Chapter 741: Change at the Jade Pool

He was about to mention the second matter when Yin Tianzi suddenly exclaimed, "Haotian Sovereign!"

Another young man heard Yin Tianzi's call, turned around, saw the group, and smiled as he greeted them. "Yu Tianzun, these friends of yours are truly remarkable! Have you managed to win them over already?"

Yu Tianzun chuckled, "It's not about winning them over; it's that Brother Qin and Brother Mu are both esteemed sages, and this Jade Pond Grand Event wouldn't be complete without them. I plan to petition His Majesty to grant two more Heavenly Sovereign titles so that we can be known collectively as the Nine Heavenly Sovereigns. Haotian Sovereign, what do you think?"

Qin Mu observed Haotian Sovereign. Haotian Sovereign, the pioneer of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure, wore magnificent dark robes adorned with patterns of birds, beasts, and fish.

Behind his head, there was also a halo, containing five stars—likely the Five Luminaries. While Fire Tianzun's halo was elliptical, his was perfectly circular.

His demeanor differed from the other Heavenly Sovereigns Qin Mu had met. Ling Tianzun was engrossed in research and unkempt, You Tianzun had a peculiar childlike temper, Fire Tianzun was hearty and straightforward, and Yu Tianzun was remarkably smooth, making it difficult for anyone he interacted with to develop animosity towards him; he wouldn't become an enemy.

Haotian Sovereign, however, gave Qin Mu the impression of someone with a fierce determination. Once he set a goal, he would relentlessly pursue it, regardless of the consequences, until it was achieved.

Compared to Yu Tianzun, his interpersonal skills were less refined, but his sheer drive made him not to be underestimated.

While Yu Tianzun's personality was almost flawlessly perfect, this very perfection sometimes led him to be overly cautious and indecisive, causing him to miss opportunities.

"However," Qin Mu thought to himself, "from the Heavenly Sovereigns I've encountered so far, they are all exceptionally talented individuals, and none of them should be underestimated."

Qin Mu mused, "This era is truly grand and magnificent, which is why it can produce so many outstanding geniuses."

Haotian Sovereign's gaze fell upon Qin Mu's face. Qin Mu nodded with a smile, acknowledging him, but Haotian Sovereign's eyes quickly shifted to Kai Huang and Old Ox. "The title of Heavenly Sovereign is certainly fitting for both senior brothers," he said. "I also witnessed your battle; it was truly spectacular, and I admire it greatly. However, whether the Heavenly Emperor will approve Yu Tianzun's memorial is hard to say. I have other matters to attend to." With that, he turned and left.

Yu Tianzun watched him depart and smiled, "Haotian Sovereign is just like that; don't take it to heart."

Yin Tianzi said, "Haotian Sovereign is actually a demigod..."

Yu Tianzun shot him a glance, and Yin Tianzi quickly fell silent.

Kai Huang asked curiously, "Why is Haotian Sovereign a demigod? And how was he able to open the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure and become a Heavenly Sovereign?"

Qin Mu retorted, "Why are you so curious?"

Kai Huang looked at him. "Aren't you curious?"

Qin Mu snorted, then his face filled with curiosity as he asked, "Yes, Yu Tianzun, why is Haotian Sovereign a demigod, and how was he able to open the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure?"

Kai Huang suppressed the urge to draw his sword and strike him, also looking at Yu Tianzun.

Yu Tianzun hesitated for a moment before explaining, "There's actually another reason behind this. Haotian Sovereign opening the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure was an experiment by the ancient gods. He is the son of an ancient god and a human."

Both Qin Mu and Kai Huang were slightly taken aback.

Yu Tianzun led them into the Empress's Private Palace, which was already teeming with people. He pushed through the crowd and said, "Haotian Sovereign is half-human, half-god, possessing a human body but the bloodline of a god. The reason for this experiment was primarily because, after I opened the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure, it triggered changes in the grand dao of heaven and earth, allowing mortals to cultivate. At that time, I already sensed that there were other divine treasures. Some ancient gods felt that demigods couldn't cultivate, and perhaps in the future, demigods would be suppressed by us divine arts practitioners. They then sought a way to solve the problem of demigods being unable to cultivate, and thus, Haotian Sovereign came into being."

Qin Mu and Kai Huang followed him, feeling a slight shock in their hearts upon hearing this.

