Chapter 1816: Ancestral Court Hunyuan Cauldron

In the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City, Prince Lingxiao and Prince Zixiao witnessed Wuji's death, and their expressions drastically changed. They quickly halted the Jade Capital City's movement and immediately initiated a blood sacrifice ritual.

The Ancestral Court Jade Capital City's objective was to seize the opportunity while Qin Mu was occupied with Wuji to clear out Yankang's forces. However, they hadn't anticipated Qin Mu defeating and killing Wuji so swiftly and decisively.

"Activate the blood sacrifice ritual with all your might!"

At the princes' command, countless fragments of Da Luotian lit up. Hexagonal pillars continuously rose, growing larger and thicker, as countless runes glowed. The entire Ancestral Court became enveloped in the light of the blood sacrifice.

To their surprise, Qin Mu did not seize the opportunity to interfere with the ritual; instead, he allowed them to proceed.

"Does he truly have absolute confidence that he can capture all of us in one fell swoop?"

The two princes' expressions grew solemn. Judging by Qin Mu's process of slaying Wuya and eliminating Wuji, his power had significantly advanced over the past 3.5 billion years, but it was still slightly inferior to a prince's level.

It was almost impossible for him and Yankang's forces to eradicate the Jade Capital City.

"The seventh's spirit already carries some of our teacher's demeanor. Nevertheless, this battle absolutely cannot be lost, and it's impossible for us to lose!"

The Jade Capital City's blood sacrifice ritual fully unfolded, drawing immense energy from the deaths of Wuya and Wuji and exchanging it for mass-energy from the past. Within the Jade Capital City, beams of light ignited, as Dao achievers and Hall Masters continuously descended.

Concurrently, Prince Zixiao and Prince Lingxiao were nearing their complete arrival.

Qin Mu and Yankang's Dao achievers seemed to fear that the incoming energy might be insufficient, as they continued to eliminate Old Man Wuya's followers, allowing more Dao achievers from the Jade Capital City to descend calmly into the Ancestral Court.

In the sky, the chaotic sea subsided, and Qin Mu stepped down, arriving on the battlefield. Old Man Wuya's forces comprised countless powerful individuals, including many comparable to Hall Masters, but they were leaderless.

Yankang had many formidable cultivators; Hall Master-level existences alone included over a dozen individuals such as Xu Shenghua, Lan Yutian, Founding Emperor Qin Ye, Taisu, Jiang Baigui, Xing An, Qin Fengqing, Nether Heavenly Venerate, Hua Xuanxiu, and God King Siqin.

The outcome of this battle was already decided without Qin Mu needing to intervene.

Qin Mu waited silently.

The ferocity of this battle was beyond imagination. Old Man Wuya's subordinates did not merely stay and fight; instead, they fled to other parts of the Ancestral Court, expanding the battlefield across the entire region, making the clean-up operation even more challenging.

Even with Qin Fengqing, Heavenly Lord, Heavenly Yin Empress, and Apothecary among them, Yankang's forces inevitably suffered casualties.

Qin Mu still did not interfere, allowing them to proceed.

More than a decade later, the clean-up operation finally concluded. The Golden Ship of Transmigration returned with everyone aboard, hovering outside the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City.

Qin Mu stood at the ship's bow. The blood sacrifice ritual within the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City was also nearing its end. The ritual's light in the sky gradually dimmed, and the Dao light emanating from past universes became increasingly faint.

Finally, beam after beam of light vanished, with the last one slowly descending and settling into the city.

The Ancestral Court Jade Capital City, looking pristine as if washed by a cleansing rain, fully emerged within the Ancestral Court. Within this ancient divine city, Dao light shimmered, Dao trees formed forests, and the Dao sounds emanating from Dao achievers' Dao fruits resonated loudly and rhythmically. Countless varieties of Dao sounds converged, vibrating continuously, filling the entire Ancestral Court like a grand ode to the Great Dao.

Dao patterns and chains overflowed from the city's Dao trees, interweaving in the sky. Though immense in number, they remained perfectly ordered.

These Dao patterns and chains spread everywhere, seemingly imprinting themselves upon the sky and the mountains and rivers. Even around the Golden Ship of Transmigration, profound and mystical Dao patterns and chains drifted by, resembling flood dragons, flowing rivers, or soaring phoenixes.

