Chapter 922: Heavenly Court Reforms

Before the Misted Corridor Pavilion, many young masters from the Green Splendor Scroll and Divine Arts Scroll stared wide-eyed and dumbfounded at the scene. They watched Qin Mu draw his sword from Yun Jianli’s body, dripping with blood.

It took only one move.

With just one move, Qin Mu had defeated Yun Jianli, who moments ago had seemed invincible!

Not only did he defeat him, but he also severed his Divine Bridge with a single sword, knocking him down from the Divine Bridge realm to the Life and Death realm!

This wasn't the most terrifying part. The most terrifying part was that Yun Jianli's Divine Bridge Divine Treasure was completely destroyed!

This meant that Yun Jianli could never cultivate back to the Divine Bridge realm in this lifetime. He could only remain a divine arts practitioner in the Life and Death realm, forever without the possibility of becoming a deity!

Of course, this might not be bad for Yun Jianli. After all, men of the Yun family were naturally afflicted with an illness that caused them to die suddenly upon reaching the Divine Bridge realm.

By severing his Divine Bridge, Qin Mu might have enabled him to live longer.

However, for everyone else, it was utterly terrifying!

Their bodies trembled. Facing Yun Jianli's single move, none of them had much chance of victory. Yet, if they were to face Qin Mu's sword, each of them would likely be unable to evade it, meeting the same fate as Yun Jianli!

The image of Qin Mu's piercing sword was inevitably etched into each of their minds. However many times they tried to deduce a way, they could never escape it.

Each time, they would be struck by that sword, their divine treasures severed—not just the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure, but all other divine treasures: Spirit Embryo, Five Elements, Six Directions, Seven Stars, Celestial Being, and Life and Death, all would be cut off!

This was Qin Mu's full-power strike!

Suddenly, the woman with the bird's head and human body giggled. "I just remembered I have something else to do. I'll take my leave now and pay my respects to Heavenly Venerate another day! Farewell—"

Her wings spread behind her, and others also began to move their feet.

Qin Mu approached, supporting Yun Jianli, and said in a clear voice, "Since you've come, why the rush to leave? Strangers might think I, Heavenly Venerate Mu, don't understand hospitality, and gossip might spread."

The bird-headed woman, who had been about to fly away, stiffened and dared not move.

The others also froze, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

Qin Mu smiled slightly, his teeth white, and said gently, "There's no need to be nervous, we people from the lower realm don't eat people."

Yet, in their eyes, that smile was incredibly terrifying and sinister. Although they were the proud children of heaven from the Green Splendor Scroll and Divine Arts Scroll, they felt a profound sense of powerlessness against Qin Mu's sword.

The bird-headed woman stammered, "Do people from the lower realm eat demigods?"

Qin Mu didn't answer. He helped Yun Jianli ascend to the island and walked to the Misted Corridor Pavilion, saying helplessly, "Brother Yun, you asked me to go all out. Now look, I originally wanted to kill a few young masters from the Heavenly Court who didn't know their place to establish my might. How am I supposed to establish my might by killing them now?"

Everyone was horrified, staring at him in fear.

Qin Mu offered a disarmingly simple smile, glanced around, and said apologetically, "Everyone, I didn't mean to kill you, don't worry. Have you come to challenge me?"

He looked excited. The others remained silent, shaking their heads.

Qin Mu was very disappointed.

Yun Jianli was severely injured and increasingly weak, but even with his Divine Bridge severed by Qin Mu's sword, he remained composed, as if the injury were not his own, and showed no trace of loss over the destruction of his Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. He smiled, "Heavenly Venerate, why establish your might against the younger generation?"

Qin Mu laughed heartily, "You're right. It's just that my realm isn't high. If any Heavenly Venerate were to attack, I wouldn't be able to defend myself."

Yun Jianli coughed repeatedly, then said to the others, "Don't believe him. He wants to kill Heavenly Venerates to establish his might. If you go back and tell your senior brothers to come, they'll likely die at his hands too."

The others stared, saying nothing.

Qin Mu supported Yun Jianli as they walked past them. Qi Jiuyi quickly followed, helping Yun Jianli and complaining in a low voice, "Sect Master Qin, you've gone too far! Brother Yun's Divine Bridge was severed by you. How will his grandmothers let you off? Who in the Heavenly Court doesn't know that the Yun family's widows are the most troublesome? You've touched their precious treasure; even if you don't die, you'll lose eight layers of skin!"

Yun Jianli smiled wryly, "Are my grand-ancestresses and great-grand-ancestresses that difficult?"

Qi Jiuyi sneered, "If you don't know, why don't you ask others? Who in the Heavenly Court doesn't know the Yun family's grandmothers are fiercely protective? Sect Master Qin, you've stirred up a hornet's nest!"

