Chapter 1384: The Unpredictable Way of Heaven (Third Update)
"Punish the Heavenly Duke?"
Qin Mu's heart jolted. The Heavenly Duke was about to die?
According to the Heavenly Duke's own estimation, it would take at least a hundred years to fully parse his Heavenly Dao, yet only twenty-odd years had passed!
Why were the Ten Celestial Venerables in such a hurry to eliminate the Heavenly Duke?
"There must be the Heavenly Duke himself fanning the flames!"
Qin Mu's eyes flickered. Not long ago, the Heavenly Duke and the Earth Lord had visited the Ten Thousand Black Mountains to pay respects to Taiyi. Now, the Ten Celestial Venerables were bringing the matter of punishing the Heavenly Duke to the Heavenly Alliance meeting. There was definitely Hong Celestial Venerable quietly pushing this behind the scenes.
Because Hong Celestial Venerable was the Heavenly Duke. The Heavenly Duke had asked Taiyi whether he could break free from the shackles of the Heavenly Dao. Taiyi had told the Heavenly Duke, "You will succeed."
It seemed that this statement had given the Heavenly Duke confidence, prompting him to voluntarily advance his own death!
As for the other Celestial Venerables, having forced the forces of Carefree Realm and the Creators into the Other Shore Void, the two sides were now locked in a standoff at the Void Bridge. The Void Bridge was an impregnable fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack. The Heavenly Court couldn't breach the Other Shore Void in a short time, but likewise, the Other Shore Void couldn't retake the Void Bridge. The stalemate held.
Since Carefree Realm and the Creators could no longer threaten the Heavenly Court, the Ten Celestial Venerables could free up their hands to focus entirely on dealing with the Heavenly Duke!
"As for making me the scapegoat, it's their way of giving me a chance to board the ship of the Ten Celestial Venerables."
A smile hung on Qin Mu's face as he thought to himself, "The Ten Celestial Venerables need a scapegoat to eliminate the Heavenly Duke, the Earth Lord, the Three Ancient Emperors, to eradicate all ancient gods, and even to depose the nominal ancient god Heavenly Emperor. This scapegoat must have enough weight. They won't bear the blame themselves, and I, as the founder of the Heavenly Alliance—with neither high cultivation nor strong influence—am perfectly suited to take the fall."
Only by announcing the punishment of the Heavenly Duke at this Heavenly Alliance meeting could Qin Mu board their ship and become one who shared in the benefits of the Ancestral Court and its reverse side.
Moreover, since these orders would be issued by Qin Mu, the Ten Celestial Venerables would have leverage over him.
If Qin Mu ever became disobedient in the future, any charge of killing the Heavenly Duke or the Earth Lord would be enough to doom Qin Mu and all his forces without a burial place.
Thus, Qin Mu would be considered to have joined the camp of the Ten Celestial Venerables, becoming one of them.
The Ten Celestial Venerables had failed to subdue the Opening Emperor, Qin Celestial Venerable, and force him to join them. But through coercion and bribery, they could force Mu Celestial Venerable to join them.
Want to share the benefits? Fine, but the prerequisite was that he must become someone like them!
"So then..."
Qin Mu smiled and asked, "Divine Emperor, what about the other major matters at this Heavenly Alliance meeting?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor, seeing that Qin Mu remained calm and composed, couldn't help but admire his depth of character. He said, "The third matter is that Crown Prince Mingya has betrayed the Heavenly Court, defected to Xie Wuqi, and caused chaos in Youdu. Therefore, the crown prince is to be deposed and a new one established."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow. "Establish a new crown prince? And this new crown prince would be Hao Celestial Venerable?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor sighed emotionally. "Although Hao Celestial Venerable has never had a formal title, he has worked diligently for the Heavenly Court over the years. As the son of His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, it is only natural that he be made crown prince this time."
Qin Mu smiled faintly. "However, as a fellow illegitimate son, I feel for you, Divine Emperor."
Langxuan Divine Emperor chuckled. "Mu Celestial Venerable, you know many secrets, but you also know that many in history have died inexplicably for knowing too many secrets they shouldn't."
Qin Mu laughed heartily, then said seriously, "Divine Emperor, rest assured. Hao Celestial Venerable and I are mortal enemies. Perhaps you and I can join forces and do something about it."
