Chapter 413: When the World Is Stunned

In the capital, at the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Elder Fu rushed in to announce, "My Lord, His Majesty is here!"

Imperial Preceptor Yankang rose to greet him. As the two great figures of Yankang Nation met, Princess Ling Yuxiu stood by their side. Emperor Yanfeng gave the Imperial Preceptor a deep look. Understanding his meaning, Imperial Preceptor Yankang waved Elder Fu away.

"Your Majesty has just arrived in the capital and came directly to see me even before entering the palace. Something significant must have happened."

Imperial Preceptor Yankang's expression turned questioning, and his gaze fell on Ling Yuxiu. "It's just the three of us here, Your Majesty, you may speak now."

"Imperial Preceptor, did you feel it?" Emperor Yanfeng asked. "The cosmic fluctuations five days ago."

Imperial Preceptor Yankang nodded. "A very strange fluctuation. The laws changed, the Great Dao shifted. There was an anomaly in the cosmic Great Dao. Someone was altering the laws, and it greatly impacted me."

Emperor Yanfeng took out the male and female volumes of the Primordial Spirit Guiding Sutra and handed them to him. "Imperial Preceptor, take a look."

Imperial Preceptor Yankang meticulously read through them, his expression growing increasingly solemn. After a long while, he closed the Primordial Spirit Guiding Sutra and said, "The handwriting belongs to the Princess and Cult Master Qin. This alteration of laws changed the Seven Stars, Celestial-Human, Life-Death, and Divine Bridge realms. No wonder it caused such a massive disturbance. Princess Xiu is truly remarkable; her future achievements will be no less than ours."

He was exceptionally astute; he didn't need Emperor Yanfeng to elaborate to know that Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were responsible. He also surmised the consequences that the emergence of this Primordial Spirit Guiding Sutra would bring.

Emperor Yanfeng nodded. "These two volumes are the source of the altered laws. I rushed here immediately to see you because the situation is grave. Currently, the impact is still very subtle; only Grandmasters who have progressed from techniques to laws can detect it. However, for those who have entered the Dao from laws, the impact is far greater. You just mentioned it greatly impacted you; it seems you have already entered the Dao before me."

Imperial Preceptor Yankang said, "My time in the Dao is still short, and it's not yet clear, but that fluctuation surges like a tide from all directions. Standing within that tide, I can perceive the subtle changes in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

Emperor Yanfeng pondered the meaning of his words, then praised, "The Dao realm is truly wondrous. If it has such a profound effect on you, what about its effect on the gods?"

"It will only be greater!" A light of uncertain meaning flickered in Imperial Preceptor Yankang's eyes. He said, "Your Majesty has been away from the capital for the past few days, and memorials from all over have been pouring in like snowflakes. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

He produced dozens of memorials, reports from county magistrates and prefectural governors across the land.

Emperor Yanfeng opened one and read that the county magistrate of Qining County reported an earthquake at the Qiyue Granny Temple in Qining County. There were no tremors elsewhere, yet only the temple collapsed, burying more than ten worshippers. As the Qining County magistrate and his yamen runners cleared the rubble, they saw the mountain temple had split open, revealing a large fissure. Within the fissure, a colossal divine statue emerged, its upper half visible, faintly showing a flesh-and-blood hue, with runes flowing across its entire body.

Emperor Yanfeng frowned slightly, then, after a moment's thought, handed this memorial to Ling Yuxiu and picked up another.

This memorial was from the prefectural governor of Quzhou Prefecture, reporting a strange incident at Daqu Lake in Quzhou. At midnight, an unnatural light shot into the sky from the lake, illuminating the entire surface. A massive creature rose from the lake, its eyes like lanterns, claiming to be Lord Qu Lake and demanding offerings of virgin boys and girls for consumption from those on the shore. The governor ordered yamen runners to investigate the lake, and several divine arts practitioners had already died.

