Chapter 1027: A Sword Shocks the Eastern Extreme

The East Emperor raised an eyebrow, feeling quite displeased. Qin Mu's words were cutting, yet undeniably true; he genuinely couldn't understand Qin Mu's divine arts.

Qin Mu's fifth Path-Entering divine art, "Purple Path Between Flowers Guest," possessed profound meaning, evoking images of "Midnight moon on snow-laden branches, how many layers high is one on Jade Terrace?" He had created this technique after acquiring the wisdom of the Primordial Spirit Realm's Creator race. It synthesized his deep understanding, broad perspective, and insights, encompassing vast knowledge, all while showcasing his unique originality.

As an ancient god, the East Emperor was constrained by his own Great Dao. Although he could recognize many divine techniques within Qin Mu's move, it would be immensely difficult for him to learn these methods and grasp these divine arts. It was common knowledge that ancient gods were inherently limited. With the exception of the Celestial Emperor, most ancient gods could only follow the Great Dao they were born from, finding it nearly impossible to transcend. This applied to Celestial Venerable, Earth Count, and likewise to the East Emperor Azure Dragon.

Many ancient gods had attempted to find a path to break through the shackles of their own Great Daos, with numerous ones repeatedly undergoing reincarnation. However, they discovered that the only way to break free was through death. Only by dying, abandoning their original physical bodies and their original Great Daos, could they truly escape. Consequently, their reincarnated forms could not help them escape their original Great Dao restraints, as exemplified by Earth Count's A'Chou.

"My reincarnated form is still traveling the vast worlds outside; it will arrive in East Extremity Heaven in a few days," the East Emperor chuckled. "Teacher, please wait a few days. I will have someone arrange your lodging."

Qin Mu replied, "I prefer to stay in Jade Pool. Your Majesty East Emperor need not trouble yourself; I will reside on Dragon Island in Jade Pool."

The East Emperor nodded. The painted boat sailed towards Dragon Island, where his offspring were still lying on the ground, unable to move. The East Emperor frowned and summoned many dragon servants to clean up and vacate the island's largest palace.

Qin Mu moved in. He saw that the palace was exquisitely carved and painted, adorned with various treasures. He couldn't help but praise, "Unparalleled luxury."

The East Emperor said, "Teacher, please stay for a while. Once my reincarnated form returns, we will proceed with the second assessment."

Qin Mu laughed, "The longer the wait, the greater the anticipation. Your Majesty East Emperor has already conducted the first assessment, and I can't help but be thrilled for this second one. I wish your reincarnated form would arrive immediately! I assure Your Majesty, I will not disappoint you!"

"Will not disappoint me..." The East Emperor's heart skipped a beat. He burst out laughing, "Teacher, I am busy with official duties, so I shall not disturb your rest."

Qin Mu saw him off, eagerly saying, "Your Majesty East Emperor must feel my earnest anticipation. May your reincarnated form arrive soon."

The East Emperor departed, returning to the High Heavens Palace of Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace, where he summoned the palace's civil and military officials. These officials were all his offspring; no outsiders were present. The dragon sons and grandsons looked up at the East Emperor on his throne, noticing his gloomy and unhappy expression, which filled them with bewilderment.

The First Crown Prince coughed and bowed, asking, "Why does Father God wear a worried expression?"

The East Emperor sighed deeply and recounted the entire affair, saying, "Only now have I realized that I don't truly understand this Teacher at all. I know almost nothing about his divine arts, which was an overestimation on my part. His divine arts are myriad in their mysteries. Even I cannot discern the profundity or flaws in his Path-Entering divine art, 'Purple Path Between Flowers Guest.' If 'Purple Path Between Flowers Guest' is like that, I am even more clueless about his other divine arts. Therefore, I fear I might lose the second assessment to him."

The civil and military officials were greatly alarmed.

The Second Crown Prince stepped forward and bowed, "Father God, since you lack confidence, why not cancel the second assessment?"

