Mu Hanyan offered a faint smile and didn’t take his words seriously; if he really thought that way, he likely wouldn’t have said it so readily.
What astonished Wu Qiuyun beyond measure was that the two fearless young masters from the Mu Family had extraordinary luck. Just as they were about to enter the valley, they hadn’t encountered a single danger. Even he couldn’t help but doubt: Could Mu Hanyan’s luck truly be that good, or was this the so-called "fool’s fortune"?
Seeing Mu Hanyan and company strolling along as if they were on a leisurely mountain tour, Wu Qiuyun secretly wondered if he was being overly anxious, which hardly befit a descendant of the Wu Family, and forced himself to relax.
"Be careful!" Just then, the cold and sharp shout of Mu Hanyan suddenly rang in his ears.
Wu Qiuyun’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately drew his sword. But before he could even unsheathe his longsword, a streak of azure light, accompanied by several fine steel-like cold beams, was already coming straight at him.
"Wind Fox!" Despite the blinding speed of the azure light, like a bolt of lightning, Wu Qiuyun’s Seventh-level Knight cultivation allowed him to recognize it—it was an Exotic Beast, a Wind Fox.
Although foxes weren’t known as vicious predators, they were infamous for their cunning. And after evolving into Exotic Beasts, not only did their Spiritual Wisdom greatly increase but so did their attack power, with speeds comparable to fleeting light, and a pair of sharp claws capable of rending metal and stone.
Let alone ordinary lions and tigers, even many low-level Exotic Beasts would have to turn tail and run when faced with one.
Wu Qiuyun knew how formidable the Wind Fox was and swung his sword subconsciously.
The grating, shrill screech of metal scraping rang out, setting one’s teeth on edge.
Sparks burst forth as Wu Qiuyun’s longsword was knocked aside, leaving a serrated scar along the blade upon closer inspection. Meanwhile, those steel-hard claws kept coming straight for Wu Qiuyun’s throat.
Wu Qiuyun paled with fright; the strength of this Wind Fox was no less than that of a Seventh-level Knight. Relying on its Innate Ability as an Exotic Beast, it might even surpass him. If those sharp claws reached him, his life would surely be in danger.
Wu Qiuyun could only retreat hastily, but the Wind Fox was so named for its lightning-fast speed. How could he possibly escape? As the cold claws drew nearer and nearer, Wu Qiuyun was terrified, his face turning the color of clay.
"Clang"— amidst the sound of a Dragon Roar, a spark of cold light shot past in front of his eyes.
The body of the Wind Fox froze midair before falling to the ground like a lump of mud, with a small red dot at the center of its chest—hardly a trace of blood to be seen. Yet, the Wind Fox lay dead, deader than dead.
Wu Qiuyun stared dumbfoundedly at Mu Hanyan, who was sheathing his sword, still unable to snap back to reality.
Mu Hanyan’s sword strike had been incredibly sudden and completely unexpected. Wu Qiuyun didn’t feel any hint of Sword power or murderous intent; it was as if he had casually waved his hand, yet in a flash, he had slain the Wind Fox without expending any extra Qi.
The speed, force, and angle of the sword strike were all exquisitely mastered to perfection, but precisely because of its masterful execution, one couldn’t gauge Mu Hanyan’s true strength from it. The source of this content ɪs novel·fire·net
"Are you alright?" Mu Hanyan asked.
"Eh, no... no problem," Wu Qiuyun managed to respond, still staring straight at Mu Hanyan.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Mu Hanyan felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze and asked.
"It’s nothing, I just wanted to ask, what exactly is your strength?" Wu Qiuyun tilted his head and inquired.
"Perhaps," Mu Hanyan said, "a bit stronger than you imagine."
"Just how strong is that, then? Eighth Rank, Ninth Rank, or even higher?" Wu Qiuyun pressed on.
"Alright, stop asking. In any case, I’m stronger than you, that’s all," Mu Cheng retorted with a smile. Before, he had been filled with envy and resentment towards Mu Hanyan’s sudden rise to prominence. However, now, seeing the look of astonishment and confusion on Wu Qiuyun’s face, he felt a somewhat inexplicable sense of pride—in a way, there was also a thick layer of smug satisfaction. It was delightful! Although the one showing off wasn’t him.
But no matter how you looked at it, they were of the same clan, and from the same sect. The stronger Mu Hanyan was, the more face-saving it was for him, right? If this had been a few months earlier, he probably wouldn’t believe such a change in himself would be possible.