Chapter 881: Irreversible
The Lava Earth Count pointed a finger at the ground. Demonic energy surged from below, and then the ground vanished, revealing a vision of the Netherworld.
Qin Mu looked there and saw that before the true body of the Earth Count, another "Imperial Heaven" had descended. That majestic physical form, though inferior to the Earth Count, was still immense, about one-tenth the size of the Earth Count.
The "Imperial Heaven" in the Heavenly Capital was the same. The true bodies of the Heavenly Duke and the Earth Count were truly vast; only a few ancient gods could truly rival them.
The "Imperial Heaven" in the Netherworld also possessed numerous heavenly palaces, which formed a boundless and magnificent celestial court.
The divine treasures and heavenly palaces of "Imperial Heaven" were constructed from the Dao runes of almost all ancient gods. Therefore, when the Heavenly Duke and Earth Count saw such an "Imperial Heaven," it was inevitable that their minds would be disturbed!
Ancient gods had no concept of cultivation realms; they were born with such power. They could also cultivate to enhance their strength, but cultivation only improved their understanding of their own Dao, unable to break free from their own limitations.
For example, the Earth Count could not comprehend the Dao of the Heavenly Duke.
Postnatal beings and demigods had no such limitations. However, they were innately countless times weaker than the ancient gods. Even with the divine treasure and heavenly palace cultivation systems, they could not catch up to the ancient gods.
After all, no matter how much postnatal beings and demigods comprehended, they could never surpass the ancient gods born from the Dao. The Dao they comprehended would always be somewhat inferior to the true Dao.
But the Heavenly Duke and Earth Count knew of one exception.
In the early years of the Dragon Han Era, at the Yao Pool Banquet, the Heavenly Venerate Hao revealed the eighth realm of the divine realm, the realm of the celestial court.
The celestial court was the key for postnatal beings and demigods to surpass the ancient gods!
The celestial court encompassed the system of ancient gods: thirty-six heavenly palaces and seventy-two precious halls. Cultivating to the celestial court realm allowed one to stand shoulder to shoulder with beings like the ancient god Heavenly Emperor!
For a long time, there were no records or legends about the celestial court realm in the world. The rulers of the celestial court did not want others to know about this realm, and the ancient gods helped keep it secret.
Because this realm was too terrifying!
The Heavenly Duke and Earth Count also knew that for a long time, the rulers of the celestial court had been searching for various Emperor Throne techniques, aiming to create a celestial court technique. However, gathering the thirty-six heavenly palaces and seventy-two precious halls was extremely difficult, and the rulers of the celestial court had never achieved much.
In each era, there were few Emperor Throne powerhouses to begin with. Additionally, the techniques for the thirty-six heavenly palaces and seventy-two precious halls required different attributes, making it naturally difficult to assemble them.
Yet, the sudden appearance of two "Imperial Heavens" in the Heavenly Capital and the Netherworld truly frightened them.
"No, no!"
Qin Mu counted and said, "These two Imperial Heavens, the number of heavenly palaces behind them is wrong! The Imperial Heaven in the Heavenly Capital has eighteen heavenly palaces, and the one in the Netherworld has twenty. They do not possess the complete celestial court realm! They are not invincible!"
The Lava Earth Count calmed down and nodded, saying, "In the Netherworld, I can fight! They haven't obtained the Netherworld Godchild, nor have they thoroughly studied my Netherworld Dao."
The Heavenly Duke's avatar said dejectedly, "I'm almost thoroughly studied. The one who came this time is none other than my rebellious son. With his arrival, I'm afraid I'm in grave danger. But until he has thoroughly studied me, my rebellious son won't make a move against me. He wants to surpass me, replace me, and become stronger than me. Without achieving that, he won't touch me."
Qin Mu steadied his mind, pacing back and forth. Suddenly, he looked at the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha and said, "King Buddha is a member of the Heavenly Alliance. Will the Imperial Heaven who entered the Buddha Realm make a move against you?"
The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha shook his head and said, "Although he won't make a move against me, since I am also an elder of the Heavenly Alliance, I will have to hand over my Emperor Throne true scripture. Mu Tianzun, the celestial court won't act against the Earth Count and Heavenly Duke for now. The target this time is likely the Primordial Realm."
Qin Mu's face changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Do you mean that there is also such an Imperial Heaven descending into the Primordial Realm?"
The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha sighed and said, "The Earth Mother Primordial Lord of the Primordial Realm is dead but not completely gone; she must be eliminated. Besides the Primordial Realm, there are also the Four Emperors. In their Eastern Heaven, Western Heaven, Southern Heaven, and Northern Heaven, an Imperial Heaven is likely descending as well. Yan Kang, nestled in a corner of the Primordial Realm, is now as precarious as a pile of eggs. Whether to destroy Yan Kang is as easy as blowing away dust for this weapon."
Qin Mu's hands and feet turned cold, and he said hoarsely, "What can be done?"
He looked at the Heavenly Duke, who sighed and remained silent.
