Chapter 786: The Grandeur

"Red Emperor Qi Xiayu again!"

Qin Mu's expression was strange. Just how many people had Red Emperor Qi Xiayu betrayed? Her lover, Sakra King Buddha Li Youran, had a tangled relationship with her; Bai Qu'er was chasing her down for answers; and now Feng Qiuyun of the Phoenix Clan, under the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch, also wanted to kill her. As soon as Red Emperor Qi Xiayu appeared, cries of "kill her" and "strike her down" erupted everywhere.

"What's strange, though," Qin Mu mused, "is that Bai Qu'er is pursuing Qi Xiayu because Qi Xiayu betrayed the High Emperor Heaven Bai Qu'er belonged to. Feng Qiuyun says Qi Xiayu betrayed the Phoenix Clan, which is affiliated with the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch. And the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch also supported a High Emperor Heaven, one with fifteen High Emperors." Qin Mu fell into thought: "Are these two High Emperor Heavens the same? Bai Qu'er has divine dragon blood, and dragons are also demigods. Could she also be a subordinate of the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch? It doesn't seem quite right..."

Bai Qu'er had once told Qin Mu that there was a truly profound saying from the High Emperor: "Human life is paramount!"

Qin Mu didn't know much about the High Emperor Heaven supported by the Earth Mother, but he knew that its core strength consisted mostly of demigods. Judging by the behavior and words of these demigods, they didn't value human life much; one could even say they were extremely dismissive or even hostile towards humanity. For instance, when Water Qilin revived and saw Qin Mu, Yu Tianzun, and Sakra King Buddha, it clamored about eating them to fill its belly, claiming they were inferior beings. A small glimpse revealed the whole picture: in the High Emperor Heaven supported by the Earth Mother, the status of humans was extremely lowly.

However, in the Heaven Bai Qu'er belonged to, there was a tradition that "human life is paramount." Human lives, even the lives of common people, were extremely important, so much so that deities were required to protect them with their own lives! This was also what touched Qin Mu the most; before he left, he inscribed this very saying on the cliff.

"So that means," Qin Mu deduced, "Red Emperor Qi Xiayu originated from the Phoenix Clan under the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch, then betrayed the Phoenix Clan to join the Heaven Bai Qu'er belonged to. After killing the former Red Emperor, she was captured and then defected to the Outer Heavens." Qin Mu blinked: "During the Kaihuang Era, she got involved with Sakra King Li Youran, and then betrayed Li Youran too. This Sister Qi Xiayu's way of handling things seems to have some issues... But the key issue isn't with her, it's with the High Emperor Heaven Bai Qu'er belonged to!"

This High Emperor Heaven, with its "human life is paramount" ideal, could be said to be the cornerstone of the Woodcutter Saint's reforms during the Kaihuang Era! Moreover, this ideal influenced the Yankang Era. The Sagely Way upheld by the Yankang nation, which centered on the daily lives of the people, was compiled by Senior Disciple Wei Suifeng from the Woodcutter's teachings, passed down by the Young Ancestor to the Yankang Imperial Preceptor, becoming the very foundation of Yankang. The ideals of these three eras could be described as having a continuous lineage and constantly developing.

"Let's leave quickly!" Feng Qiuyun urged, "So that little hussy doesn't get away!"

Qin Mu couldn't help but say, "Sister Qiuyun, Jade Capital City has almost all the demigods from the Yuan World gathered there, along with the fake Earth Mother and various other gods and devils. There are strong individuals everywhere. If we rush in so recklessly, we'll be killed by other powerful figures before the Red Emperor even makes a move."

Feng Qiuyun shook her head, saying, "That Earth Mother is an impostor. As soon as I expose her identity, the demigods will return to my side, and then, by combining the power of many demigods, executing that traitor Qi Xiayu will be child's play!"

Qin Mu chuckled, "Sister, you're thinking too simply. If you rush in, the fake Earth Mother will definitely incite the demigods to attack you, making you the target of all. You'll likely be dealt with before you even see Qi Xiayu."

Feng Qiuyun stopped, tilting her head. "Do you have a better idea?"

Qin Mu asked, "Sister, do you have any tokens from the Earth Mother? Something that can prove your identity and the Earth Mother's identity?"

Feng Qiuyun sneered, "The Earth Mother is the Earth Mother. Does she need to prove her identity? What kind of twisted logic is that?"

Qin Mu calmly replied, "If you don't have a token to prove the Earth Mother is the Earth Mother, how will you argue that the other party is a fake? Those demigods were summoned by the impostor, who surely has a token. Without one, how will you gain the trust of those demigods?"

