Chapter 1717: Ah Chou and the Revered Xu Tian

At these words, Emperor Haotian couldn't help but fly into a rage: "Heavenly Venerate Mu is going too far!"

Qin Mu had humiliated him like this right in front of him, and in front of the Heavenly Court's armies. His indignation was understandable!

However, Archfiend, Empress, and others remained silent, as did the Grand Extremity ancient gods. This sent a chill through him; he immediately knew they had seen through his weakened state.

He had fallen from the realm of the Dao Tree and Dao Flower, losing two cultivation realms. Furthermore, Heavenly Venerate Yun had destroyed the Second Young Master's avatar, and along with it, his Return to the Ruins Dao body.

His strength had diminished too much, a fact that naturally couldn't escape the notice of Archfiend, Empress, and the others. These individuals likely had designs on the imperial throne because his cultivation and power were far from what they once were!

This even included the two Grand Extremity ancient gods!

Just as Emperor Haotian was about to speak, intending to salvage some dignity, abstruse Daoist words suddenly emanated from the Purple Heavens Palace, suppressing his urge to speak.

His heart trembled slightly, becoming alert. He instantly realized the root of his problem.

Though he had frequently suffered setbacks in the past—a million years ago at the Jade Pool Festival, Qin Mu had beaten him like a dead dog, leaving him debilitated for a thousand years, unable to care for himself, eating, drinking, and sleeping all from a sickbed.

Even so, he had risen again and subsequently accomplished a series of earth-shattering feats.

In the Primordial Realm, he was ambushed by the Grand Emperor, suffering a mutual defeat. Then, Qin Mu foiled his plan for further recovery and advancement, pursuing him for sixty thousand miles before the two armies, utterly destroying his reputation and almost rendering him permanently defeated.

Later, he was coerced by the Goddess of Grand Purity, forced to kneel before her and become her puppet.

Yet, he still managed to make a comeback, not only healing his injuries but also discerning the Dao of Grand Purity. Ultimately, he refined Grand Purity, slew the Grand Emperor, achieved enlightenment through power, cultivated the Great Overarching Heaven, suppressed the other Heavenly Venerates, eliminated dissidents, ascended to the position of Heavenly Emperor, and orchestrated the death of Emperor Kaihuang Qin Ye, causing Qin Mu to turn white-haired overnight, thus forging an unparalleled hegemony!

Who else in all the heavens and earth could achieve such a feat amidst such immense ups and downs?

Only Haotian!

But what about now?

Was he simply going to succumb?

He was unwilling to accept it!

He could rise again, counter-attack after leveraging the powers of the Third and Fourth Young Masters, reclaim dominance, fight gloriously once more, defeat Qin Mu, avenge his past humiliation, seize the powers of the Third and Fourth Young Masters, monopolize the Seventeenth Epoch, and become the shadow that envelops this cosmic epoch!

Just then, a vast and mighty power surged from the Numinous Sky Palace, and Emperor Haotian instantly lost control of his body; even his consciousness was pushed aside!

His unwillingness immediately morphed into despair, leaving him feeling weak and helpless. This was the Third Young Master using his body to speak with Qin Mu. Such immense power, such profound and incomprehensible Dao cultivation, was enough to shatter the conviction he had just rekindled!

He felt like an appendage, a mere tool. The Third and Fourth Young Masters could simply take and use him whenever they pleased, without needing to ask. And after using him, they could discard him anywhere, without his consent!

"Seventh Brother."

From Emperor Haotian's mouth came the voice of the Third Young Master of the Miluo Palace, speaking with indifference: "You cannot defeat us, so why struggle so desperately? You now have a chance: return to the past universe, become a disciple of our teacher, and live peacefully as the Seventh Young Master, dreaming your grand dreams. Wouldn't that be better? The only consequence of you trying to stop our arrival is that we will destroy everything you care about and cast you back into the past."

From the Purple Heavens Palace, the Fourth Young Master's voice chimed in: "Seventh Brother, if you proactively return to the past universe, you can still save face. But if we throw you back, you'll lose the dignity of being the Seventh Young Master of Miluo Palace."

Qin Mu burst into laughter. "You speak as if you can defeat me. Three plus four equals seven. Isn't that simple math, Third Brother, Fourth Brother? Even together, you're barely my match."

Suddenly, Archfiend's expression changed slightly. He instantly felt a vast and mighty power surge from the Purple Heavens Palace, immediately pushing his consciousness aside!

