Chapter 1040: South Emperor's Death

The Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage drove out from the Spirit Energy Teleportation Bridge. Qin Mu stood on the carriage, and what met his eyes was a stream of flames millions of miles long, incredibly dazzling.

In the sky, a sun appeared very close to the ground. Flames flew out from it, like Vermillion Birds soaring with outstretched wings, sweeping across the land.

There were also bird-headed, human-bodied deities moving through the flames, spreading their wide wings and soaring. Long streams of flames continuously fell from the sky.

For humans, this kind of place would be as terrifying as hell; however, for the divine race living in Southern Pole Heaven, it was extremely pleasant and comfortable.

Qin Mu frowned slightly, looking at the deities chasing the sun's flame streams. Those deities were not from the Vermillion Bird divine race, but rather gods from the Celestial Heavens.

And the flames falling from the sky, although they came from the sun, were not solar flares. Instead, they were the power of the sun borrowed by those deities using divine arts to attack something!

"This is very similar to the divine art of Great Sun Star Lord!"

Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly. "Great Sun Star Lord Dan Fenglai is a disciple of Ancestral God King. Ancestral God King's divine artifact, Imperial Heavenly Venerate, should be in Xuandu. Great Sun Star Lord couldn't possibly be here. So, whose army is this large force capable of controlling the sun's power?"

His eyelid twitched. Suddenly, the sky brightened considerably, and another gigantic sun descended from outer space into the sky above Southern Pole Heaven. Enormous palaces flew out from the sun, like castles flowing with molten gold!

A booming drum sound resonated as tens of thousands of deities stood before the palaces, bearing down on Southern Pole Heaven.

Those palaces were as vast as divine cities, flying above Southern Pole Heaven. The underside of the divine palaces resembled colossal treasure seals. With a resonant hum, beams of light shot downwards from beneath the palaces!

Qin Mu saw the light, like a curtain, pressing down on Southern Pole Heaven, causing the continent to tremble violently. Thousands of mountain ranges immediately rose from the ground, transforming into markings!

This scene was indescribably grand, yet it caused extreme unease.

Not far from the Spirit Energy Teleportation Bridge, many bird-headed deities stood in neat formations, guarding the bridge with strict defenses.

When the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage drove out from the bridge, it immediately alerted the deities, and one came forward to inquire. Long Qilin stepped forward and said, "Heavenly Venerate Mu has come to visit the Southern Emperor. Brother, what's going on in Southern Pole Heaven?"

Hearing the name of Heavenly Venerate Mu, the divine official dared not be negligent and hurriedly said, "Reporting to Heavenly Venerate, the Southern Emperor has rebelled. The Celestial Heavens have dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion, and now various feudal lords are attacking Southern Pole Heaven. We are ordered to guard the Spirit Energy Teleportation Bridge to prevent the Southern Pole Heaven rebels from escaping into it."

Qin Mu's heart was greatly shaken. He quickly took a step forward and exclaimed, "Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird has rebelled? When did this happen? Are you sure she rebelled?"

The divine official was startled and quickly knelt down with a thud, stammering nervously, "Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird led her army to attack, forcibly seizing divine artifacts from the Celestial Heavens, rebelling and defying the Celestial Heavens. The Celestial Heavens are furious and have sent troops to suppress her. Your humble servant is also acting under orders..."

Yan'er couldn't help but panic and was about to flap her wings and fly up. Qin Mu's divine consciousness erupted, trapping her, and he said softly, "Yan'er, the situation is unclear right now. Please be patient while I investigate."

He frowned. Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird was definitely not an ancient god who liked to act recklessly like Western Emperor White Tiger. On the contrary, based on Qin Mu's brief interactions with the Southern Emperor, she knew very well how to advance and retreat, and was extremely intelligent. She would never do such a thing when the situation was unclear!

Yan'er could only endure, transforming into a green sparrow and pacing on his shoulder, murmuring, "My mother..."

Qin Mu raised his hand, letting her stand on his finger, signaling her not to say more, and gently asked the divine official, "Which Heavenly Venerate's divine artifact is suppressing Southern Pole Heaven?"

"It is the divine artifact of Fire Heavenly Venerate."

The divine official said, "Fire Heavenly Venerate is guarding Southern Pole Heaven."

Qin Mu's eyelid twitched, and he asked hoarsely, "Fire Heavenly Venerate?"

The divine official nodded.

Qin Mu composed himself and asked, "Has Fire Heavenly Venerate come in person?"

The divine official respectfully said, "Fire Heavenly Venerate has personally descended, recaptured the divine artifact, and is battling the Southern Emperor, having already reached the Southern Pole Forbidden Zone. In addition to Fire Heavenly Venerate's army, the Southern Heaven's Red Emperor has also led troops to assist, and the Celestial Heavens' Divine Martial Guard has also rushed here to suppress the rebellion. I also heard that the Heavenly River Naval Fleet will soon arrive."

