Chapter 1426: Heaven's Dao Becomes Selfish (First Update)
Qin Mu looked at him, and after a moment, a smile appeared on his face as he said, "Someone once told me that Netherworld Heavenly Venerable is too naive. If he hadn't been in Netherworld but had participated in the great contention of the world, he wouldn't have survived until now. Netherworld, by deciding to leave Netherworld, you are placing yourself in danger, with your life at stake."
Every time Netherworld Heavenly Venerable had acted in the past, he had always been backed by Netherworld, able to advance or retreat at will. Like the battle at Heavenly Court's Jade Pool protecting Qin Mu, Netherworld Heavenly Venerable moved within Netherworld. Like the battle between Peach Grove and Dawn Heavenly Venerable, Netherworld Heavenly Venerable could also enter Netherworld at any moment.
However, if Netherworld Heavenly Venerable went to Mystic Capital, then he would be unable to evade enemy attacks in time and return to Netherworld. In that case, it would be extremely dangerous for him.
Netherworld Heavenly Venerable looked at him with a calm expression and said, "But I have already begun to intervene in worldly affairs since Dawn Heavenly Venerable was exiled. There are territories in the Primordial Realm that belong to me."
He was referring to his release of Evil Wuqi and Ming Cliff. The reason Evil Wuqi and Ming Cliff could establish themselves in the Primordial Realm was because of him.
From that point on, Netherworld Heavenly Venerable had begun to involve himself in the struggles, unable to remain aloof.
Qin Mu was silent for a moment, knowing his intentions, and said, "Earth Lord will not allow you to go on the offensive. He won't let you put yourself in danger. Earth Lord's ideal is to shed his identity as Earth Lord, and he needs a fair and just person to replace him. You are his choice, and also the next Earth Lord in his mind."
"The next Earth Lord in Earth Lord's mind was originally you, and later Qin Fengqing. He has been cultivating both you and Qin Fengqing as the next Earth Lord."
Netherworld Heavenly Venerable said indifferently, "My relationship with Earth Lord is a transaction. I help him manage Netherworld, and he preserves Imperial Heavenly Venerable's physical body and protects my mother's soul."
Qin Mu asked, "If something happens to you, what about your mother?"
"She will live well in Netherworld."
Qin Mu said no more and strode away, his voice coming from the distance, "Moon Heavenly Venerable, Kai Huang, and Lang Wan will appear at Mystic Capital. When that time comes, meet up with them first."
He suddenly stopped, thought for a moment, and said meaningfully, "Beware of Lang Wan Divine King. Don't let her come into contact with Palace Heavenly Venerable. If Palace Heavenly Venerable stays at Heavenly Court and doesn't participate in the Mystic Capital battle, then so be it. But if she participates in the Mystic Capital battle, then she will definitely come into contact with Lang Wan Divine King. If Lang Wan has any contact with Palace Heavenly Venerable, you need to be on guard against changes."
Netherworld Heavenly Venerable was momentarily stunned, then silently nodded.
Qin Mu left, saying, "You go back. Have Earth Lord release Tian Shu Heavenly King and the others. For the Mystic Capital battle, I need their help."
Netherworld Heavenly Venerable revealed a smile, put away his paper men and paper horses, and drifted away on his paper boat.
Qin Mu waited for him to return to Netherworld, stopped to think carefully, then shook his head again.
Lang Wan Divine King—the goddess of his dreams, flawless and immaculate. But Lang Wan would not cherish old feelings, nor would she embrace friendship.
She took racial interests as her supreme principle and would make judgments beneficial to her race under the influence of circumstances.
If Heavenly Duke died, the strongest existence on Qin Mu's side would be lost, and the balance of power with the Ten Heavenly Venerables would be broken. Then, when she encountered Palace Heavenly Venerable, she could easily be persuaded by her, making the judgment that Qin Mu's side could not possibly defeat the Ten Heavenly Venerables, and thus joining Palace Heavenly Venerable's camp.
Palace Heavenly Venerable, as one of the former Three Ancient Kings and now one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables, could very well orchestrate Lang Wan Divine King becoming a member of the Ten Heavenly Venerables.
In that case, in order to earn merit, Lang Wan Divine King would ruthlessly kill her former allies. Under her sneak attack, even Kai Huang and Moon Heavenly Venerable would likely find it hard to escape disaster.
She might even have the Creator race attack the Land of No Worries!
Lang Wan Divine King was someone Qin Mu had once admired. Making moves to guard against her weighed heavily on Qin Mu's heart, but he had no choice.
