"Who is that person? He looks unfamiliar. Why is Brother Chen ignoring Brother Wu and Sister Li, and instead going to find him?"
"I don't know, and I can't see through his strength. Could he possibly be a relative of Brother Chen?!"
"Hmm? Could it be... could he be the Spirit Root genius who refused the Sect Leader's invitation to become a disciple, choosing to enter the Outer Gate and has since kept a low profile?"
Everyone was originally puzzled about who Mu Jinyu was, but as someone boldly speculated, they all felt their hearts skip a beat, sensing that this guess might be highly probable.
Unfamiliar, impenetrable strength, Chen Qiuqiao disregarding the other two Outer Gate experts and taking the initiative to approach him…
Putting these conditions together, apart from that Spirit Root genius who refused the Sect Leader's offer, people really couldn't imagine who else Mu Jinyu could be.
Originally, when Mu Jinyu first joined the Heavenly Sword Faction and refused the Sect Leader's offer, the news had caused quite a stir among the Outer Gate.
However, as people never saw Mu Jinyu and the Heavenly Sword Faction did not make any major moves, they took the rumor for a grain of salt and gradually forgot about it.
Today, seeing Chen Qiuqiao actively seeking out Mu Jinyu, this rumor, which they had once scoffed at, resurfaced in their minds!
Li Xiaoxiao and Wu Lei, hearing the low murmurs of the crowd, exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of wariness in the other's eyes, "So the rumor about that Spirit Root genius... it wasn't false..."
No matter how shocked the crowd was, or how wary Li Xiaoxiao and Wu Lei were, Chen Qiuqiao quickly approached Mu Jinyu.
"The Outer Gate's grand examination is about to start, and I have also broken through to the Fourth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm. After I go up to the competition platform, I'll repay the 'kindness' from the day at the Scripture Pavilion!"
Chen Qiuqiao stood in front of Mu Jinyu, speaking in a flat tone, yet with a chilling intent to battle!
"Oh." Mu Jinyu responded indifferently, without much else to say.
Originally, as Chen Qiuqiao approached him, Mu Jinyu had wanted to avoid it, not wanting to enjoy such spotlight treatment.
After all, he came to the Kunlun Ruins intending to conceal his prowess and gradually search for a way to undo the body swap between Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, wishing not to be too conspicuous.
However, after thinking it over, even if he chose to step aside and let the crowd through, Chen Qiuqiao having seen him, would surely end up seeking him out to do the same thing, which could lead people to gossip that he was afraid of Chen Qiuqiao.
Moreover, since he planned to participate in the Outer Gate grand examination, avoiding the issue now meant he would still have to defeat his opponent later to salvage Jian Ruyan's honor. So why make an unnecessary move?
Thus, Mu Jinyu stood his ground, letting Chen Qiuqiao approach.
"You…"
Chen Qiuqiao was infuriated by Mu Jinyu's neutral attitude, feeling that he was treating him, his sworn enemy, as if he were but an insignificant ant at the roadside, which he couldn't tolerate.
"Brother Chen, aren't you going to introduce us to your junior brothers and sisters?"
At that moment, Wu Lei and Li Xiaoxiao came over, speaking with a hint of mirth to Chen Qiuqiao.
But their gazes stayed fixed on Mu Jinyu and the other two.
By now, they had realized that all three of Mu Jinyu's group were at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, on par with them!
It seemed that the top three ranks they thought were in the bag for the Outer Gate grand examination might not be so certain after all.
Mu Jinyu and his two companions could very well be formidable obstacles!
An irate Chen Qiuqiao, upon hearing the words of Wu Lei and the others, snorted coldly and did not react further, nor did he have any intention of introducing Mu Jinyu to them.
Introduce what?
He only knew Mu Jinyu's name, Mu Jinyu, and he wasn't sure of the names of the other two women. How was he supposed to introduce them?
The atmosphere on the scene became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Mu Jinyu took the initiative to introduce himself, "Brother Wu, Sister Li, good to meet you. My surname is Mu, the Mu of 'admiration,' and Jinyu from 'Jinyu Mantang.' These two are my wife and my younger sister..."
After introducing himself, Mu Jinyu extended a hand to point at Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan behind him and introduced them again.
Wu Lei and Li Xiaoxiao didn't have the same hostile attitude that Chen Qiu Qiao had shown at the beginning, so Mu Jinyu didn't mind showing goodwill first.
Chen Qiu Qiao's face couldn't help but darken upon hearing Mu Jinyu voluntarily introducing himself and his use of the term "Brother" for Wu Lei and the others.
After listening to Mu Jinyu's introduction, Wu Lei and Li Xiaoxiao nodded, saying, "Junior Brother Mu is truly exceptional, blessed with a Spirit Root, making us all envious. Your wife and younger sister are both beautiful and gracious, we have long admired them..."
While Mu Jinyu struck up a conversation with Wu Lei and the others,
Jian Ruyan, who stood behind Mu Jinyu, felt somewhat odd.
Mu Jinyu had just introduced himself and then presented her and Wen Rou as his wife and younger sister...
But since Wen Rou was using her body at the moment, it looked as though she, Jian Ruyan, was his wife and Wen Rou had become his younger sister!
The feeling was really quite awkward.
And how did she suddenly become his younger sister?
Even though he addressed those at Xiang Mantang as brothers, it didn't mean she considered herself his sister!
Jian Ruyan was full of conflict but considering Mu Jinyu was in the middle of a conversation and she wasn't familiar with the others, she thought it over and decided not to clarify anything.
After Mu Jinyu had conversed with Wu Lei and the others for a few minutes,
the plaza, which had been filled with low murmurs, suddenly became quiet, everyone holding their breath at the same moment.
Mu Jinyu and Wu Lei also sensed something and halted their conversation, looking in a certain direction.
They saw two elderly men, with white hair and beards, ruddy complexions without a single wrinkle, walking towards the plaza.
Mu Jinyu's eyes flickered, recognizing them as the Elders in charge of the Outer Gate's examination.
One of them he vaguely remembered as Elder Lin Feng who had guided him to join the Heavenly Sword Faction.
"Elder Cheng, what brings you here to watch the Outer Gate's examination today? Aren't you continuing with your Alchemy Dao pursuits?" Lin Feng jovially said to Elder Cheng as they walked toward the plaza together.
"I found some spare time today and thought I'd come and see if there were any promising talents at the Outer Gate..." Elder Cheng responded to Lin Feng's banter with a chuckle.
As he spoke, he looked for his target.
Soon, his gaze settled on Mu Jinyu, who was standing with Wu Lei and the others, and he nodded approvingly to himself.
Wu Lei and Li Xiaoxiao, seeing Elder Cheng's nod, could not figure out to whom it was directed among them and simply smiled back.
Mu Jinyu, however, frowned slightly, sensing that Elder Cheng's gaze had been on him just now.
So, as Lin Feng and Elder Cheng arrived at the platform that had been set up in front of the plaza, Mu Jinyu softly asked Wu Lei about Elder Cheng's background.
Wu Lei and Li Xiaoxiao gave Mu Jinyu a surprised glance upon hearing his question, then smiled knowingly and explained, "Elder Cheng is an Inner Sect Elder, and it's very normal for Junior Brother Mu, who has just joined the Heavenly Sword Faction, not to have met him. He specializes in the study of Alchemy..."
Upon hearing Wu Lei's few remarks, a glint flashed in Mu Jinyu's eyes, confirming that the leak of his Fine Elixirs must have been discovered by Elder Cheng, or he was at least one of the informed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have looked at him with such a gaze.