Chapter 1116: Yan Feng Emperor and the National Teacher

Bai Yuqiong departed from Qionghua Heavenly Palace, her figure flickering like a ghost before vanishing. Meanwhile, another Bai Yuqiong remained in Qionghua Heavenly Palace, diligently handling state affairs.

Her cultivation method was exceptionally unique; the Bai Yuqiong who stayed in Qionghua Heavenly Palace was also an Emperor's Throne realm expert, indistinguishable from her in words and deeds!

Those who could cultivate to the Emperor's Throne realm and ascend to the Heavenly Master's throne were never undeserving of their reputation.

This was especially true for Bai Yuqiong. Repeated confrontations with the Black Emperor Yin Tianzi had made her incredibly cunning. After countless deaths and resurrections, she had reflected deeply and devised various ways to preserve her life, even later plotting against Yin Tianzi.

Even though Yin Tianzi usually plotted against others, there were several occasions when he almost died by her hand.

It was precisely because of her cunning and capability that the Heavenly Court recognized her talents and appointed her as the Heavenly Master overseeing the West Falling Sect.

Not long after, Bai Yuqiong discovered the whereabouts of Qin Mu and Dragon Qilin, her expression peculiar. "Heavenly Venerate Mu? That young man who showed me his treasure, is he Heavenly Venerate Mu? He doesn't look like him. I saw him from afar when he came to the Heavenly Court... Oh, right, I heard that Heavenly Venerate Mu, by a stroke of luck, can travel through time back to the past and made a name for himself in the early years of the Dragon Han era. This means his appearance in ancient times was different from his current one..."

She couldn't help but wonder, "In ancient times, why did Heavenly Venerate Mu give me that jade pendant? Why did he protect me from Yin Tianzi's schemes? And why did he trick me into giving him the feather that Heavenly Venerate Yue gave me?"

Unable to comprehend it, she simply headed towards the West Falling Sect's spiritual energy teleportation bridge.

"Heavenly Venerate Mu is going to Yunluo Heavenly Palace this time, isn't he? Yunluo Heavenly Palace is the territory of Emperor Yunluo, Wei Suifeng. I heard Wei Suifeng is Heavenly Venerate Mu's senior brother."

Bai Yuqiong's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, a sense of unease in her heart. "Heavenly Venerate Xiao discovered that Wei Suifeng was a disciple of the Founding Emperor's remnants and ordered me to set a trap and capture him with the Azure Emperor. That fellow is a ruthless character; the Azure Emperor and I had to conspire against him in Yunluo Heavenly Palace to finally subdue him. Is Heavenly Venerate Mu luring me to Yunluo Heavenly Palace to avenge his senior brother?"

She gazed at the Vermilion Bird feather, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

The Vermilion Bird feather emanated plumes of Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire.

This sacred fire burned everything and was incredibly potent, second only to the Dao Fire of the Heavenly Fire Great Dao, yet its danger level surpassed that of Heavenly Fire itself. Heavenly Fire was a fire of microscopic crystals, generally safe, its power dormant unless activated. However, Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire was immensely volatile, constantly radiating destructive power capable of obliterating heavens and earth.

Yet, the Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire did not harm her in the slightest.

Bai Yuqiong was also greatly puzzled.

Although her cultivation was extremely high, she had no accomplishments in fire-elemental divine arts. Her divine arts excelled in the path of space, and she was proficient in Daoist numerology and Buddhist dharma.

In the past, to escape death, she had once joined the Daoist sect as a nun under the Dao Ancestor, and in another life, she had become a Bodhisattva under the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha.

Even though she wasn't skilled in fire-elemental divine arts, the Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire was remarkably close to her, sparking some curiosity in her heart.

The Vermilion Bird feather had been given to her by Heavenly Venerate Yue, who said it was related to her origins. However, Bai Yuqiong could already recall memories from 197 past lives, and in the memories from before her 99th life, Heavenly Venerate Yue had given her the Vermilion Bird feather every time, saying the exact same words.

Her memories could even be traced back to ancient times, and Bai Yuqiong no longer wished to delve deeper.

Nevertheless, a hint of curiosity lingered within her.

Just as she hesitated whether to enter the spiritual energy teleportation bridge, her counterpart in Qionghua Heavenly Palace had already ordered the West Falling Sect's army to set off for the Grand Primordium.

In the West Falling Sect's main camp, deities and devils surrounded the Western Emperor Divine Artifact, a vast and powerful artifact forged in the likeness of the Western Emperor White Tiger's physical body, possessing boundless combat power!

Among the myriad deities and devils, a middle-aged monk and a middle-aged Daoist were quite conspicuous, passing by the spiritual energy teleportation bridge.

