Chapter 1426: Heavenly Dao Becomes Selfish (First Update)
Qin Mu looked at him, and after a moment, a smile appeared on his face. "Someone once told me that Nether Heavenly Sovereign is too naive. If he weren't in Nether Capital but instead participating in this great age of strife, he wouldn't have survived until now. Nether, by deciding to leave Nether Capital, you are placing yourself in danger, with your life at stake."
In the past, every time Nether Heavenly Sovereign made a move, he had Nether Capital as his backing, able to advance or retreat. For instance, in the battle at the Heavenly Court's Jade Pool to protect Qin Mu, Nether Heavenly Sovereign operated within Nether Capital. Similarly, in the battle between Peach Forest and Dawn Heavenly Sovereign, Nether Heavenly Sovereign could enter Nether Capital at any time.
However, if Nether Heavenly Sovereign were to go to Mystic Capital, he would be unable to evade enemy attacks and return to Nether Capital in time. In that case, it would be extremely dangerous for him.
Nether Heavenly Sovereign looked at him calmly and said, "But after Dawn Heavenly Sovereign was exiled, I began to intervene in worldly affairs. I have territory in the Primordial Realm."
He was referring to the matter of releasing Evil Unrivaled and Ming Cliff. Evil Unrivaled and Ming Cliff had established themselves in the Primordial Realm thanks to him.
From that point on, Nether Heavenly Sovereign had begun to involve himself in the conflicts, unable to remain detached.
Qin Mu was silent for a moment, understanding his resolve, and said, "Earth Lord will not allow you to go on the offensive. He won't let you take risks. Earth Lord's ideal is to shed his identity as Earth Lord, and he needs a just person to replace him. You are his chosen one, and also the next Earth Lord in his mind."
"The next Earth Lord in Earth Lord's mind was originally you, and later Qin Fengqing. He has been grooming both you and Qin Fengqing as the next Earth Lords."
Nether Heavenly Sovereign said indifferently, "My relationship with Earth Lord is a transaction. I help him manage Nether Capital, and he preserves Imperial Heavenly Sovereign's physical body and protects my mother's soul."
Qin Mu asked, "If something happens to you, what about your mother?"
"She will live well in Nether Capital."
Qin Mu said no more and walked away, his voice drifting from a distance: "Moon Heavenly Sovereign, Opening Emperor, and Lang Huan will appear in Mystic Capital. At that time, meet with them first."
He suddenly stopped, thought for a moment, and said meaningfully, "Beware of Lang Huan Divine King. Do not let her come into contact with Palace Heavenly Sovereign. If Palace Heavenly Sovereign stays in the Heavenly Court and does not participate in the battle of Mystic Capital, then so be it. But if she does participate, she will definitely come into contact with Lang Huan Divine King. If Lang Huan has any contact with Palace Heavenly Sovereign, you need to be wary of changes."
Nether Heavenly Sovereign was slightly startled and silently nodded.
Qin Mu departed: "Go back. Have Earth Lord release Tian Shu Celestial King and the others. For the battle of Mystic Capital, I need their help."
Nether Heavenly Sovereign smiled, put away his paper figures and paper horses, and drifted away on his paper boat.
Qin Mu waited for him to return to Nether Capital, stopped to think carefully, and then shook his head.
Lang Huan Divine King, the goddess of his dreams, flawless and perfect, but Lang Huan would not cherish old feelings, nor would she embrace friendship.
She took racial interests as her supreme principle and would make judgments favorable to her race under the influence of circumstances.
If Heavenly Lord died, the power balance between Qin Mu's faction and the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns would be broken. Then, if she encountered Palace Heavenly Sovereign, she could easily be persuaded by her, concluding that Qin Mu's faction could not defeat the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns, and would join Palace Heavenly Sovereign's camp.
Palace Heavenly Sovereign, as one of the former Three Ancient Kings and now one of the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns, could orchestrate Lang Huan Divine King becoming a member of the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns—it was not impossible.
In that case, to gain merit, Lang Huan Divine King would mercilessly kill her former allies. Under her sneak attack, even Opening Emperor and Moon Heavenly Sovereign might not escape.
The Creator race might even attack Carefree Realm!
Lang Huan Divine King was someone Qin Mu had once admired. Taking precautions against her pained him deeply, but he had no choice.
