Chapter 1433: Friends, Life and Death Bonded

"That kid sensed my killing intent, turned into demonic energy, and fled," Consort Qiang Tian said, lowering her hand. She sighed inwardly and stepped down from the God-Slaying Platform.

Below the God-Slaying Platform, her sleeping quarters had been obliterated, leaving only a solitary gate standing. The gate remained intact because of Consort Qiang Tian's protective seal.

Consort Qiang Tian approached the gate, paused to look at it for a moment, then shook her head and turned to leave.

Behind her, the gate creaked, toppled, and shattered into pieces.

Her seal had indeed been completely worn away.

"Why do you look so troubled, Your Highness?" Fang Ziyan asked cautiously as she approached Consort Qiang Tian, observing her expression.

Consort Qiang Tian sighed and recounted Qin Mu's suggestion. "Although I know he has ill intentions," she said, "I am still tempted to take the God-Slaying Platform to Xuandu. But I don't know where the trap he set is. It truly troubles me."

Fang Ziyan thought for a moment. "Your Highness," she said, "when Heavenly Venerate Mu spoke with you, he only mentioned the benefits, not the drawbacks. If you consider this, you might be able to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune."

Consort Qiang Tian's eyes lit up. "You are indeed clever," she praised. "This is a good idea; perhaps I don't have to fall into the trap. If I take the God-Slaying Platform to Xuandu and simply use the ominous energy to enhance the divine blades, then no one will stop me. But if I insert the two divine blades into Heavenly Duke's body and seize his vital energy, then I will displease Ancestral God King."

"Although Ancestral God King is extremely powerful," Fang Ziyan said, "his power is not the absolute peak among the Ten Heavenly Venerates."

Consort Qiang Tian smiled slightly. "That's true," she said. "Even if Ancestral God King wants to contend with me, he won't be able to defeat me. Now, the only problem is whether the other Heavenly Venerates will obstruct me. One Ancestral God King is not a concern, but with the other Heavenly Venerates, I will have to reconsider."

Fang Ziyan's eyes flickered. "Your Highness," she asked, "will the other Heavenly Venerates obstruct you, or will they obstruct Ancestral God King?"

Consort Qiang Tian chuckled. "Ziyan, you are indeed clever! The other Heavenly Venerates will certainly be wary of Ancestral God King! Ancestral God King is Heavenly Duke's son. If he were to gain Heavenly Duke's power, he would undoubtedly surpass all others, ancient and modern, becoming the strongest in the world, and achieving the Heavenly Court realm would be effortless for him! Others are wary of him; they will likely demand an equal share of the benefits, which would give me an opportune moment."

She smiled slightly. "Once the divine blades are forged, the Ten Heavenly Venerates will be of no concern. By then, it will be too late for them to notice me!"

She was in high spirits, flicking her sleeve, which flapped against the air with a powerful sound. "Heavenly Venerate Mu thought he dug an insurmountable trap for me," she declared, "but he didn't realize he was actually helping me achieve my goal! By then, that little fellow's expression will surely be priceless!"

Fang Ziyan complimented, "Although Heavenly Venerate Mu is cunning and an old fox, compared to Your Highness, he is still far inferior."

Consort Qiang Tian couldn't help but feel pleased and let out a charming laugh.

A wisp of demonic energy fled far away from the God-Slaying Platform. Soon, the demonic energy condensed, and Qin Mu walked out from the black smoke. The smoke followed him, swarming into his body and quickly disappearing completely.

"Human hearts are greedy," Qin Mu thought. "Consort Qiang Tian definitely won't be able to resist. In the battle of Xuandu, she will undoubtedly intervene to contend with Ancestral God King for Heavenly Duke's physical body. However, Consort Qiang Tian probably won't realize that Ancestral God King isn't the only one eyeing Heavenly Duke's body; there's also Heavenly Venerate Hong!"

Qin Mu looked up, seeing that more than half of the Heavenly Court had already descended upon the Ancestral Court, with complete descent likely occurring within the next ten days or so. He mused, "Heavenly Venerate Hong will absolutely not allow Heavenly Duke's physical body to be lost. Heavenly Venerate Hong is the true old fox. As soon as Consort Qiang Tian makes a move, she won't be able to escape his schemes!"

Eliminating Heavenly Duke would undoubtedly be an unimaginably fierce battle. Qin Mu didn't know how many of the Ten Heavenly Venerates would be dispatched, but he figured Heavenly Venerate Hao wouldn't be involved.

Heavenly Venerate Xiao, being in exile, would also not appear.

As for the other Heavenly Venerates—Heavenly Venerate Gong, Heavenly Venerate Huo, Consort Yan, God Emperor Lang Xuan, and Heavenly Venerate Void—how many of them would appear?

"Heavenly Venerate Void won't go," Qin Mu thought. "Xuandu's Heavenly Dao restrains her Youdu Great Dao, unless she can unify the Heavenly Dao and Youdu Great Dao. She will most likely remain in the Heavenly Court to guard against sneak attacks from Emperor Kai and the other three Ancient God Emperors of the Four Extremes."

"Consort Yan has the support of the Great Ultimate Ancient God, and her strength is immense, so whether she will go is hard to say."

"God Emperor Lang Xuan obtained a withered prehistoric Dao fruit, and his power has greatly advanced, so he will likely go this time too. This will be a good opportunity for him to show his prowess."

"The Eleventh Heavenly Venerate Shi Qiluo will definitely go! He has just become a Heavenly Venerate and must seize this opportunity to establish his authority; otherwise, it will be difficult for him to command respect!"

