Chapter 343: The Secret of Little Yujing

The Water Mirror Sky of Little Jade Capital is indeed extraordinary. Qin Mu admired the Water Mirror Sky beneath the Dragon Qilin's feet, full of praise. This Water Mirror Sky was remarkably wondrous. Looking up from below, one would see a clear blue sky, or a deep starry night. However, it was only upon reaching the Water Mirror Sky itself that he discovered its true marvel.

The Water Mirror Sky supported Little Jade Capital, isolating it from the rest of the world. Standing there and looking down, one could see wisps of white clouds drifting over countless mountains and rivers, gathering and dispersing, occasionally revealing the contours of the mountains below, and long rivers winding like dragons.

“What kind of treasure is the Water Mirror Sky made of?” Qin Mu suddenly jumped off the Dragon Qilin and reached out to touch it. To his surprise, it felt exactly like water. He cupped his hands, and was able to scoop some into his palms, yet it still flowed through his fingers.

Qin Mu stood up and stomped his foot; ripples spread across the water's surface. “Strange. It's not water, nor air. What material is it truly forged from?”

He grew increasingly astonished. “Are there crafting materials in this world that I don't know about? No, I must find out!” Full of enthusiasm, Qin Mu had developed a habit over many years of training with the Mute in smithing and forging treasures. Upon encountering a new material in Little Jade Capital that he had never seen before, it was natural for him to investigate it thoroughly, driven by this ingrained habit.

He activated his Jade Heaven Eye, meticulously examining the structure of the Water Mirror Sky. He tried to find the Water Mirror's composition by looking for rune engravings within it, but to his disappointment, he couldn't find even a single rune mark.

“This is impossible! The Water Mirror Sky is clearly a treasure, and treasures require engraved runes to enhance their power. It's impossible for there to be no runes at all!” Qin Mu was bewildered. He had seen divine sealing techniques before, such as the beehive seal in the underground space of Hades Valley, which featured flickering rune engravings. The forging technique used for this Water Mirror Sky shouldn't surpass divine methods, should it? How could he not perceive any rune marks?

The Dragon Qilin had already arrived at Little Jade Capital, ascending to a floating island peak. Xiong Xiyu looked back and saw Qin Mu still “playing with water” on the Water Mirror Sky, prompting a smile. “This Cult Master Qin, Human Emperor Qin, appears mature, but he's still a child at heart.”

Qingyou Shanren and others hurried forward, holding the Human Emperor Seal high. They glanced at the Dragon Qilin's back, where they saw a mother and daughter and a village elder who had been reduced to a human stick. Everyone hesitated for a moment. Qingyou Shanren smiled, “Human Emperor, please accept the treasured seal!” The village elder, still in his rocking chair, flew down from the Dragon Qilin's back. He did not take the Human Emperor Seal, shaking his head instead. “I am no longer the Human Emperor. I have abdicated in favor of a worthy successor.”

Qingyou Shanren quickly looked at the mother and daughter, hesitating inwardly. “Is the current Human Emperor a woman? That's not surprising; this woman looks quite strong, already a cult master-level figure, not to be underestimated. However, her appearance isn't from the Central Lands; she looks like she's from the Western Lands...” Throughout history, there had been female Human Emperors, but Xiong Xiyu was clearly a non-Central Lands ethnic group, which struck him as somewhat odd. Nevertheless, Western Lands ethnic groups were still human, so she could indeed be the Human Emperor.

Qingyou Shanren and the other old immortals of Little Jade Capital were about to bow to Xiong Xiyu when she quickly laughed. “I am not the Human Emperor. Please don't frighten me, seniors; I cannot bear such a title!” Qingyou Shanren then looked at Xiong Qi'er, a troubled expression on his face. Xiong Xiyu immediately realized their misunderstanding and chuckled, “The Human Emperor is behind us.”

Qingyou Shanren and the other old immortals of Little Jade Capital looked toward the Water Mirror Sky, seeing a young boy “playing with water.” Their faces darkened slightly. “This boy as Human Emperor? He's not even as good as that little girl...”

Despite repeatedly examining it, Qin Mu still couldn't discern the structure of the Water Mirror Sky. He promptly took out a small jade bottle, secretly filled it with some water, stoppered it, and placed it in his Taotie pouch, planning to study it thoroughly later. This treasure-forging method was more complex than mere smithing; it somewhat resembled the Mute's formless treasure forging technique, making it highly worthy of investigation. The Mute's formless treasure forging could refine profound gold and profound iron to a state of constant change, with no fixed form or state. Qin Mu was far from reaching that level. “Just a little water missing; no one should notice...”

