Chapter 704: Dead City
“If this demon god stone statue has revived, then it’s likely the other statues will revive too! This statue was unlucky—its physical body turned to stone and was teleported here, only to have its head smash into the Imperial Gate Divine Saber. But most of the other statues in Yankang are perfectly fine!”
Qin Mu’s heart tightened. Aside from this particularly unfortunate statue, there was also the one beneath Mount Sumeru of the Great Thunderclap Monastery that had met a similar fate.
That statue had risen from underground, only to ram its head straight into Mount Sumeru. Since the Mount Sumeru of the Great Thunderclap Monastery and the Mount Sumeru of the Buddha Realm were essentially the same mountain, crashing into the monastery’s Mount Sumeru was equivalent to crashing into the Buddha Realm itself. The consequences were predictable.
However, the other statues hadn’t encountered such problems. They had emerged intact from all over the world. These statues were incredibly heavy, almost impossible to move, so Emperor Yanfeng had ordered heavy troops stationed around each one.
But after experiencing the revival of this statue, Qin Mu understood how terrifying these statues truly were. If they all awakened, even without the Calamity-Bringing Divine Weapons, it would be an apocalyptic disaster for Yankang!
“If Tian Shu doesn’t come soon, then I’ll have to go alone…”
Just as he thought this, a brilliant divine light descended from the sky. Within the radiance, a majestic deity reached out a hand, grasping toward the Imperial Gate Divine Saber buried underground!
“The Nether Capital Heavenly King has arrived!”
Qin Mu’s heart leaped with joy. He looked up and saw Tian Shu gripping the Imperial Gate Divine Saber, muttering incantations under his breath. The saber shrank steadily until it became a great blade several dozen zhang long.
Tian Shu stowed the divine weapon, careful not to touch its edge, and said, “Stay here. I’ll go meet the disciples of Nether Capital!” With that, he soared into the sky, radiant clouds filling the air, and both man and blade vanished.
Qin Mu wanted to call out to him, but he was already far away.
Frowning, Qin Mu rose into the air, flying out of the underground space. From a distance, he saw a streak of multicolored light heading straight east.
Suddenly, his Taotie Bag trembled, and thunderous sounds echoed from within. Startled, Qin Mu quickly emptied its contents. The Five Thunder Pot crackled with chaotic lightning, the Celestial Phenomenon Divine Weapon showing signs of losing control!
“The Five Great Cloud Thunders are about to be triggered.”
Qi Jiuyi’s expression grew grave. He sighed, “Brother Qin, Yankang is no longer a place to stay. When the Five Thunders soar into the sky, Yankang will turn into a sea of lightning, with the Fire Bell Divine Weapon rampaging through it. And besides the Five Thunder Pot, there are also the Zhen Tripod, the Xun Wind Gourd, and other Celestial Phenomenon Divine Weapons. When their power erupts together, Yankang will be more terrifying than hell itself! I plan to take refuge in the Upper Firmament. Second Brother, will you come with me? I can take you away from this world to the Upper Firmament. There, you won’t face this calamity.”
Long Qilin hesitated for a moment, glanced at Qin Mu, and shook his head. “Wherever the Sect Leader goes, I go. I’ve been freeloading off him for years, eating many meals. I can’t just walk away when he needs me.”
Qi Jiuyi’s expression was complex. He sighed, and flames burst forth around him, transforming into nine phoenixes that soared westward. A piercing cry came back: “Take care of yourselves! Second Brother, don’t die! This is the waist token of my Southern Heaven Red Emperor lineage—it might save your life!”
A token flew over and landed in Qin Mu’s hand.
Qin Mu paused for a moment, then handed the jade token carved with a nine-headed phoenix to Long Qilin.
Qi Jiuyi’s token wasn’t meant for him—it was for Long Qilin.
“Long Fatty, Qi Jiuyi treats you pretty well.”
Qin Mu smiled. “Let’s set off. Back to Yankang!”
Long Qilin stepped on fiery clouds, carrying Qin Mu into the sky. Qin Mu glanced at the sword pellet on Long Qilin’s body, hesitated, but didn’t tell him to discard it.
