Chapter 1444: Ice Breaks Old Resentments

"Di Qing is a typical demigod." Tian Shu's divine consciousness fluctuated as he quietly transmitted a message to Qin Mu: "Many demigods from ancient times had this mindset—arrogant and condescending. During the Kaihuang era, when Heavenly Grandmaster ordered the demigods from Xuandu to help us, we had to tolerate a lot of his strange temper and those of other Xuandu deities."

Qin Mu understood this feeling well. Even before the Dragon Han era, demigod races used other acquired races as food. By the Dragon Han era, the class system was rigid, and demigods, ranking just below ancient gods, were even more exalted. They were born into a position of superiority and possessed an innate sense of dominance over lower-class individuals.

Di Qing must be a demigod born after Ancestral God King, which explains his temperament. Qin Mu observed Di Qing, seeing traces of Heavenly Grandmaster in him. Di Qing had few similarities with Di Yiyue; only their lips and nose bridge were somewhat alike.

Di Qing's gaze swept over Qin Mu and the others. Seeing their faces covered, he couldn't help but frown. Tian Shu chuckled, "These four brothers have special identities and cannot show their faces."

Di Qing smiled and said, "In normal times, entering Xuandu with faces covered would certainly mark them as enemies. But now, with the Heavenly Dao identifying friend or foe, these four must be allies."

Qin Mu looked around and saw many demigod children running wild in the city. He frowned and said, "Di Qing, why are there still women and children in Tianfang City? You should immediately send the children to the Primordial Realm. Tianfang City cannot withstand an attack; leaving women and children here is simply sending them to their deaths!"

"Tianfang City cannot be breached; the Heavenly Court's army of gods and devils won't even reach the city gates." Di Qing frowned. "The more people gathered in the city, the stronger the Heavenly Dao becomes. Keeping children and women here will further bolster the power of the Heavenly Dao! You don't understand the path of the Heavenly Dao, so I won't argue with you. But next time, do not speak nonsense or sow discord among my troops, or you will face my merciless military law."

He turned to Tian Shu, his expression darkening. "Heavenly King of Youdu, your assistance is welcome, but you had best restrain your friend and prevent him from disturbing my troops' morale."

Tian Shu quietly tugged at Qin Mu's sleeve and chuckled, "Don't worry, don't worry, we won't speak out of turn again. We're still waiting for you to share the credit with us. But is gathering women and children in the city truly effective?"

The sternness on Di Qing's face disappeared, and he smiled. "This is the brilliance of Xuandu's Heavenly Dao. Times have changed; now the Heavenly Dao protects Xuandu. The more living beings gathered in a place, the stronger the Heavenly Dao becomes. The reason Tianfang City's Heavenly Dao power is so strong is because many Xuandu gods and devils are gathered here. However, since their numbers are relatively small, all the common people of Xuandu must also gather here."

He looked at Qin Mu and the others, stating, "Only demigod races can live in Xuandu. This place is entirely composed of divine realms, with no acquired beings like humans."

Tian Shu gave an apologetic smile. "Yes, we acquired beings like humans are not fit to live in Xuandu; you've said so before."

Di Qing quickly said, "That's not what I meant, but to ensure the purity of Xuandu's bloodline, acquired beings are forbidden from entering Xuandu; it's not discrimination against you. Currently, although there are many demigods in Tianfang City, there aren't enough. So I have ordered the Sun Guards, Moon Guards, and Star Lords from various heavens to relocate more demigods here to jointly defend Tianfang and amplify the power of the Heavenly Dao!"

Tian Shu was dumbfounded, and Qin Mu, Butcher, and the others also frowned deeply.

Di Qing laughed heartily. "By then, Tianfang City will become a fortress capable of overpowering Heavenly Venerates, forcing them to surrender!"

Full of confidence, he gestured broadly and spoke with enthusiasm: "When Heavenly Grandmaster ordered us to descend to the lower realms to support you humans and other acquired races, I was actually quite displeased. Without relying on the power of you acquired races, the strength of Xuandu alone would be enough to stand tall above all heavens and be on equal footing with the Heavenly Court! In those days, I was also very happy that Heavenly King could come to assist us."

Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "Di Qing, are you truly not going to reconsider evacuating these women and children? If Tianfang City falls, these lives..."

Di Qing flew into a rage, his face changing color. He shouted to his guards: "Take this person who is sowing discord among my troops to the city wall and behead him as a warning to others!"

Tian Shu quickly embraced him, smiling apologetically. "Calm down, calm down! We've come to assist, and it makes no sense to kill an ally as a sacrifice when we've just arrived!"

Di Qing snorted, pulled away from him, and said indifferently, "My Xuandu troops are strong and well-equipped, and the Heavenly Dao protects us, forming a supreme treasure to guard the divine city. We do not need your assistance. You four or five people, with your faces covered, not daring to show your true selves, neither male nor female, neither proper nor improper, can just watch! Heavenly King, rest assured, I will share some credit with you if we win."

Suddenly, war drums sounded, and Di Qing hastily led his followers away.

Butcher sighed, his voice desolate. "We came with full enthusiasm, not intimidated by the enemy, but the general defending Xuandu poured cold water on us."

