Chapter 863: The Chicken-Thief Wen
Long Qilin desperately wanted to turn around with the same calm, unhurried poise as Qin Mu, leisurely swishing his tail and strolling away from this place as if on a casual walk. But his four legs were trembling, and his tail was becoming disobedient.
Normally, he could flick his tail with ease, but now his dragon tail felt numb, lifting only halfway while the other half dragged along the ground.
He had carried Qin Mu for three months, traveling a long distance from Jiangling to this place. Yet they had barely steadied themselves, and now everything was over.
But was it really possible to just turn back like this?
Long Qilin's legs were still weak. All around, there was silence, an oppressive weight pressing down. The gods and demons encircling the Great Black Palace loomed high above, their bodies and faces radiating divine light within the darkness. Only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard, but no one spoke.
Long Qilin finally turned around, desperately telling himself to stay steady, not to miss a step and tumble all the way down the mountain from the front of the Great Black Palace. But he had no real confidence in whether he would stumble.
On either side of the stone steps stood towering figures of gods and demons, carved like solid rock, their sinewy bodies fierce and terrifying. Their faces were even more grotesque, glaring at them with savage expressions.
Long Qilin lifted his foot, about to step down the stone steps.
"It might also be a tumble down…" he thought to himself.
Just then, a demon god standing to his left snorted smoke from its nostrils, its massive hand reaching for the demonic weapon at its waist. The other gods and demons also stirred, the clattering sounds of divine and demonic weapons echoing.
Long Qilin finally steadied his mind, his muscles slowly tensing, ready to unleash all his power and break through the encirclement at any moment.
He had been anxious and unsettled just a moment ago, but now that it was time to fight for his life, all stray thoughts vanished. If he had to flee, he would focus entirely on escaping.
This was something he was good at.
At that moment, a voice came from within the Great Black Palace, saying, "Hold on."
Hearing this, the many gods and demons of the Northern Heavens lowered their hands one after another.
Qin Mu patted Long Qilin's forehead, and Long Qilin immediately understood his intention, stopping and turning around.
Qin Mu looked directly at the Ancestor of the Demonic Way inside the Great Black Palace.
Inside the palace, Great Black Heaven stood up and said, "The Eternal Peace Indomitable Body truly lives up to its reputation. The Northern Heavens have suffered a complete defeat and are convinced."
Qin Mu revealed a smile. "The gods of the Northern Heavens and the Heavenly Master Qiaofu and Heavenly Master Zixi made a pact with Little Earth Lord. If they break their agreement and try to kill me, by now they would all be corpses."
The gods and demons surrounding the Great Black Palace shouted angrily, telling him to shut up.
Great Black Heaven's expression darkened, and he said coldly, "It is you who should shut up!"
His voice directly suppressed the shouts of these gods and demons, rendering the Northern Heavens' deities speechless.
Great Black Heaven walked forward slowly, the black sun behind him shifting horizontally, completely swallowing the light within the Great Black Palace.
Soon, he arrived at the front of the palace.
Qin Mu studied this Ancestor of the Demonic Way. He had heard something about Great Black Heaven's origins.
Legend had it that Great Black Heaven was the first demon god born in the Netherworld. The Netherworld was the place where the dead returned. Since death existed in the world, the Netherworld was born. Earth Lord, born from the great Dao of heaven and earth, presided over death, rewarding good and punishing evil.
However, Earth Lord also had to act according to the laws of the Netherworld and could not act based on personal preferences.
As the souls in the Netherworld grew more numerous, negative emotions like resentment and greed gave rise to the terrifying demonic nature of the Netherworld. Incomplete remnant souls and spirits wandered in the darkness of the Netherworld, their demonic nature deepening day by day.
Thus, Netherworld monsters came into being. These monsters had little self-awareness but were the filthiest, most vile thoughts mixed with Netherworld demonic energy.
The monsters devoured each other, forming demon gods.
Great Black Heaven was a demon god born this way, and he was the first demon god of the Netherworld. Like the Netherworld Divine Son, he possessed extraordinary and unique traits.
He was born before the Longhan era, before the Longhan Heavenly Court was established, in an extremely ancient and barbaric age.
It was only after his appearance that the demon race came into being.
—Some also said that the true demon race was the daughter of Earth Lord, and that the so-called demon race in the world were all false demons, but few held this view.
The demon race revered him as the Ancestor of the Demonic Way, the ancestor of all demons, the king of the demon race. In truth, the true ancestor of the demonic way and the demon race should have been Earth Lord. However, Earth Lord had few descendants, so the demon race was actually propagated by Great Black Heaven and the successive demon gods born in the Netherworld after him, having little to do with Earth Lord.
Great Black Heaven, as the first demon god born in the Netherworld, was naturally elevated to this height by the demon race.
Qin Mu noticed that he bore some resemblance to Earth Lord, also having two long, curved ox horns. But since he hadn't turned around, Qin Mu couldn't tell if he had an ox tail like Earth Lord.
"You are all very bold."
Great Black Heaven looked around, somewhat pained. "Making a pact with Little Earth Lord and then planning to break it—truly bold. Don't you know that Wen Tian'ge is one of the Four Heavenly Masters of the Kaihuang era, with the nickname 'Chicken-Thief Wen'? When he proposes a bet, the only way not to lose is not to bet. If you bet, you're doomed. You schemed to take Eternal Peace, thinking it was within easy reach, but he was scheming against the Northern Heavens! What should I do?"
Around the Great Black Palace, there was dead silence.
