Chapter 1437: One Sword Cuts Down the Heavenly Emperor

The divine-demon army was responsible for escorting supplies and provisions, and guarding powerful divine weapons. Among these powerful artifacts were the Four Emperor Divine Artifacts—the Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger Divine Artifacts—two of each. They were likely crafted by the Heavenly Palace of Zao Fu.

As for other powerful artifacts, such as divine cities, God-Slaying Platforms, colossal seals, massive formation diagrams, grand cauldrons, formation flags, and alchemy furnaces, each one was incredibly vast. Every single divine artifact could fill an entire giant multi-decked ship!

The other supplies included various divine weapons, spiritual medicines, and even hundreds of ships filled with slaves, presumably for the divine-demons on the front lines.

Today, the Heavenly River surged with turbulent waves, slowing the multi-decked ships' progress significantly. Ahead, two Heavenly Venerables were chasing and fighting each other, making it difficult for the supply army to advance.

Qin Mu piloted his fast boat, soaring overhead. Just as he passed over the fleet, he saw Shi Qiluo flying back. Seeing him on the boat, Shi Qiluo paused, startled, and stopped.

Qin Mu greeted him, and Shi Qiluo returned the salutation. His voice boomed like thunder: "Heavenly Venerable Mu, are you going to your death?"

Qin Mu chuckled, "As the leader of the Heavenly Alliance, I must personally go to oversee the eradication of Heavenly Duke."

Shi Qiluo sighed, "You certainly have some admirable qualities. If you obstruct me on the Xuandu battlefield, I will show no mercy."

Qin Mu chuckled, "Madam..." Shi Qiluo glared at him. Qin Mu quickly corrected himself, "Heavenly Venerable Shi, I hope you'll show some leniency, considering our past..."

Shi Qiluo spat at him, then skipped away.

Butcher and the others stared wide-eyed, watching blankly as the Heavenly Venerable, who departed with the gait of a young girl, left them speechless for a long time.

Qin Mu explained, "This is Empress Yuanmu, the Goddess of Destruction from the Riptide, and Heavenly Venerable Hao's birth mother. After being killed by Heavenly Venerable Ling, her three souls attached to a stone for a long time, becoming a spirit, but she manifested in a male body."

Butcher was silent for a moment, then exhaled a long breath: "Truly a remarkable individual."

Zhe Huali, Luo Wushuang, and Tian Shu nodded repeatedly.

They continued their journey. After several days of flying in their small boat, they heard the sound of a zither again. Ahead were the Ten Heavenly Guards, each one an elite among elites, exuding a powerful aura that pierced the sky!

The lowest cultivation realm among them was Jade Capital, and many among them had even reached the perfection of the Transcendent stage!

The deployment of all Ten Guards indicated the importance placed on Xuandu.

"The Ten Heavenly Guards are going to confront Sun Keeper and Moon Keeper."

Qin Mu's eyes gleamed. The Ten Heavenly Guards possessed unparalleled strength; even Heavenly Venerable Yue's zither music, though obstructive, posed little threat to them.

However, the Ten Guards were escorting a treasure, blazing with fierce flames. It was none other than the Dao Fire Ancestral Land of the Southern Pole Heaven, the nine-layered Dao Fire altar where the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird was born!

Qin Mu's pupils constricted as he looked ahead. He saw that the one fiercely battling Heavenly Venerable Yue was Heavenly Venerable Huo!

The battle between Yue and Huo was far more ferocious than the one with Shi Qiluo. Shi Qiluo hadn't intended to fight Heavenly Venerable Yue to the death, so he hadn't used his full power or deployed his divine artifact, Imperial Heavenly Venerable. Heavenly Venerable Huo, however, was different.

Heavenly Venerable Huo had used almost all his abilities, launching incredibly fierce attacks. Even his divine artifact, Imperial Heavenly Venerable, had been mobilized to jointly encircle and suppress Heavenly Venerable Yue!

Suddenly, the zither music swelled. Heavenly Venerable Yue plucked the strings, causing the Heavenly River to tremble violently. With a triple-layered note, she tore open the starry sky, and Heavenly Venerable Yue vanished.

Heavenly Venerable Huo roared in fury, spewing raging flames from his mouth. The flames burned through layers of void, but he failed to catch Heavenly Venerable Yue and had to turn back.

Qin Mu's small boat passed by him. Neither looked at the other, treating each other as strangers.

The small boat continued its journey for more than ten days. They encountered an army led by Divine Emperor Lang Xuan. This army was Divine Emperor Lang Xuan's direct lineage, composed of leaders from various demigod races, but they too were held back by Heavenly Venerable Yue.

Divine Emperor Lang Xuan, however, was incredibly composed while contending with Heavenly Venerable Yue. The Jade Pool and Jade Platform of the ancestral court had been restored to their original state. Divine Emperor Lang Xuan had obtained the Dao Fruit of a powerful being from a previous cosmic epoch, and his abilities had become increasingly divine and masterful.

