# Chapter 1682: I Have a Dream, Meng Yungui's Story (Part 1)
"Long Xiao is dead. I can sense that my Little Earth Lord pact with him has vanished."
Qin Mu listened to Moon Venerable's zither music and suddenly spoke these words, sighing with emotion: "I had originally hoped that he would lead the Beast Realm to fight against the Heavenly Court. His aid in our time of need would have been a great kindness indeed."
Moon Venerable tilted her head as she played the zither, her hair cascading down from the left side of her neck. But the melody was intermittent, not very coherent, as she said: "Long Xiao was a profiteer. In the ancient era, he relied on King Bo Yang for survival. All living beings worshipped him, and he fed off the benefits of King Bo Yang and the Creators.
"When the Creators fell, Long Xiao was unwilling to give up his benefits, yet he also dared not risk his life in a desperate gamble. So he feigned death to escape, hiding in the shadow of the Ancestral Court to continue feeding off the remnants of the Creator era.
"During the era of the Ten Celestial Venerables, he attached himself to the Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Alliance, establishing the Beast Realm to continue profiting. He could maintain his position without having to fight desperately.
"During the era of Emperor Hao, Emperor Hao appointed him as one of the Ten Celestial Venerables. His rule over the Beast Realm was legitimate, and he continued to profit. Even if you were to win in the future and establish a new court, such a being would still cling to you and continue to feed off your benefits. At that point, Pastoral Celestial Venerable, how would you deal with him? It would become an enormous problem!"
Moon Venerable suddenly struck the strings discordantly, somewhat annoyed: "This music score is simply impossible to play!"
The score she was playing was one that Qin Mu had given her. It was extremely strange. Moon Venerable was a master of zither music, an unparalleled expert in melody, yet she could never play Qin Mu's score completely.
"This is a piece created by the deceased wife of the Fourth Young Master. The Fourth Young Master of Miluo Palace often plays this piece in the Chaotic River. To deal with the Fourth Young Master, we must start with this piece."
Qin Mu's eyes flickered: "The Fourth Young Master has almost no weaknesses. His only weakness is this piece."
Moon Venerable flipped through the score and said: "This piece is extremely difficult to play. The difficulty lies not in the score itself, but in the artistic conception. The artistic conception within the melody is extremely profound. The person who left this score must have already entered the thirty-sixth level of the Dao of Music. Although I have considerable achievements in music, I have not yet cultivated to this level."
Qin Mu turned sideways and asked: "Moon, when will your Ultimate Void achieve the Dao?"
Moon Venerable looked up and smiled serenely: "I feel it is not far off."
Qin Mu was greatly delighted and laughed: "If you achieve the Dao, our chances of victory will increase by one point."
Moon Venerable couldn't help but be curious and asked: "Pastoral Celestial Venerable believes that after I achieve the Dao, what are our chances of victory?"
"One point." Qin Mu raised one finger.
Moon Venerable gave him a sidelong glance, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "After I achieve the Dao, we only have a one percent chance of victory? If I don't achieve the Dao, wouldn't we have no chance at all?"
Qin Mu nodded and said: "A big tree provides good shade. Emperor Hao relies on the Ancestral Court's Jade Capital City as his big tree, placing him in an invincible position. So far, it looks like we can withstand the Heavenly Court's offensive, but in truth, we have zero chance of victory! However, as time passes, our chances will increase."
His gaze fell upon the Ferry of Salvation Golden Ship, and his heart burned with passion. If they could hold out for another sixteen years, the figure of the Kai Emperor would appear on the golden ship. That would be the time for Yankang's counterattack!
"What do you think about the Southern Heaven?"
Moon Venerable said: "The Southern Heaven has an extremely large human population. A few years ago, Meng Yungui rebelled against the Heavenly Court and sent people to request reinforcements. Emperor Yanfeng sent Loose Cultivator Longshan and the Nether Abyss Crown Prince. However, the Heavenly Court also sent heavy troops. In this battle, I'm afraid the Southern Heaven cannot hold out."
Qin Mu shook his head and said: "Neither Yankang nor the Land of No Worries has the spare strength to support the Southern Heaven. Under these circumstances, the Southern Heaven can only rely on itself."
Moon Venerable said no more.
At present, the Heavenly Court's armies were continuously attacking, already forming a three-sided encirclement of the Land of No Worries, leaving only one gap leading to Yankang.
In the Southern Sea, the two Red Emperors, Yan'er, the Southern Emperor, and the Red Emperor were attacking the Heavenly Court's Southern Heaven forces. The battle had not yet subsided, and they had no time to come to the rescue.
