Chapter 1738: Heavenly Father and Son

The shattered Great Luo Heaven fell from the sky. Stars rained down, like countless twinkling specks, scattering across the land of the Primordial Realm. The One Qi Great Luo Heaven disintegrated during its fall, and its Primordial One Qi nourished the wounded land.

Shang Jun looked up, surrounded by twinkling starlight. The falling fragments of Great Luo Heaven transformed into pure energy, revitalizing the war-torn land that had been ravaged by battle. Plants flourished, life thrived, and the soil became fertile.

This was not his Sixteenth Epoch, but the Seventeenth. His old acquaintances were gone, but there were still ordinary people he wished to protect.

He quietly left, stepping into the shadows.

As a killer whose hands were stained with blood, he had once again comprehended the ultimate killing intent and achieved enlightenment, yet he was unwilling to imprint his killer's path onto the ultimate void.

He did not want to walk in the sunlight, nor did he want to be watched.

In the divine city above the Heavenly Court's main camp, in the room where Qin Mu was recovering, the lamplight suddenly flickered. Qin Mu opened his eyes, looking at the dark shadow beneath the lamp. After a moment, he smiled faintly and asked, "Second Brother has left?"

Shang Jun emerged from the shadow beneath the lamp and silently nodded.

Qin Mu sighed, feeling a pang of emotion. "In those days," he said, "I, along with Great Emperor, Grand Beginning, and Luo Xiao, became sworn brothers. We didn't seek to be born on the same day, but we pledged to die on the same day. After Third Brother Luo Xiao died, I always worried he was too lonely, wanting to send my two elder brothers to join him. Now, my wish has finally been granted. Big Brother, Second Brother, may you have a good journey."

His gaze fell on Shang Jun's face, and he smiled faintly. "Shang Jun," he said, "you no longer need to hide in the shadows. You can go out and walk around."

A sharp glint, like a blade, flashed in Shang Jun's eyes as he spoke in a deep voice. "Before," he said, "you always kept me in your shadow because you feared my killing intent was too strong, afraid I might lose control. Being in your shadow was the only way for you to feel at ease. Now, why do you want to let me out? I have achieved enlightenment a second time, and my Dao heart is as firm as ever. Aren't you afraid my murderous intent will cause great havoc in the world? You know that sometimes I can't control my killing intent!"

Qin Mu's gaze was gentle as he smiled. "Before," he said, "your Dao heart was incomplete, making it difficult to suppress your killing intent, and your self-control was poor. That's why I had to keep you close. Now, your Dao heart is complete; you are no longer the Shang Jun of the past. That's why I'm letting you go, giving you freedom."

Shang Jun fell silent, about to retreat into the shadow beneath the lamp once more.

Suddenly, Qin Mu said, "Don't walk in the shadows. Walk out through the main gate, openly and honestly. You owe this universe nothing; on the contrary, this universe owes you a favor."

Shang Jun was startled. He emerged from the darkness beneath the lamp and walked toward the main gate, his steps somewhat hesitant.

But he still walked out. Outside the door, the first ray of sunlight shone upon him; it wasn't dazzling, yet he raised a hand to shield his eyes, only lowering it after a moment.

"Shang Jun, I have always considered you a friend."

Qin Mu's voice came from behind him, causing his body to tremble slightly. *Friend?*

He had never had one.

Throughout the entire Sixteenth Epoch, he had no friends. He rarely interacted with others and had committed too many acts of slaughter. The destruction of the Sixteenth Epoch was also directly related to him, and he felt he didn't deserve friends.

Perhaps those few individuals sealed by the Great Young Master in the Void Filth Arena could be considered his friends, but it was hard to say for sure. They merely shared a common plight, chatting and 'killing pigs.' They all concealed their pasts from each other, unwilling to reveal themselves, so they weren't truly intimate acquaintances.

In his heart, the word "friend" carried too much weight.

"You are not a tool of slaughter, nor a blade in my hand, but my friend."

Qin Mu said from behind him, "A trustworthy friend. I will be your first friend in this era. In the future, you will meet others and form friendships with them."

Shang Jun turned his head. "I don't need them," he said. "Friends are too cheap. Anyone can open and close their mouth and claim to be my friend. You are not my friend either. Friendship would only cloud my judgment of right and wrong, good and evil, and make me soft-hearted."

He walked eastward into the sunlight, his voice carrying back. "Seventh Young Master," he said, "if too many of you achieve enlightenment and cause this universe to collapse, I will take action. Even against you, I will show no mercy! If, after your victory, you commit evil deeds and crimes, I will still strike! This world needs me, this blade! Not a blade held in your hand!"

Qin Mu smiled, turning to Ling Yuxiu beside him. "If I truly committed evil deeds and crimes," he said, "he definitely wouldn't strike to kill me. I know he already considers me a friend."

