Chapter 1532: The Art of Deception Across the World
Heavenly Venerate Hao, Heavenly Venerate Xiao, and the others had some hesitation before arriving here, but after witnessing the skills of Taiyi's disciple Jiang Yunjian, seeing the Dao pattern array left by Qin Mu on the cliff, the terrifying scene beyond the ten thousand Black Mountains, and Taiyi's Dao Tree, all their doubts vanished without a trace.
Now, seeing this golden hall and the chaotic energy within it, they felt even more reverence for the "old man" inside.
This was a true Dao-achiever, with boundless divine abilities and unfathomable depth!
However, Qin Mu inside the hall was still somewhat uneasy, his heart pounding. If Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Heavenly Venerate Hao, or the others decided to test him, even without Heavenly Venerate Hao making a move, someone like Ancestral God King or Void Heavenly Venerate could easily expose him!
The reason he had Jiang Yunjian take them to the cliff, the reason he delayed until dusk, was to use the sacred land's strange phenomena and Taiyi's Dao Tree to establish an invincible image, making them afraid to doubt!
Every time the sun set, an apocalyptic scene would appear outside the World Tree, a cataclysm of destruction and terror!
Moreover, if someone left the sacred land at this time, they would fall into the destruction tribulation of the Sixteenth Universe, with little chance of survival!
And Taiyi had agreed with him before leaving that every time night fell, his Dao Tree would appear and drip Dao dew, which Qin Mu could collect to repair the cracked Black Mountains.
Qin Mu was precisely using these two points to dispel all doubts from the Seven Heavenly Venerables and the two ancient gods.
The news of Taiyi's fall absolutely could not be leaked!
Heavenly Venerate Xiao stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Senior, you achieved the Dao early, which is worthy of celebration. But my path to Dao has been difficult. I have come to visit and humbly ask for your guidance."
Qin Mu sat within the chaos, his voice resonating: "Fellow Daoist, are you not about to achieve the Dao? Why ask this question?"
Heavenly Venerate Xiao's heart tightened: "Taiyi is truly unfathomable. He knows I am about to achieve the Dao!"
He became even more humble: "Senior, with your vast divine abilities, you must know that the Dao I speak of is not about cultivating a heavenly court."
Qin Mu said unhurriedly, "The Dao you speak of is the Dao of Taichu. You wish to become a complete Taichu ancient god."
"Please teach me, Senior." Heavenly Venerate Xiao was extremely respectful.
Countless thoughts raced through Qin Mu's mind as he said calmly, "As for how to achieve the Dao of Taichu, Fellow Daoist, you already have a plan. Why ask me?"
Heavenly Venerate Xiao was delighted and pressed further: "Senior, if I kill all the Creators, devour their divine consciousness, and gather all the Taichu primordial stones, I can cultivate the Taichu Great Dao and become a complete Taichu. The Creator race became Creators because of me and the Taichu mineral veins. They stole my fortune. If I want to become a complete Taichu, I must settle this karmic debt! Is this deduction correct?"
Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "Your greatest enemies are Juyu Clan and yourself. Remember this, remember it well."
Heavenly Venerate Xiao was satisfied and stepped back.
The Sun Ancient God stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Senior, may I ask how I can achieve the Dao?"
Qin Mu replied, "Fellow Daoist, do you not already have a method for achieving the Dao? Why ask this question?"
The Sun Ancient God hesitated and said, "My sister and I discovered that our Dao hearts have been polluted by the mortal world, distancing us from achieving the Dao. Therefore, we entered the world early, planning to train in the mortal realm and find a solution. However, when we helped the Empress and Yuanmu achieve the Dao, things went awry. So we are hesitant and uncertain, unsure if we can achieve the Dao. Please guide us, Senior."
Qin Mu said unhurriedly, "Yin and Yang are the transformation of the Supreme Ultimate. You are different from the Empress and Yuanmu. The Empress and Yuanmu were born from destruction, opposing each other and incompatible. But when Yin and Yang converge, they give rise to all things. You need not worry."
The Sun Ancient God was delighted and stepped back.
The Supreme Purity Goddess floated forward, smiled, and said, "Senior, this is our second meeting. Last time, I was in the wrong. This time, I come both to apologize and to seek your guidance. May I ask, how can I achieve the Dao?"
Qin Mu did not answer.
The Supreme Purity Goddess asked again, and Qin Mu said, "You cannot achieve the Dao."
The Supreme Purity Goddess snorted coldly: "Why can I not achieve the Dao?"
