Chapter 596: Harmless Smile

Had Qi Jiuyi not been so audacious as to attack both Qin Mu and Zhe Huali simultaneously, he would have easily defeated Zhe Huali and avoided his current predicament.

Qin Mu and Zhe Huali were aware of his astonishing divine powers. Thus, when he simultaneously attacked them, they preemptively struck him, inflicting severe injuries. Qi Jiuyi then became merely a pawn in their ongoing battle, as Qin Mu and Zhe Huali engaged in fierce combat. Eight thousand flying swords and countless flashes of blade light clashed like a downpour on pear blossoms.

Caught in the center of their clash, Qi Jiuyi was surrounded by the flashing blades and swords of Qin Mu and Zhe Huali. Any move he made to unleash his power would immediately draw simultaneous attacks from both of them. This was a situation he had absolutely not foreseen.

Qin Mu and Zhe Huali moved rapidly, their positions shifting between distant and close. They primarily fought with blades and swords, supplementing their attacks with magical abilities, and occasionally engaging in physical divine power clashes.

Zhe Huali gradually found himself at a disadvantage. Qi Jiuyi, sensing an opportunity, suddenly struck Zhe Huali at the precise moment Qin Mu was attacking him, attempting to join forces with Qin Mu to eliminate Zhe Huali first.

Just then, a cold sensation spread across his chest. He looked down to see a sword tip protruding from it.

Simultaneously, Zhe Huali was sent flying by the combined attacks of Qi Jiuyi and Qin Mu, tumbling for over ten miles before finally coming to a stop, also severely wounded.

All nine of Qi Jiuyi's heads simultaneously turned, revealing Qin Mu's innocent smile.

Qin Mu unleashed a palm strike, his fingers splayed. It was the Yin-Yang Heaven-Overturning Hand, a technique he had learned from the Three Ancestors of the Human Emperor. Between his fingers, he also wielded the Five Thunder Heaven-Sustaining Bell of the Five Ancestors of the Human Emperor.

Barely having regained his footing over ten miles away, Zhe Huali was instantly struck by the full force of Qin Mu's palm. His body flew into the air like a discarded sack, frozen into an ice sculpture by the pure Yin palm force. Simultaneously, a massive Five Thunder Bell appeared directly above his head; the moment its chime rang, it would shatter him from his icy prison.

Meanwhile, Qin Mu's other hand gripped the sharp sword formed from his sword pellet, which was composed of eight thousand individual swords. His spiritual energy surged into these eight thousand blades, causing tiny flying swords within Qi Jiuyi's body to unleash their sword techniques. The sword light even pierced into Qi Jiuyi's divine treasure!

Sword Diagram's Second Form: One Sword, Blood Ocean of the Emperor!

A crimson aura enveloped Qin Mu, as if a vast ocean of blood had engulfed him. The smile on the young man's face, bathed in the blood-red light, appeared eerily sinister, sending shivers down one's spine.

"I've never lost a group fight..."

Hearing Qin Mu's voice, Qi Jiuyi felt a shiver run down his spine. At last, the full power of "One Sword, Blood Ocean of the Emperor" erupted. The Five Thunder Heaven-Sustaining Bell enveloped Zhe Huali, and its chimes resonated.

These two formidable young masters were destined to perish by his hand!

Just then, the massive bell shattered. Boundless spiritual energy surged forth from Brahma, who shattered the Five Thunder Heaven-Sustaining Bell with a single palm. Simultaneously, Lu Li pointed a finger at the sword tip protruding from Qi Jiuyi's chest, causing the flying swords to erupt from Qi Jiuyi's wound and reverse course.

The Butcher drew his blade, the Blind Man gripped his spear, and flames erupted behind the Mute Man. Each of them took a step forward, while the Cripple scooped up Qin Mu and swiftly retreated, appearing and disappearing before reappearing behind the Butcher and the others.