He had no idea what Yankang’s situation was now. Without a suitable weapon, abandoning the unfinished sword pellet wouldn’t give him much of a speed boost.
“What truly increases speed is the Primordial Spirit!”
On Long Qilin’s back, Qin Mu’s Primordial Spirit left his body. Using the Three Primordial Spirits Meeting Technique, he quickly summoned the elites of Yankang from all directions. The Primordial Spirits of Lin Xuan, Wang Muran, Xu Shenghua, Ling Yuxiu, and others gathered in the Grand Academy Hall.
“Has there been any large-scale death event in Yankang recently?” Qin Mu asked.
“In Yuzhi Commandery, southeast, the common people were wiped out overnight.”
Ling Yuxiu said, “From the provincial capital to the countryside, everyone in Yuzhi Commandery died at the same time, including the deputy governor. The deputy governor was at the Divine Bridge realm, not far from becoming a deity. My father has sent people to investigate. The reports say that everyone in Yuzhi Commandery looks as if they’re still alive—many stand on the streets, appearing to walk, and there are old farmers still working in the fields. But they’re all dead, without any breath. My father has sealed off the news to avoid panic.”
Qin Mu frowned. “What about livestock?”
“Livestock and wild animals—none survived,” Ling Yuxiu said.
Lin Xuan, Wang Muran, and the others hadn’t known about such a major event. They began discussing it, and the Grand Academy Hall buzzed with noise.
Ling Yuxiu continued, “The National Teacher, the First Ancestor, the Saintly Teacher, and others have already summoned the experts of the Red Ming and the Demon Race to search for the enemy’s whereabouts. The enemy must be Lou Yunqu and his group.”
Qin Mu turned to Si Yunxiang and said solemnly, “Fragrant Saintess, immediately issue orders to contact the disciples of the Saint Clan. Have them monitor all stone statues across the regions. Report any anomalies at once!”
Si Yunxiang nodded. “Recent reports from various places indicate that the stone statues have begun to revive. Some are showing traces of flesh and blood. I’ve also heard that the Yankang National Teacher suppressed the Celestial Phenomenon Divine Weapons in the national treasury. Not long ago, those weapons began to emit power, collapsing the treasury. Today, the capital experienced fifteen earthquakes, and the dragon veins have cracked.”
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat, and the hall fell silent.
“Also, keep an eye on whether other commanderies or counties experience large-scale death events. If they do, notify me immediately!”
Qin Mu spoke rapidly. “Xiu Mei, inform the Emperor at once. Ask him to order all scholars skilled in the Soul-Drawing Technique to take fast boats to Yuzhi Commandery. Dao Lord, Brother Wang, if the Little Jade Capital and the Dao Sect have anyone skilled in the Soul-Drawing Technique, send them there too! There might still be hope!”
Everyone acknowledged.
The Primordial Spirit meeting disbanded. Qin Mu’s Primordial Spirit returned to his body, and he immediately ordered Long Qilin to head toward Yuzhi Commandery. After a moment, he told him to slow down.
Long Qilin didn’t understand but obeyed, slowing to a leisurely pace.
Qin Mu’s expression shifted uncertainly. Yuzhi Commandery was on Yankang’s southeastern coast—a long journey that would take a day to reach. It was remote. If everyone rushed there, they might fall for a diversion tactic.
If all the Soul-Drawing Technique experts gathered in Yuzhi Commandery, and another large-scale death event suddenly erupted elsewhere, no one would be able to respond in time.
“The common people of just one commandery probably aren’t enough to revive the stone statues. More deaths are needed to awaken them.”
Qin Mu’s eyes flickered. He took out a map of Yankang from his Taotie Bag. Yankang was no longer what it used to be—its territory had expanded greatly, and its population was several times larger. However, the most populous commanderies were still concentrated in economically developed areas.
“The Yong River has the most developed water transport. Along its route, there are many cities with populations in the millions. Next is the Jiangling area, but Jiangling isn’t too far from the capital. The National Teacher and the First Ancestor will react quickly.”
