Chapter 1033: The Crown Prince Escapes

He had only ascertained the approximate location of the Ancestral Court. He still knew nothing about its seal, the specific spatial and geographical data of the Four Extremities Heaven, Xuandu, and the Great Ruins Abyss, or the detailed spatial dimension coordinates of the Dragon Han Celestial Court before its split. He needed to figure all of this out.

Only then could he accurately pinpoint the Ancestral Court's position.

The spatial geography of the Four Extremities Heaven, Xuandu, and the Great Ruins Abyss could be obtained using Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge data.

The Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge was originally designed jointly by Qin Mu and the Black Tiger God, and connecting different worlds required different spatial and geographical data. Obtaining this data posed no difficulty for Qin Mu.

However, as for the Great Ruins Abyss, it was likely that no Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge had connected there yet. Even if one had, it would be in the hands of the Empress and Yuanmu.

Nevertheless, Qin Mu had visited the Great Ruins Abyss before, so he only needed to go once more to determine its spatial dimensions.

The only remaining challenge was determining the original altitude of the Dragon Han Celestial Court.

He lacked precise data regarding this.

Once the Ancestral Court's exact location was established, he could, at the very least, construct a large spatial teleportation array to travel directly there.

"No wonder Youming, the Grand Prince of Emperor Xuanwu of the North, said he had met me during the Dragon Han era," Qin Mu mused. "It seems I went there to measure the Celestial Court's altitude."

Qin Mu's expression was peculiar as he thought, "Then when did I go to the Dragon Han Celestial Court? And who were the man and woman who stole the Azure Sky Pagoda from the True Martial Celestial Palace? Moreover, the back of the Celestial Court is part of the Ancestral Court's seal. Why did the Celestial Court move upwards? If it moved, doesn't that imply a breach in the seal?"

Just as he was about to thoroughly investigate the consequences of the Celestial Court's upward movement, the voice of the Celestial Dragon from outside the carriage called out again, "Heavenly Venerable, Emperor Wu has arrived with her retinue to greet you!"

"No time now," Qin Mu thought. "I'll calculate the consequences of the Celestial Court's upward movement after we leave the Northern Extremity Heaven!"

Qin Mu dismissed the Great Cosmos Star Map without another thought and chuckled, "Fat Dragon, Yan'er, come with me to meet Emperor Wu!"

The treasure carriage stopped, and he stepped out. Ahead was the other half of the True Martial Celestial Palace, where Emperor Wu was already waiting with many female divine officials.

Far from being the "vixen" Emperor Xuan described, Emperor Wu appeared much more upright and dignified than him. She wore a red and black imperial robe, embroidered with fragrant peonies and soaring winged serpents weaving among the flowers.

Her eyebrows resembled outstretched goose feathers, a dot of cinnabar adorned her brow, and her thin lips were subtly made up. Contrary to Emperor Xuan's prediction, she did not immediately try to intimidate Qin Mu. Instead, she offered a graceful and dignified bow, saying, "Heavenly Venerable Mu."

Qin Mu hastily stepped down from the carriage and returned the greeting, "Empress Wu, my elder sister."

Emperor Wu couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Everyone says Heavenly Venerable Mu calls every woman he meets 'elder sister.' It's true, as I see today."

Qin Mu replied earnestly, "That's not always the case, though."

"Oh?" Emperor Wu responded. Qin Mu continued, "When I meet a beautiful woman, I can't help but call her 'elder sister.' Upon seeing you just now, I involuntarily made the same mistake, blurting it out without thinking. My mouth is even more honest than my heart."

Emperor Wu burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Brother Mu, you are an honest person. Such men are rare nowadays. Unlike that blockhead husband of mine, he can't even say a sweet word and only knows how to annoy me every day. After just two words with him, I'm already seething with anger."

Qin Mu chuckled, "Brother-in-law is also an honest person; he's just inarticulate and struggles to express his feelings."

The Dragon Qilin secretly praised him: "The Cult Master truly knows how to talk! Calling Emperor Wu 'sister-in-law' in front of Emperor Xuan, and Emperor Xuan 'brother-in-law' in front of Emperor Wu, all in the tone of a close younger brother. Ever since he read my 'Human Cultivation Scripture,' his abilities have grown stronger and stronger, showing a trend of surpassing the master!"

"Let's not talk about him," Emperor Wu said.

Emperor Wu invited him in, smiling, "Let's go inside and talk."

She glanced at the Dragon Qilin and Yan'er, her eyes showing surprise. "Could this be the Princess of the Vermillion Bird clan?"

Yan'er quickly bowed, "Yan'er greets Auntie."

Emperor Wu was very affectionate with her. She stepped forward, took Yan'er's hand, and smiled, "I even held you when you were a child, before your mother cruelly gave you away. By the way, since you came from the Eastern Extremity Heaven, have you seen your father?"

Yan'er's expression darkened.

