Chapter 1451: Striking at the Core of the Dao Heart
Qin Mu’s divine consciousness was also extremely powerful, but compared to Palace Heavenly Venerate and Langhuan Divine King, he was far, far inferior. The divine consciousness techniques of the two women almost completely obliterated his imitation of the Imperial Emperor’s Divine Consciousness Great Luo Heaven in an instant!
However, he had successfully prevented Langhuan Divine King’s and Palace Heavenly Venerate’s divine consciousness from touching. As long as their divine consciousnesses did not collide, Palace Heavenly Venerate would find it difficult to convince Langhuan with words alone.
Using words to persuade was not as fast as divine consciousness, nor as comprehensive, and could be interrupted by Qin Mu at any time.
Langhuan immediately withdrew her divine consciousness technique to avoid injuring Qin Mu.
But Palace Heavenly Venerate did not retract her technique. Just as Qin Mu was about to be buried under the power of her technique, suddenly the sound of a zither rang out. Moon Heavenly Venerate plucked the strings, and layers upon layers of space appeared, blocking Palace Heavenly Venerate’s technique.
Palace Heavenly Venerate frowned slightly. Fire Heavenly Venerate retrieved his physical body, and with a flash of firelight, appeared beside Palace Heavenly Venerate, his expression dark.
The Antarctic Heaven’s Dao Fire Ancestral Land had been sent away by Moon Heavenly Venerate. Even he could not sense where Moon Heavenly Venerate had hidden the Dao Fire Ancestral Land, which made it difficult for him to suppress the anger in his heart.
He had not yet obtained the Heavenly Duke’s Heavenly Dao, yet he had lost the Antarctic Heaven’s Dao Fire Ancestral Land. Naturally, he was furious beyond measure.
Qin Mu smiled as he looked at Palace Heavenly Venerate and Fire Heavenly Venerate, nodding to them as if greeting old friends. Suddenly, he said, “Fire Heavenly Venerate, did you know that Imperial Heavenly Venerate is still alive?”
Fire Heavenly Venerate’s mind shook violently. His gaze fell on Qin Mu. Although Qin Mu’s face was covered with a black cloth at this moment, that piece of black cloth was nothing to a Heavenly Venerate.
To a Heavenly Venerate, a single glance was enough to know the face beneath the black cloth, without even needing to guess.
As for the matter of Imperial Heavenly Venerate still being alive, Fire Heavenly Venerate had also heard rumors, but he had not personally gone to verify.
However, Qin Mu was the Ten Thousand Calamities Immortal Great Mage, capable of resurrecting even ancient gods. If Imperial Heavenly Venerate’s corpse could be preserved until now, then it was indeed possible for Qin Mu to resurrect Imperial Heavenly Venerate!
Fire Heavenly Venerate’s feelings towards Imperial Heavenly Venerate were truly complicated. Qin Mu suddenly bringing this up struck directly at the core of his Dao heart, causing him to temporarily forget the matter of the Dao Fire Ancestral Land being taken by Moon Heavenly Venerate.
Qin Mu smiled faintly and said leisurely, “Among the eleven Heavenly Venerates of the Heavenly Court, aside from the exiled Dawn Heavenly Venerate, the other ten have likely all come to the Xuan Capital, leaving the Heavenly Court empty. If I were Imperial Heavenly Venerate, I would take this opportunity to go to the Heavenly Court, unseal the Pixin Hall, and steal back my remnant soul.”
Fire Heavenly Venerate’s expression shifted between light and shadow, like a bonfire dancing in the night, illuminating his face, making it sometimes bright and sometimes dark.
He looked towards the Xuan Capital battlefield. The four great Heavenly Venerates, including Hong Heavenly Venerate, were attacking the Heavenly Duke with the divine artifact Imperial Heavenly Venerate. The assault was growing fiercer, and the Heavenly Duke’s defeat and death were only a matter of time.
At this moment, six great Heavenly Venerates had already gathered in the Xuan Capital. Only Hao, Yan, Xu, and Zu had not yet appeared.
Fire Heavenly Venerate’s voice was hoarse as he said, “Yan Heavenly Consort, Hao Heavenly Venerate, and Xu Heavenly Venerate are still in the Heavenly Court. He has no chance.”
Qin Mu laughed. “When the Heavenly Duke dies, which Heavenly Venerate would not come to claim a share? By then, the ten Heavenly Venerates will gather in the Xuan Capital like a pack of wolves. That will be Imperial Heavenly Venerate’s opportunity! Don’t you hope he retrieves his remnant soul and brings back the former Imperial Heavenly Venerate?”
