Chapter 829: Who Comes to Die First
The Dao palace fell into silence.
The several Heavenly Court envoys also frowned deeply. They had heard of the Overlord Body before—it was something they'd picked up while idly chatting in the Heavenly Court, about how there was some small place in the lower realms called Yankang that had a Yankang Overlord Body, claiming to be unparalleled through the ages.
When the gods of the Heavenly Court spoke of this matter, they all laughed, saying things like "small-town folk bragging until their cowhide flies all the way up to the Heavenly Court." They treated it as nothing more than idle gossip, rarely discussing it seriously.
Just now, when they heard Qin Mu call himself the Overlord Body, they couldn't help but burst out laughing. However, the reaction of the Dao Ancestor's statue had truly exceeded their expectations.
The Dao Ancestor would rather destroy his own statue and his own Three Treasures than dare to receive a single bow from Qin Mu. It seemed this Overlord Body was not as simple as the gods of the Heavenly Court imagined.
Suddenly, the youngest of the Heavenly Court envoys—a young boy who was a little Daoist priest—clapped his hands and laughed loudly. The sharp clapping startled everyone awake.
The young Daoist priest laughed and said, "Impressive, truly impressive! The Yankang Qin Overlord Body actually dares to destroy the Dao Ancestor's statue on Qingyun Heaven, and even smashes the sect's Three Treasures right in front of the Sect Master. He truly lives up to the name of Overlord Body!"
The assembled Daoists came to their senses. An old Daoist raised his hand and pointed at Qin Mu, shouting sternly, "You wretch! You destroyed our Qingyun Heaven's Dao Ancestor statue, and used some treacherous scheme to shatter our Dao Sect's Three Treasures! Our Dao Sect will never stand with you!"
The other Daoists were about to add their own condemnations when suddenly the Qingyun Sect Master shouted fiercely, "Silence—"
The Dao palace fell quiet once more.
The Qingyun Sect Master looked utterly disheveled, his heart filled with nothing but shock upon shock—yet not a trace of anger or fury.
Because he didn't dare.
He had thought one step further than the other Daoists.
Although Qin Mu's cultivation and strength were not weak—he could be considered one of the top experts below the divine realm—he could not have damaged the Dao Ancestor's statue, nor could he have destroyed the Three Treasures.
The Three Treasures of the Qingyun Sect were treasures of the Dao Ancestor. The Dao Ancestor was an existence at the Imperial Throne realm. Although these three treasures were merely everyday items he used, even the everyday items of a strong practitioner at the Imperial Throne realm were no small matter. Qin Mu absolutely could not have used some bizarre divine ability to destroy these three treasures.
Moreover, if Qin Mu had tampered with them, he could not have hidden it from the eyes of the experts present.
What destroyed the Three Treasures was the Three Treasures themselves.
These three treasures had actually destroyed themselves!
Including the Dao Ancestor's statue as well.
In other words, the Dao Ancestor truly believed he was unworthy of receiving Qin Mu's bow, and so he destroyed his own statue and Three Treasures!
"Pay respects!" the Qingyun Sect Master suddenly said.
The many Daoists in the palace were all startled for a moment, but since the Sect Master had spoken, they could not refute him. They could only rise and form two rows, bowing to Qin Mu in greeting.
Qin Mu glanced at the several Heavenly Court envoys. The youngest one who had spoken earlier frowned slightly and whispered a few words to the other young men and women beside him, though it was unclear what he was saying.
"This one who looks the youngest—he's their leader."
Qin Mu took note of this, waved his hand, and said with a smile, "Rise. Where is my seat?"
The Qingyun Sect Master hesitated for a moment, then ordered someone to fetch another seat, placing it before the burned statue—even higher than the seats of the Heavenly Court envoys.
Qin Mu sat down, looked around, and said with a smile, "Dao Master Lin Xuan is my peer and fellow Daoist. He must also have a seat of honor."
The Qingyun Sect Master frowned but ordered someone to bring another seat.
Lin Xuan sat down beside Qin Mu. Qin Mu smiled and said, "Everyone, please be seated."
The Qingyun Sect Master bowed in thanks and sat down with the assembled Daoists.
Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "It seems the Dao Ancestor is still alive and hasn't died. I just don't know whether he's fallen into the hands of the Outer Heavenly Court, or into the hands of the already-dead Ancient God Heavenly Emperor. This old Daoist is hard to read..."
He didn't know whether the current Dao Ancestor would still remember their old friendship from before.
During the Longhan Era, he had guided the Dao Ancestor and the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha, leaving behind a bit of a connection. When Imperial Lord Yu was ambushed and killed, it was Qin Mu who had transmitted the Dharma on his behalf, teaching the path of longevity, and the Dao Ancestor had been one of the listeners.
