"Heh, Mr. Lin, I'm not quite sure what you mean." Dao Wuming gave an awkward smile.

"You're not sure?" Lin Mu smiled lightly. "If you didn't understand, you wouldn't have invited me here today."

Dao Wuming narrowed his eyes, the smile receding from his face.

"Since you're a straightforward man, Mr. Lin, I'll be blunt," Dao Wuming said, taking a deep breath. "I believe you're aware of my identity, correct?"

"The head of the Dark Web, hmm? That's not a lowly position," Lin Mu said meaningfully.

Upon hearing the words "Dark Web," a flash of pride crossed Dao Wuming's face.

"Correct. I am the person in charge of the Dark Web Organization's River City branch," Dao Wuming declared, puffing out his chest as an invisible aura emanated from him.

Dao Wuming was also a rare master of the Martial Way.

"What's there to be so proud of? You're just a bunch of filthy rats hiding in the dark, afraid to see the light of day," Lin Mu retorted bluntly.

"Mr. Lin, watch your words!" Dao Wuming's expression darkened as he spoke gravely. "I'm aware you're a Martial Arts Grandmaster whose strength is considered unrivaled among your generation, but our Dark Web also has true Martial Arts Grandmasters! Their strength is hardly inferior to yours."

To him, it seemed the Dark Web was his entire faith.

No wonder the Dark Web developed so quickly, Lin Mu thought. The organization's ability to manipulate people is quite potent.

He waved his hand impatiently. "Enough with the nonsense. State your purpose."

Dao Wuming obviously hadn't invited him just for a meal. This might be a trap!

Taking a deep breath, Dao Wuming announced, "I would like to invite Master Lin to join our Dark Web Organization!"

Lin Mu was stunned. He'd considered many possibilities, but he never expected Dao Wuming to invite him to join the Dark Web.

Seeing Lin Mu's surprise, Dao Wuming assumed he was thinking about negotiations and quickly added, "Mr. Lin, as a Grandmaster, your vision and perspective are naturally different from those of common folk. You may have certain biases against the Dark Web, but I guarantee that if you join us, you will receive benefits beyond your wildest imagination."

Lin Mu blinked. "What benefits?"

Dao Wuming glanced around before whispering, "A method to break through the Martial Arts Grandmaster realm."

Lin Mu's expression shifted subtly.

Does the Dark Web really have a way to break through the Martial Arts Grandmaster realm? Could it be... that there are beings stronger than Grandmasters within the Dark Web?

The cultivation path of a Martial Artist was: Acquired Realm, Innate, External Strength, Inner Strength, and Martial Arts Grandmaster.

Above that was the realm of Reaching the Divine.

Reaching the Divine allowed one to commune with gods above and reach the netherworlds below. Those who achieved it possessed the power to reshape the world and were known as Land Immortals. Their methods had already surpassed human understanding.

All of this, Lin Mu knew from Liu Mubai's memories. But in both his past and present lives, he had never heard of, let alone seen, anyone in the Divine Communion Realm.

Dao Wuming stated confidently, "As long as you agree to join the Dark Web, I believe the organization will devote great resources to nurturing you, given your talent and strength, Mr. Lin."

"Once the time is right, the organization will surely help you break through the Martial Arts Grandmaster realm and achieve the Divine Communion Realm!" Dao Wuming continued. "Furthermore, if you agree to join our organization, all previous grievances between us will be wiped clean."

He was alluding to the time Lin Mu entered the Drink and Enjoy Bar, slaughtered everyone inside, and even killed Ding Fengqiu's disciple, Zeng Wen. If Lin Mu agreed to his demand, he could help resolve this grudge.

"Mr. Lin, I can give you three days to think it over. Once you've decided, just call me directly."

Dao Wuming produced a business card with his private number on it. Pushing it across the table toward Lin Mu, he added with a smile, "I believe you will make the right choice, Mr. Lin."

Lin Mu's fingers tapped lightly on the business card, but the smile at the corners of his mouth only grew wider.

"Actually, I'm curious about one thing," Lin Mu said.

Dao Wuming paused. "What's that?"

"With an intellect like yours, how exactly did you become the head of the Dark Web's River City branch?" Lin Mu's tone dripped with disdain.

"You..."

The smile vanished from Dao Wuming's face. In a deep voice, he asked, "Mr. Lin, what is the meaning of this?"

Leaning back in his chair and toying with the gold-trimmed business card, Lin Mu said, "Who gave you the audacity to try and recruit me?"

"Lin Mu, don't be ungrateful!" Dao Wuming exploded in fury, his voice cold. "Do you really think the Dark Web is afraid of a mere Martial Arts Grandmaster? Killing you wouldn't be difficult at all! Our Dark Web has been around for many years. We've killed Grandmasters before!"

His tone was filled with boundless arrogance. He stood up and stared down at Lin Mu. "Lin Mu, do you know why I gave you three days to consider?"

Dao Wuming sneered. "Because after three days, you'll start to feel your entire body go weak. Your cultivation will be completely destroyed, and you'll be reduced to a useless cripple."

"After seven days, your internal organs will begin to rot. In the end, your entire body will be devoured by a Gu poison known as the Heart-Devouring Gu!"

Lin Mu appeared shocked and horrified. "You... You poisoned the food?"

Dao Wuming roared with laughter. "Lin Mu, oh, Lin Mu. You've been clever your whole life, only to be fooled now. You knew this was a trap, yet you walked right into your own grave."

"I'll give you one last chance. Submit to the organization, and I can give you the antidote and control the Gu insect's activity. Otherwise, I assure you, you will die a horrible death!"

At this moment, Dao Wuming had completely burned his bridges with Lin Mu. The Heart-Devouring Gu was a poison the organization had spent countless resources developing. Once afflicted, not even a Martial Arts Grandmaster had a cure; they could only await death. This was the fundamental reason the Dark Web had grown so rapidly and had yet to be eradicated.

"Mr. Lin, I value you as a talent. To achieve the rank of Martial Arts Grandmaster at such a young age and be placed sixteenth on the Heavenly Ranking is unprecedented. It's no exaggeration to call you a peerless prodigy," Dao Wuming said, looking utterly smug, convinced he had Lin Mu at his mercy. "But have you considered this? The Martial Alliance only did that to get back at you. Perhaps the Grandmasters you knocked off the list already resent you and are planning to challenge you."

"I know your strength is extraordinary, but as the saying goes, two fists can't fight off four hands. So what if you killed Yun Xu? The Celestial Master Mansion aside, the other challengers alone will be enough to exhaust you and leave you unable to cope. Just agree to join the organization, and I can solve all these problems for you."

Dao Wuming was brimming with confidence, certain Lin Mu would agree.

After hearing him out, Lin Mu suddenly laughed.

"What are you laughing at? You're on the brink of death and you don't even know it!" Dao Wuming was truly infuriated.

This Lin Mu is far too unappreciative!

"Heh," Lin Mu said indifferently. "I'm laughing because you're celebrating too soon. Did you really think you could control me with a cheap trick like this?"

The moment he finished speaking, Lin Mu flipped his palm over.

There, in the center of his palm, a white insect enveloped in Spiritual Energy wriggled rapidly.

"The Heart-Devouring Gu Insect?!" Dao Wuming was horrified, shrieking, "You... You were able to force out the Heart-Devouring Gu?!"

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