From his own mouth, he heard the Fourth Young Master's voice: "Seventh Brother, you certainly have extraordinary skill with words, but strength doesn't rely on talk. We have managed the Seventeenth Epoch for six billion years; the foundation of this universe's cultivation was laid by us. With the Jade Capital, Numinous Sky, Emperor's Throne, and Heavenly Court realms stripped from your soldiers, what capital do you have left to fight us?"

Empress glanced at the controlled Archfiend and Emperor Haotian, then suddenly let out a chuckle.

Emperor Haotian and Archfiend simultaneously turned their heads to look at her.

Empress looked down at her toes, wiggling her right foot on the ground, and chuckled softly: "My son Hao'er and my former husband have fallen. Now, I'm the only one left who is qualified to contend for the imperial throne. I can finally do whatever I please, heheh..."

Qin Mu's gaze also fell upon her. He smiled faintly to himself, thinking: "Empress Yuanmu is already difficult to separate; they've broken my reincarnation divine ability and completely merged. However, Lan Yu seems to have left something remarkable inside her; perhaps I can use that..."

He withdrew his gaze and said calmly: "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, do you still not see that Miluo Palace is already decrepit? It's so decayed that even our teacher despairs, yet you still believe you can conquer the future by relying on it. As the Seventh Young Master, I didn't return to the past because you forced me into a corner; I returned gracefully *after* defeating you here. You…"

He pointed to the ground: "All of you will be defeated here!"

"Seventh Brother, it seems you won't turn back until you've been beaten black and blue!"

The Fourth Young Master, controlling Archfiend's physical body and primordial spirit, stepped forward. The imperial might of a sovereign emanated, causing everyone's expressions to change drastically, unsure whether it was Archfiend's imperial might or the Fourth Young Master's!

"In terms of Dao cultivation, you are simply not our opponent."

The Fourth Young Master stood before Qin Mu. Archfiend's physical body was immense, and the surging imperial might made him appear even more formidable. "You are not the Seventh Young Master yet, and you cannot stop Miluo Palace's descent!"

Behind him, the Dao might of the Purple Heavens Palace suddenly surged, suppressing the present world, causing even enlightened beings to tremble!

Qin Mu's expression remained unchanged. He raised his head, the World Tree swaying behind him. His Great Heavenly Court suppressed the World Tree, and his primordial spirit stood before the Hall of Chaos, directly confronting the Fourth Young Master's Dao might.

"Fourth Brother, you're not strong enough."

Qin Mu said indifferently: "If we fight here, aren't you afraid we'll destroy the Heavenly Court's armies?"

"The Dao arts and divine abilities of Miluo Palace will not leak out."

The Third Young Master, controlling Emperor Haotian's body, walked over with his hands clasped behind his back: "Even if my single strike possesses the power to obliterate the entire Primordial Realm, not a single bit of that power will leak out. Seventh Brother, you've only learned the superficial aspects of Miluo Palace's Dao arts and divine abilities; you haven't truly mastered them. Our teacher's prowess is beyond your reach. You've walked into our trap; it's better to defeat you here today and send you back to the past."

Qin Mu laughed heartily, glancing at the two. "Which of you two goes first?"

"Seventh Brother, with us here, you can't kill anyone on your own."

The Fourth Young Master's gaze swept past him. He stated gravely: "Everyone else, gather your armies and advance into Yankang! Leave no one here!"

Behind Qin Mu's head, layers of void suddenly unfurled. With a whoosh, everyone from the Heavenly Court was drawn into his divine treasure domain. The various armies of the Heavenly Court, even the Xuandu army in the sky and the Youdu army overlapping with the Primordial Realm, were now all encompassed within his divine treasure domain!

All the gods, devils, and soldiers of the Heavenly Court, no matter which direction they looked, now saw only Qin Mu!

No matter which way they tried to go, they would always be heading directly towards Qin Mu!

And it wasn't just one Qin Mu!

In the Thirty-Three Heavens, there were thirty-three World Trees, and thirty-three Qin Mus stood beneath them!

Qin Mu stood motionless, hands clasped behind his back, as layer after layer of void unfolded. His divine ability established the Thirty-Three Heavens, which did not fully overlap, but instead placed the various Heavenly Court armies in different positions within these heavens.

After all, the Heavenly Court's formations were extremely powerful; if all its armies combined their efforts, breaking through his Thirty-Three Divine Treasure Domain would be trivial.

He had to disperse the power of these armies.

Suddenly, a Heavenly Court soldier collapsed to the ground, utterly terrified, his liver and gall bladder splitting, his soul scattered!

