Chapter 1797: Stabbing in the Back
The Ancestral Court.
The First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, and the others arrived here. Although they had already seen the "Ancestral Court Dao Record" and knew of the awe-inspiring and magnificent Mixed Yuan Cauldron of the Ancestral Court, seeing it with their own eyes still left them deeply shaken.
The Chaotic Sea in the sky and the enormous lotus flowers and leaves also filled them with shock and amazement.
However, they deeply regretted missing the scene where the Cosmic Bell crossed sixteen Chaotic Long Rivers, struck the World Tree directly, and contended with the countless prehistoric powerhouses climbing the World Tree's roots.
The magnificent spectacle described by Zhu Santong in the "Ancestral Court Dao Record" filled them with longing.
But when they arrived, it happened to be the moment when a Dao Weapon of an Ascended Being from the prehistoric universe descended upon the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court, which was also a breathtaking sight.
It was an ancient zither. As it descended, the zither played itself, its notes resonating, creating fantastical scenes of myriad realms around the Jade Capital City and in the sky.
"I should go to the World Tree and see Old Man Wuyai."
Qin Mu said to the crowd, "I will persuade Old Man Wuyai to join me in intercepting the descent of the Fourth Young Master's Dao Weapon! The Third Young Master's Dao Spear has already descended. If the Fourth Young Master's zither joins as well, it will be a tremendous threat to both Wuyai and us."
Everyone exchanged glances.
Zhu Santong thought to himself, "Not long ago, the Seventh Young Master joined forces with the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court to attack Old Man Wuyai. Now he wants to join forces with Old Man Wuyai to attack the Jade Capital City. That's a bit too shameless."
The Kai Emperor Qin Ye and the Kai Emperor Di Yiyue quickly tried to dissuade him, advising him not to see Old Man Wuyai and invite trouble.
The First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, and the others also chimed in with their advice.
They had read the "Ancestral Court Dao Record" and knew about Qin Mu's alliance with the Jade Capital City to brutally beat Old Man Wuyai, which was recorded in the "Chapter of Cunning and Deceit."
Zhu Santong had recorded this matter in detail, even noting how Granny Si had ordered him to delete the chapter of cunning and deceit. In that chapter, Old Man Wuyai was beaten badly and nearly uprooted by Qin Mu and the Jade Capital City.
At the most critical moment of the battle, Qin Mu led many powerhouses from Eternal Peace to switch sides, stabbing the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court in the back, throwing the city's hall masters and Ascended Beings into chaos, allowing Old Man Wuyai to escape.
Therefore, neither Old Man Wuyai nor the powerhouses of the Jade Capital City of the Miluo Palace held Qin Mu in high regard.
"For the sake of righteousness, even if thousands oppose me, I will go."
Qin Mu said with great righteousness, "I will go and persuade Old Man Wuyai to see the greater good and join me in resisting the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court!" With that, he went alone to the World Tree.
Everyone exchanged glances. The Kai Emperor Qin Ye said, "Prepare for the worst. Guard against unforeseen events."
Everyone agreed, saying, "Mu Tianzun will likely have difficulty returning unscathed this time. If Old Man Wuyai traps him, he will surely send others to attack us, eliminating our faction first!"
At sunset, Qin Mu returned, his face bruised and swollen, with many contusions on his body. He said to the crowd, "Old Man Wuyai has agreed to join forces. Tomorrow, we attack the Jade Capital City."
Everyone was stunned and astonished.
"Mu'er wasn't beaten to death?"
Village Chief Su Muzhe exclaimed in surprise, "It seems his strength has improved again. I thought Old Man Wuyai would kill him."
Everyone nodded, saying, "Mu Tianzun's strength has indeed improved!"
The next day, the First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, and the others besieged the Jade Capital City. Old Man Wuyai also led nearly ten thousand prehistoric powerhouses, including some who had achieved the Dao.
Old Man Wuyai personally joined the battle, standing shoulder to shoulder with Qin Mu. The corner of his mouth twitched. "Old Seventh of the Miluo Palace, last time you allied with the Jade Capital City to attack me, and I saw your true colors. You're the type to stab your allies in the back. It's hard for me to trust you. This time, you deal with the Fourth Young Master's Dao Spear, and I'll handle the Third Young Master's ancient zither. We'll stay out of each other's way. Don't cross the line."
Qin Mu still had faint bruises on his face that hadn't faded. "Dao Brother, last time I stabbed the Jade Capital City in the back, wasn't it to save you? Instead of being grateful, you call my face detestable. What about your face, Dao Brother?"
