Chapter 827: Daoist Branches

Venerable Baixi was both surprised and delighted, then shook his head, saying, "My Lord, you don't know the origin of Mount Qixia. It contains a divine realm spanning ten thousand miles, teeming with deities. How could it be used by you? Taking this mountain range would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

Qin Mu went to the nearby Lu County, wrote a letter, and handed it to Venerable Baixi. "Take my letter and visit the mountain god of the nearby mountain," he said. "Tell him I will climb the mountain to visit tomorrow. The mountain god must have witnessed my battle in the river last night. After he reads my letter, he won't make things difficult for you."

Just as Baixi was about to leave, a clear voice suddenly rang out from outside Lu County: "The mountain gods of the seventy-two caves of Mount Qixia have come to pay their respects to Supreme God Qin Batian of Yankang!"

Qin Mu was surprised and smiled, "These mountain gods arrived quickly, no less swiftly than the Dragon Kings of the Heavenly River. Let them in."

Venerable Baixi hurried out of the city to greet them. A moment later, he saw the various mountain gods of Mount Qixia approaching with numerous attendants to pay their respects. They brought all sorts of dazzling treasures, their brilliance piercing the sky.

Some of these mountain gods had deer antlers, some had tiger heads, and others had branched protrusions on their heads. Their appearances and races varied greatly.

Qin Mu knew this was merely a delaying tactic but greeted them with a smile, instructing Venerable Baixi to accept the gifts. "Esteemed mountain gods," he said, "you guard the mountains and rivers of Yankang and have rendered meritorious service in protecting the nation. As long as you harbor no ill will, I will not treat you unfairly. I plan to rename Mount Qixia to Mount Baisui and establish Venerable Baixi as the principal god of its seventy-two peaks. What are your thoughts on this?"

The mountain gods of the seventy-two caves of Mount Qixia exchanged glances, looked at Baixi, many showing disdain, and clearly held him in contempt.

One of the mountain gods stepped forward and said, "Mr. Qin, having come from afar, you may not know this, but we, the mountain gods of the seventy-two caves of Mount Qixia, have a master. Mount Qixia is under the jurisdiction of Qingyun Heaven. When the Primordial Realm was sealed in the past, Mount Qixia, along with Qingyun Heaven, fell into the seal. Within the seal, Qingyun Heaven remains the landlord of Mount Qixia. We mountain gods are here to manage the land for our landlord, collecting rent from the divine realms within the mountains and overseeing the lives of the people."

Another deer-antlered mountain god politely added, "We seventy-two cave mountain gods made a 'Tu Bo Pact' with Qingyun Heaven as early as the High Emperor Era, which cannot be violated. We ask for Qin Batian's understanding. If we violate the contract, we will die instantly."

Qin Mu frowned slightly. If these mountain gods had made a 'Tu Bo Pact' with Qingyun Heaven, then it would be very troublesome.

"Where is Qingyun Heaven?" he asked.

The many mountain gods raised their hands and pointed to the sky. Qin Mu looked up and saw a long streak of azure light, like a long evening glow, stretching across ten thousand miles, hovering motionless above Mount Qixia.

The length of that azure glow was astonishing; from a distance, it was impossible to tell it was a celestial realm.

"Since Mount Qixia has an owner, and you have also made a 'Tu Bo Pact', it would not be good to force you."

Qin Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Then the only option is to execute you..."

The expressions of the seventy-two cave mountain gods changed drastically. Just then, a long laugh came from beyond the sky. A young Daoist in green robes, stepping on azure light, descended from the heavens and declared loudly, "A small state that does not humble itself, with little strength yet not fearing the powerful, disrespectful and insulting to its great neighbor, greedy, obstinate, and unskilled in diplomacy—such a state can be destroyed! I have heard that Yankang Nation has three outstanding figures of reform: first, Emperor Yanfeng, a man of great ambition and strategy, an emperor for all ages; second, the Imperial Advisor of Yankang, who embraces the world, expands territory, and possesses unparalleled talent; and third, Qin Batian, the Hegemon, Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult, who single-handedly promotes the Way of the Sages. I have long heard of the reputation of these three, but having met Qin Batian now, I realize his fame is indeed difficult to live up to."

Qin Mu burst into laughter, stood up, and said loudly, "Brother, your criticism is apt. May I ask where you are from?"

