Chapter 1597: The World Without Gods

Qin Mu was taken aback. Along the way, he had considered countless possibilities: how to simultaneously kill Earth Count while dealing with Void Sovereign, Emperor Lang Xuan, and Ancestral God King; how Earth Count, controlled by the Great Dao of Youdu, would retaliate; and how You Sovereign would respond during the battle.

He had also thought of another extremely important figure: Grand Emperor. Now that Grand Emperor had reclaimed his identity, would he see through Qin Mu's plan? Would he intervene?

Moreover, another key consideration was the agreement between the Third and Fourth Young Masters, meaning their strategies had become integrated. The Third Young Master's Empyrean Trap and the Fourth Young Master's Ancestral Court Blood Sacrifice—two plans proceeding simultaneously. The two young masters were no longer hindering each other. What strategies would they employ in this battle to kill Earth Count? How many benefits had they offered Grand Emperor and Heavenly Venerate Hao? How much of a threat would these benefits pose to him, Emperor Kai, Heavenly Venerate Yun, and the others?

Qin Mu had also considered the possibility of failure: how to conclude the situation if he failed to kill Earth Count, and how to minimize losses. If he succeeded in killing Earth Count, how would he then preserve Youdu? If he couldn't, he would need to devise countermeasures. The complexity of the situation he faced in killing Earth Count was unprecedented, causing him immense mental strain.

However, he had overlooked the most crucial point: killing Earth Count might not be difficult at all. All he needed was for Heavenly Venerate Ling to approach Earth Count, and one move from her would be enough! When Heavenly Venerate Yue had sent Heavenly Venerate Ling behind the Great Emperor, the Great Emperor was killed by a single move from Heavenly Venerate Ling. Earth Count was even weaker than the Great Emperor in the Divine Consciousness Grand Overarching Heaven. Therefore, if Heavenly Venerate Ling could enter Earth Count's glabella, killing him with one move would be no challenge.

"I've worried too much and forgotten the simplest path," Qin Mu mused. As Qin Mu followed You Sovereign into the Mansion of the Benevolent and Holy King of Heaven's Equal, he thought, "While it's simple for Heavenly Venerate Ling to kill Earth Count, both before and after, an extremely detailed strategy is required to avoid casualties and prevent Youdu from falling into the hands of the Celestial Heavens."

Inside the Saint King's Mansion, Qin Mu didn't see You Sovereign's mother. Surprised, he inquired about her. You Sovereign personally served tea and water, treating them with a calm tone, saying, "My mother has reincarnated."

Qin Mu was astonished and looked at him deeply.

You Sovereign explained, "In the battle of Youdu, no one can be fully protected. If my mother stayed here, I would be distracted caring for her, so I sent her to reincarnate."

Qin Mu remained silent for a long time, then sighed, "You actually brought yourself to do that."

"I was too selfish. For this bit of family affection, I bound my mother for a million years, keeping her company in Youdu. It's time to let go." You Sovereign's body trembled slightly, his voice a little strained, then quickly regained its composure. "After her reincarnation, she won't awaken memories of her past life; she won't remember having a son like me. She will become an ordinary human woman with her own life and her own future. I once went to see her; she's well, and she's living a good life. She doesn't recognize me anymore…"

Qin Mu was filled with mixed emotions but didn't know what to say, so he simply patted You Sovereign's shoulder.

After You Sovereign recalled all his old Yin official avatars, he returned to his youthful body, appearing once again like the autistic teenager who wore a ghost-face mask. His mother had occupied almost all the space within his closed heart. She had supported him, kept him going, and sustained his life until now. Few people could claim a place in his heart; only three were exceptions.

The first was Heavenly Venerate Yu, who died at the Jade Pool Assembly. Heavenly Venerate Yu was his elder brother, supporting and encouraging him. After his mother's death, it was Heavenly Venerate Yu who entered his heart, helping him recover and accomplish the great feat of establishing the Life and Death Divine Treasure.