Haotian Sovereign's emergence might have been a competition between post-celestial beings and demigods.

Qin Mu asked, "If demigods transform into humans, can't they cultivate then?"

"Brother Mu knows this?"

Yu Tianzun was greatly shaken. He looked at Qin Mu with a mix of surprise and uncertainty, and after a moment, he said, "Indeed, if demigods transform into humans and gain human-like divine treasures, they can cultivate. However, demigods are a higher race and disdain transforming into humans. Moreover, back then, they hadn't discovered this path, nor was there any cultivation method that allowed demigods to transform into humans. It wasn't until recently that Haotian Sovereign solved this problem. He created a cultivation method that allows demigods to cultivate a human body. This matter hasn't been announced yet, so for Brother Mu to know about it truly shows your vast divine abilities!"

Qin Mu felt a chill, secretly chiding himself for revealing another slip-up.

In later generations, cultivation methods for non-human races to transform into humans were very common, which was why he wondered, forgetting that such methods didn't exist in this current era.

Yu Tianzun didn't press further and continued, "The ancient gods had far-reaching vision. Demigods relied on growth, and once they reached adulthood, their strength was almost on par with the ancient gods. However, their lifespans were not long, making it difficult to escape the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. At that time, I didn't focus on opening other divine treasures. Instead, I pondered how divine arts practitioners could also achieve immortality like gods. My own longevity wasn't a path to immortality for all, but rather a boon granted to me by Earth Sovereign. I felt it was my duty to find a path to longevity for all beings. Decades later, Haotian Sovereign opened the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure, and only then did I fully realize this. However, before I could thoroughly research the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure, Ling Tianzun opened another divine treasure."

He looked at Ling Tianzun and chuckled, "Ling Tianzun and I both delved into the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure simultaneously, but she opened the divine treasure before I did, which means Ling Tianzun's intelligence surpasses my own."

Ling Tianzun urged, "Quickly find us a place to stay. There are too many people here, and I still need to comprehend divine arts with Brother Mu and Brother Qin!"

Yu Tianzun led them through the private palace to the backyard, walking towards a building. "Later, one divine treasure after another was opened," he said. "When Yun Tianzun opened the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure, I suddenly had an epiphany and finally found a path for all beings to achieve eternal life, equal to that of gods."

He radiated strong confidence and smiled, "Both senior brothers, please settle into Fenghua Tower for now. I still have others to attend to. This time, Haotian Sovereign will announce a method for demigods to cultivate, and I will also announce a method for humans to become gods!"

His eyes glowed with fervor, and he laughed heartily, "This time, I want post-celestial beings to be able to stand alongside demigods, and even ancient gods! This is a monumental era, and the arrival of both senior brothers, with your advancements in dao arts and divine abilities, has shown me an even grander era to come! Brother Yin, let's go!"

He stood up and left, escorted by Qin Mu and Kai Huang. Qin Mu chuckled, "Yu Tianzun, you haven't signed your name in my little notebook yet."

Yu Tianzun burst into laughter. He picked up a brush, wrote a few seal script characters in Qin Mu's notebook, and handed the brush back. "I hope both senior brothers won't be stingy," he said, "and will also share your divine arts and dao methods to help this prosperous era arrive sooner!" With that, he departed with Yin Tianzi.

Qin Mu stood at the entrance of Fenghua Tower, looking at the name in his notebook. Although it was in ancient script, he recognized it.

Lan Yutian.

It must be Yu Tianzun's true name.

He stared blankly as they walked away, then suddenly asked, "Qin Kai, what do you think of Yu Tianzun?"

Kai Huang's expression was serious, and he said in a deep voice, "If I had been born in the same era as him, I wouldn't dare to contend for power. I would serve him."

Qin Mu was stunned. "You have so little confidence?"

Kai Huang said solemnly, "In terms of breadth of mind, courage, talent, character, and execution, Yu Tianzun surpasses me. I would willingly serve as his subject."

Qin Mu pondered for a moment and had to admit that Yu Tianzun's charismatic personality was indeed rare throughout history.

Among the people he had met, many possessed astonishing talent, immense breadth of mind, and great courage, and some were skilled at both managing affairs and dealing with people. However, none were as perfectly rounded as Yu Tianzun.

"Then, what about Haotian Sovereign?" he continued to ask.

