Chapter 1082: The Hermit of Dragon Mountain (Fourth Update!)
Shang Pingyin stared at Dragon Qilin, the blow he received even greater. He laughed bitterly as he stood up, his hair white as snow, his voice weathered with age: "Sir, may I ask your esteemed name?"
The Netherworld Emperor immediately perked up his ears, ready to record Dragon Qilin's true name to worship him to death.
Dragon Qilin chuckled. "I dwell deep in the mountains, contemplating the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth, comprehending all manner of divination and arts. I call myself the Hermit of Dragon Mountain."
"The Hermit of Dragon Mountain? I am enlightened!"
Shang Pingyin bowed deeply to him, then rose and stumbled away as he turned and fled, his voice carrying from afar like weeping or lamenting: "You are still a youth, you are still a youth! The number one Celestial Master under heaven—this title belongs to you now..."
Dragon Qilin could hardly conceal his smugness, thinking to himself: "In the ancient times, I have also made a name for myself. Hmm, it seems I cannot leave my real name behind. If I reveal my true name, that Netherworld Emperor bastard will surely make me die a miserable death. But the name Hermit of Dragon Mountain is also quite resounding!"
He was brimming with ambition, only regretting that in his human form he had no tail to wag and show off.
This was his only regret.
Qin Mu had guided him in defeating the various armies of the Heavenly Court, but the strain on his divine consciousness was too great, and he once again fell unconscious.
The Black Tortoise Celestial Palace was now safe. The Netherworld Prince did not withdraw the Lapis Lazuli Heavenly Canopy, leaving this treasure to guard the palace. He busied himself running back and forth, treating the wounded, burying the fallen clansmen, and keeping himself occupied.
As for Dragon Qilin, Yan'er, the Netherworld Emperor, and the others, he settled them in the Jade Capital City, where they stayed temporarily as honored guests, treated with warm hospitality.
A few more days passed, and the Netherworld Prince finished his tasks. The Netherworld Emperor's injuries had also greatly improved. Palace Lord Gong Yun had finally calmed her own chaotic divine consciousness, gaining more and more control over her new body.
She kept her promise. Once her own divine consciousness had stabilized, she immediately began helping Qin Mu treat his damaged divine consciousness.
"In your battle with Great Hong, his supreme divine consciousness severely wounded you. It wasn't that your divine consciousness techniques were inferior to his, but rather that your divine consciousness cultivation was not his equal."
Palace Lord Gong Yun observed Qin Mu's divine consciousness as she treated him, and she was greatly shaken. Puzzled, she said, "Someone with this level of divine consciousness attainment cannot be a post-natal being; they can only be a Creator. Mu Celestial Venerable, your origins make me curious."
Under her treatment, Qin Mu awakened, his complexion much improved. He smiled and said, "I am also half a Creator."
Palace Lord Gong Yun's eyes flickered. "Under heaven, the Creators have all been exterminated, with only one branch escaping into the void to create another universe. The Grand Emperor is dead, and I am also dead. Without physical bodies, he and I are no longer Creators. In this universe, I'm afraid you are the only half-Creator left. Your origins are truly strange—can you not tell me in detail?"
Qin Mu did not answer directly. "One day in the future, I will ascend to the Heavenly Court from the Primordial Realm, and we will meet again. At that time, Palace Lord will understand everything."
Palace Lord Gong Yun did not press further. "I distinguish between kindness and enmity clearly. You rescued me from the Ancestral Court, and this time you rescued me from the Heavenly Court, saving me twice. This is the first repayment of your kindness. In the future, I will repay you a second time, and then we will be even."
Qin Mu sighed with emotion. "Palace Lord, your divine consciousness is powerful. You could easily use force to extract all my secrets from my divine consciousness. Yet you did not. Do the ancient palace lords also possess the virtuous demeanor of a gentleman?"
"Who says a gentleman can only be a man?"
Palace Lord Gong Yun sneered. "I detest you men who speak of benevolence, righteousness, and morality on the surface while engaging in theft and debauchery behind the scenes—hypocritical and utterly nauseating!"
Qin Mu felt a twinge of guilt.
