Chapter 505: The Tiny Old Thief, Useless to Fight

Qin Mu's expression darkened, only for him to remember he had no flesh and therefore no face to show his displeasure.

The traditions of the Heavenly Devil Cult, it seemed, were nothing like he had imagined. Conspiring against the cult leader was not met with a punishment of "three knives and six holes"; instead, it was a traditional "virtue." Past cult leaders took pride in having overthrown their predecessors to ascend to the leadership.

"I didn't plot against anyone," Qin Mu explained patiently. "The Heavenly Saint Patriarch chose me and directly promoted me to leader."

"Master! Master!" Cult Leader Yu Lian waved to a young girl, chuckling, "The young cult leader has arrived. He's quite unusual! He didn't plot against the previous leader; he simply took the position directly!"

The young girl stepped out of her palace and approached, eyes wide with surprise. "Such a thing exists? You didn't seduce your master, corrupt his spiritual resolve, and cause him to lose to you in a duel?"

Qin Mu shook his head. "No. The Heavenly Saint Patriarch made the decision and passed the position on to me."

"You're ruining the traditions of my Heavenly Saint Cult!" the young girl exclaimed. Bright and captivating, wearing two large, shimmering silver earrings, she looked at Qin Mu with a hint of disdain. "Engaging in a battle of wits and strength with masters and disciples—that is the excellent tradition of my Heavenly Saint Cult. You've abandoned this legacy; how dull! If you don't challenge your master, how can each generation surpass the last? Your claim to the cult leader position is illegitimate!"

Qin Mu was left wide-eyed and speechless.

This young woman was likely from the Si family. Based on the succession of past Heavenly Devil Cult leaders, she would be Cult Leader Si Yuanwei, an ancestor of Granny Si.

Few individuals from the Si family ever became cult leaders, but there were one or two, and Si Yuanwei was among them.

"I was originally the Saintess of the cult," Si Yuanwei stated. "Later, I utterly captivated Cult Leader Fu Yun, corrupting his spiritual resolve. Deeply moved, Cult Leader Fu Yun declared that the cult would undoubtedly flourish more under my leadership than under his, and so he imparted the teachings through initiation. You, however, ascended to the position purely through the patriarch's endorsement; your claim is entirely illegitimate!"

Cult Leader Zu Yang sneered, "Grand-Master, it was my junior martial uncle who passed the position to him. Do you see now what a grave mistake it was for you to intend to pass the position to him? My junior martial uncle became the Heavenly Saint Patriarch, thereby shattering our Heavenly Saint Cult's ancient rules! This young cult leader, who didn't even eliminate or severely wound his predecessor, still has the audacity to face us!"

Si Yuanwei's face flushed faintly. "I had originally thought that young Wen Yuan's handsome looks would corrupt my spiritual resolve, allowing him to smoothly seize the leadership. I never anticipated it would be your master who plotted against me. However, Wen Yuan's actions truly wounded my heart. Isn't he dead? Let's just summon him and ask... Master Hu Jun, have you seen Wen Yuan?"

A strikingly handsome and enigmatic man approached, chuckling. "I just saw him. He was held captive by a large skeleton, who claimed to be from the mortal realm. It clung to him, wailing and crying, extracting a torrent of tears from him. He's probably hiding somewhere now, wiping his nose. And this is..."

"He's our cult's new leader," Si Yuanwei said with a dismissive air. "His claim to the leadership is illegitimate; he didn't earn it through battle but inherited it through succession. It's utterly disgraceful!"

"Such a thing exists?" Cult Leader Hu Jun's expression turned cold, and he sneered, "It's true that every generation brings forth new talents, but it seems each is worse than the last! Morals have truly declined. If you didn't seize the position of Saint Cult Leader through battle, can you truly secure your reign?"

"Esteemed former cult leaders," Qin Mu said patiently, "I ascended to the position of leader because I was jointly recommended by the heads of the three hundred and sixty halls, and by all the great protectors and heavenly kings. To be frank, under my stewardship, the cult has flourished immensely, far surpassing its previous state..."

"Shameless boasting!" exclaimed one of several other former cult leaders who had just arrived. A handsome man, hearing this, sneered, "Increasingly prosperous? I hear the mortal realm is now governed by the Eternal Peace Empire, and it's conquering the world. How did you make the cult prosper? Did you perhaps betray the cult for personal gain, willing to serve as the Emperor's 'son cult leader'?"

