The Reversal of Heaven Begins with The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

Lin Mu silently recited in his heart.

The next moment, a massive flow of information flooded into his mind.

Every move and stance of the "Heavenly Frost Fist" is clearly imprinted in my memory: frost on the face, frost embracing the moon, frost forming in the middle of the night, frost and snow flying, frost chilling the long river, frost marks everywhere, frost congealing and revealing clumsiness, draped in frost and clearing away dew, frost and snow on the ice mountain, proudly defying snow and frost.

At the same time, the method of circulating "Heavenly Frost Qi" and the footwork technique of "Walking on Thin Ice" were also mastered.

Lin Mu subconsciously circulated his internal energy, and a faint coolness began to grow in his dantian.

This true energy is completely opposite to pure yang true energy; it is extremely yin and cold. As it flows along the meridians, it immediately produces some unusual effects.

It is important to know that alternating extreme cold and extreme heat is something that even steel cannot withstand, let alone the delicate meridians of the human body.

If an ordinary person were to cultivate two completely different abilities at the same time, their fate would be absolutely tragic.

Unless you're "Brother Dog" from the novel *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*.

Lin Mu is not Dog Brother, but he has a more powerful [Negative Reversal System].

[A reversible state has been detected—Yin and Yang in conflict.]

[Yin-Yang Conflict: Due to the host's cultivation of the extremely yang Evil-Repelling Sword Technique and the extremely yin and cold Heavenly Frost Fist, yin and yang energies coexist within the body.]

[Side effects: The imbalance of Yin and Yang, and the alternation of hot and cold, can cause damage to the host's meridians. In mild cases, this can lead to impaired energy flow; in severe cases, it can result in severed meridians and immediate death.]

[Negative Reversal: Yin and Yang complement each other, water and fire harmonize, allowing the simultaneous use of Yin and Yang powers to cleanse the marrow and strengthen the meridians and bones, cultivating a Yin-Yang dual-polar body.]

What a great thing! This is a product from the system, truly a masterpiece!

It's important to understand that more martial arts skills are not necessarily better, especially internal skills; quality is more important than quantity.

Forcing the simultaneous cultivation of internal energy techniques of different attributes can, at best, lead to a sharp drop in cultivation speed, and at worst, cause meridian rupture and demonic possession.

With the support of the [Negative Reversal System], Lin Mu had no taboos and immediately began to multitask, simultaneously mobilizing two completely different types of true energy.

The pure yang true qi and the heavenly frost qi gently touched at the edge of the dantian, without any repulsion, but rather a wonderful sense of balance.

"It seems that with the system around, there's no need to worry about conflicts between cultivation techniques."

Lin Mu breathed a sigh of relief, secretly chuckling to himself, "I really have to thank Zuo Lengchan, this 'merit-giving boy'."

He turned to look at Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang not far away, and said in a calm tone: "Zuo Lengchan has been executed, the threat of the Songshan Sect has been completely eliminated. This matter is settled, I will take my leave."

After saying this, Lin Mu didn't linger. He lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his figure drifted away like a breeze, quickly disappearing at the end of the official road.

Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang watched his retreating figure with gratitude and awe in their eyes. They quickly bowed and saluted until they could no longer see the figure in the green robe before straightening up.

After Lin Mu left, Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang finally showed relief at surviving the ordeal.

They had originally stayed with the determination to die, thinking that they would be lucky to take two or three of the Songshan Taibao with them, but they never expected the battle to end in such a one-sided manner.

Liu Zhengfeng's voice was filled with lingering fear: "If it weren't for Benefactor Lin, we would probably be dead here today."

Qu Yang nodded, looking at the corpses scattered on the ground, and said with emotion, "Young friend Lin is not only exceptional in martial arts, but also in intelligence. He knows how to use others' strength against them and do extraordinary things. This kind of strategy is far beyond what you and I can achieve."