Qin Mu's pupils slightly contracted. The current Divine Emperor Lang Xuan had refined both the Path of Divine Sense and the Innate Primordial Qi to perfection. Furthermore, regarding the Dao of Grand Beginning, he had even comprehended the "Divine Essence Finger"!

Qin Mu observed that when dealing with Heavenly Venerable Yue, Lang Xuan had displayed at least four different divine abilities of Grand Beginning!

Clearly, he had gained immense benefits from that shriveled Dao Fruit.

Heavenly Venerable Yue faced even greater peril against him than against Heavenly Venerable Huo. Divine Emperor Lang Xuan's Dao of Grand Beginning could disrupt her divine abilities with his divine sense and even threaten her life!

Qin Mu approached nearby and called out loudly, "Divine Emperor, do you need a hand to eliminate the rebellious Yue together?"

Divine Emperor Lang Xuan's heart stiffened, and the muscles in his back tensed. Instantly, Heavenly Venerable Yue seized the opportunity to escape and departed swiftly.

Qin Mu hurried forward, demanding angrily, "Divine Emperor, why did you let her go?"

Divine Emperor Lang Xuan turned around, a faint, unreadable smile on his face, and said, "If you hadn't locked onto me with your blade qi, how could she have escaped? Heavenly Venerable Mu, you've really come a long way."

Qin Mu burst into laughter, saying smugly, "Indeed, I have. Divine Emperor, that Dao Fruit..."

Divine Emperor Lang Xuan shot him a glance, then snorted coldly, saying, "If you dare to spread that information, I'll make you regret ever being born into this world..."

"Your Majesty."

Upon hearing the address "Your Majesty," Divine Emperor Lang Xuan couldn't help but beam, saying, "There's no need to be so ostentatious. Never mind, I won't bother with you. Don't go any further; Heavenly Son Yin is waiting for you ahead, and I don't wish to lose a scheming minister."

Qin Mu expressed his thanks, then continued on his boat, silently pondering: "It seems that Dao Fruit, while improving Divine Emperor Lang Xuan's strength, also affected his temperament and even his sanity. It's strange. He clearly comprehended a deeper level of the Dao of Grand Beginning, which means his Dao realm cultivation should have improved. Logically, his Dao heart should become increasingly transparent, so why would he still be affected by my addressing him as 'Your Majesty'?"

He racked his brain but could not understand.

An improvement in Dao heart cultivation should lead to greater wisdom and thought, yet Divine Emperor Lang Xuan's wisdom seemed to have diminished, which puzzled him.

"Heavenly Venerable Mu, I finally know how you managed to survive in the Heavenly Court!"

Zhe Huali spoke quickly, sneering, "You've ascended to the Dao of Flattery; you've cultivated a Flattery Heavenly Palace!"

Qin Mu spat. Luo Wushuang said coldly, "Speaking to people in their own language and to ghosts in theirs, Heavenly Venerable Mu is quite adept."

The master and disciple, united in their disdain, thoroughly ribbed Qin Mu, feeling somewhat relieved.

They chatted and laughed, but no one mentioned that Heavenly Son Yin was waiting for them ahead.

They then passed the army commanded by Heavenly Consort Qiang. Although the battle between Heavenly Consort Qiang and Heavenly Venerable Yue was very exciting, it was clear that neither had used their full strength. Heavenly Consort Qiang deliberately held back, letting Heavenly Venerable Yue cause some disturbance before allowing her to depart.

Qin Mu exchanged pleasantries with Heavenly Consort Qiang, encouraging her as the Heavenly Alliance leader to achieve greater merits for the Heavenly Court, and then continued on.

On the boat, everyone once again teased Qin Mu about speaking to people in their own language and to ghosts in theirs, and the group erupted in laughter.

Ahead on the Heavenly River, a tall Netherworld Heavenly Gate stood prominently. Hundreds of ghost-faced multi-decked ships were arrayed on the water. In the center of the army, beneath the Netherworld Heavenly Gate, a magnificent golden palace stood. Heavenly Son Yin sat on his throne, enjoying music and dance.

Butcher glanced at Tian Shu: "King, do you want a drink?"

Tian Shu, with his Imperial Palace Divine Blade on his shoulder, laughed heartily, "To fight Earth Duke, to fight Heavenly Venerables, I need to be roaring drunk. But to fight Yin Chaojin? What kind of drinking is that! I'm not afraid of him!"

At the same time, Founding Emperor arrived at the ancestral court. He stepped onto the Heavenly Court, ignored everyone, and strode directly into Jade Capital City. He ascended the Hall of Exalted Heavens, where his sword light flashed, severing the head of the ancient god Heavenly Emperor.

"As expected, it's a fake."

Founding Emperor kicked the corpse off the imperial throne, then sat down himself, resting the Carefree Sword across his lap. He closed his eyes, concentrating on regulating his aura.

"Heavenly Venerable Hao, I did not come to kill you, but at someone's request, to kill Heavenly Venerable Gong."

Founding Emperor did not open his eyes, stating unhurriedly, "If you don't wish to worsen your injuries, you may withdraw. Also, you should create another Heavenly Emperor; this one has been killed by me."