Chapter 1387: Naturally, That Is Excellent
Inside the Celestial Venerable Hall, all the Celestial Venerables were startled inwardly—Long Xiao had actually been by Qin Mu's side all along, sneaking into the Celestial Venerable Hall together with him!
And yet none of them had noticed. This Long Xiao truly had some skill!
Hong Celestial Venerable's expression shifted slightly. He suddenly recalled the incident at the Jade Pool when Qin Mu had struck out at him—clearly, Long Xiao had been hidden beside Qin Mu at that time as well!
In other words, if Long Xiao had launched a sneak attack on him, he too would definitely have found it difficult to escape!
Although the techniques Long Xiao cultivated had fallen behind by a million years, his cultivation was still there. If he were caught off guard by a sneak attack, he would not fare well at all.
Qin Mu sat in the high seat, taking in the expressions of every Celestial Venerable at a glance. He could not help but sigh inwardly that sitting on the Alliance Master's throne did have its benefits.
His position was the highest. Sitting here, he could see the demeanor of all ten Celestial Venerables present in one sweeping view, giving him a feeling of having everything under control.
Of course, he was not yet able to control the entire situation, but he could already act as a chess player, engaging in a game of strategy with the various Celestial Venerables.
Long Xiao was someone he had brought along, and he had to bring him.
The matter of the Beast Realm was enormously consequential. If Long Xiao did not appear in person, the Celestial Venerables would find it hard to rest easy. Therefore, Long Xiao had to state his position personally.
Another point was that bringing Long Xiao along also served as a protective charm. After all, Long Xiao had agreed to three requests. If they truly encountered a danger that Qin Mu could not resolve, Long Xiao could still protect him.
Furthermore, Long Xiao coming with him was also to bolster his prestige and momentum.
"Brother Long Xiao, regarding the matter of the Beast Realm, do you have any objections?" Hao Celestial Venerable spoke up to ask.
Long Xiao lowered his nine heads and paid his respects to the various Celestial Venerables, saying, "I will follow whatever arrangements the Celestial Venerables make. I will certainly execute them with all my strength and dare not go against them in any way."
His words were also a clever move—taking this opportunity to make clear to the Celestial Venerables that he was not of Qin Mu's faction, but rather of the Ten Celestial Venerables' faction.
Hao Celestial Venerable nodded gently and said, "The back side of the Ancestral Court is of great importance. The primordial giant beasts are not suited to survive there. The few of us Celestial Venerables will join forces to open up the back side of the Myriad Realms for you and the primordial giant beasts to inhabit. We will also need to establish a set of rules—namely, the summoning of giant beasts and the matter of giant beasts returning to the Beast Realm."
Everyone nodded in succession.
Long Xiao's nine heads looked around in all directions, immediately detecting the relative power and influence of each person within the Celestial Venerable Hall. He thought to himself: "This Hao Celestial Venerable is the leader among the Celestial Venerables. He is basically the one who does all the talking, and the others express agreement or opposition, but rarely does anyone oppose him. He is the one who truly holds real power among the Celestial Venerables!"
After Hao Celestial Venerable finished speaking, he looked at Qin Mu again and asked, "What does the Alliance Master think?"
Qin Mu's face was full of smiles: "This matter is naturally excellent. I have no objections."
Long Xiao thought to himself: "As for Mu Celestial Venerable, this Heavenly Alliance Alliance Master—he is just a decoration, someone to put up a front. In reality, he has no power to make decisions."
Hao Celestial Venerable nodded and said, "Since the Alliance Master has nodded in agreement, then it shall be done this way."
Fire Celestial Venerable suddenly spoke in a deep voice: "Now the Heavenly Court's Crown Prince Mingya has rebelled, harboring intentions of insurrection and treason, defecting to Xie Wuqi and allying with the Heavenly Equal Benevolent Sage King of the Netherworld, plotting treacherous schemes. The Celestial Emperor does not attend to state affairs, and the Heavenly Court cannot go a single day without a crown prince. In my view, we should establish the crown prince as soon as possible."
As soon as he said this, Langxuan Divine Emperor and Ancestral God King nodded in agreement one after another, saying, "Since His Majesty does not act, only the crown prince can do the work. We should establish the crown prince early to reassure the morale of the military and the people."
Fire Celestial Venerable declared in a loud voice: "I recommend Hao Celestial Venerable to be His Highness the Crown Prince! Hao Celestial Venerable is a founding elder of the Heavenly Alliance, a Celestial Venerable from the early Dragon Han era, with great merit to the state. Moreover, he is His Majesty's eldest son. Becoming the Heavenly Court's crown prince is actually doing him a disservice!"
Langxuan Divine Emperor and Ancestral God King nodded in succession: "For Hao Celestial Venerable to become crown prince is indeed somewhat of a demotion, but in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. We can only ask Brother Hao to bear this slight."
Hao Celestial Venerable shook his head and said, "I'm afraid the other brothers will not agree. What does Hong Celestial Venerable think?"
Hong Celestial Venerable's face was radiant with glory as he chuckled and said, "I naturally support it with both hands!"
