Chapter 731: Words That Don't Align
Qin Mu had not yet recovered from the shock of discovering that Yin Chaojin was the Yin Heavenly Monarch when the "Brother Qin" mentioned by Yin Chaojin walked over, greeting Qin Mu and Old Ox. "I am Qin Kai, a wandering cultivator. Greetings to you both."
Qin Mu suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly returned the greeting. Niu Sanduo also hurriedly returned the courtesy.
As Qin Mu returned the greeting, he glanced at Old Ox, who gave a slight nod.
Qin Mu understood. This "Brother Qin" was the Kai Emperor Old Ox had spoken of, the first name on the Qin family tree—Kai Emperor Qin Ye!
He called himself Qin Kai, not using his real name, presumably because he also sensed that he might have traveled back to a certain period in time due to the strangeness of the Yong River, and used a pseudonym out of caution.
Qin Mu looked up to examine the Kai Emperor. Sure enough, he bore some resemblance to the Kai Emperor in his youth—tall and sturdy, not particularly handsome like the young Yin Heavenly Monarch and the others, but dignified in appearance.
However, because Qin Mu had grown up in the Village of the Crippled Elders, he was naturally cunning on the inside but appeared sincere and sunny on the outside, like a big boy in adolescence who didn't yet understand the ways of the world.
The Kai Emperor, on the other hand, was a man of strong masculine vigor. Just one glance at him, and one couldn't help but be drawn to his unique temperament.
His temperament was not the leadership quality Old Ox had mentioned earlier, but rather the temperament of someone who had endured hardships in starting an enterprise, yet whose original intention remained unwavering through countless twists and turns.
It was the temperament of a person with an unshakable Dao heart, someone with a grand goal and pursuit. Although the Kai Emperor stood on the back of the great Kun, surrounded by many people, with the scenery rushing backward, he seemed to stand at the center of heaven and earth. Everything else moved, but he alone remained still.
It wasn't that he was physically unmoving; what didn't move was his Dao heart, what didn't move was the persistence in his heart.
Qin Mu felt confused. Could this Kai Emperor be the same one who hid in the Land of No Sorrow, afraid to make a comeback?
The Kai Emperor's eyes were bright, the light in them like a tranquil lake illuminated by the noonday sun. His shoulders were slightly broader than Qin Mu's, and he was an inch or two shorter, likely due to enduring many hardships in his youth.
Seeing that the old man transformed by Old Ox, whose face was indistinct, actually returned his greeting, the Kai Emperor was somewhat surprised.
Although he couldn't discern the old man's cultivation level, he must be a renowned figure in the Heavenly Court. Why would such an existence be so deferential in returning his greeting?
Yin Heavenly Monarch enthusiastically introduced them, saying, "Brother Qin is someone I met when I first ascended to the upper realm. His skills are astonishing and extraordinary. How should I address you two?"
Qin Mu smiled and said, "My name is Mu Qing. This is my senior brother, surnamed Niu, named... Niu."
"Niu?"
Old Ox's expression changed slightly, but fortunately, the yellow talisman paper of the Heavenly Benevolent Sage King concealed his expression. He thought to himself, "Back when the Kai Emperor first established the Heavenly Court, he once smiled and told me he wanted to change my name, not to Sanduo, but to Niu. Could it be that he recognized me back then?"
Qin Mu didn't know what he was thinking. He looked at Yin Heavenly Monarch with warm eyes and thought, "If I kill Yin Heavenly Monarch now, would the future Yin Heavenly Monarch disappear? The current Yin Heavenly Monarch isn't even a Divine Throne expert. He's not even a god yet. Killing him shouldn't be difficult..."
Yin Heavenly Monarch, seeing him staring, quickly smiled and said, "Brother Mu, this is the first grand gathering of the Heavenly Court. Countless young talents from all the various heavens have come to attend. Those who can come are all influential figures from their respective realms. People like us are just small fry."
Qin Mu smiled and said, "I am a small fry, but Brother Yin is a big shot."
Yin Heavenly Monarch quickly humbled himself, though he couldn't hide his pride, and said, "I do have some reputation in my humble hometown, but I'm still not as good as others."
