Chapter 704: Dead City
"This demon god stone statue has revived—it's likely the other stone statues will revive too! This one was unlucky, its physical body turned to stone and teleported here, its head smashing right into the Imperial Tower Divine Blade. But most of the other stone statues in Yan Kang are perfectly fine!"
Qin Mu's heart tightened. Besides this statue being particularly unfortunate, there was also the statue beneath Mount Sumeru of the Great Thunderclap Temple that had been equally unlucky.
That statue had risen from beneath the earth, only to ram its head straight into Mount Sumeru. The Great Thunderclap Temple's Mount Sumeru and the Buddhist Realm's Mount Sumeru were essentially the same mountain—crashing into the Great Thunderclap Temple's Mount Sumeru was equivalent to slamming into the Buddhist Realm itself. The consequences could be imagined.
But the other statues hadn't encountered such situations. They had emerged cleanly from all over the world. These statues were incredibly heavy, almost impossible to move, which was why Emperor Yan Feng had ordered heavy troops stationed around each one.
However, having just experienced the statue revival event, Qin Mu knew all too well how terrifying these statues could be. If they were to revive, even without calamity-bringing divine weapons, it would be a catastrophic disaster for Yan Kang!
"If Tian Shu doesn't come soon, then I'll have to go alone..."
Just as he thought this, suddenly divine light filled the sky, descending from above. Within the radiance, a majestic deity reached out, grasping toward the Imperial Tower Divine Blade buried in the earth!
"The Nether Capital Heavenly King has arrived!"
Qin Mu's heart leaped with joy. He looked up and saw Tian Shu gripping the Imperial Tower Divine Blade, muttering incantations. The blade grew smaller and smaller until it became a great saber several dozen zhang long.
Tian Shu stored the divine blade away, careful not to touch the edge, and said, "You all stay here. I'll go meet the disciples of the Nether Capital!" With that, he soared into the air, radiant clouds filling the sky, and both he and the blade vanished from sight.
Qin Mu was about to call out to him, but he had already gone far.
Qin Mu frowned, his body rising into the air, flying out of this underground space. Looking into the distance, he saw a beam of radiant light heading straight east.
Suddenly, his Gluttony Pouch vibrated, and thunderous sounds came from within. Qin Mu's heart jolted—he quickly emptied the contents of the pouch. The Five Thunder Jar crackled with lightning bolts dancing wildly around it. This celestial phenomenon divine weapon showed signs of losing control!
"The Five Great Cloud Thunders are about to be triggered."
Qi Jiuyi's expression turned grave. He sighed and said, "Brother Qin, Yan Kang is no longer a place to stand. When the Five Thunders take to the sky, Yan Kang will become a sea of lightning, with the Fire Bell divine weapon rampaging through the thunder sea. And besides the Five Thunder Jar, there are also the Earthquake Cauldron, the Xun Wind Gourd, and other celestial phenomenon divine weapons. When their power erupts together, Yan Kang will be more terrifying than hell itself! I plan to take refuge in the Upper Firmament. Second Brother, will you come with me? I can take you away from this world to the Upper Firmament. There, you won't face calamity."
Dragon Qilin hesitated for a moment, glanced at Qin Mu, then shook his head. "Wherever the Sect Master goes, I go. I've followed the Sect Master for so many years, freeloading off many meals. I can't just walk away when I'm needed."
Qi Jiuyi's expression was complicated. He sighed, flames scattering around him as he transformed into nine phoenixes spreading their wings, flying westward. A piercing cry came back: "Take care of yourselves! Second Brother, whatever you do, don't die! This is the waist token of my Southern Heaven Crimson Emperor lineage—it might just save your life!"
A waist token flew over and landed in Qin Mu's hand.
Qin Mu was momentarily stunned, then handed the jade token carved with nine-headed phoenixes to Dragon Qilin.
Qi Jiuyi's waist token wasn't for him—it was for Dragon Qilin.
"Dragon Fatty, Qi Jiuyi treats you pretty well."
Qin Mu smiled. "Let's set off! Back to Yan Kang!"
Dragon Qilin stepped on fire clouds, carrying Qin Mu as they soared into the sky. Qin Mu glanced at the sword pellet on his body, hesitated for a moment, but didn't ask Dragon Qilin to discard it.
