Chapter 1115: I Was Really Silly, Really

Hao Tianzun stepped forward and said indifferently, "Mu Tianzun seems to have been very busy lately; you haven't returned to the Heavenly Court in years. The Heavenly Alliance meeting was held a few days ago, and all the Tianzun and Heavenly Alliance disciples attended, but you were the only one absent."

"The Heavenly Alliance meeting?”

Qin Mu’s heart stirred. He knew only that the Ten Heavenly Venerates were elders of the Heavenly Alliance, and that Dao Ancestor and Great Brahma King Buddha were also members, but he had never met the other participants. He smiled and replied, "My apologies; I was held up by other matters. I promise I won't miss the next Heavenly Alliance meeting."

Lang Xuan Divine Emperor approached, surveying Qin Mu’s Heavenly Dragon Chariot. With a faint smile, he remarked, "How is it that even the steeds for the chariot bestowed upon you by His Majesty have been replaced? Where are those nine Heavenly Dragons?"

Qin Mu sighed and replied, "My journey this time was quite perilous; those nine Heavenly Dragons perished valiantly."

Lang Xuan Divine Emperor examined the chariot, noting the signs of repair, and sneered, "Did Mu Tianzun go around demolishing buildings again? No wonder the chariot is in such a state!"

Qin Mu chuckled, "Indeed. Had I known, I would have just demolished your Lang Xuan Divine Palace instead; then I wouldn't have been relentlessly pursued."

Lang Xuan Divine Emperor burst out laughing. "Who would dare demolish my Lang Xuan Divine Palace? What a ridiculous notion!"

Qin Mu also laughed heartily, thinking to himself, "I’ve demolished your Lang Xuan Divine Palace twice already!"

Yan Tianfei approached, cradling a white cat, and said with a beaming smile, "Mu Tianzun, your journey must have been exhausting; it clearly shows the hardships you've endured."

Qin Mu looked at the white cat in her arms, a thought surfacing: "This cat is still alive?"

Upon seeing him, the white cat’s eyes widened with fear, and it quickly burrowed deeper into Yan Tianfei’s embrace.

Qin Mu chuckled, "Tianfei, may I borrow your cat for a couple of days?"

Yan Tianfei burst into a giggle. "Oh, that simply won't do. A few years ago, Little Seven was startled while searching for the thief who stole treasures from His Majesty's ancestral lands, and it hasn't recovered since. It becomes terrified whenever it sees an adversary. That thief is truly despicable!"

Qin Mu sighed, "What a pity."

Qiang Tianzun stepped forward to greet him, asking curiously, "Where have you been all these years, Mu Tianzun?"

“Oh, too many places to count.”

Qin Mu returned the greeting, sighing, "The Primordial Realm, the Four Extreme Heavens... I’ve been running back and forth, met countless people, and I’m half-dead from exhaustion."

Qiang Tianzun said sympathetically, "Please rest well, Tianzun. I've refined some medicine that nourishes blood and enhances complexion; would you like me to send you some?"

Qin Mu chuckled heartily, "I'm just a rough man with a 'stinky hide'; it's not worth the effort."

Huo Tianzun approached. Qin Mu snorted coldly, saying indifferently, "You and I have severed ties; there's nothing left to say."

Huo Tianzun remained expressionless, with fiery light swirling behind his head, radiating an overwhelming aura. He said coolly, "I, too, have nothing to say to you. As long as you don't obstruct my path, I can spare your life. But if you do..."

“Fellow Daoist Xiao!”

Qin Mu ignored him, instead greeting Xiao Tianzun with a smile. "Regarding the matter of Earth Virtue Primordial Monarch, I deeply apologize."

Xiao Tianzun hastily returned the greeting, smiling, "Earth Mother Primordial Monarch's rebellion was always a grave concern for the Heavenly Court. Now, with that menace gone and a virtuous Earth Virtue Primordial Monarch in her place, it's truly a blessing for the Primordial Realm."

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly. None of the other Tianzun had mentioned Earth Mother Primordial Monarch; only Xiao Tianzun did. This suggested that Qin Mu's strategic elimination of Earth Mother in the Yankang Capital had not been hidden from him.

His words carried a hidden meaning, serving as a subtle warning to Qin Mu.

Ancestor God King strode over, but merely walked past Qin Mu, exuding arrogance and disdain.

Qin Mu smiled and ignored him. Xu Tianzun then approached and asked, "Mu Tianzun, you are very close to my father, Earth Lord. Is he well?"

Qin Mu replied with a half-smile, "Fellow Daoist Earth Lord’s body is still quite robust, but with his age, he often thinks of his children. It’s inevitable that he feels lonely when they are not by his side."

Xu Tianzun commented, "When one grows old, one shouldn't always cling to power. It’s better to retire early, lest one die in office."

With a full smile, Qin Mu replied, "I will convey that to him."

