Chapter 1520: Great Benefactor

Qin Mu secretly sighed with regret. While Emperor Langxuan’s abilities were formidable, his rapid progress only began after he acquired the prehistoric Dao Fruit.

That Dao Fruit was peculiar; it drastically accelerated Emperor Langxuan’s mastery of the Dao realm, yet his Dao heart cultivation regressed. Because of this, Qin Mu believed that with his and Consort Qiang Tian’s combined skills, they could surely ambush Emperor Langxuan.

All they needed to do was target Langxuan’s Dao heart, and Emperor Langxuan would undoubtedly fall!

However, Consort Qiang Tian had become a frightened bird, utterly terrified by Heavenly Venerate Xiao and unwilling to fight again. Qin Mu felt helpless.

One stood at the bow of the boat, the other sat at the stern.

Consort Qiang Tian periodically gave directions, guiding him forward. Soon after, they finally sailed out of the chaotic mist.

Qin Mu inwardly lamented that this chaotic mist had been their prime opportunity to defeat the Ten Heavenly Venerates one by one. Alas, Consort Qiang Tian was not Emperor Kai; had it been Emperor Kai, the Ten Heavenly Venerates would likely have suffered severe casualties.

Traveling through the mist also brought significant benefits to Qin Mu. Although it seemed he had merely idled here for some time, only ambushing a few Heavenly Venerates, the World Tree within his domain grew considerably during this period.

This World Tree had been continuously absorbing the chaotic energy from the Chaos River and drawing power from the great destruction calamities of past universes. Its unexpected growth genuinely delighted him.

However, the tree absorbed energy very slowly, and its growth rate was not particularly fast. Strangely, after absorbing a portion of chaotic energy from one Chaos River, it would stop absorbing, only to resume once it reached the next river.

Even Qin Mu couldn’t fathom the reason for this phenomenon, so he simply decided not to dwell on it.

“Heavenly Venerate Mu, you’re not in the Jade Capital Realm yet?” Consort Qiang Tian suddenly inquired.

Qin Mu nodded, sighing, “My potential is exhausted. I doubt I’ll ever enter the Jade Capital Realm in this lifetime.”

His face darkened as he lamented, “Watching all of you cultivate the Heavenly Palace fills me with envy and jealousy, yet I am powerless.”

Consort Qiang Tian scoffed, “Without even reaching the Jade Capital, your power is already immense. What would happen if you did achieve it? Heavenly Venerate Mu, let’s be direct. Given your level of cultivation, not to mention the Jade Capital Realm, even the Empyrean Realm or the Emperor’s Throne Realm would likely pose no challenge for you! So, why haven’t you cultivated the Jade Capital Realm?”

For once, Qin Mu grew serious, stating gravely, “Because the Jade Capital, Empyrean, and Emperor’s Throne realms are all traps!”

Consort Qiang Tian’s expression subtly shifted, and she asked in a hoarse voice, “What makes you say that?”

“All other realms of the Heavenly Palace, including the God-Slaying Platform, can find their corresponding natural treasures formed by the Great Dao in the Ancestral Court. However, the Jade Capital Realm alone was not formed by the Great Dao; it was constructed by the master of the Mi Luo Palace.”

Qin Mu calmly stated, “The Mi Luo Palace master’s power is unfathomable. He constructed Jade Capital City, and you, Great Emperor, meditated upon it, replicating it to become the Heavenly Court’s Jade Capital City. Subsequent generations who cultivate the Heavenly Court’s Jade Capital City thus fall into the Jade Capital trap.”

He elaborated on his theory: “I fear the Mi Luo Palace master’s true objective is to harness the power of all deities, through the Jade Capital City they cultivate, to reinforce this Ancestral Court Jade Capital City! His aim is for this Jade Capital City to eventually carry him, allowing him to escape the great destruction calamity and arrive in the present era!”

He stated coldly, “Anyone who cultivates the Jade Capital is merely preparing a wedding gown for the Mi Luo Palace master, enabling him to descend into the present world sooner! Great Emperor, from start to finish, you have been nothing but a pawn in the Mi Luo Palace master’s game! He used you to propagate the Jade Capital Realm, and now he’s beginning to use the Ten Heavenly Venerates!”

Consort Qiang Tian’s expression drastically changed.

Qin Mu continued, “As long as the Ten Heavenly Venerates cultivate the Jade Capital Realm, establish the Grand Heavenly Court, and thereby achieve Dao, this Jade Capital City will be reinforced once more. It’s possible he could then escape from the previous universe! This is the Jade Capital trap—a trap designed to ensnare all the powerful cultivators of our universe!”

Cold sweat poured down Consort Qiang Tian’s forehead, large drops splashing onto the small boat.

Her body stiffened. With difficulty, she turned her head to look at the tattered Dao Fruit near her shoulder.

The naked woman within the Dao Fruit suddenly sneered, “The Jade Capital trap? You’re truly overthinking this! How powerful and compassionate is the Mi Luo Palace master? Would he really design a trap for you mere ants? The Mi Luo Palace master’s goal is to save you! He seeks to pull you out of ignorance, to awaken your spiritual intelligence, and to allow you to comprehend the Great Dao, rather than living aimlessly!”

Qin Mu’s gaze settled on the woman within the Dao Fruit, and he scoffed, “The Mi Luo Palace master is that benevolent? Is he some grand philanthropist spanning sixteen cosmic epochs?”

“More than just a grand philanthropist!”

The woman within the Dao Fruit spoke with clear reverence and admiration for the Mi Luo Palace master: “Were it not for him and Jade Capital City, you would still be nothing more than simpletons who could only activate your divine sense using Primordial Divine Stones, never entering an age of civilization!”

Consort Qiang Tian’s face darkened, clearly displeased with the term “simpletons.”

