161: Behind him was the Gu Ling Sect, and the lowly Mu Xinhai.

Mu Xin knelt on the ground with utmost respect.

Seeing this scene, the man in the black robe wore a contemptuous smile on his lips; he walked over, sat in Mu Xin's original seat, and said in an indifferent voice:

"I paid a great price to help improve your Aptitude; you haven't forgotten what you are supposed to do, have you?"

Mu Xin took a deep breath and said again: "Rest assured, my lord. Once I have firmly secured my position in the Mu Family, I will immediately set about handling the tasks you entrusted to me."

Previously, his cultivation was slightly inferior to Mu Hua's, and his Aptitude was the same.

Being able to surpass Mu Hua in such a short time and break through to the Middle Stage of the Soul Transformation Stage was, of course, not just by relying on stealing the Mu Family's resources; it also relied on the help of the person before him.

When they first returned to the Mu Family, they were all heavily suppressed by Mu Hua.

Mu Hua enjoyed the majority of the Mu Family's rare resources, so his strength improved faster, and it wasn't long before he broke through to the Soul Transformation Stage.

They had originally been in despair, only thinking of performing well to strive for Mu Hua to improve their treatment.

Later, the person before them appeared. He belonged to a force called the Gu Spirit Sect. This School was considered a Demonic Sect; they used humans for Alchemy, and consuming them would improve one's cultivation and Aptitude.

The Gu Spirit Sect was not much different from the Essence Transformation Sect of the Jinghong Empire back then, or rather, all Demonic Sects were much the same. To be called a Demonic Sect meant that most of the Cultivation Techniques they practiced were extremely sinister and evil.

With the help of the Gu Spirit Sect, Mu Xin not only improved his cultivation and Aptitude but also secretly united with Mu Li and Mu Geng to seize the Mu Family's treasures.

Of course, all of this came with a price.

This price was the need to provide one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators to the Gu Spirit Sect every year.

Although one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators was not a small number, they were now Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators; it really wasn't particularly difficult to go and capture one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators.

At the very least, compared to becoming the head of the Mu Family, this price was truly nothing.

Zhao Heng said coldly: "I hope you do not disappoint me. I was able to let you reach this step, and I can just as easily destroy it all."

As he spoke, a cold killing intent was released from his body, accompanied by a thick, nauseating blood aura.

Mu Xin was shaken to the core, his face full of panic: "Rest assured, my lord. I will pay the full amount of one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators every year."

Zhao Heng nodded, slowly stood up, and said: "If you don't have one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators, three Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators will also suffice."

After speaking, he tore open a rift in the Void Realm and left.

There were many experts in the Eastern Region now, and among them were many who liked to eliminate demons and defend the Dao, so the Gu Spirit Sect's life in recent years had been very miserable.

For this reason, they could only cast a wide net, constantly accumulating people like Mu Xin, and then gather little by little to make much.

Although one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators were not many, they were also not few. After being refined into a Spirit Pill, they would have some slight help for him, a Void Refining Stage Cultivator.

Accumulating for ten years would yield one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators.

Moreover, there wasn't just one Mu Xin; they could also raise Gu. Once Mu Xin grew up, they could directly wipe out the Mu Family and refine them into Spirit Pills as well.

After watching Zhao Heng leave, Mu Xin finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling completely unburdened.

"It's only one hundred Core Formation Stage Cultivators; I can solve it by spending a little time."

...

Inner Courtyard.

Inside the courtyard where Mu Xinhai was located, he walked into a bedroom.

Looking at the middle-aged woman lying on the bed, his face was full of unbearable pain and anger.

"Mu Xin!"

Mu Xinhai would never have thought that all of this was actually done by Mu Xin. In order to seize the position of Family Head, Mu Xin could actually go to such lengths.

If such a person were to take charge of the Mu Family in the future, who knows what ridiculous things he might do.

He didn't even care about the lives of his own clansmen, let alone outsiders.

Mu Xinhai stepped forward and sat by the bed. Looking at Yang Ru, whose breath grew weaker day by day, his eyes were full of desolation.

Although he was very angry, the current situation was stronger than the person; not only could he not resist Mu Xin, but he also had to plead with Mu Xin to let Yang Ru go.

Otherwise, Yang Ru would certainly lose her life!

Thinking of this, a monstrous rage surged in Mu Xinhai's heart.

Damn it!

Just at this moment, a loud voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

"Madam Zhao Rong has come to visit."

Zhao Rong!?

Why did she come at this time?

Mu Xinhai frowned tightly; he suppressed the anger in his heart, then stood up and walked out of the room.

Outside the courtyard.

Zhao Rong looked down at him from above, her face full of sneers.

Mu Xinhai waved his hand at the servants, signaling them all to leave, and then said: "Is there something you need, Fourth Sister-in-law?"

"Fourth Sister-in-law?"

A look of disdain appeared on the corner of Zhao Rong's lips: "You know to call me Fourth Sister-in-law now?"

Mu Li was older than Mu Xinhai and counted as his cousin, so there was no issue with calling Zhao Rong sister-in-law.

Mu Xinhai was also someone who could hold up and let go; now, protecting Yang Ru's life was the most important thing. He forcibly squeezed a smile onto his face and said: "Fourth Sister-in-law is joking. I have offended you many times in the past; I hope you, Fourth Sister-in-law, will not hold it against this small person."

Although it was highly probable that Mu Xin did what happened to Yang Ru, such despicable acts were very likely Zhao Rong's idea, with Mu Xin merely being the executor of the strategy.

Only she was so petty, and because of Mu Qingling, Zhao Rong had always held a grudge against them and would find trouble for them whenever there was the slightest opportunity.

Zhao Rong sneered and raised her hand, taking out a Medicinal Pill bottle: "The Medicinal Pill inside was sent by the Family Head. Although it cannot save Yang Ru's life, it can at least provide a temporary reprieve."

As she spoke, she grabbed it and shook it in the air.

For Mu Xin, since his goal had been achieved, there was no need to kill Yang Ru.

However, he also could not cure Yang Ru, otherwise, he would lose the means to control Mu Xinhai.

Mu Xinhai was, after all, in the Nascent Soul Stage; he was a high-end combat force in the Family, so his value had to be completely squeezed dry.

As long as he controlled Yang Ru's life, he could make Mu Xinhai as obedient as a dog.

Mu Xinhai looked at the Medicinal Pill bottle in Zhao Rong's hand; his eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and the killing intent in his heart soared violently.

However, he quickly suppressed it again. This Medicinal Pill could only suppress, not cure, the condition on Yang Ru's body, so even if he killed Zhao Rong, it would be of no use.

Thinking of this, Mu Xinhai forcibly squeezed an extremely stiff smile onto his face and said: "Thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law."

Zhao Rong said coldly: "Why are you thanking me? This Medicinal Pill was given by the Family Head, not by me. If you want to thank someone, you should thank the Family Head."

"Yes, yes, yes, thank you, Family Head, thank you, Family Head."

Mu Xinhai continued to say with an accompanying smile.

"Hahaha!"

Watching Mu Xinhai, who was bowing and scraping like an obedient dog, Zhao Rong's face was full of rampant laughter, and her voice was extremely sharp.

Thinking of how they had been suppressed over the years, a feeling of resentment could not help but arise in Zhao Rong's heart. She said in a playful tone: "This is not enough; you are not very sincere."

"How about this, just pretend I am the Family Head. Kowtow twice to let me feel your sincerity, and I will give you this Medicinal Pill."