Chapter 705: Bright Full Moon

As Qin Mu walked further, he encountered more and more everyday spirit weapons. Near Yongjiang Academy, scholars were testing flying vehicles capable of carrying passengers through the air. These vehicles had smaller alchemy furnaces, consuming fewer medicinal stones compared to the large ships, suggesting they were designed for short-distance flights.

He also observed scholars manufacturing Ice Dragon Mirrors, which they sold to affluent families in the vicinity. These Ice Dragon Mirrors were square, resembling large cauldrons with lids. Four bronze dragon sculptures adorned their corners; when supplied with medicinal stones, the blue dragons would exhale ice vapor. During summer, placing them in homes would cool the air. Additionally, the Ice Dragon Mirrors could store food, keeping it from spoiling easily.

Along the river, there were mines where numerous mechanical beings extracted ore, supervised and documented by scholars. Qin Mu also witnessed many scholars designing floating cities, constructing small urban centers in the wilderness with the intention of making them airborne.

"Have Yankang's formation divine arts progressed this far?"

He approached to examine the formations. Some of the scholars, recognizing him as the High Priest of Tiansheng Academy, promptly presented their formation diagrams for his review. Qin Mu was astonished. The formation diagrams for the floating cities utilized a structure akin to the "borrowing from heaven and earth" method, reminiscent of the Heavenly Minor Jade Capital and Sacred Arrival Mountain of the Tiansheng Cult. This level of formation structure already surpassed his own expertise.

"If I didn't research this, then who did?" Qin Mu was momentarily dazed. "Could Blind Grandpa have gone to Sacred Arrival Mountain and the Minor Jade Capital to decipher those formations?"

The rapid progress of Yankang's divine arts genuinely astonished him. He had left Yankang to find Yan Jingjing, then encountered the Woodcutter Sage and the Angler, dealt with affairs in the Heavenly Yin Realm, and finally returned to Yankang—all within approximately four months. For Yankang's divine arts and methods to have advanced to such a degree in that short span was truly remarkable! Yet, it seemed almost *too* remarkable!

"This shouldn't solely be the work of Mute Grandpa and Blind Grandpa. I suspect Teacher Woodcutter is also a driving force! His knowledge is the most diverse; if the Angler is to be believed, the reforms during the Kaihuang era were spearheaded by Teacher Woodcutter."

Qin Mu pondered that the Woodcutter and the residents of Disabled Elderly Village, by advancing Yankang's Dao methods and divine arts, would indeed enable Yankang to strengthen rapidly, significantly improving the populace's quality of life. This would also free up divine arts practitioners to cultivate and research more profound techniques and abilities. However, the most crucial factor remained medicinal stones.

These everyday spirit weapons had significantly increased the demand for medicinal stones. While spirit stones could be mined, cultivating medicinal herbs presented a challenge. Upon arriving in front of Yongjiang Academy, he was momentarily stunned to behold vast expanses of fertile land, tens of thousands of acres, entirely cultivated with medicinal herbs. Numerous scholars from both Yongjiang and Tiansheng Academies were in the fields, performing creation divine arts.

These scholars were practicing the Earthly Creation Art, yet it appeared distinct from its former version, seemingly integrated with numerous creation divine arts from the Crimson Bright era. Qin Mu instructed the Dragon Qilin to stop, and he stood by the edge of the herb field, observing. He watched as the academy scholars utilized the Earthly Creation Art to accelerate the growth and enhance the properties of medicinal herbs, enabling plants that would typically require years or even decades to mature to be harvested within mere hours.

"These medicinal herbs are growing splendidly; they'll be ready for harvest soon... Mu'er!"

Hearing the Apothecary's voice, Qin Mu quickly looked over. He saw the Apothecary inspecting the herb field, accompanied by the Deaf Man and Senior Minister Su Yunzhi. Su Yunzhi, a first-rank official in Yankang, had long since opened her divine bridge and cultivated into a deity, possessing formidable power. When Qin Mu had previously met her in the capital, she was an elderly woman. Now, however, she had undergone reverse growth, transforming into a beautiful woman appearing to be in her early thirties, exuding elegance with every movement. The Deaf Man now had ears, while the Apothecary, as usual, wore his bronze mask. Qin Mu observed many Tiansheng Academy scholars present, likely brought by the Apothecary and the Deaf Man to instruct Yongjiang Academy in the art of creation.

Qin Mu approached, chuckling. "Apothecary Grandpa, how are your creation divine arts progressing? And why are you still wearing that mask?"

The Apothecary touched the mask on his face, shaking his head. "I'm already old; it's better not to reveal my true appearance. Otherwise... sigh." He sighed.

The Deaf Man sneered, "Is being good-looking such a great achievement? How vulgar."

The Apothecary chuckled, "Indeed, it is."

The Deaf Man pretended not to hear. Their bickering was a common sight for Qin Mu, so he paid it no mind. The Deaf Man looked at Qin Mu, puzzled. "Why aren't you at Tiansheng Academy? Why did you come to Yongjiang Academy instead?"

Qin Mu's eyes flickered as he chuckled, "I was passing through, so I came to visit the Dragon Herder and pay my respects to High Priest Su."

