Upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, Xie Chenkun's tense expression relaxed slightly. He then glanced coldly at the members of the Blood Sword Sect and spoke to Mu Jinyu in a gentle tone:
"Since that's the case, you should return to continue your cultivation. There are still twenty days left, so don't waste it. However, this time, I will stay behind to protect you, ensuring your safety."
What he meant by safety wasn't just preventing mishaps during cultivation, such as falling into demon-like states, but also that with his presence, the people of the Blood Sword Sect wouldn't dare act recklessly again.
Mu Jinyu heard this, smiled slightly, and shook his head slowly, saying: "No need, Sect Leader. I've just broken through to the Fanxu Realm and need some time to stabilize my realm. I should rest and relax for a while. Continuing to cultivate non-stop would be more harmful than beneficial."
What a joke, he had just dug out the Blood Essence Crystal from the bottom of the Blood Essence Pool. Why should he remain here now?
There's also the risk of being discovered by the Blood Sword Sect.
Xie Chenkun felt a bit curious upon hearing this. He knew that Mu Jinyu possessed a Wood Element Spiritual Root, which actually gave him a natural advantage. By continually consuming pills for cultivation, his realm wouldn't become unstable as long as there were sufficient cultivation resources. In fact, he could be pushed all the way to the Unity Realm Stage!
In that case, why did he say he wanted to rest for a while?
Xie Chenkun was puzzled, but just then he noticed Mu Jinyu giving him a look, and he immediately understood that something must have gone wrong.
He couldn't ask more questions, so he nodded and said, "Alright. Then let's put aside the twenty days of cultivation time in the Blood Essence Pool for now. When you want to cultivate again later, I'll come with you."
"Alright." Mu Jinyu nodded.
Upon hearing their conversation, the Elders of the Blood Sword Sect immediately objected: "No way! There has never been such a rule allowing you to stop your won cultivation time and come back later. Our Blood Sword Sect disciples can't be waiting around for you whenever you please! If you must cultivate, continue now; otherwise, the remaining twenty days of cultivation time will be forfeited!"
The one speaking was none other than the Grim Elder who had suffered losses both personally and militarily.
He spoke with a bleeding heart.
He was aware that most of the Blood Essence Liquid in the Blood Essence Pool had already been absorbed by Mu Jinyu.
Without the infusion of Top-Quality Spirit Stone to activate the formation and replenish Elemental Qi and Qi-Blood Power, Mu Jinyu couldn't absorb much more Blood Essence Liquid in the remaining twenty days.
In that case, of course, Mu Jinyu should be made to continue enduring the scarce Qi in the Blood Essence Pool for another twenty days, and that would settle the matter!
If Mu Jinyu were allowed to leave and come back later, once the Blood Essence Pool was restored and full of Blood Essence Liquid again, wouldn't the Blood Sword Sect incur great losses when he returned?
Upon hearing the Grim Elder's words and the determined opposition of the Blood Sword Sect members, Xie Chenkun also realized the situation. It was likely that Mu Jinyu had drained the Heavenly Sword Pool dry, and now the same thing had happened again with the Blood Essence Pool.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be so eager to have Mu Jinyu continue cultivating and use up the remaining twenty days of cultivation time!
Thinking of this, Xie Chenkun quickly retorted: "What do you mean, there's no such rule? When I made a bet with Zhou Taiping, there was no stipulation that the one-month cultivation time in the Blood Essence Pool had to be used within a single month!"
"Nor is there a rule that prohibits splitting the cultivation time!"
The Grim Elder and others retorted back, their attitude very firm. They absolutely would not wait for the Blood Essence Pool to recover and have Mu Jinyu come back to absorb it again!
"Laughable! The Qi-Blood Power and Heaven and Earth Vital Energy contained in the Blood Essence Pool are tremendous. How could one person continue cultivating in it for more than four or five days at most? Saying that one-month cultivation time should be split is common sense!"
Xie Chenkun shouted angrily in rebuttal!
The members of the Blood Sword Sect followed up by saying, "Since you claim that one person cannot cultivate long-term in the Blood Essence Pool and needs to rest for a while, then why not distribute the remaining twenty days of cultivation time between Yun Ge and Wei Ziping, or continue splitting it among others?"
"We intend to nurture Mu Jinyu strongly..."
The Blood Sword Sect and the Heavenly Sword Faction argued incessantly.
Neither side was willing to take a step back!
Mu Jinyu listened to their argument, feeling quite helpless.
Having taken the Blood Essence Crystal from the Blood Essence Pool, although there were still some broken remnants, it was basically half-wasted. He wasn't concerned at all about being able to return to the Blood Essence Pool to cultivate for another twenty days.
Spending time taking risks at the Blood Sword Sect was nothing compared to refining the Blood Essence Crystal ahead. Wasn't that more enticing?
However, while Mu Jinyu didn't care about the remaining twenty days of cultivation time, neither the Blood Sword Sect nor the Heavenly Sword Faction knew the reason. He couldn't explain clearly, as directly agreeing to the Blood Sword Sect's demand would undoubtedly arouse suspicion.
After some thought, he sighed and told Xie Chenkun: "Sect Leader, stop arguing with them. Let me speak."
As the person directly involved, with a now more prominent role, as soon as he spoke, everyone who had been arguing fell silent.
Mu Jinyu glanced at Xie Chenkun, then looked meaningfully at the grim-faced Elder, and smiled:
"Sect Leader, there's no need to argue with them over this small matter. In fact, the Elders of the Blood Sword Sect are quite kind!
When I was just half a step away from breaking through to the Fanxu Realm, the Elemental Qi in the Blood Essence Pool was nearly depleted. I thought I would fail in breaking through!
But the Elders of the Blood Sword Sect, knowing I faced a breakthrough challenge, disregarded the grudges between our two factions and spent a large number of Top-Quality Spirit Stones to set up a Spirit Gathering Array for me, allowing me enough Spiritual Energy to push through the bottleneck of the Fanxu Realm, leading to my eventual success!"
After a pause, Mu Jinyu smilingly added: "You could say that without their help, I wouldn't have been able to break through to the Fanxu Realm. They are good people indeed!"
"Hmm?!"
When Xie Chenkun and other members of the Heavenly Sword Faction heard Mu Jinyu's words, their hearts stopped cold!
They knew the true situation was far from the harmonious narrative Mu Jinyu portrayed — it was fraught with danger.
People of the Blood Sword Sect also had their hearts leap in an instant!
They initially thought, as Mu Jinyu claimed he encountered no danger, he was perhaps fully absorbed in cultivation, unaware of the deadly traps laid out.
Upon hearing his words now, they realized he had been aware of their actions, which left them feeling uneasy.
Mu Jinyu's casual mention of the Spirit Gathering Array for assistance likely matched the reality.
Causing Blood Sword Sect members heightened anxiety.
"Is that true?!" Xie Chenkun asked coldly.
He finally understood the dangers Mu Jinyu had faced, realizing the Blood Sword Sect had meant to harm him!
Furious beyond measure, he felt the urge to fight against the Blood Sword Sect, to seek justice for Mu Jinyu.
He also comprehended why Mu Jinyu, having suffered previously, kept it to himself; likely aware of Blood Sword Sect's strategic advantage, and any aggression from the Heavenly Sword Faction might yield no gain, hence shouldering the grievance alone!
But as the Heavenly Sword Faction's Sect Leader, how could he let his disciples suffer unjustly without addressing the larger conflict?
Instantly, the atmosphere grew tense, signaling an impending storm!