Qin Mu said seriously, "I see that Brother Yin is no ordinary person. You will surely rise to great heights in the future!"
The Kai Emperor's eyes flickered, and he smiled, "I think so too. Although Brother Yin is not famous now, one can know a hundred years from a three-year-old. In the future, Brother Yin will surely make a name for himself."
Yin Heavenly Monarch was flattered and said, "The Heavenly Emperor is still deciding on a name for the Heavenly Court and has summoned all the ancient gods from the world. We can't compare to the ancient gods, but I have a wide circle of friends. This time, many famous figures from various races have come, including those outstanding talents who pioneered the Divine Treasury cultivation system. These people are not ancient gods, but they surpass them. They created the Divine Treasury, allowing us to cultivate."
Qin Mu was greatly shocked. The pioneers of the Divine Treasury cultivation system?
Wasn't the Divine Treasury cultivation system created by the ancient gods?
He looked at the Kai Emperor, who was equally excited.
Could it be that they were about to meet the people who created the Divine Treasury cultivation system?
Yin Heavenly Monarch smiled and said, "They are currently at the Jade Pool, planning to hold a Jade Pool Gathering. The Heavenly Emperor is holding the Heavenly Court Gathering, and we are holding the Jade Pool Gathering. Although it's not as grand as the Heavenly Court Gathering, we must not miss it! It is said that at this Jade Pool Gathering, the Imperial Heavenly Monarch will announce a major event, something that will shock everyone!"
The Kai Emperor smiled and said, "Brother Yin has such a wide network. Can you give us a hint?"
Yin Heavenly Monarch hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "It is said that the Imperial Heavenly Monarch and the others have figured out a way for us cultivators to become gods! This Jade Pool Gathering is to announce this matter!"
Qin Mu blurted out, "Become gods? Has no cultivator ever become a god before?"
Yin Heavenly Monarch and the Kai Emperor looked at him with strange expressions.
Qin Mu immediately realized he had said something wrong and said sheepishly, "I'm from the countryside and haven't seen much of the world. Please don't laugh at me. I always thought the Heavenly Court had gods."
The Kai Emperor gave him a half-smile, then after a moment explained, "The Heavenly Court naturally has gods. Besides the ancient gods, there are other kinds of gods, but these gods did not become gods through cultivation. They were born powerful. However, they all have a lifespan limit. Once their lifespan ends, their souls return to the Netherworld."
Yin Heavenly Monarch clapped his hands vigorously and laughed, "That's exactly it! Brother Mu doesn't seem to know much about this. Actually, they are only demigods, based on bloodline and lineage. Many of them are descendants of ancient gods with noble bloodlines, so they possess earth-shattering abilities. But they cannot live forever like the ancient gods. Moreover, the key point is that they don't rely on cultivation but on growth."
"Growth?" Qin Mu was even more puzzled.
"For example, the great Kun carrying us to the Jade Pool is also a god."
Yin Heavenly Monarch said, "The great Kun is actually a descendant of an ancient god. It is very powerful from birth, but that's not its peak. The great Kun grows by eating Jade Dragon Pills, unlike us. It has no cultivation process. When it reaches adulthood, its physical body and magical power are incredibly strong! At that point, the great Kun god's strength is not inferior to that of an ancient god, or at least not far behind."
The Kai Emperor continued, "But they also have a lifespan limit, so they are called demigods and cannot achieve immortality. We, on the other hand, first open the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury, then cultivate step by step, opening one Divine Treasury after another, until we reach a very high realm. The difference between us and demigods is that our bloodlines are humble; we are cultivators who gained power through cultivation, while demigods rely on bloodlines and lineage to grow."
Qin Mu suddenly understood.
But he had even more questions. He seemed to have traveled to an incredibly ancient era.
In this era, even the Heavenly Palace cultivation system had not yet appeared; only the Divine Treasury cultivation system had just emerged. What era was this?
The Heavenly Court seemed to have just begun to form, and its name hadn't even been decided yet.
Was this Heavenly Court the Ancient God Heavenly Court?
If it was the Ancient God Heavenly Court, what connection did it have with the later Outer Realm Heavenly Court, the one people in the Kai Emperor era often called the old Heavenly Court?
