Chapter 641: Dark and Melancholy

Inside the imperial palace, many palace maids looked malnourished and were dressed in extremely simple clothes. Some were sitting outside the imperial kitchen, picking vegetables. Qin Mu, seeing this, momentarily thought he had wandered into a vegetable market.

Yan Kang Kingdom was clearly very wealthy. The Imperial Preceptor had established two smooth roads connecting the Western and Central Lands, linking the Western Land with Yan Kang. Trade flourished, and Qin Mu had also observed the government building bridges and roads, and the common people living in prosperity. Yet, the Emperor and the palace itself had become impoverished.

It seemed the war in the Grand Emperor's Heaven had affected the national treasury, leaving it depleted.

The war in the Grand Emperor's Heaven was a bottomless pit; there was no economy to speak of. During wartime, Yan Kang served as the major rear base, providing the Grand Emperor's Heaven with various provisions, military pay, grain, and spirit weapons.

Furthermore, the common people of the Grand Emperor's Heaven were continuously migrating to Yan Kang. Settling these citizens also required funds and provisions from the national treasury, which constituted a significant expense.

No wonder Emperor Yanfeng was overjoyed and lost his composure upon realizing that an alliance with the Chih Ming remnants could yield a substantial profit.

Not long after, Yan Zhigui arrived and said, "Your Majesty, the envoys have been settled. May I ask, Your Majesty, how should we negotiate with the Chih Ming envoys?"

Emperor Yanfeng handed Yan Zhigui the list Qin Mu had prepared and said, "Negotiate according to the conditions on this list. I will also grant the Chih Ming remnants a place to live, open a trade port, develop transportation, and provide everything from flying ships to carriages."

Yan Zhigui glanced at the list, startled. He then looked at Qin Mu and asked nervously, "Lord Qin, is this list not a joke?"

Qin Mu replied, "It's not a joke. Chixi will agree. These divine weapons and artifacts are actually not very useful to the Chih Ming remnants; they don't have enough people to use them. Lord Yan, just remember one thing: they are seeking our help, not the other way around. Also, we must obtain the Divine Wheel of Creation at all costs!"

Yan Zhigui departed in a hurry.

Emperor Yanfeng sighed with emotion, "Battle reports from the Grand Emperor's Heaven have been arriving continuously for some time. They make me feel both passionate and anxious, wishing I could personally go to the front lines to fight the enemy. The Imperial Preceptor compiled the cultivation methods of the Grand Emperor's Heaven, and I have studied them for a long time, gaining much insight. It's just a pity that I cannot personally join the battle."

Just as he was speaking, a surprised voice called out, "Herdsman!"

Qin Mu looked towards the voice and exclaimed, "Sister Xiu, why are you back from the Grand Emperor's Heaven?"

Ling Yuxiu rushed over, but upon seeing Emperor Yanfeng beside Qin Mu, she immediately slowed her pace, adopted a serious expression, maintained a graceful demeanor, and walked elegantly towards them.

Emperor Yanfeng smiled and said, "There haven't been any major battles in the Grand Emperor's Heaven recently, so Xiu'er has returned. I still have some state affairs to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

He slowly walked away, occasionally glancing back. Only after seeing that Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were standing there without any improper behavior did he leave with peace of mind.

Ling Yuxiu, noticing his departure, immediately grabbed Qin Mu's hand and pulled him forward, giggling, "My father has become even more majestic since he became a god, but he's also a bit sneaky. He's probably still hiding somewhere, watching us. Let's go to the Imperial Garden and shake him off!"

Qin Mu stumbled along as she pulled him forward. After turning several corners and passing through a few elevated corridors, they encountered several consorts strolling together. Ling Yuxiu quickly let go of Qin Mu's hand, adopted a dignified posture, and elegantly greeted the consorts. Only after the noble consorts had walked away did she take Qin Mu's hand again and merrily ran forward.

After running a few more steps, they met numerous palace maids accompanying the Empress. Ling Yuxiu was startled and quickly reverted to her proper princess demeanor, bowing to the Empress, "Mother."

The Empress pulled her closer, whispered to her for a moment, then looked Qin Mu up and down, smiling, "Cult Master Qin has grown even taller and more handsome."

Qin Mu felt her gaze was somewhat odd, almost like a mother-in-law looking at a prospective son-in-law. He stood by, blushing.

After the Empress walked away, Ling Yuxiu pulled him forward again, rushing until they finally reached the Imperial Garden. Only then did she burst into giggles, "It's so uncomfortable in the palace, always constrained by all sorts of etiquette. I can't let my nature run free. The jianghu is much better; it's so carefree and joyful."

Qin Mu looked around with her. The exotic flowers and plants were breathtakingly beautiful. However, there were also some vegetable plots where many palace maids were watering and catching insects, presumably because the palace lacked funds and had to grow its own vegetables.

