Chapter 755: Draggy Burden Imperial Heavenly Venerable

Great Ruins Crippled Elder Village.

At dawn, Qin Mu and the old Soul Ferryman arrived at this small village with Yutian Zun. This was Qin Mu's former home, but it was now overrun by chicken-dragons.

In the village, Qin Mu stewed a chicken, stir-fried a few dishes, and then went to the butcher's house to dig up a jar of wine buried under the bed.

He had recently attended a ghost feast at the Palace of Heavenly Qi Benevolent Saint King, but it had no taste, so he was feeling a bit peckish. Moreover, Yutian Zun had just been revived and was also hungry.

After eating their fill and drinking, Qin Mu and the old Soul Ferryman went to the bank of the Surging River, watching the rapid current flow by.

The old Soul Ferryman formed a divine art, intending to hurl it into the turbulent river. Qin Mu quickly pressed his hand, shaking his head. "The Surging River is teeming with countless creatures, including the Dragon King and the Dragon Keeper Lord. With your current immense power, are you trying to annihilate all life in the river?"

The old Soul Ferryman pondered for a moment, then dispersed his divine art. "Is he like this because he's missing a soul, or has he truly lost his memory?"

Qin Mu looked back. The village was in chaos, with chicken-dragons flocking together, chasing Yutian Zun everywhere. Yutian Zun was pecked until his head and face were bloody, looking utterly dishevelled, and was eventually knocked to the ground by the chicken-dragons.

Several male chicken-dragons stood on the young man, crowing towards the sun.

The old Soul Ferryman sighed, formed another divine art, thought better of it, and dispersed it. "Look at him, he's nothing like his former self. The Yutian Zun of old was so spirited and unrestrained, but now even chicken-dragons dare to bully him."

Qin Mu got up and shooed away the chicken-dragons. Yutian Zun hastily scrambled to his feet, patted his clothes, sending feathers flying everywhere.

"I can't pinpoint the cause of his amnesia," Qin Mu said. "He's missing less than a tenth of his soul, but all three spiritual souls and seven corporeal souls are still present."

Qin Mu mused, "I think for now, we should return to Youdu and ask Earth Count to find where his missing soul fragment is. If he's still suffering from amnesia after his soul is recovered, then it's a problem with his mind."

The old Soul Ferryman nodded, looking back to see Yutian Zun cornered by a group of chicken-dragons, squatting there, protecting his head.

"If he doesn't regain his memory, how will he survive in this harsh world?" The old Soul Ferryman shook his head.

Qin Mu stepped forward, raised his hand, and a streak of flame transformed into a fire dragon, striking out in all directions and driving the chicken-dragons away.

Seeing this, Yutian Zun's eyes lit up. He said, delighted, "That's a good method!" After speaking, he also waved his hand.

The surrounding chicken-dragons, still approaching, quickly dodged when they saw him wave, but then realized nothing happened. Enraged, they pounced again.

Yutian Zun hastily waved his hand again, and a streak of fire, like a dragon, shot out, shaking its head and tail.

Many chicken-dragons fled in all directions. One couldn't dodge in time and was burned black, emitting a scent of cooked meat.

Yutian Zun looked stunned, staring at his palm in disbelief. Then he ran to the side of the burned chicken-dragon and burst into tears, grieving its death.

He wanted to bury the chicken-dragon's corpse, digging a pit while crying. After a moment, he found it smelled delicious and secretly took a bite. He continued to eat while shedding tears, discarding the dug pit and tossing the chicken bones into it.

Qin Mu and the old Soul Ferryman exchanged glances, each showing surprise.

"The divine art you just used, was it the Fiery Planet Lord's flame runes?" the old Soul Ferryman inquired.

Qin Mu nodded. "While the Fiery Planet Lord's flame runes aren't overly complex in structure, my mastery is profound. I've miniaturized the runes to their absolute limit, making their intricacies very difficult for others to discern."

The old Soul Ferryman stated, "Yet he discerned them, and learned them."

"And he can even perform them," Qin Mu added in a low voice. "His cultivation hasn't completely vanished; a portion of it remains. More crucially, his innate talent and comprehension are truly extraordinary. I suspect..."

He paused, his expression strange. "Yutian Zun is also a Hegemon Body."

The old Soul Ferryman pondered for a moment. "Losing his memory isn't the biggest issue, as long as he's not foolish. It's just... his mind seems a bit impaired. Have you ever seen someone weep bitterly over burning a chicken to death, all while eating it?"

Qin Mu tugged at the small mustache on his chin. "It does seem a bit impaired... Let's go see Earth Count first!"