The second person was Qin Mu. Qin Mu avenged Heavenly Venerate Yu, daring to defy the Celestial Heavens and offend Madam Yuanmu and Heavenly Emperor Grand Emperor, earning You Sovereign's respect. Qin Mu then stole Heavenly Venerate Yu's body, promising to revive him a million years later. Because of this promise, You Sovereign remained in Youdu for a million years, upholding a vow that made myriad eons seem light.

The third person was Earth Count. Earth Count and You Sovereign had a superficial relationship of ruler and subordinate. Earth Count was the master of Youdu, and You Sovereign was the Benevolent and Holy King of Heaven's Equal, whom Earth Count had appointed to oversee all affairs of Youdu. You Sovereign also served as the old Yin official, responsible for guiding all the deceased from the myriad heavens and worlds. Earth Count had only one subordinate, You Sovereign, who essentially completed all the work alone, a hardship that was easy to imagine.

In reality, You Sovereign and Earth Count were friends. They were remarkably similar, both bound by familial affection: Earth Count was entangled by the father-daughter bond with his daughter, Void Sovereign, while You Sovereign was constrained by the mother-son bond with his mother. They had many topics in common. Though they were tight-lipped during conversations, revealing little, they were very close and understood each other deeply. Both were introverted, yet they saw reflections of themselves in each other and found courage in one another.

In the battle of Xuandu, for Qin Mu's sake, You Sovereign was able to break free from his attachment to his mother, willingly accompanying Qin Mu to war in Xuandu, risking life and limb. And for the battle of Youdu, You Sovereign willingly allowed his mother to reincarnate for Earth Count, making her forget all her memories of him!

"We are here to kill Earth Count, and You Sovereign must be the one who finds this hardest to accept," Qin Mu thought to himself. Qin Mu silently mused, "But You Sovereign should understand. He will find peace and release his burden, because Earth Count 'Ah Chou' will be revived."

"I sense killing intent towards Earth Count from both of you," You Sovereign said, deeply observing Qin Mu and Heavenly Venerate Ling. A cautious gleam flashed in his eyes as he warned them, "Don't act recklessly, don't do anything foolish." Although introverted, he was exceptionally intelligent and vaguely guessed Qin Mu's intentions.

"It must be because the Great Dao of Youdu is hostile towards me," Qin Mu chuckled, activating his Reincarnation divine ability. "I once resurrected millions of people, which angered the Great Dao of Youdu." He laughed heartily, activating his Reincarnation divine ability, and said, "Therefore, the Great Dao of Youdu is prompting Earth Count to kill me. Heavenly Venerate Ling is worried about me, and we are both on alert, which is why you mistakenly perceive our vigilance as killing intent towards Earth Count."

You Sovereign shook his head. "My perception is not mistaken. You are using a peculiar Great Dao to conceal your killing intent towards Earth Count. This Great Dao is very unique, but it originates from the Great Dao of Youdu, a new Great Dao developed from it. Therefore, it cannot deceive me."

Qin Mu continued to activate the Great Dao of Reincarnation, trying his best to block You Sovereign's perception, and probed, "What about now?"

"I can still sense it, but it's much fainter," You Sovereign replied.

Qin Mu focused intently, activating the thirty-first heaven divine ability of the Dao Realm, "Silent Reincarnation, Formless and Nameless." Behind his head, a dazzling light flashed as reincarnation spun. Qin Mu asked again, "What about now?"

Behind You Sovereign, his primordial spirit's robes fluttered and rustled in the light of reincarnation. However, even after the "Silent Reincarnation" divine ability passed through him, he still sensed Qin Mu's killing intent towards Earth Count; he was not controlled by this move. He said, "It's a bit fainter now, very light. Earth Count might not be able to sense your killing intent towards him."