Qin Mu's eyelid twitched wildly. Fire Heavenly Venerate came in person, along with two great Divine Martial Guards and two hundred thousand gods and devils, likely all powerful beings at the Jade Capital or High Heavens realms. With the Heavenly River Naval Fleet as well, this time Fire Heavenly Venerate intended to capture Southern Pole Heaven in one fell swoop!

As he was thinking, more suns were forcibly pulled above Southern Pole Heaven. Powerful primordial magnetism distorted space, and thousands of gods and devils descended from the sky, flying towards Southern Pole Heaven and the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace to engage in battle with the armies of gods and devils!

"But why is the Southern Heaven's Red Emperor, Qi Xiayu, here too?"

Qin Mu felt some doubt in his heart. Red Emperor Qi Xiayu was a disciple secretly cultivated by Moon Heavenly Venerate. She was not only Moon Heavenly Venerate's disciple but also Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird's disciple, a spy planted in the Celestial Heavens by these two women.

Red Emperor Qi Xiayu could absolutely not betray the Southern Emperor.

Her personally leading the Southern Heaven's army here revealed something strange about this matter.

However, Fire Heavenly Venerate had always hated evil as if it were a personal enemy and was hostile towards ancient gods. He would definitely not hold back when coming to kill Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird!

"Heavenly Venerate You once said that Fire Heavenly Venerate was no longer the Fire Heavenly Venerate of the past. Has he really changed?"

He felt a little uneasy in his heart. Yan'er on his finger almost clawed his finger off. Qin Mu endured the pain and continued to ask, "How many days has Fire Heavenly Venerate been suppressing the rebellion?"

The divine official said, "It has already been four days."

Qin Mu's heart convulsed violently a few times, and he said calmly, "Since the Southern Emperor has rebelled and caused chaos, I shall personally go and suppress the rebellion. Long Pi, let's go."

The divine official hesitated for a moment and said, "Heavenly Venerate, the battlefield ahead is extremely dangerous. It would be better for you to stay here."

Qin Mu said with a half-smile that wasn't a smile, "Am I Heavenly Venerate, or are you Heavenly Venerate?"

The divine official was startled and quickly waved his hand, ordering the surrounding celestial soldiers and generals to clear a path.

Qin Mu returned to the treasure carriage. The Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage sped towards the Southern Pole Heaven's Forbidden Zone. The Southern Pole Heaven's Forbidden Zone was the birthplace of Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird. Fire Heavenly Venerate rushing into there likely meant that Southern Emperor Vermillion Bird was in grave danger!

"She couldn't be so foolish, it's impossible..."

Qin Mu put Yan'er down. The little green sparrow anxiously hopped and flew inside the carriage, constantly peeking out the window.

With a thought from Qin Mu, the windows of the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage rattled, and, along with the four walls, retracted into the carriage body, offering an unobstructed view of the outside.

The six celestial dragons also transformed into their full forms, extending a hundred miles. The treasure carriage grew larger and larger, gleaming with radiant light, moving divinely through the sky with an immense presence.

"Yan'er, don't worry."

Qin Mu comforted the restless little green sparrow, saying, "Your mother is no less cunning than I am. If she has rebelled, then there must be a purpose behind it. What's more, I am the Grand Master who is immortal through all calamities; even if she dies, I can bring her back to life."

Yan'er stopped, transforming into the appearance of the little maidservant beside Moon Heavenly Venerate.

Qin Mu thought for a moment, took out Moon Heavenly Venerate's lantern and handed it to her, saying, "This is something Moon Heavenly Venerate gave you. Carry it; it can protect you. As we enter the battlefield, it's hard to guarantee stray attacks won't come. You should protect the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage."

Yan'er suppressed the anxiety in her heart, holding the lantern and standing at the front of the carriage shafts. The lantern's light spread out like ripples, enveloping the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage.

Powerful divine arts continuously flew in from the sky and across the ground, but when they reached the vicinity of the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage and touched the lantern's light, they simply vanished. Then the divine arts reappeared thousands of miles away, their power erupting, which was quite astonishing.

Even the solar flares encountered along the way simply vanished when they met the lantern's light.

Even the grand halls that flew from the sun, the moment they touched the lantern's light, reappeared thousands of miles away, unable to approach the treasure carriage.

This lantern was a treasure Moon Heavenly Venerate had given to Yan'er to pass on to Qin Mu so he could protect himself in the Primordial Realm. Qin Mu, however, had never used it. Now, witnessing the lantern's marvelous effect, he couldn't help but marvel at Moon Heavenly Venerate's immense divine power.

The lantern guarded the treasure carriage as the carriage continued to advance. Yan'er verbally directed Long Qilin, who controlled the reins, commanding the celestial dragons forward.

The six celestial dragons roared repeatedly, their roars stirring up thunderous sounds, drawing in lightning, and their speed grew faster and faster.

However, Southern Pole Heaven was extremely vast, and the Southern Pole Forbidden Zone was very distant; it would likely take more than a day to reach it.

Just then, Qin Mu heard faint, indistinct zither music from ahead. He quickly stood up and gazed into the distance.

