Chapter 1695: Human Emperor Goes on a Campaign

"This Soaring Mirror should actually be called the Mirror of Past Lives, or the Mirror of Stories!"

Upon seeing this, Long Qilin couldn't help but admire. He had learned Qin Mu's Path of Reincarnation, but that was many years ago, when Qin Mu's Path of Reincarnation was still in the exploratory and perfecting stage. Even then, Qin Mu's understanding of reincarnation had already surpassed that of Yan Tianzi, who had originated the concept.

However, Qin Mu's studies were incredibly diverse, and he excelled in each one. His boundless energy allowed him to achieve great things in various fields, but Long Qilin was unable to do the same. Therefore, Long Qilin's accomplishments in the Path of Reincarnation were not high, but he could still barely understand Qin Mu's divine arts of reincarnation.

Inside the Soaring Mirror, Bai Yuqiong's life flowed through one lifetime after another. Her memories were separated from those of the Southern Emperor. Within the mirror, Bai Yuqiong seemed to relive her experiences and tribulations from each successive life.

Reliving these stories, lifetime after lifetime, was a way to find her original self and to awaken her memories, separating her from the Southern Emperor. Only Qin Mu would sympathize with Bai Yuqiong and do these things for her.

However, Qin Mu did not strip away her Vermilion Bird divine soul. Instead, he deepened her memories of nearly two hundred lifetimes through reincarnation. Among these, the memories of her life as Que Feiyin were the most important. This was her very first life, one whose memories Bai Yuqiong had never awakened. But now, within the Soaring Mirror, those memories were also awakened.

These memories were the connecting point between her and the Southern Emperor's memories. Without this connection, she would not know her link to the Southern Emperor. With these memories, she understood the cause and effect. How to make a choice—whether to forget everything about the Southern Emperor or to become the Southern Emperor—would depend on her own decision.

The Vermilion Bird that Bai Yuqiong had transformed into squatted before the Soaring Mirror. The fiery tears in her eyes were likely due to the joy of remembering who she was again.

"I am Bai Yuqiong..." the Vermilion Bird murmured softly, gazing at the mirror. "Human Bai Yuqiong! A human..."

Her heart had already made its choice. The image of her in the clear mirror continued to cycle through these lifetimes. Memories of Que Feiyin and Bai Yuqiong deepened, while those of the Southern Emperor gradually blurred.

Finally, memories surged into the Vermilion Bird's mind like a tide. The Vermilion Bird's wings spread, and her form within the Dao fire shifted. She returned to Bai Yuqiong's human form.

"Elder Qin, has Bai Yuqiong truly come back to life?" Crown Prince Youming asked.

Long Qilin hesitated, whispering, "Her current situation is somewhat similar to that of the Cult Master and Little Earth Count. The Cult Master and Little Earth Count are essentially one person but possess two different consciousnesses. One is human, the other a god-demon. They also shared the same memories until the Eternal Peace Calamity, when they finally completely separated and became two distinct individuals."

Qin Mu's situation back then was very complex, but whether it was Qin Fengqing, the God Son of the Ruins, or Qin Mu, the Heavenly Saint Cult Master, they were indeed one person. It was only when Qin Mu gouged out his eyes and abandoned his soul that he truly became independent. Bai Yuqiong's situation was actually much better than Qin Mu's at the time. Qin Mu had only his body and consciousness left, without a soul, and could have dissipated at any moment. Bai Yuqiong, on the other hand, besides having the Southern Emperor's divine soul, also possessed the soul that Yan Tianzi had "shaped" for her.

Within the Dao fire, Bai Yuqiong opened her eyes. Before her, the Soaring Mirror had already melted into ashes, leaving no trace. She was alive again, though not in a human body, but as a demigod. She possessed both a human consciousness and a Vermilion Bird body.

Long Qilin stepped forward, bowing. "Your humble son-in-law greets his mother-in-law!"

Bai Yuqiong looked at him, then suddenly chuckled. "I haven't even married yet, and I already have a daughter and a son-in-law. How strange."

However, she had memories of Yan'er in her mind. Before she became Que Feiyin, when she was still the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird, she had a brief affair with the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon. Later, she sent Yan'er to Moon Heretic. In her memories, while there were some memories of the Southern Emperor, most were vague, only remembering some deeply impressive events. In contrast, she had vivid recollections of her life after becoming Que Feiyin and then Bai Yuqiong. She was still Bai Yuqiong. At this moment, she had become an entirely new being, connected to the Southern Emperor, yet not the Southern Emperor!

