Chapter 244: Disaster for the Nation and People

The villagers of Crippled Village emerged to offer their congratulations. They celebrated the Village Chief finally having a successor as he approached his end, and also congratulated Qin Mu on inheriting the Village Chief's legacy and becoming the current Human Emperor. However, the Village Chief didn't look kindly upon the Mute, and Qin Mu himself was somewhat reluctant about his new identity as Human Emperor.

After the lively celebrations, Qin Mu continued to learn sword arts from the Village Chief.

The Sword Diagram was a sword art developed by the Village Chief, distinct from the Human Emperor Hall's techniques. Its first form, 'Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers,' was already the most intricate sword art Qin Mu had ever encountered, surpassing even the complexity of the Daoist sect's 'Two Poles Within which Yin and Yang are Repeated,' the first form of their Dao Sword.

Yet, 'Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers' was the simplest technique within the Sword Diagram. The second form, 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor,' was several times more complex, proving exceedingly difficult to master.

When Qin Mu first learned 'Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers,' it took him over ten days.

During his travels through Yankang Kingdom, his perspective and understanding had expanded immensely. He had received scriptures from the woodcutter's stone, comprehended the Great Unification cultivation method, and integrated the Overlord Body Three-Pill Technique, leading to a significant improvement in his own aptitude and comprehension.

Nevertheless, mastering 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor' still required over twenty days.

It was then that he understood the Village Chief's painstaking efforts. If not for the Village Chief sparring with him on 'Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers,' it might have taken him much longer—perhaps even a year or eighteen months—to learn 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor.'

Precisely because the Village Chief had pushed and refined his intellect, Qin Mu was able to learn 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor' in just over twenty days. He had now reached a level that blended sword techniques and sword skills, making comprehension challenging yet still achievable.

However, the Sword Diagram's third form, 'Imperial Tribulation Unrest,' reached the pinnacle of technique and variation possible for sword arts, putting it beyond Qin Mu's grasp. He could only memorize the moves, but to execute them, he needed to comprehend their profound mysteries. Despite his earnest efforts, he couldn't fully unlock the secrets of 'Imperial Tribulation Unrest.'

This was a matter of perspective and insight. Without sufficient breadth of vision and depth of understanding, one lacks the necessary foundation. Even if taught, such a technique would remain beyond comprehension and application.

Qin Mu had no choice but to give up on it, focusing instead on mastering 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor.'

"One sword, an ocean of imperial blood."

Qin Mu had previously heard the young Village Chief, who emerged from the Deaf's painting, recite this very line in Xiaohuang Village of Yankang Kingdom. A distinct emotion was embedded within the sword art itself.

The 'Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers' technique the Village Chief taught him also carried a unique charm and sentiment—that of gathering heroes and warring against gods and demons. 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor,' on the other hand, held a sentiment of mourning the fallen.

With different sentiments, the artistic conceptions within the sword forms were also vastly distinct. Although Qin Mu had learned both techniques, he still couldn't fully grasp the profound intent and emotions they contained.

'Sword Unveiling the Emperor' demanded an even more astonishing amount of vital energy; a single execution consumed nearly half of his cultivation. It was impossible to perform without an abundant supply of vital energy.

"'Village Chief, how many forms are there in the Sword Diagram?' Qin Mu asked.

The Village Chief, looking serene, replied, 'There are only eight forms.'

Qin Mu was surprised. 'Eight forms? That's so few?'

"'One form per cultivation realm,' the Village Chief explained.

Squinting, the Village Chief added, 'That's why there are only eight forms.'

Qin Mu counted on his fingers: Spirit Embryo, Five Luminaries, Six Directions, Seven Stars, Celestial Human, Life and Death, and Divine Bridge. No matter how he counted, there were only seven realms. So why were there eight forms?

"'Beyond the Divine Bridge realm, one becomes a god! Is the Village Chief's eighth form a divine technique?' His heart pounded erratically.

In recent days, besides comprehending sword arts, he had also been sparring with the Village Chief, leveraging the pressure exerted by the Chief to force himself to advance further.

He was attempting to integrate the National Master's three fundamental sword forms into 'Sword Unveiling the Emperor.' With the Village Chief's guidance, his progress was naturally rapid.

The Village Chief's sword art was so profound it bordered on the Dao; for him, whether there were fourteen or seventeen fundamental sword forms was inconsequential. But for Qin Mu, incorporating the National Master's three sword forms could significantly enhance the power of this technique.

His mastery of sword arts had advanced rapidly during this period.

