Chapter 639: Desperately Poor
Red Creek Divine Being naturally refused to hand over Banguo Cuo for him to use as a sacrifice to the blade. He snorted coldly, "It's not impossible for you to keep the Divine Execution Blade for now. But when the blade turns on you in the future, don't come crying to me about the consequences."
Qin Mu put the box away, his eyes flickering. "Senior Red Creek, since you were the execution overseer of the Red Ming era and controlled this treasure for hundreds of thousands of years, you must know how to eliminate the resentment clinging to this box, right?"
Red Creek nearly exploded with rage. "You stole my precious treasure, and now you want me to teach you how to use it? Why don't you just go rob someone? Oh wait, that's exactly what you did!"
Qin Mu looked at the First Ancestor Human Sovereign, silently suggesting they beat Red Creek again to force the method out of him.
The First Ancestor understood his meaning but shook his head with a troubled expression. "We've already hit him hard enough. We can't do it again. At most, just don't use the divine blade in the box from now on. This kind of malevolent object grows more vicious the more blood it drinks—it can never be fully sated. The day you kill too few people and it doesn't get enough blood, it will drink yours instead."
Qin Mu was startled. If what the First Ancestor said was true, raising this malevolent blade was indeed extremely dangerous. The Red Ming Heavenly Court must have executed quite a few gods and demons on the Execution Platform every day to afford feeding it.
But even so, Red Creek's words revealed a deep fear of this small box, showing he couldn't fully control it either!
Back then, when he piloted the alien star and encountered the demons in the Luo Fu Heaven, he was injured in the great battle. The Execution Platform and the Divine Execution Blade absorbed all his qi and blood, nearly causing his physical body to wither. He had to seal himself and turn into a dried corpse.
Clearly, even with the proper techniques, the malevolent blade remained extremely dangerous.
Still, Qin Mu couldn't bear to throw the small box away.
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign said to Red Creek, "Daoist brother, since we're joining forces, please discuss the details with Human Sovereign Qin. Let's hash out a plan."
Red Creek looked at Qin Mu, recalling all the tricks Qin Mu had played on him, including the poisoning. Suddenly he said, "No alliance. This kid is too treacherous. Teaming up with him will only end badly."
"Teacher is absolutely right!"
Banguo Cuo revealed himself from afar, raising his voice. "If you ally with him, he'll sell you out and you'll still be counting money for him. I know from bitter experience!"
Qin Mu was furious. He took out the small box and was about to open it to use Banguo Cuo as a sacrifice, but Red Creek said calmly, "If you can't kill him, the Divine Blade will kill you instead."
Qin Mu hesitated and put the box away, muttering awkwardly, "I've fought side by side with Great Venerable many times, through life and death. He's like my own brother. How could I ever harm him?"
Banguo Cuo was livid. "Who's your brother? Don't you dare slander me!"
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign had a headache. He really didn't want to negotiate the alliance terms with Red Creek.
Suddenly, Qin Mu laughed. "Since Senior Red Creek doesn't want to talk to me, how about negotiating with the Emperor of the Yan Kang Kingdom? This era is the Yan Kang era. As an envoy of the Red Ming era, having the Yan Kang Emperor negotiate with you personally should be respectful enough."
Red Creek's heart stirred. He nodded and said, "Before I meet the Emperor, you must teach me your Creation Technique."
The First Ancestor was about to nod, but Qin Mu shook his head, so the First Ancestor kept silent.
Qin Mu's eyes flickered. "I heard there's still a Red Ming Divine Son from that era? He should be the one in charge, right? Let's discuss terms first. As for the Creation Technique, the First Ancestor can help treat your people and see if they can be saved and regain their memories. But I won't teach it to you until I meet the Red Ming Divine Son."
Red Creek reluctantly agreed. "No time to waste. Let's go see the Emperor immediately!"