Langxuan Divine Emperor smiled faintly, stood up, and said, "I won't disturb the Alliance Leader's rest. I take my leave. The Alliance Leader's leg ailment makes it inconvenient to see me out." With that, he turned and walked away.
Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then stood up, his expression somewhat grave.
"Although Taiyi said he would succeed, the Heavenly Duke is far too impatient. I had hoped he would delay for a hundred years, giving Yan'kang enough time to grow. But now he wants to break free from the shackles of the Heavenly Dao and shed his ancient god form right away."
He frowned. The Heavenly Duke was being somewhat inconsiderate. Such an important matter, and he hadn't consulted with Qin Mu at all!
As an ally, he hadn't proactively shared information with Qin Mu. In the end, it was Langxuan Divine Emperor who told him about it.
"The Heavenly Duke is too hasty, too eager. He didn't consider me, nor did he consider Yan'kang. Langxuan Divine Emperor once joked that I had reached old age, with only thirty years of life left. Hmph, it seems he wasn't speaking without reason!"
If the Ten Celestial Venerables eliminated the Heavenly Duke, eliminated the Earth Lord, killed the ancient gods, deposed the Heavenly Emperor, and crushed Carefree Realm, then the next target would be Qin Mu.
And to accomplish all this, it would take at most thirty years.
When Langxuan Divine Emperor said he had only thirty years left, he was indeed implying something.
"The Heavenly Duke is unreliable! No, Hong Celestial Venerable is unreliable! Over the years, the Heavenly Duke has walked the world in the guise of Hong Celestial Venerable. He has been assimilated by the Ten Celestial Venerables, becoming a power-holder just like them! Even if he breaks free from the shackles of the ancient gods, he will become one of the Ten Celestial Venerables, greedy for power!"
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. The Heavenly Duke's goal was to break free from the shackles of the ancient gods, but at the same time, he wanted to firmly grasp power, becoming a ruler like the other Celestial Venerables—a ruler who would not be replaced even if dynasties changed!
"Now, because the Heavenly Duke's true body still exists, he hasn't completely degenerated into such an existence. He is still a Dao-born ancient god, observing the conflicts of the mortal world from the height of the Heavenly Dao. But his incarnation has entered the mortal world, immersing itself in its conflicts. After so long, Hong Celestial Venerable has been polluted by the mundane world. Hong Celestial Venerable can no longer view the conflicts of the mortal world from the Heavenly Duke's perspective."
An intense sense of alarm arose in his heart. If the Heavenly Duke's true body died, breaking free from the Heavenly Dao's shackles and completely becoming Hong Celestial Venerable, then Hong Celestial Venerable would fully become one of the Ten Celestial Venerables—a lofty power-holder, not his ally!
At that point, the Heavenly Duke, fully immersed in the mortal world and addicted to power, might not be Qin Mu's friend, but rather a terrifying enemy!
"No, I must see the Heavenly Duke and explain the pros and cons! The current Heavenly Duke still has the heart of the Heavenly Dao. He should be swayed by my persuasion and understand the stakes! Hong Celestial Venerable has selfish motives, but the Heavenly Duke does not!"
He made an immediate decision and strode out of the Celestial Venerable's mansion: "They are no longer the same person, just like the Southern Emperor and Bai Yuqiong, just like Yu Celestial Venerable and Lan Yutian!"
There was still one day before the Heavenly Alliance meeting. He could use the Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge to go to the Xuan Du and meet the Heavenly Duke, to make him change his mind!
Just as he stepped out of the mansion, he saw an old man with white eyebrows and a white beard, with flowing sleeves and an immortal air, walking toward him. The old man's face was radiant, and he was smiling at everyone he saw. It was Hong Celestial Venerable!
"Mu Celestial Venerable!"
Hong Celestial Venerable greeted him with a smile. "Congratulations, Mu Celestial Venerable. Back when the Celestial Venerable founded the Heavenly Alliance, Yun, Qin, Yue, and Ling each left for their own reasons and never returned. Mu Celestial Venerable also vanished for a million years. Today, you have finally returned, restoring the Heavenly Alliance to its rightful path. Truly a cause for celebration!"
Qin Mu returned the greeting, sighing emotionally. "You jest, Brother. At this Heavenly Alliance meeting, I am merely being pushed out to save face. In the future, I might even die because of it."
Hong Celestial Venerable said seriously, "That's not true. Mu Celestial Venerable, this way, please. The other Celestial Venerables are already waiting in the Heavenly Alliance Hall."