*Clang!*

The gates of the Jade Capital City opened, revealing thousands of palaces and halls within, along with forests of Dao trees.

In front of each palace stood a Dao tree, and beneath each Dao tree sat a Dao achiever. They placed their Dao weapons either on altars within the palaces or hung them from the Dao trees, nourishing them with their Dao fruits and Dao flowers.

Their lack of Da Luotian, and not having achieved Dao in the Seventeenth Epoch, might have been their only weakness.

However, their cultivation was still incredibly profound, and their numbers were far greater than Yankang's three thousand Dao achievers.

Shu Jun craned his neck, still counting the Dao trees within the city. Beside him, Siqin, who was a Creator and powerfully built, said, "Old God King, no need to count anymore. There are eighteen thousand Dao trees in the city."

Shu Jun pulled his neck back and mumbled, "Don't call me Old God King. I'm only tens of thousands of years older than you."

Siqin asked curiously, "Does the God King wish to call me brother?"

Shu Jun's face darkened, and he quickly shook his head. Many present were Siqin's elders; if he were to call Siqin brother, he would suffer a great loss in terms of seniority.

He knew that in terms of seniority, he was the oldest among those present. Furthermore, Siqin's origins were unclear, and if he really turned out to be Qin Mu's child, Shu Jun would have incurred a significant loss.

He also remembered Qin Mu's expression when Siqin recently came to the Ancestral Court and handed him the painting from God King Langwan. There was definitely something fishy about it.

Jiang Baigui glanced at Siqin, also recalling Qin Mu's demeanor when he put away the painting that day, and fell into thought.

Emperor Yanfeng leaned closer to him and whispered, "Grand Tutor, have you figured out who Siqin's biological father is?"

Although Emperor Yanfeng was no longer the Heavenly Emperor and Jiang Baigui was no longer the Grand Tutor, Emperor Yanfeng still frequently addressed him as such.

Jiang Baigui's eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice, "I had the Heavenly Map Painting Sage examine that painting."

Emperor Yanfeng's spirits lifted, and just as he was about to ask, Wei Suifeng leaned in and whispered, "What did the Heavenly Map Painting Sage say?"

The Heavenly Map Painting Sage was Qin Mu's painting Dao teacher, the deaf man from Crippled Old Village. Compared to him, Qin Mu's painting Dao was still somewhat immature.

However, Qin Mu's ability to imbue his paintings with profound emotion and vast spirit was beyond what the Painting Sage could match.

The three old men huddled together, whispering. Jiang Baigui pondered for a moment before recounting the Heavenly Map Painting Sage's words.

The Heavenly Map Painting Sage stated that the painting was indeed Qin Mu's work, imbued with his emotions. When painting it, Qin Mu's mastery of the painting Dao was already impeccable.

The painting contained a world of its own, a universe within. However, despite Qin Mu's perfect mastery of the painting Dao, this particular artwork was incomplete.

"I questioned him thoroughly, but the Painting Sage was reluctant to say more, only stating that some elements in the painting were not painted but rather 'imprinted'."

Jiang Baigui said, "In my opinion, that painting was already exceptionally perfect. Which part of it was 'imprinted'?"

Emperor Yanfeng and Wei Suifeng exchanged glances. If they knew which part was imprinted, they might be able to unravel the mystery of Siqin's origins. However, Qin Mu had already put the painting away.

Moreover, even if Qin Mu brought it out, given their rudimentary understanding of the painting Dao, they likely wouldn't be able to discern it.

Wei Suifeng hesitated, then suggested enticingly, "Old Emperor, why don't you ask Emperor Yanxiu? She most likely knows the inside story and might be able to get that painting out..."

Emperor Yanfeng shivered, then retorted angrily, "You only come up with terrible ideas! If this is indeed something my son-in-law was involved in, my Ling family will never have peace! Let's not speak of it, let's not speak of it!"

Suddenly, a beautiful woman emerged from the Jade Capital City, bowed slightly, and said, "Seventh Prince, the two princes invite you. Please make your way there."

