Chapter 728: The Celestial Master's Past

The Woodcutter Sage reminisced, then slowly began, "At that time, I was completely absorbed in reforms, believing I could achieve great ambitions. I had no interest in matters of the heart. So, even though there were girls who liked me, I had no time for romantic relationships."

Qin Mu blinked. The Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor was similar. The reason the Imperial Preceptor hadn't become another Woodcutter was that he had married his current wife and had children.

In the past, the Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor was purely rational, even using his own injuries as bait to lure enemies out.

But now, the Imperial Preceptor had become a bit more human.

"At that time, I already sensed that the farmer was somewhat displeased with me, and I truly had no personal feelings. That girl was indeed excellent, beautiful, and by all accounts, she would have been the perfect companion. However, Emperor Kai had entrusted me with the weighty task of reform. If I were to use the power he gave me to pursue a young woman, wouldn't I be betraying his trust?"

The Woodcutter continued unhurriedly, "So I told that girl, Yun Xi, 'I am not the one for you to entrust your life to. The task Emperor Kai has given me is of immense importance, and there is so much in the world that I need to change. Therefore, I can only let down your deep affection.'"

Qin Mu listened intently, then smiled, "Teacher, it's possible to balance family and country. Why did you have to refuse her? And if you refused her, how did you end up offending the Battle Heavenly Teacher?"

"Her name was Yan Yunxi, a truly captivating woman."

The Woodcutter was clearly lost in thought, recalling the exceptional and otherworldly woman. With rare tenderness, he softly said, "She was also very intelligent and talented. I was indeed happy that she favored me, but my respect for her far outweighed any admiration. She then asked me, 'Tiange, Zhuo Cha has affections for me. Is he someone I can entrust my life to?' Zhuo Cha is the farmer. I smiled and told her..."

The Woodcutter's expression turned odd. "I said, 'Zhuo Cha's love for martial arts surpasses his love for you. His devotion to martial arts is true love, while his affection for you is merely temporary infatuation. Zhuo Cha is not someone worthy of your trust.' I was speaking as a friend, and my analysis of his character was quite accurate. I suppose that remark eventually reached Zhuo Cha's ears, which is why he always dislikes me."

Qin Mu said, "Teacher, you really deserved a beating... I didn't mean that!"

He clutched his head, which stung painfully from the Woodcutter's sharp knock.

The Woodcutter continued, "Later, Yan Yunxi never married. She changed her name and dressed in men's clothes. When I asked her why, she said she had met the two most outstanding men in the world: one with unparalleled wisdom and a heart for all under heaven, and another with unmatched bravery and an unwavering Dao heart. After meeting these two men, she couldn't bring herself to look favorably upon any other. So, she changed her name and disguised herself as a man, vowing not to revert to women's clothing until she met a man superior to us."

He was lost in thought, then shook his head, smiling. "She never changed back. Even though Zhuo Cha saw her many times and was good friends with her, he never recognized her."

Qin Mu exclaimed, "The Battle Heavenly Teacher achieved the Emperor's Throne through martial arts. How could he not recognize Yan Yunxi in disguise?"

The Woodcutter chuckled, "Yan Yunxi's abilities are exceptionally high, and she's clever and eccentric. If she didn't want him to recognize her, he wouldn't. Besides, the farmer is all muscle and no brains. What kind of discernment could he have? Yan Yunxi even beat him many times, and he still didn't recognize her. Instead, he was completely submissive to her, while giving me the cold shoulder."

"Beat the Battle Heavenly Teacher many times?"

Qin Mu's eyes were filled with confusion. "This Sister Yan Yunxi..."

The Woodcutter scolded, "Call her Senior Aunt! Not 'Sister'!"

Qin Mu stammered, "Teacher, you just said Senior Aunt Yun Xi changed her name. What did she change it to? There aren't many people capable of making the Battle Heavenly Teacher completely submissive. I did hear the Battle Heavenly Teacher mention someone who used to make him totally obedient. But that person wasn't called Yun Xi; they were called Zi Xi."

