Chapter 1039: 少年教主

Qin Mu harbored similar doubts. As an ancient war god, the Western Emperor could not possibly be so naive. Yet, for Qin Mu, the emperor's naivete was irrelevant. What truly mattered was ensuring the Western Emperor's survival and compelling the Heavenly Artisans of the Western Extremity Heaven to journey to Yankang.

While Yankang boasted numerous artisans, only a select few could be considered divine craftsmen or Heavenly Artisans. The new generation was still undergoing training, making it crucial for the most skilled Heavenly Artisans from the Western Extremity Heaven to provide guidance and cultivation.

Although Qin Mu enjoyed a good relationship with Emperor Release Heaven King Buddha, the latter was, ultimately, the Founding Emperor's War Heavenly King, now lost to an entanglement of emotions with no known whereabouts.

Following the Yankang Calamity, Qin Mu concluded that Emperor Release Heaven King Buddha was unreliable. The most prudent approach was to nurture native Yankang talent.

In the early Founding Emperor era, a large contingent of previously unknown individuals, who had accompanied the Founding Emperor on his ventures, later rose to prominence as his Four Great Heavenly Kings and Four Great Heavenly Teachers. Conversely, the celebrated figures of the High Emperor era held no crucial roles and made no significant contributions during the Founding Emperor's reign.

This could serve as a valuable reference for Yankang.

After negotiating with the Western Emperor regarding the number of Heavenly Artisans to send to Yankang, Qin Mu finally felt at ease as he watched them, laden with their great furnaces and divine weapons, enter the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge.

The remaining Heavenly Artisans were tasked with repairing the Heavenly Dragon Chariot. Given the chariot's intricate design and the fact that the most proficient artisans had departed for Yankang, the less skilled remaining artisans necessitated Qin Mu's direct intervention.

The Western Emperor offered assistance, chuckling, "As a Celestial Venerable, you actually possess knowledge of such matters?"

Wiping sweat from his brow, Qin Mu replied, "I was originally a cowherd blacksmith; these tasks are my old trade."

"A cowherd blacksmith?" the Western Emperor asked curiously. "What else are you capable of?"

Qin Mu paused to reflect, then listed, "I am a pharmacist who can paint, a fortune-teller who wields swords, a thief with profound Buddhist dharma, and yes, I'm also a tailor who can make furniture."

The Western Emperor stifled a laugh. "You, Celestial Venerable, are quite rustic. Unlike the other Celestial Venerables, who are all so high and mighty and speak so eloquently."

Focusing intently on the chariot's repair, Qin Mu stated, "I am different from them. They were born into nobility; I, however, came from humble beginnings."

It was two days later when the chariot was finally repaired.

"Your Majesty, Western Emperor, I must depart swiftly for the Southern Extremity Heaven to meet with the Southern Emperor. I cannot linger here."

Qin Mu took his leave, explaining, "The Ten Celestial Venerables of the Celestial Heavens merely feign discord; their true aim is to scheme against you. I must journey to the Southern Extremity Heaven to ascertain the Southern Emperor's safety."

The Western Emperor did not press him to stay, but earnestly requested, "Please send word of your safe arrival once you reach the Southern Extremity Heaven."

Qin Mu affirmed. God King Lang Wo had already boarded the chariot. As the Western Emperor came to bid him farewell, he glanced at the goddess king inside the chariot and whispered, "Celestial Venerable, is she truly a God King of the Creation Spirit Race?"

Qin Mu hesitated for a moment before responding, "She and I have met Earth Count."

The Western Emperor mused for a moment before replying, "Since Earth Count is aware of her identity, I have nothing further to say. Earth Count is far more astute than us Four Emperors; he only ever suffered a significant defeat at the hands of the Heavenly Emperor. However, I still wish to caution you, Celestial Venerable: you do not comprehend the Primordial Era, whereas I do, and I feel profound fear of it. The Creation Spirit Race were the dominators of that ancient epoch; even the ancient gods were controlled and enslaved by them."

