Chapter 948: Madness
On the ship, Yun Chu Xiu had once mentioned that back then, she had led the two Grand Masters of the Heavenly Court, the Divine Martial Army of the Heavenly Court’s Ten Guards, and many of her proud disciples into the Tai Xu, only to suffer heavy casualties. The Divine Martial Army was completely annihilated, none of her disciples survived, and the two Grand Masters also perished in the Tai Xu. She mentioned that one of those two Grand Masters was a Grand Master Yue, who had deciphered the secret of the Tai Xu’s inner demons, yet even he failed to walk out of the Tai Xu alive.
But Qin Mu still saw through her. At that time, to protect herself, she had killed those Divine Martial Army soldiers, her own disciples, and even the two Grand Masters!
If this evil Daoist, Yue Tingge, was the Grand Master Yue that Yun Chu Xiu spoke of, then how did he survive the massacre by a Heavenly Sovereign? And how did he escape to this place?
“Those who can become Grand Masters all possess extraordinary abilities. Yue Tingge must have had a means of escape. Yun Chu Xiu once said that both Grand Masters were supreme experts at the Emperor Throne Great Perfection stage…”
Cold sweat broke out on Qin Mu’s forehead. Just now, he had revealed his identity as Mu Tianzun, and this Yue Tingge had angrily walked over and kowtowed to him. If he had come to kill instead of kowtow…
“Then my corpse would probably be cold by now,” he thought to himself.
Luo Wushuang was also shocked, finding it hard to calm down for a long time. He didn’t know much about this Grand Master Yue. High-ranking officials in the Heavenly Court rarely used their real names, preferring to adopt titles. Only those of lower status used their real names. Therefore, he didn’t know the names of the Heavenly Court’s Four Grand Masters. Moreover, none of the current Four Grand Masters was Yue Tingge.
The Heavenly Court’s Four Grand Masters, Four Heavenly Kings, and Four-Colored Emperors were not fixed positions. Their status seemed high, but to the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns, they were consumables—replaceable upon death. Luo Wushuang’s status, both then and now, was not high. He had only seen Grand Master Yue from a distance once. Besides, Yue Tingge had been “dead” for over ten thousand years, and the Heavenly Court’s Grand Masters had long since been replaced.
Furthermore, the Yue Tingge of the past was elegant and refined, but now he had a fierce, unkempt appearance, unrecognizable from his former self. That was why Luo Wushuang hadn’t identified him immediately.
How did this Grand Master, “dead” for over ten thousand years, end up here?
“Grand Master Yue, I have a few questions I’d like to ask you.” Qin Mu walked up to the evil Daoist. “May I ask how you survived? Which of the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns was the one who led you into the Tai Xu?”
The evil Daoist Yue Tingge stood up, glanced at him, slung the roasted beast leg over his shoulder, and strode out, speaking harshly, “I respect you as a Heavenly Sovereign from the Long Han era, which is why I didn’t kill you. Don’t meddle in my affairs!”
Qin Mu followed him out of the city, continuing to press, “Where are the Creators here? Why haven’t I seen them? Have you met Fire Heavenly Sovereign or Void Heavenly Sovereign? Do you know the whereabouts of Carefree Village? Have you encountered Qin Heavenly Sovereign here?”
Yue Tingge revealed a sinister smile, somewhat deranged. “Fire Heavenly Sovereign and Void Heavenly Sovereign? They came to kill me, didn’t they? That must be it! They came to kill me! So I lured them into that death trap, hehehe… They will never escape; they will definitely die there! Then I’ll be safe…”
Luo Wushuang caught up to Qin Mu and whispered, “This Grand Master Yue seems off. Could he have gone mad after being trapped here for over ten thousand years?”
Yue Tingge glanced at him and sneered, “One hand, you underestimate me. Even a million years wouldn’t drive me mad! I just don’t trust those Heavenly Sovereigns.”
He had been somewhat incoherent just now, but now he spoke clearly. “Back then, Qin Heavenly Sovereign became the Kai Huang and established the illegitimate Kai Huang Heavenly Court. The Ten Heavenly Sovereigns of the Heavenly Court planned to deal with him. As the head of the Four Grand Masters of the Heavenly Court at that time, I was the one who devised the strategy against Qin Heavenly Sovereign.”
He recalled the past with great pride. “After all, Kai Huang was Qin Heavenly Sovereign, one of the five founding elders of the Heavenly Alliance. Who would dare to eliminate him openly? Moreover, if he led his subordinates into the Heavenly Court, he would become one of the strongest factions in the Heavenly Alliance. He couldn’t be allowed to regain control of the Heavenly Alliance, so I adopted a method of gradual peeling and infiltration.”
