The Southern Butcher intended to take Lin Mu as his disciple? Everyone who heard this was shocked. If Lin Mu agreed, he would become a disciple of the Southern Butcher.

However…

"Hahaha, hahaha!"

Just when everyone thought Lin Mu would agree, he laughed. Moreover, the mockery in his laughter was completely undisguised.

"What are you laughing at?" Nangong Xiu's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure on his face.

"You want to be my master?" Lin Mu asked with an indifferent smile.

"And why not?" Nangong Xiu clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with immense arrogance. "With my qualifications and experience, following me would be of infinite benefit to you. A casual pointer or two from me would be enough to serve you for a lifetime."

His tone carried an air of absolute authority, as if he could command nations and move mountains with his spirit alone.

"Guide me?" Lin Mu laughed again. This was probably the most absurd joke he had ever heard.

He was the Eternal Emperor, a being who herded gods and commanded the submission of countless immortals. How many long-famed, mighty experts had he personally slain? Wherever he passed, everyone prostrated themselves in worship. Even the great figures of Ancient Times had to show him deference, never daring to claim superiority in his presence.

And yet, this Nangong Xiu had the audacity to say such things?

"Who do you think you are, to be worthy of being my master? In this life, I have never revered the heavens and the earth, nor have I bowed to ghosts and gods. Though I possess an inheritance, I am self-taught. Even the Great Dao of the Heavens wouldn't dare call itself my master! You, a mere mortal, have the gall to utter such shameless words!"

Lin Mu was truly enraged now. His words were an unapologetic chastisement, filled with an aura of absolute supremacy, as if he alone stood above the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

"Young man, the world is far vaster than you can imagine. Besides, do you know why people call me the Southern Butcher?" Nangong Xiu snorted coldly. "It is not merely because I am a Martial Arts Grandmaster. It is because the Martial Way I cultivate achieves dominion through the power of slaughter. It is a path forged from pure murderous intent, capable of shattering anything in this world. How could a mere mortal possibly comprehend it!"

Nangong Xiu looked at Lin Mu, a strange light in his crimson eyes. "You are so young, yet your killing intent is so pure. As long as you train diligently with me, you will certainly achieve greatness within a few years!"

"How impressive!" Lin Mu sneered, his voice laced with scorn. "But everything you hold so precious is less than dog shit to me!"

He was clearly furious. A mere mortal dared to lecture him and even pontificate on the heavens and the earth? Such insolence!

"Sigh. I cherish talent. Seeing someone so young with such accomplishments, I truly cannot bear to watch you die prematurely. But you had better not be so unappreciative!" Nangong Xiu's expression turned cold. Lin Mu's repeated refusals had finally angered him.

"If you displease me, I could turn you into a pile of mangled flesh with a single slap, just like that Fang Ping!"

His tone carried a frigid, murderous intent—a clear threat.

"Tsk, tsk." Lin Mu shook his head. "This is the first time I've heard someone dare to be so brazenly arrogant in my presence." With his hands clasped behind his back, a divine light swirled in his eyes as he stated emotionlessly, "Go on, then. I'd like to see how you plan to slap me to death."

"Alas." Nangong Xiu sighed with what seemed like regret. "Since you insist on courting destruction, I shall grant your wish, you ungrateful brat!"

The moment he finished speaking, Nangong Xiu moved!

He was incredibly fast. His attack appeared balanced and moderate, yet it struck with the speed of lightning and the force of thunder. Nangong Xiu was certain this punch would teach Lin Mu a lesson. For someone of his status, deigning to act personally was already a sign of great respect. But Lin Mu had no self-awareness at all; he was utterly ungrateful!

It was no mere rumor that the Sword God Shen Lang had defeated Nangong Xiu over a decade ago. Afterward, Nangong Xiu had gone overseas to train his fists. After more than ten years of bitter cultivation abroad, his mastery over his fist intent was absolute, allowing him to release or retract it at will.

This punch was only meant to teach Lin Mu a lesson!

Everyone held their breath, not daring to exhale as they watched. They all thought Lin Mu was a dead man. After all, he was facing Nangong Xiu, not some pretender like Chang Wei who hadn't even reached the Grandmaster realm!

However, Nangong Xiu's punch met only air.

At the same instant, a foot slammed into Nangong Xiu's abdomen with a loud CLANG.

"Hahaha, not bad, kid! Quick reflexes!" Nangong Xiu boomed with laughter. "But I reached the state of being immune to blades and spears long ago. How could you possibly harm me?"

"I was going to play with you for a while. A pity you chose to anger me," Lin Mu said, shaking his head. Then, the light in his eyes erupted with brilliance.

"Immune to blades and spears?" Lin Mu's lips curled into an icy smirk. "You dare call this paper-thin body of yours invulnerable? Watch me beat you into paste!"

As he spoke, the divine light in Lin Mu's eyes exploded, shining as brightly as the stars.

The world before Nangong Xiu's eyes abruptly transformed.

He saw stars exploding and oceans churning. On the distant earth, the corpses of Ferocious Beasts whose bodies spanned the heavens lay strewn for thousands of miles. Divine birds, their vitality roiling the firmament, rained blood upon the land. Ancient gods howled in agony, and golden-robed Buddhas wept in sorrow.

And there, standing at the center of this universe, upon a colossal peak that pierced the clouds, was a man with hair like a black waterfall and eyes like twin stars. He stood upon the cosmos, his aura shaking the heavens, a true sovereign of all creation!

"You…" Nangong Xiu's face changed dramatically. "What is this…?"

No matter how powerful he was, he was ultimately just a mortal man. How could he have ever witnessed such a magnificent and terrifying spectacle?

"Now then," a cold, merciless voice echoed from Lin Mu's lips, "do you still dare say you want me as your disciple?"

Lin Mu took a single step forward.

Heavenly Emperor Nine Steps!

In an instant, he appeared before Nangong Xiu and threw a punch.

THUMP!

The fist smashed squarely into Nangong Xiu's chest. His entire body trembled as he was driven back several steps, a mouthful of blood spraying from his lips.

"Who in the hell are you?!" Nangong Xiu's eyes were wide with horror. "In the current Martial Arts World, there are plenty of Martial Artists your age, but almost none with your level of cultivation!"

"You are not worthy of knowing who I am!"

As the words fell, Lin Mu's second punch arrived. This time, Nangong Xiu felt his chest about to burst, and raw terror flooded his heart.

"Stop!" he roared. "Boy, I admit your strength is immense, on par with Master Pi. However, if you sincerely cultivate with me, it won't even take five years… No, just three! In three years, surpassing the current prodigy of the Martial Arts World, Lin Wudi, will be a trivial matter!"

Nangong Xiu took a deep breath. "You may not know, but I was already planning to challenge Lin Wudi. Since I've met you now, just give me three years. In three years, I will kill Lin Wudi for you!"

Lin Mu simply shook his head and smiled. "That won't be necessary."

"Why not?" Nangong Xiu asked, stunned.

"Because I am Lin Wudi."

With that, Lin Mu's third punch landed squarely on Nangong Xiu.

The moment the blow connected, Nangong Xiu felt as if he had been struck by a train or crushed beneath a giant mountain. The terrifying force was utterly despair-inducing.

"You… you're actually Lin Wudi…"

Nangong Xiu's eyes bulged as his body suddenly exploded.

BOOM!

Flesh and blood scattered everywhere, and the thick, coppery stench filled the air.

The Southern Butcher, one of the four great Grandmasters, had just been blown to pieces by Lin Mu. And it had only taken three punches.

A dead, stunned silence fell over the crowd once more.

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