Chapter 940: Heart's Desire Becomes Reality

“God Blade Luo Wushuang? Is he also going to the Grand Void?” Qin Mu frowned slightly. Luo Wushuang harbored deep hatred for him, and if Luo Wushuang were also to go to the Grand Void, it would indeed be extremely perilous.

“What exactly is the Grand Void?” Qin Mu subtly withdrew his arm from her embrace and couldn't help but ask, “I've heard of this place since I arrived at the Celestial Heavens; it's quite mysterious. Why are we going to explore it?”

“It's all because of Carefree Village, isn't it?” Yun Chuxiu said, “Heavenly Venerate Qin established Carefree Village and moved the Founding Emperor's Celestial Heavens there. Although the Founding Emperor Era was annihilated, the main forces of the Founding Emperor's Celestial Heavens still exist. This time, the Celestial Heavens is campaigning against the rebels of the Primordial World, so why hasn't Fengdu been touched? Isn't it because Carefree Village hasn't been found?”

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly.

Yun Chuxiu continued, “After all, Founding Emperor is Heavenly Venerate Qin. Although he betrayed the Celestial Alliance, he is still one of its five founding elders. If he remains alive, many people will feel uneasy. Moreover, he refuses to be idle. During this campaign against the rebels of the Primordial World, there were rumors that he was issuing orders from Carefree Village, instructing Fengdu to avoid battle and lie low. Fengdu is a minor skirmish, but Carefree Village is the true deep-seated trouble for the Celestial Heavens.”

She carefully observed Qin Mu's expression but found nothing unusual in his demeanor. With a faint, unreadable smile, she said, “Heavenly Venerate Mu, you are quite calm and composed. Heavenly Venerate Qin Ye is your ancestor; aren't you curious about him at all?”

“Back then, when I journeyed with him through the Celestial Heavens in the early Long Han era, he was indecisive and not straightforward in his actions. Furthermore, he harbored rebellious intentions, daring to lay a poisoned hand on Heavenly Venerate Hao and even committing murder in the Jade Pool, defying Lady Yuanmu! At that time, I already saw that he was destined to become a rebel and despised his conduct. My physical body may share his bloodline, but my soul has no connection to the Founding Emperor's bloodline.”

Qin Mu, filled with righteous indignation, declared, “Now he is a rebel, and I am Heavenly Venerate Mu of the Celestial Heavens. Naturally, I must draw a clear line between myself and this traitor! If I ever see him in the Grand Void, I will certainly scorn him vehemently! Your Majesty, have Heavenly Venerate Fire and Heavenly Venerate Void found this villain?”

Yun Chuxiu carefully observed his subtle expressions, but still couldn't detect anything amiss. It seemed that Qin Mu's break with the Founding Emperor was his genuine intention.

She shook her head and said, “There are rumors that Carefree Village might be located in the Grand Void. That's why, for years, the Celestial Heavens has been exploring the Grand Void, attempting to find its whereabouts and eliminate this hidden danger. Heavenly Venerate Fire and Heavenly Venerate Void dispersed after arriving in the Grand Void. They discovered many strange places there; the Grand Void itself reveals strangeness everywhere... When going to the Grand Void, one cannot bring too many people. The more people there are, the more dangerous it becomes. This time, you, as Heavenly Venerate, will lead the expedition to the Grand Void, with a total of only three hundred people.”

Qin Mu's heart stirred again, and he asked, “Your Majesty, have you been to the Grand Void?”

Yun Chuxiu's expression subtly changed, clearly recalling the past, but she was unwilling to elaborate. She said, “His Majesty the Celestial Emperor's decree will soon arrive at the Jade Pool. Wait to receive the imperial edict, then make some preparations and go to the Grand Void to meet your demise.”

Qin Mu's eyes gleamed as he smiled, “Your Majesty, aren't you going?”

Yun Chuxiu chuckled, “Why would I go to such a place? It's so dangerous and terrifying; I would never go to such a dreadful place.”

Qin Mu asked curiously, “Then why did Your Majesty summon me so urgently? It couldn't be just to tell me about this, could it?”

Yun Chuxiu's expression flickered between hesitation and resolve. Suddenly, she sighed, “I do want to go, but I don't dare go with my true body.”

Qin Mu was about to inquire further when Dragon Qilin said, “Cult Master, it's time to eat.”

Qin Mu walked over, refined some spiritual pills, and handed them to Dragon Qilin. Dragon Qilin stared at his food bowl, diligently consuming the pills, and suddenly chuckled to himself, “Cult Master, I heard a story from Qi Jiuyi that made me laugh half to death. Shall I tell it to you?”

Qin Mu hummed in acknowledgment and asked curiously, “What interesting story did Qi Jiuyi tell?”