The young Daoist in green robes landed in the city, saluted Qin Mu, and said, "I am from Qingyun Heaven. My name is Yuchen of Qingyun Heaven. Greetings, Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult. My Qingyun Heaven is a branch of the Dao Sect, formerly the Qingyun Sect, which governed twenty-four divine realms, and this Mount Qixia is one of them."

Qin Mu's expression immediately became somewhat displeased. He thought to himself, "This is Dao Master Lin Xuan's property, so it's not good to seize it."

He felt a little relieved.

The reason he intended to seize Mount Qixia was his concern that if Earth Mother Primordial Monarch gave a command, these mountain gods would slaughter the people of Yankang, which was why he planned to take Mount Qixia.

Since Mount Qixia is the Dao Sect's property, then matters are simple.

It just means Venerable Baixi will have to endure hardship and continue being the mountain god of the small hundred-zhang mountain.

The young Daoist Yuchen, with a whisk draped over his arm, said, "May I ask, Qin Batian, are you here on behalf of the Heavenly Saint Cult or on behalf of Yankang Nation?"

Qin Mu was puzzled.

Yuchen said, "If you are here on behalf of the Heavenly Saint Cult, then it is a dispute over orthodox traditions, and my Qingyun Heaven, being the Qingyun Sect, will contend with you in doctrines, spells, and divine arts. However, if you are here on behalf of Yankang Nation, then my Qingyun Heaven will summon the soldiers from its twenty-four divine realms, deploy them in battle formations, and engage in a full-scale battle."

Qin Mu chuckled with a wide smile and said, "Brother Yuchen, the Dao Sect is also within Yankang's borders, and Dao Master Lin Xuan of the Dao Sect is my closest friend. Since we are all one family, there's no need for a major conflict."

Yuchen shook his head and said, "The Dao Sect in the lower realm is not orthodox. The true Dao Sect is in the Heavenly Court; that is where the orthodox Dao Sect resides. The Dao Sect in Yankang Nation doesn't even qualify as a branch; it was merely built by some idle disciples of the orthodox Dao Sect who had wandered outside."

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he asked, "Since you don't recognize Dao Master Lin Xuan, do you still recognize the Dao Ancestor of the Dao Sect?"

Yuchen solemnly said, "The Dao Ancestor is the origin of the Dao Sect, the ancestor of all Ways. Of course, we recognize him!"

"Is the Dao Ancestor in Qingyun Heaven?" Qin Mu asked.

Yuchen shook his head a little impatiently and said, "Qin Batian, do you wish to fight or seek peace?"

Qin Mu pondered, shook his head, and chuckled, "You, Daoist, have too fiery a temper. The Dao Sect cultivates inner peace; I wonder where your cultivation has gone. Is the Dao Ancestor in Qingyun Heaven?"

Yuchen frowned and was about to speak when suddenly, auspicious clouds soared in the sky, and a white dragon, shaking its head and wagging its tail, flew past in the clouds. The cloud suddenly paused, and Dao Master Lin Xuan's voice came from the dragon's back, sounding surprised: "Cult Master Qin, why are you here?"

The clouds drifted down, settling into the city and dispersing. Dao Master Lin Xuan and Daoist Cha jumped off the dragon's back. Lin Xuan grabbed the white dragon's tail and shook it, only to see the white dragon transform into a whisk, which he casually draped over his arm.

Daoist Cha looked at the seventy-two cave mountain gods, then at Yuchen, and whispered, "Another fight?"

Qin Mu gently shook his head and said, "Not a fight, but a negotiation. This Daoist is from your Dao Sect's Qingyun branch, and these mountain gods are all managing properties for your Dao Sect's Qingyun branch. Dao Master Lin, I think the taxes Yankang collects from your Dao Sect are too low. A single branch of the Dao Sect has twenty-four divine realms under its command. How frightening!"

Dao Master Lin Xuan's expression became serious, and he whispered, "I came this time precisely because I heard there's a Qingyun Heaven that is a branch of the Dao Sect and wanted to see it for myself."

Daoist Cha scrutinized Yuchen and asked in surprise, "Is Qingyun Heaven truly a Dao Sect branch?"

