Chapter 470: True Heavenly Old Mother

The goddess's appearance was vaguely reminiscent of the one in the mural whom Qin Mu had stolen wine from and kicked away. She ran to a corner, rounded a screen, and from behind it emerged a woman whose appearance was now vastly different.

This woman wore a round, cap-like silver ornament on her head. She was dressed in a black short jacket, a long black skirt, and high-heeled, black pointed shoes, appearing just like an ordinary woman from the Western Region.

"That was close," she thought. "I almost got kicked back into my true form by that outcast! But I still gave myself away. All the gods and demons in the mural could only utter one or two simple words, like 'kill' or 'beast,' whereas I spoke a complete sentence."

The woman swiftly exited the main hall of True Heaven Palace. Sunlight illuminated her delicate and beautiful face as she walked forward with her head down, thinking, "Those two didn't realize this before, but if they think about it carefully, they'll definitely notice something amiss! I must leave quickly, or perhaps secure the Four Spirit Orbs first..."

Her steps were light and quick. Seeing Qin Mu and the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace ahead, she slowed her pace, appearing composed and smiling, just like an ordinary female disciple from a Western Region aristocratic family.

"Oh no!" Suddenly, Qin Mu's expression changed slightly. He slapped his fist into his palm and exclaimed, "I know where the True Heaven Mother is hiding!"

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, equally astute, immediately grasped the key point and exclaimed, "She's in that mural with the missing corner! The goddess who was serving wine!"

He turned and ran towards the main hall, speaking quickly, "We even killed the Heavenly Emperor in the painting, but even he didn't utter a single word. Only that goddess serving wine spoke a complete sentence!"

He rushed into the hall, and after a moment, emerged, shaking his head. "The goddess serving wine is no longer in the mural," he said.

Qin Mu imitated the tone of the goddess from the mural: "Where did this little brat come from? This is divine wine for the gods, is it something you can touch?" He continued, "That sentence was too complex for someone in a painting. The artist hasn't refined their skill to that extent yet. The goddess who could speak is the True Heaven Mother! She is truly insidious, hiding herself in the painting. We underestimated her."

The woman approached the two men and greeted Qin Mu, saying, "Cult Master Qin."

Qin Mu's eyes flickered, and he smiled. "Sister, why didn't you greet the Imperial Preceptor?"

"The Imperial Preceptor? I haven't seen him before. Is he the powerful expert who killed Ba Gou earlier?" The woman showed excitement and quickly greeted the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, casting a deep, lingering look at him. The Imperial Preceptor shook his head. "It's not her. I've rarely shown my face since coming to the Western Region, and most women here don't recognize me. I killed the True Heaven Mother's false body; she would recognize me."

Qin Mu nodded and asked the woman, "Have you seen anyone walk out of that main hall?"

The woman shook her head. "I followed my clan leader to seize the Vermillion Bird Orb. I passed by here, but I didn't see anyone."

Qin Mu pondered, then waved his hand. The woman glanced at the Imperial Preceptor again, then walked past the two with her head down. Suddenly, Qin Mu grabbed her sleeve. The True Heaven Mother's scalp tingled, and she almost couldn't resist making a move.

Qin Mu smiled. "What's your name, sister? Which aristocratic family are you from? Who is your clan leader?"

The True Heaven Mother's face changed drastically. She fell to her knees with a thud, trembling, and kowtowed. "I am a disciple of True Heaven Palace. Please, Cult Master, don't kill me! If I'm recognized by other aristocratic families, my life will be in danger! Please spare my life!"

Qin Mu let out a breath and said to the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, "I thought she was the True Heaven Mother. But the True Heaven Mother is a deity; how could she kowtow to a mortal? She really is a disciple of True Heaven Palace, trying to sneak out to save her life."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace waved his hand. "You deal with it as you see fit."

Qin Mu helped the True Heaven Mother to her feet and said kindly, "Sister, there's no need to be afraid. Don't listen to others. Others call me the Demonic Cult Master, but actually, it's just my timidity. I came to the Western Region alone and called myself the Demonic Cult Master to scare people. In truth, I am the Holy Cult Master; our Holy Cult is the kindest, we never harm others, and I am a genuinely good person. Look, the Imperial Preceptor is even one of the Four Heavenly Kings of our Holy Cult. By the way, what's your name?"

