Chapter 1429: One Sword Beheads the Heavenly Emperor (Fourth Update)
This procession of divine-demonic troops was responsible for escorting supplies and provisions, guarding heavy divine weapons. Among the heavy weapons were the Vermilion Bird divine artifact, the Black Tortoise divine artifact, the Azure Dragon divine artifact, and the White Tiger divine artifact—the four emperor divine artifacts, each with two sets, presumably crafted by the hands of the Zaofu Heavenly Palace.
As for other heavy artifacts, such as divine cities, the Divine Execution Platform, giant seals, large formation diagrams, great cauldrons, formation banners, alchemy furnaces, and the like—each was immensely massive, every single artifact large enough to fill a giant tower ship!
The supplies consisted of various divine weapons, spiritual medicines, and even several hundred ships packed full of slaves, presumably for the pleasure of the divine-demons on the front lines.
At this moment, the Heavenly River's waves surged violently, greatly slowing the tower ships' progress. Ahead, two great Heavenly Venerables were locked in pursuit and slaughter, making it difficult for this supply army to advance.
Qin Mu piloted his swift boat as it flew past from above. Just as he crossed over this fleet, he saw Shi Qiluo flying back. Seeing him on the boat, Shi Qiluo was momentarily startled, then halted.
Qin Mu offered a salute, and Shi Qiluo returned it, his voice like thunder: "Mu Heavenly Venerable, are you going to your death?"
Qin Mu smiled: "As the Alliance Master of the Heavenly Alliance, I must personally go to eliminate the Heavenly Duke."
Shi Qiluo sighed: "You are someone I cannot help but admire. On the Xuan Du battlefield, if you try to stop me, I will not show mercy."
Qin Mu smiled: "Madam..."
Shi Qiluo glared at him, and Qin Mu changed his words: "Shi Heavenly Venerable, I hope you will consider our past friendship and show some leniency..."
Shi Qiluo spat at him, then bounced away merrily.
Butcher and the others stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded as they watched this Heavenly Venerable depart in the manner of a young maiden, unable to speak for a long while.
Qin Mu said: "This is Lady Yuanmu, the goddess of destruction from Guixu, and the birth mother of Hao Heavenly Venerable. Because she was killed by Ling Heavenly Venerable, her three souls attached themselves to a stone and over time became a spirit—but it turned out to be a male body."
Butcher was silent for a long moment, then let out a turbid breath: "Truly a brave warrior."
Zhe Huali, Luo Wushuang, and Tian Shu all nodded repeatedly.
They continued onward, the small boat flying for several more days, when they heard the sound of zither music again. Ahead were the Ten Guards of the Heavenly Court, each one the elite of the elite, their aura piercing the heavens!
Their lowest cultivation was at the Yujing realm, and among them were no shortage of those at the complete Lingxiao realm!
All Ten Guards deployed at once—this showed the importance placed on Xuan Du.
"The Ten Guards of the Heavenly Court are going to deal with the Sun Guardian and Moon Guardian."
Qin Mu's eyes flickered. The strength of the Ten Guards was overwhelmingly powerful—even the zither music of Yue Heavenly Venerable posed little threat to them.
However, the Ten Guards were escorting a treasure, blazing with flames—it was none other than the Dao Fire Ancestral Ground of the Southern Heaven, the nine-tiered Dao Fire Altar where the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird was born!
Qin Mu's pupils contracted sharply as he looked ahead. The one locked in battle with Yue Heavenly Venerable was none other than Fire Heavenly Venerable!
The battle between Yue and Fire was far more ferocious than Shi Qiluo's fight. Shi Qiluo hadn't wanted to fight Yue Heavenly Venerable to the death, so he hadn't used his full strength, nor had he deployed his divine artifact, the Imperial Heavenly Venerable. But Fire Heavenly Venerable was different.
Fire Heavenly Venerable had nearly used every trick in his arsenal, his attacks fierce and relentless. He even mobilized the Imperial Heavenly Venerable artifact, joining forces with it to besiege Yue Heavenly Venerable!
Suddenly, the zither music swelled. Yue Heavenly Venerable plucked her strings, causing the Heavenly River to tremble violently. A single note layered three times over, tearing open the starry sky, and Yue Heavenly Venerable vanished.
Fire Heavenly Venerable roared in fury, torrents of blazing fire spewing from his mouth, burning through layers of void. But he failed to catch Yue Heavenly Venerable and had no choice but to turn back.
Qin Mu's small boat brushed past him, and neither of them looked at the other, like strangers passing by.
The small boat traveled forward for another ten-plus days, encountering an army led by Langxuan Divine Emperor. This army was Langxuan Divine Emperor's personal force, all leaders of various races' demigods, but they too had been held up by Yue Heavenly Venerable.
Langxuan Divine Emperor, however, remained utterly composed while contending with Yue Heavenly Venerable. The Ancestral Court's Yaochi and Yaotai had been restored to their former glory, and Langxuan Divine Emperor had obtained the Dao Fruit of a powerhouse from the previous cosmic era, his skills growing ever more miraculous.
