Chapter 378: Acting on Behalf of Heaven
The blood rain was not heavy, nor was it widespread, falling precisely on the mountain foothills where they were. Qin Mu saw countless trees, flowers, and grasses in this forest growing at an astonishing rate. The trees became tall and lush, and the spiritual energy swirling around them was so dense it seemed about to materialize, forming ribbons and bands floating around the great trees.
Between the flowers and grasses, milky white mist spread, making them appear exceptionally vibrant and tender.
After such a long rain, the lakes, ditches, and rivers were all full. Now, countless fish in these lakes and rivers grew wildly, becoming like the fish monsters in the Great Ruins, several zhang in length. Some fish grew legs, jumping onto the banks and opening their mouths, revealing sharp teeth, catching the drizzling blood rain from the sky.
Some auspicious beasts in the mountains swelled in size, various bone spurs sprouting from their bodies, branching out in all directions, quite frightening.
The mermaid beauties in the lake also became abnormally large, their originally beautiful faces turning strange and grotesque.
The energy within the divine blood was too immense, easily causing these living things to grow into malformed monsters. Moreover, this growth was uncontrollable—whatever was touched by the blood rain first would grow first, often becoming much larger than other areas!
Plants and insects also had life, and they too were drenched by the blood rain, turning this mountain foothill into something like another Great Ruins.
In Qin Mu's view, it was the powerful yin-yang energy, four-phase energy, and five-element energy within the divine blood that disrupted the balance within these living beings, causing the mutation. It was still different from the Great Ruins.
The strange beasts in the Great Ruins more often carried the bloodline of gods and demons—it was hereditary—while the strange beasts here were more often mutated by absorbing the powerful force within the divine blood.
"Which god has fallen? Is it that Dragon Tamer Lord?" Mu Qingdai said softly.
Outside the great hall, the mountain was covered in colorful clouds and thick mist, decorating the place like a sacred land. But if they were to walk into the blood rain, they would likely mutate like the life in these mountains.
However, if they were not directly hit by the blood rain, they could cultivate here, absorbing the powerful divine force. For cultivators of divine abilities, this place was absolutely a sacred land for cultivation!
In terms of spiritual and divine power alone, even the three sacred lands of the Yan Kingdom paled in comparison. After all, neither the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Daoist Sect, nor the Great Thunderclap Monastery could kill a god to nourish their own sacred land.
"Granny originally lived in this remote place, intending to trap Li Tianxing with herself. She probably never imagined this place would become a sacred land for cultivation, did she?"
Qin Mu's expression was strange. He carefully caught a drop of divine blood with his Carefree Sword, examined it, and shook his head. "This isn't the Dragon Tamer Lord's blood. The Dragon Tamer Lord's blood is dragon blood. The divine power contained in this blood isn't dragon blood..."
His expression suddenly turned somewhat peculiar. "I've seen this kind of divine blood before."
Qin Mu flicked his sword, and the drop of divine blood on the blade flowed to the tip. He moved his wrist, and the drop of blood flowed continuously along the sword without ever sliding off.
Suddenly, the energy within the sword burst forth, and the power of that drop of divine blood was instantly activated, like a divine ability erupting. The surging energy collided with the force of Qin Mu's move, forcing him back several steps.
Qin Mu nodded solemnly. "I have indeed seen this kind of divine blood. Over a year ago, when the snow disaster suddenly stopped, it was because the Yan Kingdom National Teacher found the divine being who had released the snow disaster and fought a great battle with him. He was severely wounded by that divine being, and that divine being was also injured and bled. When I helped treat the Yan Kingdom National Teacher, I saw that divine being's blood. The energy in that blood is very similar to this drop."
At that time, Qin Mu used a sword pellet gifted to him by the Mute to bridge the connection between the residual divine power and divine blood within the Yan Kingdom National Teacher's body, activating the divine power and divine blood energy to annihilate each other, alleviating the National Teacher's injuries before he could treat him.
But that sword pellet was also worn down and became much smaller. The sword pellet was given to Qin Mu by the Mute to deal with the Village Chief, and also to help him comprehend higher-level refining techniques. Qin Mu had regretted its loss for some time.
That period was deeply etched in Qin Mu's memory because at the same time, Yanfeng Emperor was also besieged by the old Daoist Master and the old Tathagata, nearly dying, and Qin Mu had treated him as well.
At that time, both the Yan Kingdom National Teacher and Yanfeng Emperor had become cripples, utterly miserable. The National Teacher had retreated with his wife to a small valley, and his wife was pregnant.
"The god killed by the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon is that divine being who brought the snow disaster!"
Qin Mu's eyes flickered with uncertainty. He said softly, "This is also retribution. He died as he deserved. In the snow disaster, the victims were all poor families. The population of the Yan Kingdom suddenly decreased by twenty to thirty percent. The number of deaths was greater than in any previous war."
The three from Little Jade Capital remained silent.
When the snow disaster broke out, the Yan Kingdom National Teacher had gone to Little Jade Capital. Qingyou Shanren had tried to keep him and his wife there, wanting to keep them in Little Jade Capital to stop the reform. The immortals of Little Jade Capital believed that the reforms of the Yan Kingdom National Teacher and Yanfeng Emperor were the root cause of the snow disaster, and the only way to avoid it was to stop the reforms.
Wang Muran and the others had heard about this.
