Chapter 776: Martial Arts Supreme Emperor
Qin Mu and the old farmer walked into the village, with Dragon Qilin and Water Qilin following behind. The Water Qilin kept tilting its head to size up Dragon Qilin, then suddenly sneered, "You're also of the Qilin race, a demigod, but you're too spineless—you disgrace our Qilin Divine Clan! Groveling to be a mount, plowing fields, and even crying with whimpers!"
Dragon Qilin glanced at it and said in a muffled voice, "What's on your back?"
Imperial Heaven Satyr sat on Water Qilin's back, curiously looking around.
Water Qilin was choked speechless and grumbled, "I'm different. I was captured by your master; if I didn't surrender, I'd die, so I bent the knee and became Master Lan's mount. But you? You even cried with whimpers. Do you know how mighty our Qilin Divine Clan was in ancient and primeval times? Dragons and phoenixes had to defer to us as juniors..."
Dragon Qilin remained unruffled and asked, "Have you ever eaten spirit pills?"
Water Qilin fumed, "What spirit pills? We eat humans, demigods, monsters, dragons, phoenixes—anything alive, we can eat! Why would I need spirit pills?"
Dragon Qilin looked around, and when he saw no one was watching, he took out a pouch, carefully pinched out a spirit pill, and said, "This was specially refined for me by the Cult Leader. It's a thunder-fire attribute pill, probably not suitable for you. I don't have many left, but I'll share one for you to taste."
Water Qilin took a bite and was instantly stunned.
"Nonsense! Your master just gave you a full basin piled high!"
Water Qilin beamed and said eagerly, "Give me two more, just two!"
Dragon Qilin shook his head. "This is a thunder-fire attribute pill. You're a Water Qilin, not a Dragon Qilin; you can't eat it—too much will harm you. You have a master too; ask your master to refine some for you."
Water Qilin hesitated, his heart in turmoil: "The dignity of my Qilin Divine Clan..."
Dragon Qilin ignored him and followed Qin Mu.
Qin Mu explained his purpose, saying, "Now the Great Ruins have become immensely vast, filled with dangers everywhere. I've come to mobilize the power of the Bullfight Realm to protect the people of the Great Ruins."
The old farmer's face, like dried tree bark, wrinkled even more, his brow furrowing into a "卅" shape. He said, "Every village and town has stone statues guarding them, and the cities have them too. The Yama King of Fengdu has already ordered the stone statues in the Great Ruins to be ready to awaken at any time. The Yama King sent the Bird God Red Embroideress to ask me if I needed the gods of the Kaihuang Era to come and guard the Bullfight Realm, but I declined. Now that the Primal Realm has reappeared, the Great Ruins are just a drop in the ocean; the real danger hasn't even emerged yet."
Qin Mu's heart stirred, and he asked, "Then, Uncle-Master, where do you think the real danger comes from?"
"The real danger isn't in the Great Ruins; it's in Yan'gang."
Hearing the term "Uncle-Master," the old farmer felt greatly pleased and no longer treated him with the usual pickiness and coldness. He smiled and said, "Compared to the demigods, Yan'gang is still too weak. Have you ever heard of the strategy of driving a tiger to devour a wolf?"
Qin Mu was taken aback and ventured, "Uncle-Master means?"
"This time, the Primal Realm broke its seal and reappeared in the world. The sealed Primal Realm was the Great Ruins, and the unsealed Great Ruins became the Primal Realm. No one anticipated this upheaval, not even the Woodcutter—he was caught off guard."
The old farmer spoke unhurriedly, "In the Great Ruins, there are remnants of the Kaihuang Era. The population of the Great Ruins isn't large, just a few tens of millions. If we gather the people of the Great Ruins, build a few divine cities, and have the gods of the Kaihuang remnants protect them, we can ensure their safety. But what about Yan'gang? Yan'gang's population—two or three billion, right? These people are scattered across various cities and regions, and now the distances between cities are a hundred times what they were before!"
Qin Mu's heart gradually sank.
The old farmer continued, "Communication between cities has been cut off, travel has ceased, and everywhere between cities are the primeval forests of the Primal Realm, demigods roaming, along with various dangerous ruins and ancient battlefields. Yan'gang's emperor's control over all regions has plummeted to freezing point. Each region governs itself. Soon, Yan'gang's reforms and changes will be broken. Without people, there is no reform, and the empire will collapse! Even if the emperor has great resolve and moves the people of all cities to gather near the capital to reclaim wasteland, it would take decades or even centuries to accomplish!"
