Chapter 430: The Northern Emperor’s Divine Weapon
This poison refinement consumed time and effort. The poison Qin Mu brewed was a complex, multi-layered toxin requiring multiple stages of refinement. First, he refined several hundred basic poison pills, using them to feed venomous creatures—poisonous insects, toads, and gu worms. Then, using these venomous insects, toads, and mushrooms as fertilizer, he cultivated poisonous fungi and herbs.
Repeating this process over and over, he finally refined several poison eggs, which he implanted into the bone marrow of his two legs. The shells of these poison eggs were not easily dissolved, but once they encountered the marrow producing blood, they would break open and spread throughout his body via the bloodstream, corrupting the divine repositories, shattering the primordial spirit, and extinguishing the soul and spirit.
He had just finished refining this strange poison, setting aside a few poison eggs for later use, when Si Yunxiang came to notify him, saying, “The elders of the sect and the experts skilled in the Five Ghosts Transport Technique have arrived.”
Qin Mu let out a breath and said in a deep voice, “Invite them in.”
Si Yunxiang brought in the members of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Qin Mu scanned the room and noticed that many of those who had come were generals from the army, still wearing their iron armor, not yet removed.
The Five Ghosts Transport Technique was not an extremely powerful spell; in fact, it was quite lowly, belonging to the lowest tier of magical arts. However, even the most humble spells could possess incredible power when used correctly.
Spells themselves were neither good nor bad; the key lay in how they were used.
If they were to forcefully attack the Fragrant Well Courtyard, even if everyone present had mastered the most powerful techniques and reached the Divine Bridge realm, they would likely suffer heavy casualties and still be unable to stop the White Gap deity from activating the Five Thunder Pot.
Yet, with the most lowly and unrefined Five Ghosts Transport Technique, they could move the Five Thunder Pot away without a single death.
“Everyone!”
Qin Mu bowed respectfully and said, “This time, we must succeed; failure is not an option. Otherwise, a calamity of thunder will engulf Yan Kang, and countless innocent people will die! Whether we succeed depends on your skills!”
The crowd quickly returned the bow: “It is our duty; we dare not accept the Sect Leader’s great courtesy!”
Qin Mu straightened up and said in a grave tone, “The Five Thunder Pot contains the five great cloud thunders of the east, south, west, north, and center. Within these cloud thunders lie the Fire Bell Divine Soldiers. Even moving this divine treasure requires extreme caution, so as not to trigger its power. Do you all have any understanding of the five great cloud thunders?”
The group exchanged glances. An elder stepped forward and said, “Sect Leader, I do have some knowledge of the five great cloud thunders and the Fire Bell Divine Soldiers. In my early years, while traveling, I came across a strange book in the Black Tortoise Temple of the Great Ruins. It recorded some anecdotes about the Northern Emperor.”
Qin Mu’s expression shifted slightly. The Great Ruins again.
“The five great cloud thunders and the Fire Bell Divine Soldiers were treasures refined by the Northern Emperor.”
This elder was the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Minister of Works, who continued, “The Northern Emperor, also known as the Black Tortoise Great Emperor, excelled in thunder techniques. The five great cloud thunders and the Fire Bell Divine Soldiers were his signature skills, possessing immense power. In the Black Tortoise Temple of the Great Ruins, that strange book was inscribed on the back of a black tortoise, made entirely of iron, making it extremely difficult to open. I managed to open two pages of the iron book and saw some records. The Opening Emperor once held a banquet and invited the Northern Emperor. The Northern Emperor demonstrated his skills, and his thunder clouds pierced through all realms, earning the Opening Emperor’s admiration. I don’t know what was written later in that book.”
Qin Mu was astonished. The Northern Emperor and the Opening Emperor—there was a connection between them? The Opening Emperor had once invited the Northern Emperor as a guest?
“This book mentioned some of the mysteries of the Northern Emperor’s five great cloud thunders. I have also done some research on thunder techniques.”
