Chapter 1042: The Five Luminary Ancient Gods
Many humans had already migrated to the protection of the Xiaohan Heavenly Court, but some human deities had not brought many people back.
"They don't believe us. They say our Xiaohan Heavenly Court is making a fuss, that disobeying the gods' arrangements will bring divine punishment." Those deities were very helpless.
Moon Heavenly Sovereign asked in confusion, "Don't they know that staying in Langxuan Divine Emperor's territory will eventually make them sacrifices?"
"They know, but they're used to it. They say their ancestors have lived this way for generations."
"Oh."
Moon Heavenly Sovereign went to find Qin Mu, but saw Dragon Qilin tidying up the Heavenly Dragon Carriage. Qin Mu and that young man named Luo Xiao had already boarded the carriage, while that girl called Yan'er hung a lantern on the carriage, ran over, and kowtowed respectfully to her a few times.
Moon Heavenly Sovereign was startled and quickly tried to help her up, but couldn't budge her. She looked at Qin Mu for help.
Qin Mu smiled and said, "You'll understand in the future."
Moon Heavenly Sovereign came to the carriage and asked, "Are you leaving?"
Qin Mu nodded. "Langxuan Divine Emperor won't make a move against humanity for now. My last visit to Langxuan Divine Palace was enough to intimidate him for a thousand years. But although he can't do anything to me, he can use the Heavenly Court's power to deal with me. I can't implicate you, so I must leave."
Moon Heavenly Sovereign asked, "When will you return?"
Qin Mu was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "As Mu Heavenly Sovereign, I probably won't return for now. But as Cloud Heavenly Sovereign, Cloud Heavenly Sovereign will always stay here."
Moon Heavenly Sovereign's gaze was complex. After a long silence, she said, "But Cloud Heavenly Sovereign isn't you."
Qin Mu leaned by the window, waving goodbye to her, and said, "Don't alert the others. We will meet again in the future."
The Heavenly Dragon Carriage drove toward the Heavenly River, growing farther and farther away, becoming smaller and smaller in Moon Heavenly Sovereign's sight until it gradually disappeared.
Suddenly, Ling Heavenly Sovereign's joyful voice came: "Moon, Moon, come quickly! I've figured it out! The reason my hairpin disappeared wasn't that it was stolen, but that there was a hairpin from the future!"
She was excited and jumping for joy, becoming even more delirious.
Moon Heavenly Sovereign felt even more melancholy upon hearing her words. Just then, a painted boat drifted down the Heavenly River from upstream. Cloud Heavenly Sovereign jumped off the boat with a few attendants, looked at the cheering Ling Heavenly Sovereign, and smiled, "Sister Ling, why are you so happy?"
Moon Heavenly Sovereign looked at Cloud Heavenly Sovereign, examining him from head to toe more than ten times, then circled around him several times, scrutinizing him repeatedly.
Cloud Heavenly Sovereign was confused by her gaze and stood there somewhat awkwardly.
Moon Heavenly Sovereign blinked and asked, "Brother Cloud, did you encounter a carriage pulled by six heavenly dragons heading toward the Heavenly Court?"
Cloud Heavenly Sovereign nodded. "I saw it just now. It passed by my painted boat. I was wondering who owned such a magnificent carriage. Six heavenly dragons as mounts—how terrifying! If it were nine heavenly dragons pulling the carriage, that would be the standard for an inspection tour by the Four Imperial Lords of the Ancient Gods!"
"Did you really see that carriage?" Moon Heavenly Sovereign was both surprised and delighted.
Cloud Heavenly Sovereign nodded again and said, "Forget the carriage, I went to see Fire Heavenly Sovereign. Fire Heavenly Sovereign has his own ideas and probably won't travel with us anymore. I also got news from him that Hao Heavenly Sovereign is about to make a comeback. The Heavenly Emperor plans to let him establish a Half-God Heavenly Court in the Primordial Realm to rule over all half-god races. We need to prepare for this. Have you established the Heavenly Court?"
Ling Heavenly Sovereign had already calmed down and walked over. She glanced at Cloud Heavenly Sovereign and sneered, "Have you finally decided to return to your true form?"
Cloud Heavenly Sovereign was puzzled.
Ling Heavenly Sovereign said, "Don't always act under Mu Heavenly Sovereign's guise, lest you tarnish his reputation."
Cloud Heavenly Sovereign was even more confused but knew Ling Heavenly Sovereign was always eccentric, so he didn't take it to heart. He immediately went to see the Dao Ancestor and said, "Old Dao, I have a somewhat immature idea. Can your numerology analyze the Great Dao?"
