Chapter 1114: De De Yuanjun

Inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Celestial Emperor sat on his throne. The Ten Celestial Venerables were also present, each seated upright, while civil and military officials filled the hall, their diverse divine lights illuminating the entire void.

Below, Gongsun Yan kowtowed. The Celestial Emperor offered a few words of encouragement, then bid her rise.

A court official submitted a memorial, praising Gongsun Yan as gentle, virtuous, and exceptionally talented, whose qualities had moved the heavens. The Celestial Emperor again offered words of encouragement and ordered a seat for her.

Seated, another court official presented a memorial, praising Gongsun Yan's transcendent cultivation and immense talent for governing the world. He stated, "The Mother Earth Yuanjun of the Yuan Realm was morally corrupt and has been executed. Now, the Yuan Realm is leaderless and chaotic. Celestial Venerable Xiao is guarding the Yuan Realm, but he struggles alone. Therefore, I recommend Gongsun Yan be appointed Earth Virtuous Yuanjun to be stationed in the Yuan Realm, sharing Celestial Venerable Xiao's burdens and resolving his difficulties."

The Celestial Emperor looked at the Ten Celestial Venerables and smiled, "What do my esteemed ministers think?"

The Ten Celestial Venerables, having already reached an unspoken agreement, all nodded in approval. Celestial Venerable Xiao chuckled, "Your Majesty's decision is final."

Thus, the Celestial Emperor issued a decree, appointing Gongsun Yan as Earth Virtuous Yuanjun. She was permitted to construct a celestial palace and command an army of one million.

Gongsun Yan bowed in gratitude.

All the gods loudly offered their praise in unison. Divine light permeated the hall, and melodious Dao sounds resonated sweetly.

The Ten Celestial Venerables then bestowed blessings upon Gongsun Yan, causing ten halos of light to appear behind her head. Qin Mu's divine consciousness, hidden within Gongsun Yan's glabella, witnessed this and felt a headache coming on. "Ten pairs of eyes are constantly watching Gongsun Yan," he thought. "She won't be able to hide anything from them!"

Just then, one of the halos behind Gongsun Yan subtly emitted a wisp of divine consciousness, which entered her glabella. Qin Mu sneered, and his divine consciousness, hidden within Gongsun Yan's glabella, immediately erupted!

The invading divine consciousness evidently hadn't anticipated finding someone else hidden there. It immediately shifted and transformed into a Great Luo Heaven. To its surprise, however, Qin Mu's divine consciousness also transformed into a Great Luo Heaven. The two Great Luo Heavens collided, and both divine consciousnesses instantly recognized each other.

"Grand Emperor!""Celestial Venerable Mu!"

The Celestial Emperor further bestowed numerous treasures, wealth, and palace maids, saying, "Earth Virtuous Yuanjun, the lower realm is unlike this place. It is often plagued by tyrannical warlords. I hope you will suppress them frequently and ensure the peace and safety of the lower realm's populace."

Gongsun Yan assented, completely unaware that a fierce battle had erupted within her own glabella.

After the Celestial Emperor retired from court, the Ten Celestial Venerables stepped forward to offer their congratulations and encourage Gongsun Yan. Other court officials also came forward to extend their felicitations. Following Ling Yuxiu's teachings, Gongsun Yan maintained perfect etiquette, appearing dignified, generous, and appropriate, earning the admiration of the officials.

Qin Mu had more divine consciousness within Gongsun Yan's glabella, and he managed to break through the opponent's Great Luo Heaven of divine consciousness. However, the Grand Emperor's divine consciousness was far more skilled in its own techniques, unleashing a constant stream of divine consciousness abilities. Even though Qin Mu held an advantage, he couldn't completely defeat him.

Their divine consciousnesses continued to clash fiercely within Gongsun Yan's glabella. When Gongsun Yan finished her duties and walked out of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Qin Mu immediately stepped forward. With a light touch to Gongsun Yan's glabella, he instantly obliterated and refined that wisp of the Grand Emperor's invading divine consciousness!

"The Grand Emperor is indeed remarkable," Qin Mu couldn't help but marvel. "His attainments in the path of divine consciousness are extremely high, far beyond what I can rival."

This confrontation with the Grand Emperor's divine consciousness within Gongsun Yan's glabella gave him a deeper understanding of the Grand Emperor's capabilities.

The Grand Emperor's ability to become one of the Ten Celestial Venerables stemmed from his unparalleled mastery of divine consciousness. Having incorporated the Divine Treasures and Celestial Palaces system, his divine consciousness abilities were now immeasurably more formidable than before.