In the northern frontier of the Kan region, Wei Suifeng was leading his old subordinates from the Feather Forest Army and Yankang's troops in a desperate struggle against the Northern Heaven's Black Emperor Nian Guanhe's forces. Wei Suifeng's troops were few in number and were constantly requesting reinforcements from Yankang.
Only Jiang Baigui's eastern route was winning battle after battle. However, he happened to be up against the Eastern Heaven's Azure Emperor, a master known for his caution. Although Yankang's National Teacher Jiang Baigui kept winning, they were all small victories, unable to completely eliminate the Eastern Heaven's Azure Emperor's forces.
Yankang still had considerable troops within its borders, but now all of Yankang's various supervisory factories were operating at full capacity, requiring these gods and demons to continuously manufacture divine weapons and artifacts.
On the battlefield, divine weapons and sharp tools were consumed extremely quickly. Even heavy weapons could be shattered, requiring powerful logistical support!
War was fought with financial resources, reserves, and manufacturing capabilities.
The Heavenly Court relied on its foundation and reserves, but its wartime manufacturing capabilities were far inferior to Yankang's. Many of Yankang's supervisory factories had originally been for civilian use, but now they had all been converted to military use!
Once Yankang's war machine was activated, the power it unleashed was truly world-shaking!
Therefore, the longer this war dragged on, the more advantageous it was for Yankang. The shorter the time, the more advantageous it was for the Heavenly Court.
"The Southern Heaven has been enslaved by Fire Celestial Venerable and has lost its spirit of resistance. Under normal circumstances, changing the thinking of the Southern Heaven's humans would require three to five generations, or even longer. It might take several hundred years to make the Southern Heaven like Yankang."
Qin Mu's voice was low as he continued: "But war is different. Suffering can make a generation awaken quickly. Yankang cannot help the Southern Heaven. The Southern Heaven belongs to the people of the Southern Heaven. The people of the Southern Heaven can help themselves..."
Moon Venerable said no more and continued practicing her zither.
Southern Heaven, Flame Bright Heaven.
Northern Heavenly King Yi Luo and Third Heavenly Master Bai Yuqiong led their army in a relentless pursuit of Meng Yungui and his remaining forces to this place. Heavenly King Yi Luo gave the order, and countless gods and demons entered Flame Bright Heaven, flying to all directions.
These gods and demons possessed vast supernatural powers. They descended upon various villages and cities.
Bai Yuqiong frowned. Heavenly King Yi Luo's orders left her somewhat puzzled.
She watched as those gods and demons descended upon the various human settlements in Flame Bright Heaven, each displaying their divine powers. The majestic divine manifestations of the gods and demons intimidated the humans in these settlements.
At the command of those gods and demons, people over forty years old in each village and city automatically came out, lined up, and arrived at the village entrances or city gates, boarding the various ships waiting there.
Large and small divine boats, divine ships, and divine vessels took off, flying toward the giant multi-story ships suspended in the sky. These vessels delivered the people to the multi-story ships, then scattered in all directions to continue collecting humans from various places.
Bai Yuqiong was alarmed and uncertain: "Heavenly King Yi Luo, this is..."
"The billions of gods and demons of the Heavenly Court are attacking the Land of No Worries and Yankang. The soldiers cannot fight on empty stomachs."
Heavenly King Yi Luo said: "His Majesty said that the Southern Heaven is the Heavenly Court's granary. When the grain is ripe, it must be harvested."
Bai Yuqiong's hair stood on end. She stared blankly at those giant multi-story ships suspended in the sky of Flame Bright Heaven. Ships of all sizes were constantly entering and exiting, transporting boatload after boatload of human adults and elderly.
Some multi-story ships had already been filled with slaves and had begun to set sail, heading toward the Heavenly River.
"His Majesty sent me here. The most important task is not to eliminate the traitor Meng Yungui, but to guard the Heavenly Court's granary. Of course, being able to eliminate the rebel Meng Yungui would also be a great achievement!"
Heavenly King Yi Luo laughed: "More crucially, Meng Yungui cares about the lives of these lowly people. It was because of these lowly people of the Southern Heaven that he rebelled. Meng Yungui is hiding and fleeing everywhere, making it difficult for me to catch him. However, if I capture these lowly people, Meng Yungui will have no choice but to try to take the ships! Even though he knows it's a trap, he has to walk into it."
He suddenly laughed mockingly: "Heavenly Master Bai, are you the Heavenly Master, or am I? Since entering the Southern Heaven, I have been the one making all the plans. You, the renowned Heavenly Master, haven't come up with a single strategy!"
Bai Yuqiong quickly bowed and said: "Heavenly King Yi Luo is not only unmatched in martial prowess but also surpassingly wise in strategy. I dare not show off my meager skills."