Hao Celestial Venerable then looked at Qiang Heavenly Consort, Yan Heavenly Consort, and the others. Qiang Heavenly Consort said with a smile, "Previously it was Mingya who was crown prince, and now Hao Celestial Venerable becomes crown prince. I'm afraid there might be some issue with the generational hierarchy, wouldn't there?"
As soon as she said this, the hall fell silent.
Everyone in the hall, except Long Xiao, knew that Crown Prince Mingya was Hao Celestial Venerable's son. Mingya had been stripped of his crown prince position, and now the father was succeeding as crown prince—this indeed violated the order of ethics.
Hao Celestial Venerable gave Qiang Heavenly Consort a deep look and said calmly, "Heavenly Consort's words seem to carry some implication. Might I ask you to explain clearly?"
Qiang Heavenly Consort quickly smiled and said, "I am clumsy with words, just speaking casually. Hao Celestial Venerable, please don't take it to heart. I am in favor of Hao Celestial Venerable becoming crown prince."
Hao Celestial Venerable gave a light snort: "What does Yan Heavenly Consort think?"
Yan Heavenly Consort's beautiful eyes flickered as she smiled and said, "It seems that those who sit on the crown prince's throne all come to no good end. This consort is a little worried for Hao Celestial Venerable."
Her words carried a hidden meaning—she was actually referring to how Hao Celestial Venerable had schemed to force her son Xie Wuqi into rebellion. Although it was the Celestial Emperor who had struck Xie Wuqi down into the Netherworld back then, in reality, Hao Celestial Venerable had played a very dishonorable role in that affair.
Hao Celestial Venerable smiled slightly: "Thank you for the reminder, Heavenly Consort. Palace Celestial Venerable, Void Celestial Venerable, Stone Celestial Venerable—do the three of you have any objections?"
Void Celestial Venerable shook his head.
Yun Chuxiu let out a cheer and raised both hands in approval.
Palace Celestial Venerable glanced at Langxuan Divine Emperor, then slowly shook his head: "I have no objections."
Hao Celestial Venerable looked at Qin Mu again: "What does the Alliance Master think?"
Qin Mu's face was full of smiles: "This matter is naturally excellent. I have no objections."
Long Xiao thought to himself: "Mu Celestial Venerable really is just a decoration. But from the behavior of these Ten Celestial Venerables, they all seem to have rifts among themselves, yet they are divided into two major camps. Hao, Fire, Lang, Ancestral, and Void are one faction; Hong, Palace, Yan, and Qiang are another faction, probably aligned with that Dawn Celestial Venerable who hasn't appeared. That Yun Chuxiu, Stone Celestial Venerable, is a fence-sitter."
Hao Celestial Venerable sighed: "You all honor me too much. Then I will not decline. The fourth matter is the campaign against the Heavenly Duke. The Heavenly Duke—a divine being born of the Heavenly Dao—yet he indulges Earth Mother Primordial Sovereign in wreaking havoc, slaughtering millions upon millions of gods and demons in the Mystic Capital. His crimes are heinous!"
Fire Celestial Venerable said coldly: "The Heavenly Duke is responsible for overseeing the operation of the myriad heavens. Yet now the myriad heavens are plagued by disasters, calamities without end, and the Heavenly Duke turns a blind eye. He is unworthy of being the Heavenly Duke and deserves execution!"
Ancestral God King gnashed his teeth and said: "Although the old thief is my father, I hate evil as much as I hate an enemy. I shall uphold justice even at the cost of family ties!"
The various Celestial Venerables spoke one after another, listing the Heavenly Duke's crimes. Hao Celestial Venerable looked at Qin Mu and said, "What does the Alliance Master think?"
"This is naturally excellent. I have no objections." Qin Mu said with a beaming smile.
Behind him, Long Xiao rolled his eyes several times, thinking: "Sure enough, it's still that same line."
Hao Celestial Venerable said: "Then at tomorrow's Heavenly Alliance Grand Assembly, the Alliance Master shall announce to the world, raise the banner of righteousness, and launch the campaign against the Heavenly Duke!"
Qin Mu probed: "Then the declaration of war..."
"We have already drafted it for the Alliance Master."
Ancestral God King sent over the declaration of war against the Heavenly Duke, saying: "The Alliance Master only needs to read it aloud at the Heavenly Alliance Grand Assembly. You must carry the black pot steadily, hold it firmly on your head, and not let it fall."
Qin Mu read through the declaration once. The document enumerated the Heavenly Duke's crimes in fierce language, very effective at stirring up the hearts of the people.
Qin Mu put the declaration away and smiled: "This is naturally excellent."
Below, the ten Celestial Venerables exchanged glances. Hao Celestial Venerable smiled and said: "Since the great matters have been settled, let us each disperse and prepare for tomorrow's Heavenly Alliance Grand Assembly."
Everyone rose, bowed to Qin Mu, and then transformed into streaks of light and departed.
Only Qin Mu, Long Xiao, Yun Chuxiu, and Hao Celestial Venerable remained in the hall.