Feng Qiuyun frowned, then after a moment, said, "What should we do?"

Qin Mu smiled slightly, "Since Sister has decided to go to Jade Capital City and confront the fake Earth Mother, naturally the grander our entrance, the better. Does the Earth Mother have any carriage that symbolizes her status?"

Feng Qiuyun replied, "Yes. But it's too elaborate; it requires eight dragons and eight phoenixes to pull it. And summoning the carriage would likely alert the Earth Mother, which would complicate things. The Earth Mother wouldn't agree to me going to kill that hussy Qi."

Qin Mu thought for a moment, then asked, "Does the Earth Mother have any other elaborate or ornate items?"

Feng Qiuyun's eyes lit up, and she chuckled, "The Earth Mother once forged a wooden sword to suppress all deities in the heavens. It's called the Primordial Monarch's Kunyuan Sword. That sword is right here in the temple, I'll go get it!"

She excitedly walked into the main hall of the dilapidated temple. Qin Mu followed her, watching as Feng Qiuyun respectfully bowed to the statue of the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch. Then, she went behind the statue, where a wooden sword hung on the wall.

Qin Mu was dumbfounded. He tentatively asked, "This wooden sword is the Primordial Monarch's Kunyuan Sword that suppresses all heavens? And it's just hanging here?"

Feng Qiuyun nodded and said, "Yes, this is the sword. It usually just hangs here."

Qin Mu's expression was peculiar as he glanced at other parts of the dilapidated temple, his gaze falling on items like the altar, shrine, incense burner, incense tripod, screen, and prayer mats. He wondered if the two large bronze bells hanging under the eaves were also valuable items.

Just as he thought this, Feng Qiuyun urged them to go to Jade Capital City. Qin Mu smiled faintly, "Sister, what is your status before the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch?"

Feng Qiuyun hesitated, then said with some embarrassment, "My Phoenix Clan originally lived on the Primordial Tree. We resided under her eaves, protected by the Earth Mother. So, normally, I would pull the Earth Mother's imperial carriage. I'm one of the Eight Phoenixes who pull her carriage. Qi Xiayu was also one of the Eight Phoenixes before she defected."

Qin Mu pondered, "You're a carriage-puller, and Sister Yan is a maid. Surely some demigods will recognize you and suspect your identities. My younger brother's cultivation is low, and Dragon Qilin and Water Qilin are too clumsy to be useful. So, I'll have to humble myself and become a disciple of the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch."

Feng Qiuyun was stunned, not quite grasping his meaning.

Qin Mu sighed, saying, "I'll reluctantly go as the Earth Mother's envoy and disciple to quell this rebellion. You two will be my personal attendants. So, Sister Qiuyun, I'll trouble you to hold the Primordial Monarch's Kunyuan Sword for me. Sister Yan and little brother Lan still have empty hands. Are there any other treasures? Otherwise, it will look too shabby and our ruse will be discovered."

Feng Qiuyun said, "Wait a moment, there's also a horsetail whisk. It was refined by the Earth Mother using the roots of the Primordial Tree and the great rivers, and it's called the Hunyuan Sword. The other item is the Mountain River Cauldron, which the Earth Mother used to suppress mountain and river earthquakes. I'll go get them!"

She rummaged under the altar, pulled out a horsetail whisk from a pile of miscellaneous items, then emptied the ashes from the incense tripod, cleaned it, and said, "It can still be used." Qin Mu's heart twitched. This small, dilapidated temple actually had so many incredible items; it was frightening!

"Yan'er, you take the whisk." Feng Qiuyun handed the whisk to Gongsun Yan, saying, "This whisk is very heavy. When activated with primordial qi, each strand of the whisk will transform into a sword light composed of mountains and rivers. It's quite dangerous to control, so be careful. Yu Tianzun, you..." She looked at the dazed Yu Tianzun and shook her head, "You'd better not carry the cauldron. I'll place it in the halo behind your head." She lifted the Mountain River Cauldron. The large cauldron flew up, floated into the halo behind Yu Tianzun's head, bobbing unstably, then she looked at Qin Mu and said, "Can we leave now?"

Qin Mu looked troubled and said, "I don't have any treasures on me yet. It's a bit shabby..."

Feng Qiuyun blinked, "We are all your attendants, and there's a young servant too. All the treasures we're carrying are for your use. If you personally carry the treasures, wouldn't that undermine your authority?"

Qin Mu gave a dry chuckle, his expression a little grim. "That's true. But the display isn't grand enough yet. If only we had the Earth Mother's imperial carriage..."

Feng Qiuyun scoffed, "That would be the Earth Mother herself traveling! The display is grand enough now. Let's hurry, so that little hussy doesn't get away! She's incredibly fast!"

