Chapter 871: Entering the Dao Through the Mortal World
In the Moon Palace, Qin Mu and Bai Qu'er were indeed genuinely exchanging sword techniques. Although Bai Qu'er's swordsmanship was originally derived from Qin Mu, after forty thousand years of tempering, her sword techniques had undergone a qualitative leap beyond the foundation of Qin Mu's swordsmanship from back then.
Back then, when Qin Mu and the Great Venerable and the others returned to forty thousand years ago, in Bailong City, Qin Mu had demonstrated his sword techniques to Bai Qu'er, Bai Qingfu, and the others. However, when the era of the Previous Emperor collapsed, among those who had witnessed Qin Mu's swordsmanship, only Bai Qu'er survived.
After Qin Mu left, she alone protected the common people, searching for a place where the era of the Previous Emperor could continue. Every hardship and obstacle, she bore alone.
Qin Mu's sword techniques gradually evolved in her hands, transforming into a deity that protected the common people. She was like another First Ancestor Human Emperor, but unlike the First Ancestor Human Emperor, she was even more aggressive and enterprising.
Her starting point was even lower. The First Ancestor Human Emperor, Qin Wu, was a descendant of Emperor Kaihuang, receiving the finest education from childhood and cultivating the most powerful techniques and divine powers.
But she was merely the daughter of the Bailong City Lord, and not even of pure dragon lineage. The best divine powers she had ever learned were Qin Mu's sword techniques and the Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art that Qin Mu had taught her. However, at that time, Qin Mu had not had the chance to fully transmit his sword techniques to her, and the Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art was also incomplete.
She could only rely on herself to grope forward, improving and refining. Although her sword techniques still bore traces of Qin Mu, the essence and artistic conception of her swordsmanship had long since diverged from Qin Mu's path.
This was also what made Qin Mu admire and respect her.
Only when swordsmanship possesses the spirit of an era can one enter the Dao.
This kind of entering the Dao was not the kind brought by Emperor Throne techniques, nor was it the kind like the Heavenly Court's "Imperial Venerable" that relied on mathematical analysis to deconstruct the Great Dao runes of the ancient gods.
Entering the Dao through Emperor Throne techniques relied on the founder's cultivation, bringing the practitioner supreme enlightenment.
Entering the Dao through deconstructing runic Great Dao was a shortcut, allowing oneself to wield the Great Dao divine powers of the ancient gods.
Both of these were methods of taking shortcuts.
True entering the Dao was to be infected by the spirit of a great era, to place one's Dao heart within that era, to let the Dao heart pulse with the times, to be moved by the era's atmosphere and heartbeat, to have one's Dao heart stirred by the turbulence of mortal affairs, and thus enter the Dao.
This kind of entering the Dao was entering through the mortal world.
Entering the Dao through the mortal world was the true entering the Dao.
The Village Chief's sword path was dancing the sword through one setback after another, commemorating the fallen heroes, broadening his mind.
The Yan Kang National Preceptor entered the Dao through reform and political change, forging ahead with determination.
The Butcher entered the Dao through refusing to accept heaven, refusing to accept earth, refusing to accept defeat—drawing his blade against the heavens, venting his grudges freely.
Qin Mu entered the Dao through being inspired by the First Ancestor Human Emperor, bearing heavy burdens and responsibilities while being powerless to turn the tide, striking out in fury on the battlefield of the Supreme Emperor Heaven, wanting to change the calamity of the mortal world.
Bai Qu'er's entering the Dao was through using her sword to guard the safety of the common people, protecting the masses, and giving them hope to live.
Her sword path only came to a standstill after the era of the Previous Emperor completely ended and the common people were safe, because at that time there was no more war, and the people of the Previous Emperor's era had the opportunity to thrive and multiply.
At that time, her sword path had been cultivated to the twenty-seventh heaven.
Emperor Kaihuang and other rising talents also rose to prominence at that time, and Bai Qu'er, the Sword God of the Previous Emperor, could finally set down her heavy burden. It was precisely because of this that in the following tens of thousands of years, her sword path could never advance further.
But her sword techniques and philosophy also influenced the Kaihuang era that lasted for the following twenty thousand years, and even influenced Yan Kang forty thousand years later.
Qin Mu exchanged sword techniques with her, teaching her the Eighteenth Style and Nineteenth Style of the Sword that he had created, and also learning her great divine powers of the sword path.
He could see from her great divine powers of the sword path the suffering and torment this girl had endured, and her stubborn persistence.
This time, Qin Mu fully transmitted his sword techniques to her, and also taught her the Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art without reservation.
The reason Bai Qu'er, the Sword God of the Previous Emperor, had been unable to cultivate to a higher realm was precisely because the Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art was incomplete. With this technique, although it could not elevate her sword path attainments, it could allow her cultivation realm to advance another step.
