Chapter 524: Seeking the Dao in Little Jade Capital
Two days later, Ling Xiuyu returned to the capital, awaiting the Emperor's arrangements. She accompanied Qin Mu, seeing him off to the Heavenly Sage Academy before heading back to the capital.
The Heavenly Sage Academy was Granny Si's mountain estate. After the battle with Star Vicious, Granny Si, Mute, Blind, Medicine Master, and the others had settled here. The Emperor intended to establish four major academies as the highest institutions of learning beyond the Imperial Academy. The Heavenly Sage Church's hall masters, protectors, and heavenly kings in the court had fought hard for this, leading to the creation of the Heavenly Sage Academy. Qin Mu then built the academy here.
Now, many members of the Heavenly Sage Church held positions in the court, from the National Teacher and Duke Wei down to local runners and petty officials. Thus, Qin Mu didn't need to fight for things himself—others would do it for him.
Granny Si, Mute, and Blind had all become overseers of the Heavenly Sage Academy, occasionally teaching. The other overseers were often hall masters of the Heavenly Sage Church.
When Qin Mu arrived at the Heavenly Sage Academy, classes were in session. No one was visible on the grounds, only a group of flood dragons playing and frolicking in the lake. When they saw Qin Mu, they froze for a moment, then scrambled ashore with a splash.
Sensing trouble, Qin Mu immediately turned and ran. "Aren't these flood dragons supposed to be with Saintess Xiang on Sacred Mountain? How did they end up here?"
"Maha! Maha! Maha!"
A group of flood dragons joyfully chased past Dragon Qilin and the box. Moments later, Qin Mu was captured, his body covered in flood dragons as he trudged back wearily. A dozen flood dragons hung from him, their dragon heads rubbing against him, their horns leaving bloody scratches on his neck.
"Maha..." The little dragons clung to him, squinting as if drowsy.
Qin Mu was soaking wet, as if he'd been pulled from the water.
Dragon Qilin breathed a long sigh of relief. Suddenly, all the flood dragons on Qin Mu raised their heads and looked at him. Dragon Qilin knew trouble was coming and immediately bolted.
"Maha! Maha! Maha!"
A group of flood dragons happily ran past the box. Moments later, Qin Mu and the box watched as Dragon Qilin crawled forward with immense difficulty, his neck, body, and limbs wrapped in flood dragons.
"Maha." These flood dragons rubbed against Dragon Qilin, scratching the big fatty until he bled.
"Maha?" A group of flood dragons looked up curiously at the box.
Box strode along behind Qin Mu, and now sensing danger, he quickly picked up his pace and ran.
A group of flood dragons slid off Dragon Qilin and bounded toward Box, calling out joyfully, "Maha! Maha! Maha!"
Dragon Qilin breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed. Moments later, Box came clattering back. Dragon Qilin and Qin Mu stared wide-eyed—there wasn't a single flood dragon on Box.
"Maha—" Box opened, and a dozen dragon heads popped out, all calling out happily.
It looked rather like a box of various colored daffodils poking their heads out.
Box seemed quite pleased, following them as if he didn't feel the weight of the flood dragons at all.
"Mu'er is back?"
The class bell rang, and Granny Si walked out of a teaching hall. Seeing Qin Mu, she hurried over, smiling. "It's been a while since I've seen you. You're quite the absentee headmaster, leaving these scholars here and slipping away yourself, making us watch over them..."
Qin Mu hugged her tightly, tears flowing unbidden. "Grandma!"
Granny Si was startled, then laughed. "Have you been wronged? Since when does a great sect leader cry? You're still the headmaster of the Heavenly Sage Academy. Don't cry—it wouldn't look good if the scholars saw. Tell Grandma what happened, and I'll make it right."
Qin Mu felt his heart settle. He let her go and shook his head. "What's with these flood dragons? Weren't they sent to Sacred Mountain?"
"Saintess Xiang originally sent them there, but she found them too expensive—they eat spirit pills every day and demand variety—so she sent them back."
Granny Si said, "Saintess Xiang is quite stingy, keeping a tight grip on the church's purse strings. But having them at the academy is fine. The scholars learn alchemy from your Medicine Master Grandpa, and the pills they make can feed them. Besides, with these flood dragons, the academy gains fame. Scholars come to draw dragons, forge dragon-shaped spirit weapons, or practice dragon-form divine abilities—all of which require them. What's wrong with you? Who upset you? Lame! Medicine Master! Blind! Come here! Mu'er has been bullied!"
*Boom.*
The air rumbled as Lame suddenly appeared beside Qin Mu, surprised. "Who dares bully my Mu'er? Tired of living?"
Qin Mu said, "It's the First Ancestor Human Sovereign, a true god. Grandpa Lame..."
Lame shuddered and turned to leave. Blind grabbed him, laughing. "Lame, are you scared?"
"Of course I am!"
Lame muttered, "That bastard Star Vicious wasn't even a true god, and he still beat us badly. The First Ancestor Human Sovereign is a real true god—going after him is suicide!"
Medicine Master approached, pondering. "First Ancestor Human Sovereign? A true god? Can poison solve this?"
Qin Mu shook his head. "I want to defeat him fair and square, at the same cultivation level, and preferably beat him to death."
Medicine Master shuddered and shrugged. "That's beyond my skills."
Lame sighed. "Mine too. Where's Mute?"
"Mute ran off a few days ago."
Butcher walked over, his coat slung over his shoulders, his voice booming. "That guy sneaks off every now and then—no one knows where. Mu'er, how capable is this true god?"
"In every aspect, he's stronger than me. Faster, more powerful, with a unified divine body. His divine eyes surpass mine. His punches are devastating, and his techniques and divine abilities are fused with his body."