But whether such a bond could resist the erosion of interests and the long passage of time—Qin Mu truly had no confidence in that. Fortunately, the Dao Ancestor did not dare to receive his bow, which meant he wouldn't be surrounded and attacked by the Qingyun Sect.
Qin Mu looked at the several Heavenly Court envoys and said with a slight smile, "Several fellow Daoists from the Outer Heavenly Court, please be seated."
The young men and women frowned. The youngest boy Daoist smiled and said, "No need to worry. Let's sit first. In front of me, he can't stir up much trouble."
They had just sat down when suddenly several Daoists rushed over in a panic, looking flustered. Before they even arrived, they were shouting loudly, "Terrible news! The disciples of Star Lord Host God have all died in the Dao Academy!"
"What?"
The Dao palace erupted in uproar. The old Daoists who had just sat down all rose to their feet, expressions of horror on their faces. The several Heavenly Court envoys looked shocked, slamming their hands on the table and shouting in fury.
The Qingyun Sect Master shot to his feet, clenching his fists. Veins bulged on his forehead, and soon his entire body was covered in cold sweat.
The young Daoist priest from the Heavenly Court remained seated on his throne, saying coldly, "Fu Yuntian, what is the meaning of this? The disciples of the Heavenly Court's Star Lord Host God died on Qingyun Heaven. What punishment do you deserve?"
Cold sweat poured down the Qingyun Sect Master's forehead. He bowed and said, "Esteemed envoy, please calm down. This disciple's speech is unclear. Let me first get the full story!"
His voice was hoarse. He reached out and grabbed the several Daoists, demanding, "The disciples of Star Lord Host God died in the Dao Academy—is this true or false? Did all of them die? Did anyone escape? What were the people of the Dao Academy doing? How could they let a murderer sneak in there? Where are they now?"
His mind was in chaos, and he fired off questions like a string of firecrackers, leaving the young Daoists no time to answer.
The Qingyun Sect Master finally came to his senses. He quickly set the Daoists down and softened his tone, saying, "Since the matter has already happened, speak slowly. Tell me clearly."
One of the Daoists quickly said, "Reporting to the Sect Master, first several senior uncles came to the Dao Academy. One of them was Senior Uncle Tianhong. He walked around the Dao Academy once and told us that the Qingyang Palace had been robbed, ransacked by thieves, and they had come to check whether the thieves had snuck into the Dao Academy."
The Qingyun Sect Master nodded and said, "They were the ones I sent to notify you. They are all elders of the Dao Palace."
The Dao Palace was where the elders of Qingyun Heaven resided, while the Dao Academy was where they studied Dao techniques and divine abilities. Most of those in the Dao Academy were young disciples—quick-witted and fast to react.
The Daoist glanced at him and said cautiously, "Then our Dao Academy was robbed. It was Senior Uncle Tianhong—one of the senior uncles the Sect Master sent to notify us—who did it. He robbed our entire Dao Academy. First, one senior brother discovered his treasure was missing, then everyone realized they had also been robbed. Their best treasures had been stolen right from under their noses without anyone noticing. So everyone rushed out to find those senior uncles."
The Qingyun Sect Master frowned and said, "Everyone went out?"
The Daoist quickly said, "The disciples of Star Lord Host God stayed behind to draw the star constellation array diagrams. They hadn't been robbed. When we got outside, we discovered that every palace and every academy had been robbed—all twenty-four halls and twelve academies had been looted. We searched everywhere, and then we found Senior Uncle Tianhong stripped naked and thrown into the treasure vault of the Hongfa Hall, with smelly socks and underpants stuffed in his mouth, and his primordial spirit sealed. That thief disguised himself as Senior Uncle Tianhong and robbed all of Qingyun Heaven. We then sealed off Qingyun Heaven, planning to search out this thief. When we passed by the Dao Academy, we saw blood flowing out from under the door cracks. When we opened the door and looked, those senior brothers from the Heavenly Court were all dead inside..."
The Qingyun Sect Master gritted his teeth and said coldly, "A fine trick—luring the tiger from the mountain! This thief drew you all away just to strike at the Heavenly Court envoys! Was the thief found?"
"Not yet. Just now, as we were rushing over, we heard that someone had discovered Senior Nun Yuxiao with her primordial spirit sealed, underpants stuffed in her mouth, straw covering her head, and buried in the ground..."
The Qingyun Sect Master's anger finally exploded. He was about to erupt when suddenly Qin Mu coughed once and said calmly, "Sect Master, your Qingyun Heaven has indeed been robbed—even we were robbed as well. However, the ones who killed the disciples of Star Lord Host God were not the thief, but myself and Dao Master Lin."
At these words, the Dao palace erupted in uproar.
The Qingyun Sect Master's mind buzzed, his vision went dark, and he staggered slightly.