Suppressing his anger, Qin Mu merely smiled and asked, "And who might you be?"

The handsome man dramatically unfurled his folding fan. "Have you never visited my Yue Guang Hall on Sacred Summit Mountain? I am Cult Leader Yue Guang!"

Qin Mu burst into laughter. "Rotten timber in your hall, I've never found cause to visit. On Sacred Summit Mountain, I only revere the Dao-transmitting Woodcutter, the Founding Cult Leader, and the Three Saint Kings. In my eyes, other cult leaders are nothing more than petty, scheming individuals, unworthy of my respect."

"How audacious!"

Several more former cult leaders stepped forward. Qin Mu looked their way, noting that all were strikingly handsome men and beautiful women. Clearly, the Heavenly Devil Cult differed significantly from the Human Emperor's Hall.

While the Human Emperors of the Human Emperor's Hall could be either male or female, they rarely prioritized their appearance, allowing their faces to age naturally rather than striving for eternal youth.

The leaders of the Heavenly Saint Cult, however, were starkly different. The Grand Genesis Heavenly Devil Scripture contains seven chapters on creation, and cultivating these allows one to eternally preserve a youthful appearance, or even revert to their teenage years.

All the Saint Cult Leaders Qin Mu observed were young men and women, vibrant and youthful. Even the Young Patriarch, who maintained a youthful appearance, clearly placed great importance on his image.

"Perhaps the young cult leader has never visited my Thousand Bones Hall of Feng Qiangu?" Cult Leader Qiangu stepped forward, a sneer on his face. "Your position was inherited, not seized by your own power, making your claim illegitimate. And yet you dare to label us as insignificant, unworthy of respect. What exactly makes you worthy of respect?"

"Exactly, your claim is illegitimate. What right do you have to face us, or even our ancestors?"

"You disrespect the cult's rules and show no regard for us, your predecessors. At such a young age, aren't you betraying your masters and ancestors?"

"Young cult leader..."

"SILENCE!" Qin Mu roared, his anger flaring.

Silence fell upon the surroundings.

Qin Mu burst into laughter, his robes flaring out to either side. He declared in a clear voice, "I inherited the position of cult leader at a young age. When I ascended, the cult's populace was impoverished, and everything was in disarray—a complete mess left to me by the former cult leader Li Tianxing. After I took charge, I implemented reforms, allied with Eternal Peace, drove out Buddhism to the west, severely crippled Daoism, and forced both great sacred grounds into submission."

"I reformed laws and forged new paths, expanded our doctrine, established academies, and founded the Heavenly Saint Academy. I collected Daoist techniques and divine arts from all sects and factions across the land, thereby legitimizing our cult!"

"I created the Eighteen Forms of Sword, and achieved the establishment of the primordial spirit."

"Our cult's disciples now dominate a vast territory, stretching tens of thousands of li from east to west, numbering in the millions of divine arts practitioners. From the Imperial Tutor of Eternal Peace down to common laborers, our cult members are present throughout society, both in the court and among the common folk!"

"I accomplished all of this with a cultivation level of merely the Seven Stars realm!"

His gaze swept around, taking in the past Saint Cult Leaders of the Heavenly Devil Cult. He sneered, "And what about all of you?"

"In your hands, the cult degenerated into a demonic path, earning the name 'Heavenly Devil Cult,' reviled and hunted by all!"

"The so-called Dao of Saints is meant to be intertwined with the daily lives of the common people. Yet, you twisted the true Dao of Saints into a demonic path, into a demonic cult. Saints are meant to establish achievements, express their wisdom, and found doctrines; which of you has accomplished any of that?"

"I respect the Saint Woodcutter, who transmitted scriptures on stone, passing down methods for ten thousand generations."

"I respect the Founding Patriarch, who imparted the Dao and established the cult through his teachings."

"I respect the three Saint Cult Leaders of the Three Kings Hall, who selflessly sacrificed themselves for righteousness in times of peril, preserving our heritage."

"As for you?"

