Chapter 727: Wusheng

Qin Mu hesitated. While rescuing his teacher, the Woodcutter, was undoubtedly important, embarking on a quest with Hu Bugui to find Xu Shenghua and then collectively developing the method of integrating divine treasures to ascend to the Celestial Palace seemed more interesting and meaningful.

Moreover, the Woodcutter Saint was, after all, a deity at the Jade Platform realm; soaking in a ditch for half a year shouldn't kill him, so there appeared to be no urgent need.

However, as the Woodcutter's disciple, leaving him to soak in that ditch without pulling him out simply wasn't right.

Yet, even if the old bull went easy on them, they still couldn't defeat a Divine Throne expert.

The old farmer was a Divine Throne realm expert, one who had entered the Dao through martial arts. There was an insurmountable gap between the Empyrean Realm and the Divine Throne realm. Emperor Sakra, the Heavenly King Buddha, was at the Empyrean Realm, yet he still shamelessly sought the true scriptures from the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha. This demonstrated just how challenging it was to reach the Divine Throne realm.

As he pondered, the old farmer suddenly descended from his Divine Throne, walked out of the Empyrean Palace, and approached the gate. His face, etched with countless wrinkles, spoke of deep weariness as he said, "Sanduo, they have passed."

The old bull was slightly startled and quickly responded, "Master, they haven't even passed my trial, let alone yours. Why do you say they've passed?"

The old farmer walked down the steps of the Empyrean Palace. The old bull quickly knelt on its front hooves, transforming back into a bull, and followed behind him. The old farmer shook his head, saying, "The purpose of the Taurus Palace trial is to help the young ones comprehend how to enter the Dao through martial arts, to figure out a path that allows direct ascension past the Divine Bridge realm, offering hope to future generations. I once thought that if someone defeated me, they could forge this path."

He approached, beckoned Qin Mu and Hu Bugui, and observed them both. A simple smile appeared on his face, which was as rugged as if plowed by an iron plow. "But I just realized," he said, "I've already achieved direct ascension to the Celestial Palace, bypassing the Divine Bridge. I was the first to lack the Divine Bridge realm. I haven't read many books, so my path isn't suitable for others."

Qin Mu and Hu Bugui were both greatly shaken and looked at him in disbelief.

Who could have severed the Martial Battle Heavenly Master's Divine Bridge?

If the Martial Battle Heavenly Master could still advance to the divine realm despite lacking a stage, why didn't he impart his cultivation method to the people of the Taurus World?

However, the thirty-six Martial Gods of Jade Capital City showed no surprise at all, evidently having long known the old farmer's nature.

"I've just come to understand that what I can achieve, not everyone can," the old farmer said.

The old farmer continued, "I've dedicated my entire life to martial arts; my heart holds nothing else but sincerity and purity. While I possess profound methods and techniques, others cannot learn or master them, nor can they ascend to the Celestial Palace as I have. Even if Hu Bugui cultivates to my level and ascends, he would merely be following my old path. His cultivation method would still not enable more people from the Taurus World to ascend. The Woodcutter was right; this isn't the solution to the Taurus Palace's dilemma."

His eye twitched as he glanced at Qin Mu. He continued, "The Woodcutter came to me, saying that the reformers of Eternal Peace have a way to solve the Taurus Palace's problem. I didn't believe him at first, but now I do. The Woodcutter isn't completely useless after all; he did take on a good disciple... Hu Bugui, you may now leave the Taurus World."

A glimmer of hope sparked in Qin Mu's heart, and he quickly asked, "Then, Heavenly Master, may I now rescue my teacher from the ditch?"

The old farmer's expression darkened, his face resembling ground plowed a hundred times by an old ox, devoid of any smile, only wrinkles. "Unlike the Woodcutter, who spouts nonsense as if he's merely passing gas, I always keep my word," he stated. "I said that whoever dares to pull him out will endure three of my punches. If you want to rescue him, you must take three of my punches!"

