Chapter 1716: You Have No Right

Five days later, the remaining forces of Wuyou Township finally arrived at Lanfeng Valley. Ambushes, attacks, and heavy casualties along the way had reduced their army to less than thirty percent of its original strength.

Fortunately, Wei Suifeng, Black Emperor Xuanwu, Vermilion Emperor Zhuque, Red Emperor Qi Xiayu, and others had led the Yankang army to rendezvous with Emperor Yi Yue and his forces. This deterred the Heavenly Court's Divine Masters and naval forces from making any rash moves, allowing them to reach Lanfeng Valley.

Morale was low among the soldiers, whether from Wei Suifeng's contingent, the Black Emperor's command, or the forces of the Vermilion Emperor, Red Emperor, and Wuyou Township.

In particular, Wei Suifeng's troops, the Yulin Army, were mostly at the Jade Capital and Numinous Sky realms, a formidable force capable of battling Celestial Venerables. Now, every single one of them had suddenly plummeted to the God-Slaying Platform or Nine Hells Platform realms, severely weakening their cultivation and power.

Many soldiers from Wuyou Township who had cultivated to the Jade Capital and Numinous Sky realms were now also reduced to the God-Slaying Platform realm.

Even powerful figures such as Martial Combat Heavenly Master Zhuo Cha, Yan Yunxi, Emperor Yi Yue, Sakra Deva Li Youran, Azure Emperor, and Tian Shu were all reduced to the God-Slaying Platform realm!

The worst affected, however, was not them, but Red Emperor Qi Xiayu.

Qi Xiayu had originally cultivated nine Celestial Palaces, forming a miniature Heavenly Court. Now, she had also directly plummeted to the God-Slaying Platform realm, losing three and a half realms of cultivation!

As leaders of their respective armies, their extraordinary Dao hearts prevented immediate collapse, but the blow to their soldiers was severe.

With no clear path forward in cultivation and their commanders so severely weakened, how could they possibly resist if the Heavenly Court attacked again?

To make matters worse, the Divine Strategy Left Guard had already led the Youdu demon army to the rear of Lanfeng Valley, creating a pincer attack with the Heavenly Court forces. With the Xuan Du army above and the Youdu army below, they were completely encircled!

This battle offered no glimmer of hope.

It caused many to lose the courage to continue fighting.

However, many Yankang soldiers were not significantly affected. Firstly, Yankang had a relatively short history, so there were few who had cultivated to the Jade Capital, Numinous Sky, or Emperor's Throne realms, and only Qin Mu had reached the Heavenly Court realm. Secondly, Yankang's reforms had introduced new realms such as the Four Heavenly Gates, Heavenly Sea, and Nine Hells Platform within the Celestial Palace system.

Even without the Jade Capital, Numinous Sky, Emperor's Throne, or Heavenly Court realms, the impact on them was minimal.

Furthermore, some older generals, such as the Ming Emperor, Red Emperor, Shujun, Granny Si, the Butcher, and the Village Chief, had not pursued the traditional Celestial Palace system but instead followed the Dao Realm system.

Even the Founding Ancestor Human Emperor, while following the Celestial Palace path, had integrated Dao Realm cultivation.

Similarly, the reborn Ah Chou and Heavenly Duke, who followed the Dao Realm path, were also minimally affected.

The younger generation, including Yun Jianli, Zhe Huali, Wang Muran, and Qi Jiuyi, originated from Yankang's Wen Dao Academy. Early in their cultivation, they had already leveraged the Academy's reform achievements, not adhering to the traditional cultivation system. Instead, after entering the Celestial Palace realm, they studied the works of Lan Yutian and Xu Shenghua, each attaining extraordinary accomplishments.

As for the even younger generation, such as Hua Xuanxiu and Patriarch Wen Yuan, they had begun learning Lan Yutian and Xu Shenghua's Ancestral Land Dao Realm system from its very foundation, so they had no such concerns.

However, this incident profoundly impacted the war. Had the Third and Fourth Young Masters not activated the Jade Capital trap, stripping away those four great realms, Qin Mu could have launched a counterattack against the Heavenly Court upon his return!

