Chapter 1226: The Return of Kaihuang

Emperor Yi Yue, Zuo Cha, Qing Huang, Yama, and the others exchanged glances. True enough, the Grand Emperor had departed. However, he had not fully broken through the Lotus Continent. Instead, he had directly uprooted this landmass from the Primordial Realm, striding upon it as it whistled through the air, quickly vanishing from sight.

Qin Mu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and whispered, "Good thing I'm influential, or the consequences would have been unthinkable. So, Consort Qiang Tian is currently within the Heavenly Court's ranks. That little rascal, the Grand Emperor... Why are you all looking at me? You rebels and traitors, are you trying to revolt? I'll bring the Heavenly Court army here right now to eradicate you remnants!"

In front of the Woodcutter Saint, Emperor Yi Yue, Zuo Cha, Qing Huang, Yama, and the others gave the belligerent Heavenly Venerate Mu a good beating, leaving him bruised and swollen. Niu Sanduo also squeezed in, taking the opportunity to deliver a couple of kicks.

Qin Mu was beaten miserably and went to seek out the Woodcutter Saint to complain. He found the Woodcutter wiping blood from his fists. Upon seeing Qin Mu, he quickly put his hands behind his back.

"My good disciple, don't always provoke them; you're likely to get beaten," the Woodcutter kindly advised him.

Qin Mu sneered.

The Woodcutter Saint remained unperturbed. "Can you really take the Grand Emperor down with you?" he asked.

Qin Mu nodded.

"What a pity—"

The Woodcutter Saint sighed regretfully. "It's a shame the Grand Emperor is still a coward. Otherwise, we could have killed two birds with one stone, getting rid of two scourges at once."

Qin Mu sneered, "Teacher, you can only get the better of me with your words. If I were to fight you, I wouldn't move my hands, feet, head, or body; I'd only move one finger!"

The Woodcutter Saint felt he hadn't beaten him hard enough earlier.

"Are you truly not going to see the Founding Emperor but instead heading to the Heavenly Court's camp?" he inquired.

Qin Mu nodded. "You and the Founding Emperor are old friends. If I go, I'll only be a junior, and it would be unpleasant. If I return to the Heavenly Court's camp, I can still be a Heavenly Venerate in name. Why wouldn't I? I was only worried about your safety. Now that I've safely escorted you to the Primordial Realm, I should leave."

The Woodcutter felt annoyed but had to admit that Qin Mu had a point. Without Qin Mu's escort, their entire group might have been wiped out.

"I'm off."

Qin Mu waved his hand, about to leave, but suddenly stopped and turned back. "Teacher, you diligently taught Senior Brother, and you diligently taught Third Junior Brother, but you never diligently taught me; in fact, you taught me nothing at all. Now that you've seen my abilities, do you regret not having taught me properly?"

The Woodcutter chuckled. "The way you say that, the tone of your voice, it's as if you're a disciple who rebelled because of a teacher's unfairness, returning to kill him."

Qin Mu spoke earnestly, "I only ask if Teacher has ever regretted it."

The Woodcutter Saint became serious and shook his head. "Never."

Qin Mu was slightly taken aback.

The Woodcutter Saint said solemnly, "I teach according to individual aptitude. Therefore, I knew what to teach Wei Suifeng and what to teach Jiang Baigui. Only with you did I not know what to teach. You are the unique Overlord Body, naturally brilliant and mighty, clear-minded and strong-willed, with profound knowledge. If I were to force lessons on you, it would only hinder your growth. As I expected, you are more successful than your senior and junior brothers! I am very pleased."

A smile appeared on Qin Mu's face. "I knew that was the reason Teacher didn't want to teach me. I'm leaving now!"

The Woodcutter Saint watched him disappear. After a long time, he let out a sigh of relief. "This kid always looks like he's about to bully his teacher and exterminate his ancestors. If I didn't praise him, he might have killed me. But then again..."

He smiled. "This is my most outstanding disciple..."

Emperor Yi Yue, Zuo Cha, Qing Huang, Yama, and the others came to his side. Emperor Yi Yue asked curiously, "Wen Tian Ge, does this disciple of yours really have such immense influence that he made the Grand Emperor retreat?"

