Chapter 1673: Qin Mu Sharpening the Knife

Shang Pingyin saw the Dragon Mountain Hermit again, and his Dao heart nearly shattered on the spot.

He still remembered the battle at the Northern Heavenly River's Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace.

It was the greatest defeat of his life!

He had led the Heavenly River Naval Forces, the Divine Martial Imperial Guards, and the Northern Gate Army, only to be utterly routed by the Dragon Mountain Hermit's formation of the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Banner. The casualties were so devastating that these four great armies were almost erased from the Celestial Heavens, leaving him dispirited for hundreds of thousands of years!

His hands trembled slightly. The Dragon Mountain Hermit's formation from back then, in retrospect, seemed quite crude. After six hundred thousand years of development, formations and arithmancy had advanced. Shang Pingyin could now calmly decipher the Dragon Mountain Hermit’s old formation.

But had the Dragon Mountain Hermit made no progress?

For someone with such extraordinary talent, how terrifying would their progress be over six hundred thousand years?

Meng Yungui looked up at the Dragon Qilin, who stood at the peak of the Twenty-Eight Heavens, his heart filled with reverence and awe.

There had always been debate over who was the Celestial Heavens’ foremost Heavenly Master. Some said Shang Pingyin, with his eternal wisdom, was the greatest. Others claimed Yue Tingge was brilliantly talented and intellectually far surpassed Shang Pingyin. Still others believed Meng Yungui had surpassed his predecessors.

However, there was no such debate about the greatest Heavenly Master in all the realms.

There was only one, and that was the Dragon Mountain Hermit, who had risen to fame during the Dragon Han era before suddenly disappearing!

The Dragon Mountain Hermit was, arguably, the deity in the hearts of all Heavenly Masters throughout history!

That name alone represented invincibility!

Crown Prince Youming, on the other hand, felt a pang of unease. Shang Pingyin and Meng Yungui were unaware of the intricacies of that battle, but he knew them clearly.

Back then, it was Qin Mu who, borrowing the Dragon Qilin’s power, confronted Shang Pingyin and thoroughly defeated him, along with the Divine Martial Imperial Guards, the Heavenly River Naval Forces, and the Northern Gate Army. This established the Dragon Qilin’s unparalleled reputation!

Now, the one who had come was just the nonchalant Dragon Qilin, someone whose reputation exceeded his actual capabilities. Could the Dragon Qilin truly defeat Shang Pingyin and maintain his myth of invincibility?

He honestly had no confidence.

The Dragon Qilin himself also lacked much confidence.

Although he had diligently studied arithmancy and the Way of Formations over the years, achieving profound mastery far beyond his past self, he still felt somewhat apprehensive about facing an experienced Heavenly Master like Shang Pingyin in battle.

“I can’t lose face for myself!”

The Dragon Qilin secretly encouraged himself: “Although my study of the Way of Formations over the years doesn’t compare to the Cult Master’s, Yankang’s formations are far superior to those of these bumpkins from the Celestial Heavens! More importantly, the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Banner has been reforged by Grandpa Cripple and Grandpa Mute, making it infinitely better than before! I can win this battle!”

With a thought, he immediately activated the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Banner!

The soldiers of the Feathered Transformation Camp, situated within the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Banner, instantly felt the shift in the formation within the Twenty-Eight Heavens. They were involuntarily lifted by the formation, their respective magical powers overflowing and connecting with the various formations, changing as the formation shifted!

At the same time, they felt themselves connected to numerous valuable treasures, controlling immense power, which filled them with both surprise and joy!

However, Meng Yungui, who was also within the Twenty-Eight Heavens, felt a slight hesitation. The soldiers of the Feathered Transformation Camp couldn’t see it, but he could discern that the Dragon Mountain Hermit was somewhat stiff in his formation changes.

“The Dragon Mountain Hermit hasn’t appeared for hundreds of thousands of years; he’s likely a bit rusty.”

Meng Yungui’s heart stirred: “I’ll help him familiarize himself with the changes in the formation first; that will surely allow him to regain his fluidity.”

His divine consciousness fluctuated, transforming into a voice that echoed in the Dragon Qilin’s mind, guiding him on how to adjust the formation.

The Dragon Qilin, activating the Lapis Lazuli Azure Sky Banner, charged towards the Divine Martial Imperial Guards. With Meng Yungui’s guidance, he gradually relaxed, and the formation operated with increasing smoothness.

The Celestial Heavens' army arrived at the Primordial Realm. The first wave of advance forces had already entered the Primordial Realm, beginning a probing attack to identify weak points in its defenses.

The Primordial Realm was vast, surrounded by countless other heavens. In ancient times, it could accommodate the Dragon Han, Crimson Cloud, and Dragon Cloud Heavenly Courts. The Celestial Heavens' military strength, when placed in the Primordial Realm, was but a drop in the ocean.

Yankang and Carefree Village could not defend every single point, so attacking weak spots was the most efficient approach.

