Chapter 052: The Three-Day Pact

The specifics of the slaughter within the illusion need not be repeated here; one could glean everything from Mu Tianhen’s thunderous proclamations.

“Huang Clan, annihilated!”

“Gu Family! Annihilated!”

“Chu Family, annihilated!”

Each of his pronouncements marked the complete extinction of a family. Not a soul survived, and their estates were engulfed in flames, reduced to hellish ruins. Retribution, exacted in kind—this was Mu Tianhen’s intent. For those dear to him, he would offer the utmost protection; even at the cost of his own life, he would not hesitate. For his enemies, he showed no mercy; even if tens of thousands were mistakenly slain, he would leave no future threat behind.

Thus, any force involved in tonight’s massacre of the Mu family met the same fate—none could escape the doom of extermination.

Throughout this ordeal, Mu Tianxue and the other two contributed significantly. Those who fell beneath their spears numbered not less than eighty or a hundred thousand. Yet, compared to Mu Tianhen, the gap remained considerable.

When the sun rose over the eastern hills, the night’s carnage finally ended. The four warriors, exhausted from their relentless battle, withdrew their weapons and leaned against the walls, breathing heavily, utterly spent. Though uninjured, they had fought at full strength throughout the night, depleting nearly all their vital energy. Now, as they relaxed, fatigue weighed them down, leaving them unwilling to move.

Only Mu Tianhen seemed to possess inexhaustible power. He remained vibrant, standing proud between heaven and earth, like a god of war. Though his sword was sheathed, its presence still inspired fear.

Suddenly, Mu Tianhen swept away the mist before him with a single gesture. He declared in a resonant voice, “If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. If others offend me, I will show no mercy!”

“My resolve to protect remains unchanged—what matter if I tread upon a mountain of corpses? If the gods forget their purpose, then I shall embrace the devil within!”

At that very moment, as his words fell, a flash of white light streaked above his head, swiftly enveloping him and occupying the entire bronze plate. Those present in reality instinctively shielded their eyes, wary of its blinding brilliance.

The white light vanished as quickly as it had appeared. In less than a breath, calm was restored. When everyone looked again, the bronze plate revealed nothing but its plain surface—no trace of the previous environment remained. Mu Tianhen opened his eyes, gazing at Mu Qianyuan with a gentle smile.

At that instant, the onlookers noticed that Mu Tianhen no longer possessed the overwhelming aura they had anticipated; instead, he appeared more serene than before, almost like an ordinary man. His smile was innocent, harmless—gone was any hint of the demon they had witnessed in the illusion.

This perplexed everyone. They kept questioning themselves: why was this so? The environment aside, in reality, they had sensed Mu Tianhen’s aura intensifying, certain his cultivation had broken through. Yet now, it seemed not only unchanged but even weaker. Had he reverted to a cripple? But he hardly looked the part—what was the truth?

They wondered, yearning to peer into Mu Tianhen’s mind and discover what had transpired within him. From their hidden corners, the various families’ members watched, waiting to observe further before deciding how to act or report.

Mu Tianhen smiled at Mu Qianyuan and asked, “Ancestor, have I passed the trial?”

Time within the illusion flowed differently, like scenes flickering past, so even after all he’d done there, Mu Tianhen could not be sure how much time had elapsed in reality.

Mu Qianyuan glanced at the time, nodded, and replied, “From entering the illusion until now, two sticks of incense have burned. You have naturally passed the trial.”

He scrutinized Mu Tianhen, hoping to glean something from his eyes. Yet, no matter how he looked, he found nothing. Mu Tianhen’s gaze was clear as a mountain stream, without a trace of impurity—reflecting a mind of utmost clarity.

“Was I worried for nothing? Little Hen has not succumbed to darkness,” Mu Qianyuan mused. Then, turning to the gathered crowd, he announced in a resonant voice, “I now declare: Mu Tianhen has passed the succession trial and becomes the current head of the Mu family!”

With that, Mu Qianyuan clasped his hands in salute, bowed, and proclaimed loudly, “Mu Qianyuan pays respect to the family head!”

If the family’s ancestor showed such deference, how could the others dare not follow? Thus, apart from the few elders on the platform, all the Mu clansmen hurriedly knelt on one knee, calling out in unison:

“Greetings to the family head!”

Mu Tianxue, too, performed the gesture. Her heart was overflowing with joy, as sweet as devouring ten pounds of honey at once. Her brother had not only passed the trial but survived unscathed—this was the best outcome. As for everything else, Mu Tianxue had already chosen to forget.

Mu Tianhen looked upon his clansmen, recalling the battle within the illusion, feeling an inexplicable emotion. Yet, above all, he felt the happiness of seeing his family alive.

Thus, his resolve to protect grew stronger, and a greater sense of responsibility settled upon him.

He surveyed his people, then bid them rise, assuring them he would not disappoint, and vowed to lead the Mu family toward greater glory.

With this, the succession ceremony concluded. The spectators turned to leave, though their steps were slow, as if reluctant to depart.

Mu Tianhen smiled faintly, knowing well what lingered in their minds. He then spoke aloud, “Today, I thank you all for bearing witness and for your concern for my Mu family.”

“To show my gratitude, three days from now, the Mu family will host a flowing banquet in the central square, where we shall drink and converse freely. Please inform your clansmen of this upon your return.”

With that, Mu Tianhen walked toward Mu Tianxue, took his sister’s hand, and headed home.

With the central figure departed and his words received, the crowd did not linger further. They hurried off, eager to relay the news to their own family heads and make preparations in advance.

After all, everyone had witnessed the scene within the illusion, and fear lingered in their hearts. They hoped their families could devise a way to address the matter.

Originally, Mu Tianxiang intended to return home and ponder her concerns, but Mu Tianxue clung to her arm and dragged her to the main building. Even Mu Qianyuan followed, burdened by a weight he needed to lift, or else death would bring him no relief.

All the way, Mu Tianhen chatted with his sister about trivial matters, leaving Mu Qianyuan and Mu Tianxiang unable to interject, forced to follow silently.

Soon, the four arrived at the main building and entered the council hall.

Unable to hold back any longer, Mu Qianyuan spoke, “Family head, I…”

But before he could finish, Mu Tianhen gestured for silence.

With a gentle smile, Mu Tianhen said, “I know what you want to say, but there’s no need to rush. Come, let’s have some tea first.”