Kai Huang's eyes sparkled, and he chuckled, "I only met Haotian Sovereign once, but I could tell he is headstrong and overbearing. If I were to encounter Haotian Sovereign, I would contend with him as an equal, striving for dominance and the people's support, though it's uncertain who would ultimately prevail."

Qin Mu suddenly laughed. "What if you were to encounter me?"

Kai Huang glared at him, remaining silent for a long time.

Qin Mu looked at him expectantly, staring intently.

Kai Huang cleared his throat and said, "You... you have too many personality flaws; it's as if you're full of holes, leaking everywhere..."

Qin Mu's face turned as black as charcoal, his expression grim.

Kai Huang chuckled, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. If we were in the same era, I don't think we'd be rivals, but friends. While your temper is quite peculiar, always picking on me, I feel you don't harbor any real malice towards me. Instead, there's a kind of... a kind of..."

His expression was odd as he said, "a feeling of being 'angered by your lack of progress'."

Qin Mu was speechless.

Kai Huang continued, "Your natural talent and ability are no less than mine, but you haven't yet settled down, haven't refined them into true wisdom. This is where you fall short of me. Perhaps in the future, you'll do even better than I, but you haven't reached that point yet."

Qin Mu nodded gently, looking at him with a complex expression, silently thinking, "Actually, you've always been someone I learn from. I want to be like you, but not entirely like you."

"Let's go into the building," Kai Huang said. "Ling Tianzun is waiting for us."

Qin Mu composed himself and walked into the building with him.

Ling Tianzun was inexplicably excited and chuckled, "Finally, I've escaped those annoying affairs and can focus on research. I absolutely detest social interactions; if Yu Tianzun hadn't invited me, I wouldn't have bothered to come! Let's get started quickly!"

Qin Mu smiled, "Sister Ling, you'll take the lead this time. We'll just assist you. We'll solve whatever you don't understand or can't deduce. Without boasting, in terms of creation divine arts and miscellaneous studies, both of us are very strong—at the very least, stronger than anyone else in this world!"

Kai Huang hesitated for a moment, then finally made up his mind and said, "While Mu Qing's tone is a bit boastful, it's true as he said: in the entire universe, for the past and next hundred thousand years, or even longer, there are no individuals more knowledgeable than us two. Ling Tianzun, you can clarify the ideas, and we will help you refine them."

Ling Tianzun was overjoyed.

The three immediately set to work. Ling Tianzun aimed to develop a divine art that would make matter eternally static. She had already found a direction and made initial progress, but the knowledge involved was too vast and complex; even creation divine arts were just one aspect of it.

Fortunately, Qin Mu and Kai Huang's studies were extensive and varied, and their mastery of numerology was rarely seen anywhere. They solved one problem after another for Ling Tianzun.

This research consumed them entirely, oblivious to the passage of days and nights. Unknowingly, half a month slipped by. Old Ox, being good-natured and patient, sat in front of the building, drinking tea and smoking a hookah. He only occasionally felt a bit restless, thinking, "This private palace of the Empress is truly humble. Why aren't there any rice paddies? After a few days without farming, my body feels somewhat lazy..."

More and more divine arts practitioners arrived for the event. In the last couple of days, many of them even sat on the ground near Fenghua Tower, sleeping soundly under the trees when they got tired.

Old Ox puffed a few smoke rings, leisurely watching the divine arts practitioners discussing their methods. In the Jade Pond, numerous demigods had arrived, some still flying in the sky without landing.

Just then, a clamor arose as countless people ran about, spreading the news and shouting, "The Seven Heavenly Sovereigns are about to begin their lecture!"

"I heard Yu Tianzun is going to teach the method of becoming a god this time! Hurry to the Private Palace's grand hall!"

"Go early to grab a good seat! If you're late, you'll be stuck outside in the cold wind!"

The surroundings erupted in an uproar, and a sea of people surged towards the main hall. Old Ox hastily stood up, thinking, "I need to tell Kai Huang and Qin Mu about this grand event. They've been talking about it for a long time..."

Just as he thought this, a sudden, earth-shattering clamor broke out again, with countless people screaming their hearts out.

The noise was too loud; Old Ox couldn't make out what they were shouting.

"These fellows are far too noisy. People in ancient times were truly ignorant."

Old Ox shook his head and continued walking towards the building, only to hear the shouts gradually become clearer.

Someone outside was wailing loudly.

"Yu Tianzun is dead!"