"Sister Xiu, has Saintess Xiang also returned to Yan Kang?" Qin Mu suddenly asked, admiring the scenery.

Ling Yuxiu glared playfully, "We haven't seen each other for so long, and instead of sweet talk, you ask about her? How much do you miss her?"

Qin Mu hastily replied, "I have important business with her, I don't miss her!"

"She's back! That fragrant vixen returned with me!" Ling Yuxiu huffed and walked ahead.

Qin Mu quickly followed her. They stopped before a flowering tree, its blossoms in full bloom. The tree wasn't tall. Qin Mu picked a flower branch, leaned down to gently sniff the fragrance, and a smile appeared on his face.

He activated the Three Primordial Spirit Gathering Art. Just as his nose was about to touch the petals, his primordial spirit had already left his body.

Ling Yuxiu saw his profile, delicate yet handsome. At that moment, she found the floral scent intoxicating. Her heart began to pound, her face flushed, and her breathing quickened.

Meanwhile, Si Yunxiang suddenly felt a sensation, quickly activated the Three Primordial Spirit Gathering Art, and as her primordial spirit left her body, she saw Qin Mu's primordial spirit flying towards her.

"Saintess Xiang, Princess Xiu and I are in the Imperial Garden. The matter is urgent, so I'll be brief."

Qin Mu's primordial spirit's thoughts rippled as he asked, "Yan Kang's national treasury is depleted. Does the Sacred Cult still have money?"

Si Yunxiang chuckled, "You're having a tryst with that little hussy Yuxiu in the Imperial Garden, yet you come to secretly meet your little lover. Truly the style of a Demonic Cult Master! The Sacred Cult is indeed rich; buying half of Yan Kang would be effortless. Our Sacred Cult's industries span the entire world, with various halls flourishing everywhere. Whether it's trade between the Central and Western Lands or mining and forging spirit weapons, the Sacred Cult is involved, so money flows in endlessly."

Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then said, "The Sacred Cult should keep money for daily expenses, and the rest should be donated to the Emperor for the national treasury's use."

Si Yunxiang immediately refused, "No! This money was earned by the Sacred Cult brothers and sisters through their own abilities. Why should we give it to the Emperor for free?"

Qin Mu patiently explained, "Business also has its principles. The Sacred Cult was not founded for commerce, but for the daily needs of the people, to help them live better lives. The Sacred Cult engages in business to benefit the common people, not to hoard wealth. The money you earn is Da Feng currency, Yan Kang's currency. If Yan Kang Kingdom ceases to exist, Da Feng currency will be useless. Now that the Sacred Cult has amassed half the world's wealth, I believe disaster is not far off."

Si Yunxiang still hesitated, "But this money was all earned through hard work..."

Qin Mu stated, "Commercial ventures can lead to wealth, but also to disaster. If it benefits the nation, do it; if not, don't. The Heavenly Sacred Cult is not so great that it can stand above the common people, or above the fate of the nation, or become so large that it cannot fall! The original intention of the Heavenly Sacred Cult's establishment was the path of the sages, not to seize the world's wealth."

Si Yunxiang was still a little unwilling. Suddenly, an old woman walked towards their primordial spirits, looked up at them, and said, "Xiang'er, the Cult Master is right. What is taken from the people should be used for the people. My Si family manages the Sacred Cult's finances and wealth, but the Cult Master ultimately decides on the Sacred Cult's wealth. You've become so fixated on money that you've forgotten the original intention of the Heavenly Sacred Cult."

Qin Mu quickly said, "Greetings, Ancestor Si!"

The old woman hastily returned the bow, grinning, "Cult Master, Xiang'er is a bit fond of small advantages, but she's not a stingy person."

Qin Mu thanked her and said, "So this is the Si family's residence. My apologies for intruding without permission and disturbing Ancestor. I'm still in the Imperial Garden and must return quickly." With that, he bowed and his primordial spirit vanished.

Si Yunxiang also retracted her primordial spirit and returned to her body, asking, "Ancestor, why do you want to give the Sacred Cult's wealth to the Emperor?"

Ancestor Si chuckled, "The Cult Master is right. If the people are wealthy but the nation is weak, the wealth isn't truly with the common people, but with a few powerful families. Should an invasion occur and the nation be destroyed, the people's wealth will also cease to exist; countless riches will turn to flowing water. The best path is for the people to be prosperous and the nation to be strong. If the nation does not fall, then the people's prosperity will last."

In the Imperial Garden, Qin Mu's primordial spirit returned to his body, only to see Ling Yuxiu also bending down opposite him, eyes closed, sniffing a flower. Only a single flower separated the two.

Ling Yuxiu secretly opened her eyes, only to find Qin Mu staring intently at her. Her pretty face immediately flushed.

