Chapter 1039: Establishing the Dao with Divine Powers
After Nguyệt Thiên Tôn and the others sent the Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình into the sky, they celebrated for a while but did not remain in the heavenly court. Everyone packed their belongings and went together to the human tribes to spread their teachings.
Tần Mục hesitated for a moment, then had Yên Nhi carry the lantern before going with them to spread the teachings.
"Vân, you seem a bit strange."
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn studied him, shaking her head: "Carrying a lantern in broad daylight."
Lăng Thiên Tôn had no interest in ordinary mortals, hiding in the Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình to do his own research. On this trip, only Nguyệt Thiên Tôn, Đạo Tổ, and a few other human deities accompanied them.
The place they built for spreading teachings was very crude, located in the center of the tribe. When Tần Mục and Nguyệt Thiên Tôn arrived, Đạo Tổ was already there teaching.
"If you can't even survive, why learn this damned numerology!"
An adult man pulled his child and turned to walk out, cursing under his breath: "It doesn't even put food on the table!"
The people of this tribe were dressed in rags, their faces gaunt and sallow. The place where Đạo Tổ was teaching was also a dilapidated thatched hut, with a dozen or so young boys and girls sitting inside, listening intently as Đạo Tổ taught numerology.
Tần Mục looked around. The tribe had a considerable population—over a thousand people—living by hunting and farming. They were all poor souls with their faces to the earth and backs to the sky. The village also enshrined a divine statue, though he couldn't tell which demigod it was.
This place wasn't too far from the Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình. If one looked up, they could see the heavenly court in the sky. Yet the divine statue they worshipped was that of a demigod, showing that human deities still didn't have much status at this time.
Đạo Tổ lectured for a while, explaining how to use numerology to calculate the stars of the heavens, determine the five luminaries within one's body, and thereby open the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury. But at this point, several more parents came and dragged the few remaining children out of the thatched hut to do farm work, leaving only a handful behind.
Đạo Tổ finished his lecture, sighed, silently rose, and packed his belongings.
Tần Mục and Nguyệt Thiên Tôn waited outside. Đạo Tổ came out, bowed respectfully, and said: "To dispel ignorance and awaken wisdom is the most difficult task. For now, I can only do this much—first teach the methods of opening the Embryonic Divine Treasury and the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury, hoping that among them, someone can become a practitioner of divine powers. As long as one child can master divine powers, the villagers will see that humans can also wield great power, and from then on, they need not fear the gods."
"This is precisely breaking the gods within one's heart." Tần Mục felt a resonance. This step was the most difficult.
For a million years, the righteous and ambitious of humanity had tried to break the gods within their hearts, yet after a million years, even the people of Diên Khang today were sometimes still troubled by the gods within their hearts.
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn comforted him: "Old Daoist, don't lose heart. One day, people will no longer fear the gods, no longer revere them."
Đạo Tổ hesitated for a moment, then spoke his mind: "Nguyệt Thiên Tôn, I think there shouldn't be a realm called 'god.' The realms are defined by us—why must the Heavenly Palace realm be called the Divine Realm? Calling it the Divine Realm gives future generations the false impression that once their primordial spirit reaches the Southern Heavenly Gate, they become gods."
"This..." Nguyệt Thiên Tôn had never thought about this question either. She turned to look at Tần Mục.
Tần Mục said: "Old Daoist, you may not know this, but the reason it's called the Divine Realm is precisely to break the gods within one's heart. 'God' is the term for the ancient gods. The ancient gods were born from the great Dao of heaven and earth, wielding powers that mortals find inconceivable, immortal and eternal, coexisting with heaven and earth. When mortals cultivate and train, they too can wield inconceivable powers, become immortal and eternal, and coexist with heaven and earth. In this way, we can break people's fear of the ancient gods."
"I see." Đạo Tổ suddenly understood.
Tần Mục continued: "Ngự Thiên Tôn back then actually didn't want to call it the Divine Realm. The seven realms of the Heavenly Palace are just realms, no different from the seven realms of the Divine Treasury. In his eyes and mine, the Heavenly Palace is actually a great divine treasury—it should belong to the eighth realm of the Divine Treasury. Those who cultivate to become gods are, in truth, just practitioners of divine powers. However, to give people the confidence to break the gods within their hearts, we retained the name 'Divine Realm.'"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn said in surprise: "Vân đạo hữu, you've never mentioned this before!"
Tần Mục hesitated, then said: "But I do have a concern. I worry that in the future, practitioners who cultivate the Heavenly Palace might become beings like the ancient gods. That's why I've always hesitated about calling the Heavenly Palace realm the Divine Realm."
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn fell into deep thought.
Đạo Tổ said gruffly: "These matters that require using your brains—you all figure them out yourselves. I'm going to the next tribe to spread the teachings." With that, he left on his own.
Tần Mục also stood there in a daze.
Establishing the realm of 'god' was actually decided by Ngự Thiên Tôn, Hạo Thiên Tôn, and himself together. But the essence of the seven Heavenly Palace realms is a massive Heavenly Palace divine treasury. So-called deities are merely immortal practitioners of divine powers, not traditional ancient gods.
