Chapter 653: Outwitting Each Other Across the Void
Ling Yuxiu’s heart trembled slightly, and she said in a low voice, “The Great Venerable has lived for ten thousand years. He is proficient in almost all the divine abilities of the sacred lands! Moreover, he has also been to the Western Lands, so he must have learned their divine abilities as well. He has also been to the Imperial Heaven, and he would never let go of the divine techniques and Dao methods of the Imperial Heaven. By starting with him, Crimson Bright Divine Son can essentially get a comprehensive look at the main Dao techniques and divine abilities of Yankang!”
Qin Mu was still examining the stone statue, and said leisurely, “When he looks at Dao techniques and divine abilities, he looks at their form. He cannot see the essence and spirit of Yankang from the Great Venerable. The Great Venerable doesn’t have that kind of thing; his backbone is too soft. If he wants to see the essence and spirit of Yankang…”
He raised his head, pursed his lips, and said with a faint smile, “Then he should look at me!”
Ling Yuxiu laughed, “Brag!”
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign laughed, “Girl from the Ling family, Mu’er is not bragging. I can let you see his essence and spirit.”
With that, he lightly tapped her between the eyebrows. Ling Yuxiu’s eyes immediately dimmed, but her brow began to glow faintly, and she could vaguely see a figure in front of her.
“Look at Mu’er,” said the First Ancestor.
Ling Yuxiu looked at Qin Mu, and immediately saw an essence and spirit like a blazing fire—fearing neither heaven nor earth, daring to act and take responsibility, daring to charge and fight!
Her heart trembled slightly. After a moment, her vision gradually returned to normal, and she could no longer see that kind of essence and spirit on Qin Mu.
“If you looked at your father, Emperor Yanfeng, you would see the same scene, even more intense than Mu’er’s.”
The First Ancestor Human Sovereign said meaningfully, “The one who becomes a founding emperor is not necessarily the strongest in strength, but definitely the one with the greatest spirit and magnanimity. Emperor Yanfeng is such a person. He has great perseverance and great spirit, even surpassing Mu’er. I once saw the Yankang National Teacher from afar, and even he did not have such a strong essence and spirit. Emperor Yanfeng represents the spirit of an era!”
Ling Yuxiu was startled. She had never imagined that a being like the First Ancestor Human Sovereign would have such a high opinion of her father!
Emperor Yanfeng’s cultivation and strength were inferior to the Yankang National Teacher’s, and his talent and comprehension were also not as good as the National Teacher’s or Qin Mu’s. He was outstanding, but not at the absolute peak.
However, Emperor Yanfeng was the central figure in the National Teacher’s reforms and changes. It was he who forcefully promoted the reforms, breaking down the gods in the heart and the gods in the temple, making divine abilities serve the people, and making the gods serve the people. It was just that his brilliance was overshadowed by the Yankang National Teacher.
“I want to be a person like my father, and even do better than him!” she thought to herself.
Ten days later, Banguo Cuo was again invited to the imperial palace to face off against the divine ability practitioners of the Suspended Sky Realm. This time, not only were there practitioners at the Life-and-Death Realm, but also several thousand at the Heavenly Being Realm and Seven Stars Realm, a vast sea of experts, all with three heads and six arms.
This time, it was again the Life-and-Death Realm practitioners challenging Banguo Cuo. In just ten days, the cultivation and strength of these practitioners had increased by a large margin! Not only that, but they could even perform the divine abilities and Dao techniques that Banguo Cuo had used before, with incredible precision, as if they had been immersed in them for decades!
Banguo Cuo was startled. He did his utmost to fight these practitioners head-on, using almost every means at his disposal. He was still a cut above, defeating most of the Suspended Sky Realm practitioners, but he also lost a few rounds.
This time, Crimson Bright Divine Son gave him enough time to rest, always waiting until he was at his peak before pitting him against the next opponent, so the battles were exceptionally fierce.
Crimson Bright Divine Son looked down from on high at the battles below, then turned his head and asked, “What has the Yankang envoy been doing these past few days?”
