Chapter 264: The Twin Heroes of Yan Kang

Bidding farewell to Granny Si, Qin Mu led the emperor forth, with Long Qilin trailing behind. He imparted the Creation Spirit Skill from the Great Yu Heavenly Demon Scripture to Emperor Yanfeng, along with his own Overlord Body Three Elixirs Skill, saying, "Cultivate these two skills in tandem, even as we walk. They will greatly benefit your injuries, at least strengthening your body."

Emperor Yanfeng, half-believing and half-doubting, attempted to cultivate the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Skill and the Creation Spirit Skill. Unconsciously, his complexion brightened somewhat. He chuckled, "This skill is truly remarkable! To think I can cultivate while walking. I even feel some of my strength returning."

"Cultivate these first. Once you achieve some small progress, the injuries to your physical body can begin to heal, and your physique will strengthen. Then, I shall teach you the Creation Ghost God Skill to refine your soul, stabilizing it. We will then employ medicine to treat your soul directly. With this dual approach, your soul injuries will eventually mend."

Qin Mu suddenly fell deep in thought. "I have taught the skills from the Great Yu Heavenly Demon Scripture to the emperor. Does he wish to join my Heavenly Saint Cult? What position should I bestow upon him?"

He cast a glance at Emperor Yanfeng, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I still lack a Heavenly King. If I could persuade the emperor to join and become a Heavenly King of the Heavenly Saint Cult, then the entire Yan Kang Country would become the domain of the Heavenly Saint Cult…"

Emperor Yanfeng diligently practiced. His body grew somewhat stronger, and he even cultivated some vital energy, though without a Divine Treasure, his cultivation was truly limited.

Qin Mu also cultivated, neither rushing nor slowing his pace. As he circulated the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Skill, five rays of light shone down from the heavens. These were the Five Planets within his body connecting with the stellar bodies above, drawing upon the power of the Five Planets to enhance his cultivation.

Emperor Yanfeng was slightly startled. "He is still in the Five Planets realm?"

He had always assumed Qin Mu was a Six Harmonies realm Divine Ability Practitioner, given that Qin Mu's strength already rivaled those of the Divine Ability realm, and his cultivation was no longer inferior to them. He had not expected Qin Mu to remain in the Five Planets realm.

"The Great Yu Heavenly Demon Scripture of the Heavenly Demon Cult is indeed extraordinary," Emperor Yanfeng mused inwardly. He was unaware that Qin Mu's vital energy primarily originated from the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Skill, the very same technique he was now cultivating.

Qin Mu's cultivation had indeed reached the pinnacle of the Five Planets realm, not far from the Six Harmonies realm. He merely awaited the stabilization of the Five Planets within his Divine Treasure before attempting a breakthrough.

The two walked for four days, enduring wind and meager meals, until they arrived at the next city. Qin Mu led Emperor Yanfeng inside and purchased some medicinal materials. It was the first time in his life that the emperor had experienced such hardship. His feet were worn raw and covered in blisters.

At the inn, Qin Mu placed him in a wooden tub filled with medicinal water to soak for the night. The emperor fell asleep in the tub and awoke the next day to find his blisters gone. He felt his body much lighter and more agile, marveling at the change.

The two continued their journey, arriving in the territory of Qi State. They witnessed many Divine Ability Practitioners driving away villagers, whipping and scolding them.

"This land belongs to my Qi Mountain Sect!" These Divine Ability Practitioners were likely disciples of the Qi Mountain Sect, cultivating thunder techniques and controlling thunder arrays to strike randomly. They herded the villagers from a ten-li radius together, shouting, "The Emperor has decreed a return to the ancestral system! The sects' lands are to be returned to the sects! From now on, you need not pay imperial grain; you need only offer tribute to the Qi Mountain Sect!"

The headman of a village, unconvinced, argued for a few sentences before being struck dead by a lightning bolt.

Qin Mu stopped to observe, a slight frown on his face. Emperor Yanfeng's face was ashen, and he said coldly, "They act against the tide!"

As they passed through other states and counties, they witnessed the resurgence of sectarian power everywhere, seizing territory, plundering wealth, and dividing the land. For a time, chaos reigned supreme.

The recent snow disaster had already caused great devastation, and the comeback of the sects, with their division of land and capture of people as tenants, only exacerbated the situation.

Moreover, the local government offices, which had been providing disaster relief, had now ceased their efforts. The number of people frozen or starved to death grew immeasurably.

Emperor Yanfeng remained silent, cultivating even more diligently, striving to repair his Divine Treasure and restore his cultivation.

Upon reaching Yong State, Qin Mu went directly to the City Lord's mansion. The governor of Yong State, a Hall Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult, hurried out to greet him. He glanced at Emperor Yanfeng, not recognizing him, and his gaze fell back on Qin Mu, saying, "Cult Leader…"

"Let's talk inside."

