Chapter 440 - 438: A Cunning Swindler

"What an incredible Body Technique!"

The woman in blue stared blankly at the graceful figure in white before her. He moved like mist, his bearing otherworldly and his features exceptionally handsome.

This figure in white was none other than Luo Tian.

After arriving in the Celestial Mountain Realm and learning the Mu Family’s location, he had come straight here.

WHOOSH!

Luo Tian landed on the Void Ship’s Defense Shield and said coolly, "You’re going too fast. You should be more careful."

An ordinary Low Tier Earth Element Realm cultivator would have found it difficult to dodge and would have died a miserable death on the spot.

Luo Tian also had a large Void Ship, but he didn’t want to be too ostentatious. He also took the opportunity to practice his Body Technique, which was why he was ascending Mu Hai Celestial Mountain alone.

"My apologies."

The woman in blue bowed in apology and had the Void Ship slow down.

Just then, a young man in ornate clothes walked out from the ship’s cabin. He had a cold and arrogant demeanor, and an elegant, noble-looking bird perched on his shoulder.

"Didn’t I give the order? Full speed ahead to the Mu Family! Who told you to slow down?"

The ornate-clothed young man’s gaze was stern and severe as he swept it across the surroundings. Everyone couldn’t help but lower their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Only the woman in blue spoke up, "Brother Yuanqing, I was the one who told them to slow down. The Void Ship was going too fast; we almost hit someone just now."

The young man, Ji Yuanqing, softened his attitude slightly.

"Hit someone? Which family are they from?"

Ji Yuanqing asked, his tone flippant and casual, as if he had done nothing wrong.

"Excuse me, sir, where are you from?"

The woman in blue asked, looking up.

Only then did Ji Yuanqing notice there was someone above him, and his face immediately filled with displeasure.

"Isn’t he perfectly fine? Nothing happened, did it?"

Ji Yuanqing sized Luo Tian up for a moment before adding, "Besides, hurry up and get down here. I’m used to being looked up to, not having someone stand over my head."

"This gentleman has excellent movement skills; that’s the only reason there wasn’t an accident."

The woman in blue said with a smile, greatly admiring Luo Tian’s Body Technique.

Ji Yuanqing was dismissive, thinking Jiya’Er had been deceived.

This Void Ship, at full speed, could reach the velocity of an Earth Element Realm Sixth Layer cultivator. Luo Tian was so young that his Cultivation should be even lower than his own. Even with the best movement skills, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to dodge.

"Sir, you must be heading to the Mu Family as well. If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to ride on our Void Ship."

The woman in blue, Jiya’Er, extended the invitation and had someone deactivate the Defense Shield.

WHOOSH!

Luo Tian flew down and said calmly, "Very well."

The Mu Family was at the summit of Mu Hai Mountain; they were almost there.

Ji Yuanqing sized Luo Tian up again, the displeasure on his face deepening.

"Where are you from? I’ve heard of all the young geniuses in this area, but I’ve never heard of you."

Ji Yuanqing said faintly.

Among the many families nearby, the Ji Family was the most powerful, second only to the Mu Family. And he was the Ji Family’s number one genius.

At this moment, Jiya’Er’s enthusiasm toward Luo Tian even surpassed her enthusiasm for him.

"I’m just a nobody. It’s perfectly normal that you haven’t heard of me."

Luo Tian didn’t like people prying into his background, and he didn’t have a good impression of Ji Yuanqing either.

Ji Yuanqing’s expression darkened.

Luo Tian had actually refused to give him face and answer his question.

Just then.

FLAP FLAP!

A charred-black Crow flapped its wings and landed on Luo Tian’s shoulder.

Ji Yuanqing was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Is that your Spirit Pet? It’s so ugly, HAHAHA!"

The others also found the Crow hideous but restrained themselves from showing it. Ji Yuanqing, however, laughed with abandon.

On Ji Yuanqing’s shoulder, the elegant and beautiful bird tilted its head back and let out a pleasant, melodious cry.

"Ugly freak! How dare you call this god ugly? Why don’t you take a piss and look at your own reflection!"

Luo Tian didn’t say anything, but the Crow immediately started shouting.

The Crow then squawked at the elegant bird, "And you! Stop showing off and trying to seduce this god! This god’s three thousand consorts back in the day were all peerless beauties who could topple kingdoms, each a hundred times prettier than you."

Everyone around was stunned. This Ugly Bird could actually talk.

"What did you say?"

Ji Yuanqing glared, annoyed.

An unbelievably ugly bird was calling itself ’this god’ and calling him an ugly freak.

The bird on his shoulder was also furious and shrieked with its beak open.

"Ugly freak, ugly freak, ugly freak! Important things must be said three times."

The Crow yelled.

Luo Tian maintained a leisurely posture.

’When it comes to arguments, I don’t even need to step in. The Crow can take on a whole crowd by itself.’

"Brother Yuanqing, why are you arguing with a bird?" the woman in blue said, stepping forward to mediate.

Ji Yuanqing snorted coldly.

Indeed, arguing with a bird was beneath his status.

「A short while later.」

The Void Ship arrived at the summit of Mu Hai Celestial Mountain.

The ship stopped in mid-air, and everyone disembarked to visit the Mu Family on foot.

A line had already formed in front of the Mu Family’s main gate, all people who had come to pay tribute.

"The Song Family: five hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins, several Solid Essence Pills, Celestial Fragrance Grass, Water Night Flowers, and other treasures..."

In front of the gate, a Mu Family Steward read the list aloud.

Seeing this, Luo Tian finally understood why so many people were heading to the Mu Family today.

’As expected of one of the seven strongest factions in the Celestial Mountain Realm. Master’s background is truly extraordinary!’ Luo Tian thought to himself.