"And Heavenly Venerate Huo will definitely go! After all, he despises evil as if it were his personal enemy and hates ancient gods the most."

"As for whether Heavenly Venerate Gong will go, that is hard to say."

Qin Mu pondered for a moment. Earth Count cannot go to Xuandu and thus cannot join forces with Heavenly Duke. Moreover, Earth Count likely knows Heavenly Duke's plan, so he definitely won't intervene in this matter.

Only Emperor Kai, Lang Wo, and Heavenly Venerate Yue can intervene. With the power of these three, and perhaps the addition of the three Ancient God Emperors, they might have the strength to fight.

However, the Ten Heavenly Venerates of the Heavenly Court possess the divine artifact Heavenly Venerate Yu, which first restricts the three Ancient God Emperors, preventing them from leaving their respective territories.

Therefore, those who can participate in the battle are likely still Emperor Kai, Lang Wo, and Heavenly Venerate Yue.

"Or perhaps, we could open another battlefield and launch a surprise attack on the Heavenly Court!" Qin Mu mused. "Seize this opportunity to eliminate the other Heavenly Venerates remaining in the Heavenly Court, at the very least, eliminate Heavenly Venerate Hao! But if we do that, we would have to abandon Heavenly Duke. And eliminating Heavenly Venerate Void would anger Earth Count..."

Qin Mu's heart sank. Abandoning Heavenly Duke in exchange for the deaths of Heavenly Venerate Hao and Heavenly Venerate Void, and losing Earth Count as an ally, was something he could not bear.

"In the battle of Xuandu, relying solely on Emperor Kai, Lang Wo, and Heavenly Venerate Yue, even self-preservation will be difficult!" he concluded. "Therefore, whether Heavenly Duke can be saved still depends on Heavenly Venerate You!"

Qin Mu's eyelid twitched. Heavenly Venerate You's cultivated Great Dao was also the Youdu Great Dao; sending him to Xuandu would greatly suppress his cultivation, and he would face extreme danger there.

This was Qin Mu's reason for judging that Heavenly Venerate Void wouldn't go to Xuandu, and also the reason Heavenly Venerate You wouldn't go.

"I cannot let Heavenly Venerate You go and take such a risk."

The sky over the Ancestral Court gradually darkened. Qin Mu composed himself and walked towards the Hundred Thousand Black Mountains, thinking, "If he goes to Xuandu, his life might be in danger."

Suddenly, ghostly flames flickered ahead, and a paper boat eerily emerged, floating in front of Qin Mu.

Qin Mu stopped. He saw an old man on the paper boat holding a lantern, its light shining towards him.

The old man disembarked from the paper boat, moored it, and sat quietly by the boat under the lantern's light, folding paper figurines and paper horses.

Qin Mu walked forward, past the paper boat, ignoring the old man.

"Mu."

The old underworld emissary's fingers were very nimble; a paper horse quickly formed in his hands. "You're short on people right now, aren't you?" he said faintly. "Tian Shu, Luo Wushuang, Zhe Huali, and Heavenly Blade—they've been captured by me. Earth Count is hosting them. Tian Shu is clamoring to leave, saying that if the four of them join forces with you, they can unleash the power of the Thirtieth Heaven of the Blade Dao. Although they can't defeat a Heavenly Venerate, they can at least preserve their lives."

Qin Mu stopped behind the boat, his gaze complex. "I have indeed perfected the merged combat techniques of the Blade Dao with them," he said, "and they possess immense power."

"The weakest of them are only at the God-Slaying Platform realm," the old underworld emissary said, not looking up, staring at the paper figurine he was about to finish folding. "They are nothing before a Heavenly Venerate. Even an Emperor's Throne expert like Tian Shu is captured as soon as my light shines upon him. You even invited them, so why didn't you invite me? Do you look down on me?"

Qin Mu shook his head. "Your power is immense, and I also wanted to invite you," he said, "but you cultivate the Youdu Great Dao, and would not be able to unleash much of your strength in Xuandu."

"You invited Emperor Kai, Heavenly Venerate Yue, and Divine King Lang Wo."

The old underworld emissary gently blew a breath, and the paper figurines and paper horses instantly came to life. "Among the Nine Heavenly Venerates of Dragon Han," he said, "the one I admire most is Big Brother Yu, and the one I have the best relationship with is Heavenly Venerate Yue. But do you know who I've spoken with the most?"

He raised his head, looking at Qin Mu on the other side of the paper boat. "It's you."

"I have known Heavenly Venerate Yue for a million years, and the total number of words I've spoken to her doesn't exceed ten. She always speaks, and I listen."

A smile appeared on his wrinkled face. "But every time I see you, I speak a lot. Do you know why?"

Qin Mu turned around.

"Heavenly Venerate Yue is a woman, and I can't bring myself to speak much in front of women. Heavenly Venerate Yu is like an elder brother; I respect him deeply in my heart but never express it. As for the other Heavenly Venerates, I couldn't be bothered with them."

The old underworld emissary stood up. "Only you are different," he said. "I regard you as a friend, a fellow Daoist, with whom I can entrust my life! You have no direct connection to Heavenly Venerate Yu, yet you are willing to risk your life for him and offend Heavenly Venerate Hao, Primordial Mother, the Heavenly Emperor, and the Heavenly Court for his sake!"

"From that moment on, with just a word from you, I could wait for you for a million years in Youdu, just to await your return and revive Heavenly Venerate Yu! And you did it!"

"Now, with just one word from you, I can accompany you to battle in Xuandu!"