The advance forces of gods and devils that had entered the Primordial Realm galloped everywhere, burning, killing, and plundering. Yankang did not occupy the entire Primordial Realm, which still contained numerous large and small divine kingdoms. These kingdoms were not Yankang’s territory; some were even hostile nations and immediately surrendered to the Celestial Heavens’ advance forces.

Some were Yankang’s vassal states, fiercely resisting while simultaneously calling for aid from Yankang. Many smaller states, hearing the news, surrendered without any resistance.

Before the Celestial Heavens’ main force even arrived in the Primordial Realm, one-third of its territory had already fallen into the Celestial Heavens’ hands.

When the Celestial Heavens’ main army appeared above the Primordial Realm, the world barrier of the Primordial Realm was directly crushed, like an egg being peeled, exposing it to the Celestial Heavens’ army.

Magnificent celestial palaces floated in the sky, and countless gods and devils stood atop the clouds. The gods and devils of the Celestial Heavens unleashed the frustrations accumulated during more than ten years of travel. Thunder Gods and Lightning Mothers’ thunderous flashes crashed down from the sky, scorching the land below into charred ruins.

Celestial Heavens’ armies of gods and devils stationed themselves in various divine kingdoms, which immediately suffered. The Celestial Heavens’ troops, having traveled long distances, had pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent. Upon reaching the Primordial Realm, they finally found an outlet and naturally began to act tyrannically, engaging in widespread burning, killing, looting, and harassment of men and women.

Some commanders even led their troops in looting and razing many cities, slaughtering the residents of these divine kingdoms and using their heads as battle merits.

Even more egregious acts included plundering the treasuries of the Primordial Realm’s divine kingdoms and even entering the imperial harems, killing the emperors and indulging in day and night revelry.

The main commanders of the Celestial Heavens turned a blind eye to these actions. During this campaign against the Primordial Realm, the soldiers needed to vent their frustrations, or unrest might arise, so they were allowed to run wild.

After more than ten days, Emperor Haotian issued an edict, commanding: “Tell them not to go too far.”

The main commanders received the order and commanded a military reorganization, which brought some order.

After this period of looting, the various military commanders had plundered immense wealth, acquiring provisions, grain, and slaves, much to everyone’s satisfaction. However, the divine kingdoms that had surrendered to the Celestial Heavens were left in ruins, essentially broken and desolate.

After a few days of rest and reorganization, Emperor Haotian issued another edict: “Black Emperor of the Northern Heaven, lead the forty military commanders of the Northern Heaven to advance from the Kan Earth region of the Primordial Realm.”

The original Black Emperor of the Northern Heaven, Yin Tianzi, had died, and Year Gate River from the Five Emperors’ Inner Seats succeeded him as Black Emperor. He immediately led the forty military commanders, including the Northern Heaven’s Three Li Palaces, Bottle Gourd, Rotting Gourd, Left Banner, River Drum, Heaven, Right Banner, Heavenly Chicken, and Entrenched Wall Array, to attack the Kan Earth Ice Plain in the northern Primordial Realm.

Demon Ancestor Great Black Heaven, hearing the news, immediately led the Demon Ancestor army to rendezvous with Year Gate River outside the Kan Earth Ice Plain.

Emperor Haotian then issued another edict: “Crimson Emperor of the Southern Heaven, lead the thirty-nine feudal lords of the Southern Heaven to attack the South Sea.”

Crimson Emperor Qi Xiayu received the order and led the thirty-nine military commanders, including Everlasting Camp, Commander, Great Venerable, Three Terraces, Northern River, Five Feudal Lords, Heavenly Goblet, Monster Controller, Water Mansion, and Four Rivers, to attack the South Sea.

Crimson Emperor and Bright Emperor immediately deployed their troops to confront Crimson Emperor Qi Xiayu, and both sides formed battle lines on the sea.

Emperor Haotian commanded: “Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven, lead the sixty military commanders of the Eastern Heaven to attack from the East Sea.”

Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heaven stationed his troops at the East Sea, leading the sixty military commanders, including Heavenly River, East Salt, West Salt, Heavenly Spoke, Cavalry Official, Chariot Rider, and Battle Chariot, to establish their camp on the sea.

Emperor Haotian commanded: “White Emperor of the Western Heaven, lead the twenty-seven military commanders of the Western Heaven to attack the Western Lands.”

White Emperor of the Western Heaven immediately stationed himself in the Upper Heaven, leading the twenty-seven military commanders, including Heavenly Canopy, Tongue, Heavenly Gate, Heavenly Street, Moon, Flag of Orion, Nine Streams, and Nine Provinces, to attack the Western Lands from the Upper Heaven.

The Three Heavenly Kings, Two Heavenly Masters, Eight Guards, Seven Dukes, Four Grand Administrators, Three Grand Preceptors, Two Imperial Tutors, Five Emperors’ Seats, and Five Emperors’ Inner Seats, along with other military commanders, led the Celestial Heavens’ main forces in a central advance, with Emperor Haotian personally overseeing the campaign.