His gaze then fell upon Gong Tianzun. He bowed and said, "Fellow Daoist Gong."

“Mu Tianzun,” Gong Tianzun returned the greeting.

Qin Mu surveyed Gong Tianzun. She was a serious woman, cold and unsmiling to everyone, never showing much expression. So, he said earnestly, "I’ve met with the other nine Tianzun, and we share deep friendships; they love and respect me like family. However, I’ve never had a chance to chat with you, Fellow Daoist Gong. Do you have time to sit down and discuss the Dao?"

“No time,” Gong Tianzun replied coldly, then turned and departed.

The other Tianzun chuckled, saying, "Don't mind it, Mu Tianzun. Gong Tianzun simply has that temperament; she's cold to everyone."

Qin Mu gave two dry laughs, concealing his embarrassment. The others began to take their leave, saying, "Don't overwork yourself, Mu Tianzun. Come visit us when you have time. The Heavenly Court's army will depart in a few days, bringing the Four Imperial Divine Artifacts to suppress the Grand Void. You absolutely mustn't miss this grand spectacle!"

Qin Mu acknowledged their words and watched them depart, his eyes gleaming. He thought, "They are creating the Four Imperial Divine Artifacts, likely to establish a safe passage. These artifacts, devoid of consciousness, would then suppress the various anomalies along the Demonic Heart Star Path. However, the inner demons of the Grand Void Star Path can even manifest ancient gods and Heavenly Emperors. Relying solely on the Four Imperial Divine Artifacts might not be enough. They will certainly also be looking for Eldest Senior Brother's disciples..."

“Mu Tianzun, here is the geographical map of the Cloud Lofty Heavenly Palace you requested.”

The divine official called out, bringing Qin Mu back to reality. The official handed him the map, smiling, "This humble servant has also drawn the route to the Cloud Lofty Heavenly Palace on the map." He then remained standing there, watching Qin Mu.

Qin Mu understood the unspoken expectation and took out a bag of heavenly coins. The official tucked it into his sleeve, bowed, and excused himself.

Qin Mu returned to his chariot and unfolded the geographical map of the Cloud Lofty Heavenly Palace. After a quick look, he couldn't help but chuckle. He then pulled out another map of his own and compared the two; they were identical!

This map had been left to him by Wei Suifeng, indicating that the Cloud Lofty Heavenly Palace was also one of Wei Suifeng's hidden treasure locations, though Qin Mu didn’t know what treasures were concealed there.

The map given by the divine official explicitly stated that the psionic relocation bridge led to the Cloud Lofty Heavenly Palace. Qin Mu rolled up the official map, which then burst into flames and turned to ash, leaving only Wei Suifeng’s map.

“Eldest Senior Brother wants me to follow this map to save him. Very well, I'll follow the map, but as for saving him, that might have to wait a few more days... Yan'er, to the West Heavenly Gate.”

Yan'er and the Dragon Qilin pulled the Heavenly Dragon Chariot toward the West Heavenly Gate. Qin Mu’s eyes gleamed as he thought, "Bai Yuqiong of Qionghua Palace at the West Heavenly Gate, the Heavenly Court's Third Heavenly Master, and the reincarnated soul of the Southern Emperor. This time, I'll first make contact with her to see how many times she's died, and then try to undo Yin Tianzi's divine ability."

Upon returning to Yankang this time, he inquired about the whereabouts of Fengdu, but no one in Yankang knew its current location.

Qin Mu had originally planned to visit Emperor Yi Yue in Fengdu to use the Underworld Heavenly Gate in her possession to unravel the "mystery in the womb" that Yin Tianzi had placed on Bai Yuqiong. However, unable to locate Fengdu, he had no choice but to abandon that plan.

Upon arriving at the West Heavenly Gate, Qin Mu called for the Dragon Qilin, produced a Vermilion Bird feather, and instructed, "Dragon Fat, go to Qionghua Palace and have the guards deliver this feather to Bai Yuqiong."

The Dragon Qilin acknowledged, and a moment later, returned, saying, "It has been delivered."

Qin Mu nodded gently. "Proceed to the psionic relocation bridge of the Xiluo Sect, and from there to the Cloud Lofty Heavenly Palace."

Inside Qionghua Palace, Bai Yuqiong, the Heavenly Court’s Third Heavenly Master, clutched the Vermilion Bird feather, her gaze distant. She abruptly rose and walked out of the palace. Yet, after she stood, another Bai Yuqiong remained on the throne, identical to her, indistinguishable from the real thing!

“That boy from the Dragon Han era who tricked me into looking at his 'grand treasure' has reappeared! And that chubby girl who used a jade pendant to con me out of my feather has also shown up!”

Bai Yuqiong’s beautiful eyes blinked, and she secretly gritted her teeth, thinking, "I was truly foolish back then, but their 'treasure' did save me. Now, I want to find out who they are, why they saved me, and why they tricked me out of my feather..."