He said excitedly, “The Long Han Heavenly Court made contact with the Kai Huang Heavenly Court and even supported its development. Kai Huang’s strongest subordinate, Di Yiyue, was seduced by the Nether Emperor. The War Heavenly King, Li Youran, and the Red Emperor, Qi Xiayu—the Heavenly Court’s influence gradually infiltrated Kai Huang’s forces, dividing the Kai Huang Heavenly Court from within. Then, with a sudden outbreak, Kai Huang’s power could be uprooted!”
He declared proudly, “Kai Huang had no answer to my strategy, and in the end, the Kai Huang Heavenly Court was destroyed overnight. But he was also a remarkable man. Seeing the unfavorable situation, he began to lay plans, secretly building Carefree Village, and ultimately escaped. The Ten Heavenly Sovereigns were still uneasy and ordered me to find the whereabouts of Carefree Village. Although my contributions were immense, I knew the principle of ‘the hounds are killed once they’ve caught the hare’…”
He shrank his head, looking around cautiously, and snickered, “I know too many of their secrets. They all want to kill me. Sending me to find Carefree Village was just a pretext; they really wanted to kill me!”
Qin Mu and Luo Wushuang exchanged glances. This Grand Master Yue was going mad again.
Yun Chu Xiu’s killing of him was just a random event. As one of the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns, she had led her troops into the Tai Xu, also to find Carefree Village. But the Tai Xu was too eerie, and to protect herself, she had slaughtered all her subordinates.
Grand Master Yue was a wise man who could have seen through this, but now he had lost his mind.
“…Last time they failed to kill me, this time they sent three Heavenly Sovereigns to do the job! Hehe, Fire Heavenly Sovereign and Void Heavenly Sovereign were tricked by me and sent to that death trap. But there’s a third Heavenly Sovereign, Mu Tianzun…”
His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he glared fiercely at Qin Mu. Then, suddenly, the murderous look vanished, and his gaze became evasive. He hid in a street corner, furtively glancing at Qin Mu from time to time, whispering to the roasted beast leg, “Should we trick Mu Tianzun into that death trap too and let him die there… No, he might not be an enemy, and he taught us the method of becoming a god… You’re right, we won’t kill him, but we can kill One Hand…”
Luo Wushuang’s heart tightened, and he said to Qin Mu, “Qin Overlord Body, I think this Grand Master Yue is unstable. Should we leave?”
Qin Mu hesitated. Yue Tingge was still muttering to the beast leg in the corner, “But that Mu Tianzun kid is also sneaky and doesn’t seem like a good person. We’ve already harmed two Heavenly Sovereigns; harming one more wouldn’t be a big deal…”
Qin Mu didn’t hesitate any longer and made a decisive decision: “He’s indeed mad! Let’s go!”
Yue Tingge shouldered the leg and walked over, his fierce expression gone, now appearing ethereal and wise, with the demeanor of a sage. He chuckled, “Mu Tianzun, you want to know the whereabouts of Qin Heavenly Sovereign and Carefree Village? Follow me.”
Qin Mu blinked.
Luo Wushuang shook his head. “Qin Overlord Body, he’s tricking us! Don’t fall for it!”
Qin Mu gritted his teeth and followed Yue Tingge.
Meanwhile, a few hundred miles from this city, Lian Huahun was clashing with another young deity. This young deity was a True God, powerful, with four layers of heavenly palaces floating behind him and immense magical power. Yet Lian Huahun, though only a cultivator at the Divine Bridge realm, could contend with him and even gain the upper hand.
The two fought at lightning speed, their various divine techniques and Dao methods dazzling to behold.
Soon, everything settled, and both landed.
The young deity clutched his chest, his voice hoarse. “Junior Sister Lian, why…?”
Lian Huahun’s divine technique had invaded his body. This technique was eerie, like an abyss constantly devouring his blood and qi, quickly reducing him to skin and bones. Not only that, but his seven divine hidden realms began to fall into the abyss one by one.
Even the Netherworld Dao and Netherworld divine techniques were not uncommon in the Heavenly Court, with experts like the Nether Emperor, a master of Netherworld techniques. But regarding the Guixu, the Heavenly Court knew little.
Guixu divine techniques were still a secret to the Heavenly Court; few had learned them, let alone the Dao runes of the Guixu.
