Chapter 745: Youth in a Blue Shirt with Integrity

"Establishing the Celestial Palace requires mobilizing the power of the gods within the physical body."

On the altar, as Qin Mu manifested a divine treasury vision using his vital qi, the sun and moon within the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury lit up. His calm and unhurried voice echoed throughout the palace hall: "Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury: Great Sun Star Lord, Grand Yin Star Lord."

In that divine treasury vision, the Five Elemental Stars lit up in succession, and the Five Elemental Star Lords stood atop each star.

"Five Elements Divine Treasury! Earth Star Lord, Mars Star Lord, Venus Star Lord, Mercury Star Lord, Jupiter Star Lord!"

"Six Harmonies Divine Treasury! Earth Mother Sovereign, embodying vast virtue and supporting all creation!"

"Seven Stars Divine Treasury! Seven stars aligned, seven gods united in power!"

"Heavenly Being Divine Treasury! Celestial constellations, myriad star gods and lords of the constellations, borrowing power from Heavenly Duke!"

"Life-Death Divine Treasury! Great Youdu, gods controlling souls, borrowing power from Earth Count!"

"Divine Bridge Divine Treasury! The primordial spirit shall be a god among gods!"

In the divine treasury vision manifested by Qin Mu's vital qi, the lights of various deities flared, indicating he was borrowing the power of numerous ancient gods from the Celestial Heavens. The primordial spirit of a divine arts practitioner symbolized the Celestial Emperor, who held all authority.

"Achieve this step, borrow the power of the Celestial Heavens, let the gods return to their positions, draw forth the power of the Celestial Heavens, and imprint the Celestial Palace!"

Qin Mu cried out. In the divine treasury vision, the deities borrowed power, growing increasingly mighty. The energy from structures built by ancient gods of the primeval Celestial Heavens — the South Heaven Gate, Jade Pool, God Execution Stage, Jade Capital City, High Heavens Palace, and Imperial Throne — was drawn forth, gradually forming a Celestial Palace in front of the Divine Bridge.

The onlookers stared at this scene in a daze. Silence enveloped them; no one spoke.

The Celestial Palace was thus established, and another magnificent and vast cultivation realm, full of boundless potential, appeared before everyone's eyes.

It was an immense feat, an innovation that would allow humans to stand equal to gods! A realm powerful enough to usher them into a mythical age!

After a long silence, someone finally cheered: "Venerable Yu!"

"Venerable Yu!"

"Venerable Yu!"

Cheers erupted everywhere, their sound shaking the heavens.

Venerable Hao stared at the scene, a sense of despondency in his heart. "I don't possess such strong charisma... If he isn't Venerable Yu, then how does he know the method to become a god? Could it be that..."

A terrifying thought, one that filled him with dread, arose in his mind: "Is Venerable Yu truly still alive? No, no, I distinctly killed him, and Yin Chaojin destroyed his soul; he couldn't possibly be alive! Besides, that entity has already confirmed it; that entity cannot be wrong..."

A chilling sensation crept over him. If Venerable Yu were still alive, why hadn't he directly moved to kill him? Was Venerable Yu wary of the entity behind him? Did Venerable Yu have a greater scheme?

There were few people in this world who could truly make him feel apprehensive, and Venerable Yu was one of them. In front of Venerable Yu, he always felt inferior, always felt he wasn't as good. Although he possessed extraordinary talent, whenever he saw Venerable Yu, a subtle sense of inferiority would involuntarily arise within him.

Therefore, he had to kill him, he had to eliminate Venerable Yu, to eliminate the god in his heart! And now, was this god, who had stifled him, going to return?

"He must die!" he thought to himself.

Just then, Qin Mu's voice came: "Venerable Hao, it's your turn."

Qin Mu called out several times before Venerable Hao finally snapped out of his daze. He forced a smile and began to expound on the divine arts, continuing from Qin Mu's method of establishing the Celestial Palace. However, he was somewhat distracted, and his speech faltered, eventually pausing.

"After my elder brother's method of borrowing power to establish the Celestial Palace, one can achieve equality with gods and eternal life. However, this is only the initial accomplishment; there are still numerous trials ahead. Because this is borrowed power, borrowed from ancient gods and the Celestial Heavens, it must be repaid, or there will be a tribulation. The first trial at this stage is the South Heaven Gate. Only by crossing the South Heaven Gate can one truly stabilize their Celestial Palace realm."

