Chapter 925: The Tragedy at Ancestral King Palace
"Yun Chu Xiu's personality is somewhat erratic and unpredictable. Legend has it that the Empress Dowager naturally possessed the aura of a mother to all under heaven, while Yuan Mu Madam was lively, active, and mischievously clever."
Qin Mu walked toward Yun Jian Li, Qi Jiu Yi, and the others with Yun Chu Xiu, but a storm raged in his heart: "Could it be that Yun Chu Xiu is not the Empress Dowager? Could she be Yuan Mu Madam? What if, during the attack on the Empress Dowager back then, it wasn't Yuan Mu Madam who died, but the Empress Dowager instead..."
"Heavenly Lord, the back of your neck is covered in goosebumps!"
Yun Chu Xiu looked at his nape with curiosity, making a discovery, and exclaimed in surprise: "The back of your neck is also sweating! How strange!"
She reached out her soft, warm little hand and touched Qin Mu's forehead, even more astonished: "Your forehead is still dry. Heavenly Lord, you're sick!"
"You're the one who's sick!"
Qin Mu was furious, shook off this woman, and quickly came to the others, whispering: "Sister Yan, come up to my shoulder."
Yan'er transformed into a little green sparrow, flew up, and landed on his shoulder. Only then did Qin Mu breathe a sigh of relief.
Being arm-in-arm with Yun Chu Xiu made him indescribably uncomfortable. This woman's personality was strange, with unpredictable moods—just moments ago she was fighting for life and death, and now she was sickeningly sweet.
He couldn't figure out Yun Chu Xiu's true intentions.
Yun Chu Xiu holding his arm made him feel as if he were entangled by a venomous snake or giant python. Only when Yan'er perched on his shoulder could he relax a little.
Yan'er was also curiously looking at the back of his neck, thinking: "Young master wasn't nervous before, so why is he getting nervous now?"
"But there's another doubt. When I summoned the soul of the Empress Dowager, I discovered that the Empress Dowager is not dead. And even stranger, Yuan Mu Madam in the crystal coffin once had a corpse revival, which was suppressed by my senior brother, Wei Sui Feng."
Qin Mu's eyes flickered, suspicion rising in his heart: "So who exactly is this Yun Chu Xiu? If she is the Empress Dowager, her personality is far too split. Or could it be that this is now her true nature?"
Yun Jian Li, Qi Jiu Yi, and the others were extremely wary of Yun Chu Xiu. Although they remained as polite as before, they dared not be overly familiar. Only Qin Mu remained composed, even more intimate with Yun Chu Xiu than before.
The two walked ahead, chatting and laughing, heading toward the Ancestral King Palace of the Ancestral God King.
"That fellow Qin wants to come to my place?"
Inside the Ancestral King Palace, Ancestral God King, the Ancestral Heavenly Lord, had already received the news and laughed heartily: "Does this bastard not know I want to kill him? He still dares to come and deliver himself to death? Does he think that just because he's come to my Ancestral King Palace, I won't be able to make a move?"
"Does the Heavenly Lord truly intend to kill him?" Great Sun Star Lord asked.
This Great Sun Star Lord was not the same Great Sun Star Lord among the ancient gods. The ancient god Great Sun, because he knew too much, was shot in the back and had long since fallen in the Dragon Han era.
The current Great Sun Star Lord was a deity from the Supreme Emperor era, named Dan Feng Lai. He had become a disciple of Ancestral God King, entrusted with important duties, and became the general commanding the stars and constellations of the Heavenly Court.
The reason Ancestral God King could stand against Heavenly Lord Hao and Lang Xuan Divine Sovereign among the demigods was precisely because he was the son of the Heavenly Duke, controlling the stars and constellations, with most of the star deities obeying his orders.
"Of course I won't kill him."
Ancestral God King chuckled: "Do you think I'm really stupid? If I were truly stupid, could I have reached my current position? Sometimes, deliberately acting reckless isn't necessarily a bad thing. For example, during the Jade Pool incident, all ten Heavenly Lords came, all covering their faces so no one could identify them. The other nine were suspicious of each other, but I alone revealed my true face. The nine of them were wary and suspicious of each other, but they would never suspect me, the reckless one."
He clasped his hands behind his back and said leisurely: "Even if Shepherd Heavenly Lord delivers himself to me for the killing, I won't touch a hair on his head. He is not my enemy, at least not for now. Although he bears the title of Shepherd Heavenly Lord, for the time being, he is just a nobody with a reputation. Killing him would only bring a stink upon myself."
Great Sun Star Lord Dan Feng Lai was greatly impressed and praised: "The Heavenly Lord is wise. So, how should we handle Shepherd Heavenly Lord's arrival at our Ancestral King Palace?"
Ancestral God King said: "Shepherd Heavenly Lord's talent is actually not bad. I fought him at Great Dark Heaven, using my strongest weapon. I employed the Divine Bridge realm, and he was able to match me. Even when I used the twenty-eighth level of the Dao Realm, I couldn't subdue him; instead, he killed my Imperial Heavenly Lord clone. Therefore, restrain your disciples and don't provoke him."