Meanwhile, an envoy from the Heavenly Court arrived at Langxuan Divine Palace, bearing the Heavenly Emperor's decree. He said, "His Majesty says that Mu Heavenly Sovereign has bullied the offspring of the ancient gods, committed heinous crimes, and violated heavenly laws. Langxuan Divine Emperor will hold a grand sacrifice, and the Five Luminary Ancient Gods will descend to capture him."
Langxuan Divine Emperor's expression changed slightly. "Use sacrificial offerings for a blood sacrifice to summon the Five Luminary Ancient Gods to descend?"
The envoy said, "That is His Majesty's intention. Mu Heavenly Sovereign is a human Heavenly Sovereign with vast divine powers. In terms of divine abilities, no one in the world can surpass him. His divine abilities approach the Dao; only the Great Dao can subdue him. If the Divine Emperor wants justice, he must invite the Five Luminary Ancient Gods to descend."
Langxuan Divine Emperor's expression shifted between uncertainty and anger.
There were many ancient gods, but they were often not in the Primordial Realm, residing instead beyond the heavens. To come from beyond the heavens, a blood sacrifice was necessary.
And a blood sacrifice required offerings.
The Five Luminary Ancient Gods were born from the Great Dao, extremely powerful, and their status was above that of the Twenty-Eight Mansions Ancient Gods. Although Langxuan Divine Emperor surpassed them in combat power, he was inferior to the ancient gods in understanding the Dao. Inviting them to subdue Mu Heavenly Sovereign was the correct move.
When the Dragon Han Heavenly Court was established, the Heavenly Emperor, to weaken the feudal lords, invited the Four Ancient God Emperors into the Heavenly Court and built the Four Heavenly Palaces of Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, where the Four Emperors resided.
The Four Extremities Heavens of the Four Ancient God Emperors were then granted to the Twenty-Eight Mansions Ancient Gods for rule.
The Twenty-Eight Mansions Ancient Gods were all ferocious beings: the Western Extremity Heaven's White Tiger Seven Mansions, the Southern Extremity Heaven's Vermilion Bird Seven Mansions, the Northern Extremity Heaven's Black Tortoise Seven Mansions, and the Eastern Extremity Heaven's Azure Dragon Seven Mansions.
These twenty-eight ancient gods lived in the Four Extremities Heavens, guarding the four poles of the universe. They were an extremely powerful force and the feudal lords governing the Four Extremities Heavens.
As for the Five Luminary Ancient Gods, they were the five star lords: Zhen Star Lord, Yinghuo Star Lord, Chen Star Lord, Sui Star Lord, and Taibai Star Lord. The Great Dao they controlled was even more formidable.
Zhen Star Lord controlled the Dao of Death and was the Death Ancient God. Yinghuo Star Lord controlled the Dao of Plague and was the Plague Ancient God. Chen Star Lord controlled the Dao of Slaughter and Punishment and was the Battle Ancient God. Taibai Star Lord controlled the Dao of Fortune and Misfortune. Sui Star Lord controlled the Dao of Life and Sacrifice.
Zhen Star Lord and Yinghuo Star Lord were stationed in the Netherworld, serving as the Heavenly Emperor's feudal lords to restrict Earth Lord. Chen Star Lord and Taibai Star Lord ascended to the Mystic Capital, serving as the Heavenly Emperor's feudal lords to restrict Heaven Duke.
Sui Star Lord was closest to the Primordial Realm, residing outside it.
These five star lords commanded countless disaster deities under them. To invite them to descend, a grand sacrifice was required.
The half-gods' food was humans and other post-natal races, while the ancient gods' food was half-gods and post-natal races. Only with enough offerings could the Five Luminary Ancient Gods come to the Primordial Realm.
A clan leader among the half-gods said, "Divine Emperor, there are still many humans in our territory who refuse to move. Besides these humans, we also have captured slaves from various races. They can serve as offerings."
Langxuan Divine Emperor said, "Use them for the blood sacrifice to let the Five Luminary Ancient Gods descend. If that's not enough, then attack other races in the Primordial Realm and capture more slaves!"
Finally, the altar was prepared, and the offerings were brought to it.
Langxuan Divine Emperor performed the blood sacrifice. Instantly, blood light shot into the sky, turning the heavens blood-red. Within the blood light, five stars grew larger and larger, drawing closer and closer, but they seemed separated by a layer of space, as if in another world.
On those five stars were thousands of palaces and millions of divine demons. On Yinghuo Star were divine demons with ox heads, human bodies, and feet treading on twin dragons. On Zhen Star were divine demons with human heads and serpent bodies. On Sui Star were divine demons with human heads, bird bodies, bird feet, and feet treading on azure dragons. On Taibai Star were divine demons with tiger heads, human bodies, glaring white foreheads, and bronze battle-axes in hand.
On Chen Star were divine demons with human heads, red hair, serpent bodies, and tridents in hand.
The divine demons on the five luminary stars absorbed the power of the blood sacrifice, creating a scene of chaotic demonic revelry.
