Chapter 705: The Bright Moon Is Full
The further Qin Mu walked, the more everyday spiritual weapons he saw. Near the Yongjiang Academy, some scholars were testing flying carriages that could carry passengers through the air. Their furnaces were smaller, not consuming as many medicinal stones as a tower ship, and were likely intended for short-distance flight.
He also saw some scholars constructing Ice Dragon Mirrors, peddling this spiritual weapon to wealthy local families. The Ice Dragon Mirror was square and upright, resembling a large cauldron, but with a lid. Four bronze dragon carvings coiled at its four corners. When provided with medicinal stones, the azure dragons would breathe out icy mist.
Placed in a home during summer, it would cool the air, and food could be stored inside the Ice Dragon Mirror without spoiling easily. [Note 1]
By the river, there was a mine. Countless mechanical men were mining, while scholars supervised and recorded the work nearby.
He also saw many scholars designing floating cities, constructing small-scale cities in the wilderness with the intention of making them float in the sky.
“Has the formation divine art of Yan Kang advanced to this level?”
He stepped forward to inspect the formations. Among those scholars were some from the Heavenly Saint Academy who recognized him as their Grand Sacrificial Officer. They quickly brought out formation diagrams for him to review.
Qin Mu was astonished. The formation diagrams for the floating city used a structure similar to the one that borrowed the power of heaven and earth, like the Small Jade Capital in the sky or the Sacred Saint Mountain of the Heavenly Saint Cult. This formation structure had already surpassed his own mastery of formations.
“If I didn’t research this, then who did?”
Qin Mu was stunned. “Could it be that Blind Grandpa went to Sacred Saint Mountain and Small Jade Capital and figured out the formations there?”
The rapid progress of Yan Kang’s divine arts truly shocked him. It had only been about four months since he left Yan Kang to find Yan Jingjing, met the Woodcutter Sage and the Old Angler, went to the Yin Realm, and then returned to Yan Kang. For Yan Kang’s divine arts and techniques to have advanced this far in such a short time was truly remarkable!
But it was almost too remarkable!
“This shouldn’t just be the work of Mute Grandpa and Blind Grandpa. Teacher Woodcutter must be driving this too! He has the broadest knowledge. From what Old Angler said, the reforms during the Kaihuang Era were pushed by Teacher Woodcutter.”
Qin Mu pondered. The Woodcutter and the people from the Village of Elders driving the advancement of Yan Kang’s divine arts and techniques would indeed allow Yan Kang to grow strong quickly. The daily lives of the common people—clothing, food, housing, and transportation—would all improve significantly. It would also free up time for cultivators to train and research higher-level techniques and divine abilities.
However, the most critical factor was still medicinal stones.
These everyday spiritual weapons greatly increased the demand for medicinal stones. Spirit stones could be mined, but cultivating medicinal herbs was more difficult.
He arrived in front of the Yongjiang Academy and was stunned. Before him stretched ten thousand acres of fertile fields, all planted with medicinal herbs. Many scholars from both the Yongjiang Academy and the Heavenly Saint Academy were using Creation Divine Arts in the fields.
These scholars were using the Creation Earth Origin Technique, but it seemed different from the original version, incorporating many Creation Divine Arts from the Chiming Era.
Qin Mu had Dragon Qilin stop. He stood by the edge of the fields and watched. The academy scholars used the Creation Earth Origin Technique to accelerate the growth of the herbs, nurturing their medicinal properties, allowing herbs that would normally take years or decades to mature to be harvested in just a few hours.
“These herbs are growing well. They’ll be ready for harvest soon… Mu’er!”
Qin Mu heard Medicine King’s voice and quickly looked over. Medicine King was inspecting the fields, and Deaf was also there, accompanied by Minister Su Yunzhi. Su Yunqing was a first-rank official of Yan Kang, who had long since opened the Divine Bridge and cultivated to become a god. Her strength was formidable.
When Qin Mu met her in the capital, she was an old woman. Now, she had aged in reverse, becoming a beautiful woman in her thirties, radiating grace and elegance in every move.
Deaf had grown ears, while Medicine King still wore a bronze mask, unchanged as always.
Qin Mu saw many scholars from the Heavenly Saint Academy here, likely brought by them to guide the Yongjiang Academy in Creation Arts.
Qin Mu walked over and smiled, “Medicine King Grandpa, how is your Creation Divine Art? Why are you still wearing the mask?”
Medicine King touched the mask on his face and shook his head. “I’m old now. It’s better not to show my true face. To avoid… sigh.”
He sighed.
Deaf sneered, “Just because you look good, you think you’re something special? Vulgar.”
Medicine King smiled. “It is something special.”
Deaf pretended not to hear.
They loved to bicker, and Qin Mu was long used to it, so he paid it no mind. Deaf looked at Qin Mu and asked, puzzled, “Why aren’t you going to the Heavenly Saint Academy? Why come to the Yongjiang Academy instead?”
Qin Mu’s eyes flickered, and he smiled, “I was passing by and came to see Dragon Tamer Lord, and also to visit Grand Sacrificial Officer Su.”