Soon, it was the Ji Family’s turn.

"It’s Ji Yuanqing!"

"That Ji Yuanqing is exceptionally talented! He possesses a Celestial Tier Martial Vein, and though he’s just past forty, his Cultivation has already reached the Peak of Earth Element Realm Fourth Layer!"

"I hear he’s even stronger than some of the Mu Family’s own geniuses!"

The people around broke into discussion.

When one’s Cultivation reached the Earth Element Realm, their lifespan extended to two hundred years, so forty was still considered very young.

The Mu Family’s Steward looked at Ji Yuanqing with a different expression than he showed others, revealing a faint smile. "Young Master Yuanqing has arrived."

Ji Yuanqing exchanged a few pleasantries with the Steward, then clapped his hands and said arrogantly, "Bring them up."

Several servants carried up ten large chests.

When the chests were opened, the treasures inside made everyone gasp, unable to look away.

"The Ji Family: one million Spiritual Essence Coins, and a total of one hundred Solid Essence Pills, Concentration Pills, and Blood Essence Pills..."

The Steward himself was incredibly excited, practically drooling as he shouted out the list.

The Ji Family’s tribute made all the other families seem lackluster in comparison.

Next, the group from the Ji Family entered the Mu Mansion, and Luo Tian, who was with them, was also allowed inside.

Seeing this, Ji Yuanqing was puzzled and displeased. He called out, "Brother Luo, where is your tribute?"

The Steward turned his head. So Luo Tian wasn’t with the Ji Family.

Seeing Ji Yuanqing’s attitude toward Luo Tian, the Steward understood something and snapped, "Which family are you from? Where is your tribute?"

"Tribute? I don’t have any."

Luo Tian stated truthfully.

He wasn’t here to pay tribute.

As soon as he said this, the talented disciples from the surrounding families all started laughing.

Ji Yuanqing was even more surprised that Luo Tian would say such a thing. A mocking smile appeared on his face. "Brother Luo, you have no tribute. Did you deliberately board my Ji Family’s ship to try and sneak into the Mu Family during the confusion? I never thought you were this kind of swindler!"

"Brother Luo isn’t that kind of person," Jiya’Er said, but no one listened to her.

"Get lost! To think you’d try to sneak into the Mu Family. Your timing was perfect; you almost got away with it."

The Steward shouted impatiently, his expression severe.

The Mu Mansion Steward’s attitude made Luo Tian’s brow furrow slightly. He explained, "I’m not here to offer tribute. I’m here to find someone."

"Find someone? HAHAHA!"

The Steward threw his head back and laughed wantonly.

Some of the Mu Family servants, as well as the disciples from the other families, also burst out laughing.

"You damn brat, do you have any idea how many people try to use that excuse to sneak into the Mu Family every year? Can’t you swindlers come up with a new trick?"

The Steward wore a mocking, derisive smile.

"Get lost, or in a moment, you won’t find it so easy to leave!"

The Mu Family Steward bellowed, releasing the powerful aura of a Middle Tier Earth Element Realm cultivator. Snowflakes danced around him, and a biting cold wind howled!

Some of the geniuses from the other families felt a bone-chilling cold and began to shiver.

They looked at Ji Yuanqing, whose expression was untroubled. As expected of the Ji Family’s number one genius.

But soon, they discovered that Luo Tian also showed no sign of being affected. He looked even more relaxed and at ease than Ji Yuanqing. How was that possible?

"I really am here to find someone. My master is a member of the Mu Family!"

Luo Tian said in a deep voice.

"Your master?"

The Steward’s expression froze.

Those capable of taking on disciples were generally experts with rich experience in Martial Arts; their strength would not be weak.

If what Luo Tian said was true, then he was connected to some expert within the Mu Family!

The geniuses from the other nearby families, including Ji Yuanqing, also had a sudden change of expression.

’Damn it, no wonder this kid didn’t offer any tribute. He’s actually the disciple of a Mu Family expert!’

Ji Yuanqing felt a pang of regret.

’If I had known, building a good relationship with Luo Tian would have made it easier to curry favor with the Mu Family!’

"I never would have guessed! To think Brother Luo is the disciple of a Mu Family expert!" Ji Yuanqing said, his face full of smiles and apology.

Just then.

"What’s going on? Why is it so noisy?"

From within the Mansion, a man with thick eyebrows walked out. His eyes were profound, and his aura was extraordinary!

"Young Master Mu Ze, a young man has come to the Mu Family looking for someone. It seems his master is a Mu Family expert."

The Steward immediately said in a subservient tone.

"Greetings, Young Master Mu Ze."

Ji Yuanqing also immediately bowed his head, a fawning smile on his face.

The Mu Family was one of the seven strongest factions in the Celestial Mountain Realm, and Mu Ze’s status was even more incredible—he was the third son of the family’s Grand Elder, a position of extremely high standing!

"Oh? You’re here to find your master?"

Mu Ze glanced at Luo Tian.

The Mu Family’s rules were strict. They did not easily pass on their Martial Arts Skills and Techniques, and they rarely accepted outsiders as disciples.

"I haven’t heard about any of the elders taking an outsider as a disciple recently, and I’ve never seen you before!"

Mu Ze stated calmly.

Hearing this, the Steward’s face changed instantly. He glared at Luo Tian. "What a cunning swindler! You almost fooled me! Fortunately, Young Master Mu Ze has a discerning eye and saw through your trick!"

"Heh, Brother Luo, you really know how to play tricks. I was almost fooled myself."

Ji Yuanqing sneered contemptuously, standing beside Mu Ze while bowing and scraping.

"Get lost!"

Mu Ze looked down on Luo Tian from his superior position and gave the order.