The reason they unanimously called it 'god' was precisely to break the worship of ancient gods.
Yet as Tần Mục looked at the demigod statue in this tribe, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation. The people of the Long Hán era hadn't escaped their worship of ancient gods, and now they were worshipping demigods who wielded power greater than that of humans.
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn entered the thatched hut to teach. Just then, the people of the tribe began fleeing in all directions, crying out: "Linh Sơn Đại Vương is coming!"
"Hurry and offer sacrifices!"
The tribespeople hurriedly drove cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs to a wooden altar built in the center of the tribe. Those livestock stood trembling on the altar.
Meanwhile, the men, women, old, and young of the tribe knelt beneath the demigod statue, kowtowing repeatedly and murmuring prayers.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. A demigod descended from the heavens riding wind and thunder, two massive bird claws landing before the altar. He folded his wings, and behind him, a heavenly palace drifted, covering half the tribe.
This Linh Sơn Đại Vương looked at the altar, dissatisfied with the livestock on it, and spoke in a sharp, piercing voice: "Today the King doesn't eat livestock. Let's change things up—bring some young boys and girls for me to feast on!"
The tribe's old chieftain said in a trembling voice: "Great King, these livestock are offerings for you. If they're not enough, we can gather a bit more..."
Boom!
Thunder and lightning crackled around Linh Sơn Đại Vương, shaking the earth: "Silence! Cattle and sheep are livestock—are you not livestock as well? You are merely intelligent livestock that I keep. You worship me, and I grant you favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and protection from tigers and snakes when you hunt and gather herbs in the mountains. For livestock like you, have I not done enough? Yet you dare to make a fuss when I eat a few of your children!"
Tần Mục frowned. He pointed a finger, and a beam of sword light shot out. The Linh Sơn Đại Vương sensed it and immediately turned to look, laughing: "You livestock have brought in a human deity..."
Before he could finish, his head fell to the ground, his primordial spirit slain along with him by that single sword strike.
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn rushed out of the thatched hut and, seeing this, couldn't help but furrow her brows.
The tribespeople were also stunned. Suddenly, an old man wailed in grief, pointing at Tần Mục and cursing furiously: "You've doomed us all!"
Another old woman stood up and spat a thick glob of phlegm at Tần Mục, saying angrily: "Linh Sơn Đại Vương is a deity under the Divine Emperor! You killed him—the Divine Emperor will exterminate all nine generations of our family!"
"Don't you leave! We'll take you to the Divine Emperor to pay with your life!"
The people surged forward to grab Tần Mục, shouting harshly: "We can't let him go! Let him pay with his life—it's none of our business!"
"Seize him!"
Long Kỳ Lân stood in front of Tần Mục and suddenly let out a thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth, causing the surrounding houses to collapse and crumble.
Long Kỳ Lân shook his body and transformed into a colossal beast, blocking everyone's path. His size was even larger than that of the Linh Sơn Đại Vương from before.
The people were knocked staggering by the shockwave. Seeing this massive creature, they fell to the ground in terror, and some fainted outright.
Tần Mục frowned: "Phi, you don't need to do this."
Long Kỳ Lân retracted his true form, his body shrinking smaller and smaller.
Tần Mục looked at the devastated tribe around him and raised his hand, sweeping it across the surroundings. It was as if time itself was flowing backward—the collapsed houses rapidly restored themselves, becoming exactly as they had been before.
Tần Mục lowered his hand, only to see Nguyệt Thiên Tôn staring at him in astonishment, as if seeing him for the first time.
Tần Mục walked to the front of Long Kỳ Lân and looked at the people prostrate on the ground, his gaze complex.
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn stepped forward and said: "Linh Sơn Đại Vương is a subordinate of Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng. Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng rules over most of the Nguyên Giới, and his power is unfathomable. This time, you were indeed a bit reckless..."
"Then let's go see Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng."
Tần Mục strode forward, saying: "The demigods under Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng rule over many humans. Now that the human heavenly court has been established, humans should not be treated as livestock by his demigods."
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn hesitated: "Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng is the first demigod in the world, with unfathomable power. He's a terrifying existence invited by the Heavenly Emperor to attend the heavenly court gathering. We won't be his match..."
Tần Mục said calmly: "I am no longer Vân Thiên Tôn now. I am Mục Thiên Tôn, who established the Dao with divine powers. What Vân Thiên Tôn and you all could not accomplish, I can."
He was about to leave when an old woman crawled forward and grabbed his leg, crying: "You can't leave! You have to stay and pay with your life for Linh Sơn Đại Vương!"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn stepped forward and helped the old woman up, saying: "We're going to see Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng. Don't worry..."
"He can leave, but you can't!"
The old woman grabbed her hand and shouted harshly: "Leave this woman here to pay with her life for Linh Sơn Đại Vương!"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn tried to pull free but was afraid of hurting her. However, the other villagers surrounded them, grabbing hold of her with all their might, crying: "You can't leave!"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn felt anxious. She slightly activated her primordial energy, forcing the people back. The old woman, furious and frantic, rolled her eyes and fainted.