Yi Luo laughed heartily and shook his head: "You have an excellent relationship with Meng Yungui. I think you don't really want your friend to die at your hands, do you? Heavenly Master Bai, you should know that you are more useful alive than dead. At the very least, you can protect the people in the various heavens under your name. Meng Yungui failed to realize this. His Feather Transformation Heaven will inevitably be purged in the future!"
Bai Yuqiong shuddered and said no more.
Heavenly King Yi Luo's expression turned cold as he issued the order: "Pass down my command! The Heavenly Court's soldiers are fighting on the front lines, risking their lives. They deserve to enjoy themselves! The livestock of Flame Bright Heaven, regardless of age, are all to be escorted onto the ships and sent to the Origin Realm!"
Bai Yuqiong's body trembled slightly.
Heavenly King Yi Luo glanced at her, but Bai Yuqiong did not move.
Once the order was given, the Heavenly Court's soldiers immediately set to work. Previously, the people in the various villages and cities had been unwilling to resist, afraid to resist. Now that entire villages, tribes, and cities were to become food for the gods and demons, they finally remembered to resist.
Bai Yuqiong looked down. Village after village of people were being suppressed by the gods and demons.
In the villages, in the cities, cries and wails filled the sky. Women and children clung to each other. Young people tried desperately to protect their wives and children, but it was useless.
At this moment, they overcame the servility in their hearts, but they had no power to resist.
Bai Yuqiong struggled to steady her mind as she watched these scenes unfold. She felt that at this moment, she was no different from the numb people of the Southern Heaven. She had lost her blood and courage, leaving only servility.
Now the people of Flame Bright Heaven had overcome the servility in their hearts, overcome the enslavement education of Fire Celestial Venerable, but the servility in her heart could not be overcome.
She tried to convince herself that the people in the various heavens under her command were still there. Rebelling against the Heavenly Court for the sake of the Southern Heaven's slaves would cost them their lives.
She was only enduring, only compromising to preserve herself. It wasn't that there was a kneeling version of herself hidden within her heart. She had always been standing, never kneeling.
But her conscience told her that she had always been kneeling, never standing!
Suddenly, terrifying tremors came from the distant Heavenly River. Meng Yungui led over a hundred soldiers from the Feather Transformation Camp in an attack on the Heavenly Court's supply ships, killing the Heavenly Court soldiers on the multi-story ships!
Heavenly King Yi Luo's eyes lit up. The wings on his back spread open with a swoosh as he laughed heartily: "Heavenly Master Meng has fallen into my trap!"
He whistled toward that location. At the same time, from within the Heavenly Court's multi-story ships, countless Heavenly Court gods and demons flew out of the cabins, crazily charging toward the ship where Meng Yungui was located!
Heavenly King Yi Luo had already laid an ambush. These Heavenly Court gods and demons were carefully selected fierce generals with profound cultivation, well-organized formations, and overwhelming numbers!
At the very front were twenty thousand Divine Martial Guards!
The First and Second Divine Martial Guards had been crippled by Long Qilin, Meng Yungui, and others, leaving only a little over twenty thousand. After removing the sick and disabled, there were still twenty thousand.
Yi Luo was skilled in commanding troops and good at integration. He organized these twenty thousand men into a single formation, using the Heavenly Court's Grand Heaven Diagram as their formation pattern.
The auras of these twenty thousand Divine Martial Guards connected, their magical powers connected, their momentum connected. As they activated the Grand Heaven Diagram, heavenly palaces rose from the formation diagram, forming a Small Heavenly Court!
Within that Small Heavenly Court, the primordial spirits of the twenty thousand Divine Martial Guards combined into a single towering primordial spirit, taking the form of Emperor Langxuan. It raised a finger!
Divine Origin Finger!
The power of this strike could not compare to a true Celestial Venerable, far inferior to Emperor Langxuan. But the power of this strike was still unimaginably great!
If the First and Second Divine Martial Guards had not suffered such heavy casualties, this strike would have possessed the power of a Celestial Venerable!
The Grand Heaven Diagram was also a formation designed by Meng Yungui himself, yet now it was being used to kill him. The irony was palpable.
Meng Yungui stood on that multi-story ship, united in purpose with the hundred or so Feather Transformation Camp soldiers behind him. They formed a small-scale formation, their vital qi unified as they activated the formation. Meng Yungui was at the Emperor Throne realm, while the other Feather Transformation Camp soldiers were much weaker.
Together, they channeled their power into the formation, which was also a small-scale Grand Heaven Diagram. Divine Origin Finger!
Boom!
The Heavenly River violently churned. In front of and behind Meng Yungui, the hundred or so Feather Transformation Camp soldiers had blood spraying from their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths. Meng Yungui grunted and staggered backward.