Hao Celestial Venerable glanced at Yun Chuxiu and Long Xiao. Yun Chuxiu bounced away merrily, and Long Xiao also concealed himself and vanished from sight.
Qin Mu stood up and walked down from the high seat.
Hao Celestial Venerable turned around and walked toward the hall's exit. When he reached the doorway, he stopped. Qin Mu came to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
The two looked forward. The Yao Sea rippled with blue waves, and the island was filled with sovereigns from all the various great worlds—an enormous number of them, people coming and going, bustling and crowded.
"All the heroes of the world are gathered here!"
Hao Celestial Venerable clasped his hands behind his back, sweeping his gaze across the scene, and said calmly: "This scene resembles the Heavenly Court grand gathering of the early Dragon Han era, the Jade Pool Gathering. But the Heavenly Court grand gathering back then was when the titans had pacified the Creator race's rebellion and began dividing up the spoils and carving up the wealth. The Jade Pool Gathering was merely a meeting of the later-born beings and demigods of that time—trivial to the titans of that era, not worth their attention at all."
Qin Mu picked up the thread: "And now, this grand gathering at the Jade Pool is the gathering that will decide the fate of the world. As for the Heavenly Court, it has already become an empty shell."
Hao Celestial Venerable smiled slightly and said leisurely: "Mu Celestial Venerable, have you ever considered that all of this was brought about by me? In my lifetime, how many enemies have I defeated? Powerful ones like Xie Wuqi, like the Celestial Emperor, like Cloud Celestial Venerable, like Moon Celestial Venerable, like Ling Celestial Venerable, like the Great Emperor—all of them have been defeated at my hands. Even someone as powerful as Kaihuang, Qin Celestial Venerable, could only hide and flee. The Four Ancient God Emperors only dare to cling to their corner of the world. When I want them to die, they cannot live even one hour longer. And now..."
His chest swelled with heroic ambition as he declared in a loud voice: "I am beginning to execute the Heavenly Duke, eliminate the Earth Count, sweep away the Creators, and achieve true unification! In all of history, which emperor has been able to accomplish this step? Who has achieved merits and accomplishments that can rival mine?"
He did not wait for Qin Mu to answer, speaking directly: "The Great Emperor could not. The Great Emperor was cruel and tyrannical, and with the Three Kings dividing the realm, he could not achieve true unification. My imperial father, Taichu Celestial Emperor, could not either. He was too lenient. He divided up power and gave it to the Heavenly Duke, the Earth Count, the Earth Mother, and other divine beings of the myriad heavens. Cloud Celestial Venerable could not—he did not even unify the Primordial Realm. Red Emperor, Bright Emperor, the successive Upper Emperors, and even Kaihuang—their achievements are all insufficient. They are not even fit to carry my shoes!"
"The only one who can truly accomplish all of this is me!"
"Mu Celestial Venerable, only I can subdue you ambitious types and become the true master, the enlightened sovereign ruling heaven and earth!"
His heroic spirit soared: "I know there are many competitors among the Ten Celestial Venerables. They come from ancient eras, each with their own schemes and hidden agendas. But they have too many schemes and too many hidden agendas, and they have lost the bearing of a hegemon. That is where they fall short of me! Even someone as cunning as you—are you not now arranged to be perfectly obedient?"
Qin Mu revealed a smile and said: "What if Yu Celestial Venerable were still alive? Would he have done better than you?"
Hao Celestial Venerable felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. His expression turned cold, and he said icily: "There is no 'what if.' His edge was too sharp; he did not know how to hide it. If I had been the imperial father, I would have killed him too! Mu Celestial Venerable, the place where you surpass Yu Celestial Venerable is that you understand how to advance step by step, scheming gradually, infiltrating the center of Heavenly Court power one step at a time. But once you have entered, you can only become one of us—become us!"
Qin Mu fell silent. After a long while, he said: "What if I refuse to become one of you?"
"Then you will have nothing."
Hao Celestial Venerable said coldly: "You will die. Your Yankang will be destroyed. Everything you have will cease to exist. And after your death, you will bear a cursed reputation. Every time future generations mention your name, they will spit and curse!"
He revealed a trace of a smile and said leisurely: "You are no match for me. My only rival was Yu Celestial Venerable of that time—but he lost from the very beginning, and he died. You will see me eliminate my powerful enemies. You will see me rule over the world. You will see the myriad worlds submit and kneel before me."
He stepped down the stone steps of the Celestial Venerable Hall, smiling: "Fire, Void, Lang, Ancestral, Palace, Qiang, Dawn, Hong, Yan, Stone—none of them are my match. In the future, you will see them either submit or die. If you do not submit, you will be the same..."
"Hao."
Qin Mu called out to stop him.
Hao Celestial Venerable halted. Qin Mu stood on the platform, smiling: "My opposition to you is not for ambition, but for the human race, for ideals. Invincible as you are—if you had no opponent, would you not feel lonely?"
Hao Celestial Venerable turned around, his gaze falling on Qin Mu's face.
Qin Mu revealed a bright, sunny smile: "I will be your opponent."
Hao Celestial Venerable was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter and turned to leave: "Not needed. If you dare oppose me, I will kill you."