Chapter 915: Meeting by the Moonlit Jade Terrace
"The one from a million years ago has returned."
The Heavenly Court was resplendent and magnificent, filled with countless deities and spirits. Countless gods and demons dwelled in this incomparably luxurious world. Originally, the Heavenly Court was peaceful—at least on the surface. Even when the Heavenly Court's armies descended to the lower realms, eliminating the Earth Mother and leveling the Primordial Realm, it had stirred no waves in the Heavenly Court.
But now, the once-calm Heavenly Court was like a still lake into which a stone had been cast, ripples spreading in all directions.
All kinds of news were spreading everywhere, reaching not only the inner palaces but also the ears of the Heavenly Venerables, becoming a topic that swept through the Heavenly Court.
That person had returned.
A million years ago, in the early years of the Dragon Han Era, that person had been enfeoffed as a Heavenly Venerable by the Heavenly Emperor, becoming one of the Nine Heavenly Venerables. With his unparalleled Dao techniques and divine powers, he had captivated an entire era.
He had preached the Dharma on behalf of Imperial Heavenly Venerable, establishing the Heavenly Palace cultivation system for the world, and had gravely wounded Heavenly Venerable Hao, leaving him bedridden for many years without recovery.
Now, the Heavenly Emperor was indifferent to worldly affairs, and Heavenly Venerable Hao had become the supreme ruler wielding the authority of the Heavenly Court, exalted above all.
Yet the one who had gravely wounded him had vanished without a trace, disappearing from the world for a million years.
There were also reports that when Heavenly Venerable Hao had wielded the strongest weapon to descend to the lower realms and suppress the rebellion, that person had used the Earth Mother's hand to severely damage Hao's primordial spirit.
Other news said that person was the Divine Son of the Netherworld, who had encountered the blockade of the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court and was gravely wounded.
There were also rumors that he had gouged out his own soul, becoming a soulless man, now too weak to truss a chicken.
Yet other reports claimed that person had killed many young elites of the Heavenly Court in the Primordial Realm, countless ancient gods and disciples of the Four Emperors falling by his hand.
And some deities and demons returning from the lower realms said that his aura was faint, and he was on the verge of death.
Countless people were discussing that person's arrival, talking about him. A strange atmosphere pervaded the Heavenly Court, undercurrents surging beneath the calm surface.
"Southern Emperor Zhuque's ship arrived at the Heavenly Court today. Is it related to that person?"
"I heard that Eastern Emperor has left the Eastern Extremity, and Western Emperor has also left the Western Extremity."
"The waters of the Heavenly River are acting strangely; the water level has risen recently. Some suspect that Northern Emperor Xuanwu has secretly arrived at the Heavenly Court!"
"I also heard that the Four Emperors of the Heavenly Court have submitted a memorial to the Heavenly Emperor, saying they will return to the Heavenly Court soon. It's said that Black Emperor has already arrived!"
"I've heard that many ancient gods from the Great Wilderness have come to the Heavenly Court to report for duty, including the Great Sun Star Lord and others! I also heard that the Dao Ancestor, who had vanished for many years, has returned to the Daoist Sect of the Heavenly Court. The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha, who had slept for who knows how many years, has awakened and come to the Heavenly Court, and his first act was to visit the Dao Ancestor!"
"The situation in the Heavenly Court is somewhat strange."
"I heard that person has gone to the Jade Pool, saying he wants to pay respects to Empress Consort! What audacity! A million years ago, it was at the Jade Pool that he gravely wounded Heavenly Venerable Hao!"
"Empress Consort has allowed him to stay at the Manhui Corridor Pavilion—the very place where Imperial Heavenly Venerable was assassinated!"
"I went to the Jade Pool myself and saw that person. His aura is withered and decaying, he's as thin as a rake, his complexion is very poor, and his primordial energy is leaking away every moment. I suspect he's come to remember old friends and seek death, waiting for someone who can't resist killing him, thus bearing the eternal infamy!"
"Who would dare kill him? Aren't they afraid of being attacked by political enemies?"
"There are plenty who want to kill him, and plenty of ways to do it. After the deed, just find a few scapegoats."
"The Heavenly Court of today is no longer the Heavenly Court he knew back then."
...
At the Jade Pool Sacred Realm, Manhui Corridor Pavilion.
Qin Mu came to the window of the pavilion, gazing at the giant lotus flowers in the Jade Sea and the divine turtles carrying divine mountains on their backs as they swam through the waters, just as before.
His body was somewhat gaunt, and his complexion was indeed not very good. Returning to this old haunt stirred a myriad of emotions within him.
Although the main structure of today's Heavenly Court was unchanged from the early Dragon Han Era, it was vastly different.
Back then, near the Heavenly Court, there were thirty-six Heavenly Palaces and seventy-two Precious Halls. Now, most of those palaces and halls had been relocated, scattered across the universe to suppress the cosmos, with only a few remaining.
