Chapter 1805: Two Ribs Inserted with a Knife

The Ancestral Court.

First Ancestor Human Sovereign and the others arrived. Although they had already seen 'Records of the Ancestral Court' and knew of the awe-inspiring grandeur of the Ancestral Court's Primordial Cauldron, seeing it in person still left them profoundly shaken. The Sea of Chaos and the enormous lotus flowers and leaves in the sky also astonished them beyond words. However, they regrettably missed the scene where the Cosmic Bell crossed sixteen chaotic rivers, directly striking the World Tree and confronting countless prehistoric powerhouses climbing its roots, which left them with a sense of regret. The magnificent spectacle described by Zhu Santong in 'Records of the Ancestral Court' filled them with longing.

Nevertheless, their arrival coincided with the descent of a Dao weapon from a perfected cultivator in the prehistoric universe into Jade Capital City in the Ancestral Court, which was equally astonishing. It was an ancient zither. Upon its descent, it played itself, its melodies resonating and creating a fantastical 'Great Thousand Foreign Realm' around Jade Capital City and in the sky.

“I must go to the World Tree and meet Elder Wuya,” Qin Mu told everyone. “I need to persuade Elder Wuya to join me in intercepting the Fourth Young Master's Dao weapon! The Third Young Master's Dao spear has already descended, and if we add the Fourth Young Master's zither, it will pose an immense threat to both Wuya and us.” Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Zhu Santong secretly thought, 'Just recently, the Seventh Young Master teamed up with Jade Capital City to attack Elder Wuya. Now he wants to team up with Elder Wuya to attack Jade Capital City. How shameless!'

Emperor Kaihuang Qin Ye, Emperor Kaihuang Di Yue, and others hastily tried to dissuade him from meeting Elder Wuya, warning him it would only bring trouble. First Ancestor Human Sovereign and the others also offered their advice. Having read 'Records of the Ancestral Court,' they knew of Qin Mu's alliance with Jade Capital City to severely beat Elder Wuya, an event recorded in the 'Treachery Chapter.' Zhu Santong had meticulously documented this in the book, even including Granny Si's order for him to delete the Treachery Chapter. In that chapter, Elder Wuya was beaten terribly, almost eradicated by Qin Mu and Jade Capital City. During the most critical phase of the battle, Qin Mu led numerous strong cultivators from Eternal Peace in a betrayal, stabbing Jade Capital City in the back, causing the city's palace lords and perfected cultivators to be routed. Only then did Elder Wuya manage to escape. Consequently, neither Elder Wuya nor the powerhouses of Jade Capital City from the Mi Luo Palace held Qin Mu in high regard.

“Where righteousness lies, though thousands stand against me, I shall go,” Qin Mu declared with righteous conviction. “When I go, I will certainly persuade Elder Wuya to understand the greater cause and join me in resisting Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court!” With that, he set off alone for the World Tree. Everyone exchanged glances. Emperor Kaihuang Qin Ye said, “Prepare early for any unexpected events.” Everyone agreed, saying, “Heavenly Venerate Mu will likely find it difficult to return unscathed this time. If Elder Wuya traps him, he will undoubtedly order others to attack us, first sweeping our faction out of the picture!”

At sunset, Qin Mu returned, bruised and battered, with multiple contusions on his body. He told everyone, “Elder Wuya has agreed to join forces. Tomorrow, we will attack Jade Capital City.” Everyone was astonished and taken aback. “Mu'er wasn't beaten to death?” Village Chief Su Muzhe exclaimed in surprise, “It seems his strength has improved again. I thought Elder Wuya would kill him.” Everyone nodded in agreement, saying, “Heavenly Venerate Mu's strength has indeed improved again!”

The next day, First Ancestor Human Sovereign and the others besieged Jade Capital City. Elder Wuya was also seen leading nearly ten thousand prehistoric powerhouses, many of whom were perfected cultivators. Elder Wuya personally entered the fray, standing beside Qin Mu. His lips twitched as he said, “Seventh Young Master of Mi Luo Palace, last time you allied with Jade Capital City to attack me, which showed me your true colors. You are adept at stabbing allies in the back, making it hard for me to trust you. This time, you deal with the Fourth Young Master's Dao spear, and I'll handle the Third Young Master's ancient zither. We'll keep to our own business; no one crosses the line.”