Brahma and Lu Li rescued Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi, respectively, but refrained from further action. Lu Li smiled, "Young friend Qi, you've spent too long in the Celestial Court; you have no idea how cunning people are in the lower realms. Have you learned your lesson now?"

Qi Jiuyi was silent for a moment before replying, "Jiuyi is willing to join forces with the Jiedushi."

Brahma's thoughts stirred slightly. Ten miles away, the pure Yin energy dissipating from Zhe Huali's body freed him from his frozen state.

Zhe Huali, just regaining his composure, witnessed the ground suddenly fold. The next instant, without taking a single step, he found himself beside Brahma, despite having been ten miles away. It was clear that Brahma had folded space.

The Butcher and the others were struck with awe. Brahma's power was far more profound than they had anticipated; such strength was surely beyond that of a mere True Devil!

Brahma's leftmost face turned to Zhe Huali and stated calmly, "Victory and defeat are common in war. True victory and defeat are matters of life and death. As long as you are not dead, you have not truly lost. Do you understand?"

Zhe Huali returned his demon blade to its sheath on his back, then bowed and replied, "This disciple understands."

Brahma was greatly pleased, saying, "With your Dao heart tempered by this experience, your future achievements will undoubtedly surpass Luo Wushuang's."

Behind the Butcher and the others, the Cripple beamed with delight, patting Qin Mu hard on the shoulder. "Mu'er, you haven't disgraced Cripple Grandpa! That move just now was truly devious—a dagger hidden in a smile, a hidden arrow. You're indeed my student! When I saw your smile just now, I couldn't help but shiver!"

Qin Mu quickly replied humbly, "This is all thanks to Cripple Grandpa's excellent teaching. Without you, I couldn't have defeated them. When it comes to concealing a dagger in a smile and striking with hidden arrows, I can at best be second; Cripple Grandpa is still the unrivaled master!"

The Cripple twirled his goatee and chuckled heartily, clearly pleased with himself.

The Deaf Man sneered, "Human hearts have degenerated..."

Lu Li, ignoring the tense expressions of the Butcher and his companions, gazed at the divine city drawn by the Deaf Man and suddenly smiled. "Brahma, can you see the truth now?"

Brahma turned his heads from left to right, his three faces each fixed on the divine city. After a moment, he said, "I cannot discern it. Please enlighten me."

Lu Li smiled, "Observe the souls of the gods and devils upon the divine city."

Brahma was surprised and humbly inquired, "How does one perceive souls?"

The Butcher, the Mute Man, the Blind Man, and their companions knew something was amiss and slowly began to retreat.

The Deaf Man's expression subtly shifted, realizing instantly that Lu Li had seen through his deception. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. While his painting could perfectly mimic reality, creating an entire world within it and even seamlessly connecting it to the real world without a single flaw...

...he could not recreate souls!

This Lu Li was likely a powerful expert from Youdu, possessing profound mastery over soul magic. She could discern the subtle complexities within the Deaf Man's painting.

Everyone felt a pang of apprehension, clutching Qin Mu as they continuously retreated towards the divine city behind them, their sense of unease intensifying.

Brahma and Lu Li, however, seemed to pay them no mind, allowing them to retreat.

Lu Li turned around, raised her slender, fair hand, and drew a circle in the air. Light spilled from its circumference, coalescing into a large, shimmering mirror that floated before them. "Honored King, please observe the scene within the mirror," she said.

Brahma gazed into the mirror. It reflected the magnificent divine city, and the souls of everyone standing before it, including the Butcher, Qin Mu, and Granny Si, were revealed within its surface.

Some of their souls stood before the Southern Heaven Gate of the Celestial Palace, others on the divine bridge, and one soul stood within the Divine Treasure of Life and Death, with the dark Youdu spreading beneath its feet.

Yet, eerily, the divine city in the mirror was nothing but a vast abyss. Not only did the city itself not exist, but neither did the gods, devils, or the million-strong army that were supposed to be upon it!

However, the souls of the Butcher and the others, who were still retreating towards the perceived divine city, were indeed revealed by this mirror. It displayed each of their souls, and when Brahma peered into it, he also saw his own true three-headed form standing within the Devil God Palace!

