Chapter 1020: One Sword Startles the Eastern Extremity
(The enlightenment divine ability in the previous chapter was the fifth form, but Zhaizhu mistakenly wrote it as the fourth form; it has been corrected.)
The Eastern Emperor raised an eyebrow, feeling quite displeased. Qin Mu's words stung, but they weren't wrong—he truly couldn't comprehend Qin Mu's divine abilities.
Purple Path Amidst Flowers.
Snow on the Branch Under the Third-Watch Moon; On Which Jade Terrace Layer Does One Stand?
The fifth form of Qin Mu's enlightenment divine ability carried profound artistic conception. It was a divine ability he had created after acquiring the wisdom of the Primordial Spirit Realm's creator race, fusing his accumulated knowledge, insight, and vision. It encompassed vast amounts of knowledge while retaining his own originality.
The Eastern Emperor was an ancient god, bound by his own great dao. Although he could recognize many of the divine abilities and techniques contained within this form, making him learn these techniques and comprehend these divine abilities was an immense challenge.
Ancient gods were limited by their own nature—this was common knowledge. Apart from the Heavenly Emperor, most ancient gods could only follow the path of the great dao that birthed them, finding it extremely difficult to transcend.
The Heavenly Duke was like this, the Earth Lord was like this, and the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon was also like this.
Although many ancient gods attempted to find a way to break free from the shackles of their own great dao, with many reincarnating repeatedly in their attempts, they discovered that there was only one path to transcendence: death.
Only death—abandoning the original physical body and forsaking the original great dao—could allow one to break free.
Thus, reincarnated bodies could not free them from their original great dao's constraints. The Earth Lord's Ugly was a case in point.
"My reincarnated body is still traveling the myriad worlds outside. It will arrive at the Eastern Extremity Heaven in a few days," the Eastern Emperor said with a chuckle. "Great Master, please wait a few days. I will have someone arrange lodging for you."
Qin Mu replied, "I'm accustomed to staying at the Jade Pool. Your Majesty need not trouble yourself; I'll stay on Dragon Island in the Jade Pool."
The Eastern Emperor nodded. The painted boat sailed toward Dragon Island, where his descendants lay sprawled on the ground, still lacking the strength to move. The Eastern Emperor frowned, summoning many dragon servants to clean up and vacate the largest palace on the island.
Qin Mu took up residence there. Gazing at the palace's carved beams, painted rafters, and decorations made of various treasures, he praised, "Luxurious beyond compare."
The Eastern Emperor said, "Great Master, stay here for a while. Once my reincarnated body returns, we will proceed with the second trial."
Qin Mu smiled. "The later it comes, the more I look forward to it. Your Majesty has already conducted the first trial. I am so excited for the second that I can hardly wait for Your Majesty's reincarnated body to arrive immediately! I will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty!"
"Not disappoint me..."
The Eastern Emperor's heart skipped a beat. He laughed heartily. "Great Master, I have official duties to attend to, so I won't disturb your rest."
Qin Mu saw him off, saying earnestly, "Your Majesty should be able to feel my eager anticipation. I hope Your Majesty's reincarnated body arrives soon."
The Eastern Emperor departed and returned to the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace's Lingxiao Hall, summoning his civil and military officials.
These officials were all his descendants, with no outsiders present. The dragon princes and granddaughters looked up at the Eastern Emperor on his throne, puzzled to see his gloomy, unhappy expression.
The Great Crown Prince coughed and bowed. "Father God, why do you wear a worried look?"
The Eastern Emperor sighed deeply and recounted the whole story. "Only now do I realize that I don't truly understand this Great Master. I know almost nothing about his divine abilities, so I was too arrogant. His divine abilities are infinitely profound. That one enlightenment divine ability, Purple Path Amidst Flowers, even I cannot fathom its mysteries or see its flaws. If Purple Path Amidst Flowers is like this, I know even less about his other divine abilities. That's why I fear I will lose to him in the second trial."