The Woodcutter Sage had always said that from beginning to end, the people of the Kai Emperor era never knew who their enemy truly was.
The people of the Upper Emperor era also seemed not to know who this Outer Realm Heavenly Court was; they called them Outer Realm Heavenly Demons.
And the Chi Emperor's thoughts didn't know where the enemy that destroyed the Chi Ming era came from or what its roots were.
Qin Mu thought hard but still couldn't figure it out.
Suddenly, his heart stirred. The Woodcutter's eldest disciple, the founding patriarch of the Heavenly Sage Sect, Wei Suifeng, had been exploring these mysteries and was now missing.
The founding patriarch had traveled far and wide, leaving behind various geographical maps. One of them, entrusted to the Green Desolate Old Man, was an extremely ancient military tally. That tally was still in Qin Mu's possession. What era did that tally belong to?
"I can't kill Yin Heavenly Monarch now."
Qin Mu showed a kind smile and thought to himself, "Yin Heavenly Monarch is still the local big shot here. I need his connections to explore the secrets of this era and uncover more truths buried by history. I also need him to introduce me to those legendary figures, the founders of the Divine Treasury cultivation system and the Heavenly Palace cultivation system!"
His heart burned with excitement.
The founders of the later cultivation civilization system—he could finally meet them!
Old Ox quietly poked him, and Qin Mu snapped back to reality. He saw the Kai Emperor still looking at him with that half-smile, and he felt a chill inside.
Clearly, his one wrong sentence had aroused the Kai Emperor's suspicion, but the Kai Emperor hadn't called him out on it.
"Actually, I've always wanted to tell you that I am your 107th-generation descendant."
Qin Mu smiled but said nothing, thinking, "I really want to tell you, but I can't..."
Yin Heavenly Monarch ran to the head of the great Kun and called out from afar, "You two, hurry up! Come quick! The carriage of the Heavenly Yin Empress is coming!"
The Kai Emperor smiled and said, "Let's go over there."
Qin Mu nodded. The two walked side by side toward the head of the great Kun. Many cultivators were also rushing to the head, excitedly watching the carriage of the Heavenly Yin Empress.
"How did you enter this strangeness?" the Kai Emperor asked softly, looking ahead.
Old Ox tensed up and tugged at Qin Mu's clothes, signaling him not to admit it.
Qin Mu said softly, "The same as you. I accidentally walked into a patch of mist and ended up here."
The Kai Emperor glanced at him and smiled, "I've been here for a few days. When I first arrived, I was shocked. But now I've calmed down. Being able to enter this bizarre and colorful era and witness the source of later civilization is a sacred and solemn thing. I think I should be an observer and not interfere with this era."
Qin Mu smiled and said, "What difference does interference make? How do you know all this isn't fated? Perhaps your interference in this era is exactly what happened in the past. If you forcibly restrain yourself from interfering, it might cause unpredictable things in the future."
The Kai Emperor raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "It seems our thoughts differ. I originally thought you were from the Yong River like me, but I was wrong. Different paths lead to different goals."
Qin Mu sneered, "Words that don't align are a waste of breath. I see you as stubborn and self-righteous, yet weak and incompetent inside, indulging in pleasure. I feel ashamed for you."
The Kai Emperor frowned slightly and carefully examined him, saying, "The name you use is fake, and your face is also fake. This shows you have a dark heart, a scheming and ambitious villain. If you try to disrupt this era, I will stop you!"
Qin Mu said lightly, "Your name is also fake. You appear resolute and fierce on the outside, easily deceiving others into fighting for you, but you are a coward who can't withstand a blow, living on borrowed reputation!"
Old Ox wiped the cold sweat from his forehead again and again, thinking bitterly, "What do I do? What do I do! Their tempers are both like this! The 107th-generation descendant is quarreling with his ancestor. If they keep arguing, they might end up beating the ancestor! Getting beaten by the ancestor is a small matter, but beating the ancestor—that would be a huge mess!"
Just then, Yin Heavenly Monarch's laughter came, "The carriage of the Heavenly Yin Empress has arrived! Brother Qin, Brother Mu, come quickly!"
Qin Mu and the Kai Emperor averted their gazes. The two limped forward, their auras subtly clashing as they secretly tested each other.
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