Faint bruises still lingered on Qin Mu's face. He said, “Dao Brother, wasn't my reason for stabbing Jade Capital City in the back last time to save you? Not only are you ungrateful, but you also claim my true colors are repulsive. Dao Brother, what about yours?” Elder Wuya also had unhealed bruises on his face. He sneered, “To save me? You were the one who beat me, and you were also the one who saved me. How innocent am I in all this? Chaos, your actions are as muddled as your name, making it hard to see through you! In fact, you could completely obey me, just like the Mi Luo Palace Master, and I could protect you and your Eternal Peace, letting you become another Mi Luo Palace Master!”

“Another Mi Luo Palace Master?” Qin Mu burst into laughter. Elder Wuya's face gradually turned green. As Qin Mu's laughter slowly subsided, he shook his head and said, “Dao Brother Wuya, I will not become the Mi Luo Palace Master, nor does the Mi Luo Palace Master obey your every command. Although you boast that the Mi Luo Palace Master's Dao Tree imitated you, even you must call him 'Teacher.' Without him initiating Dao methods and creating Dao realms, you would merely be a tree, ignorant and muddled. It was he who made you, not the other way around.” Elder Wuya's face became even greener, but he offered no rebuttal.

Qin Mu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the ancient zither in Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court. Its melodies vibrated, defending Jade Capital, turning it into an impenetrable sanctuary. “However, Dao Brother, you can rest assured. As long as the Mi Luo Palace is powerful, we are natural allies, and I will not let you die,” Qin Mu stated calmly. Elder Wuya understood and said, “As long as we collapse Jade Capital City together, my power will be the greatest, and at that point, you will team up with Jade Capital City to deal with me. Am I right?” Qin Mu nodded with a smile. Elder Wuya spat, then said, “Chaos, the Mi Luo Palace Master called me Wuya, meaning my life is boundless, my Dao is boundless. I, in turn, will give you a title: Shameless. Shameless in life, shameless in Dao.” “Dao Brother, you flatter me,” Qin Mu replied modestly. Elder Wuya was filled with suppressed anger, wishing he could tear Qin Mu apart immediately. However, confronting Jade Capital City was imperative, otherwise, if both young masters' Dao weapons descended upon the Ancestral Court, they would be in grave danger.

“Fortunately, besides you, I have another ally!” Elder Wuya's eyes flickered. He glanced at the sky, then suddenly shouted, “Attack!” As soon as he spoke, the ground outside Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court suddenly cracked open with thunderous booms, shaking the earth and mountains. Incredibly thick roots burst forth from deep within the earth, piercing through the 'Great Thousand Foreign Realm' created by Young Master Zixiao's zither music! The World Tree's roots collided with the Fourth Young Master's divine abilities embedded within the Great Thousand Foreign Realm, causing extremely terrifying spatial disturbances. These World Tree roots, like countless arms of Elder Wuya, also unleashed various divine abilities, contending against the Fourth Young Master's powers! The prehistoric powerhouses and perfected cultivators under Elder Wuya immediately swarmed forward, treading on the World Tree's roots as if walking on magnificent, dragon-like mountain ranges, moving with astonishing speed as they charged into the city! Inside the city, the twelve palace lords and ninety-six perfected cultivators were already poised for battle, awaiting the two waves of attackers. Seeing them approach, they immediately launched their assault.

At the same time, a Chaos Palace appeared behind Qin Mu, and the Cosmic Bell settled into his palm. Chaos energy suddenly surged and billowed, transforming into a Sea of Chaos. Qin Mu held up the Cosmic Bell and pushed his palm forward. Clang— The bell's mouth faced Jade Capital City. As if the cosmos was being created, the instant the bell rang, the city towers and walls of Jade Capital City floated, shattered, and countless bricks refined from the finest divine metal flew away with a whoosh, soaring backward. The Five Great Evolutions unfolded, stars emerged, and constellations formed a bell shape, crashing into the city.

“Kill!” Emperor Kaihuang drew his sword and roared, leaping first into the bell, treading on its inner wall as he charged forward. “Kill!” Lan Yutian and others followed closely, pouring into the Cosmic Bell. This scene immediately ignited the blood of First Ancestor Human Sovereign and the other newly arrived Eternal Peace powerhouses. Qin Fengqing shouted loudly, “You newcomers, stick closely to me and Heavenly Lady Yin. If you're about to die, give us a heads-up!” First Ancestor, Southern Emperor, and the others felt a chill in their hearts. Zhu Santong caught up to them, chuckling, “Don't worry, Lord Earth, Lord Heaven, and Heavenly Lady Yin have many tricks up their sleeves; it'll be hard for you to die. I've written all about it in my book. And even if all else fails, there's still Medicine King God!” The group bravely charged forward. Seeing that Emperor Kaihuang, Lan Yutian, and other perfected cultivators had already directly clashed with Jade Capital City's powerhouses, he felt a slight sense of relief.

