Chapter 1384: The Way of Heaven Is Unpredictable (Third Update)
"Punish the Heavenly Duke?"
Qin Mu's heart jolted. The Heavenly Duke was going to die?
According to the Heavenly Duke's own estimation, fully analyzing his Heavenly Dao would take at least a hundred years, yet only a little over twenty years had passed!
Why did the Ten Heavenly Venerables want to eliminate the Heavenly Duke so quickly?
"There must be the Heavenly Duke himself pushing this forward!"
Qin Mu's eyes flickered. The Heavenly Duke and Earth Lord had recently gone to the Ten Thousand Black Mountains to visit Taiyi, and now the Ten Heavenly Venerables were bringing the matter of punishing the Heavenly Duke to the Heavenly Alliance meeting. There had to be Hong Heavenly Venerable silently driving this.
Because Hong Heavenly Venerable was the Heavenly Duke. The Heavenly Duke had asked Taiyi whether he could free himself from the shackles of the Heavenly Dao. Taiyi had told the Heavenly Duke that he would succeed.
That statement must have given the Heavenly Duke confidence, prompting him to voluntarily advance his own death!
As for the other Heavenly Venerables, they had forced the forces of Wuyou Village and the Creator into the Other Shore Void. The two sides were now facing off at the Void Bridge. The Void Bridge was an easily defended but difficult to attack stronghold. The Heavenly Court couldn't break into the Other Shore Void for the time being, but equally, the Other Shore Void couldn't retake the Void Bridge. Both sides were locked in a stalemate.
The forces of Wuyou Village and the Creator could no longer threaten the Heavenly Court, so the Ten Heavenly Venerables could free up their hands to deal with the Heavenly Duke wholeheartedly!
"As for making me the scapegoat, that's giving me a chance to board the Ten Heavenly Venerables' pirate ship."
A smile hung on Qin Mu's face as he thought to himself: "The Ten Heavenly Venerables need someone to take the blame for eliminating the Heavenly Duke, eliminating the Earth Lord, eliminating the Three Ancient God Emperors, wiping out all the ancient gods, and even eliminating the nominal Ancient God Heavenly Emperor. This scapegoat must have sufficient weight. They won't take the blame themselves, and I, as the founder of the Heavenly Alliance, with my low cultivation and weak influence, am just right for the role."
Only if Qin Mu announced the punishment of the Heavenly Duke at this Heavenly Alliance meeting could he board their pirate ship and become one of those who shared the benefits of the Ancestral Court and what lay behind it.
Moreover, these orders would be issued by Qin Mu, which meant the Ten Heavenly Venerables would have leverage over him.
If Qin Mu ever became disobedient in the future, any one of the charges of killing the Heavenly Duke or the Earth Lord would be enough to destroy Qin Mu and all his forces without a burial place.
In this way, Qin Mu would be considered to have joined the Ten Heavenly Venerables' camp and become one of them.
The Ten Heavenly Venerables had failed to subdue Emperor Kaihuang Qin Heavenly Venerable and force him to join them, but they could use threats and bribes to force Shepherd Heavenly Venerable to join them.
If you want to share the benefits, fine, but the prerequisite is that you must become someone like them!
"Then..."
Qin Mu smiled and said, "Divine Emperor, what about the other major matters at this Heavenly Alliance meeting?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor saw that he remained calm and composed, and couldn't help but admire his depth of character. He said, "The third matter is that Crown Prince Mingya has betrayed the Heavenly Court, defected to Xie Wuqi, and is causing havoc in Youdu. Therefore, the crown prince must be deposed and a new one established."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow and said, "Establish a new crown prince? So, is this new crown prince Hao Heavenly Venerable?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor sighed with emotion: "Although Hao Heavenly Venerable has never had a formal title, he has worked diligently for the Heavenly Court over the years. He is also the son of His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor. Establishing him as crown prince this time is only natural."
Qin Mu smiled faintly and said, "However, as a fellow illegitimate son, I feel it's unfair for the Divine Emperor."
Langxuan Divine Emperor laughed and said, "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, you know many secrets, but you should also know that many people in history have mysteriously lost their lives because they knew secrets they shouldn't have known."
Qin Mu burst out laughing, then said seriously, "Divine Emperor, rest assured. I and Hao Heavenly Venerable are mortal enemies. Perhaps you and I can join forces and do something together."
Langxuan Divine Emperor smiled faintly, stood up, and said, "I won't disturb the Alliance Leader's rest. I'll take my leave. The Alliance Leader's leg condition makes it inconvenient to see me off, no need to bother." With that, he turned and walked out.
Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then stood up, his expression somewhat grave.
"Although Taiyi said he would succeed, the Heavenly Duke is too hasty. I had hoped he could delay for a hundred years, giving Yankang enough time to grow. But now he wants to break free from the shackles of the Heavenly Dao and shed his ancient god form."
He couldn't help but frown. The Heavenly Duke was somewhat heartless, not even consulting him about such an important matter!
As an ally, he hadn't proactively shared information with Qin Mu. In the end, it was Langxuan Divine Emperor who told him about this.
"The Heavenly Duke is too impatient, too eager. He didn't consider me, nor did he consider Yankang. Langxuan Divine Emperor previously teased me, saying that I had reached old age with only thirty years of life left. Heh heh, it seems that wasn't without purpose!"
If the Ten Heavenly Venerables eliminated the Heavenly Duke, eliminated the Earth Lord, executed the ancient gods, deposed the Heavenly Emperor, and trampled Wuyou Village, then the next target would be Qin Mu.
And doing all these things would take exactly thirty years at most.
When Langxuan Divine Emperor said he only had thirty years of life left, he was indeed referring to something.
"The Heavenly Duke can't be trusted! No, it's Hong Heavenly Venerable who can't be trusted! Over the years, the Heavenly Duke has walked the world in the guise of Hong Heavenly Venerable. He has been assimilated by the Ten Heavenly Venerables and become a power-holder just like them! Even if he breaks free from the shackles of the ancient gods, he will become one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables, coveting power!"
He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. The Heavenly Duke's goal was to break free from the shackles of the ancient gods, but at the same time, he wanted to firmly grasp power and become a ruler like the other Heavenly Venerables—a ruler who wouldn't be replaced even if dynasties changed!
"Now, because the Heavenly Duke's true body still exists, he hasn't completely degenerated into such an existence. He is still a Dao-born ancient god, viewing the conflicts of the mortal world from the height of the Heavenly Dao. His avatar entered the mortal world, entering the conflicts of the human realm. After such a long time, Hong Heavenly Venerable has been polluted by the mortal world. Hong Heavenly Venerable can no longer view the conflicts of the mortal world from the Heavenly Duke's perspective."
An extremely strong sense of vigilance arose in his heart. If the Heavenly Duke's true body died, broke free from the shackles of the Heavenly Dao, and completely became Hong Heavenly Venerable, then Hong Heavenly Venerable would completely become one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables, becoming a lofty power-holder rather than his ally!
At that time, the Heavenly Duke, fully immersed in the mortal world and obsessed with power, might not be Qin Mu's friend, but more likely a terrifying enemy!
"No, I must go see the Heavenly Duke and lay out the pros and cons! The current Heavenly Duke still has the heart of the Heavenly Dao. He should be persuaded by me and understand the stakes! Hong Heavenly Venerable has selfish motives, but the Heavenly Duke doesn't!"
He made an immediate decision and quickly walked out of the Heavenly Venerable's residence: "They are no longer the same person, just like Southern Emperor and Bai Yuqiong, just like Yu Heavenly Venerable and Lan Yutian!"
There was still one day before the Heavenly Alliance meeting. He could completely cross the Spiritual Energy Bridge to Xuandu and meet the Heavenly Duke face to face, making him change his mind!
He had just walked out of the Heavenly Venerable's residence when he saw an old man with white brows and white beard walking toward him, with wide sleeves fluttering and an immortal bearing. This old man had a radiant face and smiled at everyone he saw. It was Hong Heavenly Venerable!
"Shepherd Heavenly Venerable!"
Hong Heavenly Venerable greeted him and smiled: "Congratulations, Shepherd Heavenly Venerable. Back then, the Heavenly Venerable founded the Heavenly Alliance. Yun, Qin, Yue, and Ling each left and never returned for their own reasons. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable also left for a million years. Today you have finally returned, restoring the Heavenly Alliance to its orthodox path. Congratulations!"
Qin Mu returned the greeting and said with emotion: "Brother Dao, you jest. At this Heavenly Alliance meeting, I'm just being pushed out to save face. Who knows, I might even die because of it in the future."
Hong Heavenly Venerable said seriously: "That's not right. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, this way please. The various Heavenly Venerables are already waiting in the Heavenly Alliance Hall."
