Chapter 1558: Seeking Death
The other Heavenly Sovereigns frowned, none of them confident they could refine Qin Mu to death.
Qin Mu had always been slippery and hard to pin down. In his youth, it was understandable—no one had paid him much attention back then. But after the Yan Kang Calamity, Qin Mu had taken the initiative to enter the Heavenly Court, stirring up trouble everywhere he went, leaving chaos and smoke in his wake, yet somehow never leaving any evidence for others to seize.
At that time, any of the ten Heavenly Sovereigns had the strength to easily eliminate him, but precisely because their internal conflicts were so fierce, each wanting to become the master of the Heavenly Court, none was willing to make a move and give the others an opening.
Now the situation was clear. Of the eleven Heavenly Sovereigns, Hong Heavenly Sovereign and Qiang Tianfei were dead, Shi Qiluo and Yan Tianfei had gone mad. The remaining Heavenly Sovereigns were split into two major factions. Hao Heavenly Sovereign’s faction held the advantage in both power and strength, while Xiao Heavenly Sovereign was left isolated, unable to contend with Hao Heavenly Sovereign’s overwhelming momentum.
But Qin Mu had also transformed from a weakling into a powerhouse, beginning to openly challenge them.
Aside from Hao Heavenly Sovereign, any other Heavenly Sovereign would find it difficult to capture Qin Mu. In fact, it seemed Qin Mu’s strength had already reached a level where he could stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
Now that they had finally managed to capture Qin Mu, killing him had become a problem.
“Let me try.”
Xu Heavenly Sovereign frowned and said, “I possess the demonic path, skilled in eroding the heart of the Dao and cultivation, corroding one’s primordial energy. But whether it will succeed, I am not certain. That thief Mu was once the Divine Son of Youdu and is extremely familiar with the Great Dao of Youdu.”
“Daoist Xu, please go ahead!”
The others urged, “Regardless, let’s give it a try!”
Xu Heavenly Sovereign immediately made her move, using her pure and profound Youdu demonic path to erode Qin Mu. After two or three days, Xu Heavenly Sovereign’s face turned pale. She felt her primordial energy draining too rapidly, unable to sustain the consumption, and she cried out in shock, “What a treacherous thief! He’s taking the opportunity to devour my cultivation!”
The others’ expressions shifted dramatically as they looked toward the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel. Inside the wheel, Qin Mu was spinning and rising slowly, resembling the Earth Lord himself.
Xu Heavenly Sovereign let out a furious roar, pulled off her horn, and prepared to stab him to death with it.
Qin Mu sneered coldly. Xu Heavenly Sovereign hesitated, unable to bring herself to strike. This was her only remaining horn; the other had been severed by Kai Huang Qin Ye. She had only just managed to retrieve it and refine it into a treasure.
If she failed to kill Qin Mu and he seized it, she would likely never get it back.
Hao Heavenly Sovereign reached out and pressed down, forcing Qin Mu back into the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel to prevent him from escaping.
Langxuan Divine Emperor said, “I have a Dao Fruit that can dissolve Qin Mu, transforming him into the Primordial Chaos One Qi!”
The others quickly said, “With the Divine Emperor making a move, success is certain!”
Langxuan Divine Emperor activated his Dao Fruit. The fruit, which had been shriveled and dry, had now become much rounder and fuller, its Dao might growing stronger and stronger.
Qin Mu’s face emerged from the Heavenly Wheel, and upon seeing this Dao Fruit, he appeared somewhat tense.
Seeing this, Langxuan Divine Emperor’s confidence soared. He drove the Dao Fruit, pushing its power to the extreme.
The Dao Fruit hovered above the Heavenly Wheel, and Dao light burst forth from it, shooting rays of light into the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel!
The Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel trembled—clearly, Qin Mu was resisting the Dao Fruit’s light. This lifted everyone’s spirits. Even Hao Heavenly Sovereign looked upon Langxuan Divine Emperor with newfound respect, silently praising the power of his Dao Fruit.
