Chapter 1337: Arrow Strikes the Heavenly Emperor (Second Update)
The spiritual energy and vital energy of heaven and earth surged wildly, converging toward the divine bow that Qin Mu had drawn, forming a howling, spinning vortex that floated above everyone’s heads.
The vortex grew larger and larger, howling as it spun, friction with the air causing lightning and thunder to crack and strike around it incessantly!
The vortex resembled a dark cloud covering a hundred miles, with the inner ring spinning fast and the outer ring spinning slowly, plunging the surrounding hundred miles into pitch-black darkness, with only the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the gloom.
Meanwhile, the morning sunlight from the east cast its rays, turning this black cloud of spiritual energy and vital energy into a gray hue.
Suddenly, with a thunderous boom, a thick beam of light shone down, landing on Qin Mu’s divine bow, and the arrow’s light took shape!
Qin Mu drew the bow, and the arrow grew brighter and brighter. When it became nearly impossible for everyone to look directly at it, suddenly, with a *duo* sound, the arrow’s light shot forth!
That streak of arrow light tore through the sky, crossing ten thousand miles in an instant, vanishing without a trace.
And in the territories of Yan Kang and the other races, countless miles to the east, countless people saw the streak of light streaking across the sky.
After Qin Mu fired one arrow, the vortex of spiritual energy in the sky had not yet disappeared. He immediately drew the bow again, nocking another arrow, and shot once more.
*Xiu!*
*Xiu!*
*Xiu!*
Streaks of arrow light, like rainbows spanning the sky, left trails of light in their wake.
Qin Mu fired over ten arrows in succession before finally collapsing from exhaustion. His knees went weak, and he quickly used the divine bow to support himself, but he still ended up kneeling on one knee.
Medicine Master took out a spirit pill and fed it to him, praising, “Your cultivation is stronger now than before.”
Qin Mu shook his head, catalyzing the pill’s power, and said hoarsely, “My injuries haven’t healed yet, and you’re all wounded too. This place isn’t safe to stay. Let’s go to the Netherworld to lie low.”
Moon Venerable nodded. “Last night’s battle was so fierce, it’s hard to avoid alerting the other Heavenly Venerables. Let’s go to the Netherworld to avoid the storm.”
She took out her ancient zither, which expanded into a relic of a palace complex. Several young girls emerged from the dark chambers of the palace, greeting her with respect.
Moon Venerable was still kind-hearted; even during the fierce battle last night, she had done her utmost to protect her maidservants’ safety.
Netherworld Venerable had also been severely wounded by Dawn Venerable, his injuries not yet healed. He lightly stamped his foot, and the world spun around everyone. The next moment, they appeared in the Netherworld.
Dawn Venerable’s divine artifact, Imperial Venerable, was also brought in, covered in yellow talisman paper, following them step by step.
Netherworld Venerable released a paper boat, sailing toward the Netherworld’s Earth Lord. Moon Venerable looked around and saw other paper boats in the Netherworld traveling through various worlds.
Moon Venerable was surprised, glanced at Netherworld Venerable, and whispered, “Netherworld, why haven’t you recalled all your avatars?”
“I manage the order of the Netherworld for the Earth Lord. Death occurs in all the myriad worlds, and it’s my duty to leave some avatars to guide the deceased in each realm.”
Netherworld Venerable shook his head. “Besides, I didn’t know the visitor was Dawn Venerable, nor that he was so powerful.”
Moon Venerable shook her head. “You should communicate with others more, not be so withdrawn.”
Netherworld Venerable glanced at her. “Aren’t you the same? You’ve been living in seclusion in the peach forest. Who have you communicated with all these years?”
Qin Mu hastened to refine the spirit pill and, hearing this, laughed. “Both of you have resolved your heart’s knots. From now on, you should visit each other more often. For example, come to Yan Kang for study and exchange.”
Netherworld Venerable fell silent.
Moon Venerable frowned. “I’d like to go, but going to Yan Kang would only bring disaster to your nation. The Ten Heavenly Venerables won’t tolerate me now.”
After they left, the bells of the Dao Sect rang, and many Daoist priests descended the mountain to inspect the surroundings. They saw that the ten-thousand-mile peach forest had been completely destroyed, gone without a trace, and the palace within the forest had also vanished.
Strangely, only the peach forest was destroyed; outside the forest, there was no trace of any divine ability fluctuations.
“Last night, I saw layers of spatial barriers rising like curtains of light, completely sealing off the area around the peach forest.”
