Chapter 881: No Strength to Turn the Tide
The Lava Earth Count pointed a finger at the ground, and demonic energy surged from beneath. The ground vanished, revealing a vision of the Netherworld.
Qin Mu looked there and saw that before the true body of the Earth Count, another "Imperial Heaven Lord" had descended. That majestic physical form, though not comparable to the Earth Count, was still extremely vast—about one-tenth the size of the Earth Count.
The "Imperial Heaven Lord" in the Mystic Capital was the same. The true bodies of the Heaven Duke and Earth Count were truly immense; only a few ancient gods could truly rival them.
The "Imperial Heaven Lord" in the Netherworld also possessed layer upon layer of heavenly palaces. Those palaces formed a boundless, magnificent heavenly court.
The divine repositories and heavenly palaces of the "Imperial Heaven Lord" were structured from the Dao runes of nearly all the ancient gods. Thus, when the Heaven Duke and Earth Count saw such an "Imperial Heaven Lord," how could they not be shaken to their core!
Ancient gods had no concept of cultivation realms—they were born this powerful. They could also cultivate and improve their strength, but cultivation only deepened their understanding of their own Dao. They could not break free from their own limitations.
For example, the Earth Count could not comprehend the Dao of the Heaven Duke.
But later-born beings and demigods had no such restrictions. However, they were born countless times weaker than the ancient gods. Even with the divine repository cultivation system and the heavenly palace cultivation system, they could never catch up to the ancient gods.
After all, no matter how deeply later-born beings and demigods comprehended, they could never surpass the ancient gods born of the Dao itself. The Dao they comprehended would always be somewhat inferior to the true Dao.
But the Heaven Duke and Earth Count knew of one exception.
In the early years of the Dragon Han Era, at the Jade Pool Gathering, the Heaven Lord Hao had revealed the eighth realm of the Imperial Heaven Lord's divine realm—the Heavenly Court realm.
The Heavenly Court was the key for later-born beings and demigods to surpass the ancient gods!
The Heavenly Court encompassed the ancient god system—the Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces and Seventy-Two Precious Halls. Cultivate the Heavenly Court, and one's power could stand shoulder to shoulder with beings like the Ancient God Heavenly Emperor!
For a long time, there had been no records or legends of the Heavenly Court realm in the world. The rulers of the Heavenly Court did not wish others to know of this realm, and the ancient gods helped keep it secret.
Because this realm was too terrifying!
The Heaven Duke and Earth Count also knew that the rulers of the Heavenly Court had long been searching for various Imperial Throne cultivation techniques, all for the purpose of forging a Heavenly Court technique. But gathering all Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces and Seventy-Two Precious Halls was extremely difficult, and the rulers of the Heavenly Court had never achieved much.
In each era, there were few Imperial Throne powerhouses to begin with. Add to that the need for the techniques of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces and Seventy-Two Precious Halls to possess different attributes, and gathering them all naturally became a mountain of difficulty.
Yet the two "Imperial Heaven Lords" that suddenly appeared in the Mystic Capital and the Netherworld had truly frightened them.
"No, no!"
Qin Mu counted and said: "These two Imperial Heaven Lords—the number of heavenly palaces behind them is wrong! The Imperial Heaven Lord in the Mystic Capital has eighteen heavenly palaces, and the one in the Netherworld has twenty. They do not possess the complete Heavenly Court realm! They are not invincible!"
The Lava Earth Count calmed down and nodded: "In the Netherworld, I can fight! They have not obtained the Netherworld Divine Son, nor have they thoroughly studied my Netherworld Dao."
The Heaven Duke's avatar said dejectedly: "I am close to being thoroughly studied. The one who came this time is none other than my unfilial son. With him coming for me, I fear the worst. But before he has studied me thoroughly, my unfilial son will not make his move against me. He wants to surpass me, replace me, be stronger than me. Until he achieves that, he will not touch me."
