Chapter 1035: West Emperor's Crisis

Father's love is like a mountain, which is why the Emperor of the North and Xuanwu, as parents, directly suppressed Prince Youming with a mountain for six hundred thousand years. Inside the Celestial Dragon Carriage, Qin Mu said to God-King Lang Wo: “They went to great lengths to protect their son. The Infernal Sovereign, in his scheme against the Emperor of the North and Xuanwu, also displayed astonishing perseverance, persisting for four to five hundred thousand years. However, this time he won't succeed; instead, he'll suffer a small loss. When I saw him relentlessly releasing insects to consume the gourd vine, I knew his objective wasn't the Five Thunder Gourd.”

God-King Lang Wo's eyes flickered as she said, “I received news from the divine city near the Divine Weapon Suppressing Heavens that the Ten Celestials are about to engage in civil war. The gods and devils guarding the Northern Heavens mentioned this, and they are quite alarmed.”

Qin Mu's spirits lifted significantly, and he asked, “Have the Ten Celestials finally turned on each other?”

“Regarding the Heavenly Emperor's eggshell, six Celestials were already contending for it, but they hadn't fully turned on each other yet. However, Heavenly Venerate Hao arrived, not concealing his identity, and demanded that the six Celestials hand over the Heavenly Emperor's eggshell. Naturally, those six Celestials refused to admit that it was in their possession, so Heavenly Venerate Hao demanded to search them.” Although God-King Lang Wo spoke casually, Qin Mu sensed the immense danger within her words.

Heavenly Venerate Hao demanded to search them? The identities of Celestials like Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Heavenly Consort Qiang, and Heavenly Consort Yan were incredibly noble; how could they tolerate such humiliation? Moreover, there were women among them, and they were the Heavenly Emperor's consorts!

“The six Celestials could not tolerate Heavenly Venerate Hao's demand to search them. However, Heavenly Venerate Huo arrived and supported Heavenly Venerate Hao. Heavenly Venerate Hao possessed the greatest power, and with Heavenly Venerate Huo's support, the other Celestials were no match.” God-King Lang Wo continued: “The Celestial Heavens is now fraught with hidden dangers and treacherous currents. Rumor has it that the Ten Celestials even intend to recall the Divine Weapon Suppressing Heavens, which suppresses all worlds, to the Celestial Heavens in preparation for war. Furthermore, the various worlds under these Celestials are mobilizing troops; many god and devil armies are marching from their respective worlds towards the Celestial Heavens. Even the Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens have been dispatched!”

“The Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens have also been dispatched?” Qin Mu's heart grew cold. He stood up, pacing back and forth, and mused, “No, that's not right. The Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens—the Left and Right Feathered Forest, Dragon Martial, Divine Stratagem, Divine Might, and Divine Martial Guards—are directly commanded by the Heavenly Emperor. The Ten Celestials cannot mobilize them. For the Ten Guards to be dispatched, only the ancient god Heavenly Emperor could have ordered it. However, since all Ten Celestials can control the Heavenly Emperor's physical body, they would restrain each other, making it impossible to mobilize the Ten Guards. There's something strange going on here...”

God-King Lang Wo blinked her large eyes, watching his pacing figure, and asked, “What do you mean?”

“The civil war among the Ten Celestials is merely a facade; its true purpose is to lure out the snake.” Qin Mu stopped abruptly, smacked his fist into his palm with a crisp sound, and said gravely, “If the Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens hadn't moved, it might still have been a genuine conflict erupting among the Celestials, but with the Ten Guards deployed, that's impossible!”

The Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens were the ten most powerful armies in the Celestial Heavens, each with its unique strengths, directly commanded by the Heavenly Emperor. They recognized only military tallies, not individuals; only the Heavenly Emperor, not the Celestials. As early as the Dragon Han era, Wei Suifeng, leading a Feathered Forest army of one hundred thousand gods and devils, could destroy the Dragon King Nation. It's worth noting that at that time, the Dragon King Nation had even trapped the Empress in the Return to Ruins for several years! Although there were many hidden complexities in that incident, and the Empress's strength back then wasn't as formidable as it later became, the combat power of the Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens was still evident. To mobilize the Ten Guards, only the ancient god Heavenly Emperor could personally issue the order. However, for the ancient god Heavenly Emperor to issue an order, the Ten Celestials would need to reach an agreement, otherwise, if they all tried to control the Heavenly Emperor's physical body, it would only lead to chaos. If the Ten Celestials were truly in a civil war, then none of them could mobilize the Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens! Since the Ten Guards of the Celestial Heavens have now been mobilized, this can only be a trap designed to lure out the snake!

“This is a trap targeting the ancient gods! The division and civil war among the Ten Celestials are merely a facade; in reality, it's a scheme to lure out the snake!” Qin Mu frowned and stated decisively, “If any ancient god fails to see this and believes that the Ten Celestials are truly falling apart, they will undoubtedly meet their demise!”

Suddenly, the Celestial Dragon Carriage paused slightly, arriving at the Western Extremity Heavens. At this moment, the voice of a celestial dragon came from outside the carriage, saying, “Heavenly Venerate, we cannot proceed! The gods and devils guarding this area have sealed off the road!”

Qin Mu stepped out of the carriage and looked ahead, seeing tens of thousands of god and devil armies surrounding a Divine Weapon Suppressing Heavens, constructing the Heavenly Rampart City. The towering city was a magnificent sight, connecting heaven and earth. The Western Extremity Heavens is rich in metal, and this Heavenly Rampart City was a divine city crafted from pure metal, astonishingly tall, higher than the mountains of the Western Extremity Heavens, and incredibly thick! Countless gods and devils cut their wrists, their divine blood flying out from the wounds and sprinkling onto the metal city walls. Others, skilled in talismans, held large brushes, flying along the city walls. Their brushes were like rafters, dipped in divine and demonic blood, as they inscribed talismans onto the city walls! One by one, runes were branded onto the city walls, emitting either golden or red light. Within the Heavenly Rampart City, the pill furnaces of countless warships were ignited, and gigantic bronze beasts spewed out light flames dozens of miles long, causing the warships to slowly float into the sky. On the warships, hundreds of gods and devils hurried about, donning divine armor and wielding divine weapons, forming grand formations under the shouts of the soldiers. Within the city, massive beasts were straining to pull huge cloud chariots towards the city walls, their cargo piles of divine weapons and armaments. Along the streets, countless apothecaries activated pill furnaces so large that over a dozen people were needed to embrace them, with divine dragons breathing fire beneath them. The Celestial Heavens' apothecaries used various methods, frantically refining pills, while apprentices continuously brought diverse medicinal ingredients to be cast into the furnaces. The refined elixirs were then transported to the city walls, to be used for healing the wounded during the war.

Qin Mu watched this scene from a distance. The Celestial Heavens had stationed millions of troops in the Western Extremity Heavens. At this moment, its war machine had been activated, and the speed at which the Heavenly Rampart City was being constructed was astonishing. Even though the Celestial Heavens had become decadent, this mobilization speed filled him with deep fear! The Celestial Heavens' war machine activated remarkably quickly!

However, opposite the Heavenly Rampart City lay the White Tiger Celestial Palace of the Western Extremity Heavens. At this moment, the White Tiger Celestial Palace had begun to move, advancing towards them. Evidently, the Western Emperor White Tiger had received news of the Ten Celestials' civil war within the Celestial Heavens. She intended to seize the Divine Weapon Suppressing Heavens, the most terrifying weapon in the world, before the Celestial who suppressed the Western Extremity Heavens could recall it.

“Not all ancient gods can discern that this is a trap targeting them. On the contrary, having been oppressed for too long, they have been waiting for an opportunity, and now that an opportunity has suddenly presented itself, they believe the time has come.” Qin Mu composed himself and thought to himself, “The Emperor of the North, Xuanwu, can see through this trap, but the Western Emperor White Tiger, Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon, and Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird truly might not! If she dares to make a move, she's certainly doomed!”