Qin Mu felt as if he had returned to his earlier days: daily sparring in boxing with Old Ma, clashing knife arts with the Butcher, engaging in playful thefts with the Cripple, learning blacksmithing from the Mute, cultivating divine eyes with the Blind, refining medicine with the Apothecary, drawing with the Deaf, and tailoring clothes with Granny.

Though he collapsed onto his bed exhausted each day, his life felt incredibly fulfilling.

Upon his return to the village this time, Old Ma, the Butcher, and others imparted even more profound knowledge to him. What they had taught him before were merely introductory skills, but now that Qin Mu's perspective and understanding had deepened, he was capable of learning their more advanced abilities. This brought great satisfaction to all the elders of Crippled Village.

"'Granny's inner demon has resurfaced!'"

Chaos suddenly erupted in the village. The Cripple cried out, 'Blind man, quickly! Granny Si has reverted to her true form, and I can't bring myself to act! You can't see, so you come and suppress this little enchantress!'

Qin Mu, who was sparring knife arts with the Butcher, quickly looked up upon hearing the commotion. He saw a woman emerge from Granny Si's room. Upon seeing her, Qin Mu's heart pounded violently a few times, as if pierced by an invisible arrow.

Granny Si had evidently revealed her true appearance, meticulously dressed. She wore a perfectly fitted gown tailored from exquisite silk, no longer tattered old clothes, which beautifully showcased her figure.

Her makeup was also carefully applied, her bright eyes and white teeth accentuated by subtle powder, not concealing her astonishing beauty.

A vibrant green jade bracelet adorned her left wrist, and teardrop-shaped earrings dangled from her earlobes. As she emerged from the room, she radiated such brilliance that it felt less like deep winter and more like the cusp of spring and summer. Though the weather remained bitterly cold, everyone in the village felt as if spring flowers were blooming, filling the air with romance and fragrance.

She walked out as if a goddess had descended from an ethereal realm into the mundane world, captivating everyone in the village.

The Apothecary, feeling unworthy, covered his face and walked away. The Deaf's pen fell to the table; he hastily retrieved a bronze mirror and began to primp. The Mute rushed to the water tank to wash his face. Old Ma chanted Buddhist sutras to suppress his inner demons. The Butcher used his pig-slaughtering knife to shave off his beloved sideburns. The Cripple, meanwhile, closed his eyes and clamored for the Blind man to approach.

The Village Chief, also somewhat flustered, turned his head and called out, 'Blind man, Blind man!'

The Blind man, carrying his bamboo staff, walked unhurriedly toward Granny Si. 'Is it Cult Master Li or Granny Si?' he asked.

The Cripple fumed, 'Of course it's that pervert, Cult Master Li! Granny Si can't suppress him anymore! You can't see her face, so you come and subdue Cult Master Li!'

From Granny Si's lips came a coarse, aged voice, as she smiled seductively. 'My lady has already succumbed to me and is now suppressed. Tell me, am I beautiful?'

She laughed merrily, captivated by her own beauty, exhaling a fragrant breath. Though her voice was rough, her tone was remarkably gentle. 'Before I married my lady, I realized I was unworthy of such a beauty. Not only me, but no vile man in this world could ever be worthy of her! Yet, I was determined to marry her. I knew she was unwilling, for I was her master, but she could not resist. I also knew she intended to kill me on our wedding night, and I was willing to let her. Because…'

She raised her wrist, admiring her flawless, lily-white skin, purer and more delicate than mutton-fat jade. Even the transparent, pristine jade bracelet seemed a mere accessory, unworthy of such a wrist.

Cult Master Li covered her mouth and chuckled, 'Because I envied her too much. I didn't want to marry her; I wanted to *become* her. If she killed me and I became her, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?'

The Blind man approached with his staff. Though she was exquisitely beautiful, she had little effect on him. He calmly stated, 'Cult Master Li, that's going too far. Have you forgotten your former male self?'

"'What's there to miss about foul men?'"

With a captivatingly graceful posture, Cult Master Li rolled her eyes at him. 'You dead blind man, you're blind in both eye and heart; you don't understand the benefits of being a woman at all. Don't try to stop me; you can't. I'm leaving. I want to live another life as a woman!'

Qin Mu tightly shut his eyes, trying not to look at her, but couldn't resist opening them. 'Cult Master Li,' he blurted out, 'you're a bit twisted! We are both Cult Masters and Holy Teachers of the Heavenly Saint Cult; I disdain your character!'

The Blind man stood firm, leaning on his bamboo staff, and chuckled, 'Mu'er speaks well.'