A divine being beside him bowed and said in a low voice, “The Yankang envoy has been idle, wandering around the city. These envoys are very curious, as if they haven’t seen much of the world. They always stare at the stone statues in the city, looking at each one for a long time. Especially that envoy surnamed Qin; he would lie on the stone statues to look at them. In the last two days, he hasn’t been as curious, but he has started drawing pictures of the stone statues.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son’s brow twitched. His eyebrows were very handsome, with peaks rising upward and tips sharp like curved blades. He said, “A formidable opponent. Yankang actually has such talent. This is troublesome.”
The divine being did not understand his meaning.
Crimson Bright Divine Son took out a mirror, covered its surface with a black cloth, and said, “Take this mirror, find him, point the mirror at him from a distance, remove the black cloth, shine it on him, then cover it again and bring it back to me.”
The divine being was puzzled but still took the mirror and quickly left. Crimson Bright Divine Son continued to watch the battles.
After a moment, the divine being returned with the black-cloth-covered mirror and said, “Your servant shone the mirror on the Yankang envoy and immediately returned.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son took the mirror and gently pulled off the black cloth. His two eyes stared at the mirror’s surface, while his vertical eye in his brow watched Banguo Cuo’s every move in the arena, constantly analyzing and deducing.
Suddenly, Crimson Bright Divine Son was startled. All three eyes stared at the mirror.
In the mirror, Qin Mu had his back to him, examining a stone statue in the city. Beside him was a young girl, and next to them were two large eyeballs, each over a person’s height. The First Ancestor had turned his head, his face appearing very large and somewhat pale, as if he were very close to the mirror, looking back through it.
What shocked Crimson Bright Divine Son was not the First Ancestor, but Qin Mu. When he used the mirror to shine on Qin Mu, it didn’t capture him completely. The Qin Mu with his back to him appeared normal, with one head and two arms, but in the mirror, there was a fierce aura and battle intent.
That fierce aura and battle intent faintly took shape as two additional heads, forming a tripod-like stance with Qin Mu’s original head!
Not only that, but Crimson Bright Divine Son could also faintly see the shadows of arms under Qin Mu’s armpits—four other arms!
These four arms and two additional heads were formed from essence and spirit, not physical entities!
Crimson Bright Divine Son narrowed his eyes. The scene in the mirror gradually faded.
“Red Creek, did you pass on the Leakless Combat God Technique to the Yankang envoy?” Crimson Bright Divine Son called for Red Creek and asked.
Red Creek shook his head: “That kid stole my Divine Blade of Severing Gods, poisoned me, and tricked me out of my treasures. How could I possibly teach him the technique?”
Crimson Bright Divine Son sighed, “He has almost learned it… No, he should be almost done creating his own Leakless Combat God Technique.”
Red Creek was startled, his mouth agape, unable to speak.
“We are studying Yankang’s techniques and divine abilities, but this man hasn’t been idle either. He has been studying the divine charm on the stone statues, deducing the techniques and divine abilities of my Crimson Bright era. Although he may not fully grasp the subtleties of these techniques and divine abilities, he has captured the fearless spirit of the Crimson Bright era.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son sighed again, “How could there be such a troublesome person? Could he be Emperor Yanfeng, disguised as an envoy… No, he doesn’t have the aura of an emperor, and his realm is not high…”
Red Creek quickly said, “Emperor Yanfeng is already a deity. Your servant has seen him; he cannot be Emperor Yanfeng. Divine Son, this person is called Qin Mu. Is he really that hard to deal with? He hasn’t learned any of the Crimson Bright era’s divine abilities. Even if he cultivates three heads and six arms, he won’t be able to use the corresponding divine abilities.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son nodded slightly and smiled, “I naturally understand that. It’s just that his talent and comprehension make my heart race. Someone, continue to monitor the Yankang envoys. Report every move they make to me, down to the smallest detail!”
Several divine beings immediately bowed, and their figures vanished.
Banguo Cuo was once again exhausted to the point of vomiting blood, collapsing to the ground, his heart full of sorrow.
Crimson Bright Divine Son’s voice came, “Red Creek, take your disciple down and let him rest well. Come back in ten days.”
Banguo Cuo on the ground twitched twice.
Not long after, Crimson Bright Divine Son received a report: “The Yankang envoy has gone to a private school and is studying with a group of mischievous children. The teacher is at a loss. May I ask the Divine Son if we should drive them out?”