"The education of a people is nothing more than advancing their virtue, opening their wisdom, and increasing their strength."
Tần Mục walked forward, his voice carrying barely suppressed anger as he said in a low voice: "If virtue does not advance, wisdom does not open, and strength does not increase, then even after a million years, they will remain as ignorant as they are now!"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn hurried to catch up with him, saying: "If one generation can't change it, then two generations. If two can't, then three, then four! One day, it will change!"
Tần Mục said with a half-smile: "If a million years can't change it, would you still have the same fighting spirit as you do now?"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn was momentarily stunned and said nothing.
Tần Mục said decisively: "Nguyệt, where does Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng live? I'm going to find him!"
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn said in surprise: "Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng naturally lives in the Lang Hiên Thần Cung. It's extremely luxurious. When we were planning to establish the human heavenly court, you even went there to pay him a visit."
"I forgot." Tần Mục said flatly.
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn grew increasingly puzzled but led the way. Behind them followed Long Kỳ Lân and Yên Nhi, who was still carrying the lantern. La Tiêu also followed Tần Mục, thinking anxiously to herself: "This man has a hot temper. No wonder he has so many enemies. He's going to fight this Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng now—do I have to go too? Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng... I think there's someone by that name in my ancestral memories, someone who participated in the Blood Rust Campaign..."
The Lang Hiên Thần Cung was incomparably larger than the human Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình—magnificent, resplendent, and grand. From a distance, it looked like the true heavenly court, while the human Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình was merely a shabby little town.
This heavenly palace was different from others. It was also built in the sky, but many massive demigods carried entire palaces on their backs, standing on the earth. Tens of thousands of demigods bore the heavenly palace aloft, their sinewy bodies fierce and imposing.
The spectacle was so magnificent it made one's jaw drop, marveling at the tremendous power of the demigods!
"When we reach the Lang Hiên Thần Cung, you must restrain your temper and speak properly with Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng."
Nguyệt Thiên Tôn instructed: "He thinks highly of you. Last time you went to see him, he received you personally, gifted you fine wine, and called you a fellow Daoist. Clearly, he holds you in high regard..."
"Lang Hiên—"
Tần Mục suddenly spoke, his voice rolling like thunder. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, lightning and thunder crackling. Ten thousand li of dark clouds howled and churned, and in an instant, they converged above the Lang Hiên Thần Cung.
The clouds were dozens of li thick, heavy and oppressive. Countless bolts of lightning raced through them. Suddenly, all the clouds condensed into a single enormous face. The face opened its massive mouth and roared at the thousands of palaces within the Lang Hiên Thần Cung: "Get out here!"
A violent gale howled and swept through the Lang Hiên Thần Cung, tearing the roofs off one grand hall after another. A tributary of the Heavenly River had been diverted here to form an Jade Pond, and the waters of that pond were nearly drained dry, splashing in all directions!
Within the divine palace, countless deities trembled in fear, looking up at that terrifying sight.
Suddenly, from the Ling Tiêu Bảo Điện within the palace, a brilliant sun rose, its radiance evaporating the ten-thousand-li dark clouds in the sky. Layer upon layer of divine light bloomed, illuminating ten thousand li.
Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng's voice came, furious: "So it's Mục Thiên Tôn! You madman, what are you doing shouting at my doorstep? I am the ancestor of all demigods! Do you think I don't dare to take you on?"
Behind him, a heavenly palace also surged forth. His primordial spirit stood atop the Jade Terrace of that palace, dominating one side.
In terms of realm, he was a heavenly deity of the Jade Pond realm. However, his demigod bloodline was extremely exalted. Once mature, his combat power was not inferior to that of the ancient gods—he barely needed to cultivate at all.
Lang Hiên Thần Hoàng was, moreover, the son of the ancient god Heavenly Emperor and Cung Quân Thần Vương, one of the three kings of the Creator race. His bloodline was extremely exalted, and he had already reached maturity.
The seven realms of the Divine Treasury and Heavenly Palace established by the seven ancient Heavenly Venerables and Tần Mục had never been a measure of combat power.
As the ancestor of all demigods, his combat power was absolutely terrifying!
Tần Mục stepped forward, walking toward the Lang Hiên Thần Cung. His primordial energy erupted, like a razor-sharp sword pointing directly at the Southern Heavenly Gate of the Lang Hiên Thần Cung.
That Southern Heavenly Gate suddenly split down the middle, cleaved in two by his essence, energy, and spirit!
A deep sword scar appeared on the heavenly street, crackling and popping as it rapidly lengthened, cutting forward like lightning. Along its path, grand hall after grand hall split open out of nowhere. The main gate of the Ngọc Kinh Thành was also suddenly sliced open, the gate tower splitting cleanly into two halves!
This sword energy cut straight through the Thừa Thiên Môn and arrived before the Ling Tiêu Điện!
— A chapter of over four thousand words! It's the end of the month—if you have monthly tickets, how about throwing a couple my way~