Qin Mu said, "Severing Brother Yun's Divine Bridge was intentional. With his Divine Bridge severed, Brother Yun can perfectly try out the results of the Eternal Peace Reform and experiment with the Heavenly River Divine Treasure. You all come over too."

He turned back and beckoned, smiling, "A million years ago, I established a forum here to preach the method of becoming a god to the world. Now, after a million years, I will preach here again."

The people on the Green Splendor Scroll and Divine Arts Scroll exchanged glances, then braced themselves and followed him into the Misted Corridor Pavilion.

Qin Mu treated Yun Jianli's injuries and smiled, "Back then, Cloud Heavenly Venerate created the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure because after You Heavenly Venerate opened the Life and Death Divine Treasure, there was no path forward. He wanted to build a bridge to pave a way. Thus, Cloud Heavenly Venerate opened the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. And the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure inspired Emperor Heaven Heavenly Venerate, who then created the Heavenly Palace grand realm, leading to the saying of ascending to the Heavenly Palace to become a god. The Divine Bridge Divine Treasure is very important; without it, there would be no later Heavenly Palace realm. Cloud Heavenly Venerate's contribution is immense."

Yun Jianli asked, "Heavenly Venerate just mentioned the Heavenly River Divine Treasure. What is that about?"

Qin Mu explained, "The Heavenly River Divine Treasure is a result of the Eternal Peace Reform. Although the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure connects the past and future, it's not strictly necessary. The Heavenly River connects various realms, links life and death, and connects to the Heavenly Palace. If one destroys the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure and opens the Heavenly River instead, it will connect the Heavenly Palace with all seven divine treasures, making the seven divine treasures into one!"

Yun Jianli's eyes lit up.

The people in the Misted Corridor Pavilion also trembled slightly, realizing the crucial point Qin Mu mentioned.

With the seven divine treasures integrated, vital qi would surge dramatically. At the same realm, vital qi cultivation would be far stronger than for those who cultivated step by step!

Moreover, because the divine treasures would be integrated, the cultivation method would operate much faster than with the traditional seven divine treasures. This is because traditional cultivation requires vital qi to start from the Spirit Embryo, flow along the method's path, then to the Five Elements Divine Treasure, through the Five Elements to the Six Directions, then to the Seven Stars, Celestial Being, Life and Death, and Divine Bridge.

But if the Heavenly River Divine Treasure connected all other divine treasures into one, vital qi would circulate directly within this single grand divine treasure, eliminating many unnecessary steps and transforming a complex process into a simple one!

By the same token, the activation speed of divine arts would also be faster than with the traditional seven divine treasures, offering an astonishing improvement to a divine arts practitioner's combat power!

After all, they were the young talents from the Green Splendor Scroll and Divine Arts Scroll, highly gifted and intelligent. They immediately recognized the enormous potential of the Heavenly River Divine Treasure.

Qin Mu continued, "After cultivating to the Heavenly Palace realm and becoming a deity, the seven divine treasures that divine arts practitioners cultivated previously become negligible in importance to the Heavenly Palace; they are merely appendages to the Heavenly Palace realm. With the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, however, the power within the Heavenly Palace can integrate with the divine treasure, strengthening it. The magical power will also be much deeper than with traditional cultivation methods, which is also a tremendous benefit for deities!"

The bird-headed woman suddenly asked, "Heavenly Venerate, you speak so highly of the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, why has the Heavenly Court never considered replacing the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure with the Heavenly River Divine Treasure?"

Qin Mu looked at her, appearing puzzled.

The woman quickly said, "I am Que Jingxue from the Green Splendor Scroll, a disciple of Old Matriarch."

"Old Matriarch?"

Qin Mu hadn't heard of that deity. He smiled, "Once the gods of the Heavenly Court cultivate to the grand realm of Heavenly Palace, who still cares about divine treasures? As the saying goes, a stepping stone is thrown away once used. They are more concerned with the Heavenly Court realm itself, and once they hear about it, they put all their efforts into it. As for you divine arts practitioners, do you dare to question your masters? Do you dare to question the divine treasure cultivation system passed down by Heavenly Venerates? If you dared to question, then you would have the possibility of opening the Heavenly River Divine Treasure."

The others were startled, carefully recalling their cultivation journeys.

As the most outstanding young geniuses in the Heavenly Court, they had indeed never thought of abandoning the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. Their biggest innovation was probably just trying to create a few divine arts themselves.

To them, each fixed realm was an ironclad rule, with no need to question it, and it never occurred to them to question it.