Now, Yankang merely holding its ground and avoiding annihilation was already a stroke of luck!

Moon Celestial Venerable, You Celestial Venerable, Lang Wo, and others wore expressions of concern. After the sudden upheaval, they decisively severed the Jade Capital City within their Celestial Palaces and leveled the Numinous Sky Palace, retaining only the Celestial Palace realms.

Given their extremely high cultivation in the Dao Realm, although the loss of these four realms significantly affected their cultivation, they still retained sixty to seventy percent of their original strength.

For someone like Red Emperor Qi Xiayu, however, only a few thousandths of her original strength remained, which was truly terrifying.

Many others suffered similar weakening!

Red Emperor Qi Xiayu looked at Sakra Deva Li Youran with hesitation. He was no longer the handsome monk she remembered but a ferocious demon god, making her momentarily reluctant to acknowledge him.

Still, she gathered her courage and stepped forward, saying, "Brother, you resemble an old acquaintance of mine."

Li Youran, feeling ashamed of his appearance, avoided her gaze and did not respond.

Qi Xiayu approached again, saying, "I know a monk from Wuyou Township named Li Youran, who was once the Sakra Deva King Buddha of the Buddhist world."

Unable to avoid her, Li Youran replied, "Mistress, you have mistaken me for someone else. Over there are the Buddhist soldiers who descended the mountain to rescue people. That Battle Empty Tathagata should know the Sakra Deva King Buddha you mentioned."

Qi Xiayu did not go to see Battle Empty Tathagata but instead stared intently at him, saying, "No matter what Li Youran has become, I will recognize him."

Li Youran remained impassive.

"My Imperial Brother, you may begin your lecture."

Above Lanfeng Valley, Qin Mu looked down, surveying the myriad beings, and instructed, "Explain your cultivation system for three days to everyone in Lanfeng Valley."

Lan Yutian scratched his head and whispered, "Brother, Xu Shenghua once told me that my lectures are too profound for most to understand. If I explain the Ancestral Land Dao Realm cultivation system, I doubt many of these gods and demons will grasp much. Moreover, three days isn't enough time to cultivate it, even if they were to comprehend it."

"That's fine."

Qin Mu replied, "Just lecture. Those who can comprehend the various realms of the Ancestral Land Dao Realm system within these three days are undoubtedly talented individuals and likely masters of the traditional Celestial Palace system. They will benefit immensely and can then teach others. After your three days, Village Chief and Granny, you will each lecture for another three days."

Village Chief Su Muzhe and Granny Si each nodded. Granny Si, however, asked with a puzzled expression, "Our understanding is certainly far inferior to that of a founder like Lan Yutian. What use is it for us to lecture?"

Village Chief Su Muzhe chuckled, "Granny, Mu'er means that our simpler explanations will be easier for others to understand. Isn't that right, Mu'er?"

Qin Mu nodded.

Granny Si spat lightly and said, "Lan Yutian has lectured, and now we will lecture; that's a total of nine days. In nine days, the Heavenly Court army will have already pushed their way here!"

"They won't be able to advance."

Qin Mu said calmly, "With me here, who can advance? Jiang Yunjian, Hua Xuanxiu, Master Wen Yuan, after Granny has lectured, you will then explain the Ancestral Land Dao Realm system."

Jiang Yunjian, Hua Xuanxiu, and Master Wen Yuan stepped forward. Hua Xuanxiu asked curiously, "Uncle Qin, are you asking us to lecture because our understanding is more superficial?"

Qin Mu shook his head. "No. It's because you started learning from the fundamentals. Granny and Village Chief, before cultivating the Ancestral Land Dao Realm system, already possessed their unique skills and thus had preconceived notions. You, however, did not have such biases during your cultivation, allowing you to grasp the new system more deeply and subtly, often perceiving things they could not."

Master Wen Yuan looked pleased.

Qin Mu glanced at him and added, "Master Wen Yuan will lecture first. He, too, previously cultivated the traditional Celestial Palace system, so it's hard to guarantee he won't have preconceived notions."