Su Yunzhi pursed her lips and chuckled. "High Priest Qin, you jest. You rarely visit my Yongjiang Academy. In fact, I often come to Tiansheng Academy looking for you, hoping to consult you on some teaching challenges, but I can never find you."

Qin Mu offered an awkward chuckle and silently stared at a flower. The Apothecary and the Deaf Man instantly understood his demeanor. The Apothecary chuckled, "Senior Minister Su, I'm a bit tired and will return to rest. You only need to wait another hour, then the scholars can harvest the medicinal herbs. Remember to save some seeds."

Su Yunzhi acknowledged this.

The Apothecary and the Deaf Man turned and walked towards Tiansheng Academy. Qin Mu quickly followed them. The Deaf Man remarked, "Your expression tells me you're not here with good news this time. Tell us, what's wrong?"

"I suspect Lou Yunqu is about to use the Book of Life and Death against this region, to exterminate all living beings in Lizhou Prefecture," Qin Mu stated.

"What?" The Apothecary and the Deaf Man exclaimed in unison. Qin Mu quickly urged, "Grandpas, please keep your voices down; we don't want to alert them."

The Apothecary trembled, quickening his pace. "We need to go back, pack our belongings, and leave this place immediately! Let's hurry back to Bazhou... no, back to Disabled Elderly Village! Bazhou isn't safe either!"

Qin Mu quickly grasped his hand. The Apothecary struggled forcefully but failed to break free; though he was currently in the Life and Death realm, his cultivation was slow, and his physical body was far weaker than Qin Mu's.

"Apothecary Grandpa, you can certainly stay here." Qin Mu chuckled, "As long as Lou Yunqu doesn't personally commit the killings, if it's solely the Book of Life and Death, I can still handle it."

"How will you handle it?"

"After you die, I will resurrect you." Qin Mu chuckled, "Don't worry, as long as your physical bodies remain intact, retrieving your souls won't be much trouble for me."

The Apothecary hesitated, then looked at the Deaf Man, who asked, "What good is calling back our souls? Can we defeat Lou Yunqu and his companions?"

"No, we cannot." Qin Mu shook his head. "Before the fall of the Supreme Emperor Heaven, Lou Yunqu and his two companions once encountered the Human Sovereign Primogenitor. The four then proceeded to the Spirit Energy Transference Bridge. The Human Sovereign Primogenitor never made a move against the three of them, indicating considerable apprehension. Conversely, they didn't dare directly attack the Primogenitor, suggesting his strength surpassed theirs. The power of Lou Yunqu and his two brothers likely falls between the God-Slaying Platform realm and the Jade Pool realm."

The Apothecary asked, "Are they stronger than Furi Luo?"

Qin Mu nodded. "Significantly stronger than Furi Luo. Furi Luo is most likely in the Jade Pool realm, but his actual power is considerably inferior to theirs. After all, they are disciples of the Black Emperor of the Underworld Capital, cultivating Emperor's Throne techniques."

The Apothecary composed himself. "We are no match for them. Why don't we leave here and return to the Great Ruins? We can't save everyone, but we can save ourselves."

Qin Mu smiled brightly. "But Apothecary Grandpa, you've taught me since childhood that a healer possesses the heart of a parent, and that human lives are more precious than heaven. Haven't we learned medical arts and pursued the medical path precisely to save more people? Is Apothecary Grandpa going to abandon his original aspiration?"

The Apothecary laughed exasperatedly. "Now you're lecturing me! Let me teach you another lesson: studying medicine won't save Yankang! Are you going to listen to me? Deaf Man, your strength surpasses mine; seal him within a painting, and let's return to Tiansheng Academy to pick up Granny and the others!"

The Deaf Man scratched his ear. "I can't hear," he said, "I'm deaf."

The Apothecary, enraged, was about to become hostile, but the Deaf Man quickly interjected, "Since Mu'er came all this way, he must have some wild plan. Why don't we hear him out before deciding?"

The Apothecary contained his anger. "If you can't present any chance of victory, we're leaving immediately! I'll even use poison to incapacitate you if I must, and we'll still return to Disabled Elderly Village!"

Qin Mu chuckled. "While we may not be a match for Lou Yunqu, we have other allies. If I'm not mistaken, the Woodcutter Sage, Human Sovereign Primogenitor, Furi Luo, Chixi Deity, and the Fisherman Heavenly Master are all currently within Lizhou, simply awaiting Lou Yunqu and his companions to reveal themselves." He calmly stated, "I can infer their target is Lizhou, and they will also infer that."

The Apothecary gasped, muttering, "If they've figured this out, why haven't they proactively relocated the people of Lizhou? Why would they allow them to face the danger of being killed?"

"Because Lou Yunqu and his group cannot be located, they are forced to sacrifice the common people of Lizhou." Qin Mu continued, "Furthermore, I've already disseminated the Soul Summoning Art. A significant number of people in Yankang are cultivating this divine ability. With it, we can recall those who perish due to the Book of Life and Death. Therefore, this risk is worth taking, and indeed, it must be taken!"

