Chapter 1443: Emperor Yi Yue's Father

Tianfang, the eleventh of the forty-nine Heavenly Dao, is home to Tianfang City, one of Xuandu's forty-nine divine cities. It is a place of immense power, where the aura of the Heavenly Dao is at its most concentrated.

By the time they reached Tianfang City, they found the entire divine city blessed by the Heavenly Dao. The Heavenly Dao aura above the city was so dense it had become palpable, and countless Sun Guards, Moon Guards, and Star Lords had gathered there.

The divine city was enveloped by thousands of suns, moons, and constellations, appearing to float at the heart of a vast galaxy. Its light was so dazzling and brilliant that it was almost impossible to look at directly.

At that moment, Tianfang City was under siege by the Ancestral God King's army, led by his Great Sun Star Lord, Dan Fenglai. Countless Golden Crows dragged suns, from which innumerable fire crow soldiers emerged to attack Tianfang City.

However, Dan Fenglai found it impossible to breach Tianfang City's formidable, fortress-like defenses.

Dan Fenglai was once responsible for mapping the Heavenly Dao and the Celestial Emperor within Xuandu. However, the Celestial Emperor's indulgence of the Earth Mother Primordial Lord led to the complete eradication of Heavenly Court forces in Xuandu, resulting in millions of Dan Fenglai's personal divine and demonic guards dying at her hands. The army he now commanded was a newly assembled force of Golden Crow divine spirits conscripted from various realms, far inferior to his original elite guards.

As an Emperor's Throne realm cultivator, he personally led the charge.

Qin Mu and his companions arrived at the height of the battle. Just as Dan Fenglai was about to breach the divine city, the Heavenly Dao within the city suddenly vibrated. Sun Guards, Moon Guards, and Star Lords roared in unison, their magic power intertwining as the Heavenly Dao condensed in the sky, forming a massive Heavenly Seal that slammed downwards!

Before the Heavenly Seal had even fully descended, Dan Fenglai's eyelids twitched violently. His body became instantly immobilized, as if bound by Heavenly Dao chains, as immense pressure bore down from above. Even before the Heavenly Seal reached his head, his bones began to crackle, his skin burst open, and divine blood vaporized.

Dan Fenglai shrieked repeatedly, then suddenly transformed into a fire phoenix. Three Celestial Palaces rose into the sky as he unleashed his full primordial spirit and magic power, dragging refined divine suns to meet the Heavenly Seal. Nine divine suns, like a celestial alignment, continuously blasted the Heavenly Seal, the violent explosions momentarily pushing it back before the fire phoenix flapped its wings and flew away.

Boom! The Heavenly Seal crushed the nine divine suns and slammed down. Instantly, severed limbs and dismembered bodies flew across the battlefield. Countless divine soldiers and generals under Dan Fenglai were torn to pieces, their physical bodies and primordial spirits shattered, and their innumerable scattered remains were swept into ash by the scorching hurricane.

This terrifying shockwave surged towards Qin Mu and his companions, making them lose their footing and preventing their flying boat from approaching Tianfang City.

After the impact of the Heavenly Seal, a Celestial Well suddenly emerged from the battlefield. Unlike ordinary wells, this one stretched from the heavens to the earth, its well-body resembling a dragon's torso.

The moment the Celestial Well appeared on the battlefield, it became like an all-consuming monster, inhaling Dan Fenglai's army. Countless divine soldiers and generals flailed desperately in the air, trying to grab onto something, but grasped nothing. They were all sucked into the well, turning into flying ash.

"The might of the Heavenly Dao is too strong, isn't it?" Tian Shu murmured.

Having suffered a defeat, Dan Fenglai immediately sounded the gongs for retreat, urging his remaining, battered troops to withdraw frantically. From Tianfang City, countless robust Sun Guards charged out, relentlessly pursuing them.

Qin Mu lingered outside the battlefield for a moment, then his fast boat set off towards Tianfang City.

The defenders of Tianfang City sensed the Heavenly Dao aura from them, offering no resistance and opening the city gates for them to enter.

As soon as they entered the city, they heard someone shout: "Shoot the villain, shoot the villain!"

Qin Mu followed the sound and saw mischievous children, likely the offspring of Xuandu's Sun and Moon Guards, carrying bows and arrows and shooting at several straw figures.

