Chapter 614: Hatred Hard to Resolve

The Way of the Sages.

There are always some people who hold ideals and beliefs that their peers or contemporaries do not possess. There are always some who harbor emotions and fighting spirit not shared by their peers, who speak words others cannot, and who accomplish deeds others cannot.

Perhaps in the eyes of their contemporaries, or future generations, they might seem foolish, dedicating their entire lives, even their lives, to an seemingly impossible belief.

However, it is precisely these individuals, with their unwavering convictions and seemingly ridiculous ideals, who drive history and propel eras forward.

When the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace bowed to the Woodcutter Sage at the altar, the Woodcutter Sage extended his hands to support the Imperial Preceptor’s elbows, helping him up. He smiled, "Perhaps your achievements in the future will be greater and loftier than mine. When you look back at me today, you will be my teacher."

When Qin Mu ascended the altar, he saw the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace standing beside the Woodcutter Sage, maintaining the posture of a disciple. He smiled, "Teacher, Junior Brother, I'm a step late."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace was startled, then smiled broadly, "Second Senior Brother."

Qin Mu's face immediately darkened. "King, please call me Cult Master Qin. 'Second Senior Brother' sounds quite awkward."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace burst into laughter.

Qin Mu was initially taken aback, then a smile appeared on his face.

He had not known the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace for very long. He had only met him after entering the Imperial College and had conversations with him later.

Previously, the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace was a stern man, with unwavering beliefs and a resolute Dao heart. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, employing all means available. His thoughts were as deep as the ocean, and his face was as calm as an ancient well, showing no emotional fluctuations.

He was like a perfect god, devoid of human warmth or vitality.

However, after interacting for so long, Qin Mu gradually discovered the Imperial Preceptor's human qualities and vitality. The Imperial Preceptor was subtly changing, transforming from a god into a human.

And this time, when the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace laughed heartily, Qin Mu felt that his Dao heart had suddenly entered another realm, a realm he could not comprehend. It was neither quite divine nor quite human.

He was within human emotions and desires, yet simultaneously beyond them; within the absolute rationality of a god, yet also beyond it.

Qin Mu could no longer understand such a person.

"The Imperial Preceptor's talent and comprehension are indeed superior to mine. In just this short time with Teacher Woodcutter, his state of mind has seen an astonishing improvement. He is indeed a sage who appears once every five hundred years."

Qin Mu consoled himself inwardly, "But thankfully, I have Hegemon Body. As long as I work hard enough, I can unleash all its potential and still surpass him!"

The Woodcutter Sage said, "Qin Mu, you can return to Supreme Emperor Heaven. I need to have a long talk with your Junior Brother."

Qin Mu hesitated. "What about Tiger Lord and Granny? Has their battle with Jade Rakshasa and Mutuoluo concluded?"

The Woodcutter Sage replied, "Mutuoluo was killed by Black Tiger after putting on that woman's clothes, and Jade Rakshasa was rescued by Sun Extinguishing Brahma. Both that woman and Black Tiger have returned to Supreme Emperor Heaven."

"It's just as I thought," Qin Mu smiled.

The Woodcutter Sage opened a passage to Supreme Emperor Heaven for him. Qin Mu procrastinated, unwilling to enter. "Teacher, I'll just listen from the side. I won't speak. As a Senior Brother, if Junior Brother has anything he doesn't understand, I can also offer some guidance. Don't you agree? Senior..."

The Woodcutter Sage grabbed him by the collar and shoved him into the passage. Qin Mu intended to run back to listen, but the passage had already closed.

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace smiled, "Teacher, why didn't you let Senior Brother Qin listen?"

"He's not suitable," replied the Woodcutter Sage.

"His temperament isn't truly suited for our path. What kind of person do you think your Second Senior Brother is?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace mused for a moment, then said, "Playful, erratic, restless, prone to charging forward impulsively, yet also cunning, meticulous, and extremely intelligent. He can conceive of what others cannot, often coming up with ideas even I wouldn't expect. He's also very magnanimous and open-minded. And he's very confident, almost crazily so. In his heart, he always believes he's number one in the world, though he always says he's number two. But if we're talking about confidence, he truly can be called number one in the world."

"Spot on," the Woodcutter Sage applauded.

"You see him quite clearly; I agree. As a sage, he is not suitable."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace nodded. "Second Senior Brother is indeed not suitable. Then what about First Senior Brother?"

"Your First Senior Brother is a different kind of person," the Woodcutter Sage said.

"He is a person of great perseverance, steady. Once he sets a goal, he will single-mindedly pursue it, and no one can pull him back. It is precisely because of this that his understanding of the Way of the Sages is somewhat skewed. In the Way of the Sages, neither of your senior brothers is as good as you. You will cultivate with me for a few years, and I will impart all I have learned and comprehended in my life to you."

He slowly continued, "My will is disheartened. I cannot overcome the hurdle in my heart; I am always immersed in memories of the Founding Emperor era, and my avoidance of the Founding Emperor is an unresolved knot. You are different; you do not have this hurdle. Once you learn what I have learned and comprehended, you will directly cross this hurdle. At that time, you will be a true sage!"