The civil and military officials were shocked.
The Second Crown Prince stepped forward and bowed. "Since Father God lacks confidence, why not cancel the second trial?"
"I was cornered by his words; he seized on my weakness."
The Eastern Emperor frowned. "He is determined to defeat me and suppress my prestige, and I cannot back down. I could only make an excuse that my reincarnated body is traveling outside and hurrying back, buying a few days."
The princes were enraged. "This Heavenly Lord Mu is utterly unreasonable! He doesn't know to leave some face and give Father God a graceful way out!"
After discussing among themselves, they devised a plan. "Father God need not worry. The Heavenly Lord Mu beat our younger brothers and sisters. If we go to avenge them, we have a legitimate reason. As long as we force him to display his other divine abilities and techniques, Father God can watch from the shadows, find a way to counter them, and then victory will be assured when Father God fights him!"
The Eastern Emperor was overjoyed. "My sons share my burdens, bringing comfort to my old heart."
The many princes left the hall. Outside, the Third Crown Prince said, "Father God is treating this like a major threat, which shows that this Heavenly Lord Mu's divine abilities are indeed formidable. Besides forcing him to reveal his abilities, there's another way: beat him up every few days until he has no choice but to leave the Eastern Extremity!"
The Great Crown Prince said, "Father God still needs the Heavenly Lord Mu and doesn't want to break with him completely. When we go, we'll just say we're seeking justice for our younger siblings and force him to show his signature techniques."
The Second Crown Prince added, "Big Brother is at the Emperor Seat realm, so you'll oversee the battle. Let the other younger brothers and sisters go first. Remember, we're here to vent for our siblings—stick to that point and don't mention anything else!"
With the plan settled, they rode wind, clouds, thunder, and lightning, charging fiercely toward Dragon Island in the Jade Pool. Many divine dragons coiled in the clouds, looking down at Dragon Island.
A dragon prince descended from the clouds, declaring he wanted to avenge the younger siblings on Dragon Island and demanding that Heavenly Lord Mu come out to fight.
After a moment, a somewhat charming girl emerged, saying, "The young master is resting and sent me to deal with you."
The dragon prince laughed in anger. "Heavenly Lord Mu has his eyes on top of his head! Sending a maidservant—utterly disgraceful!"
Yan'er sneered, "I'm not the young master's maidservant; I just like serving people. If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
The dragon prince flew into a rage, transforming into a dragon-headed humanoid form, wielding a Coiling Dragon Halberd. "I'll beat this maidservant first, then beat the Heavenly Lord Mu, and seek justice for my younger siblings!"
Yan'er soared into the air. The two clashed in midair. After a few exchanges, the dragon prince had his mouth torn open, was beaten until he involuntarily reverted to his true form, and fell into the Jade Pool, unconscious. Fortunately, the Jade Pool's water was filled with life energy, making it hard for him to die.
"You hit the Eighty-Seventh Younger Brother!"
Another dragon god charged in, shouting, "I will avenge the Eighty-Seventh Younger Brother!"
Yan'er showed no fear, charging forward and beating this dragon god half to death.
Other dragon princes stepped up to challenge, but all fell without exception. However, Yan'er also felt utterly exhausted. Just then, Qin Mu's voice came, "Yan'er, withdraw."
Yan'er acknowledged and stepped back.
"Pi, you go."
Qin Mu's voice continued: "Nephews and nieces, since you've come to challenge me, I can't rely on my seniority. I'll have Pi face you. If you can defeat Pi at the same cultivation level, then I'll fight you."
As he spoke, a massive creature with a dragon's head, a qilin's body, and a dragon's tail emerged from the hall. As it walked, it transformed into human form, becoming a robust youth. "I am at the Revered God realm. Who dares to fight me?"