Dragon Qilin said, “Once upon a time, there was a man who was very lecherous. Then he died. The story is finished. Isn't that funny? Hahahahaha—”

Qin Mu stared at him. Dragon Qilin ceased his laughter and continued to diligently eat the spiritual pills.

Qin Mu stood up and calmly said, “You told it very well. Let me tell you a story. One of these spiritual pills in the bowl is poisoned. My story is finished.”

Dragon Qilin immediately stopped eating, stared at the spiritual pills in the bowl, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Before long, a divine official arrived to deliver an imperial edict, ordering Heavenly Venerate Qin Mu to lead three hundred gods and devils to the Grand Void and rendezvous with Heavenly Venerate Fire and Heavenly Venerate Void.

Qin Mu accepted the edict and saw three hundred gods and devils behind the divine official. At the head was Luo Wushuang, accompanied by a disciple of the Spirit Show Army, who also had a severed arm. The cultivation levels of the other gods and devils varied, likely disciples of Heavenly Venerates.

The divine official, who was the same one who had come to clean the Jade Sea last time, stepped forward and smiled, “Heavenly Venerate Mu, the ship is ready. Please make your preparations and set off as soon as possible.”

Qin Mu looked towards the sea and indeed saw a multistory ship. He smiled, “Are the provisions ready? And where is the map of the Grand Void?”

The divine official shook his head and said, “The Grand Void requires no provisions, nor does it have a map. Once you are there, Heavenly Venerate, you will understand.”

Luo Wushuang and the others had already boarded the ship. Qin Mu frowned slightly and said to Yan'er and Dragon Qilin, “This journey is extremely perilous. You two stay here; there's no need to accompany me. After I leave, Yan'er, take Dragon Fatty to see Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird. With her protection, you will be safe.”

Yan'er hesitated for a moment and said, “Young Master, at least two hundred of these three hundred gods and devils harbor murderous intent towards you. I can protect you if I stay by your side...”

“There's no need,” Qin Mu said with a faint smile. “If Carefree Village is indeed in the Grand Void, then my brother is also there. With my brother around, no one can touch me!”

Yan'er pondered for a moment, then took out a lantern and said, “Young Master, take this treasure. This was given to me by Heavenly Venerate Empress for protection.”

Qin Mu accepted the lantern and boarded the multistory ship, but then he noticed Yun Chuxiu was also on board. He was slightly taken aback and smiled, “Didn't Your Majesty say you weren't going?”

Yun Chuxiu sighed, looking somewhat dispirited and worried. “A hundred percent of me doesn't want to go, yet I truly want to go one more time to uncover the true nature of the Grand Void.”

The multistory ship slowly ascended into the air, heading north of the Celestial Heavens. Qin Mu cautiously asked, “Is the Grand Void really that terrifying? If Your Majesty has been there, perhaps you could tell us about the dangers within, so we can be prepared.”

Yun Chuxiu hesitated for a moment and said, “I have indeed been there. At that time, I led a hundred thousand troops of the Celestial Heavens' Divine Martial Army, two of the four Imperial Preceptors of the Celestial Heavens, and my most accomplished disciples, intending to explore the Grand Void.”

Qin Mu's heart skipped a beat. The Divine Martial Army was one of the Celestial Heavens' Ten Guards, on par with the Feathered Forest Army. It was composed of the most powerful gods and devils, each a seasoned veteran of countless battles!

He had seen the soldiers of the Feathered Forest Army on the ghost ship; every god and devil among them was a formidable being, almost at the Jade Capital realm, or even stronger! The Empress leading the Divine Martial Army, one of the Imperial Guards, to explore the Grand Void, her true purpose was likely not exploration, but rather to conquer the place!

“The Grand Void is a relic in this universe, a region of halo. But upon entering, one discovers a different heaven within.”

Yun Chuxiu leaned against his shoulder, recalling the past, and whispered, “Back then, after we entered that halo region, strange things began to happen frequently. All sorts of bizarre occurrences and imaginary creatures emerged one after another.”

She frowned deeply and said, “We were attacked by various strange events, suffering heavy casualties; less than one in ten of the Divine Martial Army remained. Even I and the two Imperial Preceptors were severely wounded! It wasn't until later that Imperial Preceptor Yue suddenly had an epiphany, comprehending the secret of the Grand Void: whatever is thought in the mind becomes reality.”

Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly, “Whatever is thought in the mind becomes reality? Does Imperial Preceptor Yue mean...”

“His meaning was that what attacked us and killed the Divine Martial Army soldiers were actually the various great terrors we imagined in our minds. The things we feared became reality in the Grand Void.”