"Influence is commensurate with ability. Without such great ability, there wouldn't be such great influence."

The Woodcutter chuckled. "The Grand Emperor greatly fears the Creation Masters in the Primordial Realm, and we joined forces with the Creation Masters, so he wanted to eliminate us. Heavenly Venerate Mu possesses the ability to die alongside him, which is why the Grand Emperor showed him that respect. It wasn't that the Grand Emperor genuinely didn't want to eliminate us."

Martial Arts Heavenly Master Zuo Cha worried, "Is he really going back to the Heavenly Court's main camp? Isn't he afraid of being killed there? When the Heavenly Court and the Primordial Realm go to war, deaths on the battlefield are common. Killing him there would be effortless."

The Woodcutter's expression was calm, and he shook his head. "Previously, there might have been a chance to kill him, but now, eliminating Heavenly Venerate Mu is not as easy as those people imagine."

Everyone was filled with emotion.

When they first met Qin Mu, he was just a small divine arts practitioner. Now, he had entered a realm where he could contend with the older generation and could no longer be underestimated.

Fisherman Heavenly Master said, "The people in the Heavenly Court don't yet know that he has grown to this extent. When the Heavenly Court's experts discover this and then accept it, I wonder if there will be rivers of blood in between."

The Ark of the Other Shore sailed out of the void, appearing above the Primordial Realm. Soon, they saw many gods carrying coffins flying from afar. An old man sat in one of the coffins. Upon seeing them, he excitedly stood up from the coffin and waved from a distance.

The Woodcutter and the others were also immensely excited, their hearts surging with emotion and passion.

Twenty thousand years! The comrades from long ago were finally reunited!

Further away, a middle-aged Emperor stood on a city wall, watching the approaching Ark of the Other Shore.

The Woodcutter and the others looked at Founding Emperor Qin Ye with complex expressions. After a moment, they still stepped forward and bowed in greeting. "Wen Tian Ge, having been separated from my comrades for twenty thousand years, I humbly request to return!"

Emperor Yi Yue bowed. "Your sinful servant, Emperor Yi Yue, humbly requests to return!"

Martial Arts Heavenly Master bowed. "Your defeated general, Zuo Cha, humbly requests to return!"

Devaraja bowed. "Your deserter, Li Youran, humbly requests to return!"

Yama bowed. "Fengdu's Jiedushi, Qin Feng, who guarded the border for twenty thousand years, has come to report for duty!"

Founding Emperor Qin Ye looked at them, and emotions that were hard to suppress flowed in his otherwise placid eyes. He bowed deeply. "Your sinful ruler, Qin Ye, has failed in his trust. As a sinner, I invite you all to return to your positions!"

At this moment, Qin Mu emerged from the void and arrived at the vast battlefield. Here, there were traces left by the battle between the Carefree Village's Other Shore Void and the Heavenly Court's army. The corpses of many gods and devils had not yet been buried. Some grotesque and fierce mounts roamed the battlefield, having reverted to their wild state, gnawing on corpses.

Qin Mu encountered some small squads from the Heavenly Court and Carefree Village, including gods, devils, and divine arts practitioners. They roamed through the mountains and rivers of the Primordial Realm, seeking opportunities to eliminate enemies and temper themselves.

Some divine arts practitioners and gods from Carefree Village even brought young Creation Masters, training and fighting in the interstitial zones between the two armies.

"Heavenly Venerate Mu!"

A Heavenly Court cavalry squad saw Qin Mu, startled. They quickly reined in their mounts and watched from a distance, only to see Qin Mu's figure fade and disappear.

The cavalry rushed forward, but Qin Mu was nowhere to be found.

Qin Mu entered the Primordial Realm's Youdu. He saw the Black Emperor Yin Tianzi's army encamped, stretching for countless miles, dividing the Primordial Realm's Youdu into two halves.

One half was the Heavenly Court's sphere of influence, and the other was Carefree Village's, each guarded by many gods and devils.

"Bad little brother!"

Qin Fengqing was overjoyed. Seeing Qin Mu arrive, he immediately rushed out, lifted Qin Mu up, and hugged him tightly.