The dragon princes and princesses of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace continued to challenge, but this youth named Pi displayed fierce and domineering techniques and divine abilities, a dazzling array of skills. He defeated twenty or thirty dragon princes and princesses in a row.
When Dragon Pi grew tired, Yan'er took over. For three to five consecutive days, they suffered not a single defeat!
The Great Crown Prince frowned and coughed. "Withdraw. I'll go."
He stepped forward. Dragon Pi glanced at him, hesitated, and said to the hall, "Sect Leader, this dragon has a full forehead and a square chin; he's likely a cultivator who has forged the Emperor Seat. I'm no match for him."
Qin Mu walked out of the hall, smiling. "Dragon Fatty, withdraw."
The Great Crown Prince bowed to Qin Mu. "My younger siblings were mischievous and offended Heavenly Lord Mu. I, Yuan Long, have come to apologize..."
Qin Mu raised his hand. "No need to explain. I already know your intent. My enlightenment divine ability has eight forms. If you can withstand these eight forms, I will let bygones be bygones."
Yuan Long Crown Prince's heart leaped with joy. He said solemnly, "Heavenly Lord, please—"
Without further ado, Qin Mu executed the first form of his enlightenment divine ability. Suddenly, the celestial phenomena shifted dramatically. The Heavenly Dao hung high, the Primordial Dao spread flat, the heavens were round and the earth square. Forty-nine Heavenly Daos and thirty-six Primordial Daos merged, forming four smooth arcs.
On these four arcs appeared four different divine and demonic faces representing joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
Yuan Long Crown Prince looked up. Qin Mu had transformed into this four-faced deity, giving him a sense of overwhelming power that shook heaven and earth, and fear arose in his heart.
Qin Mu's hand seal descended, and Yuan Long Crown Prince couldn't help but forcibly elevate his cultivation to resist!
He had originally planned to fight Qin Mu at the same realm, but facing Qin Mu directly, he realized that at the same level, he was no match. So he immediately raised his cultivation to the True God level!
He withstood Qin Mu's strike, but his internal energy was in chaos, his primal qi raging and flowing uncontrollably, and his divine soul nearly shattered. In fear, he quickly unsealed his Jade Pool realm cultivation to calm the turmoil within.
At that moment, Qin Mu's second enlightenment great divine ability unfolded—the Heavenly and Earthly Mystic Gate, descending from the heavens to suppress.
The Heavenly and Earthly Mystic Gate fused the forty-nine Heavenly Daos and the sixty-four Netherworld Daos into a terrifying divine ability!
Yuan Long Crown Prince had no choice but to elevate his cultivation again, raising it to the peak of the Jade Pool realm. Yet it felt as if both the Mystic Capital and the Netherworld were pressing down, suppressing his physical body, while blazing karmic fire burned his soul, forcing him to unseal the Divine Execution Platform realm!
Then, Qin Mu executed the third enlightenment divine ability, Gazing at the Four Extremes from the Heavenly River, and the fourth, Gathering Perfection in the Great Luo Heaven.
One enlightenment divine ability after another was unleashed. Yuan Long Crown Prince fought desperately. Fortunately, as an existence at the Emperor Seat realm, unsealing his cultivation to the Divine Execution Platform level was enough to withstand Qin Mu's abilities, even the great enlightenment divine abilities.
Finally, after the eight forms were completed, Qin Mu flicked his sleeve and turned back into the hall.
Yuan Long Crown Prince bowed in farewell. "Thank you, Heavenly Lord, for your guidance!"
Qin Mu said, "Your father has already seen my divine abilities. His reincarnated body should be arriving at the Eastern Extremity soon, right?"
Yuan Long Crown Prince was momentarily stunned, his face flushing slightly.
He led his many younger siblings back to the Lingxiao Hall, where they saw the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon beaming with joy. "You did well! Especially you, Yuan Long, forcing him to use eight great divine abilities—a great achievement! However, I still need a few days to calculate the flaws in his techniques and divine abilities."
