Chapter 1242: Following the Same Path (Fourth Update)
Bai Yuqiong's eyes widened upon hearing these words, filled with confusion and fear, while a trace of bitterness welled up in her heart.
What confused her was that she had never imagined that among the lofty Ten Celestial Venerables, so many ancient and primeval overlords were hidden.
What frightened her was that she had come to know so many secrets. Although Qin Mu had not yet revealed the true identities of these individuals, based on her understanding of him, Qin Mu delighted in manipulating people's hearts, driving them to despair and forcing them to make choices favorable to him, thereby joining his camp.
As for the bitterness in her heart, it stemmed from the struggles of generation after generation. They had believed they had finally overthrown the ancient gods and the old era, only to realize that the old rulers had merely changed their faces and still sat upon the throne of dominion!
"Heh heh..." The girl lowered her head with a bitter laugh.
For the first time, she felt that the world she saw was so false, so repulsive.
A fire burned within her, wanting to ignite, yet it could not catch flame.
"Is Fire Celestial Venerable also transformed from an old ruler?" she asked.
Qin Mu shook his head. "No. Fire Celestial Venerable is still Fire Celestial Venerable. He has not been possessed, nor has he been reborn through another. Fire Celestial Venerable merely..."
He paused for a moment, then said hoarsely, "He merely chose to become one of the old rulers, yet he himself is unaware of this."
Hope flickered in Bai Yuqiong's eyes. Qin Mu noticed it and said, "Do not place too much hope in Fire Celestial Venerable. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Cloud Celestial Venerable, Bright Emperor, Ling Celestial Venerable, Moon Celestial Venerable, and even Opening Emperor have all been disappointed."
Long ago, in the Heavenly Court's Archive Pavilion, Fire Celestial Venerable had rushed to the top floor. Qin Mu had escaped into the Netherworld, and Fire Celestial Venerable had prepared to capture him, only to be blocked by Nether Celestial Venerable.
At that time, Nether Celestial Venerable had told him that Fire Celestial Venerable had changed, that he was no longer the Fire Celestial Venerable of old, and could not be trusted.
Trusting him would lead to death.
But back then, Qin Mu still held great hope for Fire Celestial Venerable, thinking it was merely Nether Celestial Venerable's prejudice.
It was only later that Qin Mu realized Nether Celestial Venerable's words had reason. After returning from the Southern Heaven, his heart toward Fire Celestial Venerable had turned to ashes.
He did not want Bai Yuqiong to repeat his mistake.
From brimming with hope to utter despair, he deeply understood the impact and torment this gap brought to one's Dao heart.
Bai Yuqiong silently watched the battle outside, changing the subject with a worried expression. "Heavenly Venerable Hao is likely to lose. The Grand Emperor is too strong."
Qin Mu did not wish to dwell on that topic either, so he smiled and said, "Then you are mistaken. The Grand Emperor is about to lose. Heavenly Venerable Hao is too strong."
Bai Yuqiong was greatly puzzled.
"In fact, the Grand Emperor came to intercept Heavenly Venerable Hao at my invitation."
Qin Mu said with a faint smile. "As you know, although I am the Shepherd Celestial Venerable of the Heavenly Alliance and one of its founding elders, I am also a rebel against the Heavenly Alliance. As long as something is useful, I will make use of it. So I used the Primal Origin Stone to leverage the Grand Emperor, asking him to block Heavenly Venerable Hao. However, my true goal was to have them both suffer heavy losses. If they could destroy each other, that would be even better. But although I believe the Grand Emperor is very strong, Heavenly Venerable Hao's true strength has never been fully revealed."
His gaze was profound as he watched the thrilling battle, speaking unhurriedly. "Another reason I had the Grand Emperor act was to probe the upper limit of Heavenly Venerable Hao's strength. Haven't you noticed? Heavenly Venerable Hao has always been composed. Even now, he has yet to show his true power."
Bai Yuqiong looked toward Heavenly Venerable Hao and saw that although he was completely on the defensive, he was indeed as calm as Qin Mu had said.
Meanwhile, his divine artifact, Imperial Celestial Venerable, had been severely wounded by the Grand Emperor. The Grand Emperor's power was too great, and the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable's physical body had been battered and broken!
