Heaven Slaying Blade

Chu Mo's Primordial Beast blood bath lasted over two hours, until he felt as if his very soul was about to melt away with it. Finally, the Demon Lord lifted him out of the wooden barrel.

It's not that Chu Mo didn't want to emerge on his own, but at that moment, he couldn't even move a single finger.

Chu Mo felt as if his body had completely disappeared, without any sensation when the Demon Lord lifted him out of the blood of the Primordial Beast.

Then, the Demon Lord took out another large wooden barrel, inside were various herbs, their strong medicinal smell wafted from the barrel.

Throwing Chu Mo into this barrel, he said: "You just need to soak for another hour." With that, he vanished along with the barrel of Primordial Beast blood that sat in the room.

Phew!

After quite a while, Chu Mo breathed out, finally able to feel that his body was still there. After half an hour,he could feel the power slowly returning to his body.

Looking at his somewhat emaciated body, he muttered to himself: "Two years... three times a month, thirty-six times a year, a total of seventy-two times in two years, now... there are only seventy-one times left? Heh... pretty good."

saying this, he climbed out of the barrel, cleaned up, changed into clean clothes, and then left the room feeling refreshed.

Speaking of which, Chu Mo did not feel any significant changes in his body after this round of the Primordial Beast's blood bath.

This was way different from the cultivation of Heaven's Will technique, especially when I would discover more characters after each practice; the feelings were miles apart.

"Perhaps, building up the body is a long-term process?" Chu Mo thought to himself. After all, it would take two years to reach the seventh level... Gao Yingjun was born at the ninth level; there was no comparison!

After leaving the house, Chu Mo did not directly head to the Prince's Mansion but instead headed towards the Xu Residence.

There were still some loose ends to tie up from yesterday's situation, and since he had already agreed to visit, he should pay a visit to the Xu Residence.

Chu Mo's arrival at the Xu Residence was similar to Xu Fufu's at the Fan Residence. Although this is the home of the most powerful man today, Chu Mo was already familiar with the way and showed no fear.

The guards at the door all greeted him with friendly smiles. Chu Mo felt at ease, this was his brother's home!

Chu Mo casually walked inside, the Xu Residence wasn't as grand as the Prince's Mansion, but it wasn't small either, it took quite a while to reach the garden.

"Eh? Chu Mo? Has the kid finally come to see me?" An old voice slightly tinged with jest suddenly came from the side.

An elder in his fifties, rosy-cheeked, and full of spirit, walked out from a nearby garden.

The old man was dressed in ordinary grey clothes, carrying large shears in his hand, and sweat beads on his forehead. If you didn't know better, you would think he was a gardener.

"Grandfather Xu? You're home?" Chu Mo hurried over to greet him. This man who looked like a gardener was none other than the Prime Minister..... Xu Zhongliang!

"You boy, can't you play along a bit? Your surprised face is proof—clearly you didn't come to visit me!" Xu Zhongliang feigned displeasure, staring down Chu Mo.

"Hehe, Grandfather Xu, you are busy with your administrative duties, how could I dare to hope to see you during this visit. Besides, you're not that old, you're in good shape." Chu Mo chuckled.

"Just you kid knows how to talk. If my grandson were half like you, I'd be satisfied." Xu Zhongliang handed his garden shears to someone nearby, dusted off his hands, and said to Chu Mo, "Come, accompany this old man for a chat?"

"Sure!" Chu Mo readily agreed, following Xu Zhongliang as they walked further into the residence.

If outsiders were to see this, their jaws would drop. Who could imagine that Xu Zhongliang, the stern and influential government stalwart, would show such an approachable side? And the person of his attentions...a mere teenager.

But, to all the inhabitants of the Xu Residence, this scene was a usual occurrence. They thought nothing of it.

Chu Mo followed Xu Zhongliang to his study.

The old man washed his hands before fetching a jar of tea and tossed it to Chu Mo. "I'm tired, you brew it!"

Chu Mo took the tea with a grin and expertly began brewing it, saying, "Didn't you always think the tea I brew is not as good as the one you make, Grandfather Xu?"

"Ah, I'm getting old. Doing some work...my body is not as obedient anymore. It's time to give you younger ones a chance," Xu Zhongliang nonchalantly replied.

Chu Mo hesitated slightly, served a cup of tea to Xu Zhongliang, then said with a smile, "Grandfather Xu, how old are you? You're still in great shape, living a hundred years is not a problem."

Xu Zhongliang shook his head, "I'm getting old, I know my own body."

Soon after, Chu Mo set up the chessboard, directly took a black piece, and then looked at Xu Zhongliang, "My first move?"

Xu Zhongliang uttered in a deep and meaningful tone, "You youngster, when we used to play chess, didn't you always let me, an old man, make the first move?"

"Occasionally, I need to change my style..." Chu Mo responded with a grin, placing the black piece on the chessboard.

"Daring to venture ahead... Heh, excellent!" Said Xu Zhongliang while rotating a white piece in his hand, positioning it on the board as well, "I heard, yesterday, did you smash the main gate of Prince Xia Jing's mansion?"

Chu Mo pondered, then put down the second black piece on the chessboard, "Yes, I did, gate after gate, smashing faces... they wanted to kill me, so I struck their faces. To be honest, I think I was at a bit of a loss."