"Nephew, the offerings you've presented are not many."
The five stars grew closer and closer. The five disaster stars appeared above the Primordial Realm but did not enter its world barrier, clearly because the offerings were insufficient for them to descend.
Zhen Star Lord chuckled darkly. "The souls and flesh you've sacrificed are too few, and they're all inferior goods. How stingy. Why not sacrifice some of your descendants? Your bloodline has long tempted me."
Langxuan Divine Emperor gritted his teeth, bowed, and said, "Uncles, Mu Heavenly Sovereign is causing havoc in the world, violating heavenly laws, and humiliating the divine race—humiliating you uncles as well. Please, uncles, descend."
The sky twisted. The Five Luminary Star Lords left the Netherworld, the Mystic Capital, and the outer heavens, descending from the sky onto the altar. They grabbed the offerings and began to eat. Chaos erupted around the altars as the sacrificed humans and other races ran in all directions, but there was no escape.
After the Five Luminary Star Lords had eaten their fill, Chen Star Lord said, "His Majesty's decree has also reached us. Capturing Mu Heavenly Sovereign is our duty. But that one called Niu Ben—is he not by his side?"
At the Jade Pool gathering back then, Niu Sanduo, under the alias Niu Ben, had displayed vast divine powers, causing a great uproar in the Heavenly Court and injuring countless ancient gods. Thus, the Five Luminary Star Lords were somewhat wary.
Langxuan Divine Emperor bowed and said, "Niu Ben is not by his side."
"Good."
Sui Star Lord licked his lips and smiled, "Nephew, your children are delicious. You've fathered so many—it won't hurt if I eat a few, will it?" With that, he reached out, his hand plunging into Langxuan Divine Palace, grabbing several men and women and stuffing them into his mouth.
Langxuan Divine Emperor was both shocked and furious. He slammed the table and roared in anger. Suddenly, Zhen Star Lord's tail swept across his face, knocking him to the ground.
"Nephew, you are merely the leader of the half-gods. Your power was given to you by us ancient gods, and your status was also given by us."
Zhen Star Lord's ox hoof pressed down on his back, the Death Dao tightly binding him. He smiled, "What's the big deal about eating a few of your children? Don't forget who the true rulers of the universe are!"
Langxuan Divine Emperor, despite his immense power, could not resist. Facing the ancient gods, he had experienced the Blood Rust Campaign and could even single-handedly kill the overlords of the Creators, but even with boundless strength, he could not resist the ancient gods. He had realized this long ago.
Langxuan Divine Emperor lowered his head and said, "Your nephew knows his mistake. Please, uncle, forgive me for my father's sake."
Zhen Star Lord withdrew his ox hoof and smiled, "Rumor has it that you are the son of the Eastern Emperor, so I must give him some face. I won't make things difficult for you. Heh, to you, Mu Heavenly Sovereign's divine abilities are unsolvable, but to us ancient gods, his abilities merely touch the edge of the Dao. Easy to capture. Prepare the blood food and set up a victory feast. We'll be back shortly!"
Whoosh—
Countless bizarre divine demons flew out from the five stars in the sky. The Five Luminary Star Lords each commanded a great army, stepping on multicolored great dragons as they roared away.
Langxuan Divine Emperor silently climbed to his feet, his gaze dark, watching the Five Luminary Star Lords lead their forces into the distance.
"Divine Emperor, how does it feel to be humiliated?" Hao Heavenly Sovereign walked out of the Lingxiao Hall of Langxuan Divine Palace, smiling.
Langxuan Divine Emperor's four faces were filled with shame and anger. "Why must Hao Heavenly Sovereign humiliate me further?"
Hao Heavenly Sovereign's gaze was deep as he watched the departing Five Luminary Star Lords. "Although half-gods are descendants of the ancient gods and possess power unimaginable to mortals, the power they wield all originates from the ancient gods. They know the how but not the why. Your strength is great, but when you encounter ancient gods, you are helpless. Do you know the reason?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor shook his head.
"Divine abilities!"
Hao Heavenly Sovereign smiled. "Simply controlling water, fire, wind, and thunder is not true divine ability. You possess vast, boundless power, but you don't know where true divine ability comes from. True divine ability originates from the Dao! I was wounded by Mu Heavenly Sovereign and lay on my sickbed for a thousand years. I finally understood the source of his power. His divine abilities have entered the Dao!"
Langxuan Divine Emperor's eyes widened. He murmured, "Divine abilities entering the Dao..."
"Exactly."
Hao Heavenly Sovereign walked before him and said, "It is divine abilities entering the Dao. The cultivation method of the Heavenly Palaces I taught you is not enough. You need to understand the essence of divine abilities. Understanding the essence of divine abilities means understanding the essence of the Dao, and only then can you fully control your power. Why could Niu Ben beat the ancient gods? Precisely because his divine abilities entered the Dao! The power he wielded was immensely strong, enough to break through the ancient gods' suppression! And we can have that power too!"