Old Man Wuyai also had unhealed bruises on his face. He sneered, "To save me? You were the one who beat me, and you were the one who saved me. How innocent am I? Chaos, you live up to your name. Your actions are chaotic and hard to read! You could have been just like the Miluo Palace Master, obedient to me. I could have protected you and your Eternal Peace, making you another Miluo Palace Master!"
"Another Miluo Palace Master?"
Qin Mu laughed heartily. Old Man Wuyai's face gradually turned green. Qin Mu's laughter slowly subsided, and he shook his head. "Dao Brother Wuyai, I will not become the Miluo Palace Master. And the Miluo Palace Master was not obedient to you. Although you boast that the Miluo Palace Master's Dao Tree imitates you, even you must call him 'Teacher.' Without his creation of Dao techniques and Dao realms, you would just be a tree, ignorant and confused. He made you what you are, not the other way around."
Old Man Wuyai's face turned even greener, but he did not refute.
Qin Mu clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the ancient zither in the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court. The zither's notes played, defending the Jade Capital, turning it into an impregnable holy domain.
"But Dao Brother can rest assured. As long as the Miluo Palace's power is great, we will be natural allies, and I will not let you die." Qin Mu said calmly.
Old Man Wuyai understood. "As long as we join forces to defeat the Jade Capital, my power will be the greatest. So at that point, you will ally with the Jade Capital City to deal with me. Am I understanding this correctly?"
Qin Mu nodded with a smile.
Old Man Wuyai spat. "Chaos, the Miluo Palace Master calls me Wuyai, meaning my life is boundless, and my Dao is boundless. I will give you a title as well: Shameless. Your life is shameless, and your Dao is shameless."
"Dao Brother flatters me." Qin Mu said humbly.
Old Man Wuyai was filled with pent-up anger, wishing he could tear him apart on the spot. But dealing with the Jade Capital City was imperative. If both Young Masters' Dao Weapons descended upon the Ancestral Court, they would be in danger.
"Fortunately, besides you, I have another ally!"
Old Man Wuyai's eyes flickered. He glanced at the sky and suddenly shouted, "Begin!"
As soon as he spoke, the ground outside the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court cracked open with a loud bang. The earth shook as incredibly thick roots burst forth from the depths of the earth, piercing through the myriad realm illusions created by Young Master Zixiao's zither!
The World Tree's roots clashed with the Fourth Young Master's divine abilities hidden within the myriad realm illusions, causing terrifying spatial disturbances. The World Tree's roots were like countless arms of Old Man Wuyai, unleashing various divine abilities to counter the Fourth Young Master's techniques!
The prehistoric powerhouses and Ascended Beings under Old Man Wuyai immediately swarmed forward, stepping onto the World Tree's roots as if walking on magnificent dragon-like mountain ranges. They moved swiftly, charging into the city!
The twelve hall masters and ninety-six Ascended Beings in the city had long been on guard, waiting for the two groups to attack. They immediately engaged.
At the same time, a Chaotic Hall materialized behind Qin Mu, and the Cosmic Bell landed in his palm.
Chaotic Qi suddenly surged and expanded, forming a Chaotic Sea.
Qin Mu lifted the Cosmic Bell and struck forward with his palm.
*Dong!*
The bell's mouth faced the Jade Capital City, as if the universe was being created. As the bell rang, the city walls and towers of the Jade Capital City rippled and shattered. Countless bricks made of the finest divine metals flew up and backward.
The Five Primordial Evolutions unfolded, stars emerged, and galaxies formed the shape of a bell, crashing into the city.
"Kill!"
The Kai Emperor drew his sword and roared, leaping into the bell first, stepping along its inner wall as he charged forward.
"Kill!"
Lan Yutian and the others followed closely, surging into the bell.
This scene immediately ignited the blood of the newly arrived Eternal Peace powerhouses, including the First Ancestor and the Human Sovereign. Qin Fengqing shouted loudly, "You newcomers, stick close to me and the Tianyin Empress! If you're about to die, say so in advance!"
The First Ancestor, the Southern Emperor, and the others felt a chill in their hearts. Zhu Santong followed them, laughing, "Don't worry. Earth Lord, Heavenly Lord, and the Tianyin Empress have many tricks up their sleeves. It's hard for you to die. I've written it all in the book. If worst comes to worst, there's still the Medicine King God!"