Another month passed, and the Heavenly Court finally fully descended upon the Ancestral Court. The vast, boundless Heavenly Court floated above the Ancestral Court, radiating earth-shattering divine might.
The Heavenly River also changed course with the Heavenly Court, returning to the Ancestral Court. In the ancient era, the Heavenly River was the most important river in the Ancestral Court, and now it had merely returned to its former position.
However, the changes in the cosmic structure caused by the Heavenly River's return were far-reaching.
First, many heavens built along the banks of the Heavenly River suffered great upheaval. Originally, the stars of these heavens operated according to the tides of the Heavenly River. With the river's change of course, the stars became chaotic, causing continuous natural disasters in these heavens, displacing countless people and causing immeasurable casualties.
Second, the Heavenly River had once passed through various heavens in the Primordial Realm. Its change of course altered their trajectories, tearing and dragging them along.
Some heavens were lucky, with many powerful deities stabilizing the stars during the river's change of course, causing little harm to the people. But other heavens were not so fortunate, directly torn apart by the Heavenly River into fragments in the universe, with countless cold corpses floating in the starry sky.
No one dared to complain.
The Heavenly River's change of course turned the Great Marsh of the Ancestral Court into a vast ocean. This was once the origin of Mystic Capital, which rose from here, growing higher and higher to become the most expansive heavenly dome.
After the ancient era of the Creators ended, the Heavenly Court captured the Heavenly River, turning the sea that nurtured Mystic Capital into a marsh. Now, the sea had been restored, vast and deep.
If one stood on the sea surface and gazed at the water, they could see the reflection of Mystic Capital within.
This was the territory of Hong Heavenly Sovereign.
Originally, the Great Marsh was not even considered a treasure land, but Hong Heavenly Sovereign chose this place. However, the Heavenly River's change of course turned it into a sea, instantly making it incredibly rich.
The vibrant vitality and strange Heavenly Dao rules hidden in the sea emerged, and the Great Marsh leaped to become one of the most eye-catching sacred lands in the Ancestral Court!
This move by Hong Heavenly Sovereign made even the other Heavenly Sovereigns take notice, having to admire his cunning and foresight.
The most profound impact of the Heavenly River's change of course was that the river finally returned to Mystic Capital.
The Heavenly River surged mightily, flowing from the Ancestral Court to the zenith of Mystic Capital, tracing a graceful arc, piercing through Mystic Capital, forming an unclosed circle, and then flowing down from Mystic Capital into the Primordial Realm.
The path to Mystic Capital had been opened by the Heavenly River, and the campaign against Heavenly Lord was on the agenda!
The various military lords of the Heavenly Court were ready to set out. The great ships of the Heavenly River's water army surged forward, traveling day and night toward Mystic Capital, followed by countless smaller ships dragging supplies.
Along the way, stars were lit by powerful deities, illuminating the Heavenly River, making it look like a jade belt.
—The reason they did not use the Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge was that Mystic Capital had undergone changes; the bridge had been destroyed, and even Ancestral Divine King's divine artifact, Imperial Heavenly Sovereign, had been suppressed by Heavenly Lord.
"Heavenly Dao is impartial; the Great Dao is for the public!"
Rumors spread through the myriad heavens: "Heavenly Lord will fall; the Heavenly Dao will become selfish! The Ten Heavenly Sovereigns will turn the Heavenly Dao, a public instrument, into their private tool. From now on, it will not be a world for the public, but a world for the private! This is the sorrow of all living beings!"
"Generals and ministers, born with destiny; commoners, slaves for generations!"
"From now on, breathing air will require taxes; basking in the sun will cost money!"
These rumors circulated in the myriad heavens for a while. Someone asked Hong Heavenly Sovereign about it, and he said, "Just the cries of the powerless. No need to pay attention."
Sure enough, the rumors did not stir up much trouble and soon subsided.
At this time, Tian Shu, the Butcher, Zhe Huali, and Luo Wushuang arrived at the Ten Thousand Black Mountains of the Ancestral Court, seeking out Qin Mu. Qin Mu was ready to set out and said to the four, "In this battle, life and death are uncertain. I will live or die with you all."
The Butcher laughed and said, "What is there to fear?"