"He cornered me with his words, exploiting my weakness," the East Emperor replied, his brows furrowed. "He is determined to defeat me and diminish my prestige, and I cannot back down. I could only make an excuse that my reincarnated form is traveling outside and is on its way back, thus delaying for a few days."

The princes were enraged, "This Heavenly Venerable Mu is too unreasonable! He doesn't even know how to save face, or give Father God an easy way out!"

After some deliberation, they devised a plan. "Father God, there's no need to worry. Heavenly Venerable Mu injured our younger siblings, so we have a legitimate reason to go and retrieve their honor. As long as we force him to display his other formidable divine arts, Father God can observe in secret, discover a way to break them, and then victory will be assured when Father God fights him!"

The East Emperor was overjoyed. "My sons have eased my worries, bringing comfort to my old heart," he said with a smile.

The princes departed one after another and arrived outside the palace. The Third Crown Prince said, "Father God treats him like a formidable enemy; it seems this Heavenly Venerable Mu's divine arts are indeed powerful. Actually, besides forcing Heavenly Venerable Mu to reveal his divine arts, there's another method: we could beat him up every now and then, forcing him to leave East Extremity Heaven!"

The First Crown Prince interjected, "Father God still needs Heavenly Venerable Mu and doesn't want to break ties with him. We will go, but only say that we are seeking justice for our younger siblings, and merely force him to display his best divine arts."

The Second Crown Prince added, "Eldest Brother is an Emperor's Throne realm expert, so let Eldest Brother hold the line while the other younger siblings go first. Remember, we are here to vent our anger for our siblings; stick to this point and don't mention anything else!"

With their plan decided, they rode the winds, clouds, lightning, and thunder, arriving menacingly at Jade Pool's Dragon Island. Numerous divine dragons circled in the clouds, looking down upon the island.

One of the dragon sons descended from the clouds, declaring he would seek justice for his younger siblings on Dragon Island and demanding Heavenly Venerable Mu come out to fight.

A moment later, a slightly charming girl walked out and said, "My young master is recuperating. He sent me to deal with you."

The dragon son laughed in extreme anger, "Has Heavenly Venerable Mu grown eyes on top of his head? He actually sent a maidservant! How disrespectful!"

Yan'er sneered, "I am not the young master's maidservant; I simply enjoy serving people. If you spout any more nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

The dragon son was enraged. He transformed into a dragon-headed, human-bodied form, holding a coiled dragon halberd, and shouted, "First, I'll beat you, the maidservant, then Heavenly Venerable Mu, to reclaim justice for my younger siblings!"

Yan'er soared into the air, and the two fought in mid-air. After a few rounds, the dragon son's mouth was torn, and he was beaten so badly that he involuntarily reverted to his true form, falling unconscious into the Jade Pool. Fortunately, the Jade Pool's water was filled with life energy, making it difficult for him to die even if he wanted to.

"You hit my eighty-seventh brother!" another dragon god charged forward, shouting, "I will avenge my eighty-seventh brother!" Yan'er showed no fear, meeting him head-on and beating this dragon god nearly to death.

Other dragon sons came forward one after another to challenge her, all falling in defeat. However, Yan'er also felt utterly exhausted. Just then, Qin Mu's voice came, saying, "Yan'er, you may step down for now."

Yan'er affirmed and retreated.

"Pi, you go."

Qin Mu's voice resounded, "Esteemed nephews and nieces, since you have come to challenge me, I cannot simply rely on my seniority. I will have Pi contend with you. If you can defeat Pi in the same cultivation realm, then I will fight you."

As he spoke, a colossal creature with a dragon head, qilin body, and dragon tail emerged from the palace. As it walked, it transformed into a human, growing into a sturdy young man who declared, "I am at the Venerable God realm. Who dares to fight me?"

The dragon sons and grandsons of Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace continued to descend and challenge him. However, this young man named Pi possessed fierce and overbearing techniques and divine arts. His various divine arts appeared endlessly, dazzling onlookers, as he successively defeated twenty to thirty dragon sons and daughters.