“It was the Mi Luo Palace master’s Jade Capital City that gave birth to your civilization!”

The woman within the Dao Fruit continued, “His purpose in constructing Jade Capital City was not to rule you, but to save lives! He hoped to rescue you from the calamity of destruction when your universe faces its end! You consider this Jade Capital City a trap, yet you are unaware that it was forged by him, combining his own Great Dao with the Great Daos of thousands of Dao achievers! A trap?”

She scoffed, “This city embodies his profound insights into the Great Dao, as well as the insights of thousands of Dao achievers. If you can cultivate the Jade Capital and comprehend the profound Dao mysteries within this city, it will be enough for you to achieve Dao and overcome the great destruction calamity!”

Her eyes gleamed with fanaticism: “This city will also grow stronger and more indestructible because of you. It will carry us through one cosmic destruction calamity after another! If the Jade Capital truly were a trap, why would he transmit his own Great Dao? Why would he allow thousands of Dao achievers to use their own Great Daos to forge this divine city?”

Qin Mu and Consort Qiang Tian listened, dumbfounded and speechless for a long time.

Qin Mu, in particular, had long been aware of the so-called Jade Capital trap and was convinced that it was indeed a snare left by the Mi Luo Palace master, designed to ensnare and eliminate the divine practitioners and gods of this era, thereby accelerating their arrival.

This preconceived notion had always colored his perception of the Ancestral Court’s Jade Capital City.

However, the words of the woman within the Dao Fruit suddenly offered him a different perspective, planting a seed of doubt about the Jade Capital trap.

Indeed, if the Mi Luo Palace master genuinely intended to set a Jade Capital trap, why would he imprint his own Great Dao upon Jade Capital City? And why would he painstakingly gather the power of thousands of Dao achievers to forge this divine city?

Did the Jade Capital trap truly exist?

Or was the Mi Luo Palace master’s intention benevolent all along, aiming to save people?

“However, the infiltration of prehistoric Dao achievers into our universe accelerates its aging and decay, causing this universe’s destruction calamity to arrive prematurely.”

Qin Mu scoffed, “How do you explain that point?”

The woman within the tattered Dao Fruit shook her head and said, “That is merely because other Dao achievers cling to life and covet power. What does it have to do with the Mi Luo Palace master? The Mi Luo Palace master has never, from beginning to end, attempted to set foot in your universe. All he intended and accomplished was the construction of this divine city. The actions of others are irrelevant to him.”

Her veneration for the Mi Luo Palace master was boundless; her words brimmed with respect, utterly refusing to tolerate any doubt from Qin Mu regarding him.

“You may doubt anyone else, but you must never doubt him. Any suspicion or skepticism you harbor toward him is an insult to him!”

The woman within the Dao Fruit stated emphatically, “If you can truly comprehend the profound mysteries of Jade Capital City, then you will discover the Mi Luo Palace master’s greatness and his painstaking efforts! You believe it to be a trap, one we deliberately left for you, but you are unaware that we ourselves cultivate the Jade Capital City!”

Qin Mu fell silent.

After a long silence, he slowly said, “No matter how eloquently you speak, I remain skeptical. My most respected Dao companion was struck down into the Chaos River by the very Mi Luo Palace master you praise so highly, and has been missing ever since! I even suspect that you Dao achievers yourselves have fallen into his Jade Capital trap without realizing it.”

The woman within the Dao Fruit scoffed, “A summer insect cannot speak of ice!” With that, she dismissed him.

Qin Mu murmured, “I remain suspicious of him… I must remain suspicious!”

Just then, terrifying auras suddenly emanated. Consort Qiang Tian looked back to see Heavenly Venerate Xiao, Emperor Langxuan, and others emerging from the dense chaotic mist, in hot pursuit.

Next, a Dao tree floated out from the Chaos River, carrying Heavenly Venerate Hao, Ancestral God King, Heavenly Venerate Huo, and others.

“Heavenly Venerate Mu, since you doubt the Mi Luo Palace master, why not go to the Mi Luo Palace and meet him?”

Consort Qiang Tian quickly added, “Whether the Jade Capital trap exists, you’ll know once you meet him!”

Qin Mu’s spirits soared. He urged the small boat to accelerate, stating gravely, “If that’s the case, then let’s go meet him!”

Although Consort Qiang Tian considered Qin Mu her most troublesome adversary, she couldn’t help but secretly admire his audacious spirit, thinking, “This little rascal, despite being full of cunning schemes, possesses an unmatched boldness.”

Qin Mu steered the small boat at high speed, leaving the other Heavenly Venerates behind. Seeing this, Heavenly Venerate Xiao immediately invited Shi Qiluo, Consort Yan Tian, and Emperor Langxuan onto the Dao tree beneath him. The Heavenly Venerates then collectively channeled their magic power and gave chase.

On the other side, Heavenly Venerate Hao also located Heavenly Venerate Gong and Heavenly Venerate Xu. With the five Heavenly Venerates standing on a single Dao tree, their speed significantly increased.

Qin Mu attempted for a long time but still couldn’t shake off these Heavenly Venerates. He then simply focused on fully accelerating the small boat, abandoning his attempts to eliminate any of them.

After an unknown duration, land appeared in the distance. Qin Mu and Consort Qiang Tian soared into the air and landed. The small boat transformed into a walking stick and settled into Qin Mu’s hand.

The two hastened towards the third Chaos River. Qin Mu’s eyes flickered as he thought to himself, “The entire Ancestral Court is a colossal altar, seizing the flesh and blood of its living beings for sacrifice, all to facilitate the arrival of prehistoric Dao achievers! I’d like to see how the Mi Luo Palace master explains the true purpose behind such a grand scheme!”