Qin Mu raised a hand to stop Heavenly Venerate Yue, who also intended to charge into the city, and gently shook his head. Heavenly Venerate Yue understood and stayed by his side. Qin Mu gazed into the city, where the Third Young Master of Mi Luo Palace had once again taken control of Emperor Haotian's body and wielded the Dao spear. On the other side, the Fourth Young Master had chosen a perfected cultivator to guard his ancient zither. Waves of zither music emanated from the city, profound in their essence. The Fourth Young Master's mastery of music wasn't particularly outstanding; his true genius lay in his ability to wield divine abilities through the zither's sounds, a feat of incredible and inconceivable skill. The Third Young Master Ling Xiao's spear, on the other hand, was the most overbearing weapon under heaven; even Qin Mu's Cosmic Bell couldn't block it. Although Young Master Zixiao's zither had not fully descended, its power was by no means negligible!

Qin Mu's eyes flickered. He glanced at Elder Wuya and said unhurriedly, “This time, besides visiting Elder Wuya, getting into a fight with him, and ending up bruised and battered, I also made a trip to Jade Capital City.” Heavenly Venerate Yue turned in surprise, looking at his profile with a puzzled expression. However, she did not vocalize her question as to why Qin Mu would go to Jade Capital City after discussing how to deal with it with Elder Wuya. She knew Qin Mu would certainly provide a logical explanation.

Qin Mu continued, “Elder Wuya has an increasing number of perfected cultivators under his command. Although we and Jade Capital City have continuously attacked the World Tree, eliminating some of his forces, he is backed by sixteen cosmic epochs, and his followers are inexhaustible. The reason he can enable these followers to achieve Dao in the seventeenth epoch is that he has another ally.” Heavenly Venerate Yue's heart stirred. She wanted to look up at the sky but dared not look directly, fearing she might alert that person.

“Young Master Wuji is helping him, and he is also helping Young Master Wuji escape,” Qin Mu explained. “My struggle with the Third and Fourth Young Masters of Mi Luo Palace is a clash of ideologies: governing the world versus saving it. Even if they kill me, they won't trouble Eternal Peace or the myriad heavens and realms. They will simply continue along the Mi Luo Palace Master's path. But Wuji is different; Wuji wants to destroy the world, annihilate everything, and create a perfect world. That's why I went to see the Third and Fourth Young Masters.” Heavenly Venerate Yue's voice dropped. “You allied with them?” Qin Mu nodded gently. “Young Master Wuji is a disaster that the Third Young Master brought upon us; he must take responsibility. I sensed the red string knot seal I repaired; Young Master Wuji didn't touch any of my runes. So, what Elder Wuya helped her refine must be the remaining runes in the red string knot. If other runes were dissolved by her and Elder Wuya, then breaking my runes would be effortless for Wuji.”

Heavenly Venerate Yue said, “So the greatest danger isn't from Young Master Zixiao's zither.” Qin Mu nodded. “The greatest danger comes from Wuji. Whether for us or for Mi Luo Palace, Wuji's escape would be a devastating blow. This time, our goal is to lure out Young Master Wuji. The Third Young Master, the Fourth Young Master, and I will join forces to suppress her, reseal her, or even kill her!” Heavenly Venerate Yue shivered, saying, “But Wuji cannot be killed.”

Qin Mu said, “Only two individuals can kill Wuji: one is the Mi Luo Palace Master, and the other is Elder Wuya.” His gaze turned grim. “This time, we will use Elder Wuya's hand to kill Wuji, and then kill Elder Wuya. The Third and Fourth Young Masters definitely won't miss this temptation.” Heavenly Venerate Yue asked, puzzled, “Then what is your intention in keeping me here?”

“I cannot let Wuji and Elder Wuya die right now. If they die, all of Jade Capital City of the Ancestral Court and the Third and Fourth Young Masters could fully descend. I cannot allow them to descend.” Qin Mu turned to look at her and whispered, “I need you to interfere with Young Master Zixiao at a critical moment. However, you might die.” Heavenly Venerate Yue fell silent, then suddenly looked up and said, “Tell me what to do.”

Qin Mu gazed at her quietly, a faint smile on his lips. “But I won't let you die. If you trust me, I will travel back from the future to this very moment and save you, Yue.” He held Heavenly Venerate Yue's hand. Her mind became flustered as Qin Mu softly said, “We will meet again in the past universe.” Heavenly Venerate Yue withdrew her hand from his and nodded silently.