Qin Mu sat on his throne, his index finger lightly tapping the dragon-head armrest, and said calmly, "I came here as a guest, and Dao Master Lin came to visit relatives. It would not have been proper to kill people in our host's home. However, the host's guests were conspiring to strike against Yankang, refining some kind of Heavenly Diagram to destroy Yankang. Since they were being discourteous to us, we had no choice but to act. An upright person does not do things in secret. We killed these dogs of the Heavenly Court, so of course we must inform the Sect Master."
The Qingyun Sect Master's mind was in complete turmoil. The other old Daoists were also completely at a loss, staring blankly at him, waiting for him to speak.
The young Daoist priest from the Heavenly Court suddenly stood up and sneered, "Fu Yuntian, the disciples of the Heavenly Court's Star Lord Host God died on Qingyun Heaven. You cannot bear this responsibility. Now that you know the true culprit is right before your eyes, what are you waiting for? Waiting for Qingyun Heaven to be exterminated to the last clan?"
The Qingyun Sect Master clenched his hands tightly and turned to look at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu said calmly, "The Dao Ancestor has not yet spoken. Is the Sect Master acting on his own authority? Why not go ask the Dao Ancestor?"
The young Daoist priest turned to face Qin Mu directly and giggled, "You destroyed the Dao Ancestor's statue—how can you contact the Dao Ancestor? Qin Mu, Qin Overlord Body, you first destroyed the Dao Ancestor's statue, then destroyed the Dao Ancestor's Three Treasures, and then killed the three hundred and sixty disciples of Star Lord Host God, attempting to frame Qingyun Heaven and destroy the Dao Ancestor's legacy in one fell swoop. Your intentions are sinister, and you deserve death ten thousand times over!"
Qin Mu laughed heartily and said leisurely, "Sect Master, you must have other means of contacting the Dao Ancestor, yes? Why not go quickly?"
The Qingyun Sect Master was at a complete loss. He gritted his teeth, turned, and strode away, saying in a deep voice, "In my meditation chamber, there is a portrait of the Dao Ancestor. I will go consult the Dao Ancestor's opinion! As for the others..."
He stopped, frowned, and said in a low voice, "Watch them. They must not be allowed to leave Qingyun Heaven even half a step!"
An old Daoist said quietly, "What about the Heavenly Court envoys..."
"Including the Heavenly Court envoys!" The Qingyun Sect Master hurried away.
Qin Mu stood up, let out a ha-ha laugh, and walked down the steps toward the exit of the Dao palace, saying with a smile, "A good wind lends me strength, carrying me up to the blue clouds. Qingyun Heaven is truly a fine place. Can one ascend to heaven in a single step here?"
The young Daoist priest from the Heavenly Court also stood up and followed behind him, saying with a smile, "It could be ascending to heaven in a single step, or it could be a single misstep that sends you tumbling into hell, never to return."
Lin Xuan threw a glance at the Zhua Daoist, and the two of them also walked out of the Dao palace.
"You carry yourself with extraordinary bearing. What might your name be?" Qin Mu asked the young Daoist priest once they were outside the Dao palace.
"Heavenly Court Dao Sect, personally taught disciple of the Dao Ancestor, Xiao Chunfeng."
The young Daoist priest said calmly, "Although I am the Dao Ancestor's disciple, I have never actually met the Dao Ancestor. The reason I joined the Heavenly Court Dao Sect was merely to register my name there and study the Dao Sect's techniques and divine abilities. Given my family background and status, becoming the Dao Ancestor's disciple is actually an honor to the Dao Ancestor."
Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he asked, "Could it be that you are the son of one of the Ancient Gods?"
The young Daoist priest was surprised and praised, "The Qin Overlord Body is not merely famous in name. I am the son of Lady Taiyin."
"No wonder your surname is Xiao—you follow your mother's surname."
Qin Mu smiled and said, "Taiyin Star Lord is the Ancient God of the moon, equal in fame to the Great Sun Star Lord. However, you look so young, so you must have been born recently when Taiyin Star Lord dallied with someone or other."
Xiao Chunfeng's eye twitched.
Qin Mu's face was full of smiles as he said, "When Dao Master Lin and I slaughtered all the disciples of the Star Lords of the Constellations just now, we didn't see the disciples of the Four Emperors. May I ask where they are?"
"We're right here." Behind him, the young men and women of the Heavenly Court said coldly.
Qin Mu turned around and said, "Which of you is the disciple of the Southern Emperor?"
One of the girls in red said, "That would be me."
Qin Mu carefully examined the girl, nodded slightly, and said with a smile, "I have an old acquaintance with the Southern Emperor. I will not kill you. As for the rest of you Heavenly Court senior brothers—the Overlord Body is here. Who comes to die first?"
————QQ Book City has gained a new Silver Alliance Leader. Thank you for your support, fellow Daoists! QQ Book City also has its own dedicated reader group now, already posted at the top of the reader forum. Everyone is welcome to join, chat, make friends, and discuss the plot!