Qin Mu looked at the Red Ming Town Heaven Tower. Beneath it, divine weapons were piled like a mountain. He sighed inwardly, "What a shame I can't just grab a few. And that Creation Divine Wheel—if you reverse its activation, it must be a technique to seal physical bodies and primordial spirits, changing species. If it fell into my hands, it would be perfect for dealing with enemies..."
The Red Ming era people used the Creation Divine Wheel as a tool for unsealing, but in Qin Mu's eyes, it was an unimaginable weapon of mass destruction. Reversing the wheel and shining its runic light on an opponent would likely change even ordinary gods' and demons' physical bodies and primordial spirit structures, turning them into other species with greatly reduced power.
Even more crucially, this wheel's attack was omnidirectional, illuminating everything within hundreds or thousands of miles. If used on a battlefield of gods and demons, soon all of them would turn into giant fish or sea monsters, ripe for slaughter!
That was the true wonder of the Creation Divine Art!
Using it only for unsealing was a terrible waste of its potential!
"Once we reach the capital, I'll make sure the Emperor gets his hands on this wheel," he thought to himself.
Red Creek forcibly channeled his magic power. Divine weapons flew up from beneath the Town Heaven Tower and re-hung themselves on this thousand-story tower, dazzling with brilliance.
With a roar, Red Creek activated his power. The towering thousand-zhang divine tower shrank, slowly rising and landing in his hand. The tower glowed with ten-colored light, like countless fine rays spinning around it.
Qin Mu was filled with envy.
Red Creek called for Banguo Cuo, and the group left the underwater divine city, immediately heading for Yan Kang.
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign and Red Creek were both extremely fast. Carrying Qin Mu and Banguo Cuo, they flew many times faster than Fan Yunxiao's swift boat. The mountains below rushed backward. A few hours later, they arrived at the Yan Kang capital.
Qin Mu had originally planned to find an opportunity to kill Banguo Cuo as a sacrifice, but no chance arose.
"I really want to kill a few people..." The young man touched the small box in his Taotie pouch, thinking to himself.
Banguo Cuo was on edge the whole way, terrified that Qin Mu would suddenly attack and kill him. Fortunately, Red Creek kept him tightly protected.
When they reached the capital, the First Ancestor and Red Creek descended directly before the imperial palace. Qin Mu called over a palace guard and had him announce their arrival. After a moment, Yan Zhigui hurried out with quick, small steps, smiling. "Human Sovereign Qin, everyone! His Majesty is already waiting in the court for the envoy from the Red Ming era! Please, come in—"
Qin Mu said solemnly, "Minister Yan, please lead the way."
Yan Zhigui led the way, glancing back at the three-headed, six-armed Red Creek. His heart tightened, and he lowered his voice. "An envoy from the Red Ming era? What's his background?"
Qin Mu whispered, "Thirty-five thousand years ago, the Red Ming era established a Heavenly Court, which later fell into the Southern Sea. Only a small number of gods and demons escaped. This Red Creek was the execution overseer of that era's Heavenly Court, with the strength of a true god or celestial god."
Yan Zhigui's heart grew even more solemn.
When they entered the court, Yan Feng Emperor was already seated on the dragon throne. Red Creek ascended the hall and bowed. "Envoy Red Creek of the Red Ming Heavenly Court greets the Lord of Yan Kang!"
Yan Feng Emperor raised his hand and laughed. "Rise and speak. Since you are an envoy from a former dynasty, we must not be remiss. Grant him a seat. First Ancestor Human Sovereign of the Human Sovereign Hall, this humble king offers his greetings!"
He stood and bowed to the First Ancestor, who returned the gesture. "The Human Sovereign is but an empty title, while Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. No need for such courtesy."
Yan Feng Emperor ordered, "Please, have the Human Sovereign take a seat of honor."
A guard brought a chair. Red Creek sat down, with Banguo Cuo standing to his left. The First Ancestor also took his seat.
Yan Feng Emperor's gaze shifted and landed on Qin Mu. He felt a headache coming on but smiled. "Minister Qin, come closer. I haven't seen you in a while. Come speak by my side."