The Deaf Man inquired, "What if their chosen target isn't Lizhou? What if it's the capital?"

"I am here; they will come." Qin Mu stated unequivocally, "I am the bait. I will make Lou Yunqu and his group abandon all other targets and focus solely on Lizhou! Millions have already perished in Yuzhi Commandery; just last night, they used the Book of Life and Death to 'buy and sell' the life records of those individuals. I have already ordered all practitioners of the Soul Summoning Art to proceed to Yuzhi Commandery to rescue the victims. And tonight should be when they make their move against Lizhou!"

The Apothecary asked, "How will they know you're in Lizhou then?"

Qin Mu replied, "With the Book of Life and Death, they will naturally know my location. A single glance with it will reveal everyone's names. Tonight, I require a high vantage point to perform my ritual. After they cast their spell to inflict harm, I will resurrect everyone in Lizhou!"

The Deaf Man quickly suggested, "Yongjiang Academy has an Observatory Platform. Its high elevation offers a complete view of Lizhou."

Qin Mu clapped his hands. "Excellent! I'll perform the ritual there!"

That evening, Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin arrived at the Observatory Platform. The Apothecary and the Deaf Man stood at the edge, nervously gazing at the sky, where the full moon shone brightly. At each of the Observatory Platform's four corners stood sculptures of the Four Divine Beasts—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—symbolizing the four great Heavenly Palaces of the cardinal directions. In the center was a massive armillary sphere, intricately carved with the constellations of the celestial sphere.

Qin Mu lit lanterns around the perimeter, then stood atop the armillary sphere, waiting in silence. The brilliant moonlight slowly ascended to the zenith. The night grew deep and quiet; the Yongjiang Academy was now silent, save for the ceaseless flow of the river by the sea. A slight chill permeated the night air.

Qin Mu vigilantly manifested his three heads and six arms, intently surveying his surroundings. The moonlight lay serene as water upon the land, illuminating mountains and rivers. Nearby, the subtle fragrance of plants drifted, while in the distance, the mottled mountains resembled crouching beasts.

Qin Mu waited for a long time. The moon had already passed its zenith, yet the Book of Life and Death still did not appear. "Are they not coming? That's unlikely... Fatty Dragon, Fatty Dragon!"

Qin Mu called out, but the Dragon Qilin remained motionless by the edge of the Observatory Platform. Filled with doubt, Qin Mu looked at the Apothecary and the Deaf Man. The Deaf Man sat cross-legged, staring at him with wide eyes, while the Apothecary leaned against the Azure Dragon sculpture, his face obscured by shadow.

Qin Mu leaped from the armillary sphere, approached them, and reached out to check for their breath. A sudden realization struck him. Only the physical bodies of the Apothecary and the Deaf Man remained; their souls had vanished without a trace! He swiftly moved to the Dragon Qilin's side, only to find that its soul had also disappeared!

Qin Mu felt a chill down his spine. He quickly rushed down the Observatory Platform, sprinting through Yongjiang Academy. He saw the Celestial Records Building brightly lit, with many scholars inside borrowing various cultivation methods and divine art scriptures, but everyone was frozen in place, utterly motionless! He ran through the corridors and observed young scholars on the lawn who had not yet retired, leaning against each other, likely engaged in romantic conversation. Yet, their bodies were hollow, their souls also having vanished. Qin Mu passed by Su Yunzhi's grand hall. The deity was currently meditating, yet her primordial spirit had inexplicably vanished!

"Impossible! Impossible! They couldn't have activated the Book of Life and Death without alerting me! Dragon Herder!" Qin Mu shouted loudly, "Where is the Dragon Herder?"

The river surged, but no cry of "The Dragon Herder is here" echoed. In the Yongjiang River, two colossal dragons floated belly-up on the surface, their horns snagged by the dam, their bodies undulating like waves under the force of the current. On Baisui Mountain, the Baixi Deity appeared to have transformed into a stone sculpture, standing motionless atop a grave mound. The entirety of Lizhou, including all its commanderies and counties, had descended into complete silence.

"How did they cast that spell? It's impossible for there to be no trace whatsoever!" Qin Mu felt a chill throughout his body, pacing back and forth as cold sweat streamed down his forehead. Suddenly, he looked up at the bright moon in the sky. The moon was perfectly full.

"Today is the first day of the lunar month. That's it, it's the first day of the lunar month. Where did this moon come from?" Qin Mu's body convulsed. He shouted loudly, "They are hiding within the moon! Teacher Woodcutter, Human Sovereign Primogenitor, can you hear me?"

From a dark cloud in mid-air, a person fell, crashing not far from Qin Mu. Qin Mu looked to see the individual holding an axe, their face buried in the dirt. Qin Mu's eye twitched. Then he saw a second person fall from the sky; the Human Sovereign Primogenitor crashed through a palace of Yongjiang Academy, creating a large hole. Subsequently, Furi Luo, Chixi, the Fisherman Heavenly Master, and others all plummeted from the clouds, causing the ground to shake.

Qin Mu roared, and behind him, the Gate of Sustaining Heaven burst open with a thunderous sound! At that moment, three figures descended from the bright moon.