Qin Mu was startled. The old farmer raised his rough fist, emanating the sheer dominance of peak martial arts, and launched a punch towards Qin Mu.

His aura was immense, yet his fist was very light, gently tapping Qin Mu's chest.

He tapped two more times, and Qin Mu's chest emitted dull thudding sounds.

The old farmer withdrew his fist and scoffed, "Although you've begun to enter the Dao through martial arts, you're still far from mastery. Your physical body is lacking. Continue to cultivate diligently and don't neglect your Hegemon Body. Understand?"

Qin Mu was both startled and pleased. "This junior understands."

The old farmer smiled again, then led the group outside, chuckling, "But you're really not bad, truly not bad. The Woodcutter isn't just all talk; he does have some skill to have taught you so well. Wait, no, you're a Hegemon Body. If I had taught you, I would have taught you even better! The Woodcutter is still no good; he's not as good as me!"

He seemed very happy, and the other War Gods were also delighted, following his lead.

Qin Mu looked around at them. These were individuals once renowned and famous, and the old farmer was an internationally celebrated Divine Throne expert. Yet, at this moment, they appeared utterly pure and simple, like ordinary farmers.

These were lovable people.

But they were also a stubborn group.

Changing them was difficult, but once they recognized their mistakes, they would correct themselves, even if reluctantly.

For this reason, they remained lovable people.

Hu Bugui was inexplicably excited. After leaving the Taurus Palace, he immediately headed for the lower realm of the Taurus World to prepare his belongings and bid farewell to his family and friends.

Qin Mu then called for the Dragon Qilin, who was indeed sound asleep outside the Taurus Palace, having not secretly pulled the Woodcutter out and fled.

Qin Mu felt a pang of sadness. "This is my mount, over there is the Martial Battle Heavenly Master's mount... and also Teacher Woodcutter's mount, the Black Tiger God, and Senior Brother Ba Shan's Azure Ox..."

The Dragon Qilin had slept well and was full of vigor, though after more than ten days without food, it was somewhat distracted. It occasionally glanced at Qin Mu, wanting to remind him but also hesitant.

In the village, the Woodcutter Saint was pulled out. Qin Mu busied himself, setting the Woodcutter's broken bones, treating his injuries, and submerging him in a large medicinal vat, which was heated from below.

The Woodcutter held a large bowl of medicine, drinking it. Beside him, the old farmer sat on a small stool, while the old bull by the doorway sat on the ground, slowly smoking a water pipe, gurgling softly.

Qin Mu sat next to the old bull, drinking tea, and asked, "Senior Brother Sanduo, aren't you plowing today?"

The old bull slowly replied, "Finished plowing. The rice has just been planted."

"The Hegemon Body isn't something you taught; you can't teach it." Inside the house, the old farmer spoke as slowly as the old bull, glancing at the Woodcutter.

The Woodcutter finished his medicine, burped, and handed him the empty bowl, smiling. "He's my disciple, so of course I taught him. You don't have such an outstanding disciple, nor do you have the ability to teach one."

The old farmer snorted, taking the empty bowl. "If you didn't teach him, what are you so proud of? You're just taking credit again. This time, I'm sparing you out of respect for the Hegemon Body, otherwise, I'd let you rot in that ditch for a dozen years until only your mouth remained."

The Woodcutter spoke seriously, "A master leads you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual. My disciples are everywhere; who taught you? And who have you taught?"

The old farmer fell silent, his expression dim.

The Woodcutter said calmly, "You are indeed unparalleled in martial arts. Throughout the world, in the entire cosmos, even the old Heavenly Court would struggle to find someone who could surpass you in martial prowess. Only you, despite lacking the Divine Bridge realm, could cross the void of the Divine Bridge with your personal martial strength and martial arts primordial spirit to ascend to the Celestial Palace and become an peerless Martial God. Not just in the past twenty thousand years, but even if we go back hundreds of thousands or millions of years, you are the only one. You succeeded, but others cannot succeed like you. You cannot save the people of the Taurus World."