He smiled: "You tell them I'm not here. Have the disciples treat him with utmost respect, give him no opportunity to stir up trouble, and treat him as they would a true Heavenly Lord. He won't gain any advantage here and will eventually leave."
Great Sun Star Lord Dan Feng Lai bowed in acknowledgment, saying: "Disciple will go to welcome him."
Ancestral God King called him back, saying: "One more thing—be on guard against anyone sneaking into the Ancestral King Palace to assassinate him. He was already ambushed at Lang Xuan Divine Palace, and others will certainly come to kill him. Don't let this down-and-out fellow die in my territory."
Dan Feng Lai departed and led a group to welcome Qin Mu.
Qin Mu looked at this Star Lord and smiled: "Great Sun Star Lord, I still remember our encounter back then. I nearly died at your hands."
Dan Feng Lai laughed: "Back then, I didn't know you were Shepherd Heavenly Lord, and I held back. I only sent a clone and the Fire Crow Army to intercept the remnants of the Chi Ming clan; I never considered you an opponent. Shepherd Heavenly Lord, my master is not here. Allow me, as a junior, to fulfill the duties of a host. Please—"
Qin Mu followed them into the Ancestral King Palace, smiling: "That night at the Jade Pool, I saw someone resembling the Star Lord trying to kill me. Quite formidable, with numerous clones turning into flocks of three-legged Golden Crows, skimming the sea surface."
Dan Feng Lai laughed heartily, saying: "There are countless people who cultivate the Great Sun technique. How could it be me? The Heavenly Lord is joking."
"That's true."
Qin Mu's aura was weak, and he coughed a few times. He glanced at the junior brothers and sisters of Ancestral God King, noticing that these disciples kept their eyes downcast, ignoring his show of weakness.
"Is the Heavenly Lord unwell?" Dan Feng Lai asked with concern.
Qin Mu seemed somewhat distracted. After a moment, he came back to his senses, his expression changing slightly. He took out a few spirit pills, tremblingly swallowed them, and after the medicinal power dissolved, he exhaled a turbid breath and sighed: "I have no soul or spirit, relying only on divine consciousness to stay alive. If my divine consciousness disperses, I die. Coming to the Heavenly Court this time is merely to revisit old places and meet old friends."
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at the young and spirited disciples of Ancestral God King.
Those young people had unexpectedly good temperaments, all wearing smiles.
Dan Feng Lai grew even more concerned, saying: "The Heavenly Lord is unwell, but a good man has his own fortune. It seems this illness comes and goes, a difficult and complicated case. I heard that the Heavenly Lord caused a great slaughter at Lang Xuan Divine Palace, quite formidable. It seems the illness was better then." He laughed heartily as he spoke.
Qin Mu also laughed heartily, his voice full of vigor.
Dan Feng Lai sneered inwardly: "This bastard has no shame at all! He doesn't even blush!"
Yet he couldn't help but admire Qin Mu's brazenness. He instructed these junior brothers and sisters, saying: "Attend to the Heavenly Lord well. I will summon some strong experts to protect the Heavenly Lord's safety."
Everyone acknowledged and surrounded Qin Mu and the others to tour the magnificent sights of the Ancestral King Palace.
Dan Feng Lai immediately mobilized the gods and demons within the Ancestral King Palace, setting up a heavenly net in the sky and an earthly net on the ground, to prevent anyone from launching a sneak attack and framing Ancestral God King.
After he finished arranging everything, he went to look for Qin Mu. A disciple told him: "Senior brother, Shepherd Heavenly Lord has set up an altar to preach the Dao at the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace, teaching divine techniques and Dao methods. Many of the junior brothers and sisters have gone there."
"Setting up an altar to preach at the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace? What trick is this bastard up to?"
Dan Feng Lai hurried to the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace, only to find it surrounded by a sea of people—all disciples of the Ancestral King Palace—sitting below the platform, listening to the person on stage transmitting the Dao.
"...That is why reform is necessary. Abolish the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury and open up the Heavenly River Divine Treasury. The Heavenly River Divine Treasury is the orthodox path. Look, which of you at the same cultivation level can match me? It's not because I am Shepherd Heavenly Lord that I am stronger than you. The reason I am so strong is precisely because I opened the Heavenly River Divine Treasury. What I am teaching you is what Ancestral Heavenly Lord cannot teach you! Now, I will teach you how to comprehend the power of the Heavenly River..."
Hearing this, Dan Feng Lai was puzzled: "This plague god is really preaching the Dao, but he's lost his mind, still spouting nonsense about reform and abolishing the Divine Bridge. Let's hear how he bluffs on. I just need to stay alert and guard the surroundings, lest any external enemy sneaks in to harm him."
He took out a bottle, opened the lid, and gently poured. Countless tiny glass beads the size of fingertips fell out. These beads expanded as they flew into the air, turning into rounds of dazzling suns. From within the suns, three-legged Golden Crows flew out, carrying the suns on their backs as they soared into the sky.
