Chapter 779: What Rank in the World?

The young scholar stopped his donkey, looking them over with a mischievous and devil-may-care expression. He said, "I plan to sneak in and see the master of this place. Where are you gentlemen headed?"

Qin Mu laughed. "We also plan to sneak in and see what's going on. Since we have the same goal, why don't we go together?"

The young scholar thought for a moment, then said to the donkey, "Lu Zheng, how about having two scapegoats with us?"

The donkey curled its lip and said, "Hui."

The scholar chuckled. "Carrot says it's good, so let's go together."

"Scapegoats?" Qin Mu was alerted and politely asked, "Sir, what's the difference between being a scapegoat, taking the blame, and having dirt thrown at you?"

The young scholar laughed heartily. "No difference."

Qin Mu burst into laughter and looked towards the ancient battlefield ahead. This ancient battlefield was shrouded in a vast mist. Visible through the mist were scattered architectural ruins, towering city walls, magnificent palaces, and grand archways and gates.

There were footprints of demigods on the ground. Following these footprints would lead them to Earth Mother Yuanjun.

Dragon Qilin and Water Qilin walked forward, accompanying the donkey. Water Qilin glanced at the donkey and said disdainfully, "This little beast is so stupid. It just keeps walking forward with a carrot dangling in front of it, completely unaware that it will never get to eat the carrot."

The donkey glanced at him, a look of disdain on its face.

Water Qilin thought to himself, "I made a pact with the little Earth Overlord not to eat Old Master Lan, but I can eat a donkey! However, Dragon Qilin's master is a bit tricky. He's enjoying his conversation with that scholar, so if I eat the donkey, he'll most likely get angry and make me into dinner."

Qin Mu had been observing the young scholar. The more he looked, the more suspicious he became. However, his gaze fell on the scholar's chest, but he couldn't see any bulge, so he wasn't entirely sure.

The scholar noticed his gaze and laughed, "Lu Zheng, this young man has shifty eyes; he even stares at men's chests."

Qin Mu's face turned red. The donkey laughed, "Hee-haw, hee-haw—"

Qin Mu tentatively asked, "Sis... what do you call yourself, Sir?"

The scholar laughed. "Why must strangers be acquainted when they meet? Qin Mu, Qin Fengqing, have I asked your name? I haven't asked you, so why do you ask me?"

Qin Mu became even more suspicious and said, "You know my name, but I don't know yours; that's a bit unfair. How do you know I'm Qin Mu?"

"Grandmaster Qin Mu of the Heavenly Saint Cult is dashing and erudite; who doesn't know him?" The scholar said, "As for an unknown nobody like me, Grandmaster Qin wouldn't know."

Qin Mu couldn't find out his name, so he could only look at the donkey and ask, "Why is this Brother Lu called Lu Zheng?"

The scholar said, "He's a donkey; his talk is unpleasant, and he likes to argue with people, which is why he has the character 'Zheng' in his name."

Qin Mu's eyes flickered, and he said, "I also know an ox named Niu Sanduo, and a tiger called Tiger Venerable."

The donkey curled its lip again, disdainfully saying, "Huihui."

Qin Mu's face darkened, and he thought to himself, "I don't understand donkey language; I haven't learned it, so I don't know what it's saying. But this master and servant pair have suspicious origins. Could it be the Scholar Heavenly Master?"

They walked into the vast, mist-shrouded ancient battlefield. Auspicious light shimmered within the mist. The architecture here was ancient, and the patterns on the buildings were quite peculiar. Qin Mu asked Dragon Qilin to stop, then he examined the patterns on the crumbling walls, took out paper and brush, and copied the intricate designs.

The scholar watched him draw and laughed, "Grandmaster Qin is truly versatile, possessing considerable skill in calligraphy and painting."

Qin Mu's face flushed slightly, and he humbly said, "I wouldn't dare boast about my skills in calligraphy and painting; I'm merely second best in the world. The best in the world is my Grandpa Deaf. His calligraphy and painting have entered the Dao, with a distinction between inner and outer worlds."

The scholar was surprised and praised, "His calligraphy and painting have reached the realm of creating things from nothing? And with a distinction between inner and outer, his achievements are indeed extraordinary. However, his claim of being the best in the world has some exaggeration, and your claim of being second best also has some exaggeration."

Qin Mu laughed, "Then who is the best in the world?"

The scholar said, "I also have considerable research into the art of calligraphy and painting. When the art of calligraphy and painting is cultivated to a profound realm, it becomes creation, and creation is the divine ability of genesis. I dare not say anything else, but when it comes to the divine ability of genesis, no one surpasses me."

Qin Mu handed over the brush in his hand and said, "Dare I ask you to draw something, Sir?"