Qin Mu nodded, stepped off the golden ship, and said gently, "Sister Nan Xiang, please lead the way."

The woman smiled and replied, "You are too kind, Prince. Please."

Qin Mu followed her into the Jade Capital City. Qin Fengqing looked around and saw that the Dao trees in the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City were growing stronger, and the Dao patterns and chains were increasing, forming a dense net. The Ancestral Court seemed to have become a gigantic net, and their golden ship like an insect caught within it. He frowned and said to Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian, "Brothers, given the layout of the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City, if we remain idle, I fear we will be at a disadvantage."

Lan Yutian nodded, looking around. "We cannot afford to be at a disadvantage. Everyone, prepare yourselves."

As soon as he spoke, countless fragments of Da Luotian suddenly unfolded from the golden ship. These were the Da Luotians of Yankang's Dao achievers, shining brilliantly and showcasing their magnificent aura.

The Da Luotian of Yankang's Dao achievers was entirely different from those of Dao achievers from the previous sixteen cosmic epochs. Each of their Da Luotians was based on the Ancestral Court, with the Ancestral Court Divine Treasure at its core, and their respective World Trees standing in the center of the Ancestral Court, supplemented by various sacred lands such as the Five Tais, Heavenly Sea, Nine Hells, Jade Terrace, and Four Heavenly Gates.

Above the World Tree was the Profound Capital Divine Treasure, where stars shone brightly and star rivers coiled. Below the World Tree was the Netherworld Divine Treasure.

Additionally, other divine treasures such as the Heavenly River and Four Extreme Heavens formed phenomena resembling myriad worlds and heavens.

Once the three thousand Dao achievers' Da Luotian on the ship were fully unfurled, various Dao patterns and chains instantly spread out and extended, pushing back the Dao patterns and chains of the Ancestral Court Jade Capital City's Dao achievers, vying for supremacy.

Thousands of Da Luotians, like thousands of miniature universes, were dazzling to behold.

However, there were also exceptions. For example, Jiang Baigui cultivated the Post-Heavenly Dao, following the path of the Heavenly Palace and Heavenly Court, which was not consistent with their Da Luotian.

Founding Emperor, on the other hand, achieved Dao through the traditional Dao realm, also differing from them.

As for Taisu, who achieved Dao as an ancient god, his system also significantly differed from the Ancestral Court's Dao realm system.

Xu Shenghua's eyes flickered as he looked around, noting that the Ancestral Court's Dao achievers still held an advantage over them. "Everyone," he said, "return the sacred lands to the Ancestral Court!"

As soon as he spoke, mountain ranges soared from the golden ship. Additionally, vast oceans and lakes, great rivers, the Four Heavenly Gates, Jade Pond and Jade Terrace, God-Slaying Platform, Nine Hells Platform, and various other sacred lands flew out from the sleeves of individual Dao achievers, soaring towards different parts of the Ancestral Court.

These sacred lands were originally from the Demigod Heavenly Court era, when Heavenly Venerate Hao forcibly refined the Ancestral Court's sacred lands into treasures to attack the Primordial Realm. Later, Yankang gradually reclaimed them to suppress the national destiny.

For this final battle, Dao Ancestors Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian ordered all of the Ancestral Court's sacred lands to be gathered, preparing to return them to the Ancestral Court.

As these sacred lands sequentially returned to their original positions, the Ancestral Court instantly vibrated with a thunderous roar. It was as if a sealed deity had suddenly had all its divine treasures connected. Beams of treasured light and Dao light immediately shot up from all parts of the Ancestral Court, reflecting and enhancing the Da Luotians of Yankang's Dao achievers.

Inside the city, Qin Mu sat down, smiling, observing the expressions of Prince Zixiao and Prince Lingxiao.

The Dao patterns and chains emanating from the city's Dao tree forests were suppressed, continuously retracting. Outside the city, the Ancestral Court Primordial Chaos Cauldron seemed to revive. Over the past 3.5 billion years, Qin Mu had imprinted upon the Ancestral Court, refining it into a treasure. With the return of these sacred lands, the entire Ancestral Court was forged into a single entity, becoming an unimaginably potent treasure, a heavy artifact capable of suppressing all.