Chapter 471: Flaw

Mother Earth felt a faint headache. Qin Mu had given her the Black Tortoise Pearl. If it was for finding someone, why would she need the Black Tortoise Pearl?

This was clearly another test!

"Is this kid a fox? He's tested me five or six times already, and he's still going!"

Mother Earth returned the Black Tortoise Pearl to Qin Mu, her gaze gentle, and she smiled faintly. "There's no need for such a treasure to find someone. Does Cult Master Qin have a portrait of the Venerable?"

Qin Mu, as if blind to her charming and alluring smile, quickly sketched Ban Gengcuo's portrait and handed it to her.

Mother Earth was very patient. She cast a spirit-summoning spell, awakening the white clouds in the sky, the rocks, and the trees, questioning them one by one. After a moment, she finally found Ban Gengcuo's whereabouts.

"The spells of True Heaven Palace are quite good. If used for apprehending criminals, they would be top-notch."

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang pondered, "Perhaps we could allow True Heaven Palace disciples to join Yan Kang and become female constables."

Mother Earth said softly, "Your insight, Imperial Preceptor, is extraordinary."

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's face was devoid of expression. "This is merely a rough idea, not worth mentioning."

Along the way, Mother Earth attended to Qin Mu and Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's daily needs, serving them tea and water, washing clothes, and cooking meals. A constant smile graced her face, making her appear virtuous and considerate.

However, Qin Mu and Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang seemed to take it all for granted. Qin Mu even asked her to feed the Dragon Qilin and attend to the large creature.

Mother Earth never uttered a single complaint and remained gentle and considerate, but deep down, she felt completely uncertain.

Qin Mu appeared innocent and carefree, his words as sweet as honey. He called every woman "elder sister," yet he was like a block of wood, utterly unresponsive to any flirtation, showing no interest whatsoever.

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang was even more formidable. He seemed devoid of emotion, focused only on tasks, and completely unmoved by her allure.

As for the Dragon Qilin, it was even more astonishing. It constantly stared at its food basin, meticulously counting every spiritual pellet inside, refusing to tolerate even one missing.

When not eating, the Dragon Qilin would fret about its fur not growing back, its scales, blackened and pitted by lightning, seemingly beyond repair. It would complain about losing its former good looks and plot how to coax more food, engaging in constant bickering with Mother Earth, which drove her nearly insane.

"I'm going to kill them all!"

Mother Earth was tempted to strike several times but realized she had no chance against Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang.

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang never showed any weakness. Even at night, he remained awake with his eyes open.

Mother Earth also discovered something even more terrifying: even while eating, Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang used his chopsticks to practice sword forms. From extending the chopsticks to retracting them and bringing food to his mouth, the eccentric man executed hundreds of different sword techniques!

What was even more frightening was that his chopstick movements involved the coordination of his entire body, the operation of his muscles and tendons, and the subtle changes in his vital energy. He was constantly in optimal attack posture, so perfect that no flaw could be found.

In contrast, Qin Mu was full of vulnerabilities; she could kill him in any miserable way she wished without much effort.

But if Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang wasn't eliminated first, killing Qin Mu would mean she would be next.

Mother Earth dared not act and could only patiently search for an opportunity.

"I don't believe he can remain perfectly flawless. He's bound to show a weakness! Even a god in this world cannot be without any flaws!"

Along the journey, Qin Mu constantly sought Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's guidance on sword techniques. Mother Earth listened intently, hoping to find a flaw in the Imperial Preceptor's swordsmanship, but she soon realized she couldn't understand the sword forms they discussed.

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's mastery of the sword dao progressed at an astonishing rate, and Qin Mu's proficiency in swordsmanship was also remarkable. While Mother Earth excelled in the path of natural creation, her understanding of sword arts was far inferior to theirs.

The two often sparred in mid-air. Qin Mu attacked Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang with his sword techniques, but the Imperial Preceptor consistently kept one hand behind his back, wielding his sword with the other, effortlessly deflecting all of Qin Mu's attacks.

Qin Mu's offense was extremely fierce, his sword forms varied and dazzling. Yet, Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's swordsmanship was exceptionally simple, using only the most basic stances, but always effortlessly breaking Qin Mu's complex techniques.

When Qin Mu grew tired, he would stop to rest, burying himself in thought on how to improve his sword forms. Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang offered no verbal guidance, allowing him to ponder in silence.

Mother Earth couldn't help but ask, "Your swordsmanship, Imperial Preceptor, is godlike. Why don't you offer him advice?"

"I cannot guide him."

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang shook his head. "He has already reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship; any further understanding must come from himself."

Mother Earth was startled. Even Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang couldn't guide the current Qin Mu?

"Why don't you seal your divine treasures, Imperial Preceptor, and spar with him at the same cultivation level?" Mother Earth asked, her eyes gleaming.

"I wouldn't dare."

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang honestly replied, "His cultivation is too strong. At the same level, I could, at most, rely on my superior sword dao cultivation to fight him to a mutual destruction. His vital energy is so pure and dense that if I took one of his moves, his vital energy alone would be enough to kill me."

Mother Earth looked at Qin Mu, thinking, "To reach this level at such a young age, this child cannot be allowed to live! Otherwise, who could ever control him?"

Just as she thought this, a deafening sound, like the heavens and earth collapsing, suddenly erupted from Qin Mu's body, shaking the surrounding white clouds away. Mother Earth was profoundly shocked, her expression one of disbelief.