His eyes gleamed, and he smiled, "In recent years, you should focus entirely on contemplation. Do not think about Supreme Emperor Heaven or Eternal Peace, do not participate in their affairs. Concentrate on crossing the hurdle that I could not."

The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace assented.

The two sat facing each other on the altar.

Supreme Emperor Heaven. Gu City of the Demon Race.

Gu City was originally one of the sixty-four divine cities in Supreme Emperor Heaven. After falling into the hands of the demon race, it was extensively remodeled. Countless demons lived there, building various demon god statues and demon palaces.

This place was deep within the demon territory, one of the first places to fall into demon hands, hence it was densely populated by demons, making it difficult for human forces to penetrate.

The demons here lived in peace and prosperity. There were demon gods guarding the city, and they had captured and enslaved countless humans, making them serve as slaves, which contributed to the city's affluence.

When Chi Xi was teleported here, Gu City was celebrating the Demon Race's traditional Sacrifice Festival. Countless young and strong demons in the city were carrying livestock, beating gongs and drums, performing strange dances to peculiar, exotic music. Demonesses with four faces, four arms, and four chests danced on floats, their graceful movements drawing cheers.

The sacrifices required a parade through the city.

The sacrificial procession carried the livestock, singing and dancing as they paraded around the city. Only then would they be carried to the tall altars within the city, where demon gods, smiling joyfully, watched the festive scene of their tribe.

During this time, strong young demon men and women would bring their animals and compete to climb the altars, offering their sacrifices to the demon gods.

The first to reach the altar with their sacrifice was considered a great honor.

There was not just one sacrificial procession, but hundreds or even thousands of competing demon families in the city, making the event extremely lively.

A beam of light descended from the sky, and Chi Xi appeared on one of the altars.

"That old scoundrel dared to ambush me!"

His voice, like thunder, shook the lively Sacrifice Festival. All the demons stopped, and countless gazes fell upon Chi Xi.

The demon god on the altar was laughing heartily, preparing to seize the offerings presented by the young people of the tribe. Chi Xi's sudden appearance caught him by surprise.

Beneath Chi Xi's feet, the light-formed teleportation runes were gradually fading. His three heads slowly lifted, looking in all directions.

"Demons!"

This executioner from the Red Emperor Era suddenly erupted in fury. His three heads let out earth-shattering, piercing roars: "Demons—"

"My people crossed millions of stars with me, leaped over countless death zones, enduring hardships to finally reach the vicinity of our ancestral land! It was the demons—"

"It was the demons who, without a word, invaded our planet! They killed my people, annihilated my race!"

His dry, yellow hairs flew up, like thousands of yellow swords, sweeping in all directions. This attack was instantaneous. Within a hundred-zhang radius in all directions, all the demons clutched their throats.

Some raised their hands and looked at their palms; their hands, clutching their throats, were warm with demon blood.

Some bowed their heads, their skulls suddenly sliding from their necks and falling.

In front of the altar, a tall floral pillar on a float, a colorful canopy, slowly slid down, its pole neatly severed. A house suddenly tilted, its roof slowly sliding off and crashing to the ground with a mighty roar.

Then, the roofs of great halls slid off one by one, and the roofs and covers of houses also fell.

Within a hundred zhang, heads fell to the ground, and blood sprayed from countless chests.

Innumerable streams of vital energy transformed into red lines from their bodies, flying towards Chi Xi.

On the altar where Chi Xi landed, the demon god had dodged his attack. Seeing this scene, he roared in fury, his eyes splitting with rage, and reached out to grasp two demon god weapons, attacking Chi Xi.

Chi Xi's six arms moved like a furious storm, launching countless attacks in an instant, smashing the demon god weapons to pieces and pulverizing the demon god!

Other demon gods flew up from their altars, roaring and attacking. One of them recognized Chi Xi, and a piercing cry rang out: "It's him! He brought those planets to our Luofu Heaven! He destroyed our Luofu Heaven and buried countless of our people! He killed our former Honored King—"

"Kill!"

Countless voices erupted from Gu City. Innumerable demon powerhouses, their fury reaching the heavens, swarmed towards Chi Xi.

Soon after, Gu City fell into a deathly silence.

Chi Xi's six eyes were blood-red, and he was panting heavily. By now, he had absorbed enough vital energy and had recovered to his peak state. Logically, he could have left immediately and stopped fighting. However, he continued to kill relentlessly until there was not a single living being left standing in the demon city besides him!

"I led my people, drifting through the starry sky for thousands of years, thousands of years, just to find our ancestral land! It was you who killed my people, leaving only me, heh heh, only me..."

He spread his six arms, reaching out in all directions. The demon god weapons he had shattered and broken flew up, crashing against each other around him, forming enormous metallic spheres.

Chi Xi's three heads breathed fire, refining and melting these fragments of demon god weapons, forging six glowing orange divine blades.

Chi Xi, holding a blade in each of his six hands, looked into the distance. In the distance, more demon gods were rushing from other demon cities.