This Sacred Wood Branch was given by Elder Cheng to Mu Jinyu as a greeting gift, with great significance.
Mu Jinyu had intended to test the power of this Sacred Wood Branch after hearing Li Xiaoxiao's introduction, but had to suppress the thought temporarily due to moving to the Inner Sect.
Now that Huang Daochen wanted to fight him, an idea sparked in Mu Jinyu's mind – it was the perfect opportunity to test the power of the Sacred Wood Branch!
"Boom!!"
Sword light surged, the void trembled, and the dazzling sword light made everyone's eyes sting.
Although Huang Daochen spoke scornfully of Mu Jinyu, he did not dare to be careless and went all out when making his move!
This move was a Mid-Profound Rank quality swordsmanship called "Escaping Light Shadow Sword." Once activated, the sword transformed into escaping light, with chaotic sword shadows. If one could not discern the genuine sword shadow and escape, the intersecting sword cuts would leave them dead with no remains!
"Hmph!"
Mu Jinyu held the Sacred Wood Branch and snorted coldly, slashing lightly forward!
While trying to test the power of the Sacred Wood Branch, to see if it could indeed easily destroy magic treasures as Li Xiaoxiao claimed, Mu Jinyu was also prepared with a backup plan, just in case the branch's power was merely a boast.
"Heh, absurd!"
Seeing Mu Jinyu using a wooden branch to fight him, Huang Daochen sneered contemptuously. He pinched his left hand into a sword seal, preparing to use the sword shadows to rip Mu Jinyu's clothes and carve a green turtle onto his back to humiliate him!
"Swish!!"
The sword shadows intertwined, and the void seemed to be on the verge of being torn apart.
As Mu Jinyu slashed forward with the Sacred Wood Branch, he faintly felt a sting on his face.
"Boom!!"
At that moment, the Sacred Wood Branch finally slashed down through the void.
Afterwards, there was no terrifying sword qi, no phenomenal occurrences, yet the countless sword shadows conjured by Huang Daochen with his treasured sword instantly vanished.
Like mist being swept away by a fierce wind!
Huang Daochen stood there dumbfounded, rubbing his eyes vigorously several times, unable to believe what he was seeing.
He repeatedly pinched his sword seal, trying to summon his treasured sword back, but received no response.
His sword had severed all connection with him, as if forcibly taken by someone – its imprint erased, or completely broken, thus losing its mark....
"You bastard, return my Clear Shadow Sword at once!!"
Huang Daochen couldn't believe that his treasured sword had been cut in half by Mu Jinyu in one stroke. He assumed Mu Jinyu had stolen it through trickery, glaring angrily at him!
Just as he finished speaking,
"Rustle, rustle!!"
Suddenly, the sound of dust falling to the ground echoed.
Huang Daochen noticed a small pinch of silver-white fine sand three feet in front of Mu Jinyu!
"Sinking Silver Iron fragments?!"
Seeing this small pinch of fragments, Huang Daochen's face changed dramatically, exclaiming in shock.
This was because his Clear Shadow Sword was forged primarily from Sinking Silver Iron!
Then, Huang Daochen looked at the seemingly ordinary branch in Mu Jinyu's hand with eyes wide open, filled with terror!
"Is that Elder Lin Feng's Sacred Wood Branch?!"
Initially, he had been disdainful, seeing Mu Jinyu take out a branch to fight him; naturally, he had not connected it to the Sacred Wood Branch that Elder Lin Feng revered as a treasure!
But now, with Mu Jinyu's slash, his Clear Shadow Sword disappeared, leaving behind only Sinking Silver Iron fragments. How could he not realize that the branch in Mu Jinyu's hand was indeed the revered Sacred Wood Branch?
His fear soared to the extreme. Knowing that he was no match for Mu Jinyu with such a Sacred Wood, Huang Daochen did not wait for a response and fled immediately!
"Whoosh, whoosh!!"
Huang Daochen performed his movement technique, moving like a rabbit and swift as a leopard. In the blink of an eye, only afterimages were left behind as he raced toward Tianlan Peak's summit!
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Mu Jinyu was also stunned, not expecting Huang Daochen to be so cowardly. His sword was broken by Mu Jinyu's single slash, scaring him so much that he fled!
Mu Jinyu hesitated for a moment, and Huang Daochen had already run over a hundred meters away.
Realizing this, Mu Jinyu started chasing but found that his qinggong couldn't match Huang Daochen's unique movement technique; he couldn't catch up at all!
"Boom!"
Mu Jinyu became somewhat angry, slashing at Huang Daochen's figure from afar with the Sacred Wood Branch.
Instantly, a huge boulder dozens of meters away on the mountain path was turned to powder!
Unfortunately, the distance was too far – the Sacred Wood Branch wasn't a long-range attack magic treasure, and couldn't harm Huang Daochen!
Noticing the commotion behind, Huang Daochen was terrified and vanished up the mountain without looking back!
"He sure runs fast!"
Mu Jinyu gave up the chase and remarked with some dissatisfaction.
"Junior Brother, is that branch in your hand really Elder Lin Feng's... Sacred Wood Branch?"
At this moment, Yan Ran, Jian Ruyan, and Wen Rou caught up and stood beside Mu Jinyu. Yan Ran looked at Mu Jinyu in surprise and asked in disbelief.
Having heard Huang Daochen's exclamation earlier, Yan Ran had been skeptical, thinking it unlikely that the branch in Mu Jinyu's hand was the Sacred Wood Branch, given that Elder Lin valued it so much.
But now, seeing Mu Jinyu split a boulder into powder with a single strike, he began to believe that this was indeed the Sacred Wood Branch revered as Builder Wood!
"Yes, it is." Mu Jinyu nodded and elaborated without waiting for Yan Ran to ask further. "During the Outer Gate's grand examination, our teacher and Elder Lin Feng made a bet, with the Sacred Wood Branch as the stake. In the end, Elder Lin lost it to my teacher, who then gave it to me."
"So that's what happened!" Yan Ran understood after hearing Mu Jinyu's explanation but was still puzzled about why Elder Lin Feng and Elder Cheng used the Sacred Wood Branch as a stake and gifted it to Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu did not elaborate further, as he was also unclear on certain points. After answering, he asked, "Senior Brother Yan, do you know where that guy lives?"
As he spoke, a cold light flashed in Mu Jinyu's eyes, filled with murderous intent!
He wasn't someone to be trifled with. Huang Daochen had made a move on Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan in front of him, and even initiated a fight with Mu Jinyu. If he let this slide, how could he stand his ground in the Heavenly Sword Faction?
He had to give Huang Daochen a profound lesson, ensuring no one dared to disrespect those around him again!
Realizing Mu Jinyu's intent, Yan Ran knew he was trying to find Huang Daochen's residence to teach him a lesson. Yan Ran's expression turned somewhat awkward.
"Senior Brother Yan, don't you know?" Seeing Yan Ran not answering, Mu Jinyu asked again.
Yan Ran smiled wryly and said, "I know, but Huang Daochen lives at the summit of Tianlan Peak, where only the Inner Sect disciples on the List of Outstanding Talents can reside. Without their permission, an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple cannot go up there randomly, so..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear. Going up there would be dangerous, as stronger Inner Sect disciples might disapprove of Mu Jinyu's behavior and act against him!
Mu Jinyu frowned, "The Inner Sect's List of Outstanding Talents, what sort of list is that? How does it relate to the Four Sects' Genius Ranking!"