The old Soul Ferryman nodded and called Yutian Zun. Yutian Zun, who had eaten half the chicken, approached, looking ashamed and carrying the other half of the chicken with his head bowed.

Qin Mu and the old Soul Ferryman exchanged helpless glances. The three boarded a small boat. The old Soul Ferryman waved his hand, and a dark vortex appeared. The small boat sailed into the vortex, which then shrank and vanished.

"Yutian Zun, why aren't you eating anymore?"

The old Soul Ferryman looked at him. "Are you sad because you burned a companion to death and then ate your friend?"

"I'm too full," Yutian Zun replied honestly. "I really can't eat any more right now. I want to save it for when I'm hungry again."

Qin Mu was dumbfounded, finding himself both amused and exasperated. He thought, "The Yutian Zun of old was so shrewd, but now he's utterly simple-minded. You Tianzun is going to have his hands full looking after this foolish big brother." He couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude.

"You Tianzun, back during the Dragon Han Celestial Court era, who won?" Qin Mu asked.

The old Soul Ferryman hesitated, then took off the mask on the back of his head and put it away. He shook his head. "I honestly don't know. Towards the end of the Dragon Han era, there were three Celestial Courts, each claiming to be the legitimate one. Who truly won is unknown. I've always remained in Youdu and rarely ventured outside. The struggle between the three Celestial Courts and the constant harvesting of souls was already a tremendous headache for me at the time. However..."

He paused, then continued, "Moon Tianzun once sought me out. She told me that the Celestial Alliance had been defeated, Emperor Yun was dead, and she was preparing to retire."

"Emperor Yun?"

Qin Mu asked, "Was that Yun Tianzun?"

The old Soul Ferryman nodded.

Qin Mu's expression dimmed. After a moment, he said hoarsely, "If he hadn't joined the Celestial Alliance, perhaps he wouldn't have died. It was my words that caused his demise, I..."

"It has nothing to do with you," the old Soul Ferryman interjected.

The old Soul Ferryman explained, "Yun Tianzun had that kind of disposition. Though revered as a Tianzun, he wasn't particularly talkative, but he possessed a kind and righteous heart. Moon Tianzun once mentioned that even before Ling Tianzun proposed forming the Celestial Alliance, Yun Tianzun was already preparing to gather benevolent and righteous individuals to consider the future of the acquired races. Yun Tianzun..."

He fell silent for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "He once impersonated Yutian Zun, and he also impersonated you and Qin Tianzun, acting in your names to ensure that humanity and other races retained a glimmer of hope during their most difficult times. In the Dragon Han era, many died; humanity and other races were on the verge of extinction, so he had no choice but to act that way..."

Qin Mu gazed blankly, lost in thought.

"Earth Count should know which Celestial Court won, right?" He suppressed his troubled thoughts and asked.

"Earth Count will not say," the old Soul Ferryman replied.

The old Soul Ferryman shook his head. "I once asked him, but he wouldn't say. After that dark period passed, Earth Count became much more withdrawn, only tending to his duties and rarely concerning himself with external affairs. I also wanted to know who the ultimate victor was, whether it was Hao Tianzun or the Ancient God Emperor, but I've never seen the true face of the person on the imperial throne."

Qin Mu was slightly taken aback. "You've never seen his true face?"

The old Soul Ferryman nodded. The small boat approached Earth Count, and Yutian Zun at the bow widened his mouth in astonishment, staring blankly at the incredibly massive Earth Count, utterly speechless.

"Never seen," the old Soul Ferryman stated, his expression calm and unperturbed. He continued unhurriedly, "Everyone says the Dragon Han era ended 450,000 years ago, followed by the Crimson Light era. Heh heh, little do they know the Dragon Han era never truly ended. The Dragon Han era has always been ongoing!"

Qin Mu's heart stirred.

The Dragon Han era has always been ongoing!

The Dragon Han Celestial Court, which even Earth Count was reluctant to speak of in detail, has always existed, like an immense shadow cast over all eras: Crimson Light, Sovereign Emperor, Founding Emperor, and even the current Yankang!

"That Celestial Court holds many unfathomable mysteries," the old Soul Ferryman continued.

The old Soul Ferryman said, "The ancient gods of the Ancient God Celestial Court were also in that Celestial Court, and so were the deities among the acquired beings and demigods. I can't figure out who the ultimate victor was... Let's go see Earth Count now."

The paper boat sailed into the third eye on Earth Count's brow. The old Soul Ferryman moored the boat and entered the sacred hall within the eye.

