Chapter 440: Void Blossoms
In Yancheng, Qin Mu stood outside the city, observing the true god stone statues that had emerged from beneath the earth. Three months had passed since the end of the Upper Firmament crisis. During these three months, the wounded had all been healing, with the Medicine Master personally treating their injuries, allowing everyone to recover quickly.
The Secluded Mountain Man had returned to Little Jade Capital, but he would occasionally come back to visit everyone. The Grey Immortal and Fox Immortal, along with the ashes of Willow Immortal, Yellow Immortal, and White Immortal, had returned to Willow Prefecture. Kun King and Wing King had taken Xuan Shengwu's tortoise shell to the overseas Xuanwu Clan, sending him back to his race.
The Dharma Protector Elder had also delivered the ashes of the young patriarch, burying them beneath the sacred tree.
Qin Mu personally sent the old Dao Lord's body back to the Dao Sect, and Ma Ye also welcomed the old Tathagata's physical form back to the Great Thunderclap Monastery, enshrining it in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda.
Among those who had perished in this battle was Earth Traveler Peak. He had been buried together with his opponent in the molten lava beneath the earth. The Secluded Mountain Man had gone underground once, and a woman about the same height as Earth Traveler Peak had come to the surface with him. She was Earth Traveler Peak's widow. After paying respects at the place where he had fallen, she said to Qin Mu: "The Earth Traveler Divine Clan will never break the oath of that year. Should the Human Sovereign issue another decree, there will still be sons of the Earth Traveler Divine Clan who come to answer the call."
After this battle, the Divine Severance Mountain Range had vanished, and darkness had invaded Yancheng. Qin Mu went to check the flags he had planted, and the darkness had not continued its invasion of Yancheng, which relieved him somewhat.
As for the massive hole blasted by the Cauldron of Shaking Heaven on the Divine Severance Mountain Range, it had still not disappeared, and one could still see the situation in the other world.
The demon race in that world was still bustling about, preparing something.
And those stone statues that had been active in the ruins of the Divine Severance Mountain Range would occasionally reveal their traces, and sometimes demons would even appear from nowhere.
The National Teacher had ordered scholars from universities across Yancheng to go there for training, eliminating the sporadic demons that emerged. Therefore, during the day, there were many adventurers there, making it difficult for the demons from the other world to form any real threat.
Everything in Yancheng had returned to normal. The commotion caused by the sudden appearance of stone statues and strange treasures gradually subsided. However, the massive and majestic true god stone statues still stood silently like mountains, not disappearing.
The statue before Qin Mu was one of them. The enormous divine statue towered high, overlooking the capital city ahead. The statue was so tall and majestic that even though it could not move, it still attracted many ignorant people to kneel and offer incense.
Qin Mu looked up at the stone statue, his thoughts like the gray clouds in the sky, gathering and dispersing.
"You know that these stone statues will eventually awaken and bring about the destruction of the world."
Xu Shenghua's voice came. Qin Mu turned around and saw the young man, about his own age, carrying a backpack. Jing Yan was beside him, also carrying a small pack.
Xu Shenghua came to stand before him, looking at the stone statue, and said: "The heavenly calamity has not descended, but birth, aging, sickness, and death in this world continue, and there will still be wars. Even if you have resisted the attacks of the gods of the Upper Firmament, every day many people die on this land. These dead will become sacrifices for the divine statues. One day, they will still accumulate enough power, awaken, and destroy this mortal world."
Qin Mu continued to study the stone statue, his expression calm as he said: "I know. The National Teacher knows it too, and the Village Chief knows it as well. But it must be done. The longer we delay, the stronger Yancheng becomes. In the past, we had no power to resist; it was easy for them to crush us. But if we are given time, we will grow, and it will not be so easy for them to crush us. That is what the Village Chief thinks, and that is what the National Teacher thinks."
He looked at Xu Shenghua, revealing a pure smile like a big boy's: "As long as we live, there is hope, isn't there?"