Ling Yuxiu pursed her lips and chuckled. "Husband," she said, "I think you're overthinking it."

Shang Jun walked through the land of Yankang, from the border pass to the cities, and then from the cities to the countryside, aimlessly.

Yankang was peaceful, with no trace of the slaughter from the battlefields. It was filled with tranquility, which also filled his heart, far removed from fighting and strife.

The war on the front lines continued, but the vast rear was unaffected. When news of the Heavenly Court's defeat arrived, a great weight was lifted from everyone's hearts, and smiles gradually appeared on people's faces.

He held a blade of grass in his mouth, leaning against a tree. Lazily, he gazed at the sunlight filtering through the canopy.

Just then, six or seven children ran past, laughing joyfully and romping around, creating a lively scene.

After the children left, Shang Jun picked up a discarded flower crown. He placed it on his forehead, crossed his arms over his chest, and fell asleep leaning against the tree.

"This sunlight… it's truly good…" The blade of grass in his mouth shifted as he mumbled.

Xuan Du.

The stars were in turmoil, constellations shifting, indicating that the world was still not at peace.

However, at this moment, few people paid attention to Xuan Du. Yankang's main forces were still pursuing the Heavenly Court, driving its defeated remnants out of the Primordial Realm.

The battle in Xuan Du was between Heaven Duke and Ancestral God King.

Xuan Du was vast, so this battle did not affect the Primordial Realm. When Jiang Baigui pacified Xuan Du, he merely defeated and encircled the Sun Guard and Moon Guard armies, without intervening in the conflict between Heaven Duke and Ancestral God King.

His actions were extremely rational. Since the Sun Guard and Moon Guard armies of Xuan Du had been pacified, even if Ancestral God King killed Heaven Duke, it wouldn't have a significant impact.

At that moment, leading his troops directly to attack the Heavenly Court's main camp would have an unexpected effect, sufficient to collapse the morale of the Heavenly Court. Therefore, he decisively led his troops away from Xuan Du, leaving only Heaven Duke and Ancestral God King, father and son.

Ancestral God King's Dao heart had fallen into Qin Mu's divine art, the 'Nine Prisons Locking Heart Dao Eternity,' and was locked together with Heaven Duke's Dao heart.

The battle of Dao hearts between father and son was far less direct than a real armed conflict, but it was much more perilous.

Inside the Nine Prisons Platform, Heaven Duke's and Ancestral God King's Dao hearts were fighting. Outside, Heaven Duke's true body remained motionless, while only Ancestral God King and the reincarnated Heaven Duke were still locked in a life-and-death struggle!

Heaven Duke's true body was permeated with starlight. The Dao light of the Heavenly Dao was continuously flowing away, heading toward the reincarnated Heaven Duke.

This strange phenomenon occurred after Heaven Duke's reincarnated body was shattered by Ancestral God King: Heaven Duke's true body no longer obeyed Ancestral God King's commands. No matter how Ancestral God King channeled his magic power or tried to control it with his primordial spirit, this ancient god's physical body remained motionless.

On the contrary, the Heavenly Dao flowing from Heaven Duke's true body began to surge toward Heaven Duke's soul, reforging his physical body!

This was a battle for the Heavenly Heart.

In the battle for the Heavenly Heart, Heaven Duke displayed a Heavenly Heart that was more in tune with the Heavenly Dao than Ancestral God King's. He defeated Ancestral God King, causing the Heavenly Dao to abandon Ancestral God King.

Heaven Duke's reincarnated body being destroyed turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

However, even without Heaven Duke's true body, Ancestral God King's combat prowess remained astonishing. He was still one of the most powerful beings in the world, far surpassing Heaven Duke in both cultivation and strength!

Yet, something terrifying happened.

He held an almost crushing advantage against Heaven Duke, inflicting severe wounds on him again and again. But Heaven Duke remained unkillable, healed by Xuan Du's Heavenly Dao repeatedly!

On the contrary, each time he expended his strength, his own power diminished. His physical body and primordial spirit were not locked by the Nine Prisons Platform; only his Dao heart was. And the locking of his Dao heart affected his mental state.

This seemingly insignificant or useless Dao heart affected his recovery abilities and even his cultivation, preventing his cultivation from returning to its peak and his physical wounds from healing!

At the same time, Heaven Duke grew stronger and stronger. With the Heavenly Dao's blessing, Heaven Duke's strength was gradually closing in on his!

With this ebb and flow, it wouldn't be long before he would no longer be a match for Heaven Duke!

The 'Nine Prisons Locking Heart Dao Eternity,' Qin Mu's divine art. Only those who experienced it firsthand could truly grasp its terror!

