Chapter 1350: Showing Strength

The mass of karmic fire suddenly parted, revealing a cocoon-like structure with layer upon layer. Each layer of this karmic fire cocoon was emblazoned with the Great Dao runes of Youdu, making it exceptionally dazzling.

The karmic fire egg consisted of thirty-six cocoon layers. The deeper one went, the more potent the karmic fire became, and the stronger its power.

When the final layer of the karmic fire cocoon peeled away, Qin Mu and Celestial Venerable Yue saw Ah Chou, the Earth Count.

It was Ah Chou, suppressed within Jade Lock Pass and enduring the torment of boundless karmic fire.

Ah Chou was not inside this karmic fire egg; he was in Jade Lock Pass. However, the energy from the egg continuously flowed into his body.

Ah Chou had committed heinous crimes. His body was covered in chains formed by the Great Dao of Youdu, yet he forcefully dragged Youdu towards the Celestial Heavens to exact vengeance for his family and fight for his daughter's life by slaughtering its inhabitants.

He destroyed nearly half of the Celestial Heavens, causing numerous ancient gods and demigods to perish at his hands, and even massacred imperial princes and grandchildren.

His sins were monstrous. Even though he was the reincarnation of Earth Count, he had to atone for them, forever sinking in karmic fire and enduring its agony.

Ah Chou was Earth Count, but Earth Count was not Ah Chou. Earth Count had to act impartially and could not show favoritism, so he suppressed Ah Chou.

However, while Earth Count could not show favoritism, he still harbored personal desires. He envied Ah Chou and wished to become like him, so he used the karmic fire of all sentient beings to forge Ah Chou's true body.

"The sins of all sentient beings shall be mine."

Earth Count's expression was calm as he said, "The day I die will be the day I break free from my constraints."

Qin Mu frowned, saying nothing more.

Celestial Venerable Yue's brows furrowed slightly, and she too fell silent.

They had hoped Earth Count would become their ally and fight alongside them, especially now that the Ten Celestial Venerables were at their weakest.

Celestial Venerable Hao was severely wounded, Celestial Venerable Xiao was exiled, and Grand Emperor was reduced to a single head. Even if Celestial Empress Qiang's injuries healed, her threat would not be significant. Ancestral God King, Emperor Lang Xuan, and Celestial Empress Yan were all injured, and Celestial Venerable Huo and Celestial Venerable Xu had not yet fully recovered.

Celestial Venerable Hong was the reincarnation of Heavenly Duke, and Celestial Venerable Gong would very likely choose neutrality. The only one who retained peak combat strength was Madam Yuanmu.

Now was the best time to act against the Ten Celestial Venerables. If Heavenly Duke and Earth Count raised their arms in a call to action, with assistance from Celestial Venerable Yue, Celestial Venerable Hong, and Celestial Venerable You, and the uprising of the East Emperor Qinglong, West Emperor Baihu, and North Emperor Xuanwu, as well as Emperor Kai Qin Ye and Divine King Lang Wo emerging from the Great Void, the tide of victory would undoubtedly turn in their favor.

However, Earth Count harbored a desire for death, wishing to shed his current Great Dao body.

This was something neither Qin Mu nor Celestial Venerable Yue had anticipated.

"Earth Count cultivates Ah Chou, and Heavenly Duke cultivates Celestial Venerable Hong," Qin Mu mused. "They must both be weary of their Great Dao bodies and wish to use a great calamity to shed their current identities and gain freedom."

As Qin Mu and Celestial Venerable Yue left Earth Count's body, Celestial Venerable Yue said to Qin Mu, "Or perhaps, Earth Count and Heavenly Duke are actually condoning the Ten Celestial Venerables killing them."

Qin Mu nodded and softly said, "Indeed, now is not the time for war. If we fight, Earth Count cannot leave Youdu, and Heavenly Duke cannot leave Xuandu. They can only fight within their respective territories; their combat strength would be greatly diminished if they left. Moreover, while we have many high-tier combatants, your strength, as well as Celestial Venerable You's, Emperor Kai's, and Lang Wo's, is actually inferior to the Ten Celestial Venerables."

Celestial Venerable Yue nodded in agreement.

She had been crippled for over forty thousand years, Celestial Venerable You had been reclusive for a million years, and Emperor Kai had hidden in Peaceful Haven for over twenty thousand years. Although she had not met Lang Wo, her strength likely wouldn't be exceptionally high.

Xuanwu, Baihu, and Qinglong were very strong in their respective territories, but their strength would decline if they left.

