# Chapter 728: The Heavenly Master's Past
The Woodcutter Sage recalled the past, and after a moment, he spoke unhurriedly: "At that time, I was deeply immersed in reform and transformation, feeling that I could realize grand ambitions and fulfill great aspirations. I had no heart to concern myself with romantic affairs. Therefore, even though there were girls who liked me, I had no time to discuss personal feelings."
Qin Mu blinked. The Imperial Preceptor of Yan Kang was also this kind of person. The reason the Imperial Preceptor hadn't become another Woodcutter was that he had still married his current wife and had children.
The Imperial Preceptor of the past was absolutely rational, even using his own injuries as bait to lure enemies into revealing themselves.
But the current Imperial Preceptor had a bit more humanity about him.
"At that time, I had already noticed that the Farmer was somewhat dissatisfied with me, and indeed, I had no heart for personal emotions. That girl was truly outstanding, beautiful in appearance—from every aspect, she was the best partner. However, the Kai Huang had entrusted me with the heavy responsibility of reform. If I used the power the Kai Huang had given me to seduce a young woman, wouldn't that betray the Kai Huang's trust?"
The Woodcutter continued unhurriedly: "So I said to that girl, 'Yun Xi, I am not the one for you to entrust your life to. The Kai Huang's commission is of great importance. There are too many things in this world waiting for me to change. Therefore, I can only disappoint your deep affection.'"
Qin Mu listened intently, smiling: "Teacher, it's still possible to balance family and country. Why did you have to refuse her? If you refused her, how did that end up offending the Martial Combat Heavenly Master?"
"Her name was Yan Yun Xi, a woman, a very charming woman."
The Woodcutter was clearly reminiscing about such an outstanding and extraordinary woman. He stared blankly into space, showing rare tenderness, and said softly: "She was also very intelligent, very talented. That she could favor me made me very happy inside, but I respected her more than I loved her. She also asked me, 'Tian Ge, is Zhuo Cha, who has feelings of admiration for me, someone worth entrusting my life to?' Zhuo Cha was the Farmer. I smiled and said to her..."
The Woodcutter's expression turned strange: "I said, 'Zhuo Cha's love for martial arts surpasses his love for you. His true love is martial arts; his feelings for you are just a momentary infatuation. Zhuo Cha is not someone worth entrusting yourself to.' I spoke as a friend, analyzing Zhuo Cha's character, and I was quite accurate in my assessment. It seems this remark later reached Zhuo Cha's ears, which is why he always looks at me with displeasure."
Qin Mu said: "Teacher, you really deserved a beating... I didn't mean that!"
He held his head—the Woodcutter had just given him a sharp knock on the head, and it was burning with pain.
The Woodcutter continued: "Later, Yan Yun Xi never married. She changed her name and dressed in men's clothing. I asked her why, and she said she had seen the two most outstanding men in the world—one with unparalleled wisdom who cared for the world, and one with unmatched courage and a steadfast heart. After seeing these two men, she couldn't look at any other man. So she changed her name and dressed as a man, saying she wouldn't change back into women's clothing until she met a man who surpassed us."
He stared blankly into space, shaking his head with a smile: "She never changed back. Although Zhuo Cha had seen her many times and their friendship was good, he never recognized her."
Qin Mu exclaimed: "The Martial Combat Heavenly Master is someone who entered the Dao through martial arts and cultivated to the Emperor Throne realm. How could he not recognize Yan Yun Xi in women's clothing?"
The Woodcutter laughed: "Yan Yun Xi's skills were extremely high, and she was clever and mischievous. If she didn't want him to recognize her, he wouldn't recognize her. Besides, the Farmer's head is full of muscles—what kind of discerning eye could he have? Yan Yun Xi had beaten him many times, and he still couldn't recognize her. Instead, he was obedient to her, while giving me cold looks and sideways glances."
"Beat the Martial Combat Heavenly Master many times?"
Qin Mu's eyes were filled with confusion: "This Sister Yan Yun Xi..."
The Woodcutter scolded: "Call her Martial Uncle! Don't call her Sister!"
