Chapter 265: The Fourth Heavenly King

The Emperor and the National Teacher exchanged glances, a mixture of laughter and tears welling within them. This sect leader of the Devil Sect was indeed audacious, utterly without scruples. As the leader of the Heavenly Devil Sect, he harbored no reservations whatsoever, actually intending to drag even the Emperor and the National Teacher into its ranks!

"If you cannot heal your injuries, you will never regain the throne. With the craftsmanship of my Heavenly Saint Sect, you can at least support yourselves and make a living." Qin Mu continued to press his case. "Furthermore, if you join now, I can offer you esteemed positions, such as a Heavenly King elder. But if you wait until you are completely useless, the best I can do is grant you the title of an Incense Master, and a deputy one at that. Madam, please, help me persuade them."

The National Teacher's wife smiled but remained silent, offering no further words.

Yan Kang, the National Teacher, spoke indifferently, "If I were to do such a thing, I would be the Sect Leader."

Emperor Yan Feng nodded in agreement, "I would too."

Yan Kang added, "You can be the Sect Leader, and I will be your helper."

Qin Mu's eyes lit up. "Does the Emperor truly wish to become the Sect Leader?"

Emperor Yan Feng stared, dumbfounded and speechless. He had utterly failed to anticipate that Qin Mu would actually consider relinquishing the position of Heavenly Devil Sect Leader. If he were to assume that role, then the entire nation of Yan Kang would effectively become the Heavenly Devil Sect's domain! This was truly a hot potato, one he dared not grasp!

The National Teacher, Yan Kang, also felt a headache brewing. He subtly shook his head at the Emperor, signaling him not to accept.

The National Teacher's wife let out a soft laugh. "Sect Leader Qin, they are unwilling, but I am. Might I inquire what position the Sect Leader would arrange for me?"

Qin Mu's eyes brightened. He secretly praised this woman's astuteness; her interjection served to alleviate the awkwardness for both the National Teacher and the Emperor.

"If the Madam were to join, I could offer an honorary position, merely a name to hang," Qin Mu said with a chuckle. "Does the Madam know embroidery? How about an Incense Master for the Embroidery Hall?"

"Excellent." The young woman smiled, then pulled the National Teacher to one side. She whispered in a low voice, "Husband, why must you refuse Sect Leader Qin? This time, returning to the capital, how much chance of success do you and His Majesty truly have?"

The National Teacher, Yan Kang, fell silent for a moment before replying, "The common people of the world support reform. Seven or eight tenths of the court officials are also loyal to His Majesty and I. Upon returning to the capital, we can surely execute the rebel thieves and reclaim our positions of power."

His wife chuckled. "Truly? Will the Great Thunder Sound Temple and the Dao Sect not obstruct you? Can you truly block the Living Buddha and the Dao Master, or can His Majesty block them?"

Qin Mu leaned in, his head cocked, and added with a laugh, "The families of the dukes and ministers in the capital all have several Daoists and monks residing with them, either chanting Buddhist scriptures or reciting Daoist texts."

The National Teacher, Yan Kang, was silent. His wife pushed Qin Mu away and whispered, "The two great sacred lands are watching your forces closely. Those close to you are either under house arrest or imprisoned. And now, the only power you can borrow is that of Sect Leader Qin. When you borrow another's power, you must also make them feel at ease."

Qin Mu leaned in again, about to speak, but the National Teacher's wife pushed him away once more.

The National Teacher, Yan Kang, pondered for a moment, then walked over to Qin Mu. "Does the Heavenly Saint Sect still lack a Heavenly King?"

Qin Mu nodded. "The Fourth Heavenly King."

Yan Kang said, "I will take on the role of this Fourth Heavenly King. But His Majesty absolutely cannot be associated with the Heavenly Saint Sect. Your Majesty, I shall join his Heavenly Saint Sect."

Emperor Yan Feng was stunned. After a long moment, he slowly said, "You are mistaken, National Teacher."

A smile appeared on Qin Mu's face. He turned to Emperor Yan Feng and said, "Your Majesty seems to misunderstand my Heavenly Saint Sect. We are not merely a sect; we simply carry out the ideas for the common people's daily needs, practicing the path of the sages. Your Majesty and the National Teacher's reforms align with our beliefs..."