Even so, the scale of the Heavenly Court was far grander than before, with thousands of towers and halls, incomparably luxurious.
The Jade Pool had also been rebuilt. The Jade Pool of that time was already extremely vast, but after a million years, this Jade Pool was more like a Jade Sea, its sacred scenery breathtakingly beautiful.
It was here that he had attended the Jade Pool Grand Banquet and experienced a great upheaval, an upheaval that had influenced the course of history for a million years.
Back then, he and the Founding Emperor had both taken shortcuts, using knowledge and insight a million years ahead of the early Dragon Han Era to dazzle an era. If they had been born in that era, perhaps they would have been just two insignificant figures in that magnificent age.
This was also why many of the younger generation in the Heavenly Court looked down on him. These young people believed that if they had traveled back to the early Dragon Han Era, they would have done even better, not worse.
Yan'er came to his side, carrying a plate of fruits. "Young master, the palace maids picked some fruits. I had Fatty Long and Young Master Qi taste them first. They haven't died yet, so they should be safe to eat."
Behind her, Qi Jiuyi and Long Qilin's faces darkened, their hearts aching.
The Phoenix Ship had sent them to the Southern Heavenly Gate and immediately returned to the Primordial Realm. Only Qi Jiuyi had stayed behind, worried about Long Qilin's safety.
As soon as Qin Mu arrived at the Heavenly Court, the news spread throughout. He had requested an audience with Empress Consort, but she did not appear. Instead, she ordered him to stay at the Jade Pool, in this very Manhui Corridor Pavilion where Imperial Heavenly Venerable had been assassinated.
The palace maids here all served Empress Consort, each one a deity, graceful and beautiful.
But Yan'er was worried someone might poison Qin Mu, so she made Qi Jiuyi and Long Qilin taste every kind of food first. Only after they were fine did she dare let Qin Mu eat.
"Sister Yan'er, there's no need to be so cautious. I'm also well-versed in medicine. Poisoning through food is not an easy trick to pull off."
Qin Mu smiled. "Besides, the Heavenly Court doesn't need to resort to such means to get rid of me. They have plenty of other ways."
Qi Jiuyi's eyes flickered as he looked around. "So this is the place where Imperial Heavenly Venerable, the foremost of the Nine Heavenly Venerables, was killed?"
Qin Mu nodded slightly. "This is also the birthplace of the calamities from the Dragon Han Era to the Yan Kang Era."
Qi Jiuyi said, "I heard that the Heavenly Alliance originated here. Heavenly Venerable Ling, Heavenly Venerable Yun, and Heavenly Venerable Yue founded the Heavenly Alliance here, together with Shepherd Heavenly Venerable and Qin Heavenly Venerable, becoming the five founding elders of the Heavenly Alliance."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow. "I had already left by then."
Qi Jiuyi glanced at him. "I heard that later, when the Heavenly Alliance succeeded, its leaders would often come here to discuss matters. This place was considered a headquarters of the Heavenly Alliance."
Qin Mu became interested. "Who are the leaders of the Heavenly Alliance?"
"The current Heavenly Alliance has ten leaders, all granted the title of Heavenly Venerable by His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor. However, some ancient gods do not recognize these ten Heavenly Venerables, only the original nine."
Qi Jiuyi said, "The first is Heavenly Venerable Hao, the second is Heavenly Venerable Huo, the third is Heavenly Venerable Xiao, the fourth is Ancestral God King, known as Ancestral Heavenly Venerable. The fifth is Langxuan Divine Emperor, Heavenly Venerable Lang. The sixth is Consort Qiang, enfeoffed as Heavenly Venerable Qiang. The seventh is Consort Yan, enfeoffed as Heavenly Venerable Yan. The eighth is Heavenly Venerable Hong, the ninth is Heavenly Venerable Xu, and the tenth is Heavenly Venerable Gong."
Qin Mu frowned. Among these ten new Heavenly Venerables, he only knew Hao, Huo, and Ancestral God King, though he had only fought Ancestral God King's Imperial Heavenly Venerable weapon and had never seen the real person.
As for Heavenly Venerable Xiao, he had never met him.
"What about Heavenly Venerable Yue and Heavenly Venerable You? Why aren't they among the ten?" Qin Mu asked.
Qi Jiuyi shook his head. "I heard that Heavenly Venerable Yue and Heavenly Venerable You had long since retired into seclusion, their names not widely known. When His Majesty re-established the ranking of Heavenly Venerables, they were not included. The new ten Heavenly Venerables all hold great power in the Heavenly Court, but this new ranking actually fails to command universal respect."
He glanced around, lowering his voice. "Some say that aside from Qin Heavenly Venerable, the original nine Heavenly Venerables all had immense merits, establishing the Divine Treasury cultivation system and the Heavenly Palace cultivation system, their achievements blessing countless generations. Even Qin Heavenly Venerable, with his battle at the Jade Pool back then, his divine powers influenced countless people in later generations, barely counting as great merit. But the current Heavenly Venerables rely solely on strength and military achievements. As for great merit that influences later generations, they have none. Therefore, many in the Heavenly Court are dissatisfied. Few speak of the ten Heavenly Venerables; they mostly refer to the nine."