He exuded strong confidence and said leisurely, "Over this thousand years, I have lain on my sickbed slowly contemplating. Now, I feel that I am very close to entering the Dao."
He turned around and said, "My father ordered me to descend and establish a Heavenly Court of Ancient Gods. I need your help. Assist me, and I will teach you how to enter the Dao! If we half-god races master the divine abilities of entering the Dao, then the era of the ancient gods will soon pass."
Langxuan Divine Emperor was greatly tempted. "Is entering the Dao really that powerful? Then the Five Luminary Ancient Gods going to hunt down Mu Heavenly Sovereign..."
Hao Heavenly Sovereign revealed a playful smile and said leisurely, "Although Mu Heavenly Sovereign is strong, he is not yet strong enough to contend with the ancient gods. He is a pioneer of divine abilities, and I admire him greatly, but I can only watch him go to his death."
In Memory of Jin Yong
Mr. Jin Yong has passed away.
When Zhai Zhu saw this news last night, he was still skeptical. There had been rumors several years earlier, false reports of Jin Yong's death many times. But as more and more news came in, Zhai Zhu finally believed it: Mr. Jin Yong had truly passed away.
Mr. Jin Yong was a milestone figure in martial arts literature, and also its peak.
Zhai Zhu loves reading, especially martial arts novels, and has also read romance novels.
My literary foundation also began with martial arts novels.
When I was young, I read without deep understanding and had no literary cultivation. Books were not as plentiful as they are now, where one can easily access literary classics.
When I was a child, I only read Chinese textbooks. Several of my sisters started school earlier than me, and there were several editions of textbooks—elementary, middle, and high school. When I was in elementary and middle school, I had already worn out my sisters' high school Chinese textbooks.
In middle school, I encountered books outside the Chinese textbooks, and martial arts novels were among them.
I still remember the first time I felt my own literary cultivation.
It was on my way to middle school, reading Gu Long's *The Happy Heroes*.
Suddenly, I felt the rhythm in Gu Long's words, like dancing musical notes. I felt the lingering fragrance in my mouth as I read, and I felt the vivid lives of the characters in the book.
At that moment, I felt like I had entered the door, able to understand the words in the book.
The second time I had this feeling was when I read Jin Yong's works. After I understood Gu Long, I actually thought for a while that Gu Long's literary level was above Jin Yong's. Until one day I read *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber* and came across this passage: "Burn my remnant body, the sacred fire blazing. In life, what joy? In death, what pain? For good, eliminate evil, only for the light's sake. Joy and sorrow, all return to dust. Pity us mortals, our troubles are many!"
Reading this, combined with the context of the story, I suddenly burst into tears.
At that moment, it was as if another door had opened.
When I read Jin Yong's works again, I suddenly felt the power hidden in the words, the emotions and spirit concealed in the language.
Gu Long wrote stories, each character with their own personality, the words beautiful like prose poetry, smooth to read. However, in terms of emotional depth, his words were superficial, much weaker than the emotions and spirit hidden in Jin Yong's words.
The emotions and spirit in Jin Yong's words are deeply hidden, which is one of the reasons he ranks above Gu Long in martial arts literature.
After understanding this, when I read other books, I finally understood where the quality of writing lies. This was an improvement in my appreciation level.
Later, when I read Yu Qiuyu's essays, Lu Xun's essays, *Dream of the Red Chamber*, and *Water Margin*, I could finally appreciate the beautiful scenes in the books, the emotions hidden within, and the lives of the characters.
Gradually, I also embarked on the path of literary creation.
Mr. Jin Yong's books have had a great influence on me. He was my mentor. In my high school Chinese exam, the first perfect-score essay I wrote was a short martial arts story.
Mr. Jin Yong has passed away. My heart is filled with melancholy. I once regarded him as my literary idol, imitating his writing style, using my pen to write my own martial arts dreams on paper.
He was a towering mountain. I used my pen as steps, climbing at the foot of the mountain, looking up. The mountain is still there.
He has passed away, but the mountain is still there, and I am still at its foot.
I love his words, the characters and scenes he created, and the spirit in his books.
In *The Legend of the Shepherd God*, there is a passage: "I, father and daughter, are from Niu Family Village. Passing through this place, we seek neither fame nor profit. It's only that my daughter has come of age and has not yet been betrothed. Therefore, we hold a martial arts contest to seek a husband, hoping to find a hero with outstanding martial skills..."
It is excerpted from Mr. Jin Yong's *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*, appearing twice.
To mourn, to remember, cannot show respect. Only the word "memory" can express my reverence for Mr. Jin Yong.
In memory of Jin Yong.