Master Wen Yuan's face immediately darkened.

Qin Mu then addressed Moon Celestial Venerable, You Celestial Venerable, Lang Wo, and the others, "You might as well listen. Losing those four traditional realms is akin to a warrior severing a limb, yet this new cultivation system might lead you to even greater achievements."

Moon Celestial Venerable asked, "Now that Emperor Haotian has the support of the Third and Fourth Young Masters of Miluo Palace, can you truly stop him?"

Qin Mu smiled, "I am the Seventh Young Master of Miluo Palace, so naturally, I can stop him. You needn't worry."

You Celestial Venerable inquired, "With the Divine Strategy Left Guard leading the Youdu demon army to attack from the rear, how will we defend against a pincer attack?"

Qin Mu replied, "My junior brother, Yankang Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui, has already quelled the rebellion in the East Sea and is now approaching from behind the Divine Strategy Left Guard and the demon army. The Divine Strategy Left Guard is no match for him."

Lang Wo asked, "Jiang Baigui's Jade Capital realm is also gone, isn't it? Will he still be a match for the Divine Strategy Left Guard?"

"There are not many in this world unaffected by the Jade Capital trap, but Jiang Baigui is one of them."

Qin Mu stood up and smiled, "You all stay here and listen to the lecture. I'll go have a word with the Third and Fourth Young Masters of Miluo Palace."

Lan Yutian's voice, resonant with Dao rhythms, began to explain his Ancestral Land Dao Realm system. Qin Mu walked down from Lanfeng Valley, unhurriedly advancing towards the Heavenly Court army.

Within Lanfeng Valley, where despair had settled and morale was low, Lan Yutian, inherently close to the Dao, began to lecture. As his Dao-infused voice resonated, his own Dao aura imperceptibly diffused. Behind him, a World Tree slowly ascended, drawing everyone unconsciously into the profound wonder of the Dao, compelling them to ponder and comprehend along with his teachings.

He began to explain the new cultivation system to the various divine beings in Lanfeng Valley, starting with the Spirit Embryo realm, which differed little from what they had previously learned. The second realm was the Star River Divine Treasure, whose opening led to the evolution of Xuan Du.

The third realm was the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, where the Heavenly River was opened and circulated. Following this, the fourth realm, the Four Extremities Heaven, was opened.

The Four Extremities Heaven realm possessed four subsidiary divine treasures. After mastering this, the realms of Yuan Du, Youdu, and Guixu were opened.

After these seven realms, the most crucial one arrived.

That was the opening of the Ancestral Land, the greatest of all divine treasures!

Upon opening the Ancestral Land, realms such as the Ancestral Land Four Heavenly Gates, Jade Pool and Jade Terrace, Heavenly Sea, God-Slaying Platform, and Nine Hells Platform were established, significantly enhancing Dao Realm comprehension!

This was precisely why Qin Mu had stated that the Dao Realm system was most compatible with the Ancestral Land system.

The Ancestral Land Four Heavenly Gates, Jade Pool and Jade Terrace, Heavenly Sea, God-Slaying Platform, and Nine Hells Platform realms dramatically elevated the Dao Realm. When cultivating these realms, Dao Realm cultivation advanced almost by leaps and bounds!

This was the new cultivation system's greatest and most powerful advantage!

After mastering these realms, without needing to pass through the Jade Capital, Numinous Sky, Emperor's Throne, or Heavenly Court realms, Lan Yutian directly entered the Five Grand realms. There, he comprehended the Five Innate Grandnesses, forming five great ore veins within the Ancestral Land Divine Treasure: Grand Ultimate, Grand Purity, Grand Beginning, Grand Primeval, and Grand Change!

Should these five realms be successfully cultivated, one could then advance further and cultivate the World Tree!

The World Tree served as the Dao Tree for every cultivator of the new system, completely integrated with the Dao Realm system. As each layer of the Dao Realm ascended, layers of void would appear within the body's divine treasures, with the Dao imprints stored within them. Concurrently, the World Tree would gradually become clearer, grow, and mature.