The surrounding soldiers had already surrounded them. A captain-like man, wielding a curved sword, directed his men to collect heads: "Be careful! Finish off every corpse, don't let any escape! The heads of these 'rebels' are our military merits!"

The soldiers stepped forward and examined the bodies one by one.

Some disciples of Mount Song were lucky enough to survive being shot by arrows. They lay on the ground pretending to be dead, but were kicked awake by soldiers. Then, a curved blade fell, their heads were cut off, and they were picked up.

Weapons were also confiscated one by one, with longswords and daggers piled up like small mountains, which could be exchanged for a lot of silver at the weapons shop later.

Meanwhile, in the distant mountains and forests along the official road, several martial arts practitioners were hiding behind trees, watching the scene before them with expressions of shock.

An old man in a gray robe stroked his white beard, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Liu Zhengfeng really had a stroke of luck. If Lin Mu hadn't suddenly appeared, he would definitely have been doomed this time."

A young martial artist beside him stared in the direction Lin Mu had disappeared, and exclaimed in fear, "This Lin Mu is too strong! He's almost on par with Dongfang Bubai of the Demonic Sect!"

Another thin-faced man's gaze fell on the Heaven-Slaying Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber Lin Mu wore. He licked his lips, a greedy glint in his eyes, and whispered, "Those two weapons of his are truly formidable; they can cut through iron like mud. If only we could get our hands on them..."

Before he could finish speaking, the gray-robed elder glared at him: "Fool! You think you can do this? Don't you even know Lin Mu's methods? If you don't want to die, don't even think about those crooked ideas!"

The thin-faced man shrank back, not daring to speak again, but his eyes still held resentment as he looked into the distance.

This battle at Hengshan is destined to cause a huge uproar in the martial arts world.

The leader of the Songshan Sect died in battle, all nine of the Great Protectors were wiped out, and three hundred elite troops were destroyed. The Songshan Sect, which once dominated the Five Sacred Mountains, became a laughing stock overnight.

And the name "Lin Mu" will spread throughout the martial arts world as others tell its tales.

Chapter 18: Xiang Wentian

Three days later, on an ancient road in the wilderness.

Lin Mu rode a chestnut-red steed, moving slowly forward.

The horses' hooves clattered softly on the hard, dry dirt road. Morning dew still clung to the roadside grass, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees.

He was planning his itinerary in his mind.

[Based on the timeline, Yue Buqun should have already returned to Mount Hua with Linghu Chong, Yue Lingshan, and the others. Now that Zuo Lengchan is dead, the Songshan Sect is leaderless, and Lin Pingzhi has no chance to join Mount Hua. The Mount Hua Sect should be stable for the time being—going to Mount Hua at this time would be perfect for completing the "Mount Hua Sword Tournament" side quest.]

[It would be even better if I could take this opportunity to learn the Nine Swords of Dugu.]

Lin Mu secretly pondered: "Even if I can't get the complete sword manual, I can still gain some martial arts experience by learning a few moves of the Five Mountains Sword Technique in the secret cave of the Cliff of Contemplation."

"As for Feng Qingyang... he is known as the 'Sword Saint,' and his strength is probably comparable to that of Dongfang Bubai. He can be used to test my current strength."

"Moreover, he is a very perceptive person. As long as I don't show any malice towards Mount Hua, even if I can't beat him, I don't think he will go all out."

Just as Lin Mu was pondering, he caught a glimpse of a tall and robust figure standing under a gnarled old pine tree by the roadside ahead.

The man was at least eight feet tall, standing with his hands behind his back. A large, hooded gray robe covered his entire body, as if he had been waiting there for a long time. He blended into the ancient pine tree behind him and the mottled rocks under his feet, exuding a sense of profound weight and wildness that had endured many vicissitudes.

A gust of wind blew, and the hem of his gray robe fluttered, revealing an old scabbard hanging at his waist.

The scabbard was covered in scratches, yet it was kept very clean, clearly indicating that it was a weapon that was always by his side.