An old Daoist said, “The master of the peach forest was still merciful. Even in such a fierce battle, she didn’t forget to protect the common people outside…”
“Don’t discuss this matter!”
A Dao Sect elder suddenly said, “The Heavenly Court will soon send strong experts to investigate last night’s events. If they question us, we will truthfully recount what we saw last night! Those who come are likely to be close confidants of the Ten Heavenly Venerables, and it’s even possible that a Heavenly Venerable might come in person! Therefore, when you speak, absolutely do not include your own speculations! Understood?”
The Daoists all acknowledged.
A young Daoist hesitated but couldn’t help asking, “Elder Yan, what exactly were those ten streaks of light just now?”
The Dao Sect elder hesitated, then shook his head. “Do not make any guesses. Be cautious in speech and action.”
Yan Kang, Shangjing.
Yan Xiu Emperor held court, and the civil and military officials reported various events from across the land to the emperor. Ling Yuxiu listened carefully, handling each matter one by one, and reprimanded officials who had performed poorly, acting with swift decisiveness.
At that moment, a court official stepped forward and said, “Your subject, Xiao Tianji, has a memorial to present.”
Ling Yuxiu looked at the young deity in the court and smiled. “Golden Purple Grand Master, no need for such formality. What memorial do you wish to present?”
The civil and military officials in the court showed expressions of envy and admiration. This Xiao Tianji was one of the most outstanding figures of the younger generation. At only nineteen, he had already cultivated to become a deity early on.
Moreover, he was exceptionally talented, extraordinary, and had insightful opinions on all matters. Ling Yuxiu had recognized his abilities and gradually placed great trust in him. Now, he had been promoted to the position of Golden Purple Grand Master, a third-rank official. Although it was a civil honorary position without real power, his status was already extremely high!
Xiao Tianji took out a memorial and said solemnly, “Your subject wishes to report a case of fraud at the Jiangling Supervisory Factory. Wei Yong of the Jiangling Supervisory Factory, relying on his status as a descendant of Duke Wei and his connections with National Teacher Mu Venerable and former National Teacher Jiang Baigui, accepted bribes and substituted inferior divine metals and materials for superior ones, engaging in fraud. The Jiangling Supervisory Factory forged many inferior divine weapons and sent them to the Heavenly Court. The Zao Fu Palace discovered this and was enraged, sending them back for re-forging.”
Ling Yuxiu frowned slightly. “Present it.”
Just then, a streak of arrow light, like a rainbow, shot into the Shangjing court and struck the back of Xiao Tianji’s head!
*Boom!*
An incredibly terrifying power exploded within Xiao Tianji’s mind, and he shattered on the spot in the court!
The civil and military officials were enraged and immediately flew up, summoning their heavenly palaces to protect Ling Yuxiu. They saw that the arrow light had blasted Xiao Tianji into pieces!
But what was frightening was that Xiao Tianji’s primordial spirit remained. The arrow was lodged in the back of his primordial spirit’s head, unable to pierce through!
Suddenly, an immensely terrifying tremor erupted in the court. Xiao Tianji’s primordial spirit grew larger and larger, more and more majestic, tearing the throne hall apart!
It was an overwhelming imperial might!
The civil and military officials quickly escorted Ling Yuxiu back, hurriedly retreating.
“Mu Venerable!”
Xiao Tianji’s primordial spirit gritted his teeth, laughing in fury. Suddenly, a second rainbow-like streak shot in, striking the first arrow and activating its power.
Xiao Tianji was carried away by the two arrows, flying out of Shangjing.
Then came the third arrow, the fourth arrow, the fifth arrow!
Five consecutive streaks of arrow light struck the same spot on him—the back of his head!
Just as the civil and military officials escorted Ling Yuxiu into the rear palace to take cover, the northern sky suddenly became incredibly bright, as if tens of thousands of suns were exploding simultaneously in midair!
A howling gale swept across the sky. The clouds that had been there were instantly wiped clean by a terrifying wave of energy!
Ling Yuxiu’s face changed drastically. She pushed back the officials and shouted, “Immediately raise Shangjing’s defensive formation to withstand the impact’s aftermath!”
At the same time, at the Earth Virtue Heavenly Palace, the Wen Dao Academy.
Xiao Chujue carried a thick stack of ancient texts to find Village Chief Su Muzhe, laughing. “Dean, I have some doubts I can’t resolve. It’s about the Dao realm sword domain recorded in these texts, and also the Sword Twenty Style. I can never fully comprehend them.”