Chapter 643: Style Brutality

Chixi, with his profound cultivation, immediately attempted to resist being assimilated by the Creation Divine Wheel. However, his consciousness quickly blurred, and he found himself unable to harness his vital qi. The three-headed, six-armed body from the Crimson Light era, renowned as the most powerful combat physique, proved almost powerless against this creative force. Chixi quickly transformed into a large fish with three heads and six fins, flopping about on the ground.

In the garden, at that moment, only Qin Mu, who was at the center of the Creation Divine Wheel, and the Human Emperor, First Ancestor, remained unaffected by the power of creation, retaining their self-awareness. The garden was a chaotic mess, teeming with large fish, sea trees, octopuses, sea anemones, sea beasts, jellyfish, and sea snakes. Fortunately, before testing the Creation Divine Wheel, Qin Mu had already arranged for high walls to be erected around the area to block its light, thus preventing it from affecting those outside.

"Qin Human Emperor, that's enough!" The Human Emperor, First Ancestor, quickly exclaimed, "The power of this treasure is extraordinary; there's no need to test it further. Be careful not to cause irreversible damage to their primordial spirits!"

From within the concentric wheels, Qin Mu ceased activating the Creation Divine Wheel, and the various rings stopped spinning. The fish scales and gills on the First Ancestor gradually vanished, but the others in the garden continued to flop about, their true forms still unrecovered. Qin Mu waited for a moment, but when the others failed to revert to their original forms, he mused, "This is a type of seal. Once applied, it binds their physical bodies and primordial spirits, preventing them from undoing it themselves..." He took out paper and a pen to jot down his thoughts.

The Human Emperor, First Ancestor, couldn't help but urge, "Quickly help them undo it! If it drags on too long, their souls and primordial spirits will be assimilated!"

Qin Mu put away his writing implements and made the Creation Divine Wheel spin forward. Unsealing runes rotated with the wheel, radiating in all directions and dissolving the various creation seals from everyone's bodies. With a series of popping sounds, everyone's bodies shifted and quickly returned to their original states. Even Emperor Yanfeng gazed at the weighty treasure with a look of fear.

The divine being Chixi was filled with profound regret, his heart aching as he looked at the Creation Divine Wheel, his expression fluctuating between dark and light. He desperately wanted to reclaim it, but he knew that Qin Mu's true intention from the start was likely this very Creation Divine Wheel, rather than the hundreds of thousands of other divine weapons on the list! Qin Mu would absolutely not return the Creation Divine Wheel to him, not even if Chixi offered the Crimson Light Heaven Suppressing Tower in exchange! The value of this Creation Divine Wheel already far surpassed that of the Crimson Light Heaven Suppressing Tower!

"What a seasoned rogue, truly a seasoned rogue..." A seasoned rogue possesses an incredibly keen eye, capable of discerning true treasures. Even if you're unaware of the valuables in your own home, such a person can uncover them and either acquire them for a ridiculously low price or simply steal them outright. Such a rogue often possesses a unique reverse thinking that eludes ordinary people, allowing them to keenly notice overlooked details. A pearl may be covered in dust, but a seasoned rogue can make it sparkle anew. In Chixi's eyes, Qin Mu was clearly such a seasoned rogue! Chixi himself had failed to recognize the Creation Divine Wheel's primary function, viewing it merely as a key for unsealing. Qin Mu, however, had thought in reverse, seeing the Creation Divine Wheel as a lock.

In truth, Qin Mu was not much different from an ordinary young man; he was playful and mischievous. Perhaps the greatest difference was having a seasoned rogue in his village who never came back empty-handed. The Cripple was accustomed to all manner of treasures, and his unique way of thinking often allowed him to conceive what others could not. Qin Mu, having been taught by him since childhood, naturally gave the impression of a seasoned rogue.

After the recent treasure test, everyone was soiled and went to change their clothes. Shortly after, Emperor Yanfeng returned, chuckling, "Mr. Chixi, you intend to return to the Hanging Realm? It would be appropriate for me to send an envoy to accompany you. Please wait a moment."

Chixi nodded, his eyes flashing as he said, "Your Majesty, this humble official wishes to exchange the Crimson Light Heaven Suppressing Tower for the Creation Divine Wheel. Would that be possible?"

Emperor Yanfeng chuckled awkwardly, then laughed, "The weather is lovely today... My dear Qin, you've made a terrible mess of my imperial garden. I ought to have your head!"

Ban Gongcuo's face lit up with anticipation, but Emperor Yanfeng was smiling, clearly just jesting and in high spirits. Ban Gongcuo was disappointed. Chixi glanced at Qin Mu and suggested, "This humble official believes young friend Qin is clever and intelligent and could accompany me to the Hanging Realm."

Emperor Yanfeng's interest was piqued, and he looked at Qin Mu. Qin Mu quickly shook his head, stating, "You could kill me, but I still wouldn't go. If I did, I'd be killed."

Emperor Yanfeng smiled, "Indeed, visiting the Hanging Realm requires an envoy who can command the situation. If the Imperial Preceptor were here, I would ask him to go, but regrettably, he must still oversee the war in the Grand Emperor Heaven and cannot easily be spared. Besides the Imperial Preceptor, the only one capable of upholding the dignity of my Yan Kang is my dear Qin. Even I cannot compare to him."

Qin Mu felt a surge of satisfaction and chuckled, "I'm not going."

