Chapter 1459: Direct Hit to the Dao Heart

Qin Mu's divine sense was also extremely powerful, but it paled significantly in comparison to that of Heavenly Venerate Gong and Divine King Lang Wo. The two women's divine sense abilities almost instantly eradicated his imitation of the Tai Emperor's Grand Overarching Heaven of Divine Sense.

However, he successfully prevented Divine King Lang Wo's divine sense from making contact with Heavenly Venerate Gong's. As long as their divine senses didn't clash, Heavenly Venerate Gong would struggle to persuade Lang Wo using only words.

Verbal communication was neither as fast nor as comprehensive as divine sense, and could also be interrupted by Qin Mu at any moment.

Lang Wo immediately withdrew her divine sense ability to avoid harming Qin Mu.

Heavenly Venerate Gong, however, did not retract her ability. Just as Qin Mu was about to be overwhelmed by her power, zither music suddenly resonated. Heavenly Venerate Yue plucked the strings, and layers of space emerged, blocking Heavenly Venerate Gong's attack.

Heavenly Venerate Gong frowned slightly. Heavenly Venerate Huo, having recovered his physical body, appeared beside her in a flash of fire, his expression grim.

Heavenly Venerate Yue had sent away the Ancestral Land of Dao Fire from the Southern Heavens, and even he couldn't sense its new location. This left him seething with unquenchable anger.

He had not yet gained Heaven Duke's Heavenly Dao, but had lost his Southern Heaven's Ancestral Land of Dao Fire, leaving him naturally enraged.

Qin Mu watched Heavenly Venerate Gong and Heavenly Venerate Huo with a smile, nodding at them as if greeting old friends. Suddenly, he remarked, "Heavenly Venerate Huo, are you aware that Heavenly Venerate Yu is still alive?"

Heavenly Venerate Huo's mind was greatly shaken, and his gaze fixed on Qin Mu. Although Qin Mu's face was currently veiled, that black cloth was utterly insignificant to a Heavenly Venerate.

A Heavenly Venerate could tell who was beneath the black cloth with just a glance, without even needing to guess.

As for Heavenly Venerate Yu being alive, Heavenly Venerate Huo had also heard rumors, though he hadn't personally investigated.

However, Qin Mu was the Grandmaster of Undying Myriad Calamities, capable of resurrecting even ancient gods. If Heavenly Venerate Yu's corpse had been preserved to this day, then Qin Mu could indeed resurrect him!

Heavenly Venerate Huo's feelings towards Heavenly Venerate Yu were truly complex. Qin Mu's sudden mention of the matter struck directly at his Dao heart, causing him to temporarily forget about Heavenly Venerate Yue taking the Ancestral Land of Dao Fire.

Qin Mu smiled faintly and calmly stated, "Of the eleven Heavenly Venerates of the Heavenly Court, with the exception of the exiled Heavenly Venerate Xiao, the other ten Heavenly Venerates have likely all arrived in Xuandu, leaving the Heavenly Court vulnerable. If I were Heavenly Venerate Yu, I would seize this opportunity to go to the Heavenly Court, break the seal on the Incense-Adorned Palace, and retrieve my fragmented soul."

Heavenly Venerate Huo's expression was unpredictable, like a flickering bonfire in the night illuminating his face, making it alternately clear and shadowed.

He looked at the Xuandu battlefield, where Heavenly Venerate Hong and three other Heavenly Venerates, along with the Divine Artifact Heavenly Venerate Yu, were attacking Heaven Duke. Their assault was growing increasingly fierce, and Heaven Duke's defeat was only a matter of time.

At this moment, six Heavenly Venerates had already gathered in Xuandu, with only Hao, Yan, Xu, and Zu yet to appear.

Heavenly Venerate Huo's voice was hoarse. "Heavenly Consort Yan, Heavenly Venerate Hao, and Heavenly Venerate Xu are still in the Heavenly Court right now. He wouldn't stand a chance."

Qin Mu chuckled, "When Heaven Duke dies, which Heavenly Venerate wouldn't want a piece of the pie? By then, the Ten Heavenly Venerates will descend upon Xuandu like a pack of wolves. That will be Heavenly Venerate Yu's opportunity! Don't you wish for him to reclaim his fragmented soul and for the original Heavenly Venerate Yu to return?"

His gaze fixated on Heavenly Venerate Huo's face, missing no emotional shift. His words were like Emperor Kai's sword, like the Butcher's knife, directly targeting the vulnerabilities within his heart.