The National Teacher's wife laughed. "Sect Leader, we should depart. There is no need for further preaching. His Majesty cannot join our Heavenly Saint Sect."

The National Teacher's wife sat atop the Dragon Qilin's back, while Qin Mu, the National Teacher Yan Kang, and the Emperor walked alongside. The two men urged Qin Mu to teach them the Overlord Body Three Dan Skill to recover some of their vitality. These two individuals were like ascetics, their steps slow and arduous. It took them two or three days to finally reach Qin State.

The Heavenly Devil Sect in Qin State had already prepared the necessary medicinal herbs. Qin Mu finally healed Emperor Yan Feng's soul injury and the National Teacher's external wounds. However, the remnants of the divine abilities left by the gods in their bodies were something Qin Mu had no way to expel. The divine ability remnants of a god were incredibly potent. If National Teacher Yan Kang could refine these remnants, Qin Mu would have no trouble healing all his injuries. The key was that National Teacher Yan Kang could not circulate his magic power. These divine ability remnants were hidden within his body and the god's repository. He had to use his own magic power to suppress these remnants, and the slightest mistake could trigger their power.

"The Emperor and the National Teacher, neither of them can fight," Qin Mu sighed inwardly. The two greatest strong individuals in Yan Kang were now both sickly weaklings, requiring him to care for and protect them. He, too, was cultivating, tirelessly day and night. As long as he circulated the Overlord Body Three Dan Skill, it would operate unconsciously, and the stellar light of the five-path star power would continuously surge from the air. Along the way, Qin Mu also diligently cultivated his sword skills, repeatedly practicing the two stances taught to him by the village chief, striving for perfection.

National Teacher Yan Kang saw the sword diagrams for these two stances and lightly let out an "Eh," unable to help but look closer. He said in surprise, "Sect Leader, which elder in your family taught you this time?"

"Our village chief, the oldest one."

National Teacher Yan Kang thought for a moment. "Have you tried to incorporate the three basic sword stances I created into these two stances? These two stances are already incredibly perfect. Adding my basic sword stances would instead disrupt the balance. It could increase power, but it would also introduce many flaws. Why would you want to do this?"

Qin Mu displayed the stance "Open Emperor Blood Ocean." Suddenly, a feeling of desolate sorrow welled up in his heart. One sword opens the Emperor's Blood Ocean, the mountains and rivers lie within, the heart is vast, looking left and right, the old homeland's people no longer wear old clothes. This was the sentiment of a lonely person missing their old country, missing the heroes of the past, a tragic and heroic emotion.

National Teacher Yan Kang picked up a branch from the ground. "Your stances still have many flaws. Why don't I spar with you?"

Qin Mu's eyes lit up. He laughed. "Please, teach me."

"I wouldn't dare."

Qin Mu also picked up a branch. The two men used branches as swords. National Teacher Yan Kang attacked, and Qin Mu defended using the two stances from his sword diagram. However, after a moment, National Teacher Yan Kang found an opening and broke through the "Sword Walk Mountains and Rivers."

Qin Mu pondered for a long time. The flaws pointed out by National Teacher Yan Kang and those pointed out by the village chief were different. Both were great masters of sword skills, but they followed different paths. The village chief's sword skills contained a grand ambition, while National Teacher Yan Kang was more focused on vertical and horizontal strategies, a pioneer of reform. Different ideas led to different sword skills. The guidance they offered Qin Mu yielded different benefits. With the village chief's guidance, Qin Mu had already exhausted his wisdom, his foundation insufficient to further improve these two stances. However, National Teacher Yan Kang's guidance opened another path, allowing him to continue improving his sword skills.

They practiced and walked simultaneously. Qin Mu's comprehension of the sword also deepened. He felt as though his sword skills were subtly on the verge of leaping to another level, yet there was always a layer of veil separating him, preventing him from crossing over.

"No need to practice further. Practicing more will not lead to progress," National Teacher Yan Kang said. "To break through, you need to have your own comprehension."