Even without deliberately exuding an aura, a wild and unrestrained, majestic spirit, like a tiger lying on a desolate hill, naturally spread around him, making even passing birds dare not perch on the pine branches.

Lin Mu's heart stirred: "This person is a master, with profound internal strength and a long breath. His strength is even above that of Tian Boguang."

He pulled on the reins, and the chestnut horse snorted, pawed at the ground, and came to a stop.

"Young Master Lin, please wait!"

A booming voice suddenly rang out, carrying a peculiar penetrating power, echoing through the empty mountain valley.

The man in the gray robe raised his head, his wide-brimmed hat slipped down slightly, revealing a rugged face.

He had thick, dark eyebrows, a wide mouth and square nose, high cheekbones, and long, gray-white hair that was casually draped over his shoulders, with a few strands falling across his forehead, obscuring the sharp glint in his eyes.

He strode forward with a smile that seemed both hearty and shrewd.

Lin Mu turned to look at him, his tone calm: "And you are?"

"This old man seeks the answers from Heaven."

Xiang Wentian clasped his hands in a salute, his movements bold and expansive, displaying the air of a chivalrous hero: "Yesterday outside Hengshan City, I had the privilege of witnessing Young Hero Lin's divine might, utterly annihilating the arrogant Songshan Sect! How exhilarating! Absolutely exhilarating! Hahaha!"

His laughter was hearty and loud, filled with undisguised admiration and a hint of schadenfreude.

The Sun Moon Sect and the Songshan Sect were never on good terms, and Zuo Lengchan's death brought him some relief.

"you flatter me."

Lin Mu's reaction remained calm: "The Right Envoy has come all this way to wait for me, surely not just to say a few flattering words?"

Xiang Wentian's laughter subsided, and his rugged face turned serious. He took two steps forward, lowered his voice, and stared intently at Lin Mu: "Young Master Lin speaks frankly, and I won't beat around the bush either."

"Indeed, I have a request, and it is a major matter concerning the rise and fall of my Sun Moon Cult, and may even change the entire landscape of the martial arts world!"

"Oh?"

Lin Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, already having a vague answer in his heart.

Judging from this, they want me to save Ren Woxing, right?

[This is a perfect opportunity to obtain the "Star Absorbing Technique"—a worthwhile deal.]

Thinking of this, a perfectly measured look of interest appeared on his face, and he leaned forward slightly: "I'd like to hear more details."

Seeing that he was interested, Xiang Wentian was overjoyed and quickly said, "I would like to ask Young Hero Lin to help save someone."

"can."

Lin Mu answered without hesitation.

"Young Master Lin, aren't you going to ask who you're trying to save?"

Xiang Wentian was taken aback. He had prepared a whole speech, intending to lay the groundwork before revealing Ren Woxing's identity, but he didn't expect Lin Mu to agree so readily.

Lin Mu smiled dismissively, his tone certain: "In the world, there are very few people who can make the Right Envoy of the Sun Moon Divine Sect so concerned, even going so far as to personally seek external assistance."

"If I'm not mistaken, the person the Right Envoy wants to save is probably the former headmaster, Ren Woxing, who disappeared many years ago, right?"

"I didn't expect Young Master Lin to even know this!"

Xiang Wentian's eyes were full of surprise, and he subconsciously touched the stubble on his chin.

Ren Woxing has been missing for more than ten years. Now that the Sun Moon Cult is led by Dongfang Bubai, most people in the martial arts world believe that Ren Woxing is long dead. Even if a few people know that he is still alive, they do not know his whereabouts.

He had spent years painstakingly finding out the approximate location where Ren Woxing was imprisoned, but Lin Mu guessed it as soon as he spoke.

After his initial surprise, Xiang Wentian no longer concealed his true feelings and said solemnly, "That's right! I've come here precisely to ask Young Hero Lin to rescue Sect Leader Ren!"

"If this matter is successful, I am willing to offer 100,000 taels of silver as a reward!"