His eyes were fixed on Fire Heavenly Venerate’s face, not missing any change in his emotions. His words were like the sword of the Founding Emperor, like the butcher’s knife, pointing directly at the flaws in his heart!
“I still remember you once said that the person you admire most is him, the person you respect most is him. You always called him ‘Big Brother’ and swore to avenge him! Now that he has been reborn, as long as he retrieves his remnant soul, he can make a comeback!”
Qin Mu said joyfully, “Now is your chance! You can sneak attack and kill Hao Heavenly Venerate. I think your Imperial Big Brother will be very pleased!”
Palace Heavenly Venerate was startled and quietly distanced herself from Fire Heavenly Venerate.
The ring of fire behind Fire Heavenly Venerate’s head rotated, illuminating his face, making his expression shift between light and dark, uncertain. “Even if Imperial Heavenly Venerate is reborn, he cannot open the Pixin Hall. I never think about things that have no substance. Today is the battle to eliminate the Heavenly Duke. Anyone who blocks me will die!”
His murderous intent surged as his gaze fell on Qin Mu, Moon Heavenly Venerate, and the others. He said coldly, “That includes you!”
Despite his words, he could still feel that Palace Heavenly Venerate was on guard against him. The two could not join forces without hindrance.
With just a few words, Qin Mu had created a significant rift and estrangement between him and Palace Heavenly Venerate, putting him in a very passive position!
Qin Mu was skilled at attacking the heart. Facing an opponent like him, one often felt he was a friend rather than an adversary standing on the opposite side.
He treated you like a close friend, understood you deeply, analyzed your thoughts and actions from your heart, and offered seemingly bright suggestions.
But before you knew it, you had fallen into his trap.
Among the ten Heavenly Venerates, many had faced Qin Mu’s psychological warfare, and now it was Fire Heavenly Venerate’s turn.
Suddenly, the Xuan Capital shook violently, and the stars scattered. Everyone was startled and looked over. They saw the Heavenly Duke shrink his physical body, moving his feet, and walking rapidly through the Xuan Capital, causing violent upheaval!
All along, the Heavenly Duke’s true form had been vast beyond measure, standing motionless. Even when besieged by the four great Heavenly Venerates, including Hong Heavenly Venerate, he had not moved a step.
If he moved his feet, it would cause the stars in the heavens to shift and trigger cataclysmic changes in the world!
But now, he was forced to move his body to evade the siege of the four great Heavenly Venerates!
Qin Mu’s eyelids twitched. “Heavenly Duke, have you still not broken free from the Nine Nether Platform? You should be able to comprehend the Heavenly Heart. After all, you are the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, having immersed yourself in it for so long. As long as you comprehend the Heavenly Heart and realize the twenty-four levels of the Heavenly Dao Realm, you can escape!”
As a Dao-born god, the Heavenly Duke was born from the Heavenly Dao. His entire life could only achieve great mastery in the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, the Heavenly Duke was the most likely to comprehend the Heavenly Heart and raise it to the twenty-four levels.
If the Heavenly Duke’s primordial spirit could comprehend the Heavenly Heart, even if he broke free from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao, he would still act according to the Heavenly Dao and would not become a Hong Heavenly Venerate consumed by fame, power, and desire!
This was Qin Mu’s hope.
As long as the Heavenly Duke’s primordial spirit could break free from the Nine Nether Platform, the dangerous personality of Hong Heavenly Venerate would gradually fade and would not have much impact on the Heavenly Duke.
The key was whether the Heavenly Duke could elevate his Dao realm in the Heavenly Heart enough to break free from the constraints of the Nine Nether Platform in such a short time!
Fire Heavenly Venerate’s gaze flickered, shifting from Qin Mu and the others to the Heavenly Duke and the Heavenly Venerates besieging him.
Palace Heavenly Venerate did the same.
Now, the situation had reached a critical moment. The four great Heavenly Venerates joined forces, and the Heavenly Duke was no match for them. He would certainly be killed by them!
And the moment the Heavenly Duke was killed would be the crucial moment for them to compete for benefits!
Those close to the water’s edge get the moon first. If they arrived late, not only would they not get the moon first, but they might only get to drink the foot-washing water!
Suddenly, Fire Heavenly Venerate transformed into a streak of firelight and sped towards the Heavenly Duke. Moon Heavenly Venerate moved her feet, and the sound of a zither rang out, intercepting him in mid-air!
The two moved rapidly through the Xuan Capital, the sound of the zither clashing fiercely with the Dao fire!
Suddenly, Moon Heavenly Venerate plucked the strings, and the zither’s notes rang out with murderous intent. Thousands of layers of space crisscrossed, trapping Fire Heavenly Venerate inside.
