Chapter 665: 冥都来客

Ling Yuxiu's heart trembled slightly as she looked at the ten-zhang primordial spirit behind Qin Mu. "The Heavenly Human realm?"

As a pioneer of the Six-Harmonies Primordial Spirit, she had achieved exceptional mastery in the cultivation of primordial spirits. It could be said that throughout Yankang, and even across countless heavens in the entire world, Qin Mu was the only one who could rival her in primordial spirit at the same cultivation realm.

Qin Mu's primordial spirit attainment was slightly higher than hers, though not by a significant margin. This was because Qin Mu often got distracted during cultivation, sometimes tinkering with one technique, sometimes modifying another, his nature being quite restless.

She, on the other hand, was more focused, wholeheartedly modifying and perfecting her Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art. As a result, she hadn't fallen far behind Qin Mu in primordial spirit cultivation.

Yet, even she couldn't manifest her primordial spirit into the Heavenly Human realm form while still in the Seven Stars realm.

This was because the primordial spirit form of the Heavenly Human realm was incredibly potent—a stark contrast to the Seven Stars realm. A Heavenly Human primordial spirit could manifest outside the body, wielding unparalleled might and power. Even Ling Yuxiu, one of the founding ancestors of the Six-Harmonies Primordial Spirit, could not achieve this.

Thus, she could tell at a glance that the primordial spirit behind Qin Mu was indeed a Heavenly Human primordial spirit!

It was clear that Qin Mu had seized the opportunity during these past dozen days of Five-Thunder tempering to break through and ascend to the Heavenly Human realm!

To enter the Heavenly Human realm at just twenty years old was truly remarkable progress, surpassing countless predecessors.

Ling Yuxiu struggled to walk forward, taking a few more steps closer. She could finally make out the massive creature behind Qin Mu: it was the Dragon Qilin.

After not seeing him for more than ten days, the Dragon Qilin had lost a lot of weight. More precisely, many parts of him had slimmed down, making him look as imposing as he did guarding the gate of the Imperial College. Only his belly remained large, presumably untouched by the lightning strikes.

Suddenly, the Dragon Qilin lay down, rolled halfway over with his limbs pointing skyward, and opened his mouth wide, allowing the rolling heavenly thunder to bombard his belly.

"There's also this move? Is it to refine away the fat on his belly?"

Ling Yuxiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She struggled to walk forward, her ears filled with thunder and the Eight Sounds of the Ancestral Dragon. She couldn't make out anything Qin Mu was saying to her.

Qin Mu leaned close to her ear and shouted, "Be careful!"

"Be careful of what?" Ling Yuxiu shouted back.

The heavenly thunder erupting from the Five Thunder Pot suddenly intensified, and the lightning strikes became fiercer. Ling Yuxiu was struck until she was tender inside and charred outside, while the Dragon Qilin twitched continuously from the impacts. However, with the Dragon Pearl and Qilin Pearl revolving around them, their burns quickly healed.

Enduring the pain, Ling Yuxiu was filled with surprise. "Fat Dragon's Dragon Pearl has this effect too? Right, Fat Dragon's dragon saliva can quickly heal wounds, so his Dragon Pearl likely has the same function. No wonder they can last so long at the center of the lightning strikes."

However, she still didn't dare to let her primordial spirit emerge from her body to face the lightning strikes.

Qin Mu had successfully broken through to become a divine arts practitioner of the Heavenly Human realm. His primordial spirit was powerful enough to brave the lightning strikes, something Ling Yuxiu couldn't do yet.

Outside, True God Pang Yu saw the Nine Heavens Cloud Dragon Shield suddenly swell, and his heart skipped a beat. Worried that the shield might explode, he secretly grumbled, "Cult Master Qin trusts me and my treasures a bit too much. This Five Thunder Pot is no ordinary treasure; if its power erupts, let alone my Cloud Dragon Shield, even Taihuang Heaven itself might be plowed over by heavenly thunder like a field!"

Fortunately, the Cloud Dragon Shield still hadn't broken. However, judging by the situation, it wouldn't last much longer before the Five Thunder Pot's power exceeded the Cloud Dragon Shield's endurance limit.

Suddenly, a deity approached and whispered, "True God, several demonic experts have arrived outside, saying they want to challenge Taihuang Heaven's divine arts practitioners."