Qin Mu scoffed. "What achievements have you established? What words have you imparted? What doctrines have you founded? You twisted the teachings, wildly practiced demonic arts, and forced the Heavenly Saint Cult to bear the name of a demonic cult! What right do I have to face my predecessors? Are your accomplishments even a fraction of mine? Are you fit to be cult leaders? To be Saint Masters? I didn't come here to see you. You are all utterly unremarkable and talentless, undeserving of my presence!"

An absolute silence fell over the surroundings.

While the total number of Saint Cult Leaders in the Heavenly Devil Cult exceeded that of the Human Emperors in the Human Emperor's Hall, many of these cult leaders met tragic ends with cultivation levels too low to enter Fengdu. Consequently, the actual number of Heavenly Devil Cult Saint Leaders residing in Fengdu was not greater than that of the Human Emperors.

Nevertheless, nearly thirty cult leaders were gathered here, forming another significant power in Fengdu, a group few dared to provoke.

Qin Mu's lengthy discourse left the assembled cult leaders completely bewildered, but the atmosphere that settled over them was terrifyingly cold.

Suddenly, the Young Patriarch's voice broke the silence, laughing, "What's going on? Everyone's here! I'm late, I'm late!"

Qin Mu looked to see the Young Patriarch, cold sweat beading on his forehead, hurrying towards them. Dragon Qilin, the large skeleton, trotted affectionately behind him.

The Young Patriarch swiftly arrived, pushing through the crowd, more cold sweat glistening on his forehead. He bowed to everyone, chuckling nervously. "Esteemed cult leaders, why the sudden argument? This is the contemporary Heavenly Saint Cult Leader, a true hero of this era, who carries the Grand Genesis Heavenly Devil Scripture transmitted on stone, and thus cannot perish. Cult Leader Qin is here to visit me. Come, let's go to my place and sit. The cult's disciples have sent me many excellent offerings."

The Heavenly Devil Cult leaders surrounding them remained perfectly still.

The Young Patriarch, drenched in cold sweat, tugged at Qin Mu's robes and gritted his teeth. "You spoke too harshly. Lower your head and apologize to the ancestors..."

"Apologize? There's no need." Cult Leader Zu Yang burst into hearty laughter, then casually remarked, "Cult Leader Qin, from his small frame, has uttered truly world-shaking words, resonating deeply. We are all quite stunned."

The Young Patriarch's expression flickered. Cult Leader Zu Yang was clearly enraged; the more cheerfully he laughed, the heavier his anger became.

Qin Mu smiled faintly. "Cult Leader Zu Yang, your words seem to carry a hidden meaning. Feel free to speak plainly."

The Young Patriarch grew visibly anxious. Cult Leader Zu Yang, however, offered a slight smile and said, "The leader of the Heavenly Saint Cult is determined by battle, not by mere words. Your claim to leadership is illegitimate. Since Li Tianxing is dead, and you didn't defeat him to secure the position, perhaps we old bones should take his place and test you, to see if you truly possess the qualifications to be this cult leader and Saint Master!"

The Young Patriarch hastily tugged at Qin Mu's sleeve, signaling him to decline.

"Are we fighting at the same cultivation level? To be honest, I just had a skirmish with the Human Emperor's Hall."

Qin Mu gently pushed the Young Patriarch's hand away, smiling faintly. "The Human Emperors of the Human Emperor's Hall were all preeminent figures of their era; battling them proved quite demanding. As for you former cult leaders, if we were to contend at the same cultivation level..."

He stated calmly, "You can all come at me at once."

Sweat poured down the Young Patriarch's forehead like rain.

The expressions of the past cult leaders changed drastically. Cult Leader Yu Lian chuckled, "Cult Leader Qin is certainly in high spirits, but suggesting we all attack at once is rather boastful. Why don't I test Cult Leader Qin's abilities first?"

Qin Mu shook his head. "It appears your cultivation is insufficient. Each realm is a distinct heaven, each state of mind a unique barrier. I observe you from beyond the barrier, with the clarity of reading text in my palm, seeing through you as if through fire. Inviting you all to come at once was out of respect for your seniority. Cult Leader Yu Lian, to wish to face me alone is to gravely overestimate yourself."

The Young Patriarch sighed, then took a deep, shaky breath, and said in a solemn voice, "Esteemed cult leaders and Saint Masters, as Saint Cult Leaders, you must uphold your word. I request that you all seal your three divine treasures: Heaven-Human, Life-Death, and Divine Bridge. As for whether you choose to fight individually or charge together, that is entirely up to you. In any case, I am not a Saint Cult Leader. Do as you please."