Qin Mu asked in confusion, "Isn't the Heavenly Alliance meeting tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is for convening all Heavenly Alliance members to announce the decisions we make today. What truly determines the fate of the world is not all the members of the Heavenly Alliance, but only this small circle of ours."
Hong Celestial Venerable smiled. "We make the decisions; they merely carry them out."
Qin Mu had no choice but to follow him toward the Yao Chi. Hong Celestial Venerable's sleeves fluttered, exuding an indescribable ease and detachment, untouched by even a speck of dust.
Walking side by side with him, Qin Mu was silent for a moment before saying, "The way of heaven has its constancy; it does not exist for Mu's preservation, nor does it perish for Xiao's demise."
Hong Celestial Venerable turned his head to look at him, smiling. "That is a phrase I used to enlighten Mu Celestial Venerable. Why do you bring it up again today?"
"I understand the first part of that phrase."
Both moved swiftly, soon arriving at the Yao Tai. Looking out, they saw the Yao Chi stretching like an endless sea. Huge lotus flowers floated on the surface like flower-shaped islands. Countless masters from various realms wandered across the sea, visiting friends, gathering in small groups, laughing and chatting, utterly carefree.
"This phrase means that the Heavenly Dao has its own laws. It will not change because of Mu Celestial Venerable's wisdom, nor will it change because of Xiao Celestial Venerable's cruelty."
Qin Mu changed the subject, a half-smile on his face. "However, when Brother enlightened me, there was also a second part to that phrase: 'Respond to it with order, and it brings good fortune; respond to it with chaos, and it brings calamity.' I don't quite understand this latter part. Since I have the rare opportunity to walk with you today, I would like to ask for your interpretation of its meaning."
The two walked across the sea. Wherever they passed, the Yao Sea stirred into excitement. Hong Celestial Venerable was arguably the most well-connected among the Ten Celestial Venerables. The masters of the various realms came forward to pay their respects, treating him as their teacher.
And Hong Celestial Venerable knew every single one of them—their names, their families, even their disciples—making everyone feel honored and bathed in warmth.
Even Qin Mu had to admire such skill!
Among the Ten Celestial Venerables, perhaps only Hong Celestial Venerable could know everyone so thoroughly and make each person feel that they were someone he valued!
Hong Celestial Venerable glanced at Qin Mu and smiled. "Mu Celestial Venerable doesn't understand this phrase? Don't sell yourself short. Why don't you share your own interpretation, and I'll see if it's correct or not."
More masters from various realms came forward with their juniors to pay respects. Hong Celestial Venerable remained as tactful as ever, making them grateful and overjoyed.
"'Respond to it with order, and it brings good fortune; respond to it with chaos, and it brings calamity.' I believe this means that if one follows the Heavenly Duke in governing the world, it is great fortune, under the Heavenly Duke's protection."
Qin Mu narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "If one does not follow the Heavenly Duke and disrupts the Heavenly Dao, it is great calamity, and the Heavenly Duke will kill."
Hong Celestial Venerable glanced at him again and laughed. "Mu Celestial Venerable's interpretation is wrong. Following the Heavenly Dao to govern the world brings good fortune; going against the Heavenly Dao brings calamity. Although our explanations seem similar, you equate the Heavenly Dao with the Heavenly Duke, which is a mistake. The Heavenly Duke is merely a deity born from the Heavenly Dao."
Qin Mu stopped walking, standing on the sea surface, and smiled. "Perhaps the Heavenly Duke himself interprets it that way. According to your understanding, Brother, it means to follow heaven and prosper, or defy heaven and perish. According to my understanding, it is a kind of threat, not so detached."
Hong Celestial Venerable took two steps forward, then stopped as well, turning his back to Qin Mu. He laughed. "Mu Celestial Venerable, why do you suddenly bring up such words? Haven't we always gotten along well?"
He turned around, his face wearing a smile that made others feel as warm as a spring breeze.
But Qin Mu suddenly shivered.
On the Yao Chi, the sea wind howled, cold and biting, blowing at the sleeves of both men.
— Notification: During the Spring Festival, Zhaizhu also needs to celebrate the New Year. "The Annals of the Shepherd God" will revert to its previous update schedule: two chapters per day, each with a minimum of three thousand characters. After the holiday, it will return to four chapters per day, each with a minimum of two thousand characters.