Qin Mu stammered: "Teacher, you just said that Martial Uncle Yun Xi changed her name. What name did she change to? There aren't many people capable of making the Martial Combat Heavenly Master obedient. I have heard the Martial Combat Heavenly Master mention one person who once made him completely submissive. But that person wasn't called Yun Xi; he was called Zi Xi."
The Woodcutter didn't speak, looking toward the door.
Outside the door, the old ox quickly withdrew his ears, puffing and blowing on his water pipe, but the fire had long gone out.
Dragon Qilin immediately prostrated himself on the ground, pretending to sleep, snoring like thunder.
The Woodcutter stood up, put on his clothes, and said: "I think my injuries have mostly healed. I can slowly recuperate with the Creation Art; it won't leave any hidden problems."
Qin Mu quickly asked: "Is Heavenly Master Zi Xi the same person as Martial Uncle Yan Yun Xi?"
The Woodcutter didn't answer. He walked out and said: "This time, Zhuo Cha will definitely emerge from seclusion. With Zhuo Cha out, there will be much more room to maneuver. You plan to meet Xu Sheng Hua with Hu Bu Gui? Then Zhuo Cha might go with you to see Xu Sheng Hua. I have matters to attend to; I'll go ahead."
Qin Mu followed him, saying: "I also plan to meet with Sister Di Yi Yue and see how she and Heavenly King Tian Shu are transforming Feng Du."
The Woodcutter shook his head: "Transforming Feng Du cannot be completed in a short time. And if she wants to find Tian Shu, she probably won't be able to. That fellow must be hiding in the largest and best winery in Yan Kang, drinking."
Qin Mu's eyes lit up, and he laughed: "Then he must be in the imperial palace's wine cellar."
"I'll find a way to notify Di Yi Yue and let her go find Tian Shu."
The Woodcutter walked out the door, glanced at the old ox who was still frantically puffing on his water pipe, and said flatly: "The fire is out."
The old ox hurriedly lit it, and a thick cloud of smoke burst out, choking the ox so much that smoke came out of both his eyes and nose, tears streaming down his face.
"Say what should be said, and don't say what shouldn't be said."
The Woodcutter said: "Although I can't do anything to you, the second-ranked Heavenly Master killing you would be very simple."
The old ox quickly nodded, smiling ingratiatingly: "Great Heavenly Master, rest assured. I understand everything."
The Woodcutter then came to the front of Dragon Qilin, who was pretending to sleep, and said: "If you talk too much, you might easily end up on a plate, served on the table."
Dragon Qilin scrambled up, lowering his head and smiling obsequiously: "My mouth is the most reliable! I've never leaked any of the Sect Leader's embarrassing stories!"
Qin Mu hesitated for a moment, stroking the few small whiskers on his chin: "Fat Dragon knows many of my embarrassing stories? Hmm, this kid can't be kept... How should I cook him to make it delicious?"
The Woodcutter found the Farmer and took his leave. The Farmer didn't want to pay him much attention, squinting as he dozed off. The Woodcutter had no choice but to leave.
The Farmer snorted and spat a thick glob of phlegm heavily at his retreating back.
Qin Mu's expression was strange. These two Heavenly Masters were both tens of thousands of years old, yet they still acted like children.
Not long after, Hu Bu Gui came out of the Bullfighting Realm carrying a small bundle, dressed simply, looking sharp and capable.
The villagers moved the mountain back again and sealed the Bullfighting Realm using some method. Qin Mu looked around but couldn't find any traces of spatial seals, marveling to himself.
From his experience in the Bullfighting Realm, it was completely isolated from the Great Ruins. The darkness of the Great Ruins' night couldn't invade the Bullfighting Realm. This meant that the Bullfighting Realm wasn't in this world.
Moreover, Hu Bu Gui and other martial artists from the Bullfighting Realm had mentioned that when they reached the age of adolescence, they would go to the Demon Realm to fight against powerful demon cultivators as training.
This indicated that the Bullfighting Realm was probably very far from the Great Ruins, perhaps even unimaginably distant.
"Emperor Throne powerhouses truly have vast supernatural abilities."
Qin Mu glanced at the Farmer. The Farmer led the old ox over and said to the villagers: "This time, I'll go out for a stroll and accompany them to meet this so-called Xu Sheng Hua, to see if he has any real ability. If he does, then I'll go wander around Yan Kang. If Xu Sheng Hua has no ability, then when you encounter the Woodcutter again, capture him. I'll kill him with one punch and then come back to seclusion."