This was the sound of a divine treasure breaking through its wall, so violent it was as if a Celestial Divine Treasure was breaking through!

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Light burst forth from Qin Mu's body, transforming into seven stars that revolved around him. There was pure yang energy like a scorching sun, pure yin energy like a radiant moon, the fiery planet Mars as large as a dipper, the heavy Saturn exuding an earthy yellow hue, Venus shining with white light, Mercury emanating swirling water vapor, and Jupiter emitting the aura of a green dragon amidst rumbles of thunder.

On each of these seven great stars stood a unique deity: one with an ox head and human body, another with a three-legged bird head, and yet another with a tiger head and leopard tail. The seven Star Sovereigns appeared in various peculiar forms.

Qin Mu's body trembled intensely, and behind him, a five to six zhang tall primordial spirit appeared, its hands seemingly cradling the seven stars that floated between them.

Mother Earth gasped, "Such a powerful primordial spirit! He's at the Celestial Realm, so why is there a Seven Stars phenomenon?"

"Did you hear how terrifying the sound of his breakthrough was?"

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang exhaled a turbid breath, his expression desolate. "I always thought I was a straight line, without any weaknesses. Now I know I'm not. He is the straight line; I am a triangle. Can the Hegemon Body truly be that powerful?"

Mother Earth was filled with doubt and astonishment at Qin Mu's astounding Seven Stars breakthrough phenomenon. A Seven Stars breakthrough shouldn't produce such a shocking sound or such a powerful aura.

However, what was even more shocking was the Hegemon Body.

She had never heard of such a physique existing in the world!

"Imperial Preceptor, what is the Hegemon Body?" Mother Earth humbly inquired.

"The Hegemon Body originates from an ancient legend."

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang became interested. "An elder told me about this; I'll explain it to you in detail. Legend says there can only be one Hegemon Body in the world..."

They tracked for four or five days. Qin Mu stabilized his Seven Stars Realm, his cultivation becoming increasingly profound. Having simultaneously opened the Spirit Embryo, Five Qi, and Seven Stars divine treasures, his cultivation rivaled that of the exotic beast, the Dragon Qilin.

The Dragon Qilin grew very anxious, feeling a strong sense of crisis. "Oh no! If the Cult Master's cultivation catches up to mine, I'll be useless! Where will I find another master as good as him to feed me?"

Mother Earth breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "We are not far from the Venerable now."

Qin Mu looked up, seeing the fiery desert ahead. He exclaimed in surprise, "Ban Gengcuo has fled out of the Western Lands! As expected of the Venerable, his ability to escape is truly unmatched. If not for Elder Sister Siyu this time, I'm afraid he would have gotten away again."

Flames blazed fiercely in the fiery desert. As soon as Qin Mu approached, strange patterns appeared on his body, spreading all over.

A twitch appeared in Mother Earth's eye, and she asked with concern, "Cult Master Qin, these patterns on your body..."

"It's probably a curse."

Qin Mu replied indifferently, "These patterns appeared on me the last time I came here. They extend all the way to the soles of my feet and cannot be removed. They only disappear automatically once I leave the fiery desert."

"Even on the soles of your feet?"

Mother Earth's mind reeled, and she nearly cheered in excitement. "Royalty! He's of royal blood!"

She had killed countless nobles among the Abandoned People of the Great Ruins, but she had never killed anyone of imperial bloodline, the bloodline of the Founding Emperor!

"He's not a noble among the Abandoned People of the Great Ruins; he's royalty!"

Mother Earth felt a surge of elation, sensing that the humiliation she had endured for the past few days had vanished. "I searched high and low, but what I sought came to me effortlessly! The superiors are most concerned about the royal lineage among the Abandoned People. If I can eliminate him, I can rise to prominence, leave this wretched lower realm, and enjoy prosperity in the upper realm!"

Her eyes flickered. "Although this boy is the easiest to deal with, he's the most valuable! His life is far more precious than Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's! However, before that, I must eliminate Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang! It's difficult to deal with him elsewhere, but once we enter the desert, I'll have the means and opportunity to take him on! Venerable, I apologize for the trouble."

She gathered sand and cast a spell, awakening sand dune giants one by one to inquire about Ban Gengcuo's whereabouts.

The Dragon Qilin sped up, chasing forward.

By dawn the next day, the Dragon Qilin finally arrived at a desert ruin. The ruin was relatively well-preserved, and beside it lay a colossal solar ship and a half-buried sun, covered by red sand.

Mother Earth smiled. "With this solar ship, it will be difficult for Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang to survive."

Qin Mu's spirits lifted. He laughed, "Imperial Preceptor, Elder Sister Siyu, you two stay here and hold the line for me. Don't let him escape again. I'll go find that fellow, Ban Gengcuo!"

Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang gazed at him. "You don't need my help?"

"No!"

Qin Mu quickened his pace, reaching the ruins in a few leaps and landing on a dilapidated grand hall. He laughed loudly, "Ban Gengcuo, a friend has come from afar! Why don't you get out here and face your death?"

"You, Qin, are like a persistent ghost!"

From within the ruins, a figure shot into the sky, scattering sand everywhere. With a loud thud, it landed on the other end of the grand hall. It was a young man, Ban Gengcuo, full of vigor, who laughed heartily, "You've come at just the right time! My cultivation has greatly increased these past few days. Today, I can finally fulfill my lifelong wish and arrange your corpse into the character for 'submission'!"

At that moment, Mother Earth watched Imperial Preceptor Yan Kang's back. He had finally revealed a flaw!