The True Heaven Mother was somewhat unconvinced. She tested him, "My name is Tian Siyu. You really won't hand me over?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace urged, "I need to go proclaim the imperial decree. I don't have time to stay here."

Qin Mu held the True Heaven Mother's hand and followed the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace. "I'm looking for someone, a young man named Ban Gungcuo, also known as the Great Venerable," he said. "He's the leader of the Loulan Golden Palace and once came to your True Heaven Palace. Sister Siyu, have you seen him?"

Held by his hand, the True Heaven Mother glanced at the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace ahead, not daring to break free. "I've seen this person," she said. "I only know him as the Great Venerable, and he's close with Elder Yu Qingchan. But he's not in the palace now; he ran away when he saw Cult Master Qin attacking True Heaven Palace."

"As expected of the Great Venerable." Qin Mu sighed and smiled. "Sister Siyu, stay with me so you don't get killed by others. By the way, your Western Region's tracking skills are unparalleled. Sister Siyu's divine abilities must be extraordinary, so you probably have a way to track Ban Gungcuo, right? I'll protect you from harm, and you help me track Ban Gungcuo, alright?"

The True Heaven Mother was delighted. "Good! It's a deal?"

Qin Mu laughed heartily. "How could I deceive you? It's a deal! Imperial Preceptor, after you've read the imperial decree, come with me to hunt down Ban Gungcuo."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace said calmly, "Good. I also want to know who the god or demon behind the Great Venerable is and where they are hiding."

The True Heaven Mother's face changed slightly. She had assumed Qin Mu would go with her to hunt Ban Gungcuo, and with just the two of them, she could conveniently eliminate this noble among the outcasts. She hadn't expected Qin Mu to invite the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace! With the Imperial Preceptor by her side, she would be in danger; any slight misstep would lead to her being killed by this cold-faced, ruthless man! At such close proximity, if the Imperial Preceptor were to make a move, she absolutely wouldn't be able to defend herself!

"It's fine if the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace comes along," she thought. "It gives me more chances to eliminate him! I still need the Four Spirit Orbs; once I get them, the difficulty of getting rid of the Imperial Preceptor will be greatly reduced..."

Finally, the major aristocratic families of the Western Region quelled True Heaven Palace. The Yu family's experts were either killed or apprehended. The various clans nominated Xiong Xiyu to once again become the Palace Mistress and Milk Kui of Western Heaven Palace. Xiong Xiyu, holding Xiong Qi'er's hand, accepted the worship of the various aristocratic families.

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace proclaimed Emperor Yanfeng's imperial decree. Xiong Xiyu quickly received the decree. Qin Mu, meanwhile, pulled Xiong Qi'er over, asking her various questions, then requested the Azure Dragon Orb and the Black Tortoise Orb to play with them.

The True Heaven Mother stared at the two spirit treasures in his hands, strongly resisting the urge to snatch them.

Qin Mu gave the Black Tortoise Orb to Xiong Qi'er. The two of them ignored the imperial decree, playing a game of 'bouncing orbs,' flicking the two spirit treasures back and forth. Xiong Qi'er giggled continuously.

The True Heaven Mother was seething with anger. She simply turned her head away, adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude.

Suddenly, Qin Mu placed the Azure Dragon Orb into her hand. He smiled and said, "Sister Siyu, come play with Qi'er for a while."

The True Heaven Mother held the Azure Dragon Orb, her mind in a daze. She looked at the smiling Qin Mu, utterly bewildered.

"With the Azure Dragon Orb in my hand, I can unleash its strongest power," she thought. "If I make a move now, everyone in True Heaven Palace will be immobilized and turned to wood!"

Her eyes flickered, and she was about to act. Suddenly, she saw the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, who was proclaiming the imperial decree, his clothes fluttering without wind, and her heart involuntarily tensed.