Qin Mu studied the map. The most suitable place was undoubtedly Li Prefecture, where Yu Yuan Chuyu was.
It was far enough from the capital and far enough from Yuzhi Commandery, and it was in the center of Yankang.
“If I were Lou Yunqu, I would choose that place—sacrifice everyone in Li Prefecture to awaken the stone statues.”
Qin Mu’s expression darkened. Li Prefecture was just south of the Heavenly Saint Academy. The Yong River Academy was there too, with Senior Minister Su Yunzhi as the Grand Sacrificial Officer, and Yu Yuan Chuyu and Yu Yuan Chuyun as Sacrificial Officers.
“If they use the Book of Life and Death to sacrifice everyone in Li Prefecture at once, they could wipe out the Yong River Academy in one fell swoop, along with my Heavenly Saint Academy. Eliminating the Heavenly Saint Academy wouldn’t be much trouble for Lou Yunqu and his group.”
“Li Prefecture and Ba Prefecture have enough people to revive many stone statues. Once the statues revive, they can easily destroy several commanderies. Then they can trigger the Five Thunder Pot and other Celestial Phenomenon Divine Weapons, bringing calamity to Yankang and completely destroying it.”
Having thought this through, Qin Mu ordered Long Qilin to head down the Yong River toward the Yong River Academy in Li Prefecture.
Long Qilin moved swiftly, running through the air above the Yong River. Below, two dragons churned through the waves, closely following his steps.
When they reached Dijiang County, Qin Mu ordered Long Qilin to descend. On Baisui Mountain across from the county, a deity with a single horn on its head, a horse’s face, and a human body, pure white all over, looked over from afar.
Qin Mu waved, and the White Gap Deity immediately vanished.
On the riverbank stood the Yong River Academy. Su Yunzhi had chosen this location to connect talents from both sides of the river. The Yong River Dragon King, the Dragon Tamer Lord, the Flood Dragon King Deity, and the White Gap Deity lived nearby. She could invite these three deities to teach by offering a few sacrifices—especially the White Gap Deity, who was very cheap and didn’t cost much.
Qin Mu walked toward the Yong River Academy, noticing many large, novel spirit weapons along the way. These weapons were parked on both sides of the road, with some scholars teaching cultivators how to operate them.
—The scholars of the Yong River Academy clearly didn’t know the calamity was coming. It was still peaceful and tranquil here.
Qin Mu had Long Qilin stop and watched. Some of the spirit weapons were windmills with seven blades, each equipped with a small alchemy furnace. When medicinal stones were burned in the furnace, the blades would spin.
As the blades turned, wind blades cut along the ground, quickly tilling an acre of land.
Once the land was tilled, they could push the windmill forward to turn over other fields.
“A tool for plowing!”
Qin Mu was amazed. During Yankang’s reforms, cultivators were usually paid wages. Those skilled in wind-based techniques used spells to farm, cutting the ground with wind blades.
But now, someone had created this windmill spirit weapon, using medicinal stones to provide energy and cast spells. It was an ingenious design.
He asked a scholar beside the windmill. The scholar said, “Besides windmills, there are cloud carts, rain carts, mining carts, and smelting furnaces. They were all designed by the Heavenly Works Hall and the Heavenly Works Bureau, and the National Teacher ordered their nationwide promotion.”
“Could Grandpa Mute have designed these everyday spirit weapons? But with nationwide promotion, the supply of medicinal stones might not keep up. Growing medicinal herbs takes time to mature.”
Qin Mu inquired, “Is Grand Sacrificial Officer Su Yunzhi in the academy?”
“The Grand Sacrificial Officer is up ahead, inspecting the medicinal fields with the Poison King of the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
Qin Mu’s heart stirred. “Grandpa Medicine is here too? Doesn’t he have the Empress Dowager and a host of beauties? Could Senior Minister Su also be involved with him? Bah, how can I gossip about Grandpa Medicine behind his back…”
—I should be getting off the high-speed train right now. I want to ask my brothers, where does the fan team for “The Legend of the Shepherd God” rank? I still don’t know.