Su Yunzhi covered her mouth and chuckled, “Grand Sacrificial Officer Qin is joking. You rarely come to my Yongjiang Academy. I often go to the Heavenly Saint Academy to find you, hoping to ask some teaching questions, but I always miss you.”
Qin Mu laughed it off, staring at a flower without speaking.
Medicine King and Deaf immediately understood his demeanor. Medicine King smiled, “Minister Su, I’m a bit tired and will go rest first. Minister Su only needs to wait another hour before having the scholars harvest the herbs. Remember to keep some seeds.”
Su Yunzhi acknowledged.
Medicine King and Deaf turned and walked toward the Heavenly Saint Academy. Qin Mu quickly followed. Deaf said, “From your expression, I can tell you’re not here for anything good. Spit it out. What’s the matter?”
“I suspect that Lou Yunqu is about to use the Book of Life and Death here, intending to wipe out all life in Lizhou Prefecture,” Qin Mu said.
“What?”
Medicine King and Deaf exclaimed in unison. Qin Mu quickly said, “Two grandpas, keep your voices down. Don’t alert the enemy.”
Medicine King trembled and quickened his pace. “Hurry back, pack up the valuables, and get out of here. Go back to Bazhou… No, back to the Village of Elders! Bazhou isn’t safe either!”
Qin Mu quickly grabbed his hand. Medicine King struggled but couldn’t break free. He was currently at the Life and Death realm, but his cultivation was slow, and his physical body was far inferior to Qin Mu’s.
“Medicine King Grandpa, you can stay here.”
Qin Mu smiled. “As long as Lou Yunqu doesn’t personally kill people, if it’s just the Book of Life and Death, I can handle it.”
“How?”
“After you die, I’ll revive you.”
Qin Mu smiled. “Don’t worry. As long as your physical bodies aren’t destroyed, summoning your souls back won’t be too troublesome.”
Medicine King hesitated and looked at Deaf. Deaf asked, “What’s the use of summoning our souls back? Can we beat Lou Yunqu and the others?”
“No.”
Qin Mu shook his head. “Before the fall of Grand Imperial Heaven, Lou Yunqu and his two companions met the First Ancestor Human Sovereign. The four of them went to the Spirit Energy Dual Shift Bridge. The First Ancestor never attacked them, which shows he was very wary of them. And they didn’t dare to attack the First Ancestor directly either, which suggests the First Ancestor was stronger than them. The strength of Lou Yunqu and his two senior brothers is likely between the Divine Execution Platform realm and the Jade Pool realm.”
Medicine King asked, “Stronger than Futoriha?”
Qin Mu nodded. “Much stronger than Futoriha. Futoriha is probably at the Jade Pool realm, but in terms of actual combat strength, he’s far inferior to them. After all, they are disciples of the Nether Capital Black Emperor and practice Throne-level techniques.”
Medicine King steadied himself and said, “We are far from being their match. Why not leave here and return to the Great Ruins? We can’t save everyone, but we can save ourselves.”
Qin Mu smiled. “But Medicine King Grandpa taught me from a young age that a doctor has a parent’s heart, and that human life is greater than heaven. We study medicine and pursue the medical path precisely to save more people, don’t we? Would Medicine King Grandpa go against his original intention?”
Medicine King laughed in anger. “You’re lecturing me now? Let me teach you another lesson: studying medicine alone cannot save Yan Kang! Will you listen to me? Deaf, you’re stronger than me. Seal him in a painting, and let’s go back to the Heavenly Saint Academy to pick up Granny and the others!”
Deaf picked his ear and said, “I can’t hear you. I’m deaf.”
Medicine King was furious and was about to lose his temper when Deaf quickly said, “Since Mu’er came here, he must have some bad idea. Why not hear him out before making a decision?”
Medicine King suppressed his anger and said, “If you can’t come up with any winning plan, we’re leaving immediately! Even if I have to poison you to knock you out, we’re going back to the Village of Elders!”
Qin Mu smiled. “We may not be a match for Lou Yunqu, but we have other allies. If I’m not mistaken, the Woodcutter Sage, the First Ancestor Human Sovereign, Futoriha, Red Creek Divine, and the Fisherman Heavenly Master are all currently within Lizhou Prefecture, just waiting for Lou Yunqu and the others to show up.”
He said calmly, “I can guess that their target is Lizhou, and they will guess it too.”
Medicine King gasped and muttered, “If they guessed it, why didn’t they proactively evacuate the people of Lizhou? Why let the people of Lizhou bear the risk of being killed?”
“Because they can’t find Lou Yunqu and the others. They have no choice but to sacrifice the common people of Lizhou.”
Qin Mu said, “Besides, I’ve already spread the Soul-Pulling Divine Art. Not a few people in Yan Kang have cultivated this technique. With it, they can call back those who died from the Book of Life and Death. So this risk is worth taking, and it must be taken!”
Deaf asked, “What if their chosen target isn’t Lizhou? What if it’s the capital?”
