Others from Xu Mo's sect followed suit, greeting him just as Xue Lingxi had done. Among them were his teammates, though only two from his team were present.

"True Successor?"

"Him?!"

"B-But… his aura clearly shows he's only just broken through the eighth level of Qi Condensation."

"Has the standard for selecting True Successors fallen so low nowadays?"

"Shh… you can't compare the whole domain to our Supreme Sect."

Reactions rippled across the crowd—some skeptical, others shocked. Xu Mo was accustomed to looks of disdain. They didn't affect him anymore. But he forgot something important—he was no longer just some outer disciple. He was now the True Successor, someone the sect members took pride in, even if the title was freshly granted.

"What?! How dare you underestimate our True Successor!" someone barked.

"Yeah! He's just concealing his cultivation!"

Wait... this is heading in the wrong direction, Xu Mo thought, glancing left and right as he saw his sect members beginning to argue with those who had questioned him.

"Yes! He alone can destroy you all!"

"He's a one-man army!"

Xu Mo wanted to bury his face in the ground. His gaze flickered toward Xue Lingxi, whose eyes shimmered slightly—she was definitely smiling beneath her translucent veil. Jin Meiyu also wore a similar veil, hiding her expression, but he could feel the mischief radiating off of her too.

They've both grown stronger, Xu Mo thought, ignoring the urge to sigh. He wasn't sure if they were also concealing their cultivation, but at the moment, both felt stronger than him.

"Why don't we have a quick spar and see if your True Successor is really that strong?" a disciple from the Verdant Sky Hall said as he stepped forward. His sect uniform bore the emblem of a sky-bound crane—a symbol that carried weight.

"Ye—" someone from Xu Mo's sect started to agree.

Xu Mo's eyes narrowed. He hated scenarios like this. Something similar had occurred during the Trial of the Dao of Silence, back when Long Chen had instigated unnecessary conflict.

"Who are you to agree?" Xu Mo's spiritual intent flared.

He activated one of the Dao of Silence's foundational techniques—QuietHeart. The disciple who spoke suddenly found his lips moving but no sound emerging. It was Xu Mo's first time using the ability on someone else. The effect was instantaneous.

"I apologize if any of you were offended by my sect's words," Xu Mo said, bowing his head slightly toward the gathered disciples from other sects. His tone was calm, yet sincere. The simple gesture filled many with vanity and satisfaction as they puffed out their chests, basking in the acknowledgment.

Stolen story; please report.

"…!"

The disciples from Xu Mo's sect tried to speak, but their voices failed them. Their mouths opened and closed, yet no sound emerged. Xu Mo had rendered them all mute—well, not all. He had left his friends and those wise enough to know better unaffected.

What Xu Mo didn't see—because his head was bowed—was the shift in atmosphere.

Just moments ago, the disciples of the other sects had been standing tall, full of pride. But now, one by one, they took a step back, like deflated balloons. Behind Xu Mo, his mute sectmates continued trying to speak. Even their coughs made no sound. An eerie silence hung in the air.

Xu Mo finally lifted his head and sensed that the situation had calmed. He quietly released his Dao's influence, restoring their voices.

Cough—

Cough—

"W-What just happened?!"

"For a few seconds… I lost my voice!"

Similar murmurs echoed around. Then all eyes turned toward the one person who could possibly be responsible—the True Successor, Xu Mo.

The moment they had stepped out of line, his intervention had silenced them. Even the smug expressions of the other sects vanished. A chill ran down their spines.

It dawned on them—Xu Mo wasn't someone simple. Even while bowing, he had subdued the situation.

Now that's presence, one disciple muttered under his breath.

Wei Rong blinked, slightly stunned. He had attempted to speak earlier, yet his voice had remained untouched. Xu Mo glanced his way but paused. His eyes landed on Mei Xueyin, who had been silently glaring daggers at him since they met. Xu Mo assumed she was upset because he hadn't acknowledged her. So, he decided to play along—acting like he didn't know what she'd been through or how she had been rescued.

"Mei Xueyin…" Xu Mo said gently, as if seeing her for the first time in a long while. "Have you been alright?"

The worry in his voice was real, though fleeting. He quickly reminded himself that Su Wenqing was the one who had spoken with Wei Rong and Tang Wu about Mei Xueyin's situation. Officially, Xu Mo wasn't supposed to know anything.

"Yes," came her distant, cold reply.

She stepped closer to Wei Rong and held his arm. The action caught him off guard. Mei Xueyin had never acted like this before—not with him, nor anyone else.

"Xu Mo, don't mind her," Wei Rong said, placing his hand gently on Mei Xueyin's. "She faced some trauma in the Secret Realm. She'll be okay once we're back and resting."

He spoke gently, trying to comfort her, to assure her that she was safe now. But neither of them realized the depth of her confusion. Whether her memories had been tampered with or distorted by trauma, no one could say. But one thing was certain—she had confused Long Chen with Xu Mo.

To her, the villain who had forced her to surrender her blood essence… was Xu Mo. And Wei Rong? He was the one who had saved her.

"…Okay," Xu Mo replied, studying her with quiet confusion.

Something didn't feel right.

The Mei Xueyin he knew was confident—arrogant, yes—but with unshakeable principles. This behavior wasn't like her.

Suddenly, Jin Meiyu leaned in and gently placed her hand on Xu Mo's shoulder. Her lips neared his ear, and she whispered, "Love triangle?"

Xu Mo shuddered.

Even nearby cultivators who admired Jin Meiyu—the sect's Saintess—visibly tensed. She was elegant, mysterious, powerful… and unpredictable. The idea of her and Xu Mo being together sent ripples through the crowd. Whispers began to stir.

Jin Meiyu's fragrance was intoxicating—rose petals and something deeper. Xu Mo clenched his fists and desperately tried to distract himself.

Why does her breath smell like rose petals? Does she drink rose water for breakfast?

The absurdity of the thought helped him calm down.

"No," he said firmly. "She's like a sister to me."

With that, he drew the sword at his waist—not to attack, but to lift Jin Meiyu's hand off his shoulder using the hilt. Despite her being at the peak of the Foundation Building Realm, she was caught off guard. Xu Mo's physical strength surprised everyone.

Of course, she hadn't used spiritual energy. Had she resisted seriously, he would've struggled.

"But where are all of you flying off to?" Xu Mo asked, smoothly shifting the topic. He ignored the teasing looks from their sect members—many of whom were already drafting imaginary campaigns to support a union between him and Jin Meiyu when they returned to the sect.

Jin Meiyu, graceful and proud, knew her capabilities well. She had unlocked eight extra meridians, giving her overwhelming superiority within her realm. And though she hadn't used her full strength, she now regarded Xu Mo with new eyes.

He had changed.

So had everything around him.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.