The scholar shook his head and said, "I don't usually draw; I only draw when it's needed."

Qin Mu looked up at the towering gate that reached into the clouds and said, "Another South Heaven Gate... but it's broken! I'll draw a South Heaven Gate!"

With a flick of his brush, a large sheet of paper stood vertically in the air. Qin Mu flipped his palm, holding four brushes between the fingers of his left hand, while his right hand moved to draw a circle. Ink spontaneously formed, continuously swirling in the air.

Qin Mu began to draw, his brush strokes agile and dynamic. Countless details flowed from his brush tip, transforming into the patterns on the South Heaven Gate.

Qin Mu's brush moved as if flying. The brush tip even delved into the paper's interior, as if there was another universe, another world within. Although this South Heaven Gate was drawn on paper, there seemed to be a vast world, a boundless space, within the paper itself.

His brush transformed into a divine artifact that created all things. It constructed the infinite details of the South Heaven Gate, becoming increasingly intricate.

Later, the four brushes flew into the paper's interior, drawing within the paper, creating boundless wonders that were beyond description.

After a long while, the South Heaven Gate was complete.

Qin Mu put away his brush and ink, took the painting from the air, and shook it vigorously. Instantly, a South Heaven Gate flew out from the painting and landed with a crash!

This South Heaven Gate was ten thousand zhang tall, magnificent and extraordinary. It fully displayed the grandeur of the ancient Heavenly God Court, standing tall in this ancient battlefield, symbolizing the Heavenly Emperor's majesty.

Qin Mu looked at the scholar and laughed, "How is my art of creation?"

The scholar praised him repeatedly, saying, "You haven't even entered the Dao yet, and you possess such accomplishment. You can barely be considered the third best in the world. If you could surpass your Grandpa Deaf, you'd barely be second. If you could abandon paper and brush, not being confined by them, then you would firmly secure the second position. You are currently at the level of 'drawing something to look like something,' still a distance from the first."

Qin Mu asked for guidance, "Then what level is considered the first?"

"The Dao of painting has three levels. 'Drawing something to look like something' is the first level. 'Drawing something to be something' is the second level." The scholar said, "Not drawing but following the Dao, with no ink yet heaven and earth arise on their own – that is the third level."

As they spoke, the South Heaven Gate Qin Mu had drawn suddenly collapsed, turning into ink that flowed down from the air.

"This is the first level, 'drawing something to look like something,' which cannot last." The scholar said, "If you could achieve 'drawing something to be something,' making the South Heaven Gate stand permanently, transforming it into reality through void creation, that would be the second level."

Qin Mu felt admiration welling up in his heart and said, "Grandpa Deaf never mentioned these things; perhaps he hasn't fully grasped the third level of the Dao of painting either. Thank you for your guidance, Sir, I've learned a lot!"

Water Qilin watched, then suspiciously said to Dragon Qilin, "This scholar doesn't look like a scholar at all; he's more like a slick-tongued charlatan. Your master is completely stunned and bewildered. If I had known he was so easily fooled, why would I have resorted to force back then? I could've tricked your master into handing over even his underwear and still have him be grateful to me!"

Dragon Qilin curled his upper lip and dismissively said, "Huihui."

"Don't you dare not believe me, I'm the top-tier strategist of our Qilin divine race!"

Qin Mu and the others continued their journey. Suddenly, ahead, a blade light tore through the mist. The blade light streaked across the sky, then split with a clang, transforming into countless blade lights, neatly arrayed, descending in a peculiar blade formation.

A roar came, followed by a giant figure collapsing within the mist.

The sky-filling blade lights suddenly retracted. They landed behind a one-armed man in the mist, vanishing into his scabbard.

Qin Mu's heart skipped a beat as he saw the perfectly orderly blade lights. "This blade technique... it looks familiar..."

The one-armed figure's clothes fluttered as he strode deeper into the mist. Many figures followed him, entering the mist together, and soon disappeared from view.

"One-armed Divine Blade, the foremost divine blade of the Outer Heaven Court!" The scholar's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "That's Luo Shenblade of the Lingxiu Army of the Outer Heaven Court! It's said that in his youth, he once encountered the Hegemon Body of the Emperor Supremacy era and had an arm severed by the Emperor Supremacy Hegemon Body's incredibly miraculous sword technique. After this painful experience, Luo Shenblade reflected deeply and entered the Dao with his one-armed blade technique, practicing diligently for tens of thousands of years. He once entered the God Slaying Platform of the Heavenly Court and fought against the God Slaying Profound Blade without defeat, making him the undisputed foremost divine blade of the Heavenly Court! I can't believe he's here too! Those youths accompanying him must be the Lingxiu Army."