Inside the sacred hall, Earth Count, whose form was now countless times smaller, lowered his head and observed Yutian Zun, who was holding half a chicken. Yutian Zun was apprehensive under his gaze, but after a moment, he gathered his courage and held the half-chicken over his head. "Do you want some? You look hungry too..."

Earth Count's eyes flickered. He shook his head and sighed, "How pitiful. The Yutian Zun of old has actually become like this. Did you bring him here to seek out that wisp of his soul that went missing?"

Qin Mu nodded and bowed. "We implore Earth Count to use your power to find the whereabouts of that soul fragment!"

"I blessed him back then," Earth Count replied. "Even if you didn't ask, I would still help him search."

Earth Count opened the eye on his brow. The third eye projected a shimmering light curtain. He said in a deep voice, "When I observed his physical body, I already saw his residual soul traversing countless worlds, passing through myriad great realms in a flash."

Yutian Zun stood awkwardly within the light curtain. Outside the curtain, Qin Mu and the old Soul Ferryman immediately saw worlds flashing by rapidly: majestic green mountains, vast deserts, all vanishing in an instant, followed by countless stars also passing away.

A moment later, suddenly, the light curtain revealed an incredibly grand and magnificent Celestial Palace, towering and imposing gods, followed by a Celestial Court bathed in eternal daylight.

Within the light curtain, palace after palace passed through Yutian Zun's body with increasing speed. Suddenly, the image's flickering pace gradually slowed, becoming slower and slower, finally settling in front of a palace gate.

The image passed through the gate, through pavilions and buildings, then through several more gates, entering an incredible space. Then the image cut out.

Earth Count said, "His residual soul is suppressed in the Cloister Hall of Scented Offerings in the Celestial Court. The seals within the hall are too strong, blocking my sight."

Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "As long as we know where it is, there's hope."

The old Soul Ferryman's expression was grave, his brows deeply furrowed, clearly indicating that the Cloister Hall of Scented Offerings was not as simple as Qin Mu imagined.

"The Cloister Hall of Scented Offerings is one of the Seventy-two Treasure Halls of the Celestial Court, on par with the Celestial Palace itself," Earth Count stated calmly. "Not to mention you, even ordinary Numinous Sky Realm experts cannot infiltrate it."

Qin Mu chuckled, "There's always a way in."

Earth Count asked, "Do you know how to enter the Celestial Court? Do you know its location?"

Qin Mu was stunned.

He truly didn't know. People spoke of the Celestial Court outside the domain, but even the Woodcutter Sage couldn't say where exactly this celestial court was located.

The Woodcutter Sage never knew who the enemies of the Founding Emperor era truly were.

And the Scarlet Emperor's consciousness within the Qin character continent also didn't know who the enemies of the Crimson Light era were.

Earth Count looked at him and said, "You should leave for now. I have something to discuss with the Prefectural Lord."

Qin Mu stepped out of the sacred hall, then peeked back in, but suddenly the hall's entrance closed, shutting him out.

"How stingy, and so secretive!" Qin Mu grumbled indignantly, but his gaze involuntarily fell upon the old Soul Ferryman's small paper boat.

Inside the sacred hall, Earth Count looked at the old Soul Ferryman and said, "His residual soul cannot be retrieved for now. What do you intend to do with him?"

The old Soul Ferryman was silent for a moment, then said, "He is my second kin. I must protect him."

"He is a blank slate right now," Earth Count observed. "And he's a foolish blank slate. If he stays with you, he'll become as reclusive as you are. If he ventures out of Youdu, he'll suffer a terrible death. Prefectural Lord, the reason you've survived all these years is because you've always remained in Youdu. If you were to leave, you would have died long ago. If he follows you, he'll only meet the same fate."

The old Soul Ferryman silently watched Yutian Zun discreetly lick the grease from his fingers, momentarily speechless. After a while, he looked up and said, "I understand now. I'm indeed not suitable to take care of him. I want to entrust him to Mu Tianzun."

Earth Count said, "Entrust him to Qin Mu? Are you not afraid he'll lead Yutian Zun astray?"

"But Yutian Zun won't die," the old Soul Ferryman countered.

The old Soul Ferryman said, "My current concern is that Mu Tianzun won't be willing to take him. While he's been very enthusiastic about treating Yutian Zun and passionate about avenging him, he definitely won't agree to actually taking care of him."

Earth Count revealed a slight smile. "He'll have no choice. Right now, he's riding your small boat to the deepest part of Youdu, secretly sneaking off to visit his mother. He's about to make a huge mistake, and with that leverage, he'll have no choice but to take Yutian Zun, this burden, with him."

The old Soul Ferryman was stunned, then praised, "Earth Count is truly sagacious."