Qin Mu glanced back at the large bells hanging under the eaves of the hall, then at the screen, incense burner, and prayer mats, regretting silently. He said, "Give me a little more time, and I could build an imperial carriage. Fatty Dragon and Ah Shui could pull it, little brother Lan could sit on the shafts with a small whip, and the two sisters could lean on my legs, one on each side, while I sit on the throne behind the curtain..."

Feng Qiuyun urged, "After we deal with that hussy and revive the Earth Mother, you can have your grand display once, alright? There's no time now, let's hurry!"

Qin Mu glanced at Dragon Qilin. Dragon Qilin understood, rolled on the spot, and transformed into a forty-zhang long beast. Qin Mu pinched Yu Tianzun's face, changing his appearance to resemble a young servant. He took out his sword pellet. The sword pellet flowed and transformed into a collar with a rope. He made Water Qilin transform into a demigod with a human body and a qilin head, leading the way by the rope.

Gongsun Yan and Feng Qiuyun climbed onto Dragon Qilin's head. Qin Mu sat down, had Yu Tianzun stand behind him, then pulled Gongsun Yan to lean on his shoulder. He also intended to pull Feng Qiuyun, but Feng Qiuyun's phoenix eyes widened, and she made to draw her wooden sword. Qin Mu had to give up that idea and said, "Fatty Dragon, let's go. We'll go meet this fake Earth Mother."

Dragon Qilin quickly conjured clouds underfoot, riding them. Water Qilin led him forward by the rope, heading towards Jade Capital City.

Qin Mu wore a faint smile, gazing ahead, thinking to himself: "Sister Qiuyun was sent by the Earth Mother Primordial Monarch to monitor me, to prevent me from escaping. If Qi Xiayu kills Sister Qiuyun, then I can take all these treasures and joyfully slip away!" The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, his faint smile deepening. "Qi Xiayu is a Nine-Headed Phoenix, with nine heads, and she's at the Emperor's Throne realm. Her power is unfathomable; her zither music alone made Sakra King Buddha vomit blood continuously. Even if Feng Qiuyun has the Primordial Monarch's Kunyuan Sword, she's definitely just delivering herself to Qi Xiayu. I can also take the opportunity to escape this place."

He held Gongsun Yan's small hand, a smile on his face, making the girl beside him's heart flutter wildly, constantly stealing glances at him. Qin Mu, however, was completely oblivious to the girl's unusual behavior beside him. He continued to draw the energy of the Earth Element Dao Fruit into Gongsun Yan, thinking: "The Scholar is also in Jade Capital City; she can help me dissolve this Earth Mother's blessing. Coupled with Sister Yan absorbing the Earth Element Dao Fruit's energy, I can completely escape the Earth Mother's surveillance."

Gongsun Yan absorbed the Earth Element Dao Fruit's energy even faster than him, but what made Qin Mu a bit anxious was that despite their continuous absorption, the energy within the Dao Fruit didn't seem to diminish. "I can't absorb the Earth Element Dao Fruit completely in a short time, so I'll just have to 'abduct' Sister Yan." Qin Mu looked at the girl beside him, showing an innocent and sunny smile.

Gongsun Yan's face turned red with shyness. She turned her head, staring at the Dragon Qilin's mane, her heart in a panic: "If he suddenly leans in for a kiss, what should I do? Should I struggle and resist, or pretend to be angry? Or should I let him kiss me first, and then slap him?" Qin Mu made no move. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a little disappointed, thinking, "So he's even shyer than me..."

"Once I 'abduct' Sister Yan, I can use her primordial spirit to drain the Earth Element Dao Fruit's energy dry!" Qin Mu's eyebrow twitched; he almost became visibly elated. "I can also get my hands on the Primordial Monarch's Kunyuan Sword, the Mountain River Cauldron, and the Hunyuan Sword. Absolutely perfect... Hmm, it's a shame I couldn't get the Earth Mother's imperial carriage..."

Ahead, lay Jade Capital City. Water Qilin led Dragon Qilin into the city.

***

The anniversary review event for the novel will conclude on the 28th. The list of winners will then be announced on Zhaizhu's official WeChat account and in the review section. Please follow for updates.

Recently, the updated chapters have often been 3500 or 4000 characters long, requiring more time to write, which has led to some slight delays. If readers find this inconvenient, I can return to 3000-character chapters, allowing me to update punctually without needing a few extra minutes. Alternatively, I could write 2000-character chapters and update three times a day. While this would make it *seem* like more frequent updates, it would actually contain less content than the usual two chapters.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.