Chapter 1382: Backstabbing (First Update)
Shi Qiluo released his grip, and Qin Mu rubbed his aching bones. Shi Qiluo’s grip was truly fierce, nearly crushing them to the breaking point.
“The Empress is no mere brute.”
As Qin Mu spoke, he glanced at Shi Qiluo, inwardly grumbling. The current Shi Qiluo was the very picture of a brute. Steadying himself, he continued, “When the Ancestral Court’s front side broke its seal, the Empress did not appear, nor did she send down her divine artifact, the Imperial Heavenly Venerable. So why, when the reverse side of the Ancestral Court emerged, did she send her divine artifact to descend, vying for territory and acting like a brute?”
Shi Qiluo sighed. “On the front side of the Ancestral Court, I dared not contend. If I had, I would have been exposed immediately. Moreover, there wasn’t much wealth left there. But the reverse side is a different matter entirely—not only is there far more wealth, but there are also countless colossal beasts, along with a great expert like Long Xiao. I had no choice but to compete.”
He spoke earnestly. “If I could subdue Long Xiao and control him in battle, I would effectively possess the combat power of two Heavenly Venerables. If I added the divine artifact Imperial Heavenly Venerable, that would be three Heavenly Venerables’ worth of power. Killing my elder sister would then be effortless. Once I devoured her, the Abyssal Twin Lotuses would merge into one, combining our celestial palaces, and the Heavenly Court could be completed in one fell swoop! By then…”
Qin Mu smiled faintly. “By then, the Ten Heavenly Venerables would have no choice but to bow their heads, the Heavenly Emperor would have to abdicate, and a generation of empress would rule the world.”
Shi Qiluo’s thick beard bristled outward, his face beaming with a broad smile as he nodded repeatedly.
Qin Mu shifted the topic. “Then, which Heavenly Venerable acted as your inside agent, teaching you the reverse summoning divine ability, allowing you to slip into the reverse side of the Ancestral Court and fish in troubled waters?”
Shi Qiluo’s eyes widened, his mouth agape. He stammered, “Mu Heavenly Venerable, what makes you say that?”
Qin Mu sneered. “You have an inside agent among the Ten Heavenly Venerables! This person allied with you and taught you the reverse summoning divine ability, enabling you to descend into the reverse side of the Ancestral Court. I created that ability a million years ago, and it only recently spread, being learned by the Ten Heavenly Venerables. For you to have learned it, one of them must have passed it to you! Who is it?”
Shi Qiluo’s eyes darted around nervously. He stammered, “It’s Hong Heavenly Venerable…”
Qin Mu’s expression cleared as if he understood. “So it’s Qiang Tianfei. No need to pin this on that goody-two-shoes Hong Heavenly Venerable. It’s not surprising, though. You and Qiang Tianfei are alike—both unwelcome among the other Ten Heavenly Venerables. The Grand Emperor has always had a destructive streak and needs an ally. You are a Destruction Ancient God, so Qiang Tianfei naturally sought you out as her partner.”
Shi Qiluo giggled. “Don’t slander me! How could I ever associate with someone as notorious as the Grand Emperor? It’s Hong Heavenly Venerable!”
Qin Mu said flatly, “Birds of a feather flock together. You share common interests, and the Grand Emperor has suffered repeated losses with heavy casualties. It’s only natural that you and Qiang Tianfei hit it off.”
Shi Qiluo snorted but did not deny it.
Qin Mu continued calmly, “Since you have Qiang Tianfei as an ally, the Ten Heavenly Venerables shouldn’t be targeting you. So why did you claim they intend to make an example of you?”
Shi Qiluo sighed, his brow furrowed in worry. “Because the Grand Emperor’s reputation is too tarnished. If Qiang Tianfei is exposed, I’ll be doomed as well. I have to consider what happens after Qiang Tianfei’s fall…”
“You have thoughts of betraying Qiang Tianfei.”
Qin Mu pointed out Shi Qiluo’s inner thoughts with a single remark, sneering, “You’re ready to sell her out at any moment! You two truly are birds of a feather!”
Shi Qiluo let out a coquettish laugh. “I’m ready to sell you out at any moment too!”
Qin Mu’s eyes widened. After a moment, he exhaled a breath of turbid air. Yuanmu Furen was both shameless and frank, making it hard to truly hate her.
He stood up, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I also want a share of the reverse side of the Ancestral Court. At the Heavenly Alliance meeting, we’ll support each other. That should satisfy you, shouldn’t it?”
Shi Qiluo rose as well, smiling. “Then, Mu Heavenly Venerable, do you have any thoughts on the colossal beasts of the reverse side of the Ancestral Court?”
Qin Mu had been about to leave but stopped at these words, his smile turning wry. “So this is why you kept me here. You want to monopolize the vast power of the ancient colossal beasts?”