"Your foundation is too shallow."
Qin Mu said unhurriedly, "In your early years, you were unearthed by Gong Jun, who brought you as a dowry to the Juyu Clan. The Great Emperor sealed you. After the Great Emperor fell, you fell into the hands of the Xuanwu Twin Emperors, ancient gods born from Juyu Clan sacrifices, who refined you into a treasure, the Glazed Azure Canopy. Later, you fell into the hands of Mu Heavenly Venerate, and in the Sixteenth Universe, you experienced the destruction tribulation and had to emerge early. Such a foundation is truly shallow. After you emerged, you met the wrong people, made poor choices. You have wisdom but not great wisdom, perseverance but not great perseverance, strategy but not great strategy, vision but not great vision. You will inevitably suffer for it."
The Supreme Purity Goddess's heart raced as she turned to look at Heavenly Venerate Hao.
"Your life is still in danger, let alone achieving the Dao." Qin Mu delivered the final verdict.
The Supreme Purity Goddess turned back and sneered, "Senior, how do you think I can avoid a fatal calamity and walk the path to achieving the Dao?"
Qin Mu said, "The one who ruined your foundation is also the one who can build your foundation. If you want to achieve the Dao, you can only seek him out, and then there will be an opportunity."
The Supreme Purity Goddess fell into thought and stepped back.
Heavenly Venerate Hao laughed heartily, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said loudly, "Taiyi, Senior, I did not come to visit you, but to accompany my aunt. However, hearing your words, I also have a question I wish to ask. May I?"
Without waiting for Qin Mu's reply, he said directly, "Senior, do you know about the Jade Capital of the Ancestral Court? The Jade Capital of the Ancestral Court was forged by Dao-achievers from the sixteen prehistoric universes. They plan to descend. Do you think we should resist them or comply with them?"
Qin Mu said, "Heavenly Venerate Hao, after you become the Heavenly Emperor, do you want an emperor-emeritus above you?"
Heavenly Venerate Hao's eyes flickered.
Qin Mu continued, "When the prehistoric Dao-achievers descend, after you become the Heavenly Emperor, you will not have one emperor-emeritus above you, but thousands."
Heavenly Venerate Hao smiled and said, "Senior's words strike deep into my heart. I am enlightened. Are you saying that I can become the Heavenly Emperor?"
Heavenly Venerate Xiao smiled without speaking.
Heavenly Venerate Hao continued, "Does Senior believe that Mu Heavenly Venerate and Qin Heavenly Venerate cannot succeed?"
Qin Mu said, "Qin Heavenly Venerate lacks drive and cannot succeed. Mu Heavenly Venerate lacks cunning and cannot succeed. In the future I see, you are Hao Heavenly Emperor. I have one word of advice: Your Majesty should care for the people, cultivate the path of benevolence, and reduce killing. Then your blessings will be endless and unceasing."
Heavenly Venerate Hao laughed heartily, full of ambition, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your auspicious words, Senior! Your advice, I... I will remember it!"
Langxuan Divine Emperor stepped forward, a look of hope on his face, and said, "May I ask, Senior Taiyi, can I achieve the Dao?"
Qin Mu did not answer.
Langxuan Divine Emperor asked again, but snoring came from within the golden hall.
Langxuan Divine Emperor was somewhat unwilling and was about to ask again when Jiang Yunjian stepped forward and said, "Those who cannot achieve the Dao, my master is too lazy to bother with. Alright, alright, all of you, withdraw."
Langxuan Divine Emperor's face flushed red, and he said angrily, "I cannot achieve the Dao? What a joke! Taiyi's words are not necessarily accurate..."
Jiang Yunjian smiled and said, "My master did not speak. If you cannot achieve the Dao, what use is there in speaking to you?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor was furious and wanted to lose his temper, but he dared not act rashly and had to step back.
Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Heavenly Venerate Hao, and the others bowed and withdrew. Ancestral God King and Void Heavenly Venerate also wanted to ask if they could achieve the Dao, but could only sigh with regret.
As everyone walked out, suddenly a burst of golden light flared. The various heavenly venerables turned back and saw the golden hall vanish without a trace.
"Truly a divine being!" Ancestral God King could not help but exclaim.
He also remembered that he had not had the chance to ask Taiyi about his own situation and felt secretly annoyed: "It's all because of that fool Langxuan, who has no fate with achieving the Dao, and made me miss my chance too!"
The Sun Ancient God was puzzled: "This great hall... I seem to have seen it somewhere before..."