"I remember you once said he was the person you most admired and respected, that you always called him 'Big Brother,' and swore to avenge him! Now he has been resurrected; as long as he retrieves his fragmented soul, he can make a powerful return!"

Qin Mu exclaimed with feigned delight, "Now your opportunity has arrived! You could launch a sneak attack and kill Heavenly Venerate Hao; I'm sure your 'Big Brother Yu' would be very pleased!"

Heavenly Venerate Gong, sensing the gravity of the situation, quietly put some distance between herself and Heavenly Venerate Huo.

The fiery halo behind Heavenly Venerate Huo's head spun, illuminating his face, making his expression volatile and uncertain. "Even if Heavenly Venerate Yu were resurrected, he couldn't open the Incense-Adorned Palace. I never dwell on things that lack concrete form. Today is the battle to eliminate Heaven Duke; anyone who stands in my way will die!"

Despite his words, it was clear that Heavenly Venerate Gong was extremely wary of him. The two could not possibly join forces against an enemy without significant reservations.

Qin Mu's single speech had created a significant rift between him and Heavenly Venerate Gong, leaving him in a very passive position.

Qin Mu was skilled in psychological warfare; when facing an opponent like him, one often felt he was a friend rather than an adversary.

He treated you like a close friend, understood you profoundly, analyzed your thoughts and actions from your innermost desires, and offered seemingly brilliant advice.

Yet, before you realized it, you would fall into his trap.

Many of the Ten Heavenly Venerates had faced Qin Mu's psychological tactics, and now it was Heavenly Venerate Huo's turn.

Suddenly, Xuandu vibrated violently, and the stars scattered. Everyone was startled and looked, seeing Heaven Duke shrink his physical form and move his feet, striding rapidly through Xuandu and causing immense turbulence.

Up until now, Heaven Duke's true form had been immensely vast, standing motionless. Even when besieged by Heavenly Venerate Hong and the other three Heavenly Venerates, he had never moved.

If he were to move, it would cause all the stars in the world to shift and trigger catastrophic changes to heaven and earth!

Now, however, he was forced to move his body to evade the four Heavenly Venerates' encirclement.

Qin Mu's eye twitched. "Heaven Duke, have you still not broken free from the Nine Prison Platform? You should be able to comprehend the Heavenly Heart; after all, you are the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao and have been immersed in it for so long. As soon as you comprehend the Heavenly Heart and gain insight into the twenty-four layers of the Heavenly Dao realm, you can escape!"

As a Dao-born god, Heaven Duke was born from the Heavenly Dao. His entire life's potential lay in mastering the Heavenly Dao. Thus, Heaven Duke was the most likely being to comprehend the Heart of the Heavenly Dao, and to elevate the Heart of the Heavenly Dao to its twenty-fourth layer.

If Heaven Duke's primordial spirit were to comprehend the Heavenly Heart, even if he broke free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints, he would still follow its path, rather than become like Heavenly Venerate Hong, consumed by desires for fame, power, and authority!

This was Qin Mu's hope.

As long as Heaven Duke's primordial spirit could break free from the Nine Prison Platform, Heavenly Venerate Hong would not dominate Heaven Duke's consciousness, would be unable to wreak havoc, and might even become his Dao friend!

As Heaven Duke's Dao realm cultivation continued to advance, Heavenly Venerate Hong's dangerous personality would gradually diminish, having little impact on Heaven Duke.

The crucial question was whether Heaven Duke could elevate his Dao realm in the Heavenly Heart sufficiently within such a short time to break free from the Nine Prison Platform's constraints!

Heavenly Venerate Huo's eyes flickered, his gaze shifting from Qin Mu and the others to Heaven Duke and the Heavenly Venerates besieging him.

Heavenly Venerate Gong did the same.

The situation had reached a critical juncture. With the four Heavenly Venerates allied, Heaven Duke was no match and would certainly be slain by them!

The moment Heaven Duke was killed would be the crucial time for them to vie for spoils!

"The closest to the water enjoys the moon first." If they arrived late, not only would they miss out on the best, they might only get the dregs!

Heavenly Venerate Huo suddenly transformed into a streak of fire and sped towards Heaven Duke. Heavenly Venerate Yue shifted her stance, zither music filled the air, and she intercepted him mid-flight!

The two moved rapidly through Xuandu, zither music clashing with Dao fire in a fierce exchange.

