Chapter 1320: Returning the Item to Its Rightful Owner (Fourth Update)
Tần Mục seemed oblivious, yet his steps were extremely fast, quickly covering a thousand miles. Whenever Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân's roots extended to a distance of a hundred miles, new roots would immediately sprout from behind them, while the old roots rapidly retracted.
Traveling this way for hundreds of thousands of miles, Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân still could not undo the Four Ore Seal on the precious seal!
Thái Đế's gaze flickered: "Địa Mẫu is still not good enough. She simply cannot break through Tần Mục's seal!"
Suddenly, dozens of thick roots gently curled around the precious seal, forcibly tearing it off Tần Mục's back.
The seal fell to the ground, then vanished, pulled into the earth and disappearing from sight.
Tần Mục stretched lazily, didn't look back, and continued forward.
After a moment, the seal surfaced from the ground tens of thousands of miles away. Along with it emerged countless thick roots. The surrounding mountains quickly returned to lush green, countless trees grew wildly, flowers and grass flourished with vibrant greenery, and blossoms bloomed brilliantly.
Roots danced through the air, forming an altar. Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân rose slowly from the altar, bowed to the seal at the center, and said: "Bệ hạ Thái Đế, Nguyên Quân greets you."
Thái Đế nodded slightly and said calmly: "Nguyên Quân need not stand on ceremony. Rise."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân straightened up and laughed: "That boy's seal is extremely strange. I cannot break it without alerting him, so I had no choice but to snatch Your Majesty away. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
In the ancient era, Thái Đế ruled the universe. Though he was brutally cruel, all ancient gods were his subjects, so Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân followed the old customs and still called him Bệ hạ.
Of course, during the Blood Rust Campaign of the ancient era, Địa Mẫu had also followed Thiên Đế Thái Sơ in taking action, playing a significant role in the campaign to eliminate the Creator race and remove Thái Đế.
Thái Đế said in a deep voice: "Nguyên Quân, why didn't you directly eliminate Mục Thiên Tôn? Instead, you sneakily stole the seal? With your strength, if you had struck to kill directly, he surely would not have been your match."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân examined the seal, suddenly shuddered, and a look of terror appeared in her eyes: "Mục Thiên Tôn has someone behind him. On the Hỗn Độn Sea, that existence behind him forced back the Four Great Thiên Tôn with a single strike! That existence is terrifying, far above the Ten Thiên Tôn! I worried that existence might not have gone far, so I didn't dare make a move against him."
"Forced back the Four Thiên Tôn with a single strike?"
Thái Đế's expression turned grave. He murmured: "The Four Thiên Tôn were severely wounded by me, so their strength is not at their peak. Forcing them back—I could do that at my peak, and Thiên Đế Thái Sơ could also do it at his peak... When did such an existence appear in the Ancestral Court? Could it be Hồng Thiên Tôn..."
He had always been wary of Hồng Thiên Tôn.
Hồng Thiên Tôn's identity was Đại Hồng. Back then, Thái Đế had borrowed the body of Đại Hồng, using the name Đại Hồng to walk the world. Because Vân, Lăng, and Nguyệt had ambushed his true body in Thái Hư, he flew into a rage and prepared to destroy Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình, but encountered Tần Mục's blockade at Tiêu Hán Thiên Đình.
The two fought a battle on the Thiên Hà. Tần Mục was severely wounded, but Đại Hồng was also gravely injured by Tần Mục. Both retreated separately. On his way of escape, Đại Hồng encountered a terrifying force that directly wiped out Thái Đế's divine consciousness within Đại Hồng's body!
Later, Thái Đế transformed into Minh Phương Vũ, but he never exposed Đại Hồng's identity.
Because by keeping this terrifying opponent alive, he could make the other Thiên Tôn suspect that Hồng Thiên Tôn was Thái Đế, keeping suspicion away from himself.
In fact, Hồng Thiên Tôn had indeed taken the fall for him many times. Even Cung Thiên Tôn had beaten Hồng Thiên Tôn who knows how many times!
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân had only been using her roots to try to break Tần Mục's Four Ore Seal before. Now she was going all out!
Her strength was formidable. In such a short time, she had recovered to a level comparable to a minor Thiên Đình expert!
