Chapter 504: Inheriting the Legacy

The Village Chief stood dumbfounded before the stele, as if struck by lightning. A legend of the Hegemon Body? And from forty thousand years ago?

Wasn't "Hegemon Body" something he had fabricated to deceive Qin Mu and the villagers?

Could such a thing as a Hegemon Body truly exist in this world?

“No, no! There must be some misunderstanding here! Perhaps the Hegemon Body from forty thousand years ago is not at all the same as the Hegemon Body I spoke of!”

His mind was a tangled mess, a flood of thoughts rushing through him. But the Village Chief was still the Village Chief; he quickly organized his thoughts, saying to himself, “Perhaps such a thing as a Hegemon Body does exist in this world. A Hegemon Body should be a type of spirit body, just one so powerful that it was called a Hegemon Body. This kind of Hegemon Body is entirely different from the one I fabricated out of thin air!”

He composed himself and looked at the stone stele.

The inscription was written in Dragon script. After studying it for a moment, the Village Chief had to ask for First Ancestor's help. “What does it say? Dragon script is profound and difficult to understand; I never learned it.”

First Ancestor was accommodating. “It says that before the Upper Emperor’s downfall, the Dragon Clan's Bai family encountered a youth who claimed to be a Hegemon Body. He was incredibly versatile, capable of doing what others could not, and undefeated among his peers. His demeanor was radiant, his brilliance unparalleled. In both swordplay and divine arts, he surpassed anything from the Upper Emperor's Era by an immeasurable margin. So they asked him, 'What is a Hegemon Body?' The youth replied, 'A Hegemon Body is unparalleled. Its Spiritual Embryo remains closed, appearing as a mortal body at first. But after opening the Spiritual Embryo Divine Treasure, one gains supreme profoundness, thus excelling among their generation and possessing extraordinary potential.'”

The Village Chief’s eyelid twitched. Qin Mu was also different from other spirit bodies; he wasn't a spirit body at all. The Spiritual Embryo Divine Treasures of spirit bodies were open from the start, but Qin Mu’s Spiritual Embryo Divine Treasure was closed!

The Spiritual Embryo Divine Treasures of ordinary people were also closed, which was why they couldn't cultivate.

Yet, Qin Mu, under the Village Chief's coaxing and with the villagers' support, managed to open the supposedly impossible-to-open Spiritual Embryo Divine Treasure in one go. From then on, his progress was incredibly fast, advancing by leaps and bounds each day!

This situation was remarkably similar to what the stele described!

“It must be a coincidence!”

The Village Chief steadied his mind, then heard First Ancestor continue, “…A Hegemon Body’s cultivation surpasses that of many spirit bodies, and their comprehension is outstanding. They understand immediately, drawing inferences and applying knowledge broadly. A Hegemon Body is unparalleled, yet the world has its enemies: the so-called pseudo-Hegemon Bodies.”

The Village Chief shook his head, his voice strained. “What?”

“It says here that although the Hegemon Body is unparalleled, it has pseudo-Hegemon Bodies as its enemies.”

First Ancestor patiently explained, “It also says that Hegemon Bodies and pseudo-Hegemon Bodies are in a struggle for destiny, and they possess a strange connection. Pseudo-Hegemon Bodies contend with Hegemon Bodies, seizing their destiny to become true Hegemon Bodies themselves. How strange! How can such a peculiar physique exist? It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I did hear about this Hegemon Body once before, but I dismissed it as a legend. I never imagined the legend would be true.”

The Village Chief’s mind reeled. After a long moment, he recovered, stammering, “F-First Ancestor, you've heard of the Hegemon Body legend?”

First Ancestor nodded. “I heard it once, but I never saw a Hegemon Body. I simply considered that rumor a bizarre tale, initially disbelieving it, but never thought it would turn out to be true.”

His expression turned strange. “To think such a uniquely extraordinary Hegemon Body exists in the world.”

The Village Chief fell silent, suddenly feeling that the world around him had become absurd and bizarre.

Could the Hegemon Body he had fabricated out of thin air really have existed? And this Hegemon Body was exactly the same as the lie he used to deceive Qin Mu!

This was simply too incredible!

Back in the village, to appease the villagers, he had told his first lie—that Qin Mu was a Hegemon Body. In the years that followed, he had to tell more lies to cover it up, eventually fabricating a complete Hegemon Body system.

The stele’s description of the Hegemon Body was almost identical to his Hegemon Body system. He had used the same words to deceive others, and others believed him. Now, reading the words on the stele, he himself began to believe it.