When Pi grew tired from fighting, Yan'er took his place. For three to five consecutive days, they remained undefeated!

The First Crown Prince frowned, coughed, and said, "You all withdraw. I will take over."

He stepped forward. Pi glanced at him, hesitated, then called into the palace, "Cult Master, this dragon has a full forehead and a square jaw, indicating a strong individual likely at the Emperor's Throne realm. I am not his match."

Qin Mu emerged from the palace, smiling, "Pi, step down."

The First Crown Prince greeted Qin Mu, "My younger siblings have been rather mischievous and offended Heavenly Venerable Mu. Yuan Long has come to apologize..."

Qin Mu raised a hand, smiling, "There's no need to speak further; I already know why you're here. My Path-Entering divine arts consist of eight moves. If you can withstand all eight, I will let bygones be bygones."

Crown Prince Yuan Long's heart secretly rejoiced. He gravely said, "Heavenly Venerable, please proceed!"

Without further ado, Qin Mu unleashed the first move of his Path-Entering divine art. Suddenly, the celestial phenomena changed dramatically. The Heavenly Dao hung high, the Primordial Dao stretched flat, the heavens were round, the earth square. Forty-nine Heavenly Daos merged with thirty-six Primordial Daos, forming four smooth, curved surfaces. On these four curved surfaces appeared four distinct divine and demonic faces representing joy, anger, sorrow, and delight.

Crown Prince Yuan Long looked up, feeling a sense of awe that shook the heavens and earth as Qin Mu transformed into this four-faced deity. Fear involuntarily arose in his heart.

As Qin Mu's hand seals descended, Crown Prince Yuan Long couldn't help but forcibly raise his cultivation to resist! He had initially intended to contend with Qin Mu at the same realm, but facing Qin Mu, he realized that the same realm was no match for him at all. So, he made an immediate decision and elevated his cultivation to the True God level!

He endured Qin Mu's strike, but the spiritual power within him became chaotic, his primordial qi surged wildly and uncontrollably, and his divine sense was almost scattered. Terrified, he quickly unsealed his Jade Pool realm spiritual power again, only then managing to calm the internal turmoil.

Just then, Qin Mu unleashed the second magnificent Path-Entering divine art: the Profound Gates of Heaven and Earth, which descended from the sky, suppressing him. The Profound Gates of Heaven and Earth, a terrifying divine art, was formed by merging the forty-nine Heavenly Daos and the sixty-four Netherworld Daos!

Crown Prince Yuan Long was forced to raise his spiritual power again, elevating his cultivation to the peak of the Jade Pool realm. Yet, it felt as though the Xuan Du and Netherworld were pressing down, suppressing his physical body, while raging karma fires burned his soul, compelling him to once more unseal his God-Slaying Platform realm!

Immediately after, Qin Mu unleashed his third Path-Entering divine art, "Heavenly River Surveying Four Extremities," and his fourth Path-Entering divine art, "Grand Heaven's Ultimate Perfection."

Move after move of Path-Entering divine arts were unleashed, and Crown Prince Yuan Long desperately resisted. Fortunately, he was an Emperor's Throne realm existence after all, and unsealing his cultivation to the God-Slaying Platform realm was enough to withstand Qin Mu's divine arts, even his magnificent Path-Entering ones.

Finally, after all eight moves were used, Qin Mu waved his sleeve and turned to return to the palace.

Crown Prince Yuan Long bowed in farewell, saying, "Many thanks, Heavenly Venerable, for completing this!"

Qin Mu said, "Your Father God has already seen my divine arts. His reincarnated form should be arriving in East Extremity Heaven soon, right?"

Crown Prince Yuan Long was slightly startled, his face turning a faint red.

He led his many younger siblings back to the High Heavens Palace, only to see the East Emperor Azure Dragon beaming with joy. He laughed, "You all did well! Especially Yuan Long, you forced him to use all eight of his magnificent divine arts; you could say you've rendered a great service! However, I still need a few more days to deduce the flaws in his techniques and divine arts."