Qin Mu entered the mansion and instructed Long Qilin to find a place to rest. He then glanced at the famished emperor and said, "Hall Master of the Net Garb Hall, give this bald man… give this senior brother a bowl of rice to eat."

The governor of Yong State was indeed the Hall Master of the Net Garb Hall of the Heavenly Saint Cult, named Duan Mu Jing. He waved his hand and instructed someone to take the emperor away to eat. He then chuckled, "Cult Leader, why are you traveling with a big monk?"

Qin Mu did not elaborate, instead asking, "What is the situation in the capital city?"

"The situation in the capital city is dire," replied Duan Mu Jing. "Many Daoists from the Dao Gate and monks from the Great Thunder Sound Temple have gone to the capital. The Dao Lord and the Tathagata have each issued decrees, enfeoffing the Prince as the Pure Emperor. His ascension to the throne is set for the sixth day of the third month. Currently, the Prince's spies are active everywhere, searching for anyone who resembles the emperor and immediately beheading them."

Qin Mu nodded quietly, confirming his suspicions.

Duan Mu Jing continued, "Furthermore, the Prince, as the supervising regent, wields immense power. Many aristocratic families are now controlled by the two sides of Buddhism and Daoism. Some of the large aristocratic families in the capital have already defected, while some families are housing many monks and Daoists who refuse to leave. These aristocratic families dare not oppose them and can only allow them to stay. The capital city is now a mix of all three religions and nine schools of thought, a veritable melting pot of fish and dragons. One could say it is no longer the emperor's world."

"The Prince has also issued a decree, stating that he will restore the ancestral system and promulgate supply laws, returning the land of each sect to its respective sect. Other lands will belong to Yan Kang, and…"

Duan Mu Jing hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Envoys from the Wolf Ju Xu Country have arrived. They have raised the matter of the border conflict and are negotiating peace with the Prince. The Prince has ceded sixteen states of Yunlu to the Wolf Ju Xu Country. Envoys from the barbarian tribes have also arrived and are currently discussing ceding land and paying indemnities…"

"Squandering the family fortune is truly easy," Qin Mu chuckled. "This Prince, as emperor, is indeed cowardly."

Duan Mu Jing was somewhat puzzled, as Qin Mu showed no sign of anger, instead acting as if nothing had happened. He was unaware that Qin Mu had never considered himself a citizen of Yan Kang Country. From beginning to end, he was a god-abandoned individual from the Great Ruins, and thus had no cause for anger.

"The sixth day of the third month for the ascension is indeed an auspicious day, suitable for slaughter." Qin Mu then asked, "Have you inquired about the National Teacher's whereabouts?"

"I have," replied Duan Mu Jing.

Qin Mu's spirit lifted. He took out several pages of paper and said, "Hall Master, please prepare the medicinal materials listed on these pages and have them placed in Qin State City."

Duan Mu Jing agreed.

Qin Mu called for Emperor Yanfeng and summoned Long Qilin, saying, "We are leaving the city."

Emperor Yanfeng hurriedly protested, "I haven't eaten enough!"

Qin Mu chuckled, "I am taking you to find the National Teacher. I will get you some food along the way."

Emperor Yanfeng quickly put down the steamed bun, his face solemn. He silently followed behind Qin Mu. After a moment, Emperor Yanfeng said, "I want to ask him where he has been all this time!"

Qin Mu lifted him up and placed him on Long Qilin's back. He then leaped up, standing on Long Qilin's forehead.

Long Qilin's feet stepped on fiery clouds, and they galloped away. Emperor Yanfeng shivered from the cold winds and continuously sneezed. Qin Mu suddenly ignited his entire body with raging flames, and Emperor Yanfeng then felt much better.

Long Qilin ran for two days before Qin Mu signaled the beast to land. They arrived at a mountainous area where hot air steamed and rays of light rose from the valley, continuously evaporating upwards and dispersing in the air.

"Divine light!" Emperor Yanfeng's face was serious. He sniffed the air and said, "Blood. This mountain valley has the blood of a god!"

Qin Mu led him into the mountain valley and indeed saw a lake of blood. Beside the blood lake was a wooden house, and behind the wooden house was a small river. The river water, heated by the god's blood, was somewhat warm. A woman wearing a snow-white fur coat, with a slight bulge in her abdomen, stood by the river.

At her feet was a middle-aged man, holding a mallet, pounding clothes on a stone slab. A bamboo basket was placed beside the man, containing washed clothes.

The man and woman heard the sound and turned to look. Qin Mu approached with a smile on his face.

"You didn't even help me up!" Emperor Yanfeng climbed up and hurriedly followed.

The middle-aged man put down the mallet, wiped his wet hands on his clothes, and stood up beside the woman. His face was somewhat pale, and he smiled as he looked at Qin Mu and the emperor approaching.

