Chapter 652: A Show of Force
Qin Mu listened intently, then suddenly his expression shifted slightly. He said to the First Ancestor Human Sovereign, "These children are reciting history from various eras! 'Three parts of the Dragon Han sky'—does that refer to the Dragon Han era being divided into three? 'Red Ming split in two'—could that mean the Red Ming era was divided into West Red Ming and East Red Ming?"
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign's heart also trembled violently. He lowered his voice and said, "'North and South Supreme Emperor established'—that should refer to a great upheaval during the Supreme Emperor era, resulting in two fractured eras: the South Supreme Emperor era and the North Supreme Emperor era! As for 'the Kai Huang era passed down through one generation'..."
His voice turned hoarse. "That should refer to our Kai Huang era having only a single generation of Kai Huang... The Red Ming Divine Son must periodically send some gods and demons outside to gather intelligence. That's how he knows the major events of each era, compiling them into children's songs and teaching them to these kids."
Qin Mu nodded. "Although this Red Ming Divine Son lives in seclusion, from this it's clear he's not someone content with solitude. He pays attention to the outside world and has no small ambitions."
Inside the private school, the children continued reciting, swaying their heads: "...Seven days in the cave, seven times forty..."
They wanted to keep listening, but the teacher in the school noticed them. The teacher made the children stop reading and came out to investigate. Seeing that they didn't have three heads and six arms, he questioned them briefly before driving them away.
Qin Mu pondered, "What does 'seven days in the cave' mean?"
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign said, "'Cave' refers to a cave heaven. When we entered this Red Ming Floating Realm, we did pass through a void opening. Such places should be called cave heavens. I once heard a story from the Heavenly Teacher. It's about a woodcutter who, while chopping wood on a mountain, heard people playing chess in a stone house. He went inside and found two youths playing. He watched them, and when the game ended, he was about to leave when he found his axe handle had rotted. The woodcutter hurried down the mountain and found that time had changed—centuries had passed in the mortal world. Such a place should be a small cave heaven."
"The woodcutter watching chess?"
Qin Mu laughed. "That woodcutter couldn't be the Heavenly Teacher himself, could he? It suddenly occurred to me that the founding patriarch of the Heavenly Saint Sect heard chopping sounds on a mountain, went to look, and ended up watching for a hundred years. That woodcutter story is somewhat similar."
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign thought carefully. "The woodcutter in the Heavenly Teacher's story might indeed be himself. I never considered that. The Floating Realm is a cave heaven world. Time here should be different from the outside."
"Then what about Carefree Village? Is Carefree Village also a cave heaven world?" Qin Mu asked.
The First Ancestor said, "I've never been there. Back then, Kai Huang had the Heavenly Artisan Divine Race build Carefree Village, and the news never leaked until later when the gods learned of such a place. Since Carefree Village was constructed, it probably isn't a cave heaven."
They settled into a neighboring palace estate. The servants here also often had three heads and six arms, working very quickly. The chefs could stir-fry six woks at once, and the maids serving the banquet carried six plates each, quickly preparing a full feast.
"If the techniques from the Red Ming era spread to Yan Kang, it would surely cause another leap in Yan Kang's economy!"
Qin Mu's eyes burned with enthusiasm as he said to the First Ancestor, "With three mouths eating at once, they'll get full quickly and have more time to work! Efficiency skyrockets—one person equals three of today's people!"
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign said earnestly, "You sound exactly like the Heavenly Teacher now. Be careful not to follow in his footsteps. The Heavenly Teacher spent too much effort on livelihood and other matters, which is why his cultivation realm never advanced."
Qin Mu laughed. "Don't worry, I definitely won't repeat the mistakes you and he made. Stay here and don't move. I'll go out to buy some medicinal herbs and see if I can fully heal your injuries!"
"The mistakes you and he made..." The First Ancestor Human Sovereign felt a pang of pain, and his demeanor became melancholic again.
Just then, a deity came seeking an audience, bowing and saying, "The Divine Son heard that one of the envoys was injured and ordered me to deliver some medicine." He presented a jade plate containing several small jade bottles.
"Thank you."
Qin Mu accepted the jade bottles, opened one, and gently sniffed it. He immediately knew all the ingredients used in the elixir inside, and even the refining technique and process were clear to him. It was indeed an elixir made from the herbs needed to treat the First Ancestor's injuries.
"The Red Ming Divine Son didn't give us a show of force right away. Instead, he sent medicine to heal wounds. That's unexpected."
Qin Mu mused, "To gain an advantage in negotiations, the Red Ming Divine Son will definitely try to suppress us, but his bearing is indeed extraordinary. Taking the initiative to give medicine, and the right kind at that—the Red Ming Divine Son lives up to his reputation. No wonder Chi Xi is so loyal to him..."