Yan Kang's situation was unknown right now. He had no suitable weapon at hand, and throwing away the unrefined sword pellet wouldn't significantly improve their speed.
"What can truly increase speed is the primordial spirit!"
On Dragon Qilin's back, Qin Mu's primordial spirit left his body. Using the Three Primordial Spirits Meeting technique, he quickly summoned the outstanding talents of Yan Kang from all directions. The primordial spirits of Lin Xuan Dao Master, Wang Muran, Xu Shenghua, Ling Yuxiu, and others gathered in the Grand Academy Hall of the Grand Academy.
"Has there been any large-scale death event in Yan Kang recently?" Qin Mu asked.
"Southeast Yuzhi Prefecture—in a single night, the common people were wiped out to the last household."
Ling Yuxiu said, "From the provincial capital down to the villages, everyone in Yuzhi Prefecture died at the same time, including the deputy governor of Yuzhi Prefecture. The deputy governor was a Divine Bridge realm expert, not far from the deity realm. My father has already sent people to investigate. The reports say that everyone in Yuzhi Prefecture looks as if they're still alive—many people stand in the streets, making walking motions, and there are old farmers still working in the fields. But they're all dead, without any breath. Father has sealed the news to avoid causing panic."
Qin Mu frowned. "What about livestock?"
"Livestock and wild beasts—none were spared." Ling Yuxiu said.
Lin Xuan Dao Master, Wang Muran, and the others hadn't known about such a major incident. For a moment, discussions buzzed, and the Grand Academy Hall filled with clamoring voices.
Ling Yuxiu said, "The National Teacher, the First Ancestor, the Holy Teacher, and others have already gathered experts from the Chi Ming and the demon race to search for the enemy's whereabouts. The enemy must be Lou Yunqu and his group."
Qin Mu looked at Si Yunxiang and said in a deep voice, "Fragrant Holy Maiden, issue orders immediately. Contact the disciples of the Holy Sect and have them monitor all stone statues across the regions. If there's any anomaly, report at once!"
Si Yunxiang nodded. "Recent intelligence from various regions indicates that the stone statues have begun to revive—some are showing traces of flesh and blood color. I've also heard that the Yan Kang National Teacher suppressed the celestial phenomenon divine weapons in the national treasury. Not long ago, those divine weapons began emitting power and collapsed the treasury. Today, the capital experienced fifteen earthquakes, and the dragon veins have cracked."
Everyone's hearts jumped, and the hall fell silent.
"Also keep watch for large-scale death events in other prefectures and counties. If any occur, notify me immediately!"
Qin Mu said rapidly, "Xiu Mei, notify the Emperor at once. Ask him to order all scholars proficient in Soul Guiding Incantation to take fast ships to Yuzhi Prefecture immediately. Dao Master, Brother Wang—if the Lesser Jade Capital and the Dao Sect have anyone proficient in Soul Guiding Incantation, send them there at once! There might still be hope!"
Everyone acknowledged in unison.
The primordial spirit meeting dissolved. Qin Mu's primordial spirit returned to his body, and he immediately ordered Dragon Qilin to head toward Yuzhi Prefecture. After a moment, he had Dragon Qilin slow down.
Dragon Qilin didn't understand why but still slowed his pace, trotting along leisurely.
Qin Mu's expression shifted uncertainly. Yuzhi Prefecture was on the southeastern coast of Yan Kang—a long journey that would take a full day of running. The coast was remote. If everyone rushed there at once, they might fall for a diversion tactic.
If all the cultivators proficient in Soul Guiding Incantation gathered in Yuzhi Prefecture, then if another large-scale death event suddenly erupted in other prefectures, no one would be able to respond in time.
"Just one prefecture's common people probably wouldn't be enough to revive the stone statues. It would take far more deaths to awaken them."
Qin Mu's eyes flickered. He took out the Yan Kang geography map from his Gluttony Pouch. Yan Kang was no longer what it used to be—its territory had greatly expanded, and its population was several times what it had been before. However, the more populous prefectures were still concentrated in areas with developed commerce and trade.
"The Yong River water transport is the most developed. Along its waterways and transportation routes, there are many great cities with populations in the millions. Next would be the Jiangling area, but Jiangling isn't too far from the capital—the National Teacher and the First Ancestor would react quickly."