"But within just a few months, many places will declare independence from Yan'gang and set themselves up as emperors! The number of rebellious forces will be countless. The only place Yan'gang can hold is near the capital!"
He sneered, "And to reconquer these suddenly emerged territories—let alone whether Yan'gang has the strength—just the travel time alone would take a hundred years! Moreover, Yan'gang doesn't have the power to fight the demigods head-on!"
The old farmer exhaled a turbid breath and said, "Earlier, I mentioned driving a tiger to devour a wolf. Yan'gang is the wolf, and the tiger is the demigods of the Primal Realm. Besides demigods, there are other hungry tigers. Look up."
Qin Mu looked up at the sky. In the sky, various heavens shimmered with different colors, clouds and mist swirling between the continents, stars moving—those heavens were so colorful and magnificent.
"These heavens are inhabited by living beings."
The old farmer said, "During the nights of the Great Ruins, demon gods often appeared. Those demon gods came from these heavens. Before, when the Primal Realm was sealed, they had to go through some trouble to enter, like performing blood sacrifices. Now, it's much easier for them to come in. Yan'gang has to face demigods and also these heavenly demon gods. What ability does it have to survive?"
Qin Mu felt a chill.
He had indeed encountered many demon gods from other realms in the Great Ruins. For example, when he and the Village Chief searched for the Land of No Worries in the dark night, they met a female demon god and her demon horde on the Moon Boat.
The first time he went to the Sun Well to see Yan Jingjing, he encountered Yu Zhaoqing and other Skyfeather Clan members controlled by demon gods, attacking the Sun Well.
And at the Moon Well, he saw traces left by demon gods attacking it, slaughtering the Moon Herders.
Previously, with the Great Ruins as a natural barrier, Yan'gang was quite safe. But now that the heavens have been freed from the seal and the Great Ruins have become the Primal Realm, will Yan'gang still be safe?
"The fall of Yan'gang is inevitable. Yan'gang will first disintegrate, with various regions breaking away and declaring themselves kings. The remnants of the Crimson Bright Clan will likely not stay quiet either. Add in Bound Sun Luo, the Northern Frontier, the Grasslands, and the Western Lands—they will all split off."
The old farmer looked at him and said in a deep voice, "The territory and people Yan'gang can control will be less than one-tenth. The demigods will also strike at Yan'gang. Don't think about Yan'gang anymore. Think about the people of the Great Ruins. I'll notify the Yama King to awaken the stone statues and have them bring the people of the Great Ruins here. We'll make this the center and build a kingdom. You are a descendant of Kaihuang; you should be the emperor of this new kingdom. Yan'gang is beyond saving."
Qin Mu steadied himself.
The Martial Arts Heavenly Master indeed saw far and accurately.
Now that the Primal Realm has been unsealed, Yan'gang will face its greatest crisis, even surpassing the snow disaster crisis.
Yan'gang's reforms and changes will also be interrupted, even reversed, turning into a situation of various nations dividing and sects standing tall!
At this moment, Emperor Yanfeng, the Yan'gang National Master, and even the Woodcutter Sage were likely frantic and at a loss.
"Uncle-Master, I don't have the resolve of Emperor Yanfeng, nor the execution and drive of the Yan'gang National Master. If I become the emperor of the Great Ruins, I'll be bogged down by trivial matters, frantic and unable to advance reforms. Compared to Emperor Yanfeng, I can't do better."
Qin Mu smiled and said, "There aren't many people with Emperor Yanfeng's resolve, nor many with the Yan'gang National Master's execution. I even think Emperor Yanfeng and the Yan'gang National Master have done better than Kaihuang and the Woodcutter Sage. Moreover, this is also a test for Emperor Yanfeng—to see if Yan'gang can hold on. As long as it holds on, everything is possible."
The old farmer glared at him and sneered, "What does Yan'gang have to compete with demigods? What does it have to compete with those heavens? Yan'gang will collapse within a few months!"
Qin Mu smiled and said, "There will always be a way to solve it. Uncle-Master, what do you think about the sudden collapse of the Primal Realm and the demigods hearing Mother Earth Primordial's call and going to pay homage?"
The old farmer said coldly, "What do I think? I'll look at it lying down, looking at it while lying flat! I'll watch you all go to your deaths!"
Qin Mu grinned and said, "Uncle-Master, you're throwing a tantrum again. Let's talk business."
The old farmer glared at him fiercely but said nothing.