Another month or so passed, and Heavenly Court finally fully descended upon the Ancestral Court. The vast and boundless Heavenly Court floated above the Ancestral Court, radiating awe-inspiring divine might that shook heaven and earth.
The Heavenly River also changed its course along with Heavenly Court, returning to the Ancestral Court. In the ancient era, the Heavenly River had been the most important river in the Ancestral Court; now it was merely returning to its former position.
However, the changes to the cosmic structure caused by the Heavenly River's return were far-reaching.
First, many heavens built along both banks of the Heavenly River suffered tremendous upheaval. Originally, the stars of these heavens operated according to the tides of the Heavenly River. With the river changing course, the stars immediately fell into chaos, causing endless natural disasters in these heavens. The people were displaced, and countless lives were lost.
Second, the Heavenly River had once passed through various heavens of the Primordial Realm. With the river changing course, these heavens also altered their trajectories, torn and dragged by the river.
Some heavens were fortunate—many powerful deities stabilized their stars when the river changed course, causing little damage to the people. But other heavens were not so lucky, being directly torn apart by the Heavenly River, becoming fragments drifting in the universe, with countless cold corpses floating in the starry sky.
No one dared to complain.
The Heavenly River's change of course turned the Great Marsh of the Ancestral Court into a vast ocean. This had once been the birthplace of Mystic Capital, where Mystic Capital had risen from, higher and higher, becoming the most vast heavenly dome.
After the ancient era of the Creators ended, Heavenly Court captured the Heavenly River, turning the sea of heaven that had nurtured Mystic Capital into the Great Marsh. Now the sea of heaven had been restored, becoming vast and profound.
If one stood on the sea surface and gazed into the water, one could see the reflection of Mystic Capital in the sea.
This was Hong Heavenly Venerable's territory.
Originally, the Great Marsh could hardly even be called a treasure land, yet Hong Heavenly Venerable had chosen this place. However, the Heavenly River's change of course turned it into the Sea of Heaven, instantly making it incomparably rich.
The vibrant vitality and strange heavenly dao rules contained within the Sea of Heaven surfaced, and the Great Marsh leaped to become one of the most eye-catching holy lands in the Ancestral Court!
Hong Heavenly Venerable's move made even the other Heavenly Venerables take notice, unable to help but admire his deep scheming.
The most far-reaching impact of the Heavenly River's change of course was that the river finally returned to Mystic Capital.
The Heavenly River surged mightily, rushing out from the Ancestral Court, flowing toward the zenith of Mystic Capital, tracing a graceful arc that pierced through Mystic Capital, forming an unclosed circle, then flowing down from Mystic Capital into the Primordial Realm.
The road to Mystic Capital had been opened by the Heavenly River, and the campaign against Heavenly Duke was already on the agenda!
The various army commanders of Heavenly Court were ready to depart. The great tower ships of the Heavenly River Navy sailed in grand procession, traveling day and night toward Mystic Capital, with countless smaller tower ships dragging supplies behind them.
Along the way, one star after another was lit by powerful deities, illuminating the Heavenly River, making this great river look like a jade belt.
—The reason they didn't take the Spirit Energy Reciprocal Bridge was because something had happened at Mystic Capital. The Spirit Energy Reciprocal Bridge had been destroyed, and even Ancestor Divine King's divine artifact, Imperial Heavenly Venerable, had been suppressed by Heavenly Duke.
"Heaven's dao is selfless, the great dao is for all!"
Rumors spread throughout the myriad worlds: "Heavenly Duke has fallen, heaven's dao becomes selfish! The Ten Heavenly Venerables want to turn heaven's dao, a public instrument, into their private tool. From now on, it's not a world for all, but a world for the few! This is the sorrow of all living beings!"
"Kings, marquises, generals, and ministers—born with destiny! Common folk—slaves for generations!"
"From now on, you have to pay taxes just to breathe air, and pay money just to bask in the sun!"
These rumors circulated through the myriad worlds for a while. Someone used this matter to question Hong Heavenly Venerable, who said, "Just the cries of the powerless. No need to pay them any mind."
Sure enough, the rumors didn't stir up much of a wave before settling back into calm.
At this time, Tian Shu, the Butcher, Zhe Huali, and Luo Wushuang arrived at the Ten Thousand Black Mountains of the Ancestral Court and found Qin Mu. Qin Mu was fully equipped and ready to depart, saying to the four, "In this battle, life and death are uncertain. I will live and die together with you all."
The Butcher laughed and said, "What is there to fear?"