In the Western Extremity Heavens, within the White Tiger Celestial Palace, the Western Emperor's army had already set forth, flying out from the palace. The Western Extremity Heavens is rich in metal, jade, and strange beasts; thus, the native gods and devils of the Western Extremity Heavens often rode gigantic beasts in their charge, and their divine weapons were mostly forged from divine metal and beautiful jade. Those gigantic beasts charged wildly across the sky, treading on clouds of various colors. These beasts also possessed formidable cultivation, stirring up all sorts of celestial phenomena. Within these phenomena, the divine weapons of the Western Extremity Heavens' gods and devils, wielding the might of heaven and earth, surged directly towards the Heavenly Rampart City!

“The Western Emperor White Tiger cannot escape death,” God-King Lang Wo actually sounded somewhat pleased as she said to Qin Mu.

Qin Mu glanced at her, then withdrew his gaze, and said gravely, “Dragon Fatty, Yan'er, have the celestial dragons reveal their true forms and pull the carriage into the Heavenly Rampart City!” Dragon Qilin quickly relayed the order. The six celestial dragons immediately let out a long, majestic cry. Their bodies continuously expanded, transforming into golden dragons a thousand miles long, treading on auspicious clouds, commanding thunder and lightning, as they pulled the Celestial Dragon Carriage towards the Heavenly Rampart City. The carriage itself also continuously grew larger and heavier, shrouded in mist and auspicious radiance. Its canopy transformed into a vast sky, enveloping the carriage from above, with star rivers winding around it, their light dazzling. Beneath the carriage, vast waters spread out, gushing forth to form a celestial river that stretched endlessly forward. Additionally, Xuanwu turtle-snakes emerged from beneath the carriage, bearing it forward. At the rear of the carriage, Vermilion Birds soared high, boosting its speed and greatly increasing the carriage's velocity! As the Vermilion Birds flapped their wings, waves of shimmering fire trailed behind the carriage for three thousand zhang, exceptionally dazzling. Inside the carriage, white tiger patterns shimmered, transforming into two white tigers that served as Qin Mu's throne. Qin Mu's physical body was immense, like a deity suppressing heaven and earth, his palms resting on the tiger heads, his countenance majestic.

The divine beings guarding the Heavenly Rampart City all stopped their work at this moment, staring dumbfounded as the incomparably magnificent carriage swept through the sky. “May I ask which divine being this is?” The divine general guarding the Heavenly Rampart City quickly soared into the sky, blocking the carriage's path, and asked with a bow.

Qin Mu's face was shrouded in divine light. He instructed, “Yan'er, Dragon Qilin, unfurl my Heavenly Venerate Mu's banner!” Dragon Qilin and Yan'er quickly emerged from the carriage. Dragon Qilin took out a banner, giving it a shake in the wind, and Yan'er's mighty vital qi surged out, pouring into the banner. With a rustle, the great banner unfurled, displaying the character 'Mu' embroidered upon it. Seeing this, the divine general guarding the Heavenly Rampart City of the Western Extremity Heavens' face twitched, and he bowed, saying, “So it is Heavenly Venerate Mu! This humble deity greets Heavenly Venerate Mu! Heavenly Venerate, I am a disciple of Heavenly Venerate Hong, tasked by him to guard the Western Extremity. Now that the Western Emperor White Tiger is causing trouble, it is ill-advised for your esteemed self to enter such a perilous place. I ask you to halt your journey.”

Qin Mu extended a hand, parting the pearl curtains to either side. His gaze fell upon the divine general's face, and from his elevated position, he said indifferently, “Do I also need you to tell me what to do? Withdraw!” Cold sweat beaded on the divine being's forehead, yet he did not move. He said, “Heavenly Venerate, please forgive me. I have heard that Heavenly Venerate is merely a Venerable God, high in status but not particularly strong in power. The gods and devils of the Western Extremity Heavens are utterly ferocious and wicked, and I am merely concerned that they might harm Heavenly Venerate.” He showed no intention of retreating, saying, “I am merely thinking of Heavenly Venerate's safety.”