This Dao Fruit was a treasure hidden within the fragment of the Great Luo Heaven beneath the Ancestral Court’s Yao Chi. It consisted of a single Dao Tree and a coffin containing a cultivator who had attained the Dao in prehistoric times. Qin Mu had helped Langxuan Divine Emperor find the Great Luo Heaven fragment, cut the Dao Fruit from the Dao Tree, and kicked the coffin back into the prehistoric cataclysm of destruction.
The strong ones of the Ancestral Court’s Yu Jing City had huddled together for warmth, surviving the cataclysm within the city. But the owner of this Dao Fruit had directly harnessed the Great Luo Heaven fragment, attempting to cross the cataclysm and be reborn in the current universe—a testament to his formidable strength.
His Dao Fruit was extraordinary, its power so potent it made one’s heart tremble. And now, as the Dao Fruit awakened, its might was skyrocketing!
Inside the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel, Qin Mu was being refined, screaming in agony. The screams fell upon the ears of the crowd, each one sounding sweet and delightful, earning murmurs of admiration.
Within the Heavenly Wheel, Qin Mu also sensed a fatal threat. So, while screaming, he used his divine consciousness to ripple and touch the Dao Fruit’s light, saying, “Prehistoric Daoist brother, I am the Seventh Young Master of the Mi Luo Palace. If you offend me, you won’t gain anything! I won’t hold a grudge either. If you show me mercy, I’ll help you possess Langxuan and be reborn!”
The Dao might within the Dao Fruit’s light slowed slightly, and a cryptic divine consciousness mixed into the light: “I don’t trust you Mi Luo Palace young masters. Don’t think you can fool me!”
Qin Mu laughed in anger: “Go ask around in all the heavens and myriad realms—who doesn’t know the good name of Mu Heavenly Sovereign? I always keep my word, fair and square! If you don’t trust me, I can write you an IOU. With the IOU in hand, what are you afraid I’ll deny? I can’t possibly ruin my own golden reputation!”
The consciousness within the Dao Fruit hesitated, its divine consciousness mingling with the light, saying, “It was you who helped Langxuan knock me back into the cataclysm of destruction. If I hadn’t used the Dao Fruit to transfer my consciousness, I would have been destroyed by you. Langxuan is now on guard against me, giving me no chance to possess him. What ability do you have to help me?”
Qin Mu’s heart stirred: “Are you the Primordial Beginning of the Sixteenth Epoch?”
The consciousness within the Dao Fruit said, “The Sixteenth Epoch had no Five Primordials. The Five Primordials were dug out and refined before they were even born. I entered the Sixteenth Epoch early, so I seized the Primordial Beginning Divine Egg and refined it for reincarnation. I was known as Lingyu Shangzun.”
Qin Mu smiled and said, “Lingyu Shangzun, you know my character well enough to be at ease. Besides, Langxuan is my enemy, an irreconcilable one. Are you my enemy? You give me a peach, and I’ll return a jade.”
The consciousness within the Dao Fruit, Lingyu Shangzun, said, “I don’t believe your words. You must swear an oath on your Dao Fruit.”
Qin Mu swore an oath on his Dao Fruit, and Lingyu Shangzun relaxed. Swearing on one’s Dao Fruit meant swearing on one’s Dao, swearing to him. If Qin Mu tried to break his promise, Lingyu Shangzun would have plenty of ways to deal with him!
“I’ve never sworn on my Dao Fruit before, but I have sworn on the Mi Luo Palace Yuansheng’s teaching rod. And didn’t I still end up killing that Mi Luo Palace Yuansheng?” Qin Mu thought nothing of it.
The power of the Dao Fruit grew weaker and weaker. Langxuan Divine Emperor kept urging it, but its might continued to decline. He had no choice but to withdraw, his face red with embarrassment, and said sheepishly, “This treasure hasn’t fully recovered yet. My skill ends here. I am deeply ashamed.”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign also felt relieved. If Langxuan Divine Emperor had actually used the Dao Fruit to refine Qin Mu to death, he would have had no choice but to deal with Langxuan.