The Fourth Young Master frowned.

"Seventh Brother's Dao of Reincarnation is indeed a unique marvel of Miluo Palace."

The Third Young Master sneered, stepping forward with his hands clasped behind his back. As their auras collided, Qin Mu's successive four Dao realms vibrated violently, and the Youdu demonic army immediately broke free from his domain!

"Heavenly Venerate Void, you shall preside over the grand sacrifice and march towards Yankang."

The Third Young Master said calmly: "In this battle, it will be hard for any soldier in Yankang, even a Heavenly Venerate, to withstand a single blow from you. Go quickly!"

Heavenly Venerate Void had been trapped in Qin Mu's domain, seeing only Qin Mu no matter which way she looked, and couldn't help but despair. However, with the Third Young Master's stomp, she was freed from Qin Mu's domain and let out a sigh of relief.

If she had to face Qin Mu directly, she doubted whether she could withstand even a single full move from him!

Yet, the Third Young Master's words made her hesitate. Presiding over the blood sacrifice would certainly invite the descent of Miluo Palace's enlightened beings. If they descended, would she still retain her current status?

However, this thought only lingered in her mind for a moment before she cast it aside.

"Lads of Youdu, follow me into battle!"

She cracked her Styx whip, leading countless Youdu gods, devils, and monstrous beings towards Yankang's Lanfeng Valley.

The Fourth Young Master's aura erupted. He stomped his foot heavily, and four more of Qin Mu's Dao realms vibrated. Ancestor God King, greatly relieved, immediately led the Xuandu army to break free from Qin Mu's divine treasure domain.

"Ancestor God King, you and Heavenly Venerate Void shall go together and blood-sacrifice Yankang!" the Fourth Young Master said calmly.

Ancestor God King bowed and immediately led the Xuandu army away.

The Third and Fourth Young Masters' gazes fell upon Qin Mu.

In Lanfeng Valley, Lan Yu's three-day discourse was drawing to a close. Granny Si immediately took over, imparting knowledge and expounding on her understanding of the Ancestral Court's Dao realm system.

Heavenly Venerate You frowned. The arrival of the Youdu demonic gods and monstrous army from the Primordial Realm's Youdu naturally didn't escape his notice. However, with three and a half of his realms crippled, he was no match for Heavenly Venerate Void!

Furthermore, Heavenly Venerate Void commanded countless demonic gods and monstrous beings. Even if he could withstand Heavenly Venerate Void, he certainly couldn't stop such a vast demonic army!

At the same time, Heavenly Venerate Yue looked towards Lang Wo. The two women understood each other implicitly, rising to prepare to confront Ancestor God King of Xuandu.

Ah Chou stood up and said to Heavenly Duke: "Brother Dao, no one else can move; to do so would risk their lives. Only you and I have not cultivated the Heavenly Palace system, so we still retain our peak strength. This is a battle for us two; there's no escaping it today. If we succeed today, we can achieve enlightenment; if not, we will perish and our Dao will cease to exist."

Heavenly Duke hesitated, then stood up, retrieved fifty Heavenly Dao supreme treasures, and said: "Indeed, I need to deal with that unfilial son, Ancestor God King. But Brother Dao, you must be careful; Heavenly Venerate Void is one of the Ten Heavenly Venerates, no longer your daughter. Take good care of yourself!"

Ah Chou smiled: "In this life, I want to become human and achieve fulfillment. Heavenly Venerate You, can you withstand the Youdu demonic gods and monstrous beings?"

Heavenly Venerate You looked at him, his expression complex.

Ah Chou showed a hopeful gaze. Heavenly Venerate You nodded and said: "King Tianqi Rensheng commands Youdu; this was conferred by Earth count. I can naturally hold them back."

King Tianqi Rensheng is the holy king of Youdu, personally bestowed by Earth count. Heavenly Venerate You's relationship with Earth count was even better than his relationship with Qin Mu.

Although Earth count had reincarnated as Ah Chou, Heavenly Venerate You couldn't bear to refuse him if he asked, even knowing the immense danger Ah Chou would face on this journey!

A smile appeared on Ah Chou's ugly face as his figure slowly sank into the Primordial Realm's Youdu. He said joyfully: "Today is the day my Dao heart will be complete."

Heavenly Venerate You stepped onto his paper boat and followed him into the Primordial Realm's Youdu. His figure flickered, and with rustling sounds, countless elderly underworld emissaries appeared, standing on paper boats. They were countless, numbering in the hundreds of millions, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Youdu demonic army!