Those Golden Crows were immensely powerful. They flapped their wings, cutting through space and burrowing into it, hiding deep within the void, observing every subtle movement.
Dan Feng Lai then stood on a nearby mountaintop. Every scene seen by the three-legged Golden Crows was clearly reflected in his mind.
Combined with the heavenly and earthly nets set up above and below, the Ancestral King Palace was as secure as an iron bucket. No one could infiltrate without his knowledge!
He kept watch on the surroundings, listening to Qin Mu's voice. Even he, however, unconsciously became engrossed, thinking: "This plague god does have some unique insights. His method of comprehending the power of the Heavenly River to open the Heavenly River Divine Treasury is indeed quite feasible. If one's talent is high enough, one really could open the Heavenly River Divine Treasury. But before that, one needs to first abolish the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury... Not good!"
Suddenly, his mind was thrown into chaos, and cold sweat poured down his forehead: "This is terrible! His method requires abolishing the Divine Bridge Divine Treasury! He is preaching here to destroy the orthodoxy of my Ancestral King Palace!"
He soared into the air, shouting sternly: "Shepherd Heavenly Lord is spreading heresy! No one is allowed to listen!"
His voice was thunderously loud, instantly drowning out Qin Mu's voice.
Qin Mu laughed heartily, stood up, and said leisurely: "Why does the Star Lord say that? How is my technique heresy?"
Dan Feng Lai's face was ashen. He flew to the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace and shouted: "Shepherd Heavenly Lord is the chief of the rebels from the lower realms, a heretic of reform! What he teaches you is demonic arts, evil techniques! Do not listen! Forget his words! Whoever dares to cultivate them, I will kill immediately!"
Below the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace, the disciples of the Ancestral King Palace were packed like a sea of people. Hearing this, they all looked at each other in confusion, not understanding why Great Sun Star Lord had suddenly become so severe.
A young man laughed: "Senior brother, I think Shepherd Heavenly Lord's Heavenly River Divine Treasury is indeed quite feasible. If we can abolish the Divine Bridge and open the Heavenly River, our strength at the same cultivation level would probably increase by forty to fifty percent!"
Before he could finish, Dan Feng Lai reached out and grabbed. The young man involuntarily flew up, landing in his hand, and was seized by the neck.
"What did I say? This is heresy, evil arts!"
Dan Feng Lai slammed the young man heavily to the ground. The young man was thrown so hard that he spat blood, and who knows how many bones were broken.
Dan Feng Lai was about to continue when suddenly blood rained from the sky, streaks of blood seeping out from within the void.
His expression changed drastically, and he immediately realized that someone had infiltrated the depths of space within the Ancestral King Palace and killed his clones!
The blood in the sky grew more and more abundant. His clones were dying faster and faster, yet he couldn't even see who the enemy was!
"The intruder is at the Imperial Throne realm, perhaps even a Heavenly Lord!"
Cold sweat broke out on Dan Feng Lai's forehead. At that moment, a magnificent light burst forth from the sky, and the colossal figure of Ancestral God King appeared in midair. He said in a deep voice: "Shepherd Heavenly Lord, someone has come to kill you. The Ancestral King Palace is no place for you to stay long. Please leave quickly, Daoist brother. I will hold off the assassin for you!"
Qin Mu bowed in greeting, saying: "Divine King, this is our first meeting. How can you drive a guest away?"
Ancestral God King returned the bow, lowering his hand slightly to show that his status was a notch below Qin Mu's, and said: "A powerful enemy has invaded. It will be difficult for me to ensure your safety, Daoist brother. Leave quickly to avoid misfortune, and also to prevent implicating my Ancestral King Palace. Feng Lai, see the guest out."
Dan Feng Lai's face was ashen. He raised his hand and said: "Heavenly Lord, please!"
Qin Mu and the others rose and departed.
Dan Feng Lai escorted Qin Mu and the others out of Lang Xuan Divine Palace, his face still dark as iron. He sneered: "Shepherd Heavenly Lord, it's not that my Ancestral King Palace wants to drive you away, but that there really is an external enemy invading, attempting to kill you and frame my Ancestral King Palace!"
Qin Mu thanked him and said meaningfully: "Star Lord, how do you know it's an external enemy? Perhaps it could be an internal enemy."
Dan Feng Lai was momentarily stunned. He watched Qin Mu disappear into the distance, then suddenly came to his senses. He immediately returned to the Ancestral King Palace and rushed straight to the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace.
Before he even reached the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace, he saw several corpses—the bodies of his junior brothers and sisters.
Dan Feng Lai's heart trembled. He charged forward frantically. Along the way, the bodies grew more numerous. When he reached the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace, he saw that the junior brothers and sisters who had been listening to the lecture, including the young man whose bones he had broken, were all dead there!
And Ancestral God King was standing on the Abyss-Overlooking Terrace, silently watching him.