The young boy looked up and saw a group of venerable, immortal-like elders staring at him in astonishment. Qin Mu's expression stiffened, then he broke into a radiant smile, laughing as he approached. He bowed deeply, greeting them, “I am Qin Mu, the current Human Emperor. It is an honor to meet all of you, senior brothers and sisters. I am truly uneasy for disturbing your tranquility.” The old immortals all returned his bow. Qingyou Shanren stood up and said, “Human Emperor, please accept the treasured seal. Also, regarding our Little Jade Capital's Water Mirror Sky, we ask the Human Emperor...”

“Old Daoist Master, Old Buddha, you two senior brothers are here too!” Qin Mu grabbed the Human Emperor Seal, casually tucked it into his Taotie pouch, and walked laughing towards the Old Daoist Master and Old Buddha. He chuckled, “Are both of you senior brothers also becoming immortals now? That's good, that's good. It saves you a lot of worries.” The Old Daoist Master and Old Buddha quickly returned his greeting. The Old Buddha smiled, “The Old Daoist and I are lighthearted and have little lifespan left. We decided to come to this tranquil place to live out our remaining years peacefully, and also to have a place to belong.” The Old Daoist Master laughed, “Does Human Emperor Qin also wish to become an immortal who disregards worldly affairs? If you were to retreat to the mountains, it would be a blessing for the world.” Qin Mu shook his head. “It is my inescapable responsibility; how could I shirk it?”

The Old Daoist Master and Old Buddha greeted the village elder, smiling, “Senior Brother has resigned from the Human Emperor position and has now left the Great Ruins. Do you also wish to come to Little Jade Capital to become a carefree immortal?” The village elder shook his head, saying forlornly, “Mu'er fears I'll be lonely in the village by myself, so he takes me with him wherever he goes.”

Qingyou Shanren stepped forward and smiled, “Old Human Emperor, new Human Emperor, and these three fellow Daoists, please come this way.” Qin Mu followed him to an immortal mountain. Looking around, the scenery was magnificent and beautiful, possessing a unique charm. The floating immortal mountains in the sky were connected by rope bridges, seemingly forming a wondrous formation that allowed the entire range of mountains to float.

“Borrowing the laws of heaven and earth—this method of borrowing power doesn't seem like a mortal technique!” His heart was greatly shaken. This formation belonged to the category of borrowed magic, and its sophistication had reached an incredible level! Although Qin Mu was not a grand master of formations, all formations under heaven must adhere to principles and require an energy source to operate. For instance, Qin Mu once considered forging Fire Firmament Rings to form the Nine Firmament True Essence Cannon Array to protect Saint Arrival Mountain, but the medicinal stones required to sustain the array were enormous, so he abandoned the idea. However, the formation formed by the immortal mountains and rope bridges of Little Jade Capital borrowed power from the heavens and earth, drawing energy directly from them, without needing medicinal stones or elixirs for power. In terms of formation mastery, it could truly be said that Little Jade Capital had left Yankang Nation a hundred thousand miles behind!

He wanted to study Little Jade Capital's formations again, but he had already displeased the old immortals by secretly taking a bottle of Water Mirror Sky water earlier, so it wasn't a good time to act. “This Little Jade Capital bears some resemblance to my Heavenly Saint Cult. Since both the Heavenly Saint Cult and Little Jade Capital use similar formations, is there a connection?” Qin Mu's eyes flickered. The Heavenly Saint Cult's Saint Arrival Mountain also floated in the sky, similarly protected by formations, and also borrowed power from heaven and earth. The Heavenly Saint Cult's Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture was extraordinary, but it couldn't surpass Yankang Nation in Dao arts and divine abilities. However, its teleportation techniques were like mythical divine abilities, leaving Yankang Nation's spells and divine arts far behind! Moreover, the treasure-forging method of Little Jade Capital's Water Mirror Sky had reached an astonishing level of sophistication, bearing striking similarities to the Mute's formless treasure forging. Clearly, Little Jade Capital undoubtedly contained many cultivation techniques and unique arts far surpassing those of the secular world, truly worthy of its reputation as the foremost sacred ground in the world today!

