Chapter 1371: Walking by the River Often (Fourth Update)
The Southern Heavenly Gate realm was established based on the Heavenly Court's Southern Heavenly Gate. The Heavenly Court's Southern Heavenly Gate symbolized the authority of the Heavenly Emperor, the majesty of the gods, and represented the power of the deities. Therefore, the traditional Heavenly Palace realm only emphasized power, lacking insight into the Dao.
Qin Mu's primordial spirit halted, contemplating as he sensed the surroundings: "In other words, instability in realms occurs in all gods and demons built upon the traditional Heavenly Palace system, without exception."
"Because when they passed through the Southern Heavenly Gate, they only gained power, not insight into the Dao. This is also why, when the Kai Emperor split the Heavenly Court, the Dao hearts of all gods and demons nearly cracked and collapsed."
This included Qin Mu himself, the Kai Emperor, and even the Ten Heavenly Lords!
"For the Kai Emperor to achieve enlightenment, to cultivate the thirty-six heavens of the Sword Dao, and to entrust the Sword Dao to the Ultimate Void, he must traverse the Four Heavenly Gates of the Ancestral Court, as well as the Jade Pool, Jade Terrace, Jade Capital City, and other places! Only then will his understanding of the Dao reach its pinnacle!"
"The Kai Emperor's path of the Sword Proving the Void lies in the Ancestral Court!"
He continued forward, immersing himself in contemplation.
Qin Mu advanced unhurriedly. Though the Dao Fire was intense, it could hardly harm him. The Dao sounds within the gate, however, made his Dao heart even more transparent and clear.
"This is not the Southern Heavenly Gate, but the Gate of Entering the Dao. If someone could walk through this gate, they would likely enter the Dao."
He sighed inwardly, marveling that such a wondrous place existed in the world.
"However, the power of the Dao Fire in this Gate of Entering the Dao could probably burn to death the vast majority of True Gods!"
Qin Mu frowned slightly. The fiercest aspect of the Dao Fire was not directed at the physical body, nor at vital energy, primordial spirit, or divine consciousness, nor at divine treasures or heavenly palaces, but at the Dao heart!
If one's cultivation of the Dao heart was insufficient, they would be burned clean by the Dao Fire in this Southern Heavenly Gate, leaving nothing behind!
"I must inform Senior Brother Youming Taizi and the others not to walk directly into the Southern Heavenly Gate. The best path is still to analyze the Dao Fire here and complete the Southern Heavenly Gates in their respective heavenly palaces. That would also offer a chance to enter the Dao, though the probability would be smaller, but still far greater than before, and much safer."
He traversed this Ancestral Court Southern Heavenly Gate, stepping out of this gate formed by heaven and earth several days later, but he did not enter the Dao.
Though the insights from the Ancestral Court Southern Heavenly Gate were profound, Qin Mu had already entered the Dao and was deeply advanced. The gate's insights were insufficient to support another entry into the Dao or elevate his Dao realm further.
"I must visit the other three Heavenly Gates. The insights they provide for the Dao heart and the Great Dao will ensure I have no weaknesses at this realm!"
His primordial spirit exited the Southern Heavenly Gate, then turned back and passed through the gate once more, intending to return to his physical body.
As his primordial spirit reached the gate's entrance, he froze. Before the Southern Heavenly Gate, it was completely empty—his physical body had vanished without a trace!
He had been absorbed in contemplation within the Southern Heavenly Gate, focused without distraction, never expecting his physical body to go missing!
"Walking by the river often, I finally wet my shoes. I made a rookie mistake. What giant beast could break through my divine ability seals and take my body?"
He sensed his physical body and found it was still intact, not devoured by any beast, which relieved him.
Just then, Youming Taizi, leaning on the Glazed Azure Sky Banner, escorted the group from the Great Dark Mountain to this place. They spotted Qin Mu's primordial spirit and were astonished, crowding around to ask questions.
Sima Po frowned and said, "Mu'er, where is your physical body?"
"Don't ask."
Qin Mu said shamefacedly, "I followed Long Xiao here and planned to have my primordial spirit enter to contemplate the mysteries, but my body was stolen. I already know who took it, and I'll go retrieve it immediately!"
Wei Suifeng's heart stirred, and he whispered, "Is it Long Xiao?"
Qin Mu nodded. "He took my body to make me his mount. I'll go meet him; nothing will go wrong."
He shared his discoveries about the Ancestral Court Southern Heavenly Gate with everyone, saying, "If your strength is sufficient, and you're only a step behind me in the True God realm, you can try sending your primordial spirit inside. But if you're far weaker than me, don't go in to die."
At this, many were eager to try. Qin Mu glanced at Yu Chudu and Wei Suifeng, shaking his head. "You two can't. You're far off."
Wei Suifeng snorted, displeased.
Qin Mu then looked at the First Ancestor, Second Ancestor, and other Human Sovereigns, shaking his head again. "You can't either."
The group was used to being discouraged, thinking, "That Wei Great Cult Leader doesn't seem used to it yet, but he will be."
Qin Mu said to Xu Huasheng and Lan Yutian, "You two can go in. Youming Taizi, Grandmother, you can enter, but if things feel wrong, retreat immediately. You're also far off. Hua Xuanxiu, you're too young, still at the divine treasure realm, with an unstable primordial spirit. Stay outside. Where is Long Pi? Pi?"
He looked around but couldn't find Long Pi, puzzled.
"Fatty Long didn't return."
Wei Suifeng said, "When I summoned everyone, I didn't find any trace of him, so I didn't call Yan'er either, to avoid worrying her."
Qin Mu's heart sank. During his decisive battle with the Earth Mother Primordial Lord, he had told Long Qilin to leave first, never expecting Long Qilin hadn't returned to the Ancestral Court's Great Dark Mountain!
"After I retrieve my physical body, I'll go find him!"
Qin Mu grew anxious. Suddenly, he rose into the air, and his primordial spirit vanished in an instant!
His primordial spirit teleported ten thousand miles, following the sensation of his physical body. Before long, it left the Ancestral Court Southern Heavenly Gate far behind, arriving at a strange place.
Here, mountains stood in clusters, steep and sharp like blades and halberds, grim and ferocious, like thorns growing from the earth, slanting sharply toward the sky!
His primordial spirit passed through these strange mountains when suddenly, a peculiar force pierced into it, slowing its speed involuntarily.
Qin Mu activated his divine abilities, and Dao runes flew out, forming Dao patterns, which then formed Dao chains. But the Dao chains also became sluggish. The strange force permeating the area pierced into his Dao chains, Dao patterns, and Dao runes, making it nearly impossible for his divine abilities to take shape!
His primordial spirit's flight grew slower and slower until he could no longer mobilize his magical power, and it fell from the sky.
Qin Mu broke into a run, dashing forward at lightning speed, but the deeper he went into these strange mountains, the stronger the suppression became!
"What is this place?"
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the connection between his primordial spirit and physical body became intensely strong.
Shua—
His primordial spirit merged into his physical body. Qin Mu opened his eyes and laughed heartily, "Long Xiao, why are you skulking around, stealing my body?"
Then, Qin Mu felt a weight on his neck. He saw a chain forged from divine gold wrapped around it, while Long Xiao, now shrunk to over ten zhang in length, lay sprawled on a thorn-like throne, dozing.
Beside Long Xiao, Long Qilin was concocting medicine and changing his bandages, treating his wounds. He said softly, "Righteous Father, Mu Tianzun has arrived!"
Long Xiao slowly opened his eyes, yawned, and laughed, "Don't call him Mu Tianzun. Call him Mount Mu Tianzun."