The old farmer remained silent.

The Woodcutter continued, "However, Eternal Peace's reform this time can. Our personal grievances are minor. I know you've lived a harsh life all these years, and that after the great war, you sought out and cared for these orphans and widows. You did many things after the Kaihuang's downfall. You wanted to find a way out for them. But you're too slow-witted; you haven't found this path in twenty thousand years."

A roar like that of a trapped beast escaped the old farmer's throat.

After the Kaihuang era ended, he cared for the orphaned children of his fallen comrades, but he could only watch helplessly as they grew old and died one by one.

This was immense torment, filling his heart with guilt.

"Come out of it, come out of it, and you will be the Martial Saint."

The Woodcutter looked at him with a gaze that held some pity, but more anticipation. "The Kaihuang appointed us Heavenly Masters, but I was the only one titled a Saint. However, his original intention was for all four of us to become Saints. You are the Martial Battle Heavenly Master, unrivaled in martial prowess, there's no doubt. But a Saint isn't just about martial strength. Step out, and you will be the unique Martial Saint, the Kaihuang's Martial Saint Heavenly Master!"

The old farmer remained silent.

The Woodcutter did not press further.

He knew his old brother well, understanding that while he was stubborn, he wasn't beyond reason. In fact, his stubbornness was mostly superficial.

His words had hit their mark; the old farmer would come to understand and become the unique Martial Saint.

"You've persuaded me. I do want to see Eternal Peace's reforms," the old farmer suddenly said.

The old farmer then added, "But I won't help Eternal Peace. Our Kaihuang era started from scratch, building everything ourselves. If Eternal Peace is as good as you claim, then it can reach its potential without our help. Why should they rely on failures like us?"

The Woodcutter smiled. "We're merely buying them some time, preventing them from being wiped out by the old Heavenly Court while they're still in their infancy. That doesn't go against your intentions, does it? Back in the early Kaihuang era, some remnants from the High Emperor era also provided us with significant help."

The old farmer smiled. "You've made me recall those youthful years again. In truth, I'm also half a person from the High Emperor era."

"In fact, all of us, including the Kaihuang, are half from the High Emperor era," the Woodcutter said.

The Woodcutter explained, "That's how life is: ever-flowing, endlessly regenerating. And so is inheritance, passed from one era to the next. Your martial arts spirit needs to be passed down; don't let your legacy die out."

The old farmer rose, scoffing, "But I won't forgive you just like that. Once I leave here, once I'm out of the Great Ruins, I'll still punch you whenever I'm in a bad mood. You'd better pray to your ancestors that you can improve a few realms and withstand my fists."

He walked out of the house.

The smile on the Woodcutter's face froze. Qin Mu walked in from outside, changed his medicine, and whispered, "Does Teacher have a grudge against the Martial Battle Heavenly Master?"

The Woodcutter looked listless and sighed, "You could say so. It's a long story."

He clearly didn't want to bring up that past.

Qin Mu blinked, growing more curious but remaining silent.

The Woodcutter became exasperated. "What kind of expression is that? Are you really that eager to know about other people's private matters?"

Qin Mu said nothing.

The Woodcutter sighed. "It's fine to tell you. Actually, back then, he, the Scholar, and the Fisherman and I all got along quite well. Although my cultivation was the weakest, they all respected me greatly. The Kaihuang put me in charge of the reforms, pushing me to the forefront. As the saying goes about talented men and beautiful women, when a man is too outstanding, he gains the favor of women. At that time, he had a girl he liked..."

Qin Mu continued to change his medicine, but his ears perked up, listening intently.

Outside the door, the old bull stopped gurgling its water pipe, and its ears stretched from outside to inside the doorway.

The Dragon Qilin, who had been listlessly lying down, suddenly lifted its head and flapped its large ears twice.