Yu Tianzun exclaimed excitedly, "Emperor Supremacy Hegemon Body? How formidable! Brother Mu, you're also a Hegemon Body, you're also very powerful!"

The scholar glanced at Qin Mu and shook his head, saying, "For the Emperor Supremacy Hegemon Body to sever Luo Shenblade's arm with a single sword move, how utterly astonishing and peerless is that? Qin Hegemon Body is still far from that."

Qin Mu's eyelid twitched, and he thought to himself, "The Emperor Supremacy Hegemon Body who severed his arm is right beside you, but I won't say anything. Luo Wushuang's divine blade is indeed powerful, countless times stronger than it was back then. Even disregarding cultivation level, I think it would be very difficult for me to overcome his divine blade."

"However, Luo Shenblade has a bad habit: his disciples must all sever an arm, otherwise they cannot learn his blade technique." The scholar laughed, "That's why the Heavenly Court youths in the Lingxiu Army often sever an arm themselves."

Qin Mu thought of Zhe Huali and mused, "Zhe Huali also almost severed an arm, but under my influence, he still stepped out of Luo Wushuang's shadow and forged his own blade Dao! Luo Wushuang has appeared. I heard he has a friendship with Furi Luo. I wonder if he has gone to see Furi Luo? If he went to see Furi Luo, then Furi Luo might have already rebelled... If Zhe Huali is with Luo Wushuang, then Furi Luo must have rebelled!"

They arrived at the spot where Luo Wushuang had just demonstrated his blade technique. They saw that the one Luo Wushuang had slain was a demigod, with a robust physique, a divine head in the form of a dragon, a human body, and eight arms. Its vital essence had not yet dissipated, emanating terrifying divine power!

"A demigod of the God Slaying Platform realm!" The scholar examined the blade marks and praised, "Excellent blade technique! Luo Shenblade used his Jade Capital realm cultivation to slay this demigod Dragon King."

Qin Mu meticulously examined the blade marks, carefully speculating on the extent of Luo Wushuang's blade technique.

The scholar asked curiously, "Does Grandmaster Qin also research blade techniques?"

Qin Mu humbly replied, "I wouldn't dare claim that. I'm merely the world's... well, third or fourth best."

The scholar smiled, fanning himself with a feather fan, and said, "Third or fourth? Isn't Grandmaster Qin exaggerating a bit? I heard there's a divine being in Kaihuang Heavenly Court named Tian Shu, skilled in blade techniques. His Imperial Palace Divine Blade can sever the horns of Earth Overlord. How do you compare to him, Grandmaster Qin?"

Qin Mu's face darkened, and he shook his head, saying, "Not as good as him."

The scholar said, "I heard there's a Heavenly Blade in Yankang who wields his blade towards the heavens, entering the Dao with his blade, and created the Nine Heavenly Blade Techniques. He can slay gods and devils even in the Divine Bridge realm. How do you compare to him, Grandmaster Qin?"

"Not as good." Qin Mu's face grew even darker.

The scholar laughed, "Luo Wushuang has a disciple named Zhe Huali, who entered the Dao with his blade and created a blade technique. How does Grandmaster Qin's blade technique compare to his?"

"Not as good!" Qin Mu said indignantly.

"Then you're not as good as me either." The scholar laughed, "I also entered the Dao with my blade. Although I don't possess the talent of Heavenly Blade to create nine techniques, I have created seven."

Qin Mu's hand trembled. He grabbed the small mustache on his chin and fiercely plucked out four or five hairs.

The scholar just smiled without speaking.

They continued forward. They then saw demon gods of the demon race also arriving in the mist. Each demon god exuded a terrifying aura. Behind them, towering, mountain-like colossal beasts were led, appearing and disappearing in the mist, a truly frightening sight.

Suddenly, the clang of swords came from ahead. Blade lights filled the sky. Within the blade lights, sword lights flashed, clashing with the blade lights.

Qin Mu was somewhat stunned when he saw the sword technique.

That sword technique was too familiar; it was *his* sword technique!

"White Dragon Sword Dance! Emperor Supremacy Sword God!" The scholar's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "The Emperor Supremacy Sword God is a woman, a sworn enemy of Luo Wushuang. I can't believe she's here too! It's said that when the Emperor Supremacy era collapsed, the Emperor Supremacy Sword God was just a young girl, with very low cultivation and strength, but she and the Emperor Supremacy Hegemon Body carved a bloody path through the darkness! The Emperor Supremacy Hegemon Body disappeared, but she inherited his sword technique and forged her own path with it. During the dark years after the end of the Emperor Supremacy era, her sword technique shone brightly for several centuries, truly a heroine among women! Grandmaster Qin." He laughed, "How good is your sword technique in the world?"