Chapter 1249: Repeating Mistakes

Bai Yuqiong's eyes widened upon hearing these words, filled with confusion and fear, while a touch of bitterness arose in her heart.

Her confusion stemmed from not expecting that among the high and mighty Ten Celestials, so many ancient and primordial overlords were hidden.

Her fear came from the fact that she had learned so many secrets. Although Qin Mu had not yet revealed the true identities of these individuals, based on her understanding of him, Qin Mu enjoyed manipulating people's hearts, driving them to despair, and forcing them to make choices that benefited him, ultimately drawing them into his camp.

The bitterness in her heart, however, was for the efforts of generations who believed they had finally overthrown the ancient gods and the old era, only to discover that the former rulers had merely changed their faces and still occupied the throne.

"Hehe..." The girl chuckled and lowered her head.

For the first time, she felt the world she saw was so false and unbearable.

A fire burned within her, wanting to ignite, but it couldn't.

"Is Fire Celestial also one of the former rulers transformed?" she asked.

Qin Mu shook his head, "No. Fire Celestial is still Fire Celestial. He hasn't been possessed or had his life borrowed. Fire Celestial simply..."

He paused, then said hoarsely, "He merely chose to become one of the former rulers, yet he himself hasn't realized it."

Hope reappeared in Bai Yuqiong's eyes. Qin Mu noticed it and said, "Don't have too much hope for Fire Celestial. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. Celestial Venerable Yun, Emperor Ming, Celestial Venerable Ling, Celestial Venerable Yue, and Founding Emperor – they have all been disappointed."

Much earlier, in the Heavenly Court's Scripture Repository, when Fire Celestial arrived at the top floor and Qin Mu escaped into Youdu, Fire Celestial was about to apprehend him, but Celestial Venerable You blocked his way.

At that time, Celestial Venerable You told him that Fire Celestial had changed, was no longer the Fire Celestial of the past, and could not be trusted.

Trusting him would lead to death.

However, at that time, Qin Mu still held much hope for Fire Celestial, believing it was merely Celestial Venerable You's prejudice.

It wasn't until later that Qin Mu felt Celestial Venerable You's words had a basis. After returning from the Southern Heaven, his heart turned to ashes regarding Fire Celestial.

He didn't want Bai Yuqiong to repeat his mistakes.

He had deeply experienced the impact and torment this kind of emotional drop, from full hope to utter despair, had on one's Dao heart.

Bai Yuqiong silently watched the battle outside, then changed the subject, saying with a worried expression, "Heavenly Venerable Hao is likely to lose. Grand Emperor is too strong."

Qin Mu, not wanting to discuss the previous topic further, smiled and said, "Then you are mistaken. Grand Emperor is about to lose. Heavenly Venerable Hao is too strong."

Bai Yuqiong was greatly perplexed.

"Actually, Grand Emperor came to intercept Heavenly Venerable Hao at my invitation."

Qin Mu smiled faintly, "As you know, although I am Celestial Venerable Mu of the Celestial Alliance and a founding elder, I am also a rebel against the Celestial Alliance. As long as it's useful, I will definitely make use of it. That's why I used the Primordial Stone to leverage Grand Emperor, asking him to intercept Heavenly Venerable Hao. However, my true goal is for them both to suffer severe losses; if they could perish together, that would be even better. But while I believe Grand Emperor is very powerful, Heavenly Venerable Hao's true strength has never been fully revealed."

His gaze was profound as he watched the breathtaking battle, saying unhurriedly, "Another reason I had Grand Emperor make a move was to ascertain the true limit of Heavenly Venerable Hao's power. Haven't you noticed? Heavenly Venerable Hao has remained calm throughout. Even now, he hasn't revealed his full strength."

Bai Yuqiong looked at Heavenly Venerable Hao and saw that although he was clearly at a disadvantage, he indeed remained calm and unhurried, just as Qin Mu had said.

Meanwhile, his divine artifact, Celestial Venerable Yu, had been severely injured by Grand Emperor's overwhelming power, to the point where its physical body was battered and torn!

Even the Celestial Palace of the divine artifact, Celestial Venerable Yu, was dilapidated under Grand Emperor's powerful attacks!