Qin Mu's face darkened. "He's entered the Dao in every way. The only thing I have over him is my magical power."
Blind frowned. "Stronger than my divine eyes?"
Qin Mu nodded slightly.
Even Butcher, who feared nothing, furrowed his brow. After a moment, he said, "My blade techniques..."
"Easily broken by him."
Deaf walked over. "What about painting techniques?"
"No chance to use them."
"What about the Heavenly Sage Church's divine abilities?" Granny Si asked.
Qin Mu shook his head. Everyone frowned deeply.
Lame asked nervously, "Did you escape?"
"He caught up to me."
"Poison... forget it, forget it."
Medicine Master waved his hand. "I'm confident I can poison a god, but poisoning a true god with no weaknesses? I'm not sure."
Qin Mu forced a smile. "Don't worry about my troubles. I've been thinking quietly these past few days. Though he seems invincible, he fled from a battlefield back then, which means there are those stronger than him. He's not unbeatable. I'll find a way to surpass him."
Granny Si smiled. "Since you're back, stay at the academy for a while. We'll help you think of something."
Qin Mu nodded and went to unpack.
Granny Si, Butcher, Blind, and the others gathered, watching his retreating back. Butcher frowned. "This is the first time I've seen Mu'er so lacking in confidence. He used to be different—always full of confidence. But now..." He shook his head.
Blind squinted. "A true god, really that terrifying? Stronger than my divine eyes? I don't believe it!"
"Let's train him these next few days!"
Deaf suddenly spoke. "Learning without thinking leads to confusion; thinking without learning leads to danger. He's in that stage now. Mu'er's duel with the First Ancestor Human Sovereign isn't just about strength and cultivation—it's a battle of Dao hearts. If he can overcome this, his Dao heart will grow immensely. If not, I'm afraid the Overlord Body will become a waste. These days, let's train him well and not let him waste away!"
Everyone nodded.
After settling in, Qin Mu felt like he was back in the Crippled Village. Butcher, Blind, Deaf, Lame, and Granny Si would call him over from time to time to spar, causing chaos in the academy.
Half the scholars in the academy came from the Heavenly Sage Church, while the rest were from all over, seeking knowledge. These days, they witnessed the legendary skills of the overseers.
After a few days, Granny Si and the others frowned deeply. Qin Mu was now hesitant and afraid to strike, often getting beaten. Occasionally, he would counterattack with incredibly refined techniques, but he would pull back halfway.
Butcher grew furious, beat him thoroughly, and shouted, "Why can't you follow through?"
Qin Mu didn't fight back, shaking his head. "It's all wrong..."
"Even if it's wrong, strike anyway!"
Granny Si quickly pulled Butcher away, angry. "His state of mind is off! Don't hit him! What if you break him?"
Deaf nodded. "He's accumulated too much in his head, thinking too much, and now he's stuck in a corner he can't get out of. Hitting him won't solve anything. When he gets out on his own, he'll be a grandmaster."
Butcher glared at them. "What if he can't get out?"
Everyone fell silent.
Granny Si said to Qin Mu, "Mu'er, you won't learn much staying at the academy. Go out for a walk, clear your mind."
Qin Mu nodded, packed his bags, and wandered out of the academy in a daze.
Lame followed him for a while, saw that Qin Mu was just wandering aimlessly with no real danger, and returned to the academy.
One day, Qin Mu arrived at the Surging River and sat on the bank. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him. "Hey, Qin!"
Qin Mu turned to see a richly dressed youth behind him, looking terrified, ready to flee at any moment.
"It's Great Venerable." Qin Mu turned back to gaze at the river.
Bamgongcuo leaned on his crutch, his other leg a deer leg. He had planned to bolt if Qin Mu attacked, but seeing him still sitting by the river with no intention of striking, he grew bolder and crept closer. "Lord Qin seems troubled. We're old friends, aren't we? Tell me your troubles—maybe I can help."
Qin Mu listlessly tossed pebbles into the river. "I'm thinking about how to defeat a true god at the same cultivation level. I can't find the answer. Great Venerable, can you teach me?"
Bamgongcuo's eyes lit up as he edged closer, smiling. "I see. You must be feeling miserable, right? Useless? Without purpose? If that's the case, what's the point of living? Let me help you end it, hehe..."
*Splash.*
The river surface parted, and Dragon Lord Ju's massive dragon head rose like a mountain peak, his whiskers drifting, hovering beside Bamgongcuo.
Bamgongcuo stiffened, his face turning yellow. He quickly turned to leave. "Sorry to intrude! Farewell!" With that, he vanished in a flash.
Dragon Lord Ju watched him go, shaking his head. "That kid's slicker than a loach. Master, I can't solve your problem. I'm a god, but killing a true god is beyond me."
Qin Mu sighed. On the hill behind him, the White Gap god impatiently flicked his tail. "Neither can I! Master, can I switch hills? This one's too small—my temple's only this tall, can't even fit my hooves!"
Qin Mu got up, mounted Dragon Qilin, and left with Box.
"Lord Qin Human Sovereign has come to Little Jade Capital to break through to the Five Elements or Six Harmonies?"
Qingyou Shanren hurried to greet him, smiling. "Little Jade Capital hasn't had guests in a while. The Five Elements Hall and Six Harmonies Hall have long awaited your arrival. Oh, one thing I haven't told you—a few months ago, the stone statue of the First Ancestor Human Sovereign in your Human Sovereign Hall came to life and left Little Jade Capital. I don't know where he went."
Qin Mu's eyes twitched. "I know. I've already met him."
Qingyou Shanren looked surprised. "You've met him? Then do you know that the stone statue of the Woodcutter Sage also came to life and left Little Jade Capital?"