Yuchen shook his head and said, "My Qingyun Heaven is a branch of the Dao Sect, but not *your* Dao Sect branch. Your Dao Sect in Yankang is not the true Dao Sect; the true Dao Sect is in the Heavenly Court. The Dao Sect in Yankang is fake."

Dao Master Lin Xuan remained calm and composed and said, "Whether true or false, it is still the Dao Sect. May I ask if I can go to Qingyun Heaven to visit the elders of the Dao Sect? I have not yet paid my respects to the Dao Ancestor and would like to meet him."

Yuchen hesitated for a moment and said, "It's fine for you to go, but don't harbor any unrealistic fantasies. Your Dao Sect in Yankang is completely out of the mainstream; it has neither true inheritance nor profound heritage. Furthermore, the Dao Ancestor is not in Qingyun Heaven; I heard he is in the Heavenly Court."

Daoist Cha sneered, "We're out of the mainstream? Little Daoist, when I was cultivating with the old Daoist in my early years, you didn't even know where you were! Let me tell you, our Dao Sect also flourished during the Kaihuang Era!"

Yuchen shook his head and said, "The Dao Sect of the Kaihuang Era was fake, built by abandoned disciples of the Dao Sect, and not orthodox."

Daoist Cha laughed in exasperation and was about to speak when Dao Master Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "There's no need to argue with him about true or false. The Dao is real, so the Dao Sect is not false."

Daoist Cha was stunned for a moment and praised, "Dao Master, you have a grand spirit; no wonder you can be the Dao Master."

Dao Master Lin Xuan bade farewell to Qin Mu, but Qin Mu quickly said, "The Dao Ancestor and I are old acquaintances. Wait for me a moment; I will have someone call my Imperial Brother, and I'll accompany you to Qingyun Heaven. I have a wide network and great influence; with me there, they won't make things difficult for you."

Dao Master Lin Xuan secretly grimaced, and Daoist Cha also frantically winked at him, signaling him to leave quickly.

However, Lin Xuan was, after all, the Dao Master and thin-skinned. His relationship with Qin Mu was also usually quite good, so he was somewhat at a loss.

"The Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult, nicknamed 'Qin the Demolisher,' demolishes wherever he goes. Also known as 'Qin the Calamity,' he brings trouble wherever he goes. And 'Qin the Bellicose,' he shouts for battle and slaughter wherever he goes..."

Dao Master Lin Xuan pondered with difficulty, "How should I refuse him? This fellow is so thick-skinned; I'm afraid I won't be able to refuse him..."

Qin Mu, beaming with smiles, told Venerable Baixi to go to the riverside and instruct Dragon Lord Huan to bring over Imperial Heavenly Venerable from the opposite bank.

Venerable Baixi quickly went. After less than half an hour, Dragon Lord Huan arrived, carrying Imperial Heavenly Venerable and the Water Qilin, and delivered them to Lu County. Qin Mu's spirits greatly lifted, and he whispered to Imperial Heavenly Venerable, "I'm taking you to see an old acquaintance. That old Daoist received favors from you and me in his early years, and now it's time to collect some interest..."

Imperial Heavenly Venerable looked bewildered. "Old acquaintance?"

Qin Mu urged, "Dao Master, and Brother Yuchen, let's go! Quickly to Qingyun Heaven! It's getting dark!"

Daoist Yuchen also frowned. "Why is this Qin Batian so overly familiar?"

As they were about to leave, Venerable Baixi quickly chuckled somewhat awkwardly, "My Lord, what about Mount Baisui...?"

Qin Mu thought for a moment and said, "Mount Qixia is Dao Sect property, so you'll have to bear with it and remain here for now. If you get hungry, just ask Dragon Lord Huan to assist you. Dragon Lord Huan has prospered and is now the Heavenly River Dragon King..."

Venerable Baixi wanted to cry but had no tears. He looked at Dragon Lord Huan and saw him looking triumphant.

Qin Mu sat on the back of the Dragon Qilin. Sacred flames erupted from the Dragon Qilin's feet, and it stepped on clouds of fire, following Daoist Yuchen, Dao Master Lin Xuan, and the others.

Beside them, atop the Water Qilin's head, Imperial Heavenly Venerable hesitated repeatedly, finally made up his mind, and asked, "Brother, does this old acquaintance know about my origins? I know I was adopted; I just want to know where my birth parents are..."