Chapter 194: Words Fail to Connect

"This isn't demonic; it's a deification, a transformation into a divine form," the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace explained to Hu Ling'er, already accustomed to such sights.

He naturally recognized that Qin Mu wasn't reverting to his original form, but rather utilizing a peculiar technique, somewhat resembling a blend of several Heavenly Devil Cult methods.

"It seems to be Creation Technique combined with the Fire Element technique of the Five Luminaries..."

He wasn't entirely certain, as his knowledge of the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scriptures was limited.

Qin Mu's physical transformation was a form of deification, achievable through certain techniques and not uncommon, being a type of physical divine ability. Some martial arts schools specialized in deification or demonization to enhance their physical bodies.

However, Qin Mu's deification puzzled the Imperial Preceptor, as it seemed to involve more than just a physical divine ability. Physical divine abilities were naturally used to strengthen the body, relying on immense physical power to boost combat effectiveness. Yet, Qin Mu's deification appeared to be solely deification.

In the Imperial Preceptor's eyes, Qin Mu used a technique to transform himself into the likeness of the Planet Marshal of Yinghuo. Not only did his physical body change, but his vital energy also shifted, and even the aura he exuded changed simultaneously! This meant he possessed both the physical body and the divine abilities of the deified state. This was highly unusual.

The changes in Qin Mu's body continued. Fiery clouds surged beneath his feet, gradually forming two fire dragons that grew longer and larger, lifting his body off the ground. Qin Mu stood upon the fire dragons, his feet bursting through his shoes and transforming into two burning ox hooves. At this moment, he was a true Planet Marshal of Yinghuo, standing on two fire dragons!

Qin Mu raised his hand, and instantly the surroundings became incredibly dry. Egg-sized fireballs floated up and down in the air. The Imperial Preceptor watched with interest as streaks of sword light, composed of fine flames, burst forth from each fireball. Each streak performed a sword technique—specifically, the Setting Sun Sword Skill—while also containing the power of fire-element spells. The power of each strike was considerable!

"The Setting Sun Sword Skill of Yu Yuan Nation, very orthodox, combined with the ingenious use of Sword Pellets. Adding the power of spells, your strength can essentially be considered that of a divine practitioner."

The Imperial Preceptor praised him, "If you were to confront a Six-Directions realm divine practitioner head-on, you could survive. If you can fully unleash your deified physical divine ability, you could even contend with a Six-Directions realm divine practitioner."

Qin Mu abruptly retracted his sword techniques back into the fireballs. The fireballs collided, forming a red sun the size of a washbasin. He then opened his mouth and swallowed the red sun, exhaling two jets of flame from his ox nostrils.

He stopped activating the Three Primordial Spirit Replenishment Technique, and the two ox horns on his head slowly receded. His body gradually returned to normal, and the two fire dragons beneath his feet slowly dissipated. Qin Mu rubbed his backside, looking puzzled. His butt stung as if he had been whipped a few times.

"Could it be that I've gotten used to whipping cattle's butts since I was a child herding oxen?" the cattle-herding boy from Disabled Elderly Village wondered.

Ahead stood a majestic mountain with a waterfall cascading from the sky like a silver river hanging upside down. The white water, black cliffs, lush green peaks, and the scorching sun overhead formed a landscape resembling an ink wash painting. The roar of the water was deafening, and a strong scent of moisture carried from afar. Fine water mist hung in the air, settling on them, and soon their clothes became damp. The place was refreshing.

The Imperial Preceptor led them towards Southern Border, not by official roads, but by choosing a direction and pressing forward. They had now arrived in the mountains. The waterfall had carved out a deep, clear pool. By the pool, a magnificent stag with numerous branch-like antlers was flicking its short tail, eating spirit grass growing by the water. Its body was adorned with white, plum-blossom-shaped spots.

Noticing their arrival, the stag quickly raised its head, tilted it, and eyed them, taking a couple of steps. Everyone inwardly admired its grandeur; this stag was as large as the Dragon Qilin, very imposing. The stag snorted, then walked to the edge of the pool. By the pool, an old man in a straw cloak had a fishing rod stuck in the bank and was fishing. Beside the old man was a half-grown child, bored, picking up stones and throwing them into the water where the old man was fishing. The child wasn't just throwing one or two; he was throwing them continuously.

The waterfall was so huge, and the current so swift, that even if there were fish, they wouldn't bite. Coupled with the child constantly throwing stones, the old man wouldn't catch anything today.

Yue Qinghong shook her head. "If this child were adopted, he would have been beaten to death long ago. Who could endure this?"

Qin Mu looked around, puzzled. This wasn't a suitable place for fishing, yet there was an old man fishing, and a child deliberately throwing stones into his fishing spot. It clearly wasn't a genuine fishing attempt. In this wild, desolate place, rarely visited by people, if they weren't fishing, then they must be blocking the way! Coupled with the magnificent plum-spotted stag, which was no less imposing than the Dragon Qilin, the old man's identity was likely someone from the same era as the Young Patriarch and others!

Shen Wanyun and Si Yunxiang also noticed the peculiarity and looked towards the Imperial Preceptor. Monk Yun Que, however, didn't think so much and went forward to inquire, smiling, "Elder, how can there be fish here? Is this your grandson? Your grandson keeps throwing stones; even if there were fish, they'd be scared away."

The old man pushed back his hat, revealing a heavily wrinkled face, and chuckled, "Why would there be no fish? Aren't the fish arriving now?"

Yun Que looked at his fishing spot but saw no fish, only the mischievous child throwing stones.