Qin Mu did not understand, but Emperor Yan Feng, watching from the side, clearly saw it. He sighed. "One more step, and you will be a true master. Minister Qin, how old are you now to have reached this level? When I reached this point, I was fifty-seven years old. I cultivate the Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill, drawing on the qi of the Nine Dragons to cultivate. My vitality is majestic, sensing the movement of the earth's dragon qi, the world's grand situation is bustling and unpredictable, thus allowing me to leap through. You are thirty to forty years ahead of me."

Qin Mu laughed. "What is the core strength of His Majesty's Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill?"

"My strength is change." Emperor Yan Feng said solemnly. "If you wish to learn, I can teach you. Before me, the Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill was merely a skill proficient in spells, but in my hands, any spell, sword skill, or physical divine ability can be displayed. Why? The dragon is change! A dragon can be large or small, hidden or visible, it can fly into the sky, roam the deep sea, a latent dragon in the abyss, a visible dragon in the fields, it can bring clouds and spread rain, it can cause fierce fires to burn the sky, it can control wind and thunder, it can descend sweet dew. Do you want to learn?"

He had originally expected Qin Mu to refuse, after all, he was the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Devil Sect, a renowned figure. He did not expect Qin Mu to straightforwardly say, "I do!"

Emperor Yan Feng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Very well. Who says the Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill is a skill of my Ling family that cannot be transmitted? I will transmit it to you then."

The National Teacher's wife looked at Emperor Yan Feng in surprise. National Teacher Yan Kang's face was calm. "Your Majesty was originally such a person, bold and straightforward, otherwise he would not have dared to use me. In fact, I have read the original text of the Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill no less than ten times."

Emperor Yan Feng transmitted the Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill to Qin Mu, teaching him how to circulate his qi and how to operate the qi of the Nine Dragons. This skill was different from the Overlord Body Three Dan Skill. Its practice was majestic and vast, and at the same time, its changes were manifold. Every movement contained the great power of heaven and earth.

"The Nine Heavens God Dragon Cover is a spell. It transforms into nine true dragons, hidden in the cloud layers, attacking enemies. Look!" Emperor Yan Feng urged his vitality. Three inches above his head, a palm-sized small cloud appeared. Several thin dragon qis, like earthworms, bared their fangs and brandished their claws, very fierce. Emperor Yan Feng's vitality was exhausted, and the cloud and dragon qis dispersed with a pop. Emperor Yan Feng gasped for breath, stammering, "I have no magic power, but you should understand the meaning."

Qin Mu nodded, urged the Overlord Body Three Dan Skill, and fused the Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill with the Overlord Body's vitality. In mid-air, dragons suddenly appeared and disappeared. Nine dragons probed with their claws, shattering the mountains and stones within dozens of zhang around them. Emperor Yan Feng was stunned, and National Teacher Yan Kang was also extremely surprised. They saw the nine dragons circling above them, suddenly transforming into fire dragons, rotating fiercely. A fire dragon tornado immediately formed around them, lifting their bodies up. The fire dragons changed again, bringing forth great water, lifting them onto the water. Next, thunder exploded, crackling everywhere. Emperor Yan Feng and National Teacher Yan Kang looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. Qin Mu had just begun cultivating this Nine Dragons Emperor King Skill, yet it was as if he had cultivated it for ten or twenty years. He controlled it at will, doing even better than most of the princes in the Imperial Academy's prince garden.

Qin Mu dispersed the Nine Heavens God Dragon Cover. Emperor Yan Feng transmitted all that he had learned and comprehended without reservation, sighing, "If only your surname were Ling, how wonderful that would be..."

There were only two or three days' journey left to the capital, and the crown prince's ascension to the throne was on the sixth day of the third month, also three days away. Suddenly, a large bird flapped its wings and flew towards them. It landed and rolled, transforming into a green-clothed woman. She bowed and stood before them. "Reporting to the Holy Teacher, everything is prepared."

Qin Mu nodded. "You may go first."

"Understood." The woman turned and ran two steps, then her body shook. Two wings grew on her back, and she broke through the air and departed.

"The Great Thunder Sound Temple and the Dao Sect can kill the Emperor. My Heavenly Saint Sect can also kill. Otherwise, how could we be the foremost holy land of the devil path?" Qin Mu said lightly.

National Teacher Yan Kang frowned. "What are your plans?"

"Enter the city, kill the Emperor."