Chapter 041: Trial of the Inner Demon

"Stop! I’ll kill you all! I’ll avenge my brother, you must die!"
Ahead, an enraged roar echoed between heaven and earth, so familiar it struck the heart.
A moment later, a group of people burst from the tall grass—faces equally familiar: Mu Tianxiang, Mu Qianyuan, and other members of the Mu clan.
Blood streamed from their bodies, terror twisted their faces, and they fled desperately forward.
Behind them, a girl charged, long spear raised, her entire being brimming with murderous intent, like a death god risen from the depths of hell.
She was Mu Tianxue, Mu Tianhen’s younger sister.
Her spear dripped blood as she ran, a sight that sent chills through all who witnessed it.
Mu Tianhen stood frozen, unable to believe that his sister now possessed cultivation—and was hunting down her own kin.
"Tianhen, save us!"
Mu Qianyuan, fleeing for his life, caught sight of Mu Tianhen standing stunned, and shouted, waving frantically as if seeing a savior.
The other clansmen rushed toward Mu Tianhen, pleading for his protection.
Soon, they huddled trembling and weeping behind him, pitiful in their desperation.
"Xue’er! What are you doing?"
Mu Tianhen shouted across the distance to Mu Tianxue, who pursued with her bloodied spear.
Mu Tianxue’s eyes flashed with icy light as she fixed her gaze upon him—not with the joy or excitement of the past, but with a growing, venomous murderous intent.
She slowed her steps, approaching with measured menace, her words cold as steel: "Monster! Not only did you kill my brother, you stole his face with a disguise. Your crimes are unforgivable—I will kill you!"
With those words, her aura surged, feet striking the earth as she shot forward like an arrow loosed from the string. Her spear gleamed with deadly cold, enveloping Mu Tianhen in its threat.
"So strong!"
Mu Tianhen was shaken, dodging in haste. But the attack was too sudden—his clothes were torn open by the spear, nearly pierced.
Had he been struck, he would have been gravely wounded, if not killed outright.
Mu Tianhen had no idea what had happened; while dodging his sister’s attacks, he cried, "Xue’er, stop! I am your brother—truly your brother, I swear!"
"Silence!" Mu Tianxue roared, launching another wild assault. "A vile beast like you is nothing compared to my brother. Today, you all must die!"

The spear whistled through the air, leaving dazzling afterimages in its wake. Each strike was swift and ferocious, clearly the power of the sixth realm of the Sky-Peering Mirror.
This cultivation exceeded Mu Tianhen by three levels, Mu Qianyuan by one—a strength unmatched within the Mu clan.
Mu Tianhen never imagined his sister would suddenly become such a terrifying force, her mastery of the spear surpassing even their father’s.
It should have been a blessing, yet why had she turned so violent, hunting down their own clansmen?
Perhaps someone had told her he was dead, and that the clan was responsible, provoking her fury?
He wondered as he retreated, determined not to let Mu Tianxue’s spear touch him.
But behind him, the clansmen shouted in desperation.
"Kill her, Tianhen, kill her!"
"She’s gone mad—hurry, kill her!"
"Mu Tianhen, for the sake of the family, you must do what’s right. Kill her!"
"Kill her… kill her…"
Their cries converged into a single refrain that echoed in Mu Tianhen’s ears, battering his mind and bringing him pain beyond measure.
Those voices awakened memories buried deep within him—scenes of the past flashed before his eyes: the clan’s sneering faces, their bullying, their desire for the siblings’ demise, their cruel abuse…
Each recollection was a blade, stabbing at his heart, twisting with agony.
"Shut up, all of you!"
Suddenly, Mu Tianhen’s eyes glowed red, his face contorted, murderous intent flooding from him and engulfing the world around.
Even Mu Tianxue, spear in hand, paused and slowly approached, gazing up at her brother.
After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice trembling: "Brother, you really are my brother! You didn’t die—you came back alive! They told me you were dead, that they would sell me to the brothel for money…"
"Ah—!" Mu Tianhen cried out, his rage surging in waves, terrifying even the creatures in the grass into silent submission.
Yet the clansmen continued to laugh and curse, mocking and damning the siblings.
Clang!

In a flash, Mu Tianhen drew his sword, his words icy and resolute: "Those who dare to insult my sister and me—may you die a thousand deaths! Today, none of you will leave alive!"
With that, sword in hand, he strode forward, advancing upon the clansmen. The murderous urge within him had been fully unleashed.
He could no longer distinguish who deserved death and who did not; anyone present—save his sister—must die.
At that moment, all those in the Mu clan’s martial arena could see, through the great bronze gong, the events unfolding within Mu Tianhen’s illusion and his inner turmoil.
Witnessing this, everyone understood: Mu Qianyuan’s trial was not so simple as standing for the time of an incense stick—it was a test of the soul.
Within the illusion lay Mu Tianhen’s inner world, the grievances accumulated over years. It was the knot in his heart. If he could not break through this trial, he would never become a peerless warrior.
No matter how gifted, he would be haunted by inner demons, doomed to perish at the heart tribulation of the Thunder Calamity, or at best, reduced to a true cripple.
This was an ordeal every cultivator must face, but few ever passed.
Everyone stared intently at the bronze gong, eager to see how Mu Tianhen would choose.
If he killed these figures in his heart, it would mean he had failed, unable to conquer his inner demons; at the crucial moment, those demons would control him.
After all, not every clansman had mocked or bullied the siblings.
For example, Mu Qianyuan—though he never defended them, he had done them no harm, merely remained silent.
That was not truly wrong; circumstances forced Mu Qianyuan to choose silence.
He did not deserve death.
Mu Tianxiang was even less among the enemies; she had always helped the siblings, never faltering despite the clan’s censure.
She merely showed less concern, pressed by family pressure. As a woman, she had little power over such matters.
Mu Tianxiang had always been their friend, even a benefactor.
If Mu Tianhen killed Mu Qianyuan and Mu Tianxiang in the illusion, it would prove he could not tell friend from foe, good from evil, lost in bloodlust.
Everyone watched Mu Tianhen, sword raised against the clansmen, tense and anxious, uncertain what choice he would ultimately make.