He was a Devil God with three heads; his three faces were merely an illusion, as he had refined his three heads into a single entity.

Brahma then turned his gaze to Qi Jiuyi's reflection in the mirror. There, Qi Jiuyi appeared as a nine-headed phoenix, bathed in blazing golden light and divine fire, radiating an extraordinary sacredness.

Zhe Huali, on the other hand, appeared as a normal human youth in the mirror, except for the demon blade on his back. The mirror light revealed its demonic soul: a terrifying one-eyed beast, crawling within a pervasive and dreadful demonic aura. It was utterly horrifying!

Yet, the most terrifying image reflected in the mirror was Qin Mu!

Qin Mu in the mirror possessed three immense, blood-red eyes that seemed to gaze directly at him, as if sensing his intrusion.

Brahma felt his soul tremble uncontrollably, and a faint ache began to resurface in his chest.

Lu Li quickly shifted the mirror, no longer directing it at Qin Mu and the others. She turned back and asked, "Do you understand now?"

The mirror then turned towards the demon camp. Several demon experts behind them looked into its surface, where the souls of the demon gods and demons within the camp were revealed.

Brahma's disciple, Shu Ye, paused slightly, noticing that the soul of one demon in the camp appeared somewhat peculiar.

That individual's soul actually stood within the Celestial Palace!

Furthermore, his soul was tattered and covered in patches, as though it had been stitched together from many different souls!

Just as Shu Ye was about to examine it more closely, Lu Li retracted the mirror.

"Did my eyes deceive me?" Shu Ye wondered inwardly.

Brahma shivered, and his voice was hoarse as he muttered, "Those three eyes..."

"They were sealed by Earth Count."

Lu Li smiled faintly. "You don't need to concern yourself with him. Your true objective is merely the High Heavens."

Brahma composed himself and stated gravely, "I finally understand the true nature of the divine city. It's an illusion that blossoms from the void, recreating reality, blurring the lines between truth and falsehood, using painting as a boundary to connect the illusory with the real, making it impossible to distinguish genuine from fake. This is the creation of gods, devils, and all things through the path of painting, a pinnacle of artistic mastery."

His voice reached the ears of the Deaf Man, Granny Si, and their companions. "Fellow Daoists, that you managed to deceive me and halt my demon army here for several days, granting the High Heavens time to recover and prepare, is something you can be proud of, even in death."

Granny Si and the others' expressions drastically changed. The surrounding space began to warp, and despite their efforts to retreat, their distance from Brahma was rapidly decreasing!

"It's over, it's all over..." the Cripple muttered under his breath, his face ashen.

Grandmaster Ba Shan's green ox roared and bolted towards the divine city. Yet, the faster it ran, the further it moved from the city and the closer it drew to Brahma!

The green ox promptly halted, daring not to move.

Lu Li smiled faintly. "Honored King, I only desire Qin Fengqing. Hand him over to me, and I will grant you the High Heavens!"

"Rest assured, now that I've discerned their illusion, they have no possibility of escape."

Brahma took a step towards the group. The instant he moved, space violently warped, drawing everyone involuntarily closer to him.

The Butcher roared furiously, swinging his blade at the sky and the earth, attempting to sever the distorted space. Yet, the moment his blade light appeared, it was instantly warped and dissipated.

Suddenly, the sky violently trembled. Brahma halted, looked up, and his face registered surprise.

Lu Li also quickly looked up, her expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

In the sky, incredibly thick beams of light pierced downwards with a buzzing sound, connecting with the earth. Then, these beams transformed into surging crimson light!

A colossal and broken planet suddenly burst through space, materializing directly above the High Heavens!

A second tattered planet followed, and then a third fragmented star appeared right after it...

An astonishing spectacle unfolded in the sky: a vast, unknown landmass, pressing down upon the suddenly appearing cluster of stars, abruptly materialized above the firmament of the High Heavens!