Qin Mu steadied his mind, pacing back and forth. Suddenly he looked at the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha and said: "King Buddha is a member of the Heavenly Alliance. Will the Imperial Heaven Lord who entered the Buddhist Realm make a move against you?"
The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha shook his head: "Making a move against me is unlikely—after all, I am an elder of the Heavenly Alliance. But my Imperial Throne True Scripture must be handed over. Heavenly Lord Mu, the Heavenly Court will not act against the Heaven Duke and Earth Count for now. The one they intend to strike this time is likely the Primordial Realm."
Qin Mu's face changed drastically. "You mean to say—there is also an Imperial Heaven Lord descending in the Primordial Realm?"
The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha sighed: "The Earth Mother Primordial Lord of the Primordial Realm is dead but not gone—she must be eliminated. Besides the Primordial Realm, there are also the Four Emperors. In their Eastern Heaven, Western Heaven, Southern Heaven, and Northern Heaven, an Imperial Heaven Lord has likely descended to each. Yan Kang is in the Primordial Realm, originally tucked away in a corner. Now it is as precarious as a stack of eggs. Whether to destroy Yan Kang is but the effort of blowing away dust for this weapon."
Qin Mu's hands and feet turned ice-cold. His voice hoarse: "What do we do?"
He looked at the Heaven Duke. The Heaven Duke's avatar sighed and remained silent.
Qin Mu looked at the Earth Count. The Earth Count avoided his gaze and said nothing.
He looked again at the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha. The Buddha shook his head. He looked at the Crimson Emperor and the Great Sun Star Lord. The Crimson Emperor said: "We are already dead—we have no use at all. My Crimson Bright Era is likely completely finished..."
Qin Mu was dazed, slumping to the ground in defeat.
The most dangerous situation was not the Heaven Duke and Earth Count, but Yan Kang.
The Heavenly Court would not touch the Heaven Duke and Earth Count until they had fully deduced their Dao runes—otherwise the cost would be too great.
But dealing with the Primordial Realm was utterly effortless for them.
Yan Kang, as an insignificant little place in the Primordial Realm, was doomed this time.
"Child of the Qin family, we can barely protect ourselves—we cannot help you."
The Lava Earth Count said: "The Netherworld is still safe. The Nether Heaven Lord has already gone to Yan Kang to retrieve the true Imperial Heaven Lord. With me and the Nether Heaven Lord here, his safety can be guaranteed. Do not remain in Yan Kang—it is too dangerous. Go to the Netherworld and plan for the long term."
Qin Mu's mind went blank.
The Heaven Duke said: "You may also come to my Mystic Capital. My unfilial son will not act against me for now. You cannot go to the Buddhist Realm—they are still hunting you there."
Qin Mu's heart was a tangled mess.
Suddenly, hope flared within him: "Right—the Heavenly Emperor, the Ancient God Heavenly Emperor! He is also the head of the Heavenly Alliance! And the Moon Heaven Lord, and the Heavenly Yin Empress, and the remnants of the Kai Huang Era—they can help Yan Kang! There is still hope!"
"You are the Netherworld Divine Son. The Heavenly Court must not obtain you."
The Lava Earth Count said: "If the Heavenly Court obtains you, it is equivalent to obtaining the Dao of my Netherworld. Then even I would be in danger. Return to the Netherworld. You were born in the Netherworld—you are a person of my Netherworld. You do not belong to Yan Kang. The Netherworld is your true home, your native soil."
"I want to return to Yan Kang!"
Qin Mu suddenly clenched his teeth and shouted: "I am going to Yan Kang!"
The Lava Earth Count frowned and said: "Return to Yan Kang first, take some of your friends and family, and I will have the Nether Heaven Lord come to fetch you."
Qin Mu said no more.
Qin Fengqing ran at full speed. After two days, the continent of the Primordial Realm came into view ahead.