Qin Mu's smile didn't fade, and he said, "I've thought of a way to permanently solve the problem of the Bullfight Realm's people lacking the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury. I plan to, after cultivating to the Life and Death Realm and opening the Life and Death Divine Treasury, destroy my Divine Bridge Divine Treasury in one go and reopen it. Once I master the method to open the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury, not only the Bullfight Realm, but also the Great Ruins and all of Yan'gang—everyone whose Divine Bridge has been severed—will have hope to reopen it and become gods! Uncle-Master, please lend me a hand and go to Yan'gang to help Emperor Yanfeng and the Yan'gang National Master through this crisis!"
The old farmer's eyes turned fierce, and he sneered, "You know that the people of the Bullfight Realm are the descendants of the soldiers who died in my Bullfight Palace, so you use this condition to tempt me. But what if you can't open the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury?"
Qin Mu smiled slightly and said, "I am the Overlord Body, unparalleled through the ages."
The old farmer panted heavily.
Qin Mu's condition indeed tempted him.
The people of the Bullfight Realm were his lifelong bond. During the war that ended the Kaihuang Era, the soldiers of the Bullfight Realm died in foreign lands. As their leader and commander, he felt guilty toward these soldiers, which was why he had guarded their descendants for twenty thousand years.
He watched the descendants of these soldiers grow old and die, new lives born and then die again, with no solution.
No one could, like him, ascend directly to the Heavenly Palace through martial arts alone without the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury.
Even Qin Mu and Hu Bugui, who entered the Dao through martial arts, found it hard to reach this step.
He was the only Grandmaster of Martial Arts in history, the Martial Arts Supreme Emperor!
If Qin Mu could truly solve this problem, he would have to come out of seclusion no matter what, to help Qin Mu, help Emperor Yanfeng, and help the Yan'gang National Master!
Qin Mu looked at him eagerly, quietly waiting for his reply.
The old farmer calmed down, his face like parched earth breaking into a smile, and he punched a spot an inch from Qin Mu's brow.
Qin Mu groaned, spat out a mouthful of blood, and was startled.
The force of the old farmer's punch was extremely domineering and very strange. Although it struck his brow, it didn't affect his physical body.
This force surged mightily, smashing into his body like a wrecking ball, and he felt something inside him shatter!
"I've already destroyed your unopened Divine Bridge Divine Treasury."
The old farmer withdrew his thick fist and arm, smiling, "Your other divine treasuries are all fine, rest assured. But the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury has been shattered by my punch—not a trace left! Your injuries will heal quickly, leaving no hidden ailments. However, even if you open the Life and Death Divine Treasury, your lifespan will only be six hundred years. You'd better hope you can find a way to open the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury, or else just wait to die!"
Qin Mu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said in a deep voice, "Uncle-Master, I will surely succeed!"
The old farmer went to the center of the village and shouted loudly, "All soldiers, hear my command! I am going to Yan'gang. You stay here and guard the Bullfight Realm! Bring me my armor!"
Many villagers in the village were overjoyed and quickly brought the armor. The old farmer dressed neatly, looking majestic, and glanced at Dragon Qilin, who shuddered.
The old farmer shook his head and said, "My body is too heavy; you can't carry me at all. I'll find Sanduo first."
Dragon Qilin breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone bowed, their momentum like a rainbow, and said in unison, "Farewell, Martial Arts Heavenly Master!"
Qin Mu bowed and said, "Farewell, Martial Arts Supreme Emperor!"
"Martial Arts Supreme Emperor?"
The old farmer was slightly stunned, then laughed heartily. Amidst the laughter, his body radiated brilliant light, and with a leap, he stepped into the void and vanished without a trace.
Qin Mu straightened up, walked to the stinking ditch, and said with a smile, "King Buddha, you can come out now."
Imperial Heaven King Buddha gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Has the farmer really left? You're not tricking me again, are you?"
Qin Mu went into the stinking ditch, helped him up, and said solemnly, "To save King Buddha, I took a punch from the Martial Arts Heavenly Master, and he shattered my Divine Bridge Divine Treasury."
"I almost believed you."
Imperial Heaven King Buddha sneered, "You're trying to fool me again? Huh, it really is shattered! You... why did you do this?"
—Thanks to Human Chair for the second Silver reward, thanks to Village's Top Handsomeness, Ciffy, Feng Family's Rong'er, Eight Eight Zero Three, and other alliance leaders for their generous rewards!
Our custom folding fans are out! Follow the public WeChat account: Zhai Zhu, type in "folding fan" to see them! They're really beautiful! The folding fan is the reward for this event.