True God Pang Yu smiled. "Ever since the Heavenly Master and Emperor Bo made the Earth Count's pact, both sides have been at peace for a year or two. Demonic challengers often come, and our people also go to challenge them there; it's nothing new. The elders don't need to interfere; let the younger generation handle it. I, for my part, must keep an eye on Cult Master Qin, lest he break my precious treasures."

There had been no warfare for the past two years. Emperor Bo hadn't violated the Earth Count's pact, restraining the demonic gods from actively provoking conflict, and Pang Yu's side hadn't initiated any hostilities either. Both sides had reservations, and while there was no overt warfare, covert struggles persisted. Disciples from the demon and human races frequently invaded each other's territories to issue challenges, attempting to slay the opposing side's young talents in fair duels.

Gradually, interactions between the demon race and human race became more frequent. Even in human territories, some young demonic experts could occasionally be seen swaggering through.

The deity hesitated for a moment, then said, "The people who came this time are extraordinary; many young talents have already been defeated, and some have even been killed..."

True God Pang Yu quickly said, "Could the challengers be Zhe Huali, the disciple of Emperor Bo and Luo Wushuang? Demonic Blade Zhe Huali, his cultivation and strength are indeed extremely high!"

"Not just Zhe Huali."

"Could Qi Jiuyi also be here?" True God Pang Yu asked, full of doubt and alarm.

The deity said, "Besides Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi, there are a few others whom Qi Jiuyi refers to as his senior brothers and sisters, but they appear to be demons..."

"Demons?"

True God Pang Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Qi Jiuyi is from the Nine Phoenix Clan, not the demon race. The Southern Heavenly Red Emperor's disciples never include demons! I'll go see!"

He quickly ascended the city wall and looked out. Indeed, he saw many demon disciples, including Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi, along with an unfamiliar face.

Besides the younger generation, he also saw Emperor Bo, Lu Li, and several demonic gods. These demonic gods were unfamiliar faces, never seen before, and Lu Li was chatting and laughing with them.

Pang Yu was filled with doubt and alarm.

At this moment, Yu He was engaged in combat with one of the young demons, while many young experts from Taihuang Heaven and Yankang nervously watched. Ever since Qin Mu built the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, connecting Taihuang Heaven and Yankang, Yu He had learned Yankang's divine arts and techniques, and her strength had rapidly advanced.

Pang Yu even believed that Yu He could become another True God in the future!

However, at this moment, Yu He was in a precarious situation against that young demon!

"That's not a demonic cultivation method or divine art!"

True God Pang Yu's gaze was sharp and experienced. He immediately recognized that the divine arts used by the person fighting Yu He were not from the Luofu Heaven faction at all. He knew every demonic god from Luofu Heaven and could identify the lineage of any demonic disciple by their divine arts. Yet, the divine arts and techniques displayed by the demon fighting Yu He were those of Taihuang Heaven and Yankang!

"How long ago did these demons come to challenge?"

Pang Yu's face changed drastically as he asked the deity behind him, "Why wasn't I informed sooner?"

"They've been here for six or seven days already. At the time, I also thought it was a small matter, so..."

True God Pang Yu took a deep breath and angrily exclaimed, "Emperor Bo and Lu Li are both here—how can this be a small matter? These challenging demons aren't from Luofu Heaven; they're from the Celestial Heavens!" With that, he leaped down from the city wall.

"The Celestial Heavens?"

The deity's expression was blank as he murmured, "How can there be demons in the Celestial Heavens?"

"The Northern Heavenly Black Emperor, who governs Youdu, naturally has demonic disciples! Qi Jiuyi's other identity is indeed a disciple of the Northern Heavenly Black Emperor!"

True God Pang Yu went directly to the battlefield and loudly called out, "Yu He, they merely want to use your divine arts to observe the progress of ours. Admit defeat and come back!"

Yu He hastily retreated, shaking off the demonic disciple. The black-clad demonic disciple had already gained the upper hand. Although he clearly had the strength to slay her, he hadn't gone for the kill directly, instead using the opportunity to observe the results of Yankang's reforms, thus giving her a chance to escape.

Emperor Bo smiled. "Fellow Daoist Pang Yu, your city is quite lively, with continuous thunder and dragon roars. What unspeakable deeds are you doing?"

True God Pang Yu snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Emperor Bo, you've become increasingly capable, now even inviting the disciples of the Northern Heavenly Black Emperor! Don't forget, you made the Earth Count's pact with the Heavenly Master. If you violate the agreement, Earth Count will claim your soul!"

