Chapter 458: Turning the Clouds with a Flip of the Hand, Turning the Rain with a Wave

“Bastard!”

The moment Yu Ruyi died, the entire Liu family was instantly alerted. Black coffins burst open one after another, and powerful figures soared into the sky from within! Some coffins merely opened without anyone emerging, yet terrifying tremors emanated from within, with divine light brewing and swirling. Although the mighty figures within did not show themselves, their presence was truly awe-inspiring.

As one of the Ten Great Aristocratic Families of the Western Lands, the Liu family, though understated, possessed extraordinary power. This Divine Burial Valley was the Liu family's sacred ground. Qin Mu's act of killing Yu Ruyi here inherently violated their taboos, and the fact that a powerhouse from the True Heaven Palace had died naturally enraged the Liu family.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Figures descended around Qin Mu, immediately bringing with them a chilling wind and ominous clouds. These shadowy figures, obscured by the gloomy mist, had indiscernible faces, leaving it unclear whether they were human or ghost.

These figures were about to tear apart this audacious individual who had violated the Liu family's rules. Suddenly, they saw the Azure Dragon Pearl in Xiong Qi'er's hand and immediately halted, not daring to advance.

“Stop!” Liu Ruyin cried out in exasperation, “Nobody move!”

She turned to look at Qin Mu, only to see him standing nonchalantly, stuffing a large jade eye into his Taotie pouch. Meanwhile, her daughter was clapping and cheering, asking Qin Mu to do it again.

Liu Ruyin's head throbbed, and looking at Yu Ruyi's corpse nearby only worsened her headache. Her original intention was for Qin Mu and Yu Ruyi to simply meet. She didn't care if they could reach an agreement, but if they insisted on fighting, it couldn't happen within the Liu family's grounds. Her only concern was Yu Ruyi, ensuring she didn't kill Qin Mu at the Liu family's estate. As for Qin Mu, the young man was merely a Six-Harmonies Realm cultivator, not worth worrying about. However, it was precisely this assumption that went awry!

The moment Yu Ruyi appeared, the mischievous fellow named Qin cut her down. And the scoundrel named Qin even pretended not to know anything about it, which was truly infuriating! Killing Yu Ruyi was one thing, but doing it in the Liu family's Divine Burial Valley implicated the Liu family in an unjust act. When the True Heaven Palace came to demand accountability, could the Liu family withstand it?

“However, delivering that mischievous fellow named Qin to the True Heaven Palace would likely serve as atonement,” she thought. She blinked, “But the Azure Dragon Pearl is in the little princess’s hands. We cannot afford to offend her…”

Just then, a fragrant breeze swept by as several women from the True Heaven Palace gracefully arrived. Upon seeing Yu Ruyi's corpse on the ground, they became furious and demanded sharply, “Liu Ruyin, what is the meaning of this?”

Liu Ruyin's headache intensified. “This matter was done by Cult Master Qin from the Central Lands,” she explained, “and it has nothing to do with my Liu family…”

One of the women sharply retorted, “Nothing to do with your Liu family? Liu Ruyin, you speak lightly, but it is an elder of my True Heaven Palace who lies dead! Your Liu family shouldn’t even dream of distancing yourselves!” Another woman stepped forward, her voice stern and severe: “Patriarch Liu, if your Liu family wishes to preserve its life, then quickly capture this Qin fellow and hand him over to the True Heaven Palace for judgment. The Palace Master may still consider past relations and not make things too difficult for you. Otherwise, the entire Liu family risks annihilation and being erased from existence!”

Liu Ruyin gritted her teeth. Suddenly, Qin Mu’s voice chimed in curiously, “Sister Ruyin, didn’t you say the True Heaven Palace visitor was Yu Ruyi? I thought it was just Sister Yu Ruyi. So, who are these other sisters?”

Liu Ruyin glared at him and sneered, “I did say the True Heaven Palace visitor was named Yu Ruyi, but I never said she was the only one who came. Didn’t I also tell you that several senior sisters from the True Heaven Palace had arrived? Wasn’t that right?”

Qin Mu appeared enlightened and chuckled, “My apologies, I was rash. I thought killing just one sister would suffice.”