The Yan Kingdom National Teacher was despondent for a few days but eventually left Little Jade Capital. Not long after, the snow disaster stopped. Qingyou Shanren was still worried, telling them that the National Teacher was determined to proceed with the reforms.
At that time, neither the Yan Kingdom National Teacher nor the immortals of Little Jade Capital had anticipated that things would develop to this point. None of them had expected that a god would fall, and that it would be the very god who had brought the disaster.
This god was killed by the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon. What changes this would bring to the Yan Kingdom, no one could say or predict.
Qin Mu rinsed the Emperor Plate with clean water more than a dozen times but still dared not hold it directly. He mixed several medicinal solutions, washed and boiled it, before finally putting the Emperor Plate away, still hanging it around his neck.
Outside, the blood rain gradually stopped. The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and the sky brightened. Qin Mu and the others walked out of the great hall, floating in the air to avoid the blood water on the ground.
Outside, the sky was clear, cloudless for ten thousand li. The divine battle over the Yan Kingdom seemed like a dream, as if it had never happened.
Sunlight spilled from the west. The azure sky was washed clean, very clear, and the air seemed to have become much fresher.
They stood in the air, looking around. Suddenly, Qin Mu looked north. There, a massive object floated in the air, heading toward them.
It was the platform of the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon, now floating in the air, rushing toward them!
Yanfeng Emperor and the Yan Kingdom National Teacher stood on the floating platform, their clothes fluttering in the wind. Many Yan Kingdom officials also stood on the platform. Qin Mu had taught Yanfeng Emperor how to control the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon, so it must have been the Emperor who fired that shot.
On the platform, the furnace emitted a white light, and the divine eye-like cannon at the center slowly rotated, radiating terrifying power.
Yanfeng Emperor's face was flushed with excitement, his spirits high.
"The divine cannon you crafted has shot down a god."
Long Yu said to Qin Mu, "This era has changed. Mortals can now kill the lofty gods above. Human Sovereign, is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I don't know. I only know that gods can no longer act with impunity!"
Qin Mu's heart surged with emotion. The Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon he had crafted had blasted down a lofty god—this was a supreme honor!
Long Yu looked at him and then said meaningfully, "Human Sovereign, Little Jade Capital has many books. If you have time, I suggest you read about the history of several previous eras."
Qin Mu was momentarily stunned, then headed toward the approaching platform, laughing, "I still need to return to the capital and study the Six Harmonies Realm's cultivation of the primordial spirit with Yuxiu, to push forward the reforms. When I have time, I'll go to Little Jade Capital. The old immortals of Little Jade Capital have also promised to let me enter the Five Elements Hall again."
Long Yu sighed and said no more.
Wang Muran was devoted to cultivation, and Mu Qingdai could hardly sit still. Among the three disciples of Little Jade Capital, he was the most steady, having read many of the books there.
The Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon killing a god was certainly shocking, but the consequences it might bring filled him with worry.
Wang Muran and Mu Qingdai also headed toward the platform, and Long Yu had no choice but to follow.
"Your Majesty. National Teacher!"
Qin Mu and the others landed on the platform. Qin Mu bowed. Yanfeng Emperor could barely contain his excitement, waved his hand, and laughed, "Minister Qin, no need for formalities! This cannon..."
Qin Mu smiled. "Your Majesty, was it satisfying?"
Yanfeng Emperor was in high spirits, laughing heartily. "Satisfying? I fired one shot and directly killed that god who brought the disaster—it was more than satisfying! It was acting on behalf of Heaven! It's a pity those other gods ran too fast, otherwise I could have let the National Teacher have some fun, and let Minister Qin have some fun too!"
The court historian behind him coughed softly and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, mind your words..."
Yanfeng Emperor waved his hand and laughed, "If you don't write it down, it's fine. I've been itching to fire that damn cannon for a long time, but it consumes too many medicinal stones. If it weren't for hearing that Minister Qin was in danger, captured by some strange-looking god, and that there was a battle of gods here, I wouldn't have had the chance to use this great cannon! By the way, Minister Qin, come meet this aggrieved party, the Patriarch of the White Sun Sword Sect. He came to file a complaint, saying you brought a strange and terrifying existence and a group of flood dragons to occupy his White Sun Sword Sect."
Qin Mu looked behind Yanfeng Emperor and saw an old man with white hair step forward, wearing a smile.
"This Patriarch said that you and that strange man swallowed the treasures of his White Sun Sword Sect."
Yanfeng Emperor laughed. "I thought something was off at the time, so I called the National Teacher. He said your Heavenly Saint Sect doesn't have that many flood dragons, so something must have happened to you."
Qin Mu thanked the Yan Kingdom National Teacher.
The Yan Kingdom National Teacher shook his head. "No need to thank me. Thank the White Sun Patriarch. If he hadn't come to file the complaint, no one would have known you were in danger."
The White Sun Patriarch quickly said, "Ignorance is not a crime. I originally thought Sect Leader Qin was planning to take over my White Sun Sword Sect and swallow its treasures, so I hurried to the capital to file a complaint. I never expected to actually render a service. Sect Leader Qin, are there any treasures in my White Sun Mountain? If you have indeed obtained any treasures, could you return them to my White Sun Sword Sect?"
"Well..."
Qin Mu showed a troubled expression, truly conflicted about whether to tell the White Sun Patriarch the truth.
Suddenly, a soldier flew over and reported, "Your Majesty, the divine corpse has been found!"
Yanfeng Emperor's spirits lifted, and he waved his hand. "Bring it up!"