Emperor Bo let out a hearty laugh and smiled. "I did indeed make the Earth Count's pact with the Heavenly Master, and I will naturally restrain the demons under my command. However, I also told the Heavenly Master once that it wasn't I who wanted to destroy Taihuang Heaven, but someone else entirely who truly wished to destroy you."

True God Pang Yu's heart sank. His gaze fell upon the demonic gods opposite him, and he bowed, tentatively asking, "Are you all disciples of the Youdu Black Emperor?"

The demonic gods returned the bow. The one in the lead courteously introduced himself: "My name is Lou Yunqu. These two are my junior brothers, Kui Qingpei and Fu Yanqi. Brother Pang Yu, your ability to resist Honored King Emperor Bo for twenty thousand years is truly admirable."

The muscles around True God Pang Yu's eyes twitched violently twice. His voice hoarse, he asked, "How did you enter Taihuang Heaven? Emperor Bo, did you again massacre your own people and use blood sacrifice to summon them here?"

Emperor Bo shook his head and said indifferently, "It's not my business."

Lou Yunqu smiled gently. "Brother Pang Yu, you needn't suspect the Honored King. Would the Honored King, worried about losing his position, actively contact us? In fact, we came on the Southern Heavenly Red Emperor's ship. Emperor Sakra Devanam's King Buddha rebelled against the Buddha Realm, and the Southern Heavenly Red Emperor happened to descend to apprehend him, passing by Taihuang Heaven, so he dropped us off."

Emperor Bo smiled without speaking, clearly feeling extremely uncomfortable inside.

Lu Li, meanwhile, was clearly very wary of Lou Yunqu and the others and seemed somewhat displeased herself, though she found it difficult to express it. Emperor Bo was worried about his power being usurped and becoming a mere pawn for the Celestial Heavens, while Lu Li regarded Qin Mu as her prize. With the Black Emperor now interfering, she was naturally displeased.

Lou Yunqu introduced the young demonic expert, smiling, "This is Lou Qianchong, a disciple my master took in. He is Senior Brother to Junior Brother Qi Jiuyi and studies in my master's palace alongside him. My master is very concerned about the Great Ruins but doesn't particularly value Taihuang Heaven, after all, the Great Ruins became what it is thanks to my master's seal. This time, several of us senior and junior brothers came to help Honored King Emperor Bo annex Taihuang Heaven and perform a blood sacrifice. Then we'll enter Yankang, awaken the statues of the gods, and destroy Yankang."

He was pleasant and affable, as if he had been old friends with Pang Yu for many years, and he spoke not of bloody matters like exterminating Taihuang Heaven or destroying Yankang, but rather engaged in casual conversation with Pang Yu. He smiled, "As for the other matter, my master wishes to meet the Divine Son of Youdu. This has become a bit difficult. It was originally entrusted to Junior Brother Qi, but unfortunately, he failed to seal the Divine Son of Youdu and even lost the mirror used to capture him."

Qi Jiuyi's face flushed slightly, and he said nothing.

Lou Yunqu looked a bit troubled, rubbing his temples. He sighed, "My master said that Youdu needs someone like the Divine Son of Youdu, so this time, we four senior and junior brothers had to descend to the lower realm. But I didn't expect Military Commissioner Lu Li to also be here and have some ideas about the Divine Son of Youdu as well."

Lu Li forced a smile. "Brother Lou, you jest. How could I dare to have ideas? And how could I dare to oppose the Northern Heavens' most powerful Underworld Emperor?"

"That's true."

Lou Yunqu smiled. "My master sent us to the lower realm with a bit of a personal agenda: he wants to see how far the reforms have progressed and have us record it to bring back for him to review. We thought that while the reforms in the small villages of the lower realm aren't fully mature yet, they have, after all, altered the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth, and compiling and recording them would certainly be very troublesome. We heard that Yankang's Emperor Yenfeng and the Imperial Preceptor are the leaders of these reforms, so for simplicity's sake, if we could capture these two and bring them before my master, it would save a lot of trouble. Brother Pang Yu, could you please invite these two over and tie them up securely to send to us?"

True God Pang Yu laughed heartily, yet there was no genuine smile on his face; his laughter was dry, fake, and rigid. He coldly said, "You want to capture the Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yenfeng? Why don't you do it yourselves?"

Lou Yunqu was all smiles. "Alright. But before that, let's first destroy Taihuang Heaven. Will the gods, devils, and divine arts practitioners of Taihuang Heaven commit suicide willingly, or should I help you tie the noose with a dead knot?"