Cult Leader Yu Lian was the first to seal his three divine treasures. He stepped forward, bellowed, and his demonic cultivation erupted. His Grand Genesis Heavenly Devil Scripture followed the demonic path, demonstrating him to be a true grandmaster of demonic arts, having comprehended the Dao techniques and divine powers within the scripture to their absolute demonic peak. With a single stride, a series of demonic shadows materialized!

"The Grand Genesis Heavenly Devil Scripture is nothing more than a fragmented section of my Overlord Body Three-Pillars Technique, and you've even twisted it into a demonic art."

Qin Mu narrowed his eyes, unleashing a palm strike as swift as lightning, directly impacting the demonic shadow. "Grand Luo Heaven Star Palm Force!"

*Boom!*

Cult Leader Yu Lian was sent flying backward, smashing a human-shaped hole through Cult Leader Zu Yang's Zu Yang Hall. A series of thunderous crashes then echoed from within the hall as Cult Leader Yu Lian continued to tear through more than a dozen palace walls without pausing. Finally, a mushroom cloud bloomed over ten li away, signifying that he had struck something substantial enough to halt his trajectory.

Before the others could even react, Qin Mu executed a shifting step and appeared directly behind Cult Leader Zu Yang. Reacting with extreme speed, Cult Leader Zu Yang lunged forward, transforming into a dark shadow that flattened against the ground.

Qin Mu stomped his foot, causing the ground to crack and fissure. The shock forced Cult Leader Zu Yang to reveal his true form from the black shadow, only to be met by a descending blade. Roaring in fury, he manifested his Xuanwu body; his large shield shattered under the impact of the blade, sending him flying backward along with the two broken halves of his shield.

Qin Mu plunged into the ranks of the former cult leaders, his figure flickering like a phantom. Every single one of them was startled, each feeling as though he were attacking them directly, and thus they were compelled to fight back.

*Boom, boom, boom!* A series of explosive sounds followed. Cult Leader Yue Guang's divine ability struck Feng Qiangu's body, while Feng Qiangu's demonic sword pierced Si Yuanwei's chest. In an instant, the entire assembly descended into chaos.

The Young Patriarch quickly retreated to avoid being caught in the fray. He then witnessed the ground instantly crack, and the entire Zu Yang Hall shattered under the barrage of divine abilities. The fragmented hall began to float upwards, and the cult leaders' figures leaped and darted like birds among the flying debris. At times they were upright, at other times inverted, occasionally clinging to pillars, and sometimes even transforming into flying birds or beasts!

"You're using a Daoist sword, you traitor!" one former cult leader roared furiously, as he was impaled by hundreds of swords and fell headfirst.

"Scoundrel, that's a technique from the Great Thunderclap Temple!"

"A divine ability from Little Jade Capital!"

"What kind of sword technique is this?"

*Boom, boom, boom!*

Figures continued to plummet, while the shattered palace ascended ever higher. On the green tiles and vermilion eaves of the palace roof, Qin Mu and Cult Leader Hu Jun exchanged blows. With a "Seal" character technique, Qin Mu sealed Cult Leader Hu Jun's five senses, then spun and executed a Yin-Yang Heaven-Overturning Hand. With a swift movement of his palm, he struck Cult Leader Hu Jun, who coughed up blood and fell.

As the green tiles of the grand hall cracked, Cult Leader Yan Ji launched a sneak attack, only to be met by Qin Mu's formidable divine ability: "Heavenly Cave Galaxy Hanging in the Azure Sky!"

Thousands of stars, imbued with his terrifying palm force, descended from above, overwhelmingly shattering Cult Leader Yan Ji's divine ability. With a single palm strike, accompanied by a cosmic torrent, he was brutally slammed into the ground.

*Rumble!*

The countless crumbling walls and debris that had been suspended in the air all crashed down simultaneously. The ground violently trembled, and where the numerous Heavenly Devil Cult leaders landed, a massive palm print, spanning several *mu*, was visibly imprinted.

"Insignificant old wretches, utterly defenseless."

Qin Mu landed, smoothed his robes, and smiled at the stunned Young Patriarch. "Patriarch, let's go to your place and have a chat."