"This step is to borrow the method of the Celestial Heavens and refine the false into truth!"

Venerable Hao quickly composed himself and began to explain the cultivation method for the South Heaven Gate realm, as taught to him by Venerable Yu. Venerable Hao had not cultivated to the South Heaven Gate realm, nor had Venerable Yu. However, as the pioneer of the Celestial Palace, Venerable Yu had established all these realms in one go, possessing an astonishing understanding of them. Venerable Hao was merely repeating Venerable Yu's words.

Qin Mu then continued, expounding on the cultivation of the Jade Pool realm. After he finished with the Jade Pool, Venerable Hao spoke about the perils of the God Execution Stage realm. Qin Mu then discussed the profound mysteries of cultivating the Jade Capital realm, after which Venerable Hao lectured on the High Heavens realm.

Finally, Qin Mu finished explaining the Imperial Throne realm, completing the seven major realms of the Celestial Palace.

Emperor Kai's heart sank. "With the seven major realms of the Celestial Palace explained, Mu Qing will probably make his move to kill, right? He has already confirmed his identity as Venerable Yu. By revealing himself as Venerable Yu, he will expose Venerable Hao and Yin Tianzi as his murderers. The enraged crowd will then tear Venerable Hao and Yin Tianzi apart! But Yin Tianzi isn't dead, so what happened during that time? Who truly died? What exactly transpired..."

Just as he thought this, Venerable Hao's voice came from the altar, chuckling: "My elder brother has left the final realm for me to explain, so I'll reluctantly take on the task. Now, let us discuss the realm beyond the Imperial Throne: the Celestial Heavens..."

Emperor Kai's mind reeled. His eyes widened in disbelief! An eighth realm! There was actually an eighth realm! He had never even heard of a Celestial Heavens realm beyond the Imperial Throne!

Niu Sanduo's mind also went blank with a jolt. From ancient times to the present, there had never been any record of this realm, not even a rumor!

"Venerable Yu..."

On the altar, Qin Mu's expression dimmed. He thought to himself, "He truly is Venerable Yu. I still can't compare to him. His death is such a terrible shame... A person like him shouldn't be buried by history!"

Venerable Hao, on the altar, spoke haltingly and made numerous errors, but he had outlined the general framework: the Celestial Palace was merely one palace within the Celestial Heavens, which contained thirty-six such palaces. The realm beyond the Imperial Throne involved creating the Celestial Heavens and establishing the thirty-six Celestial Palaces! Reaching the Celestial Heavens realm would be an immense advancement and a qualitative leap for divine arts practitioners!

However, there was no information whatsoever about the Celestial Heavens realm in later generations; it had clearly been lost.

After Venerable Hao finished speaking, he said sheepishly: "Gentlemen, it's not that I deliberately failed to explain it clearly. Rather, my elder brother told me that he himself had not yet established this Celestial Heavens realm. Isn't that right, elder brother?"

Qin Mu stood up, his face placid, like an ancient well, frighteningly calm. "Correct. The Celestial Heavens realm is vast and profound; I never fully comprehended it even until my death."

Cold sweat appeared on Venerable Hao's forehead. He subtly took a step back and chuckled, "But didn't my elder brother come back to life? The phrase 'until my death' is a bit heavy. My mother has always admired you; she'll surely be delighted to see you alive again."

His words subtly implied a warning to Venerable Yu not to cause a public disturbance, and also hinted at the entity behind him. However, he had no idea that Qin Mu didn't care about such things. Venerable Yu might have cared for the sake of the greater good, but Qin Mu was not Venerable Yu! Even Emperor Kai couldn't change Qin Mu's mind, let alone Venerable Hao's mother.

Just then, an ancient god suddenly flew over, shouting loudly: "The name of the Celestial Heavens has been decided! His Majesty, along with Heavenly Duke, Earth Count, and other beings, has determined the name of the Celestial Heavens!"

A commotion erupted in the palace hall as people rushed outside. The ancient god's voice passed over their heads, then flew into the distance, proclaiming: "The Celestial Heavens shall be named Long Han! This year marks the beginning of the Long Han era!"

Emperor Kai and Old Niu were greatly shaken. Had the Long Han era finally begun?