Not to mention that Earth Count and Heavenly Duke didn't want to fight; even if they did, this battle would be extremely difficult and could even result in total annihilation.

A single Celestial Venerable Xiao was enough to render Celestial Venerable Yue, Celestial Venerable You, and Earth Count unable to contend with him even if they joined forces. Had Qin Mu not used the Primeval Celestial Emperor's eggshell against him, these three formidable beings would have likely suffered greatly.

As for Qinglong, Baihu, and Xuanwu, these three ancient god emperors were all trapped in their respective lairs, unable to leave.

Emperor Kai and Lang Wo were also trapped in the Great Void by Celestial Venerable Huo and Celestial Venerable Xu.

"I've realized that few of our allies truly share our intentions," Qin Mu said.

Qin Mu felt somewhat disheartened and said in a low voice, "Qinglong, Baihu, and Xuanwu allied with us primarily to restore their ancient god status and their rule. Heavenly Duke and Earth Count allied with us to use our strength to protect their reincarnations, giving them a chance to break free from the Great Dao's constraints."

He continued bitterly, "Lang Wo is concerned with the future of the creators. If it meant risking the creators' annihilation, or if the Ten Celestial Venerables offered her favorable terms, she would defect without hesitation. Celestial Venerable Hong will not help us. Celestial Venerable Gong and I only have a transactional relationship; when I can no longer offer her benefits, she will side with whoever offers more. And Madam Yuanmu is out of the question. What they seek is not the same as what we seek."

Celestial Venerable Yue stopped and smiled, "However, we now possess the strength to contend with the Ten Celestial Venerables, don't we?"

Qin Mu smiled and also stopped. "Indeed. Compared to the utter despair and helplessness we felt during the Eternal Peace Calamity, things are much better now."

The two resumed walking, exiting Earth Count's palace. Qin Mu said, "Among our allies, we can't rely much on the ancient gods; they could hinder us at any time. Therefore, we must have our own strength. Yue, you and You should go to Eternal Peace and study the results of their reforms. Even if you can't abolish the Divine Bridge, you can gain more divine arts."

Celestial Venerable Yue hesitated, then nodded in agreement, saying, "The Primordial Realm is currently without a master. Other Celestial Venerables will surely take advantage of the vacuum, which might be very unfavorable for Eternal Peace."

Qin Mu said calmly, "Since we now have the strength to contend with the Ten Celestial Venerables, why not use it? The Primordial Realm is without a master; it's time for us to display our power!"

Celestial Venerable Yue was deeply shaken and cautiously asked, "Are you suggesting...?"

"Power must be used!"

Qin Mu's spirit was invigorated, his eyes bright. "Heavenly Duke, Earth Count, Xuanwu, Baihu, Qinglong, Celestial Venerable You, and you, Yue'er—all of you must go to the Primordial Realm and claim territory as kings!"

"We dare not completely turn against the Ten Celestial Venerables, but do they dare completely turn against us?"

He clenched his fist tightly, his eyes shining brightly. "The era of warring lords in the Primordial Realm should begin now!"

In the Primordial Realm, the Celestial Heavens' Divine Constabulary, including even the Howling Celestial Dog, Grand Sun Star Lord deploying his Golden Crow Army, as well as the Heavenly Eye and Heavenly Ear Divine Races, were searching throughout the Primordial Realm, practically turning every celestial realm upside down.

Even the Ghost Emperor, hearing of the changes in the Primordial Realm, rushed from the Great Void under Celestial Venerable Hao's command. Suddenly, many ghost deities appeared in the sky, flying with their Books of Life and Death.

The golden light from the Books of Life and Death shone, searching the entire world.

The various celestial realms of the Primordial Realm were greatly disturbed, but dared not show anger or speak out. The Celestial Heavens did not capture the culprits, but they did plunder a considerable amount of wealth.

Undercurrents churned in the Primordial Realm, with rumors spreading everywhere. They claimed that the disappearance of the Primordial Wood and the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable was due to an unfortunate incident involving Celestial Venerable Xiao. With the Primordial Realm now masterless, the arrival of so many divine beings from the Celestial Heavens was supposedly to search for Celestial Venerable Xiao's whereabouts.

There were also rumors that the Celestial Venerables were coveting the Primordial Realm, all wanting a piece of the pie while Celestial Venerable Xiao was missing.

Though mere rumors, their veracity was remarkably high.

On this day, the western part of the Primordial Realm suddenly became intensely bright. Streaks of snowy white light descended from the sky, like comets striking the earth, crashing down upon the Western Lands.

Where the light fell, grand palaces rapidly grew under its glow.

It was divine gold and divine iron growing on their own.