Chapter 1436: The Bright Moon Over the River

On the Heavenly River, Qin Mu, Butcher, Tian Shu, and others were aboard a fast boat. The cabin was filled with fine wine. King Tian Shu was so agitated he scratched his ears and cheeks, constantly tempted to open a jar for a good drink, but Butcher would slap his hand away with the flat of his blade.

“Save some for later,” Luo Wushuang said coldly. “You’re as timid as a mouse. This entire boatload of wine is meant to bolster your courage when you face the Celestial Venerables. If you drink it all on the way, you’ll be too scared to even move when you meet them.”

King Tian Shu sneered, “I’ll be scared stiff? You’re right, I will be scared stiff! Luo Wushuang, when you face the Celestial Venerables, won’t you be apprehensive?”

Luo Wushuang looked at his divine blade and said calmly, “No. Ever since I broke free from the divine within my heart, no one can stop me from drawing my blade, no matter who stands before me.”

Tian Shu grunted, “After I’ve had some wine, so will I.”

Zhe Huali sat on the gunwale, looking at Qin Mu, and suddenly chuckled. “Cult Master Qin, what is your current cultivation realm? I noticed you weren’t completely unproductive after going to the Celestial Court; your cultivation has deepened significantly.”

“Nine Prison Platform realm,” Qin Mu pondered. “Roughly equivalent to your Jade Capital realm, but I also have the Five Tai realms beyond that.”

Everyone grew curious and came forward to ask questions. Qin Mu explained, “From beginning to end, I have only one single realm: the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure realm. My Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure realm is further divided into two types: one is the Dao Realm, which is the 36 Heavens Dao Realm system. The other is the Grand Ancestral Court realm. The Dao Realm and the Grand Ancestral Court realm are actually intertwined; as my cultivation realm improves, the Dao Realm also advances.”

“The Grand Ancestral Court realm is divided into the Heavenly Palace and Celestial Court realm, and the Five Tai realms. The Heavenly Palace and Celestial Court realm is the system you cultivate, but my Heavenly Palace and Celestial Court realm is different; I have developed the Nine Prison Platform realm, which is an additional realm beyond yours. However, I haven't yet figured out how the Jade Capital realm within the Ancestral Court is divided, nor have I seen the Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court. It's still unknown whether the Jade Capital realm includes the Numinous Sky and Emperor's Throne. As for the Five Tai realms, I am still exploring them. I have initially refined the Four Tai and comprehended several divine arts, understanding several layers of the Dao Realm. It's also uncertain whether these can form five distinct realms.”

Qin Mu mused for a moment, then said, “That’s roughly it.”

The other four were wide-eyed and speechless for a long time. Zhe Huali stammered, “You comprehended all this in the Ancestral Court?”

Qin Mu smiled. “If you go to the Ancestral Court, you should visit its Four Heavenly Gates, the Jade Pool and Jade Terrace, and the Nine Prison Platform. When the five of us work together, we can reach the 30th Heaven of the Dao Realm, but individually, none of our Dao Realms are very high. I’m still the highest at the 26th Heaven of the Dao Realm. If you can explore all these places, your Dao Realm will likely catch up to mine.”

He paused, then added, “You’ll probably still be slightly behind, but not by much.”

Zhe Huali was so excited he rubbed his fists together. “If I can return alive from Xuandu this time, I’ll definitely go visit!”

“Bah, bah, may good fortune prevail!” Tian Shu spat several times. “Children’s words are innocent, but you should avoid saying such ominous things.”

Qin Mu displayed a confident smile. “This time, the Heavenly Dao seeks self-preservation. Once we reach Xuandu, the Heavenly Dao will sense our Dao hearts, and with its blessing, our strength will advance another step. We might just have a chance to survive! Moreover, with the assistance of Emperor Ruyi, Lang Wo, Celestial Venerable Yue, and Celestial Venerable You – these powerful individuals – we will surely turn danger into…”

Before he could utter the final word, Qin Mu stared blankly ahead.

Everyone quickly looked forward and saw a middle-aged man with a sword at his waist, walking along the Heavenly River towards them. It was none other than Emperor Ruyi, Qin Ye.

Emperor Ruyi stopped before the boat. Butcher and the others quickly greeted him, while Tian Shu hid in the cabin, not daring to show his face.