A young eunuch standing nearby offered paper and a pen, presenting a small booklet. Emperor Yanfeng took the brush, dabbed it in ink, wrote a stroke in the booklet, and quipped, "I'm flattering you, and you still refuse?"

"What are you writing, Your Majesty?"

Qin Mu leaned closer and saw numerous names in the booklet, mostly those of court officials, and his own name was among them. Following his name were six or seven "正" characters, with one "正" having four strokes completed. On that page, his own name had the most "正" characters beside it.

Emperor Yanfeng hastily covered the booklet. Qin Mu, with a quick sleight of hand, snatched the booklet, flipped through it, and found it contained over a dozen pages. The name with the most "正" characters was not his own, but that of the Empress, with dozens written after her name. Emperor Yanfeng quickly snatched it back, declaring angrily, "Stealing from me! I'll have your head!" With that, he added another stroke to Qin Mu's name.

Qin Mu suddenly understood, glancing at the Empress beside him. He thought to himself, "They must argue frequently, which is why the Emperor has 'executed' the Empress hundreds of times. The Empress probably isn't aware of this; if she were, the Emperor's harem would never know peace."

Emperor Yanfeng carefully put away the booklet and said to Chixi, "My dear Qin is my right-hand man and cannot easily leave the court. May I ask, sir, how long will this trip to the Hanging Realm take? If it's too long, I would be reluctant to let my dear Qin go."

Chixi chuckled, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This humble official originally drifted through the universe with my clansmen, piloting a planet, unsure of our ancestral land's location. That's why it took thousands of years to find it. This time, if I only accompany young friend Qin, the round trip can be completed in approximately one year."

Emperor Yanfeng was surprised. "Why did it take so long before, but now it's so quick?"

Chixi explained, "Previously, we only had star maps marking the ancestral land, and we had to calculate stellar orbits, search extensively, and evade our pursuers, which caused significant delays. This time, however, we know the route well, and my Crimson Light underwater celestial palace possesses fast ships, even quicker than planets. Thus, our speed is thousands of times greater than before."

Emperor Yanfeng relaxed and chuckled, "Mr. Chixi, please wait a few days, and my dear Qin will depart with you."

Qin Mu quickly shook his head, saying, "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Yanfeng said sincerely, "A man should read ten thousand books and travel countless miles. In my court, only my dear Qin can uphold the nation's dignity. This mission to the Crimson Light Hanging Realm is significant; whether we can form an alliance with the remaining Crimson Light forces hinges on your capabilities, my dear Qin. Truly, I cannot find anyone more suitable than you for this task. I know this journey likely involves many dangers and difficulties, but you are the only one with the necessary ability."

Qin Mu frowned deeply and looked at Chixi, who merely smiled faintly without speaking. Behind him, Ban Gongcuo made a gesture of slitting his own throat. The two bowed and departed.

Once they were out of earshot, Emperor Yanfeng said, "My dear Qin, Chixi is not the ultimate decision-maker; the Crimson Light Divine Child is the one truly in charge. The alliance Chixi signed with my Yan Kang is essentially meaningless; it only becomes valid with the Divine Child's approval. Currently, Yan Kang may appear stable, but it's actually in grave peril. Therefore, we absolutely must secure this alliance with the Hanging Realm! Once you arrive, the Crimson Light Divine Child will likely pose difficulties for Yan Kang's envoy. I cannot find anyone else capable of handling such a situation and scene! These are words from my heart! I cannot go personally this time, but I will send Princess Xiu to accompany you. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, my princess will share your fate!"

Qin Mu blinked. "I'll go then," he said.

He looked at the Human Emperor, First Ancestor, who hesitated for a moment before saying, "I can accompany you."

Qin Mu felt relieved and chuckled, "Your Majesty can rest assured now."

Emperor Yanfeng exhaled a sigh of relief, then added, "Even with you two going, I'm still a little uneasy. When you pass through the Grand Emperor Heaven, visit the Imperial Preceptor and ask for his counsel. I will prepare some gifts in the next few days for you to present to the Crimson Light Divine Child when you visit."

Qin Mu nodded.

Two days later, Emperor Yanfeng had the gifts prepared: three basic sword forms compiled into a booklet for Qin Mu to carry, and a collection of rare treasures for Ling Yuxiu.

Qin Mu, the Human Emperor, First Ancestor, and Ling Yuxiu set off. Chixi and Ban Gongcuo had already prepared a ship—a grand, ancient tower ship from the divine city at the bottom of the South Sea, which Chixi had retrieved from a seal. It featured six wings, was covered in ornate runes, had a phoenix head at its bow, and its hull was emblazoned with various bird and beast runes.

Qin Mu examined it closely, a chill running down his spine. The phoenix head at the bow was, astonishingly, a real phoenix head, complete with flesh and blood, its plumes genuine phoenix feathers! Even more shocking, the various bird and beast runes emblazoned on the hull were actually the natural patterns from the peeled hides of divine beasts and sacred birds, which had been stretched over the ship.

"So those six wings..." He was horrified, realizing that the ship's six wings must also belong to gods or demons, and certainly not ordinary ones! The fact that the Crimson Light era used the bodies of gods and demons to forge weapons and divine artifacts clearly illustrated the brutal style of that historical period! Savage, wild, and crude! This brutal style was evident not only in the ship but also in the God-Slaying Dark Blade! The God-Slaying Dark Blade itself was forged from the skull of an Emperor Throne Overlord! This journey to the Crimson Light Hanging Realm would certainly be far from pleasant!

Emperor Yanfeng: I have a small notebook, used for recording...