The Minister of Works elder said, “The Great Cloud Thunder Technique has been lost, but the Great Cultivation Heavenly Demon Sutra contains the Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique. I practice the Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique. Although I only read two pages of that strange book, it greatly improved my mastery of the Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique, benefiting me immensely. If the Sect Leader trusts me, let me take charge of the Five Ghosts Transport this time!”
Qin Mu nodded and said, “The Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique is not insignificant in power. Since you practice it, Minister of Works, why don’t we exchange insights? Share your understanding of the Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique.”
The Minister of Works elder then detailed his understanding of the Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique in front of everyone. Qin Mu listened carefully, cross-referencing it with his own knowledge from the Great Cultivation Heavenly Demon Sutra. After the elder finished, Qin Mu began to explain his own understanding of the Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique.
He had been taught by the nine elders of the Remnant Elder Village since childhood, and his insight and knowledge had long reached heights that ordinary people could not attain.
Coupled with the teachings from the Woodcutter’s Stone, the nurturing from the Treasure Ship of Qin and Han, the enlightenment at the Great Thunderclap Monastery, the sword enlightenment from the stone slab, the enlightenment at the Little Jade Capital, and the opportunity to observe the National Teacher’s enlightenment at the Qing Gate Pass, his insight and knowledge, while not necessarily the best in the world, were surpassed by very few.
The Lesser Cloud Thunder Technique was a spell from the Great Cultivation Heavenly Demon Sutra. The Woodcutter’s Stone had already provided a high-level explanation of this technique. With the guidance of Deaf, a master of classical studies, and Qin Mu’s own status as a grandmaster who had created the Six Harmonies Primordial Spirit, instructing the Minister of Works elder in thunder techniques was well within his capabilities.
After Qin Mu finished speaking, the crowd was entranced, each gaining their own insights.
The Minister of Works elder listened with growing admiration, sincerely praising, “The Sect Leader is a prodigy, a born holy leader.”
Although Qin Mu was young, just sixteen, and still at the Six Harmonies realm, his insight and depth of understanding could already convince a Divine Bridge realm expert like himself.
“Take your time to comprehend. In a few days, we will move the Five Thunder Pot.”
Qin Mu asked Si Yunxiang, “Where is the Emperor now?”
“The Emperor has just arrived at You Province, still over ten days’ journey from here.”
Si Yunxiang said, “His Majesty’s intention is to ask the Sect Leader to delay for ten days. If ten days are impossible, then at least eight days. After eight days, he will fire his cannon from five thousand li away and kill White Gap.”
Qin Mu shook his head and said, “White Gap won’t give us eight days. In three to five days, he will make his decision. How is the battle at the Divine Severance Mountain Range going?”
Si Yunxiang frowned and said, “That place is completely destroyed, filled with the residual power of techniques. Even experts at the Heavenly Being realm cannot enter. The Emperor has ordered the troops at the Yanbian and Mishui Passes to retreat, abandoning those passes to avoid being caught in the aftermath. As for who won or lost…”
She shook her head and said, “The Emperor ordered the commanders of the two passes to investigate, but no news has come back. So far… no one has come out.”
Qin Mu’s heart clenched. He exhaled a turbid breath, his gaze sharpening: “Then let’s resolve the matter of the White Gap deity first. I will go there myself—alive or dead, I will see the outcome! Minister of Works, I’ll give you two days. Prepare as quickly as possible. We won’t wait for the Emperor!”
The Minister of Works elder and the others felt a chill of resolve and quickly went to practice coordinating their spells. Two days to get over a hundred people to work seamlessly together, performing the same technique without any disruption, without triggering any of the Five Thunder Pot’s power—it was difficult, but time was tight, and they couldn’t afford more practice.
Suddenly, a cultivator guarding the Fragrant Well Courtyard came to report, saying, “Sect Leader Qin, that deity invites you!”
Qin Mu’s expression shifted, and he rose to go. In the Fragrant Well Courtyard, the White Gap deity’s complexion had improved significantly. Clearly, he had been refining pills to treat his injuries over the past two days, which had lightened his wounds and restored some of his cultivation.
However, having cut off one of his own legs, escape was now impossible. What Qin Mu feared now was that he would fight to the death, since the White Gap deity had been staying close to the Five Thunder Pot.