This young man was powerful and skilled, even more so than the True God named An Qingyu that Qin Mu had encountered. However, facing the unpredictable Guixu techniques, he could only meet a tragic end.
But he didn’t understand. He and Lian Huahun were both disciples of Hao Tianzun, and he had always taken care of this junior sister.
He never expected Lian Huahun to attack him, and with lethal intent!
“No reason, Senior Brother Liao.”
Lian Huahun said softly, “I just don’t want you to find Mu Tianzun before I do.”
Senior Brother Liao groaned. The abyss within him had already devoured his Heavenly Human divine hidden realm and was about to consume his Life and Death and Divine Bridge realms! His blood and qi had also drained away, leaving his body like a skeleton wrapped in skin.
“You definitely can’t defeat him.”
Lian Huahun explained, “If you can’t defeat him, you’ll use Hao Tianzun’s Slay Mu method. But even if you use it, you might not kill him. Instead, he’ll see through it and perfect his own techniques and divine abilities.”
Senior Brother Liao’s Life and Death and Divine Bridge realms collapsed and fell into the abyss. The abyss reached the Southern Heavenly Gate and began devouring his heavenly palace! His skeletal body also began to collapse inward. This death was excruciatingly painful.
“The Slay Mu method has only eighteen techniques. If you reveal one to him, you’ll lose one trump card against Mu Tianzun. Your skills are too low, and you’re stupid. Rather than letting him crack them one by one and grow stronger, it’s better to keep these Slay Mu methods intact.”
Lian Huahun said softly, “Without using my own ultimate techniques, it’s already hard for me to eliminate him. So I can’t let the Slay Mu methods be exposed. That’s why I have to eliminate you. Is this explanation satisfactory, Senior Brother Liao?”
Senior Brother Liao’s heavenly palaces rumbled as thousands of halls fell into the abyss. His primordial spirit couldn’t escape either, collapsing into the abyss along with his disintegrating body!
In the end, he vanished completely from the world, leaving no trace—no soul fragments, no soul black sand.
He was fully digested by the abyss.
The abyss technique flew back and entered Lian Huahun’s brow.
A red mark appeared on the girl’s forehead, then disappeared.
She took out a mirror. On the mirror were five red dots, four of which were moving.
This was a treasure refined by Hao Tianzun for his nineteen disciples on this journey, called the Soul Mirror. Each disciple could use the red dots on the mirror to quickly locate the others, allowing them to gather and eliminate Qin Mu together.
But Hao Tianzun never expected that the Soul Mirror would become a death warrant for his own disciples!
“Of Hao Tianzun’s eighteen disciples, five have already died by my hand. Four remain. Once I eliminate them, I can go after Mu Tianzun.”
Lian Huahun smiled, holding the Soul Mirror as she flew toward one of the red dots. “The other nine either died on the way or perished in the Tai Xu’s strangeness. I wonder if any were killed by Mu Tianzun. How many of the eighteen Slay Mu methods are left? But to kill Mu Tianzun, I won’t need many of them.”
Soon, she caught up to one of the red dots. A young woman was racing across the wasteland, also holding a mirror.
“Senior Sister Li!” Lian Huahun called out loudly.
Senior Sister Li’s face changed drastically. She sped up, fleeing into the distance, and sneered, “Lian Huahun, I saw on the Soul Mirror that after your red dot contacted another, that dot went out. You killed that senior brother, and now you want to kill me, right?”
Lian Huahun’s expression shifted slightly as she gave chase. “Since Senior Sister knows, I can’t let you live. Don’t run. You can’t escape my grasp.”
Senior Sister Li, though a True God, didn’t dare to confront her and fled in panic.
Lian Huahun pointed forward. A black vortex appeared, and she stepped into it, disappearing.
Senior Sister Li was running when a black vortex suddenly appeared beside her. She tried to stop, but the vortex expanded and swallowed her.
The vortex churned violently in midair, as if two beasts were fighting to the death inside.
After a while, Senior Sister Li suddenly burst out of the vortex, fleeing desperately. As she ran, her body grew lighter and lighter until she turned into a sheet of human skin, tumbling in the wind.
Her body was empty. The flesh, bones, divine hidden realms, heavenly palaces, and primordial spirit beneath the skin had all been devoured!
Lian Huahun stepped out of the vortex, examined the Soul Mirror, and headed in one direction. “Three left…”
— Congratulations to Alliance Leader C on your recent marriage!
Also, happy birthday to Heavenly Sovereign White Fox Alliance Leader!