Emperor Wu understood and smiled, "Emperor Dong has many children; he might not have remembered having a princess like you."

Qin Mu tentatively said, "Empress Wu, when I arrived in the Northern Extremity Heaven, I happened upon your son, Youming. I saw him enduring great hardship, carrying a divine mountain in the freezing cold. So I went down to inquire and learned that he had committed a fault and was punished by you and your esteemed husband. He's been punished for six hundred thousand years already. I couldn't help but feel pity, and even shed tears..."

Emperor Wu scoffed, "He deserves it for losing the Azure Sky Pagoda! That Azure Sky Pagoda was forged by that blockhead and me, using all our life's savings, and he just carelessly lost it. He needs a lesson!"

Qin Mu nodded repeatedly, saying, "Indeed, he should be taught a lesson, but children can be mischievous, and knowing the lesson is enough. To be frank, I just went to see Brother-in-law and mentioned this to him, hoping to intercede for my nephew Youming. Instead, Brother-in-law grew furious and ordered someone to take a whip and give nephew Youming ninety-nine lashes!"

Emperor Wu was enraged. "You pleaded for him, but that blockhead didn't appreciate it and instead beat my son? That old fool is good at internal squabbles but useless in external matters! If it weren't for me, a woman, busy organizing and running around outside, he wouldn't even have a shred of the Northern Extremity Heaven and would have long been left to drink the northwest wind in the Celestial River! But he's certainly good at beating his own son now!"

Qin Mu sighed, "Sister, please calm your anger. Nephew Youming already knows his mistake, and he's endured the lashing. It's time to let him escape his misfortune. Otherwise, what if Brother-in-law remembers him again someday and gives him a few more lashes?"

Emperor Wu summoned a palace maid beside her. "Take my personal decree and release the Crown Prince. Tell him to come to me; he shouldn't follow his good-for-nothing old father! His father is utterly useless; whenever something happens, he just pulls his limbs and tail into his shell like a turtle, pushing me, a woman, out to handle things! Following his father, he'll be just as worthless! Go quickly, go!"

The palace maid hastily departed.

Qin Mu felt relieved and said, "With my nephew freed, a wish of mine has been fulfilled."

The more Emperor Wu looked at him, the more she liked him. She chuckled, "That blockhead husband of yours has never been so considerate of others. That old scoundrel stammers when he's angry and is never straightforward when doing things."

Qin Mu replied earnestly, "Sister, you've misjudged Brother-in-law. When I went to see him, he gave me two hundred Five Thunder Gourds and even sent hundreds of Sword Gods to support Eternal Peace."

Emperor Wu looked doubtful. "That blockhead would be so generous? When he lived with me, he'd split a single copper coin into four. How could he give you two hundred Five Thunder Gourds?"

Qin Mu's face flushed slightly as he whispered, "Originally, Brother-in-law only wanted to give me one gourd, and even lied that there were only sixteen in total. So I told him that you, Sister, had given me two hundred. That's when he became a bit more generous."

Emperor Wu laughed so hard she swayed. "Brother Mu, though you are honest, you also have your cunning moments. That blockhead, seeing me so generous, must have gritted his teeth to give you so many, though his heart must have been bleeding. Don't worry, little brother, now that you've come to see me, I won't be as stingy as that blockhead."

With her words, Qin Mu finally felt at ease. "Three hundred Five Thunder Gourds are enough to form an army! Whenever this army acts, it will unleash thunderbolts from the heavens!"

Emperor Wu was indeed more frank and generous than Emperor Xuan. She gave Qin Mu two hundred and one Five Thunder Gourds, saying, "That blockhead promised you hundreds of True Martial Sword Gods, and I cannot be outdone. Emperor Kai came here years ago to learn my skills, and in exchange, some of his strongest formation masters designed the Vermillion Bird Linked Fortress Formation for me. This formation requires a thousand divine maidens to activate and can even contend with ordinary Emperor's Throne realm experts. I will give you one of these formations."

Qin Mu was overjoyed but hesitated, "Brother-in-law had the Sword Gods descend to help me, but he took back their surnames and banished them from the Northern Extremity Heaven, saying it was to avoid implicating him..."

Emperor Wu understood and smiled, "Are you worried my palace maids will rely on their True Martial bloodline to bully the people of Eternal Peace? Don't worry, I will make similar arrangements."

Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Talking with such an intelligent woman was incredibly comfortable.

"Speaking of which, this is only my second time meeting you, Brother Mu," Emperor Wu said with a smile. "The first time was on the ghost ship, and it was through your wisdom that we escaped it."

Emperor Wu continued with a smile, "Sister Vermillion Bird also often mentions you. She even said that she saw you in the early Dragon Han era, and you mentioned the Celestial Alliance."

Qin Mu's heart tightened, and he nodded subtly.

"The Ten Heavenly Venerables are now the Celestial Alliance. Brother Mu, do you realize how significant the impact of your unintentional actions was that day?"