Yun Chuxiu said, “Some imagined being struck dead by lightning, and terrifying lightning truly struck. Some imagined a thousand-headed, ten-thousand-armed devil god killing them, and such a devil god truly appeared. Some worried about the sky falling and the earth collapsing, and indeed, planets fell from the sky as if the heavens and earth were collapsing. Various great terrors continuously assailed us, so much so that the Celestial Heavens' most powerful army was utterly defeated, forced to return without even seeing the true face of the Grand Void. In the end, I was the only one who survived and walked out of the Grand Void, though I was severely wounded and barely escaped death. The two Imperial Preceptors...”

She sighed, her expression dimming. “Both Imperial Preceptors were beings of profound wisdom and grand masters at the Emperor's Throne realm. Unfortunately, neither of them made it out alive.”

Qin Mu narrowed his eyes. What Yun Chuxiu described was truly terrifying. Was the Grand Void really such a dreadful place?

“What great terror severely wounded Your Majesty?” Qin Mu asked.

“The Celestial Emperor. The true Celestial Emperor.” Fear appeared on Yun Chuxiu's face, and her voice grew hoarse, “Although I killed him, he is also the one I fear the most! In the Grand Void, he reappeared and attacked us. I was terrified...”

She shivered several times, overcome with a chill.

Qin Mu suddenly said, “Then how did the two Imperial Preceptors and the other survivors die? Since Imperial Preceptor Yue had already comprehended the secret of the Grand Void—that whatever is thought in the mind becomes reality—he would surely have restrained everyone from thinking. For beings of their caliber, that shouldn't be difficult, should it? Why did they all die in the Grand Void, with only Your Majesty surviving?”

Yun Chuxiu displayed an innocent, pure smile, beautiful enough to stir hearts. She even puffed out her chest, her collar stretched taut, her alluring figure seemingly eager to burst forth, and laughed, “What is Heavenly Venerate Mu trying to say?”

Qin Mu ignored her seductive demeanor and smiled faintly, “What I want to say is that amidst such great terror, the surviving Divine Martial Army soldiers had lost their minds, gripped by fear and panic. And since Your Majesty couldn't know what others were thinking, the best way to ensure your own survival was to kill the others, preventing them from thinking anymore. Whatever is thought in the mind becomes reality, and once they were dead, they would no longer think.”

His gaze was fixed on the young woman's beautiful face as he spoke each word distinctly, “And so, Your Majesty killed them. Your Majesty even distrusted the two Imperial Preceptors, so you killed them as well. It was by this method, Your Majesty, that you survived and walked out of the Grand Void.”

Yun Chuxiu chuckled, her chest heaving with laughter. “Heavenly Venerate Mu, we truly are birds of a feather! You instantly guessed the method by which I left the Grand Void. Perhaps you and I are truly a perfect match!”

Qin Mu remained oblivious to her allure and said indifferently, “Your Majesty, we are not a match, and we will never be birds of a feather. I would never abandon my companions, much less mercilessly kill them! I have merely seen too much darkness, which allowed me to guess Your Majesty's viperous heart.”

Yun Chuxiu sneered, “Heavenly Venerate Mu, you are too idealistic. They were not my companions, but mere slaves and servants. It was either their death or mine, so it could only be their death! When you arrive in the Grand Void and face the same predicament as I did, your choice will be just like mine! You and I are always on the same path! Even if not now, in the future, you will become just like me!”

Qin Mu frowned.

The multistory ship sailed out of the Northern Heavenly Gate, passing over the Celestial River. Below lay the Celestial Heavens' military camp, Fomalhaut. Countless gods, devils, and warships were stationed there. Numerous heavens revolved around Fomalhaut's star cluster, supplying this military camp with the necessary provisions and supplies.

Qin Mu gazed at the military camp; divine light surged skyward, stretching for millions of miles. The Celestial Heavens was simply too powerful. Forget the Celestial Heavens' Ten Guards, even Fomalhaut alone would be enough to annihilate Eternal Peace countless times over!

“Ever since I revealed the secret of the Grand Void, the Celestial Heavens has developed various methods to empty one's mind, among which the Buddhist concept of neither thought nor non-thought is the most famous.”

Yun Chuxiu said, “‘Neither thought nor non-thought’ allows one's thoughts to exist in a state of ambiguity, making it impossible for the Grand Void to turn them into reality. This method was created by Great Brahma. Have you learned it?”

Qin Mu shook his head.

Yun Chuxiu gave a charming smile, gazing at a faint halo that appeared in the dark starry sky.

Luo Wushuang walked towards them and said in a deep voice, “So, what does Heavenly Venerate fear the most?”

Qin Mu turned to look at him and smiled, “I am a Hegemon, and I have no fear in my heart. What does God Blade Luo fear the most?”

“With my God Blade in hand, I fear nothing,” Luo Wushuang said calmly.