Qin Mu hastily stopped the boat, leaned halfway out, and asked, “Why are you here instead of going to Xuandu?”

Emperor Ruyi’s expression was calm as he leisurely replied, “You told me to visit the Ancestral Court, saying that comprehending the Dao Realm there could help me break through to the Ultimate Void, so I came.”

Qin Mu fumed, “At this crucial moment, you should be preparing to go to Xuandu, not the Ancestral Court! What were you doing earlier?”

Upon hearing this, Tian Shu's face turned ashen. Qin Mu was probably the only person in the world who dared to speak to Emperor Ruyi like that. Ever since Emperor Ruyi wounded several Celestial Venerables with his sword at the Celestial Alliance meeting, even the Ten Celestial Venerables treated him with deference.

Emperor Ruyi was unperturbed. “The Ten Celestial Venerables were all here before, so I had no opportunity. Now that they are rushing to Xuandu, I have a chance to make a trip to the Ancestral Court.”

Just as Qin Mu was about to speak, Emperor Ruyi continued, “It takes some time to get from the Heavenly River to Xuandu. I can go after comprehending the Ancestral Court, and still make it in time. You all hold the fort first.”

Qin Mu gritted his teeth, watching him walk towards the Ancestral Court.

“Qin Ye, remember to collect my body!” he shouted at Emperor Ruyi’s retreating back.

“Alright,” Emperor Ruyi replied indifferently.

Qin Mu took off his shoe and threw it with force. Emperor Ruyi tilted his head, the shoe missed, then flew back and automatically landed on Qin Mu’s foot.

“Wait, while you’re in the Ancestral Court, do something for me!” Qin Mu put his shoe back on, and sent a spiritual wave into Emperor Ruyi’s mind, explaining the matter. Emperor Ruyi paused, tilted his head, and said, “That’s somewhat difficult.” Qin Mu said in a low voice, “Can it be partially done?” “I can try,” he replied, then resumed his departure.

Qin Mu snorted and said in a deep voice, “We’ll hold the line!”

Everyone exchanged glances. Tian Shu also peeked out from the cabin, “How do we hold it?”

Qin Mu gritted his teeth, “With our heads!”

Tian Shu quickly pulled his head back.

The cheerful atmosphere on the boat vanished. Everyone was breathing heavily. Butcher scooped up some Heavenly River water and sharpened his blade by the boat, chuckling, “Emperor Ruyi has elevated his sword Dao to the 35th Heaven, while we rough fellows who wield sabers can only reach the 30th Heaven. Is the Dao of the Saber inferior to the Dao of the Sword? Gentlemen, where there’s a will, there’s a way!”

Despite his words, they remained uneasy. Just then, a faint zither melody drifted from ahead. The tune was beautiful and moving, causing the Heavenly River to gently ripple with the music.

Qin Mu soared into the air and looked forward. He saw the vast Heavenly River acting like leaping musical notes, with hidden murderous intent. Strange divine arts merged with the water in the waves that rose with the melody, attacking any passing boat, turning the surface of the Heavenly River into a lurking danger.

“It’s Celestial Venerable Yue’s zither music!” Qin Mu looked into the far distance and saw the Celestial Court’s divine and demonic army deploying their Divine Artifacts, the Four Emperors, to suppress the Heavenly River, preventing Celestial Venerable Yue’s zither music from unleashing its full power. From within that Celestial Court army, a Celestial Venerable suddenly soared into the air and charged at Celestial Venerable Yue. This Celestial Venerable was burly, with muscles like rock and a bristling beard, appearing extremely mighty; it was Celestial Venerable Shi Qiluo. The two Celestial Venerables fought as they moved through the starry sky, constantly weaving above and below the Heavenly River, slowing down the Celestial Court’s divine and demonic forces.

“So that’s it,” Qin Mu realized. “Emperor Ruyi is having Celestial Venerable Yue delay the Celestial Court’s advance, giving him ample time to comprehend the Ancestral Court’s Four Heavenly Gates, Jade Terrace, Jade Pool, and other locations.”

Only Celestial Venerable Yue could stall the Celestial Court’s advance, as her spatial divine arts allowed her to come and go freely, making her extremely difficult to trap.

Qin Mu felt relieved. The fast boat quickly caught up with the Celestial Court’s divine and demonic army ahead.