Chapter 1061: A Situation Unprecedented in History
"Since I left Diên Khang and came to the Heavenly Court, five years have passed without any achievements in reform."
Tần Mục sighed and said, "And when I return to the past, this trend becomes even more apparent."
Since leaving Nguyên Giới and arriving at the Heavenly Court, his innovations in Dao techniques and divine powers had become few and far between. Every time he returned to Diên Khang, he could always learn something new.
This was the effect of the soil.
The Diên Khang reforms were still ongoing, and he had been separated from the soil of reform. Every return was merely to replenish his nutrients.
If this was the case even in the Heavenly Court, then staying in the past would be even worse. This era was still ignorant and unenlightened to him, with Dao techniques and divine powers still in their formative stages. No matter which divine power from later generations was brought to this era, it would be astonishing and earth-shattering. What could Tần Mục rely on to grow?
His goal was to surpass the ancients, not to become one of them.
The Heavenly Court was getting closer and closer.
Meanwhile, the Twenty-Seven Lunar Mansions ancient gods were also carrying the Execution Platform and the Soul-Severing Mystic Blade toward the celestial realm where A Sửu was located. Khuê Mộc Lang said, "This time, it's inconvenient for us to show ourselves directly. You take this divine blade and slay him. We'll hide in the shadows to guard against unforeseen circumstances. If you do well, Crown Prince Kỳ will reward you handsomely!"
In that celestial realm, A Sửu had already reached the end of his rope. Many demigods stood on high cliffs, holding A Sửu's children, and shouted down to A Sửu below: "Kneel!"
At this moment, in the Imperial Garden of the Heavenly Court, Vân Tôn giả followed closely behind Ancient God Thiên Đế. On this visit to the Heavenly Court, he had formally impeached Hạo Tôn giả during court. After the court session ended, the Emperor kept him behind to stroll through the Imperial Garden and speak some heartfelt words.
"Vân, you manage the human race. You should know that being an emperor is not easy. I, however, manage the entire universe, all the heavens and myriad worlds."
The Emperor had a headache and rubbed his temples, sighing: "The human race is just one of countless races in the myriad worlds, yet it's already in such a mess. Just now, you were arguing fiercely with Hạo in the court. I'm truly in a difficult position. I must look after the feelings of my old brothers, maintain the loyalty of the demigods, and also share your worries and solve your problems as post-heavenly beings. This seat of the Heavenly Emperor is not easy to occupy."
Vân Tôn giả smiled and said, "Your subject knows Your Majesty's difficulties. After all, Hạo Tôn giả is..."
The Emperor glanced at him, and Vân Tôn giả understood the meaning and fell silent.
Suddenly, Đại Nhật Tinh Quân hurried over, bowed, and said: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
The Emperor frowned and scolded: "What terrible thing? The world today is thriving, peace reigns everywhere, and all living beings live in contentment. Where is there anything terrible?"
Đại Nhật Tinh Quân hastily said: "The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions ancient gods have come! They borrowed the Execution Platform from the Heavenly Court, and I fear they will cause a great disaster! Your subject, by Your Majesty's command, oversees the celestial realms. I have now discovered unusual movements among the demigods, seemingly connected to some scheme with the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Within this, within this..."
He gritted his teeth and boldly said: "Within this, I fear Crown Prince Kỳ is also implicated!"
The Emperor's face darkened, and Đại Nhật Tinh Quân couldn't help but shiver, sensing the inexplicable killing intent emanating from the Emperor.
"Your Majesty trusts your subject and entrusts me with heavy responsibility. I must speak, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Đại Nhật Tinh Quân continued: "Thổ Bá has already reincarnated. I suspect Crown Prince Kỳ has colluded with the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and has united with a group of ancient demigods, planning to harm Thổ Bá and seize power over the Netherworld! Crown Prince Kỳ stops at nothing. If he succeeds, his ambition will inevitably burst forth, and one day he will contend for the throne, threatening Your Majesty!"
"Audacious!"
The Emperor roared, saying coldly: "Đại Nhật Tinh Quân, you are sowing discord between father and son. You go too far!"
Đại Nhật Tinh Quân trembled with fear but protested: "Your subject is thinking of Your Majesty's empire! Thổ Bá is Your Majesty's meritorious minister. Half of Your Majesty's empire's achievements belong to Thổ Bá! Crown Prince Kỳ attempting to eliminate Thổ Bá is to clip Your Majesty's wings!"
"Get out!"
The Emperor raised his hand and pointed, saying coldly: "Get out of my sight! Vân, you may leave as well!"
Vân Tôn giả bowed and withdrew together with Đại Nhật Tinh Quân.
Đại Nhật Tinh Quân was still indignant and said: "Your Majesty does not believe me. In the future, I fear a great disaster will arise from within the harem!"