In carefree land, Too Pure Realm.

Qin Mu shifted his gaze from the Southern Emperor, smiling. "There aren't many troops Eternal Peace can deploy to block the retreating Heavenly Court forces, but they are the best of the best."

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird inquired, "May I ask, Heavenly Venerate, who do you intend to send?"

Qin Mu's gaze fell upon the Human Emperor, smiling. "The Human Emperor can lead the Human Emperor Hall army."

The Human Emperor rose and saluted the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird.

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird's eyes flickered as she spoke. "My South Sea has the two Emperors of Scarlet Light, my and Yan'er's elite forces, and Red Emperor Qi Xiaoyu's Phoenix tribe army. With overwhelming might, they will crush the remnants of the Heavenly Court's various marshals. These marshals will flee for their lives. If Prince Qin Wu blocks their path, they will become cornered beasts. Cornered beasts are the most dangerous. Prince Qin Wu, do you have the ability to hold them back?"

Her tone was somewhat aggressive, and divine light emanated from her eyes. "I've heard that Prince Qin Wu deserted during the Kaihuang Era, abandoning Jade Clarity Palace, his brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends. In today's battle, facing the desperate fight of the Heavenly Court's marshals, do you have the courage to face such a brutal struggle?"

Ling Yuxiu frowned, about to interject on behalf of the Human Emperor, but Qin Mu raised a hand to stop her, shaking his head gently.

"If you cannot block the defeated and remnant Heavenly Court forces, these remnants will merge with the Heavenly Court army attacking Carefree Land, and then they will turn and bite me!"

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird rose, her aura like battlefield fire, overwhelming. She stepped forward, pressing her formidable presence onto the Human Emperor, and sharply declared, "You do not inspire my trust. You have a history of desertion! Can you face the mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the battlefield?"

Her aura surged, reaching its peak. Within an boundless sea of fire, countless gods and demons struggled, roared, and wailed with extreme agony! As the Southern Emperor, the Vermilion Bird had experienced far too many battles and massacres, from the wars between the Creation Spirits in ancient times, to the wars between the Creation Spirits and ancient gods, and then to the god-demon wars in the Dragon Han Era. Her aura was steeped in blood and gore; by sheer presence alone, she could make weaker individuals collapse!

The Human Emperor looked somber but faced the brutal aura directly. His figure was like a towering pillar that would not fall even as heaven and earth crumbled, a pillar holding back the impending collapse of the world. "I can," he said, somewhat melancholic but firm.

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird's large red sleeve swept past the Human Emperor. The sea of Dao fire transformed into a sea of blood, and countless visions of gruesome deaths appeared in the Human Emperor's mind.

The Vermilion Bird snapped, "Can you still do it? Your Dao heart is incomplete. Faced with a grim battlefield, if your resolve softens even slightly, if fear in your Dao heart shows even a hint, you will become a deserter and lead us to a great defeat! Can you bear it? Can you withstand it? Qin Wu, it's still not too late to withdraw now!"

The Human Emperor stood firm, as if he were the center of the world. His voice was hoarse. "I can!"

"Empty words mean nothing!"

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird's aura surged. Suddenly, her blood and Dao fire transformed into the distorted, ferocious visages of the thirty-nine marshals of the Southern Heaven, howling as they lunged toward the Human Emperor! The thirty-nine marshals of the Southern Heaven were all various forms of demigods, and their leaders were particularly grim and vicious, strangely shaped, with twisted limbs and extreme ferocity. They pressed down on the Human Emperor with an overwhelming presence!

Any ordinary person facing such an illusion would have their Dao heart shattered. However, the Human Emperor remained standing there, his hands moving, his blood and Qi forming a formation around himself, transforming into a mighty army to fiercely clash with the onslaught of countless gods and demons led by the thirty-nine marshals! This wave of impact sent countless limbs flying, incredibly brutal!

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird stared intently at his face, at his eyes, as if trying to discern the fear in his heart. Suddenly, all the illusions vanished. The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird unfurled and retracted her red robe, smiling. "Prince Qin Wu, I look forward to meeting you in the southern territories of Eternal Peace!"

The Human Emperor cupped his hands and bowed. "I await the Southern Emperor's grand arrival."

The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird returned the bow, then nodded to Qin Mu, Lang Wo, and the others, saying, "The war in the South Sea is pressing; I shall return now." With that, she transformed into a fiery streak and vanished from Carefree Land.

