You've been enhanced by me, go ahead.

Xu Mu naturally noticed the opponent's attack, but by then, it was already too late to dodge.

He swiftly activated Demonic Guard.

It wasn't the same one he used during the standoff with Old Man Li; this time, he executed the complete Heaven-grade technique.

He still had self-awareness. The person before him was a Grandmaster, a whole major realm above him.

He wouldn't do anything reckless.

"With despair as the sword, clad in the armor of the departed."

As Xu Mu spoke, a golden light flowed around his body.

In an instant, a suit of golden armor, inlaid with blood-red patterns, covered him. The armor included a helmet and face guard, concealing his entire head.

On either side of the helmet were demonic horns.

At this moment, he was like a demon reborn, Chi You descended upon the earth.

Boom!

The black-robed man gathered his Qi into his fist and slammed it into Xu Mu's chest.

The ground beneath their feet instantly cratered.

The massive shockwave sent Dai Xingluo, who was to the side, flying once again.

The black-robed man was shocked to find that Xu Mu's technique had actually blocked his full-force strike.

He let out a ferocious roar, "Argh!"

The glow around his body intensified once more.

Crack!

The golden armor on Xu Mu's chest developed a fissure.

The terrifying force sent him flying backward.

But Xu Mu used Cloud Step mid-air and landed steadily on the ground.

Thud!

Just as the black-robed man was about to press his advantage, an inexplicable, violent tremor struck his body.

A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

He looked at Xu Mu in disbelief. What was happening?

The other party hadn't attacked him, so why was he injured?

Xu Mu looked down at his chest. The armor was shattered, and his body ached slightly.

As expected of the Grandmaster realm, not easy to deal with at all.

"Xu Mu!"

Right then, a woman's voice came from behind the black-robed man.

In the next moment, Huang Min's figure appeared from behind the black-robed man, "Go find the Sect Master! I'll handle him!"

Seeing this, Xu Mu deactivated his technique.

He immediately picked up Dai Xingluo from the side, expanded his perception, and ran into the distance.

"Brother, you were so cool just now! So cool!"

Dai Xingluo paid no mind to her own injuries, instead looking at Xu Mu with starry-eyed admiration.

[Favorability +10]

"Keep it low-key, standard operation."

Xu Mu's perception located Lin Tianlu, and he hurried over.

Arriving near Lin Tianlu, he found a young man carrying him on his back, running into the distance.

"Lin Jitao!"

Dai Xingluo called out from afar.

"Tao'er, stop, it's one of our own."

Lin Tianlu had already seen Xu Mu approaching.

"Is there a quiet place?"

Xu Mu asked as he reached Lin Tianlu.

"Yes, keep running straight ahead!"

Lin Tianlu pointed towards the forest ahead.

Xu Mu, carrying Dai Xingluo, followed closely behind.

Led by Lin Tianlu, they found a cave.

Xu Mu had Lin Jitao lay his father down inside the cave.

He then carefully set Dai Xingluo down.

Afterward, Xu Mu took out a Blood Essence Grass and a small bowl from his storage space.

"Tao'er, quickly gather some branches and fallen leaves to block the cave entrance."

Lin Tianlu instructed Lin Jitao.

"I'll go right away!"

Lin Jitao ran out of the cave.

Xu Mu had Lin Tianlu lie face down, untied his clothes, and exposed his back.

In addition to the Blood Essence Grass, he also used some first and second-grade natural treasures as supplements.

Using a method to extract essences, a liquid appeared in Xu Mu's bowl.

He dipped a silver needle into the liquid and directly inserted it into points on Lin Tianlu's back.

After a few needles, Lin Tianlu felt a swelling sensation in his back.

"Eat all of the rest."

Xu Mu handed the bowl with the remaining dregs and liquid to Lin Tianlu.

Lin Tianlu nodded and swallowed everything.

In just over ten seconds, he felt the bones in his lumbar spine begin to grow warm, a comfortable, warming sensation.

A wave of wild joy surged in his eyes. All these years, his bones had only known pain and coldness; he had never felt anything like this before.

Perhaps this Xu Mu before him really had a way to cure him.

"Xingluo, are you okay?"

Xu Mu now came before Dai Xingluo, taking her wrist to check her pulse.

"I'm not okay, brother. Your little sister feels pain all over her body."

Dai Xingluo said with a pitiful expression.

"I think what you want is an injection, right?"

Xu Mu released her wrist. This time, she only had some superficial wounds, nothing affecting her muscles or bones.

He then sat on the ground, waiting quietly.

Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the area, and clumps of earth began to fall from the cave ceiling.

Xu Mu used his perception to check the surroundings and found that the battle between Zhao Yide and Kong Liuke had reached this area.

But Kong Liuke was severely outmatched, covered in blood and heavily injured.

What surprised Xu Mu was that Lin Jitao, who had been gathering branches, saw this and actually dared to go help.

Xu Mu couldn't help but admire the guy's guts; he was really reckless.

He immediately stood up and walked out of the cave, with Dai Xingluo close behind him.

"Stop fighting! I'm over here!"

Xu Mu shouted into the distance.

Hearing the voice, Zhao Yide's figure arrived in the blink of an eye.

When he saw Xu Mu, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. "I thought you had escaped. I didn't expect you to have been hiding here all along."

He was inwardly thrilled. Since Xu Mu hadn't left to find Ding Yuan,

it proved Ding Yuan didn't know about this matter. Wasn't that perfect?

After he took control of the Heavenly Sword Sect, even if Ding Yuan returned, he could tell him that Kong Liuke had rebelled.

With the dead unable to testify, Ding Yuan couldn't say much.

Just then, several more tremors came from the distance. The black-robed man from before had also arrived here.

Huang Min was close behind, chasing him.

She could tell the black-robed man wasn't fighting her seriously; his goal seemed to always be Lin Tianlu.

"Brother Kong!"

Huang Min, originally intending to chase the black-robed man, happened to spot Kong Liuke, who was covered in blood.

"Xiao Min, go save the Sect Master quickly!"

As Kong Liuke spoke, his legs suddenly gave way, and he sat down on the ground.

Facing Zhao Yide alone, a peak late-stage Grandmaster, was still too much for him.

"Kid, where did you hide the Sect Master? Hand him over now! Otherwise, I'll kill Dai Xingluo beside you first!"

Zhao Yide sneered.

"In a cave behind me. Lin Tianlu is hiding inside. Go ahead!"

Xu Mu pointed behind him.

"Xu Mu! What do you mean by that? You dare betray the Sect Master?"

Huang Min, who had caught up, heard Xu Mu's words and couldn't help but shout coldly.

"Betrayal? I was never a member of the Heavenly Sword Sect to begin with."

Xu Mu replied indifferently, looking at Huang Min.

"Heh! I'm not falling for that. There must be some trap there, right? I won't go. You bring him out yourself."

Zhao Yide revealed a shrewd smile. "Don't waste time. I'll attack Dai Xingluo in five seconds."

"Fine, I'll go now."

As he spoke, Xu Mu pulled Dai Xingluo and ran together towards the cave.

"Xu Mu! I trusted you so much, I'll kill you!"

Huang Min roared in fury.

She was about to give chase when the black-robed man blocked her path.

Xu Mu had now reached the back of the cave. He pulled all the silver needles from Lin Tianlu's back. "Done. I've enhanced you. Go on."