Chapter 1187: Bookish Scholar Is Too Ease

Qin Mu widened his eyes and smiled, "I didn't expect you to pay so much attention to me."

Scholar Tai Yi shook his head. "I don't just observe you; in fact, I observe many people. I was one of the childhood friends who checked Celestial Venerable Ling's manuscripts. I was also a peach in Celestial Venerable Yue's peach orchard, a fish that Emperor Kai fished but then slipped off the hook, and a ghost by the side of Earth Lord. Perhaps I was a star floating across Celestial Venerable Tian Gong's eyes, or a white hair pulled out and discarded by Celestial Venerable Hao."

He smiled. "I've been to many places and met many people. I've encountered all those who left a significant mark on the vast expanse of history. I also saw you abandon your path and return to the Celestial Palace and Heavenly Court's way, and because of that, I sighed. At that moment, I was a tear you shed."

Qin Mu's body trembled slightly. He remembered how, after seeking advice from Shu Jun, he decisively abandoned his original path and chose to cultivate the Celestial Palace and Heavenly Court. At that time, he couldn't help but shed tears, and he heard a faint sigh in his ear.

He composed himself and asked curiously, "You possess immense divine powers, yet why have you returned here?"

Scholar Tai Yi smiled, "I have always been here; it's not a matter of returning or not returning."

Qin Mu knew that Tai Yi's realm was beyond his comprehension and understanding. Perhaps if he hadn't abandoned his original path back then, he might have been able to cultivate to Tai Yi's level, but now it was no longer possible.

Scholar Tai Yi looked around and said, "This tree is a very dangerous place. It spans across various cosmic eras, and powerful individuals from those eras all want to climb here from the past to avoid death. Since you've chosen this as your territory, it seems we are destined to meet."

Qin Mu smiled, "Thanks to the guidance of the two ancient gods in the Grand Ultimate Ore Vein, otherwise I wouldn't have acquired this most treasured place in the Ancestral Court."

Scholar Tai Yi's expression became strange, but he said nothing more. "This place was originally mine, but since you've claimed it as your territory, you must also do something to protect the Ancestral Court."

Qin Mu said earnestly, "Please give your command."

Scholar Tai Yi said, "As you mentioned, sealing the Great Black Mountain can only delay things; it won't eliminate future troubles permanently. In the future, the Great Black Mountain will still collapse, and those past eras will attempt to invade. This is what I need your help with."

"It's my duty!"

Qin Mu readily agreed and smiled, "If there are any external invaders here, I'll be relying on you!"

Scholar Tai Yi hadn't expected him to make such a request. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "As you wish."

Qin Mu breathed a long sigh of relief. He knew his strength and influence couldn't compare to the Ten Celestial Venerables; he always walked on thin ice, filled with trepidation. Now that he had acquired the "most treasured place in the Ancestral Court," he constantly worried about not being able to defend it.

However, with Tai Yi's assurance, even if the Ten Celestial Venerables personally intervened, they would likely not be able to seize this "most treasured place in the Ancestral Court"!

Little did he know, the Ten Celestial Venerables had never even considered this "most treasured place in the Ancestral Court" to be of any value.

"With Tai Yi here, I can confidently take the First Ancestor and the others to block their gates!"

Qin Mu rubbed his fists together, inexplicably excited. "In the past, Dao Ancestor brought Lin Xuan, and Buddha brought the Buddha's Son, to block the gates of the Grand Academy. The Chief Priest of Bashan also took me to block the Loulan Golden Palace. But those were all instances of elders encouraging their juniors. When the elders sat there, they were truly imposing and awe-inspiring! The opponents could only obediently follow the rules, or else the elders would explode in fury! This time, I, the junior, will take the elders to block the territories of the Ten Celestial Venerables. If anyone dares not to follow the rules, I will explode!"

"Anyway, if I stir up a huge mess, I can just hide here in the Great Black Mountain, and Tai Yi will bear the weight even if the sky falls!"

Ancestral Court, Grand Beginning Ore Vein.

The Heavenly Court could not be without a Celestial Venerable guarding it. Celestial Venerable Xiao sent his most favored disciple, Gao Huaitong, to guard this ore vein. Although Celestial Venerable Xiao was a human Celestial Venerable, he treated all races equally, only harboring hatred for the ancient gods.

Gao Huaitong was not human, but a demigod of extraordinary talent, who had cultivated to the Emperor's Throne realm.

Gao Huaitong had just settled in and ordered his divine beings to enter the ore vein to mine divine stones when a divine being reported, "Celestial Venerable Mu has arrived with over twenty oddly shaped individuals, claiming to be here for a visit, and to block the gates according to custom to challenge Celestial Venerable Xiao's disciples."