Qingyou Shanren offered tea to the village elder and said, “Daoist Brother, you retreated to the Great Ruins and disappeared for centuries. Many believed you had died, and that peace had returned to the world. Why did you choose to emerge again? The moment you appear, lives will once again be plunged into misery! If you didn't wish to come out, how could the Human Emperor have persuaded you?”

The village elder calmly replied, “Many of our generation have already grown old and died. Some, despite their astonishing talent and earth-shattering cultivation power, willingly buried themselves, content to quietly grow old and die in this false immortal realm. But I don't want to die like that. Even before I die, I want to be like a Human Emperor, making a grand impact.”

Qingyou Shanren sipped his tea and smiled. “Daoist Brother, what good is astonishing talent? Back then, you were the foremost under heaven, your single sword illuminating countless mountains and rivers. In terms of astonishing talent, how could any of us compare to you, Daoist Brother? Yet, what did you achieve?” The village elder's gaze sharpened. Qingyou Shanren showed no fear. He set down his teacup and continued, “Old Buddha, Old Daoist Master, myself, Ling Jing, and all these immortals on the mountain—we all revered you back then! We admired you greatly and believed you capable of achieving earth-shattering feats. Alas, even with talent as astonishing as yours, what was your ultimate fate?”

The village elder fell silent. Qingyou Shanren sighed. “Your ambition didn't die out with the loss of your limbs, but not everyone is like you. We believe we are quite content here. As the saying goes, 'If you are not a fish, how do you know the joy of a fish?' I am not you, and I cannot understand your joy.” The village elder, using his vital qi, picked up his teacup and slowly drank his tea.

Qingyou Shanren looked at Qin Mu and smiled slightly. “Human Emperor Qin, I have heard your name. You are also the Sacred Cult Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult.” Qin Mu's heart stirred. “Since you are immortals who desire no worldly strife, why do you inquire about secular matters?” Qingyou Shanren smiled faintly, offering no explanation, conveying a sense of distance. “Once the Human Emperor has finished his tea, please depart from Little Jade Capital.”

Qin Mu did not drink the tea. He took out a golden book, a treasured scroll, and said, “Please take a look at this book, Immortal. I wonder if it might pique your interest?” Qingyou Shanren opened the golden book. His expression subtly changed, his aura suddenly surged, then slowly calmed down. He turned to the second page, then the third. After a moment, Qingyou Shanren closed the golden book, pushed it back to Qin Mu, and smiled, “It is indeed captivating. Human Emperor Qin, please return.”

Qin Mu was stunned. Anyone who saw the golden book, the treasured scroll, would find it difficult to remain so calm, much less return it to Qin Mu. Yet, this Qingyou Shanren seemed completely unmoved, rendering Qin Mu's overture entirely useless! “Immortal Qingyou...”

Just as Qin Mu spoke, Qingyou Shanren gave him a profound look and said, “Successive Human Emperors all share the same temperament; it's difficult to make a Human Emperor back down. If that's the case, then I shall speak plainly to the Human Emperor.” He stood up and asked, “Does Human Emperor Qin find Little Jade Capital somewhat familiar? Does it resemble the Heavenly Saint Cult's Saint Arrival Mountain?”

Qin Mu paused slightly, then involuntarily stood up as well. He did indeed feel a sense of familiarity; at the very least, Little Jade Capital's formation that borrowed from heaven and earth was almost identical to Saint Arrival Mountain's!

“That is because Little Jade Capital and Saint Arrival Mountain originated from the same source,” Qingyou Shanren said, his gaze sweeping over the majestic immortal mountains of Little Jade Capital. He continued softly, “The Heavenly Saint Cult's saint and the founder of my Little Jade Capital were people from the same era, emerging from the same place. It's not just the Heavenly Saint Cult and Little Jade Capital...” He turned back to look at the village elder and stated, word by word, “The first generation Human Emperor of the Human Emperor Hall also emerged from there! Furthermore, Little Jade Capital, Saint Arrival Mountain, and the Human Emperor Hall are all fragments of the same place! Daoist Brother, you who have been to the Human Emperor Hall, should know clearly what this place is, right?”

This concludes the third update. The three chapters owed for this month have been delivered! Next month's burst will be to make up for the Alliance Leader's rewards! Author Piggy will try to update more next month, so please be ready.