Qin Mu said, "The lower realm is different. Many people in the lower realm have had their Divine Bridge Divine Treasures severed, so countless individuals are researching how to improve divine treasures and how to break through established notions. The Eternal Peace Reform does not follow ancestral laws, does not blindly believe in ancient gods, does not blindly believe in the Heavenly Court, and does not blindly believe in Heavenly Venerates. That is why the reform came about, and that is why the Heavenly River Divine Treasure emerged."

Upon hearing the word "reform," everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Suddenly, a young man stood up, trembling, and said in a hoarse voice, "I won't listen anymore! Heavenly Venerate, please forgive my cowardice and fear of trouble. I'll take my leave first!"

Qin Mu asked concernedly, "Don't you want to know how to open the Heavenly River Divine Treasure?"

"I do!"

The man's smile was like a cry. "But I don't dare to listen! I'm afraid that if I listen to Heavenly Venerate's Heavenly River Divine Treasure, I'll die inexplicably!" He turned and hurriedly left.

A few more people stood up and left.

The others also wanted to leave, but the Heavenly River Divine Treasure was too tempting, making them hesitate.

Qi Jiuyi's eyes flickered, and he stood up, saying, "I'll go see them off."

Qin Mu smiled slightly and continued to explain how to open the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, saying, "The Heavenly River Divine Treasure perfectly aligns with the grand dao of heaven and earth. However, the number of divine treasures in the human body is still ideally seven, so it requires severing the Divine Bridge. I have created several methods for sensing the power of the Heavenly River. After severing the Divine Bridge, one can come to the Heavenly River and activate my methods to sense its power."

Qin Mu explained each of the methods for sensing the Heavenly River's power. The many young people in the Misted Corridor Pavilion were half-believing, half-doubting. Although they memorized the methods, they dared not try them.

Yun Jianli smiled, "Then let me, a dying man, try to see if I can open the Heavenly River Divine Treasure."

Que Jingxue looked incredulous and whispered, "Young Master Yun, are you willing to abandon the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure opened by your ancestor, Cloud Heavenly Venerate? Wouldn't that be a betrayal of Cloud Heavenly Venerate?"

Yun Jianli shook his head, "My ancestor wouldn't be so set in his ways. I think if my ancestor saw Heavenly Venerate Mu's Heavenly River Divine Treasure, he would rejoice and willingly abandon his own Divine Bridge Divine Treasure."

Que Jingxue whispered, "This is reform! Think clearly, reform is rebellion!"

Yun Jianli smiled, "What is there to fear for a dying man?"

A branch of the Heavenly River flowed into the Jade Pool, and the Heavenly River's power here was quite abundant. He immediately tried to activate the sensing methods Qin Mu had taught him.

His talent was exceptionally high, even surpassing that of previous Human Emperors. He immediately grasped the knack, drawing in the power of the Heavenly River.

Around him, a Heavenly River gradually formed. The river grew wider and longer. Yun Jianli accumulated power, waiting for the moment of breakthrough.

Time passed slowly, and everyone in the pavilion watched him nervously.

If Yun Jianli could open the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, it would mean that the path Qin Mu pointed out was feasible.

After an unknown period, the Heavenly River encircling Yun Jianli suddenly rushed into his body. Accompanied by a dull thud, Yun Jianli's body trembled greatly, and a wondrous rhythm emanated from within him.

It was a Dao sound, its rhythm like the vast, undulating Heavenly River, traversing worlds, from the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Palace to the human world, and then to the Ruins of End and Youdu.

This rhythm was so captivating that it made people unable to resist immersing themselves in it.

Yun Jianli was both surprised and delighted, gazing mesmerized at his divine treasure. The water of the Heavenly River flowed down from the Heavenly Palace, passed through all his divine treasures, and entered Youdu, forming a grand cycle.

"Should we cultivate the Heavenly River Divine Treasure too?" Que Jingxue murmured.

The others were eager to try, but deep down, they harbored profound anxieties and dared not attempt it.

Qin Mu said meaningfully, "You can choose not to cultivate the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, and if the Heavenly Court and the lower realm go to war in the future, you will die at the hands of the people from the lower realm. You can also cultivate the Heavenly River Divine Treasure, but then those who will kill you will be your masters or other Heavenly Venerates."

Que Jingxue shivered, then suddenly giggled nervously, "Heavenly Venerate, don't scare us! Our masters can also open the Heavenly River Divine Treasure again!"

"They open the Heavenly River Divine Treasure?"

Qin Mu waved his sleeve and laughed heartily, "Then they would have to change their cultivation methods, starting from the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure. If they cannot modify it, they would have to reincarnate. Reincarnating means abandoning their current status, and perhaps even losing their lives! The reason the Heavenly Court wants to destroy the lower realm is precisely because they don't want to change, and they don't dare to change!"