Chapter 820: Follow Me Into Battle
Lin Xiao had originally been resisting Qin Mu's seventy-two formation diagrams. Qin Mu first suppressed him with the Primordial Magnetic Great Divine Ability, and then the power of the formation diagrams erupted, instantly slashing him until he was covered in wounds.
However, he was a deity after all, having severed his own cultivation from an extremely high realm and fallen to the Exalted God realm. His insight and experience remained, but he was simply caught off guard by Qin Mu's attack.
He would soon recover his senses. The cultivation he had severed had been refined into a great sun, and using the power of that sun to break Qin Mu's formation diagrams was not difficult.
Even the Village Chief's sword diagram could not withstand the might of his great sun, let alone Qin Mu.
However, Zhe Huali's strike came at just the right moment, severing his head in one blow!
In terms of coordination, only Xu Shenghua could keep up with Qin Mu; Zhe Huali could not match Qin Mu in terms of rapid shifts in thinking. Therefore, Qin Mu had set up the formation in advance this time, turning his cultivation and divine abilities into a formation to ambush Lin Xiao.
The power of the formation was extremely formidable. When the power of the seventy-two formation diagrams erupted, it even surpassed Qin Mu's personal attack. However, the formation diagrams were static; they could only control Lin Xiao temporarily, not kill him. This required Zhe Huali's cooperation.
The seventy-two formation diagrams were merely meant to create an opportunity for Zhe Huali.
Zhe Huali, however, could not calmly traverse Qin Mu's formation diagrams and seize this opportunity. If it were Xu Shenghua, he would have grasped the mysteries of the formation's operation while Qin Mu was setting it up and could calmly seize the chance.
Therefore, Qin Mu's final formation diagram was a teleportation formation, carrying Zhe Huali through the power of the formation diagrams and delivering this perfect opportunity into his hands.
This was the reasoning behind Zhe Huali's statement that Qin Mu had already completed ninety percent of the god-slaying battle.
The moment Zhe Huali beheaded Lin Xiao, that great sun went out of control. Blazing flames surged in all directions, like towering waves of fire that could overturn mountains and seas. Qin Mu exhausted his remaining divine power to activate the teleportation formation diagram and rescue Zhe Huali.
The sea of fire surged forward, about to engulf Qin Mu, when a flash of teleportation light swept across him with a *shua* sound, and Qin Mu vanished instantly.
The next moment, the two appeared outside the passageway. A pillar of fire shot out from the passage, stretching for several hundred li, a truly astonishing sight.
After a while, the pillar of fire disappeared.
Qin Mu and Zhe Huali stumbled to the ground. Zhe Huali was trembling from the tension and exertion, his arms and legs shaking, and the demon blade on his back also quivered incessantly.
Qin Mu, on the other hand, was somewhat weak from exhausting his divine power and had to sit on the ground to rest.
Zhe Huali craned his neck to peer into the passageway, seeing that there were still a few scattered flames inside the ship that had not yet gone out.
However, a savory aroma of meat wafted out, whetting the appetite.
Zhe Huali swallowed his saliva, glanced at Qin Mu, and tested the waters: "Chief Qin, you've eaten chicken-headed dragon before, right? Have you ever eaten a chicken-headed dragon at the deity realm?"
Qin Mu's spirits lifted, and he shook his head: "Not yet."
Zhe Huali reminded him: "There's one down there, already cooked. I can also smell a bit of a burnt odor."
Qin Mu stood up unsteadily, laughing: "This chicken-headed dragon is huge. If we cut off the burnt parts, the rest of the meat should still be very tender. I have oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, along with various seasonings."
"I have some too!"
The two looked at each other, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, the sound carrying far into the distance.
When the laughter subsided, they had little strength left and supported each other as they walked into the passageway.
After a moment, Qin Mu's surprised voice came from inside: "Your demon blade eats too? Is this still a blade?"