Qin Mu said calmly, “Whether the Western Emperor is rebelling is still debatable; how dare you tell me what to do? Step aside, and I will give Heavenly Venerate Hong face. If you do not, I will execute you here and now, and Heavenly Venerate Hong will have nothing to say.” The divine being's eyes darted around, still unable to decide whether to block Qin Mu. Qin Mu saw the Western Extremity Heavens' god and devil army drawing nearer, growing increasingly anxious, and snapped, “To obstruct a Heavenly Venerate's path, you have immense audacity! Yan'er, apprehend him!”

Yan'er leaped into the air, her body shimmering as she transformed into a Dragon Sparrow, and pounced towards the divine being. The divine being dared not lay a hand on Qin Mu, but he had no such psychological burden with her. With a fierce roar, he transformed into a lion-headed god-devil. Shaking his head, lion heads sprouted one by one, and he bellowed, “I am considering Heavenly Venerate's safety and must stop you to prevent Heavenly Venerate from being harmed by the rebels! Therefore, Heavenly Venerate, please forgive me, but I must resort to force!” His strength was extremely formidable; Heavenly Palaces flew out from behind him, and his cultivation was even more profound than Yan'er's. This nine-headed lion had astonishingly cultivated nine Great Heavenly Palaces, possessing incomparable power, and was about to suppress Yan'er. Suddenly, the vertical eye between Qin Mu's eyebrows blazed with light. The lion's mind instantly went blank, and before he could react, he was severely wounded by Yan'er, his nine heads spewing blood as he plummeted from the sky.

“To dare obstruct a Heavenly Venerate's carriage is a crime punishable by ten thousand deaths!” Dragon Qilin stood on the head of one of the celestial dragons, his voice booming like thunder, echoing throughout the Heavenly Rampart City as he shouted, “However, out of consideration for you being a disciple of Heavenly Venerate Hong, I will spare your life! Should anyone else dare to obstruct Heavenly Venerate Mu, they will surely be cut down without mercy!” Yan'er spread her wings, flames reaching the sky, and the Vermilion Bird's sacred fire blazed, melting the heavens. A long dragon tail trailed behind her, and her sharp gaze swept over the battle-towers and massive ships rising from below. The soldiers in Heavenly Rampart City were awestruck, not out of fear of her, but out of fear of Heavenly Venerate Mu's name.

“Proceed,” Qin Mu's voice came. The six celestial dragons pulled the carriage forward with a rumbling sound, quickly cresting the Heavenly Rampart City and heading towards the god and devil army of the Western Extremity Heavens. Qin Mu watched the approaching Western Extremity Heavens army, hearing the earth-shattering battle cries from the opposite side. He couldn't help but laugh out of sheer exasperation, his teeth grinding audibly. Even after seeing his carriage and Heavenly Venerate Mu's banner, the Western Emperor White Tiger in the White Tiger Celestial Palace still did not order her troops to withdraw. Clearly, she was determined to acquire the Divine Weapon Suppressing Heavens!

God-King Lang Wo said calmly, “The Western Emperor is seeking her own demise, having shown no mercy to the Saint Infant. Why do you care about her life or death?”

Qin Mu rose abruptly, stepped out of the carriage, and stood upon it. His divine consciousness vibrated, transmitting a message towards the White Tiger Celestial Palace: “Western Emperor, Heavenly Venerate Mu is visiting; I ask you to cease hostilities!” No voice came from the Western Emperor in the White Tiger Celestial Palace; instead, war drums roared loudly, and piercing, low horn blasts echoed throughout heaven and earth. They made one's blood surge and battle intent soar!

Qin Mu frowned, turned to God-King Lang Wo, and said gravely, “I have found the ancestral court.” God-King Lang Wo sighed softly, stood up, and whispered, “Saint Infant, you know that the ancient gods were the ones who annihilated my race, and the Western Emperor was among them. Do you really want me to save her?”