Yuan Long Crown Prince bowed. "Your son wishes Father God a triumphant victory!"
The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon laughed heartily and went into seclusion.
After more than ten days, the Eastern Emperor emerged from seclusion and summoned Yuan Long Crown Prince and the others, asking about Qin Mu's recent activities. Yuan Long Crown Prince reported, "The Heavenly Lord Mu has been on Dragon Island all this time, occasionally walking around but never leaving the island."
The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon smiled. "This kid is quite steady."
Just then, his reincarnated body stepped out from behind him—a dragon-headed, human-bodied emperor form, coiled with dragon qi, golden dragon energy wrapping around him, majestic and extraordinary.
The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon's reincarnated body walked toward the Jade Pool, with Yuan Long Crown Prince and the others following. The procession was grand, drawing countless dragon princes and princesses from the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace to fly into the air and watch.
Arriving at Dragon Island in the Jade Pool, the Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body raised his hand, and Yuan Long Crown Prince and the others stopped, standing in midair.
The reincarnated body slowly descended onto Dragon Island, smiling. "Great Master, I apologize for the wait."
Qin Mu replied politely, "Your Majesty is too kind. Since today we are testing my abilities, I'd like to wager a little prize with Your Majesty. I have a jar of Mother Earth's Primordial Chaos Primordial Liquid here, and I'd like to bet Your Majesty's Spirit Treasure Mountain. Does Your Majesty have any interest?"
The Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body widened his eyes, breathing rapidly. "Primordial Chaos Primordial Liquid? A whole jar?"
Qin Mu flipped his palm, revealing a jar of Primordial Chaos Primordial Liquid, radiating terrifying and pure energy. He smiled. "What does Your Majesty think?"
The Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body hesitated for a moment. "Though Primordial Chaos Primordial Liquid is precious, one jar cannot buy the Spirit Treasure Mountain. How about this: I'll bet one mountain peak with you."
Qin Mu smiled. "Very well, one mountain peak it is. Your Majesty, I am at the Revered God realm."
The Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body nodded, sealing the Southern Heavenly Gate, and smiled. "I will face you at the Revered God realm. Please!"
Qin Mu smiled faintly, then abruptly drew his sword. A single sword flew out, its light cold and brilliant. As the radiance shone, the sky above Dragon Island in the Jade Pool suddenly manifested the Grand Emperor Heaven, the Grand Brightness Heaven, the Clear Brightness Heaven, the Primordial Embryo Heaven...
Thirty-Three Heavens burst forth roaring!
Within the sword light, the Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body was both shocked and furious. One sword, Thirty-Three Heavens—this was not Qin Mu's divine ability at all!
The Thirty-Three Heavens rushed toward him, rendering completely useless the methods he had painstakingly devised over the past dozen days to counter Qin Mu's abilities!
In the sword light, dragon blood flew!
Finally, the Thirty-Three Heavens condensed into a single sword stroke. Qin Mu gripped the sword, letting out a long cry, and finally comprehended the Sword Domain of the Opening Emperor.
Around him, a terrifying sword domain formed, as if he had grasped all the power of an indestructible great dao!
Sword in hand, Qin Mu thrust forward. The sword domain condensed all his spirit, all his primal qi, all his divine soul, and even his primordial spirit leaped with joy!
Unknowingly, he fused the sword domain with the Twentieth Form of the Sword. The fusion of the Twentieth Form and the sword domain finally allowed him to perfectly execute the technique the Opening Emperor had created, piercing the Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body with one sword!
The Eastern Emperor's reincarnated body flew backward, wounds exploding all over, suffering hundreds of injuries. He tumbled and crashed out of the Jade Pool, slamming into a palace complex!
Qin Mu sheathed his sword and said to Yan'er behind him, "Prepare to pack up and leave. It's time to go pay our respects to the Northern Emperor."
—Well, a four-thousand-word chapter. The Severing Heavenly Lord didn't just cut off here casually~