Qin Mu examined the map. The most suitable place was undoubtedly Li Prefecture, where Yu Yuan Chuyu was.
It was far enough from the capital, far enough from Yuzhi Prefecture, and it was the central region of Yan Kang.
"If I were Lou Yunqu, I would choose that place—blood sacrifice everyone in Li Prefecture to awaken the stone statues."
Qin Mu's expression shifted uncertainly. Li Prefecture was south of the Heavenly Sage Academy. The Yong River Academy was also there, with Senior Minister Su Yunzhi as Grand Sacrificial Priest, and Yu Yuan Chuyu and Yu Yuan Chuyun as sacrificial priests.
"If they used the Book of Life and Death to blood sacrifice everyone in Li Prefecture in one stroke, they could wipe out the Yong River Academy in one fell swoop, and my Heavenly Sage Academy would be caught in the net as well. Eliminating the Heavenly Sage Academy along the way wouldn't be any trouble for Lou Yunqu and his group."
"Li Prefecture and Ba Prefecture have enough people to revive many stone statues. Once the statues revive, destroying a few prefectures would be simple. Then they could trigger the Five Thunder Jar and other celestial phenomenon divine weapons to bring calamity upon Yan Kang and completely destroy it."
With this thought, Qin Mu immediately ordered Dragon Qilin to follow the Yong River downstream toward the Yong River Academy in Li Prefecture.
Dragon Qilin was very fast, running across the sky above the Yong River. Below, waves churned as two giant dragons swam beneath the water, closely following Dragon Qilin's footsteps.
When they reached Dijiang County, Qin Mu ordered Dragon Qilin to descend. On Baishui Mountain across from Dijiang County, a snow-white deity with a single horn on its head, a horse's face and human body, gazed from afar.
Qin Mu waved his hand, and the White Gap Deity immediately concealed itself.
On the riverbank stood the Yong River Academy. The reason Su Yunzhi had built the academy here was to connect talents from both banks. The Yong River Dragon King, Huan Longjun, the Flood Dragon King Deity, and the White Gap Deity all resided here. On ordinary days, inviting these three deities to teach only required offering some sacrifices—especially the White Gap Deity, who was the cheapest and didn't cost much at all.
Qin Mu walked toward the Yong River Academy, seeing many novel large-scale spirit weapons along the way. These large spirit weapons were parked on both sides of the road, with some scholars teaching cultivators how to operate them.
—The scholars of the Yong River Academy clearly didn't know calamity was approaching. The place was still peaceful and tranquil.
Qin Mu had Dragon Qilin stop and stood watching. He saw that some spirit weapons were windmills with seven blades, equipped with a small alchemical furnace. Placing medicinal stones in the furnace to burn would make the blades spin.
As the blades spun, streams of wind blades cut along the ground, quickly turning over an entire mu of land.
Once the land was turned, one could push the windmill forward to plow other fields.
"A tool for plowing fields!"
Qin Mu was amazed. In Yan Kang's reforms, most cultivators were paid wages. Cultivators who practiced wind-type techniques used spells to farm, also using wind blades to plow the earth.
But now someone had invented this windmill spirit weapon, actually using medicinal stones to provide energy and letting the windmill spirit weapon cast the technique. What ingenious design!
He asked the scholar beside the windmill, and the scholar said, "Besides the windmill, there are also cloud carts, rain carts, mining carts, and smelting furnaces—all designed by the Heavenly Works Hall's Heavenly Works Bureau. The National Teacher ordered them promoted nationwide."
"Could Grandpa Mute have designed these daily-use spirit weapons? But if they're promoted nationwide, the supply of medicinal stones probably can't keep up, right? Growing spiritual herbs also takes time to mature."
Qin Mu asked, "Is Grand Sacrificial Priest Su Yunzhi in the academy?"
"The Grand Sacrificial Priest is up ahead, inspecting the medicine fields with the Jade-Faced Poison King from the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Qin Mu's heart stirred: "Grandpa Medicine is here too? Doesn't he already have the Empress Dowager and a host of beauties? Could Senior Minister Su also be involved with him? Bah bah, how can I gossip about Grandpa Medicine behind his back..."
————I should have just gotten off the high-speed rail. Want to ask my brothers, the fan team—what rank is Mu Shen Ji at? I still don't know