Qin Mu exhaled in relief. He then activated the reincarnation and cast the divine ability on Heavenly Venerate Ling. A divine light flashed in You Sovereign's eyes. After a moment, he said, "The killing intent on Ling has also significantly reduced. Now, if you approach Earth Count, he won't actively attack you. You can go and kill Earth Count." He had already deduced their intentions from Qin Mu's actions; his clear insight was admirable.

"You know we're going to kill Earth Count?" Qin Mu probed.

You Sovereign shook his head. "Heavenly Venerate Hao's plan is to use Earth Count's life to restrain you, to make you fall into his carefully laid trap. To escape this trap and prevent casualties among Qin, Yue, Ling, and the others, you must act first and eliminate Earth Count. Once Earth Count dies, the hostage is gone, and Heavenly Venerate Hao's trap will cease to exist. I am not foolish; when I sensed the killing intent from you, I knew your objective."

Heavenly Venerate Ling looked at him, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

Qin Mu asked, "You, you won't stop us?"

"Earth Count wishes to become the true Ah Chou. I will only facilitate it, not hinder it," You Sovereign replied. He continued, "However, you must be fully prepared for what happens to Youdu after Earth Count's death." The divine light in his eyes gradually dimmed. "Earth Count's physical body must not fall into the hands of the Celestial Heavens. Youdu must not fall into the hands of the Celestial Heavens. The Great Dao of Youdu must not fall under Celestial Heavens' control. These are things you need to pay attention to after Earth Count's death. And these are beyond your control."

Qin Mu nodded. He indeed could not control them. He needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario. He came to kill Earth Count to avoid falling into Heavenly Venerate Hao and Grand Emperor's trap, preventing heavy casualties among his allies. While this trap could be avoided, the subsequent battle for Youdu was inevitable. He could gain the upper hand by killing Earth Count, but the battle for Youdu was equally crucial! Earth Count was Youdu itself; his physical body carried everything of Youdu, including the Great Dao of Youdu. Earth Count's body absolutely could not be lost. The countermeasure for the worst-case scenario was Earth Count's Book of Life and Death! That was why he had to come and steal the Book of Life and Death.

"You've already stolen the Book of Life and Death, haven't you?" You Sovereign suddenly asked. He continued, "You took the Book of Life and Death when you embraced me upon entering the mansion, didn't you?"

Qin Mu sighed, took out the Book of Life and Death, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards him. "Since you've seen through it, it's better for you to hold onto the Book of Life and Death. You are You Sovereign, the pioneer of the Life and Death Divine Treasure. You can use the Book of Life and Death to cast divine abilities, protect humanity, and remove humans from its records."

You Sovereign shook his head. "I cannot do that."

Qin Mu was slightly startled.

You Sovereign explained, "Using the Book of Life and Death to remove everyone—not even Earth Count could do that, let alone me. This Book of Life and Death is the Book of Justice, a manifestation of the Great Dao of Youdu. The Great Dao of Youdu cannot violate itself. The Book of Life and Death cannot free humanity from Youdu's control."

Qin Mu frowned deeply. If Earth Count's Book of Life and Death couldn't guarantee humanity's safety, then humanity's doom would arrive once Youdu truly fell into the hands of the Celestial Heavens!

"I can only achieve one thing with the Book of Life and Death," You Sovereign stated. He didn't push the Book of Life and Death back. Instead, he placed his palm on it, his expression calm. "That is, to erase everyone's Life and Death Divine Treasure."

Qin Mu's eyelid twitched, and his voice was a little hoarse. "What will happen after erasing everyone's Life and Death Divine Treasure?"

You Sovereign replied, "All gods will have a finite lifespan. Only certain powerful beings, such as those proficient in the path of creation, might be able to transcend."

Qin Mu's heart pounded a few times, his throat growing drier. He rasped, "What are the consequences?"

"No gods in the world." You Sovereign looked directly into his eyes, saying each word distinctly, "Do you need me to do this?"