His smile was infectious, and Xu Shenghua could not help but smile as well.
A strange feeling arose in Jing Yan's heart. Xu Shenghua was an exceptionally serious person who rarely smiled, yet every time he met Qin Mu, he was infected by his smile.
This Heavenly Demon Sect Leader truly possessed an unusual charisma.
Xu Shenghua took out a bag of money and said with a smile: "I came this time to repay a debt and also to take my leave. This is the money I owe you, returned to you. I must also bid you farewell."
Qin Mu was slightly startled, then took the money bag and said: "Brother Xu earns money quickly."
Xu Shenghua laughed: "I took on a big job. I became famous for forging spirit weapons. The Emperor summoned all the skilled craftsmen in the land to restore the Profound Ji Crossbows, and I went as well. I was the only one who managed to restore the Profound Ji Crossbow. The Emperor then ordered me to manufacture them and submit the blueprints to the military, for which he rewarded me with a large sum of money."
"Where do you plan to go?" Qin Mu asked.
Xu Shenghua tightened his backpack, and with Jing Yan, headed toward the dock, saying: "I came to Yancheng originally to kill you, then return to the Upper Firmament to continue cultivating in peace. But after meeting you, I feel that this journey to Yancheng has been more like a tempering of the mind."
Qin Mu followed his steps. The dock was far away, and as the two walked, they began to tilt and stagger, secretly competing with each other again.
"This tempering of the Dao heart has granted me many understandings I had never gained before. But the training is over, and it is time for me to leave Yancheng."
Xu Shenghua looked up at the sky and said: "There are still many unsolved mysteries in my heart waiting for me to clear away the fog. I must go and find the answers to these riddles."
Qin Mu asked curiously: "The gods of the Upper Firmament have been nearly wiped out. Will you not return to the Upper Firmament? The Upper Firmament is now without a leader. You should go back and take charge."
"No, I won't go back."
Xu Shenghua said: "The Upper Firmament is called the Upper Firmament, but it is nothing more than a void. The people there cannot be autonomous, cannot have their own lives; they are merely the lackeys of the true gods. Void blossoms. I need to find my own path. Brother Qin, my training in Yancheng is over. I want to go to the Great Ruins to find the answers to those secrets. What about your training?"
Qin Mu was stunned, then suddenly laughed: "My training has only just begun."
They walked more and more crookedly, stumbling along. When they reached the vicinity of the dock, the two suddenly each struck out a palm. Their two palms collided, and instantly, turbulent waves rose on the riverbank, wind and clouds surged, and thunder and lightning raged all around!
Qin Mu laughed heartily, firmly grasping Xu Shenghua's hand and bumping shoulders with him.
They released their hands, and Xu Shenghua, with Jing Yan, boarded the ship. He turned back and smiled: "Last time I lost to you, I have always remembered it. When I return, I will come to debate with you about who is the superior and who is the inferior among the Overlord Bodies!"
Qin Mu laughed: "You are definitely the inferior one, and I am the superior!"
Xu Shenghua laughed heartily, waved his hand, and led Jing Yan into the cabin.
Qin Mu looked up as the tower ship slowly rose, carrying them away, disappearing into the clouds.
The blazing sun was dazzling. Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and looked toward the stone statue overlooking the capital. Many ignorant people were again offering incense and praying, hoping the statue would bless them with peace and safety.
Those who were skilled in war had no glorious achievements and remained unknown. The Village Chief, Earth Traveler Peak, and others had died to protect these people, yet no one knew, and no one offered incense to them. Instead, the stone statues that were meant to destroy the world enjoyed flourishing incense offerings. Truly ironic.
"Xu Shenghua was not wrong. The people of Yancheng, in their birth, aging, sickness, and death, will all become sacrifices for the stone statues, allowing the true gods to accumulate power and await their awakening."
Qin Mu walked toward the capital. Their fierce battle on the Divine Severance Mountain Range, with many strong warriors losing their lives, had only been a delaying tactic.