Qin Mu looked at the Earth Count, who avoided his gaze and said nothing.
He then looked at the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha, who shook his head. He looked at the Crimson Emperor and the Great Sun Star Lord. The Crimson Emperor said, "We are already dead and useless. My Crimson Bright Era is probably completely finished..."
Qin Mu was dazed and sat down on the ground in despair.
The most dangerous situation was not for the Heavenly Duke and Earth Count, but for Yan Kang.
The celestial court would not move against the Heavenly Duke and Earth Count until they had fully calculated their Dao runes, otherwise, the losses would be too great.
But dealing with the Primordial Realm was extremely easy for them.
Yan Kang, as an insignificant place in the Primordial Realm, was doomed this time.
"Child of the Qin family, we can barely protect ourselves and can't help you much."
The Lava Earth Count said, "The Netherworld is still safe. The Netherworld Heavenly Venerate has already gone to Yan Kang to retrieve the true Imperial Heaven. With me and the Netherworld Heavenly Venerate here, his safety can be guaranteed. Don't stay in Yan Kang; it's too dangerous. Go to the Netherworld and plan for the long term."
Qin Mu's mind went blank.
The Heavenly Duke said, "You can also come to my Heavenly Capital. My rebellious son won't make a move against me for now. You can't go to the Buddha Realm; they are still hunting you there."
Qin Mu's heart was in turmoil.
Suddenly, a spark of hope ignited in him: "Right, the Heavenly Emperor, the ancient god Heavenly Emperor! He is also the leader of the Heavenly Alliance! And there's the Moon Heavenly Venerate, the Heavenly Yin Empress, the remnants of the Kai Huang Era... They can help Yan Kang! There is still hope!"
"You are the Netherworld Godchild. The celestial court cannot obtain you."
The Lava Earth Count said, "If the celestial court gets you, it will be equivalent to obtaining the Dao of my Netherworld. Then even I will be in danger. Return to the Netherworld. You were born in the Netherworld; you are a person of my Netherworld. You do not belong to Yan Kang. The Netherworld is your true home, your native land."
"I want to return to Yan Kang!"
Qin Mu suddenly gritted his teeth and shouted loudly, "I want to go to Yan Kang!"
The Lava Earth Count frowned and said, "First, go back to Yan Kang and pick up some relatives and friends. I will have the Netherworld Heavenly Venerate come to pick you up."
Qin Mu said no more.
Qin Fengqing ran for two days until the Primordial Realm continent came into view ahead.
Suddenly, Qin Fengqing was startled, looked up at the sky, and exclaimed, "There are creatures in this world bigger than me! How long would it take to eat one?"
In the sky, a majestic Imperial Heaven crushed the world barrier of the Primordial Realm, descending from beyond the heavens. Even at the edge of the Primordial Realm continent, this divine being could be seen.
Behind his head, layers of light wheels rotated, and flames soared as he fell towards the former location of the Great Ruins.
Ripples of energy erupted in all directions with him at the center, sweeping away the heavens in the sky and clearing the clouds.
A terrifying pressure instantly swept across millions and billions of miles of the vast Primordial Realm space, causing everyone to feel this dreadful power, making it seem as if a radiant deity was pressing down on everyone's hearts.
Even those who had broken the god within their hearts couldn't help but feel a strong sense of powerlessness upon sensing such an existence.
At this moment, almost everyone in the Primordial Realm sensed and saw the celestial court's most powerful weapon.
The weapon that suppressed the heavens had descended on this day.
Accompanying that "Imperial Heaven" down to the mortal world were countless great ships and warships. While the body of the "Imperial Heaven" crushed the Primordial Realm's barrier, these ships floated around his colossal form, descending together with him.
On the ships were the divine and demon armies of the celestial court.
The "Imperial Heaven" had not come to deal with the remnants of the Crimson Bright, Upper Emperor, and Kai Huang eras. He had come to deal with the ruler of the Primordial Realm, to slay the Earth Mother Primordial Lord.
Eliminating the remnants of the Crimson Bright, Upper Emperor, and Kai Huang eras was the responsibility of the celestial court's divine and demon armies that followed him down.
"Can't win."
Qin Fengqing muttered, put the Dragon Qilin and Yan'er down from his shoulders, and shouted loudly, "Bad little brother, we're ashore! There's a big guy outside; I definitely can't beat him. Be careful yourself!"
With that, his body rapidly shrank, quickly returning to Qin Mu's form.
"Mu Tianzun, find your relatives and friends as soon as possible. The Netherworld Heavenly Venerate will come to take you to the Netherworld!" The Earth Count's voice pierced into his ears.
Qin Mu didn't answer. He took out a willow leaf and stuck it to his forehead, revealing a smile, and said to Yan'er, "Sister Yan'er, my clothes are messy. Won't you help me straighten them?"
Yan'er was still shocked by the giant "Imperial Heaven." Hearing this, she quickly transformed into a chubby girl and laboriously helped Qin Mu straighten his clothes, saying, "Young master, that person who came down from the sky looks like the Blue Fatty."