Cult Master Li cast a glance at Qin Mu, and his mind instantly went blank. All thoughts vanished, replaced only by the overwhelming sensation of her beauty.

"'If you utter another word, this humble one will kill you and reclaim the title of Holy Cult Master,' Cult Master Li said, daintily pinching an orchid finger and smiling."

Qin Mu's heart pounded wildly. He felt that if such a beautiful woman desired his life, he would willingly surrender it.

"'No, no! She's Granny Si… Ptooey, ptooey, that's Li Tianxing, Cult Master Li, a foul old man! Ptooey, ptooey, even if it's Granny, it's not right—that's the Granny who raised me!'"

Cold sweat streamed down Qin Mu's forehead; he narrowly avoided a heart demon and promptly shut his eyes.

Cult Master Li walked towards the village exit, her demonic aura intensifying, her demonic nature growing stronger. Standing in her path was the Blind man, propped on his bamboo staff.

The two moved almost simultaneously, with lightning speed, and in an instant, victory was decided.

A surge of vital energy swept outwards. Crippled Village, a trove of treasures, saw its various artifacts instantly activated by the terrifying aftershocks of their clash, radiating brilliant light. Waves of immense tremors erupted, scattering the white clouds across the sky!

Cult Master Li clutched her chest and slowly collapsed. 'Blind man,' she gasped, 'my lady's cultivation is too weak; otherwise, I wouldn't be inferior to you. I'd only be stronger…'

The Blind man, leaning on his bamboo staff, calmly replied, 'You and I have never truly clashed before. How do you know you're stronger than me?'

Qin Mu quickly dashed into Granny Si's room, grabbed a human skin mask and some ragged clothes, and swiftly placed them over Cult Master Li. Cult Master Li instantly reverted to a small old woman, exclaiming fiercely, 'I don't want to look like this! I am the most beautiful woman in the world, and I refuse to be this ugly! I want to wear the prettiest clothes and be the most beautiful woman!'

Old Ma quickly approached, chanting Buddhist sutras to suppress the demonic nature and subdue Li Tianxing. After a moment, Granny Si slowly regained consciousness, her voice restored, and she thanked Old Ma.

The Apothecary quickly stepped forward, examined her injuries, and began to treat her. 'Blind man,' he said, 'you were a bit harsh. Mu'er, your pill refining speed is faster than mine; you should refine the spiritual pills.'

Qin Mu affirmed, then rapidly began refining the medicinal pills.

The Blind man sighed, 'I had no choice but to be harsh. Granny's cultivation has progressed too quickly, almost reaching the Life and Death realm. It seems Cult Master Li's primordial spirit has integrated too deeply with her. Moreover, Cult Master Li's Great Unification cultivation method is truly formidable, leaving me no option but to strike heavily.'

Granny Si rose, took the spiritual pill offered by Qin Mu, and said, 'I'm fine, much better.'

The Village Chief drifted over, shaking his head. 'Granny,' he said, 'fortunately you were in the village. If you were outside and Cult Master Li took over your body, I fear it would bring calamity upon the nation and its people. His demonic nature is too severe; wreaking havoc across the land would be commonplace for him. Even the Emperor would lose his composure upon seeing you, and within a few years, even Yankang Kingdom could fall into Cult Master Li's hands.'

Old Ma said, 'Your inner demon is growing stronger; dragging this on is not a solution. My Buddhist teachings are not as profound as those of the Old Buddha. Perhaps the Old Buddha can help you suppress Cult Master Li. You should consider a trip to Great Thunderclap Temple.'

The Butcher touched his face and found his hand covered in blood. He had shaved his beard too hastily just now, cutting his face with the pig-slaughtering knife, but he had been so captivated by Granny Si's beauty that he felt nothing. Only now, with Granny Si having donned her old hag's human skin, did he realize it. Horrified, he quickly urged, 'There's no time to lose, Granny; you should leave immediately! The longer you delay, the more dangerous it becomes for us!'

The Village Chief cleared his throat and said, 'Going to Great Thunderclap Temple is to ask the Old Buddha to suppress Granny's demonic nature, not to annihilate a sect, so there's no need for too many people. Old Ma is familiar with the route and must go. The Blind man can ignore Granny's appearance, so he should accompany her. Mu'er is astute, has cultivated the Creation Heavenly Demon Art, can also assist, and is proficient in medicine. The three of you will accompany Granny to Great Thunderclap Temple.'

His expression grave, he sternly declared, 'Remember, you absolutely must not let Cult Master Li escape, or chaos will engulf the world!'