Vân Tôn giả glanced at him and smiled: "How could Your Majesty not believe you? Tinh Quân, the reason Your Majesty is angry is because you know too much."
Đại Nhật Tinh Quân did not understand and humbly asked: "I beg Vân Tôn giả to enlighten me."
Vân Tôn giả said: "Tinh Quân is responsible for overseeing the celestial realms and reporting all major matters to the Heavenly Emperor. But some things, you only need to report them. There's no need to voice your speculations. If you only observe without making wild guesses, you may live. If you make wild guesses, I fear you will die inexplicably."
He walked forward and said: "In this Heavenly Court, the more you know, the more dangerous it is. You sit in the most dangerous position. Take care of yourself."
Đại Nhật Tinh Quân stood stunned, lifted his bird leg, scratched his chin, and laughed: "This Vân Tôn giả is also a muddled fellow, speaking without rhyme or reason. I am utterly loyal to Your Majesty. Who would dare to scheme against me?"
The Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot finally arrived at the Southern Heavenly Gate. At that very moment, an earth-shattering fluctuation came from afar, and in an instant, darkness enveloped the sky of Nguyên Giới.
Tần Mục's heart trembled. He hurriedly turned to look, and saw a celestial realm split open. A giant with the head of an ox, the body of a man, and the face of a tiger roared to the heavens, filled with boundless fury.
On this day, the Great Dao of the Netherworld invaded Nguyên Giới, transforming into chains of locks that bound the ox-headed giant, along with the destroyed celestial realm itself.
At the same time, the Great Blue Bird flew up, carrying that palace toward the Netherworld.
The man bound to the pillar laughed sinisterly: "That's right, just like this. Let's go to the Netherworld and try to seize Thổ Bá's physical body! As long as we control Thổ Bá, we can control the lives of all post-heavenly beings and all demigods!"
"Shut up! Say one more word, and I'll tear you apart!"
At the same moment, the Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot charged toward the Southern Heavenly Gate. The Heavenly Court army guarding the gate had no time to block it, because even more gods and demons were surging toward the Heavenly Court. Chaos reigned everywhere, with cries and wailing filling the air.
The Heavenly Court army stared blankly at Nguyên Giới.
Their gazes slowly rose from below, watching in a daze as Thổ Bá's body, stepping upon a massive celestial realm, rose higher and higher, his form growing ever larger.
A giant cauldron spun beneath his feet—a cauldron forged from the Execution Platform of the Heavenly Court and countless lives.
The cauldron had a name: Sát Sinh—Killing Life.
Countless demigods fled in madness, crying and wailing, rushing toward the Heavenly Court.
The Twenty-Seven Lunar Mansions ancient gods finally could no longer hold back. They appeared, facing Thổ Bá, and called out: "Thổ Bá, they were just joking with you. Why take such grave offense?"
Khuê Mộc Lang smiled at the fleeing demigods: "Why don't you come and apologize?"
On this day, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions ancient gods who guarded the Four Extremes Heavens fell, becoming faces within the Sát Sinh Cauldron.
A Sửu, carrying boundless fury, arrived at the Southern Heavenly Gate of the Heavenly Court.
The Heavenly Court's army of gods and demons received orders to charge out, rushing toward this ever-taller but sorrowful demon god. At the same time, Tần Mục's Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot took advantage of the chaos to rush into the Heavenly Court, heading straight for the celestial palace of Southern Emperor Chu Tước.
He looked back and saw that the countless gods and demons of the Heavenly Court army had not even reached A Sửu's side before they all turned into corpses.
This day was like the doomsday of the gods. Even ancient gods of unimaginable power, demigods with boundless strength—the mere touch of A Sửu's power caused their souls to scatter and vanish!
The Heavenly Court's strength suffered a nearly fatal blow.
That ugly man wrapped in chains of the Great Dao dragged a celestial realm that had turned into darkness as he charged into the Heavenly Court. The celestial realm beneath his feet was interwoven with magma and demonic energy, floating molten rock everywhere.
Tần Mục caught a glimpse of A Sửu's enormous fist smashing toward the Southern Heavenly Gate. Where the fist passed, the gate collapsed.
Ahead, countless gods and demons of the Heavenly Court army surged toward the Southern Heavenly Gate, making the Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot's advance difficult. But in the next moment, the spatial storm stirred up by Thổ Bá's punch hurled everyone, along with countless palaces, into the air!
Countless people were torn apart in the spatial storm, their primordial spirits disintegrating, their souls falling into that number one murderous weapon under heaven!
The power of the Sát Sinh Cauldron grew ever more terrifying!
The Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot was also flung into the air, flying over the celestial palace of Chu Tước and heading toward Ngọc Kinh Thành.
Yên Nhi cried out sharply and activated her divine power to protect the treasure chariot. The six heavenly dragons also unleashed their magical power, struggling desperately to resist. The lanterns hanging on the chariot seemed on the verge of going out at any moment.