Even the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable's heavenly palaces were in ruins under the Grand Emperor's fierce attacks!
Qin Mu continued, "Heavenly Venerable Hao's heavenly palaces and the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable's heavenly palaces both number twenty-eight. However, although their numbers are the same, the types of heavenly palaces are not identical. If you carefully distinguish each heavenly palace, you will find that the types of heavenly palaces belonging to Heavenly Venerable Hao and the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable, when combined, amount to as many as thirty-five!"
Bai Yuqiong's heart skipped a beat as she carefully observed the types of heavenly palaces of Heavenly Venerable Hao and the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable.
The types of heavenly palaces could not be classified solely by the techniques of the Imperial Throne. Some Imperial Throne techniques were actually of the same type. For example, flame-type Imperial Throne techniques included not only Fire Celestial Venerable's technique but also Red Emperor Qi Xiayu's technique, the former Red Emperor's technique, and even heavenly flame-type techniques.
However, these techniques all belonged to one category. To cultivate a Grand Heavenly Court, one could only choose one of them.
But the Imperial Throne techniques of Heavenly Venerable Hao and the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable had few overlapping types. By type classification, there were indeed thirty-five!
"This means that Heavenly Venerable Hao has likely fused thirty-five Imperial Throne techniques. He is actually only one step away from the Heavenly Court realm."
Qin Mu continued, "The reason he remains composed is that he possesses the combat power to contend with the Grand Emperor. He is not far from the true Heavenly Court realm. The reason he hasn't used his full strength now is merely to lure out the Grand Emperor's identity among the Ten Celestial Venerables. He knows that Qiang Heavenly Concubine is nearby. His goal is to lure out Qiang Heavenly Concubine."
Bai Yuqiong's voice turned hoarse. "Qiang Heavenly Concubine plus the Grand Emperor—Heavenly Venerable Hao has no chance of winning! And Qiang Celestial Venerable also possesses the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable..."
"You are wrong."
Qin Mu said unhurriedly, "Imperial Celestial Venerable opened up the heavenly palace and Heavenly Court realms a million years ago. Heavenly Venerable Hao is the true culmination of all achievements. He occupies the orthodox position of the Heavenly Court, and all the techniques of the world converge in his hands. If he wanted Fire Celestial Venerable's technique, would Fire Celestial Venerable dare not to give it? If he wanted Langxuan Divine Emperor's technique, would Langxuan Divine Emperor dare not to give it? Therefore, Heavenly Venerable Hao is the one among the Ten Celestial Venerables closest to the Heavenly Court."
He glanced at Lan Yutian and continued, "As for the Heavenly Court realm, Imperial Celestial Venerable deduced that such a realm existed, but he only spoke of it to Heavenly Venerable Hao, telling no one else. Heavenly Venerable Hao is the only one who knows Imperial Celestial Venerable's thoughts, and even the only one who knows the details of the Heavenly Court realm. Even if he is just one heavenly palace short, Heavenly Venerable Hao's strength will not be weaker than the Grand Emperor's—it might even be stronger!"
Bai Yuqiong shook her head, somewhat incredulous. "I have also heard of that Imperial Celestial Venerable. Before his death, he had at most cultivated to the level of a Revered God. How could he have fully deduced the Heavenly Court realm?"
Qin Mu looked again at Lan Yutian, who was entering the Dao, and said, "He might have only been at the Revered God realm at the time, but he deduced from nothing the seven realms within the heavenly palace: Revered God, True God, Jade Terrace, Execution Platform, Jade Capital, Lofty Summit, and Imperial Throne. And on the basis of these seven realms, he also deduced the Heavenly Court realm."
Bai Yuqiong shook her head. "How could such a person exist?"
"Such a person is right by your side." Qin Mu did not say these words aloud.
The current Lan Yutian was also independently accomplishing an even more astonishing feat, one whose impact on future generations would surpass even the divine repository and heavenly palace system!
He looked toward the battlefield and said in a deep voice, "Heavenly Venerable Hao is about to gradually reveal his strength, step by step forcing Qiang Heavenly Concubine to show herself!"