Gong Heavenly Sovereign stepped forward and said, “I possess the Supreme Divine Consciousness Secret Realm, which can throw his Dao heart into chaos, trap him in the secret realm, make him lose himself, and lose his cultivation. He will die naturally.”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign said joyfully, “Daoist Gong, please proceed!”
Gong Heavenly Sovereign erupted with divine consciousness, transforming it into layers of secret realms that surged into the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel, unfolding countless illusions that enveloped Qin Mu.
After a long while, Gong Heavenly Sovereign’s expression changed slightly. She felt that Qin Mu’s divine consciousness was engaging in a skillful offensive and defensive battle with her illusory divine consciousness. Her illusory divine abilities could hardly gain the upper hand!
In terms of divine consciousness mastery, Qin Mu had made astonishing progress, nearly catching up to her!
Moreover, his techniques were incredibly profound, even surpassing the Grand Emperor’s!
What she didn’t know was that Yun Heavenly Sovereign, after obtaining the Grand Emperor’s Dao techniques, had perfected the method of attaining the Dao and passed it on to Qin Mu. Naturally, it was far superior to the Grand Emperor’s divine consciousness methods!
Gong Heavenly Sovereign persisted for another two days but could not harm Qin Mu in the slightest. Instead, she elevated Qin Mu’s divine consciousness to a higher level. Feeling ashamed, she also withdrew.
Hao Heavenly Sovereign looked around. The various Heavenly Sovereigns were all at a loss.
The Seven Dukes, Four Ministers, Three Masters, Two Advisors, as well as the Five Emperor Thrones, Five Inner Emperor Thrones, and other high-ranking civil and military officials of the Heavenly Court stepped forward, bowing and saying, “Your subjects are willing to offer our humble services to refine that barbarian Mu to death!”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign said warmly, “All of you are Emperor Throne-level powerhouses with extraordinary Dao techniques and divine abilities. Perhaps you have such divine powers.”
The Seven Dukes, Four Ministers, and other powerhouses stepped forward. They were the backbone of the Heavenly Court. Over the past million years, the Heavenly Court had gathered the elites of the world, and there was no shortage of Emperor Throne-level powerhouses, who were given power and status to be co-opted into the court.
These twenty-six Emperor Throne-level powerhouses sat in a circle around the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel, each releasing their primordial spirit, standing within their Heavenly Palaces, and channeling their Dao techniques and divine abilities into the Heavenly Wheel.
After more than a month, everyone was exhausted and could barely continue, while Qin Mu remained vigorous and lively within the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel.
Hao Heavenly Sovereign frowned deeply. Gong Heavenly Sovereign said, “We need the Yin Heavenly Emperor to act before we can eliminate that thief Mu.”
Zu Shenwang clapped his hands and laughed, “The Yin Heavenly Emperor’s reincarnation technique is the perfect counter to that thief Mu! Now that we’re missing a few Heavenly Sovereigns, perhaps the Yin Heavenly Emperor can become the Yin Heavenly Sovereign!”
Huo Heavenly Sovereign flatly opposed, snorting coldly, “The Yin Heavenly Emperor? What virtue or ability does he have? How can he sit with us?”
“If he can eliminate that thief Mu, what harm is there in him sitting with us?” Hao Heavenly Sovereign said dismissively, and sent someone to the Yuan Realm to summon the Yin Heavenly Emperor.
More than ten days later, the Yin Heavenly Emperor arrived from the front lines pursuing Carefree Village and paid his respects to everyone.
Hao Heavenly Sovereign said warmly, “Chaojin, I and all my fellow Daoists think highly of you. If you can refine Mu Heavenly Sovereign to death, I will recommend you as the Yin Heavenly Sovereign!”
The Yin Heavenly Emperor was both surprised and delighted. Huo Heavenly Sovereign let out a furious snort.