“Young friend, you’ve had many guests recently.” The White Gap deity’s horn on his forehead glowed, sending rings of light sliding down from its tip, flowing over his entire body as he smiled.
Qin Mu carefully observed the light radiating from the horn on his forehead, his heart stirring. The light from this horn was vibrating his physical body, refining the bad blood within. It seemed to be a body-refining technique, allowing his bodily functions to recover quickly.
Earlier, Qin Mu had beaten the White Gap deity so badly that he couldn’t even flee. Now, with some cultivation restored over these past few days, he was beginning to try to recover his physical strength.
“The ones who came are all small fry, no threat to you, right, Senior Brother?”
Qin Mu smiled and said, “I see that your strength is recovering quickly, which makes me a bit worried that you might go back on your word and not fulfill your promise. I think we’ve already waited six or seven days; there’s no need to wait any longer. It’s better to sign the Earth Lord’s Pact as soon as possible. Why not make it today?”
“What promise? Did I make a promise to you? Hahaha!”
The White Gap deity laughed heartily, his voice like thunder echoing through the city: “I was just joking. Look at your face—it’s turned white from fright. Since we’ve already waited six or seven days, why not wait a little longer? Didn’t you say you were going to attach a divine leg for me? I haven’t gotten my leg yet. Once the leg is attached, we’ll sign the Earth Lord’s Pact!”
Qin Mu’s face changed, and he said coldly, “If I attach your leg and your strength recovers this much, you’ll activate the Five Thunder Pot and then turn and run. Wouldn’t I be burdened with the sin of destroying countless people of Yan Kang? Your leg can wait until after we sign the Earth Lord’s Pact!”
The White Gap deity placed his hand on the Five Thunder Pot and said with a grin, “Your name is Qin Mu, right? I asked around among the cultivators outside. The Heavenly Demon Sect Leader, Qin Mu, and also a Human Sovereign. Quite impressive—you broke one of my legs. Xu Shenghua went to find you but hasn’t returned, so you must have dealt with him. No wonder—how could he contend with you? Come here, attach my leg, and we can still talk. Otherwise, I’ll activate the Five Thunder Pot right now!”
Qin Mu’s face twisted in anger, and he shouted, “Dragon King God!”
Water rippled behind him, and the Dragon King God appeared, bowing: “Dragon King God is here! What are your orders, Master?”
The White Gap deity sneered, “Don’t try anything rash, Sect Leader Qin. My hand is still on this Five Thunder Pot.”
Qin Mu’s eyelids twitched. Suddenly, his expression softened like a spring breeze turning into rain, and he laughed heartily, “Senior Brother White Gap is indeed formidable. I’ll attach your leg. Dragon King God, no need to be tense. Someone, bring the medicine I’ve prepared! Senior Brother White Gap, which leg have you chosen? Bring it out.”
The White Gap deity tossed over the shorter divine leg and said with a faint smile, “This leg is the wrong length. Take out the other two legs, and I’ll choose another one.”
Qin Mu’s smile froze, and his face twitched violently.
The White Gap deity stood on one leg, smiling leisurely, and said, “Does Sect Leader Qin have any objections?”
Qin Mu took a deep breath, took out the other two divine legs, and said through gritted teeth, “None. Senior Brother White Gap, please choose!”
The White Gap deity glanced at him, saw that Qin Mu’s face was ashen, and laughed heartily, “Young man, you still lack composure.”
His divine power surged, rolling up the two divine legs. After carefully inspecting them and finding no tricks from Qin Mu, he smiled and said, “I choose this one. Sect Leader Qin, Divine Physician Qin, attach it for me.”
Qin Mu suppressed his anger and said, “Please lie down, Senior Brother.”
The White Gap deity lay down, his hand still covering the Five Thunder Pot, and said leisurely, “Don’t try any tricks. If this hand of mine moves, the Five Thunder Pot will erupt, and the cloud thunder will destroy the world with ease. The Northern Emperor’s treasure—not only could it destroy Yan Kang, but even the Opening Emperor didn’t it turn into the Great Ruins… Heh heh!”