"This kid and the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace are both old foxes; they're still testing me!"

The True Heaven Mother's hair stood on end. She obediently squatted down and played 'bouncing orbs' with Xiong Qi'er using the Azure Dragon Orb.

Over there, the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace had finished proclaiming Emperor Yanfeng's decree. Qin Mu retrieved the Azure Dragon Orb and placed it back into Xiong Qi'er's hand. Xiong Xiyu led the crowd to receive the decree. She called Xiong Qi'er, held the two spirit orbs, and prostrated herself, saying, "We are willing to offer these two spirit treasures to His Majesty, and we will never betray him."

He Yiyi, Mu Yingxue, and others' expressions changed slightly. Xiong Xiyu knew it would be difficult for her to rule the Western Region, and with the other two spirit orbs having been seized, she simply offered these two to Emperor Yanfeng as a means to restrain the major aristocratic families of the Western Region!

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace accepted the Black Tortoise Orb. "The Palace Mistress also needs treasures to guard the Western Region," he said. "The Palace Mistress should keep this Azure Dragon Orb."

Xiong Xiyu thanked him and, holding Xiong Qi'er's hand, stood up.

After the ceremony, the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace urged Qin Mu to depart quickly. "You've left a trail of romantic entanglements that can't be swept away or ignored," he said. "Be careful you don't end up disgraced like the Jade-faced Poison King, forced to cut ties and leave. Hurry up and conclude things; let's go find the Great Venerable."

"I'm not flirtatious..." Qin Mu reluctantly bid farewell to the women. He Yiyi's gaze was full of affection as she whispered, "Cult Master, won't you truly stay a few more days? Some things aren't finished yet." Mu Yingxue, however, was very straightforward and laughed, "Little man, go ahead and leave! I'll climb your window when I get to the Central Plains!" Xiong Xiyu, holding Xiong Qi'er, bid a reluctant farewell. "If we hadn't met the Cult Master," she said, "my daughter and I would have perished long ago, our bones scattered somewhere unknown. The Cult Master has shown immense kindness to my Xiong family. From now on, whatever you command, True Heaven Palace will obey without question."

Qin Mu smiled. "You don't need to keep it in mind. I merely act upon what I know, without going against my conscience. Milk Kui, Qi'er, farewell." With that, he turned and left.

Xiong Xiyu's heart was filled with mixed emotions. She watched him walk out of True Heaven Palace and suddenly called out loudly, "Righteous Warrior!"

Qin Mu paused, then turned back, smiled, and waved. The term "Righteous Warrior" wasn't the reason he had saved the mother and daughter; he simply couldn't bear to see Xiong Qi'er die at the hands of True Heaven Palace. However, now he was worthy of the title.

Qin Mu leaped onto the back of the Dragon Qilin, then pulled the True Heaven Mother up. He asked the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, "Imperial Preceptor, the Western Region is a captivating world. How will the Emperor treat it?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace walked through the air with a leisurely pace. He said calmly, "The Emperor will treat the Western Region as he treats you. He has that breadth of mind and spirit. This time, I petitioned the Emperor, saying I intended to conquer the Western Region. The reason I didn't bring the Grand Army of Eternal Peace was also out of concern that our troops might disrupt the peace here. The women here are too beautiful, and I didn't want any acts of rape or plunder to occur amidst a chaotic army. So I told the Emperor, 'I won't bring a million soldiers. I'll recommend one person who can stand against a million strong warriors. This person...'"

He turned back to look at Qin Mu and smiled. "It's you. In all the world, only Cult Master Qin can single-handedly sweep through the Western Region."

Qin Mu was slightly stunned, then laughed heartily. "Imperial Preceptor, you're flattering me! Sister Siyu, don't you agree?"

The True Heaven Mother smiled but remained silent.

Qin Mu placed the Black Tortoise Orb into her hand and smiled. "Sister Siyu, you use your magic. Let's find this fellow Ban Gungcuo as quickly as possible."

The True Heaven Mother gripped the Black Tortoise Orb tightly. She glanced at the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, seeing the middle-aged man with one hand behind his back, forming a sword art with the other.