Chapter 899: Responding to Calamity, Testing Edge

The temple's interior was magnificent, yet its decorations differed greatly from any temple Qin Mu had seen before. The murals and pillars predominantly featured dragons, depicted prostrating themselves beneath an old tree, appearing fearful of it.

The old tree's bark resembled dragon scales, and its ancient, oddly twisted branches looked like thousands of dragons and flood dragons intertwined.

Qin Mu surveyed his surroundings, surprised. He smiled and asked, "Is the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens not a dragon?"

Martial God Venerable invited him to the seat of honor and explained, "My master attained the Dao as a green tree. Before the Dragon Han era, my master was an old tree whose leaves had withered and fallen. Yu Tianzun achieved enlightenment beneath it, creating the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure and becoming the foremost Heavenly Venerate of that age. At that time, the heavens vibrated, and ancient gods appeared in the sky, praising and blessing Yu Tianzun. My master also benefited from this; the ancient tree, which was on the verge of death, unexpectedly gained a divine aura and was revitalized, transforming into divine wood."

Qin Mu had Dragon Qilin lie at his feet. Yan'er, meanwhile, transformed into a large, plump woman and stood behind Qin Mu's seat, her beauty from the peach forest completely gone, replaced by a somewhat clumsy appearance.

Qin Mu examined the temple murals. "I didn't realize the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens had such a deep connection with Yu Tianzun," he remarked.

Many of the divine beings under Martial God Venerable were displeased to see Qin Mu seated in the place of honor. When they saw that Qin Mu had brought an extraordinarily plump maidservant instead of a beautiful lady, they grew even more suspicious of Heavenly Venerate Mu's aesthetic taste.

Martial God Venerable smiled. "However, even though my master became divine wood because of this, it also suffered misfortune as a result."

Qin Mu ignored the others' gazes and inquired, "What was the reason?"

"Originally, my master had no particular use; it was old, decayed wood," Martial God Venerable explained. "It couldn't be cut for furniture, carved into beautiful divine statues, or even easily burned as firewood. That's why it survived."

Martial God Venerable smiled, his words laden with deeper meaning. "However, once my master became divine wood, it became useful. Within a few years, it was cut down and refined into a treasure. Consequently, for hundreds of thousands of years, it was not its own master. Heavenly Venerate Mu, being without talent and useless – that is the path to survival, wouldn't you agree?"

Qin Mu burst out laughing. "There's some truth to that," he conceded.

"Because my master became a useful material, it was cut down and refined into a treasure," Martial God Venerable continued. "At the Jade Pool Grand Assembly in the early Dragon Han era, my master was brought to the Jade Pool, thus having the opportunity to see the nine Heavenly Venerates—including you, Heavenly Venerate Mu—and witness the glory of that prosperous age."

Martial God Venerable continued, "At that time, my master was an unconscious spirit weapon, held by someone in the crowd, listening to the lecture. Yu Tianzun and Hao Tianzun were lecturing on the Heavenly Palace from the divine platform. My master later learned that Yu Tianzun was actually you, Heavenly Venerate Mu, and is therefore extremely grateful to you."

Qin Mu gave a wry smile. "I never thought so many future titans would be among those listening to the lecture at Jade Pool back then," he mused.

Martial God Venerable continued, "Later, the post-celestial beings and demigods each established their own Heavenly Courts and fought incessantly, and my master changed hands several times. When the initial calamity of the Dragon Han era erupted, the Heavenly Court ascended, moving far from the mortal realm, high above the nine heavens. After the war, my master became an ownerless tree and fell into the mortal realm. Tens of thousands of years later, just as my master was about to shed its tree form, it was noticed by divine beings of the Crimson Bright era, cut down, and refined into a pestle."

Qin Mu sighed with a shake of his head. "The Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens has truly had a difficult and pitiful existence," he said, sympathetic.

"Throughout all these changes, my master's primordial spirit remained undying, and it changed hands multiple times," Martial God Venerable continued. "For a time, it even fell into the hands of Emperor Ming, becoming an Imperial Seat divine weapon. By the Emperor's Era, with even more intense conflicts, my master became one of the most powerful artifacts contended for by the Northern and Southern Emperor's Heavenly Courts."

Martial God Venerable continued, "During the Emperor's Era, the ancient gods of the Heavenly Court also participated in the war. Because my master had been refined to be too powerful, the Azure Dragon Eastern Emperor personally intervened and broke my master in a great battle, thus creating an enmity with my master."

Qin Mu looked at the murals and suddenly understood. "So, there's this old feud," he said. "No wonder most of the slaves building the divine city are dragons, and the murals show dragons prostrating beneath the tree."

Martial God Venerable continued, "Although my master was broken by the Eastern Emperor, it did not die. By the end of the Emperor's Era, it transformed into human form and swore to avenge itself in the future. Later, it earned the Heavenly Court's favor, swiftly becoming the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens and master of the Eastern Palace. My master will also eventually replace the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace and become the Eastern Emperor!"