Crown Prince Yuan Long bowed and said, "Your son wishes Father God a triumphant victory!"

The East Emperor Azure Dragon burst into laughter and went into seclusion.

More than ten days later, the East Emperor emerged from seclusion. He summoned Crown Prince Yuan Long and others, inquiring about Qin Mu's movements during these days. Crown Prince Yuan Long reported, "Heavenly Venerable Mu has been on Dragon Island these past few days, occasionally moving about but not leaving the island."

The East Emperor Azure Dragon smiled, "This fellow is quite composed."

Just then, his reincarnated form stepped out from behind him. It was an emperor-like figure with a dragon head and a human body, enveloped in draconic qi, with golden dragon energy circling his form, majestic and extraordinary.

The East Emperor Azure Dragon's reincarnated form walked towards Jade Pool, accompanied by Crown Prince Yuan Long and others. Their impressive procession drew countless dragon sons and grandsons from Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace to fly into the air to observe.

Upon reaching Jade Pool's Dragon Island, the East Emperor's reincarnated form raised a hand, and Crown Prince Yuan Long and the others halted, standing still in the air.

The East Emperor's reincarnated form slowly descended onto Dragon Island, smiling, "Teacher, you've waited long."

Qin Mu politely replied, "Your Majesty East Emperor is too courteous. Since today is an assessment of my abilities, I would like to make a wager with you. I have a jar of Primordial Primordial Liquid from Earth Mother Primordial Lord here, and I'd like to bet it against the East Emperor's Spirit Treasure Mountain. I wonder if Your Majesty East Emperor is interested?"

The East Emperor's reincarnated form widened his eyes, his breathing quickening. "Primordial Primordial Liquid? A jar of Primordial Primordial Liquid?"

Qin Mu flipped his palm, revealing a jar of Primordial Primordial Liquid in his hand, radiating terrifyingly pure energy. He smiled, "What does Your Majesty think?"

The East Emperor's reincarnated form hesitated. "Although Primordial Primordial Liquid is precious, a single jar cannot be exchanged for Spirit Treasure Mountain. How about this: I will wager a single mountain peak with you."

Qin Mu smiled, "Good, a single mountain peak then. Your Majesty, I am at the Venerable God realm."

The East Emperor's reincarnated form nodded, sealed his Southern Heavenly Gate, and smiled, "I will contend against you at the Venerable God realm. Please begin!"

Qin Mu smiled faintly, boldly drew his sword, and with a single flash, the sword light flew out, cold and brilliant. Instantly, above Jade Pool's Dragon Island, the Grand Emperor Heaven, Grand Bright Heaven, Clear Bright Heaven, and Profound Embryo Heaven—all thirty-three Heavens roared forth!

Within the sword light, the East Emperor's reincarnated form was both shocked and enraged. A single sword strike encompassing thirty-three Heavens — this was clearly not Qin Mu's divine art! The thirty-three Heavens rushed towards him, rendering completely useless all the methods he had diligently contemplated for over ten days to counter Qin Mu's divine arts!

Within the sword light, dragon blood flew!

Finally, the thirty-three Heavens converged into a single sword. Qin Mu held the sword, let out a long cry, and at last comprehended Emperor Kai's sword domain. Around him, a terrifying sword domain formed, as if he commanded all the power of an indestructible Great Dao!

With the sword in hand, Qin Mu thrust it forward. The sword domain condensed all his spirit, all his primordial qi, divine sense, and even his primordial spirit rejoiced within it! Unconsciously, he merged the sword domain with Sword Twenty Forms. The fusion of Sword Twenty Forms and the sword domain finally allowed him to perfectly execute this move created by Emperor Kai, piercing the East Emperor's reincarnated form with a single strike!

The East Emperor's reincarnated form flew backward, hundreds of wounds erupting across his body. He tumbled and rolled out of the Jade Pool, crashing into a cluster of palaces!

Qin Mu retracted his sword and said to Yan'er behind him, "Prepare to pack up; we should go pay our respects to the North Emperor now."