Qin Mu rose and bowed. "Human Emperor, I entrust you with blocking the defeated Southern Heaven forces!"

The Human Emperor returned the bow. "I will not fail the mission!" With that, he turned and departed.

Qin Mu let out a long breath, watching him leave. Ling Yuxiu looked somewhat worried, murmuring, "Won't the Southern Emperor's relentless pressure on the Human Emperor's Dao heart cause problems?"

"No, on the contrary, it will ignite his fighting spirit," Qin Mu said with a smile. "This battle is extremely important, so the Southern Emperor has to be careful. However, the Human Emperor is no longer the deserter from Jade Clarity Palace he once was. He has already transformed after leading the various races on a distant expedition during the late Kaihuang era. The reason he appears somewhat melancholy is simply his regret for not being able to save his kin from Jade Clarity Palace back then. And this campaign will be the best opportunity for him to overcome that regret!"

Human Emperor Hall.

Kaihuang Jade Capital City, Jade Clarity Palace.

The Human Emperor walked through the palace, which still preserved the scene of Jade Clarity Palace's destruction; nothing had changed. Jade Clarity Palace was a place for teaching and nurturing in the Kaihuang era. During its heyday, this heavenly palace hosted countless students, making it arguably the highest academy and a sacred site of the Kaihuang era.

When the calamity struck, Yan Tianzi cast a spell that instantly stripped almost all students of their souls, leaving them as mere bodies. These individuals remained in their postures from before death, as if still living there.

The Human Emperor walked silently among the figures. In his mind, it was still Jade Clarity Palace of yesteryear: young classmates, many vibrant lives moving around him, and the joyful laughter of his classmates and teachers echoing in his ears.

He stopped, standing silently. Yan Tianzi had cast the calamity, and everyone had died; only he had escaped with his life. This place had become the pain of his life.

"Classmates, teachers, this time, I will not be a deserter!"

He respectfully bowed to these old acquaintances. When he rose again, his Dao heart was complete and as clear as jade. The Human Emperor turned, walked out of Jade Clarity Palace, and out of the Human Emperor Hall.

Outside the Human Emperor Hall, successive Human Emperors, each leading a large army, waited silently, without a sound. The Human Emperor's gaze swept over the faces of the Second Ancestor, Third Ancestor, and others, finally resting on Village Chief Su Muqie's face. He smiled and said in a deep voice, "For twenty thousand years, our Human Emperor Hall has been the protector of this land. For twenty thousand years, generation after generation of Human Emperors stood alone, fighting against the heavens, against the Heavenly Court, against tyranny and injustice! But today, after twenty thousand years, it is different."

He stepped forward, passing through the army, his voice resonant: "We have many Dao friends, many like-minded comrades-in-arms! Behind us is Eternal Peace, risen from the ruins created by the Heavenly Court gods!"

His right hand pointed south. "Human Emperors of the Human Emperor Hall, our lives are for protecting this land! Follow me—to kill the enemy!"

The army surged forward with a roar.

Qi Kang, the Human Emperor, charged to the front, chuckling. "Little Suzi, are you still up for it? You're old!"

Village Chief Su Muqie heard this and, without changing his expression, slanted a glance at him. Suddenly, his blood and Qi boiled, transforming him from an old man into a youth, his muscles strong and powerful. Embracing his divine sword, he cast a glance, and the sword intent in his eyes cut Qi Kang, the Human Emperor, down a notch.

Qi Kang, the Human Emperor, laughed heartily. "Being good at deceiving teachers and destroying ancestors, truly my disciple! But my grand-disciple is even stronger!"

All the Human Emperors laughed, their laughter soaring into the clouds, dispersing them.

In Carefree Land, Too Pure Realm, a god-man quickly walked out of a teleportation gate, delivering a letter from the Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor. Qin Mu unfolded the letter. It stated that the Eastern Heaven's Azure Emperor was too cautious, holding his ground without fighting. Jiang Baigui thus wanted to borrow a congratulatory gift that someone had sent for Qin Mu's wedding.

Qin Mu's expression was peculiar. He chuckled, "Why would Junior Brother Jiang want to borrow the Azure Dragon Scales of the Eastern Emperor?"

Yun Heavenly Venerate's voice came through, saying, "The Eastern Heaven's Azure Emperor and the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon have a great enmity. For the Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor to defeat the Eastern Heaven's Azure Emperor by starting with the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon is indeed a clever plan!"