Qin Mu nodded and said, "It's a replica, but incredibly powerful."
The Earth Count's voice echoed in his mind: "Don't harbor any illusions of luck. Yan Kang being destroyed is absolutely unavoidable! Return to the Netherworld; you have always been the Netherworld's godchild!"
Seeing that Yan'er was struggling, Qin Mu smiled and said, "Let me do it myself. Sister Yan'er, take me and Fatty Long and fly to the Peach Forest. How long will it take?"
Yan'er breathed a sigh of relief, revealed her true form as a chubby Dragon Sparrow, and said, "One day to fly to the Peach Forest!"
Qin Mu leaped onto her back and said solemnly, "Then we'll go to the Peach Forest first! Fatty Long, get on!"
The Dragon Qilin quickly jumped onto Yan'er's back. The Dragon Sparrow flapped its wings and shot through the air with a roar. Although not as fast as Qin Fengqing at full sprint, it was still extraordinary, many times faster than the Dragon Qilin!
The next day, Yan'er flew over the Kunlun region and landed outside the Daoist Academy.
Lin Xuan, the Daoist master, saw this divine bird descending from the sky and hurried out of the academy. He saw Qin Mu slide down from the bird's back and, without greeting him, rush into the Peach Forest.
"Moon Heavenly Venerate!"
Qin Mu burst into the Peach Forest and shouted loudly, "An old friend, Mu Tianzun, seeks an audience!"
Lin Xuan was stunned for a moment, but he saw Qin Mu constantly delving deeper into the Peach Forest, yet always circling around its periphery.
"What's wrong with Sect Leader Qin?" Lin Xuan asked the Dragon Qilin.
The Dragon Qilin glanced around and said, "Yan Kang is about to be finished. The sect leader wants to ask the owner of the Peach Forest for help, so he brought out his identity. If the owner of the Peach Forest still remembers their old friendship, she won't refuse."
Lin Xuan was bewildered and quickly asked, "Yan Kang is about to be finished? Is it related to that Blue Yu Tian who suddenly came down from the sky? That divine being looks almost exactly like the Blue Yu Tian beside the sect leader, just thinner!"
Just then, a few Daoists came looking for him and shouted, "Daoist Master, someone from Qingyun Heaven has come to see you! Please go quickly!"
Lin Xuan couldn't ask for details and hurried back to the academy to receive the guest from Qingyun Heaven.
To his surprise, the sect leader of Qingyun Heaven had come in person. Lin Xuan was about to exchange pleasantries when the Qingyun sect leader raised his hand and said, "Brother Lin, I have come with an oral instruction from the Dao Ancestor. Please immediately move the Yan Kang Daoist sect into Qingyun Heaven, away from this place of trouble! Yan Kang cannot be saved!"
Lin Xuan was dumbfounded. Suddenly, all his strength drained away, and he slumped against a pillar, saying hoarsely, "Did the Dao Ancestor say that?"
"The Dao Ancestor said it!"
The Qingyun sect leader immediately took his leave, saying solemnly, "I also need to notify the various heavens of the celestial court's Daoist sect and tell them the Dao Ancestor's instruction! Brother Lin, the Dao Ancestor thinks highly of you. He told me to inform you first. Don't disappoint his expectations!"
He flew away.
Lin Xuan's mind was in a fog. After a long time, he came to his senses and stumbled out of the Daoist Academy. He saw Qin Mu still wandering at the edge of the Peach Forest, trying to enter, but the owner of the Peach Forest never responded.
At night, the Peach Forest was lit with faint lantern light. A woman carrying a lantern walked out of the forest and said, "Young Master Qin, the Empress says that she is also helpless in this matter and cannot help. Please go back. The Empress also says that you should be wise and protect yourself, and not get too involved in the world. If you don't come seeking help, you can enter the Peach Forest at any time. There are no conflicts or dangers in the Peach Forest."
Qin Mu was stunned.
The woman carrying the lantern looked at Yan'er and said, "Sister Yan'er, the Empress asks you to return to the palace."
Yan'er was flustered. She looked at Qin Mu, then at the Dragon Qilin, then at the woman with the lantern, hesitating.
The woman said, "The Empress says you are in mortal danger outside. Especially by Young Master Qin's side, there are even more dangers."
Yan'er hesitated, then suddenly said, "Fatty Long, persuade the young master to come into the Peach Forest with me. The Empress can protect your safety."
The Dragon Qilin glanced at Qin Mu and said, "The sect leader has made up his mind, and no one can persuade him otherwise. Sister Yan'er, you go on your own."
Yan'er was anxious and said, "Won't you come with me?"
The Dragon Qilin smiled and said, "The sect leader needs me. When I was almost starving to death, the sect leader gave me food. I can't just wag my tail and leave when he's in trouble. Now is the time when the sect leader is most helpless. I can't leave even more. Although I am timid and gluttonous, I am not afraid of death. Sister Yan'er, take care!"