The vast majority of the force from this strike was concentrated on him, shaking his primordial spirit nearly to the point of shattering. His heavenly palace also collapsed, with countless halls destroyed in an instant.
The divine hides within his body emitted crackling explosions. Divine hides appeared with shocking cracks, streaks and lines, terrifying to behold.
The Divine Martial Guards charged forward, while other army groups encircled from front and back, trapping this multi-story ship.
Suddenly, Meng Yungui burst into loud laughter and shouted fiercely: "Crown Prince, now!"
As his words fell, the Heavenly River violently churned, waves surging. Beneath the Heavenly River, the enormous body of the Black Tortoise rose like a continent, carrying countless multi-story ships on its back!
The Nether Abyss Crown Prince activated his divine powers, stirring up wind and waves, churning the Heavenly River, and carrying the slave ships filled with the people of the Southern Heaven as they roared away!
The Nether Abyss Crown Prince was the eldest son of the two Black Tortoise Emperors. His skills were formidable, his cultivation and magical power profound. Coupled with his extraordinary talent, he lifted multi-story ships, catching the Heavenly Court's divine demon army off guard. Countless people were swallowed by the great waves, crushed to pieces by the Crown Prince's divine powers amidst the surging waters!
The formations of the other army groups were broken. Even the formation of the Divine Martial Guards showed a hint of disorder. Meng Yungui immediately saw the opportunity and led his remaining troops charging out from the ship, attacking the Divine Martial Guards, throwing them into chaos.
Just as he was about to lead his men to break through the encirclement, a flash of light passed by. With a thunderous boom, Heavenly King Yi Luo descended onto the multi-story ship where Meng Yungui had been standing.
Whoosh—
Heavenly King Yi Luo spread his wings. The deck of the multi-story ship, along with the cabins, were lifted up, revealing the countless trembling people in the ship's hold. There were old and young, women and children, adults.
Meng Yungui stopped, turned around. His eyes were bloodshot. He bent over, panting heavily, glaring fiercely at Heavenly King Yi Luo.
Heavenly King Yi Luo smiled. He raised his hand, and a Southern Heaven Gate crashed down, pressing onto the Heavenly River.
The Nether Abyss Crown Prince had sent those multi-story ships to a distant location and was about to come to rescue Meng Yungui when the Southern Heaven Gate pressed down, nearly causing him to fall out of the river.
"Crown Prince, escort the ships away first."
Meng Yungui straightened his waist, not looking back, and called out loudly: "I will catch up to you!"
The Nether Abyss Crown Prince turned around, activated the Heavenly River, and escorted those multi-story ships and the people of the Southern Heaven on them away.
"Kneel." Heavenly King Yi Luo said indifferently.
Behind him, the people on the full ship all knelt down. Not a single one dared to stand. A child wanted to cry, but was silenced by his mother's hand over his mouth.
Heavenly King Yi Luo raised his hand and grabbed a woman. A mocking smile played on his face as he stared at Meng Yungui: "Heavenly Master Meng, they are just slaves, just livestock, food for the Heavenly Court's gods and demons. Every year, countless livestock are sacrificed to the demigods. Back then, why didn't you betray the Heavenly Court because of this? Why only now?"
Meng Yungui's voice was hoarse as he laughed darkly: "Back then, I only heard about it, I didn't witness it. I didn't see it with my own eyes. Although it saddened me, I could endure it. Now that I have seen it, it has touched my Dao heart, so I must rebel."
He straightened his waist and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth: "In the past, the people of the Southern Heaven could still live, living to sixty or seventy years old before becoming sacrifices. But now that the Heavenly Court is at war with Yankang, the war is dragging on. The Southern Heaven will likely be eaten to extinction. Not to mention sixty or seventy years old, even infants will probably be eaten! How could I bear it?"
Bai Yuqiong flew over but did not approach. She stood silently in the distance.
Heavenly King Yi Luo tilted his head back, put the woman in his hand into his mouth, swallowed her, and said with a half-smile: "For them? For these livestock that don't know how to resist?"
He laughed heartily, pointing at the people kneeling motionless behind him: "Besides the Celestial Venerables and the Heavenly Emperor, whose power in this world surpasses yours? And you would rebel against the Heavenly Court for these livestock? Heavenly Master Meng!"
His laughter became somewhat manic: "All the gods say you are the number one Heavenly Master, surpassing even Heavenly Master Shang in wisdom. In my opinion, you have made the stupidest decision!"
His smile suddenly completely disappeared, turning ice-cold: "Kill him."
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Another chapter of nearly five thousand words. However, the chapters about Meng Yungui might require two such long chapters to finish. My pig trotters are about to be crippled, and my pig brain is about to evaporate. Tears. Begging for votes for comfort. Who among you has found my votes? (Looking around confusedly)