Qin Mu exclaimed admiringly, "From adversity comes prosperity! It seems that useful talent will always find its purpose in the end."

Martial God Venerable said, "My master does not wish to be an enemy of Heavenly Venerate Mu. After all, Heavenly Venerate Mu showed kindness to my master; even back in Yan Kang's capital city, my master made many concessions to you."

Qin Mu's expression became serious. "I am also very grateful in my heart," he stated.

Martial God Venerable said, "Before returning to the Eastern Heavens, my master instructed me that if Heavenly Venerate Mu could live peacefully and prosperously here, the Eastern Palace would be willing to provide protection to ensure your safety. My master said that it was useless wood back then, but later became useful, which led to hundreds of thousands of years of involuntary servitude, only breaking free much later. Heavenly Venerate Mu is an intelligent person and should understand my master's meaning."

Qin Mu smiled. "I understand," he said. "The Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens wants me to be a useless person, even if I am useful; I must willingly become useless and stay here."

Martial God Venerable smiled. "That is precisely my master's intention. To protect Heavenly Venerate Mu, my master is willing to oppose certain forces, which is a great difficulty for him. My master says that Heavenly Venerate Mu, without a soul, may not be able to endure much longer. It's nothing for our Eastern Palace to endure a little hardship; Heavenly Venerate Mu can retire here and live out your days peacefully, which would also be a repayment for the kindness of imparting your teachings and cultivation methods at the Jade Pool Grand Assembly. Heavenly Venerate Mu should be able to appreciate my master's painstaking efforts."

"I understand," Qin Mu said, "but I don't accept."

Qin Mu gave a wry laugh. "Emperor Yanfeng and Jiang Baigui, as two of the three reformers, were imprisoned by the Heavenly Court for two hundred years because they defied the heavens and violated destiny, becoming the primary culprits. Yet, as Heavenly Venerate Mu, I haven't been detained by the Heavenly Court, but instead, I'm supposed to be imprisoned here by the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens. Does the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens have more prestige than the Heavenly Court itself?"

Martial God Venerable's expression shifted slightly, then he smiled. "If Heavenly Venerate Mu is unwilling to accept the protection of my Eastern Palace, then I am powerless. To be frank, although the Eastern Palace is my master's domain, it also harbors other forces from the Heavenly Court, and many disciples from various major powers are gaining experience under my command."

Many of the divine beings under his command looked eager to act.

Qin Mu smiled. "Does God Venerable mean that the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens doesn't dare kill me, but someone else does?"

Martial God Venerable sighed. "I am but a minor figure; I cannot make the ultimate decision. If Heavenly Venerate Mu were willing to accept the Eastern Palace's protection, I would swear to protect you with my life. However, since Heavenly Venerate Mu is unwilling to accept, I can only turn a blind eye."

Qin Mu looked at the divine beings under his command. "God Venerable," he said, "could you introduce me to one or two of these individuals who wish to eliminate me?"

Martial God Venerable quickly retorted, "They wouldn't dare eliminate Heavenly Venerate Mu; they merely wish to teach you a lesson. This is Yue Wuji, a disciple of Emperor of the Underworld."

Behind one divine being was a Heavenly Gate to the Underworld; behind the gate was dense darkness, from which the surging sound of the Underworld Sea faintly emanated. He stepped forward, bowed deeply to Qin Mu, and said, "Yue Wuji greets Heavenly Venerate Mu!"

Qin Mu returned the bow, and behind him, a Heavenly Gate of Inheritance appeared.

The two bowed to each other, and behind each of them, their primordial spirit appeared. Each primordial spirit stood upon an altar, performing a grand sacrificial rite, bowing towards the other.

Suddenly, Yue Wuji cried out, his eyes bleeding, and he collapsed stiffly to the ground, dead!

On the altar behind him, his primordial spirit had been bowed to death by Qin Mu. His primordial spirit burned, his soul dispersed, and his spirit embryo also perished cleanly, transforming into streams of spiritual energy that dissipated.

"It's quite a marvel that a disciple of the Black Emperor, Emperor of the Underworld, would serve as an official in the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Heavens' Eastern Palace," Qin Mu commented.

Qin Mu straightened up, smiling gently. "God Venerable, who's next?" he asked.

Martial God Venerable was shocked and uncertain, and the other divine beings in the temple also felt a chill in their hearts.

"Hahaha," Martial God Venerable laughed, "I've long heard that Heavenly Venerate Mu is the Divine Son of Youdu, proficient in Youdu's divine arts and with a complete grasp of the Great Dao of Youdu. Yue Wuji died justly by comparing Youdu's divine arts with Heavenly Venerate Mu!" Martial God Venerable laughed heartily, pointing out the cause of Yue Wuji's death, then smiled. "This is Hua Qing, a disciple of Ancestral God King of the Heavenly Court. Junior Brother Hua Qing possesses boundless and formidable divine abilities."