The group steeled themselves and charged forward. Ahead, the Kai Emperor, Lan Yutian, and other Ascended Beings were already clashing head-on with the powerhouses of the Jade Capital City, which gave them some reassurance.
Qin Mu raised his hand to stop Yue Tianzun, who also wanted to charge into the city. He gently shook his head.
Yue Tianzun understood and stayed by his side. Qin Mu looked into the distance at the city. He saw the Third Young Master of the Miluo Palace once again controlling the body of Emperor Hao Tian, wielding the Dao Spear. On the other side, the Fourth Young Master had also chosen an Ascended Being to guard his ancient zither.
The zither's notes came from the city, their artistic conception profound. The Fourth Young Master's skill in the Dao of music was not particularly high. His true brilliance lay in using the zither's notes to unleash divine abilities, which was truly extraordinary and unimaginable.
The Third Young Master Lingxiao's spear was the most domineering weapon in the world. Even Qin Mu's Cosmic Bell could not block it.
Although Young Master Zixiao's zither had not fully descended, its power was by no means trivial!
Qin Mu's gaze flickered. He glanced at Old Man Wuyai and said unhurriedly, "This time, besides going to see Old Man Wuyai and fighting him, getting beaten black and blue, I also went to the Jade Capital City."
Yue Tianzun turned her head in surprise, looking at his profile with a puzzled expression. However, she did not ask why Qin Mu had gone to the Jade Capital City after discussing how to deal with it with Old Man Wuyai.
Because she knew that Qin Mu would give her a reasonable explanation.
Qin Mu continued, "Old Man Wuyai's Ascended Beings are increasing. Although we and the Jade Capital City have been attacking the World Tree, eliminating some of his forces, he has the support of sixteen cosmic epochs, and his followers are endless. The reason he can help these followers achieve Dao in the Seventeenth Epoch is that he has another ally."
Yue Tianzun's heart stirred. She wanted to look up at the sky but dared not look directly, fearing she might alert that person.
"Young Master Wuji is helping him, and he is helping Young Master Wuji break free."
Qin Mu said, "My conflict with the Third and Fourth Young Masters of the Miluo Palace is a conflict of ideals—governing the world versus saving the world. Even if the Third and Fourth Young Masters kill me, they will not trouble Eternal Peace or the myriad worlds. They will only continue along the path of the Miluo Palace Master. But Wuji is different. Wuji wants to destroy the world, annihilate everything, and create a perfect world. That is why I went to see the Third and Fourth Young Masters."
Yue Tianzun lowered her voice. "You formed an alliance with them?"
Qin Mu nodded slightly. "Young Master Wuji is a disaster caused by the Third Young Master, and he must bear the responsibility. I sensed the red rope knot seal I repaired. Young Master Wuji did not touch a single one of my runes. So, Old Man Wuyai must have helped her refine the remaining runes in the red rope knot. If the other runes are dissolved by her and Old Man Wuyai, then breaking my runes will be easy for Wuji."
Yue Tianzun said, "So the greatest danger is not Young Master Zixiao's zither."
Qin Mu nodded. "The greatest danger is Wuji. Whether for us or for the Miluo Palace, Wuji breaking free will be a devastating blow. This time, our goal is to lure out Young Master Wuji. I, the Third, and the Fourth Young Masters will join forces to suppress her, seal her again, or even kill her!"
Yue Tianzun shuddered. "But Wuji cannot be killed."
Qin Mu said, "Only two people can kill Wuji: one is the Miluo Palace Master, and the other is Old Man Wuyai."
His gaze turned cold. "This time, we will use Old Man Wuyai's hand to kill Wuji and kill Old Man Wuyai. The Third and Fourth Young Masters will not miss this temptation."
Yue Tianzun asked in confusion, "Then why did you keep me here?"
"I cannot let Wuji and Old Man Wuyai die now. If they die, the entire Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court and the Third and Fourth Young Masters can descend. I cannot allow that."
Qin Mu turned to look at her and said softly, "I need you to interfere with Young Master Zixiao at a critical moment. But you might die."
Yue Tianzun fell silent. Suddenly, she looked up and said, "Tell me what to do."
Qin Mu looked at her quietly and revealed a faint smile. "But I won't let you die. If you trust me, I will return from the future to the past, at this very moment, to save you. Yue."
He took Yue Tianzun's hand. Her heart was in turmoil. Qin Mu said softly, "We will meet in the past universe."
Yue Tianzun withdrew her hand from his and nodded silently.
—Happy belated birthday to Vicissitudes Hard to Calm!! (Zhai Zhu forgot again, adding it now)