Chapter 1390: Behind-the-Scenes Heavenly Sovereign

Qin Mu's face instantly darkened. It was clear that while Madam Yuanmu spread the news, she also placed the blame squarely on him.

Of course, the idea was indeed Qin Mu's, so it wasn't unfair for him to take the blame. However, Qin Mu had originally intended for Madam Yuanmu to bear the brunt of it, precisely to avoid offending Heavenly Venerate Gong, Heavenly Consort Qiang, and God Emperor Lang Xuan as much as possible. Unexpectedly, Madam Yuanmu was very clever; she directly put the blame on him, leading Heavenly Venerate Gong to confront him for an explanation.

Qin Mu burst into laughter, his eyes darting around. Heavenly Venerate Gong, however, stared at his shifting eyes and sneered.

"I was the one who came up with this idea," Qin Mu said, stopping his laughter. He continued seriously, "Friend, if the Beast Realm isn't established, do you think you can compete with Heavenly Consort Qiang? She is the Grand Emperor; how powerful is her divine consciousness? Ultimately, the primeval beasts would be controlled by the Grand Emperor, giving him immense power. Wouldn't it be better to simply open up the Beast Realm, where everyone can use the primeval beasts based on their own abilities? What do you think?"

Heavenly Venerate Gong said indifferently, "If the Grand Emperor could control all primeval beasts, he wouldn't have been overthrown by the ancient gods. He doesn't possess such powerful divine consciousness. He only controls the void beasts, specifically the void mother beast. When it comes to primeval beasts, he can only control a certain group. Establishing a Beast Realm still harms my interests."

Qin Mu was at a loss for words. He stammered, "Since things have come to this, I'm afraid the other Heavenly Venerates will agree to establish the Beast Realm. There's nothing I can do."

Heavenly Venerate Gong suddenly changed from anger to a smile and said, "I've heard that Heavenly Venerate Hong has an IOU from Heavenly Venerate Mu, signifying a debt of gratitude. In that case, I'd also dare to ask Heavenly Venerate Mu to give me an IOU."

Qin Mu's expression subtly changed. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "I'll write it then." So, he wrote an IOU.

Heavenly Venerate Gong took the IOU, stood up, and said, "Your legs are inconvenient, so there's no need to stand up to see me off."

Qin Mu could only remain seated, watching her depart.

No sooner had Heavenly Venerate Gong left than a palace maid rushed in, agitated, and reported, "My Lord Heavenly Venerate, this is terrible! Heavenly Consort Qiang has come to visit!"

Qin Mu's face changed drastically. He angrily declared, "Other Heavenly Venerates don't visit, but the wronged party seeks me out! I won't see her!"

"I am already here!" came Heavenly Consort Qiang's voice from outside, laced with exasperation. Immediately after, Heavenly Consort Qiang walked directly into the hall.

Resigned, Qin Mu waved the palace maid away and invited Heavenly Consort Qiang to sit. He said, "I suffered a backlash during cultivation, and my legs are crippled..."

"Crippled by Heavenly Venerate Gong?" Heavenly Consort Qiang asked, her face lighting up with delight. She praised, "She truly is my woman, so decisive! She crippled you even before I could. Heavenly Venerate Mu, I heard you proposed establishing the Beast Realm? How audacious of you!"

Qin Mu said seriously, "No. It was Madam Yuanmu who proposed establishing the Beast Realm; it has nothing to do with me!"

Heavenly Consort Qiang sneered, "We are so close; with just a flick of my divine consciousness, I can tell you the color of your underwear. Do you really think you can hide anything from me?"

"Your Highness Heavenly Consort, you don't know, I never wear those."

Qin Mu sighed helplessly, "Brother, your prominence is too great now. As soon as the Grand Emperor revived, he crippled Heavenly Venerate Hao, severely wounded Heavenly Venerate Huo and Heavenly Venerate Void, and disabled Heavenly Venerate Qin and God King Lang Wo. In the battle at Ancestral Court, he heavily injured the four Heavenly Venerates: Xiao, Yan, Zu, and Lang. Your reputation is too strong; can the Ten Heavenly Venerates still tolerate you? If you gain control of the primeval beasts, your demise will truly be at hand. This establishment of the Beast Realm might not be a bad thing for you."

Heavenly Consort Qiang stared at him.

Qin Mu's expression remained unchanged. "I'm thinking of your well-being, Brother. Consider this: if there were no Beast Realm, Heavenly Venerate Gong and God Emperor Lang Xuan, mother and son, would gain the most. If they eliminated you, they would surely seize all the primeval beasts. Why should you pave the way for others?"