Crimson Bright Divine Son was stunned, then shook his head and said, “Emperor Yanfeng granted us territory and allowed us to establish academies and schools. I cannot be more petty than Emperor Yanfeng. Let him be.”
Four more days passed, and a divine being came to report, “The Yankang envoy studied for four days and then stopped going to school.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son said, “Investigate further. See what he really wants to do.”
Two days later, the divine being reported, “The Yankang envoy visited the palace of the executioner, went to see Banguo Cuo, and gave him some medicine for his injuries. Banguo Cuo didn’t dare to use it and poured it into a ditch after the envoy left.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son frowned, “What is the meaning of this move? Investigate further!”
“Divine Son, the Yankang envoy harassed a common woman and was beaten up by the Yankang princess, causing a commotion. A group of people started brawling in the street!”
Crimson Bright Divine Son’s expression changed, and he shouted, “Go quickly and investigate the battle situation! Remember, keep a close watch on the Yankang envoy and observe his every move!”
A moment later, the divine being reported, “Several hundred divine ability practitioners were fighting back and forth in the street, in complete chaos. The Yankang envoy and the Yankang princess were watching from the sidelines.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son’s face changed drastically: “He’s done it, he’s already done it…”
The divine being was confused.
Crimson Bright Divine Son paced back and forth, saying, “He went to the private school to learn the basic combat techniques of my Crimson Bright era. Sword techniques—the fourteen basic sword forms; blade techniques—the seventeen basic blade forms; fist techniques, body techniques, eye techniques, finger techniques—all of them! In four days, he learned the basic techniques and divine abilities in the private school! Once he learned the basics, all changes are derived from them. However, he still needed to see how far my Crimson Bright divine abilities have progressed. And to see my Crimson Bright divine abilities, nothing is better than causing a commotion. Several hundred divine ability practitioners fighting in the street, using all kinds of divine abilities, and he watches from the side, heh heh…”
Although he laughed, there was no smile on his face.
Crimson Bright Divine Son paused, then said, “Wait a few more days. When Banguo Cuo fights my Crimson Bright practitioners again, summon him. I want to see for myself the capability of this Yankang envoy!”
Four days later, Banguo Cuo was again invited into the imperial city. Crimson Bright Divine Son said, “This time, I ask young friend Banguo Cuo to seal his divine hideouts and fight against the practitioners of the Seven Stars Realm and Heavenly Being Realm.”
Banguo Cuo immediately understood his meaning and said with shame, “Divine Son, I think there’s no need to compare. At the same realm, even if the Divine Son’s disciples far surpass me, they cannot defeat that person.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son was taken aback and laughed, “Young friend, why do you speak such words of despair?”
Banguo Cuo shook his head and said, “The Divine Son’s disciples are all brave and skilled in battle, no weaker than me. With the Divine Son’s guidance, they have made rapid progress in these thirty days, and many can already surpass me. But compared to that fellow surnamed Qin, they are still far inferior.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son listened quietly. Banguo Cuo said sincerely, “I have been fighting him for more than just a day or two. Ever since I left the mountains, I have been fighting him. At first, we were evenly matched. Later, my realm was higher than his, but I couldn’t even take one move from him. Now, I can face any practitioner of Crimson Bright, even the disciples personally taught by the Divine Son. But if I were to fight him, I wouldn’t dare. If the Divine Son wants his disciples to surpass him, it will be extremely difficult.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son looked around and saw that several thousand Suspended Sky Realm practitioners were all staring at Banguo Cuo. Clearly, with just a few words, Banguo Cuo had created the illusion among these practitioners that Qin Mu was invincible.
This was very bad.
Banguo Cuo said solemnly, “If there is someone here who can defeat me at a realm lower than mine, then they have a chance to fight him.”
Crimson Bright Divine Son frowned. Banguo Cuo opened his mouth but couldn’t speak. He was startled, realizing that Crimson Bright Divine Son had silenced him. He thought to himself, “I’ve said my piece. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. You think you’re kicking a hard stone, but you have no idea you’re kicking a Mount Sumeru!”
He felt a bit of schadenfreude: “Finding confidence from me, you fools have no idea what kind of terrifying monster you’re about to face!”
Crimson Bright Divine Son smiled and said, “In that case, please invite the Yankang envoy up here.”
“Summon the Yankang envoy to the court—”