Chapter 795: The Death of the Heavenly Emperor

Heavenly Duke's clone and the Lava Earth Count remained silent. To the side, Old Buddha and the Red Emperor sat by the stone table, leisurely drinking tea, occasionally glancing over with a smile.

The Great Sun Star Lord sat obediently to the side, holding his teacup with his head bowed. Small flames occasionally spurted from his bird-like beak as he muttered, "I don't know anything, don't ask me. I died early, and it was because I knew too much and got shot in the back..."

The white-bearded old man coughed repeatedly, glancing at Earth Count, then at Qin Mu. Finally, unable to resist, he said, "Qin family boy, Earth Count and I need to discuss something first."

Qin Mu nodded gently.

Heavenly Duke and Earth Count walked away from them, whispering, "Fellow Daoist, what should we do now?"

Earth Count replied, "You are widely experienced and knowledgeable; you should speak."

Heavenly Duke said, "All dead people eventually go to your realm, so you know the most."

Earth Count remained silent.

Heavenly Duke sighed helplessly and said, "That girl, Yan Qiling, just now made it clear, telling this kid to be wary of us and sow discord. If we don't reveal some secrets, this kid will definitely hold a grudge against us."

Earth Count grumbled, "I don't know much."

Heavenly Duke was so angry he laughed. "You've done it all, yet you claim not to know much? Do you believe I'll expose everything you've done? In this current era, the Primordial Realm has been unsealed, and even the true and false Earth Mothers have emerged. The Heavenly Alliance, Heavenly Court, and even ancient Heavenly Emperors are popping out one after another. It's clear they want to plunge the world into chaos and then net the fish! Do you think our Youdu and Xuandu can be protected?"

Earth Count was silent for a moment, then said, "I agree to tell him some secrets, but we cannot reveal everything that involves us."

Heavenly Duke finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Will you speak, or will I?"

"My lips are sealed; I will speak," Earth Count said.

The two returned, and Qin Mu watched them expectantly.

Old Buddha and the Red Emperor by the stone table also pricked up their ears, full of anticipation.

The Great Sun Star Lord originally didn't dare to listen and intended to leave, but he was truly curious, so he braced himself and stayed. He thought to himself, "I'm already completely dead, what am I afraid of?"

In the distance, the big-headed baby Qin Fengqing tiptoed out of the Qin character mountain range. His ears suddenly became incredibly large, standing taller than the mountaintops, as he listened to them speak.

Heavenly Duke coughed but said nothing, looking at the Lava Earth Count. The Lava Earth Count was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, slowly saying, "The Heavenly Emperor of the Dragon Han Heavenly Court is indeed dead."

Qin Mu's heart pounded, and he looked at him expectantly.

The big-headed baby's voice came from afar, crying out, "Great Earth Count, where can I eat the Heavenly Emperor's soul? Did you hide it? I knew you were still hiding a lot of good stuff!"

Earth Count saw everyone's expectant gazes, hesitated for a moment, then said, "That's all. Heavenly Duke, my lips are sealed. I don't know what else to say for fear they'll trick me into revealing more. You do it instead."

Qin Mu was suspicious and looked expectantly at the white-bearded old man.

Heavenly Duke was so exasperated he laughed. "You're not tight-lipped; you just want me to speak! Fine, if I must, I must! The Heavenly Emperor of the Dragon Han Heavenly Court was murdered when he reincarnated to marry a woman!"

Old Buddha spat a mouthful of tea onto the Great Sun Star Lord's face. The Great Sun Star Lord was stunned and didn't bother wiping the liquid from his face. He was originally a mass of primordial spirit, incredibly hot, and the tea sizzled and evaporated on his face, turning into a plume of rising white mist.

The Red Emperor's three thinking heads all widened their eyes together, looking somewhat confused.

Qin Mu stammered, "The Heavenly Emperor died when he reincarnated to marry a woman? Was it the Empress's sister?"

"No."

Heavenly Duke sighed and said, "His Majesty was wise and mighty, and had extraordinary strategies. I, Earth Count, and Earth Mother, none of us could contend with him. He had a firm grasp on all our weaknesses. As the first life in the universe, his abilities were great and his methods exceptional; I admired him utterly. However, he had only one weakness, which was lust."

Earth Count coughed.

Heavenly Duke said discontentedly, "This can be said, it doesn't matter. Moreover, Cult Master Qin was also present when the Heavenly Court was established and knows some inside information. He should be able to discern His Majesty's character."

Qin Mu's expression was strange as he said, "I know the Heavenly Emperor reincarnated once to be with the Empress's sister, and it was because of that reincarnation that Hao Heavenly Venerable came into being. I don't know what happened after that."