Qin Mu ascended the Golden Throne Hall and stood to the right of the dragon throne.
Yan Feng Emperor beamed, his voice as faint as a mosquito's. "What's going on? What background? What era is the Red Ming era? How long ago?"
Qin Mu's spiritual energy fluctuated slightly. Using the Tian Yu tribe's spiritual communication method, he explained the whole story. "Your Majesty, Red Creek needs something from us. We can ask for a high price."
Yan Feng Emperor relaxed and laughed heartily. "I've long known that the Red Ming Heavenly Court sank into the Southern Sea, and I've lamented the fall of that glorious divine dynasty. I often go to the Southern Sea to pay respects to the predecessors, watching the three-headed giant fish swim, and I can't help but shed tears. I never thought I'd meet a master from the Red Ming era today! Master Red Creek, you've come from afar as a guest. If you wish to ally with Yan Kang, that's excellent. But my Yan Kang kingdom is weak and barely able to protect itself. We have demons wreaking havoc in the Tai Huang Heaven outside, and divine stone statues from the Heavenly Court inside, ready to revive at any moment. With internal and external troubles, my kingdom truly lacks some treasures to suppress our fortune..."
Qin Mu coughed and said, "Your Majesty, the object Master Red Creek is holding is the Red Ming era's palace treasure. It has a thousand layers and is hung with hundreds of thousands or even millions of divine weapons. It's called the Red Ming Town Heaven Tower."
Red Creek's face changed. He stuffed the Red Ming Town Heaven Tower into his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, I am an envoy. I didn't bring any treasures on this visit..."
Yan Feng Emperor leaned in and whispered, "Minister Qin, the envoy came to see me without bringing any tribute?"
Qin Mu hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Poor."
Yan Feng Emperor suddenly understood. "This alliance lacks sincerity."
Red Creek frowned. He gritted his teeth and was about to take out the Red Ming Town Heaven Tower as a tribute, but Banguo Cuo quickly whispered, "Teacher, don't fall for their provocation. This emperor and that Qin fellow are cut from the same cloth—both full of tricks. Just give them what they want."
Red Creek held back. He took a dragon-shaped jade pendant from the Red Ming Town Heaven Tower and said, "A small token, presented to Your Majesty!"
A court official carried it forward. Yan Feng Emperor examined the pendant. Suddenly, the pendant split into six pieces, transforming into six true dragons that danced around the court. After their dance, each coiled around a pillar.
Yan Feng Emperor was overjoyed. Qin Mu tugged at the dragon robe and secretly handed him a piece of paper, whispering, "Your Majesty, that's just a drop in the bucket! I wrote a list on the way. Use this list to negotiate with him."
Yan Feng Emperor quietly unfolded the paper. His dragon eyes went wide. "Minister Qin, is this what you call poor? If I sold everything in my Yan Kang kingdom, I still wouldn't have this much wealth!"
Even as the emperor of Yan Kang, he couldn't help but gasp at the list.
"The envoy has come from afar. Please, go rest for now."
Yan Feng Emperor steadied himself and said, "The specifics of the alliance will be discussed by Minister Yan Zhigui. Court is adjourned." He hurriedly rose and walked toward the back of the hall, then stopped and turned back to wave vigorously at Qin Mu, jerking his head.
Qin Mu followed. Behind the hall, Yan Feng Emperor lifted his dragon robe and stomped his foot. "They're that rich?"
Qin Mu quickly said, "They'll be poor soon enough."
Yan Feng Emperor danced with joy, walking swiftly. "The National Teacher is fighting in the Tai Huang Heaven, draining my treasury dry. Finally, some money is coming in!"
Qin Mu was stunned. "The emperor has gone mad with poverty... Hmm, I wonder if the Heavenly Saint Cult still has money. Should I share some with him?"
—Yan Feng Emperor: Votes, votes... I need votes to fill the treasury!