Hua Qing stepped forward and greeted Qin Mu.

Qin Mu looked at him, carefully observing the phenomenon behind him, and suddenly smiled. "I've met your master," he said. "Your master, Ancestral God King, used an artificial body of Yu Tianzun to duel me at the same cultivation realm, and I beat him to death."

Hua Qing's expression shifted slightly, and he calmly replied, "That was merely a weapon controlled by a wisp of my master's consciousness; it could only display a tiny fraction of my master's abilities. If my master were to descend to the lower realms and fight you at the same cultivation realm, killing you would be as easy as flipping a hand."

Qin Mu laughed heartily, shaking his head. "He used Yu Tianzun's physical body and I beat him to death," he retorted. "If he were to personally descend and fight at the same realm, he would die even faster."

Hua Qing sneered. "I've heard Heavenly Venerate Mu possesses an overlord body, and I'd like to experience it myself," he said. "What is Heavenly Venerate Mu's current cultivation realm?"

Qin Mu thought for a moment. "Probably the Divine Treasure realm," he replied.

Hua Qing's aura turned murderous. "The Divine Treasure has seven realms," he declared. "Which realm are you in? I won't bully you; I'll fight you at the same realm and kill you to uphold my master's name!"

Qin Mu shook his head. "My Divine Treasure has only one realm: the Spirit Embryo realm," he stated. "If you were to use the Spirit Embryo realm, I could blow you to death with a single breath; that would be too much bullying. Cultivation realms are no longer that important to me. You can use any realm of cultivation you wish."

Hua Qing's eyes twitched. Earlier, when Qin Mu had bowed Yue Wuji to death, the cultivation he displayed was certainly not the Spirit Embryo realm. However, as Heavenly Venerate Mu, it was impossible for him to lie about his cultivation realm.

He sealed his Southern Heavenly Gate and said, "I will duel you using the cultivation of the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. What do you say?"

Qin Mu nodded. "If you can't resist," he said, "you can open your Southern Heavenly Gate and use any power you wish."

"You dare to underestimate me!" Hua Qing roared.

Hua Qing roared and attacked decisively. Just as his divine ability activated, a sword light suddenly flashed, swift as lightning!

As Qin Mu's sword thrust out, Hua Qing was startled, feeling unable to resist and with no time to dodge. He immediately opened his Southern Heavenly Gate, and surging divine essence descended from the heavens, his divine path cultivation reaching its peak in an instant!

Qin Mu's sword strike was precisely the third chapter of the Calamity Sword, the 'Responding to Calamity' chapter.

The sword light pierced Hua Qing's body, destroying his Divine Bridge. It then directly shattered his Divine Bridge Divine Treasure, continuing downward to obliterate his Starry Sky, Celestial Being, and Five Qiyao Divine Treasures, utterly destroying all his Divine Treasures, including his Life and Death Divine Treasure!

In the next instant, the sword light obliterated Hua Qing's Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure and Life and Death Divine Treasure!

At this moment, Hua Qing's Southern Heavenly Gate had just opened, and divine essence was descending from the heavens. Simultaneously, within the divine essence's space-time, his Heavenly Palace, having lost its foundation, immediately became unstable!

Qin Mu withdrew his sword, and the sword light transformed into a sword pellet, spinning at his fingertips.

Boom—

Hua Qing exploded, and terrifying fluctuations of divine essence surged outwards, tearing off the roof of the temple.

Qin Mu lightly grasped the sword pellet, which transformed into an umbrella, blocking the falling debris from above. He smiled and said, "God Venerable, please introduce the next fellow Daoist."

Before Martial God Venerable could speak, a divine being suddenly seized the chaos to attack, unleashing divine power and lunging at Qin Mu.

At this moment, the seemingly three-to-five-hundred-jin plump maidservant behind Qin Mu suddenly expanded with a roar of aura. She transformed into a Dragon Sparrow, raising her claw and pressing the divine being beneath it.

The Dragon Sparrow opened its mouth and inhaled deeply. Inside the temple, winds raged, and the divine beings under Martial God Venerable lost their footing, drawn by her inhale towards her mouth.

The divine beings struggled fiercely, using various means to try and escape. However, in the next instant, the space within the temple almost collapsed from the Dragon Sparrow's suction, sweeping the divine beings into its mouth.

The Dragon Sparrow raised its claw, grabbed the divine being beneath it, stuffed it into its mouth, and swallowed it with a tilt of its head!

Immediately, this fierce beast's ferocity erupted, and it looked towards Martial God Venerable.

Martial God Venerable was horrified, seeing sharp claws, capable of tearing heaven and earth, descending towards him!

"Yan'er, we are guests here," Qin Mu's voice rang out, and the Dragon Sparrow retracted its sharp claws, transforming back into the three-to-five-hundred-jin plump maidservant, standing obediently behind him.