Chapter 1115: Familiar Territory

Night had fallen, and Ye Chen accompanied Mu Wanqing to the Mu family of the nine great families.

The Mu family guarded Youdu's Ninth City. Though the city was not as vast as Youdu itself, it was still grand and imposing.

The two entered through the Mu family's special passage without drawing any attention, all to conceal Ye Chen's identity and prevent it from being overheard by Yue Shan and the eight princes.

Deep within the Mu family estate, in a grove of purple bamboo, the pair came to a stop.

Not far away stood an old man in plain robes, his hair white and his body frail with age, exuding no trace of malice—he seemed like an ordinary grandfather. When they arrived, he was sitting under an ancient tree, carving wood.

This plain-robed elder was the Mu family ancestor and the city lord of Youdu's Ninth City: Mu Xuan Gong.

Dao wound!

Ye Chen murmured to himself, narrowing his eyes as he observed Mu Xuan Gong. Through his Xianlun Eye, he clearly saw the scars on Mu Xuan Gong's Yuan Shen, and they were not recent—likely at least three hundred years old.

Beyond that, Ye Chen could see that Mu Xuan Gong's lifespan was waning, his life force decaying and no longer vibrant.

For someone like Mu Xuan Gong, an expert at the peak of the Huangjing realm with a Dao wound, surviving nearly three thousand years was no small feat. At his stage, medicines were useless; extending his life further would require a breakthrough in his realm.

"Grandfather."

Mu Wanqing stepped forward lightly, as obedient as a young girl.

Mu Xuan Gong smiled warmly and turned his gaze to Ye Chen. "This must be young friend Ye Chen?"

"This junior is Ye Chen. I greet you, senior."

Ye Chen quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Refining a six-pattern Dan in half an hour, defeating Yan Tian, and slaying thirty Huangjing experts in a single day—truly a formidable younger generation!"

Mu Xuan Gong's kindly smile was laced with admiration.

"You're too kind, senior."

Ye Chen smiled faintly.

"Young friend has saved the Mu family twice now. This kindness is unforgettable."

Mu Xuan Gong spoke gently. "If there ever comes a day when you need the Mu family's help, we will not hesitate."

"We're family, so it's just a small effort."

"Family?"

Mu Xuan Gong looked puzzled and glanced at Mu Wanqing.

"She—she's my elder sister-in-law."

Seeing Mu Xuan Gong's expression, Ye Chen quickly added.

"Elder sister-in-law, nice to meet you."

Mu Xuan Gong chuckled awkwardly.

"Senior, about your Dao wound..."

"You can see that I have a Dao wound?"

Mu Xuan Gong exclaimed in surprise, and even Mu Wanqing was taken aback.

"I can make out a few signs."

"Ah!"

No sooner had Ye Chen spoken than Mu Xuan Gong sighed. "It's been a long-standing affliction."

"It's all because of Ku Yue."

Mu Wanqing said bitterly. "Grandfather's Dao wound wasn't this severe originally. Ku Yue gave him a Dan, acting all confident, but not only did it fail to heal the wound—it made it worse. In my view, he was scheming against the Mu family."

"Qing'er."

Mu Xuan Gong said sternly. "Don't speak recklessly."

"But it's true!"

Mu Wanqing was still indignant.

"The Dao wound on the Yuan Shen can't be treated with medicines."

Ye Chen interjected. "Ku Yue was indeed overconfident."

"It's an old matter. Let's not dwell on it."

Mu Xuan Gong waved his hand helplessly.

"I can cure the Dao wound."

Ye Chen's words made the downcast Mu Xuan Gong and the furious Mu Wanqing both turn to him sharply, their eyes flashing with intense hope.

"Heavenly Tribulation thunder can cure a Dao wound."

Ye Chen revealed the secret.

"Is this true?"

Mu Xuan Gong grasped Ye Chen's shoulder with his aged, trembling hand. The peak Huangjing expert was visibly excited, his dim eyes shining brightly.

"Under the thunder of Heavenly Tribulation, one can undergo Nirvana and rebirth. That's how I healed my own Dao wound."

Ye Chen smiled.

"Heavenly Tribulation can cure a Dao wound... Heavenly Tribulation can cure a Dao wound."

With Ye Chen's confirmation, Mu Xuan Gong's frail body trembled. "I see. I've been so ignorant."

"But where can we find Heavenly Tribulation thunder?"

Mu Wanqing pointed out the issue.

"We need someone undergoing Tribulation."

Mu Xuan Gong took a deep breath.

"No need for that trouble— I have Heavenly Tribulation thunder."

Ye Chen waved his hand, summoning the heavenly thunder from his Danhai.