The Imperial Preceptor stepped forward and said nonchalantly, "Although this pool is not large, the fish are quite big. It might be difficult to catch them. Does the elder have the skill?"

The wrinkles on the old man's face deepened as he chuckled, "This world is like a clear pool of water, but a big fish has come, stirring up the water. This big fish should have leaped over the Dragon Gate to become a true dragon, but instead, it not only stirs up the water but also eats the small fish, devouring all the other small fish. Imperial Preceptor, do you think I should catch this large, disruptive fish?"

The Imperial Preceptor's eyes flickered. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he slowly said, "Elder, is it appropriate to compare martial arts schools to small fish? Martial arts schools should be like leeches, leeches that cling to fish and suck their blood. Although the water appears clear, the fish within are bitten by leeches. If that is the case, then one should not fish; rather, one should apply strong medicine to eliminate the leeches!"

The old man said nothing more.

The Imperial Preceptor also said nothing more.

When opinions clash, even a few words are too many. They had already spoken several sentences and both felt they could not convince the other. Continuing the debate would only be a waste of breath. Since their philosophies differed and they couldn't persuade each other, it was simpler and more direct to defeat the opponent and eradicate their ideals.

The old man rose, put away his fishing rod and line, leaned the rod against a large tree, took off his bamboo hat, shed his straw cloak, and waved his hand, signaling the mischievous child beside him to retreat. "Go to the other side of the mountain."

The Imperial Preceptor said to Qin Mu and the others, "You all cross the mountain and wait for me. Elder, have you passed on all your skills?"

The old man nodded. "They have all been passed on. What about you, Imperial Preceptor?"

The Imperial Preceptor said calmly, "I don't need to. In my younger years, I was too hot-headed and killed too many people, causing many martial arts schools to be annihilated and their unique techniques lost. After establishing the Heavenly Records Pavilion, I often regretted this. So, ever since then, when I kill someone, I make it a habit to ask first."

Although Qin Mu wanted to stay and witness this rare battle, a clash between beings of the Imperial Preceptor's caliber would likely be even more intense than that of the Heavenly Devil King. Observing from such a close distance would only lead to death.

"Let's cross the mountain!" Qin Mu said in a low voice.

He led the others over the high mountain. Looking down, the two figures beneath the waterfall were obscured by mist and no longer visible. The mischievous child, riding the large stag, was not far from them. He blinked and asked, "Are you from the Imperial College?"

Shen Wanyun nodded. "May I ask your name, Brother?"

"Mu Ran, Wang Muran!"

He was about the same age as Qin Mu, but unlike Qin Mu's calm demeanor, Wang Muran was extremely active, unable to sit still, and would become bored if he remained quiet for too long. He wasn't settled even on the large stag, patting the deer's rump and galloping over.

Qin Mu asked, "Brother Wang, which school are you from?"

"Little Jade Capital."

"Little Jade Capital?"

Shen Wanyun, Yun Que, and the others looked bewildered, having never heard of this school. Eternal Peace had three Sacred Lands, and while there were other large schools no less prominent than them, Little Jade Capital was not among them. Qin Mu's heart skipped a beat. The two characters 'Jade Capital' were not something just anyone could use. Jade Capital referred to the capital city where the Heavenly Emperor resided, and this Heavenly Emperor was not a god, but an immortal, the Heavenly Emperor of immortals. Which school was audacious enough to take the name Little Jade Capital?

"We live in the Little Jade Capital Sacred Land. There are very few people there, mostly old men and women. There aren't many around my age."

Wang Muran continued, "This time, someone came to visit and found my master, asking him to meet with the Imperial Preceptor, claiming that the Imperial Preceptor was acting like a devil and wanted to destroy all martial arts schools in the world. My master was a bit reluctant at first, but it was a favor he couldn't refuse, so he brought me along to travel and look around. Most of the world's martial arts schools have already been destroyed by the Imperial Preceptor. The Imperial Preceptor's actions are indeed indistinguishable from those of a devil."

Hu Ling'er puzzled, "Aren't we on the side of justice? I think the Imperial Preceptor acts very upright!"

Wang Muran shook his head. "You are all the court's lackeys, the Imperial Preceptor's pawns; your reputations are very bad."

Qin Mu was perplexed. He thought the Imperial Preceptor's actions were fine, righteous even, and the Imperial Preceptor himself had an aura of stern righteousness. Everything he did seemed normal and righteous in Qin Mu's view. How had it become demonic in the eyes of others? And how had they, the Imperial College scholars, become the court's lackeys and the Imperial Preceptor's pawns, with tarnished reputations?

"Right and wrong, perhaps it's just a matter of perspective," Qin Mu thought to himself.

Hu Ling'er asked, "Muran, what will you do if your master dies?"

Wang Muran was full of confidence, shaking his head. "No one can kill my master. His old man's skills..."

Just then, the Imperial Preceptor walked over and said to Wang Muran, "Go collect his body. He said before he died that all his skills have been passed on to you. Very good, practice hard."

Wang Muran was stunned. He suddenly jumped off the stag's back and ran quickly towards the bottom of the waterfall. A moment later, his wailing cry could be heard.

"Little Jade Capital is quite remarkable. I've heard of that school; it has some connection to the heavens."

The Imperial Preceptor looked at Qin Mu and said, "Li City is ahead. I'm injured, so you'll need to gather herbs and refine pills for my recovery."

Qin Mu nodded. "The Imperial Preceptor's injuries are difficult to treat. The medicine I prescribe will certainly be complex."

---The author, Zhai Zhu, has a cold and sore throat, feeling a bit dizzy. He can't promise a third update today, but will do his best.