Suddenly, Qin Fengqing froze slightly, looked up at the sky, and blurted out: "There are beings in this world even bigger than me? How long would it take to eat one?"
In the sky, a majestic Imperial Heaven Lord crushed through the world barrier of the Primordial Realm, descending from beyond the heavens. Even at the borderlands of the Primordial Realm continent, one could see this divine being.
Behind his head, ring upon ring of light wheels revolved, flames soaring, as he descended toward where the Great Ruin once was.
Ripples of energy exploded outward in all directions with him at the center, pushing aside the heavens above and sweeping the clouds from the sky.
A terrifying pressure swept across millions upon millions of miles of the Primordial Realm in an instant—a vast expanse of space—so that all could feel this dreadful might, so that every heart felt as if a radiant deity were pressing down upon them.
Even powerhouses who had shattered the gods within their hearts could not help but feel a profound sense of helplessness upon sensing such an existence.
In that moment, nearly everyone in the Primordial Realm sensed it, and saw it—the Heavenly Court's most powerful weapon.
The weapon that overawed all heavens descended on this day.
Descending alongside that "Imperial Heaven Lord" were countless great tower ships. As the "Imperial Heaven Lord's" body crushed through the Primordial Realm's barrier, these tower ships floated around his colossal form, descending together with him.
On the ships were the divine and demon armies of the Heavenly Court.
The "Imperial Heaven Lord" had not come to deal with the remnants of the Crimson Bright, Upper Emperor, and Kai Huang eras. He had come to deal with the ruler of the Primordial Realm—to slay the Earth Mother Primordial Lord.
Eliminating the remnants of the Crimson Bright, Upper Emperor, and Kai Huang eras was the responsibility of the Heavenly Court's divine and demon armies that descended with him.
"Can't win."
Qin Fengqing muttered, setting the Dragon Qilin and Yan'er down from his shoulders. He called out: "Bad little brother, we've reached shore. There's a big fellow outside—I definitely can't beat him. Be careful yourself!"
With that, his physical form rapidly shrank, quickly returning to the appearance of Qin Mu.
"Heavenly Lord Mu, find your friends and family as quickly as possible. The Nether Heaven Lord will come to take you all to the Netherworld!" The Earth Count's voice pierced into his ears.
Qin Mu did not answer. He took out the willow leaf and pressed it to his forehead, revealing a smile as he said to Yan'er: "Sister Yan'er, my clothes are all rumpled—won't you help me straighten them?"
Yan'er was still shocked by the colossal "Imperial Heaven Lord." Hearing this, she quickly transformed into a chubby girl and struggled to help Qin Mu straighten his robes, saying: "Young Master, the person who came down from the sky looks like the fat Lan."
Qin Mu nodded: "It is a replica, but absurdly powerful."
The Earth Count's voice entered his mind: "Do not harbor any illusions of luck. When Yan Kang is destroyed, there is absolutely no chance of survival! Return to the Netherworld—you have always been the Netherworld's Divine Son!"
Qin Mu saw that Yan'er was truly struggling and laughed: "I'll do it myself. Sister Yan'er, if you carry me and Fatty Long, how long will it take to fly to the Peach Grove at top speed?"
Yan'er breathed a sigh of relief, revealed her true form again—the chubby Roc-Phoenix—and said: "One day to reach the Peach Grove!"
Qin Mu leaped onto her back and said solemnly: "Then we go to the Peach Grove first! Fatty Long, get on!"
The Dragon Qilin quickly jumped onto Yan'er's back. The Roc-Phoenix spread her wings and shot through the air with a howl. Though not as fast as Qin Fengqing at full sprint, it was still extraordinary—many times faster than the Dragon Qilin!
The next day, Yan'er flew over the Kunlun territory and landed outside the Dao Gate Academy.
Forest Pavilion Dao Master saw this divine bird descending from the sky and hurried out of the academy. He saw Qin Mu slide down from the bird's back and, without greeting him, dash toward the Peach Grove.
