Chapter 496: Chapter 267: The Mu Family’s Foundation, Uneasy Minds

"There’s no need to worry. Just be prepared."

"The Ancestor has already gone to the Cyan Cloud Sect to consult with the masters from the various Golden Core Influences. I’m sure the Golden Core Masters will come up with a solution..."

Mu Chengsong sensed the panic and unease among his clansmen and felt compelled to offer some words of reassurance.

In reality, he felt just as uncertain.

He glanced around.

He saw that most of his clansmen were apprehensive and anxious, and he couldn’t help but sigh to himself.

However, his eyes soon lit up. He noticed that Li Chang’an remained as calm as ever, his expression completely unchanged.

After the meeting concluded,

Mu Chengsong asked Li Chang’an to stay behind and spoke with him privately for a moment.

"Yuanchen, the Ancestor is already aware of your situation. He should soon officially recognize you as the Mu Family’s new Golden Core Seed."

"However, many of our clansmen’s impression of you is still what it was two years ago. Once you become the Golden Core Seed, some of them might not accept it..."

The implication was that Li Chang’an would likely face some challenges.

Regarding this,

he wasn’t concerned at all.

’The title of Golden Core Seed is won through strength.’

’If anyone refuses to accept it, I’ll just have to beat them into submission!’ 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

...

Over the next few days,

news that Li Chang’an was about to become a Golden Core Seed gradually spread throughout the clan.

As expected, this was met with a great deal of skepticism.

However,

no one came to challenge Li Chang’an.

After all, the story of him killing a foe of a higher cultivation level was true.

Many people were waiting for someone else to stick their neck out and test his strength for them.

Before they knew it,

a month had passed.

Then one day, a challenger finally appeared.

But the challenger was not a member of the Mu Family, and they weren’t challenging Li Chang’an—they were challenging all the Foundation Establishment geniuses of the entire Mu Family!

Mu Siyu rushed to find Li Chang’an, saying anxiously, "Cousin Yuanchen, hurry and come with me! Someone is challenging our Mu Family!"

"Who?"

"The Artifact Refining Ou Family’s Golden Core Seed, Ou Lingshan!"

Mu Siyu pulled Li Chang’an toward the entrance of Red Leaf Valley, explaining as they went.

"Ou Lingshan is the youngest Golden Core Seed of the Artifact Refining Ou Family. Having reached the Foundation Establishment Peak today, she has left the Ou Family to challenge the geniuses of the various Golden Core Influences. This is her final trial before she attempts Core Formation."

The Mu Family was her first target.

At this moment,

outside Red Leaf Valley,

a girl with rosy lips, pearly teeth, and a delicate face sat atop a large boulder, a longsword cradled in her arms.

This girl was none other than Ou Lingshan.

She swung her long, slender legs gently, a hint of boredom on her pretty face as she gazed listlessly at Red Leaf Valley.

"How boring. Doesn’t the Mu Family have a single person who can put up a fight? And where in the world did Mu Xiaoxiao run off to?"

"Xiaoxiao is training in a Secret Realm. She’ll be back soon."

Mu Caiwei’s face was pale and her breathing was ragged as she responded.

A moment ago, she had been the first to face the challenger.

However,

she had been defeated in a single move!

Her Cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, making her only slightly stronger than an ordinary Loose Cultivator of the same stage. She was no match at all for a Golden Core Seed like Ou Lingshan.

After her, Mu Siyue and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also took up the challenge, but not a single one of them could withstand more than a single move!

If Ou Lingshan had any intention to kill, they would all likely be dead by now.

"Sigh. This is utterly dull."

Ou Lingshan yawned, feeling thoroughly bored.

She hadn’t originally planned on coming to the Mu Family, knowing that Mu Xiaoxiao had been missing for years.

Aside from Mu Xiaoxiao with her Cyan Wood Spirit Body, none of the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Mu Family were worthy of being her opponent.

Her coming here today,

felt less like a trial and more like she was just bullying them.

Ou Lingshan didn’t want to do this, but the Ou Family’s Golden Core Ancestor had demanded that she come to the Mu Family first.

It was just like when Wan Xing had made a name for himself by trampling on the Mu Family Ancestor’s reputation at Xiao Yiyue’s Core Formation Ceremony.

Right now, the Mu Family was a soft target.

「A moment later.」

Mu Han arrived outside the valley to face Ou Lingshan.

His appearance gave the assembled Mu Clan Members a glimmer of hope.

"Mu Han is already at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment and can easily defeat ordinary cultivators at the same stage. Maybe he can beat Ou Lingshan."

Mu Caiwei, Mu Siyue, and the others watched Mu Han’s back, their hopes pinned on him.

Mu Han’s expression was grave as he sized up Ou Lingshan.

’I have to win this fight!’

’If I can defeat Ou Lingshan, I’ll be qualified to become the Mu Family’s Golden Core Seed.’

Fueled by this conviction,

Mu Han summoned his Spiritual Artifact. It transformed into a ray of Spiritual Light and shot toward Ou Lingshan.

However,

just a few breaths later,

with a loud BOOM, Ou Lingshan swatted him back to where he started with her sword scabbard, leaving him heavily injured!

"Is this the strongest genius your Mu Family has to offer?"

Ou Lingshan’s pretty face was filled with disappointment. Cradling her longsword, she sat back down on the boulder.

At these words,

all the Mu Family members fell silent.

Though resentful, Mu Han was helpless. He could only pick himself up and move to the side to tend to his injuries.

Just then,

Mu Siyu arrived outside Red Leaf Valley, pulling Li Chang’an along with her.

She pointed and said, "Cousin Yuanchen, that’s Ou Lingshan."

"Alright, I see."

Li Chang’an nodded slightly and walked forward.

Instantly,

the gazes of all the Mu Family members focused on him.

They had all heard the story of Li Chang’an killing an enemy of a higher stage, but ultimately, there were no third-party witnesses.

Thus, most of their gazes were filled with doubt.

They simply couldn’t believe

that in a mere two years, Mu Yuanchen could have transformed from an ordinary clan member into a Celestial Pride on par with a Golden Core Seed.

’Even if the story were true, he couldn’t actually be that powerful. He probably just relied on some Treasure he found in a Secret Realm.’

Mu Siyue said softly, "Yuanchen, Ou Lingshan’s strength is top-tier even among Golden Core Seeds. You’re only at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. If you’re outmatched, retreat as soon as you can."