Everyone agreed, saying: "Heavenly King, rest assured. We'll stay here and guard the Bullfighting Palace. If we encounter the Great Heavenly Master, we'll capture him."
The Farmer mounted the ox's back. Qin Mu also sat on Dragon Qilin's back, while Hu Bu Gui walked on foot.
Qin Mu invited him up, but Hu Bu Gui shook his head: "I run fast."
Qin Mu looked at Dragon Qilin. Dragon Qilin's fur stood on end, and he quickly ran with all his might, feeling that he was moving like the wind and lightning, surely leaving Hu Bu Gui behind. But when he looked back, he saw the old ox carrying the Farmer still steadily following behind, while Hu Bu Gui leaped and bounded, moving at an extremely fast speed, jumping from one mountain peak to another, astonishing to behold.
"This guy's physical body is stronger than mine!"
Dragon Qilin was startled, feeling a chill running down his back, and thought to himself: "They don't know where Xu Sheng Hua is, so they're following me. Otherwise, they would have run ahead of me long ago. But since they're following me, they can't surpass me, so the Sect Leader won't do anything to me..."
Qin Mu's primordial spirit left his body and contacted Xu Sheng Hua. He said to Hu Bu Gui: "Xu Sheng Hua has gone to the Western Lands and is building the Supreme Heaven Academy. We can go to the Western Lands to see him."
Hu Bu Gui's spirits lifted. The Farmer sat on the ox's back, looking serene, and said: "If Xu Sheng Hua is unimpressive, then I'll kill the Woodcutter."
Qin Mu laughed: "Brother Xu's talent is overflowing. If it weren't for me, he would be the unparalleled genius of the world. The Martial Combat Heavenly Master will surely be very happy to see him."
The Farmer snorted coldly.
Six or seven days later, they arrived near the True Heaven Palace in the Western Lands.
The women of the True Heaven Palace were currently engaged in large-scale construction, building palaces. Many halls had already been completed. Xu Sheng Hua and Jing Yan had received Qin Mu's message and came to welcome them.
Qin Mu jumped down from Dragon Qilin's back and looked around. The architecture of the Supreme Heaven Academy was full of Western Land style, with magnificent buildings adorned with flowers and greenery that never withered throughout the seasons.
"Esteemed couple, this is the Martial Combat Heavenly Master of the Kai Huang Divine Dynasty, and this is Senior Brother Niu San Duo."
Qin Mu introduced them: "And this is the Hu Bu Gui I mentioned to you, who entered the Dao through martial arts and has no Divine Bridge realm."
Xu Sheng Hua studied Hu Bu Gui, his eyes lighting up, and said: "Brother Hu, would you mind opening your divine repositories?"
Several loud sounds came from within Hu Bu Gui's body. The divine repositories of Spiritual Fetus, Five Radiances, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Heavenly Human, and Life and Death all opened wide. But when it came to the Divine Bridge repository, the entire Divine Bridge repository was completely missing!
He simply had no Divine Bridge repository!
Countless runes flew around Xu Sheng Hua as he calculated the location of Hu Bu Gui's Divine Bridge repository. After a moment, he shook his head: "Truly no Divine Bridge repository! Excellent, excellent!"
"I'm going to kill your teacher." The Farmer said to Qin Mu.
Xu Sheng Hua walked around Hu Bu Gui, his eyes shining with excitement, and said rapidly: "Brother Hu, your foundation is excellent. You're perfect for testing my method of merging divine repositories! I can't do it myself—I'm a Sovereign Body, but I learned about it too late. My previous realm foundations are somewhat unstable. Although I want to merge the repositories, my cultivation is somewhat lacking. I originally planned to use Brother Qin for the experiment, but your physical body is sturdy and your foundation is good—you're just right for testing it on! By the way, are you also a Sovereign Body?"
The Farmer stopped and said to Qin Mu: "If he kills Hu Bu Gui, I'll kill him, and then I'll kill you."
Qin Mu was also seeing Xu Sheng Hua's crazy side for the first time, feeling somewhat uneasy.