One hundred thousand taels of silver is enough for an ordinary person to live comfortably for several lifetimes, and it can be considered a generous gift of gratitude.

[Ding! You have come into contact with the destined figure Xiang Wentian, triggering the side quest: Rescue Ren Woxing!]

[Mission Requirements: Rescue Ren Woxing safely from the West Lake dungeon within one year.]

[Task Reward: Randomly selected.]

The familiar system notification sounded in his mind, and Lin Mu felt a slight joy.

[The quest has indeed been triggered.]

He remained expressionless and said to Xiang Wentian, "I have no shortage of money, and I can save people, but I have one more request."

Xiang Wentian waved his hand generously: "Brother Lin, please speak freely! As long as I can do it, I will not hesitate!"

Lin Mu looked at him and slowly said, "I have heard that Master Ren Woxing is proficient in a unique skill called the Star Absorbing Technique, which can absorb other people's internal energy for his own use."

"After this is done, I would like to borrow this technique. I wonder if the Right Envoy can grant me that request?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian frowned slightly, his eyes flickering.

The Star Absorbing Technique is Ren Woxing's unique skill. Although he is the Right Envoy of Light, he has no right to make decisions for Ren Woxing.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking frankly: "Brother Lin, to be honest, the Star Absorbing Technique is the exclusive divine skill of our sect leader, and I truly have no authority to make that decision. However..."

He then changed the subject: "After rescuing the leader, I will definitely inform him of Brother Lin's merits and request. Leader Ren has always cherished talent, and if Brother Lin can save him, he will surely agree to your request."

He didn't make any definitive statements, which showed his sincerity while also leaving room for maneuver.

Chapter 19: The Four Friends of Plum Manor

Lin Mu was not surprised by this and nodded: "Alright, let's rescue them first."

Xiang Wentian was overjoyed to see that Lin Mu was so understanding and reasonable. He quickly said, "Brother Lin is indeed a straightforward person! There's no time to lose, let's set off now. The place where the sect leader is imprisoned is under the Plum Manor by West Lake in Hangzhou. If we delay, things may change!"

Both of them were decisive people, so they didn't delay any longer.

Xiang Wentian also brought his own horse.

It was a magnificent black horse, exceptionally sturdy.

After briefly discussing the route, the two mounted their horses, spurred their legs on the flanks, and the two steeds neighed and galloped off in the southeast, raising a cloud of dust.

Along the way, Xiang Wentian told Lin Mu about the situation at Plum Manor in detail.

"On the surface, Plum Manor is the residence of four literati, but in reality, it is the stronghold of Dongfang Bubai's faction to guard the leader of the sect."

“The ‘Four Friends of Jiangnan’ in Zhuangli—Huang Zhonggong, Hei Baizi, Tu Biweng, and Dan Qingsheng—are all extraordinary.”

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "Especially my eldest brother, Huang Zhonggong, whose internal strength is profound and who is most skilled in the 'Seven-String Invisible Sword,' using the guqin as a weapon, his sound waves can injure people and are impossible to defend against; my second brother, Hei Baizi, specializes in Go, his palm techniques are like the moves of a Go player, unpredictable, and he has also cultivated a body of cold internal strength; my third brother, Tu Biweng, uses his brush as a sword, his calligraphy is integrated into his swordsmanship, and his moves are agile; my fourth brother, Dan Qingsheng, loves wine and painting, and his swordsmanship also has a touch of freehand style, but it hides a deadly intent."

"What's more troublesome is that the entrance to the dungeon is extremely well hidden. I searched for a long time but still couldn't pinpoint its exact location. All I know is that each of the four friends of Plum Manor keeps a key. We must collect all four keys to unlock the mechanism in the secret passage and enter the dungeon."

Xiang Wentian sighed. He had exhausted his efforts over the years to save Ren Woxing. He originally planned to curry favor with the Four Friends of Jiangnan and trick them into giving him the key, but after witnessing Lin Mu's skills, he changed his mind.