"You have heavenly thunder?"

Mu Wanqing was stunned.

"Didn't Xie Yun tell you?"

"He only talked about your shameless exploits."

"Now you see he's not reliable. Don't marry him—marry me instead."

"Go away."

"It's indeed thunder from Heavenly Tribulation."

While the two bantered, Mu Xuan Gong stared intently at the thunder in Ye Chen's hand. "Young friend, to draw this thunder into your body is truly defying the heavens!"

"Senior, please sit down. I'll handle the rest."

Ye Chen stopped joking with Mu Wanqing.

"Do you need anything prepared?"

"No need."

Ye Chen smiled and waved the thunder into Mu Xuan Gong's body, enveloping his Yuan Shen.

Uh!

Mu Xuan Gong's expression turned to one of extreme pain. The agony on the Yuan Shen was far worse than on the flesh, but for a Huangjing peak expert, it was still within his endurance.

"Are you sure you can do this?"

Seeing Mu Xuan Gong's pained face, Mu Wanqing looked doubtfully at Ye Chen.

"Qing Che Shu Lu."

Ye Chen smiled casually, without any pressure. No one was more experienced at curing Dao wounds than he was. In the past, he had healed Liu Yi, Gu Santong, Tianzong Ancestor, and Zhong Li—it was as easy as breathing for him.

"Then take it slow. It's okay if it takes time."

Mu Wanqing cautioned.

"Got it, got it. I... hmm?"

Ye Chen was speaking when he furrowed his brow and leaned closer to Mu Xuan Gong. His Xianlun Eye faintly activated as he focused on Mu Xuan Gong's Yuan Shen.

"What's that?"

Ye Chen rubbed his eyes and squinted to look again. Deep within Mu Xuan Gong's Yuan Shen, he spotted an invisible ancient curse seal.

"Ancient Wu Curse."

Ye Chen murmured and immediately withdrew the thunder.

"Why stop?"

Not just Mu Wanqing, but Mu Xuan Gong also looked at him in confusion.

"Senior, you have an Ancient Wu Curse in your body."

"Ancient Wu Curse?"

"And it's an extremely mysterious one. Based on how long the curse has been there, it's at least five hundred years old—probably before you got the Dao wound."

Ye Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Five hundred years..."

Mu Xuan Gong furrowed his brow. Over such a long time, he had no idea there was a curse in his Yuan Shen. Even he hadn't noticed it, which showed how terrifying the Ancient Wu Curse was.

"Do you have a way to break it?"

Mu Wanqing quickly turned to Ye Chen.

"There's a way, but it doesn't rely on me—it's up to you, Senior Mu. I can use the thunder to heal the Dao wound, but the Ancient Wu Curse is too advanced. It needs a true Heavenly Tribulation divine punishment."

"So, young friend means I should attempt to break through to Zhunsheng to trigger Heavenly Tribulation?"

Mu Xuan Gong asked tentatively.

"That method is risky, but it's the most direct. With your cultivation, you're likely to advance to Zhunsheng."

Ye Chen explained slowly. "The question is, who planted this Ancient Wu Curse in you, how did they do it, and what was their purpose?"

"Could it be Ku Yue again?"

Mu Wanqing said coldly.

"Qing'er, don't speak recklessly."

"But, Senior, it's not impossible."

Ye Chen pondered. "Wu Curses can be embedded in Dan. There are precedents for that. It's not hard to do with a high-level Dan as the carrier. At Ku Yue's level, he could manage it."

"A high-level Dan... five hundred years ago..."

Mu Xuan Gong narrowed his eyes, as if recalling an old event. As he thought, a cold glint flashed in his aged eyes.

"Ku Yue, how dare you scheme against me?"

Mu Xuan Gong snorted coldly, piecing everything together.

"If it's really Ku Yue, his motives are clear."

Ye Chen said slowly. "If I'm not wrong, not just you, Senior—other major family ancestors, elders, and even high-level members of the Zhuque family likely have these curse seals. Beyond the Zhuque family, the nine great families control half of Youdu's cultivator forces. Controlling you means controlling more than half of Youdu's power. That's his trump card. With the alchemists from his Lingdan Pavilion, he could rival the Zhuque family or even overthrow all of Youdu if needed."

"What a grand scheme."

Mu Xuan Gong said coldly, while Mu Wanqing listened in growing horror.

"This is all just speculation. We can't conclude yet."

Ye Chen said lightly.

"Whether it is or not, we'll find out soon. Qing'er, go summon your father. He's taken Dan from Ku Yue too."

"Understood."

Mu Wanqing didn't dare delay and hurried out of the bamboo grove.