"Calm down, Heavenly Blade. Di Qing actually helped a lot during the Kaihuang era. Kaihuang's establishment of Sun Guards and Moon Guards in various heavens was essentially learning from Xuandu's system."

Tian Shu also felt helpless regarding Di Qing. He said, "However, back then, when they came to help us, we did all the hard and tiring work ourselves. They merely gave instructions and also lorded over us. Kaihuang was very tolerant, but eventually, he ran out of patience and they had a falling out. In a fit of rage, Di Qing led all the demigods back to Xuandu, claiming that without their help, Kaihuang Nation could never develop into a powerful state in the Primordial Realm."

He smiled faintly. "A few hundred years later, Kaihuang Nation leaped to become the hegemon of the Primordial Realm, and Heavenly Grandmaster sent him back. However, his temperament hadn't changed; he remained arrogant towards everyone in the Kaihuang Heavenly Court. Despite his arrogance, his heart isn't bad, and his strength is formidable. Throughout his life, he has comprehended the Heavenly Dao, developing three to five different Heavenly Dao Emperor's Throne techniques. With the Heavenly Dao so prosperous here, it's possible he truly can block a Heavenly Venerate."

Qin Mu shook his head. "If the Heavenly Dao were truly that powerful, why would Heavenly Grandmaster stoop so low as to transform into Heavenly Venerate Hao and personally incite this calamitous slaughter against himself and Xuandu?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Shu, Butcher, and the others couldn't help but shiver, their hair standing on end, as they stared at him in horror.

Qin Mu sighed. "Heavenly Grandmaster is eager to break free from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao, and Heavenly Venerate Hao is his reincarnated self. For this purpose, Heavenly Venerate Hao would not hesitate to sacrifice Heavenly Grandmaster, sacrifice the Heavenly Dao, and sacrifice everything in Xuandu—including the demigods, the women and children here, and even his own descendants! It will undoubtedly be Heavenly Venerate Hao who breaks Tianfang City."

Zhe Huali said hoarsely, "So, in the end, Heavenly Grandmaster is fighting himself, huh? Heh heh, Heavenly Venerate Mu, then why should we sacrifice our lives to save Heavenly Grandmaster?"

His chest swelled with indignation. Gritting his teeth, his voice burst out, "The reason we came, the reason we traveled here laughing and chatting simply because you mentioned it, was because we believed Heavenly Grandmaster had to be saved. Saving Heavenly Grandmaster means saving Yankang! Even if we died in Xuandu, it would be a worthy death! But who knew it was just Heavenly Grandmaster playing a game of make-believe by himself all along! Let him die!"

Tian Shu and Luo Wushuang remained silent. Butcher looked as if he wanted to speak but then sighed.

"Heavenly Venerate Hao is Heavenly Grandmaster, but Heavenly Grandmaster is not Heavenly Venerate Hao," Qin Mu explained. "Heavenly Venerate Hao is merely one soul of Heavenly Grandmaster reincarnated and parasitic on Da Hong. He is already one of the Ten Heavenly Venerates. However, Heavenly Grandmaster is not Heavenly Venerate Hao; Heavenly Grandmaster possesses the heart of the Heavenly Dao, while Heavenly Venerate Hao does not. The one we must save is Heavenly Grandmaster with the heart of the Heavenly Dao. Saving him means saving Yankang! Zhe Huali, we were once enemies, and you are not from Yankang. This journey is perilous, and I previously deceived you by not revealing Heavenly Venerate Hao's identity. If you wish to leave, I will not stop you."

Zhe Huali panted heavily, glaring fiercely at Qin Mu. His demonic blade, Dragon Fang, also glared menacingly at Qin Mu.

*Whoosh*—Zhe Huali turned, his clothes flapping and stirring up a strong wind as he walked away. As he walked, his steps gradually slowed. A moment later, he stopped and sat on a stone block by the roadside, one foot on the ground, the other resting on the block. He turned his head, lifted his chin, and asked, "Are you really not going to ask me to stay?"

Qin Mu smiled.

Zhe Huali hopped off the stone block and quickly jogged back.

"I am a Yankangian, a half-human, half-demon, half-god, half-devil Yankangian," Zhe Huali said with a grin. "I haven't been a Heavenly Court person for a long time. In the Heavenly Court, in the heavens where I was born, I was a mongrel. Only in Yankang did I find my dignity as a human. Cult Master Qin, Heavenly Venerate Mu, Yankang is not solely your Yankang; it also belongs to me, Demonic Blade Zhe Huali!"

Qin Mu burst out laughing, raising his hand. *Slap*, their hands met firmly in the air.

"I'll take a share too," Butcher said, placing his large hand over theirs with a smile.

"Yankang also has a share for me," Luo Wushuang added, placing his hand on top of theirs. "I've offended two great Heavenly Venerates, and I have nowhere to go. Only Yankang can take me in."

Tian Shu also extended his hand, chuckling, "Although I'm not a Yankangian, I suppose I'm half a Yankangian. When I was trapped in the Divine Blade of Emperor Que, the Great Ruins were to the west of Emperor Que, and Yankang was to the east, so I count as half."

The five burst into laughter, their past grievances forgotten.