Shi Qiluo shook his head. “I don’t want to monopolize it. I’m afraid that after the reverse side of the Ancestral Court opens, someone else will. I have my own forces, and I can’t help but worry.”
He rarely became serious, and now he spoke solemnly. “Doesn’t Mu Heavenly Venerable worry about countless colossal beasts descending upon Yan’kang? Can Yan’kang withstand the trampling of so many beasts?”
Qin Mu also turned serious. “I share that concern. Compared to us Heavenly Venerables, the Creators—especially someone like the Grand Emperor—can control the beasts far more easily. His divine consciousness is too powerful. If the beasts fall under his control, destroying all the myriad worlds would be no problem! But there is a way to thwart the Creators. I have an idea: divide the interests of the reverse side of the Ancestral Court equally and create a separate Beast Realm.”
He laid out his plan fully. “Empress, consider my proposal at your leisure.” With that, he walked out of the Zaofu Celestial Palace.
“A Beast Realm? Summoning the beasts?”
Shi Qiluo paced excitedly. “That’s an interesting proposal! If so, the Creators among the Ten Heavenly Venerables would have no role to play! Not only would Qiang Tianfei be restricted, but the other two Creators would be as well… That little Mu Heavenly Venerable is full of crooked ideas!”
Qin Mu did not head straight to the Jade Pool but returned to his own palace.
He was not in a position to personally propose the creation of the Beast Realm. Telling Yuanmu Furen about it was enough—that loose-lipped, restless woman would surely leak it to the other Heavenly Venerables.
All he needed to do was stay in the Mu Heavenly Venerable’s mansion and quietly wait for the other Heavenly Venerables to come calling.
Moreover, creating the Beast Realm would harm the interests of Langxuan Divine Sovereign, Gong Heavenly Venerable, and Qiang Tianfei, inevitably offending these three Heavenly Venerables. Having Yuanmu Furen take the lead would reduce the pressure on him.
He rarely visited this Heavenly Venerable’s mansion. Usually, it was tended by maids sent by the Ten Heavenly Venerables, who were there to monitor Qin Mu’s movements.
However, though Qin Mu seldom came, Hu Ling’er and Si Yunxiang often did, hosting banquets in his name and entertaining the divine officials of the Zaofu Celestial Palace.
Si Yunxiang and Hu Ling’er managed internal and external affairs respectively, complementing each other perfectly. The two money-grubbers balanced each other out, allowing Yan’kang’s wealth to grow ever greater.
Qin Mu had no desire to build his own Heavenly Venerable’s Celestial Palace in the Heavenly Court. First, he saw no need; second, if he accumulated too much wealth there, he would have too many concerns. So he kept only this mansion, adding no other assets.
Since he had few holdings in the Heavenly Court, the divine beings of Yan’kang naturally dared not establish their own properties there either.
The Heavenly Alliance meeting was still a few days away. Qin Mu settled into the mansion, but for two or three days, no one came to visit.
The rulers of the various worlds were shrewd enough to know that Mu Heavenly Venerable’s position was awkward. Visiting him would likely offend the Ten Heavenly Venerables, so they secretly called him the Plague God Qin, too afraid to pay their respects.
Qin Mu enjoyed the rare peace, using the time to organize his insights from comprehending the Four Heavenly Gates.
“Great Heavenly Venerable, Gong Heavenly Venerable has come to call!” a maid rushed in, flustered.
Qin Mu was surprised. He stood up and smiled. “I thought other Heavenly Venerables would visit me first, but the main party has arrived ahead of them. I’ll go welcome her… Wait, no. Go invite Gong Heavenly Venerable to the main hall to see me.”
The maid’s eyes widened. Not go out to welcome Gong Heavenly Venerable, but have her come to the main hall to see him?
This Mu Heavenly Venerable’s audacity was growing by the day.
The maid hurried away, while Qin Mu went to the main hall and sat upright.
After a moment, Gong Heavenly Venerable entered the main hall. Seeing Qin Mu seated motionless, she snorted coldly and dismissed the maid with a wave.
Qin Mu gestured for her to sit on another cushion. “I suffered a qi deviation during my cultivation, and both my legs are paralyzed. I can’t move. Please forgive me, fellow Daoist.”
Gong Heavenly Venerable sat opposite him, sneering. “I’m quite skilled in medicine. Let me diagnose the Alliance Leader. If you’re not paralyzed, I can guarantee a miraculous cure—one that will truly leave you paralyzed, beyond any remedy!”
Qin Mu burst into laughter, then turned serious. “Divine Sovereign, why have you come to see me?”
“As if you don’t know!”
Gong Heavenly Venerable said coldly, “The Heavenly Court is abuzz with rumors that the Heavenly Alliance plans to fully open the reverse side of the Ancestral Court, dividing it into twelve parts, and also create a Beast Realm for the ancient colossal beasts to inhabit, allowing them to descend only through summoning! There’s even talk that this rotten idea came from Mu Heavenly Venerable!”