"You want to go search for the Guixu?"
When Bai Qu'er heard Qin Mu mention the Guixu, she thought for a moment, then said: "Back then I led the tribesmen into the Eastern Sea. At that time, Yuandu had not yet been sealed. I encountered a giant dragon in a certain sea region, seemingly like the Dragon Earl you mentioned. If the Dragon Earl is there, the Guixu should be nearby."
Qin Mu's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked where exactly she had encountered the Dragon Earl.
Bai Qu'er drew a maritime geography chart for him, saying: "The Dragon Earl has a very violent temper. He is a descendant of the ancient divine dragons. If you go there, you must be careful."
In the Heavenly Chart, the scholars of Yan Kang were very industrious, like busy worker bees, repairing the incomplete formations in the Heavenly Chart and modifying the formation structures.
The Heavenly Chart was a treasure. The Yan Kang National Preceptor wanted to refine this treasure anew, using it as a formation weapon for Yan Kang.
The Yan Kang National Preceptor had also considered taking the Heavenly Chart away, but taking it away would only make the Heavenly Court refine a new Heavenly Chart faster, which would be even more disadvantageous to Yan Kang.
By exploiting the Heavenly Court's inertia, making Yan Kang appear even more harmless, that was what served Yan Kang's interests.
Qin Mu and Bai Qu'er also walked out of the Moon Palace, helping the scholars repair the Heavenly Chart and improve the formation structures. The two of them lived very fulfilling days.
Until one day, Qin Mu suddenly remembered the Imperial Venerable.
"Damn it, I left Imperial Brother at Jiangling Academy for almost half a year!"
Qin Mu had no choice but to leave. Bai Qu'er stood before the Moon Palace, waving goodbye to him.
Qin Mu stood on the head of the Dragon Qilin, and the Dragon Qilin galloped toward the world below.
He looked back, and that woman danced with her sword beneath the bright moon.
Qin Mu stared blankly at the woman dancing in the moon. He felt that Bai Qu'er's sword path, which had been stagnant, suddenly seemed to have improved once more, advancing again.
That woman seemed to have found someone and something worth guarding with her life once more, and thus her sword path attainments had risen again!
"Does she want to guard this Yan Kang that inherits the ideals of the Previous Emperor, or does she just want to guard me..."
Qin Mu shook his head and laughed at himself: "She wants to guard Yan Kang. It must be so."
At Jiangling Academy, Qin Mu's face darkened as he picked up the Imperial Venerable and the Water Qilin, both of whom had been fed fat and plump by Yan'er. During these six months, the Imperial Venerable had followed Duke Weiguo, and his voice had become astonishingly loud. Qin Mu's ears were buzzing from the noise.
Qin Mu's face grew even darker. He strictly forbade Yan'er from continuing to feed the Imperial Venerable and the Water Qilin, and on the road, he forced the Imperial Venerable to cultivate frantically, trying to shed the excess fat on his body.
As for the Water Qilin, Qin Mu handed it over to the Dragon Qilin for training.
When it came to losing excess fat, the Dragon Qilin also had his own methods.
Yan'er had no chance to feed them, so she had to take care of Qin Mu instead. Qin Mu bought her some sunflower seeds, letting the girl peel them one by one and feed them to him.
"Does Young Master eat demons?" Yan'er grabbed a demon god as majestic as a mountain and tempted him.
Qin Mu shook his head.
Yan'er was very disappointed. She ate that demon god, then flew out and grabbed a deity, tempting him: "Does Young Master eat deities?"
Qin Mu shook his head.
After Yan'er was full, she let out a burp.
They arrived at Yujing Academy. Wang Muran's Yujing Academy was somewhat inferior to the other academies. Once the most renowned number one sacred land of Yan Kang, it had fallen behind because it was too aloof, failing to reform in time and convert the heritage of Little Yujing into attraction for scholars.
However, Qin Mu encountered the First Ancestor Human Emperor here. Besides the First Ancestor, all the successive Human Emperors had also come here, becoming instructors of the Imperial Academy, teaching the scholars.
Little Yujing was originally a fragment of the Kaihuang Heavenly Court from back then. The First Ancestor had deep feelings for this place. Back then, when his will was depressed, it was here that he had turned to stone.
The Second Ancestor, Third Ancestor, Qi Kang Human Emperor, and the others were all the most outstanding talents of the twenty thousand years since the fall of Kaihuang. Having been revived this time, they were naturally even more formidable than in their prime.
These Human Emperors had all reopened their Heavenly River Divine Depots, and their strength was extremely formidable.
Moreover, they continued their domineering style from Fengdu, making Yujing Academy very lively.
The First Ancestor Human Emperor also moved the classics of Yuming Palace to Little Yujing, which was also a tremendous boost to Yujing Academy.