The Woodcutter remained silent, looking out the door.

Outside the door, the old ox quickly pulled back his ears, puffing on his water pipe, though the fire had long since gone out.

The Dragon Qilin immediately lay prone, pretending to sleep, snoring like thunder.

The Woodcutter rose, put on his clothes, and said, "I think my injuries are mostly healed. I can gradually recover with Creation Skill; there won't be any lingering issues."

Qin Mu quickly asked, "Is Heavenly Master Zi Xi the same person as Senior Aunt Yan Yunxi?"

The Woodcutter didn't answer. He walked out and said, "Zhuo Cha will certainly leave the mountains this time. With Zhuo Cha out, there will be much more room for maneuver. Are you planning to meet Xu Shenghua with Hu Bugui? If so, Zhuo Cha might go with you to see Xu Shenghua. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."

Qin Mu followed him, saying, "I also plan to meet up with Sister Di Yiyue to see how she and Heavenly King Tian Shu are transforming Fengdu."

The Woodcutter shook his head. "Transforming Fengdu isn't something that can be done in a short time, and if she tries to find Tian Shu, she probably won't succeed. That fellow is undoubtedly hiding in the largest and best winery in Eternal Peace, drinking."

Qin Mu's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Then he must be in the imperial palace's wine cellar."

"I'll find a way to inform Di Yiyue and have her search for Tian Shu."

The Woodcutter stepped out the door and glanced at the old ox, who was still frantically puffing on his water pipe. "The fire's out," he said blandly.

The old ox hastily lit it, and a puff of thick smoke burst out, making the ox's eyes and nose stream smoke as tears ran down his face.

"Say what you should say, and don't say what you shouldn't."

The Woodcutter added, "While I can't do anything to you, the second-ranked Heavenly Master would find it quite easy to kill you."

The old ox quickly nodded, chuckling obsequiously, "Don't worry, Great Heavenly Master, I understand everything."

The Woodcutter then approached the Dragon Qilin, who was still feigning sleep. "Too much talk, and you might easily end up on a plate, served at the table," he warned.

The Dragon Qilin scrambled up with a rumble, bowing his head and fawning, "My lips are sealed! I've never spilled any of the Cult Master's embarrassing stories!"

Qin Mu hesitated, stroking the few wisps of hair on his chin. "Dragon Fatty knows many embarrassing things about me? Hmm, this one can't be kept... How would he taste best?"

The Woodcutter found the old farmer and bade him farewell. The old farmer wasn't keen on acknowledging him, simply dozing with his eyes half-closed, so the Woodcutter had no choice but to leave.

The old farmer snorted and spat a thick wad of phlegm forcefully towards his departing back.

Qin Mu's expression was odd. These two Heavenly Masters, tens of thousands of years old, were still acting like children.

Not long after, Hu Bugui emerged from the Dipper Ox World, carrying a small satchel. His simple attire made him appear sharp and capable.

The villagers then moved the large mountains back, sealing off the Dipper Ox World using unknown methods. Qin Mu surveyed the surroundings but found no trace of a spatial seal, which greatly astonished him.

Judging from his experience in the Dipper Ox World, it was completely isolated from the Great Ruins. At night in the Great Ruins, darkness could not invade the Dipper Ox World. This implied that the Dipper Ox World was not physically located within this world.

Furthermore, Hu Bugui and other cultivators from the Dipper Ox World had mentioned that when they were young, they would also visit the demon world to battle its powerhouses as a form of training.

This suggested that the Dipper Ox World was likely very far from the Great Ruins, perhaps even unimaginably distant.

"Emperor's Throne experts truly possess immense divine power."

Qin Mu glanced at the old farmer, who was walking over with the old ox. The farmer told the villagers, "This time, I'll go for a stroll and accompany them to meet this Xu Shenghua, to see if he truly has any real skill. If he does, then I'll take a trip around Eternal Peace. But if Xu Shenghua has no talent, then when you next encounter the woodcutter, capture him. I'll punch him to death, then return to seclusion."