Ling Yuxiu said warily, "Could this elixir be poisoned?"
Qin Mu shook his head. "If it were poisoned, it wouldn't fool me. Even if I personally bought the ingredients and refined the elixir, it wouldn't be any better than this. First Ancestor, feel free to take it. This man has a broad mind. He'll use a strategy of both kindness and authority; he won't resort to underhanded tricks on this point."
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign trusted him greatly, took the elixir, and swallowed it. After a moment, he said in surprise, "It really is the right medicine!"
Qin Mu sighed. "Precisely because it's the right medicine, this Divine Son is no easy opponent. If he had tried to suppress us right away, that would mean he lacks magnanimity, and he'd be easier to deal with."
In the imperial city, a young-looking man stood with his hands behind his back on a bridge, watching the fish swimming below. The fish also had three heads and six fins. This man was different from the others—he looked like an ordinary person, with one head and two hands, not like Chi Xi with three heads and six arms.
His robe was well-fitted, both luxurious and without unnecessary ornamentation. On his pale blue robe, only a few floral patterns were embroidered near the collar.
His eyes were large and exceptionally bright, with a golden light at the center of his brow that seemed to open and close.
The space between his eyebrows was three or four fingers wide, his earlobes were longer than average, and his face was fair and clean-shaven.
"Making an alliance with Yan Kang isn't too bad. Having a foothold is better than staying long in a cave heaven."
The Red Ming Divine Son said unhurriedly, "A nation without external threats is doomed to perish. The Floating Realm is like this. We've been here for fifty thousand years, with no enemies for fifty thousand years. The war gods of old have turned into sheep, lacking fighting spirit and ambition. And the descendants worry me even more—I fear they're becoming increasingly mediocre. Without pressure, people lose motivation. I worried that if the younger generation stayed in the Floating Realm, they'd completely lose the chance to make a comeback. So three thousand years ago, I ordered you to find Kai Huang at all costs. By then, I was already prepared to move to the Kai Huang era, even if it meant submitting to Kai Huang! I didn't expect Kai Huang to fall so quickly."
Chi Xi said, "When I went outside, I discovered that Kai Huang had already fallen, and now it's the Yan Kang era. Yan Kang's reforms have produced many unique techniques and divine abilities. This time, I formed an alliance with Emperor Yan Feng. He allowed me to establish academies to teach Red Ming disciples our techniques and methods."
The Red Ming Divine Son said in surprise, "This Emperor Yan Feng has the bearing of a true overlord."
Chi Xi nodded.
The Red Ming Divine Son smiled. "What a pity. The Kai Huang era is dead but not gone. The Heavenly Court's gaze is fixed there; they won't give him a chance to grow. Did you retrieve the Creation Divine Wheel this time? Did you bring that divine artifact back?"
Chi Xi's heart skipped a beat. He shook his head. "There was a clever little brat named Qin who took the Creation Divine Wheel."
The Red Ming Divine Son stared at him, speaking each word deliberately. "Didn't you ever consider the true power of that treasure?"
Chi Xi was deeply ashamed, lowering his head. "I truly didn't think of it at first. It wasn't until I saw that Qin kid use it that I regretted it."
The Red Ming Divine Son sighed. "I don't blame you. Your mind is too straightforward, without any twists and turns. This Qin kid is quite talented. He's among the Yan Kang envoys this time, isn't he?"
Chi Xi quickly said, "Divine Son, your foresight is divine!"
"Not foresight. If I were Emperor Yan Feng, I would also send such a clever person."
The Red Ming Divine Son scattered fish food, saying, "If you contend with him, you'll lose."
Chi Xi blushed with shame, his face reddening as he said, "Your servant is foolish..."
"You're not foolish, just not clever enough."
The Red Ming Divine Son said, "You mentioned earlier that you took on a Yan Kang youth as a disciple, and his strength is considerable. What realm is he in now?"
Chi Xi replied, "He just entered the Life and Death realm."
The Red Ming Divine Son thought for a moment, then said, "Summon him. Someone, pass my order—gather all cultivators in the Life and Death realm from across the land to the palace!"
Chi Xi didn't understand his intent. The Red Ming Divine Son said, "I need a blade—a blade to ignite my people's fighting spirit. But I can't let my people suffer a crushing defeat. Kindness and authority: I'll show the Yan Kang envoys favor, and I'll also give them a show of force. But most importantly, I need a whetstone for my people!"