Qin Mu's pupils slightly contracted. The current Langxuan Divine Emperor had refined both his Divine Sense Dao and Primordial Qi to perfection, and even the Dao of Primordial Beginning—he had only comprehended the Divine Origin Finger!
Qin Mu saw that when dealing with Yue Heavenly Venerable, he had used at least four different Primordial Beginning divine abilities!
Clearly, he had gained tremendous benefits from that withered Dao Fruit.
Yue Heavenly Venerable faced even greater danger against him than against Fire Heavenly Venerable. Langxuan Divine Emperor's Dao of Primordial Beginning could interfere with her divine abilities through divine sense, and could even threaten her life!
Qin Mu approached from not too far away and called out loudly: "Divine Emperor, do you need a hand? Shall we join forces to eliminate the Yue rebel?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor's heart tightened, the muscles of his back clenching. This immediately gave Yue Heavenly Venerable an opening to escape, and she fled into the distance.
Qin Mu hurried forward, feigning anger: "Divine Emperor, why did you let her go?"
Langxuan Divine Emperor turned around, smiling ambiguously: "If it weren't for your blade aura locking onto me, how could she have escaped? Mu Heavenly Venerable, you've grown quite impressive."
Qin Mu laughed heartily, smugly: "Indeed, I have grown impressive. Divine Emperor, that Dao Fruit..."
Langxuan Divine Emperor glanced at him, snorted coldly: "If you dare spread word of this, I'll make you regret being born into this world—"
"Your Majesty."
Hearing the address "Your Majesty," Langxuan Divine Emperor couldn't help but break into a delighted smile: "No need for such flattery. Fine, I won't quibble with you. Don't go any further ahead—the Nether Emperor is waiting for you up front. I don't want to lose a good sycophant."
Qin Mu expressed his thanks and sailed away, silently pondering: "It seems that Dao Fruit, while enhancing Langxuan Divine Emperor's power, has still affected his temperament, even his sanity. Strange—he clearly comprehended a deeper level of the Dao of Primordial Beginning, which means his Dao cultivation has improved. Logically, his Dao heart should only grow more transparent. Why would he still be influenced by my calling him 'Your Majesty'?"
He was deeply puzzled.
When one's Dao heart cultivation improves, both wisdom and thinking should reach higher levels. Yet Langxuan Divine Emperor's wisdom seemed to have diminished—this was what he couldn't understand.
"Mu Heavenly Venerable, now I finally understand how you've managed to survive in the Heavenly Court!"
Zhe Huali spoke bluntly, sneering: "You've already entered the Dao through flattery, cultivating a Flattery Heavenly Palace!"
Qin Mu spat. Luo Wushuang said coldly: "Speak human words to humans, ghost words to ghosts—Mu Heavenly Venerable is quite the expert."
Master and disciple were united in their contempt, giving Qin Mu an earful, which made them both feel somewhat better.
The group chatted and laughed, yet no one mentioned the fact that the Nether Emperor was waiting for them ahead.
They then passed the army commanded by Qiang Heavenly Consort. The battle between Qiang Heavenly Consort and Yue Heavenly Venerable was quite spectacular, but clearly neither had used their full strength. Qiang Heavenly Consort deliberately held back, letting Yue Heavenly Venerable harass her for a while before allowing her to leave.
Qin Mu exchanged pleasantries with Qiang Heavenly Consort, encouraging her in his capacity as Alliance Master of the Heavenly Alliance to make even greater contributions to the Heavenly Court, then continued on his way.
The people on the boat teased Qin Mu again about speaking human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts, and everyone burst into laughter.
Ahead on the Heavenly River, a towering Nether Capital Heavenly Gate stood tall. Hundreds of ghost-faced tower ships floated on the water, arranged in formation. Beneath the Nether Capital Heavenly Gate, at the center of the army, stood a resplendent golden palace. The Nether Emperor sat upon his throne, enjoying song and dance.
Butcher glanced at Tian Shu: "Heavenly King, care for a drink?"
Tian Shu hefted his Imperial Tower Divine Blade onto his shoulder, laughing heartily: "When fighting the Earth Count or a Heavenly Venerable, I need to get thoroughly drunk. But when fighting Yin Chaojin? Why the hell would I need a drink? It's not like I'm afraid of him!"
At the same time, Emperor Kaihuang arrived at the Ancestral Court. He stepped up into the Heavenly Court, ignoring everyone in his path, and strode directly into Jade Capital City. He ascended the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and with a flash of sword light, severed the head of the Ancient God Heavenly Emperor.
"Indeed, a fake."
Emperor Kaihuang kicked the corpse off the throne, seated himself upon it, laid the Carefree Sword across his knees, closed his eyes, and focused on regulating his breath.
"Hao Heavenly Venerable, I'm not here to kill you. I was entrusted by someone to kill Palace Heavenly Venerable."
Emperor Kaihuang spoke unhurriedly without opening his eyes: "If you don't want to worsen your injuries, you may withdraw. Also, go create another Heavenly Emperor—this one, I've killed."
——Fourth update arrives, begging for monthly tickets for Fifty-Fifty Qin Kaikai!