Fire Heavenly Venerate’s body blazed with fierce flames, melting the space as he passed through layer after layer. Then, he saw a vast peach forest ahead, with peach blossoms in full bloom. Fire Heavenly Venerate snorted, and the Dao fire blazed fiercely, burning the peach forest to ashes!
The ten-thousand-mile peach forest turned into scorched earth. Fire Heavenly Venerate landed, took a few quick steps, and looked around. His eyelids twitched as he shouted, “Moon Heavenly Venerate—!”
What greeted his eyes were the mountains, rivers, sun, and moon of the Yuan Realm. He had passed through the spatial technique set by Moon Heavenly Venerate and had actually been transported from the Xuan Capital to the Yuan Realm!
It had taken him over a month to travel from the Ancestral Court to the Xuan Capital. Even if he set off immediately now, it would probably take him over a month to return to the Xuan Capital!
By the time he arrived, the flowers would have withered and the cold would have set in!
Fire Heavenly Venerate was driven to madness, filled with fury, but he felt a deep sense of powerlessness. Being sent here meant he had lost the great opportunity in the Xuan Capital.
When he possessed the Dao Fire Ancestral Land, Moon Heavenly Venerate could not send him away. The Dao Fire Ancestral Land twisted space, and the great thousand worlds were all within the nine heavens of the Ancestral Land. Moon Heavenly Venerate’s techniques were useless against him.
But after being ambushed by Qin Mu, Moon Heavenly Venerate took the opportunity to send the Dao Fire Ancestral Land away, leaving him helpless.
“Then I should return to the Heavenly Court and wait by the Pixin Hall for Imperial Heavenly Venerate…”
Just then, he suddenly sensed the aura of the Heavenly Dao. His heart stirred, and he looked towards the source of the aura.
“The Heavenly Yin Realm!”
Fire Heavenly Venerate flew towards it. “The sole of the Heavenly Duke’s foot! This aura of the Heavenly Dao… could it be that the Ancestral Divine King, that straightforward, honest, and guileless man, is now in the Heavenly Yin Realm? He really can’t be judged by his appearance…”
In the Xuan Capital, Palace Heavenly Venerate also rose into the air and charged towards the Heavenly Duke. Nether Heavenly Venerate and Langhuan Divine King moved simultaneously to intercept Palace Heavenly Venerate!
Palace Heavenly Venerate then saw Moon Heavenly Venerate send Fire Heavenly Venerate away, not knowing where he had been thrown. Her heart trembled.
She was not afraid of Moon Heavenly Venerate. In a one-on-one fight, Moon Heavenly Venerate’s spatial techniques could not be used against her. She could interfere with Moon Heavenly Venerate’s thoughts before she could even activate her techniques!
Moon Heavenly Venerate’s techniques could be easily interrupted by her!
Moon Heavenly Venerate could not send her away at all!
However, if Nether Heavenly Venerate and Langhuan Divine King joined forces, with Qin Mu watching eagerly, then she would be in danger.
Qin Mu led the Butcher and the others, charging excitedly towards the isolated Palace Heavenly Venerate. At the same time, Moon Heavenly Venerate, having sent Fire Heavenly Venerate to the Yuan Realm, breathed a sigh of relief and immediately rushed towards Palace Heavenly Venerate!
Palace Heavenly Venerate’s expression was grave. She let out a shout, and behind her, majestic heavenly palaces rose one after another. Thirty-five heavenly palaces connected to form a great Heavenly Court.
She had been severely wounded by the Founding Emperor because he had ambushed her the moment she stepped into the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, giving her no time to react. But her strength was definitely not the weakest among the ten Heavenly Venerates!
If any of the ten Heavenly Venerates had been ambushed by the Founding Emperor, surviving would have been an impressive achievement!
After all, although the Founding Emperor’s cultivation was inferior to that of the ten Heavenly Venerates, the offensive power of his Sword Dao surpassed even theirs. Even Mu Heavenly Venerate, Dawn Heavenly Venerate, and Qiang Heavenly Consort at their peak would not dare to claim that their techniques were more powerful than the Founding Emperor’s Sword Dao!
Qin Mu flew over but suddenly stopped. He looked at Palace Heavenly Venerate with a grave expression, counted the number of heavenly palaces behind her, and felt a bit suspicious. “How did the Founding Emperor handle things? He was supposed to severely wound Palace Heavenly Venerate, but he couldn’t even manage such a small task…”
— Happy birthday to Fourth Master!
This time, Zhai Zhu participated in the Provincial Writers’ Association’s New Year’s meeting and re-education. Upon arriving, he found that the only online writers present were himself and Goose Is Old Five. The other 170 people were traditional writers. He immediately felt immense pressure and trembled with fear~