"This demon blade of mine is actually a creature from the Heavenly Court called Dragon Fang. I followed Master Luo on a training trip to the Eastern Heaven and obtained this blade at the Spirit Treasure Mountain... Mmm, it smells good! Master Luo said that the Eastern Heaven is the territory of the Azure Dragon Emperor. The Azure Dragon Emperor has vigorous vitality, and his teeth grow quickly, so he often needs to grind them. He uses the Spirit Treasure Mountain to grind his teeth. The Spirit Treasure Mountain is extremely hard and sometimes chips his teeth, thus forming this creature, the Spirit Treasure Mountain Dragon Fang. Many who study the blade in the Heavenly Court go there to seek treasures, hoping to find one, but few have that fortune."
"Spirit Treasure Mountain? A mountain that can chip the teeth of the Azure Dragon Emperor of the Eastern Heaven is a true treasure! When I go to the Eastern Heaven, I'll carry that Spirit Treasure Mountain away and refine it into a treasure!"
"You can't carry it; that mountain is almost as big as Mount Sumeru... This is dragon liver. Don't eat it yet; it's a bit gamey. I have some scallions and ginger here. Fry it in oil... Do you have any pickled beans or pickled peppers?"
"Zhe Huali, your cooking skills are really not bad!"
"I've practiced. When I trained under Furi Luo, the diet of the demon race was different from that of humans, so I had to cook for myself."
...
A long time later, the two, with bellies round and full, supported each other as they staggered out of the passageway and plopped down on the ground, panting heavily from being too full.
During their meal, they had experienced another cycle of reincarnation. The hall housing the Empress's coffin had been restored to its original state. Qin Mu and Zhe Huali were stuffed with round bellies, and even Zhe Huali's demon blade had grown a circle fatter, though it was unclear if the blade itself had also thickened.
Qin Mu staggered out of the hall, leaned against a pillar, and squinted as he looked outside.
The Heavenly River surged onward. It was just sunset, and the setting sun cast a beautiful glow over this great river flowing through the sky. The rosy clouds on the river were like a maiden's rouge, and the color of the setting sun resembled a girl's red lips.
"I wonder what era it is outside."
Zhe Huali, struggling to move with his full belly, came over and sat on the stone steps, saying: "Chief Qin, if you don't know which cycle is the original one, do you still have confidence in breaking Ling Tianzun's divine ability?"
"The Four Emperors boarding the ship marks the original cycle."
Qin Mu said calmly: "When the Four Emperors board the ship is also when the Feather Forest Army turns into void. When we see figures on this ship suddenly materialize from the void, that indicates the original cycle. And at that time, the four great emperors among the ancient gods will also appear."
Zhe Huali's heart tightened, and he said in a deep voice: "You said earlier that you have a way to use the power of the Four Emperors to break Ling Tianzun's divine ability. The Four Emperors are incredibly powerful. Do you have that confidence?"
Qin Mu revealed a smile, saying leisurely: "The Four Emperors were not trapped on this ship. They later sent down tribulations on us, and Di Yiyue went to study under them. This shows that we succeeded."
Zhe Huali was stunned for a moment, then suddenly thought of another key point: "What about Lin Xiao? Lin Xiao will board the ship before the Four Emperors, right? In which cycle does he board? His strength is so high. If he boards again, we might not be his match. If he also escapes from Ling Tianzun's divine ability, it will be very disadvantageous for us in the future!"
"Knowing when he boards is very easy."
Qin Mu rubbed his bulging belly, laughing: "When our bellies suddenly deflate, that means the cycle when Lin Xiao boards has arrived. Even if he can leave this ship, he won't retain the memories from aboard. And the most terrifying thing is..."
Zhe Huali looked at Qin Mu and saw a chill-inducing smile on his face.
Qin Mu said flatly: "He came under orders and must hide Jue Wuchen well. Therefore, even if Ling Tianzun's divine ability is broken, he will board the ship again, fall into the cycle again and again, and become the little man in the lantern! He will be trapped on this ship forever! Not only him, but everyone from the thirty-six cycles who has no memory of the ghost ship will repeat what they did before and board again."
He said softly: "They will cycle endlessly, boarding repeatedly, dying repeatedly, being reborn repeatedly, and then boarding again, without end. To jump out, one must not board this ship when the ghost ship comes."
Zhe Huali's face changed drastically, and he stammered: "Are you saying that I won't retain the memories of this time either? I will board this ship again? No, no, didn't you say you could use the power of the Four Emperors to break Ling Tianzun's divine ability? You also said that all the dead would come back to life, and those who had turned into void would be freed and return to their own eras!"