"The ancient gods were also controlled and enslaved by the Creation Spirit Race?"

Qin Mu's heart grew cold. He gazed at the exquisitely beautiful woman within the chariot, then, after a moment, averted his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, please stay here."

He boarded the chariot. Dragon Qilin, having assumed his human form, took the reins, with Yan'er standing by his side. With a commanding roar from Dragon Qilin, the Heavenly Dragons ascended, soaring towards the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge located beyond Heavenly Fortress City.

God King Lang Wo's gaze drifted to the window, her voice hollow as she asked, "Do you believe what the Western Emperor told you?"

Qin Mu's gaze settled on her face, and he calmly countered, "Sister, do you think I should believe it?"

God King Lang Wo offered no reply, remaining silent.

"I do."

Qin Mu stated solemnly, "An individual Creation Spirit is not mighty, but when adult Creation Spirits exceed ten thousand in number, their sacrificial power can rival experts at the Numinous Sky Realm or even the Emperor's Throne Realm. Should the Creation Spirits number a hundred thousand, their sacrificial power becomes exponentially greater. If millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of them perform sacrifices simultaneously, enslaving and dominating ancient gods would be effortless. Thus, the Western Emperor spoke the truth."

God King Lang Wo averted her gaze and asked, "Do you also feel fear towards the Creation Spirit Race?"

Qin Mu shook his head, stating calmly, "I am a Creation Spirit myself; why would I be afraid?"

God King Lang Wo studied him intently. "The Grand Emperor was also a Creation Spirit, and he, too, felt fear towards their race, even going so far as to attempt their destruction."

"But I am not the Grand Emperor."

Qin Mu shifted his gaze to the increasingly close Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge outside the window. He spoke softly, "The era when the Creation Spirit Race ruled the vast cosmos has long passed. Now, the Creation Spirit Race are merely a group of homeless wretches, sister. You are one of them. Only by integrating into the current era can you find a path to survival, and that applies to you as well."

The Heavenly Dragon Chariot gradually decelerated, moving towards the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge.

"I have already located the ancestral court of the Creation Spirit Race. However, I still need to pinpoint its exact coordinates and ascertain the nature of the seal guarding it."

Qin Mu met God King Lang Wo's gaze, asserting, "I will not renege on my promise to you. I will ensure the Creation Spirit Race leaves the other shore world and returns to this realm."

God King Lang Wo pondered for a moment, then asked, "Are you not afraid the Creation Spirit Race will reclaim their dominant status?"

"No."

Qin Mu leaned back. "You cannot return to that era. Even if you locate the ancestral court, you cannot go back. As a God King of the Primordial Era, Shu Jun has already accepted this truth, yet you, a contemporary God King, have not."

God King Lang Wo remained silent. After a brief pause, she said, "First, tell me the general location of the ancestral court."

Qin Mu's vital qi manifested as a cosmic star map, indicating the approximate location of the sealed ancestral court. As God King Lang Wo rose, Qin Mu quickly cautioned, "I've only found the general area, not the precise location!"

The chariot curtain parted, and God King Lang Wo stepped out, her back to him. She turned her head slightly and said, "Holy Infant, you claim to be a Creation Spirit, but you will never truly comprehend the pride of our kind, nor the profound blood feud of the Creation Spirit Race. You are merely an outsider, who by sheer chance became our Holy Infant."

Her form vanished.

Qin Mu stood motionless, startled. Dragon Qilin's voice drifted in from outside: "Cult Master, should we enter the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge now, or await her return?"

Qin Mu replied impassively, "No need to wait. Let's go."

Dragon Qilin felt a pang of surprise. He glanced back into the chariot and, through the curtains, saw Qin Mu's face, stern and unmoving like still water.

"What's wrong, Young Master?" Yan'er whispered.

Dragon Qilin hesitated, then directed the Heavenly Dragons to pull the chariot into the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, offering no reply.