The Yin Heavenly Emperor immediately approached the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel and activated his reincarnation divine ability. But the moment his reincarnation divine ability entered the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel, before it even touched Qin Mu, the Yin Heavenly Emperor suddenly grunted, fell straight backward, and passed out.
Everyone hurried to revive him, barely managing to pull him back from Qin Mu’s reincarnation divine ability.
They looked at each other in bewilderment.
The Tai Su Goddess sneered, “A bunch of useless incompetents! If my supreme treasure were at its peak, refining him would be a piece of cake! Hao’er, hand this thief over to me, and I’ll take care of him for you!”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign waved his hand, dismissing the Yin Heavenly Emperor, and said, “Auntie, although your divine abilities are supreme, I’m afraid you can’t do anything to him either. The safest way to eliminate him is still to sink him into the river—sink him into the Chaos Long River of the Ancestral Court’s Yu Jing City, watch him slowly turn into chaotic qi, and then I’ll be at ease.”
The Tai Su Goddess said nothing more.
Her goal was to make contact with Qin Mu.
In the past, she had felt she could control Hao Heavenly Sovereign. But after the battle in the Divine Consciousness Great Luo Heaven, she realized she could no longer control him. Instead, she was being controlled by Hao Heavenly Sovereign, sinking deeper and deeper.
Her reason for contacting Qin Mu was that she remembered what “Tai Yi” had said the last time they met, and she wanted to find a way out for herself.
Hao Heavenly Sovereign stood up, looked down from the edge of the Heavenly Court, and took in the vast landscape of the Ancestral Court.
He gazed at the Ancestral Court’s Yu Jing City for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Kai Huang Qin Ye, that old thief. He’s already waiting for me in the Ancestral Court’s Yu Jing City!”
The various Heavenly Sovereigns looked over and their expressions changed. They saw sword light crisscrossing within the Ancestral Court’s Yu Jing City. This ancient divine city had originally been sealed by the combined efforts of many Heavenly Sovereigns, but the seal could block others—it could not block Kai Huang Qin Ye, who had already attained the Dao!
Kai Huang Qin Ye clearly knew that Hao Heavenly Sovereign would likely escort Qin Mu there to sink him into the river, so he had arrived first at the Ancestral Court’s Yu Jing City!
Hao Heavenly Sovereign sneered and said to the others, “That beast Qin Ye is even more dangerous than that thief Mu, but in my eyes, he is nothing to fear. After my battle in the Divine Consciousness Great Luo Heaven, I am fully confident that I can attain the Dao through sheer force and imprint my Dao into the Ultimate Void. Let him be! I will recuperate for a while, then head to the Ultimate Void to establish my own Dao Tree!”
Huo Heavenly Sovereign hesitated and said, “Then that thief Mu…”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign thought for a moment and said, “That thief Mu is hard to kill, but there are still places in this world that can deal with him. Daoist Gong, take my Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel and go to the Guixu. Use that thief to fill the sea eye, and let the Guixu Abyss grind him to death! That sea eye devours everything. Even if he doesn’t die, he won’t be able to escape.”
Gong Heavenly Sovereign acknowledged the order and took the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Wheel.
Huo Heavenly Sovereign said, “I will accompany Daoist Gong.”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign shook his head and said, “The thieves of Carefree Village are heading to the Yuan Realm, trying to establish a foothold there. Brother Huo, you go to the Yuan Realm to intercept them. It’s time to pacify Carefree Village. And the matter of the Youdu Earth Lord should also be settled. This world can only have one master, and that master can only be me.”
The Tai Su Goddess’s eyes darted around, and she smiled, “Hao’er, I will accompany Gong Heavenly Sovereign to ensure nothing goes wrong on the way.”
Hao Heavenly Sovereign said politely, “With Auntie going, Hao’er can rest easy. I’ll trouble Auntie.”
The Tai Su Goddess immediately left the Heavenly Court with Gong Heavenly Sovereign.
Hao Heavenly Sovereign sneered and shook his head: “Seeking death.”
In the court, everyone was silent, not daring to speak.
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