Chapter 1180: Master and Disciple Reunite

Qin Mu had never blamed Martial Arts Heavenly Master, nor had he blamed King Yama and the others.

The knot in his heart had always been Emperor Kaihuang's decree. However, after meeting Emperor Kaihuang and seeing the current state of Wuyou Township, that knot in his heart was finally untied.

Although his own heart was unburdened, the unresolved issues of Emperor Kaihuang's former subordinates in Fengdu still remained.

These individuals were true heroes, but they were unable to act on their convictions to save Yankang, leaving them despondent and damaging their Dao hearts.

Qin Mu's visit was also to help them resolve their inner struggles.

He bade farewell to Martial Arts Heavenly Master and arrived at Dragon Village, the home of Emperor Qing. There, Miss Qingya was both surprised and delighted to see him, almost calling out, but then she forcefully restrained herself.

Qin Mu smiled and nodded to her and the other residents of Dragon Village.

Elder Qinghuang also sensed his arrival, came out of the village to greet him, and said, "Son of Qin..."

Qin Mu returned the bow and smiled, "I am no longer the son of Qin, but instead, Heavenly Venerate Mu."

Elder Qinghuang was momentarily stunned, then sighed and bowed, "Heavenly Venerate Mu."

Qin Mu returned the bow. "Emperor Qing, the dragon vein of the Kaihuang Divine Dynasty, the creator of Yankang's dragon vein—you are also one of Yankang's founders. It was you who passed down the Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art and the Emperor Disc to the Ling family's ancestor, which led to the later establishment of the Yankang nation. Why do you need to blame yourself?"

Elder Qinghuang shook his head. "I did not protect Yankang."

Qin Mu smiled. "No one has ever blamed you. It's just you who can't forgive yourself. Your connection with Yankang runs deeper than anyone else's; there's no need for self-reproach."

Elder Qinghuang bowed. "I dare not disobey Heavenly Venerate's teachings."

Qin Mu departed, following the Scarlet Splendor Deity into the depths of Fengdu. He heard vast Buddhist chants and waves of Sanskrit sounds. Upon arriving, he saw Emperor Sakra Devaraja Li Youran sitting barefoot amidst Fengdu's evil spirits, his body entwined with chains, and his eyes tightly closed.

He was comprehending the Immeasurable Kalpa Sutra, repeatedly entering dreams. His dreams transformed into a supreme Buddhist kingdom, a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, this Buddhist kingdom and Pure Land were repeatedly disturbed by evil spirits infiltrating his dreams. Li Youran in his dreams was once assimilated by these evil spirits, and the Pure Land became defiled, causing him to suffer endless nightmares.

Emperor Sakra Devaraja declared, "As long as hell is not empty, I vow not to attain perfect enlightenment!"

Qin Mu gestured for the Scarlet Splendor Deity to stop, then walked to face Emperor Sakra Devaraja, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes, entering the dream.

Their dreams merged. Emperor Sakra Devaraja's dream was no longer just a supreme Buddhist kingdom of ultimate bliss, but a world where everyone strived, progressed, and dared to fight. Although evil spirits were still present, they could no longer easily disturb him.

After a long time, Emperor Sakra Devaraja awoke, feeling a profound sense of enlightenment. He bowed respectfully to Qin Mu.

Qin Mu returned the bow and gracefully departed.

Emperor Sakra Devaraja watched him walk away, then pondered for a moment before leaving the area infested with evil spirits. He murmured, "Evil spirits originate from the human world. As long as wicked people are not eliminated from the human world, hell will never be empty."

"Heavenly Venerate Mu and Emperor Sakra Devaraja didn't say a word earlier. Why did Emperor Sakra Devaraja achieve enlightenment?" the Scarlet Splendor Deity asked, perplexed.

Qin Mu smiled. "Everything that needed to be said, I already told him in the dream. Why bother speaking aloud?"

The Scarlet Splendor Deity remained quite puzzled.

Suddenly, Qin Mu stopped. He saw the Black Tiger God.

A large black tiger was listlessly lying on the ground. Nearby, next to two thatched huts, the Woodcutter donned a woodcutter's attire and was chopping at an old tree.

With each swing of his axe, a piece of the old tree would be cut away, only for another piece to immediately grow back, making it an endless task.

Qin Mu walked closer, watched for a moment, then suddenly drew his sword and, with one stroke, cut down the old tree.

Qin Mu sheathed his sword and prepared to leave.

"Your senior disciple watched me chop wood for several hundred years back then."