Heavenly Consort Qiang let out a soft laugh, charmingly alluring. "I understand the reasoning, but I'm quite unwilling after being tricked by you. My physical body was also almost completely ruined because of you, yet you want to stand aside. I'm not pleased about that."

Qin Mu probed, "The Celestial Emperor's physical body is still under your control, Brother. When I rescue Heavenly Venerate Ling someday, and you possess this body, your abilities will surpass what they were before."

"Don't even think about getting Heavenly Venerate Ling out!" Heavenly Consort Qiang sneered. "I'd rather leave the physical body of Celestial Emperor Grand Beginning and my primordial spirit in the Celestial River forever! Heavenly Venerate Mu, you've ruined my plans; you must offer something substantial, don't try to fool me with these empty promises!"

Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then said with utmost sincerity, "From Heavenly Venerate Hao's heart, I've extracted his essence blood. Each drop of essence blood contains the imprint of a Celestial Palace..."

Heavenly Consort Qiang's anger turned to joy. She smiled, "I gave you Heavenly Venerate Hao's heart, but I didn't expect you could refine such a good thing from it. Give me a portion, and this matter will be easily overlooked!"

Qin Mu looked pained. "I used Heavenly Venerate Hao's Celestial Palace to exchange for fifty percent of Grand Beginning Divine Stones from Heavenly Consort Yan..."

Heavenly Consort Qiang was surprised, then sneered, "That spendthrift Empress Yan, she promised you so many Grand Beginning Primordial Stones? But I won't give you anything! Just hand over the goods!"

Qin Mu reluctantly handed over thirty-five drops of Heavenly Venerate Hao's essence blood. Heavenly Consort Qiang carefully examined them, took the essence blood, and then strode away.

Qin Mu's face was grim. He thought to himself, "Fortunately, I extracted a great deal of essence blood from Heavenly Venerate Hao's heart; I can still sell it a few more times..."

"My Lord Heavenly Venerate! God Emperor Lang Xuan requests an audience!" The palace maid rushed back, flustered, to report.

Qin Mu bristled with anger. He stood up and fumed, "Girl, are you a jinx? You always come bearing bad news!"

"Heavenly Venerate Mu, is my visit bad news for you?" God Emperor Lang Xuan's voice came from outside, growing closer. Qin Mu quickly sat down, watching God Emperor Lang Xuan enter the main hall, and chuckled, "I suffered a backlash during cultivation..."

"I've already heard, Heavenly Venerate Mu, no need to say more," God Emperor Lang Xuan said. He settled into his seat, leisurely saying, "Suffered a cultivation backlash, legs paralyzed. If you hadn't been paralyzed when Heavenly Venerate Gong and Heavenly Consort Qiang came to visit, they would have paralyzed you anyway. So, it's better to pretend to be paralyzed first, to show weakness to your enemies. Heavenly Venerate Mu, your methods are quite cunning."

Qin Mu coughed repeatedly to cover his embarrassment, then said, "God Emperor, what brings you here? Is it also about the Beast Realm?"

God Emperor Lang Xuan said calmly, "Not entirely about that. Heavenly Venerate Mu, you're a smart man. You've twice damaged my Lang Xuan Divine Palace and repeatedly coerced me, but I won't hold it against you." He waved the palace maid away and said, "This maid is my informant in your Heavenly Venerate Manor; I won't hide that from you. What benefits did you give the Grand Emperor? I want a share too. However, I won't take it for nothing; I'll tell you about the other major matters at this Celestial Alliance meeting, besides the back of Ancestral Court."

Qin Mu's expression shifted slightly. He said, "I gave the Grand Emperor thirty-five Celestial Palace imprints hidden within Heavenly Venerate Hao's essence blood."

God Emperor Lang Xuan's eyes lit up. He clapped his hands and laughed, "It seems I didn't come in vain!"

Qin Mu gave him a portion of the essence blood extracted from Heavenly Venerate Hao's heart, his eyes flickering. He asked, "What will be discussed at this Celestial Alliance meeting?"

"It's not about discussion, but rather, we Ten Heavenly Venerates have already made a decision, and you are merely here to nod your approval," God Emperor Lang Xuan said with a slight smile. He continued unhurriedly, "Someone always has to take the blame, and as the Alliance Leader of the Celestial Alliance, you are naturally the best candidate for it. This Celestial Alliance meeting is to discuss the punitive expedition against Celestial Master! Heavenly Venerate Mu, it's time for you to board this pirate ship of the Ten Heavenly Venerates."