Yan'er whispered, "I believe the Young Master is fond of God King Lang Wo, but he suppresses his emotions too much. Perhaps if we found him a Cult Master's wife who could comfort his heart, he might be happier."

She peered into the chariot, then hopped onto Dragon Qilin's shoulder, whispering into his ear, "Once we reach the Southern Extremity Heaven, I'll ask my mother to find him someone!"

Dragon Qilin shook his head. "That's not it. I'm steering the chariot; you go back inside and tell the Cult Master that he is right."

Yan'er looked puzzled. "Just that sentence? I'm not the girl the Young Master likes, so anything I say would likely be useless."

With a sigh, Dragon Qilin let her take the reins, then resumed his true form and entered the chariot.

Inside the chariot, Qin Mu closed his eyes. Two streams of tears traced paths down his temples, and his voice, rough with emotion, whispered, "Why is it so arduous, so exhausting, to seek a lifeline, to find hope for Yankang and for humanity...?"

He appeared to be suffocating under immense pressure, gasping for air.

"Imperial Preceptor, now that I have become an Imperial Preceptor, I finally comprehend the immense pressure you endured back then. Where are you?"

He thought of the former Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui. What he needed in that moment was not a Cult Master's wife to soothe his spirit, but a fellow daoist who could offer mutual support and encouragement.

The Yankang Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui had been supported by the Young Ancestral Master, and later by Emperor Yanfeng, making him far more fortunate than Qin Mu. Whenever he felt lost or powerless, the Young Ancestral Master would assure him that their actions were just.

When he encountered setbacks, Emperor Yanfeng would stand by his side, and together they would shoulder the burden of pressure.

Now, however, Qin Mu had no one beside him.

Dragon Qilin approached, settled by Qin Mu's feet, and then, extending his front paws, rested them at his master's feet.

"Cult Master, while I don't fully comprehend all that you do,"

Dragon Qilin hesitated before adding, "I believe it is all correct."

Qin Mu opened his eyes and gently stroked the enormous beast's head, whispering, "Only you, Fatty Dragon, only you truly understand me... Your 'Human Cultivation Sutra' has reached mastery."

Dragon Qilin looked up and chuckled. "Cult Master, in my heart, you will always be that young boy who walked past me on that bright, sunny morning. You looked at Yankang Imperial College ahead, thinking to yourself, 'Everyone inside is a country bumpkin.'"

Qin Mu burst out laughing and stood up.

Dragon Qilin also rose, shaking his mane and scales, and stood by Qin Mu's side. "Back then, you saw me as just a stone lion at the gate. Your eyes brimmed with youthful energy and wisdom, full of ambition. I've seen countless people pass by the Imperial College gate, but never a young man like you. Though I was starving then, I saw in you another Ancestral Master, another Jiang Baigui, and another Emperor Yanfeng."

"These are not words from the 'Human Cultivation Sutra'; these are from my very heart!"

He chuckled, "I didn't follow you solely because you can refine spiritual pills, shamelessly begging for them. There are countless alchemists in this world capable of refining spiritual pills, but there is only one young Cult Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult! I saw in you an inherent drive, a dauntless spirit that fears nothing under heaven."

"While others may declare Heaven supreme and themselves secondary, for you, it is you who are supreme, and Heaven is secondary. Your unwavering confidence astounds everyone; you are truly the Hegemon Body!"

Dragon Qilin affirmed, "You will forever be that spirited, fearless young Cult Master who can never be defeated or broken!"

The sorrow vanished from Qin Mu's face. He murmured, "That's right, I am the Hegemon Body. I will not be broken; my spirit will not age. I am still that young Cult Master..."

The Heavenly Dragon Chariot came to a gentle halt. From outside, Yan'er's cheerful voice rang out: "Young Master, Fatty Dragon, we've reached the Southern Extremity Heaven!"

Qin Mu, feeling refreshed, stepped out of the chariot.

Dragon Qilin smiled and quickly followed him.