Qin Mu brought the Imperial Venerable here to study. After more than ten days, he had finished learning the fruits of the reform, but the Imperial Venerable had not yet finished, so he had to wait here.
"Qin Human Emperor, you care quite a lot about this little fatty."
Qi Kang Human Emperor casually rubbed the "little fatty's" chubby cheeks, squeezing the Imperial Venerable's mouth into a flower shape, and laughed: "Could it be that you plan to groom him as the next generation Human Emperor?"
Qin Mu's eyes lit up. He hadn't actually thought about how to arrange for the Imperial Venerable.
He only wanted to live up to the expectations of the old Yin Cha, cultivating the Imperial Venerable into an existence no less than his previous life, once again becoming a Heavenly Venerable that shocked the world.
However, he couldn't always keep the Imperial Venerable by his side. Perhaps he could groom the Imperial Venerable to become the next generation Human Emperor.
"Our Human Emperors get stronger with each generation."
Qi Kang Human Emperor said with a smile: "Do you think he'll be able to beat you in the future?"
Qin Mu said modestly: "Our Human Emperor Hall does indeed have this tradition, and Imperial Brother is indeed exceptionally outstanding, far surpassing me. But after all, I am the Tyrant Body..."
Qi Kang Human Emperor sneered: "Leave the little fatty here. We old fellows will teach him together, and I guarantee we'll beat your Tyrant Body until you cry for your mom and dad!"
Qin Mu laughed heartily and actually left the Imperial Venerable here, instructing: "Don't teach him techniques, and don't teach him how to open Divine Depots. Whoever dares to teach him, I'll beat them until they cry for their mom and dad!"
The successive Human Emperors sneered, intending to teach this disciple-betraying, ancestor-dishonoring fellow a lesson. Qin Mu quickly called the Dragon Qilin, brought Yan'er along, and sped away with a whoosh.
"Young Master, where are we going?" Yan'er saw him in high spirits and couldn't help asking with a smile.
"The Eastern Sea!" Qin Mu pointed far to the east and said loudly.
Yan'er asked curiously: "Is Young Master tired of eating the demons and gods on land? Want to try seafood? The demons and gods in the sea have a bit of a fishy smell."
"We're going to search for the Guixu!"
Qin Mu laughed loudly: "To search for the traces of the founding patriarch of the Heavenly Sage Sect, Senior Brother Wei Suifeng, and see what secrets he left for me in the Guixu!"
The Dragon Qilin galloped joyfully toward the Eastern Sea. When they reached the sea surface, the frolicking giant beast trampled through ten thousand waves.
Several months later, the Dragon Qilin floated belly-up on the water surface. No matter how Qin Mu beat it, it refused to get up and continue the journey.
"According to the maritime geography chart Qu'er gave me, the place where she saw the Dragon Earl should be nearby."
Qin Mu looked around, comparing the maritime geography chart, but still found nothing.
He untied the willow leaf between his brows, and his divine consciousness descended into the Qin Character Continent. He said politely: "Lord of Heaven, can you see me?"
The Lord of Heaven's avatar paused for a moment, then said: "I can! What do you want to do this time?"
Qin Mu quickly said: "I trouble the Lord of Heaven to help me find the Guixu."
The Lord of Heaven stared at him.
Qin Mu's expression did not change.
After another moment, the Lord of Heaven snorted coldly: "The sea surface is very flat here. There is no Guixu here."
Qin Mu was stunned, then looked at the Lava Earth Count. The Earth Count ignored him.
He had no choice but to withdraw his divine consciousness. With a swoosh, he opened a Gate of Heaven-Bearing behind him and waited obediently outside the gate.
After a long while, a small boat drifted leisurely through the gate. The old Yin Cha stood at the bow.
"Dark Heavenly Venerable, may I ask how to get to the Guixu?" Qin Mu asked.
The horse lantern in the old Yin Cha's hand nearly went out. He silently shook his head.
Qin Mu pressed on: "Then what about the Dragon Earl Kingdom?"
The horse lantern in the old Yin Cha's hand trembled slightly. Through the gate, he raised his hand and pointed in a direction.
"Thank you." Qin Mu said politely, preparing to close the Gate of Heaven-Bearing.
"Wait a moment!"
The old Yin Cha reached a hand out from within the gate, and the horse lantern shone directly on Qin Mu's face. The old man behind the lantern had a very unfriendly expression: "You called me out just to ask for directions?"
Qin Mu nodded.
The hand holding the horse lantern trembled slightly. The old man behind the lantern took a long breath, forcibly restraining himself, and said: "Considering you take care of the Imperial Venerable... Where is the Imperial Venerable? Where did you dump him off to?"
—Sorry, the update is half an hour late. This morning's chapter was written by Zhai Zhu on the high-speed rail. He was out running around all afternoon and only had time to return to the hotel to write at six o'clock. Sorry for the late update.