"Young Master, what should I do?" After leaving the Lingxiao Hall, Gongsun Yan immediately reverted to her simple, unassertive self. She whispered, "I don't know how to be this Earth Virtuous Yuanjun. I..."

Qin Mu smiled, "You don't need to do anything at all."

Gongsun Yan looked puzzled. Qin Mu continued, "You just need to be yourself, just like before. On a normal day, water your plants, cultivate some flowers, apply fertilizer, catch bugs, and perhaps raise a nest of phoenixes. And remember to learn Dao arts and divine abilities from Granny Si."

Gongsun Yan blinked her large, dark eyes. "But His Majesty the Celestial Emperor wants me to build an Earth Virtuous Celestial Palace," she said, "and I have no experience with that..."

"That makes it even simpler," Qin Mu said. "You can apply to the Celestial Emperor for funds. Once you have the money, hand it over to Yankang to construct your celestial palace. As for recruiting soldiers, you can also entrust that to Emperor Yanxiu. Ling Yuxiu will be more than happy to help you with all these matters. You can just focus on your cultivation. As long as you become powerful enough to face ten thousand enemies in battle, that will suffice."

"I still have to fight battles..." Gongsun Yan murmured, a little uneasy.

Qin Mu laughed heartily. "As the Earth Virtuous Yuanjun, you will possess half of the Yuan Realm's territory," he said. "Wouldn't you have to fight back against any forces that refuse to submit?"

As they spoke, the divine official returned, bringing with him various treasures bestowed by the Celestial Emperor, a hundred palace maids, and an eight-phoenix imperial carriage. The eight phoenixes pulling it were exceptionally beautiful and powerful, no weaker than the nine heavenly dragons pulling Qin Mu's own Heavenly Dragon Chariot.

The eight-phoenix imperial carriage was typically reserved for feudal lords, a rank below the Heavenly Dragon Chariot, yet it was still an extraordinary conveyance.

Gongsun Yan boarded the imperial carriage, parting reluctantly from Qin Mu. The carriage then set off, carrying her, the treasures, and the palace maids towards the Spiritual Energy Teleportation Bridge.

Qin Mu watched her depart, his eyes flashing. "The Ten Celestial Venerables' blessings behind Yan'er's head are quite troublesome," he mused. "They're incredibly difficult to remove, even more so than the blessings of the ancient gods!"

Nevertheless, Gongsun Yan's appointment as Earth Virtuous Yuanjun and the establishment of her Earth Virtuous Celestial Palace would provide Yankang with a legitimate reason for future military expeditions.

This was indeed a good development!

In the years following the Yankang calamity, the nation had not conducted military training and had instead reduced its forces. Even with financial aid from the Northern Emperor and Western Emperor, and possessing a formidable divine weapon like the Five Thunder Pot, they had not established a Five Thunder Army, choosing instead to focus on internal development.

If this continued, even if the nation became wealthy, it would be rich but not powerful.

Now, within Yankang, many deities had achieved the divine realm. These divine beings could be assigned to the Earth Virtuous Celestial Palace. Additionally, those with divine abilities also needed to join the army and gain combat experience, preparing them for future eventualities.

Just then, Celestial Venerable Hao, Celestial Venerable Huo, and the other Ten Celestial Venerables emerged from the Lingxiao Hall.

"Celestial Venerable Mu!" Celestial Venerable Hong swiftly approached, greeted Qin Mu, and chuckled. "Celestial Venerable Mu, you've been waiting outside the Lingxiao Hall? Why didn't you come inside to speak? His Majesty has been thinking of you!"

Qin Mu returned the greeting, laughing heartily. "I arrived a little late," he said, "and court was already in session. I dared not disturb His Majesty and my esteemed colleagues."

He scrutinized Celestial Venerable Hong, a silent doubt stirring within him.

Celestial Venerable Hong indeed bore some resemblance to Great Hong, whom he had met in the Dragon Han era; both wore wide robes and flowing sleeves. However, Great Hong had been a young man, whereas Celestial Venerable Hong was a radiant old man with white brows and a white beard.

Both were of the demon race. Yet, according to Divine King Miyun, Great Hong was dead. So, was this Celestial Venerable Hong truly the Grand Emperor?

Could the Grand Emperor's divine consciousness have descended from the Great Luo Heaven of divine consciousness in the ultimate void and entered Great Hong's corpse?

With a smiling face, he exchanged a few pleasantries with Celestial Venerable Hong.

Just moments before, the two had been locked in a fierce confrontation within Gongsun Yan's glabella, yet now they conversed and laughed as if nothing had happened.