words, Li Mu Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly: “I see clearly now. If I take the Vermilion Bird Bone from your heart, you won’t survive, correct? So Murong young lady, are you willingly seeking death?”
Murong Xiao Ya didn’t deny it. She slowly lowered her gaze and quietly answered: “Your Highness is correct. Although I’ve avenged the Murong Family, I’ve already taken too many lives. I don’t wish to kill anymore.”
As she spoke, she looked down at her chest and continued: “Moreover, while this Vermilion Bird Bone grants me immense strength, it also steadily devours my vitality. Even if Your Highness does nothing, my days are numbered.”
Only then did she lift her head to gaze directly at Li Mu Sheng, saying softly: “I believe with Your Highness’s strength, you can surely control the Vermilion Bird Bone. Xiao Ya offers it willingly.”
Li Mu Sheng looked at her briefly before shaking his head: “If I intended to kill you, I would have done it already. Right now, I have no interest in your life.” Pausing for a moment, his tone changed as he continued: “However, I still want the Vermilion Bird Bone. In a few days, after I’ve perfected a certain technique, I can extract its power without harming Murong young lady’s life.”
Hearing this, Murong Xiao Ya’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. She had already prepared herself for death, but Li Mu Sheng’s unexpected words now left her uncertain how to react.
At this moment, Li Mu Sheng stepped slowly to her side, hands clasped behind his back, and said calmly: “The Murong Family likely has only you remaining. If you die, the Murong bloodline will truly end forever. Isn’t it selfish of you to throw your life away now?”
Murong Xiao Ya fell silent at once, and after a long moment, she softly sighed, saying: “Then Xiao Ya will wait a few days for Your Highness. Regardless of whether Your Highness succeeds or not, Xiao Ya won’t hold any resentment.”
Li Mu Sheng waved a hand reassuringly: “Don’t worry. Tonight’s matter is settled. Still, to prevent the murderous intent from overtaking your mind again, you should remain by my side for these next few days.”
Murong Xiao Ya glanced briefly at Li Mu Sheng before gently nodding. Then she lowered her head, carefully fastening her robe. The blush faded from her cheeks as she said quietly: “Your Highness, there are still some matters regarding the Murong Family that I must settle. Please allow me to take leave temporarily.”
Li Mu Sheng nodded lightly, and a thread of Qi quietly slipped into her body as he replied: “I will depart Prefecture City early tomorrow morning. Murong young lady, please finish your matters tonight.”
Murong Xiao Ya nodded again and softly added: “Your Highness, please convey my apologies to Lord Hu and the others.”
After saying this, her figure flashed into a streak of flame, vanishing into the ruins of the now-destroyed courtyard.
…
A short while later, seeing the sea of fire diminishing and Murong Xiao Ya’s terrifying aura gone, Hu Rui An and the others cautiously returned to the Mei Residence.
When Shen An Ran spotted Li Mu Sheng unharmed, her eyes instantly lit up with excitement. She rushed forward, intending to embrace him, but instead grasped only air.
Her joyful expression froze instantly, and she quickly turned around in confusion—only to see Li Mu Sheng embracing that big black cat.
The cat had disappeared unnoticed earlier when Murong Xiao Ya unleashed her attack. Shen An Ran and the others had not noticed it during their escape. Now that the danger had passed, the cat had reappeared mysteriously from nowhere.
“This big cat is so annoying,” Shen An Ran muttered softly, biting her lip in frustration. She had been extremely worried about Li Mu Sheng and had wanted to express her feelings clearly, yet this cat had ruined her perfect moment. After facing life-and-death, such opportunities for intimacy were rare indeed.
Shen An Ran glared at the big black cat, but the creature completely ignored her, sweetly meowing to Li Mu Sheng as if nothing had happened, behaving extremely adorably.
At this point, Hu Rui An approached Li Mu Sheng and cautiously glanced around before asking: “Your Highness, Murong young lady—she…?”
Both he and Wu Shang inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Previously, Murong Xiao Ya’s terrifying strength had frightened them deeply, and they’d worried constantly about Li Mu Sheng’s safety. Clearly, their fears had been unnecessary.
Li Mu Sheng briefly explained the situation, then patted the cat’s head lightly, adding: “Rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll set out on our journey.”
…
Early the next morning.
Only one night had passed, yet Sheng Province’s Prefecture City had completely changed.
The Murong Family had been exterminated. The four great martial families—Yuan, Zhu, Cen, and Baili—had been consumed overnight by a sea of fire, with no survivors. General Han Chui Yuan of Sheng Province had also perished, and the Han Residence stood empty. These sudden calamities left everyone in the city fearful and uneasy.
Meanwhile, Li Mu Sheng and his group quietly mingled among the morning crowd leaving the city, gradually distancing themselves from the chaos behind them.
“Lord, last night’s fire burned half of Mei Residence. Both Mei Yan and his wife turned to ashes. Without evidence now, we no longer need to worry about Martial Saint Mu Tian Xing,” Wu Shang cheerfully commented.
Yet Hu Rui An shook his head lightly, frowning as he replied: “Perhaps temporarily we don’t need to worry. But we didn’t silence everyone in the Mei Residence. If Mu Tian Xing really wants to investigate, he can still discover some clues.”
Of course, Hu Rui An’s words were just speculation. He wasn’t heartless enough to actually kill all the innocent people at the Mei Residence.
Beside them, Cheng Zhong, who was riding a large horse, sighed softly: “Honestly, there’s no use worrying about that now. After all, we’re heading to eliminate Fallen God Peak next. Who even knows if we’ll make it back alive?”
Wu Shang fell silent at those words, glancing back at the carriage.
They had all witnessed Li Mu Sheng’s formidable strength. But destroying Fallen God Peak wasn’t something that could be done by one person alone. They couldn’t rely solely on the Eighth Prince’s protection forever. Once they reached Fallen God Peak, whether they survived would depend entirely on themselves.
[Dear Readers, today there’s only one chapter. We’re about to reach Fallen God Peak, but I’m experiencing some writer’s block.]