Among the Three Grand Preceptors, the Heavenly River Naval Forces occupied the Heavenly River, launching the first attack on Carefree Village, which was located in the north-central part of the Primordial Realm!

Qin Mu arrived at Grand Ancestor Mountain in the Ancestral Court, determined the location of the World Tree in the universe, and then rushed non-stop into Youdu, heading straight for the Great Ruins Abyss.

Shang Jun, hidden in his shadow, inquired, “Seventh Young Master, who is that person under the World Tree?”

“His name is Xu Shenghua.”

Qin Mu chuckled, “His power is quite strong, isn’t it?”

Shang Jun replied, “It’s hard to say what his current power is, but if he attains the Dao, his power would be immeasurable. I observe that the method he cultivates is different from previous Dao attainment methods. He seems to be analyzing the World Tree, then preparing to cultivate his own World Tree. If he does this, it seems he wouldn’t need to entrust his Great Dao to the void.”

Qin Mu nodded and said, “Brother Xu and Lan Yu Tian are working on this path to Dao attainment.”

Shang Jun remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, “If they attain the Dao without entrusting it to the void, would they be able to avoid overwhelming the ultimate void due to too many Dao attainers?”

Qin Mu smiled, “That is their intention. As for whether it can prevent the ultimate void from collapsing, we are not yet certain.”

Shang Jun fell silent again. After a long while, he finally said, “I think the path they are walking is the true path.”

Qin Mu turned back. Shang Jun’s eyes in his shadow were bright, clearly pondering the matter of his own Dao attainment causing the destruction of the Sixteenth Epoch.

Shang Jun, who had attained Dao through slaughter, had lost his former sharpness that dared to cut down everything!

After witnessing Xu Shenghua’s method of Dao attainment, the shock in his heart was even greater, leading him to doubt himself more, questioning his own path.

Self-doubt can lead to self-negation in one’s Dao heart, greatly affecting one’s Dao realm, and even causing one’s cultivation and power to regress instead of advance!

“The World Tree Dao attainment method is entrusting the Great Dao to the self.”

Qin Mu continued forward, stating lightly, “The Dao realm Dao attainment method is entrusting the Great Dao to the void. Although the two methods of Dao attainment are different, it doesn’t mean that one method is wrong. Shang Jun, if you continue to doubt your own path, your cultivation and power will continuously weaken, eventually turning you into a useless person. This universe needs Xu Shenghua’s self-entrustment, and it also needs your void-entrustment.”

Shang Jun’s Dao heart stopped collapsing, and he continued to follow silently.

Upon reaching the Great Ruins Abyss, Qin Mu determined its precise location, then ascended, taking Shang Jun into the ultimate void.

Now with the two coordinates of the World Tree and the Great Ruins Abyss, he could determine the location of all Dao trees marked on the Grand Primordial Geomantic Map!

He unfurled the Grand Primordial Geomantic Map, marked the corresponding positions of the World Tree and the Great Ruins, and then closed his eyes. In his mind, the image of the Grand Primordial Geomantic Map unfurled infinitely, connecting with the ultimate void.

One Great Luo Heaven after another and their corresponding Dao trees were successively imprinted onto the ultimate void in his mind, and a path clearly appeared in his thoughts!

On the Grand Primordial Geomantic Map, the location of Tai Yi aligned with the ultimate void. The place where Tai Yi was imprisoned had finally been found by him!

“Young Master, do you sense it?”

Shang Jun suddenly said, “Someone is attaining the Dao in the ultimate void!”

Qin Mu’s heart tightened in surprise. He quickly opened his eyes: “You mean, someone is entrusting themselves to the ultimate void? This is impossible!”

He frowned slightly: “In this world, no one is closer to the Thirty-Sixth Heaven of the Dao realm than I am! The next one to attain the Dao will surely be me, but I cannot take the path of imprinting the void!”

“Unless this person is not from this universe!”

Shang Jun said gravely, “I sense an aura from the Sixteenth Epoch. This being who is currently entrusting their Great Dao is a Dao Attainer from the Sixteenth Epoch!”

Qin Mu’s expression became serious: “Emperor Haotian, you disappoint me; you still resort to borrowing the power of the Third and Fourth Young Masters. Shang Jun, since you can sense this Dao Attainer, can you sense where he is?”

Shang Jun nodded: “What does Young Master intend?”

“This blade of yours has dulled; I need to sharpen it to a gleam.”

Qin Mu smiled faintly: “Do you have the confidence to slay this prehistoric visitor?”

—Last night during the lottery, too many brothers flooded in, and the official account mini-program couldn’t handle it and crashed. Zhai Zhu also tried many times but couldn’t get in. This lottery will continue until 10 PM on the 11th; the dust will settle after the night of the 11th. You can enter the lottery during this period! Friends who haven’t gone yet can try their luck; it’s not lagging now.