Qin Mu explained, "Heavenly Venerable Hao's Celestial Palaces, and those of the divine artifact Celestial Venerable Yu, both number twenty-eight. However, while their total number of Celestial Palaces is the same, the types of these palaces are different. If you carefully differentiate each palace, you'll find that the combined types of Celestial Palaces for Heavenly Venerable Hao and the divine artifact Celestial Venerable Yu amount to thirty-five!"

Bai Yuqiong's heart skipped a beat, and she meticulously observed the types of Celestial Palaces belonging to Heavenly Venerable Hao and the divine artifact Celestial Venerable Yu.

The types of Celestial Palaces cannot be categorized solely by Imperial Throne cultivation techniques. Some Imperial Throne techniques are actually of the same category. For instance, fire-type Imperial Throne techniques include not only Fire Celestial's technique but also Scarlet Emperor Qi Xiayu's technique, the former Scarlet Emperor's technique, and even Heavenly Fire-type techniques.

However, all these techniques belong to one category; to cultivate into a Grand Heavenly Court, one can only choose one.

Yet, the Imperial Throne techniques of Heavenly Venerable Hao and the divine artifact Celestial Venerable Yu have few overlapping types. When categorized by type, there are indeed thirty-five distinct ones!

"This means Heavenly Venerable Hao has very likely integrated thirty-five types of Imperial Throne cultivation techniques, and he is actually just one step away from the Heavenly Court realm."

Qin Mu continued, "The reason he remains calm is that he possesses the combat power to contend with Grand Emperor. He is not far from the true Heavenly Court realm, and he isn't using his full strength now simply to lure out Grand Emperor's identity among the Ten Celestials. He knows Consort Yan is nearby; his objective is to draw her out."

Bai Yuqiong's voice was somewhat hoarse, "With Consort Yan and Grand Emperor, Heavenly Venerable Hao stands no chance! Moreover, Celestial Venerable Mo also possesses the divine artifact Celestial Venerable Yu..."

"You are mistaken."

Qin Mu said unhurriedly, "Celestial Venerable Yu pioneered the Celestial Palace Heavenly Court realm a million years ago. Heavenly Venerable Hao is the true master of this achievement. He holds the orthodox lineage of the Heavenly Court, and all cultivation techniques in the world converge in his hands. If he wanted Fire Celestial's technique, would Fire Celestial dare refuse him? If he wanted Emperor Lang Xuan's technique, would Emperor Lang Xuan dare refuse him? Therefore, Heavenly Venerable Hao is the one among the Ten Celestials who is closest to the Heavenly Court realm."

He glanced at Lan Yu Tian and continued, "And this Heavenly Court realm was theorized by Celestial Venerable Yu to exist, but Celestial Venerable Yu only discussed this realm with Heavenly Venerable Hao, not revealing it to anyone else. Heavenly Venerable Hao is the only one who knows Celestial Venerable Yu's thoughts, and even the only one who knows the details of the Heavenly Court realm. Even if he is just one Celestial Palace short, Heavenly Venerable Hao's strength will not be weaker than Grand Emperor's; in fact, it will be even stronger!"

Bai Yuqiong shook her head, somewhat disbelieving, "I have also heard of that Celestial Venerable Yu. Before his death, he had only cultivated to the realm of a Venerable God at most. How could he possibly have fully deduced the Heavenly Court realm?"

Qin Mu again looked at Lan Yu Tian, who was in the midst of comprehending the Dao, and said, "He might have only been at the Venerable God realm at the time, but he deduced from scratch the seven realms within the Celestial Palace: Venerable God, True God, Jade Platform, God-Slaying Platform, Jade Capital, Numinous Sky, and Imperial Throne. And on the foundation of these seven realms, he further deduced the Heavenly Court realm."

Bai Yuqiong shook her head and said, "How could such a person exist?"

"Such a person is right beside you." Qin Mu did not say this aloud.

Currently, Lan Yu Tian was also independently achieving an even more astonishing feat, one whose impact on future generations would surpass even the Divine Treasures and Celestial Palace system!

He looked at the battlefield and said in a deep voice, "Heavenly Venerable Hao is about to gradually reveal his strength, forcing Consort Yan to show herself step by step!"