Not to mention, there were many events requiring him to personally input dialogue, all of which he did by stepping into the role of the real Dongfang Mu.

In a sense, he was Dongfang Mu, albeit the Dongfang Mu from the game.

In reality, he was just Wang Mu.

Wang Mu knew that at this moment, he had to show something genuine to allow Mo Xilan to verify his identity. Otherwise, today's affair with the Sword Sect might not end well. Yan Qingwu was still in secluded meditation to restore her Primordial Spirit; this was not the time to cause more trouble.

Though, after I verify my identity, I might not necessarily stay alive... But there's still the Heartbreak Flower... still a chance for a turnaround...

"Would you be able to..." Granny Gu cautiously asked, "demonstrate a fraction of your abilities from back then? Our Old Ancestor will be able to verify it... She has met the true Dongfang Mu."

Indeed, as an elder who had lived for a thousand years, she had met the true Dongfang Mu. They might not be able to tell, but the Old Ancestor of the Dan King Sect certainly could. Elder Yan could likely tell as well, but she was in seclusion.

"Very well."

Everything is going according to my plan... Wang Mu thought.

Without circulating his Cultivation Technique or mobilizing his Spiritual Power, the aura from his physical body alone wasn't strong, only at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. This was not far off from Dongfang Mu's strength back then. Before the great anomaly, as one of the top powerhouses in the world, he was at about the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer... Of course, back then, that would have been called an Innate Master. After all, it was a progression from martial hero to Immortal Hero...

Wang Mu glanced around and saw the familiar Mechanical Man.

"I will only demonstrate one move..." Wang Mu took a few steps forward, and the many disciples around him automatically made way.

The crowd was quite curious. A supreme expert from a thousand years ago, who hadn't experienced the baptism of Spiritual Energy from the world's great change, nor had he cultivated since then—how strong could he be in today's world? He probably couldn't even defeat a Qi Refining Realm disciple, right?

Granny Gu watched intently; this Dongfang Mu's aura indeed wasn't strong... But she couldn't refute it and could only wait for the Old Ancestor's judgment... However, the Old Ancestor remained silent and hadn't given her any orders...

On the Sword Sect's side:

"Is this person... truly Dongfang Mu?" Cheng Tianyong spoke in a subdued voice. "A figure from a thousand years ago, his aura is only close to the Foundation Establishment Stage..."

"The aura is right," Jian Wuqing said. "When I roamed the Nine Provinces years ago, I read some ancient records. After coming back, I asked Elder Yan. I asked her what the strongest experts were like a thousand years ago. She said that back then, the most powerful individuals might only have been close to the Foundation Establishment Stage. It's just that there was very little Spiritual Energy in the world back then..."

"Without Spiritual Energy in the world, they could cultivate to a level close to the Foundation Establishment Stage?"

The few of them were stunned.

Now, in this prosperous age of abundant Spiritual Energy, someone with good Talent could reach the Foundation Establishment Realm in just one or two years of Cultivation. Those with slightly lesser talent might take five or six years, or even a dozen... But without Spiritual Energy, it would be entirely different... It would likely be impossible to reach that level even in a hundred years...

To cultivate to the peak of the Qi Refining Realm in just a few decades in such an environment, their talent must have been terrifyingly immense...

So, after their initial shock, they recalled that Elder Yan herself was a genius from that era. After the world's great change, she possessed the aptitude for Ascension. That clarified things for them.

The difference with this Dongfang Mu, however, was that he had disappeared for a thousand years and hadn't cultivated... As for what happened to him during this millennium, it must be a secret bearing immense Karma... The more they knew, the faster they might meet their demise.

"From another perspective, for this Dongfang Mu to disappear for a thousand years and be unable to practice Cultivation, he must be carrying an enormous weight of Karma..." Jian Wuqing whispered. "The Karma that could prevent such a peerless figure—one even more outstanding than Elder Yan from the same era—from cultivating... one couldn't imagine what it must be..."

A shiver went through the crowd. The mere thought was horrifying.

"It seems he wants to use that Mechanical Man as a test..." Cheng Tianyong said.

As soon as his voice fell, Wang Mu had already approached the Mechanical Man, his eyes slightly narrowed as he slowly extended a fist.

An overwhelming sense of power erupted from him, blossoming with radiance! Strands of golden light twined around his fist, as if containing profound mysteries, exuding a terrifying power that felt capable of shattering heaven and earth!

The next second.

"Beautiful Fist!"

Wang Mu lightly threw a punch!

In an instant, endless golden brilliance enveloped the square, a destructive pressure instantly bore down on everyone's hearts.

BOOM!

It seemed as if the entire main peak of the grand hall was trembling, startling everyone.

After a short while, the clouds of smoke cleared.

The Mechanical Man had already disintegrated into endless dust, vanishing without a trace. Even the square was blasted with a colossal crater, seemingly leading straight into the depths of the earth.

Seeing this scene, countless people gasped in shock.

"Is this… the strength someone at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm should possess?"

The six Peak Masters of the Sword Sect were dumbstruck.

"Even a Golden Core Realm expert couldn't withstand this, could they?" Wu Dayong exclaimed in shock. "This is the Tianji Sect's Mechanical Man... Wait, our Tianji Sect's Mechanical Man was smashed to smithereens by a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator."

"Is this the power of a supreme expert from a thousand years ago?" Jian Wuqing muttered. "Even after disappearing for a thousand years and not cultivating, with just one punch at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm... he accomplished this so easily..."

"If he were to cultivate for a thousand years..."

This dazzling golden punch carried a world-creating momentum, completely overturning the perceptions of everyone present. For a hundred years in the Sword Sect, no Qi Refining Realm disciple had ever managed to destroy the Mechanical Man. Not only was it shattered, but not even dust was left. To achieve this must be unbelievably difficult...

Many Golden Core Realm disciples felt a lingering fear, feeling they couldn't possibly withstand such an attack...

"Defying the heavens..."

"Is this the strength of an Ancient Sage?"

"One punch from the Qi Refining Realm, and I feel even a Golden Core Realm expert could be annihilated..."

"You don't need to 'feel' it. I'm in the Golden Core Realm, and I couldn't take that punch..."

"This is absurd. A casual punch holds such power... And he hasn't even cultivated for a thousand years..."

"Consider our Elder Yan—they're from the same era. Elder Yan has cultivated for a thousand years; how many in the Cultivation World can compare to her now? Dongfang Mu must have been the absolute top expert of that age..."

...

Wang Mu, his eyes narrowed, listened to the discussions. These people could only perceive the might of this punch. What they didn't know was that, to this day, only Dongfang Mu could execute the Beautiful Fist. Especially for those from Mo Xilan's era, displaying this punch was sufficient to prove his authenticity.

While everyone was discussing, the Four Symbols Elixir Furnace below suddenly lit up, casting a rosy glow upon the ground that enveloped Wang Mu. In the blink of an eye, he was transported away.

Granny Gu saw this. It seems the Old Ancestor has confirmed it, she thought.

"Everyone, apologies for the disturbance. Since the person has arrived, our Dan King Sect will not impose any longer," Granny Gu addressed Jian Wuqing and the others slowly. "My Old Ancestor has found the person she was searching for."

「Meanwhile. Somewhere.」

A light blue figure appeared in Wang Mu's field of vision.

The figure turned, smiled faintly, and said:

"Brother Dongfang, long time no see."

"It's been a thousand years. I've missed you terribly..."

Such a beautiful smile... But why does it feel a little... unsettling...

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