Yet what puzzled her was that no matter how powerful her divine abilities, no matter how she tried to break the Four Ore Seal on the seal, it remained unbreakable!
Not only could she not break it, but none of her attacks could even affect the seal!
Even when she used all her power to attack the seal, not a trace of power landed on it!
All her divine abilities passed straight through the seal without touching it in the slightest!
After a long while, cold sweat poured down Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân's forehead, and she panted heavily.
Thái Đế watched her expressionlessly and coldly. Suddenly he said: "Nguyên Quân, enough! I understand your intentions now. You wish to pledge yourself to me—that is acceptable. I have another identity among the Ten Thiên Tôn and can shelter you, protect your life."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân's face flushed slightly. She bowed and said: "Thank you for Bệ hạ's mercy. This seal..."
"Don't say you can't break it—even if I personally acted, I couldn't break it either."
Thái Đế said indifferently: "Among the Ten Thiên Tôn, not a single one could break his seal! His seal has surpassed the knowledge of this era. It belongs to the unknown. Even I can only understand half of the knowledge within one of the seals. Thiên Đế might understand the other half, but he would never join forces with me to break it."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân was startled and blurted out: "Mục Thiên Tôn is actually that powerful?"
"It's just that his cultivation is somewhat weak."
Thái Đế said lightly: "If his cultivation were raised to the level of Hạo Thiên Tôn, heh, even contending with me and Thái Sơ at our peaks for the world, he would not fall behind. The Five Great Elder Alliance Masters of the Thiên Minh—Vân, Lăng, Nguyệt, Tần, Mục—Vân is dead, Lăng has vanished, Nguyệt is wounded, Tần is in hiding, leaving only Mục Thiên Tôn. His divine abilities truly deserve the title of Alliance Master. No wonder at the last Thiên Minh council, everyone wanted him to attend..."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân's heart shook violently. Thinking of Tần Mục's past, she found all of this somewhat unbelievable.
Back then, Tần Mục had only been led by Công Tôn Yến into Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân's underground palace, a country bumpkin looking around her palace with wide eyes, lacking any vision or experience.
But now, even Thái Đế said Tần Mục should not be underestimated, treating Tần Mục as a true opponent!
One had to know that apart from Thái Sơ, Thái Đế had never treated anyone else as an opponent. Even Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân didn't have that qualification!
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân hesitated for a moment, then probed: "Bệ hạ, then what about now..."
Thái Đế said expressionlessly: "Now, send me back."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân was startled.
Thái Đế snorted coldly: "Don't send me back to where I was. Take me directly to the Đại Hắc Mộc and wait for him there."
Địa Mẫu Nguyên Quân showed an expression of disbelief and blurted out: "Bệ hạ, you finally managed to..."
"Địa Mẫu, you have been blinded by the baleful aura, your wisdom clouded. This is very dangerous."
Thái Đế sneered: "You should not be staying in the Ancestral Court right now. You should immediately leave and seek Đại Phạm Thiên, borrowing his Buddhist teachings to refine the baleful aura. Otherwise, you will surely die. The world bustles with activity, all for profit. Neither I nor Mục Thiên Tôn are people of our word, but there is one principle we share: when interests align, we cooperate; when interests diverge, we part ways. He wants to use my territory, so he will not harm me. Alright, send me to the Đại Hắc Mộc to wait for him!"
Tần Mục strolled leisurely along the way, admiring the splendid scenery of the Ancestral Court. The Ancestral Court now was far better than when he had first come here. Everywhere were sacred lands, birds singing and flowers fragrant, giant beasts roaming—a feast for the eyes.
Before he knew it, he finally arrived before the Ten Thousand Black Mountains. A great seal stood ahead of him.
Tần Mục walked up and laughed: "Big brother, sorry to keep you waiting."
Thái Đế snorted coldly: "Call me Thái Đế."
Tần Mục smiled slightly, carried him on his back, and walked into the Ten Thousand Black Mountains.
Ahead, a big-headed youth hurried over, laughing from afar: "Mục Thiên Tôn, why did you take so long? There's something you probably don't know yet—that bastard Thái Đế fought with the Four Thiên Tôn and got beaten horribly... dismembered! Arms and legs fell from the sky! Justice served... What are you carrying on your back?"