"The custom of blocking gates?"

Gao Huaitong was puzzled. "When has my Heavenly Court ever had such a strange custom?"

He summoned Yan Qiling and asked, "Junior Sister, you've spent time in the lower realms. Celestial Venerable Mu has come to block our gates; do you know the customs of the lower realms?"

Yan Qiling replied, "There is such an unwritten custom in the lower realms: when an elder brings a junior to block a gate for a challenge, they must contend within the same realm. Neither side of the challenge can break this custom, or they will lose face. However, this custom actually has a principle: the elder must possess the power to intimidate the opponent."

Gao Huaitong chuckled, "People from the lower realms are unruly and uncultured; they actually come up with such strange customs. There's no such thing as blocking gates in the Heavenly Court. But on the other hand, although Celestial Venerable Mu's abilities aren't great, his reputation is significant, so we shouldn't neglect him. Junior Sister, your abilities are exceptional, and you rarely meet your match within the same realm. Go and deal with him."

Yan Qiling shook her head, "I have contended with him several times, but I have never won against him."

Gao Huaitong's expression shifted slightly, and he hesitated, "If you can't defeat him, it would be difficult for me to either..."

The divine messenger reported, "This time, Celestial Venerable Mu is presiding; he said he's letting others challenge."

Gao Huaitong couldn't help but laugh, "If Celestial Venerable Mu himself came to challenge, I might fear him a little. I didn't expect him to be so bold as to let others challenge. Very well, our fellow disciples will compete with the people he brought, and let him know the immensity of heaven and earth."

He led over a dozen of Celestial Venerable Xiao's disciples out to meet them. They saw Qin Mu arriving outside the mining area on a small, fast boat. As expected, the boat was filled with peculiar-looking individuals—tall, short, fat, thin—with only two or three being somewhat normal in appearance.

There seemed to be deep-seated conflicts among these individuals; they disliked each other intensely and almost came to blows while squeezed onto one boat.

The one they resented most was Qin Mu; everyone on the boat looked displeased with him.

Gao Huaitong saluted Qin Mu and smiled, "Celestial Venerable Mu, I apologize for my lack of a proper welcome. Since you've brought these Daoist companions to block our gates for a challenge, our lineage of Celestial Venerable Xiao naturally cannot lose face for our master, so we accept."

Qin Mu politely said, "Please don't worry, my people know their limits. Truth be told, they are all my elders, and I was concerned they had grown lax in their cultivation. I want to use your disciples' hands to temper them."

Emperor Qi Kang and Emperor Yi Shan, among others, bristled with anger.

After exchanging pleasantries, Gao Huaitong invited Qin Mu to the place of honor. Qin Mu then said earnestly, "Grand Ancestors, Patriarchs, I've secured the ground; you mustn't disgrace me."

Emperor Qi Kang leaped forward and angrily declared, "You Qin fellow, you're disrespecting your teachers and destroying your ancestors! Let's fight first!"

Gao Huaitong watched Qin Mu with a smile. Qin Mu apologetically said, "My dear nephew, this is my Grand Ancestor. He has a bit of a quick temper, but he also has some skill. Please pick a capable fighter and beat him senseless!"

Emperor Qi Kang was so enraged that smoke seemed to billow from his seven orifices. His body vibrated, and a brilliant light radiated from behind him, illuminating the area. Three Celestial Palaces, accompanied by the chime of a bell, sprang forth from the radiant light. He declared, "These past years, I've cultivated with the First Ancestor, and I've seen many Emperor's Throne cultivation methods. This life, I've advanced with remarkable vigor! Qin fellow, forget about the others; let's spar according to the rules of the Human Emperor's Hall first!"

Gao Huaitong looked at Qin Mu with a smile and said, "Celestial Venerable, what do you say...?"

Qin Mu's face was full of apology. "My elders are unruly and difficult to manage. Please wait a moment, my dear nephew; I'll discipline them first."

He stood up. Emperor Qi Kang was fully concentrated, rigorously on guard, waiting for him to attack.

Qin Mu took a step forward, and with a thunderous roar that shook the heavens, everyone present felt their qi and blood churn. Looking at Emperor Qi Kang, he had already been slammed into the ground of the Ancestral Court by Qin Mu's palm.

Qin Mu returned to his seat and smiled, "He's behaved now; we can begin."

Emperor Qi Kang crawled out of the dirt, dusty and disheveled, but he was full of spirit. He paid no mind to his defeat and laughed heartily, "Who will grace me with a challenge?"