Tần Mục hurriedly reached out to protect the lantern.
Endless darkness flooded into the Heavenly Court, like a great tide of darkness that drowned everything in its path. Even the lanterns forged from the sun and the pearls forged from the moon in the Heavenly Court were extinguished upon encountering this dark demonic energy.
The demonic energy and demonic nature were too ferocious. Everyone engulfed by the darkness was instantly invaded by the demonic energy, assimilated by the demonic nature, and then devoured by the Sát Sinh Cauldron, becoming faces within the cauldron.
Tần Mục's ears also rang with a roar filled with boundless fury—the roar of A Sửu.
The Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot fell, crashing into Ngọc Kinh Thành, plowing forward for over a hundred li before coming to a stop.
Tần Mục was about to turn the chariot around and return to Chu Tước's celestial palace when he saw that the darkness had already engulfed it, chilling his heart. If he charged into the darkness now, the lantern refined by Ngụy Tùy Phong would surely be unable to resist A Sửu's demonic nature and would definitely go out.
By then, he would never be able to see Southern Emperor Chu Tước!
The darkness, like an enraged ocean, swept forward, swallowing everything. It had already reached the outskirts of Ngọc Kinh Thành and collided with it with a thunderous impact.
This imperial city of the Heavenly Court burst forth with dazzling light, so brilliant that it actually blocked the demonic energy of the Netherworld.
Tần Mục breathed a sigh of relief and fled together with the gods of Ngọc Kinh Thành toward the Emperor's harem.
Because the Sát Sinh Cauldron was spinning madly, hurled fiercely from A Sửu's hand, smashing through the city gates of Ngọc Kinh Thành!
From within the cauldron, countless faces flew out, letting out miserable screams, swirling through the air and charging toward the people fleeing in all directions.
Tần Mục drove the Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot recklessly through the chaos. Some princes tried to jump onto the chariot, asking him to carry them to safety. Tần Mục raised his sword and cut down several princes in quick succession.
Behind him, another terrifying spatial storm came—another strike from A Sửu!
The Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot was once again swept up by the storm, and countless palaces behind them shattered in the chaos.
When the chariot finally landed, suddenly everything was calm. Tần Mục looked back and saw the Linh Tiêu Bảo Điện right behind them. There, towering ancient gods stood, blocking the storm stirred up by A Sửu.
Tần Mục's pupils contracted sharply. He saw the figure of Ancient God Thiên Đế.
Ancient God Thiên Đế radiated brilliant light all around him, so dazzling that A Sửu's Netherworld demonic energy could not invade this place.
"Excellent. Soon, A Sửu will be driven back into the Netherworld, and I can take advantage of the chaos to sneak into Chu Tước's celestial palace to see Southern Emperor."
Tần Mục breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself: "However, this treasure chariot can no longer be used. It's too conspicuous. Mục Thanh's face won't be convenient for moving around either. I need to change my appearance."
He jumped off the chariot, took down the lantern, and said in a low voice: "Yên Nhi, Long Béo, this is the Heavenly Court. With too many people, it's inconvenient to move around. I'll put you into my brow!"
Without waiting for a response, the eye in his forehead opened, shooting out a curtain of light that swept over the Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot.
Long Kỳ Lân, Yên Nhi, and the six heavenly dragons vanished along with the chariot, all absorbed into the Tần Tự Continent.
Tần Mục pondered for a moment, then activated the Creation Mystic Art. His appearance gradually changed, transforming into the likeness of La Tiêu. He thought to himself: "Third Brother, I'm borrowing your face. You won't blame me, will you?"
At that moment, he suddenly saw Hạo Tôn giả.
Tần Mục was startled. He saw Hạo Tôn giả sneaking furtively toward the harem.
"This is his own home. Why is he sneaking around like this?"
Tần Mục was puzzled. Then, he saw Vân Tôn giả again.
Tần Mục's heart leaped with joy. Vân Tôn giả was also sneaking furtively, following Hạo Tôn giả. The two of them, one after the other, slipped into the Emperor's harem.
Tần Mục's heart stirred. He tiptoed after the two, equally furtive.
Up ahead, Hạo Tôn giả encountered the palace maids guarding the harem. Suddenly, his body burst into motion, smashing the two maids to pieces. He then took out a white banner, waved it in the wind, and collected the maids' souls into the banner.
"Âm Thiên Tử's treasure!" Tần Mục saw this from afar and thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Vân Tôn giả, who was following Hạo Tôn giả, took out a sheet of yellow talisman paper and pasted it on himself. His appearance immediately changed drastically.
Tần Mục blinked his eyes: "U Tôn giả's treasure! These two both anticipated A Sửu's rampage through the Heavenly Court and came prepared. It seems they've set their sights on some treasure in the Heavenly Court! What exactly are they trying to steal?"