He saw a phoenix ship sailing from outside the heavens, its massive bow piercing into the atmosphere. The phoenix ship flapped its wings, and countless celestial soldiers and generals from the Southern Heaven steered smaller multi-decked ships as they slid down from the phoenix ship. From those multi-decked ships, countless feathered swords flew out, plowing forward along the land and mountains, as if tilling the ground!

Wherever the feathered swords passed, mountains and rivers were shattered!

Qin Mu's eyelid twitched wildly. The gods and devils under the Southern Heaven's Red Emperor had actually been so ruthless towards Southern Pole Heaven; it truly exceeded his expectations!

Red Emperor Qi Xiayu was absolutely a military genius. In the late era of the High Emperor, she personally led troops into battle and slew the Southern Heaven's Red Emperor of the Celestial Heavens at that time!

Her army's combat strength was extremely powerful, and with her personally coming to conquer, wherever they passed, it was unlikely many would be left alive!

"Fatty Dragon, get closer to the phoenix ship!"

Hearing this, Long Qilin quickly adjusted the carriage's direction. The Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage got closer and closer to the phoenix ship. The divine general guarding the phoenix ship was a woman; behind her, a Nine-Phoenix primordial spirit appeared, extremely formidable. She called out from afar, "May I ask if that is Heavenly Venerate Mu on the carriage? Heavenly Venerate, halt!"

Long Qilin immediately stopped the carriage.

Qin Mu sat in the carriage and said, "Is the Red Emperor on the ship?"

The female general bowed, "Her Majesty the Red Emperor has already gone to the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace to suppress the rebellion and is not on this ship."

Qin Mu waved his hand, and the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage continued forward. Not long after, they finally saw the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace.

The Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace was the most ancient heavenly palace, and at this moment, it had been riddled with holes. Countless halls had collapsed, and enormous buildings crashed to the ground like mountains falling from the sky.

At this moment, a nine-headed phoenix of immense size tore open the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace with a flap of its wings. Its nine heads spewed radiant light in all directions, sweeping towards the gods and devils of the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace.

And on one of the nine-headed phoenix's heads, Qi Xiayu stood barefoot, holding a long zither. Her robes fluttered, her fingers danced, and the zither music was discordant yet precise. The melody descended like the world's sharpest sword energy, slaying the attacking powerhouses from Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace, utterly defeating them.

All around her, corpses fell like rain; none could withstand a single blow.

Around her, many goddesses flew about, shouting commands, unleashing divine arts, and slaying those who slipped through. They sometimes transformed into human form to cast divine arts, and at other times transformed into phoenixes, soaring with flapping wings.

Among the Emperor's Throne realm powerhouses, the combat strength of Red Emperor Qi Xiayu was certainly not inferior to that of Black Emperor Yin Tianzi!

"Young Master..." Yan'er turned back, looked at Qin Mu, and showed a pleading expression.

Qin Mu gritted his teeth. He truly couldn't figure out what Red Emperor Qi Xiayu intended to do.

"Red Emperor!"

Qin Mu's divine consciousness fluctuated, turning into a vast, booming sound. Red Emperor Qi Xiayu looked back. With a tap of her toe, one of the nine heads of the phoenix beneath her swayed, transforming into another Qi Xiayu, who flew towards the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage and bowed, "This humble one greets Heavenly Venerate Mu."

Qin Mu's gaze was complex. Qi Xiayu had only sent a clone to greet him; her main body was still attacking the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace, showing no intention of holding back.

"Red Emperor, Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life. Where forgiveness is possible, one should forgive. Why must you annihilate them all?" Qin Mu said gently.

Qi Xiayu gave him a deep look. Suddenly, her main body swayed, transforming into eight phoenixes. They spread their unparalleled wings and flew over the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace. Flames blazed fiercely, melting this most ancient heavenly palace. Countless deities perished beneath the phoenix sacred fire!

The eight phoenixes gathered together and merged one after another, transforming into an eight-headed colorful phoenix. It changed direction and flew towards the Celestial Dragon Treasure Carriage. With a swoosh, it merged into the Qi Xiayu in front of Qin Mu. Behind Qi Xiayu, a nine-phoenix primordial spirit flapped its wings, and firelight filled the sky!

The Nine-Phoenix primordial spirit folded its wings and slowly vanished.

Yan'er glared at her angrily, gritting her teeth and saying, "I was the one who fed you when you were little! How could you treat me like this!"

Qi Xiayu stepped onto the treasure carriage, stood at the front, and bowed, "Heavenly Venerate, why did the Southern Emperor immediately send the princess away when she was born? Don't you understand? There are no longer any of her people left in this Vermillion Bird Heavenly Palace. I am merely taking this opportunity to help her."

Qin Mu said, "Then where is the Southern Emperor?"

"In the Forbidden Zone."

Qi Xiayu raised her hand, pointed into the distance, and said, "If Heavenly Venerate arrives in time, you might still be able to see her one last time."