Bai Yuqiong called out to them, saying, "Daoist Bai Yu, Monk Ling Yue, come here. I have something I'd like to ask for your advice on."

Daoist Bai Yu and Monk Ling Yue stepped forward, bowing as they asked, "What is it, Heavenly Master?"

These two were disciples of the Daoist and Buddhist sects who had come to seek refuge with Bai Yuqiong. Though their status was humble, Bai Yuqiong found their wisdom and courage exceptional. They regularly offered her strategies and advice, proving to be rare talents, and thus she greatly valued them.

Bai Yuqiong's wisdom was honed through a hundred lifetimes of escaping death, while these two possessed great innate wisdom. Therefore, Bai Yuqiong often sought their counsel when facing difficult matters.

This time, the task of escorting the divine artifact to the Grand Primordium was also entrusted to them.

Bai Yuqiong expressed her concerns. Daoist Bai Yu and Monk Ling Yue exchanged glances. Monk Ling Yue chuckled, "Heavenly Master, are you worried about getting too close to Heavenly Venerate Mu and giving the other Heavenly Venerates leverage? Or are you worried that Heavenly Venerate Mu intends to frame you to avenge Emperor Yunluo?"

Bai Yuqiong replied, "Both."

Monk Ling Yue laughed, "If Heavenly Venerate Mu wanted to harm you, Heavenly Master, why wouldn't he have done so during the Dragon Han era? He only needed not to save you, and you would have died by Yin Tianzi's hand, never to reincarnate. Why bother with such complications?"

Bai Yuqiong immediately understood his meaning, and her heart eased. She smiled, "I will go find him. The task of transporting the divine artifact to the Grand Primordium I leave to you two. Your wisdom and talent are no less than mine, so on the journey, you must support each other and be extra careful. That rebel Founding Emperor Qin Ye has many capable and extraordinary individuals under his command, and he also has four Heavenly Masters."

She paused, then continued, "Heavenly Master Fisherman and Heavenly Master Martial Fighter are not concerns, but you must be especially wary of Heavenly Master Woodcutter and Heavenly Master Scholar. Especially Woodcutter; that person is exceptionally sly. I've fought him a few times and never gained an advantage. And then there's Heavenly Master Scholar, named Zixi. Although he's a scholar, his courage and intellect are incredibly high, making him extremely dangerous!"

Daoist Bai Yu and Monk Ling Yue nodded repeatedly.

Bai Yuqiong hesitated for a moment, then took out a jade pendant and a perfumed handkerchief. She said, "Zixi is formidable. If you can't defeat him, then take out these two items."

Her face flushed slightly, a hint of shyness in her voice. "The jade pendant was given to me by him, and the perfumed handkerchief is one I embroidered; I always intended to give it to him... If you show him these two items, he will most likely let you go! Go, go!"

Daoist Bai Yu and Monk Ling Yue, seeing this rare girlish side of the Heavenly Master, exchanged bewildered glances.

Bai Yuqiong hurried them away, then quickly entered the spiritual energy teleportation bridge, heading for Yunluo Heavenly Palace.

Daoist Bai Yu and Monk Ling Yue led the West Falling Sect army out of the Heavenly Court. The West Falling Sect did not have large tower ships but instead used chariots, which were slightly faster than tower ships, though their pace was slowed by the need to escort the Western Emperor Divine Artifact.

"Heavenly Master Bai seems to have a soft spot for Heavenly Master Zixi."

Monk Ling Yue whispered, "Could it be that she never realized Heavenly Master Zixi is a woman?"

Daoist Bai Yu replied, "It seems she hasn't, and even appears to be deeply affectionate. But then again, Heavenly Master Martial Fighter Zhuo Cha didn't realize it either."

Monk Ling Yue chuckled, "Heavenly Master Martial Fighter is even less perceptive than Niu Sanduo; it would be a miracle if she realized. But how could someone as shrewd as Bai Yuqiong also fall for Heavenly Master Zixi? These two women..."

Daoist Bai Yu glanced at him, then cleared his throat and said, "Your Majesty, you are a monk now. Please maintain your image."

Monk Ling Yue immediately sobered up, appearing solemn and dignified, like an enlightened monk. He said, "Bai Gui, what are your plans for this journey? Are we truly escorting the Western Emperor Divine Artifact into the Grand Primordium?"

Daoist Bai Yu smiled faintly. "The White Tiger commands armies and presides over warfare, being an ancient god of the Path of Slaughter. The Ten Heavenly Venerates have the divine artifact Heavenly Venerate Yu; if we wield the Four Emperors Divine Artifacts, perhaps we can gauge the combat strength of the Heavenly Court's powerhouses."

His gaze deepened as he softly said, "The Grand Primordium is destined to run red with blood."