He dumped all the fish food into the water, dropped the plate, and clapped his hands. "If they lose too badly, they'll lose confidence. A beaten dog only tucks its tail. So your disciple will be the first whetstone. Sharpen them, make them keen and fast. Then use the Yan Kang envoys as the blade to test—both to cut down the Yan Kang envoys' prestige and to let my people know they're not invincible, igniting their fighting spirit! I want to turn them from sheep into dragons!"
Chi Xi hesitated for a moment, then said, "This disciple of mine saved my life..."
The Red Ming Divine Son laughed. "Don't worry, he won't die. As for the Yan Kang envoys, I won't see them until the blade is sharpened."
Chi Xi hurriedly left.
Before long, Ban Gongcuo followed Chi Xi. Looking up, he saw many three-headed, six-armed gods and demons standing before a grand hall. In the center sat a man with delicate features. Knowing it was the Red Ming Divine Son, he quickly bowed in homage.
The Red Ming Divine Son sat high above, raising his hand. "Rise. Let's begin."
Ban Gongcuo didn't understand what was happening when suddenly hundreds of cultivators in the Life and Death realm filed into the square. One of them, a Red Ming cultivator with three heads and six arms, bowed and said, "Hu Kang, requesting guidance from senior brother!"
Before Ban Gongcuo could react, the expert named Hu Kang charged straight at him!
Startled, Ban Gongcuo instinctively activated the No-Leak Cauldron War God Technique, but instead of using combat techniques, he wove spell techniques into his martial arts!
Along the way, he had sparred with Ling Yuxiu and had learned most of her signature moves!
Boom!
His divine abilities exploded with terrifying power, forcing Hu Kang back. Hu Kang chuckled, wielding six blades that spun like a whirlwind, actually cutting through Ban Gongcuo's techniques. The rolling blade light surged like crashing waves.
Ban Gongcuo's eyes flashed with sharp light. His six arms wielded six swords, unleashing Dao Sect's Dao Swords, all six styles erupting at once!
His Dao Swords had also incorporated the Yan Kang National Teacher's three basic sword forms, becoming even more complex and varied. With a series of sharp sounds, amidst the clash of blades and swords, Hu Kang was struck by dozens of sword wounds and collapsed to the ground.
Ban Gongcuo laughed. "You yield. Divine Son..."
The Red Ming Divine Son raised an eyebrow. Another expert stepped forward, bowing. "Luo Ziyang, requesting guidance from senior brother!"
Ban Gongcuo frowned, confused. "Shouldn't they be giving that bastard Qin a show of force? Why is the Red Ming Divine Son giving me one instead?"
Luo Ziyang charged at him. Ban Gongcuo had no time to think and could only engage.
The golden eye on the Red Ming Divine Son's brow slowly opened, its pupil clearly reflecting every move Ban Gongcuo made, analyzing his techniques and divine abilities without any secrets.
Before long, Luo Ziyang was defeated, and another expert stepped up to challenge. Ban Gongcuo gritted his teeth and fought on.
After a long time, Ban Gongcuo was exhausted to the point of spitting blood. Only then did the Red Ming Divine Son order a halt. He instructed Chi Xi, "Take him down and let him rest and recover well. Bring him back in ten days."
Chi Xi led Ban Gongcuo away.
The Red Ming Divine Son stood up and walked down to the arena. Suddenly, he began performing techniques and sword forms, each move clear and precise, perfectly recreating everything Ban Gongcuo had learned in his lifetime for the cultivators of the Floating Realm!
He explained these techniques and divine abilities in exhaustive detail, then said calmly, "You have ten days to train hard. After ten days, you will fight him again!"
Meanwhile, Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were wandering around the city. The First Ancestor Human Sovereign followed behind them with the two big-eyed monsters.
Qin Mu strolled around, observing the divine statues in the Floating Realm, often stopping for long periods. Ling Yuxiu didn't understand and laughed. "What's so interesting about stone statues?"
"Stone statues are very interesting."
Qin Mu's eyes were bright. "These statues were made when the Floating Realm was first established. The craftsmen who made them were the top talents of their time. They poured their life's work into the carving, so the statues carry a spirit and essence from the Red Ming era. You can even deduce the techniques and divine abilities of that era from the patterns and lines. In the few days I've been here, I've seen many cultivators and gods of the Floating Realm, and I've found they no longer have this spirit."
He paused, then said, "I'm looking for what they've lost."
Ling Yuxiu examined the statues closely but couldn't find much useful information. She shook her head. "Why hasn't the Red Ming Divine Son summoned us yet?"
Qin Mu was practically lying on the statue, not looking up as he said, "He's thinking about how to give us a show of force. If I were him, I'd start with Ban Gongcuo. Use him to deduce the changes in Yan Kang's techniques and divine abilities, then strike at us."
——Another four-thousand-word chapter! Thanks to the perfume alliance leader for the tea!