Qin Mu asked in confusion: "Isn't the Heavenly Alliance meeting tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is for summoning all Heavenly Alliance members to announce today's decisions. What truly decides the fate of the world isn't all the members of the Heavenly Alliance, but actually just our small circle."
Hong Heavenly Venerable smiled and said: "We make the decisions; they carry them out."
Qin Mu had no choice but to follow him toward the Jade Pool. Hong Heavenly Venerable's wide sleeves fluttered, exuding an indescribable ease and detachment, not stained by a single speck of dust.
Qin Mu walked alongside him, and after a moment of silence, said: "The way of Heaven has its constancy. It does not exist for Mu, nor does it perish for Xiao."
Hong Heavenly Venerable turned his head to look at him and smiled: "This is the phrase I used to enlighten Shepherd Heavenly Venerable. Why does Shepherd Heavenly Venerable bring it up again today?"
"I understand the first part of this phrase."
Qin Mu and he both moved extremely fast, soon arriving at the Jade Terrace. Looking out, they saw the Jade Pool like a sea, boundless and vast. Huge lotus flowers floated on the surface like flower-shaped islands. Countless masters of various realms wandered on the sea, visiting friends, in groups of three or five, laughing and chatting, indescribably carefree.
"This phrase means that the Heavenly Dao has its own laws. It won't change because of Shepherd Heavenly Venerable's wisdom, nor will it change because of Xiao Heavenly Venerable's cruelty."
Qin Mu changed the subject and said with a half-smile: "However, when Brother Dao enlightened me, there was also the latter part of this phrase. 'Respond to it with governance and it brings good fortune; respond to it with chaos and it brings calamity.' I don't quite understand this latter part. Today, since I have the rare opportunity to walk with Brother Dao, I would like to ask for the meaning of this phrase."
The two walked on the sea surface. Wherever they passed, the Jade Sea immediately stirred. Hong Heavenly Venerable could be said to be the most well-connected of the Ten Heavenly Venerables. Those masters of the myriad realms came forward one after another to pay their respects, holding themselves with the propriety of disciples.
And Hong Heavenly Venerable actually knew every single person, knew their names, knew their families, and even knew their disciples, making everyone feel flattered and bathed in spring breeze.
This kind of skill was something even Qin Mu had to admire!
Among the Ten Heavenly Venerables, perhaps only Hong Heavenly Venerable could know everyone thoroughly and still make them feel flattered, absolutely certain that they were someone Hong Heavenly Venerable valued!
Hong Heavenly Venerable glanced at Qin Mu and smiled: "Would Shepherd Heavenly Venerable not understand this phrase? Shepherd Heavenly Venerable need not belittle himself. Why don't you share your own interpretation, and I'll see if it's right or wrong."
More masters of the myriad realms came forward with their juniors to pay their respects, and Hong Heavenly Venerable remained perfectly charming, making them feel grateful and overjoyed.
"'Respond to it with governance and it brings good fortune; respond to it with chaos and it brings calamity.' I think this phrase means that if one follows the Heavenly Duke in governing the world, it is great fortune, and the Heavenly Duke will protect you."
Qin Mu narrowed his eyes and said calmly: "If one does not follow the Heavenly Duke and disrupts the Heavenly Dao, it is great calamity, and the Heavenly Duke will kill."
Hong Heavenly Venerable looked at him again and smiled: "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable's interpretation of this phrase is wrong. Following the Heavenly Dao to govern the world brings good fortune; going against the Heavenly Dao brings calamity. Although your explanation and mine seem similar on the surface, you interpret the Heavenly Dao as the Heavenly Duke, which is wrong. The Heavenly Duke is merely a deity born of the Heavenly Dao."
Qin Mu stopped walking, standing on the sea surface, and smiled: "Perhaps the Heavenly Duke interprets it that way. According to Brother Dao's understanding, this phrase means following Heaven brings survival, defying Heaven brings death. According to my understanding, it's a threat, not so detached."
Hong Heavenly Venerable took two steps forward, then also stopped, his back to him, and smiled: "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, why do you suddenly bring up such words? Haven't we been getting along well?"
He turned around, and the smile on his face was like a spring breeze.
But Qin Mu suddenly shuddered.
On the Jade Pool, the sea wind howled, cold and gloomy, blowing the hems of both their robes.
— Announcement: During the Spring Festival, Piggy Zhai also needs to celebrate the New Year. The Record of the Shepherd God will resume its previous update schedule: two chapters per day, each with a minimum of three thousand characters. After the holiday, it will return to four chapters per day, each with a minimum of two thousand characters.