Emperor Yanfeng's brows furrowed deeply as he opened other memorials. All of them reported strange occurrences in various prefectures, counties, and districts. Some described temples splitting open, revealing ancient divine statues that caused the originally worshipped statues to collapse. Others detailed earthquakes in rivers, with divine statues appearing at the bottom of rivers and lakes. These statues were either motionless or spoke, demanding tribute from local residents, which was highly peculiar.

In some other places, strange lights repeatedly appeared, revealing unusual treasures that no one could take away.

"These deities are not indigenous to our Yankang Nation." Ling Yuxiu read through the memorials, then put them down, pondering, "Where did these divine stone statues come from? They certainly couldn't have just emerged from underground. Some of the treasures mentioned in these memorials don't seem like ancient relics; they resemble artifacts of gods."

"They are not from underground," Emperor Yanfeng said. "If they had always existed underground, they would surely have been discovered long ago. These statues and treasures must originate from another world."

"It should be more than one world," Imperial Preceptor Yankang said gravely. "There are similar stone statues in the Great Ruins as well. Legend has it that these statues are fossilized bodies of deities, and that these deities, while dormant, can still transform into their true forms when the time is right. If these statues in our Yankang Nation are from other worlds, then the timing of their arrival is very strange."

"The Princess and Cult Master Qin created the Primordial Spirit Guiding Sutra, causing an anomaly in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Subsequently, numerous stone statues and strange treasures appeared across the nation. There must be a connection here."

Emperor Yanfeng said, "Imperial Preceptor, the origin and purpose of these statues must be investigated."

Imperial Preceptor Yankang said calmly, "I recall the descent of the Devil King Duti two years ago. Back then, Devil King Duti's descent relied on Cult Master Qin's sacrifice, which required an altar to summon him from another world. Furthermore, what appeared in Yankang was merely a consciousness and a fraction of Devil King Duti's power; his true form required more deaths and more flesh-and-blood sacrifices to fully descend upon Yankang."

Emperor Yanfeng and Ling Yuxiu listened quietly, without interrupting. What Imperial Preceptor Yankang was about to say was extremely important, demanding their full attention.

"This indicates that traversing different worlds requires immense energy, and the stronger the being, the more energy is needed to cross into another world." Imperial Preceptor Yankang continued, "And this time, with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth changing again, these divine statues descended, likely only sending their stone forms. Their full power cannot yet cross over. They will require countless flesh-and-blood sacrifices to manifest their true forms."

Emperor Yanfeng and Ling Yuxiu's hearts stirred slightly, and a terrifying thought suddenly arose. Imperial Preceptor Yankang articulated their unspoken fear: "They need a natural disaster that causes widespread death among the common people to fully descend upon Yankang!"

Emperor Yanfeng and Ling Yuxiu were horrified. The previous natural disaster had already claimed countless lives among the common people, and Yankang Nation's vitality had yet to recover. Should another natural disaster occur, it would undoubtedly lead to the collapse of the nation, the ruin of families, and immense suffering for countless beings!

"According to my conjecture, it won't be long before the gods of the High Heavens receive news and come to inflict disaster upon Yankang," Imperial Preceptor Yankang stated gravely. "This natural disaster will certainly be no less severe than the previous snow disaster. It could be an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a tornado, a devastating flood, or even another snow disaster or a drought. Anything that can kill tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, of common people is possible!"

Emperor Yanfeng's voice was hoarse as he rasped, "Are you saying..."

"Annihilate the High Heavens." Imperial Preceptor Yankang said calmly, "We need to eliminate the gods of the High Heavens to prevent them from inflicting disaster. If my guess is correct, the gods and devils responsible for inflicting disaster upon this world are from the High Heavens. By eradicating the High Heavens, the stone statues across the nation will be unable to transform into gods and devils, and the common people will be spared. We must act preemptively and eradicate all deities within the High Heavens!"

Emperor Yanfeng felt a splitting headache, gripping his forehead. He gritted his teeth and said, "The High Heavens are in the Western Lands, and who knows how many gods and devils reside there. How could we possibly have the strength to annihilate the High Heavens? If we could wait a few more years, for many masters to complete the Divine Bridge and reach the divine realm..."

