Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Translated by XephiZ
Edited by Aelryinth
“AH!” Ge Xiong cried out in pain as his chest was sliced open. Blood sprayed out of the wound.
He immediately lost all his strength, and fell to his knees after his muscles gave way. His blood quickly formed a pool underneath him.
A few other Disciplinary Mages were helping Mu Tingying up from the ground not far away.
Mu Tingying had insisted on staying, despite enduring enormous pain. She had wanted to see Mu Ningxue end up just like her, but it had not happened.
Ge Xiong had lost!
As the leader of the Disciplinary Hall, he was already one of the stronger Mages in the Mu Clan, but he had still lost to Mu Ningxue?
—
Mu Ningxue could not have cared less about Ge Xiong. She continued on her way through the field.
In front of her was a landscaped garden of bamboo given delicate care. The garden remained in bloom throughout all four seasons. The green branches and leaves were now covered in snow, making the garden look like a scene from a poem.
The main buildings of the Clan were visible from the bamboo woods. The buildings looked like ancient palaces, as the Mu Clan had been around for a long time.
Tall walls, blue slabs, red roof tiles with a slight golden tint, and a clear stream from the mountain running through the area. The road leading to the main buildings was built alongside and over the stream. People walking on the pavement could enjoy the sight of fish playing around in the stream right through the icy glass panels under their feet.
Mu Ningxue was now walking on that icy glass. The tall bamboo trees nearby were swaying in the wind. The canopy was swaying fifty meters above her head.
More Disciplinary Mages showed up around her.
Unfortunately, their leader Ge Xiong was still lying on the ground unconscious after he was defeated by Mi Ningxue, and the Disciplinary Mages did not dare take any bold actions. They simply gathered around Mu Ningxue like a flock of crows.
Mu Ningxue was close to reaching the magnificent buildings when she saw a man in a blue collarless shirt standing in her path.
The Disciplinary Mages did not dare stand in her way. They were only tailing her or sticking to the sides. Everyone who tried to stop her was quickly left with serious injuries.
The man was obviously a strong Mage sent by the Mu Clan to stop Mu Ningxue. He looked very young. His handsome face had a faint confident smile. His expression remained the same even when he saw the murderous look on Mu Ningxue’s face.
“Impressive. You have defeated Ge Xiong in such a short time. The Disciplinary Hall has been in a slump in recent years. Perhaps it’s because a useless piece of trash like Ge Xiong was in charge. It’s time to give it some new blood!” the man proclaimed, addressing the Disciplinary Mages.
“Mu Ningxue, you have always been outstanding. If the things that brought shame to our clan had never happened, I believe you had a high chance of becoming the next me!” the man said calmly.
“There’s no reason for you to hold a grudge against the Mu Clan. The Mu Clan has retained its status for so many years because we are willing to put in resources and efforts on every disciple with a bright future. We also have the determination to abandon those we should when the clan is being threatened!” the man explained.
“Hou Ze.” Mu Ningxue recognized the man.
The Mu Clan was scattered across many cities throughout the country. Every four years, the Mu Clan would send representatives to the different branches to filter out the disciples.
Those who were chosen would be sent to Mu Clan Mountain and compete with thousands of other disciples.
Hou Ze was a Senior Brother in the same batch as Mu Ningxue and Mu Tingying. He had been considered a role model among them. The trainers had often mentioned his name.
When Mu Ningxue stood out in her batch, she was described as the female counterpart to Hou Ze.
Hou Ze was also not a disciple of the main clan. He had caught the main clan’s attention with his talents and climbed his way to the top.
However, Hou Ze was luckier than Mu Ningxue. Not only was he not abandoned by the Mu Clan, he had rendered meritorious contributions time and time again, and become a star of the Mu Clan.
Hou Ze now had a seat in the clan meeting, and was an important member of the Mu Clan’s committee. His power was almost comparable to an authority like Mu Feiluan!
In fact, Hou Ze was just like Mu Ningxue had been four years ago. He was able to crush his peers and climb his way up. The Mu Clan had given him plenty of resources. Even if many of the talented disciples in the same batch as him had also achieved the Super Level, they still had no chance of catching up to him!
“I’ve always kept an eye on you. To be honest, I was often impressed by your courage. It’s not unreasonable for an outsider to boldly declare war against the Mu Clan, since they have no idea how massive the Mu Clan is…” Hou Ze went on.
Hou Ze was well aware of the Mu Clan’s strength. Despite standing out among his peers, he only realized how powerful the Mu Clan was after he earned a spot in the clan meeting! It had been only the beginning.
Many members of the Mu Clan were stronger than him, but there were still other people who were controlling their fate beyond them.
Mu Ningxue was trying to do the impossible!
Hou Ze’s tone changed. “Even I have to bow and bend my knees in front of the leaders. What right do you have to think you can throw a tantrum in the Mu Clan’s territory? You have injured two important members of the Mu Clan. Do you really think you are only going to be crippled after you lose? You have seriously underestimated the Mu Clan!”
Hou Ze and Mu Ningxue used to refer to one another as Senior Brother and Junior Sister. Hou Ze was attracted by Mu Ningxue’s beauty and potential. He had tried to approach her in the past.
However, Mu Ningxue did not respond. Improving her cultivation was all she had cared about.
Hou Ze was not a patient man. He believed there were lots of beautiful women other than Mu Ningxue, and he had no reason to waste too much of his time on an ice belle.
The two were almost close acquaintances, but when the clan decided to cripple Mu Ningxue’s cultivation, Hou Ze did not oppose it.
His opinion might actually have made a difference. It would at least have delayed the execution until after the World College Tournament ended, but Hou Ze did not do so.
Even he did not know the actual reason.
Perhaps he thought Mu Ningxue would be easier prey after she became an ordinary human, or perhaps he was worried the woman with the outstanding Innate Talent of the Ice Element would pose a threat to his status after she was given more resources to grow.
“I always saw you as a role model when I first came to the Mu Clan. I always hoped to compete with you one day,” Mu Ningxue replied coolly.. “But now, you are nothing to me.”