Sooner or later, these stone statues would awaken amidst the worship of the ignorant, display their great power, and destroy this mortal world!
"What I must do is to make the National Teacher's reform and transformation even more intense, to add fuel to the fire, and wait for the day these stone statues awaken!"
In the Imperial Academy, it was once again time for selecting Imperial Academy scholars. This selection was a grand affair, with tens of thousands of scholars from across the nation rushing to the capital. The Emperor and the National Teacher personally came to the Imperial Academy. Also attending were Lin Xuan, the Dao Lord of the Dao Sect, Ma Tathagata of the Great Thunderclap Monastery, and the Secluded Mountain Man of Little Jade Capital. Qin Mu, as the Heavenly Demon Sect Leader, was also among them.
Seeing the flood of scholars pouring into the Imperial Academy, Yanfeng Emperor proposed establishing additional academies to share the Imperial Academy's responsibilities. He set up the Jiangling Academy, the Yongjiang Academy, the Lijiang Academy, and the Tiansheng Academy. Scholars from various universities could take examinations at these four major academies.
The four major academies would select scholars from all over, who would then enter the academies to study Dao techniques and divine abilities. After completing their studies, they could enter the court or local governments as officials.
The Heavenly Demon Sect secured the name of Tiansheng Academy, and Qin Mu, as the Sect Leader, became the first Grand Sacrificial Officer of Tiansheng Academy, an official of the fourth rank.
For this matter, Qin Mu worked hard, building Tiansheng Academy in the manor where Granny Si lived. By the time the summer heat arrived, he had finally completed the academy, establishing various schools and attracting talents from all over. The students from the Heavenly Demon Sect's schools became the first batch of Tiansheng scholars.
Qin Mu also invited Xiong Xiyu and her daughter, as well as Yu Zhaoging, to teach. From time to time, he would also invite Lin Xuan, Ma Tathagata, the Secluded Mountain Man, the Fox Immortal, and others to give lectures and pass on their teachings. Thus, Tiansheng Academy became quite extraordinary.
One day, the National Teacher came to visit and said: "Grand Sacrificial Officer, your Tiansheng Academy is bustling and lively."
Qin Mu smiled and said: "Your Majesty, you never visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. What business brings you here today?"
Yancheng's National Teacher paused for a moment, then said: "I plan to take the opportunity to destroy the Upper Firmament. I need to first scout the path to the Western Lands, and I need someone familiar with the West."
Qin Mu was slightly startled, then invited Xiong Xiyu.
"Palace Master, do you wish to return to the True Heaven Palace in the Western Lands?" Yancheng's National Teacher asked directly.
Xiong Xiyu was both surprised and delighted, saying: "The True Heaven Palace has been occupied by thieves. Does the National Teacher have the means to help me reclaim it?"
Yancheng's National Teacher nodded and said: "I need to go to the Upper Firmament to eliminate future troubles. The Upper Firmament is in the Western Lands, so I can help you reclaim the True Heaven Palace along the way."
Qin Mu's heart stirred, and he looked at Xiong Xiyu. Xiong Xiyu gritted her teeth and said: "Yancheng has pacified the Snow Plains and the Grasslands. It will inevitably send troops westward. If we can reduce the fighting, I am willing to declare myself a vassal to Yancheng!"
Yancheng's National Teacher said: "Then, Palace Master, go and prepare. We will set out today. Sect Leader, will you come along? This trip to the Western Lands is not for war, but to scout the path. The Sect Leader can be of help."
Qin Mu hesitated for a moment. Xiong Xiyu looked at him pleadingly. Qin Mu smiled and said: "It would be good to visit the Western Lands. I have an agreement with the Poison Master Mu Yingxue. She asked me to come see her. But before that, I need to go to the Great Ruins to conduct a soul-summoning ritual."
Yancheng's National Teacher was slightly startled, then nodded and said: "Then I will go ahead with the Palace Master. If you see that person, please convey my thanks to him on my behalf, and offer him the courtesy of a half-teacher."
Qin Mu nodded.