The stele was right before him; he couldn't help but believe.

“If a Hegemon Body truly existed, why did the Upper Emperor’s Era still perish?” The Village Chief still struggled internally, and suddenly thinking of a key point, he quickly asked.

“It doesn’t say,” First Ancestor replied.

First Ancestor’s expression turned pained, filled with sorrow. “However, in the face of overwhelming historical trends, the power of an individual is simply too insignificant. Heh heh, what good is even a Hegemon Body? They still couldn't restore order and bring peace to the world. Perhaps this Hegemon Body was eliminated before he could fully mature, or maybe his destiny was seized by a pseudo-Hegemon Body, or perhaps he was grief-stricken by the demise of the Upper Emperor’s Era and his inability to turn the tide, giving up, wallowing in self-pity and hiding away, like me, acting like a coward. There are simply too many possibilities in history. An individual is so small in the vast expanse of history…”

He seemed to be talking about the Hegemon Body from forty thousand years ago, but also about his own situation. Finally, he sighed wistfully and said no more.

The Village Chief examined the stele repeatedly, then suddenly grew excited, retrieving paper and ink to make a rubbing of the inscription.

First Ancestor raised an eyebrow. The Village Chief chuckled, “I’ll make a rubbing of this inscription and take it back to show the past Human Emperors. A true Hegemon Body, there really is a Hegemon Body! I’ve taken a true Hegemon Body as my disciple, the successor Human Emperor… When they see this rubbing, they’ll surely be happy for me!”

First Ancestor looked at him with surprise for a moment, then continued walking forward. “Based on the inscription, the Upper Emperor’s Divine Realm was destroyed long after the end of the Upper Emperor’s Era. I can’t help but worry about Carefree Village.”

The Village Chief quickly followed him. “Then, First Ancestor, you mean…”

“I’m worried about Carefree Village.”

First Ancestor said gravely, “I haven't received news from Carefree Village in a long time. Although Carefree Village sent a few messages, relaying the Founding Emperor’s orders, I suspect that it’s no longer the same driven and ambitious Founding Emperor as before. Carefree, carefree… Heh heh, he who gives no thought to the future will find sorrow at hand! They’ve stayed in Carefree Village for too long! Back then, I opposed the creation of Carefree Village, advocating for fighting to the very end!”

The Village Chief pondered. “Then, First Ancestor, are you planning to find people from the Upper Emperor’s Era on this trip? The Upper Emperor’s Era is too far back; it’s impossible for any remnants to have survived.”

“No! There are still people alive!”

First Ancestor looked around. “This Upper Emperor’s Divine Realm gathered the remnants of the Upper Emperor’s Era. After many years of development, their power was considerable, not inferior to the current Carefree Village. Later, this place was breached by the enemy, but I discovered from scattered and fragmented records in the ruins that some people did escape alive and established a new home. I want to find them, unite them with Carefree Village, and perhaps we can plan something significant again!”

The Village Chief was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Even during the most prosperous period of the Founding Emperor’s Era, you couldn’t overturn the situation. Now, even if you find the old departments of the Upper Emperor, their strength will be far from the peak of the Founding Emperor’s Era. If you didn’t seek to unite with them and fight when you were strongest, what use will it be to find them now?”

First Ancestor’s expression turned pained, and he said with difficulty, “I know! But I also know that hiding in Carefree Village and doing nothing will never bring hope! I must do something, I must stay busy. The moment I quiet down, my thoughts wander, and I see the scenes of my comrades-in-arms dying before me. I see the scenes of natural disasters annihilating all living beings. I see the scenes of people struggling in hellish, terrifying situations. I must do something…”

He was somewhat stubborn, with deep-seated obsessions, but the Village Chief understood his feelings and emotions. “I’ll go with you.”

Inside Fengdu City, Qin Mu arrived at the residence of the Sacred Cult’s past cult masters. He looked around curiously, seeing many ghost servants and attendants bustling about.

Compared to the impoverished state of the Human Emperors’ Hall, this place was much livelier, with ghosts coming and going, and the palaces were extraordinarily grand. Clearly, the Sacred Cult’s past cult masters received offerings from the Sacred Cult, unlike the Human Emperors, who, due to their sparse population and few grave visitors, were utterly destitute.

Only First Ancestor, having petrified his physical body and placed it in Little Jade Capital, occasionally received some offerings, so he still had some provisions at home, enough to help out the Second and Third Ancestors.