Qin Mu released the flower branch and lightly kissed her lips. Ling Yuxiu gasped, then ran off, parting the flowers and swaying willows as she went. Her voice drifted back from afar, "You hooligan! My father will definitely have your head if he finds out!"

Qin Mu burst into laughter and strode after her.

Behind a distant willow tree, Emperor Yanfeng, with a dark expression, told the young eunuch behind him, "Bring me my little notebook!"

The young eunuch quickly presented the notebook and writing tools. Emperor Yanfeng opened it and wrote, "Assaulted my precious daughter! I will have your head, but first, I'll make a note of it!"

"Your Majesty, isn't it a bit improper for us to be peeking here?" the young eunuch cautiously asked.

Emperor Yanfeng glared at him, "I will have your head. Not now, but I'll write it down first."

The young eunuch pouted, "Your Majesty, you've already 'killed' this servant's head more than a dozen times."

Qin Mu caught up to Ling Yuxiu. The young man and woman enjoyed their time together, feeling their affection deepen. Just as they were about to do something, the Human Emperor First Ancestor came looking for them. Seeing him, Ling Yuxiu quickly retreated.

"She's not a bad girl," said the Human Emperor First Ancestor.

Qin Mu was startled. "You saw all that?"

"The Emperor also saw it, right over there."

The Human Emperor First Ancestor pointed to a distant bush and said, "He's been following you two for a while. The Empress is over there, hidden behind the rockery. I was watching them just now, and they didn't notice me."

Cold sweat appeared on Qin Mu's forehead. He looked towards the bush and saw the Emperor, holding his dragon robe, and the young eunuch scurrying away. From behind the rockery on the other side, the Empress and a group of palace maids also hurriedly departed.

The Human Emperor First Ancestor chuckled, seeing Qin Mu's embarrassment. "You and I are both hands-off managers, never personally attending to every matter. Now that the negotiations with Chixi have been handed over to the Emperor, it's time we discussed serious business. Do you want to learn my Heaven and Earth Seal? As you've seen, my Heaven and Earth Seal is incredibly powerful, but I haven't found a successor. Only you can inherit my seal art..."

"First Ancestor, it's not that I don't want to learn, but our states of mind are different."

Qin Mu said seriously, "I don't have your experiences; I can't learn your seal art."

The First Ancestor was stunned, as if struck by a great blow. He instantly became dispirited, deeply saddened, and seemed to age considerably.

Qin Mu felt sorry for him and said, "How about you teach it to me first? If I can learn it, I will. If not, I'll help you find a suitable successor."

The First Ancestor's sadness turned to joy, and he laughed, "Since you are a Hegemon Body, you will definitely learn it! My cultivation method is called the Heaven and Earth Heart Sage Art. It makes one the heart of heaven and earth, standing firm amidst collapsing realms, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth's collapse to form my Heaven and Earth Seal Art!"

He meticulously passed on his cultivation method and seal art to Qin Mu. Qin Mu diligently learned, memorized, and comprehended them. The Human Emperor First Ancestor's cultivation method and seal art were indeed incomparably exquisite, no less profound than the Heavenly King Scripture of Deva. Moreover, they contained various knowledge and insights from the Founding Emperor era.

However, this cultivation method and divine ability bore a strong imprint of its era. Qin Mu studied it for a while but couldn't grasp its essence.

The Human Emperor First Ancestor, full of anticipation, waited for Qin Mu to demonstrate his seal art. Instead, he saw Qin Mu, after learning his art, continue to research the runic imprints on the Divine Wheel of Creation, attempting to combine the runes to unleash a creation divine ability.

Qin Mu casually cast a seal, and a young palace maid walking past them shrieked, transforming into a bleating sheep.

Qin Mu was both surprised and delighted, "It worked! It worked!"

The Human Emperor First Ancestor was deeply saddened. Qin Mu caught the little sheep scurrying around and reversed the seal art. The little sheep transformed back into a palace maid, who then fled in a panic.

Qin Mu, noticing his expression, smiled and said, "First Ancestor, I told you, our states of mind are incompatible. I don't possess your state of mind, so I can't unleash your seal art."

The Human Emperor First Ancestor shook his head, turned, and walked away, his expression desolate. "How do you know it won't work if you haven't tried? I thought you were like me, an orphan of the Qin family, abandoned in this world..."

Boom—

A violent tremor suddenly came from behind him. The First Ancestor turned around and saw Qin Mu standing alone in a collapsing world, single-handedly confronting an impending catastrophe.

The First Ancestor was stunned, a glimmer of hope appearing on his face.

"There's no seal art a Hegemon Body cannot learn," Qin Mu said, one hand representing heaven, the other earth, his expression full of sorrow.

----

Grandma Si, holding a small basket: Go pick by the river.