“I’m here. They will come.”
Qin Mu said decisively, “I am the bait that will make Lou Yunqu and the others abandon other targets and focus only on Lizhou! Yuzhi County has already lost millions of people. They were erased from the Book of Life and Death last night. I’ve already ordered everyone who has cultivated the Soul-Pulling Divine Art to go to Yuzhi County to save people. Tonight should be when they strike Lizhou!”
Medicine King asked, “Then how will they know you’re in Lizhou?”
Qin Mu said, “With the Book of Life and Death, they will naturally know where I am. Shine the Book of Life and Death, and everyone’s names will appear. Tonight, I need a high place to perform the ritual. After they cast their spell to kill, I will revive everyone in Lizhou!”
Deaf quickly said, “The Yongjiang Academy has an Observation Platform. It’s very high, and from it, you can see all the scenery of Lizhou.”
Qin Mu clapped his hands. “Good! I’ll do it there!”
That night, Qin Mu brought Dragon Qilin to the Observation Platform. Medicine King and Deaf stood at the edge, nervously looking up at the sky. The bright moon was full.
At the four corners of the Observation Platform were sculptures of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, symbolizing the four great heavenly palaces. In the center was a giant armillary sphere engraved with the constellations of the heavens.
Qin Mu lit lanterns around the perimeter, stood on the armillary sphere, and waited quietly.
The moonlight was pure, slowly rising to the zenith. The night was deep and still. The Yongjiang Academy had fallen silent, with only the sound of the river flowing endlessly by the sea.
The night air carried a chill.
Qin Mu alertly manifested his three heads and six arms, staring into the surroundings. The moonlight was as quiet as water, spilling onto the earth, illuminating the mountains and rivers. Nearby, the fragrance of plants drifted faintly; in the distance, the mountains were mottled like crouching beasts.
Qin Mu waited for a long time. The moon passed its zenith, but the Book of Life and Death never appeared.
“Could it be they’re not coming? That’s unlikely… Dragon Fatty! Dragon Fatty!”
Qin Mu called out. Dragon Qilin was lying motionless at the edge of the Observation Platform. Qin Mu was startled and looked at Medicine King and Deaf. Deaf was sitting cross-legged, staring at him with wide eyes, while Medicine King stood leaning against the Azure Dragon sculpture, his face hidden in shadow.
Qin Mu jumped down from the armillary sphere and went to them, reaching out to check their breath. His mind went blank.
Medicine King and Deaf were just empty shells. Their souls had vanished without a trace!
He rushed to Dragon Qilin’s side. Dragon Qilin’s soul had also vanished without a trace!
Qin Mu’s hair stood on end. He flew down the Observation Platform and raced through the Yongjiang Academy. He saw the Tianlu Building brightly lit, with many scholars still inside borrowing various technique and divine art scrolls, but everyone was frozen in place, motionless!
He ran through the corridors and saw young scholars on the lawn, still awake, a boy and a girl leaning against each other, presumably in love. But their bodies were empty, their souls also vanished without a trace!
He passed by Su Yunzhi’s hall. This god was meditating, but her primordial spirit had also vanished without a trace!
“Impossible! It’s impossible for them to activate the Book of Life and Death without alerting me! Dragon Tamer Lord!”
Qin Mu shouted, “Dragon Tamer Lord, where are you?”
The river roared, but there was no cry of “Dragon Tamer Lord is here!” In the Yongjiang River, two giant dragons floated belly-up on the water, their horns caught on the dam, their bodies undulating like waves in the current.
On Hundred-Year-Old Mountain, the White Crack God had turned into a stone statue, standing motionless on a grave.
All the counties and prefectures of Lizhou had fallen into utter silence.
“How did they cast the spell? There’s no trace at all!”
Qin Mu was ice-cold. He paced back and forth, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. Suddenly, he looked up at the moon in the sky.
The bright moon was full.
“Today is the first day of the lunar month. That’s right, today is the first day. Where did the moon come from?”
Qin Mu’s body shook violently. He shouted, “They are hiding inside the moon! Teacher Woodcutter, First Ancestor Human Sovereign, can you hear me?”
Thud.
A figure fell from a gray cloud in midair and crashed not far from Qin Mu. Qin Mu looked at the man. He was holding an axe, his face buried in the dirt.
Qin Mu’s eyelids twitched. Then he saw a second person fall from the sky. The First Ancestor Human Sovereign smashed a large hole in the Yongjiang Academy’s hall. Then Futoriha, Red Creek, the Fisherman Heavenly Master, and others fell from the clouds one after another, shaking the ground as they landed.
Qin Mu roared, and the Gate of Inheritance behind him burst open!
At that moment, three figures walked down from the bright moon.
— A four-thousand-word chapter. You read that right, it’s a four-thousand-word chapter. Zhai Zhu is on a business trip and still delivering! Lala, asking for monthly votes and subscriptions~
Note: Ice Mirror, an ancient Chinese refrigerator, used by nobles during the Warring States period.