The Sacred Cult’s palaces stood one after another, in close array, with green tiles and red eaves, carved beams and painted pillars, and multi-storied pavilions. The palaces were also arranged in an array formation, connected by channels and long corridors that linked the various halls. Many little ghosts carried various flower bouquets and fruit platters, coming and going, bustling and crowded; it was very lively.

Qin Mu was filled with emotion. To be a ghost, yet the treatment was so different.

He arrived before a palace and looked up; this was the Ancestor Yang Hall. He thought to himself, “Could this be Cult Master Ancestor Yang’s palace?”

Cult Master Ancestor Yang was the cult master before Li Tianxing. Qin Mu didn't know much about his deeds, only that there was an Ancestor Yang Hall on Sacred Arrival Mountain. He hadn't expected there to be one here as well.

Before the hall, a young man was holding a chisel, carving a guardian lion, while some little ghosts picked up broken stones nearby.

As Qin Mu was about to enter the hall, the youth quickly asked, “What are you doing?”

Qin Mu smiled. “I’ve come to find Cult Master Ancestor Yang.”

The youth scrutinized him, then put down his hammer and chisel. Immediately, a little ghost held a jade tray to receive the tools, another little ghost brought a jade basin for him to wash his hands, and then yet another little ghost presented a face towel.

The youth wiped his hands clean, then asked in surprise, “You haven’t met Cult Master Ancestor Yang?”

Qin Mu was astonished. “You are Cult Master Ancestor Yang?”

The youth nodded and chuckled. “I am. You’re a skeleton, so you must still be alive, but it’s strange that you’re not Li Tianxing. Li Tianxing is my disciple; I wouldn’t forget him. Are you the next Cult Master?”

He grew interested, asking excitedly, “Did you kill Li Tianxing?”

Qin Mu quickly shook his head. “Cult Master Li’s soul was scattered. He fought desperately against Xing An, but he couldn’t defeat Xing An. Although Cult Master Li’s character was somewhat flawed, he knew how to repent before his death, which was admirable…”

“His soul was scattered? Good!”

Cult Master Ancestor Yang clapped his hands and laughed. “Good riddance! When I was old, I didn’t want to abdicate, so this brat took advantage of me while I was practicing the Nine Cycles of Wither and Bloom profound art, when my vitality was depleted, and challenged me! He gravely wounded me and seized the position of Cult Master! I died of frustration from his severe injuries, and that scoundrel even put on a show of weeping at my grave…”

Qin Mu was wide-eyed and speechless. After a moment, he asked, “May I ask where the Sacred Cult Grandmaster is?”

“Sacred Cult Grandmaster? Who’s that?”

Cult Master Ancestor Yang was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized and chuckled, “You mean my junior martial uncle, right? He was taken as a disciple by my grandmaster in his later years. Junior martial uncle never served as Cult Master, and he’s even younger than me. After I beat my master to death, he still blamed me. I wanted to kill him, but I was afraid of gossip among the cult members, so I gave him an idle job, making him the Sacred Cult Grandmaster, and banished him far away… Master, come over here! Our Sacred Cult’s little Cult Master has come to visit us!”

From a nearby palace walked out a black-robed man, also handsome, appearing to be thirty or forty years old, dignified and exceptionally dashing. Hearing this, he walked over, surprised. “Little Cult Master? Has our Sacred Cult changed Cult Masters again? How did you die?”

Cult Master Ancestor Yang chuckled, “The little Cult Master isn’t dead yet. Look, he’s in skeleton form. He’s here to find your junior brother, my junior martial uncle.”

The black-robed man walked over, scrutinizing Qin Mu, and chuckled. “Indeed, not dead. Have you taken any disciples yet?”

Qin Mu quickly paid his respects. “Greetings, Cult Master Yu Lian. I haven’t taken any disciples yet.”

“Don’t take disciples too early. The sooner you take them, the sooner you die. See, I was assassinated by my ‘good’ disciple.”

Cult Master Yu Lian turned around, a sword still stuck in his back, and kindly reminded him, “See, this sword was stabbed by my ‘good’ disciple.”

Cult Master Ancestor Yang, triumphant, chuckled, “Master, how can you still have the nerve to keep that sword? What about when you assassinated Grandmaster Ancestor?”

Cult Master Yu Lian chuckled mischievously, equally triumphant. “Your Grandmaster Ancestor wanted to pass on the position to junior martial uncle. If I didn’t assassinate her, how could I become the Cult Master and Sacred Master? And how else could you have assassinated me to become Cult Master? By the way, who did our little Cult Master assassinate to become the Cult Master and Sacred Master?”