Jiang Yunjian led them out, saying, "Outside now is the destruction tribulation of the Sixteenth Universe. It is not easy to go there, or you will turn into tribulation ash. My master means that you can stay here for a while and leave after dawn."
Heavenly Venerate Xiao smiled warmly and said, "Senior Taiyi is indeed thoughtful. We were just studying the Dao pattern array under that cliff and haven't fully understood it yet. Since dawn is still far off, let's go there and continue studying."
Jiang Yunjian had no choice but to lead them toward the cliff, saying, "This Dao pattern array on the cliff was used by me to test you. If you manage to understand anything from it, you must teach me."
Heavenly Venerate Xiao and Heavenly Venerate Hao were in a good mood and laughed, saying, "Rest assured, no matter how much we understand, we will pass it all on to you!"
Jiang Yunjian led them to the foot of the cliff. Suddenly, the distant mountain shook, cracking open with a loud noise.
The various heavenly venerables were intrigued and looked in that direction. Ancestral God King said, "Little brother, do you have monsters under these mountains?"
"Not monsters, but under almost every mountain here, there are prehistoric strongmen trying to crawl up from the past era."
Jiang Yunjian said, "My master is stationed here to guard against them, to prevent them from climbing out and harming the world. That is also why he cannot leave this place."
Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Heavenly Venerate Hao, and the others exchanged glances and all breathed a sigh of relief: "Taiyi cannot leave this place, so he cannot interfere in the affairs of the world. As long as he does not oppose me, then there is no one in the world who can stand against me!"
They sat at the foot of the cliff and began to study it carefully.
At this moment, Qin Mu returned to the main hall, a look of worry on his face. Wei Suifeng saw this and asked, "Junior brother, you have deceived these heavenly venerables, so why are you still worried?"
"I unintentionally gave them an opportunity, allowing them to study the Hongmeng runes."
Qin Mu exhaled a turbid breath and said, "But I had no choice. If I did not display the Hongmeng runes, I could not intimidate them."
Wei Suifeng laughed and said, "The Dao patterns of the Miluo Palace are extremely complex and profound. In one night, what can they possibly understand?"
"Do not underestimate them."
Qin Mu's expression was grave as he said solemnly, "One is the Longhan Heavenly Venerate, one is the Heavenly Emperor Taichu, plus half a Supreme Purity and half a Supreme Ultimate. Their talent and comprehension are no less than mine. If they manage to understand something, it could greatly enhance their Dao cultivation..."
He shook his head.
This night was extremely long. Finally, the sky began to brighten.
Jiang Yunjian woke the various heavenly venerables and ancient gods, saying, "It is time for you all to leave."
Everyone looked at the Dao pattern array on the cliff wall, reluctant to part, but they still kept their promise and taught Jiang Yunjian what they had understood during the night.
Jiang Yunjian's mind was filled to the brim, and he was very pleased. He escorted Heavenly Venerate Hao and the others out of the Black Mountains.
He returned to the Black Mountains and came to the foot of the cliff, intending to study and verify what he had learned. Suddenly, Qin Mu appeared before him and said solemnly, "Yunjian, how much did they understand?"
Jiang Yunjian quickly activated his divine consciousness. Qin Mu's divine consciousness touched his, and in an instant, he grasped everything that the Seven Heavenly Venerables and the three ancient gods had understood the previous night.
Qin Mu's expression was grave. After a long time, he said softly, "All are extraordinary talents, truly remarkable beings..."
The amount that Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Heavenly Venerate Hao, and the others had understood in one night was far greater than he had anticipated. Even Void Heavenly Venerate, who had weaker cultivation, had grasped something extremely profound from the Dao pattern array!
"I remember now!"
Heavenly Venerate Xiao stopped and turned to look at the Sun Ancient God, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist, what do you remember?"
The Sun Ancient God said, "I remember where I saw Taiyi's golden hall. That golden hall was seen on Mu Heavenly Venerate's golden ship, a very remarkable ship. My sister and I saw a similar golden hall on that golden ship."
Heavenly Venerate Xiao was thoughtful, looked at the ten thousand sacred mountains, and suddenly let out a laugh.
The Sun Ancient God mused, "It seems that after Mu Heavenly Venerate returned, he offered the golden hall from the golden ship to Senior Taiyi as a tribute. That fellow is very good at currying favor, even planning to make a move on us and eliminate us."
"Interesting."
Heavenly Venerate Xiao suddenly laughed heartily: "Very interesting... Let's go back!"