Qin Mu revealed a smile. The setting sun disappeared, and the lights on the ship lit up, casting his face in shifting light and shadow.
"I am breaking Ling Tianzun's divine ability, not destroying it. Ling Tianzun's divine ability will reassemble again; her ability will not disappear because of this."
"For Ling Tianzun, her divine ability has no concept of time. Everything in the world is matter. Even individual lives are matter. Her divine ability can disperse any life, or reassemble the dispersed matter back into the original life. This is the highest realm of creation."
Under the flickering light, Qin Mu's gaze was deep, and he said: "Even if I borrow the power of the Four Emperors, I can only temporarily break her divine ability, not completely annihilate it. After I break this divine ability, everyone will be freed from the void, and the dead will be reassembled and revived. Prince Qiuming, whom I killed, will also revive. They should still board this ship again and repeat what they did. However..."
He smiled: "You will retain your memories. Because you are still alive. You and I will leave this ship the moment we use the power of the Four Emperors to break Ling Tianzun's divine ability, returning to our era. You were not reassembled by Ling Tianzun's divine ability, so your memories will be preserved."
Zhe Huali breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly said: "I will stop Master Luo from boarding this ship."
Qin Mu was slightly taken aback.
Zhe Huali said: "After all, he is my teacher, who taught and raised me. His kindness is as heavy as a mountain. I will stop him."
"I understand."
Qin Mu nodded: "You are that kind of person."
Zhe Huali revealed a smile: "After I stop him from boarding, I will sever ties with him and go to Yan'guo."
Qin Mu nodded again: "Be careful in your actions."
Zhe Huali said: "You must also be careful. Prince Qiuming will revive and will surely strike at you again."
Qin Mu smiled: "He will die even faster."
Light burst forth on the ship, engulfing them.
Qin Mu gently patted his belly, laughing: "Lin Xiao has brought Jue Wuchen and is about to board. Let's go. We'll avoid them! Once Lin Xiao boards, it won't be many cycles before the Four Emperors board!"
Zhe Huali quickly touched his belly. The belly that had been round and full just moments ago immediately deflated.
The two swiftly left.
The light faded. The eastern sun had just risen. A squad of gods and demons hurriedly boarded the ship carrying a coffin, heading straight for the hall housing the Empress's coffin.
Soon after, the two heard sounds of slaughter from the hall. Clearly, Lin Xiao had discovered he couldn't leave the ship and had begun a massacre, killing his own companions.
Zhe Huali asked: "Chief Qin, will Ling Tianzun board the ship?"
"She will. But we won't see her."
Qin Mu listened quietly to the sounds of slaughter in the distance, looking at the pillar ahead. On the pillar was Ling Tianzun's inscribed poem. Qin Mu said calmly: "She is not within her own divine ability. Her inscribed poem will remain on that pillar forever."
"Kill you all, and no one will leak the news."
In the distance, Lin Xiao's voice came, cackling: "The Empress will take care of my descendants, ensuring they prosper for generations!"
Light burst forth again. When it subsided, Qin Mu looked toward the drill ground in front of the hall. On the empty drill ground, figures of gods and demons slowly materialized one by one.
Qin Mu stepped forward, walking toward this most powerful army of gods and demons from the Longhan Heavenly Court, holding high the Feather Forest Army's military tally in his hand.
One by one, the immensely powerful gods and demons turned around, looking at this youth walking toward them.
Zhe Huali felt uneasy, following behind him.
The Feather Forest Army, one of the ten guards of the Longhan Heavenly Court, was its strongest fighting force!
If these gods and demons harbored killing intent, they could crush them with their mere aura, without even needing to act!
Suddenly, all the gods and demons bowed, one knee touching the ground, hands raised high above their heads, and spoke in unison, their voices like thunder: "The entire Feather Forest Army pays respects to the Left General!"
"Rise."
Qin Mu extended his hand: "Follow me into battle!"
In the distance, a lantern quietly rose. The lantern's door opened, and Lin Xiao, now a tiny figure an inch tall, watched this scene in horror.
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