Heavenly Duke continued, "Later, with the death of Yu Heavenly Venerable, things became very tumultuous. The Post-celestial races were enraged and clamored to execute Hao Heavenly Venerable. Several other Heavenly Venerables also planned to assassinate Hao Heavenly Venerable. To protect Hao Heavenly Venerable, the Heavenly Emperor formally married that consort, finally achieving his desire. Hao Heavenly Venerable thus became an Imperial Son, and no one dared to touch him again."

Qin Mu's eyes widened, and he cried out, "The Heavenly Emperor married the Empress's sister?"

Earth Count coughed heavily.

"It's fine, it's fine, this can also be said. Don't keep coughing and interrupting me."

Heavenly Duke said, "People often say that ancient gods are selfless, but that statement is wrong. Ancient gods are not selfless; rather, the Great Dao that gave birth to ancient gods is selfless. Therefore, ancient gods often follow the Dao, acting according to its guidance. Ancient gods actually have selfish desires. For example, many ancient gods, to explore how to break free from the shackles of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, have attempted reincarnation and had children. Some ancient gods, for a fleeting moment, had many children with Post-celestial beings, forming demigod races. And some demigods were born from the union of ancient gods with other ancient gods..."

Earth Count coughed repeatedly, reminding him, "Fellow Daoist, why are you saying all this? It damages the image of ancient gods. You can just get straight to the point."

Heavenly Duke didn't mind, saying, "Ever since I came to this seal, I've been beaten up by the Youdu God Son every day. My image is long gone. It doesn't hurt to talk about it. Moreover, this relates to what I'm going to say later. If I don't explain it clearly, this kid will ask again, and it will still come out eventually."

The Lava Earth Count grumbled, "Have some sense of propriety; don't always act like the Great Sun Star Lord."

The Great Sun Star Lord quickly nodded, saying, "I didn't know my mouth was so big until I got shot in the back with an arrow..."

Heavenly Duke continued, "His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor was very cunning; we ancient gods couldn't contend with him. In the early years of the Dragon Han era, when the Heavenly Court was established, we ancient gods were the leaders and nominated him to be the Heavenly Emperor. We were genuinely convinced when he became the Heavenly Emperor. The idea at the time was that Post-celestial beings and demigods were growing in number, and there needed to be rules to restrict these beings to prevent constant killing. However, we didn't expect that the Heavenly Emperor was too powerful and too cunning. We treated him as a fellow Daoist, but he treated us as subjects."

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly, remembering A Chou whom he had seen inside the Cauldron of Killing.

Heavenly Duke said, "All ancient gods were basically held by him by their weaknesses. Earth Count had a weakness in his hands, I did too, and so did Earth Mother. Our old brothers from back then, our old fellow Daoists, who could contend with him? Heh heh, who wasn't completely controlled by him? Whether it was Yuandu or Youdu, or my Xuandu, he had secretly placed countless people there, but we couldn't see the Heavenly Court."

Qin Mu recalled Yu Heavenly Venerable's experiences and his own observations in the Cauldron of Killing, and nodded silently.

The Heavenly Emperor was deeply cunning. Indeed, no one, whether it was Earth Mother, Earth Count, Heavenly Duke, or any other ancient god, could contend with him.

The Heavenly Emperor's position would only become more and more stable; his reign would be unshakable, lasting for eternity!

Yet this emperor still died.

"Actually," Heavenly Duke sighed, "after Cult Master Qin left the Dragon Han era, demigods and Post-celestial beings began to develop rapidly, with many powerful beings emerging. Demigods and Post-celestial beings were progressing, but ancient gods found progress difficult. Ancient gods couldn't learn Dao techniques and divine arts outside of their own essence; they could only study their own Dao to improve themselves."

Heavenly Duke sighed and said, "When demigods and Post-celestial beings also became immortal, their respect and worship for ancient gods gradually faded. Old Buddha was a prominent figure at that time, but Old Buddha was not the most outstanding among demigods and Post-celestial beings."

Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha nodded and said, "Each of the Seven Heavenly Venerables surpassed me by countless times."

"Old Buddha, there's no need to belittle yourself; you are only a step behind them."

Heavenly Duke offered a word of comfort and continued, "The Heavenly Emperor was quite wary of the human race among Post-celestial beings and also quite wary of the demigods who produced many geniuses. He was even more wary of his own children. So he incited many disputes to consume the power of demigods and Post-celestial beings. He even tacitly allowed demigods and humans to each establish their own small Heavenly Courts, watching them kill each other. Prince Wuqi was very powerful at that time. His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor deliberately gave him an opportunity to rebel and seized the chance to execute him. After Prince Wuqi died, the Heavenly Emperor remained relentless, bestowing upon him the surname 'Xie' after his death, calling him Xie Wuqi, and suppressing him in Youdu."