"You little..." Xu Zhongliang couldn't help but laugh and shake his head, placing his second white piece on the chessboard, "They might have wanted your life, but aren't you still alive and kicking? Your slap was quite hard-hitting. Indeed, the heated young blood is vigorous as always. Even more fascinating is that after striking them, you manage to keep them quiet. It's truly the case of the latecomers pushing the front runners!"

As they spoke, they continued to take turns placing pieces on the chessboard.

Xu Erfu had somehow entered the room and was quietly watching from the side. He might be a flamboyant character outside, but at home... especially in front of his grandfather, he was a well-behaved child.

"Having a strategy is good, young people being a bit aggressive... is no harm. But your style of chess… why has it become increasingly stable?" Xu Zhongliang's eyebrows knitted into a frown, with a look of puzzlement on his face, "If I was to judge solely by how you're playing this game of chess... you could never have done what you did yesterday. But not only did you do it, you did it brilliantly... you little fellow, you've made remarkable progress since I've last seen you half a year ago!"

Chu Mo grinned cheekily, put down another piece on the chessboard, "All thanks to Grandfather Xu's guidance."

"Nonsense, I know very well my limitations. If my guidance were truly effective, you wouldn't be the first to benefit," said Xu Zhongliang, lifting his head and glancing at Xu Fufu, who had been watching the game silently.

Xu Fufu looked rather wronged, twitching at the corners of his mouth, thinking, I'm just watching, what did I do to deserve this?

"Brave, ambitious, strategic, and smart... you're maturing further. Yet unfortunately, you're still lacking in respect for elders and love for children. Sneaky little thing... your quiet planning to take down my dragon... is it really okay?" Xu Zhongliang rolled his eyes and carelessly tossed several pieces onto the chessboard, "I resign! I cannot stand your underhanded tactics!"

Xu Fufu turned his face away, trying to hold back his laughter. Who could have thought that the reigning cabinet's prime minister, the powerful Xu Zhongliang, would actually cheat during a chess game?

Chu Mo chuckled, deciding not to provoke the huffing grandfather. He picked off the pieces from the board, one by one and placed them back into the case, then casually asked, "Grandfather Xu seems to have quite a few unsettled affairs in the royal court these days?"

"When is there ever no trouble?" Xu Zhongliang sighed softly, leaning back in his chair. Xu Erfu came over and started to gently massage his shoulders. With half-closed eyes, Xu Zhongliang muttered, "Prime Minister of the Cabinet… it may sound prestigious, but few know the bitterness behind it. Governing the world… heh, is the world that easy to govern?"

"Is there going to be war?" Chu Mo asked.

Xu Zhongliang suddenly sat upright, his eyes widened, revealing a sharp sparkle. It was only at this moment that his manner truly embodied the powerful aura aligned with his status, "How do you know that? Did your grandfather tell you? That's not right... Major military secrets like this, your grandfather, who is a seasoned general, would never tell you?"

Chu Mo shook his head, "I haven't seen my grandfather for a long time, so he didn't tell me. When I came back, I passed through the Prairie where I happened to encounter a political transformation taking place within the royal court. So, I stayed there for a while and did some minor things."

"Prairie? Minor things? Youngster?" Xu Zhongliang mumbled, reading Chu Mo's face. Suddenly, he lifted his head and staring at Chu Mo with astonishment, "Are you Lin Bai?"

"Ah? How do you know?" This time Chu Mo was the one surprised. He looked rather foolishly at Xu Zhongliang. His brain was overwhelmed.

Although he had never consciously concealed this identity, truth is, only a handful knew of this secret!

How did this esteemed Prime Minister of Great Xia come to know this... from thousands of miles away?

"So it's you! Really you? It's actually you!" Xu Zhongliang stared at Chu Mo for a while, breaking into a knowing smile, which grew more and more exhilarated as he continued.

"I cannot believe it, ha ha ha ha ha, we of Great Xia... actually have such a prodigy!" Xu Zhongliang laughed heartily, turning to a dumbfounded Xu Fufu standing behind him, "Go, tell the kitchen to prepare some fine dishes. This noon, I want to have a few good drinks with the young friend Chu Mo... no, with Mr. Lin Bai."

Xu Fufu was stunned, looking blankly at Chu Mo, mumbling to himself, "What... what is happening?"

Xu Zhongliang said firmly, "Don't dally, issues of adults, children ought not to inquire." With the passion of the moment, he completely forgot that Chu Mo was actually as young as his grandson.

Xu Fufu's mouth hung open in shock. He then turned and left, still mumbling, what did Chu Mo do to make the grandfather lose composure like this? Could it be that he had tricked the princess from the royal court into his hands? He really keeps his cards close to his chest!

"Nonsense, get out!" Xu Zhongliang yelled. Xu Fufu immediately scurried away.

Only the old and the young were left in the study.

The chess game disrupted by the old man's ploy still lay there. Chu Mo had only cleared up a few pieces when he was interrupted by Xu Zhongliang's words.

Xu Zhongliang stared at the somewhat incomplete chess game on the table and muttered, "No wonder your style of chess has undergone such a huge transformation. You dare to venture ahead, with the fiery and impulsive temperament of the young, yet every step is strategic, plotting silently. Seems contradictory, but in fact, you possess the true demeanor of a great general! It wasn't until the very end when you revealed your ferocious identity that the outcome was clear. So, the political upheaval on the prairie was actually your doing. Hahaha, exhilarating, truly exhilarating!"

------Recommendations welcome!