Everyone affirmed, saying, "Don't worry, Heavenly King. We'll stay here and guard the Dipper Ox Palace. If we encounter the Great Heavenly Master, we'll capture him."

The old farmer mounted the ox, Qin Mu sat on the Dragon Qilin's back, and Hu Bugui walked.

Qin Mu invited him to ride, but Hu Bugui shook his head. "I'm fast on my feet."

Qin Mu looked at the Dragon Qilin, who felt a chill down his spine. The Dragon Qilin immediately exerted himself, running at what he thought was lightning speed, certain he could leave Hu Bugui behind. To his surprise, when he looked back, the old ox, carrying the old farmer, was still steadily trailing them, while Hu Bugui was leaping continuously, moving at incredible speed, jumping from one mountaintop to another, a truly astonishing sight.

"This guy's physical body is stronger than mine!"

The Dragon Qilin was startled, feeling waves of chill on his back. He thought to himself, "They don't know where Xu Shenghua is, so they're following me. Otherwise, they would have already rushed ahead. But since they're following me, it's impossible for them to surpass me, and the Cult Master won't try to cook me..."

Qin Mu's primordial spirit left his body, contacting Xu Shenghua. He told Hu Bugui, "Xu Shenghua is currently in the Western Earth, building the Heavenly Academy. We can go there to meet him."

Hu Bugui's spirits lifted. The old farmer, composed on his ox, said, "If Xu Shenghua turns out to be unimpressive, then we'll beat the woodcutter to death."

Qin Mu chuckled, "Brother Xu's talent is outstanding. If it weren't for me, he would be the most brilliant prodigy in the world. The Battle Heavenly Teacher will surely be very happy to meet him."

The old farmer snorted coldly.

Six or seven days later, they arrived near the True Heaven Palace in the Western Earth.

The women of True Heaven Palace were currently undertaking extensive construction, building palaces. Many halls had already been completed. Xu Shenghua and Jing Yan had received Qin Mu's message and came to greet them.

Qin Mu dismounted from the Dragon Qilin's back and looked around. The buildings of the Heavenly Academy were filled with Western Earth architectural styles, magnificent and adorned with flowers and evergreen leaves that never withered.

"Esteemed couple, this is the Battle Heavenly Teacher of the Founding Emperor Era, and this is Senior Brother Niu Sanduo."

Qin Mu introduced them, "And this is Hu Bugui, whom I mentioned to you, the one who cultivates Dao through martial arts but lacks the Divine Bridge Realm."

Xu Shenghua examined Hu Bugui, his eyes lighting up. "Brother Hu, would you mind opening your divine treasures?"

Several loud sounds came from within Hu Bugui's body as his divine treasures—Spirit Embryo, Five Elements, Six Directions, Seven Stars, Celestial Being, and Life-and-Death—all opened. But when it came to the Divine Bridge treasure, the entire Divine Bridge treasure had vanished!

He simply had no Divine Bridge treasure!

Countless runes flickered around Xu Shenghua as he calculated the position of Hu Bugui's Divine Bridge treasure. After a moment, he shook his head and said, "Indeed, there's no Divine Bridge treasure! Excellent, excellent!"

"I'm going to beat your teacher to death," the old farmer told Qin Mu.

Xu Shenghua walked around Hu Bugui, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and spoke rapidly, "Brother Hu, your foundation is absolutely perfect! It's ideal for experimenting with the divine treasure merging method I've developed! I can't do it myself. I'm a Hegemon Body, but I learned too late, so my previous realm foundations are a bit unstable. Although I want to merge divine treasures, my cultivation is somewhat lacking. I originally intended to use Brother Qin for the experiment, but your physical body is robust and your foundation excellent, so it's perfect for testing on you! By the way, are you also a Hegemon Body?"

The old farmer stopped and said to Qin Mu, "If he kills Hu Bugui, I'll kill him, and then I'll kill you."

It was Qin Mu's first time seeing Xu Shenghua's crazy side, and he felt a little uneasy.