Once the Dao Realm reached the 36th Heaven, the World Tree would be fully grown, transforming into the cultivator's personal Dao Tree!

However, Lan Yutian and Xu Shenghua had only comprehended up to this point when the Heavenly Court launched a major invasion, forcing their research to a halt.

But it was presumed that further realms, such as Dao Flowers and Dao Fruits, would follow.

Amidst Lan Yutian's Dao-infused voice, Qin Mu walked towards the Heavenly Court's main camp. The Heavenly Court army was steadily advancing, and their camp was moving with them.

Ahead, scouts continuously reconnoitered the path, appearing and disappearing mysteriously as they flew through the sky, ran across the land, vanished into water, and burrowed beneath the earth.

From a distance, a scout spotted Qin Mu. Their heart leaped, and they froze in place, too terrified to move.

"You may return and report to Heavenly Venerable Haotian that the Seventh Young Master, Qin Mu, has arrived," Qin Mu said with a faint smile.

The scout hastily fled, rushing directly towards the Heavenly Court army.

Moments later, the Heavenly Court armies at the front suddenly halted, each setting up intricate killing formations, standing ready for battle.

Sweat poured down the foreheads of each army's commander, drenching them, yet they dared not wipe it away. Instead, they stared ahead with wide, unblinking eyes, their minds taut with extreme tension.

In the sky, a pervasive killing aura filled the heavens, silencing all birds and beasts for millions of miles. Numerous divine eyes also materialized, rolling through the air, shooting rays of divine light as they searched in every direction.

These divine and monstrous eyes in the sky ranged from the size of suns and moons to mere acres in circumference. Some were imprinted with various formations, others tempered by the Great Dao, and some were the demon eyes of fiend gods. Their types were exceedingly numerous, and their functions widely varied.

These divine and strange eyes scoured the heavens and earth, searching for Qin Mu's whereabouts.

At the same time, news had already reached the Heavenly Emperor's Secondary Palace, informing Emperor Haotian, Grand Initial, the Empress, and others.

Emperor Haotian dared not delay, ordering the Divine Strategy Right Guard and the Left and Right Yulin armies to set up formations around the Heavenly Emperor's Secondary Palace, standing ready.

Grand Initial, the Empress, and Grand Ultimate Ancient God surrounded Emperor Haotian as they stepped out of the grand hall. Still uneasy, Emperor Haotian looked up and only felt relieved when he saw the Numinous Sky Treasure Palace and Purple Cloud Treasure Palace shining even more brightly.

They looked ahead and saw the countless divine and strange eyes in the sky suddenly extinguish one by one, growing dim. The suns pulled by the Xuan Du army in the sky seemed to be enveloped by massive dark clouds, casting no light whatsoever, causing the Xuan Du sun guardians to hastily halt their great sun chariots and look back, fearing their own suns had gone out.

They sighed in relief; their suns had not extinguished. Instead, a towering, majestic tree was passing below them. Its vast, boundless leaves were blocking the Xuan Du suns.

The extinguished strange and divine eyes, however, were not so fortunate. They had been blinded by overwhelming surges of baleful qi, as if struck by a blade!

Within the Heavenly Court's main camp, many gods and demons suddenly began to wail, their screams shrill as they raised their hands to cover their eyes. Black and red blood seeped through the gaps between their fingers.

Almost all the gods of the Celestial Monitoring Department were simultaneously blinded!

"It's Shang Jun!" Grand Initial rasped, feeling his old wounds begin to ache once more.

Emperor Haotian glanced at him, then suddenly shouted, "Pass on my order! Let Heavenly Venerable Mu enter; no resistance is allowed!"

Moments later, Qin Mu strode through the Heavenly Court's formations, completely unconcerned by the overwhelming killing intent surrounding him.

He arrived at the Heavenly Emperor's Secondary Palace and walked up to Emperor Haotian and the others.

Emperor Haotian sneered, about to speak, when Qin Mu raised a finger and wiggled it, saying calmly, "The young masters' dogs are no longer qualified to speak with me. Third Brother, Fourth Brother, I'm here. Will you come out and speak to me, or will you watch me beat your dogs to death?"