Qin Mu's heart stirred. "Xie Wuqi? I've seen him in Jade Lock Pass!"

Heavenly Duke said, "I originally didn't know the full details of this matter. I only knew that Xie Wuqi rebelled and was killed. The inside story was told to me by the Great Sun Star Lord. It wasn't until recently that I learned the Heavenly Emperor deliberately gave Xie Wuqi the opportunity to rebel so he could execute him."

The Great Sun Star Lord's neck retracted, and his face fell.

Heavenly Duke said, "The human race and demigods fought each other, his children dared not rebel, and ancient gods all had weaknesses in his grasp. His reign was stable. In that era, absolutely no one could contend with him. Not in the past, not now, and not in the future."

"Yet he died," Qin Mu said, his eyes gleaming.

Heavenly Duke was silent for a moment, then said, "The Great Sun Star Lord just now said he died early, but that's incorrect. The Heavenly Emperor actually died before you."

The Great Sun Star Lord's feathers stood on end, and he cried out, "Impossible! I was precisely commanded by Heaven to subjugate Heavenly Emperor Yun, and then I got shot in the back with an arrow. I had the Heavenly Emperor's decree—it's impossible!"

Heavenly Duke sighed deeply and said, "Actually, your death happened later. While demigods and humans were fighting each other to the death, a beauty appeared in Yuandu. She was truly too beautiful; even I couldn't help but cast my gaze upon her. Her name was Jue Wuchen, without a single flaw, untouched by any speck of dust. Her beauty even stirred my mortal desires..."

Qin Mu's expression was strange.

Old Buddha and the Red Emperor also had strange expressions.

Heavenly Duke paused and said, "Then, the Heavenly Emperor reincarnated. Of course he dared to reincarnate, but this reincarnation was also done secretly. No one knew who he reincarnated as, where he reincarnated to, or what race he became. Until one day, a Heavenly Venerable from the human race came to Xuandu and found me..."

Qin Mu became tense. "Which Heavenly Venerable?"

Heavenly Duke was silent but continued, "Heavenly Venerable Yun. At that time, he was already Heavenly Emperor Yun of the High Heavens Heavenly Court, and furthermore, he was also the leader of the Heavenly Alliance."

Qin Mu's body trembled violently, and his eyes glazed over.

"Heavenly Venerable Yun found me and said he could resolve the predicament I was in, manipulated by the Heavenly Emperor, as long as on a certain date, I just watched and didn't interfere."

Heavenly Duke said, "I didn't know what he intended to do, so I agreed. At this time, another Heavenly Venerable came to Youdu and found Earth Count."

He looked at Earth Count and said, "Fellow Daoist, do you still remember which Heavenly Venerable came to visit you?"

Earth Count said, "Of course I remember. Hao Heavenly Venerable, the leader among demigods, came to find me. He said that on a certain date, I just needed to watch what happened in Yuandu without interfering, and the predicament of Youdu would be resolved. I agreed."

Heavenly Duke said, "At that time, Hao Heavenly Venerable was Heavenly Emperor Hao of the Dragon Sky Heavenly Court."

Qin Mu was bewildered and murmured, "Hao Heavenly Venerable, Heavenly Venerable Yun, how could they be together? Aren't they mortal enemies? One represents demigods, the other represents Post-celestial beings, and weren't they fighting each other to the death?"

"This is also what I find utterly baffling, and what I find terrifying."

Heavenly Duke showed a bewildered and fearful expression and whispered, "Later, when that day truly arrived, the slaughter began. The first to act was Jue Wuchen, followed by the powerful experts of various races led by Heavenly Venerable Yun and Hao Heavenly Venerable. Only then did I realize that the person they wanted to kill was the Heavenly Emperor. Bound by my oath, I did not intervene to stop it. Moreover, I had some fear of the Heavenly Emperor, and deep down, I also wished for his death. Fellow Daoist Earth Count also did not act..."

Qin Mu shook his head, his limbs cold, and whispered, "And Earth Mother Yuanjun. Earth Mother Yuanjun, she..."

"She also watched and did not act."

Heavenly Duke's eyes held a strange glint as he whispered, "Earth Mother also sealed off Yuandu's sky. The branches and leaves of the Primordial Tree blocked the sky, preventing the Heavenly Court from seeing what was happening there."