Great Black Heaven sighed. "The three hundred and sixteen heavens of the Northern Heavens were hard-won by my generals and soldiers. Yet you, tempted by temporary gains, would hand them over to others. That Chicken-Thief Wen truly has skill!"
"Can we break the agreement?" a demon god asked tremblingly.
Great Black Heaven glanced at him, and that demon god's face turned ashen.
"Breaking the agreement means facing Little Earth Lord directly."
Great Black Heaven said calmly, "Though I am not afraid of him, this act would surely ruin my reputation. Others would laugh at me for being untrustworthy. I have walked through the ancient wilderness since time immemorial, and the demon race has grown stronger under my rule, yet it has never truly soared. Later, I thought it over—perhaps it was because I was too cunning in the past, always going back on my word. Now that I have achieved fame and success, it is time for some changes."
His gaze fell on Qin Mu, and he smiled. "Eternal Peace Indomitable Body, I propose a gamble with you. Do you dare to accept?"
Qin Mu looked up at this mighty emperor-level figure and tested the waters. "If I do not accept Great Black Heaven's gamble, what will you do?"
"I absolutely cannot abandon the three hundred and sixteen heavens of the Northern Heavens, so I will have to let Little Earth Lord devour them."
Great Black Heaven said decisively. "Losing these fools' lives, I can still cultivate other gods and demons to rule the heavens."
Qin Mu revealed a smile. "If it were me, I would do the same. These lords of the heavens are merely servants guarding the heavens for Great Black Heaven. Dead, they are dead. But the population is what matters. With a vast population, one can produce an endless stream of geniuses, cultivate more experts, and Great Black Heaven's rule will be stable."
Great Black Heaven laughed. "Will you accept?"
Qin Mu said frankly, "How does Great Black Heaven wish to gamble?"
"Bet that I will not break the agreement. If you win, the three hundred and sixteen heavens go to your Eternal Peace."
Great Black Heaven said, "If I win, the previous agreement is void."
Qin Mu laughed. "I won't bet."
Great Black Heaven frowned. "Why not?"
"If I win, Great Black Heaven might still break the agreement without hesitation. If I lose, the good situation that the two Heavenly Masters secured for Eternal Peace will be ruined."
Qin Mu smiled. "The three hundred and sixteen heavens versus Great Black Heaven's reputation—which is more important?"
Great Black Heaven stared at him for a moment, then said, "The three hundred and sixteen heavens are important. My reputation is worthless. For millions of years, my reputation has long been lost!"
Qin Mu beamed. "Therefore, I won't bet."
Great Black Heaven furrowed his brow, then suddenly asked politely, "May I ask who the Eternal Peace Indomitable Body studied under?"
Qin Mu said solemnly, "The Chicken-Thief Wen."
Great Black Heaven's expression shifted slightly, and he laughed heartily. "It really is him. No wonder even my little scheme was seen through by you at a glance. In that case, let's change the bet. Bet on your life."
He said calmly, "If you win, I will let you leave alive within ten thousand li of the Great Black Palace. Once you leave this range, I will allow the gods and demons of the various heavens to pursue you. If you lose, then you will be buried with my three hundred and sixteen lords of the heavens."
As soon as he said this, the faces of the lords of the various heavens changed simultaneously.
Great Black Heaven was ruthless and decisive, clearly resentful of their unauthorized pact with Wen Tian'ge involving Little Earth Lord. Now, he was determined to use their lives to break the Little Earth Lord agreement!
Qin Mu pondered for a moment, looking around but seeing nothing in the darkness.
Great Black Heaven laughed. "Are you looking for that old Chicken-Thief Wen? They haven't entered the range of the Great Black Palace. The moment they step into the darkness, I will sense them."
Qin Mu smiled. "Is Great Black Heaven planning to personally take action against me?"
Great Black Heaven shook his head. "Strictly speaking, I should handle you myself, but I still have some face to save. The one who fights you will be chosen from among my disciples or those no older than you. You can rest assured."
Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief and said solemnly, "Then, please lay down the rules, Great Black Heaven!"
Great Black Heaven laughed heartily, turned with a flick of his sleeve, and said loudly, "Refreshing! Eternal Peace Indomitable Body, stay for a few days and take a look at the elite of my Great Black Palace!"
Qin Mu stepped down from Long Qilin's head and followed him into the Great Black Palace, saying with a smile, "Great Black Heaven, you are a senior…"
Great Black Heaven shook his head. "Senior? I am not your senior. I already know your origins. You probably don't know that the Four Netherworld Governors are all my juniors."
Qin Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he narrowed his eyes.
"That is to say, Great Black Heaven knows I am the Netherworld Divine Son. So why must he gamble with me?"
Long Qilin followed him nervously, cautiously glancing at both sides of the Great Black Palace. The dim lights revealed countless monsters lurking in the shadows.
"I'll give you extra food later," Qin Mu said.
The fear in Long Qilin's heart instantly vanished, and his courage swelled. He raised his head, puffed out his chest, and strode forward majestically.
Great Black Heaven called over a demoness and instructed, "First, take the Indomitable Body to the rear of the palace to stay. Treat him well."
The demoness acknowledged the order and led Qin Mu toward the back of the palace, arranging a guest room. Her eyes were full of affection as she said, "Young Master Qin is a honored guest. If you need anything, you may command me. I can do anything…"
She was beautiful, with seductive eyes and a warm gaze.
Qin Mu's eyes lit up. "Sister can do anything?"
The demoness blushed shyly and nodded lightly.
Qin Mu handed her a pill formula. "Sister, help me refine a few hundred batches of spirit pills. Fatty Long, you're in for a treat!"