"Is it now that 'Three Divisions into Long Han and Sky' begins?" Qin Mu was lost in thought, recalling the children's rhyme chanted by the boy in the Crimson Light Realm: "Three Divisions into Long Han and Sky, Crimson Light split in two."

Today, they officially entered the Long Han era!

A strange feeling arose in his heart. What was history? This was history. He was now immersed in history, becoming a fleeting silhouette of the era.

In this historical vignette, the vast and magnificent Celestial Heavens teemed with joyous people. Imposing ancient gods stood high above, smiling as they watched the celebrations below. Demigods soared in the air, dragons and phoenixes brought good fortune. By the Celestial River, people hurried to share the news. In decorated boats, couples snuggled together, gazing up at the splendid divine arts being displayed in the sky—divine arts unleashed by exhilarated people, adding splashes of color to the Celestial Heavens.

This historical vignette depicted the dawn of a glorious golden age. Yet, at this moment, few remembered Venerable Yu. Everyone was celebrating. Who would recall that the person who truly propelled this era toward its golden age now lay in a coffin, never to witness the coming prosperity?

"Is there no justice in this world?"

Amidst the grandeur, Qin Mu lowered his head, looking at his hands, and let out a chuckle. "Emperor Kai was right. Past events don't need justice; there is no justice for them. History doesn't need me to uphold justice. But..."

He lifted his head, gazing at the bustling splendor all around, and his chuckles turned into loud, unrestrained laughter.

"But Venerable Yu needs it, Venerable Yu needs justice—"

"History may not need justice, but the people within history need this justice—"

His hand gripped his collar firmly, and with a ripping sound, he tore off the purple robe that belonged to Venerable Yu. The purple robe fluttered in the wind, drifting over the jubilant, celebrating crowds.

Qin Mu's chest burned. He threw his head back and laughed heartily, a liberating laugh that expressed his righteous indignation.

"History won't give them justice, but I, I damn well can! I damn well can give them this justice!"

"And I damn well need this justice too—"

He longed to drink, to hold a jar and drink like the Butcher, to get wildly drunk like Tian Shu, eyes askew with inebriation, then grab a blade and kill! Although he hadn't drunk alcohol, he was already filled with a drunken fervor. He began to walk toward Venerable Hao.

Venerable Hao pushed through the crowd, trying to avoid him.

Emperor Kai and Old Niu were also outside, witnessing this exciting moment. Suddenly, a drifting purple robe, carried by the wind, tumbled through the air, flew towards the Jade Pool, and plunged into the sea.

"Venerable Yu's purple robe!"

Emperor Kai's heart lurched. He quickly turned around, grabbed Old Niu's hand, and urgently asked: "Where's Mu Qing? Where is Mu Qing?"

Old Niu frantically searched: "He was just on the altar. They're still in the hall, aren't they?"

"When the ancient god announced the name 'Long Han,' he also left the hall!" Emperor Kai pulled Old Niu forward, anxiously saying: "He's taken off his clothes! He wants to kill someone amidst this commotion! Go, quickly! We must find him before things escalate!"

Old Niu circulated his magic power, and Emperor Kai suddenly floated uncontrollably. Both of them drifted into the air.

"Your magic power is weak; let me take you!" Old Niu said in a deep voice: "Pay attention to the crowd below; you must find him!"

Emperor Kai quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for Qin Mu.

"A young man in green strides forth with integrity, daring to challenge power! A speck of righteous spirit, a thousand li of delightful wind!"

Qin Mu felt his body growing hotter and hotter, a surge of hot blood bubbling and boiling within him. "I wish I could be like Grandpa Butcher—a swift blade, good wine, taking heads, and like him, transform heroism into poetry even in the thick of battle. Alas, I don't possess his literary talent! He's a great man of letters, his verses directly expressing his feelings, his poetic nature aiding his heaven-defying blade, swiftly cleaving 'pig heads'! I still fall short."

He followed Venerable Hao to the surface of the Jade Pool. Beneath the water, massive beasts and giant turtles swam, while large fish glided leisurely through the air. These were demigods, descendants of ancient gods. Venerable Hao continued walking forward, surrounded by an increasing number of demigods. Qin Mu also continued onward.

"But my blade is just as swift!"

"My fists are just as heavy!"

"And my slaughter of the wicked is no slower than Grandpa Butcher's blade!"