Heavenly Venerate Yue suddenly plucked a zither string, and the music resonated with murderous intent. Thousands of spatial paths crisscrossed, trapping Heavenly Venerate Huo within them.

Heavenly Venerate Huo's body blazed with fierce flames, melting the surrounding space. He passed through layer after layer, then saw a ten-thousand-mile peach forest ahead, bursting with blossoms. Heavenly Venerate Huo snorted, and his Dao fire roared, incinerating the entire peach forest.

The ten-thousand-mile peach forest was reduced to scorched earth. Heavenly Venerate Huo landed, quickly took a few steps, looked around, his eye twitching, and shouted angrily, "Heavenly Venerate Yue—"

What met his gaze were the mountains, rivers, sun, and moon of the Primordial Realm. He had passed through the spatial ability set by Heavenly Venerate Yue and had been instantly transported from Xuandu to the Primordial Realm!

It had taken him over a month to travel from the Ancestral Court to Xuandu. Now, even if he departed immediately, it would likely still take him over a month to reach Xuandu!

By the time he arrived, the opportunity would be long gone!

Heavenly Venerate Huo was driven to distraction, seething with rage yet feeling profoundly powerless. Having been sent here, he had lost all connection to the great opportunity in Xuandu.

When he possessed the Ancestral Land of Dao Fire, Heavenly Venerate Yue could not have sent him away. The Ancestral Land of Dao Fire distorted space, containing myriad worlds within its nine heavens, rendering Heavenly Venerate Yue's abilities utterly ineffective against him.

But after Qin Mu's sneak attack, Heavenly Venerate Yue seized the chance to send the Ancestral Land of Dao Fire away, leaving him utterly helpless.

"Then I should return to the Heavenly Court and guard the Incense-Adorned Palace, awaiting Heavenly Venerate Yu..."

At that very moment, he suddenly sensed the aura of the Heavenly Dao, and his heart stirred. He looked towards its source.

"The Heavenly Yin Realm!"

Heavenly Venerate Huo flew towards it. "Heaven Duke's sole! Could this Heavenly Dao aura mean that the broad-browed, big-eyed, straightforward, and utterly guileless Ancestral God King is currently in the Heavenly Yin Realm? He truly defies expectations..."

In Xuandu, Heavenly Venerate Gong also rose and charged towards Heaven Duke. Heavenly Venerate You and Divine King Lang Wo moved simultaneously to intercept her!

Heavenly Venerate Gong then saw Heavenly Venerate Yue send Heavenly Venerate Huo away, to an unknown location, and her heart involuntarily trembled.

She wasn't afraid of Heavenly Venerate Yue. In a one-on-one confrontation, Heavenly Venerate Yue's spatial abilities were ineffective against her; she could interfere with Heavenly Venerate Yue's thoughts before any ability could be activated!

She could easily interrupt Heavenly Venerate Yue's abilities.

Heavenly Venerate Yue could not send her away at all!

However, if Heavenly Venerate You and Divine King Lang Wo were also involved, with Qin Mu watching menacingly, then she would be in danger.

Qin Mu, along with the Butcher and others, excitedly charged towards the isolated Heavenly Venerate Gong. Simultaneously, Heavenly Venerate Yue, having exhaled a sigh of relief after exiling Heavenly Venerate Huo to the Primordial Realm, immediately rushed towards Heavenly Venerate Gong as well!

Heavenly Venerate Gong's expression was grave. With a sharp cry, layers of majestic Heavenly Palaces rose behind her, thirty-five connected into a grand Heavenly Court.

She had been severely wounded by Emperor Kai because he ambushed her the moment she stepped into the High Heavens Palace, leaving her no chance to react. However, her strength was certainly not the weakest among the Ten Heavenly Venerates!

For any other of the Ten Heavenly Venerates, surviving Emperor Kai's ambush would have been a remarkable feat!

After all, while Emperor Kai's cultivation might not match that of the Ten Heavenly Venerates, the offensive power of his sword Dao surpassed theirs. Even Heavenly Venerate Mu, Heavenly Venerate Xiao, and Heavenly Consort Qiang at their peak would not dare claim their divine abilities were stronger than Emperor Kai's sword Dao!

Qin Mu flew over, then abruptly halted, observing Heavenly Venerate Gong with a grave expression. He counted the Heavenly Palaces behind her, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "How did Emperor Kai handle things? He was supposed to severely wound Heavenly Venerate Gong, yet he couldn't even manage this small task..."