Liu Ruyin became furious and said coldly, “Cult Master Qin, you’ve killed an elder of the True Heaven Palace and are trying to sow discord between my Liu family and the True Heaven Palace. Now, tell me, what should we do?”

Qin Mu rose and smiled, “Sister Ruyin, I’ve just come from the He family. Sister Yiyi is planning to gather the various aristocratic families to discuss a major undertaking: overthrowing the True Heaven Palace Master, who ascended to the throne through rebellion and chaos. The True Heaven Palace Master’s actions are perverse, inciting divine wrath and popular resentment. The Yu family is growing too powerful, and your Liu family is merely their lamb to the slaughter. The arrival of Yu Ruyi and these other sisters has already forced your Liu family to humble yourselves. The Yu family slaughtered the Xiong family, leaving only orphans and a widow. Are you not concerned?”

Liu Ruyin’s heart grew cold. Qin Mu’s words struck true. With Yu Ruyi dead in the Liu family’s territory, the True Heaven Palace would certainly not let the matter rest. The Liu family would undoubtedly be implicated, barely escaping with their lives, and forced to offer countless treasures to the True Heaven Palace. And the Liu family’s greatest treasures were their very corpses. However, it was clear that this scoundrel Qin had ulterior motives, deliberately trying to drag the Liu family into an alliance against the True Heaven Palace. Still, his mention of He Yiyi gathering the great aristocratic families to discuss a major undertaking was quite appealing to her.

The Yu family was ruthless and unjust. Their previous assault on the Xiong family had been excessively brutal, almost completely wiping them out. Although the Xiong family had held the position of Palace Master, attracting the covetous gaze of other aristocratic families, the Xiong family’s conduct had been relatively fair. The Yu family, however, was different. The Xiong family, with its millions of members and vast influence, was utterly eradicated by the Yu family, leaving only Xiong Xiyu and her mother to escape the Western Lands; everyone else was annihilated. This was far more than mere ruthlessness.

“If we could use this opportunity to overthrow the Yu family…” Liu Ruyin looked at Qin Mu, her mind wavering. Other Liu family experts were filled with indignation, but many among them were considering Qin Mu’s proposition.

Qin Mu smiled slightly, “Sister Ruyin, the Xiong family has been reduced to orphans and a widow. If Xiong Xiyu were to reclaim the position of Palace Master, how could she and her mother alone govern the Western Lands? Wouldn’t they have to rely on the power of major aristocratic families like yours? With the Yu family occupying the True Heaven Palace, you cannot exert even the slightest influence. But the day the Xiong family regains control of the True Heaven Palace will also be the day your great aristocratic families establish yourselves within the True Heaven Palace.”

Liu Ruyin finally made up her mind. She looked at the little girl beside Qin Mu and asked, “Nannan, what do you think?”

The little girl smiled, “Since Mother has already made up her mind, why ask me? Mother should simply make the decision.”

Qin Mu looked at the young girl beside him, who seemed about the same age as Xiong Qi’er, feeling a mix of surprise and uncertainty. He quickly pulled Xiong Qi’er away from the girl, keeping a distance. This little girl was by no means simple. Liu Ruyin hadn’t consulted the Liu family elders or the powerhouses within the glowing coffins; instead, she had asked this young girl. It was clear that this girl was a cunning and astute individual, very likely the Liu family’s mastermind!

The little girl gave him a sweet smile and said, “I was originally undecided about whether to rebel against the Yu family, but Cult Master Qin has helped me out by making the decision for me.”

Over there, Liu Ruyin looked at the women from the True Heaven Palace and chuckled, “Senior Sisters, rest assured, after your deaths, I will perform soul summoning within your corpses. As for whether the revived beings will be you, I can responsibly say, absolutely not. Everyone, send these True Heaven Palace Senior Sisters on their way!”

The True Heaven Palace women cursed and raged, putting up a fierce resistance. However, despite their formidable skills in the Divine Burial Valley, they could not escape death. One True Heaven Palace elder attempted to unseal the golden divine coffin and use the divine corpse within to counter the Liu family experts. Just as she unsealed a talisman, divine light suddenly erupted from one of the coffins, pouring into the True Heaven Palace elder’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The female elder’s primordial spirit instantly dissipated, leaving behind only a corpse.