Among the straw figures, one represented the Ancestral God King, another Fire Celestial Venerable, and a third was Qin Mu himself.

One child shot several arrows, cheering, "I hit Qin Mu, the villain Qin!"

"I hit him too!"

The other children who hadn't hit the Qin Mu straw figure stepped forward and spat at it multiple times.

Qin Mu remained silent, touching the black cloth covering his face.

The Butcher approached him, patted his shoulder, and said solemnly, "Not everyone will understand what you've done."

"I know, they're just children, what am I afraid of?" Qin Mu scoffed and walked further into the city. "Haven't I borne enough infamy already? This hardly matters."

The Butcher watched his retreating back, shook his head, and followed him.

Tian Shu pulled off his black scarf and said, "I might know the leader of Xuandu guarding Tianfang City. He's most likely Di Qing, Di Yiyue's father, said to be a descendant of the Celestial Emperor. During the Kai Huang era, he was a Sun Guard in the Primordial Realm and descended to assist Kai Huang on the Celestial Emperor's orders. Later, when Di Yiyue was born and displayed astonishing talent, he entrusted her to Kai Huang. Since one of you is Celestial Venerable Mu, two are from the Heavenly Court's Spirit Cultivation Army, and another is Celestial Venerable Mu's teacher, none of you should show your faces. I have old ties with him; come with me to meet him."

Everyone agreed and followed him.

"I heard that Di Qing and Di Yiyue don't have a good relationship," Luo Wushuang suddenly said.

Tian Shu replied, "That's an old story. Di Yiyue's mother was human, while Di Qing was a god with the Celestial Emperor's bloodline. Her mother was abandoned by Di Qing after becoming pregnant. She later gave birth to Di Yiyue, and the two relied on each other, but her mother lived a hard life, full of illness, and eventually died. Di Yiyue met Di Qing by chance, and he recognized her as his child and took her in. However, feeling that a human child was a stain on his reputation, he sent her to Kai Huang. Originally, she was intended to be a child bride for Kai Huang..."

As one of Kai Huang's Heavenly Kings, his arrival to seek out Di Qing immediately caused a stir, signaling Kai Huang's intentions. Di Qing hastily led many of Tianfang City's defenders to meet him.

"After Kai Huang witnessed Di Yiyue's talent, he was astonished, deeming her a celestial being, and sent her to various places for study. Di Yiyue consequently harbored deep hatred for Di Qing, never speaking to him when they met. Later, when the Kai Huang calamity erupted, Di Qing directly abandoned Kai Huang and left, which made Di Yiyue despise him even more..."

Seeing Di Qing and his entourage approaching, Tian Shu quickly stopped talking, then laughed heartily, "Elder Brother Di Qing, it's been too long!"

Di Qing, burly with white hair and silver eyes, possessed an imposing presence reminiscent of the Celestial Emperor. He laughed heartily, "Kai Huang hasn't forgotten our old friendship; sending you here puts my mind at ease!"

The two embraced vigorously. Di Qing smiled, "Today, the Heavenly Dao flourishes, guarding Xuandu. Even if you hadn't come, the Heavenly Court would be utterly powerless against Xuandu! Your arrival is also good; I can share some credit with you!" He then laughed heartily once more.

Qin Mu and the others frowned, not speaking.

Tian Shu's expression turned serious as he solemnly stated, "On the way, I saw the Four Emperors' Divine Artifacts being transported here. Besides those, there's also the Divine Artifact Grandmaster and the ancestral land of Dao Fire. Tianfang City simply cannot withstand such power! Furthermore, six of the Ten Celestial Venerables have also arrived. Before the Celestial Venerables, Tianfang City is like an egg, shattering at the slightest touch!"

"Alarmist nonsense." Di Qing shook his head and said, "Tian Shu, are you here to assist or to spread alarmist rumors? My Tianfang City is blessed by the Heavenly Dao and is impregnable. Even if the Ten Celestial Venerables attack, they cannot breach this divine city of the Heavenly Dao! You and I have old ties, so I won't pursue this matter. Has my daughter arrived?"

Tian Shu shook his head.

Di Qing sneered, "She's also a heartless and ungrateful person."