"National Teacher!" Emperor Yanfeng's steps quickened. He was about to rush forward and question him when he suddenly noticed blood seeping from the Yan Kang National Teacher's chest and his poor complexion. He couldn't help but feel a great shock and exclaimed with tears in his eyes, "My National Teacher, how could you have fallen to this state?"

The Yan Kang National Teacher greeted the emperor, also noticing that his cultivation was completely lost. He felt a pang of sadness and said, "Your Majesty is also in the same predicament."

The woman hurriedly said, "You are also injured; do not let your mind be disturbed."

Qin Mu was astonished. The two strongest individuals in Yan Kang Country were both severely injured!

"The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Saint Cult greets the National Teacher's wife," Qin Mu saluted the woman.

The National Teacher's wife saw the emperor's bald and shiny head and felt puzzled. She hurriedly said, "Do not stand; come inside and sit."

"After I left Little Jade Capital, I intended to investigate the source of the heavenly disaster. I then encountered a god holding a gourd," the Yan Kang National Teacher said calmly in the small wooden house. "The heavenly disaster was released from his gourd. He was injured, but I was injured even more severely. Furthermore, my wife is pregnant, so I have stayed here for some time."

Although he spoke lightly, one could imagine how perilous that battle must have been!

Emperor Yanfeng looked at his injuries, then at Qin Mu, a look of inquiry on his face.

Qin Mu examined him for a moment and shook his head. "The injuries left by the god contain divine intent. I cannot completely cure them. To completely cure them, we must return to the village and ask Medicine Master Grandpa to intervene."

The Yan Kang National Teacher said, "I also knew you could not completely cure them, so I did not seek you out. My injuries are too severe now; I cannot return to the capital city, otherwise I would surely die. I cannot let others know I am injured. I did not expect Your Majesty to be…"

The two middle-aged men looked at each other, then suddenly burst into laughter together. The Yan Kang National Teacher laughed until he coughed incessantly.

Emperor Yanfeng looked outside and asked, "Is that blood lake outside?"

"The god left; he was very strong and suffered only superficial wounds."

The wound on the Yan Kang National Teacher's chest reopened. Qin Mu applied some dragon saliva, and the bleeding stopped for a moment before being torn open again by the residual divine ability from the Divine Treasure within his wound.

This kind of injury could no longer be cured by medicine or surgery. Even a spirit pill that could bring the dead back to life could not remove the residual divine ability of the god.

Qin Mu thought for a moment and took out the sword pill that the mute one had given him. He gently urged it, and sword light grew from within the sword pill. Qin Mu pressed it forward and plunged it into the area surrounding the Yan Kang National Teacher's wound.

The National Teacher's wife let out a soft cry, but the Yan Kang National Teacher and Emperor Yanfeng did not move.

Qin Mu extended his index finger, his fingertip vital energy hazy, like a cloud cluster rotating at his fingertip. He gently pointed at the sword pill, and with a *chi* sound, another sword light shot out from within the sword pill, passed through the house, and embedded itself in the blood lake.

*Boom!*

The blood lake shook violently, erupting with a shocking roar. After three continuous sounds, the sword light from the sword pill shattered, and the sword pill itself became somewhat smaller.

"Divine doctor and national hand, truly ingenious to the extreme," the Yan Kang National Teacher praised. "To actually use the power of god blood to offset the residual divine ability of the god."

Qin Mu applied dragon saliva again, and his wound finally stopped bleeding. Qin Mu said, "I cannot draw out the other divine abilities in your body. Your Majesty, National Teacher, you now have two paths. One is for me to take you to the Great Ruins to cure your injuries. The second is to go to the capital city. Please choose one path."

The Yan Kang National Teacher looked at Emperor Yanfeng. The two middle-aged men were of one mind and spoke together, "The capital city!"

Qin Mu drew out his pig-slaughtering knife and pressed the Yan Kang National Teacher's head onto the table. The National Teacher's wife exclaimed, "Cult Leader Qin, what are you doing?"

Emperor Yanfeng touched his own bald head and said, "Madam, just look at me and you will know."

Qin Mu's knife technique was flexible, and in a blink of an eye, he had shaved the Yan Kang National Teacher's head bald. He then took some incense and burned several scar marks on his head. From his Taotie bag, he took out a set of yellow monk robes, putting them on with practiced ease. He chuckled, "I made an extra set, specifically prepared for the National Teacher. Wait a moment, I will also paint a blue birthmark on half of the National Teacher's face…"

After he had finished with the Yan Kang National Teacher, he looked at the National Teacher's wife. The Yan Kang National Teacher hurriedly said, "Cult Leader, my wife is pregnant. It is cold and frozen; she cannot be without hair…"

"Then let's make her a Daoist nun," Qin Mu said, taking out a Daoist robe and giving it to the National Teacher's wife. He suddenly blinked his eyes and chuckled, "Right, do you three want to join the cult? My Heavenly Saint Cult has good food and drink. Even if you have no abilities, I can teach you some skills to ensure you don't starve."