Fortunately, Heaven Duke still seemed to possess paternal affection. He had never struck to kill Ancestral God King, always leaving a sliver of leeway. But even so, Ancestral God King's injuries grew increasingly severe.

He desperately wanted to take advantage of the leeway Heaven Duke left him, and Heaven Duke's paternal affection, to seize the opportunity and slay Heaven Duke. However, the Heavenly Dao sided with Heaven Duke, making him unkillable!

More crucially, in the battle of Dao hearts within the Nine Prisons Platform, he had been utterly defeated!

His Dao heart had been crushed by Heaven Duke, lying prostrate like a dead dog in a tiny, confined space. Beside him, Heaven Duke's Dao heart looked up, gazing at the sky.

"My son, the Nine Prisons Platform is a platform that locks Dao hearts, but it is also a place for tempering them."

Heaven Duke's Dao heart withdrew its gaze, looking at Ancestral God King's Dao heart attempting to rise, and spoke earnestly. "Qin Mu's divine art interprets the profound Dao contained within the Nine Prisons Platform, integrating his insights into the Dao heart," he said. "He put in great effort, using this move to trap the Dao heart of my Honored Celestial Hong's avatar, hoping that I could emerge from the Nine Prisons Platform and comprehend the Heavenly Heart. At that time, I was foolish and dull, misunderstanding his good intentions, which led to my disgrace and the death of my avatar."

"After my reincarnation," he continued, "I willingly endured the karma fire of those who died due to my sins. In the karma fire, I heard the thoughts of all beings and bore their karmic burdens. Only then did I realize that for the first time, I was so close to the Heavenly Heart."

A look of anticipation appeared in his eyes. "Youdu and Xuan Du are in opposition, and the Great Dao of Youdu and Xuan Du are mutually restrictive," he said. "Yet, in the karma fire of Youdu, for the first time, I came so close to the Heavenly Heart, so close to the Heavenly Dao. I wailed in the karma fire, yet I was moved to tears. As I bore my karma, I comprehended that the Heavenly Heart is the human heart! My son, this time, I am giving you this opportunity. Stand up, and walk out of the Nine Prisons Platform."

Ancestral God King's Dao heart shakily rose, chuckling. "What good would walking out do?" he asked.

Heaven Duke's Dao heart encouraged him, saying, "As long as you comprehend the Heavenly Heart, you can walk out. After you walk out, go to Youdu and endure the karma fire caused by your own karma, burning away your sins and suffering torment."

"Hahahahaha! Father God!"

Ancestral God King's Dao heart laughed so hard he couldn't straighten up. "You've enjoyed power and prestige, splendor and wealth, the worship and fear of all beings," he sneered. "Can you truly go back to how things were? You can, but I cannot! You can abandon all this, but I cannot. Moreover, you want me to willingly admit defeat and go to Youdu to suffer and be tormented? I cannot!"

He attacked Heaven Duke's Dao heart again, but his blow landed on empty air. Heaven Duke's Dao heart slowly rose, flying out of the Nine Prisons Platform and gradually disappearing into the sky.

Ancestral God King's Dao heart looked up, only to see Heaven Duke's face grow larger and larger, filling the entire sky of the Nine Prisons Platform.

"Walk out."

Heaven Duke said, "First, become human, then comprehend the human heart, comprehend the Heavenly Heart, and walk out of the Nine Prisons Platform."

"Demigods are inherently nobler than humans, nobler than sentient beings born later!"

Ancestral God King's Dao heart surged madly upward, screaming, "Humans are also divided into ranks, let alone me, a demigod? I possess the most powerful bloodline in the world, the most supreme spiritual body, boundless wisdom and strength. Why should I become human? Why should I comprehend the human heart or the Heavenly Heart? My heart *is* the Heavenly Heart! I am so powerful that even the Heavenly Dao, even Father God, even all beings in the myriad worlds, must submit to my feet!"

The moment he charged out of the Nine Prisons Platform, countless thorny mountains suddenly thrust forth from the platform, surging from all directions, and countless thorns pierced through his Dao heart!

Ancestral God King's Dao heart was nailed in mid-air, annihilated and dispersed.

Outside, Ancestral God King went completely mad, charging to kill Heaven Duke. Heaven Duke closed his eyes, starlight flowing like tears.

*Thud, thud, thud.*

Huge thorns burst out from Ancestral God King's body, piercing in all directions. When Ancestral God King reached Heaven Duke's side, blood splattered all over him.

"I am not reconciled…"

Ancestral God King raised his blood-soaked hand, smeared blood across his own face, and chuckled hoarsely. "Father God, I am not reconciled. I did not fall by your hand… *gurgle*…"

Blood gushed from his mouth, choking him.

"…I was defeated by Mu… *gurgle*… by Celestial Venerable Mu. I did not lose to your Heavenly Heart…"

He fell backward, his eyes wide open, pure white.