Emperor Wu said, seemingly casually, "After the early Dragon Han era, almost all major events were connected to the Celestial Alliance. As one of the Celestial Alliance's oldest veterans, you should be the main force in quelling its chaos."

"Sister," Qin Mu asked, "do you think there would still be a Celestial Alliance if I hadn't mentioned those two words?"

Emperor Wu paused, taken aback.

"There still would have been a Celestial Alliance, or perhaps it wouldn't be called the Celestial Alliance; maybe it would be named the Earth Alliance or the Underworld Alliance. The primary reason for the formation of the Celestial Alliance wasn't me, but the ancient gods."

Walking alongside her, Qin Mu softly said, "If the ancient gods had treated the post-natal beings and demigods better, there would be no Celestial Alliance. It was precisely because the oppression was too severe, leaving post-natal beings and demigods with few ways to survive, that the Celestial Alliance emerged. Even if I, along with the ancient gods, eliminate the Ten Heavenly Venerables in the future, if you all continue to act as you did before, there will still be another Celestial Alliance."

Emperor Wu was silent for a moment, then said, "The ancient gods are much better now than before, but the demigods in the current Celestial Court are no different from the ancient gods of the past; they also demand blood sacrifices from all beings. The Celestial Alliance merely eradicated the ancient gods and became ancient gods themselves. Brother Mu, you should consider how, in the future, you can avoid becoming an ancient god who exploits and consumes all living beings."

Qin Mu was momentarily stunned, then bowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Sister!"

Emperor Wu returned his bow and said, "I have witnessed too many dynastic changes, too many partings of life and death, too many calamities of the world. Seeing so much, I can't help but feel a certain despair, believing this to be a grand cycle. I cannot break this cycle, but you have the drive and ambition; perhaps you can. I won't keep you any longer."

Qin Mu bid her farewell and departed.

Emperor Wu escorted him to the half-ruined Southern Heavenly Gate and watched him depart. Not long after, the palace maid returned with Crown Prince Youming, who had transformed into human form. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed in thanks to Emperor Wu.

"Rise," Emperor Wu said.

Emperor Wu raised her hand and said, "Heavenly Venerable Mu went to considerable trouble to get me to release you. He is a Heavenly Venerable, and I cannot ignore this favor, so I am letting you go. Your father beat you ninety-nine times because you talked too much, to teach you a lasting lesson. Now that you have served your punishment and are free, you must not be as naive as before."

Crown Prince Youming assented and rose to his feet. "Where is Heavenly Venerable Mu? Your son hasn't had a chance to thank him yet."

Emperor Wu replied, "He has already left, likely to visit Emperor West in the Western Extremity Heaven. Although you are free, your mistake remains. Heavenly Venerable Mu has been kind to you, so go to the lower realms. You lost the Azure Sky Pagoda, and this is your retribution. When you find the Azure Sky Pagoda, then you may return to the Northern Extremity Heaven."

Crown Prince Youming kowtowed again.

Emperor Wu sighed and helped him up. "You are my son after all. Even though you resemble your foolish father, your mother cannot bear to see you risk your life. You are too naive. If I hadn't suppressed you in the Northern Extremity Heaven all these years, I'm afraid you wouldn't have survived even the Dragon Han era. This Eternal Peace era is even more difficult; you must be more careful."

She took out a snakeskin bag. "This was refined from my shed skin; it can collect and refine all things. Take it for self-defense. Also, go see your foolish father once and have him give you some protective items."

Crown Prince Youming choked up and turned to leave.

Upon reaching the Profound Celestial Palace, Emperor Xuan saw him and couldn't help but roar in anger, "That foolish woman, you released Ming'er! How long can he survive in this treacherous world?"

Crown Prince Youming knelt and bowed, "Father God, your son knows his mistake."

Emperor Xuan stepped forward, helped him up, and sighed, "You made no mistake. It doesn't matter if the Azure Sky Pagoda is lost; I wouldn't punish you for that. The reason I punished you was because the Celestial Court split back then, and as my Crown Prince, you were too naive and easily deceived. You were also getting too close to those scoundrels like Heavenly Venerable Hao and the Son of Heaven of the Yin Realm. They devour people without leaving bones; you would have died sooner or later in their hands! That's why I confined you! Now that your mother has released you, there's nothing I can do."

He shook his head and retrieved a mirror. "This is a Bagua Mirror, forged by Emperor Kai using the Bagua diagram on my back, and I've also imprinted True Martial patterns onto it. Take it for self-defense. Once you leave the Northern Extremity Heaven, if anyone calls you, don't turn around; just keep walking straight. If you don't turn back, no one will dare harm you. If you do, you'll be doomed forever. Remember this, remember!"

---- Wishing a Happy Birthday to our Alliance Masters, Divine Dynasty Refrigerator and Tea Rinse!