Imperial Preceptor Yankang's expression remained calm. "Your Majesty, they will not grant you that time. If I am not mistaken, the treasures mentioned in these memorials must be Weather Weapons!"

Emperor Yanfeng and Ling Yuxiu were horrified. Weather Weapons were a concept proposed by Qin Mu: using natural phenomena as weapons, such as rain, snow, wind, hail, tornadoes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. These phenomena could be collected in gourds, and in normal times, Weather Weapons could be used to ensure favorable weather. If attacking an enemy nation, they could even use Weather Weapons to destroy enemy armies.

The last time Imperial Preceptor Yankang attacked the grasslands, Ban Gongcuo ordered his great shamans to spread poison, covering the plains with witchcraft venom. Imperial Preceptor Yankang sought both to eliminate the venom and save the grassland herdsmen. Thus, he employed Weather Weapons, causing rain for ten days to dilute, wash away, and flush out the venom. However, many grassland herdsmen were also drowned in the rain and flash floods at that time, resulting in numerous deaths. Consequently, Imperial Preceptor Yankang was impeached and attacked by orthodox officials, causing him considerable trouble.

If Imperial Preceptor Yankang was not mistaken, and these divine artifacts unearthed this time were indeed Weather Weapons, then once the gods of the High Heavens arrived, they could unleash the power of these treasures. This would release various natural phenomena, causing countless deaths and injuries among the common people of Yankang Nation! With so many deaths, the stone statues would receive ample flesh-and-blood sacrifices, allowing the power of the gods and devils to surge in like a mighty river. The statues would transform into gods and devils, beginning a great slaughter and destroying this world!

"I will immediately issue an order to have these statues and treasures heavily guarded, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the High Heavens!" Cold sweat beaded on Emperor Yanfeng's forehead. He paced back and forth, his voice hoarse, "They absolutely must not find them... Why must they do this? Can they not allow the myriad beings under heaven to live and prosper? I don't understand!"

"The altered laws infringe upon the interests of gods and devils. To alter the laws is to alter the Dao; if the Dao changes and gods and devils cannot adapt to it, they will no longer be tolerated by the Dao." Imperial Preceptor Yankang said, "There must be deeper reasons for this, but the information we have is too limited to analyze the full truth. Your Majesty, it is time for the Human Emperor to personally step forward."

Emperor Yanfeng looked at him. Imperial Preceptor Yankang gazed into the distance, murmuring, "Only with the Human Emperor's personal appearance can all the Sacred Lands and all the mighty practitioners be rallied to eliminate the High Heavens! Only the Human Emperor, revered by all sects and factions, can inspire their unwavering loyalty and command their allegiance!"

Ling Yuxiu's mind reeled. Isn't the contemporary Human Emperor none other than Qin Mu? And isn't the Human Emperor's Seal currently in Qin Mu's possession? So, doesn't that mean Qin Mu must also participate in the attack on the High Heavens?

"I will go see the Human Emperor!" Imperial Preceptor Yankang rose and departed.

Meanwhile, at the villa, Qin Mu was accompanying Si Yunxiang in cultivating their primordial spirits. Their primordial spirits soared across the world, and when they reached a certain place, they suddenly witnessed a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting open. A beautiful peak, whose location was unknown, suddenly cracked open, and a massive stone statue slowly rose from within the mountain.

"What's happening? Is this the Great Ruins?"

Both were surprised. Suddenly, they smelled an incense scent and their hearts trembled. "We just lit the Soul-Guiding Incense to go out and play; it couldn't possibly have burned out so quickly. Someone must have blown the Soul-Guiding Incense all the way to its end!"

Their primordial spirits were rapidly recalled by the Soul-Guiding Incense, returning to their physical bodies. Qin Mu opened his eyes to see the Village Chief, the Butcher, the Mute, and others present; even Old Man Ma had arrived!