Chapter 1344: Arrow Piercing the Heavenly Emperor

The spiritual energy and power of heaven and earth surged, gathering into a howling, rotating vortex in the divine bow Qin Mu had drawn, hovering above everyone’s heads.

The vortex grew larger, spinning and roaring, generating fierce static electricity as it rubbed against the air, causing lightning and thunder to continuously crackle and strike around it.

The vortex resembled a dark cloud stretching a hundred miles, with its inner part rotating faster than its outer part, casting a dense shadow over the entire hundred-mile radius. Only intermittent flashes of lightning illuminated the darkness.

Meanwhile, the morning sun from the east cast its rays, turning the dark cloud of spiritual energy into a dull gray.

Suddenly, with a loud boom, a thick beam of light descended, illuminating Qin Mu's divine bow as the arrow's radiance took form.

Qin Mu drew the bow, and the arrow grew increasingly bright. Just as everyone could barely look at it, it suddenly shot forth with a sharp whoosh.

The arrow’s light pierced through the sky, traversing thousands of miles in an instant before vanishing without a trace.

Meanwhile, in Yankang and the territories of other races, countless miles to the east, innumerable people witnessed the streak of light crossing the sky.

As soon as Qin Mu released one arrow, and before the spiritual energy vortex in the sky could dissipate, he immediately drew his bow again and shot another.

Each arrow, like a long rainbow, arced across the sky, leaving luminous trails in its wake.

After shooting more than ten arrows consecutively, Qin Mu finally collapsed from exhaustion, his knees buckling. He quickly used his divine bow for support but still ended up on one knee.

The Apothecary brought a spirit pill for him, remarking, "Your cultivation is stronger now than it was before."

Qin Mu shook his head, activating the pill’s power, and said in a hoarse voice, "My injuries haven't fully healed, and you are all wounded too. It's not wise to stay here. Let's go to Youdu to take shelter."

Moon Heavenly Venerate nodded. "Last night's battle was so fierce; it's difficult to ensure it won't alert other Heavenly Venerates. Let's go to Youdu to lie low for a while."

She took out her guqin, which expanded and transformed into the ruins of a palace. Several young women then emerged from the palace's hidden chambers and greeted her.

Moon Heavenly Venerate was still benevolent; even during last night's fierce battle, she had done her utmost to protect her maidservants.

You Heavenly Venerate, still severely wounded by Heavenly Venerate Xiao with unhealed injuries, lightly stomped his foot. The surroundings spun for everyone, and the next moment, they found themselves in Youdu.

Heavenly Venerate Xiao's divine weapon, God Emperor Tian, was also brought in, covered in yellow talismans, trailing closely behind them.

You Heavenly Venerate released a paper boat and sailed towards Youdu’s Earth Count. Moon Heavenly Venerate looked around, observing many other paper boats navigating through various worlds within Youdu.

Moon Heavenly Venerate, surprised, glanced at You Heavenly Venerate and whispered, "You, why haven't you recalled all your avatars?"

"I manage Youdu’s order on behalf of Earth Count," You Heavenly Venerate replied. "Death occurs everywhere across the heavens and myriad worlds, and it is my duty to leave some avatars to guide the deceased in various realms."

You Heavenly Venerate shook his head. "Furthermore, I didn't know the incoming person was Heavenly Venerate Xiao, nor did I realize how powerful he was."

Moon Heavenly Venerate shook her head. "You should interact with people more; you shouldn't be so reclusive."

You Heavenly Venerate glanced at her. "Aren't you the same? You've been living in seclusion in the Peach Forest; who have you interacted with all these years?"

Qin Mu, while quickly refining the spirit pill, heard their exchange and smiled. "Both of you have resolved your inner conflicts. From now on, you should be more active, for example, visit Yankang more often to learn and exchange ideas."

You Heavenly Venerate said nothing more.

Moon Heavenly Venerate said with a worried expression, "I'd like to go, but my presence in Yankang would only bring disaster upon you. The Ten Heavenly Venerates won't tolerate me now."

After they left, the bells of the Dao Sect rang. Many Daoists from the sect descended the mountain to inspect the surroundings, only to find the vast peach forest completely destroyed and gone, along with the palace that once stood within it.

Strangely, only the peach forest was destroyed, with no trace of divine power fluctuations left outside its former boundaries.