"Moon Heaven Lord!"
Qin Mu burst into the Peach Grove, calling out: "An old friend, Heavenly Lord Mu, requests an audience!"
Forest Pavilion Dao Master was startled, but he saw Qin Mu continuously pressing deeper into the Peach Grove—yet he only ever circled around its outer edges.
"What is wrong with Sect Master Qin?" Forest Pavilion Dao Master asked the Dragon Qilin.
The Dragon Qilin glanced around and said: "Yan Kang is about to be destroyed. The Sect Master wants to ask the Peach Grove's mistress for help, so he brought out his old identity. If the Peach Grove's mistress still remembers their old friendship, she will not refuse."
Forest Pavilion Dao Master was bewildered and quickly asked: "Yan Kang is about to be destroyed—does it have something to do with that Lan Yutian who suddenly came down from the sky? That divine being looks almost exactly like the Lan Yutian beside the Sect Master, except thinner!"
Just then, several Daoists came searching and called out: "Academy Master, someone has come from Azure Cloud Heaven—they request your presence!"
Forest Pavilion Dao Master had no time to ask for details. He hurried back to the academy to receive the guest from Azure Cloud Heaven.
To his surprise, the Azure Cloud Sect Master himself had come this time. Forest Pavilion Dao Master was about to exchange pleasantries when the Azure Cloud Sect Master raised a hand and said: "Junior Brother Lin, I have come on the Dao Ancestor's oral decree to see you. Please immediately move the Yan Kang Dao Gate into Azure Cloud Heaven, away from this place of trouble! Yan Kang cannot be saved!"
Forest Pavilion Dao Master was dumbfounded. Suddenly all his strength left him. He slumped against a pillar, his voice hoarse: "The Dao Ancestor said this?"
"The Dao Ancestor said this!"
The Azure Cloud Sect Master immediately took his leave, saying solemnly: "I still need to notify the various heavens of the Heavenly Court Dao Gate and tell them the Dao Ancestor's decree! Junior Brother Lin, the Dao Ancestor thinks highly of you—I was told to inform you first. Do not disappoint the Dao Ancestor's expectations!"
He flew away.
Forest Pavilion Dao Master's mind was a blur. It took him a long while to come to his senses. He stumbled out of the Dao Gate Academy and saw that Qin Mu was still roaming the edge of the Peach Grove, trying to enter—but the Peach Grove's mistress had still not responded.
When night fell, faint lights flickered within the Peach Grove. A woman carrying a lantern walked out from the grove and said: "Young Master Qin, the Empress says that this matter is beyond her power to help. Please return. The Empress also says that you should protect yourself and not wade too deep into the world's affairs. If you do not come seeking help, you may enter the Peach Grove at any time. There is no strife in the Peach Grove, no danger."
Qin Mu stood in a daze.
The lantern-carrying woman looked at Yan'er and said: "Sister Yan'er, the Empress orders you to return to the palace."
Yan'er's heart was in turmoil. She looked at Qin Mu, then at the Dragon Qilin, then at the lantern-carrying woman, hesitating.
The woman said: "The Empress says that you are in mortal danger out there. Especially by Young Master Qin's side—the dangers are even greater."
Yan'er wavered, then suddenly said: "Fatty Long, persuade the Young Master to enter the Peach Grove with me. The Empress can protect your safety."
The Dragon Qilin glanced at Qin Mu and said: "The Sect Master's mind is made up—no one can persuade him otherwise. Sister Yan'er, you go on your own."
Yan'er was frantic: "You won't come with me?"
The Dragon Qilin laughed: "The Sect Master needs me. When I was nearly starved to death, the Sect Master gave me food. I cannot just flick my tail and leave when he's in trouble. Now is the time he is most helpless—I cannot leave. I may be timid and greedy, but I am not afraid of death. Sister Yan'er, take care!"