Qin Mu smiled. "So, Brother Qi also believes I have great merit and am worthy of the title Shepherd Heavenly Venerable?"
Qi Jiuyi was first furious, then suddenly laughed out loud. "Although I find you extremely irritating, ever since I learned that you are Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, the one who taught the method of becoming a god, I have felt a deep respect for you. But every time I see you, I can't help but feel disgusted."
Qin Mu laughed heartily. Just as he was about to ask about the origins of Heavenly Venerable Xiao, Ancestral Heavenly Venerable, and others, a palace maid came up to the Manhui Corridor Pavilion, presenting a visiting card. "Heavenly Venerable, a guest has come to call."
Qin Mu had to set aside his questions. He took the visiting card and smiled. "I knew someone would come looking for me on their own, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. Please, invite them in."
The palace maid withdrew.
Qin Mu opened the visiting card and saw that the visitor was named Yun Jianli. He handed the card to Qi Jiuyi. "Who is this Yun Jianli?"
Qi Jiuyi's expression changed slightly, turning somewhat unpleasant. "Yun Jianli is from the Yun family."
"The Yun family? Which Yun family?" Qin Mu asked, puzzled.
"The descendants of Heavenly Venerable Yun."
Qi Jiuyi said, "It is said that after Heavenly Venerable Yun died, the Yun family survived, but their numbers were sparse. Each generation had only a single male heir, barely maintaining the bloodline. However, every generation of the Yun family produced exceptionally talented geniuses, outstanding individuals. Strangely, every generation of the Yun family, when they reached the Divine Bridge realm, would suddenly die before they could step onto the Heavenly Palace. Thus, the Yun family usually had only one male, the rest being widows. Yun Jianli is the son of this generation's Yun family, a rising star in the Heavenly Court, known as the Sickly Young Master. As for his talent..."
His eyelids twitched. "Before I was ordered to descend to the lower realms to eliminate you, I came here and crossed hands with the young experts of the Heavenly Court. He is very formidable."
Qin Mu smiled faintly. "At that time, you were trained by Red Emperor and Black Emperor, mastering the ultimate techniques of two Imperial Thrones. When I fought you back then, your strength was astonishing, earning the admiration of both Zhe Huali and me. But you entered the Dao through Red Emperor's techniques, so your reaction speed in divine abilities was inferior to mine and Zhe Huali's. How do you compare to this Sickly Young Master, Yun Jianli?"
"I lost quite decisively."
Qi Jiuyi did not deny it. "I have never been convinced by you, believing I might still defeat you, but I am completely convinced by him, admitting I am far inferior. However, after undergoing the baptism of the Yan Kang Reforms, if we were to fight again today, the outcome would be uncertain."
Qin Mu was moved.
Qi Jiuyi had originally been extremely powerful, and having stayed in the lower realms to help Xu Shenghua establish the Upper Firmament Academy, his vision and knowledge had long since surpassed the past.
Xu Shenghua was also a master of the Yan Kang Reforms, with peerless talent. Qi Jiuyi's current strength was definitely far greater than before. Yet Qi Jiuyi only dared to say that if they fought again today, the outcome would be uncertain. This showed just how badly Qi Jiuyi had lost back then!
Just then, the palace maid led a man and a woman up to the Manhui Corridor Pavilion. The young man at the front was tall and lean, dressed in elegant cloud-white robes. His complexion was somewhat pale, but he was handsome.
Although he was refined and graceful, there was a trace of black qi at his brow that would not disperse, as if he were terminally ill.
The Sickly Young Master, Yun Jianli, bowed deeply to Qin Mu, saying respectfully, "Yun family son, pays respects to Shepherd Heavenly Venerable."
Qin Mu was about to help him rise when the woman behind him also bowed gracefully. "Yun Chuxiu, pays respects to Shepherd Heavenly Venerable."
When Qin Mu saw the face of the woman, Yun Chuxiu, his heart shook violently.
Behind him, Yan'er immediately saw dense goosebumps rising on the back of Qin Mu's neck, a clear sign that he felt danger and was extremely tense!
"Why is the young master so nervous about this girl named Yun Chuxiu?"
Yan'er looked at the girl and was also somewhat entranced, silently praising, "Clouds think of her garments, flowers think of her face. Such a beautiful girl is rare in the world, not inferior to the young master's grandmother, Si Youyou."
The woman's features were pure and ethereal, as if the most beautiful goddess in the world had stepped out of a story or a painting. Every smile, every frown, every movement was perfectly natural, flawless.
Yet Qin Mu felt an intense cold, a bone-piercing chill.
He had seen this woman before.
A chill surged from the depths of Qin Mu's heart: "Isn't she supposed to be buried together with Empress Consort, in the coffin on the ghost ship? Jue Wuchen, how did you get out..."