"I'm not talking about you. My misfortune with men refers to the Grand Emperor and the Heavenly Emperor Tai Chu."
Gong Yun finished treating his injuries and stood up. "I must leave. Your divine consciousness has suffered great depletion. Although your injuries are healed, your divine consciousness cultivation cannot recover in a short time. Cultivate well on your own. Before you recover, do not rely on your strength and pick fights, or you may never recover."
Qin Mu nodded. "Palace Lord Gong, what are your plans?"
"You call me Palace Lord Gong?"
Gong Yun couldn't help but laugh. "Why do you call me that?"
Qin Mu said, "When one meets a gentleman, one calls them 'lord.' You are a gentleman; you deserve the title."
Gong Yun shook her head and smiled. "I'm not that kind of saintly goody-two-shoes. This body's talent is very poor. I may set her free, but I will erase her memories of this period. I will choose another person with excellent talent to borrow for rebirth."
She looked up at the starry sky beyond the Heavenly River, murmuring, "There are no more Creators in this world. I should also abandon the glory of being a Creator and live well. In the past, I was one of the Three Kings. In the future, after rebirth, I will also be the most powerful existence in this world!"
A smile spread across her face. "If one day in the future, you meet a woman named Gong who is famous throughout the world, holds great power, and bears the surname Gong—that will be me! I will cast off the past, embrace this era, and become the brightest star among the brilliant constellations of this starry sky!"
"Farewell, Mu Celestial Venerable!" Her figure suddenly vanished.
Qin Mu rose and stepped out from the halo behind Yan'er's head, but she was already gone.
"What an extraordinary woman. The Grand Emperor was unworthy of her, and the Heavenly Emperor was also unworthy." Qin Mu sighed in admiration.
Yan'er said joyfully, "Master, your injuries are completely healed?"
Qin Mu smiled. "My life is no longer in danger, but for some time, I cannot use my divine consciousness. I need to rest and recuperate. Don't disturb me. Where is Long Pi?"
Yan'er said, "Fatty Long was dragged off by the Netherworld Prince to prepare for a celebration of this victory. Fatty Long also said that the Netherworld Emperor has ill intentions and intends to steal the Lapis Lazuli Heavenly Canopy. He will likely make his move during the festivities. Master..."
She looked at Qin Mu, hesitating whether to continue.
Qin Mu understood her thoughts. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "You two make the decision. The Netherworld Prince is an honest man, and honest men don't survive until the end of the Dragon Han Era."
Yan'er's heart trembled slightly. She left the room, closed the door, found Dragon Qilin, and said, "Master said that honest men don't survive until the end of the Dragon Han Era."
Dragon Qilin said solemnly, "I understand. Don't worry, I know what to do."
Yan'er looked at him and suddenly laughed. "Fatty Long, after my mother is resurrected, will you come to propose marriage?"
Dragon Qilin was busy preparing for the celebration. Hearing this, he became flustered, his face turning red as he knocked over a pile of plates and bowls.
Yan'er said angrily, "Do you think I'm fat? Or do you think I'm ugly?"
Dragon Qilin quickly said, "No, no! I've been fat too, and I've been ugly too. You are beautiful whether you are fat or thin. If you can't lose weight, I'll slowly get fat with you."
Yan'er's anger turned to joy.
"I'm worried about the Sect Leader."
Dragon Qilin's face showed worry. "The Sect Leader is getting older and still hasn't settled down and started a family. If I settle down first, I'm afraid I'll pay less attention to him, and I can't bear that. Although he is clever, he always causes worry. I'm almost worried to death for him."
Yan'er laughed. "Let's live well first. When he sees how well we're doing, he'll envy us, and maybe then you won't have to worry about him."
"That's true."
The two of them were sweet and affectionate together. The Netherworld Prince walked over and saw this scene. He smiled and said, "Truly a loving couple, the envy of others."
Little did he know that the term "dog and bitch couple" would accompany him for the next six hundred thousand years of his imprisonment. Every time he thought of this loving pair, he couldn't help but curse them bitterly.
——Another four updates. It's the middle of the month, fellow Daoists, do you still have monthly votes?