Chapter 1026: Purple Desert Flower Traveler

Within Qin Mu's Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure, with the Taiji Diagram positioned above and below, the forty-nine Heavenly Dao and sixty-four Youdu Great Dao were all activated and began to merge. Yet, the moment they touched, the Heavenly Dao and Youdu Great Dao instantly dissolved each other, causing his cultivation to plummet.

Qin Mu immediately halted the process.

The Eastern Emperor frowned.

By now, Dragon Qilin and Yan'er could distinctly feel the killing intent radiating from him.

Qin Mu remained unperturbed, quietly pondering. He had previously borrowed the powers of Heaven Duke and Earth Count to reassemble his shattered soul, using the Gate of Heaven's Blessing to harmonize their respective forces.

The Gate of Heaven's Blessing connects heaven and earth, serving as a portal within the Heavenly Court. To enter the High Heavens Hall from the inner city of Jade Capital City, one must pass through this very gate.

In the past, Qin Mu had inverted the Gate of Heaven's Blessing, leveraging its miraculous properties to reshape souls by combining divine and demonic paths.

When he first developed this resurrection technique, he hadn't deeply studied its essence, instead habitually drawing on the powers of Heaven Duke and Earth Count.

Now, facing a life-or-death situation, he finally began to contemplate the true essence of this divine ability.

The Eastern Emperor's killing intent intensified, making Yan'er and Dragon Qilin increasingly tense as they stared fixedly at him. Though they were no match for the Eastern Emperor, they were prepared to fight to the death if he made a move against Qin Mu.

The outcome of such a battle was grimly apparent: they would all perish at the Eastern Emperor's hands.

At that very moment, a subtle yet profound power of creation, capable of defying fate, began to circulate within Qin Mu. This gentle force, brimming with the ability to create life and souls, flowed into the dragon god's corpse.

The dragon god's body began to emit streams of white light, like drifting mist. Inside, the black sands of his soul were constantly reassembling, giving rise to the Heavenly Soul, reforming the Earthly Soul, and evolving the Living Soul.

Witnessing this, the Eastern Emperor's killing intent dissipated.

Yan'er and Dragon Qilin exhaled in great relief, panting heavily.

The immense pressure the Eastern Emperor had imposed moments before had nearly suffocated them.

Qin Mu channeled his internal power, meticulously reshaping each of the dragon god's seven corporeal souls. A moment later, the dragon god slowly stirred awake, looking around with confusion, unsure why he was lying there.

He quickly rose, gradually recalling the moments before his death. He remembered dying at the hands of his father, Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon, but he dared not express any resentment, keeping his head bowed in silence.

The Eastern Emperor paid no heed to the dragon god's demeanor, laughing heartily as he exclaimed, "Grand Master, you are indeed a Grand Master!"

Qin Mu smiled faintly, "Eastern Emperor, are you satisfied now?"

The Eastern Emperor chuckled, "Indeed, I am. The Grand Master has passed this trial. The next one will test your potential."

Qin Mu let out a long breath, as if a great weight had been lifted, and smiled, "Then, may I inquire how Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor plans to conduct the next test?"

The painted boat sailed deeper into the Jade Pool. The Eastern Emperor stepped to the bow, stating leisurely, "The Heavenly Emperor has few descendants. Heaven Duke is wounded by love, and Earth Count is constrained by his children, so their offspring are also sparse. Earth Mother is deceased, and both the Empress and Primordial Mother exist merely in name. Thus, the strongest bloodline in the world today is undoubtedly mine!"

With his long beard flowing and his green robes elegant, he declared, "My dragon sons and grandsons are countless in their might. Even if they journey to the Heavenly Court, they can contend with all the heroes of the world! Even if they enter Youdu after death, they can dominate it and become mighty ghost heroes! Grand Master!"

He looked at Qin Mu and smiled, "I have my dragon daughter, Guyan, and my dragon son, Qingming, both possessing extraordinary talent. Should the Grand Master defeat them, you will have passed this trial. Guyan, Qingming, come and greet Heavenly Venerate Mu!"

From the depths of the Jade Pool, a dragon island emerged, populated by numerous young dragon men and women engaged in cultivation.

As Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon's voice faded, a male and a female dragon god flew up, hovering in the air, and bowed in greeting to Qin Mu.

Qin Mu glanced at the two; they were indeed rare talents. He remarked, "The Eastern Emperor's bloodline is truly exceptional. However, while I may serve as His Majesty the Eastern Emperor's Grand Master, I am also Heavenly Venerate Mu. For the Eastern Emperor to have two juniors test me seems to show little regard for the title of Heavenly Venerate."

The Eastern Emperor slightly furrowed his brow, "Grand Master, are you implying..."

Qin Mu replied calmly, "I was acclaimed Heavenly Venerate in the early Dragon Han era, when I breached the Jade Pool and slew countless demigods. Even Hao Heavenly Venerate, currently the foremost of the Ten Heavenly Venerates, was humbled by me for a millennium. For Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor to use your dragon sons and grandsons to test my capabilities would be to greatly underestimate me."

The Eastern Emperor slightly furrowed his brow, "Grand Master, are you implying..."

Qin Mu leisurely continued, "Both Heaven Duke and Earth Count have reincarnated, attempting to escape the limitations of being ancient gods. As the ancient god emperor of the Eastern Extremity Heavens, Your Majesty must have also undergone reincarnation, correct?"

The Eastern Emperor nodded.

Qin Mu continued, "Your Majesty is quite familiar with the Divine Treasure and Heavenly Palace cultivation systems, are you not?"

The Eastern Emperor replied calmly, "After my reincarnation, I achieved the Divine Bridge realm within a century and the Emperor's Throne realm within a millennium. I met Emperor Chi, and Emperor Ming even addressed me as uncle. I left behind the 'Azure Dragon Great Desolation Scripture,' an Emperor's Throne cultivation method, which is now archived in the Heavenly Court. Many of my descendants practice my techniques."

Qin Mu smiled, "Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor possesses great talent and profound wisdom. Have you, then, delved into the intricacies of the Heavenly Court realm?"

The Eastern Emperor smiled, clasping his hands behind his back. "Knowing oneself and one's enemy ensures victory in every battle. Naturally, I have thoroughly researched the Heavenly Court realm. To be frank, my reincarnated self is still alive, wandering through various eras. I am also collecting Emperor's Throne cultivation methods and have gained my own insights."

Qin Mu, deeply moved, clapped his hands in admiration. "The Ten Heavenly Venerates of the Heavenly Court are but mere children, daring to underestimate ancient gods; they truly know not death. Leaving aside Heaven Duke and Earth Count, the Eastern Emperor alone is not to be underestimated!"

The Eastern Emperor burst into laughter, "The Ten Heavenly Venerates are indeed powerful, and I must bow my head to them for now, but my strength is by no means weak."

Qin Mu stated, "Therefore, I, Mu, humbly dare to request that Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor's reincarnated self test my potential."

The Eastern Emperor, having long anticipated Qin Mu's intention, his eyes gleaming, leisurely replied, "Since the Grand Master extends such a cordial invitation, I cannot decline. My only concern is that my heavy hand might inadvertently injure you."

"That's fine," Qin Mu replied.

Qin Mu smiled broadly, "My body is quite resilient."

"Father God!"

Dragon daughter Guyan bowed, then looked up, glancing at Qin Mu with a smile. "Heavenly Venerate Mu's renown precedes him; your child would also greatly enjoy experiencing his methods."

Dragon son Qingming, his battle intent blazing, declared loudly, "Why use an ox-slaying knife to kill a mere chicken?"

The Eastern Emperor looked at Qin Mu and smiled, "Grand Master, what are your thoughts?"

Qin Mu gently raised his hand, and a lotus flower floated up from the Jade Pool, settling into his palm. He smiled, "It's excellent that my virtuous nephew and niece possess such an enterprising spirit, but unfortunately, they still lack refinement."

He plucked a single petal, then handed the remaining lotus to Yan'er. Yan'er quickly transformed into a young girl and cradled the flower to her chest.

Qin Mu gently blew on the petal.

The petal from his palm drifted upward, then floated towards Guyan and Qingming.