Qin Mu was inwardly shaken. The Liu family’s strength was terrifying. If not for Xiong Qi’er holding the Azure Dragon Pearl, it would indeed have been difficult to keep them in check. What truly sent shivers down his spine, however, was the seemingly harmless little girl beside him. Liu Ruyin had placed her near him, seemingly without intention, but it was, in fact, a calculated move. If this little girl were to suddenly strike lethally, Qin Mu and Xiong Qi’er might both be killed by her.

Liu Ruyin’s ascent to the position of Liu family patriarch was likely not unrelated to this little girl. “What is your name, Nannan?” Qin Mu asked with a smile, feigning ignorance of the ongoing battle.

The little girl looked up and smiled sweetly, “Cult Master Qin, my name is Liu Zhenqing.”

“Liu Zhenqing.”

Qin Mu nodded. This little girl’s innocent smile was comparable to his own guileless one; both were adept at making people drop their guard. She was quite a character. He thought, “One must not underestimate the little girls of the Western Lands.”

A moment later, the True Heaven Palace women were jointly slain by the Liu family experts. Qin Mu, with Liu Zhenqing and Xiong Qi’er, observed from the side. They watched as a Liu family elder took out a tree root and tapped it on the corpses of the True Heaven Palace experts. The bodies then stood upright stiffly. This was the Liu family’s soul-summoning spell. While Qin Mu’s cultivated Grand Dao of Myriad Gods Naturally included such techniques, witnessing a soul summoned from a corpse was still quite a shock.

“Cult Master Qin,” Liu Zhenqing said softly, glancing at Liu Ruyin nearby, “the spirits revived from corpses are not the original owners’ souls. She is not Liu Ruyin, and I am not her daughter.”

Qin Mu was startled and asked, puzzled, “Yet you call her Mother, and she calls you Nannan.”

“The Liu family lacks familial bonds, blood relations. Our very blood is cold.” Liu Zhenqing said wistfully, “Calling her Mother makes my corpse feel a bit warmer, as if I’re still alive. She thinks the same way.”

Qin Mu saw Liu Zhenqing approach and smiled. These corpses, though their blood was cold, had a human touch once they became spirits. Some people, even with warm blood, lacked any human warmth.

“Cult Master Qin, are you satisfied?” Liu Ruyin asked, looking at him with a half-smile.

Qin Mu burst into laughter and bowed deeply, “Sister Ruyin, please forgive me. In truth, wasn’t placing Zhenqing by my side also a scheme against me?”

Liu Ruyin returned his bow and sighed, “I am not as ruthless as you.”

“It was unavoidable,” Qin Mu replied, “otherwise I couldn’t have allied with you, Sister.”

Qin Mu observed the divine coffins in the Divine Burial Valley, asking curiously, “Who is in this divine coffin? Why is he sealed? I just saw divine light emanating from a few other coffins; could they also contain gods or demons?”

Liu Ruyin shook her head. “Those elders have died and been resurrected more than ten times, their physical bodies refined into divine forms. They are different from the god in this golden coffin. The divine corpse in this golden divine coffin is that of a true god.”

Qin Mu was startled and couldn't help but look more closely.

Liu Zhenqing suddenly coughed. Liu Ruyin understood and said meaningfully, “It’s getting late outside, Cult Master Qin. Perhaps you should stay overnight and continue your journey tomorrow morning. Tonight, Cult Master, you can rest here. My coffin… will leave a crack for you.”

Qin Mu’s scalp tingled, and a shiver ran down his spine. He quickly said seriously, “I have long promised the Poison Master Mu Yingxue that I would see her, and I’ve already delayed for nearly a year. There’s no time to lose, so Qi’er and I should continue our journey as quickly as possible! Farewell! Don’t see us off!” With that, he took Xiong Qi’er’s small hand, summoned the Dragon Qilin, and fled the Divine Burial Valley as if escaping, finding that it was already dark outside.

Qin Mu sharply whipped the Dragon Qilin’s rump and hurriedly departed.

Liu Ruyin, with her daughter, saw them out and watched them disappear into the distance, feeling a sense of melancholy.

Liu Zhenqing said wistfully, “Is it really this hard to find a father with some human warmth…”

Liu Ruyin comforted her, “Don’t worry, Mother will definitely find you a good father.”