From behind him, the voice of the Woodcutter Sage came, saying, "You watched for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before cutting down my tree."

Qin Mu turned around and smiled. "Teacher, I learned your character, not your Dao arts. I've already surpassed your methods; I've comprehended something better!"

"Stop right there!"

The Woodcutter Sage was furious and angrily said, "You belittle what I teach? The reason I didn't teach you was because you were too unconventional, and I didn't know what would be best to teach! Your senior disciple, I taught him the longest; I tried to impart all the achievements of the Kaihuang era to him, but he turned out to be too extreme. The only one who wasn't extreme was my third disciple, your third senior brother—I taught him with the most dedication. I imparted to him thirty-six types of acquired Grand Dao that could lead to enlightenment, supplemented by seventy-two types of innate Grand Dao to help him become a sage."

Qin Mu blinked. "He's not as good as me."

The Woodcutter Sage suppressed the urge to grab his axe and charge at Qin Mu, then coldly snorted. "The Ten Heavenly Venerates of the Celestial Heavens are walking the path of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces, attempting to cultivate to the Celestial Heavens realm. However, they only have the Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces, not the Seventy-Two Treasure Halls. Their understanding of the Celestial Heavens realm might not be as profound as mine! As Kaihuang's First Heavenly Master, though my aptitude isn't exceptional, I have a vision for the Celestial Heavens realm."

Qin Mu listened intently.

The Woodcutter Sage continued, "Even if the Ten Heavenly Venerates cultivate the Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces, they won't reach the true Celestial Heavens realm. Without the Seventy-Two Treasure Halls, their foundation will be unstable, and the various Heavenly Palaces will inevitably restrain each other, limiting their strength. They've taken the wrong path. There's only one way to quickly cultivate to the Celestial Heavens: use the acquired Grand Dao to forge the Thirty-Six Heavenly Palaces, with the seventy-two innate Grand Dao as supplements. This way, one can cultivate to the Celestial Heavens more swiftly and with a solid foundation! I have already passed this method on to my third disciple."

Qin Mu thought for a moment, then said, "Favoritism."

The Woodcutter Sage was enraged, but forcefully restrained himself. "Your current abilities surpass mine a hundredfold, but my insight is still superior to yours. If you intend to walk the path to the Celestial Heavens, I can help you organize your cultivation methods, allowing you to also embark on the complementary path of Heavenly Palaces and Divine Halls!"

Qin Mu considered it again, then shook his head and walked away. "There's no need. I've already comprehended something better. I only have the Spirit Embryo realm; both the Heavenly Palace and Celestial Heavens realms are merely icing on the cake."

The Woodcutter Sage could no longer restrain himself and, grabbing his axe, chased after him.

Qin Mu waved his sleeve, and a fierce gust of wind swept up the Woodcutter Sage, carrying him away to an unknown location.

The Black Tiger God woke up and called out, "Junior Brother, don't worry! With me here, the old man won't get lost!" With that, he scurried off to find the Woodcutter Sage.

Qin Mu laughed heartily and departed with the Scarlet Splendor Deity.

The Woodcutter Sage was left dizzy and disoriented by the fierce wind. After a long moment, he finally landed, his heart filled with shock. "Has this youngster truly forged his own path?"

The Scarlet Splendor Deity couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement; Qin Mu's divine abilities were indeed remarkably powerful and unique.

The Woodcutter Sage was the most knowledgeable person, exceptionally skilled at deciphering divine abilities. Although his cultivation realm wasn't high, he could decipher any divine ability in the world.

Yet, with a mere wave of his sleeve, Qin Mu sent him flying, and the Woodcutter Sage failed to decipher that divine ability, showing its formidable power.

"The deepest part of Fengdu is where Emperor Yi Yue Devaraja resides,"

The Scarlet Splendor Deity pointed ahead. Qin Mu looked and saw the Heavenly Gate of Mingdu standing silently within Fengdu's Ninth Divine City. Outside the city was also a Sea of Darkness, which Emperor Yi Yue likely built to imitate the Sea of Darkness of Mingdu, though it was not entirely identical to the Yin Heavenly Son's Sea of Darkness.

"Sister Yi Yue, Qin Mu has come to visit!" Qin Mu called out loudly.

Emperor Yi Yue's voice drifted from afar, softly saying, "Can we not meet? I have failed you, and I feel ashamed to face you."

Qin Mu smiled. "I came here to decipher the Yin Heavenly Son's divine abilities."

"Brother, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Emperor Yi Yue laughed heartily. "Come in quickly!"