"Last night," an old Daoist said, "I saw spatial barriers rise, like light curtains, completely sealing off the area around the peach forest. The master of the Peach Forest was still benevolent; even during such a fierce battle, she didn't forget to protect the people outside."

"Do not discuss this matter!" a Daoist elder suddenly interjected. "The Celestial Heavens will soon send powerful individuals to investigate what happened last night. If they question us, we should simply state what we saw. Those who come are likely trusted subordinates of the Ten Heavenly Venerates, and it’s even possible a Heavenly Venerate might come in person. Therefore, when you speak, absolutely do not mix in your own conjectures. Do you understand?"

All the Daoists affirmed.

A young Daoist hesitated but couldn't help but ask, "Elder Yan, what exactly were those ten streaks of light just now?"

The Daoist elder hesitated, then shook his head. "Do not make any conjectures. Be careful with your words and actions."

Yankang, Shangjing.

Emperor Yanshou held court, attended by civil and military officials who reported various matters from across the land. Ling Yuxiu listened carefully and handled each issue, swiftly and decisively holding inefficient officials accountable.

At this moment, a court official stepped forward to present a memorial, saying, "Your subject, Xiao Tianji, has a memorial to present."

Ling Yuxiu looked at the young deity in the court and smiled, "Grand Master of Gold and Purple, no need for formalities. What do you wish to present?"

The civil and military officials in the court all showed envy and admiration. This Xiao Tianji was one of the most outstanding figures among the younger generation; at just nineteen, he had already cultivated to become a deity.

Furthermore, he was exceptionally talented and insightful in all matters. Recognizing his abilities, Ling Yuxiu gradually came to value him highly, promoting him to the position of Grand Master of Gold and Purple. Although this was a third-rank civilian honorary title without real power, his status was already extremely high.

Xiao Tianji took out his memorial and said in a solemn voice, "Your subject wishes to report a corruption case concerning the Jiangling Armory. Wei Yong of the Jiangling Armory, relying on his status as the grandson of the Duke of Wei and his connections with National Master Mu Heavenly Venerate and former National Master Jiang Baigui, accepted bribes, used inferior divine metals and materials instead of superior ones, and engaged in malpractices. The Jiangling Armory forged many inferior divine weapons and sent them to the Celestial Heavens, which were discovered by the Zhaofu Palace. The Zhaofu Palace was furious and sent them back for reforging."

Ling Yuxiu frowned slightly and said, "Present it."

At this very moment, an arrow's light, like a long rainbow, suddenly streaked into the Shangjing imperial court and shot into the back of Xiao Tianji's head.

An incredibly terrifying power exploded within Xiao Tianji’s brain, instantly shattering him before the court.

The civil and military officials in the court were enraged, leaping up one after another, as their celestial palaces flew out to protect Ling Yuxiu. They watched as the arrow's light completely obliterated Xiao Tianji.

But terrifyingly, Xiao Tianji’s primordial spirit was still intact; the arrow was lodged in the back of its head but had not pierced through it.

An incredibly terrifying tremor suddenly erupted in the court as Xiao Tianji’s primordial spirit grew larger and more colossal, splitting the Golden Imperial Hall apart.

That was an overwhelming imperial might.

The civil and military officials hastily retreated with Ling Yuxiu, hurrying away.

"Mu Heavenly Venerate!"

Xiao Tianji’s primordial spirit gritted its teeth and laughed in fury. Suddenly, a second long rainbow pierced in, striking the first arrow and activating its power.

Xiao Tianji was lifted into the air by the two arrows and flew out of Shangjing.

Then came the third, fourth, and fifth arrows.

Five consecutive streaks of arrow light struck him in the same spot: the back of his head.

The civil and military officials had just led Ling Yuxiu to the inner palace for shelter when they saw the northern sky suddenly become incredibly bright, as if thousands of suns had exploded simultaneously in mid-air.

A howling gale swept across the sky, and the clouds that had been there were suddenly cleared completely by a terrifying ripple.

Ling Yuxiu’s expression changed dramatically. She pushed back the officials and shouted, "Immediately activate Shangjing’s defensive formation to withstand the aftermath of the impact!"

At the same time, at the Earthly Virtue Celestial Palace, Wendao Academy.

Xiao Chujue arrived with a thick stack of ancient texts to find Village Chief Su Muzhe. Smiling, he said, "Dean, I have some unresolved difficulties. I haven't been able to fully comprehend the Dao Realm Sword Domain described in these texts, nor the Twenty Sword Forms."