The petal spun and drifted through the air, dividing into two with each revolution, then two into four, and four into eight.

In short order, the lotus petals drifting towards Guyan and Qingming multiplied until they obscured the sky and sun. A vast, pink sea of petals surged towards them.

Both Guyan and Qingming unleashed their divine abilities, striking at the surging sea of petals, hoping to tear it open and confront Qin Mu directly.

Yet, their divine abilities, upon striking the floral sea, seemed only to accelerate its division, generating even more petals!

The sea of petals overwhelmed them. Though they summoned clouds and mist to resist with all their might, every one of their divine abilities was absorbed by the petals, which continued to multiply and gradually engulfed Dragon Island.

On Dragon Island, the young dragon practitioners in the Jade Pool all moved to resist. However, as the sea of petals absorbed their divine abilities, it immediately swelled, then swelled further, its reach expanding more and more!

While the Jade Pool of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace wasn't as vast as that of the Heavenly Court, it was still a considerable body of water. Yet, at this moment, the sea of petals had already overtaken its center, threatening to submerge and consume the entire pool!

Within the ocean of petals, dragon roars reverberated, filled with shock, fury, and terror.

The petals proliferated, even landing on their bodies and merging with their flesh, appearing as if they were covered in pink scales.

Even more terrifying, these petals began to drain their internal energy, then split into even more petals, growing over their entire bodies and replacing their dragon scales!

They even felt the petals replacing their flesh, blood, and bones.

Furthermore, the petals even drifted into their physical forms, settling upon their primordial spirits!

The petals were siphoning power from their primordial spirits!

Gradually, the roars subsided, leaving only cries of terror. Even formidable experts like Guyan and Qingming, highly esteemed by Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon, could only shriek in fear.

They were utterly powerless to break through the floral sea, sinking deeper into it. Each attempt to disrupt the divine ability only amplified its potency.

They could only watch helplessly as the petals grew upon their bodies, burrowed into their flesh, rooted themselves in their primordial spirits, and relentlessly drained their physical forms, vital energy, and strength!

This gradual descent towards death caused their Dao hearts to crumble.

Finally, the sea of petals reached Qin Mu, on the verge of engulfing the painted boat.

Qin Mu stood at the boat's bow, gently raised his hand, and plucked a single petal.

The moment that single petal rested in his hand, the boundless sea of petals instantly vanished. Guyan, Qingming, and all the other dragon descendants lay listlessly on Dragon Island, their vital energy and cultivation completely drained by the floral sea.

Had the floral sea not vanished, they feared their very lives would have been consumed as nourishment for the petals!

"A technique of creation? An art of fortune?"

Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon stared intently at the petal in Qin Mu's hand, saying gravely, "Your divine ability incorporates many elements. Besides the art of creation, there's also numerology, sword arts, the Heavenly Dao, Youdu techniques... No, wait, there's also the contemplation methods of the Creation Gods, and Heavenly Venerate Ling's Unchanging Art!"

Qin Mu walked over to Yan'er, took the petal, and gently placed it back onto the lotus.

As the petal rejoined the lotus, the energy it contained immediately surged through the flower. The lotus began to glow with brilliant golden light, and terrifying bursts of energy erupted like fountains, a truly magnificent sight.

The lotus's power rapidly surged, transforming it into an incredibly potent artifact in mere moments!

This transformation occurred because Qin Mu had entirely siphoned off the cultivation of the dragon descendants on Dragon Island, using it to refine the lotus. With such a vast amount of divine dragon cultivation poured into it, the lotus's power was bound to be immense.

"This divine ability is the fourth form of my Path-Entering divine arts, named 'Guest Amidst Purple Flowery Paths'."

Qin Mu handed the now-transformed lotus to Yan'er, then turned back, smiling. "Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor, what you perceived was merely what I permitted you to see. As an ancient god, you would not comprehend the true profundity of my divine ability. Now..."

His aura solidified, and as the Hegemon Body Three Elixir Technique circulated, a fragmented Heavenly Court materialized behind his head, casting brilliant light across the entire Jade Pool.

Qin Mu clenched his fist and calmly stated, "It's time for Your Majesty to personally test me."